Objective: To study the correlation between angiotensin II type1 receptor autoantibodies (AT1-AAs) and the onset risk in patients with essential hypertension (EH) combiningacute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: Our research included in 4 groups: EH+ACS group,n=28, ACS group, n=29, EH group,n=26 and Control group,n=23 normal subjects. Serum levels of AT1-AAs were examined by ELISA; high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), blood levels of lipids and glucose were also measured and compared among different groups. The correlations between AT1-AAs and blood lipids, glucose, hs-CRP were studied by multiple linear regression analysis. Results: Compared with Control group, ACS group had similar level of AT1-AAs (0.26±0.09) vs (0.21±0.06),P=0.105; while EH+ACS group and HE group had increased AT1-AAs level as (0.40±0.005) and (0.33±0.10),P=0.001 andP=0.02 respectively; AT1-AAs level was higher in EH+ACS group than HE group,P=0.044. In addition, serum AT1-AAs level was positively related to hs-CRP in EH+ACS group, ACS group and EH group (r=0.589,r=0.503 andr=0.273, allP<0.01). Conclusion: Serum AT1-AAs level was positively related to the onset risk in patients with EH combining ACS; AT1-AAs was also related to hs-CRP at certain degree.

Gene knockout by ZFNs (zinc-finger nucleases) is efficient and specific, and successfully applied in more than 10 organisms. Currently, it is unclear whether this technology can be used for knocking-out enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene in transgenic goats. Here we constructed and used ZFN-coding plasmids to produce genetic knockouts in the cells of cloned fetus produced from donor cells by microinjection of EGFP gene. Following introduced plasmids into caprine primary cultured fetus fibroblasts by electroporation, targeting of a transgene resulted in sequence mutation. Using the flow cytometric analysis, we confirmed the disappearance of EGFP expression in treated cells. Sequence from PCR products corresponding to targeted site showed that insertion of a G into the exon of EGFP resulted in frame shift mutation. These results suggest that ZFN-mediated gene targeting can apply to caprine fetus fibroblasts, which may open a unique avenue toward the creation of gene knockout goats combining with somatic cell nuclear transfer.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Organism ; Electrophoresis ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fetus ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Gene Targeting ; methods ; Goats ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Zinc Fingers

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics and radiological manifestations of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome(IRIS)in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(AIDS)patients with tuberculosis(TB)during highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART).MethodsThe clinical and radiological data in 4 AIDS patients with TB who presented IRIS were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThe clinical presentations of IRIS in 4 patients included fever(4 cases),weakness and weight loss(3 cases),abdominal pain(2 cases),cough with sputum(1 case),dyspnea(1 case).Cervical and(or)supra-clavicular lymph node enlargement were seen in 3 patients,inguinal lymph node enlargement in 1 patient,abdominal lymph node enlargement in 1 patient,hilar or mediastinal lymph node enlargement in 2 patients,pulmonary parenchyma and liver were involved in 2 patients,the involvement of kidney,adrenal gland,mesentery,peritoneum,psoas,brain and cutis was respectively found in 1 patient.The clinical and radiological presentations of IRIS were temporary and self-limited,improvement can be seen with antituberculosis therapy and HAART. ConclusionsIt is possible to have IRIS during HAART in AIDS patients with TB.Imaging examinations play an important role in the early diagnosis,monitoting and evaluating the response to therapy of IRIS.

AIM:To observe the structural basis of ocular motility abnormalities in patients with congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type Ⅰ ( CFEOM Ⅰ) due to missense mutations in the developmental kinesin KIF21A using high - resolution magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) .
METHODS: Totally 11 affected individuals reported KIF21A mutations were correlated with MRI studies demonstrating extraocular muscles ( EOMs ) size, location, contractility, and innervation. EOMs and the motor nerve in the orbits were imaged with T1 weighted in a triplanar scan using a dual-phased coils with 2. 0mm thick. Motor nerves were imaged at the brainstem using head coils and 3D-FIESTA with 0. 6-mm thick.
RESULTS: Patients with CFEOM Ⅰ exhibited different degrees of hypoplasia of oculomotor nerve, the abducens nerve and the trochlear nerve were also affected, of which 8 cases of orbital section could see the signal of abnormal nerve dominated by oculomotor nerve to lateral rectus. The both sides of six EOMS in all patients exhibited variable atrophy and abnormal bright internal signal on T1 imaging, particularly severe for the superior rectus and levator muscles.
CONCLUSION: High - resolution MRI can directly demonstrate pathology of motor nerves,affected EOMs, and ‘Pulley' hypoplasia caused by CFEOM Ⅰ due to mutations in KIF21A,and these findings suggest that the neuronal hypoplasia is the etiological factor of CFEOM.

