Objective To study the influence of inhibited steroidogenic factor-1 on human adrenocortical H295R cells, and explore its role in the pathogenesis of adrenal tumors. Methods The plasmids pGenesil1-SF-1-shRNA which containing U6 promoter and SF-1-specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and pGenesil1-negative-shRNA containing unspecific shRNA were transfected into H295R cell. The expression of SF-1 was measured by Western blot and real-time polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). Cell proliferation was analyzed by WST-1 assay and cell count. Ki-67 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and cell apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay. Results Compared with those in control cells, the protein and mRNA level of SF-1- transfected cells were reduced by 69.7% and 71.2% (P＜0. 01). WST-1 and cell count method showed that SF-1 gene silencing obviously inhibited cell proliferation(P＜0. 01). By contrast, there was a 3. 7-fold increase in the percentage of apoptotic H295R cells in SF-1-inhibited group than that of control group (P＜0. 01). Immunohistochemistry showed that Ki-67 positive cells in SF-1-inhibited cells were lower than the negative control cells (16.90±2.17) % and (33. 48±3.16)%,(P＜0. 01). Conclusion SF-1 gene silencing can inhibit the proliferation of adrenocortical cells, and it is expected to become a key protein in understanding pathogenesis of adrenal tumors or treating them.

Objective To analyze the incidence,mortality and risk factors of death in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).Methods A total of 427 HIV/HCV co-infected patients admitted to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University or local disease prevention and control canters from January 2003 to December 2010 were enrolled in the study.The demographic and clinical data of patients were retrospectively studied.Cox progressive regression model was used for data analysis,and Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the effect of end-stage liver diseases on the death.Results of 427 HIV/HCV co-infected patients,53 ( 12.4％ ) died during the follow-up,in which 28 (52.8％) died of liver-related diseases.Male gender ( RR =2.63,P =0.05 ),infection via blood transfusion ( RR =2.15,P =0.04),baseline CD4 + T cells ＜50 cells/μL ( RR =2.83,P =0.02),HIV RNA≥ 104copies/mL at the end of follow-up (RR =2.79,P =0.00 ) and complicated with end-stage liver disease ( RR =7.79,P =0.00) were significantly related to the death.Duration of cART ＞ 5 years is a protective factor for the death ( RR =0.03,P =0.00).Themortality of patients complicated with end-stage liver diseases was 52.7％ ( 29/55 ).Conclusion Liver disease-related death has become the leading cause of death in HIV/HCV co-infected patients,and patients with end-stage liver diseases are of high risk of death.

Objective To investigate the incidence and risk factors of end-stage liver disease (ESLD) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients after antiretroviral therapy (ART).Methods The demographic and clinical data of HIV-HCV coinfected patients in Zhongnan Hospital,Wuhan University and local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from Jan 2003 to Dec 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Single factor and multiple factor Logistic regression were used to analyze the correlation between the variables and incidence of ESLD,such as baseline age ≥40,male,previous blood transfusion history,duration of HCV persistent infection,hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection (HBsAg positive),HIV RNA≥-1 ×104 copy/mL at last visit,HCV RNA≥ 1.× 105 copy/mL at last visit,CD4 count ＞ 200 / μL at last visit,alanine aminotranferase (ALT) ≥ 2 × upper limit normal (ULN) at last visit,ART containing nevirapine (NVP),follow-up duration,ART duration＞5 years and HCV genotype 1b.The effect of ESLD on the survival of HIV-HCV co-infected patients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method.Results Totally 427 HIV-HCV co-infected patients were followed up with average of 3.7 years. Fifty-five patients (12.9％) developed ESLD,and 52 patients (12.2％) died.Factors independently associated with ESLD included baseline age≥40 (OR=2.385,P=0.039),ALT ≥2× ULN (OR=16.374,P=0.000),HBV-coinfection (OR=2.507,P=0.042),duration of ART ＞ 5 years (OR=3.232,P=0.010),and CD4 count ≥200/μL (OR=0.364,P=0.011).The cumulative mortality of HIV-HCV co-infected patients with ESLD was 50.9％,whereas that of HIV-HCV co-infected patients without ESLD was 6.5％ (P=0.000).Conclusion In the ART era,ESLD is common among HIV-HCV co-infected patients in China,which is responsible for reducing the survival time of the patients.

