200 µm, a circumference > 60 degrees, and a cap thickness < 450 µm. The percentage distributions of CT pixel attenuation ≤ 20, 30, 40, and 50 HU were calculated using quantitative histogram analysis.RESULTS: A total of 271 transverse sections were co-registered between CCTA and pathological analysis. Overall, 26 lipid cores and 16 fibrous plaques were identified by pathological analysis. There was no significant difference in median CT attenuation between the lipid and fibrous plaques (51 HU [interquartile range, 46–63] vs. 57 HU [interquartile range, 50–64], p = 0.659). The median percentage of CT pixel attenuation ≤ 30 HU accounted for 11% (5–17) of lipid-core plaques and 0% (0–2) of fibrous plaques (p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the method for diagnosing lipid plaques by the average CT pixel attenuation ≤ 30 HU were 80.8% and 87.5%, respectively. The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve was 0.898 (95% confidence interval: 0.765–0.970; 3.0% was the best cut-off value). The diagnostic performance was significantly higher than those of the average pixel CT attenuation percentages ≤ 20, 40, and 50 HU and the mean CT attenuation (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: In in vivo conditions, with the pathological lipid core as the gold standard, quantification of the percentage of average CT pixel attenuation ≤ 30 HU in the histogram can be useful for accurate identification of lipid plaques.]]>
Angiography ; Coronary Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis ; Heart Transplantation ; Humans ; Methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrum Analysis

Objective To understand the influence path of occupational health knowledge, behavior and lifestyle, and utilization of workplace health service on chronic diseases of teachers in a district of Beijing. Method A self-designed questionnaire was used among teachers in a district of Beijing through path analysis. Results The prevalence rate of chronic diseases in occupational population was 51.5%. The top three diseases were lumbar or spinal diseases (19.0%), hypertension (12.5%) and gastroenteritis (11.1%). The rate of overweight and obesity increased with age, and male teachers were higher than that of female teachers which was statistically significant ( 2=119.313，P<0.001).Overweight-obesity, health related knowledge and utilization of workplace services made direct effects on chronic diseases. Healthy behaviors and lifestyles made indirect effects on chronic diseases by overweight-obesity. Conclusions The teachers’ health in this district was not bad. It is recommended that we should pay attention to the population of teachers, especially the male so that to prevent and control the incidence of overweight and obesity, improve their health knowledge level and develop healthy habits, and increase the input of health resources in the workplace.

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 investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of sevoflurane in rats resuscitated from cardiac arrest (CA).Methods A ventricular fibrillation-induced CA model was established.Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into the sham group,sevoflurane group and control group.Apoptosis-related proteins were measured by Western blot at 24 h after restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).The status of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) were measured using a spectrophotometer,and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured with JC-1 fluorescent probe.At 72 h after ROSC,the apoptotic index of neurons in hippocampal CA1 region was counted by TUNEL staining.Results The protein expression of Bax,Bak,cleaved-caspase 9,cleavedcaspase 3 and cytosolic cytochrome c were lower in the sevoflurane group (all P＜0.05),the protein expression of Bcl-2 was higher in the sevoflurane group compared with the control group (P＜0.05).The sevoflurane group had a less opening status of MPTP and a higher MMP compared with the control group (all P＜0.05).The sevoflurane group had less apoptotic neurons compared with the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion By up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2,down-regulating Bax and Bak,sevoflurane could reduce the apoptosis of neurons and decrease the opening of MPTP,eventually reduce cerebral injuries.

Objective To explore the mutation characteristics of DMD gene in patients with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy and female carriers, to provide effective prenatal diagnosis. Methods Samples were collected from 94 male patients clinically diagnosed with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy and 121 corresponding female relatives from Qingdao Women and Children′s Hospital from June 2011 to October 2018. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to detect their DMD gene, and 23 high risk pregnants were performed prenatal diagnosis. Any candidate of DMD gene single-exon deletion was validated by further PCR amplification. The sample with whole DMD gene deletion was confirmed by chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) to detect copy number variations and break site. Results Among 94 clinical Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy patients, 66(70.2%, 66/94) were detected gene mutation; 56 cases were exon deletion mutation and 10 cases were duplication mutation. In 121 female relatives, 48 cases (39.7%, 48/121) were diagnosed as carriers. The mutation carrying rate, was 64.5% (40/62) identified in 62 mothers of Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy patients. Five Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy fetuses and 5 carrier fetuses were prenatally diagnosed in 23 high risk pregnants. Two children with the entire DMD gene deletion were identified more deletions at Xp21, with deletions of 6.66 Mb and 10.64 Mb respectively. Conclusions MLPA may be an important method to detect DMD gene mutation of deletion and duplication. Therefore, the diagnosis of probands, female carriers and making an effective prenatal diagnosis are essential to reduce the birth of children with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy.

In order to find the endogenous potential biomarkers of in vitro hepatic injury caused by NCTD-Na and elucidate the mechanism of hepatic injury of NCTD-Na,ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) was used for lipidomics detection.Multivariate statistical analysis was used to study the endogenous lipid metabolic changes of human normal liver cells LO2 injury after the treatment with sodium norcantharidate(NCTD-Na).The results showed that the half maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50) of NCTD-Na was 0.034 mmol·L-1.A total of 280 differential metabolites were found between the control group and the low-dose group,with VIP > 2.0 and P<0.05.At the same time,a total of 273 differential metabolites were found between the control group and the high-dose group,with VIP > 2.0 and P<0.05.Cell metabolite profiles showed clear separation among control group,the low-dose group and the high-dose group,and 111 differential metabolites were found,with VIP > 2.0,P<0.05,RSD<30% and in a dose-dependent manner.It was found that most of the above differential metabolites were lipid metabolites after the analysis of simple preparnation methods and database search.A total of 32 potential biomarkers were identified,including 3 phosphatidylcholine(PC),5 lysophosphatidylcholine(Lyso PC),3 ceramide(Cer),1 sphingomyelin(SM),1 phosphatidylethanolamine(PE),10 lysophosphatidylethanolamine(LysoPE),4 diacylglycerol(DG),1 Phosphatidic acid(PA),1 lysophosphatidic acid(Lyso PA),1 phosphatidyl glycerol(PG),1 fatty acid hydroxy fatty acid(FAHFA) and 1 phosphatidylserine(PS).The changes of PCs,Cers,SM,PE and DGs were closely related liver protection,DNA methylation and self-repair in hepatocytes,apoptosis,methylation and detoxification of carcinogens,as well as lipid peroxides production process.Also,they had impact on the proliferation of hepatocytes,differentiation and gene transcription disorders.Cells stimulated by NCTD-Na could promote the production of PA as well as the synthesis and catabolism of FAHFA in a variety of ways.The levels of Lyso PCs,LysoPEs and Lyso PA were correlated with PCs,PE and PA;PE and PS might have valgus during apoptosis,triggering phagocytosis.
Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Lipids ; analysis ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine whether coronary atherosclerotic plaque composition is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Chinese adults. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis in 549 subjects without previous diagnosis or clinical symptoms of CVD in a community cohort of middle-aged Chinese adults. The participants underwent coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography for the evaluation of the presence and composition of coronary plaques. CVD risk was evaluated by the Framingham risk score (FRS) and the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score. RESULTS: Among the 549 participants, 267 (48.6%) had no coronary plaques, 201 (36.6%) had noncalcified coronary plaques, and 81 (14.8%) had calcified or mixed coronary plaques. The measures of CVD risk including FRS and ASCVD risk score and the likelihood of having elevated FRS significantly increased across the groups of participants without coronary plaques, with noncalcified coronary plaques, and with calcified or mixed coronary plaques. However, only calcified or mixed coronary plaques were significantly associated with an elevated ASCVD risk score [odds ratio (OR) 2.41; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-5.32] compared with no coronary plaques, whereas no significant association was found for noncalcified coronary plaques and elevated ASCVD risk score (OR 1.25; 95% CI 0.71-2.21) after multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSION Calcified or mixed coronary plaques might be more associated with an elevated likelihood of having CVD than noncalcified coronary plaques.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; Computed Tomography Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors

Tripterygium wilfordii is a medicinal plant commonly used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,and with pharmacological activities in anti-tumor and obesity treatment. The known active ingredients in T. wilfordii are mainly terpenoids,but with very low content. Therefore,the analysis of the biosynthesis pathway of terpenoids in T. wilfordii has become a research hotspot to solve the problem of its resources. Terpenoid synthase( TPS) is a key enzyme that catalyzes the formation of a wide variety of terpenoid skeletons. In this study,a gene fragment with an ORF of 1 785 bp was cloned from T. wilfordii. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using NCBI's BLASTP,ProtParam and Interpro online tools and MEGA 6.0 software. The response of this gene to methyl jasmonate was also detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,and its catalytic function was verified by prokaryotic expression and in vitro enzymatic assay. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the amino acid sequence encoded by this gene had both N-terminal domain and C-terminal domain of TPS,as well as the DDxx D conserved domain of the class I of TPS family. And Tw MTS gathered together with TPS-b subfamily in the Neighbor-Joining Tree constructed with known homologous TPSs. The results of RT-PCR showed that 50 μmol·L-1 MeJA 12 h could increase the expression of Tw MTS to 735 times in the control group at 12 h,and 1 644 times at 24 h. In addition,in vitro enzymatic reaction results showed that Tw MTS can catalyze the production of β-citronellol with GPP as substrate,indicating that Tw MTS was a monoterpene synthase. The above results provided a new element for the synthetic biology database of T. wilfordii terpenoids,and laid the foundation for future biosynthesis research.
Cloning, Molecular ; Intramolecular Lyases ; genetics ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Tripterygium ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the necessity and suitability of the anti-HCV ELISA teot gray zone setted up by 7 blood station laboratories. METHODS: 7 blood station laboratories were coded as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively; 8 kinds of ELISA reagents were coded as A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H respectively. 1 or 2 of 8 ELISA reagents produced by different manufactories were used to detect the anti-HCV in specimens of same group by 7 blood station laboratories; the Westen blot was used to detect the specimens with difference of detected results so as to difine the serological status of specimens. The true positive rate of specimens detected by laboratories and gray zone-comfirined positive rate of specimens were accounted so as to analyze the necessity of setting up the gray zone for anti-HCV ELISA test of 7 blood station laboratories; the optimal cut-off value for anti-HCV ELISA test was determined in 7 blood station laborafories by ROC curve and the changes of sensitivity and specificity of 3 different cut-off value(laboratory work cut-off value, manifactory-recommended cun-off value and optimal cut-off value) were compared so as to analyze the suitability of gray zone for anti-HCV ELISA test in 7 blood station laboratories. RESULTS: The true positive rate detected by 7 blood station laboratories, out of which coded 1 laboratory used 2 kinds of coded A, B reagents was 95.40%(1A), 99.23% (1B), 94.25% (2C), 96.17% (3D), 98.08% (4E), 96.93% (5F), 97.32%(6G) and 93.10%(7H). Except for 2C(94.25%) and 7H(93.10%), the true positive rate detected by laboratoies which not sutted up gray zone, the gray zone-con-firmed positive rate in 6 blood station laboratories setted up gray zone: was 0.00%, 0.00%, 21.43%, 0.00%, 0.00%, 0.00% and 38.89%. The comparison of 3 different cut-off valuces by ROC curve showed that the anti-HCV cut-off values in 5 laboratories(1B, 2C, 4E, 5F and 6G) were as follows: optimal cut-off value＞manufactory recommeded cut-off value＞laboratory work cut-off value, thus use of manufactory-recommeded cut-off value abreadly has reached the high sensitivity requinements for laboratory screening; however, the optimal cut-off value in laboratories 1A, 3B and 7H, thas the appropriate gray zone should be used. In 6 laboratories setting up gray zone, the gensitivity in 3D, 7H laboratories only a little improved (1.60% and 2.70% raspectively) in Eamparison between laboratory work cut-off value and manufactorg-recommeded cut-off value; moreover, the sensitivity in other laboratories not is changed, but the specificity decreased (0.20%-0.50%). CONCLUSION In addition to setting up the appropriate gray zone in laboratories 1A, 3D and 5H, the gray zone in other laboratories may be cancelled. Even in the same laboratory, the setting up the gray zone also should be scientifically assessed, the same scale cannot be blindly used, thus appropniate strategies should be established.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hepatitis C ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Humans ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between serum microRNA-122 (miR-122) and insulin resistance in obese children. METHODS: Forty-seven children with severely obesity aged 7-14 years and 45 age- and gender matched healthy children with normal weight (control group) were enrolled. The levels of height, weight, waistline, hip circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acid (FFA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and miR-122 in the two groups were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the height, weight, BMI, WHR, FINS, HOMA-IR, TG, FFA, IL-6, and miR-122 levels in the obese group were significantly increased (P<0.05). MiR-122 levels in the obese group were positively correlated with FINS, HOMA-IR and IL-6 levels (r=0.408, 0.442, and 0.464 respectively, P<0.05). The changes of miR-122 have a linear regression relationship with IL-6 (b'=0.318, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The elevated serum miR-122 levels may be correlated with insulin resistance in obese children. The mechanism needs to be further studied.
Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Obesity ; Waist-Hip Ratio