AIM: To explore the effect of protein kinase C-?(PKC-?) in U937 cell line inhibited by short hairpin RNA(shRNA) on the transcription of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) mRNA induced by stromal cell-derived factor-1(SDF-1).METHODS: 64 bp reverse repeated motifs of PKC-? target sequence were synthesized and inserted into the plasmid to construct the plasmid expressing shRNA-PKC-?(pSIRENp) and the pSIRENp plasmid was transfected into U937 cell line.The expression of PKC-? and VEGF mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.RESULTS: The recombinant plasmid pSIRENp was successfully constructed and it nearly completely suppressed the PKC-? expression in U937 cell line.After transfection,both basical and VEGF mRNA induced by SDF-1 significantly reduced compared to control.CONCLUSION: The results shows that the short hairpin RNA of PKC? efficiently reduces its expression in U937 cells and PKC-? may be involved in the regulation of VEGF mRNA expression.

Objective To study the clinical value of neoadjuvant radiotherapy (NRT),neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) or surgery alone (S) in treatment of middle and low rectal cancer.Methods 139 cases were divided into 3 groups:47 cases were given NRT (50 Gy/25 f/5 w) as group NRT,46 cases were given NCRT (Capox+ radiotherapy) as group NCRT,and the remaining 46 cases were treated with surgery alone as group S.Patients in 3 groups were followed-up for 3 years for the observation of the rates of anuspreserving and 3-year survival rates.Results Compared with the patients in group S,the rates of anuspreserving in group NRT and NCRT were significant improvement [74.47 ％ (35/47) and 73.91％ (34/46) vs 54.35 ％ (25/46)],(x2 =4.111,3.827; P=0.043,0.050).The 1,2,3-year survival rates of the 3 groups had no significantly different (P ＞0.05).However,the 1-year survival rates might be lower in group NRT and group NCRT than that in group S [87.23 ％ (41/47) and 88.89 ％ (40/45) vs 97.83 ％ (45/46)] (x2 =4.611,P =0.100).Conclusion NRT and NCRT can improve the rate of anus-preserving,but might not improve the 1,2,3-year survival rate,instead,the death rate may increase in the first year.

Objective To study the influence of hierarchical model on the professional attitude and quality improvement of nurses and supply references for the apphcation of hierarchical model.Methods 310 nurses were divided into the control group(158 cases)and the practice group(152 cgses).The practice group adopted hierarchical model while the control group did not.Investigation was carried out in 15 aspects such as training requirement,choosing of nursing posts and departure intention,etc.Results The nursing teaching pest and nursing management post in the aspect of post requirement between the two groups had no statistical difference(P＞0.05),but statistical difference existed in other items(P＜0.05).In the aspect of training requirement evident difference existed in two groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion Application of hierarchical model proved to be a pivotal method to improve the professional passion and loyalty of nurses.

The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors.Patients with hepatobiliary cancer suffer from multiple symptoms,such as physical symptoms and psychology symptoms.In recent years,along with the further research of symptoms,the concept of symptom clusters occurred.Those two issues have always been the hot topics in recent years.Through the efforts of experts at home and abroad,there has been a part of progress in this area.However,the results are not the same.There are lots of disputes in the numbers、sequence、incidences of the symptom clusters.The paper will discuss this issue from symptom experience and symptom clusters in order to provide the reference and basis for symptom management.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among key populations in Wuxi City,Jiangsu Province,so as to provide evidences for developing preventive and control interventions for T. gondii in-fection. Methods A questionnaire was designed to conduct face-to-face interviews to HIV/AIDS carriers/patients,tumor pa-tients,pregnant women and pet breeders. The blood samples were collected to test anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies by using ELISA method. Results Totally 404 participants were investigated,and 38 were positive in testing T. gondii antibodies (9.4%),and among these,37(97.4%)were IgG positive and 1(2.6%)was IgM positive. The multivariate logistic regression indicated that age,regularly contacting cats/dogs and being HIV positive were associated with the infection of T. gondii(OR=2.1,2.6 and 2.3,all P < 0.05). Breeding pets,being HIV positive and being tumor patients were more likely to infect T. gondii than being pregnant(OR = 1.5,8.1 and 2.8,all P < 0.05). Conclusion The high infection rate of T. gondii is observed among key populations in Wuxi City,so that the effective measurements should be taken to enhance the intervention among key popula-tions including immunocompromised people,pet breeders or people having bad dietary habits of eating raw food.

