Objective: To investigate the effects of Interlukin- 4(IL-4) on the invasiveness and the expression of several cell surface antigens related to invasive and metastatic potentials of human hepatocellular carcinoma QGY-7701 cell line in vitro. Methods: QGY-7701 cells were incubated with high concentration of IL-4 or low concentration of IL-4 in different time. The expression of ICAM-1, CD44 and HLA-I was determined by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis, the tumor cell binding affinity to extracellular matrix (ECM) components was measured by cell attachment assay, the degree of homotypic aggregation was quantified by cell aggregation assay. Results: IL-4 pretreatment can enhance the expression of ICAM-1 and HLA-I, suppress the expression of CD44 on hepatocellular carcinoma cell line and decrease the binding affinity to ECM components and the degree of homotypic aggregation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Conclusoin: IL-4 can inhibit the invasive and metastatic potentials of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Objective: To study the apoptosis and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in colorec-tal neoplasms and their relationship with neoplasm biological behavior. Methods: Apoptotic index (AI) and proliferative index (PI) were determined in paraffin-embedded tissues from 62 cases of colorectal carcinomas, 15 cases of colon adenomas and 10 cases of normal colon mucosa with immunohistochemistry S-P method and TUNEL technique. Results: The difference of PI and AI was significant in normal colon mucosa, colon adenomas and colorectal carcinomas (P

Objective To investigate the expression of CRKL in thyroid papillary micro-carcinoma and its clinical significance.Methods 120 patients with thyroid tissue specimens were collected,in which 30 cases of diam-eter >1 cm of papillary thyroid carcinoma,30 cases of thyroid papillary micro-carcinoma,30 cases of nodular goiter, 30 cases for specimen of thyroid disease patients without diabetes.Immunohistochemical(SP)method was used to de-tect samples in CRKL expression.Results In thyroid papillary micro-carcinoma and thyroid papillary cancer group, CRKL expression positive rates were 30.12% and 29.87% respectively,which were higher than that of nodular goiter and normal thyroid group 30.03% and 28.57%(χ2 =52.102,P <0.05);The average absorbance(A)value in thy-roid papillary micro-carcinoma and thyroid papillary carcinoma group which were respectively (0.516 ±0.100)and (0.496 ±0.201),were higher than that in nodular goiter and normal thyroid group (0.246 ±0.050)and (0.117 ±0.015),the difference was statistically significant(F =149.105,P <0.05).Conclusion CRKL is highly expressed in papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma and the clinical detection of CRKL is helpful to determine the surgical plan for papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma.

Objective To assess the value of combined assays of anti Saccharomyces cerevisia antibody (ASCA) and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (pANCA) in differential diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods Nineteen patients with IBD, including 9 patients with Crohn's disease(CD) and 10 patients with ulcerative colitis(UC), and 18 healthy subjects were enrolled into study. Serum levels of pANCA and ASCA (IgG and IgA) were measured by indirect immunofluorescence technique and a standardized ELISA, respectively. Results The serum levels of ASCA IgG and ASCA IgA in CD patients (18.51? 6.38 and 11.74 ? 5.46 ) were significantly higher than those in UC patients ( 6.98 ? 5.24 and 3.88 ? 3.52 ) and healthy subjects( 5.90 ? 4.12 and 4.62 ? 3.21 )respectively (P

Animals ; In Vitro Techniques ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth ; drug effects ; physiology ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Trachea ; drug effects

OBJECTIVEThe glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) can induce palatal cleft; however, the mechanism involved remains unclear. E-cadherin is an important cell adhesion molecule, and it can significantly affect cell fate and embryonic development. Recent studies have indicated that E-cadherin expression in palatal epithelial cells is suppressed in normal palate fusion. This study aimed to determine whether the change in E-cadherin expression is related to the incidence of cleft palate in DEX-induced mice.

METHODSMice were divided into the experimental group and the control group. Pregnant mice were injected with DEX on E10.0-E12.0, whereas mice in the control group were injected with normal saline. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were employed to evaluate the effect of DEX on fetal mouse palatal processes, particularly the changes in E-cadherin and β-catenin expression levels in the phases of the experimental and control groups.

RESULTSData indicated that the incidence of cleft palate in the DEX group was 43.59% (17/39), whereas that in the control group was only 3.03% (1/33). The results of HE staining showed that the obviously shortened palatal processes could not contact and fuse with one another in the DEX-treated mice model compared with those in the control group. The ectopic expression of E-cadherin in embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells was also analyzed. The expression levels of E-cadherin and β-catenin in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicated that DEX could induce E-cadherin gene upregulation and ectopic expression, as well as high β-catenin expression, thereby inhibiting the growth of mesenchyme cells and cleft palate.

Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cleft Palate ; chemically induced ; embryology ; Dexamethasone ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE:Study regarding Smad3/transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)signal transduction in pathological scars mainly focus on in vitro cultured fibroblasts,however,the correlation study was rare on keloid.The aim of this study is to detect the expressions of Smad3 and TGF-β1,and investigate their relationship in pathogenesis and development of pathological scars METHODS:Experimental samples were obtained frOm the patients who underwent burn and plastic surgery at the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery,Workers'Hospital of Tangshan,Hebei Medical University,from June 2004 to June 2008,including 48 patients with Keloid,aged 16-52 years,and 40 patients with hypertrophic scars aged 18-56 years.Normal skins from additional 40 cases were served as controls The expressions of Smad3 and TGF-β1 protein in keloid,hypertrophic scars and normal skin were examined by flow cytometry.RESULTS:The expression of Smad3 and TGF-β1 were obviously greater in the experimental group than that of the control group (P＜0.05),but the difference between keloid and hypertrophic scars had no significance(P＞0.06).There was a positive correlation between Smad3 and TGF-β1 in keloid and hypertrophic scars(r=0 489 2,P=0.000 4:r=0.471 0,P=0.002 2).No notable correlation was found between Smad3 and TGF-β1 in normal skins(P=0.471 4).CONCLUSION:The expressions of Smad3 and TGF-β1 are up-regulated and the synergism of Smad3 and TGF-β1 may promote the development in pathological scars.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of the concentration of plasma circulation microRNA155 (miRNA155) in ulcerative cilitis (UC) and its correlation with clinical characteristic of UC.Methods From October 2010 to August 2012,a total of 136 patients diagnosed as UC were enrolled,and at same time,170 healthy individuals were set as healthy control.The blood samples of all participants were obtained and plasma was isolated.The adsorption column was used for RNA extraction according to miRNeasy kit instruction.RNA was reverse-transcribed into cDNA with miScript reverse transcription kit.cDNA was a template and miRNA155 real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed with miScript SYBR Green PCR kit.The relative quantity of miRNA155 expression was calculated with 2-△△Ct method.Analysis of variance were performed for comparison between groups.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used for the diagnostic value of miRNA155 concentration in UC.Multiple linear regression analysis was used for the correlation between miRNA155 concentration and clinical characteristics of UC.Results The concentration of plasma circulation miRNA155 of patients with UC ((1357.43±326.15) fmol/L)was higher than that of healthy controls ((1140.70 ± 312.47) fmol/L) and the differences were statistically significant (F=35.56,P＜0.01).The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of the concentration of plasma circulation miRNA155 of patients with UC was 0.847,and the 95 ％CI was 0.806 to 0.888 (P＜0.01).When the concentration of plasma circulation miRNA155 was 1404.51 fmol/L,its specificity in the diagnosis of UC was 94.7％,and sensitivity was 40.4％.There was correlation between the concentration of plasma circulation miRNA155 and the disease activity in patients with UC (F=12.91,P＜0.05).However there was no correlation with the severity and location of the disease (both P＞0.05).Conclusion Plasma circulation miRNA155 highly expressed in patients with UC,and its concentration is correlated with the disease activity.

Objective To investigate the NAD+ - dependent protein deacetylase SIRT1 expression in the cochlea of C57BL/6 mice ,a mouse model of age - related hearing loss(AHL) .Methods A total of 46 C57BL/6 mice were used ,and were divided into 2 groups ;according the age ,there were young group (1 ~ 2 months old ,23 mice) and old group (12 ~ 16 months old ,23 mice) .ABR measurements were performed on young and old C57BL/6 mice . The expression of SIRT1 in the cochlea was detected by qRT - PCR and immunofluorescence .Results The ABR thresholds in the old mice(4 kHz :82 .7 ± 7 .32 dB SPL ,8 kHz :80 .9 ± 7 .8 dB SPL ,16 kHz :89 .3 ± 5 .5 dB SPL ,32 kHz :89 .9 ± 4 dB SPL) were significantly higher than those in the young C57BL/6 mice(4 kHz :52 .1 ± 8 .3 dB SPL ,8 kHz :40 .5 ± 6 .1 dB SPL ,16 kHz :50 .7 ± 9 .4 dB SPL ,32 kHz :57 .6 ± 11 .9 dB SPL)(P < 0 .001) .SIRT1 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the cochlea of old C57BL/6 mice in comparison with young mice ( P <0 .01) .SIRT1 protein was abundantly expressed in the inner hair cells ,outer hair cells ,supporting cells ,strial marginal cells ,strial intermediated cells ,and spiral ganglion neurons .The positive area and the average flourescence intensity of SIRT1 protein were reduced in old C57BL/6 mice(P< 0 .001) .Conclusion The down - regulation of SIRT1 mRNA and protein expression in the older C57BL/6 mouse cochlea may be correlated with the pathogenesis of AHL .

Objective: To assess the relationships between nutritional risks, nutritional support, and doctors' knowledge related to nutritional risks. Methods: 217 pre-operative patients and 41 doctors in the same general surgical wards were surveyed by using NRS2002 and self-developed questionnaires in a Beijing hospital. Results: The overall prevalence of pre-operative nutritional risks was 15.7%. Patients with gastrointestinal and/or malignant diseases had higher risks than others(P values were both less than 0.001). The nutritional support rates were 14.7% among patients with nutritional risks, and 2.2% among those without risks. The EN: PN ratio was 1∶ 2. A majority of doctors had misconceptions in nutritional risk screening and the effectiveness of nutritional supports. Their clinical practices were not consistent with their knowledge. Related trainings were required. Conclusions: Patients with gastrointestinal and/or malignant diseases have higher possibilities of nutritional risks. The nutritional supports rates are generally low. Doctors' knowledge related to nutritional risk screening is insufficient. More training opportunities are suggested to enhance the application of NRS2002 and appropriate nutritional supports.