Humans ; Iron/therapeutic use* ; Heart Failure/drug therapy* ; Dietary Supplements

Hair roots induced by Agrobacterium rhizogene produce higher levels of secondary metabolites than non-induced plants, and the enhanced metabolic capacity is driven by the rol gene. We hypothesized that rol genes can be utilized to improve the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids (TAs) in Atropa belladonna. In this study, the rolC gene from Agrobacterium rhizogene pRiA4 plasmid, driven by a CaMV35S promoter, was overexpressed in A. belladonna. The phenotypes, TAs content and transcriptional expression of key genes in TAs biosynthesis were analyzed in transgenic A. belladonna plants. Results show that transgenic A. belladonna exhibited a well-developed root system, male sterility, higher stamen column length than pistil, early flowering, internode shortening, smaller but more flowers, increased axillary buds and lateral buds, decreased apical dominance, and long and narrow leaves as compared to wild-type plants. Transgenic A. belladonna produced more TAs than wild-type plants, with the content of hyoscyamine, anisodamine and scopolamine reaching 2.58, 3.59 and 15.77-fold that of the control group, respectively. The gene expression of putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT), tropinone reductase I (TRⅠ) and hyoscyamine 6-β-hydroxylase (H6H), key enzymes in TAs biosynthesis, were up-regulated compared with the control group. The above results indicate that the rolC gene enhances TAs biosynthesis in A. belladonna by up-regulating the expression of key enzymes in the TAs biosynthesis pathway, laying a foundation for genetic manipulation of A. belladonna to increase TAs content by increasing rolC gene expression.

Malocclusion is one of the three most common oral diseases reported by World Health Organization(WHO). In China, its incidence rate is rising. Malocclusion seriously affects the dental and maxillofacial function, facial appearance and growth development of nearly 260 million children in China, and what is more, it affects their physical and mental health development. Malocclusion occurrence is related to genetic and environmental factors. Early treatment of malocclusion can create a good dental and maxillofacial development environment, correct abnormal growth and control the adverse effects of abnormal genetic factors. It can effectively reduce the prevalence of children's malocclusion and enhance their physical and mental health. This is an urgent need from the economic perspective of our society, so it has great practical and social significance. Experts from the project group "standard diagnose and treatment protocols for early orthodontic intervention of malocclusions of children" which initiated by China National Health Institute of Hospital Administration wrote the "China Experts' Consensus on Preventive and Interceptive Orthodontic Treatments of Malocclusions of Children", which aims to guide and popularize the clinical practice, improve the clinical theory and practice level, and accelerate the disciplinary development of early treatment of children's malocclusion in China. The consensus elaborates the harmfulness of malocclusion and the necessity of early treatment, and brings up the principles and fundamental contents. Based on the law of dental and maxillofacial development, this paper puts forward the guiding suggestions of preventive and interceptive treatments in different stages of dental development ranging from fetus to early permanent dentition. It is a systematic project to promote and standardize the early treatment of malocclusion. Through scientific and comprehensive stratified clinical practice and professional training, the clinical system of early treatment of malocclusion in China will eventually be perfected, so as to comprehensively care for children's dental and maxillofacial health, and improve their oral and physical health in China.
Child ; China/epidemiology* ; Consensus ; Dental Care ; Humans ; Malocclusion/prevention & control* ; Orthodontics, Interceptive

This is a case study of a 58-year-old lady with metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) who suffered a left neck of femur fracture. Unfortunately, there was an unexpected and rapid cancer progression, requiring her goals of care to transit from rehabilitation after her fracture to palliation. The case brings to light the need for family physicians to be poised to manage cancer patients at the end of life in the community, and work together with other stakeholders to deliver compassionate and supportive care.

