Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation,histone post-translational modifications,non-coding RNA are reversible,heritable alterations which are induced by environmental stimuli.Major risk factors of diabetes and diabetic complications including hyperglycemia,oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products,can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications in retinal vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells.Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema and neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy (DR),as well as diabetic metabolic memory.The heritable nature of epigenetic marks also plays a key role in familial diabetes mellitus.Further elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms in DR can open the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to prevent DR progression.

Objective To investigate the impact of alterations within the space of Disse micro- environment on the migration of hepatic stellate cells(HSC) during the process of liver fibrosis,and to ex plore the novel mechanism of liver fibrosis from the view of cell migration.Methods A modified in vitro Boyden chamber system to partially mimic in vivo microenvironment of Disse space of normal and liver fibrosis was employed.The effects of fibrogenetic growth factors on the migration of HSC in liver fibrosis were observed via cell migration and cell proliferation experiments.Results Enhanced platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)-BB,transforming growth factor(TGF)-?1 and/or epithelial growth factor(EGF) in liver fibrosis resulted in an increase in migratory capacity of activated HSC.The enhanced migration of HSCs induced by PDGF-BB was partially associated with their increased proliferation,while,TGF-?1 or EGF-induced migration was proliferation independent.The elevation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)during liver fibrosis had no effect on the migration of HSCs.Conclusions The study provides valuable insights into the role of space of Disse microenvironment in regulating HSC migratory behavior.TGF-?1,PDGF-BB and EGF,which increased in liver fibrosis, could induce the migration of activated HSC.However,bFGF or VEGF has no such kind of effect,al- though they also increased during liver fibrosis.

Objective To evaluated the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation therapy(HBO)on the RhoA ex- pression and nerve function after transient focal cerebral ischemia in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion. Methods One hundred and twenty-six healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were used and randomly divided into a sham op- eration group(shame group,n=42),a treatment group(n=42),and a control group(n=42).The animal model of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)was established by using the Zea-Longa method with the animals in the treatment and the control groups,and sham operation was performed with those in the sham group.HBO was applied to the animals in the treatment group.The RhoA protein expression was observed by using immunohistochemistry technique,and the neurological function was evaluated by Bederson's scale at different time points after MCAO.Re- sults(1)Weakly positive expression of RhoA could be located in bilateral cortex and the basal ganglia in the sham group.The expression of RhoA in the treatment group and control group was increased as early as 6 hours after MCAO when compared with that of the sham group,and peaked at 48 h after MCAO and decreased after then,but was still higher than that of the shame group at 7th day to 14th day after MCAO.It was also found that the expression of RhoA of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P

Objective To study the biological effects of four isoflavone derivatives(F8,F11,ZF3 and ZF7)on endometrial epithelial cells.Methods The endometrial epithelial cells were cultured through collagenase enzymatic digestion and twice grit filtration.The biological effects on endometrial epithelial cells of four isoflavone derivatives were compared through MTT.Results The primary endometrial epithelial cells were successfully disassociated,cultured and passaged down stably.Cell proliferation was significantly increased by F8(25 mol/L)(P

Objetcive To analyze the contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS)features in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) of different size and to discuss the diagnostic value of CEUS in CCRCCs. Methods The contrast-enhanced and conventional US features of 80 CCRCCs confirmed pathologically were retrospectively analyzed. Samples were divided into three groups by diameters: small CCRCCs (≤30 mm), medium CCRCCs(＞30 mm) and large CCRCCs(＞50 mm). The tumoral vascularity, lesion homogeneity and presence of an anechoic rim were observed on conventional US. The enhancement of echogenicity, homogeneity and pseudocapsule were evaluated on CEUS. Results Among the 80 renal masses, 32 were small CCRCCs, 28 were medium CCRCCs while the large CCRCCs were 20. On conventional US, 18.8%(6/32) of small CCRCCs, 71.4%(20/28) of medium CCRCCs and 95%(19/20) of large CCRCCs demonstrated as heterogeneous and the differences were highly statistically significant, whereas there were no differences in the tumoral vascularity and the presence of pseudocapsule sign among the three groups. On CEUS, 28.1%(9/32) of small CCRCCs, 85.7%(24/28) of medium CCRCCs and 100%(20/20) of large CCRCCs showed a homogeneous enhancement. The incidence of pseudocapsule sign in medium tumors was higher than small and large groups(71.4%,50% and 25%,respectively). There were statistically significant differences among the three groups in the enhanced homogeneity and the presence of pseudocapsule sign. However, all the three groups revealed mainly isoechoic and hyperechoic and there were no differences among them. Compared with conventional US, CEUS depicted significantly the increased tumoral vascularity (51.3% vs. 87.5%) and pseudocapsule sign(22.5% vs. 51.3%). Eight lesions demonstrated heterogeneous contrast enhancement on CEUS while homogeneous on conventional US, but there were no differences in lesion homogeneity between conventional US and CEUS findings. Conclusions Different sizes of CCRCC showed distinct CEUS features in the enhanced homogeneity and the presence of pseudocapsule sign. CEUS is more effective on improving the sonographic characteristics of tumoral visualization and may provide important information of US findings for the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the relationship between IgG antibody titer in pregnant women with maternal-fetal ABO blood incompatibility and hemolytic disease of fetuses and newborns.Methods From January 31 2009 to January 31 2010,1269 singleton pregnant women who were suspected to have maternal fetal ABO blood incompatibility in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Southwest Hospital,Third Military University were collected.Anti-A or anti-B IgG titers of them were detected at 28-30 gestational age,and umbilical cord blood were taken when delivery and hemolytic disease of the newborn serological test were done to diagnose hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN).The relationship between the titers and incidence of fetal or neonatal hemolytic disease was retrospectively analyzed by Kendall tau rank correlation.Results No IgG of anti-A or anti-B in serum were found in 58.4％ (741/1269) pregnant women,while the antibody titer of 5.1％ (65/1269) pregnant women were more than or equal to 1 ∶ 128.When they were tested again at 36 gestational week,the titer of 17 cases increased twice but lower than 1 ∶ 512.No signs of intrauterine hemolysis,such as edema,ascites and pleural effusion,were found.Three hundred and eighty neonates (29.9％,380/1269) were diagnosed as HDN.Among which,12 cases (3.2％,12/380) showed mild anemia and (or) jaundice within 24 hours after delivery.There was positive correlation between incidence of neonatal hemolysis and antibody titer(Tb=-0.293,P＜0.01).The incidence of HDN increased from 85.4％ (35/41) in women with antibody titer of 1 ∶ 128 to 5/5 inwomen with antibody titer at 1 ∶ 512 (x2=108.906,P＜0.01).Among 380 HDN neonates,322 cases were transferred to neonatal intensive care unit for phototherapy based comprehensive therapy,and two underwent exchange transfusion.All patients were cured.Conclusions The intrauterine hemolysis incidence of patients with suspected maternal-fetal ABO blood incompatibility is very low,and no special care is required during pregnancy.Anti-A or anti-B tests during pregnancy is helpful in early diagnosis and management of HDN.

