0.05),20%(P

Objective To investigate the pathway and mechanism of neuropeptide Y(NPY)-Y1 receptor agonist,[Leu~(31),Pro~(34)]-NPY,on the cultured cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells(SMCs) in the spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR) in vitro. Methods The SMCs of the arteries from the brain of SHR were cultured in vitro.Cell cycle was detected with flow cytometry,and the concentration of free intracellular calcium was examined with laser scanning confocal microscopy. Results The percentages of S stage cells of 10~(-5) mol/L and 10~(-6) mol/L NPY was higher than those of the control group(P

BACKGROUND:The production and release of a large amount of inflammatory factors caused by immune system inflammatory response mainly contributes to secondary spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cel transplantation on repair of injured neurological function and expression of inflammatory factors monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and interleukin 10 in rats with acute spinal cord injury. METHODS: Eighty-one healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equaly divided into sham operation, model and cel transplantation groups, with 27 rats per group. Rats in the latter two groups were subjected to hemisection of the spinal cord to establish acute spinal cord injury models. Rat models in the cel transplantation group received umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cel injection (1×106)via the tail vein. Rat neurological function was evaluated using the BBB score at different time points after spinal cord injury. The expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and interleukin 10 in injured spinal cord tissue was detected using ELISA assay at different time points after spinal cord injury. Migration and neuronal differentiation of umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cels in the injured spinal cord tissue were determined using immunohistochemical staining method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham operation and model groups, rat neurological function was significantly recovered in the cel transplantation group (P < 0.05). Compared to the model group, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 level in the serum and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 mRNA and protein expression in the injured spinal cord tissue were significantly lower (P < 0.05), but interleukin 10 mRNA and protein expression in the injured spinal cord tissue was significantly higher (P < 0.05), in the cel transplantation group. In the cel transplantation group, umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cels could migrate to the injured region and express glial fibrilary acidic protein. These findings suggest that umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cels promote rat neurological function recovery by regulating the inflammatory response in the injured spinal cord tissue, which is likely to be one of mechanisms by which transplantation of umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cels treats spinal cord injury.

AIMTo establish a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for determination of thymulin in human blood plasma. Thymulin is a nonapeptide produced by the thymic epithelium.

METHODSThe uncoated capillary used was 75 microns ID x 57 cm (50 cm effective length). The experimental conditions were as follows: the running buffer was phosphate-borate buffer containing 50 mmol.L-1 Na2B4O7-10 mmol.L-1 Na2HPO4 (pH 9.10); running voltage was 12 kV; operated temperature was 25 degrees C; running time was 13 minutes, detective wavelength was 200 nm.

RESULTSThe linear range of the thymulin standard curve was 1-10 micrograms.mL-1, gamma = 0.9990, the average recovery was 70.97% with RSD of 3.32%, the RSD of reproducibility was 3.05%.

CONCLUSIONThe method of CZE for determination of thymulin in human plasma is simple and reliable.

Child, Preschool ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Humans ; Plasma ; chemistry ; Thymic Factor, Circulating ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors upgrading the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) Gleason score using the specimens from preoperative prostatic biopsy and radical prostatectomy.

METHODSA total of 164 patients diagnosed with prostate cancer by biopsy underwent radical prostatectomy. We retrospectively analyzed their age, prostate volume, preoperative PSA level, PSA density (PSAD) , the time interval between biopsy and surgery, the number of positive punctures, positive surgical margin, seminal vesicle invasion, lymphatic invasion, and Gleason scores from biopsy and prostatectomy. We also determined the predictors of Gleason score upgrading by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSOf the 164 cases analyzed, 95 (57.93% ) showed a consistency between the Gleason score of preoperative prostatic biopsy and that after radical prostatectomy, 55 (33.54% ) increased and 14 (8.52%) decreased after prostatectomy as compared with preoperative biopsy. The prostate volume (P < 0.01) and biopsy score (P < 0.05) were independent predictors of Gleason score upgrading. The risk of Gleason score upgrading was 27 times higher in the patients with the prostate volume ≤ 25 ml and 9 times higher in the 25-40 ml group than in the > 60 ml group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow Gleason score of biopsy (≤ 6) and small prostate volume (≤ 40 ml) may be the predictors of Gleason score upgrading after radical prostatectomy.

Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; Organ Size ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatectomy ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; classification ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objective:To investigate the role and mechanism of miR-143 in the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer (GC) cells. Methods:Western blot was performed to detect the expression level of avian erythroblastosis oncogene B-3 (ERBB3) in GC tissues, paired non-cancerous tissues, and SGC7901 GC cells. RT-qPCR was conducted to determine the mRNA and miR-143 of ERBB3 quantita-tively. Bioinformatics tools were used to predict the target gene of miR-143. Luciferase reporter assay was carried out to confirm the predicted target gene. Transwell and EdU assays were applied to observe the migration and proliferation of SGC7901 GC cells transfect-ed with miR-143 mimics/inhibitor/NC mimics/inhibitor. Results:Compared with the expression levels of ERBB3 and miR-143 in the paired non-cancerous tissues, the expression level of ERBB3 was upregulated and the expression level of miR-143 was downregulated in GC tissues. In the prediction of the potential target gene, miR-143 could bind to a specific sequence of the 3′-untranslated regions (UTR) of the mRNA of ERBB3. This finding was supported by luciferase reporter assay results. In vitro, ERBB3 protein expression and cell migration and proliferation were suppressed significantly in the SGC7901 cells transfected with miR-143 mimics. By contrast, these processes were remarkably enhanced when the cells were transfected with miR-143 inhibitor. Conclusion:miR-143 can suppress the migration and proliferation of GC cells by downregulating the expression of ERBB3.

Objective To explore the clinical and ultrasonographic characteristics leading to non-diagnostic results after ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration ( US-FNA) in patients with thyroid nodules . Methods One thousand and thirty-four thyroid nodules of 1009 patients who underwent US-FNA from June 2013 to September 2015 in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were included in this study . The ultrasonographic characteristics , cytological and histological diagnosis were collectecl . Univariate and multivariate logistic methods were applied to analyze the factors bringing about non-diagnostic results . Results Of the 1034 nodules ,174 ( 16 .8％ ) had non-diagnostic results and 860 ( 83 .2％ ) had diagnostic results . Age ,echogenicity ,anteroposterior/transverse diameter ratio ( AT ) ,calcification ,margin and depth were associated with nondiagnostic results . Age ≥45 years ,the largest diameter ≤10 mm ,AT <1 ,located at the middle 1/3 and dorsal 1/3 in the cross section of nodules , macrocalcification were proved as independent influencing factors for non-diagnostic results of FNA . Conclusions Age≥45 years ,the largest diameter ≤10 mm ,AT < 1 ,located at the middle 1/3 and dorsal 1/3 in the cross section of nodules , macrocalcification are independent influencing factors of non-diagnostic results . As a result ,for nodules with the characteristics above it may recommend follow up instead of FNA . During follow-up ,it may recommend surgery if the nodule has progressed .

Objective To determine factors affecting postoperative survival of elderly patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods A retrospective analysis of consecutive 54 elderly patients undergoing hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma from Jan 1995 to Dec 2002 was performed. The data were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. Results Univariate analysis and Cox regression showed Child Pugh grading, vessel invasion, satellite nodule formation, Edmondson Steiner grading, intrahepatic recurrence and distant metastasis all related to postoperative overall survival or disease-free survival of the elderly with hepatocellular carcinoma (all P

Objective To explore the value of intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI ) in patients with progressive muscular dystrophy .Methods We enrolled 7 patients with known progressive muscular dystrophy (4 Becker muscle dystrophy ,BMD;3 limb-girdle muscle dystrophy ,LGMD) in this study .Both IVIM ,T1 WI and T2 STIR sequences were performed on both thighs of all the subjects .Slow ADC ,fast ADC and fraction of fast ADC (Ff ) were measured .Tl weighted images were used to assess the fat infiltration of their thigh muscles using a 0-5 modified version of Mercuri's scale .Slow ADC ,fast ADC and fraction of fast ADC (Ff) were compared among the fatty infiltration ,edematous muscle and unaffected muscle (neither edematous nor fatty infiltration muscles in patients ) .One-way analysis of variance was used for statistical analyses with a significance of P < 0 .05 . Results The mean slow ADC value of fatty infiltration . edematous muscle . and unaffected muscle was 0 .75+0.39,1 .14±0 .19,and 1.00±0 .11 (10 -3 mm2/s ) , respectively ( P < 0 .05 ) .The mean fast ADC value in the three groups was 7 .14±6 .51,13 .56±9 .67,and 4 .02±1.89 (10-3 mm2 /s ) , respectively (P< 0 .05 ) . There was no significant difference in the Ff values among the three groups ( P > 0 .05 ) .The mean slow ADC value in different grades of steatosis was 1 .00±0 .11, 0.98±0 .17, and 0 .50±0 .29 (10-3 mm2/s) , respectively ; the slow ADC value in heavy fat infiltration group differed significantly from that in the other two groups( P<0.05 ).Conclusion IVIM-DWI can be used to quantitatively evaluate the thigh diffusion and microcirculation characteristics of muscles in patients with PMD , make a quantitative analysis of edema and steatosis of the muscle .and reflect the degree of muscle steatosis .