[A cross-sectional study on current status of rare disease related health information based on WeChat official accounts in China]

Objective: To understand the current status of rare disease related health information release in WeChat official accounts in China. Methods: We used a series of key words containing "rare diseases" and the names of the top 30 rare diseases in hospitalizations in China to search WeChat official accounts. Eligible articles were selected by systematic sampling. All including WeChat official accounts and articles were evaluated to extract the basic information. Results: No relevant WeChat official accounts were found for 14 rare diseases (46.67%). Most of the WeChat official accounts (52.17%) were initiated by patients and patient groups. No significant difference was detected in the total number of articles between the official accounts related with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and non-TCM related ones, however, the frequency of the monthly information release was significantly higher in TCM related official accounts (P<0.001), while the average reading number of articles was significantly higher in non-TCM related official accounts (P<0.001). Nearly 80% of the WeChat official accounts had navigation menu, and the average reading number of official accounts with menus was larger than those without menus. The top three topics were rare disease diagnosis and treatment knowledge (46.00%), public welfare activity for rare diseases (12.81%) and uncorrelated things (8.65%), while the first three leading topics were cutting-edge information, public welfare activity and patient story, respectively. Conclusions: The scale for rare disease related health information release based on WeChat official accounts in China has been basically formed, but it is still in development stage. Many improvements should be made in their coverage of rare diseases, release frequency, topic and form. It is urgent to establish or recreate some high-quality WeChat official accounts in order to provide precise information and effectively facilitate the prevention and treatment of rare diseases.

Recombinant Treponema pallidum protein Tp0136 promotes fibroblast migration by modulating MCP-1/CCR2 through TLR4

BACKGROUND

Chancre self-healing is an important clinical feature in the early stages of syphilis infection. Wound healing may involve an important mechanism by the migration of fibroblasts filling the injured lesion. However, the specific mechanism underlying this process is still unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to analyse the role of Tp0136 in the migration of fibroblasts and the related mechanism.

METHODS

The migration ability of fibroblasts was detected by a wound-healing assay. RT-PCR and ELISA detected the expression of MCP-1, IL-6 and MMP-9. TLR4 expression was detected by RT-PCR. The protein levels of CCR2 and relevant signalling pathway molecules were measured by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Tp0136 significantly promoted fibroblast migration. Subsequently, the levels of MCP-1 and its receptor CCR2 were increased in this process. The migration of fibroblasts was significantly inhibited by an anti-MCP-1 neutralizing antibody or CCR2 inhibitors. Furthermore, studies demonstrated that Tp0136 could activate the ERK/JNK/PI3K/NF-κB signalling pathways through TLR4 activity and that signalling pathways inhibitors could weaken MCP-1 secretion and fibroblast migration.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrate that Tp0136 promotes the migration of fibroblasts by inducing MCP-1/CCR2 expression through signalling involving the TLR4, ERK, JNK, PI3K and NF-κB signalling pathways, which could contribute to the mechanism of chancre self-healing in syphilis.

WHITE STRIPE LEAF8, encoding a deoxyribonucleoside kinase, is involved in chloroplast development in rice

WSL8 encoding a deoxyribonucleoside kinase (dNK) that catalyzes the first step in the salvage pathway of nucleotide synthesis plays an important role in early chloroplast development in rice. The chloroplast is an organelle that converts light energy into chemical energy; therefore, the normal differentiation and development of chloroplast are pivotal for plant survival. Deoxyribonucleoside kinases (dNKs) play an important role in the salvage pathway of nucleotides. However, the relationship between dNKs and chloroplast development remains elusive. Here, we identified a white stripe leaf 8 (wsl8) mutant that exhibited a white stripe leaf phenotype at seedling stage (before the four-leaf stage). The mutant showed a significantly lower chlorophyll content and defective chloroplast morphology, whereas higher reactive oxygen species than the wild type. As the leaf developed, the chlorotic mutant plants gradually turned green, accompanied by the restoration in chlorophyll accumulation and chloroplast ultrastructure. Map-based cloning revealed that WSL8 encodes a dNK on chromosome 5. Compared with the wild type, a C-to-G single base substitution occurred in the wsl8 mutant, which caused a missense mutation (Leu 349 Val) and significantly reduced dNK enzyme activity. A subcellular localization experiment showed the WSL8 protein was targeted in the chloroplast and its transcripts were expressed in various tissues, with more abundance in young leaves and nodes. Ribosome and RNA-sequencing analysis indicated that some components and genes related to ribosome biosynthesis were down-regulated in the mutant. An exogenous feeding experiment suggested that the WSL8 performed the enzymic activity of thymidine kinase, especially functioning in the salvage synthesis of thymidine monophosphate. Our results highlight that the salvage pathway mediated by the dNK is essential for early chloroplast development in rice.

