Objective To study the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-lalpha (HIF-1α) and eyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in gastric carcinoma and its correlation with lymph node metastasis and microvascular density (MVD). -Methods HIF-1α and COX-2 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry in 64 cases of gastric carcinoma and 15 cases of normal gastric mucosa tissues, MVD of the section marked with CD34 antibody was calculated. Results The positive rates of HIF-1α and COX-2 in 64 cases of gastric carcinoma were 67.19% and 78.13% respectively. The expressions of HIF-1α and COX-2 were significantly higher in gastric carcinoma than in normal gastric mucosa tissue(P < 0.05). The expressions of HIF-1α and COX-2 in gastric carcinoma were significantly associated with TNM stage, invasive depth and lymph node metastasis (P< 0.05) except for patient's age, sex and tumor grade.There were positive correlation between HIF-1α expression with COX-2 (rs=0.584, P<0.01). The MVD of cases with positive HIF-1α expression(36.78±10.46) was significantly higher than those without HIF-1α expression(17.92±3.71), the MVD of cases with positive COX-2 expression(37.59±10.75) was also higher than those without COX-2 expression (18.43±4.15). The expression of HIF-1α and COX-2 was associated with MVD(rs=0.624, 0.697, P<0.01). Conclusion HIF-1α and COX-2 play important roles in the pathway of carcinogenesis and progression of gastric carcinoma, and they may contribute to tumor angiogenesis through the same way, thus combined detection of HIF-1α and COX-2 may be recommended for diagnosis of gastric cancer and estimation of prognosis.

Objective:To study the mechanical properties of a new titanium alloy with lower elastic modulus for prosthodontic use.Methods:Samples of a newly developed Ti-Nb-Zr-Sn alloy with low elastic modulus were prepared.The microstructure,microhardness profile of the specimen cross section were measured by microhardness test meter and metallurgical microscope.Results:The data of the tensile strength(MPa),yield strength(MPa),elongation(%),elastic modulus(GPa) and microhardness(Hv)of Ti-Nb-Zr-Sn alloy were 681.7,410,6,42.1 and 453 respectively.The microstructure was with fine crystal grains.Conclusion: The microstructure and microhardness profile of the Ti-Nb-Zr-Sn alloy may meet the requirement for dental applications.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among the elderly at ages of 65 years and older in Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province from 2017 to 2021, so as to provide the evidence for the development of PTB prevention and control measures in the elderly. Methods: Data of PTB cases at ages of 65 years and older in Yangzhou City from 2017 to 2021 were collected from the Tuberculosis Management Information System of the Chinese Disease Control and Prevention Information System, including age, gender, current address, population classification and diagnosis classification. Descriptive epidemiological methods were used to analyze the temporal distribution, regional distribution, population distribution and delay in healthcare-seeking of PTB cases. Results: A total of 3 283 PTB patients at ages of 65 years and older were registered in Yangzhou City from 2017 to 2021, accounting for 41.12% of the total number of PTB cases. The incidence decreased from 112.10/105 to 66.03/105 (P<0.05), with an average annual incidence of 80.43/105. There were 1 236 cases of PTB cases from April to July, accounting for 37.65%. Guangling District had the highest annual incidence of 96.45/105, followed by Hanjiang District (89.29/105) and Jiangdu district (87.05/105). The average annual incidence of PTB in males was 134.07/105, which was higher than that in females (30.55/105, P<0.05). There were 1 070 cases of PTB cases at ages of 65-69 years, accounting for 32.59%. The highest incidence was seen in men at ages of 85 years and older (200.39/105) and in women at ages of 80-84 years (38.34/105). Farmers were the predominant occupation of PTB cases (2 488 cases, 75.78%). There were 2 365 cases of PTB with delay in healthcare-seeking, accounting for 72.04%. Conclusions The incidence of PTB in the elderly at ages of 65 years and older in Yangzhou City showed an overall downward trend from 2017 to 2021, peaked from April to July, and was higher in Guangling District, Hanjiang District and Jiangdu District. Males and farmers had higher risks of PTB.

Objective To explore the effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on apoptosis of cardiomyocytes after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in rat models.Methods Forty-five male SD rats were randomly into sham group (n =15),CPR group (n =15) and NaHS group (n =15).Rats of CPR group and NaHS group were operated to induce cardiac arrest by transcutaneous electrical stimulation to epicardium.In NaHS group,NaHS (5 mg/kg) was administrated via the femoral venous line 1 min before CPR.Hemodynamic variables were monitored and obtained continuously.Survival rats were sacrificed at 24 h after restoration of spontaneous circulation and the hearts were removed for analysis by RT-PCR and TUNEL assays.Blood samples were collected and plasma content of cTnT was detected.Results Compared with the CPR group,animals treated with NaHS had improved left ventricular function (P ＜0.01),lower plasma cTnT levels (P ＜0.05) and decreased apoptosis index (P ＜ 0.01) 24 h after ROSC.The expressions of Caspase-3 mRNA,Bax mRNA and Bcl-2 mRNA in CPR group and NaHS group were higher compared with the control group (P ＜0.01).The NaHS group had lower expressions of Caspase-3 mRNA and Bax mRNA (P ＜0.01),but higher expression of Bcl-2 mRNA (P ＜0.05) compared with the CPR group.Conclusions Exogenous (H2S) regulated the expressions of Caspase-3,Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA,thereby preventing apoptosis of cardiomyocytes,inhibiting cTnT release and improving left ventricular function 24 h after CPR.

Objective To investigate the effects of exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on injury of rat hippocampus neurons induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation and restoration (OGD/R) and explore its mechanism.Methods Hippocampus neurons were isolated from embryonic day 16-18 (E16-18) rat embryos.Hippocampus was immediately removed and digested with 0.25％ trypsin.The neurons were isolated and cultured at 37 ℃ for 7 days and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) was detected by immunohistochemical staining method to identify neurons.At 8th day,the neurons were placed in deoxygenated glucose-free medium and exposed to 95％ N2-5％ CO2 in an air tight chamber for 1 hour,and then replaced the glucose-free medium with original medium,and returned the cultures to a standard incubator in 5％ CO2 at 37 ℃ and incubated for another 24 h.The neurons were divided into 3 groups:group Ⅰ control; group Ⅱ OGD/R,and group ⅢOGD + NaHS,the latter was further divided into 5 subgroups:groups Ⅲ1-5 with 25,50,100,200,400 μmol/L NaHS added,respectively.Then cell viability was quantified by MTT method,the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were detected,apoptosis was measured by Annexin V FITC/PI Apoptosis Kits,and RT-PCR was used to assay HIF-1 α mRNA in neurons in all groups.Results Compared with control group,the LDH level,apoptosis and expression of HIF-1α mRNA in group Ⅱ were significantly increased,the cell viability was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01).There were no significant differences in the LDH level,apoptosis and expression of HIF-1 α mRNA and the cell viability between group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ1 (P ＞ 0.05).Compared with group Ⅱ,the LDH level,apoptosis and expression of HIF-1α mRNA in group Ⅲ2-4 were significantly increased,the cell viability was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with group Ⅱ,the LDH level,apoptosis and expression of HIF-1 α mRNA in the group Ⅲ 5 were significantly decreased,the cell viability was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions H2S of low concentration has no significant effects on injury of rat hippocampus neurons induced by OGD/R.H2S of moderate doses can protect rat hippocampus neurons from OGD/R injury and H2S of high concentration can aggravate injury.The expression of HIF-1α mRNA in rat hippocampus neurons was increased after OGD/R,and the protective role of H2S is associated with increase in the expression of HIF-1α mRNA.

Objective To construct,express,purify and identify the gene encodi ng major outer membrane protein of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Porin I, or PI). Metho ds The gene encoding for PI of N.gonorrhoeae was amplified by PCR and cloned int o expression plasmid pGEX-4T-2 to form pGEX-4T-2/PI recombinants. A high lev el expression of GST-PI fusion protein was obtained in GST gene fusion system (GST:glutathione S transferase). The analysis indicated that the expressed pr otein was present predominantly in the insoluble form. Therefore, the induced pr otein was purified by SDS-PAGE, and bands corresponding to polypeptides of GST-PI fusion protein were excised and subjected to electroelution. A dot immunoch romatographic assay was employed to demonstrate whether the purified protein was gonococcal PI specific. Results The pGEX-4T-2/PI expression recombinants were constructed,expressed,purified and identified successfully. SDS-PAGE analysis and dot immunochromatographic assay suggested that the recombinant GST-PI fusio n protein was a 60 000 molecular weight protein andidentical in size to native PI and reacted with anti-PI monoclonal antibody. Conclusion Our results may lead to a potentiality for further study of diagnosti c kits and vaccine for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

OBJECTIVETo discuss the surgical skill, treatment effect and indications for reconstruction of vertebral lamina with skull titanium plate and autograft in the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebrae fracture.

METHODSFrom March 1999 to April 2007, 33 patients with thoracolumbar vertebrae fracture combined nerve injury were treated by reconstruction of vertebral lamina with skull titanium plate and autograft including 30 males and 3 females with an average age of 41 years ranging from 21 to 66. The fracture involved 3 cases in T11, 9 in T12, 16 in L1, 3 in L2 and 2 in L3. There were 12 cases with flexion fracture, 8 with extension fracture, and 13 with burst fracture. Five cases performed emergency operation and in the others the time from injury to operation was 5 to 12 days. GSS fixation was applied in 25 cases and AF in 8. The volume of vertebral canal, the stability of the spine, the height of vertebrae, and the nerve function were observed before and after operation.

RESULTSThese 33 patients were followed up for 1 to 3 years (means 25 months). The height of anterior column of the involved vertebrae changed from 58% to 96%, the cobb angle return from average of 26 degree to 2 degree, the volume of vertebral canal extended from 43% to 92%, respectively, when compared between preoperatively and postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONReconstruction of vertebral lamina with skull titanium plate and autograft which is a simple and safe treatment for thoracolumbar vertebrae fracture can increase the stability of spine and avoid second canal stenosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; Titanium ; pharmacology ; Transplantation, Autologous ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of small interfering RNA-mediated glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) knockdown on the chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells to cisplatin.

METHODSHuman breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 was exposed to different doses of cisplatin (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 µmol/L), and the changes in cell viability were detected using MTT assay. PI/Annexin V staining was used to observe the apoptosis of the cells in response to transfection with a small interfering RNA targeting GRP78 (pSH1Si-GRP78). Western blotting was employed to detect GRP78 expression in pSH1Si- GRP78-transfected cells after exposure to 8 µmol/L cisplatin for 24, 48 and 72 h.

RESULTSExposure of the cells to 8 µmol/L cisplatin for 24, 48 and 72 h resulted in a cell survival rate of 83.13%, 54.22% and 35.79%, respectively, but the cell apoptosis rate was only 10.8% at 24 h. Transfection of MDA-MB-231 cells with pSH1Si-GRP78 caused a cell apoptosis rate of 24.6%, which increased to 48.9% in cells with both pSH1Si-GRP78 transfection and cisplatin exposure. Cisplatin exposure caused an initial up-regulation followed then by a down-regulation of GRP78 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells, while pSH1Si-GRP78 transfection produced an obvious down-regulation of GRP78 expression.

CONCLUSIONSInhibition of GRP78 expression increases the apoptosis and enhance cisplatin chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells in vitro, suggesting the value of GRP78 as a potential therapeutic target in the clinical treatment of breast cancer.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) in enhancing the sensitivity of oral cancer cells to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-induced apoptosis.

METHODSThe oral cancer cell line KB was incubated in the presence of different concentrations (0, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 mmol/L) of 2-DG with or without TRAIL (200 ng/ml). The cell viability was measured using MTT assay and cell apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI) staining. KB cells treated with 5 mmol/L 2-DG with or without TRAIL for 0, 6, 16, or 24 h were examined with Western blotting for protein expressions of death receptor 5 (DR5) and caspase-3.

RESULTSTreatment of the cells with 5 mmol/L 2-DG for 24, 48 and 72 h resulted in a cell viability of 25.25%, 69.06%, and 59.19%, respectively. Combined treatment with 5 mmol/L 2-DG with TRAIL for 24 significantly enhanced the cell apoptotic rate (72.5%) as compared to the rate induced by TRAIL alone (45.3%) and by 2-DG (15.9%) alone. 2-DG treatment markedly up-regulated DR5 and caspase-3 expression and enhanced the inhibitory effect of TRAIL on cell colony formation.

CONCLUSION2-DG sensitizes oral cancer cells to TRAIL- induced apoptosis by up-regulating DR5 and caspase-3 expressions.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Deoxyglucose ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; metabolism ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology

Objective To investigate the outcome of high-risk acute non-lymphocytic leukemia treated with sequential low-dose cytarabine and harringtonine(LD-HA) and standard induction. Methods 50 high-risk ANLL. patients (LD-HA group) who were regarded as unfit for intensive chemotherapy were chosen to receive LD-HA. Reinductive treatments with standard regimens would be given for those who did not achieve complete remission. 23 patients DA/HA group given two cycles of standard inductive regimens were taken as the control. Results In LD-HA group 80.0 %. (40/50) reached CR, 2 patients died shortly after inductive therapy. The median leukemia-free survival(LFS) was 19.6 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 12.2 months. Overall survival was 57.0 % at 1 year, 24.1% at 3 years, and 18.8 % at 5 years. While the CR rate was 73.9 % for DA/HA group, and none died during the inductive therapy. LFS and OS was 19.8 months and 12.1 months, respectively. OS rate was 56.58 % at 1 year, 27.1% at 3 years, and 27.1% at 5 years.There were no difference on OS rates between 2 groups (x2 were 0.009, 0.237 and 1.807, respectively,P ＞0.05). Conclusion In patients who were unfit for intensive chemotherapy, sequential therapy with LD-HA and standard induction improved the rate of complete remission and the duration of survival.