s Objective To explore the value of B mode ultrasound in the detection of amniotic fluid(AF) for fetus of 41～ 46 +6 gestation weeks.Methods B mode ultrasound was performed to monitor AF in 232 fetus of 41～46 +6 gestation weeks compared with that in 296 fetus of 37～40 +6 gestation weeks. Results There were significant differences in amniotic fluid index(AFI), amniotic fluid muddy(AFM) and cavity fetal distress(CFD) between the two groups (P

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Background and purpose:It is verifi ed that MCM2 is a specifi c marker in the cell cycle,and expressed in all cells entering into the cycle,however,no expression is found in the differentiated cells and static period cell.Therefore,in the abnormally proliferative developmental cells and mutagenic cells,MCM2 could be used to mark the status of the cells as a cellular proliferative marker,and then to be a diagnostic tool for some heterotypical pathological changes and tumors.Our study demonstrated that the expression and clinical significance of MCM2 in bladder transitional cell cancer(BTCC).Methods:The expression of MCM2 was examined by immunohistochemistry Streptavidin-Peroxidase method in 12 cases of normal bladder tissues and 42 cases of BTCC.Results:The positive expression of MCM2 in BTCC was 100%,whereas in normal tissues,no positive expression was found(P0.05).The expression of MCM2 was closely associated with tumor pathological grade(P

Background and purpose:MicroRNA (miRNA, miR) plays an important regulatory role in cancer. miR-222 is reported to be up-regulated in various tumors, but its role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. In this study, we detected the expression of miR-222 in both RCC and adjacent tissue samples. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-222 in RCC. Methods:The expression levels of miR-222 in RCC tissue samples were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). DDIT4 and LC3-Ⅱ protein expressions were determined by Western blot. Dual luciferase assay was performed to verify the target of miR-222. EGFP-LC3 microscopy assay was performed to assess autophagy. Results:Results from qRT-PCR showed that the expression of miR-222 was up-regulated in RCC tissues. Knockdown of miR-222 with speciifc antagomiR decreased the cell viability of 786-O cells, whereas overexpression of miR-222 increased the cell viability (P<0.01). The levels of DDIT4 were up-regulated in 786-O cells transfected with miR-222 antagomiR, whereas overexpression of miR-222 induced the down-regulation of DDIT4 expression. Data from dual luciferase assay indicated that miR-222 directly targeted the expression of DDIT4. Consistently, the expression of DDIT4 in RCC tissues was down-regulated compared with adjacent tissues. Knockdown of miR-222 in 786-O cells induced a signiifcant increase of autophagosome formation and LC3 lipidation.These results supported that miR-222 could inhibit autophagy in RCC cells, which may affect the clinical characteristcs of RCC. Conclusion: miR-222 is up-regulated in RCC and can inhibit the autophagy of RCC cells through down-regulating the expression of DDIT4.

Objective To explore the role of the DACT2 gene in the occurrence and development of renal cell carcinoma(RCC).Methods The samples of RCC tissues and corresponding tumor-adjacent tissues after radical operation and normal kidney tissues were collected.The methylation specific PCR (MSP) and real time fluorescence reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) methods were adopted to detect the methylation status and mRNA expression of DACT2.The streptavidin-peroxidase (SP) method labeled by immunohistochemistry peroxidase was used to examine the expression of β-catenin protein.Then the relationship between DACT2 gene methylation status and mRNA expression with the clinicopathologic characteristics was analyzed.The relationship between DACT2 gene methylation with mRNA and β-catenin expression was analysed,as well.Results The DACT2 mRNA relative expression level in RCC tissues was 0.427±0.025,which was significantly lower than (0.801±0.047) in tumor-adjacent tissues and (0.872±0.022) in normal tissue,the positive rate of DACT2 gene methylation in RCC tissues was 45.76%,which was significantly higher than 6.78% in tumor-adjacent tissues and 5.08% in normal tissues,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05),while the difference between tumor-adjacent tissues and normal tissues had no statistical significance (P>0.05).The DACT2 gene mRNA expression level in RCC tissues and promoter area methylation occurrence rate had no obvious correlation with the clinical data such as patients age,gender,tumor size,clinical stage and Fuhrman grade (P>0.05).The DACT2 gene mRNA relative level in the methylation group was lower than that in the non-methylation group,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).The expression rate of β-catenin protein in cytoplasma in RCC tissues was higher than that in the tumor-adjacent tissues and normal tissues,the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05),moreover,DACT2 gen methylation had a positive correlation with β-catenin protein expression (r=0.324,P=0.012).Conclusion The decrease of DACT2 gene promoter area methylation and mRNA relative expression level may participate in the RCC occurrence,but has no relationship with RCC clinical progression.Methylation occurred in DACT2 gene promoter area may be one of reasons causing mRNA relative expression decrase.DACT2 gene methylation occurrence in RCC tissue might be related to the high expression of β-catenin.

