Alanine Transaminase/metabolism ; Liver/drug effects ; Plant Extracts/*pharmacology

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered family of small non-coding RNAs, which exist in eukaryotes and regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by binding to complementary sites on target mRNAs. MiRNAs play important roles in regulation of cell proliferation, development, apoptosis and cell differentiation. It’s predicted that about 1% human known genes encode microRNAs and microRNAs may regulate 10～30%of the genes in the human genome. The paper focus on the knowledge about how to recognize miRNAs and identify their target mRNAs.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with high morbidity and mortality, as well as poor prognosis in China and worldwide. Despite the recent advances in surgery, irradiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy, the curative effect of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in advanced cancer patients is unsatisfactory, and the five-year survival rate of patients remains low. Immunotherapeutic approaches, such as checkpoint inhibitors, active vaccination, and adoptive vaccination, have been given in-creasing attention for the treatment of patients with NSCLC. Results of phase I clinical trials show a higher remission rate, and the out-comes of phases II and III clinical trials are under exploration. This review provides an overview of the latest advances and challenges in immunotherapy for NSCLC.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Yishen Huayu Decoction for decreased ovarian reserve (DOR). Methods Eighty cases of DOR were randomly divided into 2 groups, with 40 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with oral administration of Yishen Huayu Decotion, one dose a day. The control group was given DHEA, a time of 1 tablet, 3 times a day. 2 groups were observed for 3 menstrual cycles. The levels of basic follicle stimulating hormone (bFSH), basal estradiol (bE2), luteinizing hormone (LH) and serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were measured. The number of basal follicles and the peak systolic velocity (PSV) were monitored by transvaginal sonography. Quality of life assessment and basal body temperature were measured. Results The total effective rate was 85.00% (34/40) in the treatment group and 62.50% (25/40) in the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of bE2 and bFSH decreased, and the levels of AMH, ovarian antral follicles and PSV increased, which were significantly different from those before treatment (P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of bE2 and bFSH in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group, and the levels of AMH, ovarian antral follicle and PSV were higher than those in the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.05). The recovery rate of basal body temperature was 77.50%(31/40) in the treatment group and 52.50%(21/40) in the control group, with statistical significance (P<0.01). After treatment, the scores of four dimensions of life quality, daily activities, health status and self-perception were significantly improved (P<0.01), and the treatment group was higher than the control group (P<0.01). Conclution Yishen Huayu Decotion can improve the ovarian reserve function and the life quality of patients with DOR.

Objective To observe the effect of epidural injection with different dose of butorphanol on the rats' neurological function.Methods A PE-530 catheter was inserted into the epidural space of all the SpragueDawley rats (male, weighting 180 ～210 g) at L1-2 level.After three days, a total of 32 rats without any motor dysfunction were randomly divided into 4 groups as follows saline(NS) group (group C, n= 8 )and butorphanol injection (B) group( B1∶ n=8;B2∶ n=8;B3∶ n=8).Rats in group C were epidurally injected NS 30 μl each ,and rats in group B1, B2 and B3 were respectively epidurally injected Butorphanol 60 μg/30μl, 120 μg/30 μl,240 μg/30 μl (all diluted with NS) ,and 1 time per day for5 days.The neurological function of rats was recorded before injection (T0) and 6h after injection on day 1 ～4(T1 ～T 4) and 6h,24h and 72h after injection on day 5 (T5 ～T7) by BBB (BASSO,BEATTIE and BRESNAHAN ) Score and the inclined plane test .Results Compared with group C ,the BBB score and the inclined plane test of group B1 showed no significant difference throughout the experimental period(P＞ 0.05 ).There was also no significant difference at T0 ～ T3 of group B2 and group B3 compared with group C (P ＞ 0.05 ), while at T4, the BBB score ( ( 18.50 ± 2.00 ) points, ( 16.38 ± 2.33 ) points) and the inclined plane test( (58.75 ± 5.17 )°, (59.38 ± 3.20) ° ) of the two groups were both obviously decreased when compared with group C( (21.00 ±0.00) points, (65.00 ±3.78)°, P＜0.05) ,and the same significant differences appeared at T5,T6 and T7 (P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Repeated epidural injection of butorphanol 60 μg have no effect on neurological function of rats,while repeated epidural injection of butorphanol 120 μg and 240 μg could impaire the neurological function.

Objective To investigate the expression of type Ⅲ collagen in abdominal aortic aneurysm tissues and normal aortic tissues. Methods RT PCR and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect the expression of type Ⅲ collagen in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) tissues( n =5) and normal aortic (NA) tissues( n =3) . Results Expression of type Ⅲ collagen was increased in AAA group compared with normal group with AAA/NA= 7 251( P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors influencing the pregnancy outcomes of artificial insemination with donor sperm (AID), improve the pregnancy rate, and evaluate the safety of the offspring.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 7,761 cycles of AID for 5,109 infertile couples performed between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2013 in the Center of Reproductive Medicine of Shenyang No 204 Hospital, the outcomes of pregnancy, and the incidence of birth defects.

