[Methylation in Promoter Region of SLC6A2 Gene in Heart Failure Patients and Its Correlation with Qi Deficiency/Blood Stasis Syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the methylation status in promoter region of norepinephrine transporter gene (NET, SLC6A2) in heart failure ( HF) patients and its correlation with qi deficiency/blood stasis syndrome (QDS/BSS). METHODS: Thirty-six patients with heart failure (NYHA classification III to IV) were recruited in the study (as the heart failure group) and their scores of QDS/BSS were evaluated. Besides, a healthy elderly group (30 cases) and a healthy youth group (30 cases) were also set up. They were recruited from Physical Examination Center of Fujian Provincial Hospital. Pyrosequencing was applied to detect the methylation in promoter region of SLC6A2 gene, and the total methylation index (MTI) of CpG island was calculated. The correlation between the methylation status in promoter region of SLC6A2 and scores of QDS/BSS was assessed using Pearson and Partial analyses. Risk factors were screened and adjusted using Logistic regression. RESULTS: By one-factor analysis of variance, the total MTI in the HF group (219.72% ± 54.03%) was obviously higher than that in the healthy elderly group (194.47% ± 34.92%) and the healthy youth group (161.60% ± 41.11%) (all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the total MTI was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P < 0.01). By covariance analysis , after controlling age and BMI, the total MTI was higher in the HF group than in the healthy elderly group (P = 0.041), while it was higher in the healthy elderly group than in the healthy youth group (P = 0.016). Age was found to play an essential role in affecting MTI of SLC6A2 gene promoter region among the 3 groups (F = 16.447, P = 0.01). The total MTI was quite lower in the healthy youth group. Results of Partial correlation analysis showed MTI was positively correlated with scores of qi deficiency and blood stasis respectively (r = 0.494 and 0.419 respectively, both P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed after adjusting confounding factors, the relative risk (OR value) of total MTI of SLC6A2 gene in promoter region was 1.038 (95% CI, 1.006 to 1.071, P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormally elevated methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene is one of risk factors for HF. In addition, the degree of methylation of the promoter region of SLC6A2 gene was positively correlated with the severity of QDS/BSS.

Study of antifouling modified ultrafiltration membrane based on the secondary treated water of urban sewage.

Mixtures of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) containing hydrophilic ultrafiltration membranes were prepared by adding PVA (5 to 30%) to PVDF by the phase inversion method. The hydrophilic contact angle (CA), equilibrium water content, pure water flux and bovine serum albumin retention were studied to assess the membrane performance. The anti-fouling performance of modified membrane to the secondary treated water was evaluated by flux decline, washing recovery rate and fouling resistance analysis. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the cross-section structure of the membranes had finger-like pores, which were well developed and uniformly distributed, and the sub-layer structure was looser and more porous with the increasing content of PVA. The CA gradually decreased. The steady flux was 800 L/m(2) h from P15 to P30, and the BSA retention sharply declined. The ultrafiltration tests for secondary treated water indicated that the main fouling source of the modified membrane was the concentration polarization and cake layer resistance. After physical flushing, the flux recovery ratio of the membrane could reach 100% when the PVA content was 5-15%, which shows excellent anti-pollution performance and good prospects for use in processing wastewater from urban sewage.

Analysis of a Family with Brugada Syndrome and Sudden Cardiac Death Caused by a Novel Mutation of SCN5A.

Background: Brugada syndrome is a hereditary cardiac disease associated with mutations in ion channel genes. The clinical features include ventricular fibrillation, syncope, and sudden cardiac death. A family with Brugada syndrome with sudden cardiac death was analyzed to locate the associated mutation in the SCN5A gene. Methods and Results: Three generations of a Han Chinese family with Brugada syndrome were recruited in the study; their clinical phenotype data were collected and DNA samples extracted from the peripheral blood. Next-generation sequencing was carried out in the proband, and candidate genes and mutations were screened using the full exon capture technique. The family members who participated in the survey were tested for possible mutations using Sanger sequencing. Six family members were diagnosed with Brugada syndrome, including four asymptomatic patients. A newly discovered heterozygous mutation in the proband was located in exon 25 of SCN5A (NM_000335.5) at c.4313dup(p.Trp1439ValfsTer32). Among the surviving family members, only those with a Brugada wave on their electrocardiogram carried the c.4313dup(p.Trp1439ValfsTer32) variant. Bioinformatics prediction revealed that the frameshift of the c.4313dup (p.Trp1439ValfsTer32) mutant led to a coding change of 32 amino acids, followed by a stop codon, resulting in a truncated protein product. Conclusion: The newly discovered mutation site c.4313dup(p.Trp1439ValfsTer32) in exon 25 of SCN5A may be the molecular genetic basis of the family with Brugada syndrome.

