Purpose To investigate the expression of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 in prostate cancer ( PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH) , and to analyze their correlation with clinicopathological parameters of PCa. Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to de-tect Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 protein in 45 cases of PCa and 60 cases of BPH. Results The positive rate of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 in PCa tissues was significantly lower than that in BPH (P<0. 05). The expression of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 was not correlated with the age of patients and distant metastasis (P>0. 05), but it was correlated with the pathological grade and clinical stage of PCa (P<0. 05). Conclusion Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 are lowly expressed in PCa. There is positive correlation between the expression of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 (rs =0. 645, P<0. 01). Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 might be correlated with the carcinogenesis and development of PCa.

Objective To investigate the expressions of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 protein in ovarian serous carcinoma(OSC) and their clinicopathological significance.Methods The expressions of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 protein in 45 cases of OSC,60 cases of ovarian serous cystadenomas and 32 cases of ovarian borderline serous cystadenomas were detected by immunohistochemical SP method.The relationship between the expressions of these two proteins and the clinicopathological features of OSC and the correlation between Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 expressions in OSC were analyzed.Results The positive rates of Apaf-1 in OSC,ovarian serous cystadenoma and ovarian borderline serous cystadenoma were 24.4%(11/45),75.0%(45/60) and 46.9%(15/32),the difference was statistically significant (χ2=26.734,P<0.01).Apaf-1 expression was correlated with pathological grade,clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis (χ2=6.318,7.565,5.554,P<0.05).The expression rates of Caspase-9 in OSC,ovarian serous cystadenoma and ovarian borderline serous cystadenoma were 28.9%(13/45),83.3%(50/60) and 56.3%(18/32),the difference was statistically significant (χ2=31.682,P<0.01).The expression of Caspase-9 was correlated with pathological grade,clinical stage and lymph nodes metastasis (χ2=5.750,4.391,5.466,P<0.05).In OSC,the expressions of Apaf-1 and Capase-9 were positively correlated (k=0.433,P=0.003).Conclusion The low expressions of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 in OSC may be related to the occurrence and development of OSC.

Objective To investigate whether hydrogen can regulate the expressions of inflammatory factors by ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced human HaCaT keratinocytes through the autophagy pathway.Methods Cultured HaCaT keratinocytes were divided into several groups:blank control group receiving no treatment,hydrogen group cultured in hydrogen-rich medium,three UVB groups irradiated with UVB at 1,10,50 mJ/cm2 respectively,three UVB + hydrogen groups irradiated with UVB at 1,10,50 mJ/cm2 respectively followed by culture in hydrogen-rich medium,UVB + 3MA group pretreated with the autophagy inhibitor 3MA for 1 hour followed by UVB radiation at 50 mJ/cm2,UVB + rapamycin group pretreated with the autophagy activator rapamycin for 1 hour followed by UVB radiation at 50 mJ/cm2,UVB + 3MA +hydrogen group pretreated with 3MA for 1 hour followed by UVB radiation at 50 mJ/cm2 and culture in hydrogen-rich medium,UVB + rapamycin + hydrogen group pretreated with rapamycin for 1 hour followed by UVB radiation at 50 mJ/cm2 and culture in hydrogen-rich medium.After additional culture with or without hydrogen for 12 hours,methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to evaluate cellular proliferative activity,Western-blot analysis to measure the expressions of autophagy-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin 1,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the supernatant levels of inflammatory factors including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-6 and high mobility group protein B1 (HMGB1),and a test kit was used to determine the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).Results Compared with the blank control group,the 10-and 50-mJ/cm2 UVB groups showed significantly increased release of LDH,expressions of LC3 and Beclin1 and supernatant levels of TNF-α,IL-1 β,IL-6 and HMGB 1,but decreased cellular proliferative activity (all P ＜ 0.05).Hydrogen significantly attenuated the release of LDH,down-regulated the supernatant levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6 and HMGB1,but up-regulated cellular proliferative activity as well as LC3 and Beclin1 expressions in the 10-and 50-mJ/cm2 UVB + hydrogen groups compared with the 10-and 50-mJ/cm2 UVB groups respectively (all P ＜ 0.05).In addition,the levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,II-6 and HMGB1 were significantly higher in the 50-mJ/cm2 UVB + 3MA group than in the 50-mJ/cm2 UVB group,and higher in the 50-mJ/cm2 UVB + 3MA + hydrogen group than in the 50-mJ/cm2 UVB + hydrogen group,but lower in the 50-mJ/cm2 UVB + rapamycin group than in the 50-mJ/cm2 UVB group (all P＜ 0.05).Conclusion UVB radiation can increase the expressions ofautophagy-associated proteins,and hydrogen-rich medium can down-regulate the expressions of inflammatory factors by UVB-induced HaCaT cells through the autophagy pathway.

Objective To investigate the value of CT scans in differential diagnosis of thyroid neoplasm.Methods CT findings ofthyroid neoplasm in 29 cases including 8 cases thyroid adenoma,4 cases nodular goiter and 17 cases thyroid carcinoma identified by operation and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results The contour of thyroid adenoma was distinct,a completely enhanced ring in 5 cases and enhanced nodules in 3 cases were showed on contrast-enhanced scan.4 cases of nodular goiter showed homogenous cystic low density the lesions were localized and distinct in contour,the cystic wall could be seen.Thyroid carcinoma appeared unhomogenous density,the edges contour of lesion was not distinct and infiltration on adjacent tissue might be seen.Conclusion CT scan might play an important role in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of thyroid neoplasm.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) and bax in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Apaf-1 and bax in the tissues from 45 PCa patients and 60 BPH patients. Results The positive rates of Apaf-1 and bax in PCa tissues were 22.22%(10/45) and 20.00 % (9/45), respectively, while those in BPH tissues were 48.33 % (29/60) and 46.67 % (28/60). There was a statistically significant difference in the expressions of Apaf-1 and bax between two groups (P< 0.05). The expressions of Apaf-1 and bax were not correlated with the age of patients and distant metastasis (P>0.05), but they were correlated with the pathological grade and clinical stage of PCa (P< 0.05). The expressions of Apaf-1 and bax in PCa tissues were lower than those in BPH tissues. There was a positive correlation between the expression of Apaf-1 and bax (r=0.535, P<0.01). Conclusion Apaf-1 and bax might be correlated with the carcinogenesis and development of PCa.

Background and purpose:In preparation for using this tracer in humans, this study estimated thedosimetry of18F-FES with the method established by MIRD based on whole-body PET imaging of mice.Methods:Three female mice receivedⅣ tail injections of18F-FES and were scanned for 160 min in an Inveon dedicated PET/CT scanner. This study selected some important organs (brain, lung, liver, heart wall, small intestine, large intestine, kidney and urinary bladder), computed their residence times. Then, the residence times in mice organs were converted to human values using scale factors based on differences between organ and body weights. OLINDA/EXM 1.1 software was used to compute the absorbed human doses in multiple organs for both adult female and adult male body phantoms. Results:The highest absorbed doses in gallbladder wall, urinary bladder wall, small intestine, upper large intestine and liver are 0.072 5, 0.044 5, 0.043 0, 0.031 5 and 0.028 2 mGy/MBq, respectively. The organs which have the lowest ab-sorbed doses were brain (0.005 2 mGy/MBq), followed by skin (0.001 1 mGy/MBq), breast (0.001 1 mGy/MBq), heart wall (0.001 2 mGy/MBq) and thyroid (0.001 2 mGy/MBq). The mean absorbed doses for the other major organs ranged from 0.009 5 to 0.023 5 mGy/MBq. The total mean effective dose is 0.019 0 mSv/MBq and the mean effective doses equivalent is 0.025 0 mGy/MBq. A 370-MBq injection of18F-FES leads to an estimated effective dose of 7.03 mSv for the female. There was no statistical difference in the doses results obtained from direct measurement of18F-FES ab-sorption in normal people between previous publications by others and our work.Conclusion:The whole-body mouse imaging can be used as a preclinical tool for initial estimation of the absorbed doses of18F-FES in humans. Furthermore, the potential radiation risk associated with18F-FES imaging is well within the accepted limits.

Purpose To study the expression of HIF-1αand Glut-1 in the molecular subtypes of breast carcinoma and their correlation with basal-like breast carcinoma. Methods 803 cases of invasive breast carcinoma from our database were identified. The clinicopath-ologic findings and the biologic markers including estrogen receptor ( ER) , progesterone receptor ( PR) , and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) status were reviewed. Immunohistochemical MaxVision stains for cytokeratin 5/6 (CK5/6) and epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR) were performed. All breast carcinomas were subclassified into Luminal A, Lumincal B, HER-2 over-expression, normal-like, and basal-like subtypes according to Nielsen criteria. Immunohistochemical stain was also used to detect the expression of HIF-1αand Glut-1. Results Positive expression rates of HIF-1αprotein in basal-like, HER-2 over-expression, normal-like, Luminal A and Luminal B substypes were 77. 89% (74/95), 56. 06% (37/66), 55. 76% (92/165), 31. 97% (141/441), 25. 00% (9/36), respectively. The positive expression rates of Glut-1 protein were 80. 00% (76/95), 57. 58% (38/66), 58. 18%(96/165), 34. 01% (150/441), 25. 00% (9/36), respectively. The positive expression rates of HIF-1α and Glut-1 in the basal-like, HER-2 over-expressing and normal-like subtypes were remarkably higher than that in Luminal A and Luminal B subtypes ( P<0. 004 5) and the expression of HIF-1a and Glut-1 was negatively correlated with the expression of ER (P<0. 01). In the ER-negative breast cancers, the positive expression rates of HIF-1a and Glut-1 in basal-like substype were much higher than that in the other sub-types (P<0. 004 5), and the expression of HIF-1α was positively correlated with expression of Glut-1 in basal-like breast carcinoma (P<0. 01). Conclusion The overexpression of HIF-1αand Glut-1 may be closely related to the ER-negative breast cancer and HIF-1α and Glut-1 might play an important role in the development of basal-like breast carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the expressions and significances of Bcl-2 and Bax in basal-like breast carcinoma (BLBC).Methods The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected in 43 cases of BLBC, 57 cases of non-BLBC and 60 cases of normal breast tissues by immunohistochemistry,and their relationships with physiological and pathological characteristics of patients were analysized.Results The positive rate of Bcl-2 in BLBC was 69.77%,higher than 43.86% in non-BLBC (χ2 =6.647,P =0.01 0)and 21 .67% in normal breast tissues (χ2 =23.831 ,P =0.001 ).The positive rate of Bax in BLBC was 20.93%,lower than 45.61 % in non-BLBC (χ2 =6.564,P =0.01 0)and 76.67% in normal breast tissues (χ2 =31 .270,P =0.001 ).The expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were correlated with lymphnode metastasis (χ2 =6.927,P =0.008;χ2 =6.203,P =0.01 3)and pTNMstaging of BLBC (χ2 =6.331 ,P =0.01 2;χ2 =5.972,P =0.01 5).There was negative correlation between the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in BLBC (r = -0.408,P <0.01 0). Conclusion High expression of Bcl-2 and low expression of Bax interact with each other leading to unbalance of cell deferation and apoptosis,resulting in promoting genesis and progress of BLBC.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of retinoie acid on B16 marina mel-anoma cells and human melanocytes in vitro. Methods B16F10 murine melanoma cells and human mela-noeytes were cultured in culture medium which contains different concentration of components, including retinoic acid. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) mRNA expression of the tyrosinase was detected. Tyrosinase activity, melanin content and cell proliferation rate were also deter-mined. Results Retinoieacid exhibited an inhibitory effect on the expression of tyrosinase mRNA. As the concentration of retinoic acid was 100 μmol/L, treating for 72 h, the expression of tyrosinase mRNA de-creased 30.13 %, retinoic acid exhibited an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity and melanin production at high concentration (>500 μmol/L), and it could promote the cell proliferation. Retinoic acid and hy-droqninone could be cooperative at high concentration (1 000 μmol/L), and enhanced the down regulation of tyrosinase activity and melanin content. Retinoic acid could also mitigate the inhibitory effect of hydro-quinone on cell proliferation, so as to protect the cells from injury. Hydroquinone had no effect on tyrosi-nase gene expression at mRNA level. Conclusion Retinoic acid inhibits the synthesis of melanin by the genetic regulation at mRNA level.

Objective To investigate the effect of simulated microgravity on growth , morphology, protein expression and virulence gene expression of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN).Methods KPN was divided into simulated microgravity group and control group in the experiment .The former group was in the ambient of simulated microgravity in a clinostat .The bacterial growth curves , morphologyical changes in electron microscopy , and protein expression were detected by SELDI-TOF-MS, and the expression of 4 virulence genes(ureA,wabG,uge and fimH) by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) in both groups.Results Compared with the control group , the growth of KPN under simulated microgravity was accelerated , and the total bacterial count increased in microgravity group .The bacterial morphology in microgravity group was changed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thinner and longer bacteria were increased .The transmission electron microscopy ( TEM) analysis revealed increase in cytoplasmic granular substance in microgravity group .Proteome analysis showed that the expression of 18 proteins was changed , half of which up-regulated and the rest were down-regula-ted.Those 18 proteins were searched in the protein library .And 21 proteins of a similar molecular mass were retrieved ,13 of which,proteins with known functions ,were closely related to bacterial life activities .RT-PCR results showed that four virulence genes of KPN were down-regulated.Conclusion Upon exposure to simulated microgravity , the growth and repro-duction of KPN are accelerated and enhanced .The bacterial morphology is changed .The strain′s protein expression and four virulence genes expressionare also changed .Therefore,microgravity can change the characteristics of KPN .