Objective:To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 (ERAP-1) gene and the occurrence of pre-eclampsia (PE).Methods:A case-control study was conducted in Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital from October 2018 to October 2021. A total of 51 PE pregnant women with onset gestational age<34 weeks were selected as the PE group, and 48 normal pregnant women during the same period were selected as the control group. Venous blood samples were collected from the pregnant women before delivery and umbilical cord within 5 minutes after delivery. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of ERAP-1 gene in the pregnant women and their fetus were detected by next-generation sequencing. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze all the SNP loci and alleles detected in the two groups, and the significant SNP were screened.Results:(1) A total of 13 target SNP loci of maternal ERAP-1 gene were selected by univariate analysis. Among them, the frequency distribution of genotypes at 96096828, 96121524, 96121715, 96122260 and 96122281 showed statistically significant differences between PE group and control group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of PE in pregnant women with TC genotype at locus 96121524 was 2.002 times higher than those with TT genotype (95% CI: 0.687-5.831, P=0.020). (2) A total of 4 target SNP loci of ERAP-1 gene in fetal were selected by univariate analysis, and there was no statistical significance in gene polymorphism of the 4 loci between PE group and control group (all P>0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of PE in fetus with genotype AA at locus 96121406 was 0.236 times that of fetus with genotype GG (95% CI: 0.055-1.025, P=0.016). Conclusion:ERAP-1 gene with TC genotype at 96121524 in the mother and GG genotype at 96121406 in the fetus might be related to the incidence of PE.

AIM: To investigate the injury of emodin (EMO) in reduce of glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) in lupus nephritis by targeting forkhead protein K2 (FOXK2) through miR-96-5p. METHODS: The contents of 24 h urine protein, serum urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) in MRL / faslpr mice (lupus nephritis group) and MRL / MPJ mice (control group) were detected. MCs were separated, purified and divided into: MCs group (MCs without any treatment), L-EMO group (MCs treated with 10 μmol/L Emodin), M-EMO group (MCs treated with 25 μmol / L Emodin), H-EMO group (MCs treated with 50 μmol / L Emodin), H-EMO + miR-96-5p-NC group (MCs treated with 50 μmol / L Emodin and transfected with miR-96-5p-NC), and H-EMO + miR-96-5p-minic group (MCs treated with 50 μmol/ L Emodin and transfected with miR-96-5p-minic). Double luciferase report experiment was used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-96-5p and FOXK2. The real-time quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-96-5p. Western blot was used to detect the expression of FOXK2 and apoptosis related proteins. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of inflammatory factors in MCs. cell count kit 8 (CCK-8) was used to determine the activity of MCs. Annexin-V FITC/PI double staining was used to detect apoptosis of MCs. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, 24 h urinary protein content, serum BUN and Scr levels in the lupus nephritis group were significantly increased (P< 0.05). Compared with the MCs group, the miR-96-5p expression, interleukin1β (IL-1β), interleukin6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), A450 value and B-lymphoblastoma-2 (Bcl-2) protein in the L-EMO group, M-EMO group and H-EMO group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the FOXK2 level, cell apoptosis rate, Bcl-2 related X gene (Bax), aspartate specific cysteine proteinase-3 (cleaved Caspase-3) protein levels were significantly increased, respectively (P<0.05), the effect of Emodin was dose-dependent. Compared with the H-EMO group and H-EMO+miR-96-5p-NC group, H-EMO+miR-96-5p-minic group obviously increased the miR-96-5p expression, inflammatory factor levels, A450 value and Bcl-2 protein level (P<0.05), and obviously decreased FOXK2 level and cell apoptosis rate (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: EMO can reduce the injury of lupus nephritis MCs by down-regulating miR-96-5p and then up-regulating FOXK2.

Objective:To study the clinical features and drug resistance profile of neonatal sepsis caused by different species of Klebsiella.Methods:From January 2009 to December 2018, cryopreserved Klebsiella strains from blood culture of neonatal sepsis cases in NICU of our hospital were reactivated. Molecular identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed. Clinical features, laboratory tests, drug resistance profile and prognosis of these patients were analyzed retrospectively.Results:A total of 29 strains of Klebsiella were reactivated. Molecular identification assigned 22 cases (75.9%) into Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn) group and 7 cases (24.1%) into Klebsiella quasipneumoniae (Kqu) group. Gestational age and birth weight of Kpn group were higher than Kqu group [(33.1±3.2) weeks vs. (30.6±0.9) weeks, (1 847±677) g vs. (1 416±121) g] ( P<0.05). Abdominal distension was more common in Kqu group than Kpn group [42.9% (3/7) vs. 4.5% (1/22), P<0.05]. No significant differences existed in the laboratory tests including white blood cell count, platelet count, hypersensitive C-reactive protein and procalcitonin between the two groups ( P>0.05). Kpn was 100.0% sensitive to Cefazolin-Tazobactam and Amikacinto and less sensitive to Imipenem and Cefperazone-Sulbactam, Meropenem and Ertapenem. Kqu was generally more sensitive than Kpn and the sensitivity of Kqu to Imipenem was 100.0%. No significant differences existed of the prognosis between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Kpn is the main pathogen of neonatal Klebsiella sepsis. Kqu sepsis is more common in neonates with smaller gestational age and lower birth weight. Abdominal distention is common presenting symptom in Kpn sepsis and sensitive antibiotics should be used early.

