BACKGROUND:Previous studies have indicated that cathepsin K can intervene with the occurrence and development of osteoporosis by regulating bone mineral density in middle-aged and older adults. However,whether there is a causal relationship between the cathepsin family and bone mineral density in other populations remains unknown. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal relationship between cathepsin and bone mineral density.METHODS:Genetic loci associated with eight cathepins were extracted from the IEU Open GWAS database as instrumental variables,and bone mineral density values in five age groups acted as an outcome. The causal relationship between cathepin and bone mineral density was assessed by two-way Mendelian randomization analysis. Heterogeneity of the genetic instrumental variables was assessed using Cochran's Q test,pleiotropy was assessed using the MR-Egger intercept test,and the sensitivity of single nucleotide polymorphisms used as instrumental variables to the causal effect of exposure and outcome was assessed using the leave-one-out method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results of the inverse variance weighting method with positive Mendelian randomization showed that cathepin H was negatively associated with bone mineral density in people aged 45-60 years[odds ratio (95％ confidence interval)=0.965(0.94-0.99),P=0.04];cathepin Z was negatively associated with bone mineral density in people aged 30-45 year[odds ratio (95％ confidence interval)=1.06 (1.00-1.11),P=0.03]. The results of sensitivity analysis showed a stable causal relationship,and MR-Egger intercept analysis did not detect potential horizontal pleiotropy. The inverse Mendelian randomization results showed that bone mineral density had no significant inverse effect on cathepin. The above results confirm that cathepin can affect bone mineral density in some age groups,which may increase the risk of osteoporosis and should be given more attention.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have indicated that cathepsin K can intervene with the occurrence and development of osteoporosis by regulating bone mineral density in middle-aged and older adults. However,whether there is a causal relationship between the cathepsin family and bone mineral density in other populations remains unknown. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the causal relationship between cathepsin and bone mineral density.METHODS:Genetic loci associated with eight cathepins were extracted from the IEU Open GWAS database as instrumental variables,and bone mineral density values in five age groups acted as an outcome. The causal relationship between cathepin and bone mineral density was assessed by two-way Mendelian randomization analysis. Heterogeneity of the genetic instrumental variables was assessed using Cochran's Q test,pleiotropy was assessed using the MR-Egger intercept test,and the sensitivity of single nucleotide polymorphisms used as instrumental variables to the causal effect of exposure and outcome was assessed using the leave-one-out method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The results of the inverse variance weighting method with positive Mendelian randomization showed that cathepin H was negatively associated with bone mineral density in people aged 45-60 years[odds ratio (95％ confidence interval)=0.965(0.94-0.99),P=0.04];cathepin Z was negatively associated with bone mineral density in people aged 30-45 year[odds ratio (95％ confidence interval)=1.06 (1.00-1.11),P=0.03]. The results of sensitivity analysis showed a stable causal relationship,and MR-Egger intercept analysis did not detect potential horizontal pleiotropy. The inverse Mendelian randomization results showed that bone mineral density had no significant inverse effect on cathepin. The above results confirm that cathepin can affect bone mineral density in some age groups,which may increase the risk of osteoporosis and should be given more attention.

Objective To employ next-generation sequencing(NGS)to analyze differentially expressed mRNAs in the gingival tissue of hypertensive rats with or without periodontitis to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of hypertension with periodontitis.Methods After obtaining approval from the Animal Experiment Ethics Committee,a hypertensive rat model was established by administering high-salt feed containing 8％(w/w)NaCl,and a periodontitis rat model was established by ligating the first molar of the mandibular region using 3-0 sterile silk thread.Rat models of the normal control(N),hypertension(H),and hypertension with periodontitis(PH)groups were estab-lished.The blood pressure,heart rate,alveolar bone resorption,and number of osteoclasts in the alveolar bone were measured,before harvesting the gingival tissues from the three groups for NGS to analyze the expression of significantly different genes.Gene ontology(GO)enrichment analysis was performed for all significantly differentially expressed genes between the H and PH groups.Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis was per-formed.Key genes were screened by protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks,and the key gene expression in each group was verified using immunohistochemistry(IHC).The expression of key genes in the systemic circulation of each group was analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results At the end of the experiment(11th week),the blood pressure was higher in both the H and PH groups than that in the N group(P<0.001),but there was no statistically significant difference in blood pressure between the H and PH groups.There was no statistical difference in heart rate among the 3 groups.Micro-CT showed that the distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar bone crest(CEJ-ABC)of the mandibular first molar in the PH group was significantly higher than that in the N and H groups(P<0.016 7).The number of osteoclasts in the alveolar bone of the PH group was significantly higher than that of the N and H groups(P<0.0167).No common differentially expressed genes were found among the 3 groups.There were 235 significantly differentially expressed genes in the gingival tissue between the H and PH groups,and 137 upreg-ulated genes(e.g.,P-selectin,keratin 16,and S100 calcium binding protein A)and 98 downregulated genes(e.g.,FK506 binding protein 5,mediator complex subunit 22,zinc finger and BTB domain containing 16)in the PH group compared to the H group.GO analysis showed that the major enriched biological processes(BP)were leukocyte migra-tion,the major cellular component(CC)was complex of collagen trimers,and the significant molecular function(MF)was extracellular matrix structural constituent in the H and PH groups.KEGG pathway analysis showed that signaling pathways such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction,IL-17 signaling pathway,and TNF-α signaling pathway were significantly enriched in the H and PH groups.PPI analysis identified four key genes affecting periodontitis in hyperten-sive conditions,including interleukin-1β(IL-1β),matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9),collagen type Ⅰ alpha1(COL1α 1),and chemokine ligand 1(CXCL1).Compared to the N and H groups,the expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α were all upregulated in the gingival tissue and systemic serum in the PH group(P<0.016 7).Conclusion The differentially expressed mRNAs in hypertension with or without periodontitis included IL-1β and MMP-9,while the differentially ex-pressed signaling pathways were IL-17 and TNF-α.These results provide a theoretical reference for further investigation of the molecular regulatory mechanism of hypertension with periodontitis in the future.

Objective:To analyze the virus genome mutation of mothers with C genotype HBV and explore its relationship with HBV intrauterine transmission.Methods:A total of 399 mothers carrying HBV and their newborns hospitalized in the obstetrics department of the Third People's Hospital of Taiyuan from 2011 to 2013 were selected. Necessary information about mothers and children was obtained through a questionnaire survey and medical records. HBV DNA and HBV serological markers were detected by quantitative fluorescence PCR and electrochemiluminescence. Within 24 hours after birth and before active/passive immunization, those with positive HBsAg and/or HBV DNA in femoral venous blood were determined as HBV intrauterine transmission. According to the requirements of cloning and sequencing, mothers' HBV DNA load should be ≥10 6 IU/ml. Among 54 cases of HBV intrauterine transmission, 22 pairs of mothers and their newborns meeting the requirements of cloning and sequencing were used as the intrauterine transmission group. The same number of mothers and their newborns without intrauterine transmission was selected as the random seed method's control group. After PCR amplification of HBV DNA, gene cloning, and sequencing, the gene mutation analysis of mothers with C genotype HBV was performed. Results:Among the 44 samples, 39 (88.63%, 39/44) were genotype C, 2 were genotype B, and 3 were mixed genotype B, and C. A total of 406 clone beads from 42 mothers with C genotype HBV were analyzed for gene mutation, including 204 in the intrauterine transmission group and 202 in the control group. The base substitution mutation rate of PreS1, S, C, and P regions in the HBV intrauterine transmission group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( χ 2 ranged from 8.67 to 40.73, P<0.05). The mutation rate of base deletion in PreC and X regions in the HBV intrauterine transmission group was lower than that in the control group ( χ 2 values were 17.82 and 34.78, P<0.001). Two clones in the X region had 31 bp insertion mutations between nt1644 and nt1645, and two clones had 27 bp insertion mutations between nt1649 and nt1650, all of which took place in the control group. Conclusions:The base substitution mutations in the PreS1, S, C, and P segments of the HBV genome in mothers with C genotype HBV were associated with the occurrence of intrauterine transmission of HBV. Deletion mutations in the PreC region, insertion and deletion mutations in the X region may reduce intrauterine transmission risk.

