The patients with dedifferentiated thyroid carcinoma were induced by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA). The treatment was effective in 5 patients (5/9,55.6%), and 5 patients were benefited from following 131 I treatment(5/8, 62.5% ). Three patients(3/12,25.0% ) quitted because of neurological side-effects. It is efficacious to apply ATRA to induce dedifferentiated thyroid carcinoma and improve radio-iodine uptake and acquire benefit for patients, but clinic application of ATRA must be cautious.

Chuanniuxi (Radix Cyathule) is one of the most important geo-herb in Sichuan province, which adulterants are Hongniuxi (Cyathula capitata) and Huainiuxi (Achyranthes bidentata). In this paper Chuanniuxi and its adulterants were identified by SCAR markers. Nineteen populations from Tianquan, Baoxin, Huili and Jinkouhe were collected and their RAPD fingerprints were established. Based on the RAPD patterns, two polymorphic bands F300 and F500 were selected, recycled, cloned and sequenced. According to the sequences two pairs of sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) primers were designed and used to amplify all materials to prove the efficiency of identification of the different populations. Chuanniuxi and Huiniuxi could be distinguished by the primer SC-320, Chuanniuxi and Hongniuxi could be distinguished by the primer SC-495. Combining the two SCAR markers, Chuanniuxi, Hongniuxi and huainiuxi could be identified effectively and quickly.
Achyranthes ; genetics ; Amaranthaceae ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; Genetic Markers ; genetics ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Time Factors

BACKGROUNDMotor dysfunction is common in stroke patients. Clinical electrophysiological studies suggest that transsynaptic degeneration occurred in the lower motor neurons, while pathological evidence is lacked. This study aimed to combine the electrophysiological and pathological results to prove the existence of transsynaptic degeneration in the motor system after stroke.

METHODSModified neurologic severity score, electrophysiological, and pathological assessments were evaluated in rats before middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and at 24 hours, 7 days, and 14 days after MCAO. Paired and independent-sample t-tests were applied to assess the changes of electrophysiological and pathological data.

RESULTSCompound motor action potential amplitude in the paretic side was significantly lower than the nonparetic side at both 24 hours (61.9 ± 10.4 vs. 66.6 ± 8.9, P < 0.05) and 7 days (60.9 ± 8.4 vs. 67.3 ± 9.6, P < 0.05) after MCAO. Motor unit number estimation of the paretic side was significantly less than the nonparetic side (379.0 ± 84.6 vs. 445.0 ± 89.5, P < 0.05) at 7 days after MCAO. Until 14 days after stroke, the pathological loss of motor neurons was detected. Motor neurons in 14-day MCAO group were significantly decreased, compared with control group (5.3 ± 0.7 vs. 7.3 ± 1.8, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBoth electrophysiological and pathological studies showed transsynaptic degeneration after stroke. This study identified the asynchronization in changes of electrophysiology and pathology. The abnormal physiological changes and function impairment can be detected in the early stage and recovered quickly, while the pathological loss of motor neuron can be detected only in a later stage.

Animals ; Electrophysiology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Motor Neurons ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo characterize the profile of chromosomal imbalances of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Linzhou, the high prevalence area of Henan province.

METHODSComparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to examine 52 cases of primary SCC of esophagus.

RESULTSGains in part or in whole of chromosome 3q, 8q, 5p, 1q, 6q, 18p, 20q and losses of 3p, 1p, 9q, 19p, 4p, 8p were detected frequently in SCC (> 20%). Gain of 3q, 5p, 1q, 11q13-14 and loss of 4pq, 13q were all significantly correlated with pathologic staging (P < 0.05). Gains of 8q, loss of 4p were linked to nodal metastasis (P < 0.05). Gains of 2p and loss of 4pq, 11q14-qter were associated with distant organ metastasis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThese observations suggest that 3q, 8q, 5p, 1q, 6q, 18p, and 20q may contain SCC-related oncogenes; 3p, 1p, 9q, 19p, 4p and 8p may contain SCC-related tumor suppressor genes. It is likely that gain of 3q, 5p, 1q, 11q13-14 and loss of 4pq, 13q are the genetic aberrations critical for the development of esophageal carcinoma, whereas gains of 8q, 2p and loss of 4pq, 11q14-qter are considered later events associated with tumor progression and are thought to confer metastatic potential to esophageal carcinoma. Furthermore, nodal and distant organ metastases involve different genes.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization

In order to confirm the reasonability of designed recombinant exotoxin B7-1-Linker-PE40 and B7-2-Linker-PE40, their molecular biology characteristics, such as flexibility, antigenicity, hydrophilicity, epitope and secondary structure, were predicted by using a computer software GOLDKEY. It had been found that the recombinant fusion exotoxin had kept the epitope characterstics of B7-1, B7-2 and PE40, and had not got new epitope, and the antigenicity in flexible linker was extxemely low. The linker inserted in the recombinant fusion exotoxin had low epitope, low antigenicity and high flexibility. Compared to B7-1, B7-2 and PE40, there are several amino acid residues changes in B7-1-Linker-PE40 and B7-2-Linker-PE40, respectively, which might have some effect on secondary structure of the recombinant fusion exotoxins. Western blot analysis revealed that both B7-1-Linker-PE40 and B7-2-Linker-PE40 could bind specifically with antibodies against B7-1, B7-2 and PE40, respectively. The result of Western blot was consistant with the computer prediction that the recombinant proteins retain the antigenicity and spacial structure of B7 and PE40. It is suggested that both fusion proteins designed and constructed were resonable and computer analysis would be helpful for us to study the biological activity of the recombinant fusion exotoxin B7-1-Linker-PE40 and B7-2-Linker-PE40 and construct other recombinant proteins further.

Objective To explore the application value of quantitative assessment of emphysema using CT in CT subjective evaluation of normal population,and compare the quantitative parameters of emphysema among groups.Methods A total of 1 231 volunteers with negative results of subjective assessment in low dose CT screening were included in this study.The threshold of emphysema was set at -950 HU,and the total lung volume(TLV),total emphysema volume(TEV),emphysema index(EI)and 15th percentile lung density(PD15)were quantified.The presence of emphysema was defined by an EI higher than or equal to 5%.The volunteers were divided into different groups by gender and age,and the quantitative parameters were compared among different groups.Results A total of 102 cases of emphysema were detected in 1 231 volunteers,with a detection rate of 8.29%,with 76 male volunteers,accounting for 9.93%,and 26 female volunteers,accounting for 5.58%,respectively.There were statistically significant differences in TLV,TEV, EI and PD15 between genders and age groups,with TLV,TEV,EI higher and PD15 lower in male(P<0.001)and with TEV and EI higher in older than 60 years old group(P<0.001).Conclusion Quantitative assessment of emphysema using CT exhibites relatively high clinical value in CT subjective evaluation of normal population.There are statistically significant differences in the quantitative parameters of emphysema among different groups.

