[Association of Semaphorin 3A with thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus].

OBJECTIVE: To measure the level of serum Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) and to analyze the relationship between serum Sema3A and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with thrombocytopenia. METHODS: The concentration of serum Sema3A was detected by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) in 170 SLE patients, 50 Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients, 19 hypersplenism (HS) patients and 150 healthy controls (HC). Based on the presence of thrombocytopenia and whether the thrombocytopenia was in remission, the SLE patients were divided into three groups: SLE with thrombocytopenia (41 cases), SLE with thrombocytopenia remission (28 cases), and SLE without thrombocytopenia (101 cases). According to whether there was thrombocytopenia, the SS patients were divided into SS with thrombocytopenia (18 cases) and SS without thrombocytopenia (32 cases). The 28 SLE patients who underwent bone marrow aspiration biopsy were divided into two groups from the aspect of whether the bone marrow hyperplasia was normal (19 cases) or low (9 cases), as well as from the aspect of whether the maturity disturbance of megakaryocyte was positive (8 cases) or negative (20 cases). The serum Sema3A levels in SLE, SS, HS with HC were compared, meanwhile, the correlation between serum Sema3A level and platelet (PLT) in the patients with different diseases analyzed. RESULTS: (1) Serum Sema3A levels in SLE were significantly lower than in HC [(3.84±2.76) µg/L vs. (6.96±2.62) µg/L, P < 0.001], serum Sema3A levels in SS were also obviously lower than in HC [(4.35±3.57) µg/L vs. (6.96±2.62) µg/L, P < 0.001], and in HS it was lower than HC at a certain extant [(5.67±2.26) µg/L vs. (6.96±2.62) µg/L, P=0.041]. (2) Serum Sema3A levels in SLE were slightly lower than in SS, but there was no significant difference [(3.84±2.76) µg/L vs. (4.35±3.57) µg/L, P=0.282]. However, when compared with HS, serum Sema3A levels in SLE were significantly lower [(3.84±2.76) µg/L vs. (5.67±2.26) µg/L, P=0.006]. (3) Serum Sema3A concentration in SLE with thrombocytopenia was significantly lower than in SLE with thrombocytopenia remission [(1.28±1.06) µg/L vs. (3.83±2.65) µg/L, P < 0.001], and in SLE patients without thrombocytopenia [(1.28±1.06) µg/L vs. (4.87±2.60) µg/L, P < 0.001]. There was no significant difference between SLE with thrombocytopenia remission and SLE without thrombocytopenia [(3.83±2.65) µg/L vs. (4.87±2.600 µg/L, P=0.123]. Serum Sema3A concentration in SLE with thrombocytopenia was slightly lower than in SS with thrombocytopenia, but there was no significant difference [(1.28±1.06) µg/L vs. (1.68±1.11) µg/L, P=0.189]. (4) Strong positive correlations were found between serum Sema3A and PLT in SLE (r=0.600, P < 0.001). Positive correlations were also found between serum Sema3A and PLT in SS (r=0.573, P < 0.001). However, there was no such correlation showed in HS patients (P=0.393). (5) There was no significant difference of serum Sema3A concentration in SLE whether the bone marrow hyperplasia was normal or low. And the same situation appeared in the patients whether the maturity disturbance of megakaryocyte was positive or negative (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Serum Sema3A was significantly reduced in SLE patients, and it was highly correlated with the blood damage. Similar conclusions could be drawn in patients with SS. The serum level of Sema3A was generally decreasing in desmosis which merged thrombocytopenia, and was obviously positive correlated with platelet counts.

MiR-181d inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis through PI3K/AKT pathway in gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer is the second highest mortality tumor and the fourth most common cancer worldwide that has high aggressiveness. MicroRNA-181d (miR-181d) has been established to be a tumor suppressor, by suppressing cell proliferation, cell cycle, and promoting apoptosis in several cancers. The purpose of this study is to explore the great roles of miR-181d in gastric cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot were applied to calculate the mRNA and protein levels of miR-181d and genes. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) and transwell assays were utilized to measure the proliferative and invasive abilities. The Kaplan-Meier method was conducted to calculate the overall survival of gastric cancer patients. RESULTS: MiR-181d was detected to be downregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cell lines compared to the peritumoral normal tissues and normal cell line. Downregulation of miR-181d predicted poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients. Cylindromatosis gene (CYLD) was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues, which was confirmed to be a target gene of miR-181d in gastric cancer cell line HGC-27. Moreover, miR-181d inhibited the proliferation through CYLD/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway and inhibited the invasion-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in HGC-27 cells. In addition, overexpression of miR-181d suppressed tumor growth and xenograft tumorigenesis of HGC-27 cells in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-181d functioned as a tumor suppressor by inhibiting the proliferation via PI3K/AKT pathway in vitro and in vivo and inhibiting invasion-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by targeting CYLD in gastric cancer. The newly identified miR-181d/CYLD axis provides novel insight into the pathogenesis of gastric cancer.

[Comparison of bone destruction markers in patients with gouty arthritis under different musculoskeletal ultrasonic manifestations].

Objectives: To observe the correlation between the different ultrasonic manifestations of gouty arthritis and the indexes of bone destruction (Dickkopf-1, RANKL), in order to further explore the role of musculoskeletal ultrasonography in the diagnosis and monitoring of gouty arthritis. Methods: 160 cases of gouty arthritis from clinic of the Department of Rheumatology of Peking University People's Hospital between July 2016 and June 2017 were recruited in this study. These patients were examined by musculoskeletal ultrasonography (bilateral first metatarsophalangeal joints, bilateral ankle joints and bilateral knee joints). Grouping was based on ultrasound features of joints. Group A showed no aggregate .Group B showed aggregate and double contour signs. Group C showed tophus and bone erosion. Serum concentrations of Dickkopf-1 and RANKL were measured. The correlations of Dickkopf-1 or RANKL and clinical/laboratory parameters were analyzed. Results: (1)There was a significant difference in Dickkopf-1 concentration between the three groups(P<0.001). And the group C[(1 722.2±482.7)ng/L]was higher than the group B[(1 309.3±496.4)ng/L](t=4.418, P<0.001), and the group B was higher than group A[(807.9±373.8)ng/L](t=6.137, P<0.001). (2)There was a significant difference in RANKL concentration between the three groups (P<0.001). And the group C[(0.78±0.47)ng/L]was higher than the group B[(0.35±0.29)ng/L](t=5.456, P<0.001), and the group B was higher than group A[(0.10±0.09)ng/L](t=6.923, P<0.001). (3)The level of Dickkopf-1 was associated with the disease duration(r=0.430, P<0.001), and the level of RANKL was associated with the disease duration(r=0.359, P<0.001). Conclusion: Aggregates, double contour signs, tophus and bone erosion can be observed in the ultrasonic examination of gouty arthritis. And the longer the duration of the disease, the more likely the extent of bone destruction is. Joint ultrasound can be the first imaging examination for the extent of joint involvement in gouty arthritis. And the longer the duration of the disease, the more likely the extent of bone destruction is. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography can be the preferred imaging method for detecting the extent of joint involvement in gouty arthritis.

[Investigation on the prevalence of hyperuricemia among young students].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of hyperuricemia and the distribution of serum uric acid in young students. Methods: Determination of 14 214 cases of freshmen, 3 072 cases of the graduate and 6 804 cases of school staff in 2015-2016 from one University of Beijing with uric acid (UA) enzymatic method, hyperuricemia criteria for male UA >420 µmol/L, female UA >357 µmol/L, were grouped according to age. From freshmen in 2016 randomly selected 1 782 cases men and 1 175 cases women through the questionnaire to investigate the prevalence of gout. Results: The prevalence of hyperuricemia in male and female freshmen were 34.47% (1 958/5 681) and 11.64% (993/8 533) respectively. The prevalence of hyperuricemia in male and female graduates were 32.73% (381/1 164) and 10.06% (192/1 908) respectively. In the same period, the prevalence of hyperuricemia was 14.42% (480/2 844) among male workers and 9.92% (393/3 960) among female workers. The blood uric acid level was analyzed among the freshmen in 2015-2016 and the graduates in 2015, most freshmen were 420-480 µmol/L in males and 357-480 µmol/L in females. The prevalence of gout was 0.34% (6/1 782) in males and 0.26% (3/1 175) in females respectively (which had at least one attack of the first metatarsophalangeal joint and non-traumatic articular pain and swelling of the knee). In addition, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of hyperuricemia in coastal and inland areas (P>0.05). There was significant difference in the proportion of BMI in male and female newborns with hyperuricemia (P<0.05). Conclusion: The young men of high uric acid hematic disease prevalence showed a trend of increased significantly, male and female serum UA value most in mild-to-moderate elevated levels, and a lower incidence of gout. Compared with the general population, BMI of the freshmen with hyperuricemia increased significantly.

[Expression and Clinical Significance of Semaphorin 3A in serum and mononuclear cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Objective: To determine the expression of Sema3A in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), to analysis the correlation of Sema3A expression and SLE clinical manifestations and laboratory indexes, and to evaluate the diagnostic value of Sema3A in patients with SLE. Methods: The concentration of serum Sema3A was detected by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with SLE, healthy controls (HC) and diseases controls. In addition, the mRNA expression level of Sema3A was examined in PBMC by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The correlation of serum Sema3A level and clinical and laboratory features of SLE patients were analyzed. Unpaired t test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test, χ(2) test, Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis were used to statistical analysis by using SPSS 13.0. Results: (1) Serum Sema3A concentration in patients with SLE was significantly lower than that in HC groups (P<0.01). (2) Consistent with the serum level, the Sema3A mRNA level in SLE was lower than that in HC (P=0.001). And the mRNA expression of Nrp-1 in SLE was also lower than that in HC (P<0.01). (3) The serum Sema3A level in patients with SLE was positively correlated with haemoglobin (HGB) (r=0.271, P<0.013), platelet (PLT) (r=0.600, P<0.011), complement 3 (C3) (r=0.234, P=0.0027) and complement 4 (C4) (r=0.159, P=0.434) levels. Whereas, the expression of Sema3A was negatively correlated with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) (r=-0.286, P=0.036). (4) Area under curve illustrated by ROC curve was 0.876 (95% CI: 0.846-0.906). The best cut-off value for the diagnosis of SLE was 6.31 µg/L, with the sensitivity of 80.6% and the specificity of 77.5%. The Youden index was 0.581. Above results indicated good validity of Sema3A as a diagnostic marker for SLE. (5) The HGB, PLT, C3 and C4 levels in the group of Sema3A- positiveSLE patients (≤6.31 µg/L) were lower than that in negative group (>6.31 µg/L), while CRP level and SLEDAI of positive group was higher than that in negative group(P<0.05). In addition, the positive rate of antinuclear antibodies (P=0.046) and anticardiolipin antibody (P=0.018) in the Sema3A-negative group were also significantly higher than that of negative group. Conclusions: Sema3A and Nrp-1 was both decreased in serum and PBMC of SLE patients, suggesting that the circulating expression of Sema3A and Nrp-1 was seriously defected in SLE. Circulating Sema3A was significantly correlated with disease activity and blood damage in patients with SLE. The result of ROC curve showed that Sema3A had the potential to be a new diagnostic biomarker in SLE.

[Correlation between the visiting rate of patients with allergic rhinitis and airborne pollen concentrations in Beijing in recent 3 years].