At present, there are some problems in doctor-patient communication in standardized residency training in department of burns, such as insufficient understanding, lack of communication skills and short of teachers' guidance. Therefore, during the rotation of burns department, we should strengthen the cultivation of communication ability by improving humanistic care, professional level and communication training. At the same time, clinical teachers should strengthen their own quality and the assessment system should be improved. Through comprehensive efforts in many aspects, we will improve doctor-patient communication ability and build a harmonious doctor-patient relationship.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between maternal mutations in basal core promoter region of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C and intrauterine transmission.Methods:We collected information on general demographic characteristics and process of delivery among 399 pairs of consecutive HBsAg-positive mothers and their neonates, from the Third People’s Hospital of Taiyuan in Shanxi province, China. Fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) and Electro-chemiluminescence immuno-assay (ECLIA) kits were used to detect both maternal and neonatal HBV DNA and serological markers in the peripheral blood. From 113 mothers with HBV DNA load ≥10 6 IU/ml, we selected 22 mothers whose neonates were with intrauterine transmission and randomly selected the same number of mothers whose neonates were without intrauterine transmission, as controls. The whole-length HBV DNA were extracted, amplified, cloned, sequenced and genotyped. Finally, a total of 39 mothers with genotype C of HBV were selected for mutation analysis. Results:Thirty-nine cases of genotype C (88.63 %) were finally included in the study, with 19 cases in the intrauterine transmission group and 20 cases as controls. Rates of A1762T/G1764A double mutations were significantly different between the intrauterine transmission group and the control group (7.53 % vs. 27.72 %, P<0.001). Results from the multivariate analysis showed that the A1762T/G1764A double mutations had reduced the risk of intrauterine transmission (a OR=0.065, 95 %CI: 0.006-0.746, P=0.028). Maternal A1762T/G1764A double mutations appeared to be possibly associated with neonatal HBeAg ( P=0.050). Conclusion:A1762T/G1764A double mutations of HBV DNA from the genotype C of those HBsAg-positive mothers could reduced the risk of HBV intrauterine transmission during pregnancy.

Long noncoding RNA(IncRNA) represents a class of ＞200bp RNA genes that has no ability to code proteins.It was considered that IncRNA is "junk RNA" which have no function over the last couple of decades.However,an increasing number of studies have found that lncRNA play distinct biologic functions by particular mechanisms.Because the incidence rate and mortality rate of atherosclerosis is very high,people always pay a lot of attention on it.But lncRNA studies in atherosclerosis are just beginning.lncRNA may be a key target in the progression of atherosclerosis and may become a novel therapeutic target to prevent,diagnose and treat this disease.

Objective To explore the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-12(IL-12) on immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in infants of HBsAg-positive mothers.Methods A total of 91 neonates whose mothers were HBsAg-positive were included and followed up for 12 months.HBV DNA and HBV serological markers in the peripheral blood of the neonates and infants were detected with fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA),and the levels of IL-6 and IL-12 in the peripheral blood of the neonates and infants were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results The non-/hypo-response rate to hepatitis B vaccination was 35.16％ (32/91) in the 91 infants.In the neonatal period and infantile period,the level of IL-6 in non-/hypo-response group was lower than that in high-response group,while the level of IL-12 was higher than that in high-response group,and there was significant difference (P＜0.01).From the neonatal period to the infantile period,the level of IL-6 increased,while the level of IL-12 descended in both groups,and there was significant difference (P＜0.01).Furthermore,the level of anti-HBs of infants was positively correlated with the level of IL-6 (rs =0.70,0.79,P＜ 0.01),and was negatively correlated with the level of IL-12 (rs=-0.71,-0.72,P＜0.01) in the neonatal period and the infantile period.From the neonatal period to the infantile period,the increased level of IL-6 was positively associated with the level of anti-HBs (rs =-0.74,P＜0.01),while the decreased level of IL-12 was negatively associated with the level of anti-HBs (rs=-0.42,P＜0.01).The level of IL-6 was negatively correlated with the level of IL-12 in the neonatal period and the infantile period (rs=-0.68,-0.70,P＜0.01).Conclusions IL-6 might promote the immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in infants whose mothers were HBsAg-positive,while IL-12 might inhibit the immune response.IL-6 and IL-12 would affect the immune response to hepatitis B vaccination in infants of HBsAg-positive mothers at the same time.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis,preoperative examination and surgical treatment of carotid body tumor(CBT).Methods From December 2008 to December 2012 80 patients of carotid body tumor were treated in our center.The average age was(43:±:12)years,33 cases were male,47 cases were female.The lesions were unilateral in 68 cases and bilateral in 12.All tumors were surgically resected.In 26 of Shamblin Ⅰ,32 of Shamblin Ⅱ and 19 of Shamblin Ⅲ tumors were simply resected.One Shamblin Ⅱ and 2 Shamblin Ⅲ cases underwent tumor resection combined with external carotid embolization.3 Shamblin Ⅱ and 8 Shamblin Ⅲ cases were treated by tumor resection combined with internal carotid reconstruction,1 Shamblin Ⅲ was done with tumor resection combined internal carotid repair.Results All of 80 patients with 92 tumors were successfully resected.There was no death case during peroperative period,while one case developed hemiplegia and 14 cases suffered cranial nerve injuries.68 cases (85％) were followed-up from 1 year to 6 years.Thera were 14 patients with cranial nerve injuries,2 of them were lost to follow-up,11 with complete or partial recovery and 1 was still doing poorly.Conclusions Tumor size and its relation to the carotid artery form the basis upon which appropriate operation is adopted.