MiR-1271 negatively regulates AKT/MTOR signaling and promotes apoptosis via targeting PDK1 in pancreatic cancer

OBJECTIVE

Pancreatic cancer (PC) possesses a very poor prognosis, and its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Evidence has suggested that microRNAs play important roles in cancer development and progression, the present study was designed to study the function of miR-1271 in PC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

PC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 17 patients. MiR-1271 and PDK1 expression were quantified by quantitative reverse-transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). AKT/MTOR signaling activity and PDK1 protein expression were determined by Western blot. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by MTT assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Luciferase assay was used to verify whether miR-1271 directly targets PDK1.

RESULTS

MiR-1271 was significantly down-regulated in PC tissues compared with that in the paired normal adjacent tissue, and its expression was up-regulated dose-dependently upon cisplatin treatment in PC cells. Overexpression of miR-1271 in these cells produced a pro-apoptotic effect, similar to what caused by cisplatin treatment. Moreover, overexpression of miR-1271 inhibited AKT/MTOR signaling, which was due to the targeting relationship between miR-1271 and PDK1. Finally, knockdown of PDK1 exerted a similar effect on apoptosis to that of miR-1271 overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS

MiR-1271 is a potent tumor suppressor in PC, its pro-apoptotic function was partially mediated by reduced AKT/MTOR signaling. Targeting miR-1271 may represent an effective strategy for PC treatment.

Activities of key enzymes in the C4 pathway and anatomy of sugarcane infected by Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli

AIMS

Ratoon stunting disease caused by Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx) is a bacterial disease that has plagued sugarcane-planting countries for a long time. This study mainly analysed Lxx localization and its effects on sugarcane leaf.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Badila were inocultated by bacteria of Lxx. It was noted that the number of Lxx cells were rapidly enriched in sugarcane leaves from the 150th to the 210th days of post inoculation (dpi). Lxx infection disrupted the integrity of vascular bundle sheath cells (BSC) in the 'Kranz anatomy' of leaves, resulting in irregular accumulation of starch in vascular BSC of leaves. In situ PCR showed that the Lxx localized in the xylem vessels, mesophyll cell (MC) and BSC as described before in sugarcane leaf, a new niche within the host tissues in the phloem of sugarcane stem. The gene expression and activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), pyruvate, orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK) and NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) enzymes were lower in Lxx-inoculated sugarcane plants as compared to the MI group.

CONCLUSION

Lxx infection not only disrupted the structure of vascular BSC in the C4 'Kranz anatomy' of sugarcane leaves, but also affected the activities and gene expression of the key enzymes PEPC, PPDK and NADP-ME in the C4 cycle of sugarcane suggesting a reduction in CO₂ fixation.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The effect of Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx) infection on the photosynthetic physiology of sugarcane is currently limited to the evaluation of photosynthetic parameters. This study assessed the impact of Lxx infection on the mechanism of C4 cycle CO₂ fixation and to accompanying plant anatomy.

[Clinical analysis of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis complicated with capillary leak syndrome]

目的

探讨继发性噬血细胞性淋巴组织细胞增多症（sHLH）合并毛细血管渗漏综合征（CLS）的临床特征。

方法

回顾性分析2015年1月至2017年12月江苏省人民医院收治的87例sHLH患者的临床及实验室资料，其中21例合并CLS（CLS-sHLH组），66例未合并CLS（非CLS-sHLH组）。比较两组的临床表现、实验室检查、治疗及预后差异。

结果

比较CLS-sHLH组和非CLS-sHLH组患者引起sHLH的病因，差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。CLS-sHLH组患者ANC、血清纤维蛋白原、白蛋白较非CLS-sHLH组降低，而甘油三酯较非CLS-sHLH组升高（P值均<0.05）。CLS-sHLH组患者均有不同程度水肿、体重增加、低血压、低蛋白血症、少尿及多浆膜腔积液。其中15例患者CLS症状消失，CLS中位好转时间为7（5~14）d。6例患者CLS症状未消失，并于15（6~30）d死亡。CLS-sHLH组中位OS时间低于非CLS-sHLH组（75 d对未达到，P=0.031）。

结论

在sHLH患者中，CLS的发生可能与sHLH的原发病无明显相关。严重的ANC、纤维蛋白原及白蛋白减低，甘油三酯升高，可能是sHLH发生CLS的伴随症状。sHLH合并CLS时预后差。

Are nontreponemal tests suitable for monitoring syphilis treatment efficacy? Evidence from rabbit infection models

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to characterize kinetics of non-treponamal antibody titres during the natural course of syphilis and explore their roles in monitoring syphilis treatment efficacy.