RESULTSTotally, 2 252 clinical pregnancies were achieved by AID, in which the pregnancy rate per cycle was 29. 02% and the cumulative pregnancy rate was 44. 08%. The clinical pregnancy rate was remarkably higher in the females of ≤ 35 years than in those of > 35 years old (30.31% vs 20.18%, P < 0.01), in the women with < 5-year infertility than in those with > 5-year infertility (30.83% vs 28.16%, P < 0.01), and in the patients of the ovarian stimulation group than in those of the natural cycle group (33.22% vs 28.68%, P < 0.01) The clinical pregnancy rate was the highest in the first treatment cycle (29.87%), with statistically significant difference from the fourth cycle (23.61%) (P < 0.05), but not between the other cycles (P > 0.05). There were 28 cases of birth defects in the offspring (1.40%), including 6 cases (21.43%) involving the cardiovascular system, 4 (14.29%) involving the musculoskeletal system, 3 (10.71%) involving the urogenital system, 3 (10.71%) involving the central nervous system, 2 cases (7.14%) of cleft lip and palate, 2 (7.14%) involving the respiratory system, 2 (7.14%) involving the gastrointestinal digestive system, and other anomalies.

CONCLUSIONFemale age, infertility duration, and ovarian stimulation treatment are important factors influencing the clinical pregnancy rate of AID. Artificial insemination with cryopreserved donor sperm does not increase the incidence of birth defects, which is considered as a relatively safe technique of assisted reproduction.

Adult ; Cryopreservation ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination, Artificial, Heterologous ; methods ; Male ; Maternal Age ; Ovulation Induction ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen Preservation ; methods ; Spermatozoa ; Time Factors

The structure and 5-HT immunoreactivity in the brain and suboesophageal ganglion of three beetles, Ambrostoma quadriimpressum, Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata and Oxycetonia jucunda, were first studied by means of colophony-paraffin embedding serial section technique and strepteavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method. The results showed that the brains of these three taxonomically closely related beetles were remarkably different in composition and size. Mushroom bodies and antennal lobes in Oxycetonia jucunda were conspicuous. Calyces and lobes of the mushroom bodies.were much developed. In contrast, calyces of Ambrostoma quadriimpressum and Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata were extremely undeveloped. However, the postretinal fibres and circumpharyngeal nerves of Ambrostoma quadriimpressum were highly developed. In the three beetles, 5-HT immunoreactivity was present in all neuropils of the brain and the suboesophageal ganglion. The pattern of 5-HT immunoreactivity and the localization of immunoreactive somata which often clustered into groups were similar among these beetles, while the immunoreactivity intensity was distinct, especially in the lamina. The results suggest that the three beetles have given rise to adaptive radiation under the evolutionary pressure because of the long-term different life styles and living environments in which the taxonomic status of Ambrostoma quadriimpressum is relatively low. The similarity of the pattern of 5-HT immunoreactivity and localization of some positive somata among the three beetles raise the possibility that 5-HT seemes to serve similar physiological function in different insects. Furthermore, 5-HT might be involved in modulating the ingestion by regulating muscular activity and visual sensitivity.

Objective To evaluate whether the serum uric acid (SUA) levels are related to development of prediabetes. Methods This was a 6-year cohort study, subjects were recruited from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital Health Management Center. A prospective assessment (n=30 910) was performed. Subjects without a history of prediabetes were followed up for 6 years (with a median follow-up of 2.7 person-years). All relevant variables including SUA concentrations, and fasting plasma glucose were assessed at baseline and yearly during the follow-up. Prediabetes was defined in accordance with the American Diabetes Association criteria of 2014. Multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted to assess relationships between the quintiles of baseline SUA and the incidence of prediabetes. Results The incidence of prediabetes was 55 per 1 000 person-years. In comparison with subjects in the lowest quintile, the odds ratios and hazard ratio (95%confidence interval) of higher quintile of SUA were 1.04 (0.93, 1.15), 1.07 (0.95, 1.19), 1.13 (1.01, 1.28) and 1.15 (1.02, 1.30) (P for trend=0.01), respectively, after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion SUA levels predicted an increased risk of prediabetes in adults.

Objective To explore the relationship between DNA repair gene XRCC1 and XPD polymorphisms and individual susceptibility to prostate cancer. Methods PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay was used to analyze the XRCC1 (C26304T and G28152A) and XPD A35931C polymorphisms in 358 prostate cancer patients and 312 healthy controls. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CD for estimating the correlation between different genotypes and prostate cancer risks. Results Forty-seven(13.1%) cases present XRCC1 28152AA genotype in prostate cancer group, while 24 cases in the control group (7. 1%), individuals with this genotype had a significantly increased risk for prostate cancer (OR 1. 924, 95%CI=1.126 - 3. 288, P=0. 017). There was no significant difference between two groups at XRCC1 C26304T and XPD A35931C sites. Combined analysis of the three sites polymorphisms showed that individuals with XRCC1 28152 AA and XPD 35931AC+CC genotype had a higher risk of prostate cancer than those with three wild genotypes (OR = 3. 087,95%CI 1. 081 - 8.813;OR = 3. 376,95%CI 1.067-10.683;OR 3. 216,95%CI=1. 439-7.188,P = 0. 004). Analysis stratified by age of onset, PSA, Gleason score and T stage revealed that XRCC1 28152AA and XPD 35931 AC+CC high-risk genotype was especially associated with early age at onset of prostate cancer (P<0. 05). Conclusions The XRCC1 and XPD genotypes may be contributed to the risk of developing prostate cancer, particularly for younger patients.