The effect of weighted blankets on sleep and related disorders: a brief review.

Background: Sleep disorders such as insomnia can lead to a range of health problems. The high risk of side effects and drug abuse of traditional pharmacotherapy calls for a safer non-pharmacotherapy. Aims: To examine the use and efficacy of weighted blankets in improving sleep and related disorders in different populations and explore the possible mechanisms. Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and CNKI databases. Eligible studies included an intervention with weighted blankets and outcomes covering sleep and/or related disorders (behavioral disturbance, negative emotions and daytime symptoms). Studies using other deep pressure, compression, or exercise-related interventions were excluded. Conclusions: Most of the included studies showed that weighted blankets could effectively improve sleep quality and alleviate negative emotions and daytime symptoms in patients with sleep disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and other related disorders, with a possible mechanism of deep pressure touch. Recommendations: Weighted blankets might be a promising tool for sleep interventions among individuals with sleep disorders in clinical settings. More high-quality and large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to further validate the safety and efficacy of weighted blankets and explore precise mechanisms.

Research progress of Parkin protein regulating mitochondrial homeostasis through ubiquitination in cardiovascular diseases / 中国药理学通报

In addition to providing energy for cells, mitochondria also participate in calcium homeostasis, cell information transfer, cell apoptosis, cell growth and differentiation. Therefore, maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis is very crucial for the body to carry out normal life activities. Ubiquitination, a post-translational modification of proteins, is involved in various physiological and pathological processes of cells by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis. However, the mechanism by which ubiquitination regulates mitochondrial homeostasis has not been summarized, especially the effect of Parkin protein on cardiovascular diseases. In this paper, the specific mechanism of mitochondrial homeostasis regulated by ubiquitination of Parkin protein is discussed, and the influence of mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance on cardiovascular diseases is reviewed, with a view to providing potential therapeutic strategies for the clinical treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Graphene Oxide-Intercalated Tetrazole-Based Coordination Polymers: Thermally Stable Hybrid Energetic Crystals with Enhanced Photosensitivity.

High-energy-density photosensitive pyrotechnics with good thermal stability have been in increasing demand in recent years. In this paper, graphene oxide (GO)-intercalated energetic coordination polymers (ECPs) are prepared with improved thermostability but great photosensitivity by using high nitrogen compounds azotetrazole (AT) and 5,5'-bistetrazole-1,1'-diolate dehydrate (BTO) as ligands. The decomposition activation energy (Ea) of Cu-AT has been increased from 135.7 to 151.9 kJ·mol-1 after intercalating 5 wt% GO, and in the meantime, the exothermic peak temperature (Tp) was increased by 12.6 °C. However, the decomposition Ea of Cu-BTO decreased under the effect of the same amount of GO with little effect on Tp. This confirms that GO has stabilization effects on the Cu-AT crystal, whereas the catalytic effects on Cu-BTO would dominate after dehydration with its crystal lattice collapse. Also, when the content of GO was 3%, the resultant GO0.03-Cu-AT exhibits a higher density (2.88 g·cm-3) and good thermostability (Tp = 293.7 °C). This ECP shows excellent low-energy laser ignition performance, which can be ignited with an energy of less than 1 mJ at a wavelength of 976 nm. Low-energy laser initiation is considered to be a safer but more reliable method than the traditional electrical-based ones.

Effectiveness of parent-training program on children with autism spectrum disorder in China.

Objective: This study intends to explore the effect of parent-training program on the rehabilitation intervention in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in Chinese-speaking areas of China by offering parent skill training and psychology counseling. Methods: From January 2018 to June 2019, a total of 80 children diagnosed with ASD from the Department of Children Healthcare of Wuxi Children's Hospital were randomly grouped into the parent training groups and control groups. Parents in the training group received 12 weeks of skill training, including 8 group and 2 individual training sessions, as well as psychology counseling. This enabled them to give their children >2 h of intervention training daily in a natural environment. Children in the control group were placed on a rehabilitation waiting list or received general community training. Before grouping and after the intervention, all children underwent neuropsychological evaluations with Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), and Gesell Developmental Schedule (GDS). GDS covers five sectors, namely adaptive behavior, gross motor, fine motor, language, and personal-social behavior. Results: Statistically significant differences were not detected between the two groups in ABC, CARS, and GDS scoring at baseline evaluation. And significant differences were detected between the two groups in ABC, CARS, adaptive behavior, and personal-social behavior scoring at endpoint evaluation. Furthermore, the re-evaluation results of ABC scoring and CARS scoring of the children in the parent training group decreased significantly from the preliminary evaluation results when compared before and after the intervention. Moreover, the intragroup comparison of adaptive behavior scoring, language scoring, and personal-social behavior scoring of the experiment group increased significantly from the preliminary evaluation results, while the difference of the same of the children in the control group between re-evaluation and preliminary evaluation did not differ significantly. Conclusions: In China, the parent-training program enables parents to train ASD children in a natural environment, which would markedly improve behavioral problems, core symptoms, adaptability, language competence, and social development capability.

[Effect of intradermal needling combined with oral motor therapy for salivation in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of combination of intradermal needling with oral motor therapy and simple oral motor therapy on salivation in children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: A total of 60 children with salivation in cerebral palsy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with intradermal needling (kept for 24 hours each time at Jiache [ST 6], Dicang [ST 4], tongue three needles, etc. ) and oral motor therapy, while the control group was only given oral motor therapy. The intradermal needling was performed 3 times a week, and oral motor therapy was performed 5 times a week, 4 weeks as a course, totally 3 courses of treatment were required. The classification of teacher drooling scale (TDS), drooling severity and Kubota water swallow test, dysphagia disorders survey (DDS) score were compared before treatment and after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment in both groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment in the observation group and after 12 weeks of treatment in the two groups, the classification of TDS and drooling severity were improved (P<0.05), and the observation group was better than the control group after 12 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). After 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the DDS scores of oral period in the observation group were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 83.3% (25/30), which was higher than 53.3% (16/30) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of intradermal needling with oral motor therapy can improve salivation symptoms and swallowing function in children with cerebral palsy, the effect is better than oral motor therapy alone, and the effect is earlier.

Effect of exosome derived from ovarian cancer cell on the differentiation of fibroblast / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To study the effects of exosome secreted by ovarian cancer (OC) cell on the differentiation and metastasis of normal fibroblasts (NFs). Methods: NFs were collected from patients who underwent hysteromyoma resection in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from May to December 2019. Exosome was extracted from the culture supernatant of SKOV3 cells by using ultra-high-speed centrifugation. The NFs were co-cultured with condition medium (CM), exosome of SKOV3 (SKOV3-exo) and control medium. The expression levels of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blot. The metastatic ability of NFs was detected by Transwell array. Results: Under the transmission electron microscope, the extracellular vesicles extracted from the culture supernatant of SKOV3 were 30-100 nm in diameter with cup holder-like bilayer membrane structure, and the protein expression levels of TSG101 and HSP27 in exosomes (1.00±0.05 and 1.12±0.13) were higher than those of ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells (0.22±0.21 and 0.36±0.14, respectively, P<0.05). PKH67 fluorescently labeled exosomes could be taken up by NFs. The expression levels of α-SMA and FAP mRNA in CM group(2.91±0.15 and 3.21±0.33)and SKOV3-exo group (3.50±0.21 and 4.63±0.24, respectively) were higher than that in blank group (1.00±0.06 and 1.00±0.13, P<0.05). The protein expression levels of α-SMA and FAP in CM group and SKOV3-exo group (0.89±0.11 and 1.25±0.09, 0.81±0.09 and 1.20±0.12) were higher than those in the blank group (0.12±0.31 and 0.11±0.19, respectively, P<0.05). The migrated numbers of cells in the CM group and SKOV3-exo group [(215.01±14.80) and (389.72±19.43), respectively] were higher than that in the blank group [(113.73±4.70), P<0.05]. Conclusion: The exosome secreted by SKOV3 cells can be taken up by NFs, which makes it to differentiate into cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and significantly enhances its metastatic ability, indicating that OC cells may promote the transformation of normal ovarian mesenchymal fibroblasts to CAFs through exosome pathways, and then promote the development of ovarian cancer.

Effect of intradermal needling combined with oral motor therapy for salivation in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the effect of combination of intradermal needling with oral motor therapy and simple oral motor therapy on salivation in children with cerebral palsy.@*METHODS@#A total of 60 children with salivation in cerebral palsy were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The observation group was treated with intradermal needling (kept for 24 hours each time at Jiache [ST 6], Dicang [ST 4], tongue three needles, etc. ) and oral motor therapy, while the control group was only given oral motor therapy. The intradermal needling was performed 3 times a week, and oral motor therapy was performed 5 times a week, 4 weeks as a course, totally 3 courses of treatment were required. The classification of teacher drooling scale (TDS), drooling severity and Kubota water swallow test, dysphagia disorders survey (DDS) score were compared before treatment and after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment in both groups, and the clinical efficacy was evaluated.@*RESULTS@#After 8 weeks of treatment in the observation group and after 12 weeks of treatment in the two groups, the classification of TDS and drooling severity were improved (P<0.05), and the observation group was better than the control group after 12 weeks of treatment (P<0.05). After 8 and 12 weeks of treatment, the DDS scores of oral period in the observation group were lower than those before treatment (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the observation group was 83.3% (25/30), which was higher than 53.3% (16/30) in the control group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The combination of intradermal needling with oral motor therapy can improve salivation symptoms and swallowing function in children with cerebral palsy, the effect is better than oral motor therapy alone, and the effect is earlier.

Prebiotics Inulin Metabolism by Lactic Acid Bacteria From Young Rabbits.

Inulin as a commercial prebiotic could selectively promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Whether LAB in rabbit gut possesses the capability to metabolize and utilize inulin is little known. Therefore, this study recovered 94 LAB strains from neonate rabbits and found that only 29% (28/94) could metabolize inulin with both species- and strain-specificity. The most vigorous inulin-degrading strain, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei YT170, could efficiently utilize both short-chain and long-chain components through thin-layer chromatography analysis. From genomic analysis, a predicted fosRABCDXE operon encoding putative cell wall-anchored fructan ß-fructosidase, five fructose-transporting proteins and a pts1BCA operon encoding putative ß-fructofuranosidase and sucrose-specific IIBCA components were linked to long-chain and short-chain inulin utilization respectively. This study provides a mechanistic rationale for effect of inulin administration on rabbits and lays a foundation for synbiotic applications aimed at modulating the intestinal microbiota of young rabbits.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Ips calligraphus (Germar 1824) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae).

The complete mitogenome of Ips calligraphus was sequenced, the length was 19,144 bp which consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a major non-coding AT-rich region (GenBank accession no. MW589547). All of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) started with ATN. 12 PCGs used the typical stop codon 'TAA,' while ATP8 terminated with stop codon 'TAG.' Phylogenetic analyses were performed using mitochondrial PCGs for the I. calligraphus and other 18 species within the Scolytinae. The I. calligraphus was clustered together with the other two Ips species in tribe Ipini which were closely related to Xyleborini and Dryocoetini.

Phase 2 multiple-dose study of an FcRn inhibitor, rozanolixizumab, in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a predominantly immunoglobulin G (IgG)-autoantibody-mediated disease characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia. Rozanolixizumab, a subcutaneously infused humanized monoclonal anti-neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) antibody, reduced serum IgG in healthy volunteers. In this phase 2, multicenter, open-label study, patients with persistent/chronic primary ITP received 1 to 5 once-weekly subcutaneous infusions of rozanolixizumab (cumulative doses, 15-21 mg/kg). Primary objectives were safety and tolerability, and secondary objectives were clinical efficacy (change in platelet count) and pharmacodynamic effect (change in IgG). In all, 51 (77.3%) of 66 patients reported 1 or more adverse events (AEs), all mild-to-moderate, most commonly headaches (26 [39.4%] of 66), of which 15 were treatment related. Four patients had serious AEs, but none were treatment related. No AEs resulted in discontinuation of the study drug. No serious infections occurred. Platelet counts of ≥50 × 109/L were achieved at least once at any time after multiple infusions (5 × 4, 3 × 7, or 2 × 10 mg/kg: 35.7%, 35.7%, and 45.5% of patients, respectively) or single infusions (15 or 20 mg/kg: 66.7% and 54.5% patients, respectively). Minimum mean IgG levels and maximum mean platelet counts both occurred by day 8 in the higher (15 and 20 mg/kg) single-dose cohorts and maximum platelet count occurred by day 11 onward in the multiple-dose cohorts. No clinically meaningful changes occurred in IgA, IgM, IgE, or albumin levels. In patients with persistent/chronic primary ITP, rozanolixizumab demonstrated a favorable safety profile and rapid, substantial platelet increases concordant with substantial IgG reductions, especially with single doses. By day 8, in the 15 and 20 mg/kg single-dose cohorts, >50% patients achieved clinically relevant platelet responses (≥50 × 109/L), coinciding with the lowest mean IgG levels. These data support phase 3 development of rozanolixizumab in persistent/chronic primary ITP. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02718716.

Knockdown of enhancer of rudimentary homolog inhibits proliferation and metastasis in ovarian cancer by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the deadliest gynecological malignancy. The pathogenesis of molecular in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), main histological type of OC, has not been completely defined. Enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) had been reported to participate in transcriptional regulation, mRNA splicing, DNA repair and DNA synthesis by binding a variety of proteins. In this study, immunohistochemical staining revealed that the protein expression of ERH was associated with histological type, lymph node metastasis and pathological grade in EOC patients. To verify the association of ERH with the prognosis of OC, a GSE microarray dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Survival analysis suggested that ERH may be associated with poor prognosis of OC. In addition, shRNA was used to knockdown the protein and mRNA expression levels of ERH in the OC cell line SKOV3. Inhibition of ERH expression slowed proliferation, promoted apoptosis and inhibited metastasis and invasion by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in SKOV3 cells. These results indicate that ERH protein promotes the development of OC and provides an experimental basis for ERH as the potential target for ovarian cancer treatment.

Expression and prognostic value of lactate dehydrogenase-A and -D subunits in human uterine myoma and uterine sarcoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the expression of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)-A and LDH-D in patients with uterine myoma, cellular leiomyoma (CLM), and uterine sarcoma and to evaluate their prognostic significance. METHODS: Protein expression levels of LDH-A and LDH-D were determined in tissue samples from 86 patients (26 uterine myoma, 10 CLM, 50 uterine sarcoma) by immunohistochemistry and their associations with clinicopathologic parameters and outcomes were analyzed in patients with uterine sarcoma. RESULTS: The positivity rates for LDH-A and LDH-D were significantly higher in patients with uterine sarcoma compared with those with uterine myoma or CLM (P < .05). Patients with uterine sarcoma were classified as having uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS), malignant endometrial stromal sarcoma, and malignant mixed Mullerian tumor, with 5-year overall survival rates of 59%, 71%, and 29%, respectively (P < .05). Univariate analysis showed that patients younger than 50 years and with stage I-II had better clinical prognoses. LDH-A-positive LMS patients had a poorer prognosis than LDH-A-negative patients (P = .03). The median survival time of LDH-A-positive patients was 35 months. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that LDH-D was expressed in patients with uterine sarcoma. Furthermore, the overexpressions of LDH-A and LDH-D in uterine sarcoma patients may contribute to further understanding of the mechanism of LDH in tumor metabolism in uterine sarcoma. Positive expression of LDH-A in patients with LMS may act as a potential prognostic biomarker in these patients.

Aberrant default mode network in amnestic mild cognitive impairment: a meta-analysis of independent component analysis studies.

Independent component analysis (ICA) is one of the most popular and valid methods to investigate the default mode network (DMN), an intrinsic network which attracts particular attention in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However, previous studies present inconsistent results regarding the topographical organization of the DMN in aMCI. Therefore, we conducted a quantitative, voxel-wise meta-analysis of resting-state ICA studies using Seed-based d Mapping to establish the most consistent pattern of DMN functional connectivity alterations in aMCI. Twenty studies, comprising 23 independent datasets involving 535 patients and 586 healthy controls, met the inclusion criteria. Patients with aMCI exhibited reliably lower DMN functional connectivity than the healthy controls in the bilateral precuneus/posterior cingulate cortices and medial temporal lobes, which are implicated in episodic memory deficits. Moreover, an exploratory meta-regression analysis revealed that greater severity of global cognitive impairment in the patient groups was associated with stronger functional connectivity in the bilateral medial frontal cortices (including the anterior cingulate cortices), left angular gyrus, and right temporal pole extending to the middle temporal gyrus, likely reflecting a compensatory mechanism for maintaining cognitive efficiency. This meta-analysis identifies a consistent pattern of aberrant DMN functional connectivity in aMCI, which facilitates understanding of the neurobiological substrates of this disease.

Racial and Ethnic Variability in the Prevalence and Incidence of Comorbidities Associated with Gastric Cancer in the United States.

PURPOSE: Comorbidities are known to impact quality of life, treatment choices, and survival. Our objectives were to characterize comorbid conditions in a cohort of elderly gastric cancer patients and to determine if there is variability in the prevalence or incidence of the comorbid conditions across racial/ethnic groups. METHODS: A total of 12,612 individuals, ≥66 years of age, diagnosed with gastric cancer between 2000 and 2007, and an equal number of gender- and region-matched cancer-free individuals, were identified using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry linked to Medicare claims in the United States. The prevalence (%) in the year before diagnosis and the 12-month incidence rates after diagnosis were estimated for 32 chronic and ten acute comorbid conditions for the entire cohort and by race/ethnicity (Asian, Black, Hispanic, White, and other) and Asian subgroups (e.g., Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Pacific Islander). RESULTS: White and Black cases exhibited the highest prevalence of most comorbid conditions. Asian and Pacific Islander cases exhibited the lowest. There was substantial variability in the 12-month incidence of the comorbidities across the racial/ethnic groups. Electrolyte disorder was the most common incident condition among Whites and Blacks. With the exception of Whites, anemia was the most common incident condition in all racial and ethnic groups 180 days following chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: There is variability in the prevalence and incidence in comorbidities across racial/ethnic groups.

Dual luminescent tetranuclear organogold(I) macrocycles of 5,5'-diethynyl-2,2'-bipyridine and their efficient sensitization of Yb(III) luminescence.

Reaction of (AuC≡CbpyC≡CAu)(n) (HC≡CbpyC≡CH = 5,5'-diethynyl-2,2'-bipyridine) with diphosphine ligands Ph(2)P(CH(2))(n)PPh(2) (n = 1 dppm, 3 dppp, 5 dpppen, 6 dpph), 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene (dppf), and 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene (bdpp) in CH(2)Cl(2) afforded the corresponding dual luminescent gold(I) complexes [(AuC≡CbpyC≡CAu)(2)(µ-dppm)(2)] (1), [(AuC≡CbpyC≡CAu)(2)(µ-dppp)(2)] (2), [(AuC≡CbpyC≡CAu)(2)(µ-dpppen)(2)] (3), [(AuC≡CbpyC≡CAu)(2)(µ-dpph)(2)] (4), [(AuC≡CbpyC≡CAu)(2)(µ-dppf)(2)] (5), and [(AuC≡CbpyC≡CAu)(2)(µ-bdpp)(2)] (6). The solid structures of complexes 1 and 2 are confirmed to be tetranuclear macrocyclic rings by single crystal structure analysis, and those of complexes 3-6 are proposed to be similar to those of complexes 1 and 2 in structure because their good solubility in CH(2)Cl(2), their HRMS results, and the P···P separations of 20.405-20.697 Å in the same linear rigid P-Au-C≡CbpyC≡C-Au-P unit are all favorable to form such 2:4:2 macrocycles. Each of the absorption spectral titrations between complexes 1-6 and Yb(hfac)(3)(H(2)O)(2) (Hhfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone) gives a 2:1 ratio between the Yb(hfac)(3) unit and the complex 1-6 moieties. The energy transfer occurs efficiently from the gold(I) alkynyl antennas 1-6 to Yb(III) centers with the donor ability in the order of 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 > 6 > 5.

Clinical study of 39 Chinese patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies on the clinical profile of Chinese patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C). The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of ARVD/C patients from China, particularly to define the features of electrocardiograph and treatment outcomes. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients hospitalized in Fu Wai Cardiovascular Hospital from 1998 to 2006 were included. The data were obtained from the medical archive and the follow-up records. RESULTS: Of these patients 33 were male and 6 female (age at the first presentation was (34.9 +/- 9.8) years). The most common symptoms were palpitation (62%) and syncope (44%). Right precordial QRSd >or= 110 ms was detected in 69% of the patients, epsilon wave in 59%, and a ratio of QRSd in V(1) + V(2) + V(3)/V(4) + V(5) + V(6) >or= 1.2 in 82%. The most frequent features of electrocardiogram in patients without right bundle-branch block were T-wave inversions and S-wave upstroke in V(1)-V(3) >or= 55 ms (96% and 90% of 28 patients, respectively). Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for ventricular tachycardia (VT) was successful in 15 (68%) of 22 patients. The recurrence rate of VT was 46% (7/15) during the follow-up of (16.7 +/- 11.2) months. Seven patients had cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) implanted plus drug therapy and 17 patients took antiarrhythmic drugs alone. During the follow-up of (35.6 +/- 19.0) months, all patients with ICD implanted received at least one appropriate ICD shock. One patient died of ventricular fibrillation suddenly and one patient underwent heart transplantation for progressive biventricular heart failure during the drug therapy alone. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the clinical and ECG features of the 39 ARVD/C Chinese patients. ICD provided life-saving protection by effectively terminating malignant arrhythmias, and the high recurrence of VT was the major problem of RFCA therapy.

