Objective To discuss the value of multi-slice spiral CT angiography (MSCTA)and digital subtraction angiography (DSA)in lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans.Methods MSCTA and DSA of lower extremity arteries were performed in 41 patients with lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans sequentially.The interval of these two examinations was no more than 2 weeks.DSA served as the reference standard and compared with MSCTA in terms of grading of stenoocclusive lesions,visualization of collaterals in lower extremity arteries.Results No significant differences of grading of stenoocclusive lesions,visualization of col-laterals were observed between MCTA and DSA in lower extremity arteries.Compared with the results of DSA,the sensitivity,spe-cificity,accuracy,positive and negative predictive value of MSCTA in the detection of arterial stenosis (≥ 50%)were 97.2%, 98.2%,93.8%,94.6%,98.2%,respectively.Conclusion MSCTA shows relatively high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans,can provide effective guidance of planning treatment in lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic wounds are a major clinical challenge, because minor skin wounds can lead to chronic, unhealed ulcers and ultimately result in infection, gangrene, or even amputation. Studies on bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and a series of growth factors have revealed their many benefits for wound healing and regeneration. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may improve the environment for BMSC development and differentiation. However, whether combined use of BMSCs and PRP may be more effective for accelerating diabetic ulcer healing remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy of BMSCs and PRP for the repair of refractory wound healing in a diabetic rat model. METHODS: Forty-eight rats with diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin were divided into four groups: treatment with BMSCs plus PRP, BMSCs alone, PRP alone, phosphate buffered saline. The rate of wound closure was quantified. A histopathological study was conducted regarding wound depth and the skin edge at 7, 14, and 28 days after surgery. RESULTS: Wound healing rates were significantly higher in the BMSC plus PRP group than in the other groups. The immunohistochemistry results showed that the expression of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and transforming growth factor-beta1 increased significantly in the BMSC plus PRP group compared to the other treatment groups. On day 7, CD68 expression increased significantly in the wounds of the BMSC plus PRP group, but decreased markedly at day 14 compared to the controls. CONCLUSION: The combination of BMSCs and PRP aids diabetic wound repair and regeneration.
Amputation ; Animals ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Adhesion ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Gangrene ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Models, Animal ; Platelet-Rich Plasma* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rats* ; Regeneration ; Skin ; Streptozocin ; Ulcer ; Wound Healing ; Wounds and Injuries

Livestock husbandry is vital to economy of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China. However, there have been few surveys of the distribution of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and tick-borne pathogens affecting domestic animals at these locations. In this study, 3,916 adult ixodid ticks infesting domestic animals were collected from 23 sampling sites during 2012-2016. Ticks were identified to species based on morphology, and the identification was confirmed based on mitochondrial 16S and 12S rRNA sequences. Ten tick species belonging to 4 genera were identified, including Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rh. bursa, H. asiaticum asiaticum, and Rh. sanguineus. DNA sequences of Rickettsia spp. (spotted fever group) and Anaplasma spp. were detected in these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses revealed possible existence of undescribed Babesia spp. and Borrelia spp. This study illustrates potential threat to domestic animals and humans from tick-borne pathogens.

Objective: To investigate the effect of HOXD3 expression on the stem cell-like characteristics of breast cancer cells and the relationship between HOXD3 expression and multi-drug resistance in breast cancer cells. Methods: From January 2006 to December 2008, 87 specimens of breast cancer patients from the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University were collected. The ex-pression of HOXD3 in breast cancer cells and tissues was detected by immunohistochemical staining method. The expression levels of HOXD3 in CDDP or DOX-resistant cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 were detected by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunofluo-rescence staining. The effect of HOXD3 overexpression on the expression levels of stem cell biomarkers in breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 was analyzed. MTT assay and colony formation assay were used to demonstrate the role of HOXD3 in che-motherapy resistance of breast cancer cells. Results: The relative expression of HOXD3 mRNA in breast cancer was 4.16, which was sig-nificantly higher than 2.05 in normal tissues adjacent to cancer; the relative expression levels of HOXD3 mRNA in breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, MDA-MBB-435 and MCF-7 were 3.25, 2.84 and 2.23, which were all higher than 1.00 in normal breast epithelial cell line MCF-10A ( all P＜0.05 ). The IC50s of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 cell lines resistant to CDDP or DOX were (20.82±0.05) μmol/L, (19.69±0.47) μmol/L, (32.26±0.23) mmol/L and (26.08±0.55) mmol/L, respectively. Both were higher than the corresponding original cell lines (all P＜0.05), and the drug resistance times were 2.47 and 3.10 or 1.86 and 2.08, respectively. The number of tumor spheres and stem cell biomarker expression levels of MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-435 with HOXD3 overexpression were significantly in-creased (all P＜0.05). Conclusions: The expression of HOXD3 plays an important role in the maintenance of stem cell-like properties and drug resistance of breast cancer cells. The results of this study will help us better understand the complexity of breast cancer and pro-vide a theoretical basis for the development of targeted molecular therapy.

To evaluate the expression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase type I-alpha regulatory subunit (PRKAR1α) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its correlation with clinicopathological features.
 Methods: PRKAR1α expressions in 79 NSCLC patients and matched adjacent non-carcinoma tissues were analyzed by using qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.
 Results: The negative rates of PRKAR1α protein in NSCLC, lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCL) and lung adenocarcinoma (ACL) were 58.2%, 77.8%, 32.4%, respectively. Compared to the matched adjacent non-carcinoma tissues, there were significant differences in levels of PRKAR1α mRNA and protein in ACL (P<0.05), but not in SCL and overall NSCLC (P>0.05). The expression of PRKAR1α protein was positively correlated with histological type, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Tumor size and histogenesis differentiation were not related to the decreased PRKAR1α (P>0.05).
 Conclusion: Low expression of PRKAR1α in ACL might be involved in the pathogenesis, which might serve as a novel diagnostic candidate.
Adenocarcinoma ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; chemistry ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; chemistry ; genetics ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase RIalpha Subunit ; physiology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; chemistry ; classification ; genetics ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; genetics ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger