Objective To quantitatively analyze the fetal lung echo and right lung volume in the third trimester by real-time three-dimensional ultrasound (3-D US) and evaluate the feasibility of fetal lung maturity. Methods A total of 732 women with normal singleton pregnancies between 28 and 42 weeks of gestation underwent ultrasound examination. The 3-D US equipment with a 3.5-5MHz transabdominal transducer was used for the fetal biometric measurement. The echogenicity ratio between fetal lung and liver was compared. The fetal lung volume was calculated by the rotational multiplanar technique for volume measurement (VOCAL). Results The right fetal lung volume increased with the increase of gestational age with a linear positive correlation (r=0.884, P<0.01). After 34 weeks, the echogenicity ratio of fetal lung to liver was more than 1.1. Conclusion The echogenicity of lung/liver and fetal lung volume could be used as normal fetal predictable indicators for fetal lung maturity.

Objective To examine loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) of locus D8S532 on chromosome 8 and their influence on the expression of sFRP1 in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCCs), which may provide an experimental evidence for clarifying the mechanism of sFRP1 gene and tumor development. Methods DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. Polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and ordinary silver stain were used to study LOH and MSI of locus D8S532. Envision immunohistochemistry, Leica-Qwin computerized imaging system and Image-Pro PluS (IPP) version 4.5 professional imaging analysis software were used to assess the expression of sFRP1. Results The detection rates of LOH and MSI of locus D8S532 in the 36 specimens of HCC were 11.11% and 8.33% respectively. The down-regulation of sFRP1 was observed in 31 of 36 HCCs (86.11%) compared with non-carcinoma liver tissues, and the positive rate of sFRP1 protein of the HCCs was 52.78%( 19/36 ). The frequency of LOH was lower in the cases with positive expression of sFRP1 protein than those negative (0 vs 23.53%, P <0.05). Conclusion It was a common phenomenon that expression of sFRP1 protein is negative or low in Chinese with HCCs. The genetic instability of sFRP1 gene was one of causes, which lead to HCCs. LOH may play a major role in negative expression of sFRP1.

Objective To isolate and identify the potential binding partners of LRRK2,a gene linked to both dominant familial form and sporadic form of Parkinson's disease,thus to further our knowledge of its function.Methods We used a sequence containing full-length of COR domain and part of ROC and MAPKKK domain as bait.The bait amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was then cloned into a yeast expression plasmid pGBKT7.After being sequenced and analyzed,pGBKT7-bait was transformed into the yeast strain AH109.Western blot was performed to confirm the expression of pGBKT7-bait in AH109 yeast strain.Then human fetal brain cDNA library was trarnsformed into that yeast strain.which could express pGBKT7-bait fusion protein.The yeast strain which contained pGBKT7-bait and human fetal brain cDNA library was plated on quadruple dropout medium (SD/-Trp/-Leu/-His/-Ade)containing X-a-gal.We retested these positive colonies using 2 independent yeast strains AH109 contained pGBKT7-bait or pGBKT7,respectively.At last,these plasmids isolated from these true positive colonies were analyzed by bioinformatics.Results We obtained 9 true positive colonies,these colonies were sequenced, and we performed sequence Blast in GenBank.Three colonies of the 9 positive colonies were not in open reading-frames.Among other 6 colonies,there were known proteins including spermatid perinuclear RNA-binding protein(STRBP)and BCL2-associated athanogene 5 isoform b(BAG5),as well as unknown proteins including tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type(PTPN23),1(3)mbt-like 3 isoform b(L3 MBTL3),RALY RNA binding protein-like isoform 1(RALYL),and Homo sapiens mRNA for KIAA1783 protein,partial cds(KIAA 1783).Conclusion True positive colonies of LRRK2 are successfully obtained by the yeast 2-hybrid.Our screened proteins may provide a new research clue for revealing biological functions of LRRK2,pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease,and other neurodegerations.

Objective To evaluate the preventive effect of combination of low-dose HBIg and Nucleoside analogues on recurrence of hepatitis B after liver transplantation. Methods Retrospectively analyzed HBV status and recurrence in patients accepting Nucleoside analogues plus low-dose HBIg as prophylaxis treatment after liver transplantation for HBV-related end-stage liver disease from December 1998 to Octomber 2009 in our center. Results In all the 1506 patients whose survival time >30 d after liver transplantation, 37 patients showed HBV recurrence, the HBV cumulative-recurrence rate of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6y was 1.3%,2. 4%,2. 7%,2. 9%,3. 7% and 4.6% respectively. The time of recurrence varied from 0. 3 to 66. 6 months (median 12. 8 months) after transplantation. Virus mutation could be tested in 9 cases of the 37 recurrence patients, including 4 YMDD cases, 2 YMDD + YIDD cases, 1 YMDD+YVDD cases, 1 YVDD case,and 1 YIDD case. Conclusions Liver transplantation is the principal therapeutic method for the patient with end-stage liver diseases related to HBV, with the effectively prophylaxis treatment to aim directly at HBV recurrence. If the patients who got HBV recurrence received targeted treatments, the situation can be controlled satisfactorily.

Lemierre syndrome is a rare, potentially fatal condition characterized by internal jugular vein thrombosis following an acute oropharyngeal infection, often accompanied with cervical necrotizing fasciitis. This paper reviews 5 cases of Lemierre syndrome with cervical necrotizing fasciitis, extensive cervical drainage and sufficient antibiotics is crucial treatment for Lemierre syndrome, anticoagulation combined with antibiotics is safe and effective for propagation or nonresolution of the thrombus.