Objective:To investigate the efficacy of Balanophora involucrata Hook.f.in treatment of hyperuricemia(HUA)based on network pharmacology,molecular docking,and hyperuricemia models in vivo and in vitro,and to clarify the main targets of its active components and related signaling pathway mechanism.Methods:The potential targets of Balanophora involucrata Hook.f.in treatment of HUA were identified by Databases such as the Traditional Chinese Medicine Database in Taiwan,the Chinese Herbal Medicine Identification Database,Professional Chemical Database,TargetNet Database,SwissTargetPrediction Database,GeneCards,Therapeutic Target Database(TTD),DrugBank Database,DisGeNET Database,Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM)Database,and Venny Database.STRING Database and Cytoscape software were used to construct the active component-predictive target network and protein-protein interaction(PPI)network for Balanophora involucrata Hook.f.;topological analysis was used to select the main active components and core targets;Gene Ontology(GO)functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)signaling pathway enrichment analysis were performed by R software;AutoDock Vina software was used for molecular docking validation.The NRK-52E cells were divided into blank control group,blank administration group,model group,and different concentrations(2.0,10.0,and 50.0 μmol·L-1)of erythrodiol(EDT)groups.High-performance liquid chromatography culture(HPLC)was used to detect the uric acid(UA)levels in the cell culture supernatants in various groups.The male ICR mice were divided into blank control group,blank administration group,model group,and EDT group;the mice in the last two groups were used to prepare the HUA models;kits were used to detect the levels of UA,creatinine(Cr),and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)in serum of the mice in various groups;the bilateral kidney tissue of the mice was harvested and weighed;the kidney indexes of the mice in various groups were calculated;TUNEL staining was used to observe the apoptosis in kidney tissue of the mice in various groups;Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of protein kinase B(AKT),phosphorylated AKT(p-AKT),phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K),phosphorylated PI3K(p-PI3K),B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax),and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)proteins in kidney tissue of the mice in various groups.Results:Six active components of Balanophora involucrata Hook.f.were identified,involving 116 intersecting targets and 14 core targets.The enrichment analysis yielded 1 828 GO terms and 145 signaling pathways.The molecular docking results showed that EDT had good binding activity with MMP-9.The high uric acid cell experiment results showed that compared with blank control group,the UA level in the cells in model group was significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with model group,the UA levels in the cells in 2.0,10.0,and 50.0 μmol·L-1 EDT groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Compared with blank control group,the levels of UA,Cr,and BUN in serum of the mice in model group were increased(P<0.01),and the kidney indexes were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with model group,the levels of UA,Cr,and BUN in serum of the mice in EDT group were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the kidney index was significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01).Compared with blank control group,the number of apoptotic cells in kidney tissue of the mice in model group was increased;compared with model group,the number of the apoptotic cells in kidney tissue of the mice in EDT group was significantly decreased.Compared with blank control group,the ratios of p-AKT/AKT and p-PI3K/PI3K and expression level of Bcl-2 protein in kidney tissue of the mice in model group were significantly decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),while the expression levels of Bax and MMP-9 proteins were significantly increased(P<0.01);compared with model group,the ratios of p-AKT/AKT and p-PI3K/PI3K and expression level of Bcl-2 protein in kidney tissue of the mice in EDT group were significantly increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the expression levels of Bax and MMP-9 proteins were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Conclusion:The active component of Balanophora involucrata Hook.f.,EDT,has a UA-decreasing effect and may inhibit the apoptosis and alleviate the kidney injury by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective:To assess the changes of selenium nutrition of school-age children in Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) areas of Linzhou County, Lhasa City and Xietongmen County, Shigatse City in Tibet Autonomous Region (referred to as Tibet), and provide a scientific basis for evaluating the effectiveness of prevention and control measures.Methods:According to the historical condition of KBD, a total of 344 children's hair samples were collected to determine the content of selenium in Kazi (KBD area) and Jiangxia townships (non-KBD area) of Linzhou County in 2013 and 2021, Renqinze (KBD area) and Tongmen townships (non-KBD area) of Xietongmen County in 2015 and 2021.Results:Compared to 2013/2015, in 2021, the hair selenium level of children in the four townships increased ( P < 0.001). The selenium nutritional level of more than 90% of the children reached medium or above (hair selenium > 0.25 μg/g) in 2021. The hair selenium levels of girls in the two KBD areas (Kazi and Renqinze townships) were lower than those of boys ( Z = - 2.83, - 2.83, P < 0.05). Conclusions:The selenium nutrition level of school-age children in KBD areas in Linzhou and Xietongmen counties has increased rapidly in recent years. However, the selenium nutrition level of girls is significantly lower than that of boys. It is necessary to strengthen prevention, controlling and monitoring, and to further improve the dietary structure of school-age children through the joint efforts of families and schools, to increase the proportion of exogenous high selenium food intake.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for two children with sporadic neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) complicated with nephrotic syndrome (NS). METHODS: Clinical data of the children were collected. Both children were subjected to high-throughput sequencing, and candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Both children had café-au-lait macules, subaxillary freckle and Lisch nodules. Child 1 also had congenital tibiofibular pseudarthrosis on the left side. Genetic testing revealed that child 1 has harbored a heterozygous c.844C>T variant in the exon 8 of the NF1 gene, whilst child 2 has harbored a heterozygous c.1246C>T variant in the exon 11 of the NF1 gene. Both children were diagnosed with NF1 and have developed pronounced proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hypercholesterolemia and pitting edema at the ages of 3 and 10, respectively. Renal biopsy of child 2 has revealed minimal change nephropathy, and the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome was established. Child 1 was treated with glucocorticoid, and child 2 was treated with glucocorticoid in combination with mycophenolate mofetil. The NS was relieved with no recurrence during 1 year's follow-up. CONCLUSION NF1 combined with NS is rare in the clinical settings. The prognosis of children with NF1 combined with minimal change nephropathy is relatively good. Detection of NF1 gene variant can facilitate early identification and diagnosis of NF1.
Child ; Humans ; Neurofibromatosis 1/genetics* ; Nephrotic Syndrome/genetics* ; Nephrosis, Lipoid ; Glucocorticoids ; Genetic Testing

