To explore the mechanism of obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) by assessing the association between human TWIK-related acid-sensitive K channel-1(TASK-1) gene and OSA. A total of 164 patients with severe OSA and 171 patients without OSA were recruited from the Hypertension Center of People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region,China,from April to December 2016.Two single nucleotide polymorphisms(rs1275988 and rs2586886) in the TASK-1 gene were selected and genotyped using a Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR genotyping system. In patients with blood potassium <3.95 mmol/L,the distribution of rs1275988 alleles(G .A)(=4.474,=0.034) and recessive model(GG+GA .AA)(=4.327,=0.038) showed significant differences between severe and non-OSA groups.The distribution of rs2586886 alleles(G .A)(=6.345,=0.012) and dominant model(AA+GA .GA)(=4.431,=0.035) showed significant differences between severe and non-OSA groups.The Logistic regression analysis showed that the GG genotype was a risk factor for OSA patients with blood potassium <3.95 mmol/L(=7.854,95% :1.710-36.000,=0.008;=8.849,95% :1.816-43.117,=0.007). Both the GG genotypes of rs1275988 and rs2586886 in the TASK-1 gene may be potential risk factors in severe OSA patients with blood potassium <3.95 mmol/L.Serum potassium>3.95 mmol/L in patients with TASK-1 GG genotype may be conducive to reducing the incidence of severe OSA.

In recent years, the impact of meteorological factors on health and injury has been paid more and more attention. Severe weather events were considered to be an important risk factor for traffic accident injuries. Evidence from a large number of epidemiological studies suggests that meteorological factors, including high temperatures, rainfall, snowfall, wind and visibility, might be related to the occurrence of traffic accidents. This systematic review attempts to summarize the current research status of meteorological factors on traffic accident injury, systematically review the relationship between meteorological factors and traffic accident injury, and discuss how to further carry out related research.

BACKGROUND: We examined changes in hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) during the four sequential phases of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection: hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic infection (EPCI) and hepatitis (EPCH), followed by HBeAg-negative chronic infection (ENCI) and hepatitis (ENCH). We compared the performance of serum HBcrAg, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HBV DNA in predicting EPCH and ENCH. METHODS: We enrolled 492 consecutive patients: 49 with EPCI, 243 with EPCH, 101 with ENCI, and 99 with ENCH. HBcrAg was detected by chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassays. HBsAg and HBeAg were detected by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays. HBV DNA was detected by real-time PCR. Predictive performance of HBcrAg, HBsAg, and HBV DNA was evaluated using ROC curves. RESULTS: Areas under ROC curves (AUCs) of HBcrAg, HBsAg, and HBV DNA for predicting EPCH were 0.738, 0.812, and 0.717, respectively; optimal cutoffs were ≤1.43×105 kU/mL, ≤1.89×104 IU/mL, and ≤3.97×107 IU/mL, with sensitivities and specificities of 66.3% and 77.6%, 65.0% and 93.9%, and 60.5% and 79.6%, respectively. AUCs of HBcrAg, HBsAg, and HBV DNA for predicting ENCH were 0.887, 0.581, and 0.978, respectively; optimal cutoffs were >26.8 kU/mL, >2.29×102 IU/mL, and >8.75×103 IU/mL, with sensitivities and specificities of 72.7% and 95.1%, 86.9% and 39.6%, and 89.9% and 92.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HBsAg and HBV DNA were the best predictors of EPCH and ENCH, respectively. HBcrAg is an important surrogate marker for predicting EPCH and ENCH.
Area Under Curve ; Biomarkers ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens* ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; ROC Curve

Objective To evaluate the effect of the treatment with low-concentration hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the adhesive function of and autophagy in human melanocytes,and to screen long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) related to autophagy.Methods Melanocytes were isolated from foreskins of healthy males after circumcision,and subjected to cultivation.Melanocytes at exponential growth phase were divided into 3 groups:control group receiving no treatment,H2O2 group treated with 400 μ mol/L H2O2,and H2O2 + NAC group pretreated with 4 mmol/L NAC for 2 hours followed by the treatment with 400 μmol/L H2O2.After 5-day treatment,immunofluorescence study was performed to determine the expression of Ecadherin,microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)and p62,and Western blot analysis to determine the expression of autophagy-related protein LC3 and p62.Cell structures and autophagosomes were observed by transmission electron microscopy,and autophagy-related lncRNAs were screened using gene chip technology.Statistical analysis was done with Graphpad Prism 6 software using one-way analysis of variance for comparison among groups,and Tukey's test for multiple comparisons.Results Under the confocal microscopy,the H2O2 group showed significantly decreased fluorescence intensity of E-cadherin and LC3 in the melanocytes and decreased number of autophagosomes in melanocytes,but significantly increased fluorescence intensity of p62 compared with the control group and H2O2 + NAC group.Western blot analysis showed that the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio in the melanocytes was significantly lower in the H2O2 group (0.604 ± 0.012) than in the control group (1.200 ± 0.081,q =7.718,P ＜ 0.01) and H2O2 + NAC group (1.017 ± 0.062,q =5.076,P ＜ 0.05),while the p62/β-actin ratio in the melanocytes was significantly higher in the H2O2 group (0.881 ± 0.079) than in the control group (0.456 ± 0.121,q =4.847,P ＜ 0.05) and H2O2 + NAC group (0.492 ± 0.049,q =4.439,P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences in the LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio or p62/β-actin ratio between the H2O2 + NAC group and control group (P ＞ 0.05).Gene chip technology showed that 18 autophagy-related lncRNAs were associated with premature senescence of melanocytes and differentially expressed in the H2O2 group compared with the control group,and the autophagy-related lncRNA NONHSAT190308.1 (＞ 10-fold increase) was screened out.Conclusion Lowconcentration H2O2 can decrease the expression of E-cadherin and the level of autophagy in melanocytes,and can up-regulate the expression of autophagy-associated lncRNA NONHSAT190308.1.

BACKGROUND: Owing to the multifactorial nature of the pathogenesis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), conventional drug therapies have not been effective. The application of stem cells transplantation may be useful for the treatment of DPN. This study was designed to assess the safety and therapeutic effects of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) transplantation on the treatment of refractory DPN. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-eight patients with refractory DPN were recruited and enrolled in the study. They received intramuscular injection of BMMNCs and followed at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months after the transplantation. Clinical data, Toronto Clinical Scoring System (TCSS), and nerve conduction studies (NCSs) were compared before and after the transplantation. RESULTS: The signs and symptoms of neuropathy were significantly improved after BMMNCs transplantation. The values of the TCSS scores at 1 month (9.68 ± 2.49 vs. 12.55 ± 2.19, P < 0.001) and 3 months (8.47 ± 2.39 vs. 12.55 ± 2.19, P < 0.001) after the treatment reduced significantly compared with the baseline value. This decrement remained persistent until the end of the study. The conduction velocity and action potential and sensory nerves were significantly improved after transplantation (3 and 12 months after the treatment vs. the baseline: motor nerve conduction velocity, 40.24 ± 2.80 and 41.00 ± 2.22 m/s vs. 38.21 ± 2.28 m/s, P < 0.001; sensory nerve conduction velocity, 36.96 ± 2.26 and 39.15 ± 2.61 m/s vs. 40.41 ± 2.22 m/s, P < 0.001; compound muscle action potential, 4.67 ± 1.05 and 5.50 ± 1.20 μV vs. 5.68 ± 1.08 μV, P < 0.001; sensory nerve action potential, 4.29 ± 0.99 and 5.14 ± 1.26 μV vs. 5.41 ± 1.14 μV, P < 0.001). No adverse event associated with the treatment was observed during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Autologous transplantation of BMMNCs may be an effective and promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of refractory DPN.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; methods ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transplantation, Autologous ; methods

Single-pass intestinal perfusion( SPIP) is the common carrier of biopharmaceutics classification system( BCS) to study compound permeability. With the application and deepening study of BCS in the field of traditional Chinese medicine( TCM),SPIP model is becoming more and more common to study the intestinal absorption of TCM ingredients. Based on the limitations of the SPIP model in some researches on TCM permeability,it was speculated in this study that aglycone may be more suitable than the glycoside to study the intestinal absorption problem by using SPIP model. Furthermore,applicability of aglycone components was analyzed and evaluated. In this study,with quercetin,daidzein,formononetin,genistein and glycyrrhetinic acid used as research objects,the quantitative study of SPIP was used to evaluate the intestinal permeability of these aglycones and to predict the effective permeability coefficient( Peff) and absorption fraction( Fa) in human body. By combining studies comparison and analysis on multiple permeability research methods and prediction of human body absorption of aglycones in physiological-based pharmacokinetic models,this paper can further illustrate that the SPIP model is a good tool for studying the permeability of aglycones and predicting human absorption,which can provide data foundation and theoretical reference for researches on SPIP technique and BCS in intestinal absorption of TCM ingredients.
Biopharmaceutics ; Humans ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestines ; drug effects ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Perfusion ; Permeability

