OBJECTIVE: Clinical characteristics and outcome in COVID-19 with brucellosis patients has not been well demonstrated, we tried to analyze clinical outcome in local and literature COVID-19 cases with brucellosis before and after recovery. METHODS: We retrospectively collected hospitalization data of comorbid patients and prospectively followed up after discharge in Heilongjiang Infectious Disease Hospital from January 15, 2020 to April 29, 2022. Demographics, epidemiological, clinical symptoms, radiological and laboratory data, treatment medicines and outcomes, and follow up were analyzed, and findings of a systematic review were demonstrated. RESULTS: A total of four COVID-19 with brucellosis patients were included. One patient had active brucellosis before covid and 3 patients had nonactive brucellosis before brucellosis. The median age was 54.5 years, and all were males (100.0%). Two cases (50.0%) were moderate, and one was mild and asymptomatic, respectively. Three cases (75.0%) had at least one comorbidity (brucellosis excluded). All 4 patients were found in COVID-19 nucleic acid screening. Case C and D had only headache and fever on admission, respectively. Four cases were treated with Traditional Chinese medicine, western medicines for three cases, no adverse reaction occurred during hospitalization. All patients were cured and discharged. Moreover, one case (25.0%) had still active brucellosis without re-positive COVID-19, and other three cases (75.0%) have no symptoms of discomfort except one case fell fatigue and anxious during the follow-up period after recovery. Conducting the literature review, two similar cases have been reported in two case reports, and were both recovered, whereas, no data of follow up after recovery. CONCLUSION These cases indicate that COVID-19 patients with brucellosis had favorable outcome before and after recovery. More clinical studies should be conducted to confirm our findings.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Brucellosis ; COVID-19 ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome ; Case Reports as Topic

Objective Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are major public health and social issues worldwide. The long-term follow-up of COVID-19 with pulmonary TB (PTB) survivors after discharge is unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively describe clinical outcomes, including sequela and recurrence at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge, among COVID-19 with PTB survivors. Methods From January 22, 2020 to May 6, 2022, with a follow-up by August 26, 2022, a prospective, multicenter follow-up study was conducted on COVID-19 with PTB survivors after discharge in 13hospitals from four provinces in China. Clinical outcomes, including sequela, recurrence of COVID-19, and PTB survivors, were collected via telephone and face-to-face interviews at 3, 12, and 24 months after discharge. Results Thirty-two COVID-19 with PTB survivors were included. The median age was 52 (45, 59) years, and 23 (71.9％) were men. Among them, nearly two-thirds (62.5％) of the survivors were moderate, three (9.4％) were severe, and more than half (59.4％) had at least one comorbidity (PTB excluded). The proportion of COVID-19 survivors with at least one sequela symptom decreased from 40.6％ at 3 months to 15.8％ at 24 months, with anxiety having a higher proportion over a follow-up. Cough and amnesia recovered at the 12-month follow-up, while anxiety, fatigue, and trouble sleeping remained after 24 months. Additionally, one (3.1％) case presented two recurrences of PTB and no re-positive COVID-19 during the follow-up period. Conclusion The proportion of long symptoms in COVID-19 with PTB survivors decreased over time, while nearly one in six still experience persistent symptoms with a higher proportion of anxiety. The recurrence of PTB and the psychological support of COVID-19 with PTB after discharge require more attention.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the effects of silencing isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransfe-rase (Icmt) through small interfering RNA (siRNA) interference on the proliferation and apoptosis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). METHODS: Three siRNA were designed and constructed for the Icmt gene sequence and were then transfected into TSCC cells CAL-27 and SCC-4 to silence Icmt expression. The tested cells were divided as follows: RNA interference groups Icmt-siRNA-1, Icmt-siRNA-2, and Icmt-siRNA-3, negative control group, and blank control group. The transfection efficiency of siRNA was detected by the fluorescent group Cy3-labeled siRNA, and the expression of Icmt mRNA was screened by quantitive real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) selected the experimental group for subsequent experiments. The expression of Icmt, RhoA, Cyclin D1, p21, extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK), and phospho-extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK) were analyzed by Western blot. The proliferation abilities of TSCC cells were determined by cell counting kit-8 assay. The change in apoptosis was detected by AnnexinV-APC/propidium staining (PI) assay. Cell-cycle analysis was conducted by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The expression of Icmt mRNA and protein in TSCC cells significantly decreased after Icmt-siRNA transfection ( CONCLUSIONS Silencing Icmt can effectively downregulate its expression in TSCC cells, reduce the RhoA membrane targeting localization and cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis. Thus, Icmt may be a potential gene therapy target for TSCC.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Protein Methyltransferases ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Tongue ; Tongue Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: The effect of isoprenylcysteine carboxymethyltransferase (ICMT) silencing on the migration and invasion of tongue squamous cell carcinoma was investigated by constructing the small interfering RNA (siRNA) of ICMT. METHODS: Through liposomal transfection, siRNA was transfected into human tongue squamous cell carcinoma CAL-27 and SCC-4 cells (ICMT-siRNA group) with a negative control group (transfected with NC-siRNA) and a blank control group (transfected with a transfection reagent but not with siRNA). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the mRNA expression of ICMT and RhoA in each group of cells after transfection and to measure the silencing efficiency. Western blot was applied to examine the expression levels of ICMT, total RhoA, membrane RhoA, ROCK1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 proteins in each group. The migration and invasion abilities were evaluated via wound healing and Transwell motility assays. RESULTS: After CAL-27 and SCC-4 cells were transfected with ICMT-siRNA, the expression levels of ICMT genes and proteins decreased significantly in the experimental group compared with those in the negative and blank control groups ( CONCLUSIONS The migration and invasion abilities of CAL-27 and SCC-4 cells were reduced significantly after the transfection of ICMT-siRNA, and the involved mechanism might be related to the RhoA-ROCK signaling pathway.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Protein Methyltransferases ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Tongue ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Transfection ; rho-Associated Kinases

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the efficacy of Getong Tongluo Capsule (, GTC, consisted of total flavone of Radix Puerariae) on improving patients' quality of life and lowering blood pressure are superior to the extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGB) for patients with convalescent-phase ischemic stroke and primary hypertension. METHODS: This randomized, positive-drug- and placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was conducted from September 2015 to October 2017. Totally 477 eligible patients from 18 hospitals in China were randomly assigned in a 2:1:1 ratio to the following interventions, twice a day for 12 weeks: (1) GTC 250 mg plus EGB-matching placebo 40 mg (237 cases, GTC group), (2) EGB 40 mg plus GTC-matching placebo 250 mg (120 cases, EGB group) or (3) GTC-matching placebo 250 mg plus EGB-matching placebo 40 mg (120 cases, placebo group). Moreover, all patients were orally administered aspirin enteric-coated tablets 100 mg, once a day for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Barthel Index (BI). The secondary outcomes included the control rate of blood pressure and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. The incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs) were calculated and assessed. RESULTS: The BI relative independence rates, the clinical recovery rates of NIHSS, and the total effective rates of NIHSS in the GTC and EGB groups were significantly higher than the placebo group at 12 weeks after treatment (P<0.05), and no statistical significance was found between the GTC and EGB groups (P>0.05). The control rate of blood pressure in the GTC group was significantly higher than the EGB and placebo groups at 12, 18 and 24 weeks after treatment (P<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences in the incidences of AEs, adverse drug reactions, or serious AEs among the 3 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION GTC exhibited significant efficacy in improving patients' quality of life as well as neurological function and controlling hypertension. (Registration No. ChiCTR1800016667).

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the influence of Rce1 on invasion and migration of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells by silencing the Rce1 gene with RNA interference. METHODS: The tongue squamous cell carcinoma Cal-27 and SCC-4 cells were cultured in vitro. The small interfering RNA (siRNA) of the Rce1 gene was designed, and the Rcel gene expression was silenced vialiposome transfection. According to the siRNA transfected by liposome, the experimental group was divided into three groups, namely, Rce1-siRNA-1, Rce1-siRNA-2, and Rce1-siRNA-3 groups. Negative control group was transfected by siCON, and the blank control group was untransfected by siRNA. The Rce1, RhoA, and K-Ras gene expression levels in each group were analyzed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The Rce1, RhoA, K-Ras, MMP-2, and MMP-9 protein expression levels were analyzed by Western blot. The invasiveness of tongue cancer cell Cal-27 and SCC-4 were determined by Transwell invasion assay, and cell migration assay was performed by cell scratch assay. RESULTS: Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot results showed that compared with the negative and blank control groups, the Rce1 gene and protein expression levels in three experimental groups decreased (P<0.05). The RhoA, K-Ras gene and protein expression levels were insignificantly different among groups (P>0.05). Meanwhile, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression levels decreased (P<0.05). Transwell invasion assay results showed that the total number of cells in the PET film of the experimental groups was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P<0.05). The cell scratch test showed that the cell closure time of the scratch in the interference group was significantly longer than those in the control and blank groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Silencing Rce1 in vitro can effectively downregulate its expression in tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells Cal-27 and SCC-4 and reduce the migration and invasion abilities of these cells.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Endopeptidases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Tongue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; therapy ; Transfection

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to be involved in the pathogenic initiation and progression of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis (CNP); however, the comprehensive expression profile of dysregulated miRNAs, relevant signaling pathways, and core machineries in CNP have not been fully elucidated. In the current research, CNP rat models were established through the intraprostatic injection of carrageenan into the prostate. Then, next-generation sequencing was performed to explore the miRNA expression profile in CNP. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) bioinformatical analyses were conducted to reveal the enriched biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components and signaling pathways. As a result, 1224, 1039, and 1029 known miRNAs were annotated in prostate tissues from the blank control (BC), normal saline injection (NS), and carrageenan injection (CAR) groups (n = 3 for each group), respectively. Among them, 84 miRNAs (CAR vs BC) and 70 miRNAs (CAR vs NS) with significantly different expression levels were identified. Compared with previously reported miRNAs with altered expression in various inflammatory diseases, the majority of deregulated miRNAs in CNP, such as miR-146b-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-150-5p, and miR-139-5p, showed similar expression patterns. Moreover, bioinformatics analyses have enriched mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), endocytosis, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and forkhead box O (FoxO) signaling pathways. These pathways were all involved in immune response, which indicates the critical regulatory role of the immune system in CNP initiation and progression. Our investigation has presented a global view of the differentially expressed miRNAs and potential regulatory networks containing their target genes, which may be helpful for identifying the novel mechanisms of miRNAs in immune regulation and effective target-specific theragnosis for CNP.
Animals ; Computational Biology ; Databases, Genetic ; Gene Expression Profiling ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Male ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Prostate/metabolism* ; Prostatitis/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective:To explore the significance of lateral lymph node dissection for low rectal cancer.Methods:Retrieval the Cochrane Library,PubMed,EMBASE,CBM,VIP,CNKI,WANFANG DATA,the time is from January 2000 to October 2015.Bring into the comparative studies about lateral lymph node dissection for low rectal cancer.Processing data using the revman 5.2 to reaserch the significance of lateral lymph node dissection for low rectal cancer.Results:9 clinical comparative studies were included in this study.The observation group was the lateral lymph node dissection group and the control group was the traditional operation group.Results showed that the length of incision of the observation group was longer [MD=-42.48,95％CI (32.92,-52.04),P＜0.00001],The amount of bleeding in observation group was more[MD=-18.72,95％Cl(5.60,31.83),P＜0.005],The local recurrence rate in the observation group was Iower[OR=-0.52,95％CI (0.38,0.71),P＜0.0001],The 3 year survival rate and the 5 year survival rate in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,the difference was statistically significant,Their combined OR and 95％CI were [OR=2.65,95％ CI (1.76,3.99),P＜0.00001] and [OR=3.57,95％ CI (2.05,6.22),P＜0.00001].Conclusion:Lateral lymph node dissection increasing operation time、hemorrhage volume and postoperative complication risk,but could increase the survival rate of the patients.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to help people comprehensively understand the research advances related to ring finger protein 213 (RNF213) in moyamoya disease (MMD) and to understand the disease at the molecular level to provide a new perspective of the diagnosis of the disease.

DATA SOURCESThis review was based on data in articles published between 2005 and 2015 that were retrieved from the PubMed database. The search terms included RNF213, MMD, intracranial major artery stenosis /occlusion (ICASO), genotype, phenotype, mutant and variants, and the combinations of these terms.

STUDY SELECTIONArticles related to MMD and RNF213 were selected for review, and we also reviewed publications related to ICASO.

RESULTSRNF213 is not only associated with MMD but also associated with intracranial major artery stenosis. In addition, RNF213 variants exhibit apparent ethnic diversity; specifically, the c.14576G>A variant is mainly detected in Korean, Chinese, and Japanese populations, particularly the latter population. The genotypes of RNF213 correlate with the phenotypes of MMD; for example, the homozygous c.14576G>A variant is associated with early-onset, severe symptoms, and an unfavorable prognosis. Furthermore, the RNF213 c.14576G>A variant should be considered during the diagnosis of MMD because no patients with quasi-MMD have been reported to carry the RNF213 c.14576G>A variant whereas 66 of 78 patients with definite MMD have been found to carry this variant.

CONCLUSIONSThe growing literature demonstrates that MMD is primarily caused by the synergy of genetic and environmental factors, and unknown genetic modifiers might play roles in the etiology of MMD. Further research should be conducted to clarify the pathogenic mechanism of MMD.

Adenosine Triphosphatases ; genetics ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; etiology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Moyamoya Disease ; etiology ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics