[The predictive value of microvascular obstruction for adverse left ventricular remodeling after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a prospective study].

Objectives: Microvascular obstruction (MVO) is a specific cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging feature in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the predictive value of MVO in left ventricular adverse remodeling after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A total of 167 patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI in the Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2016 to 2020 were enrolled in this prospective cohort study, the average age of study patients was 57±10 years old, with 151 males (90.4%) and 16 females (9.6%). The patients were divided into the MVO group (n=81) and non-MVO group (n=86) according to the presence or absence of MVO on CMR imaging, respectively. The primary endpoint of the study was the occurrence of left ventricular adverse remodeling, which was defined as an increase in left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) by >20% at 6 months after primary PCI compared with the baseline. Patients who completed follow-up were diagnosed as left ventricular adverse remodeling or no left ventricular adverse remodeling according to CMR. The baseline data, perioperative data, and related data of end points were compared between the MVO group and non-MVO group. Finally, the predictive value of MVO in left ventricular adverse remodeling was calculated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: In the baseline data, preoperative thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow (χ2=13.74, P=0.003) and postoperative TIMI flow (χ2=14.87, P=0.001) were both obviously decreased in the MVO group. After 6 months of follow-up, the incidence of left ventricular adverse remodeling in the MVO group was significantly higher than that in the non-MVO group [37.0%(27/73) vs. 18.9%(14/74), χ2=5.96, P=0.015]. The left ventricular end systolic volume at 6 months post infarction in the MVO group was significantly larger than that in the non-MVO group [(94±32) vs. (68±20) ml, t=-5.98, P<0.001], as well as the LVEDV [(169±38) vs. (143±29) ml, t=-4.74, P<0.001]. Receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under the curve of MVO size for predicting left ventricular adverse remodeling was 0.637. Conclusion: The risk of left ventricular adverse remodeling is significantly increased in patients with MVO after primary PCI for acute STEMI.

[Protection of side-branch ostium by the jailed balloon technique validated by three-dimensional optical coherence tomography].

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of jailed balloon technique on side branch (SB) ostium using three-dimensional optical coherence tomography(OCT). Methods: This is a retrospective study. Consecutive coronary disease patients with coronary artery bifurcation lesions who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and completed pre-and post-procedural OCT examinations at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from September 2019 to March 2022 were enrolled. Patients were divided into the jailed balloon technique group and the unprotected group according to the options applied for the SB. The SB ostium area difference was calculated from OCT images (SB ostium area difference=post-PCI SB ostium area-pre-PCI SB ostium area). The SB ostium area differences were compared between the two groups and compared further in the subgroup of true bifurcation lesions and non-true bifurcation lesions. In the jailed balloon group, the SB ostium area difference was compared between the active jailed balloon technique and the conventional jailed balloon technique, between the jailed balloon>2.0 mm diameter and the jailed balloon≤2.0 mm diameter, and between the higher balloon pressure (>4 atm, 1 atm=101.325 kPa) and the lower balloon pressure (≤4 atm). Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore the correlation between the technical parameters of the jailed balloon technique and the SB protection effect. Results: A total of 176 patients with 236 bifurcation lesions were enrolled, aged (60.7±9.3) years, and there were 128 male patients (72.7%). There were 67 patients in the jailed balloon technique group with 71 bifurcation lesions and 123 patients in the unprotected group with 165 bifurcation lesions. Fourteen patients had 2 to 3 lesions, which were treated in different ways, so they appeared in the unprotected group and the jailed balloon technique group at the same time. The area difference in SB ostium was greater in the jailed balloon group than in the unprotected group (0.07 (-0.43, 1.05)mm2 vs.-0.33 (-0.83, 0.26)mm2, P<0.001), and the results were consistent in the true bifurcation lesion subgroup (0.29 (-0.35, 0.96)mm2 vs.-0.26 (-0.64, 0.29)mm2, P=0.004), while the difference between the two groups in the non-true bifurcation lesion subgroup was not statistically significant (P=0.136). In the jailed balloon technique group, the SB ostium area difference was greater in patients treated with the active jailed balloon technique than in those treated with the conventional jailed balloon technique ((0.43±1.36)mm2 vs. (-0.22±0.52)mm2, P=0.013). The difference in SB ostium area was greater in those using>2.0 mm diameter jailed balloons than in those using≤2.0 mm diameter jailed balloons (0.25 (-0.51, 1.31) mm2 vs.-0.01 (-0.45, 0.63) mm2, P=0.020), while SB ostium area difference was similar between those endowed with higher balloon pressure (>4 atm) compared to those with lower balloon pressure (≤4 atm) (P=0.731). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between jailed balloon diameter and SB ostium area difference (r=0.344, P=0.019). Conclusions: The jailed balloon technique significantly protects SB ostium, especially in patients with true bifurcation lesions. The active jailed balloon technique and larger diameter balloons may provide more protection to the SB.

[Study on proteomic profiling changes of workers exposed to methylbenzene and healthy individuals].

Objective: This study focused on the proteomicchanges between workers exposed to methylbenzene (WMB) and healthy individuals (HI) . Methods: The serum of WMB and HI was collected and the unmarked label free mass spectrometry was utilized for protein identification and quantitative comparison. The differentlyexpressed proteins in WMB and the HI were screened, followed by the analysis of protein and biological functions by bioinformatics tools. Results: Thirty nine proteins were differently expressed between WMB and HI. Compared with HI, 24 proteins were up regulated and 15 proteins were down regulated over 2 fold change in WMB. Theseproteins were mainly involved in signal transduction, serine endopeptidase activity, inflammatory response, protein modification, stress reaction, coagulation reaction and so on. Conclusion: The differently expressed proteins provide a potential protein marker for the health assessment of WMB and early diagnosis of methylbenzene poisioning and expand our understanding of the molecular mechanism of methylbenzene intoxication.

The effect of maternal low flow oxygen administration during the second stage of labour on umbilical cord artery pH: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of maternal low flow oxygen administration during the second stage of labour on umbilical cord artery pH. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial. SETTING: A tertiary teaching hospital in China. POPULATION: Women in the second stage of labour with no complications. METHODS: About 443 women were randomly allocated to receive either supplemental oxygen at a flow rate of 2 l/min or a sham supplementation by nasal cannula. Healthcare providers, women and outcome assessors were blinded to allocation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Umbilical cord artery pH and fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the umbilical cord artery pH [median 7.261, interquartile range (IQR) 7.228-7.295 versus 7.266 (IQR 7.232-7.297), P = 0.64], the proportion with pH less than 7.2 [30/219 versus 34/224, P = 0.66, RR (relative risk) 0.9, 95% CI 0.57-1.42], and the proportion with normal FHR pattern (147/219 versus 153/224, P = 0.79, RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.86-1.12). Maternal partial pressure of dissolved oxygen was significantly higher in the oxygen group than in the sham group [median 150.0 mmHg (IQR 142.6-156.7) versus 112.0 (IQR 104.8-118.3), P < 0.001], whereas carbon dioxide was significantly lower in the oxygen group than in the sham group (mean difference -1.1, 95% CI -2.1 to -0.1, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The use of 2 l/min maternal oxygen during the second stage of labour did not adversely affect either the umbilical artery pH or the FHR pattern distribution. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: No difference in abnormal fetal acid base or normal heart rate if maternal O2 given, randomised trial finds.

Role of carboxylic acid groups in the reduction of nitric oxide by carbon at low temperature, as exemplified by graphene oxide.

Graphene oxide (GO) was utilized to investigate the role of carboxylic acid groups in the reduction of nitric oxide (NO) for the first time. As a result, GO with sufficient carboxylic acid groups reduced 45% of NO at 100 °C. However, GO without these oxygen-containing groups barely reduced NO (lower than 5%) under the same conditions. After reduction of NO, the carboxylic acid group content on GO decreased from 8.32 to 5.22 mmol g-1. Simultaneously, the anhydride group content increased from 0.14 to 0.28 mmol g-1. FTIR spectroscopy also indicated that the carboxylic acid groups transformed into anhydride and lactone groups. Moreover, both transient kinetics and TG-MS studies demonstrated that reactive intermediates formed during the reaction between NO and GO at 100 °C. Based on these results, it was proposed that the carboxylic acid groups participated in NO reduction by consumption and regeneration. This mechanism explains why carbon is usually an effective reductant and catalyst support for NO removal at low temperature.

[Efficacy of microwave ablation in treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma within the Milan criteria: a report of 696 cases].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of microwave ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the Milan criteria and to investigate the differences in clinical efficacy of microwave ablation in tumors with different sizes. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of the patients with HCC within the Milan criteria who received microwave ablation in our hospital from January 2011 to January 2013. The complete ablation rate, incidence rate of major complications, recurrence rate, and overall survival rate were analyzed and the treatment outcomes were compared between two groups with different tumors sizes. The patients were followed up for 3.4-61.8 months. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival rate, local recurrence rate, and distant recurrence rate. Comparison of rates between groups was made by the chi-square test and comparison of survival rates between groups was made by the log-rank test. Results: A total of 696 patients with HCC within the Milan criteria involving 801 tumors were included in this study. The complete ablation rate was 93.8% (653/696) and the incidence rate of major complications was 1.7% (12/696). The median survival time was 59.6 months and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival rates were 94.8%, 82.2%, and 71.7%, respectively. The local recurrence rate was 13.4% (93/696) and the rate of intrahepatic distant metastasis was 40.1% (279/696). The overall intrahepatic recurrence rate was 48.1% (335/696), and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year recurrence rates were 22.9%, 38.4%, and 46.8%, respectively. There were no significant differences in complete ablation rate, incidence rate of major complications, and overall survival rate between the two groups with different tumor sizes (diameters≤3 cm and 3-5 cm) (P = 0.12; P = 0.61; P = 0.61). Conclusion: Microwave ablation is a safe and effective treatment modality for HCC within the Milan criteria. And there are no significant differences in safety, effectiveness, and long-term efficacy of microwave ablation between the two groups with different tumor sizes (diameters ≤3 cm and 3-5 cm). However, if the operator's experience is not rich and cannot accurately use conformal ablation and make an individualized treatment, the tumors with a diameter of 3-5 cm should be carefully treated using microwave ablation to avoid residual tumor after treatment.

Cloning, characterization, expression, and feeding response of thyrotropin receptor in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).

Thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor that regulates the synthesis, storage, and secretion of thyroid hormones in the thyroid tissue. The aims of the present study were to characterize the full-length TSHR cDNA in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and to determine the TSHR gene transcription levels in different tissues. In addition, the response of TSHR transcription levels to daily feeding in thyroid tissue was investigated. The results showed that the full-length cDNA sequence was 2743 bp with an open reading frame of 2340 bp encoding a 779-amino acid peptide. BLAST analysis indicated that the amino acid sequence displayed 58.4-90.2% identity and 5.6-125.8 divergence, compared with other known fish species. The most abundant TSHR transcription levels were found in the spleen, head kidney, and kidney. Feeding did not affect the transcription level of TSHR in thyroid tissue over the course of the day. Thus, the current study suggests that there was no relationship between daily nutritional status and TSHR transcription level in the thyroid tissue of largemouth bass. The spleen, head kidney, and kidney exhibited the most abundant TSHR transcription levels.

[A clinical analysis of 22 patients with drug-induced liver injury caused by traditional Chinese medicine Periploca forrestii Schltr].

