OBJECTIVE To analyze the data of non-invasive prenatal testing based on specific loci of circulating cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA). METHODS Selected loci of target chromosomes were analyzed by sequence capture and sequencing. Meanwhile, 600 loci were selected from other chromosomes for determining the concentration of cffDNA. RESULTS A total of 768 specific loci were captured on chromosomes 21 and 18, and used to determine whether the two were abnormal. When the minimum concentration of detected cffDNA was set at 3% and the threshold of Z score was set to [-6,6], the specificity of the analysis was 99.37% and the sensitivity was 100%. CONCLUSION A reliable, convenient and low-cost analytical method has been developed. The method requires less sequencing data for non-invasive prenatal testing, and can accurately detect abnormalities of fetal chromosomes 21 and 18, and simultaneously determine the concentration of cffDNA.

Little is known about the effects of chronic alcohol intake on the outcome of acute kidney injury (AKI). Hence, we examined the effects of chronic alcohol intake on the development of renal fibrosis following AKI in an animal model of bilateral renal ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury. We first found that chronic alcohol exposure exacerbated bilateral IR-induced renal fibrosis and renal function impairment. This phenomenon was associated with increased bilateral IR-induced extracellular matrix deposition and an increased myofibroblast population as well as increased bilateral IR-induced expression of fibrosis-related genes in the kidneys. To explore the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, we showed that chronic alcohol exposure enhanced β-arrestin 2 (Arrb2) expression and Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3)β activation in the kidneys. Importantly, pharmacological GSK3 inhibition alleviated bilateral IR-induced renal fibrosis and renal function impairment. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Arrb2(−/−) mice exhibited resistance to IR-induced renal fibrosis and renal function impairment following chronic alcohol exposure, and these effects were associated with attenuated GSK3β activation in the kidneys. Taken together, our results suggest that chronic alcohol exposure may potentiate AKI via β-arrestin 2/Akt/GSK3β-mediated signaling in the kidney.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Animals ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibrosis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3* ; Glycogen Synthase Kinases* ; Glycogen Synthase* ; Glycogen* ; Kidney ; Mice* ; Models, Animal ; Myofibroblasts

BACKGROUND: Several studies have focused on the association between the lipid-lowering efficacy of statins and the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism; however, the results are conflicting. The effects of statins show significant variability between individuals. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism on the lipid-lowering effects of statins. METHODS: We systematically searched PubMed and Web of Science to screen relevant studies. Meta-analysis was performed to identify the association between SLCO1B1 c.521 polymorphisms and the lipid-lowering effects of statinson the basis of the standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additionally, we checked for heterogeneity (I 2) among studies and evidence of publication bias. We obtained eight studies including 2,012 wild genotype (T/T) and 526 variant genotype (T/C and C/C) cases. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in the lipid-lowering efficacy of statins between the wildand variant genotypes of SLCO1B1, with a pooled SMD of 0.03 (95% CI: -0.07-0.13). Furthermore, there was no significant effect in the meta-analyses of the variant heterozygote, homozygote, and Chinese populations. Subgroup meta-analysis indicated that the timerequired for the statin to take effectdid notsignificantly affect the association between lipid-lowering efficacy of statins and SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism. However, thewild genotype improved the lipid-lowering efficacy of simvastatin with a pooled SMD of -0.26 (95% CI: -0.47- -0.05). CONCLUSIONS: No significant association was detected between the lipid-lowering efficacy of statins and the SLCO1B1 c.521T>C polymorphism, with the exception of simvastatin.
Alleles ; Databases, Factual ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/*therapeutic use ; Hyperlipidemias/drug therapy/genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Solute Carrier Organic Anion Transporter Family Member 1b1/*genetics

4-Hydroxybenzoate (4HBA) is an important chemical compound used for synthesis of liquid crystal. Production of 4HBA from renewable resources is an effective mean to solve problems such as environmental pollution and petroleum shortage. This review briefly introduces the chemical synthesis of 4HBA from oil compounds, and mainly describes the progress in 4HBA biosynthesis from renewable resources by plants and microorganisms. In most intriguing aspect of plant-based synthesis of 4HBA is the appeal of directly synthesizing a chemical from CO2. However, the glucosylation system in plant cells converting 4HBA to glucose conjugates, causing the post treatment a problem. The recombinant microorganisms produce pure 4HBA, but less efficient. A new strain of Microbulbifer has ability to naturally accumulate 4HBA from glucose. Elucidation of the metabolic pathways and regulation systems would improve 4HBA synthesis efficiency.
Alteromonadaceae ; metabolism ; Glucose ; chemistry ; Glycosylation ; Industrial Microbiology ; Metabolic Networks and Pathways ; Parabens ; metabolism ; Plants ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the short- term effects of hemogram in donors after peripheral blood stem cell（PBSC）collection and donors' tolerance.

METHODSA total of 166 related allogeneic donors were selected from The First Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Zhejiang University between January 2013 and December 2014, including 86 male and 80 female. All donors accepted granulocytecolony- stimulating factor（G-CSF）5-10 μg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹ until collection finished and were measured by blood cells count before and after PBSC collection.

RESULTSAfter PBSC collection, the hemoglobin level decreased from 145（94-181）g/L to 138（93-167）g/L, and the platelet counts decreased in all donors from 231（105- 490）× 10⁹/L to 95（39- 210）× 10⁹/L. The amount of hemoglobin contamination in collection products was weak correlated with the decreased hemoglobin in peripheral blood（r=0.297, P=0.017）, and the platelet contamination was high correlated with that decreased in peripheral blood（r=0.719, P<0.001）. The decline of hemoglobin level after twice PBSC collection was of no significant difference between four groups in different ages（P≥0.05）. The decline of platelet counts was out of a significant difference（P> 0.05）. In addition, the decline of hemoglobin level after once and twice PBSC collection was of a significant difference between four groups in different body mass index（BMI）（P=0.003 and P<0.001）, especially in thinner group with obvious decrease. But the decline of platelet counts was out of a significant difference （P>0.05）.

