Parental origin and mechanism of formation of X chromosome structural abnormalities: Four cases determined with RFLPs

Parental origin and mechanism of formation of X chromosome structural anbormalities were studied in one each case of dup(X)(pter p11.4::p22.1qter), del(X)(qterp11:), i(X)(qtercenqter), and inv dup(X) (pterq22::q22pter) using various X-linked RFLPs as genetic markers. Segregation and densitometric analyses on polymorphic DNAs revealed that the dup(Xp) and the del(Xp) are both of paternal origin and the i(Xq) and i dic(X) are of maternal origin. The dup(Xp) had arisen by an unequal sister chromatid exchange and the del(Xp) had occurred through an intrachromosomal breakage-reunion mechanism, both in the paternal X chromosome. The i(Xq) had arisen either through centromere fission of a maternal X chromosome, followed by duplication, of its long-arm, or through a translocation between two maternal X chromosomes after meiotic crossing-over. The inv dup(X) arose through sister chromatid breakage and reunion in a maternal X chromosome. These results, together with those of previous studies, suggest that thede novo abnormalities due to events involving centromere disruption arise predominantly during oogenesis, while those due to simple breakage-reunion events occur preferentially during spermatogenesis.     

The role of tryptophan metabolism in postpartum depression

The Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common postpartum psychiatric disorder, afflicting approximately 10%–20% of new mothers. Clinical symptoms of the PPD include depressive disorder, agitation, insomnia, anxiety and confusion, resulting in an increase in suicidal tendencies, thereby having significant impacts on the puerpera, newborn and their family. A growing body of data indicate a role for alterations in tryptophan metabolism in the PPD. The metabolism of tryptophan produces an array of crucial factors that can differentially regulate key physiological processes linked to the PPD. Importantly, an increase in stress hormones and immune-inflammatory activity drives tryptophan to the production of neuroregulatory kynurenine pathway products and away from the serotonin and melatonin pathways. This links the PPD to other disorders of depressed mood, which are classically associated with decreased serotonin and melatonin, coupled to increases in kynurenine pathway products. Several kynurenine pathway products, such as kynurenic acid and quinolinic acid, can have neuroregulatory effects, with consequences pathological underpinnings of the PPD. The current article reviews the role of alterations in tryptophan metabolism in the PPD.     

Is it possible to rapidly and noninvasively identify different plants from Asteraceae using electronic nose with multiple mathematical algorithms?

Many plants originating from the Asteraceae family are applied as herbal medicines and also beverage ingredients in Asian areas, particularly in China. However, they may be confused due to their similar odor, especially when ground into powder, losing their typical macroscopic characteristics. In this paper, 11 different multiple mathematical algorithms, which are commonly used in data processing, were utilized and compared to analyze the electronic nose (E-nose) response signals of different plants from Asteraceae family. Results demonstrate that three-dimensional plot scatter figure of principal component analysis with less extracted components could offer the identification results more visually; simultaneously, all nine kinds of artificial neural network could give classification accuracies at 100%. This paper presents a rapid, accurate, and effective method to distinguish Asteraceae plants based on their response signals in E-nose. It also gives insights to further studies, such as to find unique sensors that are more sensitive and exclusive to volatile components in Chinese herbal medicines and to improve the identification ability of E-nose. Screening sensors made by other novel materials would be also an interesting way to improve identification capability of E-nose.     

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Osteopathy in Chronic Pancreatitis

Digestive Diseases and Sciences - The high incidence of osteopathy among patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) has garnered increased attention over recent years. The aims of this study were to...     

Expression and function of inducible costimulator on peripheral blood T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of inducible costimulator (ICOS) in the pathogenesis of SLE, we assessed its expression on peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T cells and functional roles in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Expression of ICOS on peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T cells and ICOS ligand (ICOSL) on peripheral blood CD19 B cells from patients with SLE, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy volunteers were determined by two-colour flow cytometry. The functional costimulatory effects of ICOS on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were assessed by T-cell proliferative responses, cytokines, anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody and total IgG production. RESULTS: Peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing ICOS were significantly increased in patients with SLE compared with patients with RA and healthy subjects. Peripheral blood CD19 B cells expressing ICOSL in SLE were markedly reduced compared with RA. Proliferative responses of anti-CD3/ICOS costimulation were significantly higher than those of anti-CD3/hamster IgG (HIgG) in healthy subjects, but not in patients with SLE. Anti-CD3/ICOS-stimulated SLE PBMC secreted similar levels of IL-10 and IFN-gamma but a significantly lower level of IL-2 than healthy PBMC. Anti-CD3/ICOS-mediated costimulation significantly enhanced the production of anti-dsDNA antibodies and total IgG in patients with SLE. CONCLUSION: Hyperexpression of ICOS on peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T cells from patients with SLE contributed to the dysregulated T-cell proliferation, T-cell activation and pathogenic autoantibody production, which showed that the abnormality of ICOS costimulation may play an immunopathological role(s) in the pathogenesis of SLE.     

Comparing of Light Transmittance Aggregometry and Modified Thrombelastograph in Predicting Clinical Outcomes in Chinese Patients Undergoing Coronary Stenting with Clopidogrel

Background:

Several platelet function tests are currently used to measure responsiveness to antiplatelet therapy. This study was to compare two tests, light transmittance aggregometry (LTA) and modified thrombelastography (mTEG), for predicting clinical outcomes in Chinese patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods:

Prospective, observational, single-center study of 789 Chinese patients undergoing PCI was enrolled. This study was investigated the correlations between the two tests and performed receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) at 1-year follow-up.

Results:

MACEs occurred in 32 patients (4.1%). Correlations were well between the two tests in the adenosine diphosphate induced platelet reactivity (Spearman r = 0.733, P < 0.001). ROC-curve analysis demonstrated that LTA (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.677; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.643–0.710; P = 0.0009), and mTEG (AUC: 0.684; 95% CI: 0.650–0.716; P = 0.0001) had moderate ability to discriminate between patients with and without MACE. MACE occurred more frequently in patients with high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR) when assessed by LTA (7.4% vs. 2.7%; P < 0.001), and by TEG (6.7% vs. 2.6%; P < 0.001). Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that HPR based on the LTA and mTEG was associated with almost 3-fold increased risk of MACE at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions:

The correlation between LTA and mTEG is relatively high in Chinese patients. HPR measured by LTA and mTEG were significantly associated with MACE in Chinese patients undergoing PCI.     

Short-term Safety and Efficiency of Cryoablation for Renal Sympathetic Denervation in a Swine Model

Background:

Renal sympathetic nerves are involved in the reflective activation of the sympathetic nervous system in circulatory control. Catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) ameliorated treatment-resistant hypertension safely, but 10%–20% of treated patients are nonresponders to radiofrequency denervation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and efficiency of cryoablation for sympathetic denervation in a swine model and to explore a new way of RDN.

Methods:

Seven swines randomly assigned to two groups: Renal cryoablation (CR) group and control group. The control group underwent renal angiogram only. The CR group underwent renal angiogram plus bilateral renal cryoablation. Renal angiograms via femoral were performed before denervation, after denervation and prior to the sacrifice to access the diameter of renal arterial and the pressure of aorta abdominalis. Euthanasia of the swine was performed on 28-day to access norepinephrine (NE) changes of the renal cortex and the changes of renal nerves.

Results:

Cryoablation did not induce severe complications at any time point. There was no significant change in diameter of renal artery. CR reduced systolic blood pressure (BP) from 145.50 ± 9.95 mmHg at baseline to 119.00 ± 14.09 mmHg. There was a slight but insignificant decrease in diastolic BP. The main nerve changes at 28-day consisted of necrosis with perineurial fibrosis at the site of CR exposure in conjunction with the nerve vacuolation. Compared with the control group, renal tissue NE of CR group decreased by 89.85%.

Conclusions:

Percutaneous catheter-based cryoablation of the renal artery is safe. CR could effectively reduce NE storing in the renal cortex, and the efficiency could be maintained 28-day at least.     

270例高龄老年患者机械通气后短期预后及危险因素分析

目的：对行机械通气的老年患者进行随访观察,分析机械通气的短期预后及危险因素。方法选择2008年1月至2013年6月就诊于解放军总医院老年病房的270例机械通气患者为研究对象,根据机械通气后28d时和29d至3个月时患者的生存情况,将患者资料分成死亡组（n＝126）和存活组（n＝144）进行分析,采用单因素分析筛查出影响预后的因素,以有统计学意义的因素作为自变量进行多因素logistic回归分析,判断各因素对死亡风险的影响。结果270例老年机械通气患者,年龄（89.0±4.8）岁。肺炎（70.7%）为最常见病因,其次为急性左心衰（10.7%）和慢性阻塞性肺疾病急性加重（AECOPD,7.8%）等。28d内死亡86例（31.9%）,3个月内共死亡126例（46.7%）。多因素logistic回归分析显示低氧合指数（PO2/FiO2）、前白蛋白降低、血尿素氮（BUN）增高、血清肌酐（SCr）增高（〉165.2μmol/L）、使用呼气末正压（PEEP）是影响机械通气患者28d预后的危险因素（均P＜0.05）;慢性肾脏病（CKD）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）是影响机械通气患者29d至3个月时预后的危险因素（均P＜0.05）。结论肺炎、急性左心衰、AECOPD等是老年患者机械通气最常见的原因;CKD、低PO2/FiO2、前白蛋白降低、CRP、BUN增高、SCr增高（＞165.2μmol/L）及使用PEEP是影响机械通气患者预后的危险因素。