OBJECTIVE: To identify the gene mutation types of 4 suspected β-thalassemia patients in Yunnan Province, and to analyze the genotypes and hematological phenotypes. METHODS: Whole genome sequencing was performed on the samples of 4 suspected β-thalassemia patients from the Dai ethnic group in a thalassemia endemic area of Yunnan Province, whose hematological phenotypes were not consistent with the results of common thalassemia gene mutations. The mutations of β-globin gene clusters were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger DNA sequencing technology. RESULTS: The 3.5 kb deletion in β-globin gene cluster (NC_000011.10: g. 5224302-5227791del3490bp) was detected in 4 patients' samples, of which 1 case was also detected with HbE mutation and 1 case with CD17 mutation. These 2 patients displayed moderate anemia phenotype, while the two patients with only the 3.5 kb deletion presented with other mild anemia phenotype. CONCLUSION Heterozygous carriers with rare 3.5 kb deletion of the β-globin gene cluster may develop mild anemia, compound mutations of the 3.5 kb deletion with other mutations may led to intermediate thalasemia with moderate to sever anemia. In areas with a high incidence of thalassemia, suspected patients should undergo genetic testing to avoid missing or misdiagnosing rare mutations.
Humans ; beta-Globins/genetics* ; Multigene Family ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Mutation ; Genotype ; Sequence Deletion ; Phenotype ; Male ; Female

Molecular imprinting is a biomimetic technique that simulates the specific recognition of biological macromolecules such as antibody. Based on molecular imprinting and high-specificity affinity analysis,the biomimetic imprinting affinity analysis (BIA) possesses many advantages such as high sensitivity,strong tolerance,good specificity and low cost,and thus,it has shown excellent prospects in food safety detection,pharmaceutical analysis and environmental pollution monitoring. In this review,the construction methods of recognition interfaces for BIA were summarized,including bulk polymerization,electro-polymerization and surface molecular imprinting. The application of molecularly imprinted polymers in different analysis methods,such as radiolabeled affinity analysis,enzyme-labeled affinity analysis,fluorescence-labeled affinity analysis,chemiluminescence affinity analysis and electrochemical immunosensor was mainly discussed. Furthermore,the challenges and future development trends of BIA in practical application were elucidated. This review might provide new reference ideas and technical supports for the further development of BIA technique.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of prospective payment systems (PPSs) on cholecystectomy.A comprehensive literature review was conducted, examining studies published until December 2023. The review process focused on identifying research across major databases that reported critical outcomes such as length of stay (LOS), mortality, complications, admissions, readmissions, and costs following PPS for cholecystectomy. The studies were specifically selected for their relevance to the impact of PPS or the transition from fee-for-service (FFS) to PPS. The study analyzed six papers, with three eligible for meta-analysis, to assess the impact of the shift from FFS to PPS in laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy procedures. Our findings indicated no significant changes in LOS and mortality rates following the transition from FFS to PPS. Complication rates varied and were influenced by the diagnosis-related group categorization and surgeon cost profiles under episode-based payment. There was a slight increase in admissions and readmissions, and mixed effects on hospital costs and financial margins, suggesting varied responses to PPS for cholecystectomy procedures. The impact of PPS on cholecystectomy is nuanced and varies across different aspects of healthcare delivery.Our findings indicate a need for adaptable, patient-centered PPS models that balance economic efficiency with high-quality patient care. The study emphasizes the importance of considering specific surgical procedures and patient demographics in healthcare payment reforms.

At present, the issues regarding multi-center clinical trials of new drugs of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) remain: the lack of agreement on the content and scope of the ethical review among the ethics committee members of the center and the participating units results in repeated review, which leads to a time-consuming ethical review process. Moreover, the review capabilities of the ethics committees of various research centers are uneven, which is not necessarily beneficial to the protection of subjects' rights and safety. In view of the existing problems, to improve the efficiency of ethical review of multi-center clinical trials of new drugs of TCM and avoid repeated reviews, the TCM Clinical Evaluation Professional Committee of Chinese Pharmaceutical Association organized experts to formulate the "Consensus on collaborative ethical review of multi-center clinical trials of new drugs of TCM(version 1.0)"(hereinafter referred to as "Consensus"). The "Consensus" is formulated in accordance with the requirements of relevant documents such as but not limited to "the opinions on deepening the reform of the evaluation and approval system to encourage the innovation of pharmaceutical medical devices", "the regulations of ethical review of biomedical research involving human subjects". The "Consensus" covers the scope of application, formulation principles, conditions for the ethics committee of the center, sharing of ethical review resources, scope and procedure of collaborative review, rights and obligations, etc. The aims of the "Consensus" is to preliminarily explore and establish a scientific and operable ethical review procedure. Additionally, on the basis of fully protecting the rights and interests of the subjects, a collaborative ethical review agreement needs to be signed to clarify the ethical review responsibilities of all parties, to avoid repeated review, and to improve the efficiency and quality of ethical review in multi-center clinical trials of new drugs of TCM.
Biomedical Research ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Consensus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Ethical Review ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Multicenter Studies as Topic ; Pharmaceutical Preparations

TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), a core kinase of antiviral pathways, activates the production of interferons (IFNs). It has been reported that deacetylation activates TBK1; however, the precise mechanism still remains to be uncovered. We show here that during the early stage of viral infection, the acetylation of TBK1 was increased, and the acetylation of TBK1 at Lys241 enhanced the recruitment of IRF3 to TBK1. HDAC3 directly deacetylated TBK1 at Lys241 and Lys692, which resulted in the activation of TBK1. Deacetylation at Lys241 and Lys692 was critical for the kinase activity and dimerization of TBK1 respectively. Using knockout cell lines and transgenic mice, we confirmed that a HDAC3 null mutant exhibited enhanced susceptibility to viral challenge via impaired production of type I IFNs. Furthermore, activated TBK1 phosphorylated HDAC3, which promoted the deacetylation activity of HDAC3 and formed a feedback loop. In this study, we illustrated the roles the acetylated and deacetylated forms of TBK1 play in antiviral innate responses and clarified the post-translational modulations involved in the interaction between TBK1 and HDAC3.

Objective:To investigate the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation therapy on the exercise capacity and dyspnea of persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:One hundred COPD patients were randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, each of 50. Both groups were given routine medication, while the observation group was additionally provided with health guidance, oxygen therapy, respiratory physiological therapy and exercise for 3 months. Before and after the intervention, both groups′ forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and the first and second forced expiratory volume as a percentage of FEV (FEV1%) were measured. The subjects′ motor functioning was evaluated using the 6-minute walk test. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoturbidimetry quantified their expression of inflammatory factors. And their ability in the activities of daily living (ADL) was evaluated using the Barthel index. The COPD quality of life questionnaire (CRQ) was also used to assess their life quality.Results:After the intervention, the average clinical efficacy in the observation group was 96%, significantly higher than that of the control group (80%). Moreover, the average FEV1, FEV1%, 6-minute walk test time of the former group were all significantly better than before the intervention and better than the control group′s results after the intervention. Their average CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were all significantly lower as well. After the intervention, the observation group′s average total CRQ score and its average scores on the instrument′s emotion, fatigue, wheezing and disease control components were all better than the control group′s averages. The observation group′s average ADL score was also significantly higher than that of the control group.Conclusions:Supplementing conventional medication with pulmonary rehabilitation therapy can effectively improve the lung function, motor functioning and life quality of COPD patients. It can also lower their level of serum inflammatory factors.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning on the expressions of tyrosine kinase Lyn and spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) in mast cells of subcutaneous loose connective tissue in the rats with urticaria and explore the potential biological mechanism of EA in the intervention of urticaria. METHODS: A total of 32 SD rats were randomized into a blank group, a model group, an EA group and a positive medication group, 8 rats in each one. Except of the blank group, the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) was adopted to prepare the model of urticaria in the rats of the rest three groups. In the EA group, EA was applied to bilateral "Quchi" (LI 11), "Xuehai" (SP 10) and "Zusanli" (ST 36), with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/15 Hz in frequency and 1 mA in current intensity, once daily, for 20 min each time, consecutively for 7 days. In the positive medication group, loratadine (1 mg•kg•d) was for intragastric administration, once daily, consecutively for 7 days. The samples were collected for index detection 30 min after PCA antigen challenge in the rats of each group. Spectrophotometer was adopted to determine the effusion quantity of Evans blue in the allergized site of skin. HE staining was used to observe the morphological changes in the allergized site of skin. Toluidine blue staining was provided to observe mast cell degranulation in subcutaneous loose connective tissue in the allergized site of skin. Immunohistochemistry was applied to determine the protein expressions of Lyn and Syk during degranulation of mast cells. RESULTS: In the rats of the odel group, the eipdermis of allergized site was thickening, cells were disorganized in hierarchy and inflammatory cells were infiltrated largely in the dermis. In the positive medication group and the EA group, the epidermis was getting thin, cell arrangement was clear and the inflammatory cell infiltration was obviously alleviated as compared with the model group. Compared with the blank group, the OD value of skin dye effusion quantity, the degranulation rate of mast cells and the positive expressions of Lyn and Syk were all increased in the model group (<0.01). Compared with the model group, the OD value of skin dye effusion quantity, the degranulation rate of mast cells and the positive expressions of Lyn and Syk were all reduced in the EA group and the positive medication group (<0.01). Compared with the positive medication group, the degranulation rate of mast cells was increased significantly in the EA group (<0.01). CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture at "Quchi" (LI 11), "Xuehai" (SP 10) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) reduces vascular permeability and gives play to the role of anti-allergy by the way of regulating and controlling the degranulation of mast cells in the rats with urticaria and the effect mechanism of electroacupuncture may be related to the inhibition of protein expressions of Lyn and Syk in mast cells.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Connective Tissue ; metabolism ; Electroacupuncture ; Mast Cells ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Syk Kinase ; metabolism ; Urticaria ; therapy ; src-Family Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of periodontal non-surgical treatment on serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression and carotid vascular wall in a rat model of chronic periodontitis (CP) with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: Twenty-eight 6-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into group A (control group, 7 rats) and group B (T2DM+CP group, 21 rats). According to different intervention measures, group B was randomly subdivided into B1 (natural process), B2 (periodontal mechanical treatment), and B3 (periodontal mechanical treatment + 2% minocycline hydrochloride + systemic metronidazole plus amoxicillin). Serum IL-6 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and carotid tissue was observed under light microscopy after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. RESULTS: The carotid artery wall of group A was normal. In group B1, the endothelial cells disappeared, the elastic fibers of the middle membrane were disordered, the local necrosis of smooth muscle tissue was amorphous particles, a small amount of calcium salt was deposited, and the wall thickening was obvious. The endothelial cells in groups B2 and B3 disappeared, and the smooth muscle cells in the middle membrane underwent denaturation. No significant thickening of the vessel wall was noted. The serum IL-6 level in group B1 continually increased with time, and it was higher than that in group A (P<0.001). The IL-6 levels of groups B2 and B3 peaked a week after the first intervention. Subsequently, IL-6 levels gradually decreased. At the last point (five weeks after the second intervention ), the IL-6 levels of groups B2 and B3 were significantly lower than that of group B1 (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS For rats with periodontitis and diabetes, periodontal mechanical treatment may elevate serum IL-6 levels in the short term but might reduce the whole inflammatory state in the long term. Thus, this treatment might be valuable to the improvement of vascular disease. The adjunctive benefits of systemic metronidazole and amoxicillin in non-surgical periodontal therapy are decreased serum IL-6 expression and normal carotid artery.
Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Endothelial Cells ; Interleukin-6 ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of parathyroidectomy(PTX)on the progression of renal anemia and erythropoietin dose in maintenance hemodialysis(MHD)patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism(SHPT)of uremia. METHODS: A total of 58 MHD patients with SHPT treated with PTX were retrospectively analyzed. The changes of serum intact parathyroid hormone(iPTH), calcium(Ca), phosphorus(P), alkaline phosphatsae(AKP), hemoglobulin(Hb), hematocrit(Hct), serum ferritin(SF), transferrin saturation(TS), c-reactive protein(CRP), albumin(Alb)and Kt/V at 3 months and6 months after PTX treatment were evaluated. The Hb level at 3 and 6 months after surgery and the doses of recombinant human erythropoietin(EPO)were recorded. RESULTS: Serum iPTH decreased dramatically(before PTX 1828.88±811.2 ng/L,three months after PTX 56.75±158.4 ng/L,six months after PTX 64.52±178.5 ng/L, P<0.05); Ca, P and AKP levels also decreased significantly after PTX(P<0.05). Hb increased after PTX(before PTX 99.92±14.26 g/L, six months after PTX123.2±13.65 g/L, P<0.05); meanwhile, the dose of EPO decreased after the operation[before PTX 235.18±62.65 U/（kg·W), three months after PTX 158.78±34.24 U/（kg·W),six months after PTX 112.53±25.37 U/（kg·W), P<0.05]. CONCLUSION: PTX can effectively control secondary hyperparathyroidism, significantly improve the renal anemia, and decrease dose of erythropoietin in MHD patients with SHPT.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the clinical and CT imaging features of desmoplastic ameloblastomas (DA) in comparison with other types of ameloblastomas. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with ameloblastoma histopathologically in Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from July 2000 to August 2017 were reviewed to analyze the constituent ratios and characteristics of DA. CT imaging features of DA (28 cases) were investigated in comparison with consecutive cases of solid/multicystic and unicystic ameloblastomas. The following imaging perspectives were analyzed: the border, internal structure, three-dimensional shape, tooth, the periodontium, the cortex and the expansion of the tumors. CT values were measured in the region of interest for quantitative analysis. RESULTS: Among the 1 269 cases of ameloblastomas, 50 (3.9%) were DA, which showed predilections for males (74.0%). The average age of DA was about 43.9 years old, which was higher than the other two types. The anterior incisorcanine region (62.0%) and premolar region (30.0%) were most frequently affected. The incidence rate of DA in mandibule was 56.0% (28/50), which was slightly higher than that of maxilla (44.0%). The DA characteristically showed scallop border and honeycomblike or soapbubble internal structure with bone formation on CT. The mean ratios of height to mesiodistal and buccal-lingual to mesio-distal distances were 0.76 and 0.63, which were higher than the other two types. According to the degree of internal bone formation, three subtypes of DA could be observed: densely ossifying type (I), honeycomb/soap bubble type (II) and sparsely ossifying type (III). The means and standard deviations of CT values of DA were significantly higher than those of the other two types, which were (488.8±164.0) HU (type I), (171.7±102.8) HU (type II), (42.1±8.8) HU (type III). CONCLUSION CT is helpful for diagnosis of DA, which shows as solid tumor with varying degrees of internal ossification.
Adult ; Ameloblastoma ; Female ; Humans ; Jaw Neoplasms ; Male ; Maxilla ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed