Objective:To investigate the influences of Neferine(Nef)on inflammatory injury in nephrotic syndrome(NS)rats by regulating the MAPK/NF-κB pathway.Methods:SD rats were separated into control check group(CK group),Model group,low-dose Nef group(Nef-L group,2.5 mg/kg),high-dose Nef group(Nef-H group,5 mg/kg),prednisone acetate group(PA group,6.3 mg/kg),Anisomycin(MAPK agonist)group(5 μmol/L),Nef-H+Anisomycin group(5 mg/kg+5 μmol/L),with 12 rats in each group.Except for the CK group,all other groups were injected with doxorubicin through the tail vein to induce the NS rat model.Rats in CK group were injected with an equal volume of normal saline through the tail vein at the same time.After successful modeling,dosing treatment was performed once a day for 4 weeks.Detected 24-hour urine protein content,serum creatinine(Scr),albumin(ALB),urea nitro-gen(BUN)levels,renal tissue pathology,and levels of TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1β in renal tissue;TUNEL staining was performed to detect cell apoptosis in rat kidney tissue;Western blot was performed to detect the expression of p-p38,p-JNK,p-ERK1/2 and p-NF-κB p65 proteins in rat kidney tissue.Results:Compared with CK group,Model group had severe renal tissue pathological damage,the 24 h urinary protein,Scr,BUN,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,apoptosis rate,p-p38,p-JNK,p-ERK1/2,p-NF-κB p65 protein expressions were increased,while ALB level was decreased(P<0.05);compared with Model group,the renal tissue pathological damage of rats in Nef-L group,Nef-H group and PA group were severe,the 24 h urinary protein,Scr,BUN,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,apoptosis rate,p-p38,p-JNK,p-ERK1/2,p-NF-κB P65 protein expressions were decreased,while ALB level was increased,the renal tissue pathological damage in the Anisomycin group was aggravated,the 24 h urinary protein,Scr,BUN,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β,apoptosis rate,p-p38,p-JNK,p-ERK1/2,p-NF-κB p65 protein expressions were increased,while ALB level was decreased(P<0.05);Anisomycin attenu-ated the effects of high doses of Nef on NS rats.Conclusion:Nef may alleviate the inflammatory injury in NS rats by inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology for a Chinese pedigree affected with Alazami syndrome. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted for 2 patients and 2 unaffected members from the pedigree. Whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect potential variant in the proband, and the result was verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The proband and her sister were both found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of LARP7 gene, namely c.94A>T (p.Lys32*) and c.1141A>G (p.Lys381Glu), which were inherited from their father and mother, respectively. Both variants were predicted to be pathogenic based on bioinformatic analysis. CONCLUSION The two variants of the LARP7 gene, both were unreported previously, probably underlay the Alazami syndrome in this pedigree. Above finding has expanded the mutational spectrum of the LARP7 gene.
China ; Dwarfism ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Ribonucleoproteins/genetics* ; Exome Sequencing

Genetic composition plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Especially, inherited and de novo intronic variants are often seen in patients with ASD. However, the biological significance of intronic variants is difficult to address. Here, among a Chinese ASD cohort, we identified a recurrent inherited intronic variant in the CHD7 gene, which is specifically enriched in East Asian populations. CHD7 has been implicated in numerous developmental disorders including CHARGE syndrome and ASD. To investigate whether the ASD-associated CHD7 intronic variant affects neural development, we established human embryonic stem cells carrying this variant using CRISPR/Cas9 methods and found that the level of CHD7 mRNA significantly decreased compared to control. Upon differentiation towards the forebrain neuronal lineage, we found that neural cells carrying the CHD7 intronic variant exhibited developmental delay and maturity defects. Importantly, we found that TBR1, a gene also implicated in ASD, was significantly increased in neurons carrying the CHD7 intronic variant, suggesting the intrinsic relevance among ASD genes. Furthermore, the morphological defects found in neurons carrying CHD7 intronic mutations were rescued by knocking down TBR1, indicating that TBR1 may be responsible for the defects in CHD7-related disorders. Finally, the CHD7 intronic variant generated three abnormal forms of transcripts through alternative splicing, which all exhibited loss-of-function in functional assays. Our study provides crucial evidence supporting the notion that the intronic variant of CHD7 is potentially an autism susceptibility site, shedding new light on identifying the functions of intronic variants in genetic studies of autism.

Objective To determine the predictive factors for antiviral therapy in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection [HBeAg(-) CHBI] patients with HBV DNA＜4.3 lg IU/mL.Methods A total of 179 HBeAg (-) CHBI patients were retrospective analyzed.Histology activity index (HAI) and fibrosis (S) were scored according to the Knodell HAI scoring system,and HAI＞3 and/or S≥3 was adopted as indications for treatment.Univariate and multiple regression analysis were used to assess factors associated with treatment indications.Receiver operating curves (ROC) and area under curve (AUC) were used to determine the predictive value of relevant factors.Results There were 81 cases with HAI＞3 (45.3％) and 72 with S≥3 (40.22％),and the proportion of patients with indications for treatment was 54.7 ％.Multiple regression analysis showed that age,γ-glutamyl transpeptadase (γ-GT),platelet (PLT) and albumin (Alb) were the predictive factors for the severity of liver damage and indication for treatment (all P＜0.05).The AUC for age,PLT,γ-GT and Alb were 0.655,0.657,0.726 and 0.65,respectively,and the corresponding Yoden index for age,PLT,γ-GT,and Alb were 0.297,0.426,0.03 and 0.012,respectively,the sensitivities of predicting HBeAg (-CHBI for treatment indications were 0.643,0.842,0.705 and 0.653,respectively.Conclusions This study shows that 54.7％ of HBeAg(-)CHBI patients with HBV DNA＜4.3 lg IU/ml have significant liver histological changes and require antiviral treatment.Older age,higher γ-GT,lower PLT and lower Alb levels are the predictive factors for treatment.

Objective To understand the carriage of NDM-1 and other carbapenemases in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacterbaumannii(CRAB)in Jiangxi area,and provide laboratory basis for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infection (HAI). Methods Sixty-four strains of CRAB isolated from clinical specimens from 3 tertiary first-class hospitals in Jiangxi area from January 2015 to June 2016 were collected,susceptibility to com-monly used antimicrobial agents were detected with Kirby-Bauer method. Carbapenemases and metalloenzyme in CRAB were screened with modified Hodge test and EDTA-disk synergy test respectively,carbapenems gene was de-tected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR),NDM-1-producing Acinetobacterbaumannii (A. baumannii)were per-formed conjugation test.Results The resistance rates of CRAB to ampicillin/sulbactam,ciprofloxacin,gentamicin, and levofloxacin were up to 95.31% ,98.44% ,90.63% ,and 54.69% respectively. The positive rates of modified Hodge test and EDTA-disk synergy test were 76.56% and 96.88% respectively. PCR amplification result showed that 87.50% (n= 56)of CRAB carried OXA-23 and VIM-1 genes,18.75% (n= 12)carried SIM,3.13% (n= 2)car-ried OXA-24,and 26.56% (n= 17)carried NDM-1 . CRAB carrying NDM-1 gene were all from The First Affilia-ted Hospital of Nanchang University,64.70% (11/17)of which were pandrug-resistant strains. Conjugation test re-sult showed that NDM-1-producing strains could transfer NDM-1 gene to recipient strain Escherichiacoli J53,then acquired resistance to imipenem. Conclusion Antimicrobial resistance rates of clinically isolated CRAB in this area are high,OXA-23 and VIM-1 genes are the main carbapenemase genes,NDM-1 gene positive CRAB is detected, and there may be a clonal spread of NDM-1 gene in hospital,effective measures should be taken as soon as possible to prevent and control the spread of NDM-1 positive CRAB.

Objective To explore the effects of case management on the stigma and coping style of discharged patients with bipolar disorder.Methods During October 2012 to October 2015, 116 cases of patients with bipolar disorder in our hospital were selected as the research object. Patients were randomly di-vided into the control group and the observation group, with 58 cases in each group. Patients in two groups were given routine nursing care, and patients in the observation group also received case management. The scores of stigma, coping style and quality of life (QOL) of patients between two groups before and after intervention were compared.Results After intervention, the scores of social contact, ability and treatment of stigma scale in the observation group were (12.75±3.05), (9.53±2.28) and (11.13±2.45), and they were all significantly lower than the control group (t=2.396,2.504,2.559;P<0.05). After intervention, the scores of solving problems, self-accusation, seeking help, fantasy, avoidance and rationalization of coping style scale in the observation were (8.02±3.06), (3.11±2.16), (6.13±2.62), (3.05±2.24), (4.09±2.06) and (6.61±3.28), and they were significantly better than those in the control group (t=2.573,2.537,2.186,2.389,1.996,2.557;P<0.05). After intervention, the total QOL health score of patients in the observation (56.87±17.13) was significantly better than (53.83±16.46) in the control group (t=2.279,P<0.05).Conclusions The case management can significantly reduce the stigma of patients with bipolar disorder, and improve the coping style and QOL of patients, so it can be further promoted and used.

Objective To analyze the pathogen distribution and drug resistance of candida isolated from children with blood infections in our hospital,and to provide reference for clinical effective prevention and treatment.Methods The blood specimens of pediatric patients were collected between January 2009 and December 2015,and were cultured using BacT/ALERT 3D and BD9140 instruments.The candida were separated with Sobaurandps agar culture medium,and identified with chromogenic medium,API 20CAUX test strips or VITEK-2 compact YST card.The minimal inhibitory concentration of 5 drugs were determined by ATB FUNGUS 3 system.Results In 176 cases,92 strains (52.3％) were from neonatal ward,and 46 strains (26.1％) were from PICU.In newborn group,85 strains were isolated from premature,which contained the low and very low birth weight infants (37 strains),pneumonia(20 strains),neonatal respiratory distress syndrome(9 strains).In PICU,the strains were commonly isolated from children with severe infection.Among 176 strains of candida,71 strains (40.3％) were C.albicans,62 strains (35.2％) were C.parapsilosis,16 strains(9.1％) were C.glabrata,9 strains(5.1％) were C.tropicalis,and 18 strains(10.2％) belonged to other candida.Conclusion Candida blood infections can happen at all age of chlidren.The most common strains detected from blood were C.albicans,followed by C.parapsilosis.Most of these strains are susceptible to antifungal drugs,such as fluconazole,except C.glabrata.The sensitive rates to commonly used antifungal drug are more than 93％.The selection of antifungal drugs should be based on the species of strains.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic wounds are a major clinical challenge, because minor skin wounds can lead to chronic, unhealed ulcers and ultimately result in infection, gangrene, or even amputation. Studies on bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and a series of growth factors have revealed their many benefits for wound healing and regeneration. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may improve the environment for BMSC development and differentiation. However, whether combined use of BMSCs and PRP may be more effective for accelerating diabetic ulcer healing remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy of BMSCs and PRP for the repair of refractory wound healing in a diabetic rat model. METHODS: Forty-eight rats with diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin were divided into four groups: treatment with BMSCs plus PRP, BMSCs alone, PRP alone, phosphate buffered saline. The rate of wound closure was quantified. A histopathological study was conducted regarding wound depth and the skin edge at 7, 14, and 28 days after surgery. RESULTS: Wound healing rates were significantly higher in the BMSC plus PRP group than in the other groups. The immunohistochemistry results showed that the expression of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and transforming growth factor-beta1 increased significantly in the BMSC plus PRP group compared to the other treatment groups. On day 7, CD68 expression increased significantly in the wounds of the BMSC plus PRP group, but decreased markedly at day 14 compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: The combination of BMSCs and PRP aids diabetic wound repair and regeneration.
Amputation ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Adhesion ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Gangrene ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Models, Animal ; Platelet-Rich Plasma* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Skin ; Streptozocin ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

Objective To explore the value of high frequency ultrasonography for the early diagnosis of hyperuricemia in patients with joint disease.Methods Ninety-eight patients with hyperuricemia and 100 healthy persons,according to with or without history of acute gout attack,were divided into symptomatic group,asymptomatic group and control group,whose first metatarsophalangeal joint,ankle and knee were examined by high frequency ultrasonography.Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis.Results ① The joint lesions detection rate in the symptomatic group,asymptomatic group and the control group was 57％ (13/23),16％ (12/75),0 (0/100) respectively.There was statistical significant difference between the symptomatic group and the asymptomatic group (x2=9.69,P＜0.05).② The symptomatic group had 29 joint involvement (29/138),including 25 at the first metatarsophalangeal joint,3 at the ankle and one at the knee joint.The asymptomatic group had 14 joints involved (14/450),which were all located at the first metatarsophalangeal joint.③ The sonographic appearance of the two groups of arthropathy were synovial thickening,effusion,crystal deposition andbone erosion.The symptoms group presented as tophi,and increased synovial blood flow.Conclusion Patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia may have joint diseases.The joint disease detection rate of the symptomatic group is higher than that of the asymptomatic group.High frequency ultrasonography can be used a conventional imaging method for the screening of patients with hyperuricemia joint disease.The focus of the screening of asymptomatic patients is the first metatarsophalangeal joint.The focus of the screening of symptomatic patients is the first metatarsophalangeal joint and the joints that were attacked in the past history.

Objective:To implement rapid acquisition gradient echo(RAGE)pulse sequence in clinical MRI scaner.Methods:Pascal language is engaged to edit source code.Number of slice excited,order of phase encoded,phase recycle of RF pulse,NEX,on/off of the gradients,and so on are all controlled by sequence parameters.SI×N_(phase)×N_(slice) data of 32 bctys were allocated to restore the k space.Source code of sequence was compiled with executable file and is loaded to RINMR software.Image of human brain are acquired.The experiment has been conducted on 0.36T permanent MRI system.Resuits:In the case of 256×256 matrix acquisition,time of single slice is 4 seconds.The resolution and SNR of the image are all adquately satisfy the clinical application.