Correlation between Abdominal Wall Subcutaneous Fat Thickness and Heart Weight in Southern Chinese Population.

ABSTRACT: Objective To study the correlation between the abdominal wall subcutaneous fat thickness and heart weight, so as to provide reference for prediction methods of normal range of heart weight that is suitable for autopsy in China. Methods The forensic pathology autopsy cases accepted by Center for Medicolegal Expertise of Sun Yat-sen University from 1998 to 2017 were collected. Then the exclusion criteria were determined, and according to them the total case group was selected, and the 6 disease groups and the normal group were further selected from the total case group. The rank sum test was used to compare the heart weight of the normal group and the disease groups to determine the influence of diseases on heart weight. Then the Spearman rank correlation analysis of abdominal wall subcutaneous fat thickness and heart weight in different genders and different ages in the total case group and the normal group was conducted to get the correlation coefficient （rs）. Results In the total case group, correlation between abdominal wall subcutaneous fat thickness and heart weight was shown in males of all ages （P<0.05）; while in females, the correlation had no statistical significance （P>0.05） in 15-<20 age and 50-<60 age, but was statistically significant （P<0.05） in other age groups. For the males in the normal group, rs was respectively 0.411, 0.541 and 0.683 in the 15-<40 age, the 40-<60 age, and the ≥60 age. For the females, rs was respectively 0.249 and 0.317 in the 15-<40 age and the 40-<60 age. The correlation in the ≥60 age had no statistical significance（P>0.05）. Conclusion In the general population and the normal population, abdominal wall subcutaneous fat thickness is correlated with the heart weight of males. It is of significance to include the abdominal wall subcutaneous fat thickness in the prediction of normal range of heart weight for males in China.

[Survey of Oncomelania hupensis in national schistosomiasis surveillance sites of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2015 to 2019].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the distribution characteristics of Oncomelania hupensis in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, so as to provide insights into the assessment of the risk of schistosomiasis transmission and the scientific formulation of the schistosomiasis surveillance strategy. METHODS: From 2015 to 2019, a total of 19 national schistosomiasis surveillance sites were assigned in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, including 4 fixed sites and 15 mobile sites. Snail survey was performed by means of systematic sampling in combination with environmental sampling, and the infection of Schistosoma japonicum was detected by the crushing method combined with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2019, snail habitats were detected at areas of 17 040 to 39 527 m2, including 6 214 m2 emerging snail habitats and 16 563 m2 re-emerging snail habitats. The overall mean density of living snails was 0.019 2 snails/0.1 m2 and the occurrence of frames with snails was 1.11% in the national schistosomiasis surveillance sites; however, no S. japonicum infection was identified in snails. The area of snail habitats increased by 121.46% in the national surveillance sites in 2019 as compared to that in 2015; however, 50.34% (Z = -0.422, P > 0.05) and 42.85% (χ2 = 130.41, P < 0.01) reductions were seen in the overall means density of living snails and the occurrence of frames with snails. All snail habitats were distributed in the 4 fixed surveillance sites, and were mainly found in ditches, paddy fields and dry lands, with weeds as the primary vegetation type. CONCLUSIONS: There are still risk factors leading to re-emergent transmission of schistosomiasis in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, such as local snail spread, and the monitoring of schistosomiasis remains to be reinforced to further consolidate the achievements of schistosomiasis elimination in the region.

[Study on the super-antigen genes of group A Streptococcus pyogenes strains isolated from patients with scarlet fever and pharyngeal infection, in Beijing, 2015-2017].

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of super-antigen (SAg) of group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), isolated from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. Methods: Throat swab specimens from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections were collected and tested for GAS. Eleven currently known SAg genes including SpeA, speC, speG, speH, speI, speJ, speK, speL, speM, smeZ and ssa were tested by real-time PCR while M protein genes (emm genes) were amplified and sequenced by PCR. Results: A total of 377 GAS were isolated from 6 801 throat swab specimens, with the positive rate as 5.5%. There were obvious changes noticed among speC, speG, speH and speK in three years. A total of 45 SAg genes profiles were observed, according to the SAgs inclusion. There were significant differences appeared in the frequencies among two of the highest SAg genes profiles between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=38.196, P<0.001; χ(2)=72.310, P<0.001). There also appeared significant differences in the frequencies of speA, speH, speI and speJ between emm1 and emm12 strains (χ(2)=146.154, P<0.001; χ(2)=52.31, P<0.001; χ(2)=58.43, P<0.001; χ(2)=144.70, P<0.001). Conclusions: Obvious changes were noticed among SAg genes including speC, speG, speH and speK from patients with scarlet fever or pharyngeal infections in Beijing between 2015-2017. SAg genes including speA, speH, speI and speJ appeared to be associated with the emm 1 and emm 12 strains. More kinds of SAg genes profiles were isolated form GAS but with no significant differences seen in the main SAg genes profiles, during the epidemic period.

