ObjectiveTo observe the effect of long-term fluoride excess on rat thyroid morphology,thyroid peroxidase(TPO) activity and the expression of TPO protein,and to explore its possible mechanism of action.MethodsForty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups by weight:control group,low-fluoride group,moderate-fluoride group and high-fluoride group(n =10),and they were fed with ordinary tap water containing fluorine 0.40,15.00,30.00,60.00 mg/L,respectively,and ate ordinary food prepared feed.After fed for 180 days,rats were anesthetized,and thyroid was taken.The morphology of thyroid was observed under light microscope.TPO activity was measured with improved guaiacol method.The expression of TPO protein was evaluated by Western blotting.ResultsThe thyroid histopathology results show:in control group,the thyroid follicular epithelial cells were columnar or cuboidal,with the follicular cavity filled with pink gum; in low-fluoride group,the thyroid follicular epithelial cell presented active hyperplasia; in moderate-fluoride group,the size of follicular increased,and follicular cavity was filled with dark,sticky colloid follicular; follicular increases,follicular cavity filled with dark,sticky colloid follicular; in high-fluoride group,the follicular epithelial cells showed apparent flat shape and excessive concentration of follicular colloid,a small amount of follicular lumen even showed the phenomenon of fusion,forming a giant follicular or cystic cavity.Among the four groups of control group,low-fluoride group,moderate-fluoride group and high-fluoride group,with increased fluoride,TPO activity [ ( 1.572 ± 0.046), ( 1.414 ± 0.086), (1.322 ± 0.049), (0.960 ± 0.083)U/L] decreased,and the differences were statistically significant between the two groups(all P ＜ 0.05).With increased fluoride,the expression of TPO protein (0.335 ± 0.011,0.156 ± 0.027,0.084 ± 0.020,0.045 ± 0.002) decreased,and the differences were statistically significant between the two groups(all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusioons Long-term intake of excessive fluoride can inhibit the thyroid TPO activity and the expressions of TPO as well as thyroid hormone synthesis,and leads to histological changes in rat thyroid.

Objective To study the effect of long-term fluoride excess on the activity of thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and the expression of TPO mRNA in rat thyroid,and explore the underlying mechanism.Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups based on their body mass(n =10 in each group):control group,low-fluoride group,moderate-fluoride group and high-fluoride group,and rats were fed on water containing 0.40(tap water),15.00,30.00 and 60.00 mg/L NaF,respectively,eating ordinary food formulated feed.All rats were sacrificed 180 days afterwards.Serum FT3 and FT4,TPO activity and mRNA expression level were determined by radio-immunoassay,modificd guaiacol method and semi-quantitative RT-PCR,respectively.Results Although serum FT3 levels in low-fluoride [(3.62 ± 0.47)pmol/L],moderate-fluoride [(3.57 ± 0.55)pmoi/L]and high-fluoride [(3.30 ± 0.68)pmol/L]treated groups were decreased compared with the control[(3.64 ± 0.45)pmol/L],the difference was not statistically significant (P ＞ 0.05).Serum T4 levels of the high-fluoride group [(8.64 ± 1.72)pmol/L]were significantly lower compared with other groups[(13.08 ± 1.69),(12.68 ± 1.32),(12.05 ± 1.43)pmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05].TPO activity in control,low-fluoride,moderate-fluoride and high-fluoride-treated groups[(1.572 ± 0.064),(1.414 ± 0.086),(1.322 ± 0.049),(0.960 ± 0.083)U/L]was decreased with the dose of fluoride increasing,the difference was statistically significant between any two groups(all P ＜ 0.05).The TPO activity was negatively correlated with the dose of fluoride(r =-0.955,P ＜ 0.05).With increased fluoride,the expression of TPO mRNA (0.936 ± 0.160,0.368 ± 0.095,0.115 ± 0.018,0.016 ± 0.008) decreased,the difference was statistically significant between any two groups (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Chronic fluoride excess inhibits the activity and the expression of TPO as well as thyroid hormone synthesis.

Objective To observe the time-dependent changes of astrocytes and microvessels in the ischemic core and surrounding areas.Methods Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)was measured by HE,and CD31 by immunohistochemistry as markers in post-mortem specimens from ten patients,who died of cerebral infarction.Results Each section of the infarcted brains was divided into four areas (the area 0-3).GFAP expressed a little in area 0 and 1,increased in a time-dependent manner in area 2 and 3;CD31 die not expressed in area 0,expressed a little in the area 1,and increased in area 2 and 3 continuously.Conclusions The proliferation of astrocytes and microvessels may play a significant role in the process of restoration after cerebral infarction.

