Activity of coumarin against Candida albicans biofilms

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the antibiofilm activity of coumarin against Candida albicans.

METHODS

The efficacy of coumarin against biofilm formation and the mature biofilm of C. albicans was quantified by crystal violet (CV) staining and the 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) reduction assay. The effect of coumarin on C. albicans adhesion was assessed on polystyrene plates and by using the cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) assay. The morphological transition of C. albicans was conducted in two types of hyphae-inducing media at 37°C. The expression of hypha/biofilm-related genes was evaluated using qRT-PCR analysis. A rescue experiment involving addition of exogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was performed to investigate the involvement of cAMP in the yeast-to-hyphae transition. A C. albicans-infected Caenorhabditis elegans model was used to test the anti-virulence efficacy of coumarin.

RESULTS

Treatment with coumarin strongly affected the capacity of C. albicans to form biofilm and significantly impaired the preformed mature biofilm. The addition of coumarin notably inhibited C. albicans adhesion, CSH, and filamentation. The expression of some adhesion- and hypha-related genes, including HWP1, HYR1, ECE1, and ALS3, was remarkably down-regulated upon exposure to coumarin. Supplementation with cAMP partly rescued the coumarin-induced defects in hyphal development. Finally, coumarin prolonged survival in C. albicans-infected nematodes.

CONCLUSION

Coumarin inhibited C. albicans biofilm, which was associated with attenuated adhesion and hyphal growth.

[A brief textual research on Mei shi fang (Prescriptions of Master Mei) and Yi men fang (Prescriptions of Medical Professionals)]

Mei shi fang (Prescriptions of Master Mei) cited in Zheng lei ben cao (Classified Syndromes Materia Medica) and Yi men fang (Prescriptions of Medical Professionals) cited in Yi xin fang (Ishinpo) are actually the same book with different titles, which is actually called Yi men mi lu (Secret Records of Medical Professionals) with 5 volumes or the 5-volume Mei chong xian fang (Prescriptions of Mei Chongxian) approximately compiled during the years of Zhenyuan to Yuanhe reigns of the Tang Dynasty (785-820) written by Mei Chongxian, a Tang taoist. Mei Chongxian and Mei Biao, the author of Shi yao er ya (Dictionary of Mineral Medicines), might probably be the same person. According to the citations of Yi xin fang and Zheng lei ben cao, Yi men mi lu should be a comprehensive medical book including theories, methods, prescriptions and medications, recorded classical prescriptions of predecessors extensively, with some innovations and high clinical and documentary significance.

[Clinical analysis of one infantile nephrotic syndrome caused by COQ2 gene mutation and literature review]

Objective: To explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of infantile nephrotic syndrome caused by COQ2 variants. Methods: The clinical and genetic data of a patient with nephrotic syndrome caused by COQ2 variants diagnosed at pediatric department of Peking University First Hospital from February 2018 to March 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Related literature retrieved from PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases were searched to date (up to July 2018) with "COQ2 gene" or "primary coenzyme Q10 deficiency" and "nephrotic syndrome" or "nephropathy" as key words. Results: A 14-month-old male, presented to local hospital at 11 months of age with edema and severe proteinuria, without hematuria, hypertension or renal dysfunction. He did not have infection or seizure in the course of the disease. He had no response to a more than four-week full-dose prednisone treatment. He had normal birth, mild motor development retardation and moderate language retardation. He was born to non-consanguineous healthy parents. He had two unaffected older sisters and one older sister died of "nephropathy" at one year of age. Genetic testing identified compound heterozygous variants in COQ2 gene: c.518G>A and c.973A>G, both could be predicted by in silico tools to be deleterious in protein function. These variants are not single nucleotide polymorphism and rare in normal populations. Both variants have previously been reported as pathogenic. These missense mutations were inherited from parents in autosomal recessive manner tested by Sanger sequencing. The patient was supplemented with high-dose of coenzyme Q10, at 30 mg/(kg·day) and glucocorticoid was withdrawn. Within three weeks of high dose coenzyme Q10 treatment, the edema disappeared. After seven weeks of high dose coenzyme Q10 treatment, the patient had decreased proteinuria and improved serum albumin levels. The urine protein to creatinine ratio decreased from 22.87 mg/mg to 1.98 mg/mg; Serum albumin increased from 14.2 g/L to 39.9 g/L, with normal kidney function and improved motor development. Primary CoQ10 deficiency is reported to be a rare autosomal recessive mitochondrial disorder with heterogeneous renal, neurologic, and muscular manifestations. To date, COQ2 variants have been reported in 14 children with glomerular involvement. Their age at onset ranged from neonatal period to 10-year-old (8 patients within the first year of life). Steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is the most common phenotype. Some of these children also had progressing encephalopathy and myopathy, and seizures. Patients with COQ2 variants might show clinical improvement with early high-dose oral CoQ10 supplementation. Literature review revealed two Chinese articles, mainly about adults with neurologic symptoms. SRNS was previously not reported in Chinese pediatric patients. Conclusions: It is necessary to carry out genetic testing for infant with SRNS. The coexistence of some degree of encephalomyopathy, such as development retardation, should raise suspicion of a mitochondrial defect caused by COQ2 variants. Timely diagnostic genetic testing and early high dose of coenzyme Q10 supplement could significantly improve their prognosis.

Use of integrative epigenetic and mRNA expression analyses to identify significantly changed genes and functional pathways in osteoarthritic cartilage

Aim

Osteoarthritis (OA) is caused by complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Epigenetic mechanisms control the expression of genes and are likely to regulate the OA transcriptome. We performed integrative genomic analyses to define methylation-gene expression relationships in osteoarthritic cartilage.

Patients and Methods

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of articular cartilage from five patients with OA of the knee and five healthy controls was conducted using the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip (Illumina, San Diego, California). Other independent genome-wide mRNA expression profiles of articular cartilage from three patients with OA and three healthy controls were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Integrative pathway enrichment analysis of DNA methylation and mRNA expression profiles was performed using integrated analysis of cross-platform microarray and pathway software. Gene ontology (GO) analysis was conducted using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID).

Results

We identified 1265 differentially methylated genes, of which 145 are associated with significant changes in gene expression, such as DLX5, NCOR2 and AXIN2 (all p-values of both DNA methylation and mRNA expression < 0.05). Pathway enrichment analysis identified 26 OA-associated pathways, such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway (p = 6.25 × 10-4), phosphatidylinositol (PI) signalling system (p = 4.38 × 10-3), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) signalling pathway (p = 8.63 × 10-3 pantothenate and coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis (p = 0.017), ErbB signalling pathway (p = 0.024), inositol phosphate (IP) metabolism (p = 0.025), and calcium signalling pathway (p = 0.032).

Conclusion

We identified a group of genes and biological pathwayswhich were significantly different in both DNA methylation and mRNA expression profiles between patients with OA and controls. These results may provide new clues for clarifying the mechanisms involved in the development of OA.

Cite this article: A. He, Y. Ning, Y. Wen, Y. Cai, K. Xu, Y. Cai, J. Han, L. Liu, Y. Du, X. Liang, P. Li, Q. Fan, J. Hao, X. Wang, X. Guo, T. Ma, F. Zhang. Use of integrative epigenetic and mRNA expression analyses to identify significantly changed genes and functional pathways in osteoarthritic cartilage. Bone Joint Res 2018;7:343–350. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.75.BJR-2017-0284.R1.

[Longitudinal study of the early prelingual auditory development of children with cochlear implants]

Objective:To explore the early prelingual auditory development (EPLAD) of children with cochlear implants.Method:Children with cochlear implants switched on at 1 and 2 years old in our center were recruited in this longitudinal study, and the EPLAD of them would be tested with the ITMAIS at 3months, 6months, and 12months after switch on. Each children could be permitted to miss follow-up one time.Result:Seventy-five children with unilateral cochlear implants were recruited in the study, and divided into 2 age groups according to the age at switch on,1 year group (32 children) and 2 years group (43 children). The EPLAD of children in both groups improved as the time they wore the cochlear implants increased. The speeds of improvement in both groups were similar to that of normal children and faster than those of children with different hearing impairments and without any interventions. The mean total score at 12 months after switch on in 1 year groups could achieve the average level of mild hearing impaired peer without interventions. In addition, the total scores in both groups were significantly different at 3 months after switch on(P<0.05),and nosignificantly different at 6 and 12 months after switch on(P>0.05).Conclusion:Cochlear implant could help the children with profound sensorineural hearing loss to improve the abilities of EPLAD, and the speed of improvement in the 12 months after switch on was similar to that of normal children. And the results also indicated that the mean total scores at 12 months after switch on in both groups could be close to or achieve the average level of mild hearing impaired peer without interventions, it provided evidences to us for counseling and rehabilitation exercise. In addition, the result, total scores in both groups were just significantly different at 3 months after switch on, emphasized the importance of early intervention as well.