[Gene Analysis for the Sudden Death of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy by Whole Exome Sequencing.]

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the related pathogenicity gene mutations in a sudden death of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy （HCM） on whole exome level. METHODS: Whole exome sequencing （WES） was been performed on a sudden death case sample with pathological features of HCM by Illumina® Hiseq 2500 platform. Using hg19 as the reference sequences, the sequencing data were analyzed. Suspicious single nucleotide variants （SNV） were screened, and the conservatism and function were analyzed by the software such as PhyloP, PolyPhen-2, SIFT, etc. RESULTS: After screening, a heterozygous mutation C719R was finally identified in the gene MYBPC3 of this case. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular anatomy on whole exome level by second generation sequencing technology can help to define the molecular mechanism of HCM and provide a new mothed and thought for analysis of death cause.

[Retrospective analysis of the discharge outcome of external ventricular drainage and conservative treatment in patients with severe intraventricular hemorrhage].

Objective: To investigate the discharge outcome of external ventricular drainage(EVD) and conservative treatment in patients with severe intraventricular hemorrhage (SeIVH). Methods: From January 2011 to December 2016, patients with SeIVH admitted to the General Hospital of the PLA Rocket Force and the Army General Hospital received EVD treatment and were classified as the treatment group. According to intraventricular hemorrhage volume and age, patients received conservative treatment were pair matched and classified as control group. Then we compared the clinical outcome of moderate disability or less degree of discharge (mRS ≤3) and death incidence (mRS 6) between two groups. Results: A total of 361 patients with IVH were treated during these six years. Among them, 75 cases were chosen as treatment group. Another 75 cases were pair matched as control group from 286 cases. At the time of admission, the ventricular hemorrhage volume of two groups were (55.8±22.7) ml and (53.7±23.3) ml (P=0.569) respectively. Cerebral hemorrhage volume were (23.6±5.3) ml and (24.0±5.4) ml (P=0.631). And the median Glasgow coma score (GCS) were 4[IQR(3, 7)] and 5[IQR(4, 7)](P=0.131). At the discharge time, there were 16% (12/75) patients scored mRS≤3 in treatment group, while 2.7% (2/75) in control group (P<0.005). The absolute risk reduction (ARR) was 13.3%, and the number needed to treat (NNT) was 7.5. The mortality rate of treatment group was 13.3% (10/75), much lower than that of the control group 41.1% (31/75, P<0.001). ARR was 27.8% and NNT was 3.6. Conclusion: Although the prognosis of SeIVH was poor, compared with conservative treatment, EVD treatment significantly improved the outcome of these patients. Randomized controlled trials are needed to validate the efficacy of EVD.

CAMK4 gene variation is associated with hypertension in a Uygur population.

Considering that calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase 4 (CAMK4) plays a pivotal role in blood pressure regulation, we investigated the association between a CAMK4 polymorphism (rs10491334) and hypertension in the Han, Kazak, and Uygur ethnic groups. We studied 1224 patients with hypertension and 967 normotensive controls classified into three ethnic groups (Han, Kazak, and Uygur). The rs10491334 polymorphism was genotyped using a TaqMan® 5'-nuclease assay. In the Uygur group, the T-allele frequency in patients with hypertension was twice that of the controls (12.5 vs 6.38%), and T-allele carriers had a significantly increased risk of hypertension compared with non-carriers (odds ratio = 2.200; 95% confidence interval = 1.473-3.285, P < 0.001). However, no significant correlation was found in the Han and Kazak groups. The T-allele of rs10491334 in CAMK4 was associated with hypertension in the Uygur group.

Development of ruthenium(II) complexes as topical antibiotics against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

A series of ruthenium(II) bis(2,2'-bipyridyl) complexes containing N-phenyl-substituted diazafluorenes (Ru-C1, Ru-C6, Ru-C7 and Ru-F) was synthesized and their potential antibacterial activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was investigated. The Ru-C7 complex showed significant improvement in both minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, 6.25 µg mL(-1)) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC, 25 µg mL(-1)) towards MRSA when compared with those of methicillin (positive control) (MIC = 25 µg mL(-1) and MBC = 100 µg mL(-1)). The Ru-C7 complex possessed much stronger antibacterial effects than the Ru-C6 complex (MIC, 25 µg mL(-1), MBC, >100 µg mL(-1)). Both Ru-C6 and Ru-C7 complexes were also demonstrated to be biologically safe when tested on normal human skin keratinocytes.

An indoline-derived compound that markedly reduces mouse body weight.

OBJECTIVE: We describe how a single intraperitoneal injection of an indoline-derived drug (SN 28127) reduced mouse body weight (25-45% loss) and adipose tissue mass (∼75%). METHODS AND RESULTS: The reductions in body weight peaked at ∼21-28 days post drug injection and were maintained throughout the study (160 days). The mice ate as much as vehicle-treated control mice. A more potent SN 28127 analog (SN 29220) reversed high-fat diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes in C57BL/6J mice on a high-fat diet. Insulin induced a sustained reduction in blood glucose in fasted SN 29220-treated mice compared with the vehicle-treated mice. All drug-treated mice exhibited a transient increase in water intake from ∼10 days post drug injection that lasted for ∼70 days. Following a single injection of (3)H-labeled SN 29220, radioactivity accumulated within 4 h in the liver, bile duct and ileum with little detected in the brain; within 1-2 days, most of the radioactivity was found in the pancreas, spleen, liver, bile duct, stomach, kidneys and white adipose tissue. High levels of glucose were detected in urine collected from SN 29220 but not vehicle-treated C57BL/6J mice at ∼60 days post injection, while fecal triacylglycerols and cholesterol were not different between SN 29220 and vehicle-treated mice. These data lead us to hypothesize that the hepatic system is the primary drug target. Genes involved in fatty acid synthesis (FASn, SCD1 and PPARγ) and appetite stimulation (AGRP) were upregulated at 160 days post drug treatment, indicative of adaptation to reduced body weight. CONCLUSION: We hypothesize that indoline-derived drug-induced chronic toxicity to the hepatic system leads to a reduction in white adipose tissue mass. The mice adapt to this drug-induced toxicity with reduced steady-state body weight. Understanding molecular mechanisms underlying these responses has potential to identify novel targets for prevention and treatment of obesity.

Serological survey of 2009 H1N1 influenza in residents of Beijing, China.

In order to determine the prevalence of antibody against 2009 H1N1 influenza in Beijing, we conducted a serological survey in 710 subjects, 1 month after the epidemic peak. We found that 13·8% of our cohort was seropositive. Subjects aged ≥60 years recorded the lowest seroprevalence (4·5%). The age-weighted seroprevalence of 14·0% was far lower than the supposed infection rate at the epidemic peak, derived from the basic reproduction number for 2009 H1N1 virus. For subjects who had received the pandemic vaccine seroprevalence was 51·4%. In subjects aged ≥60 years the seasonal influenza vaccination was not significantly associated with being seropositive. Our study suggests that many factors, and not just the immunological level against 2009 H1N1 influenza in the community, affected the spread of the virus within the population of Beijing.

[Clinical and experimental study of tablet cucumber vine compound in treating essential hypertension].

389 patients with essential hypertension were divided into two groups randomly. 241 patients were treated by tablet of cucumber vine compound and 148 patients by tablet of hypotension compound as control. The symptomatic marked improvement and total effective rate were 63.1% and 81.7% in the treated group and 39.2% and 67.0% (P less than 0.01) in the control group respectively. The marked effective rate in decrease of blood pressure and total effective rate were 52.7%, 90.9% and 58.1%, 92.6% (P greater than 0.05) respectively. Experiments with animals showed that tablet cucumber vine compound possessed persistently decreasing effect on the blood pressure and marked effect on increasing coronary blood flow and improving myocardial contraction. Clinical observation and toxicological test proved that tablet cucumber vine compound had no toxicity and had few side effects and that it was an effective, safe medicine for essential hypertension.

The effect of pressure on ultrasonic testing sensitivity of hot steel blooms by pressure contact method.

The effect of exerted pressure of the buffer rod on the sensitivity of ultrasonic testing of hot steel blooms by the pressure contact method is discussed. The formula describing their linear relation is introduced. Results show that, at a given temperature, sensitivity increases linearly with pressure until a certain pressure is reached where sensitivity is rather insensitive to pressure variations. However, this pressure region is not always used. The proper choice of exerted pressure for practical use is analyzed.