Objective To construct human SREBP-1c-promoter reporter gene vector and to detect its function.Methods Human blood genome DNA was extracted and pGL3-Basic-SREBP-1c-promoter reporter gene vector was constructed.Furthermore,the function of SREBP-1c-promoter was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay.ResultspGL3-Basic-SREBP-1c-promoter reporter gene vector was successfully constructed and the promoter activity was obviously repressed by co-transfection FoxO1.Overexpression FoxO1 inhibited the SREBP-1c protein expression.Conclusion FoxO1 repressed the SREBP-1c protein expression through inhibition the SREBP-1c transcription.

Purpose: Zinc finger protein 639 (ZNF639) is often found within the overlapping amplicon of PIK3CA, and previous studies suggest its involvement in the pathogenesis of esophageal and oral squamous cell carcinomas. However, its expression and significance in breast cancer remain uncharacterized. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of ZNF639 was performed using tissue microarrays.Functional studies, including colony formation, Transwell cell migration, and in vivo metastasis, were conducted on breast tumor cells with ZNF639 knockdown via small interfering RNA transfection. Results: Reduced ZNF639 immunoreactivity was observed in 82% of the breast cancer samples, independent of hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status. In multivariate Cox regression analyses, ZNF639 expression was associated with favorable survival outcomes, including recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.89) and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.16– 1.05). ZNF639 knockdown increased clonogenicity, cell motility, and lung metastasis in NOD/ SCID mice. Following the ZNF639 knockdown, the expression of Snail1, vimentin, and C-C chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) was upregulated, and the changes in cell phenotype mediated by ZNF639 were reversed by the subsequent knockdown of CCL20. Conclusion Low ZNF639 expression is a novel prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival in patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: Zinc finger protein 639 (ZNF639) is often found within the overlapping amplicon of PIK3CA, and previous studies suggest its involvement in the pathogenesis of esophageal and oral squamous cell carcinomas. However, its expression and significance in breast cancer remain uncharacterized. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of ZNF639 was performed using tissue microarrays.Functional studies, including colony formation, Transwell cell migration, and in vivo metastasis, were conducted on breast tumor cells with ZNF639 knockdown via small interfering RNA transfection. Results: Reduced ZNF639 immunoreactivity was observed in 82% of the breast cancer samples, independent of hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status. In multivariate Cox regression analyses, ZNF639 expression was associated with favorable survival outcomes, including recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.89) and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.16– 1.05). ZNF639 knockdown increased clonogenicity, cell motility, and lung metastasis in NOD/ SCID mice. Following the ZNF639 knockdown, the expression of Snail1, vimentin, and C-C chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) was upregulated, and the changes in cell phenotype mediated by ZNF639 were reversed by the subsequent knockdown of CCL20. Conclusion Low ZNF639 expression is a novel prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival in patients with breast cancer.

Purpose: Zinc finger protein 639 (ZNF639) is often found within the overlapping amplicon of PIK3CA, and previous studies suggest its involvement in the pathogenesis of esophageal and oral squamous cell carcinomas. However, its expression and significance in breast cancer remain uncharacterized. Methods: Immunohistochemical analysis of ZNF639 was performed using tissue microarrays.Functional studies, including colony formation, Transwell cell migration, and in vivo metastasis, were conducted on breast tumor cells with ZNF639 knockdown via small interfering RNA transfection. Results: Reduced ZNF639 immunoreactivity was observed in 82% of the breast cancer samples, independent of hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status. In multivariate Cox regression analyses, ZNF639 expression was associated with favorable survival outcomes, including recurrence-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14–0.89) and overall survival (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.16– 1.05). ZNF639 knockdown increased clonogenicity, cell motility, and lung metastasis in NOD/ SCID mice. Following the ZNF639 knockdown, the expression of Snail1, vimentin, and C-C chemokine ligand 20 (CCL20) was upregulated, and the changes in cell phenotype mediated by ZNF639 were reversed by the subsequent knockdown of CCL20. Conclusion Low ZNF639 expression is a novel prognostic factor for recurrence-free survival in patients with breast cancer.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of nonylphenol and cadmium on acrosome reaction in vitro in mouse spermatozoa.

METHODSSperm were collected from the vas deferens of mice, capacitated in vitro and stimulated with A23187 at 30 micromol/L to induce acrosome reaction. Then the sperm suspension was treated with nonylphenol at 10, 20, 30, 60 and 100 micromol/L or cadmium at 500, 2500 and 5 000 micromol/L, and the control group treated with the carrier solvent. Acrosome reaction of the sperm was analyzed by FITC-PSA staining.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, nonylphenol significantly inhibited acrosome reaction at the concentration of > 60 micromol/L (P < 0.01), but not at < 30 micromol/L (P > 0.05), and the sperm survival rate was reduced with increased concentration of nonylphenol. However, cadmium exhibited no significant influence on either acrosome reaction (P > 0.05) or sperm survival rate at 500 - 5 000 micromol/L.

CONCLUSIONNonylphenol and cadmium affect the spermatogenesis of mice in different ways; the former directly inhibits sperm acrosome reaction, while the latter has no direct effect on it.

Acrosome ; drug effects ; Acrosome Reaction ; drug effects ; Animals ; Cadmium ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phenols ; pharmacology ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the effectiveness of using multiple ligation probe amplification (MLPA) and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) in screening the exon deletions and duplications of the DMD gene.

METHODSMLPA technique was applied to detect exon deletions and duplications previously confirmed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC).

RESULTSFrom October 2004 to October 2005, 22 unrelated DMD probands and their possible female relatives with clinical diagnosis with dystrophinopathy at our hospital entered this study. Both DHPLC and MPLA detected DMD gene depletion in 11 probands and DMD duplications in 3 probands. MLPA detected deletions and duplications in 2 probands, which were not detected by DHPLC. MLPA also successfully identified the carriage status of the potential female carriers of the probands.

CONCLUSIONCompared with DHPLC and traditional PCR techniques, MLPA is a superior tool to analyze the deletions and duplications in affected males as well as in the identification of the carriage status of potential females carriers.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Duplication ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; genetics ; Mutation ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods

BACKGROUNDColloid carcinomas of the pancreas have better prognosis than ordinary ductal adenocarcinoma, and preoperative distinction of colloid carcinoma from other pancreatic tumors is valuable for patient therapeutic planning and prognosis assessment. However, data about CT features of colloid carcinoma are very limited. This study aimed to investigate the CT features of this tumor.

METHODSInstitutional review board approval was obtained for this study. Seven patients with pathologically proven colloid carcinoma of the pancreas were included. Unenhanced and dynamic enhanced CT was performed in all the patients. CT features were analyzed retrospectively and correlations with pathological findings were evaluated.

RESULTSMean age of the patients was 59.8 years (41 - 76 years). Five tumors were located in the pancreatic head, and the other two in body and tail respectively. The maximum mean diameter of the tumors on axial scanning was 3.9 cm (3.0 - 6.7 cm). Tumors were round (n = 5) and lobular (n = 2). Tumors appeared slight hyp-attenuation on unenhanced CT, and peripheral and internal meshlike progressive delayed enhancement with great percent of cystic areas on enhanced CT. Calcification and gas in the tumor was seen in one patient whose duodenum was invaded by the tumor.

CONCLUSIONSColloid carcinomas of the pancreas appear as round or labular masses with great percent of cystic areas and slight hyp-attenuation on unenhanced CT and peripheral and internal meshlike progressive delayed enhancement on enhanced CT.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; diagnostic imaging ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Objective To investigate the current status of monitoring gastric residual volume (GRV) and enteral nutrition (EN) tolerance in critically ill elderly patients in ICU nationwide, so as to provide evidence for finding the best assessment method of EN tolerance in critically ill elderly patients and standardizing the operation procedure. Methods A total of 724 ICU critically ill elderly patients from 22 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities were selected by convenience sampling method and investigated for EN strategy management, EN pipeline maintenance, EN tolerance assessment and GRV monitoring. Results During the period of enteral nutrition in critically ill elderly patients, 461 (63.7%) of the 724 ICUs surveyed performed routine GRV monitoring, 166 (22.9%) used the EN tolerance scoring too, 156 (21.5%) used ultrasound to monitor gastric residual volume. There was no statistical difference in use of EN tolerance score tool and B-mode ultrasound monitoring among different types of ICU (P＞ 0.05). The incidence of vomiting and dominant aspiration in routine monitoring departments was lower than that in unconventional monitoring departments, and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusions The elderly critically ill patients should be evaluated EN tolerance every day during the implementation of EN, and routine and feasible GRV monitoring should be carried out.

Objective To evaluate the impact of mean fasting glucose over the first 72 hours after admission on in-hospital outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction ( STEMI ).Methods The data of 357 non-diabetic patients hospitalized with STEMI were collected from the database of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University between January 2006 and April 2009.The patients were categorized into 3 groups according to mean fasting glucose over the first 72 hours after admission: ＜ 5.6 ( n = 165 ), 5.6 - 7.0 ( n = 122 ) and ＞ 7.0 mmol/L ( n = 70). Clinical characteristics,therapeutic approaches and the incidence of heart failure, malignant arrhythmias, and death during hospitalization were compared among groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the association between risk factors and in-hospital outcomes. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to assess the power of mean fasting glucose on predicting in-hospital death. Results Age, past history of infarction and early revascularization therapy were similar among groups. Heart rate on admission, white blood cell count, peak CK-MB level, and proportion of extensive anterior infarction were increased in proportion to higher mean fasting glucose levels. Higher mean fasting glucose levels were associated with increased risk of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, heart failure characterized by higher Killip class, and malignant arrhythmias. After multivariate adjustment, mean fasting glucose remained to be an independent risk factor for increased in-hospital death of patients with STEMI (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.10 - 1. 57;P =0. 003). Mean fasting glucose had the higher area under the ROC curve than admission glucose or fasting glucose after admission based on single measurement (0. 758, 0. 674and 0. 717;P ＜ 0. 001 ). Conclusion Mean fasting glucose during first 72 hours after admission is an independent predictor for in-hospital death and complications in patients with STEMI, which is superior to admission glucose or fasting glucose after admission based on single measurement in predicting in-hospital outcomes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Young Adult