Objective To investigate expression levels of epithelial mucin 1 (MUC1) and epitbelial mucin15(MUC15) in elderly patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and assess the role of MUC1 and MUC15 in the pathogenesis of thyroid papillary carcinoma.Methods Protein expression of MUC1 and MUC15 was detected by immunohistochemistry in 10 samples from normal thyroid tissue adjacent to thyroid adenoma,57 samples from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC),and 14 samples from PTC in neck lymph node metastasis.Results Expression rates of MUC1 in normal thyroid tissues,thyroid papillary carcinoma,and lymph node metastatic carcinoma were 40.0％,75.4％,64.3,respectively,and the rates for MUC15 were 0,73.7％,71.4％,respectively.The positive expression rate of MUC1 was higher in PTC tissues than in normal thyroid tissues (x2 =5.10,P=0.02) and,compared with normal thyroid tissues,the positive expression rate of MUC15 increased in PTC tissues and lymph node metastatic carcinoma (x2 =12.25 and 19.75,both P＜0.05)MUC15 protein expression was higher in micro-PTC (less than or equal to 1 cm in diameter) than in carcinoma larger than 1 cm in diameter (90.9％ vs.62.9,x2 =5.48,P=0.02).MUC15 expression was higher in PTC without lymph node metastasis than in PTC with lymph node metastasis (83.8％vs.55.0％,x2 =5.55,P=0.02).MUC1 expression was positively correlated with MUC15 expression in thyroid papillary carcinoma (r=0.35,P=0.01).Conclusions MUC1 and MUC15 may have synergistic effects in the initiation and progression of PTC.MUC15 may play a role in regulating tumorigenesis of thyroid papillary carcinoma in early stages and can potentially serve as a supplementary marker in the screening of micro-thyroid papillary carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo search for the optimal strategies for sperm collection from the patient with temporary penile erectile dysfunction (ED) on the day of oocyte pick-up ( OPU) in in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 93 cases of temporary ED on the OPU day of IVF-ET from January 2011 to May 2014, with fresh semen for 45 cases (group A), cryopreserved sperm before oocyte retrieval for 30 cases (group B), and frozen oocytes for 18 cases (group C). Group A was again subdivided into A1 (n = 18) and A2 n = 27) , the former intervened with oral sildenafil while the latter left untreated. We compared the rates of fertilization, high-quality embryo, and pregnancy among different groups.

RESULTSNo statistically significant differences were found among groups A, B and C in the age of the males and females, duration of infertility, numbers of obtained and mature oocytes, and rates of cleavage, or in the percentages of normal fertilization (80.78% vs 80.43% vs 84.77%), high-quality embryo (53.27% vs 52.97% vs 47.69%) and pregnancy (60.00% vs 56.77% vs 44.44%) (all P > 0.05). The rate of 3PN was markedly lower in group C (0.63%) than in A (9. 61%) and B (4.34%) (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups A1 and A2 in the age of the males and females, duration of infertility, numbers of obtained and mature oocytes, and the rates of fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, and pregnancy (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOn the OPU day of IVF-ET, oral sildenafil can help temporary ED men to achieve penile erection and ejaculation without affecting the outcomes of assisted reproduction. Cryopreserved sperm can be used in case of predicted temporary ED and frozen oocytes can also be employed if sperm retrieval fails. However, to avoid puncture injury to the epididymis or testis, fresh semen should be the first choice.

Cryopreservation ; Embryo Transfer ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Fertilization ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Male ; Oocyte Retrieval ; Oocytes ; Penis ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Sildenafil Citrate ; therapeutic use ; Sperm Retrieval ; Spermatozoa

Objective To study hemodynamics of cerebral blood flow in newborns with asphyxia.Method Bilateral cerebral electrical admittance plethysmogram(BCEAP) was used to explore characteristics of cerebral blood flow in 20 healthy newborns and 20 newborns with asphyxia respectively from first to fourth day after birth.Results Both the ratio of Hs to b-S(Hs/ b-S) and index of admittance differential loop(ADL) Ⅰ+Ⅱ decreased significantly in newborns with asphyxia compared to normal control from first to fourth day after birth(P

Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Pyoderma Gangrenosum ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Skin ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in the activity of dendritic cells (DCs) after carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) gene transfection mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus type2 (rAAV) and tumor cell lysate.

METHODSImmature DCs isolated from peripheral blood monocytes of HLA-A11-positive healthy volunteers were infected with the rAAV carrying CEA gene or loaded with tumor cell lysate. The surface markers of the DCs such as CD40, CD 1alpha, and CD86 were analyzed by flow cytometry. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) in the supernatants of DCs and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) released by the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were determined by ELISA detection kit. The specific killing activity of CTL against LoVo cells was assessed by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe DCs following antigen loading with the two methods both highly expressed CD40, CD86 and IL-12, and induced specific CTL that specifically recognized and killed LoVo cells, but the killing effect resulting from rAAV infection of the DCs was much better than that induced by tumor cell lysate loading.

CONCLUSIONBoth methods of antigen loading can induce mature DCs from peripheral blood monocyte cells, but rAAV infection of the DCs can be more effective than tumor cells lysate loading. DCs infected with rAAV may have the potential to serve as an adjuvant immunotherapy for patients with colorectal carcinoma.

