OBJECTIVE: To study the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in promoter region of the Jk gene and its allele frequency as well as distribution characteristics in the Chinese Han nationality population. METHODS: 127 blood samples containing 8 Jk(a-b-) and 119 samples (as control) taken randomly from voluntary blood donors of Chinese Han nationality persons in Shenzhen Blood Center were collected. The Kidd phenotypes were identified by using the serologic test and urea hemolysis test; the Jk promoter, exon 1-11 region and respective flanking area were amplified and sequenced, then the sequence information was analyzed. RESULTS: 8 Jk(a-b-) samples all carried JkB/JkB allele which belongs to 2 kind of Jk genotypes commonly observed in Chinese Han nationality population. 6 IVS5-1g>a and 2 896G>A were found in 8 Jk(a-b-) samples. Besides, all Jk(a-b-) samples were homozygous for JkB/JkB allele. Three SNPs-110(rs900974), -160(rs1484877) and -258(rs1484878) in promoter region of the Jk gene were found and sequenceds calculation of allele and genotype frequencies showed that the result accorded with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, indicating that the population in this study possesses representative characteristics of the Chinese Han nationality population. CONCLUSION The polymorphism of the Jk gene occurs in promoter region. This study calculates the allele frequencies of three SNPs-110(rs900974), -160(rs1484877) and -258(rs1484878) in promoter region of the Jk gene, and shows their distribution characteristics in distinct Kidd phenotypes. These findings provide the basic foundation for further population genetics research.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect between wheat-grain moxibustion at Yinbai (SP 1) and oral administration of dydrogesterone tablet for menstrual period prolongation after down-regulation treatment of in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: A total of 54 patients with prolonged menstrual period after down-regulation treatment of IVF-ET were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 27 cases in each one. In the observation group, when the menstrual period delayed more than 7 days, the wheat-grain moxibustion at Yinbai (SP 1) was performed, once a day, with an interval of 1 day between two 3-day treatments; when the menstrual blood was cleaned, the ovulation was continued and the eggs were taken. In the control group, when the menstrual period delayed more than 7 days, the oral administration of dydrogesterone tablet was provided, 10 mg each time, twice a day; when the menstrual blood was cleaned, the ovulation was continued and the eggs were taken. The number of days for menstrual blood to be cleaned, the area change of uterine cavity hemorrhage, the morphology of endometrium, the blood supply of endometrium, the number of oocytes obtained, the grade of frozen embryo and the clinical effect were observed between the two groups after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the number of days for menstrual blood to be cleaned was shorter in the observation group after treatment (<0.05); the area of uterine cavity hemorrhage in the observation group was smaller than that in the control group (<0.05); the morphology of endometrium and the supply of blood flow in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the number of oocytes obtained and available frozen embryo between the two groups (>0.05). The cured rate in the observation group was 100.0% (27/27), higher than 33.3% (9/27) in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION The wheat-grain moxibustion at Yinbai (SP 1) could more effectively treat prolonged menstrual period after IVF-ET down-regulation treatment, which is beneficial to the preparation of the endometrium, and has no effect on the oocyte collection and embryo culture.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the auxiliary analgesic effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture on patients undergoing transforaminal endoscope surgery. METHODS: A total of 64 patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent percutaneous lateral transforaminal endoscope surgery were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with injection of 1% lidocaine for routine local infiltration anesthesia. The patients in the observation group were treated with wrist-ankle acupuncture at lower 5 area and lower 6 area for 30 min, 5 min before routine local infiltration anesthesia; immediately, 15 min, 30 min after insertion the left-right technique, up-down technique, and rotation technique were applied for six times, respectively. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), blood oxygen saturation (SpO) and pain visual analogue scale (VAS) were compared between the two groups at the time points of intraoperative puncture (T), circular saw grinding (T), and placement of working channel (T). The intention of reoperation was recorded immediately after operation and 24 h after operation. The expectation and treatment credibility scale (ETCS) was used to evaluate the relationship between patients' expectation and efficacy 5 min before operation and immediately after operation. RESULTS: At T and T during the operation, the MAP and HR in the obserrvation group were lower than those in the control group, while SpO was higher than that in the control group (<0.05). At T, there was no significant difference of MAP, HR and SpO between the two groups (>0.05). At T, the peak VAS and average VAS in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (<0.05), but