Objective Hypothyroidism during pregnancy has been associated with impaired cognitive development and increased fetal mortality.In this retrospective study we attempt to identify the timing and adjustment of levothyroxine during pregnancy.Methods 20 women planning pregnancy after thyroidectomy because of thyroid cancer were observed before and throughout their pregnancies.Their thyroid function was measured before conception,and approximately every 4 weeks during pregnancy.The dose of levothyroxine was increased to maintain the thyrotropin concentration at preconception values throughout pregnancy.Results 21 pregnancies occurred in the 20 women and resulted in 20 full-term births.One woman had abortion.Their basal dose was all 100 μg.The dose increased by 12.5 μg a time to target the thyrotropin concentrations (0.1-0.25 mU/ml).The mean levothyroxine requirement increased 50 percent during the first half of pregnancy and plateaued by the 16th week.This increased dose was required until delivery.All the newborns and their mothers were healthy according to the follow-up.Conclusions We propose that women after thyroid cancer surgery should increase levothyroxine dose as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.Thereafter,serum thyrotropin level should be monitored and the levothyroxine dose adjusted accordingly.The adjustment dose is set at 12.5 μg and the maternal thyrotropin concentration is between 0.10 and 0.25 mU/ml,which guarantees healthy growth of fetus while suppresses thyroid tumor growth simultaneously.

Therapeutic strategies targeting tumor angiogenesis have been approved for cancer therapy. Vasculature normalization induced by anti-angiogenic drugs can restore abnormal tumor vessels, and improve the tumor microenvironment characterized by hypoxia, extracellular acidosis, and high interstitial lfuid pressure, improve the cancer treatment results by chemoradiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Objective To explore the effects of interstitial cells of liver cancer and normal liver cells co‐cultured on the biological function of liver cancer malignancy so as to understand the signal pathway involved by the interaction between these cells and confirm the role of interstitial cells in cancer progression in tumor microenvironment .Methods We co‐cultured interstitial cells or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF ) and human normal liver cell L‐02 ,and then detected the expressions of the tumor‐suppressing gene PTEN and the oncogene K‐RAS and changes of cell proliferation .The downstream signaling pathways were detected by Real‐time PCR and Western blot .Results The expression of PTEN was downregulated at the transcription level by 1 .15 times and translation level by 10 times (P<0 .05) ,while the transcription level and translation level of K‐RAS increased by 1 .4 times and more than 9 times , respectively ( P< 0 .05 ) in normal liver cells co‐cultured with liver cancer mesenchymal cells .The proliferation ability was increased by more than 2 times .ELISA experiment results showed that the medium from co‐culture contained HGF over 3 times more than the control group ( P<0 .05 ,1 085+108 vs .387+23) .At the same time ,cells in the experimental group expressed more than four times of cMET than the control group cells (P< 0 .05) .Exogenous HGF consistently promoted liver cell proliferation and viability (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Our study shows that liver cancer interstitial cells activate the HGF/cMET signaling pathway by secreting HGF and promote the proliferation of normal liver cells ,suggesting a new way to explore the molecular mechanism of tumor microenvironment in tumor development and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma .

OBJECTIVETo establish a animal model of hepatic steatosis induced by chronic viral hepatitis in C(57)BL/6 mice.

METHODSC(57)BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to control group, high-fat diet group, mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59) virus infection group, and high-fat diet plus virus infection group. At 13 weeks of the experiment, serum samples were collected to detect MHV antibodies and transaminase and lipid levels. The hepatic pathologies of the mice were examined with Oil red O staining of the frozen sections the and HE staining of paraffin-embedded sections.

RESULTSThe mice in the two virus infection groups showed strong positivity of MHV antibodies in the serum. Compared with the control group, the mice in high-fat diet group and the two virus infection groups had significantly increased AST and ALT levels with also elevated TC and LDL-C levels. The two virus infection groups both exhibited obvious pathologies in the liver characteristic of chronic viral hepatitis with increased lipid accumulation in the hepatocytes.

CONCLUSIONWe have successfully established a mouse model of hepatic steatosis induced by chronic viral hepatitis, which provides the basis for further study of the disease mechanism.

Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Chronic Disease ; Diet, High-Fat ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fatty Liver ; virology ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; virology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Murine hepatitis virus

OBJECTIVETo detect mutations of the NF1 gene in two sporadic cases with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and explore their molecular mechanisms.

METHODSClinical data of the two patients was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. Specific primers were designed to exclude pseudogenes. PCR was performed to amplify all coding exons of the NF1 gene. PCR products were directly sequenced.

RESULTSTwo novel mutations of the NF1 gene (c.1019-1020delCT in exon 9 and c.7189G to A in exon 48) were respectively identified in the two patients but not among their unaffected parents or 100 healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONMutations of the NF1 gene may have predisposed to the NF1 in the two patients.

Objection: To analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with gastric neuroendocrine neoplasms (G-NENs) by using the surveillance of National Cancer Institute (NCI) of America, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, and to construct a prognostic Nomogram model for individualized prediction of prognosis in patients with G-NENs. Methods: The clinical data of 2720 G-NENs patients with complete follow-up data from 2010 to 2015 in the SEER database were collected. The prognostic Nomogram model was constructed based on independent risk factors determined by survival analysis. The consistency index (C-index) and calibration curve were used to evaluate its accuracy.Area under the curve (AUC) was used to compare the evaluation value between the Nomogram and the 7th edition of AJCC TNM staging. Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 2,720 patients with G-NENs were 88.14%, 79.09%, and 71.86%, respectively. Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that gender, age, marital status, other associated tumors, histological type, tumor grade, T stage, M stage, and surgery were independent risk factors affecting survival time of GNENs patients. The C-index of newly constructed Nomogram prediction model was 0.816, which was significantly higher than 0.702 of the 7thAJCC TNM staging (P<0.001), and the 1-, 3- and 5-year calibration curves showed a good agreement between predicted survival and actual survival. The AUC for 1-, 3- and 5-year survival by Nomogram prognostic model was 0.800, 0.811, and 0.820, which was higher than 0.650, 0.688 and 0.698 of the 7th AJCC TNM staging, and the differences were statistically significant (Z= 6.600, 8.085, 9.632, all P<0.0001). Conclusion: The Nomogram prediction model drawn in this study has a high prognostic value and can individually predict the survival rate of G-NENs patients, which is helpful for clinical treatment decision-making and clinical research options.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical and genetic features of 9 ethnic Han Chinese patients with disseminated superfacial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP).

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples collected from the patients. PCR and direct sequencing were carried out for five patients from a family, 4 sporadic cases, and 120 healthy controls to identify potential mutations of four genes (MVK, MVD, PMVK, FDPS) involved in the mevalonate pathway as well as SLC17A9, SSH1, and SART3 genes. Pathogenecity of suspected mutations were assessed with SIFT, and Polyphen-2 scores.

RESULTSA c.746T>C mutation was identified in the family and two sporadic cases, while a c.875A>G mutation was identified in another sporadic case. No mutation was identified in the remainder genes among all patients. Scoring has suggested that the c.746T>C and c.875A>G mutations of the MVD gene are probably pathogenic.

CONCLUSIONc.746 T>C and c.875A>G of the MVD gene are most common mutations. Skin rashes of the patients have a strong connection with the sunlight, albeit a significant difference among patients was discovered.

Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Porokeratosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo screen for KIT gene mutations in two Han Chinese pedigrees affected with Piebaldism.

METHODSClinical data of the pedigrees was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from the pedigrees and 120 unrelated healthy controls. All coding exons of the KIT gene were subjected to PCR amplification and direct sequencing.

RESULTSTwo missense mutations, c.1861G>A(p.Ala621Thr) and c.1872G>A(p.Met624Ile), were identified respectively in the two pedigrees. Neither mutation was found among healthy members from the respective pedigree and the 120 unrelated healthy controls. c.1872G>A is a novel mutation.

CONCLUSIONMutations of the KIT gene may affect the structure and function of the transmembrane receptor KIT, which lead to the disease.

【Objective】 To investigate the effects of total flavone of oldenlandia diffusa (FOD) on the proliferation and apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stem cells sorted from Huh7. 【Methods】 Human HCC cell lines Huh7 was cultured in vitro; CD133 positive (CD133⁺) stem cells in Huh7 cell line were sorted by flow cytometry, and stem cell markers such as Nanog, Oct4 and Sox2 were tested by Western blotting. CD133⁺-Huh7 was stimulated by different concentrations (0 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL and 400 μg/mL) of FOD for different time (24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h). CCK8 and plate cell cloning assay were used to detect the effect of FOD on CD133⁺-Huh7 proliferation while Annexin V-PE/7-AAD was used to detect the effect of FOD on CD133⁺-Huh7 apoptosis. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of protein 53 (P53), factor associated suicide-Fas-associating protein with a novel death domain (Fas-FADD), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Cleaved-Caspase3, and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax). 【Results】 More than 95% of stem cells were purified for further experiments. Cell proliferation of CD133⁺-Huh7 was significantly inhibited by FOD, with the significant suppression at the concentration of 100 μg/mL for 72 h compared with negative control group (P<0.05). The apoptosis rate was significantly upregulated than that in the negative control group (P<0.05). The protein expression of Bcl2 decreased while Bax and Cleaved-Caspae3 increased via FAS/FADDD and P53 axis. 【Conclusion】 FOD can significantly inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of CD133⁺-Huh7.

Background: Dietary fiber is strongly recommended as the basic treatment for functional constipation according to global guidelines. However, a complete evaluation standard for the laxative functional food remains to be improved in China. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the laxative function of a compound fructose-oligosaccharide fiber granule, so as to provide evidence-based medical basis for the evaluation of laxative functional food. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, parallel and controlled trial with placebo as control, 120 subjects with functional constipation were enrolled in 2 clinical research centers in Beijing, and randomly divided into experimental group and control group (60 cases in each group). Subjects in experimental group were given a compound fructose-oligosaccharide fiber granule dissolved in 50 mL water orally, 1 bag (9 g) per day for 2 weeks; while those in control group were given a placebo granule with the same appearance, specification and dosage as the experimental group. The bowel movement frequency per week, defecation status and stool consistency were recorded before and after the test, and the safety tests were completed. Results: After 2 weeks of treatment, the bowel movement frequency in experimental group increased by (1.63±1.57) times per week, the stool consistency assessed by Bristol stool form scale and the difficulty in defecation were also improved as compared with the baseline (all P<0.05). Furthermore, improvements in experimental group were superior to those in control group (all P<0.05). No allergic and other adverse events were reported during the test, and there were no significant changes in blood, urine, stool routine and blood biochemical indices before and after the test. Conclusions: The compound fructose-oligosaccharide fiber granule tested in this study is proved to have laxative effect and is safety for functional constipation. The testing program is scientific and of feasibility, and may provide a methodology basis for human oral administration trials of laxative functional food.