Objective: To investigate the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of patients with liver injury caused by Periploca forrestii Schltr. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for the general data, clinical manifestations, and laboratory examinations of 22 patients who were diagnosed with liver injury caused by Periploca forrestii Schltr. from November 2014 to December 2015, and their clinical type was determined according to the classification criteria of drug-induced liver injury recommended by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences. Results: There were 12 female and 10 male patients. The mean medication time ranged from 1 week to 2 months, and as for biochemical markers, there were mainly abnormalities in alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), total bilirubin(TBil), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(GGT). ALT and AST increased in all the patients, with mean levels of 676.68±481.11 U/L and 527.36±361.14 U/L, respectively; TBil increased to a mean level of 170.26±147.30 µmol/L in 19 patients; ALP increased to a mean level of 135.61±59.26 U/L in 13 patients; GGT increased to a mean level of 195.65±138.48 U/L in 20 patients. As for clinical typing, 18 patients had liver cell injury, none had cholestasis, 3 had a mixed type, and 1 had an unclassified type. One patient died and all the other patients fully recovered. Conclusion: Periploca forrestii Schltr. had complex constituents, and liver injury caused by this drug is mainly liver cell injury. The pathogenesis of liver injury caused by Periploca forrestii Schltr. is presumed to be related to patients' idiosyncratic reaction to its constituents.

RIG-I detects HIV-1 infection and mediates type I interferon response in human macrophages from patients with HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders.

The aim of this study was to explore the precise role of retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) signaling in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected macrophages from patients with HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Postmortem brain tissues were collected from patients with HIV-1-associated dementia and were compared to samples collected from HIV serum-positive patients without dementia and HIV serum-negative patients. A human monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM) primary culture system was established to evaluate the expression of RIG-I in these samples. Knockdown of RIG-I pathways genes was employed and STAT1 expression and phosphorylation levels were examined to explore the molecular mechanisms of HAND. The expression of RIG-I in postmortem brain tissue from HAND patients was significantly higher than in patients who were HIV serum-positive without dementia or HIV serum-negative. Moreover, we demonstrated that HIV-1 infection could result in a significant increase in the level of RIG-I in human MDMs. Moreover, a correlation was found between the increase in RIG-I expression and STAT1 expression and phosphorylation. Accordingly, knockdown of RIG-I decreased the phosphorylation of STAT1 and downregulated interferon-related genes. These observations highlight the importance of RIG-I signaling in anti-HIV innate immunity in macrophages, which may be beneficial for the treatment of HIV and aid in the understanding of the neuropathogenesis of HAND.

Mitochondrial ND3 G10398A mutation: a biomarker for breast cancer.

Mitochondrial DNA mutations have been found to play important roles in carcinogenesis. The most common G10398A mutation, a non-conservative amino acid substitution from Thr to Ala, seems to be involved in the tumorigenesis of breast cancer. Results from studies concerning this mutation remain inconclusive. In the current study, we first took clinical and molecular datasets from case-control studies to determine the association between the G10398A mutation and breast cancer. We further used the Phylotree to determine the haplogroups of this mutation. The frequencies of this mutation in 500 unrelated healthy controls were also screened. We found that this mutation is very common in the human population, and may be a polymorph.

Variants in mitochondrial tRNA gene may not be associated with thyroid carcinoma.

Thyroid cancer is a very common form of endocrine system malignancy. To date, the molecular mechanism underlying thyroid cancer remains poorly understood. Studies of oncocytic tumors have led to a hypothesis which proposes that defects in oxidative phosphorylation (OX- PHOS) may result in a compensatory increase in mitochondrial replication and gene expression. As a result, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation analysis has become a useful tool to explore the molecular basis of this disease. Among these mutations, mitochondrial transfer RNAs (mttRNAs) are the hot spots for pathogenic mutations associated with thyroid cancer. However, due to its high mutation rate, the role of mt-tRNA variants in thyroid cancer is still controversial. To address this problem, in this study, we reassessed seven reported mt-tRNA variants: tRNAAsp G7521A, tRNAArg T10411C and T10463C, tRNALeu(CUN) A12308G, tRNAIle G4292C and C4312T, and tRNAAla T5655C, in clinical manifestations of thyroid cancer. We first performed the phylogenetic conservation analysis for these variants; moreover, we used a bioinformatic tool to compare the minimum free energy (G) of mt-tRNA with and without mutations. Most strikingly, none of these variants caused the significant change of the G between the wild-type and the mutant form, suggesting that they may not play an important roles in thyroid cancer. In addition, we screened the frequency of the "pathogenic" A12308G alternation in 300 patients with thyroid cancer and 200 healthy controls. We found that there were five patients and three control subjects carrying this variant. It seemed that the A12308G variant may be a common polymorphism in the human population. Taken together, our study indicated that variants in mt-tRNA genes may not play active roles in patients with thyroid cancer.