there was no significant difference at T and T (>0.05). The intention of reoperation in the observation group was higher than that in the control group both immediately after operation and 24 h after operation (<0.05). In the observation group, the scores of each item in ETCS immediately after operation were higher than those 5 min before operation (<0.05), while in the control group there was no significant difference between immediately after operation and 5 min before operation (>0.05). The scores of ETCS1, ETCS2 and ETCS3 immediately after operation in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (<0.05). CONCLUSION The wrist-ankle acupuncture has positive auxiliary analgesic effect on lumbago during transforaminal endoscope surgery, and strengthens the patients' confidence on the operation effect.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of ultrasound scan at 16 to 18 gestational weeks in euploid fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT).Methods From January 2015 to June 2017,214 fetuses diagnosed with increased NT thickness (NT ≥ 3.0 mm) during early pregnancy in Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital were enrolled.Fetal chromosome karyotype analysis was carried out prenatally.Those cases with normal karyotype underwent ultrasound scan at 16-18 and 20-24 gestational weeks and their outcomes were followed up via telephone.Descriptive statistics was used for statistical analysis.Results There were 198 out of the 214 cases undergoing chromosome karyotype analysis and among them,78 (39％) pregnancies were terminated due to chromosomal abnormalities.Out of the 107 cases with normal karyotype and successful followups,35％(37/107) had structural malformations.There were 19,11 and 6 cases of fetal structural malformations diagnosed at 11-13+6,16-18 and 20-24 weeks of gestational age,respectively,and the rest one was at 28 weeks.Structural deformities detected at 16-18 weeks included cleft lip and palate (n=2),cardiac malformations (n=2),spinal deformities (n=2),body deformities (n=2),diaphragmatic hernia (n=1),encephalocele (n=1) and left multicystic dysplastic kidney (n=1).About 91％ (70/77) of the fetuses with normal karyotype but without abnormal ultrasound findings at 16-18 weeks were free of structural malformations and achieved good pregnant outcomes.Conclusions Ultrasound screening at 16 to 18 weeks of pregnancy can be used to detect multiple structural malformations in fetuses with increased NT and normal karyotype,which may contribute to early detection of fetal structural malformations and help gravidas and their families make timely decisions.

Purpose To investigate the expression and the methylation status of miR-4687-5P and STIM1 gene in esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) cell lines and ESCC tissue samples,in order to explore the correlation between miR-4687-5P and STIM1 expression,as well as whether they have a common expression regulation mechanism. Methods The qRTPCR and methylation specific PCR (MSP) methods were applied respectively to examine the expression and methylation of miR-4687-5P and STIM1 genes in ESCC cell lines (TE13, KYSE150,T. Tn) and ESCC samples,and further to analyze their correlation. Results The expression of miR-4687-5P and STIM1 genes in ESCC was significantly decreased,and consistent. The weak expression of miR-4687-5P and STIM1 genes was detected in three ESCC cell lines. After treated with 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-Dc,a demethylation agent) ,the expression levels of these two genes were obviously increased. Meanwhile, the methylation bands were obviously weakened or disappeared. The promoter region of STIM1 gene was hypermethylated in ESCC tissues,and its methylation frequency was correlated with the expression of STIM1 and miR-4687-5P (P < 0. 01) . Conclusion miR-4687-5P and STIM1 genes are down-regulated in esophageal carcinoma,and the expression of miR-4687-5P may be regulated by the promoter of its host gene STIM1,and the hypermethylation may be one of the common mechanisms leading to down-regulatory expression of miR-4687-5P and STIM1 genes in ESCC.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture plus intradermal needle in treating mild-to-moderate post-stroke depression (PSD). Method Ninty patients with mild-to-moderate PSD were randomized into group A, B and C, with 30 cases in each group. All the groups were intervened by selecting Baihui (GV20), Shenting (GV24) and Yintang (GV29). Group A received acupuncture plus intradermal needle; group B, intradermal needle alone; group C, acupuncture plus sham acupuncture. Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) score and Barthel index (BI) score in the three groups were observed before and at the end of the treatment, and the clinical efficacies of the three groups were compared. Result The HDRS score and BI score showed a significant change after the treatment in the three groups (P<0.01). After the treatment, the HDRS score and BI score in the group A and group B was significantly different from those in group C (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 90.0％ in group A versus 86.7％in group B, and 73.3％ in group C; there was a statistically significant difference between group C and group A or B (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion Both acupuncture plus intradermal needle and intradermal needle alone are effective approaches in treating mild-to-moderate PSD. The treatment efficacy of these two methods is similar.

