Objective To investigate the clinical significance of prenatal ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of fe?tal digestive tract development. Methods Twenty-nine cases of congenital digestive tract malformation were examined in according to the different characteristics of their different fetal ultrasound images. Results There were 11 cases with non-magenblase or less magenblase (37.93%), 4 cases with combination of multiple malformations, and 9 cases with combination of amniotic fluid in the 29 cases. There were 7 cases (24.14%) with dilatation of intestine and intestinal vesicles, in which 3 with multiple malformations and 3 with polyhydramnios. There were 8 cases (27.58%) with double bubbles, in which 1 case with multiple malformations and 7 cases with amniotic fluid. Conclusion The prenatal ultrasound examination in 30 to 32 weeks of pregnancy is very valuable in diagnosis of fetal digestive tract development, which is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To explore the investigate of X-chromosome-linked inhibitor of apoptosis pro- tein(XIAP)and its effect on chemotherapeutic sensitivity in bladder carcinoma.Methods Using immu- nohistochemistry methods,the expression of XIAP was evaluated in 47 bladder carcinomas and 6 normal bladder tissues.The XIAP gene was transfected into bladder cancer cell line T24 by liposome and the positive clone was screened by G418.Cellular XIAP mRNA level was detected by RT-PCR.The apoptosis of T24 cells was induced by low-dose of mitocycin C(0.005 mg/ml and 0.05 mg/ml,respectively).The in vitro cellular growth activities were assayed by MTT color imetry;and the apoptosis rate was assayed by TUNEL methods. Results The expression rate of XIAP was 78.7%(37/47)in bladder carcinoma samples,with no corre- lation with carcinoma stages and grades(P＞0.05).XIAP mRNA level in transfected T24 ceils was signifi- cantly increased by 3.8 times.Treated with 0.005 mg/ml and 0.05 mg/ml of mitomycin C,the growth rates of XIAP transfected T24 cells were increased [(11.60?0.25)% and(16.51?0.87)% ,respectively,P＜0.05];and the apoptosis rates were decreased [(10.1?0.2)% and( 11.9?0.2)% ,respectively,P＜0.05]compared with those in control cells.Conclusions XIAP is highly expressed in humun bladder car- cinoma samples.Overexpression of XIAP in T24 cells results in decrease in bladder carcinoma cell apoptosis induced by MMC,which may decrease the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of T24 cells.

The effects of over-expression of testis-specific expressed gene 1 (TSEG-1) on the viability and apoptosis of cultured spermatogonial GC-1spg cells were investigated, and the immortal spermatogonial cell line GC-1spg (CRL-2053™) was obtained as the cell model in order to explore the function of TSEG-1. We transfected the eukaryotic vector of TSEG-1, named as pEGFP-TSEG-1 into cultured spermatogonial GC-1spg cells. Over-expression of TSEG-1 inhibited the proliferation of GC-1spg cells, and arrested cell cycle slightly at G0/G1 phase. Transfection of TSEG-1 attenuated the transcript levels of Ki-67, PCNA and cyclin D1. In addition, over-expression of TSEG-1 induced early and late apoptosis, and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential of GC-1spg cells. Moreover, transfection of TSEG-1 significantly enhanced the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and transcript levels of caspase 9, and decreased the expression of Fas and caspase 8 in GC-1spg cells. These results indicated over-expression of TSEG-1 suppresses the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of GC-1spg cells, which establishes a basis for further study on the function of TSEG-1.

Objective To explore the correlation between the ultrasonographic characteristics and cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Methods The clinical data of 320 PTC patients operated on from Oct 2014 to May 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.The correlation between age,sex,ultrasonographic characteristicsa and cervical lymph node metastasis was evaluated by multivariate analyses.Results Multivariate analysis showed that males,nodular size ＞ 1 cm,microcalcification,irregular nodule margin,multifocality were risk factors for cervical lymph node metastasis.ROC curve analysis demonstrated important significance,which was drawn according to thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) and nodular size,with the area under ROC curve being 0.792.Conclusion Males,nodular size ＞ 1 cm,microcalcification,irregular nodule margin,multifocality are important indexes predicting cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with PTC.

Objective: To understand the status of health literacy and its associated factors among primary school students in Shandong Province. Methods: By using stratified cluster sampling method, 9 063 children in grade 1 to 3 from 5 cities in Shandong Province were investigated with self-designed questionnaire. Chi square and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze associated factors for health literacy. Results: Rate of proficient health literacy among grade 1-3 primary school students was 62.8%(5 689/9 063), with 75.6%(6 850/9 063), 56.3%(5 106/9 063) and 80.1%(7 261/9 063) in dimension of safety emergency, health care and disease prevention and control. Proficient health literacy was 47.7%(4 327/9 063), 88.3%(8 003/9 063) and 73.6%(6 672/9 063) in domain of health knowledge and concept, health behavior and health skills. Univariate analysis showed that the health literacy varied by gender, only-child in the family, grade, living area, cities, self-perceived academic performance, father educational attainment, mother educational attainment, father occupation and mother occupation(χ2=39.66, 161.09, 193.05, 89.23, 1 107.75, 196.35, 99.43, 74.39, 64.86, 16.70, P<0.01). Multivariate analysis found that gender, only-child in the family, grade, living area, city, self-perceived academic performance, father’ s occupation and educational attainment were positively associated with health literacy among elementary students. Conclusion High level of health literacy has been found among primary school students in Shandong Province, but varied in area and different demographic characteristics, which needs further specific intervention.

