Aim To identify differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in rat myocardial infarcted tissues and predict their interaction with IncRNAs and target genes, as well as to explore potential pathophysiology mechanisms in myocardial infarction. Methods A rat model of myocardial infarction was established by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery. Trizolwas used to extract total RNA from infarcted myocardial area for microarray detection. Bioinformatics methods were used to predict interaction IncRNAs, target genes, and functional enrichment of miRNAs thatwere significantly differently expressed. The possible IncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were identified finally. Results The elevation of ST segment of ECG showed that the rat model of myocardial infarction was successfully prepared. Microarray results showed that there were 19 significantly differently expressed miRNAs. Eight of these miRNAs (miR-21, miR-132, miR-222, miR-223-3p, miR-146a/b, miR-181b, miR-449a-5p, miR-122) were proven to be myocardial infarction treatment candidates. Whether seven miR-NAs (miR-365-5p, miR490-5p, miR-6333, miR-30cl-3p, miR-3591, miR-3596c, miR-877) were related to myocardial infarction called for further confirmation. There might be several new IncRNA-miRNA-mRNA mechanisms in the development of myocardial infarction. ENSRNOT00000076620-miR-146b-5p-STAT3/Rnf7/Qrsll may be involved in the process of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial damage during myocardial infarction. ENSRNOT00000071991-miR-122-Deptor might inhibit the autophagy of cardiomyocytes and exacerbate myocardial infarction. Conclusions The ternary relationship of IncRNA-miRNA-mRNA obtained in this study may provide possible research directions and a certain theoretical basis for further exploration of the molecular level pathological mechanism of myocardial infarction, and new therapeutic targets for myocardial infarction as well.

Objective:To study the distribution characteristics of mineral elements in Gastrodia elata samples with different grades and specifications （variants） from diverse producing areas and their classification and identification evidences. Method:Fourteen mineral elements in 31 batches of Gastrodia elata samples of different grades and specifications （variants） from diverse producing areas were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry， Mo-Sb colorimetry， and curcumin colorimetry， and then subjected to correlation analysis （CA）， discriminant analysis （DA）， and principal component analysis （PCA）. Result:The content of K， N， and P in G. elata was the highest， enabling them to serve as the nutritional limiting factors affecting its growth. The G. elata samples could be identified by the variation trend of elements （K>N>P>Mg>Ca>Fe>B>Zn>Mn>Cu>Ni>Cr>Pb>Cd）. The comparison of G. elata samples from multiple producing areas showed that G. elata from Zhaotong has the highest P， Fe， and Cd content， that from Lijiang the highest K content， that form Luotian the highest Zn and Cr content， and that from Jinzhai the highest Cu and Pb content. The content of Mg， B， Pb， and Cr in G. elata f. elata was higher than that in G. elata f. glauca. It was found that the content of P， Cu， and Cd in commercially available G. elata products gradually increased with the decrease in the commercial grade， while that of Mg， Fe， B， and Ni mostly decreased. As revealed by CA， Fe was positively correlated with Mg， Cr， and B. The producing areas of G. elata samples could be effectively identified by DA with Cd， Pb， Cr， Cu， B， and Ni as the main variables， and the accuracy reached up to 85.71%. According to the PCA of mineral elements in G. elata f. glauca from Zhaotong， Yunnan Province， Fe， Cr， Mg， Cd， P， Mn， B， Pb， and Cu exerted a greater influence on G. elata. Conclusion:The determination of mineral elements in G. elata samples contributes to identifying their authenticity and origin due to the easy operation， accurate results， and good stability.

