OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of microRNA-495-5p (miRNA-495-5p) in the serum of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) based on a bioinformatics analysis, and to provide a theoretical basis for further research on the association between miRNA-495-5p and BPD. METHODS: A total of 40 preterm infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from January 2015 to December 2016 were enrolled. Among these infants, 20 with early clinical manifestations of BPD were enrolled as the BPD group, and 20 without such manifestations were enrolled as the control group. Peripheral blood samples were collected. The miRNA microarray technique was used to screen out differentially expressed miRNAs in serum between the two groups. RT-PCR was used for validation of results. TargetScan, miRDB, and miRWalk databases were used to predict the target genes of miRNA-495-5p. The DAVID database was used to perform gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of the target genes. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the BPD group had a significant increase in the expression of miRNA-495-5p in serum (P<0.05). A total of 117 target genes of miRNA-495-5p were predicted by the above three databases and they were involved in several molecular functions (including transcriptional regulatory activity, transcriptional activation activity, and transcription cofactor activity), biological processes (such as metabolic regulation, DNA-dependent transcriptional regulation, and vascular pattern), and cell components (including nucleoplasm, membrane components, and insoluble components) (P<0.05). As for signaling pathways, these genes were significantly enriched in the mTOR signaling pathway (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS MiRNA-495-5p may be involved in the development and progression of BPD by regulating angiogenesis, stem cell differentiation, apoptosis, and autophagy, which provides clues for further research on the role and functional mechanism of miRNA-495-5p in BPD.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Computational Biology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

Objective: To explore susceptibility genes for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was carried out for 60 family trios affected with sporadic ASD. Genetic variants discovered in over 10% of the patients were selected for genotype-phenotype correlation and pathway enrichment analysis using Phenolyzer software and metascape database. Combining gene-phenotypic scores, pathway-related genes associated with neural and neurite triggering were screened for the candidates. Results: A total of 170 common variants were found to be associated with the ASD phenotype. Among these, there was only one high-confidence gene [SHANK2 (0.8146)] and four medium-confidence genes [ERBB2 (0.1322), LAMC3 (0.1117), PPFIA4 (0.1059), DISC1 (0.1002)]. Twenty-pathways and four biological processes were found to be statistically significant by pathway enrichment analysis, which included neuron projection morphogenesis (GO: 0048812), regulation of neuroblast proliferation (GO: 1902692), modulation of excitatory postsynaptic potential (GO: 0098815), and dendrite morphogenesis (GO: 0048813). Twenty-one genes were found to be closely associated with neurological and neurite triggering, among which only SHANK2, ERBB2, and DISC1 had above-medium confidence correlation scores with the ASD phenotypes. Conclusion Abnormal neuron projection morphogenesis (GO: 0048812) may be closely related to the occurrence of ASD. SHANK2, ERBB2, and DISC1 are susceptibility genes for ASD.

A new species of Alternaria causing leaf spots on the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) in Yunnan, China, was isolated, examined, and illustrated. Morphologically, it belongs to the section Porri of Alternaria, which produces relatively large conidia and a simple or branched, filamentous long beak. It is, however, characterized by conidiophores gradually enlarging near the apex into a clavate conidiogenous cell and long ellipsoid to obclavate, smooth-walled conidia with a long filamentous beak. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS rDNA, GAPDH, and TEF1-alpha sequences demonstrate that the phytopathogen falls in the clade of the section Porri, being most closely related to A. sidae, A. sennae, A. deseriticola, A. cyamopsidis, A. rostellata, A. nitrimali, A. crassa, and A. thunbergiae.
Acanthaceae ; Accidental Falls ; Alternaria ; Animals ; Ascomycota ; Beak ; China ; Classification ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Hevea ; Rubber ; Spores, Fungal