B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD40 Antigens ; metabolism ; Cancer Vaccines ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Transfection

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis ; therapy ; Humans ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Exchange

The fermentation process of recombinant human Endostatin expression in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) was studied. The effects of factors such as concentration of IPTG, induction time, cultivation temperature and feeding strategies were investigated. Beside that, by changing the temperature to 40 degrees C after induction, the high-density cultivation finished in a much shorter period. After 9 hours cultivation, the optical density (OD) at 600 nm reached 140 and the yield of inclusion body was 3 g/L. While E. coli system was used, protein with better activity and stability was obtained. The cost was much lower and the producing process was much steadier. It will meet the demands of the industrial production.
Endostatins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Humans ; Protein Engineering ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Thiogalactosides ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo establish the mathematical kinetic model of the components extracted from the FTMC (formulae of the traditional Chinese medicine) and analyze parameters of the astragaloside IV extracted from the BYHWD (Buyang Huanwu decoction).

METHODThe model, including algebra and differential groups, have been set up according to the FICK discipline and Noyes-whitney soluted theories, as well as two transfer diffusive processes ((1) from protoplasate to apoplasmic, also from material compartment interior cell membrane to outside compartment; (2) apoplasmic to solution, also from outside compartment to solvent compartment) on components extraction from the FTMC. The equation groups, according to laplace transform, have been given a expression as solutions, which indicate the quantitative changes of the component concentration in solvent vs. time. The model kinetic parameters have been analyzed, meanwhile the parameters of the astragaloside IV in the BYHWD under 100 degrees C, extracted by water, have been analyzed by way of this model:

RESULTIt has been established a mathematical model that consists of three parts of e exponent. The kinetic parameters: M, alpha, N, beta, L, pi, K, k1', k2', rho1, rho2, tmax, Cmax, AUC, w0, P, D of the BYHWD were respectivelly 0.061 27% , 0.280 2 min(-1), - 1.027% , 0.008 965 min(-1), 1.077%, 0.002 665 min(-1), 3.451 x 10(-3) min(-1), 3.188 x 10(-3) min(-1), 0.375 9 min(-1), 1.420 min, 0.754 7 min, 184.9 min, 0. 0572 1 mg x mL(-1), 289.9 min, 0.070 11%, 46.24%, 22. 35%.

CONCLUSIONThe kinetic model, applied to isolated system, can have been of the rule of multiplex linear. Each parameters can be analyzed completely.

Algorithms ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Kinetics ; Mathematics ; Models, Biological ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Variant pulmonary vein anatomy (PVA) has been reported to influence the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation.However,the effects of PVA on AF in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) remain unknown.The present study aimed to examine the impact of PVA on the long-term outcome of CBA for AF.A total of 78 patients (mean age 60.7±10.9 years,64.1％ males) with symptomatic and drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were enrolled in the study.Left atrium (LA) and PVA acquired at computed tomography angiography (CTA) were reconstructed with CARTO(R) 3 SYSTEM.Patients were routinely evaluated by 24-hour Holter monitoring following CBA.Cox regression was used to detect the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA.The results showed abnormal PVA in 30 patients (38.5％) and 18 patients (23.1％) had left common PV (LCPV).Electrical pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients.After a mean follow-up of 689.5±103.8 days,it was found that patients with abnormal PVA had similar AF recurrence rate to those with normal PVA (26.7％ vs.25.0％,P=0.54),and there was no significant difference in AF recurrence rate between LCPV patients and non-LCPV patients (33.7％ vs.23.3％,P=0.29).Cox regression analysis showed that AF duration (72.9±9.0 vs.42.3±43.2 months,HR 1.001;95％CI 1.003-1.014;P＜0.001) and cryo-applications of right-side PVs (3.0±1.6 vs.4.7±1.7,HR 0.661;95％ CI 0.473-0.925;P=0.016) were independent predictors of freedom from AF,but PVA was not identified as a predictor of long-term success.In conclusion,the variant PVA cannot significantly influence the long-term outcome of AF patients undergoing CBA;longer AF duration and less cryo-applications of right-side PVs are associated with higher AF recurrent rate.

The correlations between the clinicopathological features and the long-term outcomes of renal amyloidosis (RA) were analyzed with a view to develop strategies for improving diagnosis and prognosis of RA. We retrospectively reviewed the clinicopathological characteristics of 47 patients diagnosed with RA between 2004 and 2014 at the Wuhan Union Hospital. The data on the renal histology, clinical manifestations, and prognosis of RA patients were retrieved from the hospital records and characteristic patterns were identified. The histological changes in the kidneys were correlated with the clinical manifestations of RA. Additionally, most RA patients in this study had decreased serum levels of κ light chain and increased urine levels of κ and λ light chains as well as presence of M-protein in the urine and serum. Patients with early RA showed no specific pathognomonic symptoms. Bleeding associated with diagnostic renal biopsy was rare. We recommend that the routine work-up of patients aged over 40 years and presenting with non-diabetic nephropathy includes the non-invasive tests for the measurement of serum and urine levels of κ and λ light chains as well as protein electrophoresis tests for the presence of urinary and serum M-protein. Additionally, such patients should undergo renal biopsy screening with Cong-red staining to ensure early diagnosis of RA and improve their survival, since the risk of hemorrhage related to renal biopsy screening is low at early stages of RA.
Amyloidosis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; urine ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Prognosis