Objective: To evaluate the daily airborne pollen concentrations and visiting rate of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and their correlation during 2012-2014 in Beijing. Methods: Daily airborne pollen concentrations (55 998 numbers in total and 549 numbers in average) and its constitution from April to September each year (2012 to 2014) were compared. The number of patients with AR (44 203 in total) who visited the outpatient department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital between January 2012 and December 2014 was analyzed by month. Using SPSS 22.0 software, Kruskal-Wallis test was done for the comparison of visiting rate of patients with AR and airborne pollen concentrations. Correlation analysis between them was made as well. Results: χ(2) value of airborne pollen concentrations between different months in 2012 to 2014 was 110.7, 108.4 and 121.4, respectively; all P<0.01. The airborne pollen concentrations had two peaks per year, respectively: April to May, August to September. χ(2) value of visiting rate of patients with AR between different months in 2012 to 2014 was 175.0, 185.1 and 134.5, respectively; all P<0.01. Visiting rate of patients with AR showed two scattering peaks each year, respectively: April to May, August to September. The highest pollen concentration of spring (April to May) was in early and middle April. Tree pollen was the major portion in spring, which were poplar pollen, pine tree pollen, ash tree pollen, cypress tree pollen and birch trees pollen. The highest pollen concentration of autumn (August to September) was in late August and early September. Weed pollen was the major portion in summer and autumn, which were artemisia pollen, chenopodiaceae pollen and humulus japonicas pollen. The visiting rate of patients with AR showed significant correlation with airborne pollen concentrations (r value was 0.537, 0.484 and 0.566, respectively; all P<0.01). Conclusion: The visiting rate of patients with AR showed positive correlation with airborne pollen concentrations in recent three years.

[Clinicopathologic analysis of extranodal non-hodgkin lymphoma of the sinonasal cavities: a 15-case report].

Objective:To investigate the clinical manifestation, imaging and histological features of different histological subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.Method:Fifteen NHL patients of the sinonasal region were collected from the Department of Otolaryngology of Peking University Third Hospital from 2010 to 2016. HE staining and immunohistochemical staining were performed. The clinical characteristics and imaging features of different subtypes were described and analyzed.Result::We analyzed a total of 6 patients with localized sinonasal diffuse large B cell lymphoma and 9 patients with localized sinonasal extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma. The age distribution for these two subtypes is very distinct. The median age of the patients with localized sinonasal extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma was 39 years. There were 5 males and 4 females. Nine sinonasal NHLs were NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, all of which were infected with EBV. The median age of the patients with localized sinonasal diffuse large B cell lymphoma was 64 years. There were 3males and 3 females. Symptoms for patients with SN-DLBCL and SN-ENKTL were significantly different in epiphora, proptosis, diplopia and nasal congestion (P=0.18, 0.004, 0.18, 0.18). Imaging features for patients with SN-DLBCL and SN-ENKTL were significantly different in tumor extended to orbit and inferior turbinate (P>0.05). Positive staining for CD 56 was detected in 9 patients, for CD 3 in 9 patients, for EBER in 9 patients. The Hans algorithm identified 1 patient with the germinal center B-cell (GCB) subtype and 5 with the non-GCB subtype.Compared with the control group, the observation group was significantly better than the control group (P < 0.01).Conclusion:Early symptoms of epiphora, proptosis, diplopia, and images finding with orbital invasion should be highly suspected of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Positive staining for CD 56 and EBER were detected in all patients with extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, and positive staining for CD20 was detected in all patients with SN-DLBCL.

[Drug-taking behavioral analysis in patients with allergic rhinitis].