CONCLUSIONThe hemoglobin level decreased mildly in healthy allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell donors after PBSC collection and it is better to adjust parameters every time to ensure their safety for thinner donors. However, it will increase the risk of platelet decline, which is unrelated with ages and BMI and can be tolerated.

Blood Donors ; Blood Platelets ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Platelet Count

Biopsy ; Endopeptidase K ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; pathology ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Lupus Nephritis ; pathology ; Paraffin Embedding ; Staining and Labeling

Laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery, which has been gradually accepted by surgeons and popularized worldwide, is a less invasive alternative compared with an open procedure. However, the lack of cognition of the variation in perigastric vessels, and the difficulty to obtain a full-view image and to estimate the three-dimensional (3D) relationships between organs during laparoscopic procedures may lead to unexpected injuries of these vessels, causing massive bleeding, which would prevent surgeon from having access to a good view of the operative field. We retrospectively summarize the data of laparoscopic gastric cancer operation in our hospital, separate the perigastric vessels into three areas according to the procedure, respectively the inferior pylorus, superior pancreas, and hilum of spleen, and analyze the common anatomical variation of vessels and its characters. We propose that, following the right anatomical spaces, the familiarity of perigastric vessels and skills of treating its common anatomical variations, may contribute to the safe and effective operation, improve the level of lymph node dissection, and reduce the injury in the operation.
Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery ; Vascular Malformations ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the expressions of Notch1-4 gene in human keloid-derived mesenchymal-like stem cells, and to explore the Notch signaling pathway's role in the formation of keloid.

METHODSKeloid samples were collected to harvest human keloid-derived mesenchymal-like stem cells through two-step enzymatic dissociation method. By flow cytometry, cell phenotype of primary and P3 generation were analyzed. By immunocytochemistry, the expressions of Oct4, vimentin and CK19 were examined. Keloid-derived mesenchymal-like stem cells were induced into osteoblasts in vitro and calcium deposition was detected by Alizarin red S stain. Realtime polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expressions of Notch1-4 mRNA in keloid-derived mesenchymal-like stem cells.

RESULTSFlow cytometry showed that keloid-derived mesenchymal-like stem cells of primary and P3 generation highly expressed CD29, CD44, CD90 from the typical MSC phenotype marker, but they failed to express HSC phenotype markers, such as CD34 and CD45. The results of immunocytochemistry showed that Oct4 from pluripotent stem cell markers and vimentin from mesenchymal cell markers was positive and CK19 from epithelial cell markers was negative. After induced differentiation into osteoblasts in vitro after 21 day, calcium nodules could be seen clearly; Notch1-4 gene were expressed in keloid-derived mesenchymal-like stem cells through RT-PCR. The relative quantitative of Notch2, Notch3 gene were higher than Notch1, Notch4 gene (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression difference of different subtypes from Notch gene in human keloid-derived mesenchymal-like stem ceils may be related to self-renewal, proliferation, differentiation, and participate in the formation of keloid.

Adolescent ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Keloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Receptors, Notch ; metabolism

To evaluate five methods in the estimation on the rate of case fatality during the epidemics of diseases based on the summarizing data. Case fatality rates, derived from the simulation data, 2003 SARS epidemic data in Hong Kong, Singapore Beijing and the 2013 H7N9 epidemic data in mainland China were analyzed, using these 5 methods. Results from the simulation analysis discovered that the relative errors and the standard deviations of the Chen [7, 8] (method 3), Chen [9] (method 4)were minor with high accuracy. Data from the analysis on 2003 SARS epidemic was noticed that the estimation from method 3, 4 in Hong Kong and Singapore both showing high veracities. Since the case fatality rate reported in Beijing was not a constant value, method 5 showed low accuracy even though it was close to the final case fatality rate. Data from the 2013 H7N9 epidemic showed that the estimations of method 1, 2, 3, 4 were all higher than that in the method 5, suggesting that method 3, 4 could be used to estimate the case fatality rates of epidemics more precisely.
China ; epidemiology ; Hong Kong ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H7N9 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; mortality ; Regression Analysis ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; mortality

The basement membrane (BM) is crucial in regulating the physical and biological activities of esophageal epithelial cells which attach to the underlying BM. In order to simulate the natural construction of BM, we prepared the fibrous scaffolds using biodegradable polylactide (PLA) and silk fibroin (SF) as the materials via electrospinning technology. BM's proteins containing collagen (IV), laminin, entactin and proteoglycan were extracted from porcine esophagus and coated on the eletrospun fibers. Morphology, mechanical strength, biodegradability and cytocompatibility of the coated and uncoated scaffolds were tested and evaluated using scanning electron micrography, mechanical test system, immunofluorescence assay and western blotting with CK14 as the primary antibody. The fibrous scaffold PLA or PLA/SF, generated from the present protocol had good formation and mechanical and biodegradable properties. After coating with BM's proteins, the scaffold could enhance the growth and differentiation of esophageal epithelial cells, which would contribute to remodel and regenerate the tissue engineered epithelium and further contribute to engineer the whole esophagus in future.
Absorbable Implants ; Basement Membrane ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Epithelium ; Esophagus ; physiology ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Humans ; Nanostructures ; chemistry ; Polyesters ; chemistry ; Regeneration ; physiology ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry