OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the intestinal flora in rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and explore its possible mechanism based on the gut-lung axis theory. METHODS: A total of 30 male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into a normal control (NC) group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each one. In the model group and the EA group, COPD model was established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide combined with cigarette fumigation. In the EA group, EA was applied at bilateral "Feishu" (BL13) and "Zusanli" (ST36), with disperse-dense waves, in frequency of 4 Hz/20 Hz, current of 1-3 mA, 20 min a time, once a day for 14 days continuously. Before and after modeling, as well as after intervention, body weight was observed; after intervention, the lung function indexes (forced expiratory volume in 0.1 second [FEV_0.1], FEV_0.1/forced vital capacity [FVC]%, forced expiratory volume in 0.3 second [FEV_0.3] and FEV_0.3/FVC%) were measured, serum levels of inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α[TNF-α], interleukin-6[IL-6], interleukin-1β[IL-1β] and interleukin-10[IL-10]) were detected by ELISA, histopathology of lung and colon tissues was observed by HE staining, the intestinal flora were analyzed by 16S rRNA, and the correlations between lung function and intestinal flora were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the NC group, in the COPD group, the body weight and lung function indexes were reduced (P<0.01); the lung and colon tissues were damaged, the mean linear intercept (MLI) of alveolus and inflammatory cell numbers of 100 μm² in lung tissue were increased (P<0.01); the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the serum level of IL-10 was decreased (P<0.01); α-diversity indexes of intestinal flora were increased (P<0.01); the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Oscillospira, Bacteroides, Coprococcus was increased (P<0.01), the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7 and Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, YRC22 was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); 31 different expressed metabolic pathways were identified between the two groups. Compared with the COPD group, in the EA group, the body weight and lung function indexes were increased (P<0.01); the damage of lung and colon tissues was improved, the MLI of alveolus was decreased (P<0.05); the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were decreased (P<0.05), and the serum level of IL-10 was increased (P<0.05); α-diversity indexes of intestinal flora were decreased (P<0.01); the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Oscillospira, Bacteroides, Coprococcus was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05), the relative abundance of Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7 and Lactobacillus, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, YRC22 was increased (P<0.01); 35 different expressed metabolic pathways were identified between the two groups. The lung function was positive related with Actinobacteria, Tenericutes, TM7 and YRC22, and was negative related with Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Oscillospira, Bacteroides, Coprococcus. CONCLUSION EA may ameliorate lung function and tissue injury of COPD by regulating intestinal flora dysbiosis and inflammatory response, suggesting an anti-inflammatory effect mediated via "gut-lung" axis.
Animals ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/genetics* ; Male ; Electroacupuncture ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Lung/metabolism* ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Interleukin-6/immunology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/immunology* ; Intestines/microbiology* ; Interleukin-10/immunology*

【Objective】 To investigate the role of RRM2 in prostate cancer and the mechanism. 【Methods】 The data of prostate cancer expression profile were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The correlation between RRM2 expression and clinicopathological features and prognosis of prostate cancer was analyzed. The protein expressions of RRM2 in 55 cases of prostate cancer and 38 benign tissues were determined with immunohistochemistry (IHC). The effects of RRM2 on the biological process of prostate cancer were assessed with bioinformatic analysis. The biological process of RRM2 affecting the progression of prostate cancer was verified with Western blot and flow cytometry. 【Results】 RRM2 was highly expressed in prostate cancer, and the expression was positively correlated with the clinical stage, pathological grade and metastasis of prostate cancer (P<0.05). Higher RRM2 expression predicted poorer survival. RRM2 co-expression positively correlated genes were involved in cell cycle pathways, pyrimidine nucleotide metabolism, and biological processes such as RNA transport. Cell cycle pathways were significantly enriched. RRM2 was highly correlated with CDK1 and PCNA molecules. RRM2 knockdown reduced the protein expressions of CDK1 and PCNA in DU145 and LNCap cell lines, which were arrested in the G2/M phase. 【Conclusion】 RRM2 promotes tumor progression by interfering with G2/M cycle of prostate cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out prenatal diagnosis for a fetus with normal ultrasonographic finding at 20 weeks' gestation but a copy number variant(CNV) of 13q indicated by non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT). METHODS: Karyotyping analysis and chromosomal CNV assay were carried out on the amniotic fluid sample. Parental peripheral blood sample was collected for chromosomal analysis. Detailed fetal ultrasound scan was carried out to rule out structural abnormalities of the fetus. RESULTS: The fetus was detected with a heterozygous 10.14 Mb deletion at 13q21.1q21.32, which has originated from the phenotypically normal mother. No apparent karyotypic abnormality was detected in the fetus and its parents. No ultrasonic abnormality was found in the fetus. CONCLUSION Both the fetus and its mother have carried a heterozygous 10.14 Mb deletion at 13q21.1q21.32 and presented normal phenotypes.Combined with literature review, the segmental deletion was judged to be a benign variant.
Female ; Genetic Counseling ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

