Objective To investigate the differentially expressed genes of primary esophageal squamous cell carci-noma and of normal esophageal mucosa. Methods LCM-GMA-cDNA microarray was used to detect the mRNA from both the primary carcinoma and the corresponding esophageal epithelium in 15 cases of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). After high-stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluores-cent signals. Results Among the 886 target genes, 34 genes had significant difference in Ⅰ / Ⅱ and Ⅲ/Ⅳ group. Cell cycle regulators possibly promoting the growth of tumor cells were highly expressed in the early stages of ESCC, whereas adhesion molecules and extracellular matrix-related molecules possibly promoting invasiveness increased in the later stages. Conclusion More than one gene contributed to esophageal cancer. The profiles of gene expression will bring us chance to understanding the molecular mechanism of tumor progression and to support clinical treat-ment.

AIM:To study the effect of p21-activated protein kinase 2 (PAK2) knockdown by RNA interfer-ence on the proliferation and apoptosis of human breast cancer cells .METHODS:The short hairpin RNA ( shRNA) targe-ting PAK2 gene was designed and used for packing lentivirus in 293T cells.Human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were infected by the virus particles and PAK2 knockdown stable cell line was established by puromycin selection .The knockdown effi-ciency was assessed by Western blotting .The proliferation ability of MCF-7 cells was evaluated by CellTiter 96 AQueous and anchorage-independent growth assays .The cell apoptosis induced by staurosporine was detected by flow cytometry . RESULTS:The protein level of PAK2 was significantly suppressed after silencing of PAK2 gene in MCF-7 cells ( P<0.01).Furthermore, knockdown of PAK2 caused remarkable inhibition of the cell proliferation and colony formation (P<0.01).Staurosporine induced more apoptosis in the PAK2 knockdown cells compared with the control cells (P<0.01). CONCLUSION:Knockdown of PAK2 inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and increases the sensitivity of chemothera-peutic drug-induced cell apoptosis , suggesting that PAK2 might be a new therapeutic target in breast cancer treatment .

AIM: To construct a mouse IFN-? expression vector and observe the antitumor effects of mouse peritoneal macrophages transfected with IFN-? in vivo and in vitro. METHODS: The IFN-? mRNA was amplified by RT-PCR. The open reading frame of mouse IFN-? gene was recombinanted with eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 through subcloning. Mouse peritoneal macrophages were transfected with recombinant vector pcDNA3.1-IFN-?. The expression of INF-? mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. Another group of peritoneal macrophages were cultured with the culture medium from pcDNA3.1-IFN-? transfecting groups, and its antitumor effect was measured by MTT. pcDNA3.1-IFN-? plasmid was peritoneally injected inte mouse with tumor. The appearance of ascites of pcDNA3.1-IFN-? plasmid injected mice and survival time were observed. RESULTS: The mouse IFN-? expression vector pcDNA3.1-IFN-? was constructed. The sequence was demonstrated to be the same as on GenBank. The recombinant vector was introduced into mouse peritoneal macrophages. IFN-? mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The supernatant from cultured macrophages transfected with pcDNA3.1-IFN-? plasmid stimulated the antitumor effects of the macrophages without transfection. The appearance of ascites in pcDNA3.1-IFN-? plasmid injected mouse was delayed and survival time was longer than that in other groups. CONCLUSION: We have successfully constructed the mouse IFN-? expression vector pcDNA3.1-IFN-?. Mouse peritoneal macrophages transfected with pcDNA3.1-IFN-? have antitumor effects in vivo and in vitro.

