Nanomaterial matrices have unique advantages in small molecule analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI-MS).On the basis of comparing different surfactants,a method for pre-coating nanocarbon sodium dodecyl sulfate(SDS)composite matrix was established,which could alleviate the issue of aggregation of nanocarbon particles as a matrix.The experimental results showed that the nanocarbon-SDS composite pre-coated matrix effectively suppressed the background ion peak of the nano matrix,significantly improved the MS peak intensity and signal-to-noise ratio of the tested substance.Under the optimal conditions,cholesterol,1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine(DPPC),and triglyceride standards were analyzed,with intra-point repeatability(RSD)of MS peak intensity≤5%and inter-point repeatability≤7%.As to measurement of cyclic adenosine monophosphate and DPPC samples in the range of 0.05?1.0 mg/mL,linear correlation coefficient(R2)between peak intensity and concentration was greater than 0.993,indicating good quantitative analysis potential.The nanocarbon-SDS composite pre-coating matrix was used for MALDI-MS imaging of pig brain tissue,and the differences in component distribution between pig brain white matter and gray matter were observed,demonstrating the potential of nanocarbon-SDS composite pre-coating matrix for MALDI-MS imaging.

The transmission cycle of echinococcosis was established in 1853.More than 160 years have elapsed since Iceland initiated control measures to break the transmission cycle of echinococcosis in 1863.Control plans have been implemented in more than a dozen countries/territories,and lessons have been learned from failures as well as successes.In this review,we fo-cus on the failure experiences,which have also promoted successes in the control of cystic echinococcosis(caused by the para-site Echinococcus granulosus)in regions including Iceland,New Zealand,Uruguay,Wales(England),Turkana(Kenya),and Sardinia(Italy).The causes of the failures were analyzed,and the effects of health education,dog deworming,and con-trol measures for infected animal slaughter on echinococcosis control are comprehensively summarized.However,no suc-cessful experience has been reported in the control of alveolar echinococcosis(caused by the parasite Echinococcus multilocu-laris).On the basis of the biological characteristics of E.mul-tilocularis parasitization in dogs for a duration of 30 days and larvae parasitization in rodents,the fundamental measure for controlling alveolar echinococcosis is administration of monthly deworming treatments to dogs in high prevalence areas.

Cell Line, Tumor

BACKGROUND: Thyroid dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of thyroid function in lipid metabolism remains partly unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the causal association between thyroid function and serum lipid metabolism via a genetic analysis termed Mendelian randomization (MR). METHODS: The MR approach uses a genetic variant as the instrumental variable in epidemiological studies to mimic a randomized controlled trial. A two-sample MR was performed to assess the causal association, using summary statistics from the Atrial Fibrillation Genetics Consortium (n = 537,409) and the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium (n = 188,577). The clinical measures of thyroid function include thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxine (FT4) levels, FT3:FT4 ratio and concentration of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb). The serum lipid metabolism traits include total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. The MR estimate and MR inverse variance-weighted method were used to assess the association between thyroid function and serum lipid metabolism. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that increased TSH levels were significantly associated with higher TC (β = 0.052, P = 0.002) and LDL (β = 0.041, P = 0.018) levels. In addition, the FT3:FT4 ratio was significantly associated with TC (β = 0.240, P = 0.033) and LDL (β = 0.025, P = 0.027) levels. However, no significant differences were observed between genetically predicted FT4 and TPOAb and serum lipids. CONCLUSION Taken together, the results of the present study suggest an association between thyroid function and serum lipid metabolism, highlighting the importance of the pituitary-thyroid-cardiac axis in dyslipidemia susceptibility.
Lipid Metabolism/genetics* ; Mendelian Randomization Analysis ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine ; Triiodothyronine

Objective    To compare the short-term outcomes of surgical repair for atrial septal defect (ASD) with a robotic (da Vinci Si) approach versus a conventional open procedure. Methods    Clinical data of 140 patients undergoing ASD closure in the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2016 to May 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a robotic group and a sternotomy group according to different surgical methods. In the robotic group, there were 67 patients including 20 males and 47 females at a median age of 40.0 (25.0) years, and in the sternotomy group there were 73 patients including 23 males and 50 females at a median age of 41.0 (29.0) years. Multivariate linear regressions were used to produce risk-adjusted analysis of pertinent clinical characteristics. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to compare the speed of sternotomy versus robotic group returning to exercise or daily life. Results    Robotic-assisted surgery was associated with significantly shorter 24 h postoperative drainage volume [220.0 (210.0) mL vs. 345.0 (265.0) mL, P<0.001], mechanical ventilation [6.0 (11.0) h vs. 8.0 (11.0) h, P=0.024], intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) [19.0 (19.0) h vs. 22.0 (25.0) h, P=0.005], postoperative hospital LOS [9.0 (5.0) d vs. 10.0(6.0) d, P=0.003], and a lower rate of perioperative blood transfusion (28.36% vs. 84.93%, P<0.001). After controlling for patient comorbidity in the multiple regression model, there remained a trend toward decreased 24 h postoperative drainage volume (β=–115.30, 95%CI–170.78 to –59.82, P<0.001), mechanical ventilation (β=–4.96, 95%CI –8.33 to –1.59, P=0.004) and postoperative hospital LOS (β=–2.31, 95%CI –3.98 to –0.63, P=0.007) in the robotic group. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patients returned to exercise or daily life earlier in the robotic group [35.0 (32.0) d vs. 90.0 (75.0) d, P<0.001]. Conclusion    Closure of ASD can be performed safely and effectively via robotic approach. And the minimally invasive technique is beneficial to postoperative recovery.

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of cleaved lymphocytes in peripheral blood smear in assisting the early diagnosis of pertussis. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal swabs and peripheral blood samples were collected from 107 children with pertussis-like disease. PCR-flow fluorescent hybridization was used to detect the nucleic acids of Bordetella pertussis. Based on the detection results, the children were divided into two groups: pertussis (n=52) and non-pertussis (n=55). According to age, the pertussis group was divided into two subgroups: <1 year old (n=42) and ≥1 year old (n=10). According to disease severity, the pertussis group was divided into another two subgroups: mild (n=45) and severe (n=7). An automatic blood cell analyzer was used to determine peripheral blood cell counts. Wright's staining and peroxidase staining were used to observe and count cleaved lymphocytes under a microscope. RESULTS: Cleaved lymphocytes in peripheral blood were round with small cytoplast, less cytoplasm and cleaved or lobulated nuclei. According to the negative peroxidase staining results, these cells were confirmed as lymphocytes. Compared with the non-pertussis group, the pertussis group had significantly higher leukocyte count, lymphocyte percentage, platelet count, and percentage of cleaved lymphocytes (P<0.001). For the children with pertussis, the <1 year old subgroup had significantly higher lymphocyte percentage, platelet count, and percentage of cleaved lymphocytes than the ≥1 year old subgroup (P<0.05). The severe subgroup had slightly higher leukocyte count, lymphocyte percentage, platelet count, and percentage of cleaved lymphocytes than the mild subgroup (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The detection of cleaved lymphocytes combined with peripheral blood cell counts provides a new option for the early diagnosis of pertussis in children.
Bordetella pertussis ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukocyte Count ; Lymphocytes ; Platelet Count ; Whooping Cough

【Objective】To evaluate the feasibility of magnetization transfer（MT）magnetic resonance（MR）imaging for predicting the risk of intestinal fistula in patients with Crohn disease （CD）. 【Methods】 The study prospectively enrolled 12 consecutive patients with CD and abdominal MT imaging were performed before elective surgery. The bowel wall MT ratio normalized to skeletal muscle was calculated；region- by- region correlations with the surgical specimen were performed. Histopathologic evaluation of fibrosis was executed by using Masson trichrome. Wilcoxon rank test ， Spearman rank correlation， and receiver operating characteristic curve （ROC） were used for statistical analysis.【Results】Among 15 surgical intestinal segments from 12 patients，5 lesions were found with intestinal fistula and of them 12 bowel specimens were obtained. The other 10 intestinal segments were without complications and 23 bowel specimens were enrolled. The intestinal fistula bowel showed a significant higher （P=0.045） normalized MT ratio. ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.674（95%CI：0.537-0.811）for differentiating intestinal fistula bowel from the non- fistula one. The sensitivity，specificity was 93.3% and 51.1% with a cut-off value of 76.8%，respectively. For the Masson score，significant difference（P=0.012）was found between the complicated intestinal specimens and the non-complicated ones. Additionally， the normalized MT ration was statistical correlated with Masson score （r=0.708，P<0.001）.【Conclusion】MT imaging could be a potential method to predict the risk of intestinal fistula in patients with CD.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; genetics ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; genetics ; Male ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies have revealed that mast cells (MCs) may activate the protease-activated receptors and release of neuropeptides involved in the pathogenesis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The levels of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) and tryptase can contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of IBS. METHODS: Colonoscopic biopsies were performed of 38 subjects (20 with IBS-diarrhea [IBS-D], eight with IBS-constipation [IBS-C], and 10 healthy volunteers). The mRNA and protein levels of tryptase and PAR-2 were assessed by real-time PCR and Western blot. The levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were measured by immunohistochemistry, and MCs were counted by toluidine blue staining. RESULTS: Significant increases in the mRNA expression of tryptase (p<0.05, IBS-D, IBS-C vs control) and PAR-2 (p<0.05, IBS-D, IBS-C vs control) and in the tryptase protein level (p<0.05, IBS-D, IBS-C vs control) were detected in IBS. Elevations of MCs, CGRP, VIP and SP (p<0.05, IBS-D vs control) were observed for IBS-D only. CONCLUSIONS: Tryptase levels may upregulate the function of PAR-2, resulting in the release of neuropeptide and they were correlated with clinical symptoms associated with IBS.
Biopsy ; Blotting, Western ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Mast Cells ; Neuropeptides ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptor, PAR-2* ; Receptors, Proteinase-Activated ; RNA, Messenger ; Substance P ; Tolonium Chloride ; Tryptases* ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Objective To study the correlations of VDR FokⅠgene polymorphism with type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women of Han nationality in south Sichuan. Methods 160 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and 190 healthy cases were enrolled in the study. The VDR FokⅠgene polymorphisms were detected using RFLP-PCR and DNA sequencing. Results The FF, Ff and ff genotype frequencies were 32.5%, 47.5%and 20% in the T2DM group and 15.8%, 53.7%, 30.5% in the control group, respectively (P < 0.05). The allele frequencies were 56.3%, 43.8% in the T2DM group and 42.6%, 57.4% in the control group, respectively (P < 0.05). The risk of T2DM in the FF genotype people was 2.568 times higher than Ff/ff genotype (adjusted OR = 2.568, 95%CI = 1.246 ~ 5.292, P < 0.05). The levels of 2 h PG and HbA1C in the FF genotype people were significantly higher than those of the Ff/ff genotype people (P<0.05). Conclusions There was an association between the VDR FokⅠgene polymorphism and type 2 diabetes incidence in the postmenopausal women in south Sichuan area.