Systemic lupus erythematosus patients in the low-latitude plateau of China: altitudinal influences.

The current study was to investigate the features of hospitalized patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at different altitudes. The correlation between SLE activity and altitudinal variations was also explored. Medical records of 1029 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Activity of SLE in each organ system was recorded using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). There was no significant correlation between SLE activity and altitudes (r = 0.003, p = 0.159). Age at onset for SLE patients at high altitudes was significantly younger than that at low and moderate altitudes (p = 0.022 and p = 0.004, respectively). Age at SLE admission at low altitudes was significant older than those at moderate and high altitudes (p = 0.011 and p < 0.001, respectively). Patients at high altitudes had shorter duration from disease onset to admission than those at moderate altitudes (p = 0.009). Incidence of Sm antibodies-positive for resident patients at high altitudes was 36.4%, which were higher than that at moderate altitudes (p = 0.003). We found increasing trends of CNS activity in active patients; immunological and renal activities in inactive patients were correlated with elevated altitudes (p = 0.024, p = 0.004, p = 0.005), while arthritis scores in active patients showed the tendency of decreasing with the rise of elevation (p = 0.002). Hemoglobin level, red blood cell and platelet counts at high altitudes were significantly lower than those at low altitudes (p < 0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference in hemoglobin level between moderate- and low-altitude groups (p > 0.05). No significant difference in platelet counts between moderate- and high-altitude groups was observed (p > 0.05). Our findings suggest that some clinical features, laboratory tests and activity of main organs in SLE are influenced by altitudes. Furthermore, organ activities of active and inactive SLE patients have different patterns of altitudinal variations. These distinctive variations likely reveal that peculiar environmental factors at high altitudes can affect the development of SLE.

Xuemaitong granules attenuate carotid atherosclerosis by decreasing the expression of CD14+CD16+ monocytes, IL-6, TNF-α, and hsCRP.

Carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) has been extensively studied because its position can be easily observed. Our objective was to investigate the effects of Xuemaitong granules on the generation and activation of CD14+CD16+ monocytes on the inflammatory reaction in CAS patients. In this study, 22 male apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient mice were fed a high-fat diet for 13 weeks. After induction of an atherosclerotic plaque, the animals were randomly divided into the Xuemaitong granule group (450.5 mg/kg via intragastric administration, N=11) and the control group (equal volume saline via intragastric administration, N=11). Venous blood was obtained to analyze monocyte and CD14+CD16+ inflammatory monocyte levels, as well as interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). For clinical studies, 100 CAS patients received oral administration of Xuemaitong granules for 6 months. Monocytes, CD14+CD16+ inflammatory monocytes, and the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-a, and hsCRP were analyzed. Compared with the control group, a remarkable decrease in the number of monocytes and CD14+CD16+ inflammatory monocytes as well as TNF-a, hsCRP, and IL-6 was noted in the Xuemaitong group. Compared with before treatment levels, the proportions of monocytes and their subsets of CD14+CD16+ inflammatory monocytes and the concentration of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-a, and hsCRP significantly decreased. Xuemaitong granules played a significant role in the anti-inflammatory reactions. In addition, the granules attenuated the expression of the CD14+CD16+ inflammatory monocytes, resulting in the downregulation of the cytokines IL-6, TNF-a, and hsCRP.

Glycolysis recycling of rigid waste polyurethane foam from refrigerators.

Rapid growth of rigid waste polyurethane (WPUR) foam from refrigerators attracts the attention all over the world. In this study, glycolysis was chosen to treat WPUR from scrapped refrigerators collected in Shanghai, China. Glycolysis reagents and catalysts were selected. The results indicated that the glycolysis efficiency of ethylene glycol (EG) was higher than that of diethylene glycol, and the catalytic efficiency of alkali metal salts (NaOH) was more excellent than that of triethanolamine and organic salts of alkali metal (NaAc). When EG was 100%WPUR as a glycolysis reagent and NaOH was 1%WPUR as a catalyst at a constant temperature of 197.85°C for 2 h, the glycolysis product had the highest glycolysis conversion rate. In order to maximize the recycling of WPUR, regenerative Polyurethane was performed by adding 10% distilled mixed polyol, which conformed to the QB/T 26689-2011 requirements.

[Predictive value of global longitudinal strain measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for left ventricular remodeling after acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a multi-centered prospective study].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) measured by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking technique for left ventricular remodeling (LVR) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: A total of 403 patients undergoing PCI for acute STEMI were prospectively recruited from multiple centers in China.CMR examinations were performed one week (7±2 days) and 6 months after myocardial infarction to obtain GLS, global radial strain (GRS), global circumferential strain (GCS), ejection fraction (LVEF) and infarct size (IS).The primary endpoint was LVR, defined as an increase of left ventricle end-diastolic volume by ≥20% or an increase of left ventricle end-systolic volume by ≥15% from the baseline determined by CMR at 6 months.Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the predictive value of CMR parameters for LVR. RESULTS: LVR occurred in 101 of the patients at 6 months after myocardial infarction.Compared with those without LVR (n=302), the patients in LVR group exhibited significantly higher GLS and GCS (P < 0.001) and lower GRS and LVEF (P < 0.001).Logistic regression analysis indicated that both GLS (OR=1.387, 95%CI: 1.223-1.573;P < 0.001) and LVEF (OR=0.951, 95%CI: 0.914-0.990;P=0.015) were independent predictors of LVR.ROC curve analysis showed that at the optimal cutoff value of-10.6%, GLS had a sensitivity of 74.3% and a specificity of 71.9% for predicting LVR.The AUC of GLS was similar to that of LVEF for predicting LVR (P=0.146), but was significantly greater than those of other parameters such as GCS, GRS and IS (P < 0.05);the AUC of LVEF did not differ significantly from those of the other parameters (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: In patients receiving PCI for STEMI, GLS measured by CMR is a significant predictor of LVR occurrence with better performance than GRS, GCS, IS and LVEF.

[A multicenter prospective study on early identification of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children].

Objective: To explore potential predictors of refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) in early stage. Methods: The prospective multicenter study was conducted in Zhejiang, China from May 1st, 2019 to January 31st, 2020. A total of 1 428 patients with fever >48 hours to <120 hours were studied. Their clinical data and oral pharyngeal swab samples were collected; Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA in pharyngeal swab specimens was detected. Patients with positive Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA results underwent a series of tests, including chest X-ray, complete blood count, C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and procalcitonin. According to the occurrence of RMPP, the patients were divided into two groups, RMPP group and general Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (GMPP) group. Measurement data between the 2 groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations between clinical data and RMPP. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to analyse the power of the markers for predicting RMPP. Results: A total of 1 428 patients finished the study, with 801 boys and 627 girls, aged 4.3 (2.7, 6.3) years. Mycoplasma pneumoniae DNA was positive in 534 cases (37.4%), of whom 446 cases (83.5%) were diagnosed with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, including 251 boys and 195 girls, aged 5.2 (3.3, 6.9) years. Macrolides-resistant variation was positive in 410 cases (91.9%). Fifty-five cases were with RMPP, 391 cases with GMPP. The peak body temperature before the first visit and LDH levels in RMPP patients were higher than that in GMPP patients (39.6 (39.1, 40.0) vs. 39.2 (38.9, 39.7) ℃, 333 (279, 392) vs. 311 (259, 359) U/L, both P<0.05). Logistic regression showed the prediction probability π=exp (-29.7+0.667×Peak body temperature (℃)+0.004×LDH (U/L))/(1+exp (-29.7+0.667×Peak body temperature (℃)+0.004 × LDH (U/L))), the cut-off value to predict RMPP was 0.12, with a consensus of probability forecast of 0.89, sensitivity of 0.89, and specificity of 0.67; and the area under ROC curve was 0.682 (95%CI 0.593-0.771, P<0.01). Conclusion: In MPP patients with fever over 48 to <120 hours, a prediction probability π of RMPP can be calculated based on the peak body temperature and LDH level before the first visit, which can facilitate early identification of RMPP.

SOCS-1, a negative regulator of the JAK/STAT pathway, is silenced by methylation in human hepatocellular carcinoma and shows growth-suppression activity.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death, but the molecular mechanism for its development beyond its initiation has not been well characterized. Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS-1; also known as JAB and SSI-1) switches cytokine signaling 'off' by means of its direct interaction with Janus kinase (JAK). We identified aberrant methylation in the CpG island of SOCS-1 that correlated with its transcription silencing in HCC cell lines. The incidence of aberrant methylation was 65% in the 26 human primary HCC tumor samples analyzed. Moreover, the restoration of SOCS-1 suppressed both growth rate and anchorage-independent growth of cells in which SOCS-1 was methylation-silenced and JAK2 was constitutively activated. This growth suppression was caused by apoptosis and was reproduced by AG490, a specific, chemical JAK2 inhibitor that reversed constitutive phosphorylation of STAT3 in SOCS-1 inactivated cells. The high prevalence of the aberrant SOCS-1 methylation and its growth suppression activity demonstrated the importance of the constitutive activation of the JAK/STAT pathway in the development of HCC. Our results also indicate therapeutic strategies for the treatment of HCC including use of SOCS-1 in gene therapy and inhibition of JAK2 by small molecules, such as AG490.

[Long noncoding RNA H19 promotes vascular calcification by repressing the Bax inhibitor 1/optic atrophy 1 pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether long noncoding RNA H19 (lncRNA H19) induces vascular calcification by promoting calcium deposition, osteogenic differentiation and apoptosis via inhibiting the Bax inhibitor 1/optic atrophy 1 (BI-1/ OPA1) pathway. METHODS: ß-glycerophosphate and calcium chloride were used to induce calcification in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and the effects of siH19, alone or in combination with BI-1 or OPA1 knockdown, on calcification of the cells were investigated. Osteogenic differentiation was assessed by measuring Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) expression with Western blotting, and cell apoptosis was evaluated by TUNEL staining and Western blotting. An ApoE-/- diabetic mouse model with high-fat feeding for 32 weeks were given an intraperitoneal injection of siH19, and the changes in calcium deposition in the aortic arch were examined using Alizarin red S staining and von Kossa staining. RESULTS: In rat VSMCs with calcification, the expression of lncRNA H19 was significantly increased, and the expressions of BI- 1 and OPA1 were significantly decreased. Downregulation of lncRNA H19 significantly increased the expressions of BI-1 and OPA1 proteins in the cells, and BI-1 knockdown further reduced OPA1 expression (P<0.001). The cells treated with siH19 showed total disappearance of the calcified nodules with significantly reduced expressions of Runx-2, BMP-2 and cleaved caspase-3 and a lowered cell apoptosis rate (P<0.001). Calcified nodules were again observed in the cells with lncRNA H19 knockdown combined with BI-1 or OPA1 knockdown, and the expressions of Runx-2, BMP-2, cleaved-caspase-3 and cell apoptosis rate all significantly increased (P<0.001). In the diabetic mouse model with high-fat feeding, siH19 treatment significantly reduced the calcification area and increased mRNA expressions of BI-I and OPA1 in the aortic arch. CONCLUSION: LncRNA H19 promotes vascular calcification possibly by promoting calcium deposition, osteogenic differentiation and cell apoptosis via inhibiting the BI-1/OPA1 pathway.