METHODS

Sixty New Zealand white male rabbits were challenged with Nichols or Amoy Treponema pallidum strains, and the rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test was performed to quantify non-treponemal antibody titres during the infection course. Viable T. pallidum in the challenged rabbits was assessed with rabbit infectivity tests.

RESULTS

The RPR titres of the Nichols or Amoy strain between no benzathine penicillin G (BPG) and BPG treatment subgroups displayed a similar trend: first ascending and then descending. Compared with baseline, the proportions of fourfold decline in RPR titres in the Nichols or Amoy group presented a similar result on days 30, 60 and 180 between the no BPG and BPG treatment subgroups (0%, 0/5; 80%, 4/5; 100%, 5/5; vs. 0%, 0/5; 80%, 4/5; 100%, 5/5; p 0.999; 0%, 0/5; 80%, 4/5; 80%, 4/5; vs. 40%, 2/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5; p 0.098, respectively). Compared with the maximum baseline titre, the proportion of fourfold decline in PRR titre also showed a similar result in the two groups on days 30, 60 and 180 between the no BPG and the BPG treatment subgroups (0%, 0/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5, vs. 40%, 2/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5; p 0.129; 0%, 0/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5, vs. 80%, 4/5; 100%, 5/5; 100%, 5/5; p 0.091, respectively. Moreover, regardless of whether the RPR titres presented a fourfold decline, viable T. pallidum could be detected in untreated rabbits' lymph nodes at 30, 60 and 180 days post infection, while viable T. pallidum was not detected in any of the treated rabbits' lymph nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

The RPR titre increased and then decreased (even became negative) during the natural course of syphilis, similar to that seen after BPG treatment. The RPR tetre is thus a questionable indicator of syphilis treatment efficacy.

Analysis of serum metabolite profiles in syphilis patients by untargeted metabolomics

BACKGROUND

Global metabolomics analysis can provide substantial information on energy metabolism, physiology, possible diagnostic biomarkers and intervention strategies for pathogens.

OBJECTIVE

To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of syphilis and analysis of serum metabolite profiles in syphilis patients.

METHODS

We conducted an untargeted metabolomics analysis of serum from 20 syphilis patients and 20 healthy controls.

RESULTS

A total of 2890 molecular features were extracted from each sample, and the peak intensity of each feature was obtained. Distinct differential metabolites were identified by principal component analysis, partial least squares-discriminant analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. Furthermore, five metabolites were identified as significantly different by Student's t-test, including trimethylamine N-oxide, l-arginine, lysoPC(18:0), betaine and acetylcarnitine. KEGG analysis showed that these differential metabolites were in various pathways, including Chagas disease, fatty acid biosynthesis, primary bile acid biosynthesis, Salmonella infection, ABC transporters, glycerophospholipid metabolism and choline metabolism. Among them, trimethylamine N-oxide was 3.922 times in patients with syphilis than healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

Trimethylamine N-oxide may be used as an indicator to distinguish between syphilis patients and healthy controls. The changes in these metabolites suggest that Treponema pallidum affects the normal metabolic activity of host cells, providing some clues for elucidating the pathogenesis of T. pallidum.

Long noncoding RNA HOXD-AS1 regulates proliferation of cervical cancer cells by activating Ras/ERK signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of HOXD cluster antisense RNA 1 (HOXD-AS1) in cervical cancer and its underlying mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to examine the expression of HOXD-AS1 in human cervical cancer tissues. x2-test was used for analyzing the association of HOXD-AS1 expression and clinical parameters. Cell viability, colony formation capacity, and phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) in treated HeLa and CaSki cells were detected by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, colony formation assay, and Western blot analysis, respectively.

RESULTS

The results indicated that HOXD-AS1 was upregulated in cervical cancer cells significantly. Meanwhile, HOXD-AS1 expression was involved in tumor-node-metastasis stages, lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, as well as recurrence. HOXD-AS1 knockdown remarkably suppressed cervical cancer cell proliferation, colony formation capacity, and the Ras/ERK signaling pathway in vitro. Furthermore, xenograft assays confirmed the results in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data elucidate that silencing HOXD-AS1 remarkably suppresses cell growth by inactivating the Ras/ERK pathway in cervical cancer, providing a more detailed understanding of cervical cancer pathogenesis and providing a possible theoretical foundation for long non-coding RNA for the diagnosis and therapy for cervical cancer.

[A cohort study on body mass index and risk of all-cause mortality among hypertensive population]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause mortality in hypertensive population. Methods: All participants were selected from a prospective cohort study based on a rural population from Henan province, China. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the associations of different levels of BMI stratification with all-cause mortality. Restricted cubic spline models were used to detect the dose-response relation. Results: Among the 5 461 hypertensive patients, a total of 31 048.38 person-years follow-up was conducted. The median of follow-up time was 6 years, and 589 deaths occurred during the follow-up period. Compared to normal weight group (18.5 kg/m(2)<BMI<24.0 kg/m(2)) the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality associated with BMI levels (<18.5 kg/m(2), 24-28 kg/m(2), and ≥28 kg/m(2)) were 0.83 (95%CI: 0.37-1.87), 0.81 (95%CI: 0.67-0.97), and 0.72 (95%CI: 0.56-0.91), respectively. The dose-response analysis showed a nonlinear, reverse "S" shaped relationship (non-linearity P<0.001). Conclusion: Overweight or obese might have a protective effect on all-cause mortality in hypertensive population, which supports the "obesity paradox" phenomenon.

[Exposure-preceding-outcome regarding time sequence among cohort studies in real world]

One of the commonly accepted merits of cohort studies (CSs) refers to the exposure precedes outcome superior to other observational designs. We use Directed Acyclic Graphs to construct a causal graph among research populations under CSs. We notice that the substitution of research population in place of a susceptible one can be used for effect estimation. Its correctness depends on the outcome-free status of the substituted population and the performance of both screening and diagnosis regarding the outcomes under study at baseline. The temporal precedence of exposure over outcome occurs theoretically, despite the opposite happens in realities. Correct effect estimate is affected by both the suitability of population substitution and the validities of outcome identification and exclusion.

Comparison of gefitinib and platinum-based chemotherapy and only platinum-based chemotherapy to treat lung adenocarcinoma

To study the curative effects and safety for patients who adopt both gefitinib and platinum-based chemotherapy or only platinum-based chemotherapy in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma, 80 EGFR mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma patients in stage IIIB/IV were divided into two groups. Half of them received both gefitinib and standard chemotherapy (group A), and the others (group B) received only standard chemotherapy. Overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and the related toxicities of both groups were recorded in order to take certain nursing measures for a variety of toxicities. Next, statistical methods were used to analyze the curative effects and safety of the two treatments. The results showed that ORR, DCR and median progression-free (mPFS) survival of the two groups of patients showed no statistical difference (P >0.05). However, group A (18.56 months) had a longer median overall survival (mOS) than group B (14.87 months), which was of statistical significance (P less than 0.05). Nausea and loss of appetite were common mild adverse reactions, and anemia and leukocytopenia were moderate common adverse reactions. The difference between these two groups of patients regarding adverse reactions was not statistically significant (P>0.05). In conclusion, the two treatments have similar safety, but lung adenocarcinoma patients with drug resistance during stage IIIB/IV after using first-line gefitinib therapy have lower survival benefits than patients who take both gefitinib and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Arsenic and five metal concentrations in the muscle tissue of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans

White muscle concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Se, and Zn were investigated in Atlantic- and Indian-bigeye tuna (BET) (Thunnus obesus) from 6 regions. As and Cd muscle concentrations were significantly higher in the Indian-BET than in the Atlantic-BET, whereas the Indian-BET caught in the waters off South Africa revealed the highest As, Se, and Zn muscle concentrations. Accordingly, multidimensional scaling separated them into two oceanic groups. Positive linear relationships between muscle Cd concentration and fork length (FL) were established in both oceans. For the other elements, only muscle-Fe and FL relationship was found in the Atlantic-BET. 10.3% of BET > 145 cm FL from both oceans possessed muscle Cd concentrations exceeding the food safety limit (0.1 μg g^-1 wet weight) set by the European Commission. Increased Cd, Cu and Zn pollution was found in the Atlantic Ocean compared with previous data, with higher levels found in the Indian Ocean.

Sponge Prokaryote Communities in Taiwanese Coral Reef and Shallow Hydrothermal Vent Ecosystems

Previously, it was believed that the prokaryote communities of typical 'low-microbial abundance' (LMA) or 'non-symbiont harboring' sponges were merely subsets of the prokaryote plankton community. Recent research has, however, shown that these sponges are dominated by particular clades of Proteobacteria or Cyanobacteria. Here, we expand on this research and assess the composition and putative functional profiles of prokaryotic communities from LMA sponges collected in two ecosystems (coral reef and hydrothermal vent) from vicinal islands of Taiwan with distinct physicochemical conditions. Six sponge species identified as Acanthella cavernosa (Bubarida), Echinodictyum asperum, Ptilocaulis spiculifer (Axinellida), Jaspis splendens (Tetractinellida), Stylissa carteri (Scopalinida) and Suberites sp. (Suberitida) were sampled in coral reefs in the Penghu archipelago. One sponge species provisionally identified as Hymeniacidon novo spec. (Suberitida) was sampled in hydrothermal vent habitat. Each sponge was dominated by a limited set of operational taxonomic units which were similar to sequences from organisms previously obtained from other LMA sponges. There was a distinct bacterial community between sponges collected in coral reef and in hydrothermal vents. The putative functional profile revealed that the prokaryote community from sponges collected in hydrothermal vents was significantly enriched for pathways related to DNA replication and repair.

[Differential expression and clinical significance of calretinin in total colonic aganglionosis]

Objective: To evaluate the differential calretinin immunostaining in different segments of total colonic aganglionosis and its utility in the diagnosis. Methods: Nine specimens including ileum and colon segments were obtained from 9 patients with total colonic aganglionosis (TCA), from 2010 to 2016 year, in Wuhan Children's Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Another 9 ganglionic specimens including the same segments from patients with non-Hirschsprung disease (non-HD) patients were collected as control. All cases were immunostained with calretinin. The patterns of calretinin immunostaining were observed, and morphometric analysis of each sample was performed by image analysis program (Image-Pro-Plus). The mean absorbance was evaluated by calculating the areas of the lamina propria occupied by the positively stained area of the calretinin at high power field. Results: The same pattern of calretinin immunostaining was seen in ganglionic ileum and ganglionic colon segments, with staining seen in intrinsic nerves fibers (INF), and in granular aggregates in the lamina propria and muscularis mucosae. There was no significant difference in the numbers of calretinin-positive INF from the ganglionic segments. In contrast, the number of calretinin-positive INF and granular aggregates in aganglionic segments were significantly lower than those in the ganglionic group (P<0.01). In the ileum transitional zone, scattered calretinin staining was observed, and the amount of calretinin-positive INF was significantly lower than those in the proximal segment of ganlionic ileum (P<0.01). Conclusions: Since there is significant different expression of calretinin among the different segments from TCA, calretinin immunostaining has potential value in detecting TCA. It could be an important adjunctive method in detecting TCA in the future.

[The prognostic analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma based on the tumor neo-vessels, macrophages and α-SMA in tumor microenvironment]

Objective: To analyze the quantitative expression and prognostic significance of tumor neo-vessels, macrophages and fibroblasts in tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: The clinic-pathological features and tissue samples for 101 HCC cases were collected. Immunohistochemistry was used to stain the tumor neo-vessels, macrophages and fibroblasts on tumor tissue. The distribution results and quantitative data of above key components were acquired by inverted microscopy equipped with CRi Nuance multispectral analysis system. The number of tumor neo-vessels and macrophages on HCC tissue were counted and the thickness of cancer stroma based on the expression of fibroblasts was measured. The clinic-pathological characteristics and overall survival were analyzed. Results: The median disease free survival (DFS) of 101 HCC cases was 5 month. The quantitative analysis of tumor neo-vessels, macrophages and fibroblasts showed that the expression range was 51-429 with median 218, 110-555 with median 259, 35.61-555.35 with median 246.98, respectively. To take the median as cutoff, all the cases could be classified into high and low expression group. The survival analysis demonstrated that the high density group of macrophages (P=0.022) and fibroblasts (P<0.001) has shorter DFS than low density group, with statistical significance. The high tumor neo-vessels group has shorter DFS with median 5 month than low density group with median 7 month. However, there was no statistical significance between these two group (P=0.197). Combined with above the three stromal components, all the cases could be classified into low, middle and high group. The survival analysis demonstrated that the high density group of stromal components has shorter DFS than the other two groups with median 3 month (P=0.001). Multivariate analysis by Cox regression indicated that cirrhosis, metastasis status, macrophages and fibroblasts density were the independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: The key elements in tumor microenvironment including tumor neo-vessels, macrophages and fibroblasts were heterogenic in HCC tissues and played significant roles in HCC invasion and metastasis.

Tangeretin has anti-asthmatic effects via regulating PI3K and Notch signaling and modulating Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine balance in neonatal asthmatic mice

Asthma is a chronic allergic disease characterized by airway inflammation, airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), and mucus hypersecretion. T-lymphocytes are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma, mediating airway inflammatory reactions by secreting cytokines. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Notch signaling pathways are associated with T cell signaling, proliferation, and differentiation, and are important in the progression of asthma. Thus, compounds that can modulate T cell proliferation and function may be of clinical value. Here, we assessed the effects of tangeretin, a plant-derived flavonoid, in experimental asthma. BALB/c mice at postnatal day (P) 12 were challenged with ovalbumin (OVA). Separate groups of mice (n=18/group) were administered tangeretin at 25 or 50 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage. Dexamethasone was used as a positive control. Tangeretin treatment reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and also restored the normal histology of lung tissues. OVA-specific IgE levels in serum and BALF were reduced. AHR, as determined by airway resistance and lung compliance, was normalized. Flow cytometry analyses revealed a reduced Th17 cell population. Tangeretin reduced the levels of Th2 and Th17 cytokines and raised IFN-γ levels. PI3K signaling was inhibited. The expressions of the Notch 1 receptor and its ligands Jagged 1 and 2 were downregulated by tangeretin. Our findings support the possible use of tangeretin for treating allergic asthma.

Sibelium in combination with dibazole in the treatment of angioneurotic headache

Angioneurotic headache is a common nerve headache featured by intermittence, repetition, paroxysm and aggravation, which can severely affect the sufferer’s quality of life. Currently, there are multiple drugs which can be used for relieving this type of headache, and the effectiveness and safety of drugs have been a subject of interest in clinical practice. To observe the effects of sibelium in combination with dibazole and offer a basis for the clinical treatment, 136 patients with angioneurotic headache who were admitted to hospital between February and September 2015 were selected and randomly divided into a test group and a control group, 68 in each. Patients in the test group were treated with sibelium in combination with dibazole, while patients in the control group were given sibelium only. The effects, adverse reactions, complications and toxic and side effects of the treatment in the two groups were observed. Furthermore, the blood flow speed and hemodynamic changes before and after treatment were compared. The results demonstrated that the hemodynamic indexes and cerebral blood flow speed of the patients in the test group showed obvious changes after treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); the improvement of the above indexes of the test group was superior to that of the control group, and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.05); the overall effective rate of the test group was higher than that of the control group (94.12% vs 76.47%) (P<0.05); the medication safety of the test group was higher than that of the control group (all P<0.05). It can be concluded that sibelium in combination with dibazole has a remarkable effect in treating angioneurotic headache as it can significantly improve hemodynamic indexes and cerebral blood flow speed. Moreover, the therapy seldom induces toxic and side effects, adverse reactions or complications.

Down-expression of miR-373 predicts poor prognosis of glioma and could be a potential therapeutic target

OBJECTIVE

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are epigenetic regulators of gene expression, and their deregulation plays an important role in human cancer, including glioma. The main objective of this work was to investigate the expression level of miR-373 and its clinical significance in glioma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The expression levels of miR-373 in glioma tissues and non-neoplastic brain tissues were measured by the qRT-PCR assay. Patients were divided into two groups based on the median miR-373 expression. The probability of differences in overall and progression-free survival as a function of time was ascertained by use of the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression analysis of factors potentially associated with survival was conducted to identify independent factors.

RESULTS

In clinical gastric cancer samples, we found that miR-373 expression was significantly down-regulated in glioma tissues compared with non-neoplastic brain tissues (p<0.01). Reduced expression of miR-373 was associated with serum WHO grade (p=0.015) and KPS score (p=0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis indicated that patients with low level of miR-373 expression had poorer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate survival analysis verified that miR-373 expression level was an independent predictor of both OS and PFS for glioma patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed miR-373 was associated to progression in glioma, and suggested it as a potential predictive factor for the prognosis of glioma.

