The long-term impact of expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty treatment on blood pressure control and health-related quality of life in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and hypertension.

Purpose: To assess how expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP) impacts blood pressure (BP) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in hypertensive patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Patients were separated into two groups based upon whether or not they adhered to antihypertensive drug regimens. Patients underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring before and at 6 months post-ESP, while clinical BP measurements and HRQOL questionnaires (SF-36) were conducted over the course of 24 months post-surgery.

MicroRNA-125b in peripheral blood: a potential biomarker for severity and prognosis of children with viral encephalitis.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of peripheral blood miR-125b expression on severity and prognosis in children with viral encephalitis (VE). Children with VE (severe and mild groups) were grouped into VE group, and 40 healthy children as control group. Plasma RNA was extracted, and real-time quantitative PCR was conducted to detect miR-125b relative expression.

[A mechanistic review of how hypoxic mircroenvironment regulates mammalian ovulation].

Mammalian ovulation is a complicated process that includes development of follicles, ovulation, formation of corpus luteum and luteolysis. The three different stages of the ovulation activity are affected by hypoxic microenvironment and hypoxia-induced factors (HIF), which play a crucial role in physiologyical processes, such as angiogenesis and inflammation. Although the process of ovulation has been well elucidated, the molecular mechanism regulated by hypoxia needs an in depth study.

[The mechanism of miRNA-mediated PGR signaling pathway in regulating female reproduction].

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in several physiological processes as important post-transcriptional regulators. Progesterone (P4), an important steroid hormone, produces physiological effect through binding specific receptor progesterone receptors (PGR) which regulates functions of both reproductive and non-reproductive tissues as a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. P4/PGR and miRNAs could regulate female reproduction independently, however, it is still unclear how miRNAs and P4/PGR interaction regulates female reproductive activities such as ovulation in female reproduction.

[Correlations of integrons and resistance gene cassettes in Gram-negative bacteria with multi-drug resistance].

Objective: To explore the correlations of integrons, gene cassettes and drug resistance phenotypes in 90 multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Methods: Class I/II/III integron and variable region of positive strains of 90 Gram-negative bacteria were amplified by PCR and types of integron variable region gene cassettes analyzed by DNA sequence. And the resistant rates of integron positive and negative strains were tested by drug susceptibility.

[Screening for EXT1 and EXT2 gene mutations in a ethnic Han Chinese family from Shanxi with hereditary multiple exostoses].

Objective: To screen for potential mutations in an ethnic Han Chinese family from Shanxi with hereditary multiple exostoses.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to screen potential mutations in EXT1 and EXT2 genes.

Results: For EXT1 gene, two synonymous mutations (P477P and E587E), three intronic mutations (c.

Mutations of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in patients with phenylketonuria in Shanxi, China.

The variation in mutations in exons 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 of the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene was investigated in 59 children with phenylketonuria (PKU) and 100 normal children. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected by sequence analysis. The mutational frequencies of cDNA 696, cDNA 735 and cDNA 1155 in patients were 96.

[Detection of exon 7 mutations of PAH gene in classical phenylketonuria by high-resolution melting analysis].

Objective: To establish a simple, rapid, inexpensive and sensitive method for detecting hot region for mutations in exon 7 of PAH gene.

Methods: High-resolution melting (HRM) technology was used to detect a c.728G>A mutation in exon 7 in 88 patients with classical type phenylketonuria.

[Study on three common mitochondrial DNA mutations in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy].

Objective: To screen for genetic mutations in 35 patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing were used to screen for the presence of mitochondrial DNA mutations.

Results: The total detection rate of top 3 common LHON mutations were 20.

Role of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in a rat model of severe acute pancreatitis.

Aim: To investigate the role and potential mechanisms of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in severe acute peritonitis (SAP).

Methods: Pancreatic acinar cells from Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: non-sodium deoxycholate (SDOC) group (non-SODC group), SDOC group, and a MSCs intervention group (i.e.

[Study on the mutations of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in patients with phenylketonuria in Shanxi province].

Objective: To study the mutations in exons 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene (PAH) in Shanxi population.

Methods: The mutations in exons 3, 6, 7, 11 and 12 and flanking sequences of PAH gene were detected by PCR-DNA sequencing, in 59 patients with phynelketonuria(PKU) and 100 healthy children from Shanxi province.

Results: By sequence analysis, three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) Q232Q (CAA>CAG), V245V (GTG>GTA) and L385L (CTG>CTC) were detected in both the patients and healthy children, with the frequencies of nt 696, 735 and 1155 of the PAH cDNA up to 96.

[Swallowing and laryngeal function preserving in surgical treatment of the head and neck tumors involving the tongue root].

Objective: To investigate the surgical technique which could preserve the swallowing and laryngeal function effectively in the malignant head and neck tumors involving the tongue root.

Methods: From January 2003 to December 2008, 31 cases of malignant head and neck tumors involving the tongue base had been treated in this hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 27 males and 4 females in which 9 cases of primary malignant tumor were from the base of tongue; 3 cases were from the tonsil, 11 cases were from supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma and 8 cases were from hypopharyngeal carcinoma.

[Effects of Artesunate on MCP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA expression of renal tissue in the rat IgA nephropathy model].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Artesunate on expression of MCP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA in renal tissue of the rat experimental IgA nephropathy model.

Methods: 40 rats were divided randomly into 4 groups with 10 rats in normal control group while the other 30 in model control group, low dose Artesunate group and high dose Artesunate group after the establishment of IgA nephropathy model. MCP-1 and MCP-1 mRNA in renal tissue were tested by immunohistochemical and RT-PCR methods.