PTEN gene is considered to be the first discovered tumor suppressor gene with dual specificity phosphatase activity.The research has shown that the increasing popularity of PTEN rests on its important roles in cancer cell growth,differentiation,signaling transduction and cell apoptosis.Besides,the mutation of PTEN is related to cancer initiation and progression.The recent advances on PTEN gene in malignant tumors will be reviewed in this paper.

Objective To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients and analyze the non-medical factors influencing QOL in order to explore the possible way to improve QOL in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.Methods Seventy-nine chronic renal failure patients treated with PD included in the present study.Investigated their age,sex,working status,education,medical burden and family support.Patients' QOL was evaluated by international questionnaire-KDQOL/SF-36.Patients' anxiety/depmssion status was evaluated by Hamilton depression questionnaire.Results (1)The SF-36 with its eight scales of CAPD patients were markedly lower than ordinary people (P＜0.05 or＜0.01).(2) Comparing with those on work,the patients without work got lower SF-36 scores[(45.78±16.93) seores vs (32.65±12.26) scores,P＜0.05].Comparing with those who had medical care,the patients without medical care got much lower SF-36 scores [(49.62±13.20) scores vs (33.85±6.24) scores,P＜0.05].Patients with higher income had better QOL.(3) Patients cared by their children and companion had the higheat SF-36 [(68.33±14.73) scores],while those cared by nursemaid or themselves had the lowest [(27.98±15.77) scores].(4) Among the 79 patients,43 patients (54.4%) were anxiety and 12 patients (15.2%) were depression.QOL was negatively correlated with anxiety index and depression index.Conclusion The QOL of CAPD patients are remarkably low,which is deeply influenced by many non-medical factors such as working status,medical burden,family support and emotional status.

Purpose Placenta implantation (PI) is a rare but severe pregnancy complication, and imaging diagnosis is always difficult. This paper aims to explore the ideal fast-imaging MRI sequences for PI and to provide high quality images for diagnosis. Materials and Methods The MRI images of 21 cases with pathology confirmed PI were retrospectively analyzed. Prenatal MRI of 2D fast-imaging employing steady-state acquisition (2D FIESTA) and single-shot fast spin echo (SSFSE) sequences were performed, and the imaging quality rating and the accuracy in detecting PI were compared. Results Satisfactory images were acquired in 71.4% (15/21) of the patients using 2D FIESTA, and 38.1% (8/21) using SSFSE with statistically significant difference (χ2=4.790, P<0.05). The MRI features of PI included placenta heterogeneity, low-signal-intensity bands, abnormal placental vascularity, uterine junction zone interruption, placental tissue invading the myometrium, placenta tissue into uterine serosa, and the detection rates of 2D FIESTA and SSFSE sequences on the above features were 57.1%, 57.1%, 28.6%, 61.9%, 66.7% and 14.2%, respectively; 90.4%, 71.4%, 38.1%, 42.9%, 28.6% and 6.5%, respectively. The detection rates of placenta heterogeneity and placental tissue invading the myometrium using these two sequences are statistically different (χ2=4.560 and 6.109, P<0.05). Conclusion The images quality of 2D FIESTA sequence is higher than those of the SSFSE sequence. 2D FIESTA sequence shows better delineation of the border of the placenta and uterine, and SSFSE sequence shows better contrasts of the placenta;therefore, combining these two can improve MRI diagnostic value for PI.

BACKGROUND:Along with the increasing improvement of bladder tissue engineering research, the vascularization of tissue-engineered bladder after implantation becomes an issue of concern. OBJECTIVE: Combined with relevant literature in recent years, to review the choice, design and application of scaffold materials for bladder tissue engineering as wel as vascularized strategies folowing implantation. METHODS:The first author retrieved PubMed database and CNKI databases for articles relevant to biological scaffold materials in bladder tissue engineering and vascularization of tissue-engineered bladder published between January 2000 to September 2014 using the keywords of “tissue engineering; bladder; biomaterials/scaffolds; vascularization” in English and Chinese, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Recently, the biological scaffolds for bladder tissue engineering include two main categories: natural biomaterials and synthetic polymers. The major target of bladder tissue engineering remains to prepare the best cel-seeded scaffolds, to determine the best source of stem cels, to explore the best differentiation way of stem cels, and to promote angiogenesis and nerve regeneration of implanted scaffolds. Thereinto, promoting vascularization of scaffold materials and building complex tissues is most chalenging. At present, it is stil difficult to precisely control the directional proliferation, migration and differentiation of the attached endometrial cels. Although the vascular network is necessary for the nutrient supply and metabolic waste removal of cels or tissues, strategies to promote angiogenesis or vasculogenesis are stil limited.

Objective To introduce a simple fixing method for tail vein injection in mice.Methods Twenty tumor-bearing male BALB/c nude mice were used in this study.Tail vein injection was performed to these mice by two laboratory technicians A and B, respectively.The injection time and success rate were recorded and analyzed.Results Mouse tail vein injection was successfully completed by the two technicians with the cage lid pressing method.Conclusions Cage lid pressing method is a simple method for tail vein injection in mice, especially provides a more efficient method for those special form of mice.

Objective To assess the value of high-frequency color Doppler ultrasound technique combined with hemorheology in detecting early atherosclerosis and monitoring its progression.Methods Twenty-four white big ear rabbits were divided into two groups randomly.Group A (6 rabbits) was fed normal rabbit chow,while group B (18 rabbits) was fed high cholesterol diet and was divided into three subgroups: B1(6 rabbits) with high cholesterol diet for 4 weeks,B2(6 rabbits) for 8 weeks,B3(6 rabbits) for 12 weeks.Intima-media thickness (IMT),diameter of common carotid artery and hemorheology index were observed dynamically and compared with the findings of histological examination.Results IMT of common carotid artery increased gradually in group B at different phases of atherosclerosis.Diameter compensationally enlarged at the early stage,and then stenosed with the progression of atherosclerosis.RBC deformation index of group B began reducing in the second week,but blood viscosity,plasma viscosity,RBC aggregation index and rigidity index gradually increased from the fourth week( P

Objective: To observe the effect of rhynchophylline (Rhy) on systolic blood pressure (SBP) with different time after administration in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and explore the protective effect on vascular endothelial cells of Rhy after long-term administration. Methods: Male SHR were randomly divided into model, positive control (Captopril 6.25 mg/kg), low-, mid-, and high-dose (1.25, 2.50, 5.00 mg/kg) Rhy groups. Other SD rats were included as the control group. Rats in the model and control groups were given the same volume of distilled water once daily for 21 d. Rat tail artery SBP was measured before administration and day 7, 14, and 21 during the administration. The levels of plasma Ang II, ADMA, AT1R, and serum NO, NOS were detected after the last administration underwent blood sampling. Results: Compared with the model group, Rhy reduced SBP significantly. Moreover, the plasma Ang II, ADMA, and AT1R levels were up-regulated, and the serum NO and NOS levels were decreased in the model group, which could be reversed by the treatment of Rhy (P<0.05, 0.01). Conclusion: Rhy could reduce the SBP of SHR significantly, decrease plasma Ang II, ADMA, and AT1R levels, and promote serum NO and NOS levels, which has the protection of vascular endothelial function.

Objective To assess the function of motor nerve fiber in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) by single-fiber conduction studies.Methods According to the diagnostic standard of DPN issued in Toronto meeting in 2009,on the basis of the result of peroneal nerve conventional conduction study,a total of 65 patients with DPN in the Department of Endocrinology and the Department of Neurology of Tianjin Third Central Hospital from October 2012 to October 2013 were enrolled into the study,from whom 33 had abnormal sensory conduction (sensory-diabetic peripheral neuropathy group,S-DPN group),32 had abnormal sensory motor conduction (sensory motor-diabetic peripheral neuropathy group,SM-DPN group).Single-fiber conduction velocity (SF-CV) and single-fiber distal motor latency (SF-DML)were detected in all subjects.The obtained results were compared with the data from 34 healthy volunteers (control group).The relationship of SF-CV,SF-DML and the duration of diabetes mellitus,fasting glucose,HbA1 c was also studied in DPN patients.Results The SF-CV ((43.1 ± 3.6) m/s) was decreased in S-DPN group compared with control group ((47.5 ± 3.3) m/s,t =5.077,P ＜ 0.01).There were no significant differences in SF-DML ((3.6 ± 0.7) ms),motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV (49.5 ± 2.6)m/s) and DML ((3.4 ± 0.6) ms) in S-DPN group compared with that of control group ((3.4 ± 0.5) ms,(50.9 ± 3.5) m/s,(3.2 ± 0.5) ms,respectively).SM-DPN group had lower SF-CV ((35.2 ± 3.6)m/s,t =9.119,14.219),MCV ((40.9 ± 3.2) m/s,t =11.131,13.025) and increased SF-DML ((4.5±0.7) ms,t=5.692,7.231),DML ((4.2 ±0.7) ms,t=5.561,6.975) compared with the other two groups (P ＜0.01).SF-CV in DPN patients was negatively related to the diabetic duration (r =-0.340,P =0.006),while SF-DML had no correlation with duration of DM,fasting blood glucose and HbAlc.Conclusions Detection of SF-CV is easy to find early motor nerve dysfunction in DPN patients.SF-CV is decreased with the increasing duration of diabetes.

Objective To evaluate the function status of motor nerve in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome ( CTS) sensory neuropathy by single-fiber conduction studies ( SF-CS).Methods Forty patients with CTS were divided into two groups according to the nerve conduction abnormality of median nerve .The sensory conduction abnormalities ( SCA) group included 20 patients with abnormal sensory conduction , while the sensory motor conduction abnormalities ( SMCA) group included 20 patients with abnormal motor sensory conduction.The Keypoint.net electromyogram device was used to detect the wrist to the abductor pollicis brevis latency , using the saddle shaped stimulating electrodes for stimulating and the single fiber electromyography electrode for recording.The control group included 20 healthy people.Results The latency of single-fiber conduction of median nerve in SCA group , SMCA group and control group was (3.92 ±0.28) ms, (4.71 ±0.49) ms and (3.41 ±0.31) ms (F=63.829, P=0.000), respectively.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.920 for the latency of single-fiber conduction of median nerve , and its specificity was 85%in cut off point.Conclusions There is clinical motor nerve damage in patients with CTS sensory neuropathy.The SF-CS may become an effective means for early evaluation of motor nerve function state.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) and toludine red unheated serum test (TRUST) for the therapeutic effects of early syphilis.Methods Syphilis patients visited the Dermatological Department of Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2012 to October 2016 were recruited, including 189 patients with early syphilis and 39 patients without clinical symptoms but with risky behavior within 3 months.Serum samples were tested by TPPA and TRUST respectively before treatment and at month 3, 6, 12 after treatment.Comparison between groups was done by χ2 test.Results Serum TPPA results of 228 patients with early syphilis prior to the treatment and within 12 months after treatment were all positive.Before treatment, TRUST tests results of 225 patients were positive, and 156 patients turned negative after 12 months of treatment with the negative conversion rate of 69.3%.The TRUST titer ≤1∶4 before treatment was defined as low-titer group, and ≥1∶8 before treatment was defined as high-titer group.There were 93 patients in the low-titer group, including 3 patients with negative results, and 90 patients with titer 1∶1-1∶4.There were 135 patients in the high-titer group.Twenty-seven patients achieved TRUST negative conversion after 3 months of treatment, among which 19.35%(18/93) with the negative conversion rate in the low-titer group and 6.67%(9/135) in the high-titer group.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=7.10, P<0.01).Sixty-two patients converted into negative results of TRUST assay after 6 months of treatment, including 36.56%(34/93) in the low-titer group and 11.85%(16/135) in the high-titer group whose titer of 1∶1-1∶4, and 6.45%(6/93) in the low-titer group and 4.44%(6/135) in the high-titer group whose titer ≥1∶8 turned negative.The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ2=17.10, P<0.01).There were 67 patients converted negative detected by TRUST assay after 12 months of treatment, including 23.66%(22/93) in the low-titer group with titer of 1∶1-1∶4 and 14.81%(20/135) in the high titer group, and 1.08%(1/93) in the low-titer group and 17.78%(24/135) in the high-titer group whose titer ≥1∶8 were turned negative.The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (χ2=1.51, P>0.05).Conclusion Serological tests combined with clinical signs can accurately diagnose early syphilis and evaluate the therapeutic effects.