BACKGROUND: Telomerase can maintain the telomere length and avoid cel replicative senescence and apoptosis in somatic cells. Its catalytic subunit cal ed telomerase reverse transcriptase has roles in mediating cellsurvival and anti-apoptotic functions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of human telomerase reverse transcriptase on amyloid β1-40-induced human embryonic cortical neurons injury. METHODS: Human cortical neurons derived from 12-16 weeks old aborted fetuses were transfected with recombinant adenovirus vector encoding human telomerase reverse transcriptase. Expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase was evaluated by immunocytochemical staining. Telomerase activity was measured using a PCR-based telomeric repeat amplification protocol enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Human embryonic cortical neurons were treated with 10 μmol/L ol/L amyloid β1-40 after transfected for 3 days. Cel viability, reactive oxygen species levels and glutathione contents in human embryonic cortical neurons were respectively detected by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and chromatometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase reached peak at 3 days after transfection, and the telomerase activity was rebuilt; 10 μmol/L amyloid β1-40 could significantly reduce the cel viability of neurons and glutathione content (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), and increase the reactive oxygen species levels (P < 0.05). The neurons transfected with human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene could be significantly against the toxicity of amyloid β1-40 and increase the cel viability and glutathione content (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), and decrease the reactive oxygen species levels (P < 0.05). The results indicate that human telomerase reverse transcriptase can protect amyloid β1-40-induced human embryonic cortical neurons injury

BACKGROUND:Bone ultrastructural destruction is an important cause for bone strength decrease,bone friability and bone fracture incidence increase in osteoporosis.OBJECTIVE:To observe the ultrastructural changes of distal femur cancellous bone in glucocorticoid (GC)-treated rats by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).METHODS:A total of 32 female Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 3.5 months old,were respectively treated with methylprednisolone 3.5 mg/kg per day by subcutaneous injection to induce osteoporosis and normal saline.At 4 and 9 weeks,the distal femurs were coronary sectioned and rinsed with distilled water,dehydrated in graded ethanol,coated with gold,and observed by SEM.RESULIS AND CONCLUSION:Compared to the control,the number of bone trabeculae in the GC group was significantly decreased,and the bone trabeculae became thin,fragile,discontinuous;network structures of bone trabeculae were destroyed,and bone resorption surface increased,with disorderly arranged collagenous fibers and increased micro-damage.Rats treated with GC for 4 weeks maintained better bone ultrestructure compared with rats treated with GC for 9 weeks.Results show that GC can induce bone mass lost,destroy network structures of bone trabeculae,accelerate bone resorption in rat cancellous bone,and accordingly lead to increased bone brittleness and decreased bone functional of biodynamics.

Objective To investigate the effect of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3(STAT-3)on sen-sitizing oral squamous cell carcinoma to cis-dichlorodiamineplatinum via downregulating miRNA-21. Methods Tscca and Tca8113P160 human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell lines were employed in this study. WP1066 was used to suppress STAT-3 signaling pathway. Cells were divided into three groups:dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) group, cis-dichlorodiamine-platinum (DDP) group and WP1066+DDP group. Transcription level of miR-21 was assessed by real-time PCR, while the expression levels of STAT-3, p-STAT-3, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) and matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 (MMP-2/9 ) were evaluated by Western blot assay. Matrigel matrix and transwell assay were used to determine cancer cell colony formation and invasive ability respectively. Expression level of miR-21 was examined by luciferase reporter gene as-say. Results Expression levels of STAT-3, pSTAT-3 and miR-21 were significantly suppressed by WP1066 treatment. The diameters of culture colony in cells treated with WP1066 and DDP were smaller than those in control group. The number of tongue cancer cells that migrated through the transwell membrane in WP1066 and DDP treated group was less than that in control group. Additionally, MMP-2/9 expression decreased while TIMP-3 increased dramatically in both cell lines in WP1066+DPP group compared to the other two groups. Conclusion Reduction of STAT-3 can sensitize oral squamous cell carcinoma to cis-dichlorodiamineplatinum via downregulating miR-21. Our study shows that DDP, in combination with WP1066, might be used as a potential target in the treatment of human oral squamous cell cancer.

OBJECTIVETo analyze willingness and influencing factors for usage of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM).

METHODS887 men who were older than 18 years old and used to have sex with men were recruited through internet between November 27 and December 17, 2013. Data were collected through self designed questionnaire, which was designed to collect information including demography features, willingness of usage of PrEP and associated factors.

RESULTSTotally 760 qualified questionnaires were collected. The ages of surveyed MSM were between 18 and 60, 58.2% (442) were single, 78.9% (600) of them have received college education, 60.4% (459) received annual income less than 60 000 yuan, 73.3% (557) only had sex with men and 77.2% (587) self reported being gay. 32.1% (243/758) of the respondent MSM said they would like to use PrEP. 61.0% (305/500) would like or possibly to take PrEP orally each day. 70.9% (354/499) would keep the same condom using frequency as current situation after using PrEP. In the univariate analysis, the willingness of taking PrEP was ('(2) = 27.61, P < 0.001) lower among those annual income less than 60 000 yuan (27.7% (127/458)) than those annual income higher (44.7% (116/260)); the willingness was significantly ('(2) = 10.99, P = 0.001) higher among those understanding PrEP (35.4% (196/554)) than those not understanding (22.8% (44/206)). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, it suggested that annual income under 60 000 yuan (OR = 0.64 (95% CI: 0.45-0.92)) and understanding PrEP (OR = 1.98 (95% CI: 1.36-2.88)) were influencing factors for usage of PrEP among MSM.

CONCLUSIONMSM didn't understand the PrEP sufficiently currently, economic consideration and worries about the side effects will affect their willingness of using PrEP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Condoms ; utilization ; HIV Infections ; prevention & control ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis ; utilization ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the value of the shear wave elastography ( SWE) in the diagnosis of biliary atresia ( BA ) in infants by ultrasonography . Methods SWE was used to measure the liver stiffness measurement( LSM ) of 138 infants . Following surgical or pathological diagnosis ,the infants were subclassified into BA and non-biliary atresia ( non-BA ) groups . ROC analysis was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of LSM ,the ultrasonic findings in the differential diagnosis of suspected BA ,and the cut-off value to diagnose BA . Results Of the 138 infants with cholestatic hepatitis ,51 were diagnosed as BA group and 87 cases were assigned to the non-BA group . The ROC analysis showed the cut-off value of LSM for diagnosis of biliary atresia in children with jaundice was 12 .35 kPa ,the AUC was 0 .936 ,and the sensitivity and specificity were 84 .3% and 89 .7% ,respectively .In the parallel test ,the triangular cord ( TC) sign combined with abnormal gallbladder ( AbGB) had the best diagnostic performance in all patients . However ,in patients older than 30 days ,the LSM combined with TC had the best AUC ( 0 .987 ) and diagnostic performance( 98 .6% ) like with TC combined with AbGB . Conclusions Both SWE and gray scale ultrasound have higher diagnostic performance for BA . LSM can be used as a valuable index for diagnosing BA by ultrasound .

Objective:In order to cope with the rising risk pressure on the economic operation of public hospitals,it aims to re-search and construct a comprehensive economic operation evaluation index,and improve the comprehensiveness,scientific and dynamic nature of monitoring and analysis of the economic operation of public hospitals.Methods:Literature research,expert consultation and hierarchical analysis were adopted.Results:A comprehensive evaluation model of public hospitals'economic operation covering 5 dimensions and 25 indexes,including structural optimization,controllable risk,efficiency enhancement,smooth operation and sustain-able development,has been constructed;empirical analyses of the overall index,sub-indexes and monthly indexes have been carried out on the data of some of the tertiary hospitals in Shanghai,which have verified the validity of the above index model in enhancing the monitoring,analysis and evaluation of the hospitals'economic operation,and revealed the role of the above index model in the changes of the economic conditions of the hospitals and the factors.Conclusion:Constructing a comprehensive evaluation index can effectively complement management such as comprehensive assessment and evaluation of public hospitals and traditional financial descriptive analysis.

Objective To establish the GIOP model and extract BMSCs from the rat model.We aim to in-vesitigatethe effect ofrhPTH(1-34)for inhibiting β-catenin ubiquitination when combining with Micro-CT and bio-logical technology.We also investigate the influence of rhPTH(1-34)on the GIOP.Methods Female SPF emale rats wererandomly divided into normal control group,methylprednisolone group(model group),methylpredniso-lone+saline group(blankcontrol group)and methylprednisolone+rhPTH(1-34)group(test group). The proximal femoral cancellous bone was examined by Micro-CTand histopathological Staining. The expression of Wnt10b and β-catenin protein were detected. By comparing with inducedBMP-2,BMSCs were treated withrhPTH(1-34)and stained with ALP and alizarin red.Results(1)In Micro-CT,BV/TV,Tb.Th and Tb/N decreased,whereas Tb/sp increased in the test group comparedwith model group(P<0.05).ROI three-dimensional reconstruction of trabecu-lar bone in test group showed local bone repair;(2)Wnt10b and β-cateninexpression increased in the test group compared with the model model(P<0.05),indicating that rhPTH(1-34)can enhance the transcriptional activity of β-catenin(P<0.05)and promote the expression of Wnt10b andβ-catenin(P<0.05).Conclusion The inter-vention with rhPTH(1-34)can prevent GIOP by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and inhibiting GIOP progress,which can improve the microstructure of bone.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the outcome of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) in prenatal diagnosis for fetal abnormalities detected by ultrasonography.

METHODSAmniotic fluid samples from 477 pregnancies with abnormal ultrasound findings but without common aneuploidies were detected by CMA with Affymetrix CytoScan 750K arrays. The results were analyzed with ChAS v3.0 software.

RESULTSAmong the 477 samples, 24 (5.03%) were detected with pathogenic copy number variations (pCNVs) by CMA. Six (9.68%) among 62 cases with structural fetal abnormalities in multiple organ systems were detected with pCNVs, 11 (7.48%) among 147 cases with a single structural anomaly were detected with pCNVs, and 7 (2.61%) among 268 cases with a soft marker were detected with pCNVs.

CONCLUSIONCMA has offered a clear advantage over conventional karyotyping for the detection of fetal chromosomal abnormalities, and can provide an effective diagnostic tool for those with one or more structural abnormalities detected by ultrasound.

Adolescent ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Disorders ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; Fetus ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Microarray Analysis ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for the diagnosis of children with intellectual disability/developmental delay (ID/DD) but a normal karytype.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples from 92 ID/DD patients were analyzed with CMA using Affymetrix CytoScan 750K arrays. The results were analyzed by ChAS v3.0 software.

RESULTSEighteen cases (19.57%) were detected with abnormalities by CMA, among which 10 cases were diagnosed with microdeletion/microduplication syndromes. These included 2 Williams-Beuren syndromes, 2 Angelman syndromes, 2 Russell-Silver syndromes, 1 Smith-Magenis syndromes, 1 Wolf-Hirschhorn syndromes, 1 15q26 overgrowth syndrome and 1 Xq28 (MECP2) duplication syndrome. In addition, 8 cases were diagnosed with pathogenic copy number variations (pCNV).

CONCLUSIONCMA can significantly improve the diagnostic rate for patients with ID/DD, which is of great value for the treatment of such children and guidance of reproduction for their parents. Therefore, CMA should become the first-line diagnostic test for patients with ID/DD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Developmental Disabilities ; genetics ; psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; genetics ; psychology ; Intelligence ; Karyotype ; Male ; Microarray Analysis ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Young Adult