The human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1), one of the most essential conjugative enzymes, is responsible for the metabolism and detoxification of bilirubin and other endogenous substances, as well as many different xenobiotic compounds. Deciphering UGT1A1 relevance to human diseases and characterizing the effects of small molecules on the activities of UGT1A1 requires reliable tools for probing the function of this key enzyme in complex biological matrices. Herein, an easy-to-use assay for highly-selective and sensitive monitoring of UGT1A1 activities in various biological matrices, using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FD), has been developed and validated. The newly developed LC-FD based assay has been confirmed in terms of sensitivity, specificity, precision, quanti-tative linear range and stability. One of its main advantages is lowering the limits of detection and quantification by about 100-fold in comparison to the previous assay that used the same probe substrate, enabling reliable quantification of lower amounts of active enzyme than any other method. The precision test demonstrated that both intra- and inter-day variations for this assay were less than 5.5％. Further-more, the newly developed assay has also been successfully used to screen and characterize the regu-latory effects of small molecules on the expression level of UGT1A1 in living cells. Overall, an easy-to-use LC-FD based assay has been developed for ultra-sensitive UGT1A1 activities measurements in various biological systems, providing an inexpensive and practical approach for exploring the role of UGT1A1 in human diseases, interactions with xenobiotics, and characterization modulatory effects of small mole-cules on this conjugative enzyme.

ObjectivecircRNAs play an important role in tumor development, but the relationship between circRNAs and hepatocellular carcinoma remains to be further explored. The present study aimed to bioinformatically analyze the target gene of microRNA-1. Another aim was to screen circRNAs that are associated with target genes and differentially expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, as well as provide theoretical basis for clinical screening of molecular markers and targeted therapies related to hepatocellular carcinoma.MethodsThe miRNA related database used for the prediction of microRNA-1 target genes, and the bioinformatic analysis of the target genes of microRNA-1 involved functional enrichment analysis and signal transduction pathway enrichment. Then, the circRNAs, which are related to the downstream target genes of microRNA-1, are screened through the circRNA database.ResultsThe number of microRNA-1 target genes was 230 in miRNA related database. Through GO analysis, it was found that the target genes of microRNA-1 had a strong tendency in regulation, and were mainly enriched in three aspects: biological function, biological process and cell localization.The target genes of microRNA-1 are involved in the function of proteins, regulation of biosynthesis, cofactor binding, enzyme regulation and other biological processes. Predicted target genes of miRNA-1 were significantly enriched in cancer signaling pathways, hepatitis B occurrence, endocytosis and splicing pathways. Further, 21 circRNAs related to the target gene of microRNA-1 were found in three circRNA databases, wherein hsa_circ_0004651 was highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 and its pavent gene was hnRNPD.ConclusionMicroRNA-1 influence the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma development through the regulation of protein and enzyme. Hsa_circ_0004651 may affect the development of hepatocellular carcinoma with microRNA-1 and its parental gene hnRNPD.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features and outcome of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in southwest Hubei, China. METHODS: According to the Montreux definition of neonatal ARDS, a retrospective clinical epidemiological investigation was performed on the medical data of neonates with ARDS who were admitted to Department of Neonatology/Pediatrics in 17 level 2 or level 3 hospitals in southwest Hubei from January to December, 2017. RESULTS: A total of 7 150 neonates were admitted to the 17 hospitals in southwest Hubei during 2017 and 66 (0.92%) were diagnosed with ARDS. Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 23 (35%) had mild ARDS, 28 (42%) had moderate ARDS, and 15 (23%) had severe ARDS. The main primary diseases for neonatal ARDS were perinatal asphyxia in 23 neonates (35%), pneumonia in 18 neonates (27%), sepsis in 12 neonates (18%), and meconium aspiration syndrome in 10 neonates (15%). Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 10 neonates (15%) were born to the mothers with an age of ≥35 years, 30 neonates (45%) suffered from intrauterine distress, 32 neonates (49%) had a 1-minute Apgar score of 0 to 7 points, 24 neonates (36%) had abnormal fetal heart monitoring results, and 21 neonates (32%) experienced meconium staining of amniotic fluid. Intraventricular hemorrhage was the most common comorbidity (12 neonates), followed by neonatal shock (9 neonates) and patent ductus arteriosus (8 neonates). All 66 neonates with ARDS were treated with mechanical ventilation in addition to the treatment for primary diseases. Among the 66 neonates with ARDS, 10 died, with a mortality rate of 15% (10/66), and 56 neonates were improved or cured, with a survival rate of 85% (56/66). CONCLUSIONS Neonatal ARDS in southwest Hubei is mostly mild or moderate. Perinatal asphyxia and infection may be the main causes of neonatal ARDS in this area. Intraventricular hemorrhage is the most common comorbidity. Neonates with ARDS tend to have a high survival rate after multimodality treatment.
China ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics, related factors, and prognostic effect of patients with T cell large granular lymphocytosis following allo-HSCT.Methods:Consecutive patients with T-LGL following allo-HSCT who visited our center from June 2013 to February 2020 were studied retrospectively. We compared patients undergoing allo-HSCT during this period. The clinical characteristics, related factors, cumulative incidence of patients with T-LGL and rates of overall survival (OS) , disease free survival (DFS) , relapse, and non-relapse mortality (NRM) were analyzed.Results:Total 359 patients were enrolled, including 17 with T-LGL and 342 without T-LGL following allo-HSCT. The median follow-up duration was 38 (3-92) month. The cumulative incidence at 1-, 2- and 3-years of T-LGL was 3.64% (95% CI 1.09%-6.19%) , 4.50% (95% CI 1.36%-7.64%) , and 4.84% (95% CI 1.10%-8.76%) , respectively. CMV reactivation ( P=0.013) , EB viremia ( P=0.034) , and aGVHD ( P=0.027) were associated with the development of T-LGL following allo-HSCT. Multivariate analysis showed that benign hematologic diseases[ P=0.027, OR=3.36 (95% CI 1.15-9.89) ] and haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation[ P=0.030, OR=4.67 (95% CI 1.16-18.75) ], unrelated donor transplantation[ P=0.041, OR=5.49 (95% CI 1.10-28.16) ] were independent predictive factors of T-LGL following allo-HSCT. There was a significant difference in the 3-year OS (100.0% vs. 78.6%, P=0.04) , DFS (100.0% vs. 70.0%, P=0.01) , and NRM (0 vs. 12.6%, P=0.02) between the 2 cohorts. Subgroup analysis showed that malignant diseases recipients who developed T-LGL had better outcomes after allo-HSCT, and there was a significant difference in the NRM ( P=0.042) , DFS ( P=0.013) , and cumulative relapse rate ( P=0.028) between the 2 cohorts. In contrast, the appearance of T-LGL after allo-HSCT in patients with benign diseases had no significant effect on the prognosis. Conclusions:T-LGL was a durable and clinically benign phenomenon occurring in allo-HSCT recipients with malignant diseases. Factors associated with immune reconstitution and T-cell regulatory mechanisms might be major predictors of T-LGL following allo-HSCT.