Objective:To observe the distribution ratio of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis(HNL) in the age of children, evaluate glucocorticoids and Hydroxychloroquine therapeutic effects, evaluate the meaning of lymph node excisional biopsy.Methods:The data of 70 cases of patients with the lymph node excisional biopsy in Tianjin Children′s Hospital from December 2010 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.and summarized the treatment experience and prognosis.Results:HNL mostly occurs in children 7-12 years old.The male-female ratio was 1.12∶1.00, but over 13 years old was 0.6∶1.0.Eighteen point one six percent (13 cases) of HNL was relieved after the lymph node excisional biopsy.Thirty-five cases were treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and only 10 cases (14.2%) were improved with NSAIDs alone and the rest were improved in combination with glucocorticoids.Four patients with ineffective glucocorticoids therapy were improved in combination with Hydroxychloroquine.Conclusion:HNL in children was more common in school-age children.For children under 13 years old, the incidence among boys is slightly higher than that among girls; for children above 13 years old, the incidence among boys is slightly lower than that among girls.Lymph node biopsy is still the gold standard for diagnosis and is conducive to remission.The course of disease is self-limited, for the cases that NSAIDs is poor, the glucocorticoid treatment should be used.For refractory cases, combined Hydroxychloroquine treatment can be used.

Objective: To summarize the diagnosis, clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of congenital cystic lung lesions. Methods: A retrospective study described the clinical course of 96 patients (46 female and 50 male) diagnosed with congenital cystic lung lesions treated at the Tianjin Children′s Hospital from January 2010 to March 2019. The clinical findings, imaging examinations, pathological findings, treatment and follow-up were analyzed. Results: Totally 96 patients (aged from 4 days to 13 years) with congenital cystic lung lesions were included in this study. Eighty-six patients (90%) were diagnosed when they had cough and fever symptoms. Forty (42%) patients exhibited congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, 30 underwent surgical excision, two were at emergency operations and one dead. There were 12 (13%) patients with pulmonary sequestration and four were surgical treated. Twelve (13%) patients with bronchogenic cyst were included and 4 were surgically treated. There were 3 (3%) patients with congenital lobar emphysema and one was surgically treated. Another patient with pneumothorax was operated in other hospital 2 months after discharge. Twenty-nine (30%) patients with unclassified congenital cystic lung lesions could not be definitively diagnosed by CT. Some of them were difficult to be distinguished from necrotizing pneumonia. Finally, 2 patients were diagnosed as necrotizing pneumonia after 6, 10 months follow-up. After operation 37 out of 39 patients recovered well. Conclusions The diagnosis of congenital pulmonary cystic disease depend on imaging and pathological examination. Most patients are diagnosed when they have respiratory tract infection. The main clinical manifestations are cough and fever. The prognosis of operative management is good.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of differentially methylated genes and gene ontology associated with neural tube defects (NTDs). METHODS: Twelve subjects from 3 NTDs pedigrees were enrolled. Patients with NTDs have served as the case group, while their family members with normal phenotypes have served as the control group. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood samples of the families and used for DNA methylation analysis. Pairwise comparison was carried out primarily for patient-offspring pairs, and co-segregation of methylation pattern with NTDs was analyzed. Pathway related to differentially methylated genes was predicted with DAVID software. RESULTS: Pairwise comparison indicated that VTRNA2-1 was the only gene in which all CpG sites were methylated. Co-segregation of VTRNA2-1 gene methylation with NTDs was found in all pedigrees. Pathways of hypermethylated genes included plasma membrane component, regulation of cellular protein metabolic process, and regulation of actin cytoskeleton organization, while the pathways of hypomethylated genes have included transcription regulator activity, cell adhesion, and neuronal differentiation. CONCLUSION Methylation of the VTRNA2-1 gene has co-segregated with NTDs in the studied pedigrees. The pathways of differentially methylated genes has involved with mechanism of neural tube development.
CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Ontology ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Neural Tube Defects ; genetics ; Pedigree

Objective To observe the effects and safety of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) combined with Huaiqihuang on frequent relapse nephrotic syndrome (FRNS) in children. Methods Fifty-five child patients with FRNS were divided into control group, which was given glucocorticoid (GC) to maintain the treatment (group A, n=10), Huaiqihuang group (group B, n=17), ACTH group (group C, n=14) and ACTH combined with Huaiqihuang group (combined treatment group, group D, n=14). Continuous treatment was for 12 months. The GC treatment doses, the levels of basal secretion of adrenal cortex and adrenal cortex reserve were recorded at 6-month and 12-month respectively. And the recurrence rate and adverse reactions were observed in four groups. Results After 6-month treatment, the doses of GC were significantly lower in group C and group D than those in group A and group B (P<0.05). The levels of basal secretion of adrenal cortex were increased in turn in group A~D (P<0.05). After 12-month treatment, the doses of GC were significantly decreased in group C and group D than those in group A and group B, while the level of basal secretion of adrenal cortex and adrenal cortex reserve were increased (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the doses of GC between group C and group D (P>0.05). After treatment for 6 months and 12 months, the recurrence rates of nephrotic syndrome were significantly lower in group C and group D than those of group A and group B (P<0.05). Conclusion The simple application of ACTH and the combination of Huaiqihuang can relieve the inhibition of long-term using GC on hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis in FRNS patients.

Objective To investigate the correlation between neural tube defects (NTDs) and DACT1 gene, and provide the basic data for disease diagnosis and genetic counseling. Methods Blood samples were obtained from 163 NTDs patients and 480 unrelated healthy individuals. Mutation detection of DACT1 gene and DNA direct sequencing was carried out by PCR amplification. Bioinformatics analysis of these mutated loci was performed. Results Six mutations were found in NTDs patients, including 4 missense mutations (p.R45W, p.D142G, p.N356K and p.V702G). But these mutations were not found in 480 healthy individuals. Three mutated amino acid residues (p.45R, p.142D and p.356N) were highly conservative in evolution, and the mutated carriers were female patients, and suffered from anencephaly. Conclusion DACT1 gene mutation may be a risk factor of NTDs in Han population of northern China.

Objective To study the relationship between environment selenium distribution characteristic and Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD) in the Yarlung Zangbo River banks and to provide some measures for prevention and control of KBD in the north side of the river bank.Methods Considering the geography and KBD distribution,we made a survey in Xietongmen (KBD area),Lazi and Sajia (non-KBD area) counties in 2013 and 2015.Water,soil,herbage,grain food and children hair samples were collected.Selenium of the samples was measured by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry.Results A total of 246 samples of natural soil,cultivated soil,drinking water,food and forage,and 103 samples of children hair were collected.The selenium in natural soil,cultivated soil,herbage,barley,tsampa,self-produced wheat in non-KBD area in the south side of Yarlung Zangbo River bank were significantly higher than those in KBD areas in the north side [mean (μg/kg):288.62 vs 134.90,228.26 vs 160.28,41.85 vs 5.10,13.99 vs 4.02,12.64 vs 8.07,27.44 vs 13.56,U =7,23,0,19,62,0,P ＜ 0.05].Hair selenium in school children in KBD area in the north side was higher than that previously reported,but still significantly lower than that in non-KBD areas in the south side of the river bank [mg/kg:0.221 vs 0.306,U =650,P ＜ 0.01],and about 65.45％ (36/55)of school children in KBD area were at a risk of selenium deficiency in the north of the Yarlung Zangbo River bank.Conclusions The selenium contem in the food chain of soilplants-animals (human being) is significantly lower in KBD area in the north side of Yarlung Zangbo River bank than that in non-KBD areas in the south side.It's still a key factor for the occurrence and prevalence of KBD that low selenium in environment in KBD areas in the north side.

Objective To construct a mouse model for real-time,noninvasive and specific monitoring of inflammation activation in hepatic tissues.Methods An inflammation reporter gene was targeted to the liver by hydrodynamic gene delivery technology.Bioluminescence imaging was used to detect the firefly luciferase(Fluc) expression in the mouse liver after inflammatory stimulation.Besides,the relevance between the light intensity and inflammation level was also intensively investigated.Results pIL-6-Fluc was successfully delivered to the liver.The hydrodynamic gene delivery could cause a transient liver injury that could return normal in 5 to 7 days.The expression of pIL-6-Fluc could be induced by lipopolysaccharides(LPS) treatment with an about (46.80±13.35) fold increase at the peak value,which was significantly higher than that detected by ELISA [(4.09±0.96)fold].Conclusion An inflammation reporter mouse model is constructed in this study by hydrodynamic gene transfection,allowing noninvasive monitoring of inflammation activation specifically in hepatic tissues.The reporter model is capable of monitoring inflammation activation with a sensitivity higher than that of ELISA.