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application value and clinical effect of three-dimensional printing combined with composite plate internal fixation in the treatment of old acetabular posterior wall fracture. METHODS: From May 2010 to October 2016, Mimics 19.0 software was used to plan preoperatively according to a 1:1 print pelvic 3D model. At the same time, 23 patients with old acetabular posterior wall fractures were treated with combined plate internal fixation, including 15 males and 8 females, aged 20 to 63 (43.0±5.1) years old, and the time from injury to operation was 23 to 101(47.0±10.5) days. According to Letournel-Judet classification, 11 cases were posterior wall fracture, 7 cases were transverse with posterior wall fracture, and 5 cases were posterior column with posterior wall fracture. All patients were treated with single Kocher-Langenbeck approach combined plate internal fixation, and the evaluation indexes were recorded during operation, after operation and during follow-up. RESULTS: The operation time of 23 patients was (113.5±11.5) min, bleeding was (550.0±104.7) ml and fluoroscopy was (12.7±0.8) s. Matta radiographic reduction criteria were used: excellent in 14 cases, good in 7 cases and poor in 2 cases; 23 patients were followed up for 10 to 24 (16.0±5.6) months. The hip function was evaluated according to the modified Merle d'Aubingne and Postal scoring system at the last follow-up: excellent in 11 cases, good in 8 cases, fair in 3 cases and poor in 1 case. There were 3 cases of traumatic arthritis, 1 case of femoral head necrosis, 2 cases of heterotopic ossification and 5 cases of sciatic nerve irritation. CONCLUSIONS 3D printing technique is an effective and fast method for the treatment of old acetabular posterior wall fractures. In addition, the printing model can provide three-dimensional morphological structure for the operator, combined with preoperative simulation, facilitate intraoperative reduction, and effectively improve the efficiency of surgery.
Acetabulum ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; Humans ; Male ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical features of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) in children. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 13 children with WAS. RESULTS: All 13 children were boys, with a median age of onset of 3 months (range 1-48 months) and a median age of 24 months (range 1-60 months) at the time of diagnosis. Of the 13 children, only 3 had typical WAS and the remaining 10 children had X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT). The mean WAS score was 2 (range 1-3), the mean platelet count was 20.5×10/L [range (13-46)×10/L], and the mean platelet volume was 8.1 fl (range 6.7-12.1 fl). Lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulins were measured for 4 children, among whom 1 (25%) had a reduction in both the percentage of CD3T cells per lymphocyte and lymphocyte per nuclear cells, 1(25%) had a reduction in CD3CD56 NK cells. Among these 4 children, 1 (25%) had an increase in IgG, 2 (50%) had a reduction in IgM, 1 (25%) had a reduction in IgA, and 4 (100%) had an increase in IgE. A total of 14 gene mutations belonging to 13 types were found in 13 children, among which there were 9 missense mutations (65%), 2 splicing mutations (14%), 2 nonsense mutation (14%), and 1 frameshift mutation (7%). The median follow-up time was 39 months (range 3-62 months), and all 13 children survived. CONCLUSIONS Children with WAS often have a young age of onset, and most of them are boys. Major clinical features include thrombocytopenia with a reduction in platelet volume. Missense mutation is the main type of gene mutation.
Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome ; Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome Protein

Curcumae Rhizoma is a Chinese medicinal herb that is contraindicated during pregnancy. Cold-congelation and blood-stasis are corresponding syndromes to Curcumae Rhizoma. Whether syndrome-based treatment is associated with developmental neurotoxicity of Curcumae Rhizoma remains to be unclear. To verify the theory of traditional Chinese medicine of "syndrome-based treatment during pregnancy", the present study induced the mice blood stasis model by immersing mice in ice water. Pregnant C57 BL/6 wild type(WT) mice and pregnant Nrf2 knock out(KO) mice were randomly divided into control groups and Rhizoma Curcumae exposure groups. The mice were exposed to Rhizoma Curcumae during day 5 to day 18 after pregnancy. The neurodevelopment was examined to evaluate the differences of developmental neurotoxicity between normal and blood-stasis pregnant mice exposed to Rhizoma Curcumae. caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity in brain of the offspring were measured by colorimetric assays. Bcl-2 mRNA and protein expression in brain of the offspring were examined by Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. According to the findings, C57 BL/6 mice exposed to Rhizoma Curcumae(10.0 g·kg~(-1)) had a longer positive occurring time of the surface righting reflex test of offspring and higher caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities in brain of offspring, compared with the normal control group, but with no significant change in those of blood-stasis pregnant mice offspring. However, mice exposed to Rhizoma Curcumae(10.0 g·kg~(-1)) showed no change in Bcl-2 gene expression and p38 MAPK phosphorylation in brain of the offspring. Nrf2 gene knockout using CRISPR/Cas9 resulted in a longer positive occurring time of the surface righting reflex test of offspring and higher caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities in brain of offspring. In conclusion, developmental neurotoxicity of the blood-stasis pregnant mice exposed to Rhizoma Curcumae was weaker than that of the normal pregnant mice. Nrf2 activation involved in the phenomenon of Rhizoma Curcumae of "syndrome-based treatment during pregnancy", but the upstream signal pathway mechanism value shall be further investigated.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain ; drug effects ; Caspases ; genetics ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Maternal Exposure ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; genetics ; Pregnancy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Signal Transduction

Objective: To evaluate effect of Canna edulis type 3 resistant starch(RS3) on weight loss and lipid reduction in obese hyperlipidemia mice and acute toxicity in mice. Method: KKAy mice were fed with high-fat diet for 20 weeks to establish a hyperlipidemia model and then randomly divided into model group,positive group (4 mg·kg^-1), high-dose resistant starch group and low-dose resistant starch group (2,1 g·kg^-1).Mice in normal group were fed with standard diet. The medication groups received corresponding drugs by gavage. Normal group and high-fat model group were given equal volume of deionized water. After 8 weeks,mice were put to death. The levels of total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum of mice were measured,and weigh fat mass,fat/body ratio,body fat rate and Lee's index were calculated accurately. The pathological changes of liver and adipose tissue were observed byhematoxylin-eosin (HE). The acute toxicity of RS3 to mice was evaluated by limit test. The mice were continuously observed for 14 days, and the toxicity of mice was recorded. Result: The indicators of high-dose RS3 group were significantly reduced,such as body weight,fat mass,body fat rate,fat/body ratio,Lee's index,and serum TC,TG,LDL-C,AST,ALT levels(P<0.05).Histomorphometric examination showed that the administration of RS3 starch could significantly improve the fatty lesions of liver tissue, and the liver-protecting effect was obvious, which could still inhibit the expansion of fat cells and reduce the accumulation of fat in mice.Among them, the high-dose group wsa better;After the maximum dose of 36 g·kg^-1 was administered,no toxic reaction and death occurred in the animals. Conclusion: RS3-type Canna Edulis Resistant Starch has a good effect in reducing body weight and serum lipid,with a better effect in the high-dose group and no toxicity. And the commonly used clinical dose is safe and reliable.

Objective: To observe the hypoglycemic effect of Uygur medicine Ziya Biti tablet on the type 2 diabetic rats, and analyze the hypoglycemic mechanism based on metabolomic techniques. Method: According to the results of clinical research about different origins of Ziya Biti tablet, the optimal composition was screened out; type 2 diabetic rats were taken as an experimental object in the pharmacodynamic experiments;the control group and model group were given the same dose of normal saline, Ziya Biti bablet group was given 300 mg·kg^-1, the metformin group was given 300 mg·kg^-1 metformin hydrochloride. The fasting blood and weight changes of the experimental group after the treatment were recorded and compared with normal group; ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap/electrostatic field orbit trap combined-type high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ/Orbitrap MS) technology was used to conduct the metabolomics analysis on the rat serum, and principal component analysis (PCA), partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) on different groups of rat serum metabolites were performed to identify potential biomarkers. Result:Compared with the model group, the rats in the Uygur medicine Ziya Biti tablet showed a healthy states, and the blood glucose were decreased(P<0.05), which indicated that Uygur medicine Ziya Biti tablet had a certain hypoglycemic effect on type 2 diabetic rats. Eight biomarkers were finally obtained according to the results. Compared with model group, L-valine and propionylcarnitine in the Uygur medicine group were decreased(P<0.05), while sphingosine-1-phosphate, LPC (16:1/0:0), LPC (18:0/0:0), LPC (18:2/0:0), LPC 20:1/0:0), PC (19:0/0:0) were elevated(P<0.05). Conclusion:The experimental results showed that Uygur medicine Ziya Biti tablet can reduce the blood glucose of type 2 diabetic rats and allivate general physiological characteristics. The mechanism of action may be related to the improvement of amino acid metabolism and lipid metabolism.

Objective: To discuss the phenotypic character and the HPLC fingerprints of radial striations from different germplasms Rehmanniae Radix. Method: The changes in the shape and column diameter of the radial striations of Rehmanniae Radix were observed and measured in the whole growth period. Besides,the HPLC fingerprints of the root,radial and un-radial striations were established to sign the chemical quality and analyzed by principal component analysis(PCA)and systematic cluster analysis. Result: There were significantly differences and regularities in the shape and proportion of the radial striations of different germplasms Rehmanniae Radix. The fingerprints showed the consistency between different types of chemical ingredients,and the differences in chemical quality characteristics mainly lay in the content of chemical compositions and theirs relative ratio. The results of PCA indicated that active ingredients, such as acteoside,catalpol,rehmaionoside D,rehmaionoside A and leonuride, were involved in the quality expression of different parts from various germplasms of Rehmanniae Radix,but each ingredient had a distinctive contribution rate to the differential quality expression between different parts from various germplasms of Rehmanniae Radix. However,the other components involved in the differential quality expression had different contribution rates in different germplasms.The systematic cluster analysis indicated that great differences in the chemical quality between the radial striations and un-radial striations of Beijing-1,Qinhuai,Qinhuai Zheng and 1706 germplasms,but with small differences in 85-5 and Baixuan germplasms. Conclusion: There are differences in phenotypic character of the radial striations and HPLC fingerprints between different germplasms Rehmanniae Radix.