Objective To investigate the MR imaging technique and features of acute radiation- induced hepatic injury with superparamagnetic iron oxide(SPIO)enhancement in a rabbit model.Methods On the 10th day after half-liver single 40 Gy X-ray irradiation,MR imaging before and after SPIO administration and pathologic study of 12 adult rabbits were performed.Results On the 10th post-irradiation day,TSE T_2 WI before SPIO enhancement,the irradiated liver of two rabbits showed relatively higher signal, and 1 showed slightly lower signal.With SPIO enhancement,the irradiated livers of 9 rabbits were found to be abnormal,manifesting as higher or slightly higher areas on multiple MR imaging sequences,especially the TFE T_1 WI sequence.Histological specimen with HE stain under light microscopy revealed occlusive injury of central veins(veno-occlusive disease,VOD)in each irradiated liver to some extent.Electron microscopy investigation of the irradiated liver disclosed intracellular edema,fibrin deposition,and widening of the Disse-space.Conclusion The early pathologic feature of the irradiated liver is occlusive injury of the central vein.MR imaging with SPIO enhancement is effective to valuate the early irradiation-induced liver injury.

Adolescent ; Exercise Tolerance ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oxygen Consumption ; physiology ; Swimming ; physiology ; Young Adult

Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; genetics ; Humans

Objective To explore whether miR-29a can influence the phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by inhibiting expression of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4). Methods Rat VSMCs were cultured primarily. The luciferase reporter system was used to verify whether KLF4 is the target gene of miR-29a. VSMCs were divided into miR-29a-transfected expression plasmid group, transfection-negative expression plasmid group, and no-transfection group. The expression of KLF4 and VSMC contractile phenotype protein levels were determined by Western blotting. The proliferation of VSMCs was analyzed by3H thymidine-incorporation assay. Results The lucierase activity was significantly decreased in wild-type KLF4 luciferase report gene and miR-29a expression plasmid co-transfection group. The KLF4 protein expression level (0.36 ± 0.02) was significantly lower in miR-29a-transfected expression plasmid group than that in untransfected and transfection-negative expression plasmid group (1.52 ± 0.06, 1.55 ± 0.05, respectively, P<0.01). Meanwhile, compared with untransfected and transfection-negative expression plasmid groups, the contractile phenotype associated protein SM-MHC, SM-22α, calponin expression levels were increased, while the proliferation capability was decreased in miR-29a-transfected expression plasmid group. Conclusion MiR-29a targets KLF4 and inhibits its expression, thus maintains contractile phenotype of VSMCs, and reduces the cell proliferation ability.

AIM:To investigate the clinical effect of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs combined with laser photocoagulation for diabetic macular edema (DME).METHODS: Totally 94 patients (141 eyes) with DME from June to December 2015 in our hospital were selected and randomly divided into combined group of 47 cases (68 eyes, ranibizumab combined with laser therapy) and the control group of 47 cases (73 eyes, laser treatment).The levels of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), macular central retinal thickness (CRT), total macular volume (TMV) and macular edema level were compared between the two groups at different time after treatment.RESULTS: The mean values of BCVA in the combined group were higher than those in the control group at 2, 6 and 12wk, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).At 2, 6 and 12wk after treatment, the CRT and TMV values of the combined group were lower than those of the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).After treated for 12wk, patients with macular edema of combined group was 80.9% in mild level, 17.7% in moderate level, 1.5% in severe level, those of the control group was 60.0%, 31.5%, 5.5%, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: The effect of anti-VEGF drugs combined with laser therapy for DME patients is better than that of single laser therapy alone.

Objective To survey and analyze characteristics of brucellosis epidemic in Weinan city of Shaanxi province for the purpose of setting up prevention and control measures for the disease. Methods According to "The Executing Plan for the Work of Surveying Brucellosis Disease in Shaanxi Province", 35 villages(towns) of designated monitoring locations and 24 villages (towns) of randomized monitoring locations in five countries of Weinan were chosen to survey brucellosis disease. The five countries were Chengcheng, Dali, Heyang, Tongguan and Hancheng. High risk populations with a history of contacting livestock and livestock products aged between 7 and 60 underwent clinical and serology examination[rose bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) and standard tube agglutination test(SAT)]. All manipulation methods and judging standards were in accord with the "Diagnostic Standard for Brucellosis" (WS 269-2007). Results In the designated monitoring location, a total of 8664 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 1407 people were tested by RBPT test and 27 people were positive,the positive rate was 1.92%(27/1407); 27 people were tested by SAT test and 27 people were positive, the positive rate was 100% (27/27); 25 people were diagnosed and the diagnosis rate was 92.59%(25/27). In the randomized monitoring location, a total of 3464 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 411 people were tested by RBPT test and 3 people were positive, the positive rate was 0.73%(3/411 ), 3 people were tested by SAT test which were all positive and made a definite diagnosis. Twenty-eight new cases were made a definite diagnosis and its incidence was 2.06 in a hundred thousand(28/1 361 618). Conclusions The infection of human brucellosis in Weinan city stays at higher level. The governments should increase input for the monitoring,investigating and disinfecting to prevent the disease from increasing and outspreading.