Objective:To investigate the protective effects of Elabela(ELA) on the renal injury of db/db mice and its possible mechanism.Methods:Sixteen eight-week-old male db/db mice were intraperitoneally injected with ELA(5 mg·kg -1·day -1) or equivalent normal saline( n=8) for 8 weeks. Eight age-matched male db/m mice received equivalent normal saline injection as normal control. At the end of the experiment, blood and urine samples were obtained for HbA 1C and urinary albumin/creatinine(ACR) measurements. Immunohistochemistry was used to observe the expression of ELA. Histopathological changes in kidney tissue were observed by HE staining and Masson staining. The levels of collagen type Ⅳ(Col-Ⅳ) and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) as well as Yes-associated protein(YAP) phosphorylation in kidney tissue were examined by western blot. Results:Immunohistochemistry results showed that ELA expression was decreased in the renal tissue of db/db mice as compared with that of db/m mice( P<0.05). After ELA treatment, ACR and blood pressure were markedly decreased in db/db mice( P<0.05), but without significant changes in the body weight and HbA 1C. Renal tubular epithelial cells edema, basement membrane thickening, and increased collagen fiber in db/db were improved by ELA administration. Compared with db/m mice, the levels of TGF-β1 and Col-Ⅳ expression, as well as YAP phosphorylation were significantly increased in renal tissue of db/db mice(0.98±0.08 vs 0.68±0.10, 1.10±0.14 vs 0.51±0.08, 3.38±0.72 vs 0.81±0.13, all P<0.05), which were down-regulated after ELA administration(0.80±0.06, 0.51±0.05, 2.21±0.22, all P<0.05). Conclusion:ELA may improve the renal injury of db/db mice by regulating the signaling pathway of YAP, thereby delaying the development of diabetic nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective mechanism of Chinese medicine Suxiao Jiuxin Pills (, SXJ) on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: Mouse myocardial I/R injury model was created by 30-min coronary artery occlusion followed by 24-h reperfusion, the mice were then divided into the sham group (n=7), the I/R group (n=13), the tirofiban group (TIR, positive drug treatment, n=9), and the SXJ group (n=11). Infarct size (IS), risk region (RR), and left ventricle (LV) were analyzed with double staining methods. In addition, H9C2 rat cardiomyocytes were cultured with NaSO to simulate I/R in vitro. The phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinases1/2 (ERK1/2), protein kinase B (AKT), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β), and protein expression of GATA4 in nucleus were detected with Western blot assay. RESULTS: The ratio of IS/RR in SXJ and TIR groups were lower than that in I/R group (SXJ, 22.4% ±6.6%; TIR, 20.8%±3.3%; vs. I/R, 35.4%±3.7%, P<0.05, respectively). In vitro experiments showed that SXJ increased the NaSO-enhanced phosphorylation of AKT/GSK3β and nuclear expression of GATA4. CONCLUSION SXJ prevents myocardial I/R injury in mice by activating AKT/GSK3β and GATA4 signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of low-dose dopamine adjuvant therapy on inflammatory factors and prognosis in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). METHODS: A total of 100 preterm infants with NEC from June 2017 to June 2019 were enrolled and divided into a dopamine treatment group and a conventional treatment group using a random number table, with 50 infants in each group. The infants in the conventional treatment group were given symptomatic treatment, and those in the dopamine treatment group were given low-dose dopamine adjuvant therapy in addition to the conventional treatment. ELISA was used to measure the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-8 (IL-8). The two groups were compared in terms of time to relief of clinical symptoms, fasting time, treatment outcome, prognosis, and adverse reactions. RESULTS: Both groups had significant reductions in the levels of CRP, TNF-α, and IL-8 after treatment, and the dopamine treatment group had significantly lower levels of these markers than the conventional treatment group after treatment (P<0.05). Compared with the conventional treatment group, the dopamine treatment group had significantly shorter time to defecation improvement, time to relief of abdominal distension and diarrhea, and fasting time (P<0.05), a significantly higher response rate (P<0.05), and a significantly lower surgery rate (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the mortality rate and incidence of adverse events between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Low-dose dopamine adjuvant therapy can effectively improve the levels of inflammatory factors and clinical symptoms in preterm infants with NEC and has good safety, and therefore, it holds promise for clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the association between preoperative serum thyroglobulin concentration and aggressive behavior of papillary thyroid cancer(PTC).Methods A total of 334 PTC patients diagnosed by surgical pathology treated in our hospital from Jan.2013 to Dec.2017 were retrospectively reviewed.Patients were divided into two groups according to Tg levels and clinicopathological characteristics between the two groups were compared.Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the factors influencing extrathyroidal extension and lymph node metastasis of PTC.Results High level of preoperative serum Tg was signifcantly associated with old age,multifocality,larger maximum tumor size,more frequent extrathyroidal extension,lymph node metastasis,and advanced T and TNM stage(P＜0.05).Maximum tumor diameter ＞2 cm(P=0.031) and preoperative serum Tg level ＞17.21 ng/ml(P=0.028) were independent risk factors for extrathyroidal extension.Maximum tumor diameter ＞2 cm(P=0.007) and preoperative serum Tg levels ＞25.40 ng/ml (P=0.016) were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis,whereas female was a significant protective predictive factor(P＜0.001).Conclusion Preoperative serum Tg levels may serve as an independent risk marker for extrathyroidal extension and lymph node metastasis of PTC,and partly contributes to predict aggressive behavior of PTC.

