Objective To study the anti-apoptotic effects of Levodopa on osteonecrosis of the femoral head induced by methylprednisolone (MPS).Methods Forty-four rabbits were randomly divided in to 3 groups.The model group (n=15) was injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS,10 μg/kg) and then MPS (20 mg/kg) was given 3 times with 24 h interval.The treatment group (n=1 5) was firstly treated by the same methods as the model group,then was administered Levodopa (0.4 g·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)) orally after the last injection of MPS.The control group (n=14) was injected with sodium chloride alone.On the 6th and 8th week after modeling,radiography and MR images were taken in 7 rabbits of each group,specimens taken from the femoral heads were observed by HE stain and TUNEL analysis was made.Blood samples were taken for detection of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on the 8th week.Results On the 6th and 8th week,the average percentage of empty osteocyte lacunae in the treatment group (13.33‰±3.06‰,25.97‰±6.29‰) was significantly lower than that of the model group (21.44‰±4.77‰,33.86‰±8.38‰,P<0.01),and the average apoptosis index in the treatment group (74.93‰±14.32‰,120.67‰±13.13‰) was significantly lower than that of the model group (102.56‰±18.96‰,202.02‰±18.99‰.,P<0.01).On the 8th week,the level of IGF-1 in the treatment group was (14.78±2.37)ng/ml,which was higher than that of the model group obviously (10.12±2.49)ng/ml(P<0.01).Conclusion The Levodopa can decrease apoptosis of osteocytes and effectively prevent the progress of steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head.

Objective To study the cytogenetic changes in HPV-immortalized cells(SHEE)for further investigating the esophageal carcinogenesis. Methods Giemsa staining was used to show the modal number of chromosomes.G-banding was done to observe the chromosomal aberrations.Fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)of the interphase nuclei with the centromere probes of chromosome 1,7 and 8 were performed to determine the numerical abnormalities. Results The modal numbers at passage 10 and 20 were 58-63 and 57-64, respectively.Passage 61 had a bimodal distribution 58-61 and 63-65.The structural aberrations could almost be found in all of karyotypes.The following structural aberrations were identified:1.del(1)(q12);2.del(1)(p32);3.der(4),t(4;?)(q31;?);4.der(5),t(5:?)(q31;?).FISH results showed that trisomy 1 and tetrasomy 7 markedly increased with the increase of passages and disomy 8 kept in faint change in all passages.Conclusion The modal number moved right slowly in the graph of the modal distribution and the increases of chromosomal numbers were in imbalance with increases of passages of SHEE.The structural aberrations of chromosome were found in most of karyotypes.Our results suggest that the cell immortalization is a multistep process involved in the multiple chromosomes.;

Objective To observe the preliminary effects of the treatment for early non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head with Madopar. Methods Thirty-one patients with 48 hips of early stage (Ficat Ⅰ,Ⅱ) non-traumatic necrosis of the femoral head were treated with oral administration of Madopar since 2002. The disease was associated with consumption of alcohol in 16 cases with 27 hips; use of steroids in 10 cases with 13 hips; both consumption of alcohol and use of steroids in 2 cases with 4 hips; the remaining 3 cases, the condition was idiopathic. According to the criteria of Ficat et al., there were 4 hips in stage Ⅰ; 40 in stage Ⅱa and 4 in stage Ⅱb. Eighteen patients had received madopar for 10-28 months; 13 patients had been receiving the drug until now. Follow-up examinations were made by radiography, MRI and Charnley modified Merle d'Aubigne score. Results All patients were followed up for 12-84 months (average 27.8 months). The clinical symptoms improved in all cases. X-ray films showed that the bone density increased in nearly all the femoral heads, and 68.75%(33/48) of them maintained their shapes. The follow-up MRI showed their necrotic indices had decreased. The rate of clinical satisfaction was 91.67%(44/48), and the successful rate of treatment was 72.92%(35/48), and the collapse rate of early stage necrosis of the femoral head is 27.08%(13/48). Conclusion The preliminary results showed that madopar could prevent or delay collapse of the femoral head in early stage of osteonecrosis.

The article introduced the content of medical genetics in USMLE,and compared it with Chinese official teaching material. Medical genetics is an important part of USMLE and the USMLE questions come from real clinical cases and pay more attention to clinical experience. To adapt to the international trend,Chinese teaching material can clarify the genetic-related illness in detail. Clinical case is a good guide for PBL(Problem-Based learning)teaching. The medical genetics were called for in Chinese Practicing Physician Qualifications Test.