Rare Cases of Bronchial Aneurysm and Comparison of Interventional Embolization in the Treatment of True Bronchial Aneurysm and Pseudobronchial Aneurysm.

Background: Bronchial artery aneurysm (BAA) is a rare disease. Rupture of BAA can lead to life-threatening hemoptysis, and once diagnosed, treatment is needed regardless of symptoms. Transcatheter artery embolization is the first choice of treatment because it is minimally invasive and effective. This study aimed to retrospectively compare the embolization treatment of a case of true BAA and that of a pseudobranchial aneurysm and explore the choice of embolization method for BAA with short neck or no neck. Materials and Methods: Embolization treatment and imaging characteristics of one case of true BAA and one case of pseudobronchial aneurysm admitted to our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Embolization methods and therapeutic effects of two cases of BAAs were compared. Results: Case 1 was that of an intact true BAA inside the mediastinum located at the opening of the bronchial artery. The distal end of the aneurysm was embolized, and tumor cavity was occluded. No recurrence of BAA was found after the operation. Case 2 was that of a ruptured and hemorrhagic pseudobronchial aneurysm of the mediastinum. Coil embolization combined with covered stent graft exclusion of the thoracic aorta were performed, and the left bronchial artery and BAA were almost occluded. Nine months postoperatively, the mediastinal hematoma was almost completely absorbed. Conclusion: Endovascular embolization has become the most commonly used for the treatment of BAA. Different methods should be selected according to the location and nature of the aneurysm.

[Quantitative Analysis of Dominant Pollutants in Secondary Effluent via Dye Probe Technology].

The linear relationship between the concentration of either bovine serum albumin (BSA) or sodium alginate (SA) and the intensity of a resonance light scattering (RLS) spectrum was established by using Congo red and neutral red as the dye probes, respectively. Moreover, the linear relationship between the concentration of humic acids (HA) and UV absorbance was determined by using toluidine blue (TB) as the dye probe. The detection of concentration range and the pH value of three kinds of standard substances were optimized. The recovery rate of bi-and tri-element samples of the standard objects was investigated by means of the dye probe analysis method. The results show that, in the appropriate concentration range, the linear correlation coefficients between the concentration of BSA, HA, or SA and the intensity of its corresponding dye probe spectrum were all high, at 0.98. The recovery rates of the three kinds of standard objects in mixed samples were all greater than 95%, and the standard errors were all less than 0.11%. Based on qualitative analysis of the proteins, polysaccharides, and humic acids in the secondary water discharge samples of urban sewage obtained via UV and RLS spectra, the dominant pollutants were confirmed in the four kinds of secondary effluent. The relative deviations of the concentration of polysaccharides and proteins measured using the dye probe technique and the national standard method ranged were from 1.2% to 0.04%.

Analysis of mutations of two Gitelman syndrome family SLC12A3 genes and proposed treatments using Chinese medicine.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the gene location of two Gitelman syndrome (GS) family SLC12A3 genes and explore treatments using Chinese medicine (CM) prescriptions. METHODS: In order to locate the two GS mutations, samples were collected from 11 people from two different pedigrees for direct genetic sequencing and comparison of the 26 exons of SLC12A3. Furthermore, the change of serum potassium was monitored throughout the therapy and those two probands undertook a sequential superposition of Western medicine (including potassium, Panangin and potassium-sparing diuretics) with CM prescription based on Buyang Huanwu Decoction () and Sijunzi Decoction (). The treatment included three stages, oral potassium chloride for the first 2 weeks (stage 1), potassium-sparing diuretic and Panangin with potassium chloride for the next 2 weeks (stage 2), CM along with the medicine in stage 2 for the final 2 weeks (stage 3). RESULTS: The three mutations occurring in proband 1 from pedigree I were Thr60Met, 965-1_976del13ins12 (small indels mutation) and Ala122Ala (homozygous silent mutation). Likewise, three mutations, Asn359Lys, Thr382Met and Arg913Gln, appeared in the proband 2 from pedigree II. The serum potassium levels increasing from baseline to sequential stages were 1.63 mmol/L (baseline), 2.5 mmol/L (stage 1), 3.1 mmol/L (stage 2) and 3.9 mmol/L (stage 3) in the proband 1, and 2.8 mmol/L (baseline), 3.1 mmol/L (stage 1), 3.5 mmol/L (stage 2) and 4.3 mmol/L (stage 3) in the proband 2, respectively. The symptoms (numbness of limbs, weakness, palpitations, etc.) of both probands were all alleviated. CONCLUSIONS: The mutations of both GS pedigrees can be defined as compound heterozygous mutations, most of which are known as missense mutations. Applying CM could be an appropriate choice for future intervention of GS.

[Interfacial Property of Amphiphilic Copolymer Blending PVDF UF Membrane and Protein Anti-fouling].