Objective To investigate the application value of CEUS combined with biopsy in qualitative diagnosis of pe ripheral pulmonary lesions.Methods A total of 158 patients with peripheral pulmonary lesions underwent percutaneous puncture biopsy.Among them,97 cases underwent CEUS before biopsy (experiment group),and 61 cases underwent conventional ultrasound (control group).Puncture times,positive rate of samples pathological diagnosis and occurrence rate of complications were compared between the two groups.The time intensity curve (TIC) was used to obtain the rise time (RT),time to peak (TTP),wash-in slope (WIS) and peak intensity (PI).The parameters of TIC between the two groups were compared.The enhanced morphology of lesions was also observed and recorded.Results The positive rate of samples pathological diagnosis was 94.85 ％ (92/97) in experiment group and 83.61％ (51/61) in control group.The difference of the positive rate was significant between the two groups (P=0.02).In experiment and control group,the average puncture times were 2.11±0.48 and 2.20±0.44;While the occurrence rate of complications were 2.06％ (2/97) and 4.91％ (3/61).No significant difference was found of the average puncture times and the occurrence rate of complications between the two groups (both P＞0.05).While the statistical differences of RT,PI and WIS were found between benign and malignant lesions (all P＜0.05) in experiment group.And no statistical difference of TTP was found (P =0.08).Totally 77.50％ (31/40) of the benign lesions showed inhomogeneous enhancement,while the proportion was 88.46％ (46/52) in malignant lesions.There was no statistical difference of enhanced morphology between benign and malignant lesions (P=0.16).Conclusion CEUS is helpful in distinguishing benign and malignant peripheral pulmonary lesions.And it has great value in guiding percutaneous biopsy in peripheral pulmonary lesions.

AIM: To observe the effects of carvedilol on murine viral myocarditis model. METHODS: A total of 188 inbred male BALB/c mice of 4-6 weeks were divided into 4 groups: myocarditis group (group C, n=60), metoprolol treatment group (group M, n=60), carvedilol treatment group (group K, n=60), control group (group B, n=8). Myocardial histopathololgic changes were observed. The concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTn-I) were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). Western blotting was performed to analyze the contents of phosphorylated p38MAPK in myocardium. RESULTS: Metropolol and carvedilol lightened myocardial histopathololgic changes at acute stage, decreased cTn-I concentrations and myocardial phosphorylated p38MAPK value compared with myocarditis group. Treatment with carvedilol was more effective than treated with metropolol on those indexes. CONCLUSION: Carvedilol protects against viral myocarditis by inhibition of p38MAPK signal transduction pathway through blockade of β_1 and β_2 adrenergic receptors.

ObjectiveTo discuss the interaction of pregnancy and myasthenia gravis(MG) and the management of pregnancy with MG.MethodsSeven cases of pregnancy with MG in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were analyzed retrospectively,with respect to the therapy of MG,pregnancy complications and outcomes.Results Totally 38 683 pregnant women were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital between Oct.1983 and Oct.2010.Among them there were 9 patients suffered from MG,with the incidence of 0.023％.Two pregnancies were terminated because of personal reasons,and seven continued.( 1 ) Onset of MG:in the 7 cases,6 were diagnosed before conception,with the mean course of 5.9 years.The other one occurred in the third trimester.(2) Management:all the cases were under close surveillance during pregnancy.Four women took thymectomy before conception,and one of them kept taking medication after surgery. In those who received thymectomy,3 cases remained stable and 1 case worsened during prenancy.The latter one took medication at 33 weeks,and continued to full term.MG exacerbated in the other three women who had not undergone thymectomy before conception.Among them, one woman complicated with systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis delivered the baby at 31 weeks.(3) Delivery and neonatal outcomes:cesarean deliveries were performed in 5 cases and the other two underwent vaginal deliveries.All the newborns were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit for surveillance.There were three smaller than gestational week (SGA) infants.No MG was observed in newborns.ConclusionsPatients with MG should have an overall evaluation before conception.The course of MG during pregnancy is unpredictable.They may get a promising outcome under the control of a multidisciplinary team including obstetricians and neurologists.Newborns should be carefully monitored for sings of transitory MG in the department of pediatrics.

