Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of postoperative radiotherapy on local recurrence-free survival(LRFS)and overall survival(OS)in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).Methods The clinical data of 186 cases for TNBC were collected from the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University from January 2003 to December 2006.These cases were confirmed by pathology.The patients were divided into radiotherapy and non-radiotherapy groups.The survival curves were plotted by Kaplan-Meier method.Log-rank test method was used to detect the difference between the radiotherapy and non-ra-diotherapy groups for 10 years.Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine the prognostic factors for TNBC patients.Results The 10-year LRFS of radiotherapy group and non-radiotherapy group were 80.2%and 76.0%,respectively.The 10-year OS was 86.0%and 74.0%in radiotherapy group and non-ra-diotherapy group,respectively.Both of them showed a statistically difference(P <0.05).Subgroup analysis showed that LRFS and OS were 81.8%and 81.8%in 10 years for radiotherapy in patients with T 1-2N1(1-3 lymph node metastases)M0,respectively,76.4% and 79.4% for non-radiotherapy group,respectively.No differences were observed in both of LRFS and OS in radiotherapy and non-radiotherapy groups(P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that radiotherapy and clinical staging were independent factors influencing the sur-vival of TNBC patients.Conclusion Radiotherapy can improve the LRFS and OS in TNBC patients,but radio-therapy does not improve LRFS and OS for TNBC patients with T 1-2N1(1~3 lymph node metastases)M0.Radio-therapy and clinical staging are independent factors that affect the prognosis of TNBC patients.

Birth cohort is an important observational study which can continuously and dynamically collect the exposure changes and health outcomes from gametophyte development to adolescence and even old age. However, because of its complex design and difficult implementation, how to construct birth cohort with high quality and high efficiency is the main difficulty faced by epidemiologists at home and abroad. In 2016, China National Birth Cohort was officially launched. The network and information technology were used to explore, and a set of "cloud-based information platform" was established to support this queue construction, containing 16 units in China. After four years of development, the platform has formed a complete set of programs about the construction of cohort information platform, which including recruitment and follow-up management of participants, real-time data interaction, queue quality control, multi-level authority management and function division. The relevant design framework and functional elements provide the references to the future information construction of large-scale birth cohort and even population-based research in China.

Background The main pathological feature of silicosis is pulmonary fibrosis. Multiple miRNAs regulate the development of silicosis. Objective Using a fibroblast cell line, to explore the effect of miR-18a on the expression of extracellular matrix-related genes, and verify the mechanism. Methods The fibroblast cell line NIH-3T3 cells were transfected with miR-18a mimics or neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 2 (Notch2) small interfering RNA (siRNA). The mRNA expression changes of Acta2, Col1a1, and Notch2 were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and Notch2 were also detected at the protein level by Western blotting. To verify whether miR-18a could directly act on the complementary sequences of the Notch2 gene, human embryonic kidney HEK293T cells and the psiCHECK^TM-2 vector were used. Results The results of qRT-PCR showed that in NIH-3T3 cells, the over-expression of miR-18a mimics for 36 h inhibited the mRNA expression of Col1a1 and Acta2 (P<0.05). The results of Western blotting showed that the protein expression abundance of α-SMA was decreased at 48 h of miR-18a mimics over-expression. The qRT-PCR results showed that the over-expression of miR-18a for 36 h had no significant effect on Notch2 gene expression, but the Western blotting results showed that the over-expression of miR-18a mimics inhibited the expression of Notch2 at the protein level. The results of the dual luciferase reporter vector assay showed that in HEK293T cells, both over-expressed miR-18a mimics and inhibitors for 24 h demonstrated that Notch2 is a direct target gene of miR-18a. When Notch2 was inhibited for 36 h, the qRT-PCR results showed that Acta2 and Col1a1 were down-regulated (P < 0.05), and the results of Western blotting showed that α-SMA protein was also inhibited. Conclusion The findings indicate that miR-18a could inhibit the expression of extracellular matrix-related genes of NIH-3T3 cells by directly acting on the 3’UTR of target gene Notch2.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of modified Chaihu Shugansan on the calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ（CaMKⅡ）/cAMP-response element binding protein （CREB） signaling pathway in the hippocampus and heart tissue of a rat model with myocardial ischemia and depression and explore the mechanism by which this formula prevents and treats coronary heart disease combined with depression. MethodsThe model of myocardial ischemia combined with depression was established by high-fat diet， intraperitoneal injection of isoproterenol （ISO）， and chronic unpredictable mild stress （CUMS）. A total of 108 SD male rats were randomly divided into normal group， model group， high （23.4 g·kg^-1）， medium （11.7 g·kg^-1）， and low （5.85 g·kg^-1） dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan， CaMKⅡ inhibitor （KN93） group， and KN93 + high， medium， and low dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan， with 12 rats in each group. From the first day of modeling to the end of modeling， drugs were administered once a day. In the seventh and eighth weeks， the KN93 group and the KN93 + high， medium， and low dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan were intraperitoneally injected with KN93 three times weekly. At the end of the eighth week， behavioral tests including sucrose preference， open field， and elevated plus maze were conducted. Electrocardiogram （ECG） lead Ⅱ changes were observed in each group of rats， and hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining was performed to observe changes in heart tissue. Serum levels of triglycerides （TG）， total cholesterol （TC）， high-density lipoprotein （HDL）， low-density lipoprotein （LDL）， and lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） were measured by using an enzyme-labeled instrument. Creatine kinase （CK） and creatine kinase-MB （CK-MB） were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry， while serum monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 （MCP-1） was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect mRNA expression of CaMKⅡ and CREB in hippocampal and heart tissue， and Western blot was performed to assess protein expression of CaMKⅡ， phosphorylated （p）-CaMKⅡ， CREB， and p-CREB. ResultsCompared to the normal group， the model group showed significant reductions in sucrose preference rate， total activity distance in the open field， number of entries into the center area of the open field， and percentage of entries into the open arms of the elevated plus maze （P<0.01）. The ECG showed ST-segment elevation， and HE staining showed serious degeneration of myocardial fibers， disordered arrangement， and infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells. In addition， serum TC and LDL levels increased （P<0.01）， and HDL level decreased （P<0.01）. CK， CK-MB， LDH， and MCP-1 levels significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The mRNA expression of CaMKⅡ and CREB and the protein expression of p-CaMKⅡ and p-CREB decreased in the hippocampal tissue （P<0.05， P<0.01）， but those increased in the heart tissue （P<0.01）. Compared to the model group， the high， medium， and low dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan showed improvements in these abnormalities. The KN93 group had reduced sucrose preference， total activity distance in the open field， number of entries into the center area of the open field， and percentage of entries into the open arms of the elevated plus maze （P<0.01）， as well as decreased serum CK， CK-MB， LDH， and MCP-1 levels （P<0.05， P<0.01）. KN93 also reduced ST-segment elevation， alleviated the degeneration degree of myocardial fibrosis， and lowered inflammatory cell infiltration. The mRNA expression of CaMKⅡ and CREB and the protein expression of p-CaMKⅡ and p-CREB in both the hippocampal and heart tissue were reduced （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The KN93 + high， medium， and low dose groups of modified Chaihu Shugansan showed further improvements in these abnormalities compared to the KN93 group. ConclusionThe modified Chaihu Shugansan exerts antidepressant and myocardial protective effects in rats with myocardial ischemia and depression， possibly related to bidirectional regulation of the CaMKⅡ/CREB signaling pathway， with the high-dose modified Chaihu Shugansan showing the best effects.

