Objective To identify the miR-122 which regulateing GATA4 expression during the induction of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs) differentiating into cardiomyocyte-like cells. Methods BMSCs were isolat-ed from bone marrow and induced to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells using 5-azacytidine. The miR-122 which may regulate expression of GATA4 were predicted using miRanda and TargetScan softwares and identified by dual luciferase report system. The expressions of miR-122 and GATA4 were determined using q-PCR during the differentiation of bMSCs into cardiomyocyte-like cells. Results The induced cells were completely in contacted with adjoining cells and uniform in shape and aligned parallelly. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) expression was detected by immunofluorescence cytochemistry. Using dual luciferase reporter system in vitro, miR-122 were proved to be able to effectively inhibit GATA4 expression by binding the 3′UTR of GATA4 mRNA. q-PCR results showed that the expression of miR-122 is negatively correlated with that of GATA4 mRNA transcription. Conclusion These results indicated that miR-122 regulate the expression of GATA4 during the induction of cardiomyocyte-like cells.

Objective To explore the effect and safety of transcranial approach for spheno-orhital meningioma. Design Retro- spective case series. Participants Thirty-two patients being operated with transcranial approach. Twenty-four cases were meningothelial meningiomas, 3 cases were fibrous meningiomas, 1 case was psammomatous meningioma, 2 cases were atypital meningiomas, 2 case were malignant meningiomas. Methods All patients underwent frontal-temporal craniotomy, the involved sphenoid wing bone and peri- orbit were removed to prevent recurrence. The superior orbital fissure and optic canal were decompressed, the dural and periorbital de- feet were repaired by autogenous temporal fascia or artificial dura. Main Outcome Measures Preoperative and postoperative exoph- thalmus and eyeball movement, the extent of tumor resection, the ratio of recurrence. Results The extent of tumor resection: 8 cases were Simpson gradeⅡ, 20 cases Simpson gradeⅢ, 4 cases Simpson grade IV. After surgery, proptosis were improved in all patients, ophthalmoplegia was found in 6 eases. There was no operation-related death or other significant complication. Tumor recurred in 6 cas- es. Conclusions Adequate exposure of the tumor and bony decompression of the cranial nerves can result from transcranial approach, all the involved bone should be removed in order to prevent recurrence. This approach is relatively safe and the ptoptosis are improved significantly. Complete surgical resection is difficult because of the involvement of the orbital apex, superior orbital fissure and cav- ernous sinus.

Objective To-identify the factors associated with radiation-induced liver disease (RILD) and to describe the probability of RILD using the Lyman normal tissue complication(NTCP) model for primary liver carcinoma(PLC) treated with hypofractionated conformal therapy (CRT).Methods A total of 109 PLC patients treated with hypofractionated CRT were prospectively followed according to the Child-Pugh classification for liver cirrhosis,93 patients in class A and 16 in class B.The mean dose of radi- ation to the isocenter was (53.5?5.5) Gy,fractions of (4.8?0.5) Gy,with interfraction interval of 48 hours and irradiation 3 times per week.Maximal likelihood analysis yielded the best estimates of parameters of the Lyman NTCP model for all patients;Child-Pugh A and Child-Pugh B patients,respectively.Results Of all the patients,17 developed RILD (17/109),8 in Child-Pugh A(8/93 ) and 9 in Child-Pugh B(9/ 16).By multivariate analysis,only the Child-Pugh Grade of liver cirrhosis was the independent factor (P= 0.000) associated with the developing of RILD.The best estimates of the NTCP parameters for all 109 pa- tients were n=1.1,m=0.35 and TD_(50) (1)=38.5 Gy.The n,m,TD_(50) (1) estimated from patients with Child-Pugh A was 1.1,0.28,40.5 Gy,respectively,compared with 0.7,0.43,23 Gy respectively,for patients with Child-Pugh B.Conclusions Primary liver cancer patients who possess Child-Pugh B cirrho- sis would present a significantly greater susceptibility to RILD after hypofractionated CRT than patients with Child-Pugh A cirrhosis.The predominant risk factor for developing RILD is the severity of hepatic cirrhosis in the liver of PLC patients.

AlM: To monitor long - term changes of matrix metalloproteinase-2 ( MMP-2 ) in human tears fluid after laser in situ keratomileusis ( LASlK) .
METHODS: Thirty - two myopia cases ( 64 eyes ) underwent uneventful LASlK were enrolled in the study. Tear fluid were collected and MMP-2 expression was analyzed by Western - bolt assay preoperatively and postoperatively on 15d, at 1, 3mo, and 1a.
RESULTS:LASlK increased the concentration of MMP-2 in human tear fluid. At 15d postoperatively, the magnitude of MMP-2 was 1. 4 times that of preoperative, thereafter subsided, but didn't return to preoperative level by 3mo ( P < 0. 05 ). Up to 1a after surgery, the concentration of MMP-2 almost recovered (P>0. 05).
CONCLUSlON: MMP- 2 is significantly expressed in human tear fluid after LASlK, then subsided with time, but didn't return to preoperative level by 3mo and almost recovered up to 1a, indicating wound healing of LASlK would continue up at least 3mo after surgery and almost recovered 1a postoperatively.

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical significance and prognostic value of CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: The data of 205 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery was analyzed retrospectively. The association of CAR with the clinical features and prognostic value in gastric cancer was analyzed. The data of this study was combined with previous studies to further determine the prognostic value of CAR in patients with gastric cancer using a metaanalysis method. Results: Cox analysis revealed that preoperative CAR was an independent prognosis indicator in patients with gastric cancer. High expression of CAR indicated a shorter survival time than in those with lower expression. CAR has a higher prognostic value in the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival in patients with gastric cancer. CAR showed significant difference regarding the gastric cancer patients’ age, M stage, and clinical stage. The discriminate value of CAR in M stage of gastric cancer was high (area under the curve, 0.809). A meta-analysis combining previous data and our data showed that preoperative CAR demonstrated a significant association with the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer. Conclusion This study demonstrated that preoperative CAR could serve as an important prognostic indicator in patients with gastric cancer.

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical significance and prognostic value of CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: The data of 205 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery was analyzed retrospectively. The association of CAR with the clinical features and prognostic value in gastric cancer was analyzed. The data of this study was combined with previous studies to further determine the prognostic value of CAR in patients with gastric cancer using a metaanalysis method. Results: Cox analysis revealed that preoperative CAR was an independent prognosis indicator in patients with gastric cancer. High expression of CAR indicated a shorter survival time than in those with lower expression. CAR has a higher prognostic value in the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival in patients with gastric cancer. CAR showed significant difference regarding the gastric cancer patients’ age, M stage, and clinical stage. The discriminate value of CAR in M stage of gastric cancer was high (area under the curve, 0.809). A meta-analysis combining previous data and our data showed that preoperative CAR demonstrated a significant association with the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer. Conclusion This study demonstrated that preoperative CAR could serve as an important prognostic indicator in patients with gastric cancer.

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with Gleason score 10 prostate cancer treated by external radiotherapy and hormone therapy.
Methods From January 2003 to March 2014, 1832 patients with prostate cancer were treated, among which 9 patients (represented 0.49%) were identified as Gleason score 10 disease on prostate core biopsy without distant metastases when first diagnosed. All 9 patients were treated by whole pelvic external radiotherapy (The whole pelvic dose was 50.0 Gy and the boost dose ranged from 76.2 to 78.0 Gy) and long-term hormone therapy. We assessed the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes and treatment toxicities. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.
Results The median follow-up was 4.8 years. Six patients’ pre-treatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were lower than 20.0μg/L and three patients’ pre-treatment PSA levels were higher than 70.0μg/L. The median percentage of positive biopsy cores was 91%. Three, four and two cases were classified as T2c, T3a and T3b stage, respectively. Three cases were assessed as N1 stage. The 5-year biochemical failure-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, cancer specific survival and overall survival rates were 28.6%, 57.1%, 66.7%and 57.1%, respectively. Five patients experienced grade 1-2 acute gastrointestinal toxicities and six patients complained of grade 1-2 acute genitourinary toxicities. No bone fracture or cardiovascular disease was detected.
Conclusions Gleason score 10 prostate cancer on core biopsy is usually combined with other high risk factors. The pre-treatment PSA levels lie in two extremes. Timely and active treatments are urgent needed because unfavourable oncological outcomes are often presented.

OBJECTIVETo investigate HIV survival time and it's influencing factors among former commercial blood and plasma donors engaged in unsafe blood donation practices in China.

METHODSHIV/AIDS cases from 8 counties (districts) in 4 provinces confirmed prior to January 24, 2006 related with former commercial blood and plasma donors were selected and data regarding infection, AIDS progression, death, and influencing factors were retrospectively collected.

RESULTSIn 530 cases of HIV infection, 334 (63.0%) cases had developed AIDS, 168 (50.3%) had received antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 152 (29.0%) had died. For the 530 cases, there was an average (10.1 +/- 1.8) years of observation from time of infection. Among 166 AIDS patients not receiving ART, average survival was 9.1 years (95% CI: 9.1 - 9.4), with an 8 year survival rate of 52.0%. Among 168 AIDS patients receiving ART, average survival was 12.1 years (95% CI: 11.9 - 12.3), with a 12-year survival rate of 80.0%. In 3 years of ART, average survival was longer in the treatment group as compared to the no treatment group with a hazard ratio for death of 12.2. Univariate analysis showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) in AIDS patient average survival based on gender, age, location, ART status, and baseline CD(4)(+) T cells count. Results from multivariate COX-regression showed that highly active ant iretroriral therapy (HAART) was the strongest protective factor for prolonging AIDS patients' survival (HR = 13.3, P = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONAlthough there are many factors influencing AIDS patients survival, intervention with HAART is the principle measure to prolong survival and decrease the risk of death.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; etiology ; mortality ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Blood Donors ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have compared single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) in detection of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). The purpose of this study was to compare SPECT with EBCT in detection of CAD in patients with no MI.

METHODSOne hundred and forty-seven patients with suspected CAD underwent stress-rest (99)mTc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile ((99)mTc-MIBI) myocardial SPECT, cardiac EBCT and coronary angiography (CAG) within one month. Of them, 73 patients (aged 52.6 +/- 10.6 years old) with no history of MI were included in this study. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) was defined as a CT value >or= 130 HU within the boundary of coronary artery on EBCT.

RESULTSThere were 35 and 38 patients with or without CAD according to CAG. Ninety-six percent of the patients with abnormal SPECT and CAC had a coronary arteries stenosis >or= 50%, and 90.9% patients with normal SPECT and EBCT showed no CAD. The sensitivity of SPECT and EBCT in detection of CAD was comparable, and the specificity of SPECT (92.1%) was significantly higher than that of EBCT (55.3%) (P < 0.005). For the detection of individual coronary artery stenosis, both sensitivity and specificity of SPECT (75.0% and 93.7%) were significantly higher than those of EBCT (53.3% and 76.7%) (P < 0.025 and P < 0.005, respectively). In patients without chest pain, the sensitivity and specificity of SPECT (76.9% and 91.4%) were significantly higher than those of EBCT (23.1% and 69.0%) in detection of a coronary artery stenosis of >or= 50% (P < 0.01 and P < 0.005, respectively). However, in patients with chest pain, both sensitivity and specificity of SPECT were comparable to those of EBCT. In patients or= 50% (P < 0.005), and the specificity of SPECT was comparable to that of EBCT. In patients > 45 years old, the specificity of SPECT (94.3%) was significantly higher than that of EBCT (70.5%) (P < 0.005), and the sensitivity of SPECT was comparable to that of EBCT.

CONCLUSION(99)mTc-MIBI myocardial perfusion SPECT has higher accuracy than that of EBCT in detection of CAD in patients without MI.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Calcium ; blood ; Chest Pain ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Vessels ; chemistry ; Heart ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo identify novel genetic mutations in Chinese patients with congenital patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

METHODClinical data and peripheral blood specimens from a kindred spanning 3 generations in which 5 of 16 individuals had PDA and a cohort of 95 unrelated subjects with PDA were collected, and 100 unrelated healthy individuals were included as controls. The coding exons and flanking introns of TFAP-2B gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers. We aligned the acquired sequences with which publicized in GenBank by the aid of program BLAST. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify the parts of TFAP-2B and sequencing was performed on PCR products forward and reversely directly.

RESULTSequencing of TFAP-2B identified that there was a splice-junction in intron 3 [intron 3(+5)G > A] and a 60 bp deletion was found in exon 3 by nested PCR. Additionally, a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) where a transition of guanine (G) to adenine (A) was identified at 34 bp front of transcription initiation site in TFAP-2B gene. There were significant differences in the prevalence of alleles G and A between controls and PDA patients (Z = -2.513, P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONWe identified a novel splice-junction in TFAP-2B gene which might lead to hereditary PDA in a Chinese family. However, the mechanism by which this mutation results in PDA is still to be ascertained.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Transcription Factor AP-2 ; genetics