ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy and value of the ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of agenesis of the corpus callosum in the newborns.MethodsConventional cerebral ultrasound screening was performed in 8086 newborns admitted to NICU in our hospital from January 2012 to June 2014 and agenesis of the corpus callosum was suspected or conifrmed in 31 newborns. The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography was assessed through the com-parison between the results of ultrasonography and MRI.ResultsIn 31 cases with suspected agenesis of the corpus callosum, ultrasonography showed 14 cases of complete agenesis of which 13 cases had the same diagnosis with MRI except one case of partial agenesis, meanwhile, ultrasonography showed 16 cases of partial agenesis of which 15 cases had the same diagnosis with MRI except one case of complete agenesis. One case of abnormal corpus callosum determined by ultrasonography was diagnosed as partial agenesis by MRI. MRI showed there were other brain malformations in 14 cases.ConclusionsUltrasonography and MRI has a high consistency in the diagnosis of agenesis of the corpus callosum in neonates, so the former can be used as a routine screening and the latter can be used as a method of accurate diagnosis. A combination of both has an important role in early diag-nosis and clinical evaluation.

Objective: To assess the activity of cathepsin D (CAT-D) and alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) in blood in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis, and to explore whether these two enzymes could be served as serum biomarkers for cartilage degeneration. Methods: hTe activity of CAT-D and AAT in blood serum of 44 women and 26 men with hip or knee osteoarthritis was determined by the method of ELISA before total joint replacement and on the 10th day atfer the surgery. One hundred healthy volunteers were chosen as the control. All datawere analyzed by using SPSS19.0 sotfware. Results: Compared with the controls, the activity of CAT-D in patients with osteoarthritis was decreased by 25% (P<0.05) and 50% (P<0.05) before and atfer the surgery, respectively. hTe activity of AAT in the osteoarthritis patients before the surgery was not signiifcantly changed compared with the control group (P>0.05), but it was increased by 80% after the surgery than that in the control group (P<0.05). hTere was no signiifcant difference in the activities of 2 enzymes between hip and knee osteoarthritis (P>0.05). hTe gender, hypertension, diabetes and age did not affect the activities of the 2 enzymes (P>0.05). Conclusion: AAT might be a possible inflammatory indicator in the osteoarthritis. CAT-D and AAT enzymes are not affected by gender, age, hypertension and diabetes, etc, and they might be served as potential biomarkers for cartilage degradation.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of DTI for prostate cancer.Methods From October 2009 to December 2010,44 patients suspected of prostate cancer received MRI and DTI.The data of MRI and DTI were analyzed retrospectively.By histopathology,prostate cancer was proved in 16 patients,and benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH ) was proved in 28 patients.Differences in ADC and FA values between prostate cancer and BPH were compared by independent samples t test.Diagnostic accuracy of FA value and ADC value for prostate cancer was analyzed by using ROC curve,and the diagnostic threshold of FA value and ADC value for prostate cancer was determined.Results The mean FA value of the tumor regions and BPH were 0.308 +0.084 and 0.203 ±0.029,respectively.The mean ADC value of the tumor regions and BPH were (0.883 +0.192) × 10 -3 mm2/s and ( 1.408 ±0.130) × 10-3 mm2/s,respectively.There were statistically significant differences in ADC and FA values between tumor regions and BPH (t values were 4.833 and 10.779 respectively,P＜0.01).The ADC value area under curve of ROC was 0.996 (95％ CI was 0.984 to 1.007) ; the FA value area under curve of ROC was 0.904(95％ CI was 0.812 to 0.996) ; Combined the FA and ADC value area under curve of ROC is 0.996(95％ CI was 0.984to 1.007) ; Using the ADC value of 0.725 × 10 3 mm2/s as the ROC cut off point,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity were 100.0％ and 96.0％,respectively; Using the FA value of 0.311as the ROC cut off point,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was 100.0％ and 68.7％,respectively.Conclusion DTI imaging can provide valuable information for prostate cancer diagnosis and differential diagnosis,and improve the diagnosis ability of prostate cancer.

