Objective: To investigate the correlation between CLOCK and BMAL1 genes and MEN2 medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Methods: Thirteen cases with MEN2 MTC and thirteen cases with non-MEN2 MTC were selected who were treated in the Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital between January 2013 and September 2021. Clinical indicators such as blood calcitonin level, tumor diameter and metastatic lymph node of patients were collected. The expression differences of CLOCK and BMAL1 between MEN2 MTC and para-carcinoma tissue as well as between MEN2 MTC and non-MEN2 MTC were detected by immunohistochemistry and qPCR. The correlation between lymph node metastasis and CLOCK or BMAL1 expression was analyzed. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis combined with qPCR and correlation analysis was used to explore the expression regulation relationship between RET and circadian clock genes. The rhythm disorder of MEN2 cells was verified by lipopolysaccharide cell stimulation experiment after dexamethasone rhythm synchronization. Results: MEN2 MTC exhibited typical RET gene mutation. The mean blood calcitonin level, the tumor diameter and the number of metastatic lymph nodes of patients with MEN2 MTC were higher than those of patients with non-MEN2 MTC (t value was 2.76, 2.53, 2.26, all P<0.05). Immunohistochemical results showed that the expression levels of CLOCK and BMAL1 in MEN2 MTC were higher than those in non-MEN2 MTC, while negatively expressed in para-cancerous thyroid follicle. qPCR displayed that the expression of CLOCK gene in cancer tissues was higher than that in non-MEN2 MTC and para-cancerous tissues (t value was 2.68 and 2.86, all P<0.05); the expression of BMAL1 gene in MEN2 MTC was higher than that in non-MEN2 MTC and para-cancerous tissues (t value was 2.21 and 2.35, all P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of CLOCK and BMAL1 genes were positively correlated with the number of lymph node metastases in patients with MEN2 MTC (r=0.65, P<0.001; r=0.52, P=0.005). PPI network analysis indicated that the expression of CLOCK gene was positively correlated with the abnormal expression of RET gene (r=0.96, P<0.001). With lipopolysaccharide to stimulate cultured cells in vitro after dexamethasone rhythm synchronization, the expressions of CLOCK and BMAL1 in MEN2 MTC cells (0.47±0.22 and 2.60±1.48) at 12 hours of synchronization were significantly lower than those in para-cancerous tissues (1.70±1.62 and 8.23±2.52), the difference was statistically significant(t=5.04, P=0.007; t=3.34, P=0.029). Conclusion: CLOCK and BMAL1 are correlated with the occurrence and development of MEN2 MTC, and may be potential targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies for MEN2 MTC.
ARNTL Transcription Factors/genetics* ; CLOCK Proteins/genetics* ; Calcitonin ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/genetics* ; Dexamethasone ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a/genetics* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/surgery*

Aim To investigate the effects of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on depressive behaviors, hippocampal damage and Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway in rats. Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, depression group, APS low dose group and APS high dose group. Rats (except the control group) underwent chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 28 days. The depressive behaviors were assessed by tail suspension test, forced swim test and sucrose preference test. The histopathological changes of the hippocampus were valuated by HE staining. Levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) protein and Nrf2 mRNA were measured. The hippocampal levels of oxidative stress were evaluated. Results Compared with the control group, the depression group showed significant depressive behaviors and hippocampal damage. The depression group had higher levels of Nrf2 and MDA, but lower levels of HO-1, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px than the control group. However, APS does-dependently attenuated the hippocampal damage and depressive behaviors, increased hippocampal levels of Nrf2, HO-1, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px, but decreased hippocampal levels of MDA in rats. Conclusions APS can attenuate CUMS-induced hippocampal damage and depressive behaviors in rats, and the effects may be associated with the activation of Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.