Objective To study the effects of Alternariol(AOH) on DNA polymerase ?(DNA POL?)expression in NIH3T3 cells.Methods RT-PCR,Immunocytochemistry and Western blot were used to detected mRNA and the protein levels of DNA POL? in NIH3T3 cell line induced by AOH.Results The expression of DNA POL? in NIH3T3 cells contaminated by AOH was significantly higher than that in the control group(P

Insulin is the most common medicine used for diabetic patients, unfortunately, its effective time is short, even the long-acting insulin cannot obtain a satisfactory effect. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 is a recently discovered glucose mediator and expected to be a potential anti-diabetic drug that does not rely on insulin. In this study, db/db mice were used as the type 2 diabetic model to examine whether mFGF-21 has the long-term blood lowering effect on the animal model. The results showed that mFGF-21 could stably maintain the blood glucose at normal level for a long-term in a dose-dependent manner. Administration of mFGF-21 once a day with three doses (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg x kg(-1)) could maintain blood glucose of the model animals at normal level for at least 24 h. Administration of mFGF-21 every two days with the same doses could maintain blood glucose of the model animals at normal level for at least 48 h, although it took longer time for blood glucose to reach to normal level depending on doses used (twenty injections for 0.125 mg x kg(-1) and 0.25 mg x kg(-1) doses, ten injections for 0.5 mg x kg(-1) dose). Surprisingly, the blood glucose of the treated model animals still maintained at normal level for 24 h after the experiment terminated. Glycosylated hemoglobin level of the animals treated with mFGF-21, which represented long-term glucose status, decreased significantly compared to the control group and the insulin group. The results suggest that FGF-21 has potential to become a long-acting and potent anti-diabetic drug.

The differentially expressed genes between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with or without lymphatic metastasis were investigated by gene chip, and the lymphatic metastasis-associated genes were screened out. Expression array was used to detect the mRNA from both the primary carcinoma and the corresponding esophageal epithelium in 15 cases of human ESCC. The lymphatic metastasis-associated genes were screened by bioinformatics between ESCC with or without lymphatic metastasis. The results showed that 43 (4.85 %) genes significantly differed between the ESCC with and without lymphatic metastasis (P<0.05), of which 18 (2.03 %)were upregulated and 25 (2.82 %) down-regulated. The up-regulated genes were involved in cell adhesion molecules and cell membrane receptors and the down-regulated genes were mostly cell cycle regulators and intracellular signaling molecules. It was suggested that lymphatic metastasis-associated genes were screened by gene chip, which was helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of ESCC lymphatic metastasis and lymphatic metastasis-associated genes might be used as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for lymphatic metastasis.

Objective:To investigate the feasibility and safety of endovascular repair for traumatic thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm.Methods:From Oct 2015 to Oct 2018, the clinical and followup data of 7 patients diagnosed as traumatic thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm in Fuwai Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were analyzed retrospectively.Results:The patients average age was (51.2±11.0) years old. All patients underwent surgery in the hybrid operating room under general anesthesia. Two did thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), three did TEVAR combined with chimney technique to reconstruct the left subclavian artery, and 1 had TEVAR combined with fenestration to reconstruct the left subclavian artery. One did TEVAR with left common carotid artery and left subclavian artery bypass. The mean operative time was (90.1±27.4) min, the mean postoperative hospital stay was (8.9±3.7) d, and the mean postoperative follow-up time was 42.4 months. All the patients received CTA reexamination of the aorta after 1, 6, 12 months and yearly thereafter. TypeⅠendoleak was found in one patient with chimney technique to reconstruct of left subclavian artery after operation. CT showed that the type Ⅰ endoleak disappeared 6 months after operation. There was no death, paraplegia or stroke during the perioperative period and follow-up period, and there was no aortic related reintervention.Conclusion:TEVAR is a safe and effective method for the treatment of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of thoracic aorta, and the early and mid-term results were satisfactory.

