Thrombopoietin: a potential diagnostic indicator of immune thrombocytopenia in pregnancy.

To evaluate whether the serum thrombopoietin levels in pregnancy-associated immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) differ from those in gestational thrombocytopenia, and reveal the possibility of thrombopoietin serving as a marker for differential diagnosis. Serum thrombopoietin concentration was determined in ITP in pregnancy (n = 35), gestational thrombocytopenia (n = 31), healthy pregnancy (n = 32), age-matched nonpregnant ITP (n = 32) and nonpregnant healthy controls (n = 35) by ELISA. The serum thrombopoietin level of ITP in pregnancy (1283 ± 646 pg/mL) was significantly higher than gestational thrombocytopenia (187 ± 64 pg/mL) (P < 0.

The influence of genetic variants of sorafenib on clinical outcomes and toxic effects in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether genetic variants that influence angiogenesis and sorafenib pharmacokinetics are associated with clinical outcomes and toxic effects in advanced renal cell carcinoma patients treated with this drug. One hundred patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were enrolled. Forty-two polymorphisms in 15 genes were selected for genotyping and analyzed for associations with progression-free survival, overall survival, and toxic effects.

High-dose dexamethasone corrects impaired myeloid-derived suppressor cell function via Ets1 in immune thrombocytopenia.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are heterogeneous immature cells and natural inhibitors of adaptive immunity. In this study, the MDSC population was evaluated in adult patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), where cell-mediated immune mechanisms are involved in platelet destruction. Our data demonstrated that both the numbers and suppressive functions of MDSCs were impaired in the peripheral blood and spleens of patients with ITP compared with healthy control patients.

The relationship between functional promoter -94 ins/del ATTG polymorphism in NF-κ B1 gene and the risk of urinary cancer.

Objective: A functional -94 insertion/deletion polymorphism (rs28362491) in the promoter of the NF-κ B1 gene was reported to influence NF-κ B1 expression and confer susceptibility to different types of cancer. This study aims to determine whether the polymorphism is associated with the risk of urinary cancer, including renal cancer, bladder cancer and prostate cancer.

Methods: TaqMan method was applied to genotype the NF-κ B1 -94 ins/del ATTG promoter polymorphism in three case-control studies: renal cell carcinoma group (1216 cases and 1588 controls), bladder cancer group (730 cases and 780 controls), and prostate cancer group (820 cases and 945 controls).

Generation of cylindrically symmetric modes and orbital-angular-momentum modes with tilted optical gratings inscribed in high-numerical-aperture fibers.

Optical fiber with high numerical aperture (NA) can efficiently relieve the degeneracy of higher-order linearly polarized modes. The degeneracy relief is investigated in two types of high-NA fibers, i.e.

Validation of the Chinese Version of ID-Migraine in Medical Students and Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis Concerning Its Diagnostic Accuracy.

Aims: To validate the Chinese version of Migraine Screener (ID-Migraine) in medical students in mainland China and to estimate the diagnostic accuracy of ID-Migraine by means of a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Methods: A total of 555 medical university students participated in the clinical study. Of these, 190 volunteered to take part in a face-to-face consultation and 365 in a telephone interview to diagnose the presence of migraine according to the criteria of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Short-term enhancement effect of nitrogen addition on microbial degradation and plant uptake of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in contaminated mangrove soil.

Effects of nitrogen (N) addition on the microbial degradation and uptake of a mixture of BDE-47 and -209 by Aegiceras corniculatum, a typical mangrove plant species were investigated. At the end of 3-month experiment, a significant dissipation of BDE-47 was observed in the planted soil, and this dissipation, particularly in rhizosphere soil, was significantly accelerated by the frequent addition of N in the form of ammonium chloride. The removal percentage of BDE-47 in the rhizosphere soil without N addition was 47.

Root distribution of Nitraria sibirica with seasonally varying water sources in a desert habitat.

In water-limited environments, the water sources used by desert shrubs are critical to understanding hydrological processes. Here we studied the oxygen stable isotope ratios (δ (18)O) of stem water of Nitraria sibirica as well as those of precipitation, groundwater and soil water from different layers to identify the possible water sources for the shrub. The results showed that the shrub used a mixture of soil water, recent precipitation and groundwater, with shallow lateral roots and deeply penetrating tap (sinker) roots, in different seasons.

Cigarette smoking and risk of hip fracture in women: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Background And Objectives: Whether cigarette smoking can increase the risk of hip fracture in women is unclear. This meta-analysis, which pooled results from 10 prospective cohort studies, was performed to derive a more precise estimation between cigarette smoking and the risk of hip fracture in women.

Materials And Methods: Pubmed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and ISI Web of Science were systematically searched to identify relevant studies.

Triflic acid catalyzed formal [3 + 2] cycloaddition of donor-acceptor oxiranes and nitriles: a facile access to 3-oxazolines.

A TfOH-catalyzed chemoselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition of donor-acceptor oxiranes and nitriles is described. This reaction provides an efficient and practical method for the preparation of useful 3-oxazolines in good to excellent yields (up to 99%).

[Application of free-form deformation algorithm in fast three-dimensional bone reconstruction].

This paper presents a unit free-form deformation (FFD) method applied to rapid three-dimensioanl (3D) bone reconstruction, which was based on traditional FFD. With the femur as an example, we reconstructed a 3D model of femur from two X-ray images and a standardized model by taking advantage of unit FFD algorithm. The X-ray images and its parameters were taken by C-arm device.

A multicenter randomized open-label study of rituximab plus rhTPO vs rituximab in corticosteroid-resistant or relapsed ITP.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) plus recombinant human thrombopoietin (rhTPO) with RTX alone in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) who had failed to respond to corticosteroids or relapsed. Recruited patients were randomized at a ratio of 2:1 into 2 groups: the combination group (RTX + rhTPO, n = 77) and the monotherapy group (RTX, n = 38). Overall response was achieved in 79.

Low-dose decitabine promotes megakaryocyte maturation and platelet production in healthy controls and immune thrombocytopenia.

Impaired megakaryocyte maturation and insufficient platelet production have been shown to participate in the pathogenesis of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Our previous study demonstrated that low expression of tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in megakaryocytes contributed to impaired platelet production in ITP. Decitabine (DAC), a demethylating agent, is known to promote cell differentiation and maturation at low doses.

Correction of a genetic disease by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing in mouse spermatogonial stem cells.

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) can produce numerous male gametes after transplantation into recipient testes, presenting a valuable approach for gene therapy and continuous production of gene-modified animals. However, successful genetic manipulation of SSCs has been limited, partially due to complexity and low efficiency of currently available genetic editing techniques. Here, we show that efficient genetic modifications can be introduced into SSCs using the CRISPR-Cas9 system.

Association of erythropoietin gene rs576236 polymorphism and risk of adrenal tumors in a Chinese population.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a circulating glycosylated protein hormone and has been implicated in the development and progression of non-hematopoietic tissue tumors. The objective of the present study was to determine if the EPO rs576236 polymorphism was associated with the risk of adrenal tumors. We genotyped the EPO rs576236 polymorphism in a case-control study of 288 adrenal tumor patients and 456 cancer-free controls by using the TaqMan method, and assessed the association between the polymorphism and the adrenal tumor risk by logistic regression.

Quantitative proteomics analysis by iTRAQ in human nuclear cataracts of different ages and normal lens nuclei.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to quantitatively identify the differentially expressed proteins in nuclear cataracts of different ages and normal lens nuclei in humans.

Experimental Design: Forty-eight human lens nucleus samples with hardness grades III, IV were obtained during cataract surgery by extracapsular cataract extraction. Seven normal transparent human lens nuclei were obtained from fresh normal cadaver eyes during corneal transplantation surgery.

Interleukin 27 inhibits cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-mediated platelet destruction in primary immune thrombocytopenia.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated platelet destruction and aberrant cytokine profiles play important roles in the pathogenesis of primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). Interleukin-27 (IL-27) has pleiotropic immunomodulatory effects. However, the effect of IL-27 on CTL activity in ITP has not been reported.

RNase Z(S1) processes UbL40 mRNAs and controls thermosensitive genic male sterility in rice.

Thermosensitive genic male-sterile (TGMS) lines, which are male-sterile at restrictive (high) temperatures but male-fertile at permissive (low) temperatures, have been widely used in breeding two-line hybrid rice (Oryza sativa L.). Here we find that mutation of thermosensitive genic male sterile 5 (tms5) in rice causes the TGMS trait through a loss of RNase Z(S1) function.

Successful treatment with oseltamivir phosphate in a patient with chronic immune thrombocytopenia positive for anti-GPIb/IX autoantibody.

The management of chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) remains to be a challenge. Oseltamivir phosphate is a sialidase inhibitor agent used to treat influenza in the conventional sense. At present, we demonstrate for the first time that an adult chronic ITP patient with anti-GP Ib/IX autoantibody, who was resistant to corticosteroids, IVIG, recombinant human thrombopoietin, rituximab, danazol and vindesine, but was successfully treated with oseltamivir phosphate.

The roles of testicular c-kit positive cells in de novo morphogenesis of testis.

C-kit positive (c-kit(+)) cells are usual tissue-specific stem cells. However, in postnatal testis, undifferentiated spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are c-kit negative (c-kit(-)) and activation of c-kit represents the start of SSC differentiation, leaving an intriguing question whether other c-kit(+) cells exist and participate in the postnatal development of testis. To this end, a feasible system for testicular reconstitution, in which a specific type of cells can be manipulated, is needed.

Low-dose three-dimensional reconstruction of the femur with unit free-form deformation.

Purpose: This paper describes a low-dose method for reconstructing three-dimensional models of femur, using a standard shape model (SSM) and two conventional x-ray images.

Methods: The x-ray images were taken in two orthogonal directions. The x-ray source and sensor configurations were documented.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis with involvement of the urinary bladder.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis with eosinophilic infiltration of the urinary bladder wall is rare in children. We describe the CT findings of eosinophilic gastroenteritis accompanied by bladder involvement in an 11-year-old boy. CT imaging showed diffuse wall thickening of the entire gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the colon and revealed a halo sign, irregular fold thickening and luminal narrowing without obstruction of the gastrointestinal wall.

Effectiveness of different waist circumference cut-off values in predicting metabolic syndrome prevalence and risk factors in adults in China.

Objective: To study the effectiveness of waist circumference cut-off values in predicting the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and risk factors in adults in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was condcuted in 14 provinces (autonomous region, municipality) in China. A total of 47,325 adults aged⋝20 years were selected by multistage stratified sampling, and questionnaire survey and physical and clinical examination were conducted among them.

Genetic polymorphisms in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 are associated with prostate cancer in the Chinese population.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) are members of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family that play important roles in carcinogenesis. We hypothesized that the functional polymorphisms in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 may be associated with the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in the Chinese population. This hospital-based case-control study included 664 PCa patients and 702 cancer-free controls.

[Evaluation of safety of meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in children aged 5-24 months old].

Objective: To evaluate the safety of meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine among children aged 5-24 months old.

Methods: From July 2011 to June 2012, a total of 34 411 children aged 5-24 month-old who voluntarily vaccinated meningococcal group AC bivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine in Zhongshan city were included. The adverse effects within 72 hours were recorded and analyzed.