Objective: To investigate the effects of hinokitiol on the proliferative inhibition and apoptosis induction in human clear cell renal cancer 786-O cells. Methods:CCK-8 assays were performed to analyze the effects of hinokitiol on the proliferation of 786-O cells. The apoptosis rate was determined by flow cytometry. EGFP-LC3 microscopy assays were performed to assess the autoph-agy flux. Cleaved Caspase-3, LC3, and P62 were detected by Western blot. Results: Hinokitiol could inhibit the proliferation of the 786-O cells and could induce cell apoptosis via Caspase pathway. Hinokitiol induced the autophagy of 786-O cells, increased LC3 ex-pression, and downregulated P62 expression. Conclusion: Hinokitiol can inhibit the proliferation of 786-O cells and can induce cell apoptosis via autophagy induction.

Objective To examine the correlation of imbalance of urinary exosome Th1/Th2 with diabetic nephropathy (DN).Methods A total of 120 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and 30 healthy volunteers as control were enrolled in the study.According to urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR),type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were divided into 3 groups:diabetes mellitus without nepbropathy group (DM,n=40,UACR＜30 mg/gCr),microalbuminuria group (DN 1,n=50,UACR-30～300 mg/gCr) and clinicoalbuminuria group (DN 2,n=30,UACR＞300 mg/gCr).Urine exosome-interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and exosome-interleukin 4 (IL-4) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Multiple stepwise linear regression was used to analyze the correlation of exosome-IFN-γ/IL-4 with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c),cholesterol (CH),UACR,Scr and BUN.Results Th1/Th2 ratio in DM,DN1,DN2 groups was significantly higher than that in healthy group (0.8089±0.2458,0.8993 ±0.3515,0.8571±0.2470 vs 0.6198±0.1769,all P＜0.01).Correlation analysis showed that urinary exosomeIFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was positively correlated with UACR (r=0.213,P=0.015) and BUN (r=0.292,P=0.001).Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that BUN was independent determinants for exosome-IFN-γ/IL-4 (β=0.246,P=0.006).Conclusion The imbalance of urinary exosomeTh1/Th2 is correlated with DN,which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of DN.

Objective To detect the methylation of Wif-1 gene promoter and its mRNA expression level in renal cell carcinoma, and to explore its possible mechanisms in the development of renal cell carcinoma.Methods The methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were applied to investigate the methylation status of Wif-1 gene promoter and its mRNA expression levels in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and normal kidney tissue.Results The percentage of methylation of Wif-1 gene in RCC tissue was significantly higher than that in the corresponding normal kidney tissue (P<0.05).The relative expression quantity of Wif-1 mRNA in RCC tissue was significantly lower than that in corresponding normal kidney tissue (P<0.05).In the RCC tissue, the relative expression of mRNA in the Wif-1 methylation positive group showed no significant difference with that in the methylation negative group.Conclusion Hypermethylation of the Wif-1 promtor in RCC is a frequent phenomenon.

Objective To detect the methylation of Wif-1 gene promoter and its mRNA expression level in renal cell carcinoma, and to explore its possible mechanisms in the development of renal cell carcinoma.Methods The methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were applied to investigate the methylation status of Wif-1 gene promoter and its mRNA expression levels in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and normal kidney tissue.Results The percentage of methylation of Wif-1 gene in RCC tissue was significantly higher than that in the corresponding normal kidney tissue (P<0.05).The relative expression quantity of Wif-1 mRNA in RCC tissue was significantly lower than that in corresponding normal kidney tissue (P<0.05).In the RCC tissue, the relative expression of mRNA in the Wif-1 methylation positive group showed no significant difference with that in the methylation negative group.Conclusion Hypermethylation of the Wif-1 promtor in RCC is a frequent phenomenon.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Activating brown adipose tissue (BAT) and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) can protect against obesity and obesity-related metabolic conditions.Cryptotanshinone (CT) regulates lipid metabolism and significantly ameliorates insulin resistance. Adenosine-5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a receptor for cellular energy metabolism, is believed to regulate brown fat activity in humans.MATERIALS/METHODS: The in vivo study included high-fat-fed obese mice administered orally 200/400 mg/kg/d CT. They were evaluated through weight measurement, the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (IPITT), cold stimulation test, serum lipid (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein) measurement, hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry.Furthermore, the in vitro study investigated primary adipose mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with incubation of CT and AMPK agonists (acadesine)/inhibitor (Compound C).Cells were evaluated using Oil Red O staining, Alizarin red staining, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence staining to identify and observe the osteogenic versus adipogenic differentiation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and the Western blot were used to observe related gene expression. RESULTS: In the diet-induced obesity mouse model mice CT suppressed body weight, food intake, glucose levels in the IPGTT and IPTT, serum lipids, the volume of adipose tissue, and increased thermogenesis, uncoupling protein 1, and the AMPK pathway expression. In the in vitro study, CT prevented the formation of lipid droplets from MSCs while activating brown genes and the AMPK pathway. AMPK activator enhanced CT’s effects, while the AMPK inhibitor reversed the effects of CT. CONCLUSION CT promotes adipose tissue browning to increase body thermogenesis and reduce obesity by activating the AMPK pathway. This study provides an experimental foundation for the use of CT in obesity treatment.