[Clinical significance of ultrasound combined with serological indexes for predicting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B with normal or slightly elevated alanine aminotransferase].

Objective: To investigate and establish the related factors of non-invasive score model for prediction of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in chronic hepatitis B patients with normal or mildly elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Methods: A total of 128 cases with chronic hepatitis B who had undergone liver biopsy were included. According to the presence or absence of hepatocyte steatosis on the pathological results of liver biopsy, they were divided into a fatty infiltration and a non-fatty infiltration group. Patients' demographic characteristics, laboratory test indexes, and pathological test results were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis combined with clinical screening variables were used to establish a predictive model. The prediction efficiency of the new model was evaluated by the receiver operating curve, and the difference between the accuracy of the new model and ultrasound in the diagnosis of fatty liver was compared by Delong's-test. Result: Multivariate regression analysis showed that serum triglyceride, serum uric acid and platelets were highly correlated with intrahepatic steatosis (P<0.05). The regression equation triglyceride-uric acid-platelet (TUP)-1=-8.195+0.011×uric acid+1.439×triglyceride+0.012×platelet count was established by combining the above variables. Tthe equation TUP-2=-7.527+0.010×uric acid+1.309×triglyceride+0.012×platelet count+1.397×fatty liver (ultrasound) was established (yes=1; no=0) after incorporating the results of abdominal ultrasound. The diagnostic value of TUP-1 and TUP-2 models for fatty liver was better than that of ultrasound alone and there was no statistically significant difference in diagnostic value between TUP-1 and TUP-2 models (Z=1.453, P=0.146). Conclusion: Compared with abdominal ultrasonography alone, the new model is more effective in diagnosing fatty liver and has good application value.

Coronary heart disease and chronic periodontitis: is polymorphism of interleukin-6 gene the common risk factor in a Chinese population?

OBJECTIVES: Coronary heart disease (CHD) and chronic periodontitis (CP) both are multifactorial chronic diseases and related to inflammation. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association among IL-6 gene polymorphisms, CP and CHD susceptibility in a Chinese population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The investigation was conducted as a case-control study involving 505 individuals: 113 patients with CHD and CP, 84 patients with CHD, 178 patients with CP and 130 control individuals. The polymorphisms of IL-6 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Relationships between the distributions of the genotypes and risk factors were also assessed. RESULTS: Mutations at the loci -174 G/C, -597 G/A of IL-6 were rare in a Chinese population. No significant difference for IL-6-572C/G polymorphism was detected among moderate CP group, severe CP group and control (P = 0.312 and 0.481), significant differences were found between CHD groups and non-CHD groups (P ≤ 0.001). After adjustment for CHD risk factors, the G allele resulted in an increased risk (OR = 1.676-1.856), the GG/CG genotype was nearly two times higher risk compared to CC genotype (OR = 2.010-2.136). CONCLUSIONS: IL-6-572C/G polymorphism did not correlate with CP susceptibility, but might be a potential risk factor for CHD in a Chinese population.

Response of nasal airway and heart rate variability to controlled nasal breathing.

To investigate the responses of nasal airway and autonomic nervous system (ANS) under controlled nasal breathings. Ten healthy volunteers, aged between 21 and 37 years, were enrolled. The participants breathed either through bilateral nostrils (BNB) or unilaterally through the left nostril (UNB) at 0.25 Hz for 5 min. The electrocardiography was simultaneously recorded and the ANS activities were evaluated using heart rate variability analysis. Nasal airway resistance and related factors were measured by rhinomanometry. The results showed that the mean heartbeat interval during UNB was significantly greater than during BNB. The sympathetic modulation decreased significantly during UNB. The correlations between nasal airway resistance and mean heartbeat interval were significant for both UNB and BNB. The increase of heartbeat intervals during UNB was associated with the decrease of cardiac sympathetic activities. The changes of ANS activities and nasal airway resistance during UNB are similar to the changes caused by a prolonged lying.

Observation of a singular Weyl point surrounded by charged nodal walls in PtGa.

Constrained by the Nielsen-Ninomiya no-go theorem, in all so-far experimentally determined Weyl semimetals (WSMs) the Weyl points (WPs) always appear in pairs in the momentum space with no exception. As a consequence, Fermi arcs occur on surfaces which connect the projections of the WPs with opposite chiral charges. However, this situation can be circumvented in the case of unpaired WP, without relevant surface Fermi arc connecting its surface projection, appearing singularly, while its Berry curvature field is absorbed by nontrivial charged nodal walls. Here, combining angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with density functional theory calculations, we show experimentally that a singular Weyl point emerges in PtGa at the center of the Brillouin zone (BZ), which is surrounded by closed Weyl nodal walls located at the BZ boundaries and there is no Fermi arc connecting its surface projection. Our results reveal that nontrivial band crossings of different dimensionalities can emerge concomitantly in condensed matter, while their coexistence ensures the net topological charge of different dimensional topological objects to be zero. Our observation extends the applicable range of the original Nielsen-Ninomiya no-go theorem which was derived from zero dimensional paired WPs with opposite chirality.

Association among interleukin-6 gene polymorphism, diabetes and periodontitis in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetics significantly increase risk for periodontitis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene polymorphism may play certain roles in the progression of periodontitis with diabetes. The purpose of this study was to assess the association among IL-6 gene polymorphisms, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic periodontitis (CP) in a Chinese population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: DNA was obtained from 159 patients with CP, 88 patients with T2DM, 110 patients with CP&T2DM and 135 control subjects. The -174/-572/-597 polymorphisms of IL-6 gene were investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism of polymerase chain reaction products. The results were further confirmed by sequencing. Significance was set at P < 0.008 after Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: Among four groups, CP&T2DM group showed the lowest IL-6-572 CC genotype and C-allele frequencies (54.5% and 74.1%). In this regard, there were significant differences between CP&T2DM group and the control group [P = 0.006, odds ratio (OR) = 0.475, 95% CI: 0.279-0.808 and P = 0.002, OR = 0.502, 95% CI: 0.319-0.788 respectively]. Logistic regression with adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, smoking and stress showed no significant difference in terms of IL-6-572 genotypes (P = 0.058, OR= 0.523, 95% CI: 0.268-1.022). CONCLUSIONS: The IL-6-572 genotype and allele distributions are unique to subjects with CP&T2DM in a Chinese population.

Comprehensive glycan analysis of twelve recombinant human erythropoietin preparations from manufacturers in China and Japan.

Recombinant, human, erythropoietin (rhEPO) is a glycoprotein hormone which is prescribed throughout the world to treat anaemia caused by chronic kidney disease or chemotherapy. rhEPO is at the forefront of the recent emergence of biosimilar medicines, with numerous products now available worldwide. Due to its complex glycosylation profile, which has a crucial influence upon biological activity, therapeutic rhEPO preparations must be closely monitored to ensure consistency, safety and efficacy. Here, we have compared twelve rhEPO preparations from eleven manufacturers in China and one in Japan, measuring in vivo biological activity and exploring its relationship with glycosylation through sialic acid content determination, isoform distribution via capillary electrophoresis (CE), O-glycan profiling, and N-glycan mapping using a novel anion-exchange/hydrophilic interaction chromatography-mass spectrometry (AEX/HILIC-MS) approach. We observed differences between glycosylation profiles, including the varying occurrence of sialic acid O-acetylation, extension of N-glycan antennae with N-acetyllactosamine units, and the distribution of sialic acids across multi-antennary structures. The presence of unusually high levels of suspected penta- and hexa-anionic N-glycans in several samples is consistent with elevated rhEPO isoform acidity, which is reflected by slightly elevated in vivo bioactivities. This aside, the observed differences in glycosylation profile do not appear to have a significant influence upon biological activity in mice. Nonetheless, with the continued emergence of biosimilars, the study highlights the importance of monitoring glycosylation profiles in biological medicines, in order to detect and account for divergence between products, as well as the presence of unusual or unexpected glycans.

Far-infrared spectroscopic characterization of explosives for security applications using broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy.

Broadband terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) has been used to measure the far-infrared (FIR) vibrational spectra of several commonly used pure explosives, including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), 1,3-dinitrato-2,2-bis(nitratomethyl)propane (PETN), and two types of plastic explosive, SEMTEX and SX2. A number of distinct absorption peaks, originating from FIR-active vibrational modes of these polycrystalline energetic materials, were observed in the frequency range 0.3-7.5 THz (10-250 cm(-1)). In addition, the temperature-dependent FIR vibrational spectra of PETN were measured between 4 K and 296 K with several well-resolved absorption peaks observed across this temperature range. We find that as the temperature is reduced, the observed absorption peaks resolve into narrower features and shift towards higher frequencies. The temperature dependence of the spectra is explained in terms of the anharmonicity of the vibrational potentials of crystalline compounds, and an empirical fit is given to describe the peak shift with temperature.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) stimulates vascular smooth muscle cell growth and migration in vitro.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) was first identified as a 38-kDa cysteine-rich protein which can be specifically induced by TGF-beta and was recently found to be expressed abundantly in atherosclerotic lesions, but only marginally in normal vascular tissues. It was hypothesized that CTGF is one of the factors involved in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. In this study, we investigated the functions of CTGF protein in regulating the growth and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and found that by overexpressing CTGF in VSMC, proliferation and migration rates were significantly increased. The accelerated growth and migration can be reversed by an anti-CTGF antibody. In addition, overexpression of CTGF also promotes VSMC to express more extracellular matrix protein collagen I and fibronectin. Our results indicate that CTGF is a growth factor for VSMC and it may play a similar role in promoting VSMC proliferation, migration, and formation of extracellular matrix, in vivo.

EGFR antisense RNA blocks expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor and partially reverse the malignant phenotype of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.

The effects of human EGFR to the malignant phenotype of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 were investigated experimentally. A retroviral vector containing a 5'1350bp fragment of the human EGFR cDNA in the antisense orientation was transfected into targeted cells by lipofectamine. The effects on cell proliferation, cell cycle and adherent ability to extracellular matrix (ECM) components were studied after the expression of antisense transcripts to EGFR 5'1350bp fragment in target cells. In vitro studies showed that the growth ability of the transfected cells was partially inhibited in comparison to parental cells and to cells transfected with the plasmid containing the neomycin resistance gene only. It was found that EGF (10 ng/ml) had an argumenation effect on the growth of transfected MDA-AS10 cells but not MDA-MB-231 cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the cell cycle of the transfected cells was abnormal with a decrease of cells in G2/M and S phases and an increase of cells in G1 phase, indicating a blockage in phase G1. Immunofluorescence of EGFR expression in transfectants stained with an anti-EGFR antibody was decreased and their growth in soft agarose was also severely impaired. The transfected cells showed less adherence to laminin (LN) and fibronectin (FN). In short, EGFR antisense RNA decreases the expression of EGFR on MDA-MB-231 cells and partially reverses their malignant phenotype as well.

Efficacy and safety of telmisartan vs. losartan in control of mild-to-moderate hypertension: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind study.

This multicentre, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study compared the efficacy and safety of telmisartan with those of losartan after 8 weeks' treatment. In total, 330 patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] <180 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure [DBP] 95-109 mmHg) were randomly assigned to receive once-daily treatment with telmisartan 40 mg (n = 164) or losartan 50 mg (n = 166). After 4 weeks' treatment, if a patient's DBP was > or = 90 mmHg, the dose was increased to telmisartan 80 mg or losartan 100 mg, respectively. The results show that mean trough seated blood pressure was reduced significantly more in the telmisartan group than that in the losartan group (SBP 12.5 mmHg vs. 9.4 mmHg, p = 0.037; DBP 10.9 mmHg vs. 9.3 mmHg, p = 0.030). The overall DBP response rate (reduction from baseline in mean seated DBP > or = 10 mmHg and/or a mean seated DBP <90 mmHg) at the end of the study in the telmisartan group was higher than that in losartan group (70.1% vs. 58.7%, p = 0.020). At both the low and high doses, the DBP response rates for telmisartan were significantly higher than those for losartan (telmisartan 40 mg vs. losartan 50 mg: 46.3% vs. 32.5%, p = 0.010; telmisartan 80 mg vs. losartan 100 mg: 79.3% vs. 65.3%, p = 0.008). Adverse events with the two treatments were comparable (telmisartan vs. losartan 23.2% vs. 22.9%, p = 0.952). Most events were mild in intensity and abated within 72 h. Thus, telmisartan 40 mg or 80 mg administered once daily can reduce SBP and DBP effectively and safely.

[The twenty-year trend in hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction in Shanghai and the responsible factors. Shanghai Cooperative Group of Myocardial Infarction].

The hospital mortality rates of patients with acute myocardial infarction admitted to 10 main hospitals in Shanghai during the period of 1970-1989 were compared with those of different time periods (year 1970-1974, 1975-1979, 1980-1984 and 1985-1989) and the results disclosed a decreasing trend in mortality in later years. The distribution of major prognostic factors were compared among patients admitted in different time periods and no trend to naturally reduced infarct severity on admission was found. On the contrary, the predicted hospital mortality derived from the prognostic function tends to increase in 1980s. It is, therefore, concluded that the recent decline in hospital mortality of acute myocardial infarction observed is the result of progress and improvement in medical care. The way through which mortality was decreased was discussed.

[Further studies on the factors influencing the onset of acute myocardial infarction].

Distribution of hospitalized cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in ten major hospitals in Shanghai during the period of 1970-1989 was studied. A definite seasonal trend in admission rates of AMI was found, with the lowest in July and August and the peak in January, which suggested a negative relationship between number of admissions and average air temperature of the month. Onset of AMI occurred most at 6-12 o'clock in the morning, with the peaks at 8 in the morning, 2 afternoon, and 8 evening. Precipitating factors, such as physical exertion, emotional upset, could be identified in 42.03% of the patients, and existed more frequently in those occurred during the day than during the night. Based on the above findings, ways to prevent the onset of AMI were discussed in the paper.

[Intervention of lidocaine and Astragalus membranaceus on ventricular late potentials].

16 and 22 patients with positive ventricular late potentials (LP) recorded on signal-averaged electrocardiograms (SAECG) were treated with lidocaine 100 mg iv. or Astragalus membranaceus 24 g iv. drip for 2 weeks respectively. As a result, the SAECGs of 2 (12.5%) and 3 (13.6%) of them normalized respectively. Compared with baseline, there were no significant changes in average HFQRSD, LAS and RMS 40 after treatment of lidocaine. HFQRSD and LAS were shortened significantly 115.9 +/- 29.9 vs 125.1 +/- 29.4 ms (P < 0.001); and 44.8 +/- 15.4 vs 52.8 +/- 15.4 ms (P < 0.001), and RMS 40 was enlarged 20.0 +/- 18.6 vs 12.8 +/- 19.0 microV (P < 0.05) only after treatment of Astragalus membranaceus. It is suggested that the duration of LP was shortened.

The exponential function transforms the Abbreviated Injury Scale, which both improves accuracy and simplifies scoring.

PURPOSE: We present here the exponential function which transforms the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). It is called the Exponential Injury Severity Score (EISS), and significantly outperforms the venerable but dated New Injury Severity Score (NISS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS) as a predictor of mortality. METHODS: The EISS is defined as a change of AIS values by raising each AIS severity score (1-6) by 3 taking a power of AIS minus 2 and then summing the three most severe injuries (i.e., highest AIS), regardless of body regions. EISS values were calculated for every patient in two large independent data sets: 3,911 and 4,129 patients treated during a 6-year period at the Class A tertiary hospitals in China. The power of the EISS to predict mortality was then compared with previously calculated NISS values for the same patients in each of the two data sets. RESULTS: We found that the EISS is more predictive of survival [Zhejiang: area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC): NISS = 0.932, EISS = 0.949, P = 0.0115; Liaoning: AUC: NISS = 0.924, EISS = 0.942, P = 0.0139]. Moreover, the EISS provides a better fit throughout its entire range of prediction (Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic for Zhejiang: NISS = 21.86, P = 0.0027, EISS = 13.52, P = 0.0604; Liaoning: NISS = 23.27, P = 0.0015, EISS = 15.55, P = 0.0164). CONCLUSIONS: The EISS may be used as the standard summary measure of human trauma.

Use of a new type of trocar for the surgical treatment of hydrocephalus: a simple and effective technique.

This study compared the use of a new type of peritoneocentesis trocar with conventional laparotomy for the placement of the distal catheter in the treatment of hydrocephalus with ventriculoperitoneal shunt. A total of 376 patients with hydrocephalus were recruited to the study and were assigned randomly to undergo insertion of the distal catheter by conventional laparotomy (n = 195) or using the new peritoneal trocar (n = 181). The time taken for the surgical procedure and the complication rate over the following 1-year period were compared between the two groups. The mean length of the procedure to place the distal catheter was significantly shorter in the trocar group compared with the laparotomy group. Infection and obstruction rates were significantly higher in the laparotomy group than in the trocar group. In conclusion, the use of the new trocar was associated with lower rates of surgically induced trauma and complications compared with conventional laparotomy.

Characterization of complete genome sequence of the spring viremia of carp virus isolated from common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in China.

The complete genome of spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) strain A-1 isolated from cultured common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in China was sequenced and characterized. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) derived clones were constructed and the DNA was sequenced. It showed that the entire genome of SVCV A-1 consists of 11,100 nucleotide base pairs, the predicted size of the viral RNA of rhabdoviruses. However, the additional insertions in bp 4633-4676 and bp 4684-4724 of SVCV A-1 were different from the other two published SVCV complete genomes. Five open reading frames (ORFs) of SVCV A-1 were identified and further confirmed by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing of their respective RT-PCR products. The 5 structural proteins encoded by the viral RNA were ordered 3'-N-P-M-G-L-5'. This is the first report of a complete genome sequence of SVCV isolated from cultured carp in China. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that SVCV A-1 is closely related to the members of the genus Vesiculovirus, family Rhabdoviridae.

Activation of protein kinase C inhibits the expression of connective tissue growth factor.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a member of a protein family in which 38 cysteine residues are conserved. Although a wide variety of important biological functions have been ascribed to these proteins in recent years, the regulation of their gene expression for most members is virtually unknown. We studied the effects of protein kinase C (PKC) and tyrosine kinase on the expression of CTGF and observed that at the mRNA level CTGF expression is inhibited by the activation of PKC, but stimulated by the inhibition of PKC and tyrosine kinase. We further determined that the novel and the classical PKC isoforms are needed for the inhibition, but the atypical isoforms are not involved. Our data suggest that phosphorylation on serine/threonine and tyrosine by PKC and by tyrosine kinase are all inhibitory to the expression of CTGF.

Two copies of a DNA element, 'Wendy', in the chloroplast chromosome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii between rearranged gene clusters.

We have characterized two copies of a 2.4 kb DNA element that we call 'Wendy', in the chloroplast chromosome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The two copies of Wendy reside in different single-copy regions at opposite positions in the chloroplast genome. Like many mobile DNA elements, both copies of Wendy are bordered by inverted repeats and contain several additional degenerate copies of these repeat sequences in direct or inverted orientation. In addition, four basepairs are repeated in direct orientation. Two major open reading frames (ORFs) are predicted from the DNA sequence of Wendy I. These ORFs are co-transcribed from a promoter inside the element. The deduced amino acid sequence of the larger of these ORFs shares some weak similarities with sequence motifs of transposases and integrases of other mobile elements. Wendy II appears to be altered relative to Wendy I by point mutations and small deletions and insertions which destroy the ORFs. The leader sequence of the Wendy transcript is nearly identical with the leader sequence of the rbcL transcript of C. reinhardtii, but not of C. moewusii (where the complete Wendy was also undetectable). Furthermore, both copies of Wendy are bracketed by gene clusters that are separated in C. reinhardtii but are contiguous in C. moewusii where they exist in an inverted orientation compared with C. reinhardtii. Wendy was not found in any of the completely sequenced chloroplast genomes of rice, tobacco, pine, Euglena or Marchantia, nor in any other GenBank entry. Our results suggest that Wendy has invaded C. reinhardtii after divergence from other species. Subsequent Wendy-dependent illegitimate homologous or site-specific recombination events or both may have contributed to scrambling of the C. reinhardtii chloroplast genome relative to genomes of other species.