Objective To study the expression changes and significance of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)-mRNA and mutant p53 protein in thyroid carcinoma tissues in the elderly.Methods The expression level of hTERT-mRNA was examined by in situ hybridization in 50 samples of thyroid carcinoma tissues from the elderly and 41 samples of thyroid carcinoma tissues from the non-elderly and 30 samples of thyroid benign lesions.The expression level of p53 was examined by immunohistochemistry in all subjects.Results The positive rate of hTERT-mRNA was 96.0％ (48/50),85.3％ (35/41) and 10.0％ (3/30) in thyroid carcinoma tissues from the elderly,the non-elderly and thyroid benign lesions respectively,and there were significant differences between the three groups (x2=73.61,P=0.000).The positive rate of p53 was 92.0％ (46/50),85.3％ (35/41) and 13.3％ (3/30) in thyroid carcinoma tissues from the elderly,the non-elderly and thyroid benign lesions respectively,and there were significant differences between the three groups (x2 =62.30,P =0.000).Conclusions The positive rates of hTERT-mRNA and p53 in thyroid carcinoma tissues are higher in the elderly than in the non-elderly,which can be used to evaluate the biological behavior and prognosis of thyroid carcinoma in the elderly,and they play the important roles for targeted therapy.

Objective To investigate the clinical features ,diagnosis and treatment of cesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) .Methods We retrospectively analyzed the medical history ,clinical manifestation ,diagnoses ,treatments and outcomes of 42 patients with ec‐topic pregnancy in the cesarean scar .Results All cases got diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound .The error rate of first diagnosis was 40 .4% (17/42) .There were 25 cases of conservative therapy ,in which 12 cases were resolved with laparoscopic surgery and 1 case resolved with open surgery ;in the first process 15 cases were carried out laparoscopic surger in which 1 case were converted to laparotomy ;abdominal surgery were underwented in 1 case and were cured .Only one case underwent abdominal total hysterectomy as of failure after uterine artery embolization .After initial conservative treatment 3 cases were hospitalized again and 2 cases under‐went reoperation .41 patients were successfully retained the uterus and normal menstrual cycle returned at two months after opera‐tion .Conclusion The early diagnosis for CSP mainly depended on ultrasound and the thickness of incision muscle layer is an impor‐tant basis for choice of treatment .Checking the thickness of incision muscle layer for CSP mainly depended on ultrasound ,and lapa‐roscopic surgery is an ideal method for diagnosis and treatment of CSP .

Objective To assess the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic uterine artery blockage for the treatment of adenomyosis. Methods Laparoscopic uterine artery blockage was performed in 38 patients with adenomyosis. Enucleation and excision or vaporization of endometriosis were performed at the same time in patients with chocolate cyst of ovary and endometriosis. Lysis of adhesion and presacral neurectomy were performed in some patients. Symptoms and uterine volumes of all patients were investigated after the treatment. Results Relieved clinical symptoms were found in all 38 patients. Menorrhagia was reduced to (56?16)%. Complete disappearance of dysmenorrhea was found in 17 patients (44.7%), significantly alleviated in 14 patients (36.8%), partially alleviated in 6 patients (15.8%), but ineffectiveness in 1 patient (2.6%). Pain score and classification were decreased significantly (P

Objective To investigate the effect of a novel isoflavone compound(F11) on the plasma lipid and cholesterol of the ovarectomied rat.Methods Female SD rats at age of 3 months old were randomly divided into 6 groups,that is,sham operation group(Sham),normal saline group(2 ml/d),estradiol group(E2,50 ?g?kg-1?d-1),and 3 F11 groups(15,50,150 mg?kg-1?d-1).Besides the Sham group,the ovary of the rats from other groups were resected,and received the injection as above mentioned.All rats were killed 10 weeks later,and their plasma lipid,total cholesterol,LDL,HDL,and body weight and uterine weight were measured.Results The plasma lipid,total cholesterol,LDL,HDL were significantly different in normal saline group and 4 treatment group(P