Objective:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of the in-situ needle fenestration combined with the in vitro physician modified fenestration technique to reconstruct supra-aortic branches during thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for aortic arch lesions requiring landing at Z0 and Z1.Methods:From Nov 2017 to Dec 2019, eighteen patients who underwent both the in-situ needle fenestration and the in vitro physician modified fenestration techniques to extend the proximal landing zone to Z0 and Z1 during TEVAR were included in our study.Results:Sixteen patients underwent in vitro physician modified fenestration ,two patients underwent in vitro physician modified fenestration to reconstruct both the left common carotid artery and the innominate artery. All eighteen patients received in-situ needle fenestration to preserve the left subclavian artery. Supra aortic branches were preserved in all patients (38/38, 100%). There was no Type Ⅰ endoleak. Type Ⅱ endoleak was found in four paitnets (4/18). Type Ⅲ endoleak occurred in one patient (1/18). Type Ⅳ endoleak in four patients (4/18). Type Ⅲ endoleak needed open aortic arch repair 6 months later. The median follow-up time was 12 months. One (1/18) died in 12 months and the other patients were doing well.Conclusions:The joint application of the in-situ needle fenestration and the in vitro physician modified fenestration to reconstruct supra-aortic branches during TEVAR for aortic arch pathologies requiring landing at Z0 and Z1 was satisfactory.

Objective To investigate the etfect of microenvironment simulated by colon carcinoma homogenate supernatant on the differentiation and development of human dendritic ceils (DCs), and to investigate the function of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) during this process . Methods Fresh colon carcinoma and peri-cancer tissues were collected to prepare homogenate supernatant. The pe-ripberal blood mononuclear cells were isolated and cultured with 1640 medium including rhGM-CSF and rhIL-4. Then the colon carcinoma homogenate supernatant, peri--carcinoma homogenate supernatant and VEGF-A were added to the cultures at day 2. Antigen of colon carcinoma cell line SW620 was added at day 4 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added at day 6. DCs were collected at day 8 for further study. The con-tent of VEGF-A was tested by ELISA. The morphology and the immunopbenotype of DCs were checked by microscope and flow cytometry, respectively. The expression of CDIa was tested by RT-PCR, and the prolif-eration and killing rate of T cell was measured by CCK-8. Results The content of VEGF-A in the homoge-nate supernatant of colon carcinoma was significantly higher than that of the peri-carcinoma (P ＜ 0. 05). Compared with normal DCs, the cell morphology of colon carcinoma homogenate aupernatant group was in-hibited, and the cell number was decreased. Besides, the positive expression rate of DC surface markers de-creased (P ＜ 0.01). The capacity of mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) and killing capacity of T cells de-creased(P ＜0.01). However, there was almost no difference between VEGF-A group and normal DCs on the cell morphology and cell number, and VEGF-A had no obvious inhibition on the expression of DCs sur-face markers (P ＞ 0.05). But VEGF-A group had significantly inhibitory effect on the MLR and T cells kill-ing. Conclusion The tumor microenvironment simulated by the colon carcinoma homogenate supernatant obviously has inhibitory effect on the differentiation and function of DCs, and VEGF-A has the inhibitory effect on DC function, but the inhibitory effect is not through the inhibition of the expression of DC costimu-lators.

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a member of FGF family. It has been demonstrated that FGF21 is an independent, safe and effective regulator of blood glucose levels in vivo. In order to improve the activity of FGF21, we exchanged the beta10-beta12 domain of the human FGF21 with that of the mouse FGF21 to construct a novel FGF21 gene (named hmFGF21), and then subcloned hmFGF21 gene into the SUMO expression vector to create pSUMO-hmFGF21 and transformed it into E. coli Rosetta for expression of the fusion protein SUMO-hmFGF21. Both in vitro and in vivo glucose regulation activity of hmFGF21 was evaluated. The SDS-PAGE result showed that compared with wild-type hFGF21, the soluble expression of hmFGF21 increased about 2-fold. HmFGF21 was more potent in stimulation of glucose uptake in HepG2 cells in vitro. The results of anti-diabetic effect on db/db mice demonstrated that hmFGF21 had better efficacy on controlling the blood glucose of the db/db diabetic animals than wild-type hFGF21. These results suggest that the biological properties of FGF21 are significantly improved by optimization.