In order to provide guidance for the protection and utilization of resources,quality control and breeding of improved varieties,we compared the main phenotypic characters and quality of wild and transplanted Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis collected from different producing areas. Seven phenotypic characters of 33 samples of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis collected from Yunnan,Guizhou and Sichuan were determined by conventional methods,and the principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to analyze the diversity of the samples. The parissaponin( polyphyllin Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅵ,Ⅶ) content of the samples were detected by HPLC,and analyzed by cluster analysis. Correlation analysis of the phenotypic characters and the parissaponin content was performed. There were significant differences in seven phenotypic characters between wild and transplanted samples of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis from different habitats,with high phenotypic diversity and abundant genetic variation. The results of principal component analysis showed that leaf shape index was the main factor of morphological variation of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. Cluster analysis showed that the phenotypic characters of wild and transplanted P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis could not be completely separated. The content of saponins in wild and transplanted samples from different habitats was quite different. Saponins content of 93. 94% samples met the criterion of Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2015 edition,and the overall quality was relatively steady. The results of independent sample t-test showed that there was no significant difference of all the active ingredient between wild and transplanted samples,and it couldn't be used to distinguish between wild and transplanted samples. It is the same as the results of cluster analysis. The results of correlation analysis showed that the phenotypic traits of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis were correlated with its medicine quality,and the total content of saponins was positively correlated with leaf length and leaf shape index( r = 0. 389,0. 441; P<0. 05). Yunnan,Guizhou and Sichuan are suitable for the growth of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis. And the transplaned P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis can be used as the same as the wild ones completely. The results provide reference for the protection and selective breeding of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis.
China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ecosystem ; Melanthiaceae ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; analysis ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Leaves ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; analysis

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic subserosal dissection (ESSD)for patients with upper gastrointestinal submucosal tumors. Methods A retrospective study was performed on the data of 6 patients with submucosal tumor undergoing ESSD in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital from October 2016 to February 2017. The surgery time, surgical success rate, postoperative pathology and complications were analyzed. Results All patients successfully completed surgery. One patient had serosal perforation. The mean diameter of tumor was 27.5±10.0 mm. The mean surgery time was 49±18 min. The postoperative pathology of lesions was very low risk stromal tumor. No serious complications occurred. Conclusion ESSD is safe and reliable for patients with tumor originated from muscularis propria.