Objective: To detect antibodies to Coxsackievirus B4 (CV-B4), the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was established and optimized using the recombinant VP1 protein expressed in the prokaryote system as the envelope antigen. Methods: The VP1 gene of CV-B4 was amplified using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It was ligated into the expression vector pET32a(+ ) to obtain the recombinant plasmid pET32(+ )-VP1 and was then transformed into E. coli expression strain Rosetta (DE3). The recombinant VP1 protein was induced by IPTG, which was verified using SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. The establishment and optimization of the indirect ELISA reaction system was based on the purified recombinant protein mentioned above as the coating antigen. Results: The CV-B4 VP1 gene was stably expressed in E. coli in the form of inclusion body. The optimal coating concentration of antigen was 7.5 μg per well and the optimal serum dilution was 1∶100. The threshold for determining the negative and positive result of the serum samples was the optical density value of ≥ 0.376 at 450 nm. The purified recombinant protein could be specifically recognized by CV-B4 positive serum without cross-reaction with Coxsackievirus (CV)-A, CV-B1 and CV-B5, indicating that it has good immunogenicity. However, it can cross-react with CV-B3 serum samples. Conclusions The indirect ELISA detection method based on the CV-B4 VP1 protein could be used in the detection of serum antibody to CV-B4 infection with good sensitivity, specificity and repeatability.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of nursing intervention for respiratory function exercise in patients with silicosis complicated by stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) . Methods: A total of 60 patients with silicosis complicated by stable COPD who were hospitalized in Department of Occupational Diseases, Laigang Hospital Affiliated to Taishan Medical College, from August 2017 to April 2018 were enrolled and randomly divided into control group and observation group, with 30 patients in each group. The patients in the control group were given routine treatment and respiratory function exercise, and those in the observation group were given nursing intervention in addition to the treatment in the control group. The two groups were compared in terms of pulmonary function, blood gas parameters, and six-minute walk distance before intervention and after 2 months of intervention. Results: After intervention, the observation group had significantly higher forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) , forced vital capacity (FVC) , arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO₂) , and six-minute walk distance than the control group (P<0.05) , while there were no significant differences between the two groups in FEV₁/FVC and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (P>0.05) . Conclusion Nursing intervention can effectively improve FEV₁, FVC, PaO₂, and 6-minute walking distance in patients with silicosis complicated by stable COPD.

The genus Actaea plants are widely distributed in China, and the cycloartane triterpenoids are the characteristic constituents of this genus. They are divided into types of cimigenol, hydroshengmanol, shengmanol, cimiacerogenin, acteol, 16, 23-diketo, foetidonol, dahurinol, etc. Cycloartane triterpenoids show many biological activities, such as cytotoxicity, anti-osteoporosis, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-nucleoside transport, neuroprotective, anti-oxidant, antibacterial activities. The present paper reviewed the distribution of the plant resources of Actaea, chemical structures and biological activities of cycloartane triterpenoids, aiming to provide a reference for the further research in the future.
Actaea ; chemistry ; China ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Several studies have demonstrated an association between physical activity and telomere length; however, the association remains inconsistent. A cross-sectional study consisting of 588 participants (375 females, median age of 33.8 years) was carried out to investigate the association between telomere length and physical activity in a general population from North China. The results show that relative telomere length is not significantly different in participants in the northern Chinese population with different levels of physical activity, either in the model only adjusted for age (F = 2.127, P = 0.120) or in the model adjusted for demographics and lifestyle (F = 1.227, P = 0.294). The gender-stratified analysis also produced insignificant results. Our study confirmed a non-significant association between physical activity and telomere length in the northern Chinese population, which adds to the inconsistent association between physical activity and telomere length across different ethnic populations.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Exercise ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Telomere ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of bone marrow blasts ratio after induction chemotherapy for 2 weeks in patients with PhALL, and it's influence on complete remission (CR) and overall prognosis.

METHODSA total of 172 patients with PhALL in our hospital from March 2012 to February 2016 were selected. The bone marrow blast ratio was analyzed by the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC) in patients after induction chemotherapy for 2 weeks, at same time its influence on CR and overall prognosis of PhALL patients was evaluated.