Objective To investigate the effects of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) on apoptosis and phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in endothelial outgrowth cells (EOCs). Methods The mononuclear cells were harvested from umbilical cord blood by ficoll density gradient centrifugation, and induced into EOCs and then expanded in vitro. The identified EOCs were treated with different concentrations of ADMA (0, 1, 5, 10, 20 μmol/L) for 48 h. The adherent cells were treated with 10 μmol/L ADMA,then different concentrations of JNK specific inhibitor SP600125 (0, 5,10,20 and 40 μmol/L) were added and incubated for 48 hours. Caspase-3 activity was measured by microplate reader. Apoptotic incidences of EOCs were quantitatively determined by flow cytometry. The expression of Caspase- 3 and phosphorylase-JNK (p-JNK) were detected by Western blot assay. Results The treatment of ADMA (1-20 μmol/L) significantly induced apoptosis in EOCs by enhancing Caspase-3 express and also induced phosphorylation of JNK (P<0.05). Meantime, the JNK specific inhibitor SP600125 could attenuate the apoptosis induced by ADMA during this process (F=6.733,P<0.05) and inhibit the expression of Caspase-3 and p-JNK. Conclusion ADMA can induce apoptosis in EOC, which may be achieved by activating JNK signal transduction pathway.

In our previous study, we identified a novel testis-specific expressed gene 2 (TSEG-2) from mouse testis. To further investigate its functions, 35 male Balb/c mice (8 weeks old) were divided into cryptorchidism group (n=20), sham group (n=10), and control group (n=5). In cryptorchidism group, the right testes were anchored to the inner lateral abdominal wall. In situ hybridization (ISH) was applied to measure the localization of TSEG-2 in mouse testis. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expression of TSEG-2 gene. Meanwhile, under the mediation of polyethylenimine (PEI), the recombinant vector pEGFP-TSEG-2 (n=5) or empty vector (mock, n=5) was transfected into the testis of male mice. The transfection efficiencies were measured under a fluorescence microscope. The apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was detected by terminal deoxynuleotidyl-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). The results showed that TSEG-2 was expressed in convoluted seminiferous tubules, more precisely, in spermatogonia and spermatocytes. As compared with sham and control groups, the TSEG-2 transcription was significantly enhanced (P<0.05) and was correlated with apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in cryptorchid testes (P<0.05). PEI was efficient in mediating transfection of TSEG-2 into seminiferous tubules of testis. One week post-transfection, intratesticular injection of TSEG-2 resulted in increased apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in vivo (P<0.05). These results indicate that TSEG-2 may participate in the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the pathogenesis of cryptorchidism.

Objective:To observe the effect of combined acupuncture and medication on hyperarousal state and serum copeptin(CPT)in patients with chronic insomnia(CI),and to explore its possible mechanism of action.Methods:A total of 70 CI patients meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method,with 35 cases in each group.The control group was given estazolam tablets before bedtime,1 mg/time,once a day.The observation group was treated with additional Yi Nao An Shen acupuncture therapy(acupuncture for benefiting the brain and tranquillization)on the basis of the medication treatment,4 times a week.After 4 weeks of treatment,the Pittsburgh sleep quality index(PSQI)score,insomnia severity index(ISI)score,pre-sleep arousal scale(PSAS)score,hyperarousal scale(HAS)score,and the change in serum CPT level were compared between the two groups.Results:During the study,there were 2 dropout cases in the observation group and 1 dropout case in the control group.After treatment,the PSQI,ISI,PSAS,and HAS scores and the serum CPT level in both groups decreased compared with the same group before treatment,and the intra-group differences were statistically significant(P<0.05).After treatment,changes in each above scale score and the serum CPT level in the observation group were much more significant and were statistically different from those in the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture plus medication can improve sleep quality,reduce the degree of insomnia,and regulate hyperarousal state in patients with CI,and its mechanism of action may be related to the down-regulation of serum CPT level.

Aim To explore the growth inhibition effects of jasmonates on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line,and to investigate its mechanisms.Methods After administration of 0.5~2.5 mmol?L-1 jasmonates for 6~24 hrs, the growth inhibition rates of SH-SY5Y cells were studied by MTT colorimetry.Cell cycle phases were assayed by propidium iodide staining flow cytometry. Cellular apoptosis was inspected by Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining and Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide staining flow cytometry.Gene expressions of PCNA, cyclin D1 and N-myc were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Results Jasmonates inhibited the growth of SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner,while the methyl jasmonate was the most efficient. After administration of 0.5 to 2.5 mmol?L-1 of methyl jasmonate for 24 hrs,the growth inhibition rates of cells reached 5.75%~88.7%(P

In our previous study,we identified a novel testis-specific expressed gene 2(TSEG-2)from mouse testis.To further investigate its functions,35 male Balb/c mice(8 weeks old)were divided into cryptorchidism group(n=20),sham group(n=10),and control group(n=5).In cryptorchidism group,the right testes were anchored to the inner lateral abdominal wall.In situ hybridization(ISH)was applied to measure the localization of TSEG-2 in mouse testis.Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expression of TSEG-2 gene.Meanwhile,under the mediation of polyethylenimine(PEI),the recombinant vector pEGFP-TSEG-2(n=5)or empty vector(mock,n=5)was transfected into the testis of male mice.The transfection efficiencies were measured under a fluorescence microscope.The apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was detected by terminal deoxynuleotidyl-mediated nick end labeling(TUNEL).The results showed that TSEG-2 was expressed in convoluted seminiferous tubules,more precisely,in spermatogonia and spermatocytes.As compared with sham and control groups,the TSEG-2 transcription was significantly enhanced(P<0.05)and was correlated with apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in cryptorchid testes(P<0.05).PEI was efficient in mediating transfection of TSEG-2 into seminiferous tubules of testis.One week post-transfection,intratesticular injection of TSEG-2 resulted in increased apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in vivo (P<0.05).These results indicate that TSEG-2 may participate in the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the pathogenesis of cryptorchidism.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling plays an important role in the regulation of cellular lipid metabolism and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, little is known about the role of the regulatory subunits of PI3K in lipid metabolism and NAFLD. In this study, we characterized the functional role of PIK3R3 in fasting-induced hepatic lipid metabolism. In this study, we showed that the overexpression of PIK3R3 promoted hepatic fatty acid oxidation via PIK3R3-induced expression of PPARα, thus improving the fatty liver phenotype in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mice. By contrast, hepatic PIK3R3 knockout in normal mice led to increased hepatic TG levels. Our study also showed that PIK3R3-induced expression of PPARα was dependent on HNF4α. The novel PIK3R3-HNF4α-PPARα signaling axis plays a significant role in hepatic lipid metabolism. As the activation of PIK3R3 decreased hepatosteatosis, PIK3R3 can be considered a promising novel target for developing NAFLD and metabolic syndrome therapies.
Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Fatty Liver ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mice ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Phenotype ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase

To study the expression and significance of the serine protease Omi/HtrA2 in prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. The expression of Omi/HtrA2 was assayed by means of immunohistochemical technique in 41 prostate cancer (Cap), 20 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 10 normal prostate (NP) specimens. Omi/HtrA2 expression was positive in 30 (73.17%) prostate cancer specimens, and the positive rate of Omi/HtrA2 was lower in well differentiated than in poorly and moderately differentiated groups (P＜0.05). By contrast, the cells in normal prostate and benign prostatic hyperplasia groups showed no or weak expression of Omi/HtrA2.Prostate cancer cells in vivo may need Omi/HtrA2 expression for apoptosis, and that Omi/HtrA2expression might be involved in prostate cancer development.