Objective To compare the precision and efficiency of computing the specific absorbed fraction (SAF) of a reference human with two grid methods in MCNP6.0. Methods Based on the adult female reference voxel phantom provided by the International Commission on Radiological Protection, assuming the liver as the source organ emitting single-energy photons (0.5 MeV), the SAF of each target organ/tissue was calculated by using the mesh method and repeated structure lattice method with the F4, F6, and *F8 tally cards in MCNP6.0. We compared the methods by assessing the relative deviation of SAF and computing time for 27 organs/tissues. Results Compared with reported data, the absolute values of relative deviations of SAF values for all the organs/tissues were less than 5%, except for the eye lens and skin. By using the repeated structure lattice-based *F8 tally, the relative deviations of SAF values of the organs/tissues were all smallest, but with the longest computing time. The computing time of the mesh-based F4 tally was slightly longer than that of the repeated structure lattice-based F6 tally, which was shortest. Conclusion The *F8 tally simultaneously simulating primary and secondary particle transport showed the highest precision. The mesh tally requireda longer computing time than the lattice tally when using the same tally card.

Objective:To construct a system for evaluating the professional capability of provincial radiological health institutions.Methods:Based on the Donabedian model and the main professional responsibilities of provincial radiological health institutions, the logical framework and indicator database of the capability evaluation system were initially constructed, the Delphi expert consultation method and analytic hierarchy process were further used to determine each indicator and its weight. The self-assessment test was carried out throughout the provincial radiological health institutions by using the system established in this study.Results:The evaluation system included 3 primary-class indicators, 11 second-class indicators, 30 third-class indicators and 76 fourth-class indicators. Taking 100 points as the full score, the self-assessment scores of the 29 provincial institutions ranged from 28.7 to 97.7 with an average of 78.7, and the scores conform to the normal distribution.Conclusions:The system established in this study are scientific, comprehensive and operable, which can be used as an effective tool to evaluate the professional capability of provincial radiological health institutions.

The progressive destruction of condylar cartilage is a hallmark of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA); however, its mechanism is incompletely understood. Here, we show that Kindlin-2, a key focal adhesion protein, is strongly detected in cells of mandibular condylar cartilage in mice. We find that genetic ablation of Kindlin-2 in aggrecan-expressing condylar chondrocytes induces multiple spontaneous osteoarthritic lesions, including progressive cartilage loss and deformation, surface fissures, and ectopic cartilage and bone formation in TMJ. Kindlin-2 loss significantly downregulates the expression of aggrecan, Col2a1 and Proteoglycan 4 (Prg4), all anabolic extracellular matrix proteins, and promotes catabolic metabolism in TMJ cartilage by inducing expression of Runx2 and Mmp13 in condylar chondrocytes. Kindlin-2 loss decreases TMJ chondrocyte proliferation in condylar cartilages. Furthermore, Kindlin-2 loss promotes the release of cytochrome c as well as caspase 3 activation, and accelerates chondrocyte apoptosis in vitro and TMJ. Collectively, these findings reveal a crucial role of Kindlin-2 in condylar chondrocytes to maintain TMJ homeostasis.
Aggrecans/metabolism* ; Animals ; Cartilage, Articular/metabolism* ; Chondrocytes/pathology* ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism* ; Mice ; Muscle Proteins/metabolism* ; Osteoarthritis/pathology* ; Temporomandibular Joint/pathology*

Biochemistry experiment is an experimental module associated with biochemistry curriculum. In the context of deepening the education reform on innovation & entrepreneurship, integrating the concept of innovation & entrepreneurship with the experimental course is an effective way for the biology discipline to foster professional talents with strong engineering ability and innovation & entrepreneurship ability. Outcome-based education (OBE) is a new concept for education. Guided by this concept, we encouraged students to propose and take part in research projects, redesigned the time frame for research project-based experiment teaching, and implemented a multi-dimensional evaluation system along the entire teaching process. Furthermore, we integrated the concept of innovation & entrepreneurship for training undergraduates during the teaching process of biochemistry experiment. These measures not only boosted the students' interest in research and innovation, but also guided the teachers to participate in the entire process, which helped improving the engineering ability and innovation & entrepreneurship ability of the students.
Biochemistry/education* ; Curriculum ; Entrepreneurship ; Humans ; Students