Seasonal influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza virus infection and complications from infection. Currently, China has licensed trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3) and quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4), including split-virus influenza vaccine and subunit vaccine. Except for a few major cities, influenza vaccine is a category Ⅱ vaccine, which means influenza vaccination is voluntary, and recipients must pay for it. To strengthen the technical guidance for prevention and control of influenza and operational research on influenza vaccination in China, the National Immunization Advisory Committee (NIAC) Influenza Vaccine Technical Working Group (TWG), updated the 2014 technical guidelines and compiled the "Technical guidelines for seasonal influenza vaccination in China (2018-2019)" . The main updates in this version include: epidemiology, disease burden, types of influenza vaccines, northern hemisphere influenza vaccination composition for the 2018-2019 season, IIV3 and IIV4 immune response, durability of immunity, immunogenicity, vaccine efficacy, effectiveness, safety, cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit. The influenza vaccine TWG provided the recommendations for influenza vaccination for the 2018-2019 influenza season based on existing scientific evidence. The recommendations described in this report include the following: Points of Vaccination clinics (PoVs) should provide influenza vaccination to all persons aged 6 months and above who are willing to be vaccinated and do not have contraindications. No preferential recommendation is made for one influenza vaccine product over another for persons for whom more than one licensed, recommended, and appropriate product is available. To decrease the risk of severe infections and complications due to influenza virus infection among high risk groups, the recommendations prioritize seasonal influenza vaccination for children aged 6-59 months, adults ≥60 years of age, persons with specific chronic diseases, healthcare workers, the family members and caregivers of infants <6 months of age, and pregnant women or women who plan to become pregnant during the influenza season. Children aged 6 months through 8 years require 2 doses of influenza vaccine administered a minimum of 4 weeks apart during their first season of vaccination for optimal protection. If they were vaccinated in 2017-2018 influenza season or a prior season, 1 dose is recommended. People more than 8 years old require 1 dose of influenza vaccine. It is recommended that people receive their influenza vaccination by the end of October. Influenza vaccination should be offered as soon as the vaccination is available. For the people unable to be vaccinated before the end of October, influenza vaccination will continue to be offered for the whole season. Influenza vaccine is also recommended for use in pregnant women during any trimester. These guidelines are intended for use by staff members of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at all levels who work on influenza control and prevention, PoVs staff members, healthcare workers from the departments of pediatrics, internal medicine, and infectious diseases, and staff members of maternity and child care institutions at all levels.

Adolescent ; Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome/genetics* ; Cytosine ; Female ; Guanine ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; RNA Splice Sites/genetics* ; Receptors, Androgen/genetics*