Objective:To investigate the possibility of miR-125b in serum as a novel tumor marker for primary hepatocellular car-cinoma (HCC) and the diagnosis value of combined detection of miR-125b and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for HCC. Methods:We detected serum miR-125b expression of 65 cases of HCC patients and 30 cases of healthy controls by real-time quantitative PCR. Moreover, we analyzed the significance of miR-125b and explored the relationship between miR-125b and clinical pathological factors. Results:The level of miRNA-125b was down regulated in serum of HCC patients compared with healthy controls which showed significant differences (P<0.05). Furthermore, the expression of miRNA-125b has no distinct correlation with sex, age, HbsAg, AFP, ALT andα-GGT, which had no significant differences (P>0.05). The expression level of miRNA-125b correlated the difference with liver Cirrhosis, tumor size and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stages, which were considered significant differences (P<0.05). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis of serum miR-125b for the diagnosis of HCC yielded AUC of 0.917(95%CI:0.851~0.960, P<0.001)with 85.9%sensitivity and 93.5%specificity. The ROC curve analysis of combined miR-125b and AFP for HCC detection yielded AUC of 0.951(95%CI:0.894~0.982, P<0.001)with 92.9%sensitivity and 93.5%specificity. The ROC curve analysis of serum miR-125b as biomarkers for the group (AFP<20μg/L) of HCC yielded AUC of 0.889(95%CI:0.776~0.957, P<0.001)with 84.0%sensitivity and 87.1%specificity. Conclusion:Serum miRNA-125b combined with AFP has considerable clinical value for the early diagnosis of primary HCC.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of an intelligent three-dimensional ultrasound technique (Smart mid-sagittal planes,Smart MSP) in automatically detecting the fetal cranial mid-sagittal view.Methods Two hundred and forty pregnant women with singleton pregnancies were imaged to display the mid-sagittal view of fetal head using the Smart MSP by six doctors divided into three groups according the different experiences.Another two doctors were then invited to score the images acquired and to compare the successful rates of 6 doctors for acquiring fetal cranial mild-sagittal view according to the doctors' experience.Results The overall successful rate of acquiring the mid-sagittal view was 97.08％ (233/240) with the bipartial diameter plane (BPD plane) as the starting plane and 98.33(237/240) with the trans-cerebellum plane as the starting plane by using Smart MSP program.The successful rates in three groups were similar but the consumed times were different(P ＜0.05).The experienced doctors consumed less time than non-experienced doctors.The scores were also different in three groups.The scores of experienced doctors (group B and C) were significantly higher than that of non-experienced doctors (Group A) (P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the scores between experienced doctors (group B and C) (P＞0.05).Conclusions Smart MSP is a novel and feasible method for the automatic visualization of fetal cranial mid-sagittal plane,which may become an effective tool to screen the fetal midline anomalies in future.

Objective To predict the binding sites of transforming growth factor-βreceptor Ⅱ (TβRⅡ ) ectodomain and the aptamer S58 specifically targeted TβRⅡ ,and to confirm the structure stability of the aptamer S 58 in vitro .Methods We created three-dimensional structure by utilizing ssDNA aptamer sequences ,the crystal structure of the TβRⅡ was searched by protein data bank database .According to the results of the molecular docking experiments on aptamer S 58 and TβRⅡ ectodomain ,we sheared the aptamer sequences ,then verified its affinity respectively by biosensor technology and Western blot .Results Binding sites of aptamers S58 and TRβⅡ ectodomain included site Ⅰ(T4 ,T5 ,G6 ,C7) ,site Ⅱ(G13 ,A14 ,T15 ,C16 ,G17 ,C18 ) ,site Ⅲ (T31 ,G32 , T33 ,C34) and site Ⅳ(G40 ,A41 ,T42 ,T43 ,T44 ,G45 ,G46) .We validated the high affinity between aptamer S58 and TRβⅡ ectodo-main .The expression of α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) protein in the human tenon′s capsule fibroblasts was descended obviously after the experiment of the aptamer S58 in comparing with the control of DMEM (P< 0 .05) .But the new ssDNA by shear the aptamer ssDNA S58 according to the results were poor than aptamers S58 .Conclusion The aptamer S58 targeted TβRⅡ was high-ly specific with a certain stability ,any changing of structure will reduce the affinity of TβRⅡ .Computer-aided molecular docking technology has become an important means of an exploratory intermolecular interaction ,and can provides a good theoretical basis on medical research .

0.05). After dividing the patients into early-onset and late-onset subgroups, there were significant differences of DRD4 genotype and allele frequency between early-onset patients and controls (P0.05). Conclusion The results suggested that the polymorphism of DRD4 receptor gene may be associated with early-onset OCD. The 3/4 genetype may be the risk factor of early-onset OCD. Early-onset and late-onset OCD may have different etiology.

Background In China,esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) share susceptibility loci,but different rates of multiple primary cancer and male/female ratio suggest the proportion of familial cancer is not equal.Methods The percent of cases with a positive family history,median onset age,rate of multiple primary cancer,and male/female ratio associated with upper,middle,lower third ESCC and GCA were compared to reveal the proportion of familial cancer.The 7267 subjects analyzed constituted all ESCC and GCA cases in whom the cancer was resected with cure intention between 1970 and 1994 at the 4th Hospital of Hebei Medical University.Results A positive family history for cancer was most often associated with the multiple primary ESCC and/or GCA cases,e.g.with 42％ of the males and 59％ of the females.For upper,middle,lower third ESCC and GCA,the percent of cases with a positive family history decreased by 38.5％,26.3％,26.5％,and 11.2％ in males (P ＜0.000) and 25.0％,22.3％,23.9％,and 9.8％ in females (P ＜0.0001).Median onset age increased from 49,52,55,to 56 years old in males and from 50,53,55,to 56 years old in females (both P ＜0.0001) for upper,middle,lower third ESCC and GCA.Male/female ratio increased from 2.2,2.1,2.2,to 6.2:1 for upper,middle,lower third ESCC and GCA (P＜0.0001).For upper,middle,lower third ESCC and GCA,the percent of multiple primary cancers decreased from 21.2％,2.3％,2.2％,to 1.5％ in males and from 14.3％,2.4％,3.4％,to 3.1％ in females.The preponderance of males,smoking,drinking,or onset-age ≥50 years was significantly higher in GCA than in ESCC,and the difference in the rates of multiple primary cancers between the preponderant and the non-preponderant cases was significant in GCA,but not in ESCC,suggesting non-equal requirement for genetic susceptibility when environmental hazards did not exist.Conclusions The proportion of familial cancer in upper gastrointestinal carcinomas decreases by the priamry site of upper,middle,lower third esophagus and gastric cardia.Considering familial and sporadic cancers differ in preventability,screening strategy and recurrence,our findings have basic and clinical implications.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on mRNA expression of lung inflammatory cytokines and pulmonary pathological injury of mice infected by influenza virus, in order to discuss the mechanism of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines against pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of infected mice.

METHODIn different time phases after mice were infected with influenza virus FM1, the RT-PCR method was adopted to observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on five inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ, and the changes in pulmonary pathological injury of mice with viral pneumonia after intervention with tonifying qi traditional Chinese medicines.

RESULT(1) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines significantly reduced the mRNA expression of TNF-α at 1-5 d and IL-1 mRNA expression at 7 d, may increase IL-1 mRNA expression in mouse lung at 3 d, significantly reduced IL-6 mRNA expression in mouse lung and increased IL-10 mRNA expression at 3-7 d, and significantly increased IFN-γ mRNA expression at 1 d. (2) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines could significantly inhibited and repaired pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of mice infected by FM1, which was most remarkable at 3-7 d after the infection with influenza virus FM1.

CONCLUSIONTonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture could resist pulmonary immune inflammatory injury and repair inflammatory injury by regulating the mRNA expression of imbalance inflammatory cytokines of organisms infected with influenza virus.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; immunology ; Lung ; immunology ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology ; Bacteriophages ; chemistry ; Humans ; Receptors, Virus ; chemistry ; Vibrio cholerae ; virology

OBJECTIVETo determine carboxyatractyloside and atractyloside in Xanthii Fructus by HPLC.

METHODBy HPLC, Agilent ZORBAX SB-phenyl (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column was adopted, with acetonitrile-0.01 mol x L(-1) NaH2PO4 (pH 6) as the mobile phase for gradient elution at the flow rate of 1.0 mL x min(-1). The detection wavelength was 203 nm, and the temperature was set at 35 degrees C.

RESULTCarboxyatractyloside showed a good linearity within the range of 0.0972-1.944 microg and atractyloside showed a good linearity within the range of 0.1030-2.060 microg. The recovery rate of carboxyatractyloside was 100. 3% and that of atractyloside was 102.5%. The RSD were 0.67% and 1.4% (n=6).

CONCLUSIONThis method is so simple, practical and highly repeatable that is can be used for quality control of Xanthii Fructus.

Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Atractyloside ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Fruit ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo determine the relation between the apolipoprotein E(apoE) promoter -427C/T polymorphism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a Chinese Han population in Shanghai.

METHODSThe apoE promoter -427C/T polymorphism in 104 AD cases and 110 healthy subjects was detected using polymerase chain reaction method and restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping technique. The differences in polymorphic distribution between the two groups were tested, and odds ratio was computed.

RESULTSNo differences in apoE -427C/T genotypic distribution were observed between AD cases and controls (P>0.05). Even after stratification according to apoE epsilon 4 stratum, there was not any polymorphic distribution difference when epsilon 4 carriers or non epsilon 4 carriers were compared with controls (P>0.05). The association between AD and apoE epsilon 4 appeared in the TT group(OR=3.94,95%, CI:22067038, chi-square=21.48, P<0.05), but not in CT or CC group.

CONCLUSIONApoE -427C/T polymorphism was not a susceptibility factor for AD in this Han population in Shanghai.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; genetics ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

BACKGROUNDPulsed radiofrequency (PRF) application to the dorsal root ganglia can reduce neuropathic pain (NP) in animal models, but the effect of PRF on damaged peripheral nerves has not been examined. We investigated the effect of PRF to the rat sciatic nerve (SN) on pain-related behavior and SN ultrastructure following chronic constriction injury (CCI).

METHODSThe analgesic effect was measured by hindpaw mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL). Twenty rats with NP induced by ligating the common SN were then randomly divided into a PRF treatment group and a sham group. The contralateral SN served as a control. The MWT and TWL were determined again 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days after the PRF or sham treatment. On day 14, ipsilateral and contralateral common SNs were excised and examined by electron microscopy.

RESULTSIpsilateral MWT was significantly reduced and TWL significantly shorter compared to the contralateral side 14 days after CCI (both P = 0.000). In the PRF group, MWT was significantly higher and TWL significantly longer 14 days after the PRF treatment compared to before PRF treatment (both P = 0.000), while no such difference was observed in the sham group (P > 0.05). Electron microscopy revealed extensive demyelination and collagen fiber formation in the ipsilateral SN of sham-treated rats but sparse demyelination and some nerve fiber regrowth in the PRF treatment group.

CONCLUSIONSHyperalgesia is relieved, and ultrastructural damage ameliorated after direct PRF treatment to the SN in the CCI rat model of NP.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Neuralgia ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; therapy ; Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; Sciatic Neuropathy ; therapy