Objective To investigate the impact of quantitative measurement for lung volume using iterative model reconstruction (IMR),hybrid iterative reconstruction (iDose4 )and filtered back projection (FBP),and to compare the image noise between different reconstruction methods.Methods 70 subjects were performed with low-dose chest CT scan (Philips Brilliance 256 iCT),and the original data were reconstructed with IMR (algorithm:Routine,SharpPlus,Soft Tissue,level:1 - 3 ),iDose4 and FBP respectively.We set less than -950 HU as emphysema threshold,calculated the total lung volume (TLV),total emphysema volume (TEV),emphysema index (EI)and objective image noise (OIN),and then compared the quantitative parameters and OIN between different groups.Results All parameters showed a significantly statistical difference (P =0.000)except TLV (P =1.000).The TEV and EI are significant higher in IMR-S group than in other groups.The OIN in IMR-S-L1 group was the highest,and the FBP group was the second-highest.OIN in iDose4 group was lower than that in IMR-S groups but higher than that in IMR-R and IMR-ST group.Conclusion SharpPlus algorithm of IMR will affect the quantitative measurement of lung volume under low-radiation-dose condition,and the OIN in IMR-S groups is obvious.Therefore SharpPlus algorithm is not recommended for quantitative analysis of lung volume.The Routine and Soft Tissue algorithm will not affect the quantitative measurement,and can distinctly reduce the OIN compared with idose4 and FBP.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of in-situ split liver transplantation (ISSLT) in children.Methods From June 2015 to August 2018,10 liver grafts from DBD were split in-situ.All the donors were male,and the median age of the donors was 28.5 year old (18-48 year).One left half graft and 9 left lateral lobe grafts (including 2 reduced size grafts) were transplanted to 10 pediatric recipients.Four grafts were transplanted in our center,and the rest 6 grafts were shared to other two transplant center.The primary diseases of the recipients included biliary atresia (8/10),hepatic sinus obstruction syndrome (1/10) and Alagille syndrome (1/10).The median age of the recipients was 10 month (7 month-11 year),and the mean body weight was 9.8 ± 6.6 kg (5-28 kg).Results All liver grafts were split in-situ.The mean split time of liver grafts was 88.5 ± 18.9 min.The mean weight of split grafts was 336.7-± 85.4 g.All recipients were subjected to piggyback liver transplantation.Operation time was 542.5 ± 112.1 min.Anhepatic time was 52.0 ±-13.5 min.GRWR was (3.98 ±0.96)％.GRWR of two cases was more than 5％,so segment Ⅲ was partially reduced.During the follow-up period,9 cases were alive and 1 case died due to multiple organ failure 1 day after liver transplantation.Conclusions ISSLT can enlarge the graft pool for children and achieve good results.

OBJECTIVETo characterize the profiles of chromosome imbalance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) from the high incidence area in Henan.

METHODSChromosomal aberrations of 37 samples of SCC and 30 GCA were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization comparative genomic hybridization (CGH).

RESULTSIt was found that the most frequently detected gains were on chromosome arm 8q (78%), and followed by 3q, 5p, 6q and 7p. The most frequent loss was found on 3p (57%), and followed by 8p, 9q and 11q in SCC. For GCA, the most frequent gain was found on chromosome arm 20q (43%), and followed by 6q, 8q and 6p. The most frequent loss was on the chromosome 17p (57%), and followed by 19p, 1p and 4p.

CONCLUSIONThe present findings demonstrate that gains of 8q, 3q and 5p, and losses of 3p, 8p, and 9q are characteristic profile of chromosome imbalance in SCC, and the gains of 20q, 6q and losses of 17p, 19p and 1p are characteristic profile of chromosome imbalance in GCA, which provide important theoretic information for identifying and cloning novel SCC/GCA-related genes.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Cardia ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of apolipoprotein (apo) C1 (APOC1) gene rs4420638A/G and -317H1/H2 polymorphisms with the risk of pre-eclampsia (PE) and the influence of their genotypes on the clinical and metabolic indexes among Chinese women. METHODS: In total 289 PE patients and 824 women with uncomplicated pregnancies were included. The rs4420638A/G genotype was determined by a Taqman real-time PCR allelic discrimination assay. The -317H1/H2 genotype was measured through PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Serum lipid and apo levels were measured by an enzymatic kit and a PEG-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. RESULTS: Allelic and genotypic frequencies of the APOC1 gene rs4420638A/G and -317H1/H2 were not significantly different between the two groups (all P> 0.05). However, patients carrying the G allele of the rs4420638A/G locus had higher serum levels of triglyceride, non-HDL-C and apoB, and a higher apoB/apoA1 ratio compared with those with an AA genotype (all P< 0.05). Patients carrying the H2 allele of the -317H1/H2 polymorphism had smaller delivery gestational weeks compared with those with the H1H1 genotype (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION Polymorphisms of the APOC1 gene rs4420638 and -317H1/H2 sites may be associated with abnormal lipoprotein metabolism among Chinese patients with PE, though no association was found between variants of the APOC1 gene and the risk of PE among them.