ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Zhizi Dahuang decoction （ZZDHT） in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease （ALD） by improving oxidative stress in hepatic neutrophils. MethodsNetwork pharmacology was used to obtain the chemical components of ZZDHT and their corresponding action targets and analyze the potential targets and functional pathways of ZZDHT in the treatment of ALD. The non-target metabolomics technology was used to observe the changes in the metabolites of ZZDHT in mouse serum and liver. The mice were given ZZDHT at a dose twice as much as the middle dose concentration by gavage， and serum and liver samples were collected at six time points after gavage （10 minutes， 30 minutes， 1 hour， 2 hours， 4 hours， and 6 hours） and were then mixed for mass spectrometry （administration group with 18 mice）， while the 18 mice in the control group were given an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography was used for rapid isolation and identification of the metabolites of ZZDHT in serum and liver tissue， and the effective constituents of ZZDHT were validated. Male C57BL/6J mice， aged 8 weeks， were randomly and equally divided into control group， model group， and low-， middle-， and high-dose ZZDHT groups， with 10 mice in each group. All mice except those in the control group were used to establish a mouse model of ALD （NIAAA model mice）， and at the same time， the mice in the administration groups were given low-， middle-， and high-dose ZZDHT by gavage， while those in the control group and the model group were given an equal volume of normal saline by gavage. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase （ALT）， aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， and triglyceride （TG） were measured； PCR was used to measure the gene expression levels of related inflammation， oxidative stress， and neutrophil indicators in the liver； ELISA was used to measure the levels of related inflammation and oxidative stress indicators in serum； superoxide dismutase （SOD）， glutathione peroxidase （GSH-Px）， and malondialdehyde （MDA） were measured to observe the level of oxidative stress in the liver； HE staining， myeloperoxidase staining， and oil red staining were used to observe liver injury， neutrophil infiltration， and lipid deposition. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups， and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. ResultsA total of 53 active components and 227 target genes were obtained for ZZDHT， and there were 8685 target genes of ALD， resulting in 222 common target genes between these two groups of genes. Core pathways included the interleukin-6 signaling pathway and the TNF signaling pathway. The non-targeted metabolic analysis of ZZDHT obtained 225 metabolites in mouse liver and 227 metabolites in serum， among which there were 126 common metabolites. The core pathways of liver metabolites included glycerolipid metabolism and inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels， and the core pathways of serum metabolites included the AMPK signaling pathway and oxidative phosphorylation， all of which were associated with oxidative stress- and inflammation-related pathways. Compared with the model group， the low-， middle-， and high-dose ZZDHT groups had significant reductions in the serum levels of ALT， AST， and TG （all P<0.05）， and the middle-dose ZZDHT group had significant reductions in the levels of Ly6g， Ncf1， Ncf2， IL-6， TNF-α， IL-1β， MDA， 4-HNE， Gp91， and P22 in the liver （all P<0.05）， a significant increase in the level of SOD （P<0.05）， a significant reduction in the serum level of 4-HNE （P<0.05）， and a significant increase in the level of GSH-Px （P<0.05）. There were significant improvements in fat deposition and neutrophil infiltration in the liver of mice in the middle-dose ZZDHT group （both P<0.05）. ConclusionZZDHT significantly reduces oxidative stress and inflammatory response in NIAAA model mice.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the genetic characteristics of 671 Chinese pedigrees affected with Duchenne/Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD). METHODS: Clinical data of the pedigrees were collected. Multiplex PCR, multiple ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA), next generation sequencing (NGS), Sanger sequencing and long read sequencing were used to detect the variant of DMD gene in the probands and their mothers, and prenatal diagnosis was provided for high risk pregnant women. RESULTS: Among 178 pedigrees analyzed by multiplex PCR, 44 variants of the DMD gene were detected, with the genetic diagnosis attained in 110 pedigrees. Among 493 pedigrees analyzed by MLPA in combination with NGS or Sanger sequencing, 294 pathogenic/possible pathogenic variants were identified, among which 45 were unreported previously, and the genetic diagnosis attained in 484 pedigrees. Structural variants of the DMD gene were identified in two pedigrees by long-read sequencing. Among 444 probands, 341 have inherited the DMD gene variant from their mothers (76.8%). Among 390 women with a high-risk, 339 have opted to have natural pregnancy and 51 chose preimplantation genetic testing for monogenetic disease (PGT-M). The detection rate of neonatal patients and carriers following natural pregnancy was significantly higher than that for PGT-M. CONCLUSION Combined application of MLPA, NGS, Sanger sequencing and long-read sequencing is an effective strategy to detect DMD/BMD. PGT-M can effectively reduce the risk of fetuses. Above finding has expanded the spectrum of DMD gene variants and provided a basis for reproductive intervention for pregnancies with a high risk for DMD/BMD.
China ; Dystrophin/genetics* ; Exons ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/genetics* ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive accumulation of hepatic lipids and metabolic stress-induced liver injury. There are currently no approved effective pharmacological treatments for NAFLD. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for centuries to treat patients with chronic liver diseases without clear disease types and mechanisms. More recently, TCM has been shown to have unique advantages in the treatment of NAFLD. We performed a systematic review of the medical literature published over the last two decades and found that many TCM formulas have been reported to be beneficial for the treatment of metabolic dysfunctions, including Potentilla discolor Bunge (PDB). PDB has a variety of active compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, organic acids, steroids and tannins. Many compounds have been shown to exhibit a series of beneficial effects for the treatment of NAFLD, including anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory functions, improvement of lipid metabolism and reversal of insulin resistance. In this review, we summarize potential therapeutic effects of TCM formulas for the treatment of NAFLD, focusing on the medicinal properties of natural active compounds from PDB and their underlying mechanisms. We point out that PDB can be classified as a novel candidate for the treatment and prevention of NAFLD.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between Fragile X mental retardation gene-1 (FMR1) gene CGG repeats with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). METHODS: For 214 females diagnosed with DOR, DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. FMR1 gene CGG repeats were determined by PCR and capillary electrophoresis. RESULTS: Three DOR patients were found to carry FMR1 premutations, and one patient was found to carry gray zone FMR1 repeats. After genetic counseling, one patient and the sister of another patient, both carrying FMR1 permutations, conceived naturally. Prenatal diagnosis showed that both fetuses have carried FMR1 permutations. CONCLUSION FMR1 gene permutation may be associated with DOR. Determination of FMR1 gene CGG repeats in DOR patients can provide a basis for genetic counseling and guidance for reproduction.
Female ; Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein/metabolism* ; Fragile X Syndrome/genetics* ; Humans ; Ovarian Diseases ; Ovarian Reserve/genetics* ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency/genetics* ; Trinucleotide Repeats/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the (CGG)n repeats of FMR1 gene among patients with unexplained mental retardation. METHODS: For 201 patients with unexplained mental retardation, the (CGG)n repeats of the FMR1 gene were analyzed by PCR and FragilEase RESULTS: For the 201 patients with unexplained mental retardation, 15 were identified with full mutations of the FMR1 gene. The prevalence of fragile X syndrome (FXS) in patients with unexplained mental retardation was determined as 7.5% (15/201). Prenatal diagnosis was provided for 6 pregnant women with pre- or full mutations. Analysis revealed that women with mental retardation and full FMR1 mutations exhibited a skewed XCI pattern with primary expression of the X chromosome carrying the mutant allele. CONCLUSION FXS has a high incidence among patients with unexplained mental retardation. Analysis of FMR1 gene (CGG)n repeats in patients with unexplained mental retardation can facilitate genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for their families. FMR1 gene (CGG)n repeats screening should be recommended for patients with unexplained mental retardation.
Female ; Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein/genetics* ; Fragile X Syndrome/genetics* ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability/genetics* ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of sustained virologic response on disease progression and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis receiving antiviral therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). MethodsA total of 542 patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis who attended Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 1 to December 31, 2013, received antiviral therapy, and were followed up for more than 5 years were enrolled, and according to the status of virologic response during follow-up, they were divided into a sustained virologic response cohort with 496 cases and a non-sustained virologic response cohort with 46 cases. With disease progression as the outcome event, general information and examination data were collected during the 5-year follow-up period. The t-test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between groups; the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed; relative risk and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to investigate the degree of correlation of factors measured with the progression of liver cirrhosis. The life-table method was used to calculate the 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival rates, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves; the log-rank test was used for univariate analysis, and the Cox regression model was used for multivariate regression analysis. ResultsFor the 542 patients, the mean progression-free survival time was 62.50 months (95% CI: 61.01-63.92), and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 94%, 82%, and 71%, respectively. The sustained virologic response cohort had a significantly longer mean progression-free survival time than the non-sustained virologic response cohort ［63.10 months (95% CI: 61.65-64.55) vs 55.95 months (95% CI: 50.19-61.71), χ2=12.058, P=0.001］. Compared with the non-sustained virologic response cohort, the sustained virologic response cohort had significantly lower 5-year cumulative incidence rate of HCC than (20.6% vs 34.8%, χ2=5.759, P=0.016) and 5-year cumulative incidence rate of decompensated cirrhosis (5.0% vs 15.2%, χ2=8.239, P=0.004). Virologic response was an independent risk factor for disease progression (hazard ratio=232, 95% CI: 1.45-3.72). ConclusionSustained virologic response can reduce the incidence rates of complications and HCC, improve long-term prognosis, and prolong survival time in patients with compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the condition for chromosome flaking of mesenchymal stem cells to ensure the cytogenetic quality control of expanding production and clinical application. METHODS: Chromosomal flaking methods were optimized from current chromosome preparation techniques from the aspects of MSCs cell culture concentration, colchicine treatment time and low permeability time. RESULTS: By repeated pre-experiments, the optimal MSCS chromosome flaking condition of MSCs was determined as cell culture concentration of (1-2)× 10 cells per T25 cell culture bottle, and the colchicines processing time was determined as 2 hours and 10 minutes, and the low permeability was 1 hour. CONCLUSION The optimized chromosome flaking condition can fulfill the requirement of cytogenetic quality control for MSCs.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromosome Disorders ; Chromosomes, Human ; Cytogenetics ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells

OBJECTIVE To compare two administration methods of triamcinolone acetonide cream for the treatment of ear mycosis with pevison. METHODS Eighty-six cases diagnosed as the external auditory canal fungal infections with tympanic membrane perforation were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 43 cases in each group. All the selected patients were positive in the external auditory meatal secretions fungus detection test, fungi and secretions of the external auditory canal are thoroughly cleaned under the endoscope. After ear canal cleaning, the obervation group was treated with Pevisone smeared on gelatin sponge which was evenly placed on the external auditory canal with fungal infection. The control group was treated with Pevisone smearing on external auditory canal by the patients themselves, twice a day. Two groups of patients come to the hospital every 3 days for review. After 2 weeks of treatment, the patients were followed up for 3 months, and the clinical efficacy of each group was compared. RESULTS The observation group was cured in 39 cases(90.7％), effective in 2 cases(4.7％), and ineffective in 2 cases(4.7％), The total efficiency rate is 95.3％.1 case recurred at 3 months of follow-up(2.4％). While in the control group, it was cured in 26 cases(60.5％), effective in 1 cases(2.3％), and ineffective in 16 cases(37.2％), the total efficiency rate is 62.8％.9 cases recurred at 3 months of follow-up(31.0％). The effect of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group(x2=14.508, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The ear endoscope can be used to remove the external auditory canal fungus thoroughly and has good visibility. Treating external auditory canal fungi disease with tympanic membrane perforation with gelatin sponge coated with triamcinolone acetonide cream has better clinical efficacy.

Objective To investigate the successful rate and the therapeutic effect of loosening posterior tubercle of cervical transverse process with CT-guided insertion or blind insertion of small needle knife for cervical spondylotic radiculopathy. Methods Ninety patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were divided into CT-guided insertion group and blind insertion group in the admission order using the random number table method, 45 cases in each group. CT-guided insertion group adopted the insertion of small needle knife following by the guide of CT, and the blind insertion group adopted the insertion of small needle knife following by cervical bony landmarks and muscles. After insertion, the position of the small needle knife in patients of the two groups was located by CT scan. If the needle knife did not arrive to the foci, it will be inserted again following by the guide of CT till successful insertion and location. The successful rate for the two times of insertion was calculated, and the pain scores were evaluated by visual analogue scale(VAS). Results(1) The successful rate for the first insertion of CT-guided insertion group was 73.3％, and that of the blind insertion group was 47.8％, the difference being significant(P < 0.01). The successful rate for the second insertion of CT-guided insertion group was 92.2％, and that of the blind insertion group was 80.0％, the difference being significant (P<0.01). (2) After treatment for one week, pain VAS scores of the two group were decreased (P < 0.01 compared with those before treatment) , and the decrease in the CT-guided insertion group was more obvious than the blind insertion group (P < 0.05). Conclusion CT-guided insertion makes the small needle knife therapy be more accurate and safer, ensures much better therapeutic effect, and brings less pain in the patients.

OBJECTIVETo determine the molecular etiology for a Chinese pedigree affected with epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS).

METHODSTarget region sequencing using a hereditary epidermolysis bullosa capture array combined with Sanger sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were used. Mutation taster, PolyPhen-2, Provean, and SIFT software and NCBI online were employed to assess the pathogenicity and conservation of detected mutations. One hundred healthy unrelated individuals were used as controls.

RESULTSTarget region sequencing showed that the proband has carried a unreported heterozygous c.1234A>G (p.Ile412Val) mutation of the KRT14 gene, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing in other 8 affected individuals but not among healthy members of the pedigree. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the mutation is highly pathogenic. Remarkably, 3 members of the family (2 affected and 1 unaffected) have carried a heterozygous c.1237G>A (p.Ala413Thr) mutation of the KRT14 gene, which was collected in Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD). Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the mutation may not be pathogenic. Both mutations were not detected among the 100 healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe novel c.1234A>G(p.Ile412Val) mutation of the KRT14 gene is probably responsible for the disease, while c.1237G>A (p.Ala413Thr) mutation of KRT14 gene may be a polymorphism. Compared with Sanger sequencing, target region capture sequencing is more efficient and can significantly reduce the cost of genetic testing for EBS.

Adult ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Keratin-14 ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Young Adult