Bis(4-amino-benzene-sulfonato-κO)bis-(propane-1,3-diamine-κN,N')copper(II) dihydrate.

In the title compound, [Cu(C(3)H(10)N(2))(2)(C(6)H(6)NO(3)S)(2)]·2H(2)O, the Cu(II) atom lies on an inversion center and is hexa-coordinated by four N atoms from two 1,3-diamino-propane ligands and two O atoms from two 4-amino-benzene-sulfonate ligands in a trans arrangement, displaying a distorted and axially elongated octa-hedral coordination geometry, with the O atoms at the axial positions. A three-dimensional network is formed in the crystal structure through O-H⋯O, N-H⋯O and N-H⋯N hydrogen bonds.

Clinical study of 39 Chinese patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>There are few studies on the clinical profile of Chinese patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C). The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of ARVD/C patients from China, particularly to define the features of electrocardiograph and treatment outcomes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-nine patients hospitalized in Fu Wai Cardiovascular Hospital from 1998 to 2006 were included. The data were obtained from the medical archive and the follow-up records.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of these patients 33 were male and 6 female (age at the first presentation was (34.9 +/- 9.8) years). The most common symptoms were palpitation (62%) and syncope (44%). Right precordial QRSd >or= 110 ms was detected in 69% of the patients, epsilon wave in 59%, and a ratio of QRSd in V(1) + V(2) + V(3)/V(4) + V(5) + V(6) >or= 1.2 in 82%. The most frequent features of electrocardiogram in patients without right bundle-branch block were T-wave inversions and S-wave upstroke in V(1)-V(3) >or= 55 ms (96% and 90% of 28 patients, respectively). Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for ventricular tachycardia (VT) was successful in 15 (68%) of 22 patients. The recurrence rate of VT was 46% (7/15) during the follow-up of (16.7 +/- 11.2) months. Seven patients had cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) implanted plus drug therapy and 17 patients took antiarrhythmic drugs alone. During the follow-up of (35.6 +/- 19.0) months, all patients with ICD implanted received at least one appropriate ICD shock. One patient died of ventricular fibrillation suddenly and one patient underwent heart transplantation for progressive biventricular heart failure during the drug therapy alone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study demonstrated the clinical and ECG features of the 39 ARVD/C Chinese patients. ICD provided life-saving protection by effectively terminating malignant arrhythmias, and the high recurrence of VT was the major problem of RFCA therapy.</p>

CD200 and its receptor, CD200R, modulate bone mass via the differentiation of osteoclasts.

Fusion of macrophages is an essential step in the differentiation of osteoclasts, which play a central role in the development and remodeling of bone. Osteoclasts are important mediators of bone loss, which leads, for example, to osteoporosis. Macrophage fusion receptor/signal regulatory protein alpha (MFR/SIRPalpha) and its ligand CD47, which are members of the Ig superfamily (IgSF), have been implicated in the fusion of macrophages. We show that CD200, which is not expressed in cells that belong to the myeloid lineage, is strongly expressed in macrophages at the onset of fusion. By contrast, the CD200 receptor (CD200R), which, like CD200, belongs to the IgSF, is expressed only in cells that belong to the myeloid lineage, including osteoclasts, and in CD4+ T cells. Osteoclasts from CD200-/- mice differentiated at a reduced rate. Activation of the NF-kappaB and MAP kinase signaling pathways downstream of RANK, a receptor that plays a central role in the differentiation of osteoclasts, was depressed in these cells. A soluble recombinant protein that included the extracellular domain of CD200 rescued the fusion of CD200-/- macrophages and their activation downstream of RANK. Conversely, addition of a soluble recombinant protein that included the extracellular domain of CD200R or short-hairpin RNA-mediated silencing of the expression of CD200R prevented fusion. Thus CD200 engagement of the CD200R at the initiation of macrophage fusion regulated further differentiation to osteoclasts. Consistent with in vitro observations, CD200-/- mice contained fewer osteoclasts and accumulated more bone than CD200+/+ mice. The CD200-CD200R axis is therefore a putative regulator of bone mass, via the formation of osteoclasts.