[Study on the health effect of the occupational stress in aircrew]

Objective: To explore the relationship between occupational stress and physiological and biochemical indexes, to research the health effect of the occupational stress in aircrew. Methods: 450 aircrews were conducted with the OSI-R questionnaire survey, examine the level of blood pressure, blood routine, ALT and UA. Results: The concentration of HB was positively related with task conflict and entertainment and leisure (β=0.262 and 0.106, both P<0.05) , while heavy task, task discomfort and psychological stress reactions were negatively related with HB (β=-0.163, -0.102, and -0.137, all P<0.05) ; task conflict and self-care were positively related with RBC (β=0.221 and 0.159, both P<0.01) , heavy task, psychological stress reactions and social support were negatively related with RBC (β=-0.157, -0.119, and -0.113, all P<0.05) ; task ambiguity and self-care had a positive relationship with ALT (β=0.144 and 0.159, both P<0.01) while heavy task, psychological stress reactions and social support had a negative relationship with ALT (β=-0.176, -0.096, and -0.102, all P<0.05) ; self-care was positively related with SBP (β=0.170, P<0.01) , task discomfort, interpersonal stress reactions and social support were negatively related with SBP (β=-0.093, -0.103, and -0.111, all P<0.05) ; while self-care was positively related with DBP (β=0.139, P<0.01) , social support was negatively related with DBP (β=-0.114, P<0.05) . Conclusion: Occupational stress of the aircrew is significantly related with blood pressure, RBC, ALT and UA, occupational stress can make effects on the health of aircrew.

[Establishment of multiplex PCR method for rapid detection of nontuberculous mycobacteriums infection in the hand]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) method with high sensitivity and specificity for rapid detection of common nontuberculous mycobacterium(NTM) infection in the hand.

METHODS

Application of primer design software to the mycobacterium marinum, mycobacterium avium, mycobacterium kansasii and mycobacterium fortuitum, the specific gene sequences were used to design construction of multiplex PCR and detection of DNA from the non tuberculous mycobacterial standard strains of each bacterium of single PCR and multiplex DNA accuracy and sequence contrast evaluation to verify the specificity of multiple PCR primers.26 clinical specimens were identified by this method.

RESULTS

Detection of 26 cases of clinical samples, positive detection of more than 7/8, the identification time is shorter than the traditional method.

CONCLUSION

The research method can be rapid, specific, sensitive and effective to detect the common hand of mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, can be used for clinical identification of mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Overexpression of maelstrom promotes bladder urothelial carcinoma cell aggressiveness by epigenetically downregulating MTSS1 through DNMT3B

We have recently identified and characterized a novel oncogene, maelstrom (MAEL) from 1q24, in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, MAEL was investigated for its oncogenic role in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) tumorigenesis/aggressiveness and underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we report that overexpression of MAEL in UCB is important in the acquisition of an aggressive and/or poor prognostic phenotype. In UCB cell lines, knockdown of MAEL by short hairpin RNA is sufficient to inhibit cell growth, invasiveness/metastasis and suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), whereas ectopic overexpression of MAEL promoted cell growth, invasive and/or metastatic capacity and enhanced EMT both in vitro and in vivo. We further demonstrate that MAEL could induce UCB cell EMT by downregulating a critical downstream target, the metastasis suppressor 1 (MTSS1) gene, ultimately leading to an increased invasiveness of cancer cells. Notably, overexpression of MAEL in UCB cells substantially enhanced the enrichment of DNA methyltrans-ferase (DNMT)3B and histone deacetylase (HDAC)1/2 on the promoter of the MTSS1, and thereby epigenetically suppressing the MTSS1 transcription. Downregulation of MTSS1 by MAEL in UCB cells is partially dependent on DNMT3B. Furthermore, we identify that beside the gene amplification of MAEL, miR-186 is a key negative regulator of MAEL and downregulation of miR-186 is another important mechanism for MAEL overexpression in UCBs. These data suggest that overexpression of MAEL, caused by gene amplification and/or decreased miR-186, has a critical oncogenic role in UCB pathogenesis by downregulation of MTSS1, and MAEL could be used as a novel prognostic marker and/or effective therapeutic target for human UCB.