Objective: To investigate the frequency characteristics and the pathological characteristics of the horizontal crista ampullaris in patients with Meniere's disease,and to analyse its structural basis. Methods: Between March, 2019 and November, 2019, seventy-two patients diagnosed as Meniere's disease (27 males and 45 females, aged from 13 to 74 years, with a course of disease ranging from 4 months to 32 years)in Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital were included.Caloric test, sinusoidal harmonic acceleration test (SHA), video-head impulse test (v-HIT), Gadolinium-enhanced inner-ear 3D-FLAIR MRI and pure tone audiometry were conducted in the patients. The function of the horizontal semicircular canal in these patients were analysed as well as its relationship with the degree of endolymphatic hydrops,clinical stage and duration. Light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the ultrastructure of horizontal semicircular canal crista ampullaris from six patients with refractory Meniere's disease who underwent labyrinthectomy. The number of type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ vestibular hair cells, the common pathophysiological changes of horizontal semicircular canal crista ampullaris were investigated in these patients. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19.0. Results: With the increase of detection frequency, the abnormal rate decreased gradually. The abnormal rate of caloric test was 69.4% (50/72), SHA 51.4% (37/72), V-HIT 36.1% (26/72), comparation of the positive rate among the three tests showed statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Neither caloric test nor SHA had correlation with the degree of hydrops(P>0.05), but v-HIT(r=0.434,P<0.01).There was correlation with clinical stage to SHA and v-HIT(r=0.338,0.462,P<0.01), except caloric test(P>0.05).No significant relation was found with caloric test, SHA, v-HIT and course of disease(P>0.05).Morphological observation found abnormal monolayer epithelialization of the horizontal semicircular canal crista ampullaris significantly decreased number of type Ⅱ hair cells compared with type Ⅰhair cells. Hair cells showed perinuclear vacuolization, cytoplasmic vacuoles, mitochondrial electron density increasement and loss of stereocilia. Conclusions: The horizontal semicircular canal damage in the patients with Meniere's disease has a frequency-dependent characteristic, mainly occurres in low frequency area. With progress of the disease, the high frequency area of ampulla will be impaired gradually, and it is related to the degree of endolymphatic hydrops and hearing level. Hair cell injury would be observed,the frequency characteristics may be more associated with the disorder of type Ⅱ hair cells.
Caloric Tests ; Endolymphatic Hydrops ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meniere Disease ; Semicircular Canals ; Semicircular Ducts

In this paper,the fingerprint of different varieties of chrysanthemum were established with " Similarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of Chinese Materia Medica" and the content of chlorogenic acid,galuteolin and 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid in 29 batches of different varieties of chrysanthemum in Futianhe town,Huangtugang town and Wuhan city were compared. At the same time,similarity evaluation and common peak clustering analysis were carried out. There were 11 common peaks in the fingerprints of 29 batches of different varieties of chrysanthemum,and the similarity ranged from 0. 802 to 0. 975. Hangju and Gongju were divided into one group by cluster analysis,and Huangju into another category. The established fingerprint method provides a basis for the identification of chrysanthemum cultivars. The content of 29 batches of chlorogenic acid was between 4. 092 and 11. 723 mg·g-1,luteolin was between 1. 010 and 11. 713 mg·g-1,and 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid was between 8. 828 and 33. 435 mg·g-1,both reach the pharmacopoeia standard,but the effective components of different varieties of chrysanthemum were quite different. Based on the contents of three active ingredients and the diversity of fingerprint peaks,the quality of the characteristic germplasm resource of local Fubaijuin Macheng is superior,and the protection of local characteristic germplasm resource should be strengthened in production.
Chlorogenic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; Luteolin ; analysis ; Phytochemicals ; analysis

Global longitudinal strain (GLS) at rest on two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) was demonstrated to help detect coronary artery disease (CAD).However,the optimal cut-off point of GLS and its diagnostic power for detecting critical CAD in non-diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are unknown.In the present study,211 patients with suspected CAD were prospectively included,with DM patients excluded.All patients underwent echocardiography and subsequently coronary angiography within 3 days.Left ventricular (LV) GLSs were quantified by 2D STE.Territorial peak systolic longitudinal strains (TLSs) were calculated based on the perfusion territories of the 3-epicardial coronary arteries in a 17-segment LV model.Critical CAD was defined as an area stenosis ≥70％ in ≥1 epicardial coronary artery (≥50％ in left main coronary artery).Totally 145 patients were diagnosed as having critical CAD by coronary angiography.Significant differences were observed in all strain parameters between patients with and without critical CAD.The area under the receiver operating charcteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for GLS in the detection of left main (LM) or threevessel CAD was 0.875 at a cut-off value of-19.05％ with sensitivity of 78.1％ and specificity of 72.7％,which increased to 0.926 after exclusion of apical segments (cut-off value-18.66％;sensitivity 84.4％ and specificity 81.8％).The values of TLSs were significantly lower in regions supplied by stenotic arteries than in those by non-stenotic arteries.The AUC for the TLSs to identify critical stenosis of left circumflex (LCX) artery,left anterior descending (LAD) artery and right coronary artery (RCA),in order of diagnostic accuracy,was 0.818 for LCX,0.764 for LAD and 0.723 for RCA,respectively.In conclusion,in non-DM patients with suspected CAD,GLS assessed by 2D STE is an excellent predictor for LM or three-vessel CAD with high diagnostic accuracy,and a higher cut-off point than reported before should be used.Excluding apical segments in the calculation of GLS can further improve the predictive accuracy of GLS.It is unsatisfactory for TLSs to be used to identify stenotic coronary arteries.

Gastrodia elata has been used in China for more than 2 000 years and it is a kind of valuable traditional Chinese medicine. The originrecords of G. elata were Mount Tai of Shandong and and Mount Song of Henan, which began in Wupu Bencao of Wei Jin Dynasties, and Tai'an and its surrounding areas had been the Do-di herbs production areas. But from the beginning of the Republic of China, G. elata origin has undergone major changes, Do-di herbs production areas moved westward to the southwest.In this paper,through literature research and field visits, we studied the formation and changes of Do-di herbs production areas of G. elata. The cultivation history and current main producing area of G. elata was also introduced. On this basis, we profoundly summarized the reasons of Do-di herbs production areas formation and changes from the nature, society, transportation, humanities and germplasm resources.Combining the ancient herbal medicine and the characteristics of modern producing areas, the planting strength of G. elata could be strengthened in the hope of providing reference for the quality evaluation and cultivation of G. elata.

Adult ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; diagnosis ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Thrombosis ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of 7 patients from 5 families with 17a-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase deficiency (17OHD) and the CYP17A1 mutation in Chinese.

METHODSClinical features and laboratory data were collected from 5 families with 17OHD. PCR direct sequencing was performed to screen the mutation of CYP17A1 gene of the patients. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) and sequencing were performed to screen the mutations of CYP17A1 gene in 288 healthy individuals from Shandong province.

RESULTSSeven patients (5 of them were 46,XX; 2 were 46,XY) had typical clinical presentation of sexual infantilism, hypertension and hypokalemia. Hormone profile indicated decreased plasma cortisol and sex hormones, and elevated blood adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). TAC329AA and H373L in exon 6 and D487_F489del in exon 8 were identified from the patients. One heterozygote for D487_F489del was identified in 288 healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe TAC329AA and D487_F489del of the CYP17A1 gene were the most frequent mutations in Chinese with 17OHD.There might be certain frequency of heterozygotes for D487_F489del in Chinese population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Hypokalemia ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sexual Infantilism ; genetics ; metabolism ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Steroid 21-Hydroxylase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to investigate the correlation between the serum levels of IL-18 and acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) in patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), and to explore the role of serum IL-18 levels in the pathogenesis of aGVHD so as to provide a reliable and early indicator for the diagnosis of aGVHD. 62 patients received allo-HSCT were enrolled in this study. Before and after transplantation, as well as at onset of aGVHD. The serum levels of IL-18 were analyzed by ELISA. 62 patients were divided into 5 groups: group A without aGVHD (28 cases) referred to the patients who had no aGVHD after transplantation and whose specimen were collected before transplantation; group B with aGVHD before transplantation (34 cases) referred to the patients who had aGVHD after transplantation and whose specimen were collected before transplantation; group C before the onset of aGVHD (34 cases) referred to patients with I - II grade a GVHD whose specimen were collected before 3 - 4 days, and according to whether the I - II grade aGVHD patients developed III - IV grade or not after treatment, these patients were divided into two subgroups retrospectively, one subgroup had good curative effect (18 cases) and the other subgroup had not (16 cases); group D with I - II grade aGVHD; group E with III - IV grade aGVHD (16 cases). The results showed that 34 patients developed I - II grade aGVHD, then out of them 16 patients (16/34) developed III - IV grade aGVHD. The serum levels of IL-18 in these patients with aGVHD were higher than that in patients without aGVHD. About 3 days before onset of aGVHD, the serum levels of IL-18 started to increase. The serum levels of IL-18 were correlated with the severity of aGVHD, but no correlation was found with infection, conditioning regimens and disparity of HLA-typing. The serum levels of IL-18 in the early stage of aGVHD were correlated with prognosis. The aGVHD of patients with higher serum levels of IL-18 easy developed to III - IV grade aGVHD. It is concluded that the serum level of IL-18 in the patients received allo-HSCT is related to the occurrence of aGVHD. Detections of serum IL-18 are helpful for the early diagnosis of aGVHD, and the serum levels of IL-18 may be considered as a reliable indicator to evaluate the prognosis and severity of aGVHD.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; blood ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Leukemia ; blood ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult