OBJECTIVE: To analyze the feasibility of using vascular plaque quantification (VPQ) to evaluate carotid atherosclerotic plaques and to observe the effect of statins on carotid atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS: Patients with carotid plaques from January 2016 to September 2018 in Peking University First Hospital Neurology Department were recruited and underwent three-dimonsional ultrasound (3DUS). Their gray scale median (GSM) and other parameters of carotid plaques were measured with VPQ. The patients were divided into low GSM group (GSM < 40) and high GSM group (GSM≥40). The clinical characteristics and plaque characteristics of the patients in the two groups were compared to analyze the stability of plaques. According to whether taking statins or not, the patients were further divided into statin group and non-statin group, plaque GSM and other parameters of their carotid plaques were measured and the changes of carotid plaques at the end of 3 months and 2 years were observed. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients were enrolled, including 79 males and 41 females, with an average age of (65.39±9.11) years. The patients were divided into low GSM group (31 cases) (GSM < 40) and high GSM group (89 cases) (GSM≥40). The stenosis of the lumen in the low GSM group was more severe (the area stenosis rate was 41.32%±21.37% vs. 29.79%±17.16%, P < 0.05). The nor-malized wall index (NWI) of plaque in low GSM group was significantly higher than that in high GSM group (0.61 ±0.14 vs. 0.52±0.12, P < 0.01). A total of 77 patients, including 51 males and 26 females, aged (64.96±9.58) years, were enrolled to observe the statin effects on carotid plaque. They were divided into statin group (n=56) and non-statin group (n=21) according to whether taking statins or not. At the baseline and 3-month follow-up, there were no significant differences in carotid plaque volume, area, degree of luminal stenosis and GSM between the two groups (P>0.05). At the end of the 2-year follow-up, GSM increased in the statin group [median 10.00 (2.00, 28.00)] but decreased in the non-statin group [median －7.00 (－11.00, 5.50)], with a statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). There was no significant increase in carotid plaque volume in the statin group, while there was a slight increase in the non-statin group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups [median increase in plaque volume was 0.00 (－30.00, 40.00) mm³ in the statin group and 30.00 (10.00, 70.00) mm³ in the non-statin group, P>0.05]. CONCLUSION The VPQ technology of 3DUS can be used to evaluate carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Patients with low GSM (GSM < 40) have more severe vascular stenosis and higher normalized wall index. VPQ technology can also be used to observe the effect of statins on carotid plaque, the GSM of plaques increase in patients who are taking moderate-intensity statin treatment for two years.
Aged ; Carotid Stenosis/diagnostic imaging* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic/drug therapy* ; Technology ; Ultrasonography

We compared the RT-LAMP,LAMP and L-J for detecting MTB to provide the rapid diagnosis method for tu-berculosis.In this assay,NTM and other common respiratory bacteria were used to detect specificity,Mycobacterium tubercu-losis specific products were identified by restriction enzyme digestion.To detect sensitivity,we used RT-LAMP,LAMP and L-J to detect 100 cases sputum specimens from patients with tuberculosis and 22 cases control sputum specimens,the 10 times dilution of 1 ng/μL H37Rv standard strains was used to detect RT-LAMP limit.The results showed that the positive rate of RT-LAMP,LAMP and L-J were 100%,92%,88%.RT-LAMP and L-J,RT-LAMP and LAMP were statistically signifi-cant,RT-LAMP had 10 times higher sensitivity than LAMP,RT-LAMP not only to identify viable but also capable of detec-ting a single copy of MTB.So RT-LAMP is superior to LAMP and L-J and is practical for use in primary medical care institu-tion or peripheral laboratory.

Objective:Clinical study in the treatment of common bile duct stones combined with ERCP and EST.Methods:the October 2014-2017 year in February for hepatobiliary surgery inour hospital after ERCP combined with LC in the treatment of patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis in 158 cases.According to ERCP postoperative LC interval difference divided into ERCP definite operation LC group(104 cases) and ERCP Elective operation LC surgery group(54 cases).The definite operation for ERCP LC group is LC line 24h-72h,another is the patients were givenLC for 3 months after ERCP.The clinical efficacy,LC operation time,hemorrhage,the gallstone is discharged into the bile duct,recurrent cholecystitis,bile leakage,length of stay and medical fee were compared between the two groups (ERCP definite operation LC group of single hospitalization time;ERCP Elective operation LC surgery group of two hospital hours together),average ERCP times,medical expenses.Results:all of the two groups were cured after operation.length of sta is long and medical expensive which was selected a time to do (P＜0.05).Conclusion:ERCP definite operation of LC group in the treatment of common bile duct stones and gallbladder stones surgery is safe,less medical expenses,hospitalization time is short,patients recover quickly,the burden is small.

Objective Acquiring genetic information of Y-SNPs and Y-STRs genetic makers from samples with the surname of Kong, which is useful for exploring the correlation between surname and Y chromosome in forensic applications studies.Methods Two multiplex genotyping assays and SNaPshot assay were used to analyze 255 unrelated male blood samples who share the same surname Kong and 330 unrelated male blood samples obtained randomly. 17 Y-STRs were typed for the surname Kong population samples. The software Arlequin 3.5.1.2 and the program Network 4.6.1.1 were used for data statistical analysis.Results 13 haplogroups were observed. The highest haplogroup frequency in the two populations were O3a2c1a-M117 (21.57%, 14.85%). 196 haplotypes in Kong population deifned by 17 Y-STRs locus were obtained and the haplotype diversity was 0.9939. 14-12-25-28-19-15-12-19-12-11-12-22-12-11-14-10-19 is the typical haplotype. Median Joining algorithm and Mismatch Distribution were adopted to analyze the Y-STR haplotye under haplogroup O3-M122, and the result shows that there are two “central star” distribution. Conclusion Combined with Y-SNP and Y-STR analysis showed that the Kong population had experienced complicated exchanges and expansion or continued growth, which has more than one surname origin. Hence, its population genetic structure and historical differences have potential applications in forensic science.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interleukin 17 (IL-17) gene and serum protein levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODSA total of 228 patients with chronic HCV infection and 81 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The frequencies of IL-17 rs8193036 and rs2275913 polymorphisms were detected by the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Serum levels of IL-17 protein were detected by ELISA. Pairwise comparisons were made by the Chi-square test, and the significance of between-group differences was assessed by the Student's t-test with P less than 0.05.

RESULTSThe patients with chronic HCV infection and the healthy controls showed similar frequencies of the rs8193036 C/T allele (x2 = 1.428, P = 0.232) and the rs2275913 A/G allele (x2 = 0.106, P = 0.744). In addition, the two groups showed similar distribution of the rs8193036 CC (chronic HCV infection: 46.49% vs. healthy controls: 41.98%), CT (45.61% vs. 44.44%) and TT (7.89% vs. 13.58%) genotypes (x2 = 2.346, P = 0.309), and of the rs2275913 AA (16.23% vs. 13.58%), AG (48.25% vs. 50.62%) and GG (35.53% vs. 35.80%) genotypes (x2 = 0.340, P = 0.844). Subgroup analysis of chronic HCV infection patients stratified according to HCV genotypes 1 and 2 showed no differences in the distribution of rs8193036 and rs2275913 alleles (x2 = 1.127, P = 0.288; x2 = 1.088, P = 0.297) and genotypes (x2 = 2.825, P = 0.246; x2 = 0.970, P = 0.616). However, the chronic HCV infection group did show significantly higher levels of serum IL-17 than the controls (97.67+/-39.68 vs. 71.60+/-19.78 pg/ml, t = 2.414, P = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONChronic HCV infection is associated with increased serum IL-17; however, the IL-17 polymorphisms rs8193036 and rs2275913 were not associated with chronic HCV infection susceptibility in this study's Chinese cohort.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; genetics ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the outcomes of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with antiviral regimens of interferon (IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) using individualized doses and durations.

METHODSThis study was designed as an open-label, prospective clinical trial to analyze the virological responses of 169 CHC patients who received individualized dosages of IFNa-2b or pegylated (Peg)IFNa-2a combined with RBV based on their weight ( less than 60 kg or more than or equal to 60 kg), age (less than 65 years or 65-75 years), morbid state (liver cirrhosis or not), and complications (such as heart disease, diabetes, thyroid disorder). Treatment duration was calculated using the time required to induce HCV RNA negativity. The rates of virological response and adverse effects among the different groups were compared.

