Objective To study the prevalence of toenail onychomycosis in the patients with diabetes mel-litus. Methods The incidence and predisposing factors of onychomycosis were studied in the in- and out-patients with diabetes mellitus(n = 456). The data were also compared with non-diabetic patients (control group, n = 350). Results The prevalence rates of toenail onychomycosis were 20.8% and 9.4% in the diabetics and control group, respectively, with statistical difference (P

Objective To study the mechanism of oxidative damage in myocardial tissue after limb ischemia reperfusion (IR), and the protective effects of heme oxygenase-1 on myocardial injury in experimental rats. Method The models of bilateral hind limbs ischemia and reperfusion in rats were established by using tourniquets applied to the roots of both hind limbs until palm blanched and pulseless for 4 hours. A total of 56 SD rats were randomly (random number) divided into 7 groups, namely one normal control group ( n = 8) and 6 ischemia-reperfusion groups as per different lengths of reperfusion time, e. g. 2 hrs, 4 hrs, 8 hrs, 16 h rs and 24 hr ( n = 8 each). The experimental rats were sacrificed after different lengths of reperfusion time. Specimens of myocardium and blood were taken for assays of malonaldehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), and pathological changes of myocardium were observed, and the expressions of HO-1 mRNA in myocardium were detected. Data were analyzed with ANOVA. Results (1) Compared with the control group, the levels of serum MDA and myocardial MDA of rats were increased in all IR groups and were higher (P < 0.05), and the levels of MDA reached the peak after reperfusion for 4 hours. The levels of serum SOD and myocardial SOD in rats of all IR groups were decreased and lower than those in rats of the control group ( P < 0.05), and the levels of serum SOD dropped away to the lowest point after reperfusion for 4 hours, and the levels of myocardial SOD fell off to the bottom after reperfusion for 8 hours. The levels of serum MPO and myocardial MPO were significantly increased in rats of all IR groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The levels of serum MPO reached peak after reperfusion for 4 hours, and the levels of myocardial MPO were increased to the highest spot after reperfusion for 6 hours. (2) The pathological changes in myocardium showed the most severe damage after reperfusionfor 4-6 hours.(3) After reperfusion for 2 hours, there were no significant differences in the expression of HO-1 mRNA between IR groups and control group (P >0.05), and after reperfusion for 4 hours and over, the expressions of HO-1 mRNA were markedly increased in IR groups and reached peak after reperfusion for 16 hours in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions The activation of neutrophils and free radicals may play a primarily adverse role in myocardial injury after limb IR, and the increase in the expression of HO-1 mRNA lessens the harm effects of IR on myocardium.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of serum total bile acid(TBA)and cholyglycine(CG)detection in the early diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP)and perinatal adverse outcomes.Methods Chose 67 ca-ses of ICP pregnant women diagnosed and treated in Chang'an Hospital from June 2015 to June 2017 and they were selected as observation group.According to the 2015 edition of the diagnostic guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of intrahe-patic cholestasis of pregnancy.The patients were divided into mild ICP group and severe ICP group,and 60 healthy pregnant women were selected as the control group.The serum TBA concentration was measured by fifth generation cyclic enzyme method and the concentration of serum CG was detected by latex enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay.The serum TBA,CG test results and the rate of abnormal test results,the incidence rate of perinatal adverse outcomes were compared between groups.Evaluation of serum TBA and CG detection of pregnancy early diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis and clinical value of perinatal adverse outcomes.Results The detection results of serum TBA and CG in the control group,mild ICP group and severe ICP group,there were significant differences between the three groups,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01),the detection results in the CG group,serum TBA,ICP slightly higher than the control group,the difference was statistically significant(t=22.27,39.68,P<0.05).Weight of serum TBA and ICP group,the results of CG was higher than that of patients with mild ICP group,the difference was statistically significant(t=10.24,70.87,P<0.05).And in the con-trol group,mild ICP group,severe ICP group pregnant women serum TBA,CG test results increased with the aggravation of the disease.Serum TBA and CG abnormal results in 60 cases of the control group were not detected.In 67 cases of group ICP(mild ICP group and severe ICP group)were 63 cases and 61 cases,two groups of abnormal results rate comparison,and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=29.35,31.27,P<0.01).Perinatal premature labor,fetal distress,perinatal death and stillbirth incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes in the control group,mild ICP group and severe ICP group were significantly different between the three groups(χ2=39.17,56.31,13.02,6.92,P<0.01).Conclusion Intrahepatic chole-stasis of pregnancy,serum TBA and CG increased significantly,can be used as a sensitive indicator of ICP diagnosis,improve the detection rate of ICP,and effectively predict perinatal outcome.For intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy early detection and early diagnosis,it has important clinical significance.

Objective To explore the change of serum insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2) and its relationship with clinical characteristics in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Fifty-one schizophrenic patients were recruited in the present study and 50 healthy volunteers served as controls. The serum IGF-2 level was measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to evaluate the psychotic symp?toms of patients. Trail Making Test-A (TMTA), Digit-Symbol Coding Test (DSCT), Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT) were used to evaluate the cognitive function of both groups. Results There were sig?nificant differences in the results of TMTA, DSCT, CPT and SCWT between patient and control groups. The serum levels of IGF-2 were significantly lower in patients than that in controls [(202.7±40.7) ng/mL vs. (365.9±65.5) ng/mL, P<0.01]. The levels of serum IGF-2 were not significantly different between first-episode and recurrent schizophrenic patients (P>0.05). Furthermore, significant correlations were found between the serum IGF-2 level and the negative symptom sub?scale of PANSS (r=-0.397, P=0.004), CPT score (r=0.378, P=0.006), SCWT-word number (r=0.289, P=0.040), SC? WT-color number (r=0.327, P=0.019) and SCWT-word/color number (r=0.386, P=0.005) in schizophrenic patients. Con?clusion The serum IGF-2 levels of patients with schizophrenia are significantly lower than that of healthy controls, and the IGF-2 level is associated with the severity of negative symptoms and cognitive impairments in patients, indicating that serum IGF-2 might be an indicator of the severity of schizophrenia.

AIMTo study the effects of TNF receptor blocking peptide on adjuvant arthritis in rats.

METHODSThe model of rat adjuvant arthritis was induced by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant. The TNF receptor blocking peptide was injected locally in the ankle. The ankle swelling, the pathologic changes in the ankle joint and the expression of IL-1 beta mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA by peritoneal macrophages (RT-PCR) were observed.

RESULTSThe model of rat adjuvant arthritis induced by injection of complete Freund's adjuvant was similar to human rheumatoid arthritis. The treatment with TNF receptor blocking peptide for 10 days resulted in complete inhibition of joint swelling, a decrease in infiltration of inflammatory cell into joint tissue, an obvious alleviation of inflammatory pathological damages and an apparent decline of TNF-alpha mRNA and IL-1 beta mRNA of peritoneal macrophages of rats.

CONCLUSIONThe TNF receptor blocking peptide can protect the joint from inflammatory damage induced by adjuvant arthritis by suppression of TNF-alpha and IL-1 production, thereby alleviating the pathological injury of joint and controlling effectively the clinic course of arthritis.

Animals ; Ankle Joint ; pathology ; Arthritis, Experimental ; immunology ; pathology ; Interleukin-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; metabolism ; Male ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Adiponectin ; blood ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Ribavirin ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo improve the paramedian forehead flap for nasal reconstruction.

METHODSBased on the findings of the Cutaneous branch of supratrochlear artery, the forehead musculo-cutaneous flap was divided into the musculo-flap and the skin-flap in 3 patients. The musculo-flap were used to reconstruct the septi-bone structure, and envelop silicon nasal-frame, while the skin-flap were used to reconstruct the nose. In 6 patients, the forehead flap was used as a skin-flap just with the muscle pedicle to reconstruct a nose with good appearance of nasal subunits, without the secondary operation.

RESULTSIn all of 9 cases, the cutaneous-branch of supratrochlear artery was found 1.7-2.0 cm above the orbital-rim. Eight patients got good results, only 1 patient had to do the secondary operation to coverage the exposed nasal frame.

CONCLUSIONSThe cutaneous-branch of supratrochlear artery could be an anatomical finding to form the forehead skin-flap and it is a good choice to be used to reconstruct a nose, even in complicated cases.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; transplantation ; Nose ; surgery ; Patient Satisfaction ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; standards ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of lentivirus-mediated RNA interference silencing HMGA2 on proliferation and expressions of cyclin B2 and cyclin A2 in HL-60 cell line.

METHODSThe protein and mRNA expressions of HMGA2 in HL-60 cells transduced by recombinant lentivirus producing HMGA2 gene short hairpin (shRNA) were examined by Western-blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis; The effects of the lentivirus on cell proliferation inhibiting rate, the ability of cell proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed by soft agar colony formation assay and FCM, respectively; The protein and mRNA expressions of cyclin B2 and cyclin A2 were also examined by Western-blot and RT-PCR.

RESULTSRecombinant lentivirus producing HMGA2 shRNA was successfully constructed, which was identified by PCR and sequencing; Stable HMGA2-deficient HL-60 cell line was established by puromycin, its mRNA and protein expression inhibition rates were (80.66 ± 7.98)% and (76.35 ± 12.72)%, respectively. Silencing of endogenous HMGA2 resulted in efficient inhibition of the cellular proliferative activity, low and flat of the cell growth curve and the lack of typical character of exponential growth. FCM revealed significant more cell cycle G(2)/M arrest \[(30.00 ± 5.78)%\] in HL-60 cell line transfected specific shRNA than control group \[(13.90 ± 4.07)%\] (P < 0.05). The cyclin B2 mRNA and protein expression inhibition rates in stable HMGA2-deficient HL-60 cell line were (67.55 ± 7.69)% and (51.77 ± 4.81)%, respectively, while the expression of cyclin A2 had no significant change compared with control group.

CONCLUSIONRNAi silencing of HMGA2 down-regulated cyclinB2, significantly inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 cells and induced the accumulation of HL-60 cells in the G(2)/M phase. Thus, HMGA2 may be an important target for anti-leukemia therapy.

Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin A2 ; genetics ; Cyclin B2 ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; HL-60 Cells ; HMGA2 Protein ; genetics ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

The study was aimed to investigate the expression of stromal cell derived factor (SDF-1) in bone marrow (BM) and its relation with apoptosis of BM CD34(+) cell and angiogenesis in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). 40 patients with MDS were divided into low-risk group and high-risk group according to IPSS score system. BM samples were collected. SDF-1 levels, the apoptosis of CD34(+) cells and microvessel density (MVD) of BM were detected by ELISA, flow cytometry and immunochemistry, respectively. The results showed that the SDF-1 level in MDS patients was significantly higher than that in normal controls(p < 0.05), and SDF-1 level in low-risk group was significantly higher than that in high-risk group. Apoptosis of CD34(+) cells significantly increased in low-risk group compared with other groups (p < 0.05). MVD in BM biopsy significantly increased in high-risk MDS group (p < 0.05), compared with low-risk MDS group which also had higher MVD than the control group (p < 0.05). Positive correlation was found between apoptosis of CD34(+) cells and SDF-1 levels in low-risk group, and SDF-1 level and MVD in high-risk group. It is concluded that the expression of SDF-1, apoptosis of BM CD34(+) cells and MVD were significantly abnormal in MDS patients, especially in different risk group, suggesting that SDF-1 level is related to cell apoptosis and angiogenesis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; metabolism ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Young Adult

Alteration in the balance between cell apoptosis and proliferation is one of the pathophysiological mechanisms of the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The question of whether the excessive apoptosis and/or proliferation predominantly involve the subset of progenitor cells (CD34(+) cells) or mature cells (CD34(-) cells) remains a controversial issue. This study was purpose to analyze the apoptosis and proliferation status of CD34(+) and CD34(-) cells in bone marrow (BM) of patients with MDS, to investigate the pathogenesis of MDS and to determine the relation of apoptosis and proliferation status of CD34(+) and CD34(-) cells with prognosis of MDS. The proportion of CD34(+) cells, the apoptosis and proliferation ratio (A/P) of CD34(+) and CD34(-) cells in BM of 40 patients with MDS, including 20 cases of high-risk MDS and 20 cases of low-risk MDS, and 10 normal persons as control were detected by flow cytometry; the influence of CD34(+) and CD34(-) cell apoptosis and proliferation levels on prognosis of MDS was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis of survival. The results showed that the proportion of CD34(+) cells in BM of high-risk MDS patients was significantly higher than that in BM of low-risk MDS patients and in normal BM [(1.92 ± 0.10)%, (1.09 ± 0.04)%, (1.03 ± 0.05)% respectively]. The apoptotic rates (AR) of both CD34(+) and CD34(-) cells were significantly higher in low-risk MDS [(54.75 ± 2.18)%, (80.36 ± 1.68)%] than in high-risk MDS [(24.87 ± 2.69)%, (23.12 ± 1.23)%] and in normal BM [(18.51 ± 2.74)%, (20.98 ± 2.21)%]. When compared between CD34(+) cells and CD34(-) cells in low-risk MDS, a greater AR of CD34(-) cells was found. However, the higher proliferative rate of CD34(+) cells was observed in high-risk MDS. In low-risk MDS, a higher A/P ratio was found in CD34(-) cells than in CD34(+) cells; whereas this ratio was equalized or inverted in high-risk MDS. In addition, the survival and prognosis correlated significantly with AR of CD34(+) cells. It is concluded that the early MDS is predominantly associated with excessive apoptosis of the mature CD34(-) cells. The proliferation rate of cells increases with the disease progression in MDS subsets, especially, in the subset of CD34(+) cells. Surprisingly, the apoptosis of CD34(+) cells may be a useful prognostic factor, and the inhibition of apoptotic mechanisms may induce the transformation of MDS to leukemia.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; mortality ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult