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OBJECTIVE To determine the expression levels and clinical significance of serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD). STUDY DESIGN Descriptive comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Department of Pediatric Medicine, Baoding Children's Hospital, from July 2017 to July 2018. METHODOLOGY Ninety-five KD children were chosen as the case group, and were classified into CAL group (23 patients) and NCAL group (72 patients, according to the presence of a coronary artery lesion (CAL). Forty-six non-KD children with an upper respiratory infection in the same time period were chosen as the control group. Electrochemiluminescence method was used to detect serum NT-proBNP levels. The spectrophotometer method was used to test H2S levels, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test serum IL-6 levels and to analyse the correlation. RESULTS In the acute phase and recovery phase, serum NT-proBNP and IL-6 levels were higher in the case group than the control group, while H2S levels were lower than those in the control group (p

Mental Time Travel (MTT) is the ability of individuals to project themselves to the past or to the future. Studies have shown that schizophrenia (SZ) patients are impaired in MTT. The present study aimed to examine whether MTT in patients with SZ can be improved through Life Review Therapy. Fifty patients with SZ were randomly assigned to the training (SZ-training) or control (SZ-control) group. Whereas the SZ-training group received four-week Life Review Therapy in addition to conventional treatment, the SZ-control group only received conventional treatment. MTT, emotional status, life satisfaction and cognitive functions were assessed before and after the training. We also recruited 25 matched healthy controls to complete all the assessments at baseline. After training, the SZ-training group showed higher specificity and more field perspective than the SZ-control group. No significant difference was found between the SZ-training group post-training assessment and the healthy controls. The SZ-training group also showed significant improvements in emotional expression, semantic memory and verbal fluency, but the SZ-control group did not show such improvements. These results indicated that Life Review Therapy is effective in improving MTT of SZ patients.

Background Studies that have investigated the association between vitamin D receptor ( VDR ) gene polymorphisms and intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) have yielded inconsistent results. Methods To investigate the association between VDR gene polymorphisms and IDD, a systematic literature search for relevant published studies was performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Wan-Fang, and CNKI databases. A random effects model was used for heterogeneous data; while a fixed effect model was used for homogenous data. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the association. Results We observed no association between VDR FokI , TaqI - ApaI polymorphisms and IDD. However, on subgroup analysis by ethnicity, VDR FokI mutation was associated with a significantly lower risk for IDD [dominant model: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.65–0.93; heterozygote model: OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.63–0.92; allele model: OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.75–0.98] among Caucasians. Conclusion These results suggest that the VDR FokI polymorphism may be associated with IDD among Caucasians. However, the association between VDR TaqI-ApaI polymorphisms and IDD in Asians is still not clear. Further well-designed studies are needed to arrive at a definitive conclusion.

This single-center, randomized, single-blind, parallel-controlled study aimed to analyze the changes in resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) in young patients with a suicide attempt caused by depression before and after cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) combined with fluoxetine or fluoxetine alone by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Before treatment, functional connectivity of the right subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (R-sgACC), left subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (L-sgACC) and right precuneus (R-PCu) was lower in depressed patients with a suicide attempt than that of healthy controls. After treatment, compared with the fluoxetine group, functional connectivity between the R-sgACC and left posterior cerebellar lobe in the CBT group was increased, while this group also showed increased RSFC between the L-sgACC and right anterior cingulate cortex/ medial prefrontal cortex. On the contrary, the functional connectivity between the R-PCu and right parietal lobe was reduced (P 0.001). It was also found there were some changes in different brain regions in pre- and post-treatment within both the CBT and MG group. The functional connectivity of the R-sgACC and the left posterior cerebellum lobe was negatively correlated with the SSI score. The functional connectivity of the R-PCu and right middle frontal cortex was negatively correlated with the HAMD score before treatment. After treatment, functional connectivity between the R-PCu and right superior frontal gyrus was positively correlated with the SSI scores in the CBT group. After 8 weeks of combined CBT, the strength of the functional connectivity in the bilateral sgACC and bilateral PCu was significantly changed.

To survey on Toxoplasma gondii infection in depressed patients in Guizhou Province and identify the genotype of T. gondii.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the T. gondii-specific antibodies IgG, IgM and circulating antigens (CAg) of T. gondii in 141 patients and 150 healthy subjects. The specific repeated DNA fragment (529 bp) of T. gondii was amplified by PCR. The genotype of T. gondii was determined by multiplex multilocus nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (Mn-PCR-RFLP).ELISA showed that the positive rate of anti-T. gondii antibody in depressed patients and healthy subjects was 21.3%（30/141） and 7.3%（11/150）, respectively. The positive rate of IgG in depressed patients was 18.4% （26/141）, significantly higher than that in healthy subjects （7.3%, 11/150）（P0.05）. The positive rate of IgM and CAg in depressed patients was both 1.4% （2/141）, while these were not found in healthy subjects. PCR revealed one patient positive for T. gondii, whose genotype was further identified to be Toxo DB #9（Chinese 1 type） by Mn-PCR-RFLP.The positive rate of T. gondii is higher in depressed patients than in the healthy subjects in Guizhou Province. The genotype of T. gondii detected in one depressed patient is the Chinese 1 type.

In this study, 15 representative surface waters and sediments and seven typical fish were collected during the wet season in 2016 to explore the occurrence, chemical fractionation, and ecological risk of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, As, and Ni) in aquatic ecosystems of Dongting Lake in China. In surface water, the concentrations of all elements were lower than the third grade of the surface water quality standards (GB3838-2002). The highest concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Cu were found in the outlet of Dongting Lake, whereas As and Cr were highest in the Xiangjiang River Delta area. In surface sediments, the concentration decreased in the order of Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > As>Cd > Hg; the highest concentration of all elements, except for Hg, was located in the Xiangjiang River Delta area; for chemical fractionation, Cr, Hg, Zn, As, Ni, and Cu were mainly residual fractionation; and Pb and Cd were mainly in a reducible state and fraction soluble in acid, respectively. In fish muscle, the concentrations of all elements were lower than relevant standards; the highest concentration appeared in fish living in the middle-lower and demersal layers. As for the feeding habits of fish, the average concentration decreased in the order of carnivorous > omnivorous > herbivorous fish. The potential ecological risk and the ratio of secondary phase to primary phase assessment showed that Cd and Hg had the highest ecological risk and that Cd and Pb had a high risk of secondary release. A health risk assessment showed that drinking water and fish for consumption in urban and rural areas around Dongting Lake were in the acceptable level.

Integrative analysis of chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) data and microarray data was performed to illustrate the effect of Nutlin-3 on promoter selectivity and transcriptional regulation by the tumor suppressor p53 in U2OS human osteosarcoma cells. Raw data (accession number, {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE46642","term_id":"46642"}}GSE46642) were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus. Differential analyses were performed using package limma of R software. Gene ontology enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed for the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integration Discovery. Integrative analysis of ChIP-seq data and microarray data were confirmed with ChIP-Array. A total of 565 DEGs were identified, including 373 upregulated genes and 192 downregulated genes. Genes involved in the p53 signaling pathway, cell cycle, DNA replication, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and melanoma were markedly over-represented in the DEGs. A total of 39 DEGs were directly regulated by p53 and two were the transcription factors (TFs), E2F2 and HOXA1. E2F2 regulated 25 DEGs, while HOXA1 regulated one DEG. The cell cycle, p53 signaling pathway, melanoma and pathways involved in cancer were enriched in the direct and indirect target genes. Changes in the p53-binding pattern induced by Nutlin-3 were described in the present study, which may advance the understanding of the regulatory network of p53 in osteosarcoma and aid in the development of novel therapies.

Erectile dysfunction-no sexual life (ED-NS) is defined as the inability to have enough penile erection hardness and duration so as to have enough confidence in attempting sexual intercourse for more than six months. This study was to investigate the effect of daily low-dose tadalafil on ED-NS.We treated 35 ED-NS patients aged 17-35 (25.9 +/- 3.9) years with oral tadalafil at 5 mg qd for 3 months and followed them up for another 3 months after drug withdrawal. We obtained the scores of the patients on Self-estimation Index of Erectile Function-No Sexual Life (SIEF-NS) and compared them before and after medication and at 3 months after drug withdrawal.The patients' SIEF-NS scores were 43.2 +/- 7.1 after medication and 42.1 +/- 7.4 at 3 months after drug withdrawal, both significantly higher than 21.2 +/- 5.9 before treatment (P0.05), though there was no significant difference between the former two scores (P0.05).Daily medication of low-dose tadalafil can significantly improve the erectile function of the patients with ED-NS.

To investigate the experience on diagnosis and treatment of multiple adrenal aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA).Eighteen cases of multiple adrenal APA were analyzed retrospectively, which were admitted from October 1992 to April 2006.Adrenalectomy was performed for 4 cases of unilateral synchronous multiple APA, which were discovered with three adenomas by 3D-CT; bilateral tumor resection was performed for 6 cases of bilateral synchronous multiple APA. There were 8 cases of bilateral metachronous multiple APA, including 2 cases of ipsilateral recurrent adrenal APA after adrenal tumor removal, which underwent tumor resection. Another 6 cases were contralateral APA following adrenalectomy due to adrenal APA, and underwent tumor resection. After operation, the adrenal function seemed to be normal, and no recurrence had been found on follow-up.Unilateral multiple synchronous APA require adrenalectomy. Tumor resection should be performed for bilateral or asynchronous APA, and it is very important to preserve healthy adrenal tissue as much as possible. 3D-CT has much value on diagnosis of small APA, unilateral multiple synchronous APA and ipsilateral recurrent adrenal APA.

To explore the mechanism of reversal of multidrug resistance in renal carcinoma cells by protein kinase C inhibitor.RT-PCR, Western blot and inverted fluorescent microscopy were used to determine the expression of PKCalpha and MDR related gene MDR1, MRP1, LRP in RCC cells transferred by PKCalpha cDNA. Also effects of activator and inhibitor of PKC in combination with adriamycin on multidrug resistance in RCC cells were evaluated by MTT.The results of semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of MDR1 was higher in RCC cells transferred by PKCalpha cDNA than in RCC cells, the reversal effectiveness of PKC inhibitors in combination with adriamycin (ADM) was apparently favorable. IC(50) of ADM in 786 - 0 cells was 7.8015e(-7) (5.7046e(-7) to 1.0669e(-6)); IC(50) of ADM in PKCalpha/786 - 0 cells was 1.6588e(-6) (1.1621e(-6) to 2.3677e(-6)); IC(50) of ADM in combination with PMA in PKCalpha/786 - 0 cells was 2.6794e(-6) (2.0521e(-6) to 3.4983e(-6)); IC(50) of ADM in combination with calphostin C in PKCalpha/786 - 0 cells was 9.2506e(-8) (5.9337e(-8) to 1.4422e(-7)).PKC inhibitors can reverse multidrug resistance in renal carcinoma cells in vitro via changes of expression of MDR1.

To study the clinical features, treatment and diagnosis of parapelvic cyst.Twenty-three patients of parapelvic cyst of the kidney were reviewed retrospectively. Fourteen cases (61%) complained of lumbar pain or discomfort, and 4 patients (17%) accompany hematuria and hypertension.In 15 patients receiving surgery, 2 were treated by nephrectomy, one by radical nephrectomy for misdiagnosis. Postoperative diagnosis confirmed a cyst. Eight patients were treated conservatively for cyst being small and without clinical symptoms. Nineteen cases were followed up for 0.5 - 12.0 years.Ultrasonography and CT scan are the main diagnostic methods. Enhanced CT is extremely helpful in differential diagnosis of hydronephrosis. Surgical management is suitable for big cysts, lumbar pain, hematuria, hypertension and other complications.