RESULTSThe IFNa-2b treatment was given to 116 patients, and PegIFNa-2a was given to 53 patients. Compared to the IFNa-2b group, the PegIFNa-2a group showed significantly higher rates of complete early virological response (cEVR; 76.7% vs. 92.5%, P less than 0.05) and sustained virological response (SVR; 53.6% vs. 92.3%, P less than 0.05) among the patients who had completed their course of treatment; the rapid virological response (RVR) rate was also higher for the PegIFNa-2a group but the difference did not reach statistical significance (48.7% vs. 60.4%, P more than 0.05). Seventy-eight patients received the routine dose, and 91 patients received the low dose; there were no significant differences between these two groups for RVR (53.8% vs. 58.9%, P more than 0.05), cEVR (78.0% vs. 80.8%, P more than 0.05), or SVR (65.5% vs. 58.3%, P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUse of an individualized antiviral treatment strategy designed according to the patient's baseline condition, early viral kinetics, and tolerability to adverse reactions can achieve a high rate of SVR, as well as improve the safety, prognosis, and cost-effectiveness associated with treating CHC patients.

Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Interferons ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the clinical features, response rate, prognosis and clonal evolution of aplastic anemia (AA) with macrocytic anemia (mAA).

METHODSThe clinical features at initial diagnosis and data in follow up of mAA hospitalized from January 2000 to October 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS(1) Of 153/568 (26.9%) cases of mAA at initial diagnosis, 114(74.5%)were non-severe AA (NSAA), 39(25.5%)severe AA (SAA) and 0 very severe AA (VSAA), while the proportion was 16.2%, 45.2%, and 38.6% in 376 normocytic anemia AA (nAA), and the difference is statistically significant(χ(2) = 181.390; P = 0.000). The median age of mAA was significantly higher than that of nAA \[30(4 - 70)years vs 19 (3 - 68) years, P = 0.001\]. (2) There were no statistical difference in hemoglobin, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), platelet count (PLT), response rate after 6 months treatment and overall survival (OS) between mAA and nAA grouped in SAA and NSAA respectively. In SAA, the reticulocyte count (Ret) of mAA was significantly higher than that of nAA \[23.90(2.99 - 61.00)×10(9)/L vs 13.1(0 - 70.60)×10(9)/L, P = 0.000\] and the proportion of erythroid cells in bone marrow of mAA was also higher \[23.5 (0 - 58) vs 14.5 (0 - 65), P = 0.043\], while they did not differ significantly in NSAA. (3) The proportion of AA with PNH clones or abnormal cytogenetics did not differ significantly in mAA and nAA groups before treatment. The incidences of AA evolved to PNH in mAA and nAA was not statistically significant (7/153 vs 9/376, χ(2) = 1.099, P = 0.294) and so was the incidence of evolution to MDS/AML(3/153 vs 13/376, χ(2) = 0.399, P = 0.528).

CONCLUSIONIn presented with macrocytic anemia at initial diagnosis of AA, higher proportion of NSAA, elderly age, higher Ret and proportion of erythroid cells are features, but being no statistical difference in the response rate, OS, and proportion of clonal evolution.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age of Onset ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; complications ; genetics ; therapy ; Anemia, Macrocytic ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cloning, Molecular ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To construct a stable cell line with permanent secretion of recombinant hepatitis B virus(HBV) vector, which express blasticidin resistant gene. Methods Replication-defective HBV vector, pCH-BsdR, which express blasticidin resistance gnne was constructed by deleting the HBV genes and inserting the blasticidin resistance gene into the S region. The CA18-resistant, the packaging signal deleted HBV helper plasmid, pcDNA3.1-CH3142, and the HBV vector pCH-BsdR were cotransfectcd into HepG2 cells. Cell clones were selected by the adding of both blasticidin and G418, then serial detection were done.Results After 36 cell clones were picked and expanded. Three cell clones were defined as the best. Quantity of their HBV DNA were 4.1 × 106, 3.6×106 and 1.2× 106 copies/ml, respectively. Enveloped recombinant, but not wild type HBV were confirmed in the culture medium. Conclusions The stable cell lines can realize large preparation of recombinant HBV virions. This will contribute to the use of HBV vector for gene therapy and HBV suseeptihle cell lines screening.