The phase transformation kinetic process of amphiphilic copolymer polyoxyethylene/polyoxypropylene/polyoxyethylene[PEO-PPO-PEO(F127)] blending polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) casting solution in an aqueous gel bath was investigated. The influences of F127 content on the PEO enrichment rate of PVDF membrane surface, membrane morphology and structural parameters were investigated by a total reflection fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and other analytical techniques. F127/PVDF blending membrane fouling behavior of bovine serum albumin (BSA) was evaluated by the static adsorption capacity, normalized filtration decay rate and membrane fouling resistance model. The results showed that the membrane delayed phase separation process increased, the membrane surface, internal pore size and porosity increased and the surface roughness increased with increasing F127 addition, and the increment of PEO enrichment rate on the membrane surface became stable when the F127 content reached 15%. F127 blending membranes with F127 contents ranging from 15% to 25% had a higher flux and BSA rejection, lower static adsorption capacity, slower flux decay rate, lower irreversible fouling index and smaller pore blocking resistance and cake layer resistance distribution coefficient, which showed a good anti-fouling property.

The Construction of Unsmooth Pulse Images in Traditional Chinese Medicine Based on Wave Intensity Technology.

Unsmooth pulse is one of the most important pulses in TCM diagnostics. We constructed the wave intensity (WI) images of unsmooth pulse based on the pressure wave (P), flow velocity wave (U), and WI [(dP/dt)(dU/dt)] by ALOKA Prosound α 10 Color Doppler. The characteristic of Cunkou normal pulse could be summarized as follows: compared to Renying pulse, its W1 amplitude is smaller and NA wave is more obvious, while the W2 wave is indistinct or even invisible, and the R-1st is longer than that of Renying pulse. The principal U wave of Renying pulse looks like "Λ" shape, while it looks like an arched blunt "∩" shape in Cunkou pulse, and the amplitude of U wave in Cunkou pulse is smaller. The direction of the principal U wave in Cunkou unsmooth pulse is up, which shows hoof boots "h" shape with high amplitude and a significant notch on declined branch; the amplitude of predicrotic wave in unsmooth pulse P wave is significantly higher, which could be even higher than that of h1, resulting in early appearance of h3 or integrating with h1, which forms a wide and blunt peak. Unsmooth pulse shows poorer vascular elasticity and greater vascular stiffness.

[Adhesion Force Analysis of Protein Fouling of PVDF Ultrafiltration Membrane Using Atomic Force Microscope].

To determine the fouling behavior of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on differet hydropniic PVDF ultrafiltration membrane over a range of pH, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and self-made colloidal probes were used to detect the microscopic adhesion forces of membrane-BSA and BSA-BSA, respectively. The results showed a positive correlation between the flux decline extent and the membrane-foulant adhesion force in the initial filtration stage, whereas the foulant-foulant interaction force was closely related to the membrane fouling in the later filtration stage. Moreover, the membrane-BSA adhesion interaction was stronger than the BSA-BSA adhesion interaction, which indicated that the fouling was mainly caused by the adhesion interaction between membrane and foulant. At the same pH, the adhesion force between PA membrane-BSA was smaller than that of PP membrane-BSA, illustrating the more hydrophilic the membrane was, the better the antifouling ability it had. The adhesion force between BSA-BSA fouled PA membrane was similar to that between BSA-BSA fouled PP membrane. These results confirmed that elimination of the membrane-BSA adhesion force is important to control the protein fouling of membranes.

[Membrane fouling by secondary effluent of urban sewage and the membrane properties].

The fouling behavior of UF membranes by secondary effluent of municipal wastewater was investigated using both original PVDF membranes and PVA, PVP and PMMA modified PVDF membranes. The results showed that the structure parameters of UF membranes were optimized by blending; PVP and PVA could effectively improve the hydrophilicity and permeate flux of the membranes. The hydrophilicity and structure properties of UF membrane had stronger effect on the anti-fouling properties. Pore plugging resistance was the main reason for the unrecoverable fouling. For UF membranes with stronger hydrophilicity, there was some flux reduction in the initial filtration, which was attributed to the formation of concentration polarization layer. However, this layer can be easily removed and the irreversible fouling index (r(ir)) was 0, thus guaranteeing the membrane a better anti-fouling property. The dense membrane surface could prevent low-molecular-weight pollutants from entering the internal pores of the membrane. For UF membrane with fully developed macropores in the cross-section and loose spongy layer structure, pollutants deposition to membrane internal pores, which would cause membrane pore plugging, could be effectively inhibited. In contrast, for membranes with porous surface and not fully developed macropores in the cross-section, pore plugging was more prone to occur. As a result, flux declined seriously and was difficult to be recovered by physical cleaning, which gave rise to the irreversible fouling.