RESULTSThe cutoff value of CR was 0.075, its area under ROC was 0.763; the comparison of area under ROC with A=0.5 showed statistically significant difference, therefore 172 patients with PhALL were grouped according to bone marrow blast ratio after induction chemotherapy for 2 weeks: 104 cases (60.5%) with bone marrow blast ratio <0.075, 68 cases (39.5%) with bone marrow blast ratio ≥0.075. The PhALL patinets with bone marrow blast ratio <0.075 who achieved CR and finally achieved CR after induction chemotherapy for 4 weeks acconnted for 89 (85.6%) and 99(95.2%) respectively, which were significantly higher than those in PhALL patients with bone marrow blast ratio≥0.075, [29(42.6%) and 52 (76.5%)](P<0.05). In addition, the influencing factor clinically reducing the OS and DFS rate of patients and enhancing the ralapse rate of patients were mainly chemotherapy, the failure of induction chemotherapy (patients did not achieve CR after induction therapy for 4 weeks), the bone marrow blast ratio≥0.075 after induction treatment for 2 weeks, and CNSL at diagnosis and so on, while the enhaced WBC count at diagnosis was poor factor affecting the DFS rate of patients.

CONCLUSIONAfter induction chemotherapy for 2 weeks, the elevated bone marrow blast ratio in PhALL patients will be infavourable to CR, and the overall prognosis is poor.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of ballon-assisted surgical wrapping-clipping for the treatment of blood blister-like aneurysms (BBA) of internal carotid artery. Methods The clinical data of 9 patients with BBA of internal carotid artery who were treated by ballon-assisted surgical wrapping-clipping from August 2011 to June 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Results All 9 patients were successfully treated with surgical wrapping-clipping in ballon-assisted technique. The BBA had no rebleeding.Nine cases were followed up clinically for six months. Digital subtractive angiography demonstrated no aneurysm in these patients, and showed no stenosis in the parent artery. Conclusions Ballon-assisted surgical wrapping-clipping in the treatment of BBA is effective and safety. It may help to reduce the risks of BBA rebleeding and recurrence.

To study the epidemic characteristics of human rhinovirus (HRV) in children with acute respiratory infections in Gansu Province. 286 throat swabs were collected from children with acute respiratory in fections in Gansu Province during 2011. Multiplex reverse transcription-PCR (multiplex RT-PCR) assay was used to screen those specimens for detection of common respiratory tract pathogens. For HRV-positive samples, nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) was performed to amplify VP1 and VP4/VP2 gene fragments of HRV. The VP4/VP2 and VP1 regions of HRV-positive samples were sequenced and performed genotype analysis. Of 286 specimens fested, 27 were positive for HRV by multiplex RT-PCR and nested RT-PCR, of which 16 children were made (16/185), 8.64%) and 11 female (11/101,10.89%). The positive rate was 9.44% (27/286). The mean age of HRV-positive children was 3 years in this study, children less than one year old had the highest proportion 44.4% (12/ 27, 44.4%). The highest HRV positive rate fell on May, 2011 (6/27, 22.2%). Common cold accounted for the highest proportion, 12.24% (12/98) followed by pneumonia, 8.50% (13/153). The remaining 2 cases were bronchitis. Sequence analysis showed HRV A was the predominant genotype in Gansu Province in 2011, accounting for 84.62% (22/26) of positive cases, followed by HRV C (11.54%, 3/26) and only one HRV B was detected (3.85%, 1/26). HRV could be detected throughout the year in Gansu Province and primarily infected children under one year old. The group A was the epidemic genotype of HRV and move than one genotype existed in Gansu Province during 2011.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Picornaviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Rhinovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Seasons

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of autopsies in medical dispute.

METHODSThe data of 202 autopsy cases in medical disputes performed by the Department of Pathology of Jiangxi Medical College from January 2001 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe number of autopsy in medical disputes increased year by year. Neonatal, infant and 30 ≊ 60y were more common age groups in dispute; the gender ratio of male to female was 2:1 and more cases were from hospitals in rural areas. Most medical disputes came from in departments of pediatric, obstetrics and gynecology and general surgery. Death caused by cardiovascular diseases ranked at the first place.

CONCLUSIONAutopsy is important in medical disputes to define the cause of death and to preserve evidence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Autopsy ; statistics & numerical data ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; mortality ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dissent and Disputes ; Female ; Hospital Departments ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Malpractice ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Young Adult