Objective To explore the application value of platelet parameters detection in early diagnosis of breast cancer.Methods Platelet parameters of intravenous blood from 103 breast cancer patients and 117 fibroadenoma patients within 24 hours of admission between January 2015 and December 2015 were collected and retrospectively analyzed,including platelet count(PLT),plateletcrit(PCT),mean platelet volume(MPV),mean platelet component concentration(MPC),mean platelet component mass (MPM),platelet distribution width(PDW),and compared with control group of 100 healthy women.The diagnostic efficiency of platelet parameters were assessed using receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve.Results PLT and PCT in breast cancer group and fibroadenoma group were significantly higher than those in control group(P＜0.01);MPC,PMM and PDW were significantly lower than those in control group(P＜0.01);MPV had no significant statistically difference(P＞0.05).The levels of MPC in breast cancer group were obviously lower than that in fibroadenoma group(P＜0.01).The diagnostic efficiency of MPC in breast cancer had the highest area under curve(AUC=0.835).While the cutoff value of MPC was 249.5 g/L,sensitivity and specificity were 82.5 ％ and 73.6 ％,respectively.Conclusion The detection of platelet parameters,especially MPC,have certain application value in early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Objective To study the appearances of split cord malformation(SCM)and evaluate the diagnostic value of CT for SCM.Methods Clinical and CT data of 48 cases with SCM were analyzed retrospectively ,21 were males and 27 were females,ranged from 1 day to 8 years with a mean of 11.6 months. All cases evaluated by plain CT with coronal and sagittal reconstructions.Results Type I accounted 75%, consisted of two hemicords, each contained in its dural tube and separated by a rigid median septum .TypeⅡaccounted 25%, consisted two hemicords contained in a single dural sac separated by a non-rigid, fibrous median septum. Associated abnormalities: tethered cord syndrome(n=38), syringomyelia(n=9), intradural lipomas(n=10), meningocele(n=18).Conclusion CT can clearly demostrate the position, the septum and the shape of the SCM, as well as associated abnormalities.

Endoplasmic reticulum plays a key role in both basic structure formation and function performance of microenviron-ment. Endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis unbalance caused by endoplasmic reticulum stress has become a hot research topic in recent years. This paper focuses on the role of endoplasmic retic-ulum stress in ischemic stroke. Research progress of related sig-naling pathways were reviewed, especially mechanisms through which endoplasmic reticulum stress trigger the inflammatory reac-tion, so as to provide a new research method for prevention of is-chemic stroke.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of CTA in the bronchial artery embolization treatment.Methods TwentyGeight patients undergoing bronchial artery embolization treatment were divided into two groups.Patients with the examination of bronchial artery CTA before interventional treatment were in group A,others in group B.In group A,according to the distribution of the bronchial artery shown by the CTA,the appropriate catheter was selected for the bronchial artery angiography and embolization.In group B,various catheters for the bronchial artery angiography were performed to find the responsible blood vessels for embolization.The total therapeutic effect, operation time,DSA exposure time and contrast agent were compared between the two groups.Results The pretreatment CTA and DSA contrast were compared and the consistency of the bronchial artery was 90.9%.The effective efficiency of group A was 100%, and the effective rate of group B was 83.3 3%.The time of operation was (6 6.9 ± 1 4.5 )min in group A and (1 3 3.5 ± 1 9.4)min in group B,respectively.DSA exposure time was (2 7.9 ± 1 3.8)min and (5 5.1 ± 1 7.2 )min respectively,and the contrast agent dosage was (89.7±1 7.1)mL and (235.1±1 6.6)mL respectively.The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P＜0.0 1).Conclusion The bronchial artery CTA examination before interventional treatment is an advantage in increasing the success rate,saving time,and improving efficacy.

Ferroptosis is a form of programmed cell death driven by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and is closely associated with a wide range of biological processes, such as aging, immunity, and cancer. Tumor multidrug resistance, especially resistance to apoptosis, has prompted the urgent search for a new antitumor treatment option. Remarkable progress has been made in the study of the role of ferroptosis in antitumor, especially the interaction with immune cells. Studying immunotherapy based on ferroptosis pathways has become a new direction in antitumor research. In this work, we review the role of ferroptosis in immune cells and antitumor immunotherapy to provide new ideas for ferroptosis-mediated antitumor immunotherapy.

Tbx18,Wt1,and Tcf21 have been identified as epicardial markers during the early embryonic stage.However,the gene markers of mature epicardial cells remain unclear.Single-cell transcriptomic analysis was performed with the Seurat,Monocle,and CellphoneDB packages in R software with standard pro-cedures.Spatial transcriptomics was performed on chilled Visium Tissue Optimization Slides(10x Genomics)and Visium Spatial Gene Expression Slides(10x Genomics).Spatial transcriptomics analysis was performed with Space Ranger software and R software.Immunofluorescence,whole-mount RNA in situ hybridization and X-gal staining were performed to validate the analysis results.Spatial transcriptomics analysis revealed distinct transcriptional profiles and functions between epicardial tissue and non-epicardial tissue.Several gene markers specific to postnatal epicardial tissue were identified,including Msln,C3,Efemp1,and Upk3b.Single-cell transcriptomic analysis revealed that cardiac cells from wildtype mouse hearts(from embryonic day 9.5 to postnatal day 9)could be categorized into six major cell types,which included epicardial cells.Throughout epicardial development,Wt1,Tbx18,and Upk3b were consistently expressed,whereas genes including Msln,C3,and Efemp1 exhibited increased expression during the mature stages of development.Pseudotime analysis further revealed two epicardial cell fates during maturation.Moreover,Upk3b,Msln,Efemp1,and C3 positive epicardial cells were enriched in extracellular matrix signaling.Our results suggested Upk3b,Efemp1,Msln,C3,and other genes were mature epicardium markers.Extracellular matrix signaling was found to play a critical role in the mature epicardium,thus suggesting potential therapeutic targets for heart regeneration in future clinical practice.