Congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is the most prevalent cause of hydronephrosis in newborns, with an incidence rate ranging from approximately 1/2 000 to 1/750.UPJO is caused by a complex interplay of embryological, environmental and genetic factors, among which genetic factors play a particularly significant role.In recent years, advancements in genetic research methodologies have facilitated the identification of numerous suspected pathogenic genes and variant sites associated with UPJO, which provides clues for clarifying the etiology and pathogenesis of UPJO.In this paper, a comprehensive review of findings from single gene mutation analyses, linkage studies, association studies and DNA sequencing studies pertaining to UPJO was made, and current genetic findings were summarized.The efforts in this study lay an important basis for elucidating the mechanisms underlying UPJO and implementing strategies for early diagnosis and intervention.

Congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) is the most prevalent cause of hydronephrosis in newborns, with an incidence rate ranging from approximately 1/2 000 to 1/750.UPJO is caused by a complex interplay of embryological, environmental and genetic factors, among which genetic factors play a particularly significant role.In recent years, advancements in genetic research methodologies have facilitated the identification of numerous suspected pathogenic genes and variant sites associated with UPJO, which provides clues for clarifying the etiology and pathogenesis of UPJO.In this paper, a comprehensive review of findings from single gene mutation analyses, linkage studies, association studies and DNA sequencing studies pertaining to UPJO was made, and current genetic findings were summarized.The efforts in this study lay an important basis for elucidating the mechanisms underlying UPJO and implementing strategies for early diagnosis and intervention.

Objective To investigate the association between four single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP)(rs9340 in MAPK1,rs14804 in NRAS,rs712 and rs7973450 in KRAS)in the 3'UTR of ERK1/2 signaling pathway-related genes and non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods A total of 478 NSCLC patients and 480 healthy controls were enrolled in this study.Four SNPs were genotyped by using TaqMan assays.The association between the four SNPs and NSCLC was analyzed.Results The distribution frequency difference of the allele of rs9340 was statistically significant between the control group and the non-small cell squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)group(P = 0.009),suggesting that the G allele of rs9340 may be a protective factor for non-small cell lung squamous cell carcinoma(OR = 0.67,95%CI:0.50～0.91).In addition,in the<50 years age group,the distribution frequency difference of the allele of rs9340 was statistically significant between the control group and the NSCLC group(P = 5.07×10-4),indicating that the G allele of rs9340 may be a protective factor for NSCLC(OR = 0.46,95%CI:0.29～0.72).Conclusion The SNP rs9340 in MAPK1 may be associated with the risk of NSCLC.

Objective:To explore the effects of direct antiviral agent (DAAs) on the frequency of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and their activating factors sCD14s and CD163 in patients with chronic hepatitis C.Methods:Data of 15 treatment-naive chronic hepatitis C patients and 10 healthy controls were collected. Patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with DAAs for 12 weeks. Blood samples were collected at 0, 4 and 12 weeks respectively, and blood samples of healthy controls were used as controls. Flow cytometry was used to detect the frequency of classical CD14 ++CD16 - mononuclear cells and pro-inflammatory CD14 +CD16 + mononuclear cells in peripheral blood. Serum sCD14s and sCD163 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The comparison between the two groups was performed by t-test. The comparison between multiple groups was performed by analysis of variance, and further pairwise comparison was performed by LSD-t test. Results:Prior DAAs treatment, peripheral blood CD14 +CD16 + mononuclear cell frequency (18.49% ± 1.54% vs. 10.65% ± 0.83%), serum sCD14s [(64 407.38 ± 5778.49) pg/ml vs. (28 370.76 ± 2 357.68 ) pg/ml] and sCD163 [(22 853.80 ± 4 137.61) pg/ml vs. (2 934.41 ± 223.31) pg/ml] were all higher than healthy controls ( P < 0.05), while the frequency of CD14 ++CD16 - mononuclear cells in peripheral blood was lower than healthy controls (59.14%±0.54% vs. 72.75%±1.31%, P < 0.01). During DAAs treatment, CD14 +CD16 + mononuclear cells frequency, serum sCD14 and sCD163 were all decreased significantly. After 12 weeks of treatment, CD14 +CD16 + mononuclear cells had decreased to nearly normal level (12.42% ± 1.60% vs. 10.65% ± 0.83%, P > 0.05), and serum sCD14 and scd163 were still higher than those of healthy controls [sCD14: (44 390.06 ± 3 330.17) pg / ml vs. (28 370.76 ± 2 357.68) pg/ml, Scd163: (11 494.79 ± 1 836.97) pg / ml vs. (2 934.41 ± 223.31) pg / ml, P < 0.01], while the frequency of CD14 ++CD16 -mononuclear cells had gradually increased during the course of treatment and neared healthy control level after 12 weeks of treatment. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (71.54) % ± 2.99% vs. 72.75% ± 1.31%, P > 0.05). Conclusion:DAAs therapy can reduce the activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: To investigate the effects of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) therapy on the frequency of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and their subset of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Methods: A total of 32 treatment-naive CHC patients and 16 healthy controls were recruited at Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from June 2016 to June 2017. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated from the peripheral blood of patients with CHC before DAA therapy, at four weeks after DAA therapy, at 12 weeks after DAA therapy and 12 weeks after the end of DAA therapy. The frequencies of MDSC and M-MDSC were detected by the flow cytometer. The t test, U test and chi-square test was employed to analyze the data. Results: All the 32 treatment-naive patients achieved the rapid virological response and no virological breakthrough was observed. Before DAA therapy, the frequency of MDSC in CHC patients was 2.18%, which was higher than healthy individuals (0.60%; Z=-4.593, P<0.01), and positively correlated with the plasma levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA (r=0.688, P<0.01) and aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.735, P<0.01). After four weeks of DAA therapy, the frequency of MDSC decreased significantly to 1.07%, with no statistical significance compared to the controls (Z=-1.221, P>0.05). However, at 12 weeks after DAA therapy, the MDSC frequency increased, with statically significance compared to the controls (1.64% vs 0.60%, Z=-3.117, P=0.002). At 12 weeks after the end of DAA therapy, the MDSC frequency had decreased to 1.29% again, with no statistical significance compared to the controls (Z=-1.387, P=0.664). The changes of M-MDSC frequency were slightly different. Before DAA therapy, the frequency of M-MDSC in CHC patients was higher compared to healthy controls (1.66% vs 0.81%, Z=-2.745, P<0.01). The frequencies of M-MDSC were 0.91%, 1.09% and 1.10% at four, 12 weeks after DAA and 12 weeks after the end of DAA therapy, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant compared to the controls (Z=-0.589, -1.028 and -0.486, respectively, all P>0.05). Conclusion Immune status of the peripheral MDSC and M-MDSC can return to normal after DAA therapy in CHC patients.

The study of brain-machine interfaces ( BMI) based on humans or animals is expected to improve the living conditions of patients with brain injury, nervous system disease and limb movement disorders.Considerable progress has been made over the past ten years, which is gradually being used to address the long-term and stability issues of BMIs technology.The result of study on safety and security of BMIs has led to the appearance of brain control animals.In this paper, the development of BMI technology and the application prospects of brain control animals are reviewed.

The aging process of human colonic epithelium involves a slow decline in physiological vigor and an increasing susceptibility to age-related diseases, especially, colon cancer, but the molecular mechanisms of the aging and susceptibility of aged colonic epithelium to carcinogenesis is still unclear. Identification of aging related proteins in colonic epithelium will help to reveal the molecular mechanisms of colonic epithelial aging and age-related colonic diseases. Therefore, the total proteins of human normal colonic epithelial tissues from 10 young and 10 old men were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE), respectively. PDQuest software was applied to analyze 2-DE images, the differentially expressed protein spots of colonic epithelium between young and old groups were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS), and the expression levels of partial identified proteins were determined by real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. Well-resolved, reproducible 2-DE maps of human colonic epithelial tissues from young and old men were established, 17 aging related proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS, and the differential expression levels of partial identified proteins were confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. The results indicate that injury of mitochondrial function and decline of antioxidant capability are important reasons for the aging of human colonic epithelium, and four differential proteins (guanine nucleotide-binding protein beta subunit-like protein, stress-70 protein, 40 S ribosomal protein SA and chloride intracellular channel protein1) may be involved in susceptibility of aged colonic epithelium to carcinogenesis.