[Analysis of hemoglobin variants in Tianjin City and neighboring areas].

To determine the types and proportion of common hemoglobin variants in Tianjin and surrounding areas, to analyze the recognition ability and the effects of hemoglobin variants on experimental results in two commonly used glycated hemoglobin systems, so as to provide data support for the consistency of HbA1c detection in Tianjin City. A case-control study was used for retrospective analysis,156 specimens with abnormal electrophoretic peaks in the detection of glycated hemoglobin were collected from more than 50 000 specimens of patients in Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital of Tianjin Medical University between June 2020 and December 2020. Determined their hemoglobin mutation sites by DNA sequencing, and compared the values of hemoglobin variants on glycated hemoglobin detection values by high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. SPSS 23 was used to calculate the blood routine results of the variant specimens, and compared with the normal reference interval. The results showed that DNA sequencing identified 21 hemoglobin variants, of which 11 were α strand variants and 10 were ß strand variants. In addition, an unreported hemoglobin variant was identified, Hb Headington (HBB: c.217A>C). The HbA1c of 11 variants including Hb G-Honolulu, Hb Queens, Hb Q-Thailand, Hb J-Broussais, Hb O-Indonesia, Hb G-Coushatta, Hb G-Taipei, Hb E, Hb Headington, Hb New York and Hb D-Los Angeles were shifted by more than 7% when measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Patients with the Hb Q-Thailand and Hb E cause reduced MCV and MCH. In conclusion, an unreported hemoglobin variant was found from Tianjin and neighboring areas. Patients with the Hb Q-Thailand and Hb E cause reduced MCV and MCH. 11 of these hemoglobin variants interfered with the detection of glycated hemoglobin using high-performance liquid chromatography, resulting in inaccurate results.

[Association study of serum LncRNA MALAT1 and SAA with type 2 diabetic kidney disease].

To investigate the correlation of serum long noncoding RNA-metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(LncRNA MALAT1) and serum amyloid A(SAA) with diabetic kidney disease. Retrospective research was used, and 40 patients with type 2 diabetes and 80 patients with type 2 diabetic kidney disease patients who were treated in Tianjin Medical University Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital from August 2021 to February 2022 were selected, and 40 healthy subjects were selected during the same period. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was used to detect serum LncRNA MALAT1. SAA were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Automatic biochemistry analyzer was used to detect serum creatinine (CREA) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),automatic blood glucose analyzer to detect serum fasting plasma glucose (FPG), automatic glycated hemoglobin analyzer to detect hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and automatic immunoassay analyzer to detect urinary albumin to creatinine ratio(UACR). Differences between groups were compared by t test and analysis of variance. Pearson analysis was used to analyze the correlation between MALAT1, SAA and other indicators. Receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) was used to evaluate the auxiliary diagnostic value of MALAT1 and SAA for diabetic kidney disease. The results showed that MALAT1 and SAA in the diabetic kidney disease with mass albuminuria group were higher than those in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group (q=8.57, P<0.01; q=11.09, P<0.01) and the diabetic kidney disease with microalbuminuria group (q=3.96, P<0.05; q=7.85, P<0.01). MALAT1 had a high correlation with UACR, CREA, SAA, HbA1c and FPG (r value was 0.706, 0.643, 0.578, 0.553, and 0.524, all P<0.01), and SAA had a high correlation with UACR, HbA1c and FPG (r value was 0.664, 0.617, and 0.595, all P<0.01). ROC curve analysis of the diagnostic value of LncRNA MALAT1 and protein SAA for diabetic kidney disease showed that the areas under curve (AUC) were 0.741 and 0.744, respectively. The combined diagnostic value of the two was the greatest (AUC=0.801). In summary, MALAT1 and SAA were elevated in the serum of patients with type 2 diabetes. Their concentrations in the serum of group with diabetic kidney disease were higher than that in the type 2 diabetes group, and the serum concentrations of MALAT1 and SAA in group with mass albuminuria are higher than the group with microalbuminuria. MALAT1 and SAA were both closely related to UACR and HbA1c, and there is a correlation between them. Both of them may have ancillary diagnostic value for diabetic kidney disease.

