Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Milk, Human ; Overweight/genetics* ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Fatty Acids ; Adiponectin/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion on proteins related with apoptosis of hippocampal neurons in rats with vascular dementia (VD), and to explore the possible mechanism of moxibustion on improving VD. METHODS: Thirty SD rats were selected from 100 rats (3 rats were excluded) and randomly divided into a normal group and a sham operation group, 15 rats in each group. The remaining 67 rats were treated with ischemia-reperfusion method at bilateral common carotid artery to establish VD model. The 45 rats with successful VD model were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a medication group, 15 rats in each group. On the 7th day after successful modeling, the rats in the moxibustion group were treated with suspended moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Mingmen" (GV 4) and "Dazhui" (GV 14), 15 min per acupoint, once a day; there was 1 d of rest after 6 d of moxibustion, and the treatment was given for 4 weeks. The rats in the medication group was treated with nimodipine tablets by gavage, 2 mg/kg per day, 3 times a day for 4 weeks. Before and after intervention, the Morris water maze test was used to detect the escape latency of rats in each group; after the intervention, the TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis rate of neurons in hippocampal CA1 area; the immunofluorescence double labeling method was used to detect the number of co-expression positive cells of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)/neuronal nuclear antigen (NeuN) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax)/NeuN in hippocampal CA1 area; the immunofluorescence single labeling method was used to detect cytochrome C (cytC) and outer mitochondrial membrane receptor Tom20 (Tom20) in hippocampal CA1 area; the Western blot method was used to detect the p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) in hippocampus. RESULTS: Before intervention, compared with the normal group and the sham operation group, the escape latency in the model group, the moxibustion group and the medication group was prolonged ( CONCLUSION Moxibustion could improve the cognitive function of VD rats, which may be related to reducing the expression of Bax, cytC, Tom20 and PUMA protein in hippocampal CA1 area, promoting the release of Bcl-2 and inhibiting the apoptosis of hippocampal neurons.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cognition ; Dementia, Vascular/therapy* ; Hippocampus ; Moxibustion ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUND: Intensive therapy with disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has been reported to improve the outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, real-world study on the effect of intensive therapy on RA sustained remission is still lacking. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of sustained intensive DMARD therapy (SUIT) for RA in a real-world 5-year consecutive cohort. METHODS: Based on a consecutive cohort of 610 out-patients with RA, remission of RA was assessed in 541 patients from 2012 to 2017, by dividing into SUIT, non-SUIT, and intermittent SUIT (Int-SUIT) groups. Changes in the disease activity scores were evaluated by 28-joint disease activity score based on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), 28-joint disease activity score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), and clinical deep remission criteria (CliDR). Cumulative remission rates between different groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier curves and predictive factors of sustained remission were identified by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The remission rates of the SUIT group decreased from 12.0% (65/541) to 5.6% (20/359) based on DAS28-ESR, from 14.0% (76/541) to 7.2% (26/359) based on DAS28-CRP, and from 8.5% (46/541) to 3.1% (11/359) based on CliDR, respectively, with a gradually decreasing trend during the 5 years. The SUIT regimen led to a significantly higher cumulative remission rate than non-SUIT regimen based on DAS28-ESR (39.7% vs. 19.5%, P = 0.001), DAS28-CRP (42.0% vs. 19.6%, P = 0.001), and CliDR (24.5% vs. 8.7%, P = 0.001). The cumulative remission rates of patients treated with SUIT regimen were significantly higher than those treated with Int-SUIT regimen based on DAS28-ESR (39.7% vs. 25.7%, P = 0.043) and CliDR (24.5% vs. 14.2%, P = 0.047), but there was no significant difference between the two groups based on DAS28-CRP (42.0% vs. 27.4%, P = 0.066). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the use of SUIT regimen was an independent favorable predictor according to different remission definitions (for DAS28-ESR: odds ratio [OR], 2.215, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.271-3.861, P = 0.005; for DAS28-CRP: OR, 1.520, 95% CI: 1.345-1.783, P = 0.002; for CliDR: OR, 1.525, 95% CI: 1.314-1.875, P = 0.013). CONCLUSION Sustained intensive treatment of RA is an optimal strategy in daily practice and will lead to an increased remission rate.

As the common pathway of chronic renal diseases leading to end-stage renal failure, renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis is characterized by the deposition of extracellular matrix and scar hardening. Our study aimed to construct an in vitro cell culture platform to explore the impact of matrix stiffness on cell morphology and function of renal tubular epithelial cells. Photopolymerized polyacrylamide gels (PAA gel) with varying stiffnesses as model substrates was selected to simulate the matrix stiffness of normal and fibrotic renal tissues with elastic moduli ranging from 1 to 40 kPa. The human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were seeded on the surface of PAA gels. The impact of matrix stiffness on the morphology of HK-2 were investigated via immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. The expression levels of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), glucose transporter 5 (GLUT5) were semi-quantitatively analyzed. With increasing matrix stiffness, both the levels of GLUT1 and GLUT5 in HK-2 cells were significantly decreased, whereas the expression level and the distribution pattern of GLUT2 in HK-2 remained unchanged with stiffness variation.

Objective: To investigate the spectrum of gene mutations in adult patients with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), and to analyze the influences of different gene mutations on prognosis. Methods: DNA samples from 113 adult B-ALL patients who administered from June 2009 to September 2015 were collected. Target-specific next generation sequencing (NGS) approach was used to analyze the mutations of 112 genes (focused on the specific mutational hotspots) and all putative mutations were compared against multiple databases to calculate the frequency spectrum. The impact of gene mutation on the patients' overall survival (OS) and recurrence free survival (RFS) was analyzed by the putative mutations through Kaplan-Meier, and Cox regression methods. Results: Of the 113 patients, 103 (92.0%) harbored at least one mutation and 29 (25.6%) harbored more than 3 genes mutation. The five most frequently mutated genes in B-ALL are SF1, FAT1, MPL, PTPN11 and NRAS. Gene mutations are different between Ph⁺ B-ALL and Ph^- B-ALL patients. Ph^- B-ALL patients with JAK-STAT signal pathway related gene mutation, such as JAK1/JAK2 mutation showed a poor prognosis compared to the patients without mutation (OS: P=0.011, 0.001; RFS: P=0.014,<0.001). Patients with PTPN11 mutation showed better survival than those without mutation, but the difference was not statistically significant (P value > 0.05). Besides, in Ph⁺ B-ALL patients whose epigenetic modifications related signaling pathway genes were affected, they had a worse prognosis (OS: P=0.038; RFS: P=0.047). Conclusion: Gene mutations are common in adult ALL patients, a variety of signaling pathways are involved. The frequency and spectrum are varied in different types of B-ALL. JAK family gene mutation usually indicates poor prognosis. The co-occurrence of somatic mutations in adult B-ALL patients indicate the genetic complex and instability of adult B-ALL patients.
Adult ; B-Lymphocytes ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Humans ; Mutation ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Prognosis

The microRNA-21 (miR-21) is known to play a major role in cancer progression; however, its function in the cardiovascular system appears to be even more complex and conflicting. To characterize miR-21 expression in the plasma of individuals with or without metabolic syndrome (MetS), 58 MetS cases and 96 non-MetS controls were investigated. Expression levels of miR-21 were significantly decreased in the circulation of MetS subjects (OR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.29-0.92) compared with that of non-MetS subjects. Body mass index (BMI) and the number of MetS components had a negative correlation with the level of miR-21, whereas age was inversely related to the level of miR-21. No significant difference was detected in miR-21 levels between the sexes (P=0.056). MiR-21 might be a negative regulating factor in MetS.
Adult ; Aged ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; etiology ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the three-probe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panel in the diagnosis of pediatric B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

METHODSThree-probe (TELAML1, BCR-ABL and MLL) FISH and conventional cytogenetic analysis were performed in 207 children with B-ALL.

RESULTSIn 207 B-ALL children, the three-probe FISH panel assay showed that 151 cases carried genetic aberrancies with a positive rate of 72.9%, including 44 cases with typical positive signal patterns and 148 cases with atypical signal patterns (among them 41 cases have multiprobe abberancy). The conventional cytogenetic analysis detected 53 cases chromosomal abnormality with a positive rate of 25.6%.

CONCLUSIONThe detection rate of genetic abnormalities in newly- diagnosed pediatric B-ALL could be significantly improved by using three-probe FISH panel upon conventional cytogenetic analysis.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; genetics

LC-Q-TOF-MS and LC-IT-MS in positive and negative ion mode were applied to simultaneously characterize the constituents in Suanzaoren tang. Analysis was performed on an Agilent Zorbax SB-C18, Rapid Resolution HT column(4.6 mmx 50 mm, 1. 8 micro m) with gradient elution of acetonitrile(A) -aqueous solution containing 0. 05% formic acid(B) at a flow rate of 0. 6 mL min(-1) and the column temperature was 30 degreesC. By comparing MS fragmentation, accurate molecular weight, literature date and standard compounds information, a total of48 compounds were successfully identified or speculated. The origins of these compounds were assigned to the corresponding Chinese medicine. Thirty-one compounds were reported in Suanzaoren tang for the first time. LC-Q-TOF-MS combined with LC-IT-MS is a simple and rapid tool for the identification of constituents of Suanzaoren tang, and the results could provide evidence for the research on quality combined and effective constituents of Suanzaoren tang.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Mass Spectrometry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis

Objective To investigate the associations of lipoprotein lipase (LPL)gene Hind Ⅲ polymorphisms with hypertension combined with obesity and their lipids metabolism.Methods 326 subjects of hypertension combined with obesity and 326 healthy subjects were arranged to take questionnaires survey,physical examinations and blood biochemical tests.The LPL gene Hind Ⅲ polymorphisms were detected by PCR -RFLP.Regression analysis was used in this study. Results H +was the dominant allele in both groups.There was no significant difference among H +H +,H +H -, H -H -genotypes of LPL gene between the two groups (P >0.05).In the hypertension combined with obesity group, H +H +genotype had significantly higher triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC)levels than H +H -/H -H -genotypes (P <0.05 )while no significantly different density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC)level (P >0.05 ).The results of conditional logistic regression analysis showed that high fasting blood glucose (FBG,adjusted OR =21.56, 95%CI:7.49 ~62.1 1 ),highTG(adjusted OR =7.5 1 ,95 % CI:4.20 ~1 3.43 ),lowHDLC(adjusted OR =2.67 ,95% CI:1.53 ~4.66),high uric acid (UA,adjusted OR =3.36 ,95% CI:1.55 ~7.29)and hypertension family history (adjusted OR =2.07,95% CI:1.21 ~3.55)were the main influencing factors of the hypertension combined with obesity (all P <0.05).Conclusion LPL Hind Ⅲ polymorphism is significantly associated with the lipids metabolism of the hypertension combined with obesity,but it is not an assured independent risk factor for hypertension combined with obesity.

BACKGROUNDData on the epidemiology of hypertension in Chinese non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients are limited. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in the non-dialysis CKD patients through a nationwide, multicenter study in China.

METHODSThe survey was performed in 61 tertiary hospitals in 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China (except Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). Trained physicians collected demographic and clinical data and measured blood pressure (BP) using a standardized protocol. Hypertension was defined as systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or use of antihypertensive medications. BP < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg were used as the 2 thresholds of hypertension control. In multivariate logistic regression with adjustment for sex and age, we analyzed the association between CKD stages and uncontrolled hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients.

RESULTSThe analysis included 8927 non-dialysis CKD patients. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients were 67.3%, 85.8%, and 81.0%, respectively. Of hypertensive CKD patients, 33.1% and 14.1% had controlled BP to < 140/90 mmHg and < 130/80 mmHg, respectively. With successive CKD stages, the prevalence of hypertension in non-dialysis CKD patients increased, but the control of hypertension decreased (P < 0.001). When the threshold of BP < 130/80 mmHg was considered, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension in CKD 2, 3a, 3b, 4, and 5 stages increased 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 2.5, and 4.0 times compared with CKD 1 stage, respectively (P < 0.05). Using the threshold of < 140/90 mmHg, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased in advanced stages (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of hypertension Chinese non-dialysis CKD patients was high, and the hypertension control was suboptimal. With successive CKD stages, the risk of uncontrolled hypertension increased.

Adult ; Aged ; Awareness ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications