Development of 39 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers for the giant mottled eel Anguilla marmorata and cross-amplification in other eel species

In this study, we have developed microsatellite markers for the giant mottled eel (Anguilla marmorata) from expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences using next-generation sequencing. Consequently, a total of 39 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers were identified in 32 individuals from Wangquan River wild population area. The range of observed heterozygosity, expected heterozygosity and polymorphism information content were 0.044–1.000, 0.285–0.946 and 0.3783–0.9016, respectively. In addition, eight loci were deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and modified by Bonferroni correction, and the results showed no significant linkage disequilibrium between the locus pair. The amplification of cross-species was conducted in Anguilla bicolor pacifica and Anguilla japonica, which revealed the applicability of EST-SSR primers. These EST-SSR markers can provide sufficient polymorphism for population genetic studies, pedigree and genome mapping of these three kinds of closely related eels.     

Cross-regulation by TLR4 and T cell Ig mucin-3 determines severity of liver injury in a CCl4-induced mouse model

Acute liver injury is a common pathological basis for a variety of acute liver diseases in the clinic, which can eventually lead to liver fibrosis and even liver failure. In this study, we found that T cell Ig and mucin domain protein 3 (Tim-3) and TLR4 receptors play important roles in CCl4-induced acute liver injury. Tim-3 is a negative regulator that is expressed by T cells and macrophages. Using antibodies against Tim-3 (anti-Tim-3 Ab), we studied the Tim-3 signal in an animal model of acute liver injury and found that a large number of inflammatory factors were upregulated. In vitro experimental data shown that anti-Tim-3 Ab treatment increased interferon-ɣ production by concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated spleen T cells, and we found that the expression level of interleukin (IL)-6 was increased in a macrophage/spleen T cell coculture system, while administration of galectin-9 (Gal-9, a Tim-3 ligand) reduced the IL-6 production. This indicates the importance of the Tim-3/Gal-9 signalling pathway in maintaining hepatic homeostasis. The Tim-3 signalling pathway inhibits TLR4-mediated NF-κB activity, and an anti-Tim-3 Ab does not affect the liver injury in TLR4-deficient mice. Regulation between Tim-3 and TLR4 determines the severity of liver damage. The negative regulation of Tim-3 reflects the protective mechanisms of patients with impaired liver function, and these results provide important information about innate and adaptive responses in the regulation of liver damage. This finding is potentially important for the study of early liver injury.     

Mild degenerative changes of hip cartilage in elderly patients: an available sample representative of early osteoarthritis

This study investigated the cellular and molecular changes which occur in cartilage from adults with femoral neck fracture (FNF) and osteoarthritis (OA), and explored the similarities in hip cartilage obtained from elderly patients and patients with early OA. Femoral heads were retrieved from 23 female patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). This group included 7 healthy patients with FNF (hFNF), 8 elderly adults with FNF (eFNF), and 8 elderly patients with hip OA (OA). After high-field MRI T2 mapping, osteochondral plugs were harvested from the weight-bearing area of femoral heads for subsequent macroscopic, histologic, and immunochemical evaluation. Additionally, the contents of cartilage matrix were analyzed, and gene expression was detected. The surface of cartilage from hFNF and eFNF patients appeared smooth, regular, and elastic, whereas it showed irregularities, thinning, and defects in OA patients. Elevated T2 values and decreased accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were detected in cartilage from eFNF patients. Furthermore, type I collagen accumulation was slightly increased and type X collagen concentration was obviously elevated in eFNF patients; however, type II collagen distribution and the contents and anisotropy of collagen fibrils in eFNF patients showed no significant changes. Consistent with histology and immunohistochemical results, aggrecan was downregulated and type X collagen was upregulated, while collagens types I and II showed no significant changes in eFNF patients. The cellular and molecular characteristics of hip cartilage in eFNF patients who showed no symptoms of OA were similar to those in patients with mild OA. Thus, eFNF cartilage can serve as a comparative specimen for use in studies investigating early OA.     

利福平外用致原位肝移植术后患者过敏反应1例

肝炎后肝硬化患者,原发性肝癌行原位肝移植术,于术后7 d皮肤破溃处涂利福平胶囊粉后出现过敏反应．利福平为临床常用的广谱抗菌素,外用后快速导致过敏反应未见报道, 该病例既往无过敏史,特殊之处在于为原位肝移植术后患者,移植术后用药有很多特殊之处,可供参考的资料不多．抗过敏治疗上以尽快纠正低氧血症对移植肝功能的恢复至关重要．     

脑梗死患者治疗前后血清GM-CSF和PGMP测定的临床意义

目的：探讨了脑梗死患者治疗前后血清GM—CSF和血小板α-颗粒膜蛋白（PGMP）水平的变化及意义。方法：应用放射免疫分析对36例脑梗死患者进行了血清GM—CSF和PGMP水平测定,并以30例正常健康人作比较。结果：在治疗前血清GM—CSF和PGMP水平均非常显著地高于正常人组（P〈0．01）,经治疗后6个月与正常人比较仍有显著差异（P〈0．05）。结论：脑梗死的发生、发展与血清GM—CSF和PGMP水平密切相关。     

Clinical outcomes,quality of life,and costs evaluation of peritoneal dialysis management models in Shanghai Songjiang District: a multi-center and prospective cohort study

Background: The new Family-Community-Hospital (FCH) three-level comprehensive management aimed to improve the efficiency and scale of peritoneal dialysis (PD) to meet the increased population of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Our study focused on the clinical outcomes, quality of life, and costs evaluation of this model in a multi-center and prospective cohort study.Methods: A total of 190 ESRD patients who commenced PD at Shanghai Songjiang District were enrolled. According to different PD management models, patients were divided into the Family-Community-Hospital three-level management model (n = 90) and the conventional all-course central hospital management model (n = 100). The primary outcome was clinical outcomes of PD. The secondary outcomes were health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and medical costs evaluation.Results: Compared to conventional management, community-based FCH management achieved a similar dialysis therapeutic effect, including dropout rate (p = 0.366), peritonitis rate (p = 0.965), patient survival (p = 0.441), and technique survival (p = 0.589). Follow-up data showed that similar levels of the renal and peritoneal functions, serum albumin, cholesterol and triglyceride, PTH, serum calcium, and phosphorus between the two groups (all p > 0.05). HRQOL survey showed that the FCH management model helped to improve the psychological status of PD patients, including social functioning (p = 0.006), role-emotional (p = 0.032), and mental health (p = 0.036). FCH management also reduced the hospitalization (p = 0.009) and outpatient visits (p = 0.001) and saved annual hospitalization costs (p = 0.005), outpatient costs (p = 0.026), and transport costs (p = 0.006).Conclusions: Compared with conventional management, community-based FCH management achieved similar outcomes, improved psychological health, reduced medical budgets, and thus had a good social prospect.