Looking retrospectively at the development of humanity, vaccination is an unprecedented medical landmark that saves lives by harnessing the human immune system. During the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, vaccination is still the most effective defense modality. The successful clinical application of the lipid nanoparticle-based Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines highlights promising future of nanotechnology in vaccine development. Compared with conventional vaccines, nanovaccines are supposed to have advantages in lymph node accumulation, antigen assembly, and antigen presentation; they also have, unique pathogen biomimicry properties because of well-organized combination of multiple immune factors. Beyond infectious diseases, vaccine nanotechnology also exhibits considerable potential for cancer treatment. The ultimate goal of cancer vaccines is to fully mobilize the potency of the immune system as a living therapeutic to recognize tumor antigens and eliminate tumor cells, and nanotechnologies have the requisite properties to realize this goal. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in vaccine nanotechnology from infectious disease prevention to cancer immunotherapy and highlight the different types of materials, mechanisms, administration methods, as well as future perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: To detect variants of IVD gene among 4 neonates with suspected isovalerate acidemia in order to provide a guidance for clinical treatment. METHODS: 111 986 newborns and 7461 hospitalized children with suspected metabolic disorders were screened for acyl carnitine by tandem mass spectrometry. Those showing a significant increase in serum isovaleryl carnitine (C5) were analyzed for urinary organic acid and variants of the IVD gene. RESULTS: Four cases of isovalerate acidemia were detected, which included 2 asymptomatic newborns (0.018‰, 2/111 986) and 2 children suspected for metabolic genetic diseases (0.268‰, 2/7461). The formers had no obvious clinical symptoms. Analysis of acyl carnitine has suggested a significant increase in C5, and urinary organic acid analysis has shown an increase in isovaleryl glycine and 3-hydroxyisovalerate. Laboratory tests of the two hospitalized children revealed high blood ammonia, hyperglycemia, decreased red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and metabolic acidosis. The main clinical manifestations have included sweaty foot-like odor, feeding difficulty, confusion, drowsiness, and coma. Eight variants (5 types) were detected, which included c.158G>A (p.Arg53His), c.214G>A (p.Asp72Asn), c.548C>T (p.Ala183Val), c.757A>G (p.Thr253Ala) and 1208A>G (p.Tyr403Cys). Among these, c.548C>T and c.757A>G were unreported previously. None of the variants was detected by next generation sequencing of 2095 healthy newborns, and all variants were predicted to be likely pathogenic based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics. CONCLUSION The incidence of isovalerate acidemia in Liuzhou area is quite high. Screening of metabolic genetic diseases is therefore recommended for newborns with abnormal metabolism. The discovery of novel variants has enriched the mutational spectrum of the IVD gene.
Infant, Newborn ; Child ; Humans ; Acidosis ; Carnitine ; Erythrocytes ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

Three new coumarins, integmarins A-C (1-3), and a new coumarin glycoside, integmaside A (4) were isolated from the leaves and stems of Micromelum integerrimum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR and MS data, and their absolute configurations were assigned according to the ECD data of the in situ formed transition metal complexes and comparison of experimental and calculated ECD data. Compounds 1 and 2 are two rare coumarins with butyl and propyl moieties at the C-6 position; compound 3 is a novel coumarin with a highly oxidized prenyl group, and compound 4 is a rare bisdihydrofuranocoumarin glycoside.
Coumarins/isolation & purification* ; Glycosides/isolation & purification* ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves/chemistry* ; Plant Stems/chemistry* ; Rutaceae/chemistry*

Objective:To explore the value of 3D/4D translabial ultrasound in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of female urethral diverticulum.Methods:The paired chi-square test was used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of 2D translabial ultrasound and 3D/4D translabial ultrasound in 21 suspected urethral diverticulum patients who visited the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from November 2013 to January 2020. And Kappa consistency test was used to evaluate the consistency between these two methods and the pathological results.Results:All 21 patients with suspected urethral diverticulum were diagnosed by postoperative pathology, of which 16 cases were urethral diverticula and 5 cases were paraurethral cysts. The typical appearance of urethral diverticulum on 3D/4D translabial ultrasound was a cystic structure traversing the urethral rhabdosphincter. Additionally, septa, calcification or solid neoplasm can also be seen in some cases. The sensitivity/specificity of 2D translabial ultrasound and 3D/4D translabial ultrasound were 75.00%/100% and 93.75%/100%, respectively, no statistical differences were found both in sensitivity and specificity between these two methods(all P>0.05). The Kappa consistency test showed that the consistency between 2D translabial ultrasound and pathological diagnosis was general (Kappa=0.588, P=0.003), while the consistency between 3D/4D translabial ultrasound and pathological diagnosis was good (Kappa=0.877, P<0.001). Conclusions:3D/4D translabial ultrasound has a high value in the diagnosis of female urethral diverticulum, and it is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To investigate the high sensitive C reactive protein(hs-CRP),homocysteine(Hcy), interleukin 2(IL-2)and lipoprotein associated phospholipase A 2(Lp-PLA2)analysis and correlation test for coronary heart disease.Methods 147 cases were selected from our hospital in December 2015 to December 2016 in patients with coronary heart disease(observation group).At the same time,we selected 51 healthy persons in our hospital during December 2015 to December 2016 as control group.The content of hs-CRP was determined by immune transmission turbidimetry.The content of Hcy was determined by cyclic enzymatic method.The content of IL-2 was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The content of Lp-PLA2 was determined by immune transmission turbidimetry.Results The observation group serum levels of hs-CRP,Hcy,IL-2 and Lp-PLA2 were significantly higher than those in the control group,and the differ-ence were statistically significant(P<0.05).The coronary heart disease each group serum levels of hs-CRP, Hcy,IL-2 and Lp-PLA2 were significantly higher than those in the control group,and the differences were sta-tistically significant(P<0.05).The serum levels of hs-CRP,Hcy,IL-2 and Lp-PLA2 of AMI group were sig-nificantly higher than those in UAP group and SAP group,and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).The UAP group serum levels of hs-CRP,Hcy,IL-2 and Lp-PLA2 were significantly higher than those in SAP group,and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion Hs-CRP,Hcy,IL-2,Lp-PLA2 have significant correlation with coronary heart disease.

Objective To explore the surgical techniques of transsphenoidal approach neuroendoscope-assisted sella turcica tumor resection. Methods The clinical data of 71 patients who had underwent transsphenoidal approach neuroendoscope-assisted sella turcica tumor resection were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among the 71 patients, pituitary tumors was in 67 cases (including recurrent pituitary tumors 4 cases), and Rathke cysts in 4 cases. A total of 54 cases had gross total resection, 10 cases had near total resection, and 7 cases had subtotal resection. Some patients had postoperative complications, including transient diabetes insipidus in 16 cases, refractory hyponatremia in 2 cases,cerebrospinal rhinorrhea in 1 case,hypothyroidism in 1 case,rhinorrhagia and synechia nasal in 1 case, hyposmia in 4 cases, and perioperative cerebral infarction in 1 case. There was no surgery related death. After 3 months' follow- up, 12 cases were found to have nasal mucosa atrophy. Conclusions The transsphenoidal approach neuroendoscope-assisted sella turcica tumor resection is safe and effective, with less serious complications, but the complications of nasal cavity should not be ignored.

To ensure the quality and safety of Panax notoginseng, a method for the simultaneous determination of 10 mycotoxins in Panax notoginseng was developed using ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The sample was extracted with acetonitrile and purified by HLB multifunction cleanup column. The separation was performed on a Phenomenex Kinetex XB-C18 column by gradient elution using methanol and 5 mmol·L(-1) ammonium acetate as mobile phase. The targeted compounds were detected in MRM mode by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) source operated in both positive and negative ionization modes. The linear relationships of the 10 mycotoxins were good in their respective linear ranges. The correlation coefficients (r) ranged from 0.9981 to 1.0000. The LOQs of the 10 mycotoxins were between 0.15 and 8.6 μg·kg(-1). The average recoveries ranged from 73.8% to 107.0% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.10%-10.9%. The results demonstrated that the proposed method was sensitive and accurate, and suitable for the mycotoxins quantification in Panax notoginseng.