The central corneal thickness (CCT) in age 48 years or less of Chinese was characterized and its relationship with gender, age, refraction and intraocular pressure (IOP) was investigated. Right eyes of 1669 participants were included in this study (880 men, 52.7% and 789 women, 47.3%). Mean age of the samples was 23.8 +/- 5.9 years. After the examination of corneal topography and refraction, Goldman applanation tonometry was carried out by one physician. Tonometric values were the mean of three consecutive readings. Subsequently, another physician carried out ultrasonic pachymetry with the DGH 2000 AP ultrasonic pachymeter. Six measurements were made at the center of the cornea of each eye. The mean value was used for analysis. The results showed that mean CCT of male participants was 551.33 +/- 34.62 microm, 5.79 microm more than that of female participants. Linear regression analyses revealed that CCT was negatively related with age only in female and no association was found between refractive status and CCT. IOP was positively related to CCT, and there was a difference in IOP of 1.5 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) per 100 microm difference in CCT. Ocular hypertension group was prone to have thicker cornea than average. The results indicated that in adult Chinese CCT tended to decrease with aging in female only. IOP measured by Goldmann tonometry was positively related with CCT so that CCT should be measured along with IOP.
Age Factors ; China ; Cornea/*anatomy & histology ; Corneal Topography ; Intraocular Pressure ; Reference Values ; Sex Factors ; Tonometry, Ocular

Objective To explore the impact of intermittent androgen deprivation therapy on prostate volume and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with prostate cancer combined with prostatic hyperplasia (BPH),and to evaluate the clinical effect of intermittent androgen deprivation therapy as compared with conventional drug in patients with BPH.Methods Patients with prostate cancer (n=57) and BPH (n=83) were respectively treated with intermittent androgen deprivation therapy and finasteride combined with alpha-receptor antagonist.Prostate volume,international prostate symptom score (IPSS),quality of life index (QOL) and maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) in patients were observed before and 1,3,6 and 12 months after treatment.Results The improvements in prostate volume,IPSS,QOL and Qmax were higher in prostate cancer patients treated with intermittent androgen deprivation therapy than in BPH patients treated with finasteride combined with alpha-receptor antagonist (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy can significantly reduce prostate volume and improve LUTS in patients with prostate cancer,and has a better clinical effect than finasteride combined with alpha-receptor antagonist treatment.

Objective To investigate the effect of a novel lymphotoxin with selectively binding to p55 tumor necrosis factor receptor (p55TNFR) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats in order to explore the mechanism.Methods A total of 40 SD rats were randomly (random number) assigned into four groups (n =10 in each),namely sham operation group (group A),I/R group (group B),wild type rhLTα treatment group (group C),and p55TNFR selective rhLTα (rhLTα-Q107E) treatment group (group D).After I/R model rats were established,various therapeutic agents or saline were given by continuous intravenous infusion for 24 h via a micropump.After 24 hours of treatment,serum myocardial zymogram,such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST),lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK),as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were determined.Myocardial infarction size (MIS) was measured by nitro blue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) staining.Results Compared to sham operation group,MIS,AST,LDH,CK,MDA were increased,while the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were decreased.However,all the effects were significantly reversed by treatment with rhLTα-Q107E (P ＜ 0.05) but not rhLTα (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The rhLTα-Q107E plays a role in the protection against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats by the mechanism of scavenging oxygen free radicals and increasing the activity of endogenous antioxidant system.

ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence and risk factors in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) at matched gestational age.Methods Data collected by the medical records of neonates from November 2007 to December 2010 in our neonatal database were analyzed.Patients'information was recorded from birth to discharge from NICU.Data included age after birth (hours),gestational age,body weight at birth,treatment,and maternal demographics.The statistical study was carried out by SPSS version 13.0 software.Mann - Whitney U test was used for numerate data.Fisher's exact probability test and Pearson's chi - square test were used to compare quantitative variables between independent groups.P values were considered significant when they were less than 0.05 ( two - sided).ResultsThe incidence of ROP was 5.38％.Gestational age of ROP group and control group was matched ( P =0.387 ),but difference in body weight at birth was significant ( P =0.045 ).Age after birth was significantly different ( P =0.013 ).Apnea and anemia were significantly different between two groups (P ＜ 0.01). The differences in duration of hospitalization,NCPAP and use of antibiotics between two groups were significant ( P ＜ 0.002,0.000 and 0.000,respectively).ROP group differed from control group greatly in hospitalization expenses.Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that oxygen supplenentation ( P =0.0237 ) and infection ( P =0.0118) were risk factors of ROP. ConclusionsThe incidence of ROP in NICU in Beijing Children's Hospital was 5.38％.Inhalation of oxygen supplementation and infection were risk factors of ROP.

Objective To examine the benefits of ECMO for potential organ donors with hemodynamic instability after brain death.Methods Three brain-dead potential donors who presented with hemodynamic instability despite maximal medical management,finished a declaration of brain death,that were supported by extracorporeal circulation membrane oxygenation (ECMO).Results Donor organs,including six kidneys,and two livers,were harvested from the three donors under ECMO support,leading to 8 successful transplantations.The organs functioned well and the recipients made full recoveries.Conclusion Our experience indicates that ECMO allows for the maintenance of abdominal organ tissue perfusion without warm ischemia before organ procurement,providing sufficient time for safe organ donation procedures and reducing the risk of unpredictable cardiac arrest that could result in the donor death and graft loss.