"Qi medicinal herbs" in China refers to a kind of regional national folk herbs related to the treatment of five labors and seven injuries,the last word of which is "Qi". Our study is to sort out and standardize the name and basic confused varieties through the establishment of " Qi medicinal herbs" VFP information database. " Qi medicinal herbs" variety sorting model of " literature research-variety survey-data mining-spatial distribution" was developed by means of literature analysis which the names and varieties of " Qi medicinal herbs" in the literature were summarized and sorted out. The relationship between the distribution of " Qi medicinal herbs" resources and the use of ethnic groups were visualized by Cytoscape 2. 8. 0 software. The information database of " Qi medicinal herbs" involved in 230 kinds of medicinal materials which including 211 species of plants( including varieties) from 66 families. Medicinal materials standard in China have 9 kinds of " Qi medicinal herbs". Among them,there are 31 kinds of " Qi medicinal herbs" with the confusion of " the different names of the same" and " the different substance of the same names". The most used ethnic groups are Tujia,Qiang and Miao. The main efficacy is clearing heat and detoxification,dispelling wind and removing dampness,etc.,and the main treatment is for injury,rheumatic arthralgia and so on. Names and varieties of " Qi medicinal herbs" among Chinese ethnic groups and folk are standardized and sorted out,which is served to promotethe " Qi medicinal herbs" reasonable protection and utilization of resources,and provide effective reference for exploring the information technology and geographical distribution of ethnic medicine and standardizing clinical medication.
China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; Qi ; Terminology as Topic

Objective To evaluate the value of serum aminoterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and interleukin(IL)-6 levels in diagnosis and severity assessment of the preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome(RDS).Methods Totally 150 preterm infants with RDS who were hospitalized in our center from August 2016 to March 2018 were enrolled in this study as the RDS group. These infants were further divided into grades 1,2,3,and 4 according to chest radiography. In addition,158 preterm infants without RDS hospitalized in our center during the same period were included as the controls (control group). Serum NT-proBNP and IL-6 levels were measured by ELISA on days 1,3,and 7 after birth,and their pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) was monitored as well.Results Serum NT-proBNP and IL-6 levels in RDS group were significantly higher than those in control group on day 1 (t=-91.04,P=0.000;t=-11.03,P=0.000),day 3 (t=-89.10,P=0.000;t=-9.909,P=0.000),and day 7 (t=-87.91,P=0.000;t=-8.548,P=0.000). There were significant differences in NT-proBNP levels among grades 1,2,3,and 4 on day 1 (F=50.89,P=0.000),day 3 (F=49.16,P=0.000),and day 7 (F=45.45,P=0.000),showing an increasing trend. Serum IL-6 levels showed no significant difference among grades 1,2,3,and 4 on day 1 (F=0.89,P=0.448),day 3 (F=0.76,P=0.518),and day 7 (F=0.85,P=0.469). The PAP of the RDS group on days 1,3,and 7 was (49.3±3.7),(40.1±5.4),and (39.0±2.6)mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),which were significantly higher than those of the control group (35.0±2.7)mmHg (t=-90.01,P=0.000),(30.0±3.1)mmHg (t=-81.90,P=0.000),(26.0±3.0)mmHg (t=-88.89,P=0.000). Thus,there was a positive correlation between NT-proBNP and IL-6 levels (r=0.876,P=0.000) and a positive correlation between NT-proBNP and PAP (r=0.916,P=0.000) in preterm infants with RDS.Conclusion Monitoring serum NT-proBN contributes to early diagnosis and disease severity assessment in preterm infants with RDS.
Biomarkers ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Interleukin-6 ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Peptide Fragments ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors in first-time adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy and their influence on spasm control time in infants with infantile spasms. METHODS: A total of 72 infants with infantile spasms who were admitted from January 2008 to October 2013 were enrolled. Their clinical data were collected, and the exposure factors for infantile spasms were selected. A Cox proportional-hazards regression model analysis was performed for these factors to analyze their influence on spasm control time. RESULTS: Clarification of the etiology (known or unexplained etiology), frequency of spasms before treatment, and presence or absence of combination therapy (ACTH used alone or in combination with magnesium sulfate) had a significant influence on spasm control time in infants with infantile spasms. The infants with a known etiology had a significantly shorter spasm control time than those with unexplained etiology, and the infants with a low frequency of spasms before treatment and receiving ACTH combined with magnesium sulfate early had a significantly longer spasm control time than their counterparts (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS For infants with infantile spasms at initial diagnosis, etiology should be clarified, which may helpful for evaluating prognosis. A combination of ACTH and magnesium sulfate should be given as soon as possible, which may improve their prognosis.
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Anticonvulsants ; Humans ; Infant ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Spasm ; Spasms, Infantile ; drug therapy