Objective:To analyze the drug-taking behavior of patients with allergic rhinitis, and the relationship with the severity of the symptoms.Method:A total of 1 621 sets of data in 66 patients with allergic rhinitis were enrolled in this study, who filled out the daily symptom score scale and daily medication score scale for 5 days or more. The symptoms include sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, nasal congestion, eye itching/foreign body sensation/red eyes and watery eyes were scored. The medications include antihistamines, nasal glucocorticoid, oral glucocorticoid, ß2 receptor agonists and inhaled glucocorticoid were scored.Result:In the 1 621 sets of data, the highest incidence of symptoms was sneezing, 50.77%, the highest incidence of moderate to severe symptoms was rhinorrhea, 10.06%. The drug-taking behavior was 827 times, and the drugtaking rate was 51.02%. Antihistamines had the highest use ratio, 73.64%, followed by nasal glucocorticoid, 49.33%. There was no direct relationship between the total symptom score and the drug-taking rate, nasal glucocorticoid use ratio. Compared with the group of continuous drug-taking less than 2 weeks, the total symptom score of the group of continuous drug-taking more than 2 weeks was significant low.Conclusion:The number and continuity of the drugtaking in patients with allergic rhinitis vary greatly. Patient education is needed.

Overexpression of NaKR3 enhances salt tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Salinity is a major abiotic stress in agriculture. Here, we report that SODIUM POTASSIUM ROOT DEFECTIVE3 (NaKR3), which encodes a heavy metal-associated domain protein, is involved in salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. The results of quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that NaKR3 was induced by high salinity and osmotic stresses, but not by Cu(2+) stress. Transient expression of NaKR3-GFP in Arabidopsis protoplasts showed that the NaKR3 protein was localized in the cytosol. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants constitutively expressing NaKR3 under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter exhibited increased tolerance to salt treatment. Furthermore, overexpression of NaKR3 increased the expression of SOS1 and SOS3, but decreased the accumulation of salt-induced proline. Taken together, our results indicate that NaKR3 is involved in the salt stress response in Arabidopsis.

[Efficacy analysis of endoscopic stage â reconstruction of nasal contour and function].

Objective:The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of endoscopic stage Ⅰ reconstruction of nasal contour and function.Method:Twenty subjects with severe nasal trauma,nasal bone fracture and deviation of nasal septum were selected.The surgeries of stage Ⅰ reconstruction of nasal contour and function were proceeded on 7 to 30 days after trauma.Result:The VAS scores of deformity of nasal contour and severity of nasal blockage assessed by patients decreased significantly after operation.Deflection distance of nasal dorsum measured by 3D imaging decreased significantly.In patients with abnormal nasal ventilation,the volume and the minimal cross-section area of abnormal nasal cavity increased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion:The effectiveness of endoscopic stage Ⅰ reconstruction of nasal contour and function was excellent.The patients were satisfied with improvement of nasal contour and ventilation.

[Relationship between full flowering stages of anemophilous and ligneous plants and consultation rate of allergic rhinitis].

Objective:The aim of this study is to investigate the climatic changes on spring phenology impacting on the consultation rate of patients with allergic rhinitis.Method:We analyzed the periods of full flowering stages of 15 kinds of flowers in Beijing from 2013 to 2014,and the number of patients with allergic rhinitis in the outpatient clinic of Otolaryngology Department of Peking University Third Hospital in the same time.The correlation test, analysis of variance and rank sum test were used to investigate the inherent laws and associations between the full flowering stages and the ratio of patients with allergic rhinitis.Result:①Between 2013 and 2014,the early and middle April were the full flowering stages of Platycladus orientalis,Salix matsudana, Fraxinus chinensis,Elms and Birches.The number of patients with allergic rhinitis in outpatient clinic elevated obviously in this period.②There were overlaps of full flowering stages among different plants.During periods in which three or more kinds of pollens in full flowering stages,the consultation rate of patients with allergic rhinitis is higher than less overlaping flower period.The difference was statistically significant(F value were -2.281,-2.964 respectively, P <0.05).Also,there were obvious positive linear correlations between the number of overlap of different pollens and the consultation rate of patients with allergic rhinitis in in 2013 and 2014(r=0.957, 0.964 respectively).Conclusion:During the overlaping flower periods,there was a higher consultation rate of patients with allergic rhinitis.In prevention and treatment of allergic rhinitis,the overlapping effect of full flowering stages of different pollens should be taken into account.Upgrade the alarm level will reduce the incidence of AR and the degree of allergic rhinitis episodes.

Anomalous spectral features of a neutral bilayer graphene.

Graphene and its bilayer are two-dimensional systems predicted to show exciting many-body effects near the neutrality point. The ideal tool to investigate spectrum reconstruction effects is angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) as it probes directly the band structure with information about both energy and momentum. Here we reveal, by studying undoped exfoliated bilayer graphene with ARPES, two essential aspects of its many-body physics: the electron-phonon scattering rate has an anisotropic k-dependence and the type of electronic liquid is non-Fermi liquid. The latter behavior is evident from an observed electron-electron scattering rate that scales linearly with energy from 100 meV to 600 meV and that is associated with the proximity of bilayer graphene to a two-dimensional quantum critical point of competing orders.

PD plus error-dependent integral nonlinear controllers for robot manipulators with an uncertain Jacobian matrix.

In framework of traditional PID controllers, there are only three parameters available to tune, as a result, performance of the resulting system is always limited. As for Cartesian regulation of robot manipulators with uncertain Jacobian matrix, a scheme of PID controllers with error-dependent integral action is proposed. Compare with traditional PID controllers, the error-dependent integration is employed in the proposed PID controller, in which more parameters are available to be tuned. It provides additional flexibility for controller characteristics and tuning as well, and hence makes better transient performance. In addition, asymptotic stability of the resulting closed-loop system is guaranteed. All signals in the system are bounded when exogenous disturbances and measurement noises are bounded. Numerical example demonstrates the superior transient performance of the proposed controller over the traditional one via Cartesian space set-point manipulation of two-link robotic manipulator.

The presence of Mycoplasma hominis in isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis impacts significantly on DNA fingerprinting results.

The genetic characterization of Trichomonas vaginalis (Protista: Trichomonadidae), the causative agent of trichomoniasis in humans, is central to understanding the epidemiology, treatment, drug resistance, and virulence as well as the diagnosis and control of this parasite. Various molecular approaches, including DNA fingerprinting, have been employed for this purpose, and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) continues to be utilized. However, little attention has been paid to the fact that some T. vaginalis populations can harbor symbiotic Mycoplasma hominis and/or other agents, which could cause artifacts in the RAPD results. In the present study, we demonstrate clearly that the presence of M. hominis from T. vaginalis isolates impacts significantly on RAPD results and on the subsequent analyses and interpretation of data sets. Moreover, symbiotic M. hominis displays an isolate-to-isolate variability in RAPD profile before elimination, suggesting a variability of M. hominis infection.

Symbiosis of Mycoplasma hominis in Trichomonas vaginalis may link metronidazole resistance in vitro.

Fourteen of 28 Trichomonas vaginalis isolates collected from patients in Guangzhou, China from 2003 to 2004 were found to be naturally infected with Mycoplasma hominis, as determined by PCR using specific primers. In vitro metronidazole sensitivity assay of the 28 isolates revealed four displaying low susceptibility [minimum lethal concentration (MLC)= approximately 13-25 microg/ml] and another four displaying high resistance (MLC=50-100 microg/ml). The overwhelming majority of these resistant isolates (7/8) were mycoplasma-infected. The mean of MLCs of mycoplasma-infected isolates is approximately 10-fold higher than the mean of noninfected isolates (p=0.029). Sequence analyses of PCR-amplified small subunit-large subunit rRNA interspacer regions (ITS1/5.8S/ITS2) revealed that 23 of the 28 samples are identical, the remaining five being separable into two groups, each with a single point mutation. These internal transcribed spacer sequence variants are associated neither with mycoplasma infection nor with drug resistance. In contrast, random amplified polymorphic DNA analyses of DNAs using 10 different primers showed that the drug-resistant isolates are clustered together in association with mycoplasma infection, albeit more loosely. Taken together, the results obtained from this study suggest that in vitro metronidazole resistance of T. vaginalis is related to mycoplasma infection of this protozoan.