Objective:To estimate the organ doses and effective doses to different-age children during cardiovascular interventional radiological procedures under some specific exposure conditions, and explore the main influencing factors on the doses.Methods:Based on the paediatric reference computational phantoms recommended in the ICRP Publication 143, several specific exposure models of cardiovascular intervention were built, and the Monte Carlocook MCNPX 2.7.0, was used to calculate the organ doses and effective doses for 1-, 5-, 10- and 15-year-old children. To validate the simulation result , an experiment was implemented by putting the thermoluminescent dosimeters in a 5-y old phantom (ATOM 705-D) manufactured by the CIRS Inc. in the USA.Results:Both the height and weight of the reference children for 1-, 5- and 10-year-old provided for by Chinese national standards are nearly in consistency with those recommended by ICRP, and even for the 15-year-old, the maximum relative deviations of the height and weight are only -1.9% and -5.7%, respectively. Under the exposure condition where the focal spot to image receptor distance (SID) was 90 cm, the length of square field of view (FOV) was 30 cm with a dose area product (DAP) of 45 Gy·cm 2, the relative deviations between simulated and measured doses to main organs/tissues within the irradiation filed were within ±6.7%. Under the same exposure conditions, the younger the children, the larger the organ doses and effective doses, and the effective doses could vary by a factor of about 5 among the 4 age groups. The conversion coefficient between the organ dose and the value of DAP was not only closely related to the age of children, but also affected by the FOV. Conclusions:In combination with the paediatric reference computational phantoms and the exposure models of cardiovascular intervention, the Monte Carlo method can be used to calculate the doses to children undergoing cardiovascular interventional radiological procedures. The information on the values of DAP and FOV as well as the directions of projection are needed for more accurate estimation of the exposure doses.

Objective:To analyze the composition differences of intestinal microbiota in patients with colon cancer and rectal cancer.Methods:The fecal samples of 72 patients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from July 2018 to January 2019 were collected, and they were divided into colon cancer group and rectal cancer group, 36 cases in each group. DNA from fecal samples was extracted, and then high-throughput sequencing was performed on DNA. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the diversity and composition differences of intestinal microbiota between the two groups, and the potential cancer-promoting mechanisms of the differential flora were also discussed.Results:From high-throughput sequencing, 2 356 560 original sequences and 32 730 high-quality sequences were obtained from 72 samples. The average length of the sample sequence was mainly in the interval of 401-460 bp. And 1 409 operational taxonomic units (OTU) were acquired after OTU species taxonomy annotation of all the sequences. Alpha diversity analysis showed that Shannon index of the rectal cancer group and the colon cancer group was 2.61±0.56 and 2.43±0.67, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 1.229, P = 0.223); Simpson index of the rectal cancer group and the colon cancer group was 0.17±0.09 and 0.21±0.16, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant ( t = 1.449, P = 0.151). Differences analysis of both groups and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) showed at the phylum level, Firmicutes were more abundant in the intestine of patients with rectal cancer (LDA = 4.67, P = 0.014), while Proteobacteria were more abundant in the gut of colon cancer patients (LDA = 4.49, P = 0.042). From the perspective of class level, the abundance of Gammaproteobacteria was higher in the intestine of patients with colon cancer (LDA = 4.50, P = 0.033), while the abundance of Erysipelotrichia was higher in the intestine of patients with rectal cancer (LDA = 3.50, P = 0.035). At the order level, the abundance of Erysipelotrichales was higher in the intestine of patients with rectal cancer (LDA = 3.50, P = 0.035); at the family level, the abundance of Porphyromonadaceae was higher in the intestine of patients with rectal cancer (LDA = 3.97, P = 0.033). Conclusion:The compositions of intestinal microbiota in patients with colon cancer and rectal cancer are significantly different, indicating that the different floras may contribute to the progression of colon cancer and rectal cancer.

Objective:To investigate the outcomes of the surgical treatment of fracture of the first metatarsal base with plantar plate via the first metatarsal medial approach.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of the 12 patients who had been treated for fracture of the first metatarsal base from January 2016 to December 2018 at Department of Trauma Orthopaedics, Renji Hospital. They were 8 men and 4 women, with an average age of 39.6 years (from 27 to 54 years). The fracture affected the left foot in 5 cases and the right foot in 7. Their fracture of the first metatarsal base and tarsometatarsal joint instability were fixated by plantar plate via the first metatarsal medial approach, and reduction and fixation was also conducted via a dorsal incision when other metatarsotarsal joint injuries were combined. Postoperative X-ray follow-ups were performed regularly. The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) midfoot scores, visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores and complications were recorded at the final follow-up.Results:All the patients were followed up for 12 to 19 months (mean, 15.1 months). Primary incision healing was observed in all the 12 patients. No complications like skin necrosis, infection or neurovascular lesion occurred. Fracture union was achieved in all the 12 patients after 12 to 14 weeks (average, 12.6 weeks). At the final follow-up, all the patients could walk with full weight-bearing, the plantar flexion and dorsiflexion of the ankle and the muscle strengths of varus and valgus were normal, and the X-ray film showed that reduction of the tarsometatarsal joint was not lost. At the final follow-up, the AOFAS midoot scores ranged from 82 to 96 (mean, 88.9) and the VAS scores from 0 to 3 (mean, 1.2).Conclusion:Plantar plate fixation via the first metatarsal medial approach can result in satisfactory outcomes for fractures of the first metatarsal base, especially for those with a major fracture fragment at the metatarsal planter side.