Objective To investigate epigenetic silencing of the proapoptotic gene MAPK10 by methylation in B-cell lymphoma. Methods We examined MAPK10 expression and methylation in seven cell lines derived from B-cell lymphoma by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and methylation-specific PCR (MSP), respectively. Methylation status was further examined in 24 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), 15 follicular lymphoma (FL) and 12 reactive hyperplasia lymph nodes (LRH) both by MSP and bisulfite genomic sequencing (BGS). Results MAPK10 is silenced or downregulated in all seven B-cell lymphoma cell lines mostly due to promoter methylation. MAPK10 methylation was frequently detected in DLBCL (17 of 24, 71%) and FL (15 of 15, 100 %), but not in 12 LRH tissues. Conclusion MAPK10 is frequently inactivated by tumor-specific methylation, and thus, is a potential biomarker.

AIM: To identify the potential elements within the survivin promoter indispensable for the upregu-lation of survivin by Kaposi’ s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus encoded replication and transcription activator ( KSHV RTA).METHODS: A series of truncated survivin promoter luciferase constructs were generated.Reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed to detect the interaction between RTA and the important cis-acting elements. RESULTS: Deletion of the GC/Sp1 and p53 binding sites within the survivin promoter almost completely shut down the survivin promoter activity and the p53 cis-acting element synergistically contributes to survivin promoter activation by RTA. CONCLUSION: KSHV RTA interacts with the GC/Sp1 and p53 cis-acting elements and regulates the expression of cellu-lar survivin by specifically increasing the activity of survivin promoter.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of monotherapy or combination of ACEI and ARB in treating diabetic nephropathy(DN). Methods 183 patients with DN were randomly allocated into three treatment groups: benazepril,losartan or the combination of these two drugs for 12 weeks.The changes of blood pressure, proteinuria, serum potassium and creatinine, creatinine clearance(Ccr)were observed before and after treatment. Results Both of benazepril and losartan reduced blood pressure and proteinuria efficiently.And their effects were similar.In contrast, the reduction in proteinuria was greater in the combination therapy than in treatments of either drug alone(P<0.05), but their reductions in blood pressure were achieved to the same level(P>0.05).There were not significant differences in serum levels of potassium, creatinine and Ccr before and after treatment(P>0.05). Conclusion A combination of ACEI and ARB in patients with DN produces a better anti-proteinuric effect than either of the monotherapies.This protection is not dependent on changes in blood pressure.

Objective To compare the accuracy of CE MRA and Gated 2D TOF MRA in evaluation of internal carotid artery stenosis. Methods 34 patients (male 27, female 7, age range 45-78 years) were evaluated with contrast enhanced three dimensional magnetic resonance angiography (CE MRA) and unenhanced ECG gated two dimensional time of flight MRA (Gated 2D TOF MRA). Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was used as the “gold standard”. The MRA images were reprojected with maximum intensity projection (MIP) algorithm. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnositic accuracy,overestimation and underestimation were assessed. Results (1) DSA provided 68 diagnostic judgments: 23 were negatives and 45 were positives (mild stenosis 10, moderate stenosis 14, severe stenosis 17, occlusion 4). CE MRA was in agreement with angiography in 66 (97%), but overestimation resulted in 2 cases. Gated 2D TOF MRA was in agreement with angiography in 56 (82%), with 9 overestimation and 3 underestimation. (2) Taking negative and positive cases as judgement, CE MRA showed higher sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy than Gated 2D TOF MRA (100% versus 95 6%, 100% versus 78.3%, 100% versus 89.4%, respectively). (3) Taking 70% stenosis as judgement, CE MRA also showed higher sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy than Gated 2D TOF MRA (100% versus 95 2%, 97.8% versus 93.6%, 98.5% versus 94.1%, respectively). Gated 2D TOF MRA vs DSA, CE MRA vs DSA and Gated 2D TOF MRA vs CE MRA all had no significant difference (? 2=3.000 with P =0.083, ? 2=2.000 with P =0.157, and ? 2=1.600 with P =0.206 respectively) Conclusion Compared with Gated 2D TOF MRA,CE MRA is more accurate in evaluation of carotid artery stenosis.

Objective To observe the diffusion characteristics and pathology changes with DTI in rabbit models with mild cerebral contusion and laceration (CCL). Methods Thirty rabbits were randomly selected and made into models of mild CCL by free fall, while other 10 rabbits were cut only in the skull as control. T2WI and DTI were performed 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after the operation. DTI value of average diffusion coefficient (DCavg) and fractional anisotropy (FA) of mild CCL and its peripheral area were measured and compared. Histological examination was also performed. Results One hour after operation, CCL area showed high signal on T2WI, and no abnormal signal was found in the peripheral area, but both had abnormal color on DTI map. T2WI signal intensity in peripheral area of 22 rabbits (73.33%) increased gradually and had much abnormal color on T2WT map after 3 h. There was significant difference of FA and DCavg between CCL and the mirror region, the peripheral area and the mirror region (P<0.05). The value of FA decreased slightly since 12 h. More prominent tissue necrosis, edema and hemorrhage were found in CCL area than in the peripheral area with pathology examination. No abnormal manifestations of the brain were detected with both pathology and MR examination in the control rabbits. Conclusion DTI is sensitive for detecting mild CCL and can show it directly on color map, and thus may be used as a routine examination in the evaluation of mild CCL.

Objective To analyze the different spreading patterns and the prognostic factors of nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma (NPAC).Methods The clinical and radiological data of 39 pathologically confirmed consecutive cases of NPAC were retrospectively reviewed.Results In the 1 1 patients with CT/MRI-detected cranial nerve (CN)involvement,there were ACC (n=7),CAC (n=2)and MEC (n=2)(P <0.05).Lymph node metastasis occurred in 40% of CAC,7.7% of ACC and 1 6.7% of MEC (P =0.035). Significant differences were observed in 5 year OS and DFS rates between patients with and without CT/MRI-detected CN involve-ment (P <0.001;P =0.001).In 1 9 patients with early stage disease (stageⅠ-Ⅱ),significant difference was observed in 5 year OS rate between the surgical treatment group and non-surgical treatment group (P =0.038),and the difference was not significant in DFS (P =0.056).Conclusion CT and MRI are valuable tools not only for discovering the different spreading patterns of NPAC, but also for its prognosis.

Objective To study the impact of narrow band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) irradiation on the expression of T helper 17 (Thl7) and CD4,CD25 and regulatory T (Treg) cells and their related cytokines transfor-ming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) to further clarify how NB-UVB treatment helps patients with psoriasis vulgaris.Methods Ninety patients with active stage and stationary stage psoriasis vulgaris (45 cases each) were treated with NB-UVB for 8 weeks.Fifty healthy persons were used as normal controls.Peripheral blood levels of Th17 and Treg were measured by flow cytometry.An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the serum levels of TGF-β1 and IL-6 before and after treatment.Clinical efficacy was evaluated in terms of the area of psoriasis and severity index (PASI) scores.Restlts Before treatment,the patients showed significantly higher levels of Thl7 cells in their peripheral blood than the controls.Their ratios of Th17 to Treg cells and their serum levels of IL-6 were also significantly higher.The percentage of Treg cells and the serum level of TGF-β1 were significantly lower in the patients.After the NB-UVB treatment,the Th17 cells,the ratio of Th17 to Treg cells and IL-6 had all decreased significantly.The percentage of Treg cells and TGF-β1 levels were significantly high-er compared with before phototherapy.The total effectiveness rate was 86.7％,and the average PASI scores had de-creased significantly.The PASI scores were positively correlated with the percentage of Th17,the Th17 to Treg ratio,and the serum level of IL-6,and negatively correlated with the percentage of Treg cells and TGF-β1.Conclusion The imbalance between Th17 and Treg cells and their cytokines may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pso-riasis.NB-UVB is able to significantly down-regulate the levels of Th17,IL-6 and the progression of Treg levels and TGF-β1 expression.It can regulate the balance between Thl7and Treg cells,which may be one of the mechanisms of NB-UVB treatment for psoriasis.The clinical data demonstrate that NB-UVB treatment is a safe and effective therapy for psoriasis vulgaris.

Objective To evaluate the modification of C_(60) on the radiation effects of ~(60)Co-γ irradiation on zebrafish.Methods The adult and embryonic zebrafish were used as model organisms to examine the potential of C_(60) to elicit oxidative stress responses on the surviving rate,hatching rate and malformation occurrence,both upon exposure to light or in the dark.Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA damage were examined as the possible underlying mechanism.Results 500 × 10~(-9) nano-C_(60) waterborne exposure could enhance the γ-irradiation effects by decreasing adult fish survival upon light exposure,which resulted in ROS and DNA damage increasing.The hatching rates were also inhibited with higher malformation,though dark exposure did not make any enhancement,except that the 5000× 10~(-9) C_(60) would inhibit larvae hatching and induced more malformation.Conclusions Waterborne nano-C_(60) exposure may enhance the radiation effects on zebrafish,ROS production and DNA damage increasing may be the underlying mechanism.

Objectives To observe the changes of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) during the course of treatment in hepatolen-ticular degeneration (HLD) and to evaluate its related factors.Methods Sixty - three patients with HLD received routine SE sequence MRI of brain and liver.Twenty - two patients with abnormal MRI in 42 patients and each of them had 2-4 times of serial MRI ex-aminations at interval of 1.0- 1.5 year.Results Ten patients had lesion in both brain and liver in 22 patients. Nine patients only in brain, 3 patients in liver.The major lesions disappear or decrease after rational treatments. There were only slight or no changes of MRI abnormalities in patients receiving treatments or age of patients was over 15 year old. Abnormal MRI findings shown again after stopped treatments over 2 months. In such cases, the clinical and MRI improvements were slow.The rate of clinical and MRI improvement in patients with adequate treatment were markedly higher than patients with inadequate treatment.Conclusions Liver and brain lesion will show in MRI disappear after adequate treatment;There are only slight or no change or showing again in MRI abnormalities in pa-tients with inadequate treatments compared with poor clinical improvement. MRI is beneficial to understanding therapeutic effect and prognosis of HLD.

Objective:To research the rule of melatonin nasal absorption.Methods: The stability of melatonin in rat nasal wash was studied, after that the in situ rat nasal recirculation methods were used as experimental animal model to study the rule of melatonin nasal absorption.Results:Melatonin was stable in rat nasal wash, its absorption in nasal cavity accorded with first order kinetic equation. The absorption rate constants did not vary with melatonin concentrations.Conclusion:The mechanism of melatonin nasal absorption is passive diffusion, the average absorption rate constant is 1.054?10 -2 min -1 .