Objective: To establish a method for isolation and purification of fetal membrane derived adherent cells (FMDACs) , and investigate their biological characteristics. Method: FMDACs were isolated with trypsin inducing and cultured in vitro. FMDACs were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts and adipocytes. FACS and immunocytochemistry technique were used to examine the cell surface antigen. The genetic stability was verified by karyotype analysis. Results: FMDACs were successfully isolated and expanded in vitro. They had strong proliferative ability. FMDACs were positive for CD44 and CD29, but negative for CD34, CD14 and CD45. FMDACs were differentiated into osteoblasts and adipocytes after inducement. The karyotype was stable in the sixth-passaged FMDACs and the tumorigenicity was not found. Conclusion; FMDACs have the possibility of multipotent stem cells, which have strong capacities of self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation. The genetic background of FMDACs is stable. FMDACs may be used as a kind of novel seed cells for tissue engineering.

OBJECTIVETo localize susceptibility loci in Chinese systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cohort by linkage disequilibrium mapping the genomic interval in human chromosome 16 so as to understand whether the pathogenesis of human SLE is related to chromosome 16.

METHODSFive microsatellite markers in chromosome 16 spanning from 57.79 cM to 65.1 cM were used for fluorescence based genotyping in 157 SLE families. Evidence for linkage disequilibrium was assessed using the extended transmission disequilibrium test (ETDT) program and Genehunter software. Susceptibility gene was searched in the positive locus, and real-time PCR method was used to detect gene expression.

RESULTSWith the ETDT, evidence for linkage disequilibrium of the marker D16S409 (P=0.0278) and D16S517 (P<0.0001) with SLE were found. It was observed that 271 bp allele of D16S517 was much in evidence for preferential transmission, while 277 bp allele was found to be transmitted less often than expected. Genehunter analysis is concordant with ETDT. By real-time PCR, OAZ(OLF1/ EBF-associated zinc finger protein) gene which is located in the positive locus showed higher expression in SLE patients than in normal controls.

CONCLUSIONResults reveal that 16q12 (58.46 cM) is associated with Chinese SLE. OAZ is a likely susceptibility gene in this locus for SLE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 ; genetics ; Cohort Studies ; DNA ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; genetics ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) silencing on EPCs cell cycle.

METHODSRat bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were isolated and cultured in L-DMEM with 20% FBS. Ad-si/rSTIM1 and Ad-hSTIM1 were then transfected into EPCs and the expression of STIM1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The cell cycle was determined using flow cytometry analysis and intracellular free Ca2+ was measured using LSCM. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed to examine the interaction between STIM1 and TRPC1. Protein levels of inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate were analyzed with ELISA assay.

RESULTSForty-eight hours after transfection, the expression of STIM1 mRNA was significantly downregulated (0.37 +/- 0.02 vs. 1.00 +/- 0.02, P < 0.05) and intracellular free Ca2+ level was significantly reduced (34.07 +/- 4.10 vs. 86.51 +/- 14.12, P < 0.05) in Ad-si/rSTIM1 group compared with control group. The cell cycle was arrested at G1 phase [(90.91 +/- 1.10)% vs. (77.10 +/- 0.56)%, P < 0.05] and the store-operated channel entry was strikingly inhibited in EPCs after treatment with Ad-si/rSTIM1. However, cotransfection of Ad-hSTIM1 with Ad-si/rSTIM1 significantly reversed these responses. Interestingly, co-immunoprecipitation study showed that STIM1 co-precipitated with TRPC1, and IP3 levels measured by ELISA were similar among three groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONsiRNA-mediated knockdown of STIM1 inhibited EPCs proliferation by reducing intracellular free Ca2+ through TRPC1-SOC signaling pathway.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Gene Silencing ; Genetic Vectors ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 ; Transfection ; Transient Receptor Potential Channels ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the conventional cytogenetic methods in genetic diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis in the family with a proband of Angelman syndrome (AS).

METHODSHigh-resolution G-banding karyotyping and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on metaphase chromosomes were performed.

RESULTSTwo AS patients and 1 normal fetus in the family were successfully detected by FISH.

CONCLUSIONOur result demonstrated that patient with type I AS could be detected by combining the techniques of high-resolution G-banding and FISH with clinical observation, which would offer accurate genetic counseling information to the geneticists and provide the prenatal diagnosis for the AS family.

Adult ; Angelman Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis