Objective:To analyze the clinical characteristics, prognosis and gene mutation in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Keshan disease area of Sichuan Province, and to explore the risk factors for all-cause death in DCM patients.Methods:In June 2016, 55 DCM patients diagnosed at the local disease prevention and control center through clinical manifestations, electrocardiogram examination, and echocardiography were selected as the survey subjects in Mianning County, Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and Renhe District, Panzhihua City, Keshan disease areas of Sichuan Province. Baseline clinical data were analyzed and long-term follow-up was conducted. The follow-up period ended June 15, 2021, with the endpoint of all-cause death. Univariate Cox regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of all-cause death in patients, and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curve was used to analyze the survival time of patients. At the same time, peripheral venous blood was collected from 27 DCM patients. After separating white blood cells, DNA was extracted, and whole exome sequencing was performed to screen potential pathogenic genes.Results:Among the 55 DCM patients, 40 were males and 15 were females. The age was (54.09 ± 12.38) years old. The heart function classification of New York Heart Association (NYHA) was mainly grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ, accounting for 94.55% (52/55). The follow-up time for 55 DCM patients was (7.02 ± 2.96) years, and 17 patients experienced all-cause death, accounting for 30.91% (17/55), including 15 males and 2 females. Compared with the survival group, the death group had a lower incidence of syncope (χ 2 = 6.57, P = 0.010), but higher rates of bilateral lower limb edema (χ 2 = 6.43, P = 0.017), pulmonary congestion (χ 2 = 7.61, P = 0.006), intraventricular conduction block (χ 2 = 6.41, P = 0.011), and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) use (χ 2 = 6.57, P = 0.010), as well as increased left ventricular diameter ( t = 2.36, P = 0.022). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that bilateral lower limb edema [hazard ratio ( HR) = 4.61, P = 0.042] and intraventricular conduction block ( HR = 3.20, P = 0.019) were risk factors for all-cause death of DCM patients. The results of K-M survival curve analysis showed that patients with bilateral lower limb edema and intraventricular conduction block had higher all-cause death rates (log-rank χ 2 = 5.02, 6.24, P = 0.025, 0.012). Whole exome sequencing results showed that 4 patients were detected to carry pathogenic or suspected pathogenic gene mutations, with a positive rate of 14.81% (4/27), involving three genes: β-myosin heavy chain 7 (MYH7), calreticulin 3 (CALR3), and gelsolin (GSN). Conclusions:The all-cause death rate of DCM patients in the Keshan disease area of Sichuan Province is relatively high. Dead patients are prone to bilateral lower limb edema, pulmonary congestion, and intraventricular conduction block, as well as increased left ventricular diameter. Bilateral lower limb edema and intraventricular conduction block are independent predictive risk factors for all-cause death in DCM patients. MYH7, CALR3 and GSN are involved in the pathogenesis of DCM.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of nano-silicon dioxide( SiO_2) on the survival and poly( ADP-ribose)polymerase-1( PARP-1) expression in human bronchial epithelial cells( 16 HBE cells). METHODS: i) The 16 HBE cells were treated with nano-SiO_2 at concentrations ranging from 0 to 100 mg/L for 24. 0 hours,and CCK-8 assay was used to examine cell viability. ii) The 16 HBE cells were divided into 6 groups: solvent control group( equal volume solvent treatment),micro-SiO_2 control group( treated with 20 mg/L micro-SiO_2),5,10,and 20 mg/L nano-SiO_2 groups( treated with the corresponding final dose of nano-SiO_2),and curcumin group. The curcumin group was given pretreatment with curcumin at a final concentration of 10 μmol/L for 2. 0 hours followed by treatment with a final concentration of 20 mg/L of nano-SiO_2. Cells in each group were harvested at time points of 4. 0,12. 0 and 24. 0 hours after treatment. The relative expression of PARP-1 mRNA and protein in 16 HBE cells was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting respectively. RESULTS: i) The survival of 16 HBE cells decreased with increasing nano-SiO_2 treatment dose,showing a dose-effect relationship( P < 0. 01). ii) The expression of PARP-1 mRNA and protein in 16 HBE cells were dose-dependently decreased after nano-SiO_2 stimulation at the 12. 0 and 24. 0 hours time points( P < 0. 01). The expression of PARP-1 mRNA and protein in 5,10,and 20 mg/L nano-SiO_2 groups decreased at the above mentioned time points( P < 0. 05),compared with the solvent control group at the same time points. The expression of PARP-1 mRNA and protein in 20 mg/L nano-SiO_2 group was lower than that in the micro-SiO_2 control group at the same 12. 0 and 24. 0 hours time point( P < 0. 05). The above two indexes of cells were higher in curcumin group than that of 20 mg/L nano-SiO_2 group at the 12. 0 hours time point( P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION: Nano-SiO_2 stimulation can lead to decrease survival of 16 HBE cells in a dose-dependent manner and down-regulation of PARP-1 expression may be one of the mechanisms of proliferation and inhibition of 16 HBE cells induced by nano-SiO_2. Curcumin has certain protective effect on nano-SiO_2-induced 16 HBE cell injury.

Objective To evaluate inhibitory effect of Chlamydia trachomatis plasmid-encoded protein pORF5 on HeLa cell apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α). Methods The recombinant lentiviral expression vector containing pORF5 gene and helper plasmids were co-transfected into 293T cells to prepare the recombinant lentivirus. Then, the lentivirus particles were collected and concentrated, and used to infect HeLa cells. Flow cytometric screening identified stable pORF5-expressing HeLa (pORF5-HeLa) cells. Meanwhile, the empty plasmid was transfected into HeLa cells to prepare control HeLa cells. The two cell lines were both divided into two subgroups to be treated with 20μg/L TNF-αand fresh culture medium respectively for 6 hours. Then, Hoechst 33258 staining was performed to observe morphological changes of apoptotic cells, flow cytometry to detect cell apoptosis, real-time PCR to measure the mRNA expression of Caspase3, Bax and Bcl-2, and Western blot analysis to determine the protein expression of Bax and Bcl-2. Results After 6-hour treatment with TNF-α, Hoechst 33258 staining showed variable degrees of karyopyknosis and karyorrhexis, and highly-refractive blue apoptotic bodies in the pORF5-HeLa cells and control HeLa cells. The pORF5-HeLa cells and control HeLa cells both showed significantly higher apoptosis rate in the treated subgroup than in the untreated subgroup (pORF5-HeLa cells:35.5%± 4.5%vs. 9.5%± 1.5%, t=13.53, P<0.01;control HeLa cells:63.6%± 5.8%vs. 7.9%± 0.9%, t=32.36, P<0.01). Compared with treated control HeLa cells, treated pORF5-HeLa cells showed significant decreases in mRNA expression of Bax(72.8%)and Caspase 3(84.5%)(t = 35.29, 42.25, respectively, both P < 0.01), as well as in Bax protein expression(t = 17.58,P < 0.01), but significant increases in Bcl-2 mRNA and protein(6.8 times)expression(t = 87.12, 18.93, respectively, both P <0.01). Conclusion pORF5 plasmid protein can inhibit TNF-α-induced HeLa cell apoptosis likely by increasing the expression of anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 and decreasing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Caspase-3 and Bax.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of syntaxin 8 (STX8) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC),and analyze the relationship between STX8 expression and clinicopathological features of NSCLC.Methods Seventy samples of NSCLC and 70 samples of pericancerous tissues were collected for immunohistochemistry staining,and another 10 samples of NSCLC and pericancerous tissues were used for RNA and protein extraction,qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of STX8 mRNA,and Western blot assay was adopted to detect the expression of STX8 protein.The relationship between STX8 expression and clinicopathological features of NSCLC was analyzed.Results Results of qRT-PCR showed that the expression of STX8 mRNA was significantly higher in NSCLC tissues than that in the pericancerous tissues (3.962 5±0.487 3 vs.0.538 2±0.097 5,t=21.797,P＜0.01).Immunohistochemistry results showed that the high expression rate of STX8 was significantly higher in NSCLC tissues than that in the pericancerous tissues [71.43％ (50/70) vs.38.57％ (27/70),x2=15.267,P＜0.01].Western blot results showed that the expression of STX8 protein was significantly higher in NSCLC tissues than that in the pericancerous tissues (2.496 1±0.362 5 vs.0.340 2±0.119 1,t=17.876,P＜0.01).The high expression rate of STX8 was significantly different in different histological types of NSCLC (P ＜0.05).The high expression rate of STX8 was higher in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma than that in adenosquamous carcinoma,and the high expression rate of STX8 was not observed in large cell carcinoma.There were no significant differences in expressions of STX8 in NSCLC patients with different gender,ages,tumor diameters,TNM stages and with or without lymph node metastasis (P＞0.05).Conclusion A high expression of STX8 in NSCLC tissues may be correlated with the occurrence and development of NSCLC.

Objective To compare the eradication rate of helicobacter pylori between furazolidone combined with omeprazole and levofloxacin and tinidazole combined with omeprazole and levofloxacin in elderly patients with Hp positive chronic atrophic gastritis.Methods A total of 96 patients with Hp positive chronic atrophic gastritis were randomly divided into two groups,48 cases in each group.Control group was treated with tinidazole plus omeprazole and levofloxacin,while study group was treated with furazolidone plus with omeprazole and levofloxacin.The gastric function,inflammatory factors and immune function indexes were measured,and the clinical efficacy and the eradication rate of Hp were compared.Results After treatment,symptoms and pathological scores significantly decreased in both groups,G-17,PG-I contents increased significantly,PG-II content decreased significantly,serum IL-6,TNF-α,sIL-2R contents decreased significantly,CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ contents increased significantly,and CD8+ content decreased significantly(P<0.05).There were significant differences in indexes mentioned above between the two groups(P<0.05).The effective rate and negative rate of Hp in the control group were significantly lower than those in the study group(P<0.05).Conclusion Furazolidone combined with omeprazole and levofloxacin

Objective To compare the eradication rate of helicobacter pylori between furazolidone combined with omeprazole and levofloxacin and tinidazole combined with omeprazole and levofloxacin in elderly patients with Hp positive chronic atrophic gastritis.Methods A total of 96 patients with Hp positive chronic atrophic gastritis were randomly divided into two groups,48 cases in each group.Control group was treated with tinidazole plus omeprazole and levofloxacin,while study group was treated with furazolidone plus with omeprazole and levofloxacin.The gastric function,inflammatory factors and immune function indexes were measured,and the clinical efficacy and the eradication rate of Hp were compared.Results After treatment,symptoms and pathological scores significantly decreased in both groups,G-17,PG-I contents increased significantly,PG-II content decreased significantly,serum IL-6,TNF-α,sIL-2R contents decreased significantly,CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ contents increased significantly,and CD8+ content decreased significantly(P<0.05).There were significant differences in indexes mentioned above between the two groups(P<0.05).The effective rate and negative rate of Hp in the control group were significantly lower than those in the study group(P<0.05).Conclusion Furazolidone combined with omeprazole and levofloxacin

Objective To analyze the data of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV ) screening in Qinnan District of Qinzhou from 2013 to 2015 ,and to provide scientific evidences for the prevention and control of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) .Methods HIV antibody data which was collected from the AIDS laboratory between 2013 and 2015 in Qinnan District of Qinzhou were analyzed .Results Of 3 955 cases of the HIV antibody detecting in the AIDS laboratory from 2013 to 2015 ,200 cases were HIV antibody positive ,and the positive rate was 5 .06% which was decreased compared with previously .The HIV antibody positive rate of man was 9 .26% ,which was higher than women .Among the HIV positive people ,the rate of the ages older than 50 was 25 .36% which was the highest compared to the other age groups .The positive rate of farmers was 30 .83% and the rate of di‐vorced or widowed was 30 .86% and the rate of the illiterate was 16 .08% .Conclusion Man ,farmers ,the age older than 50 years old ,the divorced or widowed and the low degree of education groups are the focus groups of health education and prevention of AIDS .If we can find HIV infectors earlier ,we can control the epidemic of AIDS and formulate the prevention and control strategies better .

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of silicon dioxide nanoparticles on the expression and promoter region CpG islands methylation of (Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1, PARP-1) gene in human HaCaT Cell.

METHODSHaCaT Cells were treated with nm-SiO₂at 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 µg/mL and micro-SiO₂at 10 µg/ml for 24 h and DAC treatment was given at 10 µg/ml group for 48 h. Real-time PCR and western blot assay was used to detect the expression of PARP-1 mRNA and protein. BSP (Bisulfite Pyrosequence, BSP) assay was used to detect the promoter region CpG islands methylation status of PARP-1 gene.

RESULTSAfter exposure to nano-SiO₂particles, compared to CTRL group, the mRNA and protein expression of PARP-1 in micro-SiO₂and 2.5 µg/ml group unchanged, but he mRNA and protein expression of PARP-1 in 5, 10 µg/ml as well as DAC group was down-regulated and there are statistical significance between CTRL group and 5, 10 µg/ml as well as DAC group and the PARP-1 promoter region CpG islands showed methylation.

CONCLUSIONnano-SiO₂can down-regulate PARP-1 expression in HaCaT Cell and this is associated with the change in the methylation of PARP-1 gene promoter region CpG islands induced by nano-SiO₂particles.

Cell Line, Tumor ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Nanoparticles ; adverse effects ; Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Silicon Dioxide ; adverse effects

Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect of combined acupuncture and electrophoresis in treating trigeminal neuralgia. Methods: Sixty patients were randomly allocated to two groups. The treatment group received acupuncture plus electrophoresis, and the control group took Carbamazepine and Methylcobalamin. The therapeutic effects would be evaluated after 30 d. Results: The total effective rate was 93.3% in the treatment group versus 70.0% in the control group. During the follow-up study (6 months to 1 year), 3 cases got relapsed in the treatment group, occupying 11.1%, and 6 got relapsed in the control group, occupying 28.6%. Conclusion: Combined acupuncture and electrophoresis has a precise effect in treating trigeminal neuralgia, and it bears an advantage of simple operation and maintaining cutaneous sensation.

Objective To explore the value of ultrasound in diagnosis and classification of pilomatricoma.Methods Ultrasonic features of 63 cases with pilomatricoma confirmed by operation and pathology were analyzed and summarized retrospectively.Results According to if there was calcification in the tumor,pilomatricoma cases were classified into two groups(calcific group and non-calcific group).In addition,there were three subgroups in the calcific group based on the size and disposition of calcification:subgroup Ⅰ,completely echogenic mass with strong posterior acoustic shadowing in the subcutaneous layer (n=17,26.98%);subgroupⅡ,hypoechoic nodules with tiny calcification diffused distributed(n=15,23.80%);subgroup Ⅲ,hypoechoic nodules with large calcification(n=8,12.70%).Twenty-three cases (36.51%)were distributed into non-calcific group.Conclusions Ultrasonography is valuable for diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pilomatricoma,and it is an essential examination method for the tumor before operation.