Objective: To investigate the sonographic characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC) and the preoperative prediction value for cervical lymphatic metastasis of PTMC. Methods: Three hundred and fifty-eight PTMC patients who were confirmed by pathology and accepted partly or totally thyroidectomy and neck dissection were collected to analyze the sonographic characteristics, all patients were classified according to multifocal carcinoma nodules and solitary carcinoma nodules; cervical lymphatic metastasis or not; the maximum diameter of carcinoma nodules. Univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis were used. Results: Compared with solitary PTMC, multifocal PTMC was prone to emerge blood flow signals, heterogeneity, cervical lymphatic metastasis(all P<0.05). By univariate analysis, the risk factors of cervical lymphatic metastasis in PTMC were multifocal lesions and the total maximum diameter >1 cm, irregular edge, irregular shape, microcalcification, capsular invasion(all P<0.05). With Logistic regression analysis, the independent risk factors of cervical lymphatic metastasis in PTMC were multifocality and capsular invasion. Combining multifocality and capsular invasion, which area under the ROC(AUC) was 0.807. Conclusions Combining multifocality and capsular invasion significantly improves the risk of cervical lymphatic metastasis in PTMC by ultrasonography.

Aim To investigate the protective effect of berberine(BBR)on mice with unilateral ureteral obstr-uction(UUO)and explore its mechanism.Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the sham group,UUO group,and BBR treatment groups(50,100 and 200 mg·kg-1),with eight mice in each group.Except the sham group,the other groups were subjected to left ureteral ligation to establish the UUO model.Af-ter modeling,the mice in the sham and UUO groups were fed normal saline,and the mice in the BBR treat-ment groups were fed(50,100,200)mg·kg-1 BBR by gavage for 14 days,respectively.Biochemical analy-zer was employed to detect the levels of serum creati-nine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN).HE,Mas-son,TUNEL and immunohistochemical staining were used to observe the pathological changes of renal tis-sue.ELISA was employed to detect the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in renal tissue homogenate.Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of NF-κB p65,TGF-β1 and CTGF in mouse kidney.Re-sults Compared with the UUO group,the levels of Scr and BUN in the BBR group were significantly reduced.Renal injury and interstitial fibrosis were alleviated.The expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines decreased in kidney.The expression of NF-κB p65,TGF-β1 and CTGF decreased.All results showed some degree of dose dependence.Conclusion Berberine has a sig-nificant protective effect on unilateral ureteral obstruc-tion mice,and the mechanism may be that BBR has the potential to inhibit NF-κB p65/TGF-β1/CTGF signa-ling pathway,thus reducing renal inflammation and fi-brosis.

This study is to explore the inhibitory effect of methyl jasmonate on cell proliferation and expression of XIAP and survivin of human neuroblastoma cell line BE(2)-C. After cultivation of 1 - 2 mmol x L(-1) jasmonates with BE (2) -C cells for 6 - 24 h, the growth inhibiting rates of BE (2) -C cells were studied by MTT colorimetry. Cell proliferation was detected by colony formation assay. Cell cycle phases were assayed by propidium iodide staining flow cytometery. Cell apoptosis was inspected by acridine orange-ethidium bromide fluorescent staining, Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining, and Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide staining flow cytometry. Expressions of cyclin D1, XIAP and survivin were determined by RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. Methyl jasmonate inhibited the growth of BE(2)-C cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After addition of 1, 1.5 and 2 mmol x L(-1) of methyl jasmonate for 24 h, the inhibiting rates of cell growth reached 20.6% - 85.5% (P < 0.01), and the IC50 was 1.35 mmol x L(-1). The cell cycles were arrested at S phase. A part of cells presented the characteristic morphological changes of apoptosis. The early apoptotic rates were 13.51%, 17.32%, 24.59% (P < 0.01) and the cell death rates were 29.36% , 54.73% , 75.52% (P < 0.01), respectively. The expression of XIAP and survivin mRNA were downregulated by 18.5% - 68.9% , 22.4% - 48.7% (P < 0.05), respectively, without change in that of cyclin D1. The results indicated that methyl jasmonate could significantly inhibit the growth of BE(2) -C cells through inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, downregulating the expression of XIAP and survivin might be one of its molecular mechanisms of action.
Acetates ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oxylipins ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; S Phase ; X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Mycoses ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Penicillium ; isolation & purification ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo clone the mouse testis specific gene TSEG-2 via a bioinformatic approach.

METHODSThe expressed sequence tags (EST) in the normal mouse testis were obtained from the online EST database ZooDDD. Their highly homologous EST sequences were retrieved through the dbEST database to construct contigs and spliced with the biomedical software Biolign. The corresponding exons and introns within the genome sequences were predicted with the software GeneScan. Primers were designed according to the open reading frame. RT-PCR was applied in cloning the cDNA of the novel gene from the mouse testis tissue and analyzing its expression patterns in the undescended testis and various organ tissues as well as in different developmental stages of the mouse testis. The sequencing results of TSEG-2 underwent bioinformatic analyses.

RESULTSThe novel mouse testis gene TSEG-2 was successfully cloned, with full-length sequence of 451 bp. The open reading frame was 267 bp, coding a protein of 88 amino acid residues, and demonstrated to be correct by RT-PCR. The expression of TSEG-2 was high in the mouse testis, regular in the testis cDNA samples of different postnatal days, and down-regulated in the cryptorchidism model. No obvious homology with other mouse cDNA was found for TSEG-2. The GenBank accession number EU079025 was achieved. Function prediction showed that mouse TSEG-2 was probably a soluble non-secretary protein located at chromosome 15qE3, or a nucleoprotein with 2 phosphorylation sites of protein kinase C (PKC) and 1 of casein kinase II (CK2).

CONCLUSIONA novel mouse testis specific gene TSEG-2 was successfully cloned, which could be down-regulated by cryptorchidism-inducible 17-beta estradiol. This has prepared the ground for further researches on the biological function and expression regulation of TSEG-2.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Pregnancy ; Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Testis ; metabolism