[A new method of measuring leg length discrepancy on radiograph in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty]

Objective: To investigate the reliability of the distance between the tip of the greater trochanter and inter-teardrop line (GT-IT) in evaluating the leg length discrepancy (LLD) in patients underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: Patients who underwent THA in Xi'an Honghui Hospital from August 2015 to February 2016 were enrolled in this study.The patients were measured for bilateral hips anterior-posterior (AP) radiograph preoperatively and postoperatively.Four distances measured, included: GT-IT, the tip of lesser trochanter and bi-ischial line (LT-BI); LT-IT and the anterior superior iliac spine and the medial malleolus (ASIS-MM). Magnification factor was considered when calculating absolute values.Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to detect the reliability of the measurement data.Single factor analysis and paired t test were performed to compare data among the methods. Results: The ICC values of the four groups were greater than 0.80, which showed excellent agreement in the measurements.Single factor analysis of variance showed there were no statistically significant differences in the LLDs of the four groups preoperatively and postoperatively (F=0.914, 0.886, both P>0.05). There was no significant differences in preoperative and postoperative LLD between group GT-IT and group ASIS-MM, LT-BI or LT-IT(t=-1.544-1.114, all P>0.05). The LLDs were comparable between group LT-BI, ASIS-MM and LT-IT both preoperatively and postoperatively (t=1.577, 0.976, 1.344, -0.087, all P>0.05). And the LLD in group LT-IT and ASIS-MM were equivalent preoperatively and postoperatively (t=0.130, 1.063, both P>0.05). Bland-Altman plot illustrated high level of agreements between the four methods. Conclusion: Great reliability can be obtained with the GT-IT in evaluating the LLD in patients undergoing THA.

An Effective α/β Nucleating Agent Compoundfor the Preparation of Polypropylene

The crystallization behavior and mechanical properties were investigated by mixing the traditional α-form nucleating agent (sodium benzoate, SB) and commercialized β-form nucleating agent (TMB-5) in isotactic polypropylene (iPP). Mechanical properties were evaluated by universal testing machines. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were conducted to illustrate the crystallization behavior. Polarized optical microscopy (POM) was adopted to observe the crystal morphologies. The experimental results show that the weight ratio of two types of nucleating agents determines the final crystal structure and mechanical properties of iPP. When the weight ratio of [SB] : [TMB-5] is 4 : 1, the impact strength and flexural modulus of iPP reach a maximum value. Compared with the single component β-form nucleating agent, the compound nucleating agent exhibits significant synergistic effect and shows better mechanical properties. It is expected that this new nucleation system will have potential industrial applications.

A Feasibility Study of a New Unibody Branched Stent Graft Applied to Reconstruct the Canine Aortic Arch

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new unibody branched stent graft for the reconstruction of the canine aortic arch.

METHODS

The unibody branched stent grafts included single branched stent grafts and double branched stent grafts. The main stent graft and branched limbs were sutured together. The branched stent grafts were folded into the introducer system, which consisted of a double channel catheter, a detachable sleeve, and an introducer sheath. The branched stent grafts were introduced and deployed into the aortic arch by the delivery system. Twenty adult mongrel dogs were used for the experiments. Ten dogs were implanted with single branched stent grafts; the other 10 were implanted with double branched stent grafts. The surviving animals were followed up for 3 months. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed to observe the status of the branched stent grafts.

RESULTS

All the unibody branched stent grafts were successfully implanted into the canine aortic arches. The technical success rate was 100%. There was no cerebral infarction, paraplegia or incision infection. CTA showed that all the branched stent grafts were patent; there was no endoleak or stent migration.

CONCLUSIONS

The unibody branched stent graft system could be used to reconstruct the aortic arch. The animal experimental procedures demonstrated the safety and feasibility of the unibody branched stent graft system.

A systematic approach to the formulation of anti-onychomycotic nail patches

Nail patches have a potential role as drug carriers for the topical treatment of nail diseases such as onychomycosis, a common condition. Our aim was therefore to develop a systematic and novel approach to the formulation of a simple drug-in-adhesive ungual patch. Twelve pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), four backing membranes, two release liners and three drugs were screened for pharmaceutical and mechanical properties. From this initial screening, two PSAs, two drugs, one backing membrane and one release liner were selected for further investigation. Patches were prepared by solvent-casting and characterised. The patches had good uniformity of thickness and of drug content, and showed minimal drug crystallisation during six months of storage. Meanwhile, the drug stability in the patch upon storage and patch adhesion to the nail was influenced by the nature of the drug, the PSA and the backing membrane. The reported methodology paves the way for a systematic formulation of ungual nail patches to add to the armamentarium of nail medicines. Further, from this work, the best patch formulation has been identified.

[Respiratory manifestations of yellow nail syndrome: report of two cases and literature review]

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of respiratory manifestations of yellow nail syndrome. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 2 patients with respiratory diseases associated with yellow nail syndrome. Their clinical and chest radiological data were collected. We searched PubMed, Wanfang and CNKI databases with the keywords "yellow nail syndrome, yellow nail and lung" in Chinese and English. And the relevant literatures, including 6 articles in Chinese and 81 articles in English, were reviewed. Results: Our 2 patients were male, one 60 years old and the other 76. Typical yellow nails were present in their fingers, and one of them also showed toe yellow nails. One patient was admitted for refractory respiratory infection and he was diagnosed with diffuse bronchiectasis. The respiratory symptoms could be relieved with antibiotics according to the results of sputum microbiological analysis. The other patient was admitted for cough and exertional dyspnea, and refractory pleural effusions were revealed bilaterally. He received repeated effusion drainage by thoracentesis, and Octreotide was tried recently. A total of 373 cases were reviewed in Chinese and English literatures. Pleural effusions (152 cases) and diffuse bronchiectasis (121 cases) were the most common reported respiratory manifestations. Lymphoedema was present in almost all cases with pleural effusion associated with yellow nail syndrome, and the effusion was usually exudative and lymphocyte predominant. Pleurodesis and decortication were effective for them. But, somatostatin analogues had been tried effectively for these patients recently. On the other hand, literatures showed that diffuse bronchiectasis in yellow nail syndrome was less severe than idiopathic diffuse bronchiectasis, and might benefit from long-term macrolide antibiotics. Conclusions: Yellow nail syndrome is a very rare disorder. Besides yellow nail, respiratory manifestations are the main clinical presentations. Diffuse bronchiectasis and recurrent pleural effusions are the common manifestations.

[Measurement reproducibility of parameters derived from introvoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MRI imaging of rectal cancer]

Objective: To study the measurement reproducibility of parameters derived from introvoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-MRI of rectal cancer between- and within- radiologists. Methods: Clinical data of 34 patients with rectal cancer were prospective analyzed. Conventional MRI sequences, IVIM DWI-MRI with sixteen b values and dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE)-MRI sequences of rectum were acquired by GE 3.0-T MRI imager. The IVIM sequence images with b value=1000 sec/mm(2) were selected to measure the maximum axial section of tumor by a radiologist with 15 year-experiences in gastrointestinal cancer imaging.Two radiologists (radiologist 1 and radiologist 2 with 2 and 10 years of experience in gastrointestinal cancer imaging, respectively) independently draw a freehand region of interest (ROI) that contained the largest available tumor area on the selected section. Monoexponential apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and biexponential IVIM metrics maps and IVIM parameters were generated automatically by the software. The repeated measurement was performed at an interval of one week. The average values of each measurement were used for statistical analysis. ADC values and IVIM parameters obtained between- and within- radiologists were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altaman plots were used to analyze the parameter reproducibility of two measurements between- and within- radiologists. Results: The first and second measured ADC (×10(-3)mm(2)/s), true diffusivity (D, ×10(-3)mm(2)/s), false diffusivity (D(*,) mm(2)/s) and perfusion fraction (f, %) by radiologist 1 were 0.997, 0.692, 0.043, 34.6 and 0.993, 0.691, 0.038, 32.8, respectively. The first and second measured ADC (×10(-3)mm(2)/s), D (×10(-3)mm(2)/s), D(*) (mm(2)/s), f (%) by radiologist 2 were 0.987, 0.651, 0.046, 32.8 and 0.996, 0.689、0.041, 32.7, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in ADC and IVIM parameters obtained between- and within- radiologists (P>0.05). The ADC values and the f values of two times were significantly correlated between- and within- radiologists. The D values were significantly correlated within a radiologist, and the correlation of D(*) values within a radiologist was significantly higher than that between radiologists. The 95% limits of agreement (LoA) of ADC values and f values were smaller than those of D values and D(*) values between- and within- radiologists. The 95% LoA of ADC values was the least, while that of D(*) values varied most.The 95% LoA of f values and D values kept steady within a radiologist, and 95% LoA of f values was slightly smaller than that of D values. The 95% LoA of IVIM parameters (ADC, D, f, D(*) values) within radiologists 2 were better than those within radiologist 1. Conclusions: The reproducibilities of ADC and f values are the best, while the reproducibility of D(*) values is relatively poorer in rectal cancer. Measurement reproducibility of parameters derived from IVIM may be improved by increasing radiologists' experiences in drawing ROI.

Effects of coexisting BDE-47 on the migration and biodegradation of BDE-99 in river-based aquifer media recharged with reclaimed water

Two prominent polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners have been included in the persistent organic pollutant list, 2,2',4,4',5-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-99) and 2,2,4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), which have been detected in treated municipal wastewater, river water, and sediments in China. A lab-scale column experiment was established to investigate the effects of the competitive sorption of BDE-47 on BDE-99 biodegradation and migration in two types of river-based aquifer soils during groundwater recharge with reclaimed water. Two types of recharge columns were used, filled with either silty clay (SC) or black carbon-amended silty clay (BCA). The decay rate constants of BDE-99 in the BCA and SC systems were 0.186 and 0.13 m^-1 in the single-solute system and 0.128 and 0.071 m^-1 in the binary-solute system, respectively, showing that the decay of BDE-99 was inhibited by the coexistence of BDE-47. This was particularly evident in the SC system because the higher hydrophobicity of BDE-99 determined the higher affinity and competition for sorption sites onto black carbon. The biodegradation of BDE-99 was suppressed by the coexistence of BDE-47, especially in the SC system. Lesser-brominated congeners (BDE-47 and BDE-28) and higher-brominated congeners (BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, and BDE-183) were generated in the four recharge systems, albeit at different ratios. Bacterial biodiversity was influenced by the presence of BDE-47 in the SC system, while it had no significant effect on the BCA system, because the high sorption capacity of black carbon on the hydrophobic PBDEs effectively reduced their toxicity. The ranking order of the most abundant classes changed markedly due to the coexistence of BDE-47 in both the SC and BCA systems. The ranking order of the most abundant genera changed from Azospira, Methylotenera, Desulfovibrio, Methylibium, and Bradyrhizobium to Halomonas, Hyphomicrobium, Pseudomonas, Methylophaga, and Shewanella, which could be involved in PBDE degradation.

[Analysis on the novel compound heterozygous mutation FⅪ of a patient with hereditary factor Ⅺ deficiency]

Objective: To investigate the clinical phenotype and genotype characteristics of a Chinese hereditary factor Ⅺ deficiency pedigree. Methods: The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT), FⅪ activity (FⅪ: C) were measured by clotting method using automatic coagulation analyzer. The FⅪ antigen (FⅪ: Ag) was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fifteen exons of F11 from the proband and his pedigree members were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), then sequenced. Pymol software was used to analyze the novel mutations. Results: APTT, FⅪ: C and FⅪ: Ag of proband was 74.2 s, 4.0% and 2.9%, respectively. For his older sister, APTT, FⅪ: C and FⅪ: Ag was 67.1 s, 3.0% and 1.8%, respectively. APTT, FⅪ: C and FⅪ: Ag of healthy controls were 34.5 s, 100.0% and 100.0%. FⅪ: C of proband's father, mother and brother were 72.0%, 62.0%, and 78.0%, respectively. FⅪ: Ag of them were 50.0%, 43.0%, and 51.8%, respectively. The other coagulant parameters of the proband and his pedigree were all in the normal range. Sequence analysis showed two heterozygous gene mutations in F11 of the proband and his older sister. One was a deletion of T at nucleotide 1 491 in exon 12, resulting in a frameshift. A substitution of leucine 465 by tryptophan and a terminal coden after 7 amino acid: F11NM_13142c.1491delT (p.Leu465Trp.fs*7). The other was a G to A substitution at nucleotide 1 815 in exon 15, resulting in a substitution of glycine 573 by aspartic acid: F11 NM_13142c.1815G>A (p.Gly573Asp). F11NM_13142c.1491delT (p.Leu465Trp.fs*7) heterozygotes were found both in the proband's father and his brother while p. Gly573Asp heterozygote was only found in his mother. F11 of the proband's uncle was wild. Conclusion: The novel compound heterozygous mutations of F11NM_13142c.1491delT (p.Leu465Trp.fs*7) and F11 NM_13142 c. 1815G>A (p.Gly573Asp) are responsible for FⅪ deficiency to the proband, which induced the decrease of FⅪ: C and FⅪ: Ag.

[Resting-state network evaluation of chronic smokers by functional magnetic resonance imaging.]

Objective: To explore the neuromechanism of nicotine smoking, we use independent component analysis (ICA) of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the differences of functional connectivity of resting-state networks (RSN) in chronic smokers. Methods: Forty-five chronic smokers and thirty-four age and gender matched normal nonsmoking controls experienced resting-state fMRI scanning in 3.0T MRI scanner.Differences of the function connection in each RSN between chronic smokers group and nonsmoking controls group were analyzed by SPM software which was based on Matlab platform. Results: Compared with normal nonsmoking controls, changes of functional connectivity within each RSN in chronic smokers: (1) medial visual network: functional connectivity decreased in right cuneus (t=4.17, P<0.05) and left calcarine (t=3.08, P<0.05); (2) lateral visual network: decreased in left gyrus occipital superior (t=3.42, P<0.05); (3) occipital pole visual network: decreased in right gyrus occipital medius and left gyrus occipital medius (t=3.58, P<0.05); (4) dorsal attention network (DAN): increased in right gyrus occipital superior (t=3.42, P<0.05); (5) left frontoparietal network: decreased in left inferior parietal lobe (t=3.77, P<0.05); (6) right frontoparietal network: increased in right gyrus frontalis medius (t=3.42, P<0.05). Conclusion: There are some RSNs changes of chronic smokers compared with normal nonsmoking controls, with multiple brain regions functional connectivity abnormalities.

[Clinical and radiological features of adult patients with different antisynthetase syndrome based on serum anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody type]

Objective: To describe the clinical and radiological characteristics of antisynthetase syndrome associated interstitial lung disease in patients with different serum anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibodies. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 5 adult patients with antisynthetase syndrome associated interstitial lung disease in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Their clinical and chest radiological data were analyzed and relevant literatures were reviewed. Results: Among these 5 patients, there were 1 male and 4 females, aged from 32 y to 67 y, with a mean age of 53 y. Cough and exertional dyspnea were the main clinical complaints. Four cases showed mechanic's-like hands, and all of the 5 cases had Velcro rales in the basal lungs. None of them showed clubbing. Creatine kinase was elevated in 1 case with anti-Jo-1 synthetase antibody, and anti-nuclear antibody was positive in 4 cases, with different titers from 1∶80 to 1∶320, and anti-Ro-52 antibody was positive in 3 cases. Anti-aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase antibody spectrum analysis showed 1 case with anti-Jo-1, 1 anti-PL-7, 1 anti PL-12, 1 anti-EJ and 1 anti-OJ synthetase antibody, respectively. Chest high resolution CT showed nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern in 1 case, and nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern with organizing pneumonia pattern in 4 cases. All the cases responded to immunosuppressive therapy including corticosteroids (with starting prednisone dosage more than 1 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1)) plus azathioprine or Mycophenolate mofetil. Conclusions: Antisynthetase syndrome associated interstitial lung disease, characterized by the presence of different anti-tRNA synthetase antibodies, is an increasingly recognized clinical entity. Clinical and radiological features of different subtypes of antisynthetase syndrome are relatively heterogeneous. Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern, nonspecific interstitial pneumonia pattern with organizing pneumonia pattern and organizing pneumonia pattern were common chest HRCT patterns. Prednisone plus immunosuppressive agents are the recommended first line therapy.