In order to culture the qualified clinicians, we should think about how to improve the quality of clinical practice of obstetrics and gynecology. It is of great importance to emphasize the teachers and students to value the teaching work together. Importance should be attached to the advantage of subject of academy, to make the clinical practice closer to practical, which has a perfect effect and will benefit our work.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To observe the effects of TNF-α/nuclear factor-κB( NF-κB) /matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) pathway on the expression of MMP-2 in the mice with viral myocarditis.METHODS: Six-week-old inbred male mice were randomly assigned to control and myocarditis group.The mice in myocarditis group and control group were intra-peritoneally inoculated with 0.1 mL 10-5.69 TCID50 /mL coxsackievirus B3 and vehicle (PBS), respectively.Ten mice were sacrificed at the 4th and 10th days after injection.The blood and heart specimens were harvested.The serum content of TNF-αwas measured by ELISA.The myocardial levels of MMP-2, NF-κB p65 and IκBαwere determined by Western blot.RESULTS: Compared with control group, the protein expression of MMP-2 and NF-κB p65 in the myocardium and the serum content of TNF-αwere significantly increased in myocarditis group (P <0.05).The protein expression of IκBαwas lower in myocarditis group than that in control group (P <0.05).CONCLUSION: TNF-α, NF-κB p65 and MMP-2 were higher in the mice with acute viral myocarditis.The increased expression of them might be involved in the pathogene-sis of viral myocarditis.

Background and purpose: Researches demonstrated that the butyric acid sodium salt (sodium butyrate, NaB) has effect on the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis-promoting, while the mechanism on salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma(SACC) is still uncertain. This study mainly probed into the impact of different concentration of sodium butyrate on the migration and invasion of SACC cell line ACC-M, and its mechanism of action. Methods:MTT assay explored the optimal concentration of sodium butyrate on the cell ACC-M and the observation of cell growth. Transwell assay was used to detect the effects of sodium butyrate on the ACC-M cells on the aspact of invasion and migration ability. Fluorescence real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to test respectively the expression of HMGB1, TLR4 mRNA and protein in ACC-M after functioned by 5 group drugs with different concentrations. Results:Compared with the control group, on the one hand, the concentration 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 mmol/L of sodium butyrate could effectively inhibit cell proliferation and apparently showing concentra-tion-dependence (P<0.05);On the other hand, 5 sets concentration of sodium butyrate could also effectively inhibit invasion and migration ability of ACC-M cells in vitro (P<0.05), as well as reducing the expression of HMGB1, TLR4 mRNA and protein in ACC-M cells (P<0.05). Furthermore related analysis showed that the decline of TLR4 protein expression was positively correlated with inhibition of HMGB1 (r=0.810, P<0.05). Conclusion:Sodium butyrate has an effect on inhibiting ACC-M cell proliferation, signiifcantly reducing ACC-M cell invasion and migration capabilities, and reducing expression of HMGB1, TLR4 mRNA and protein, and both expression amount are positively correlated, Meanwhile the positively correlation suggests that sodium butyrate probably achieve the inhibition ability by lowering the expression of HMGB1, TLR4 mRNA and protein in ACC-M cell.

Aim To investigate the expression of stro-mal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) in rat pulmonary arterial hypertension ( PAH ) tissues and effects of STIM1 on arterial muscle cells proliferation. Methods PAH was induced by a single intraperitoneal injec-tion of MCT at a dose of 60 mg·kg - 1 . The mRNA or protein expressions of STIM1 in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertensive rats were measured by real-time PCR or Western blot, respectively. The arterial smooth muscle cells A7R5 were transiently transfected with STIM1 plasmids to prepare STIM1 overexpressed cells. Cell proliferations were detected by using CCK-8 kits. The expressions of Akt/ mTOR pathway molecules of A7R5 were measured by Western blot. Results The right ventricular systolic blood pressure ( RVSP) and right ventricular mass index ( RVMI ) were markedly elevated in MCT-treated rats (P < 0. 01) in comparison to control rats. The mRNA and protein ex-pression levels of STIM1 in monocrotaline-induced pul-monary hypertensive rats were 2. 19 and 1. 66 folds of control rats, respectively. STIM1 were transiently over-expressed in cultured A7R5. Cells transfected with STIM1 grew more quickly than non-transfected control. Overexpression of STIM1 significantly increased the phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, p70-S6K, and 4E-BP1, but did not change their protein expression lev-els. Conclusion STIM1 are over-expressed in rat PAH tissues. Overexpression of STIM1 can promote ar-terial smooth muscle cells proliferation by regulating Akt/ mTOR pathway.