Objective To analyze the volume and position of the gross tumor volumes (GTV) in primary esophageal cancer based on contrast-enhanced three-dimensional (3D),four-dimensional (4D) and cone beam (CB) computed tomography (CT).Methods A total of thirty-four patients underwent 3D-CT and 4D-CT simulation scans for computer treatment plan and contrast-enhanced CBCT scans were conducted prior to the first treatment.GTV3D,GTV4D50,internal GTVMIP (IGTVMIP) and internal GTVCBCT (IGTVCBCT) were delineated on 3D-CT,4D-CT50 (the end expiratory phase),4D-CTMIP (the maximum intensity projection),and CBCT datasets,respectively.The IGTV10 was defined as 10 respiratory phases GTVs in 4D-CT.To evaluate the difference in position,volume and the volumes encompassed characteristic.Results The significant difference was observed in the volumes [IGTV10 ＞ (IGTVCBCT or IGTVMIP) ＞ (GTV3D or GTV4D50)] regardless of the tumor location.Regarding IGTV10 as the standard volume,the underestimations or overestimations between IGTV10 and IGTVCBCT were larger than that of between IGTV10 and JGTVMIP (t =-8.294--3.192,P ＜ 0.05).However,there was no significant difference between the areas of IGTV10 which excluded in IGTVCBCT and IGTV3D (P ＞ 0.05).The GTV4D50/ IGTVCBCT ratio for upper esophageal tumors was negatively correlated to motion vector (r =-0.756,P ＜ 0.05).The centroid coordinates of IGTVCBCT in AP direction were significantly different from the test volumes (GTV3D,GTV4D50,IGTVMIP and IGTV10) (t =-3.559--2.435,P ＜ 0.05).The IGTV10/IGTVCBCT ratio was positively correlated to motion vector (r =0.695,P ＜ 0.05) for middle esophageal tumors.The centroid coordinates of IGTVCBCT were significantly different IGTV10 (t =2.201,P ＜0.05) in AP direction.For distal esophageal tumors,the significant difference was observed in the centroid coordinate between IGTVcBcT and IGTVMIP (t =-2.365,P ＜ 0.05) in LR direction.The percentage of IGTV10 excluded the IGTVcBcT were significantly correlated to the motion vector (r =0.540,0.678,P ＜ 0.05) for both middle and distal esophageal tumors.The mean MI value of IGTVCBCT to the other four test volumes ranged from 0.65 to 0.72.Conclusions CBCT has much motion information than 3D-CT but less than IGTV10.CBCT was similar to MIP images based on respiration motion.However,the target motion information encompassed in CBCT and MIP images cannot be exchanged to each other.

Patients after cardiac valve surgery generally suffered from low exercise capacity, and lack of exercise can cause impaired exercise tolerance, reduced quality of life, and prolonged length of hospital stay, increased the risk of death. Exercise, as the core of cardiac rehabilitation, played an irreplaceable role in improving the cardiopulmonary function, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life of patients after cardiac valve surgery. This article mainly reviewed the types and methods of exercise training after cardiac valve surgery, and the strategies for promoting exercise intervention, so as to provide references for medical staff to perform exercise interventions for patients after cardiac valve surgery.

Objective To compare the normal thickness of the esophageal wall measured by contrast?enhanced three?dimensional ( 3DCT ) , four?dimensional ( 4DCT ) , and cone beam computed tomography ( CBCT) ,and to provide a basis for target volume delineation in esophageal cancer. Methods From 2009 to 2016,thoracic contrast?enhanced 3DCT and 4DCT simulations were performed in 50 patients with lung cancer or metastatic lung cancer. Contrast?enhanced CBCT scans were acquired during the first three?dimensional conformal radiotherapy. The normal esophageal wall was contoured on 3DCT images, the end?exhalation phase of 4DCT images ( 4DCT50 ) , the maximum intensity projection of 4DCT images (4DCTMIP),and CBCT images. The wall thickness was measured on each segment and the average thickness of esophageal wall was obtained. Comparison of the thickness of a fixed segment of esophageal wall between different CT images was made by paired t test. Comparison of thickness on the same type of CT images between different segments of esophageal wall was made by one?way analysis of variance. Results For the thoracic and intra?abdominal segments,there was no significant difference in the thickness of esophageal wall between 3DCT and 4DCT50 images ( P= 0?056?0?550 );however, the thickness of esophageal wall was significantly smaller on 3DCT images than on 4DCTMIP or CBCT images (P=0?000?0?004).For the upper and middle thoracic segments,the thickness of esophageal wall was significantly larger on CBCT images than on 4DCTMIP images ( P= 0?008, P= 0?001 ) . On 3DCT, 4DCT50 , and 4DCTMIP images, the thickness of esophageal wall was significantly larger in the lower thoracic segment than in the upper or middle thoracic segments ( P=0.008~0?041);the intra?abdominal segment had a significantly larger thickness of esophageal wall than the thoracic segments ( all P=0?000 ) . There was no significant difference in wall thickness on CBCT images between three thoracic segments ( P=0.088~0?945) . Conclusions A uniform criterion can be adopted to judge the normal thickness of esophageal wall in gross tumor volume ( GTV ) delineation on 3DCT and 4DCT50 images for thoracic esophageal cancer. However,caution should be taken when 5 mm is used as a criterion for normal thickness of esophageal wall in GTV delineation on 4DCTMIP and CBCT images.

This study aimed to determine whether aldosterone could induce vascular cell apoptosis in vivo. Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: vehicle (control), aldosterone, aldosterone plus eplerenone or hydralazine. They were then implanted with an osmotic mini-pump that infused either aldosterone or the vehicle. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly by the tail-cuff method. After 8 weeks, plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and renin activity (PRA) were determined by radioimmunoassay. Aortic apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay. The levels of cytochrome c and caspase-3 were determined by Western blotting and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by immnuohistochemistry and Western blotting. The results showed that as compared with control group, aldosterone-infused rats exhibited: (1) an increase in SBP; (2) significantly elevated PAC with depressed PRA; (3) elevated aortic vascular cell apoptosis accompanied with higher levels of cytochrome c and activated caspase-3; and (4) significantly up-regulated Bax protein with down-regulated Bcl-2. These effects of aldosterone were significantly inhibited after co-administration with eplerenone but not with hydralazine. It was concluded that aldosterone induced vascular cell apoptosis by its direct effect on the aorta via mineralocorticoid receptors and independently of blood pressure, which may contribute to aldosterone-mediated vascular injury.

This study aimed to determine whether aldosterone could induce vascular cell apoptosis in vivo.Thirty-two male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: vehicle(control),aldosterone,aldosterone plus eplerenone or hydralazine.They were then implanted with an osmotic mini-pump that infused either aldosterone or the vehicle.Systolic blood pressure(SBP)was measured weekly by the tail-cuff method.After 8 weeks,plasma aldosterone concentration(PAC)and renin activity(PRA)were determined by radioimmunoassay.Aortic apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay.The levels of cytochrome c and caspase-3 were determined by Western blotting and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was detected by immnuohistochemistry and Western blotting.The results showed that as compared with control group,aldosterone-infused rats exhibited:(1)an increase in SBP;(2)significantly elevated PAC with depressed PRA;(3)elevated aortic vascular cell apoptosis accompanied with higher levels ofcytochrome c and activated caspase-3; and(4)significantly up-regulated Bax protein with down-regulated Bcl-2.These effects of aldosterone were significantly inhibited after co-administration with eplerenone but not with hydralazine.It was concluded that aldosterone inducedvascular cell apoptosis by its direct effect on the aorta via mineralocorticoid receptors and independently of blood pressure,which may contribute to aldosterone-mediated vascular injury.

Objective To observe the effect ofpolypyramidine tract binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced apoptosis of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro.Methods RPE cells were cultured and divided into a normal group,normal+H2O2 group,Vec+H2O2 group,PSF+H2O2 group according to the experimental design.Overexpression of PSF in RPE cells were achieved by pEGFP-PSF plasmid transient transfection into RPE cells,then RPE cells were exposed to H2O2.The morphological changes were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Live/Dead staining while the survival rate of cells was detected by MTT assay.The effect of PSF on H2O2-induced RPE apoptosis was analyzed by Cell Death Detection ELISA kit.Meanwhile,intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was detected by using DCFH-DA method.Results Overexpression of PSF could effectively alleviate the morphological changes induced by H2O2 stimulation shown by HE staining,and effectively reduce dead cells number shown by Live/Dead staining.After H2O2 stimulation,the survival rate,apoptosis rate and ROS production level in PSF overexpression group were 0.68± 0.12,0.44± 0.08 and 18 616± 3 382.54 respectively,showing significant difference in comparison with the vector plasmid group and normal group (P＜0.05).Conclusion PSF overexpression plays a protective role in H2O2-induced apoptosis by inhibiting the production of ROS in RPE cells.

Objective:To discuss the long-term survival and risk factors of thyroid cancer in the real world in China.Methods:The clinical data of thyroid cancer patients who underwent initial surgery from Apr. 1998 to Dec. 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including patients’sex, age, surgical records, pathology, hospitalization records and follow-up. According to the prognosis, the patients were divided into disease-free survival group and recurrence/metastasis/death group. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis were conducted to analyze the risk factors affecting the prognosis of thyroid cancer. The clinical features and prognostic risk factors of thyroid cancer patients were investigated.Results:A total of 2038 cases were collected, and the longest follow-up time was more than 20 years. A total of 1876 cases were included in the study, 162 cases were lost, and the rate of follow-up was 7.9%. Among them, 1858 survived, the overall survival rate was 99.04%; 18 died, and the overall mortality rate was 0.96%. According to the prognosis of thyroid cancer, the patients were divided into 2 groups, including 1808 cases in the disease-free survival group and 68 cases in the relapsed-metastatic-death group. The study found that there were statistical differences between the two groups in terms of patients’age [ (45.40±11.016) vs (51.53±15.199, P=0.000) , the male ratio (32.854%, 48.529%, P=0.001) , whether tumor breaks through capsule (20.077%, 33.823%, P=0.006) , central lymph node metastasis (48.834%, 70.588%, P=0.001) and lateral lymph node metastasis (31.084%, 55.882%, P=0.000) , and there was no difference between the number of tumor lesions. Conclusion:Thyroid cancer has a good prognosis, but according to the characteristics of patients with thyroid cancer in my country, it should still be treated early in the clinic, and the standardization and thoroughness of surgery should be adhered to during the treatment.