Upregulated miR-29c suppresses silica-induced lung fibrosis through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in mice

Silicosis is an irreversible lung disease resulting from long-term inhalation of occupational dust containing silicon dioxide. However, the pathogenesis of silicosis has not been clearly understood yet. Accumulating evidence suggests that miR-29 may have a significant anti-fibrotic capacity, meanwhile it may relate to Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The purpose of this study was to discuss the role of miR-29 in the progression of silicosis. A lentiviral vector was constructed, named Lv-miR-29c, which was overexpressing miR-29c. In vivo, intratracheal treatment with Lv-miR-29c significantly increased expression of miR-29c, and reduced expression of β-catenin, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 in the lung and levels of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and notably attenuated pulmonary fibrosis as evidenced by hydroxyproline content in silica-administered mice. These results indicated that miR-29c inhibited the development of silica-induced lung fibrosis. Thus, miR-29c may be a candidate target for silicosis treatment via its regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

[Structural changes of brain gray matter in male long-term smokers under magnetic resonance imaging]

Objective: To evaluate gray matter structure changes in long-term male smokers by voxel-based morphological method. Methods: Fifty long-term smokers and 37 non-smoking healthy volunteers were scanned with Siemens Skyro 3.0T magnetic resonance scanner from August 2014 to August 2016. The subjects underwent routine MRI (excluding intracranial lesions) sequences and 3D-T1 structural sequences (3D-mprage). SPM8 pretreatment based on Matlab was used to analyze the structural data. All of the data were analyzed by SPM8 software. The data were compared between groups with independent sample t test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between gray matter volume (GMV) and smoking data of two groups. Results: The gray matter volume of bilateral thalamic, right supramarginal gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus and left putamen of smoking group were (0.55±0.07), (0.40±0.05), (0.48±0.07) and (0.14±0.04) voxels, respectively, and the gray matter volume of the corresponding gyri in control group were (0.61±0.09), (0.43±0.06), (0.54±0.07) and (0.16±0.03) voxels, respectively; and the gray matter volume of smoking group were all lower than those in control group (t=-3.81, -3.51, -3.86, -2.33, all P<0.05), family wise error (FWE) correction (P<0.05). The gray matter volume of bilateral thalamus, right supramarginal gyrus and left putamen was negatively correlated with smoking index (r=-0.368, -0.189, -0.274, all P<0.05), and also negatively correlated with smoking years (r=-0.391, -0.221, -0.355, all P<0.05), and bilateral thalamus gray matter volume was negatively correlated with daily cigarette smoking (r=-0.186, P<0.05). Conclusion: The changes of brain structure of smokers mainly occur on reward-related pathways and marginal systems, and related to accumulation of cigarette smoking.

[Comparison of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy and open distal pancreatectomy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma]

Objective: To compare and evaluate the curative effect of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy(LDP) and traditional open distal pancreatectomy(ODP) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Methods: The clinical data of 15 patients treated by LDP and 87 contemporaneous cases treated by ODP from January 2010 to November 2015 was collected, and the curative effect and prognosis of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The operation time of LDP group was (286.5±48.1) min, significantly longer than that of OPD group(226.6±56.8) min (P<0.05). The operative hemorrhage, postoperative exhaust time, recovery eating time, the whole and postoperative hospitalization time of LDP group were (188.7±108.9) ml, (2.2±1.3) d, (2.9±1.1) d, (13.2±10.4) d and (9.3±8.1) d, respectively, dramatically shorter than those of ODP group (625.2±982.1) ml, (4.3±1.7) d, (5.2±1.8) d, (20.7±8.7) d and (14.9±7.8) d, respectively (all of P<0.05). There were no intraoperative blood transfusion case in LDP group, however, 13 patients in ODP group received intraoperative blood transfusion, without significant difference (P=0.207). Alternatively, 6 cases occurred pancreatic fistula in LDP group, among them, 5 cases were grade A and 1 case was grade B; In ODP group, 17 cases occurred pancreatic fistula, among them 13 cases were grade A, 1 case was grade B and 3 cases were grade C, without significant differences (P=0.130). There were 2 cases of delayed gastric empty, 1 case of pulmonary infection in LDP group. In ODP group, there were 5 cases of postoperative delayed gastric empty, 3 cases of pulmonary infection and 6 cases of intra-abdominal infection, without significant differences (P>0.05). In both LDP group and ODP group, none occurred percutaneous drainage, re-admissions, second operation or perioperative death. Conclusions: Compared to ODP, LDP is much safer and more steady in perioperative periodand operation. Patients of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma received LDP can acquire more benefit and recovery sooner, and LDP is a safe and effective operative method.