Objective To investigate the molecular genetic causes and their characteristics of deafness from patients with nonsyndromic hearing loss in Gansu province.Methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from a total of 375 patients with nonsyndromic hearing loss to extract genomic DNA.Three genes of GJB2, mitochondrial DNA 12SrRNA, and SLC26A4 were screened for mutations in our study cohort using SNPscan technology.Results Among 375 patients, 23 patients were found to carry the homoplasmic mtDNA12SrRNA A1555G mutation, and 2 patients were detected to carry the homoplasmic mtDNA12SrRNA C1494T mutation.Forty-two cases(11.2%) were caused by GJB2 mutations, including 31cases(8.3%) of homozygous mutations, 11 patients(2.9%) of compound heterozygous mutations, and 25 cases(6.7%) of single homozygous mutations.c.235delC was the most prevalent GJB2 mutation with the allele frequency of 8.8%.Twenty-nine cases (7.7%) were caused by SLC26A4mutations, including 17cases(4.5%) of homozygous mutations, 12 patients(3.2%) of compound heterozygous mutations, and 16 cases(4.3%) of single homozygous mutations.c.919-2A>G and c.2168A>G were the most common SLC26A4 mutation, the allele frequencies were 5.2% and 2.0%, respectively.Conclusion A high incidence of mtDNA12SrRNAA1555G mutation is found in nonsyndromic hearing loss patients from Gansu province, while the incidence of GJB2 and SLC26A4 mutations is similar to the level of the overall Chinese deaf population.These findings demonstrate that a total of 25.6% of deaf patients have inherited hearing impairment caused by GJB2, SLC26A4, and mitochondrialDNA12SrRNA mutations.As a result 36% patients and family member can acquire effective genetic counseling.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of multiple stents placement in the management of hilar cholangiocarcinoma,especially in the complex cases of which the hepatic ducts are invaded.Methods Forty-five consecutive patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma were treated with percutaneous transhepatic placement of two or three self-expandable metallic endoprostheses.The cause of hilar obstructions in these patients were all cholangiocarcinoma,including Bismuth classification type Ⅱ(n 12 ),Ⅲa(n 17),Ⅲb(n 10),and Ⅳ(n 6).Two or 3 stents were placed in the configuration of T,Y or X over the strictures.Results Stent placement with 2 or 3 endoprostheses was successful in all patients.All patients showed significant decrease in serum bilirubin level.The mortality rate within 30 days of stent placement was 2.2%(1/45).The mean survival and stent patency times were 215.3 d(26— 516 d)and 181.5 d(26—473 d),respectively.Conclusion Deploying of multiple metallic stents is an effective method to treat complex hilar cholangiocarcinoma,especially for the cases of which hepatic ducts are invaded:the henatic ducts should be drained as much as nossible.

Objective To summarize the experience of the therapy and diagnosis of thoracictuberculosis. Methods Diagnosis and operation of 163 cases of thoracictuberculosis were analyzed.Results 163 cases of thoracic- tuberculosis were treated with focuspurge upon two weeks' anti-tuberculosis treatment.153 cases were cured upon one operation.10 cases suffered incision delayed healing and there were no recurrence cases.Conclusion Thoraeictu- berculosis was treated with focuspurge upon two weeks anti-tuberculosis treatment before operation.Complete purge of focus and postoperative compression band and residual cavity filled with music flap were important measures to prevent incision delayed healing and recurrence.

Objective To study the characteristics of the transcranial electric stimulation(TES)-elicited motor evoked potentials(MEP)recorded from different points of the diaphragm,and to determine the optimal record- ing site in the diaphragm.Methods One EEG electrode was placed subcutaneously in the midline of the skull as stimulation electrode and another EEG electrode was inserted into hard palate submucously as cathode in 30 male rats.And single square wave electrical pulse was used for stimulation.The stimulation intensity was 15 mA,the du- ration of the pulse was 0.2 ms,and the stimulating interval was 200 ms.The concentric needle electrode were insert- ed into the following eight sites:the medial,intermediate,lateral crura of the diaphragm,the junction of the posterior axilla line and the inferior border of the eleventh rib,the junction of the anterior axilla line and the inferior border of the ninth rib,the junction of the intermediate line of the clavicle and the inferior border of the eighth rib,the junction of the para-sternal line and the inferior border of the seventh rib,the pars sternalis.The MEP was recorded from each point,respectively.The optimal sites of the diaphragm MEP were found and recorded.Results The MEPs were re- corded from each of the 8 sites of the diaphragm in all the rats after TES.There was no statistically significant differ- ence among the latencies of every site.But the amplitude varied from 6.08?0.46 mV in maximum along the inferior border of the ninth rib at the anterior line of the axilla to the minimum of O.91?0.03 mV at the pars sternalis. Conclusion It is safer to insert the needle along the inferior border of the ninth rib at the anterior line of the axilla, because there was certain distant from the folding part of the pleura and the amplitude of the recorded wave at this point is maximal.

Objective:To study the coronal bone structure matching of distal radius in normal population and some patients with postoperative distal radius fracture, and to explore the clinical significance of coronal bone structure reduction of distal radius fracture.Methods:CT scans of 80 asymptomatic wrists were performed. Mimics 20.0 and 3-Matic research software were used to measure the matching data of coronal bone structure of the distal radius. Total of 44 patients with distal radius fractures treated with open reduction and volar plate fixation were collected. According to the data coronal bone structure of the distal radius, the matching group was in the normal range, and the mismatching group was less than the normal range. X-ray films were used to evaluate fracture healing, humeral height, ulnar angle and palm tilt angle at 3 months and 12 months after operation. The clinical indexes of wrist pain, wrist function, grip strength and activity were recorded in 2 groups. The DASH score was used for evaluation, and statistical comparisons was made between the two groups of related indicators.Results:The coronal bone structure matching value of the distal radius in 80 normal adults was 45.0%±16.2%. All the 44 patients with distal radius fracture were followed up for an average of 16 months. The postoperative wound healing was good, and the bone healing standard was reached 3 months after the operation. 3 months after surgery, radius height, ulnar deviation angle and palmar inclination angle of the mismatched group were all smaller than those of the matched group, but the differences had no statistical significance. The pronation angle in the mismatched group (68.82°±11.62°) was lower than that in the matched group (76.91°±9.14°), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.567, P=0.014). The DASH score in the mismatched group (15.53±2.36) was higher than that in the matched group (13.62±2.52), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.591, P=0.013). 12 months after surgery, the VAS score of the matched group (2.08±2.95) was less than that of the mismatched group (2.95±1.24), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=2.348, P=0.024). There was no significant difference in wrist range of motion, grip strength and DASH score between the two groups. Conclusion:The coronal bone structure matching of distal radius is about 45.0% in normal population. Early wrist dysfunction, limited pronation, and wrist pain may occur when the postoperative matching degree of the distal radius fracture is not within the normal range.

To investigate the influence factors and effects of metal or dissolving microneedles on the formation and healing of skin microchannels, the pencil-shaped or conical stainless steel microneedles with different lengths, tip to tip space and base area, and the pencil-shaped dissolving microneedles with different tip to tip space were used. The microneedles were applied to the skin of epilatory mice and rats, and the effects of various microneedle parameters, application parameters, and animals on the microchannels were explored by the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and methylene blue staining. Visually observe the skin local irritation caused by the microneedles. The animal experiments were approved by the Animal Experiments Welfare and Ethical Committee of Zhejiang University of Technology. The application time of the microneedle should be maintained at 30 s or more. When the insertion forces were 2, 4, 8 N, and the TEWL initial values of the formed microchannels were 12.9, 33.0, 40.4 g·m^-2·h^-1, respectively. When the length of metal microneedle were 400, 600, 800 μm, and the TEWL initial values of the formed microchannels were 37.1, 40.4, 49.5 g·m^-2·h^-1, respectively. When the tip to tip space of metal microneedle were 400, 600, 800 μm, and the TEWL initial values of the formed microchannels were 33.2, 40.4, 55.8 g·m^-2·h^-1, respectively. When the base area of metal microneedle were 0.16, 0.35, 0.62 cm², and the TEWL initial values of the formed microchannels were 35.1, 40.4, 67.1 g·m^-2·h^-1, respectively. The effects of conical and pencil-shaped microneedles are similar. When the tip to tip space of pencil shaped dissolving microneedle were 400, 600, 800 μm, and the TEWL initial values of the formed microchannels were 49.8, 60.5, 70.5 g·m^-2·h^-1, respectively. The TEWL baseline values of animal skins of different genders and series are different, but the tendency of microchannels formation and closure is similar. Visual inspection revealed that the slight erythema caused by the microneedles subsided within 24 h. Microneedles of different parameters have different effects on microchannels. The microchannels closed within 24 or 48 h, and the skin local irritation caused by microneedle was mild.