Background Although transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad signaling pathway is important in regulating the occurrence and development of pulmonary fibrosis, the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis remains elusive. Objective To explore the functions of genes associated with TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Methods A NIH-3T3 fibroblast model induced by TGF-β1 was established. The experiment samples were divided into a control group and a TGF-β1 treatment group. The control group was exposed to normal saline, while the TGF-β1 treatment group was exposed to 10 ng·mL⁻¹ TGF-β1 for 12 h. The RNAs of the two groups were extracted, sequenced, and analyzed by bioinformatics methods to identify seven key genes in TGF-β pathway, including Dcn, Smad3, Smad7, Fbn1, Thbs1, TGF-β1, and TGF-β3. The gene expression levels of five markers [Collagen1α1, Collagen1α2, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), TGF-β1, and TGF-β3] and the seven key genes were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The proteins of the two groups were extracted. The important marker protein expression levels of Smad3, the phosphorylation of Smad3 (P-Smad3), and α-SMA were detected by Western blotting. At the same time, 30 healthy SPF-grade C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups, with 10 mice in each group: a control group, a SiO₂ inhalation exposure group for 28 d (10 mice), and a SiO₂ inhalation exposure group for 56 d (10 mice). The mice in the two treatment groups were exposed to a natural SiO₂ environment for 4 h per day with a 10-min pause for breathing fresh air at 2 h intervals. The lung tissues of the mice were taken after execution. The changes of pulmonary fibrosis were detected by Masson staining, and mRNAs and proteins were extracted to detect the expression of the above key genes and proteins. Results The expression levels of the five marker genes Collagen1α1, Collagen1α2, α-SMA, TGF-β1, and TGF-β3 were significantly increased in the TGF-β1-induced NIH-3T3 fibroblasts than those in the control group (P < 0.01); the expression levels of P-Smad3 and α-SMA proteins increased significantly (P < 0.01); the expression results of the seven key genes screened in the TGF pathway were that Dcn and Smad3 were obviously down-regulated (P < 0.01), and Smad7, Fbn1, Thbs1, TGF-β1, and TGF-β3 were obviously up-regulated (P < 0.01). The changes in gene expression levels of the transcriptome sequencing showed the same trend. The results of Masson staining showed that the content of collagen fibers in the lung tissues also increased in the SiO₂ inhalation exposure groups over time. In the mouse experiment, five marker genes were obviously up-regulated compared with the control group (P < 0.01); no obvious change was found in the expression of Smad3 protein, and the expression levels of P-Smad3 and α-SMA were obviously higher in the SiO₂ exposure groups than those in the control group (P < 0.01); the expression levels of Dcn and Smad3 showed a down-regulated trend, while the expression levels of Smad7, Fbn1, Thbs1, TGF-β1, and TGF-β3 showed an up-regulated trend with the increase of SiO₂ inhalation exposure days (P < 0.01). The expression levels of the above five marker genes, three important marker proteins, and seven key genes were consistent with the expression trends of TGF-β1-induced NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. Conclusion The expression levels of pulmonary fibrosis-related marker genes and proteins change significantly in TGF-β1-induced fibroblast cells, and the lung tissues of mice under natural SiO₂ inhalation exposure has obvious fibrosis characteristics. Seven genes (Dcn, Smad3, Smad7, Fbn1, Thbs1, TGF-β1, and TGF-β3) may be involved in the regulation of pulmonary fibrosis by the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.