Single-port and reduced-port laparoscopic radical gastrectomy as the innovative surgery for gastric cancer are gradually accepted nowadays,and more attentions are also paid to single-port and reduced-port laparoscopic radical gastrectomy due to its better cosmetic effect,less pain,lower incidence rate of surgical site infection and more advantages in enhanced recovery after surgery.However,in the early stage,the development of single-port and reduced-port laparoscopic radical gastrectomy were facing challenges and obstacles on account of limited surgical skills,the lack of special laparoscopic instruments,laparoscope and multi-port Trocar.In recent years,the dilemma and difficult situations were gradually resolved following by surgical techniques innovation,laparoscopic instruments and facilities improvement.It is believed that single-port and reduced-port laparoscopic radical gastrectomy will have a good prospect and breakthrough in the field of gastric cancer treatment in the future.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of abnormal course of fetal superior mesenteric arteries (SMA) detected by ultrasound during the first trimester (11-13+6 weeks) in predicting congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Methods This study enrolled women who underwent fetal nuchal translucency (NT) screening during the first trimester in Central Hospital of Panyu District from March to December 2017. Low-speed high-definition flow imaging was used to observe the course of fetal SMA, and it was regarded as abnormal when the angle between SMA and abdominal aorta >90°. Once abnormal course of the SMA was suspected, the position of fetal thoracic cavity and abdominal organs would be scanned carefully. Furthermore, ultrasound examinations would be repeated at 16-18, 20-24, 28-32 and 37-40 weeks of gestation. Fetus diagnosed as CDH by ultrasound would be scheduled for MRI or autopsy to confirm the diagnosis. Pregnancy outcomes of all cases were followed up by telephone. Descriptive statistical analysis was used in this study. Results A total of 6 899 gravidas (6 964 fetuses) underwent NT scan during the first trimester were enrolled and the SMA of all fetuses were successfully displayed. Three cases with abnormal course of the SMA were identified. Two of them were diagnosed with left CDH at 17+ and 23+ weeks of gestation, which was confirmed by autopsy after termination of pregnancy, and the other one terminated pregnancy in first trimester due to a large omphalocele. Among the 6 961 fetuses with normal SMA, the pregnancy outcomes of 6 120 were successfully followed up, only one of which was found to have left CDH at 32 gestational weeks by ultrasound examination, and was later confirmed by neonatal MRI after delivery. No other fetal CDH was detected. Conclusions Abnormal course of the SMA identified in early pregnancy may be a simple and effective indicator for CDH that allow early intervention and treatment.

Aging increases the risk of various diseases. The main goal of aging research is to find therapies that attenuate aging and alleviate aging-related diseases. In this study, we screened a natural product library for geroprotective compounds using Werner syndrome (WS) human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), a premature aging model that we recently established. Ten candidate compounds were identified and quercetin was investigated in detail due to its leading effects. Mechanistic studies revealed that quercetin alleviated senescence via the enhancement of cell proliferation and restoration of heterochromatin architecture in WS hMSCs. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed the transcriptional commonalities and differences in the geroprotective effects by quercetin and Vitamin C. Besides WS hMSCs, quercetin also attenuated cellular senescence in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and physiological-aging hMSCs. Taken together, our study identifies quercetin as a geroprotective agent against accelerated and natural aging in hMSCs, providing a potential therapeutic intervention for treating age-associated disorders.