Long-chain non-coding RNA LINC01554 promotes NGFR expression and inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by binding to microRNA-3681-3p.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the role of LINC01554 in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore the potential mechanism through which LINC01554 affects the migration and proliferation of HCC cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: LINC01554 expression in HCC tissues and its link to the prognosis of patients were analyzed by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out to examine LINC01554 levels in 60 cases of HCC clinical tissues and HCC cell lines. Then, LINC01554 overexpression model was constructed using lentivirus in HCC cell lines. HCC proliferation and invasive ability were evaluated through Cell Counting Kit (CCK-8) and transwell tests, respectively. Furthermore, the potential action mechanism of LINC01554 was explored using bioinformatics analysis and in vitro cell experiments. RESULTS: Analysis of the TCGA database revealed that LINC01554 was remarkably under-expressed in HCC tissues. Decreased expression of LINC01554 predicted a poor prognosis for patients. Besides, LINC01554 overexpression markedly blunted the proliferation and migratory capacities of HCC cells. LINC01554 competed with NGFR to bind to microRNA-3681-3p, thereby providing possible mechanisms by which LINC01554 could participate in the progression of HCC. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows for the first time that LINC01554 modulates NGFR expression by binding to microRNA-3681-3p, thereby participating in the progression of HCC.

Circ_0091579 promotes proliferative ability and metastasis of liver cancer cells by regulating microRNA-490-3p.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of Circular RNA 0091579 in the progression of liver cancer (LCa) and its molecular mechanism. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect circ_0091579 expression levels in LCa tissues and adjacent tissues, which was further verified in LCa cells and normal liver epithelial cells. After circ_0091579 was knocked down in Huh7 and HepG2 cells, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), plate cloning and transwell assays were performed to verify the effect of circ_0091579 on cell proliferative ability and metastasis of LCa cells. The starBase database was used to search for microRNAs that could interact with circ_0091579, and the Dual-Luciferase reporter gene was used to verify their binding relationship. RESULTS: circ_0091579 was highly expressed in HCC and HCC cells. In vitro experiments showed that down-regulation of circ_0091579 expression could remarkably inhibit the proliferative ability and metastasis of HCC cells. Bioinformatics software predicted the binding sites between circ_0091579 and microRNA-490-3p, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed the binding relationship between circ_0091579 and microRNA-490-3p. qPCR results showed that microRNA-490-3p was remarkably down-regulated in LCa tissues. In vitro experiments confirmed that overexpression of microRNA-490-3p inhibited the proliferative ability and metastasis of HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS: circ_0091579 is abnormally highly expressed in LCa tissues and cells. Down-regulation of circ_0091579 can inhibit the proliferative ability and metastasis of HCC cells by regulating microRNA-490-3p, thus accelerating the progress of the tumor.

[Effects of equol on colon cancer cell proliferation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of equol on the proliferation of colom cancer cells and to explore the mechanisms. METHODS: Colon cancer cells (DLD1,HCT15,COLO205,LOVO,SW480) were incubated, the cell proliferation was identified by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell proliferation assay. Reverse transcription PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and the protein expression of estrogen receptor and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)in the colon cancer cells, respectively. Moreover, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell proliferation assay was used to investigate the effect of estrogen receptor(ER) inhibitor,ERα agonist, and estrogen receptor ERßagonist on the cell proliferation. RESULTS: ERα was faintly expressed in the DLD-1 and HCT-15 cells. However, ERß expression in DLD1, HCT15, COLO205, LOVO, and SW480 colon cancer cells. Different concentrations of equol (0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 µmol/L) significantly inhibited the growth of HCT-15 cell with the expression of ERα and ERß.More-over, different concentrations of equol (0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 µmol/L) significantly inhibited the growth of LOVO, and SW480 cells with the ERß expression in a dose-dependent manner as demonstrated with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cell proliferation assay. mRNA expressions of ERα and ERß in HCT-15 were stimulated significantly. Western blotting proved that the protein expressions of ERα and ERß increased with the increasing of equol dose. Moreover we found significant difference of Nrf2 protein expression in HCT-15 cell stimulated by different concentrationss of equol. After the similation of estrogen receptor inhibitor, ERα agonist, or ERß agonist, we found that only dif-ferent concentrations of ERß agonist(0, 1, 10, 100, 1 000, 10 000 nmol/L) significantly inhibited the growth of HCT-15, LOVO, and SW480 in adose-dependent manner. Estrogen receptor inhibitor and ERα agonistdid not present significant effect on the cell proliferation of HCT-15, LOVO, and SW480. CONCLUSION: Equol inhibited the colon cancer cell proliferation by its estrogenic activities and antioxidant activities.

The diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin, IL-10 and C-reactive protein in community acquired pneumonia and tuberculosis.

AIM: To explore the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-10 (IL-10), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in community acquired pneumonia (CAP) and tuberculosis (PTB). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 113 CAP cases patients and 78 PTB cases were enrolled from May 2011 to March 2012. Routine blood test, serum PCT, CRP, IL-10 and ESR of patients within 24 hours were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The serum concentrations of PCT, IL-10, CRP and ESR in CAP patients with CAP were 0.35±0.017 mg/mL, 0.095±0.004 mg/L, 59.80±5.12 mg/L and 35.00±4.81 mm/1h, respectively, significantly higher than patients with PTB (p < 0.01); According to the result of ROC curve analysis in CAP and PTB, the PTC area under ROC curve is 0.715 (95% CI 0.647-0.782), the sensitivity and specific degree of serum PTC were significant better than CRP and IL10 (p < 0.05). In tuberculosis sputum culture, the serum concentrations of IL-10 and ESR in TB positive group were 0.045±0.013 mg/L and 62.50±8.69 mm/1h, significantly higher than that of TB negative group (p < 0.05); whereas, the concentrations of serum PCT and CRP in TB positive and negative groups had no significant difference (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The levels of serum PCT, IL-10, CRP and ESR in CAP patients are higher than that in PTB patients. Therefore, the serum PCT, IL10, CRP and ESR level is benefit to distinguish between CAP and PTB. This could provide a comprehensible evidence for both diagnosis and prognosis.

Change of peripheral blood mononuclear cells IFN-gamma, IL-10, and TGF-beta1 mRNA expression levels with active human cytomegalovirus infection in orthotopic liver transplantation.

AIM: To analyze the expression levels of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin 10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection. METHODS: PBMCs were isolated from 20 liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection and 20 recipients without HCMV infection. The expression levels of IFN-gamma, IL-10 and TGF-beta1 mRNA in PBMCs were measured by TaqMan real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results were compared with that from 20 healthy individuals. RESULTS: The expression level of TGF-beta1 mRNA was significantly increased in the active HCMV infection group compared with that in stable group or healthy group (P < .001). The expression level of IL-10 mRNA was significantly increased in the active HCMV infection group compared with the healthy group (P = .001). However, the IFN-gamma mRNA expression level was significantly decreased in the active HCMV infection group compared with that in the stable group or the healthy group (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Cytokine production plays a role in the HCMV infection. This may provide an important clue to a better understanding of the pathogenesis in liver transplanted recipients with active HCMV infection.

A new staining method for constriction marks in skin.

A modified Poley's acid fuchsin-methyl green stain was used to demonstrate ligature marks in tissues taken at autopsy. This stain was compared in 30 cases with haematoxylin-eosin, Mallory's trichrome and Ogata's picro-indigocarmine stains. Using the modified Poley method, it was possible to demonstrate the compression mark in corpses even when post-mortem changes were advanced. The method was found useful in evaluating the cases when the force used was minimal or when the mark was atypical using the usual haematoxylin-eosin method.

[Effects of various white noise levels on psychological cognition of school children].

In order to work out a hygienic standard for classroom-noise, 149 school children 8-9 yrs of age were put to psychological cognitive tests under the quiet [42 +/- 1dB(A)] and various white noise levels [50-65dB(A)] classroom conditions in 1986. The main results were as follows: Students under the three white noise levels [greater than or equal to 55dB(A)], all obtained significantly higher means of error scores along with the raising of the noise levels, also lower means of brain work-ability index than under the quiet classroom condition [42 +/- 1dB(A)]. The differences obtained between the three white noise levels [greater than or equal to 55dB(A)] groups and the control group were all statistically significant.