Objective To study the effects of ibuprofen on the growth and development of oligodendrocytes. Methods A total of 6 clean and healthy adult female SD (Sprague Dawley) rats were used for extracting and culturing of oligodendrocytes(OLs).Lysophosphatidic acid(LPA)was then added,and the morphological changes of OLs pre-treatment and post-treatment were observed. Then 6 newborn rats (born 24-48 h) were used for mixed glial cell extraction from the cortex, then the OPCs were inoculated into the culture plates and randomly divided into control group, ibuprofen group, lysophosphatidic acid(LPA)group and LPA+ibuprofen group.After the adhering of the cells in each group for three days, cell morphology was observed,and the drugs were added as interventions.The control group was treated with normal saline, and the other 3 groups were added with saline solution of ibuprofen(100 μmol/L),LPA(1.0 μmol/L)and the mixture of them. The cell morphological changes were observed after 7-day intervention.The morphology of OPCs and OLs were observed by immunofluorescence staining through OPCs'specific immune markers (platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha, PDGFR-α)and OLs'specific immune markers(myelin basic protein,MBP)along with cell count of mature OLs.Western blot assay was used to detect the relative expression level of MBP in each group. Results After the treatment with LPA to the mature OLs,protrusions were shrinking and became very sparse.The morphology of cells developed well in each group after cell adhering for 3 days. After drug intervention for 7 days, more cell protrusions and branches were observed in ibuprofen group and LPA+ibuprofen group than those of the control group and LPA group.The results of cell count showed that the number of MBP positive cells was significantly higher in the ibuprofen group and LPA+ibuprofen group than that in the control group and LPA group(P<0.01).The results of Western blot assay showed that the MBP protein expression was significantly less in LPA group than the other three groups (P<0.01), and the expression was significantly higher in the ibuprofen group than that of LPA+ibuprofen group (P<0.01). Conclusion LPA has a toxic effect on the growth and development of OPCs, and it has an inhibitory effect on the normal growth of mature OLs. A certain concentration of ibuprofen can significantly inhibit the cytotoxicity of LPA on OPCs and OLs,and promote the formation and maintenance of mature OLs.

Chemical constituents from the fruits of Vitex negundo var. cannabifolia and their nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory and cytotoxic activities were investigated. The compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatography, and their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and spectroscopic data. Thirteen lignans and six phenolic compounds were isolated from the CH2Cl2 extract of the fruits of V. negundo var. cannabifolia, respectively. Their structures were elucidated as 6-hydroxy-4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-7-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2-naphthaldehyde (1), vitedoin A (2), vitexdoin F (3), detetrahydroconidendrin (4), vitexdoin E (5), 4-oxosesamin (6), L-sesamin (7), (+)-beechenol (8), ligballinol (9), 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-(3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (10), (-)-pinoresinol (11), balanophonin (12), thero-guaiacylglycerol-β-coniferyl aldehyde ether (13), trans-p-coumaryl aldehyde (14), coniferyl aldehyde (15), 5,7-dihydroxychromone (16), trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-cinnamic aldehyde (17), frambinone (18), and alternariol 4-methyl ether (19). Compounds 8-10,14,18,19 were firstly isolated from Verbenaceae family, compound 13 was obtained from Vitex species, and 6,7,12,15-17 from V. negundo var. cannabifolia for the first time, respectively. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects in vitro. Eight compounds (3,5,7,10,11,14,15,17) showed inhibition against NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 267.4 cells (IC₅₀ in the range of 7.8-81.1 μmol•L⁻¹) and four compounds (1-4) showed cytotoxicity on HepG-2 cells (IC₅₀ in the range of 5.2-24.2 μmol•L⁻¹).

PURPOSETo investigate the potential correlation between two different types of hip fractures and serum calcium levels.

METHODSWe consecutively studied 101 cases of femoral neck fracture and 95 cases of femoral inter- trochanteric fracture between January 2011 and December 2013. Fasting blood samples were taken and serum calcium measurements were performed respectively in three periods: the time of admission, postoperation, and discharge. Creatinine, alkaline phosphatase and albumin were also analyzed.

RESULTSConsidering the levels of serum calcium between two groups at the time of admission, post- operation and discharge, there was significant difference at admission and discharge (p <0.05), while there was no significant difference at the time of postoperation (p > 0.05). The magnitude of serum calcium fluctuation was larger in femoral neck group than femoral intertrochanteric group. Concerning alkaline phosphatase and albumin levels at admission, there was no significant difference between two groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe capability of reservation and restoration of serum calcium in patients with femoral neck fracture is better than that in patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture. A low serum calcium level may be susceptible to femoral intertrochanteric fracture.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Calcium ; blood ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Serum Albumin ; analysis

Objective To investigate the status quo and influencing factors of self-management ability in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).Methods Totally 339 CAPD patients with clinical follow-up regularly were investigated for the situation of self-management with general information questionnaire and Self-management Scale for CAPD.Results The total score of patients' self-management ability was (66.03±15.57).Multiple linear regression analysis showed that education level,marital status,occupation and duration of dialysis were influencing factors of patients' self-management ability.Conclusions Patients undergoing CAPD have certain degree of self-management ability.Nurses should promote their self-management ability according to different education level,marital status,occupation and duration of dialysis.