Objective:To explore the influence of treatment with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors ( sta-tins) on the expression profile of microRNAs ( miRNAs) in the plasma of patients with unstable angina ( UA) .Methods:The Taqman low-density miRNA array ( TLDA) and significance analysis of microar-rays ( SAM) were used to identify distinct miRNA expression profiles in the plasma of UA patients treated with long-term and regular statins ( UA receiving statins , n=6 ) compared with UA patients who had not received statins therapy before ( UA received no statins , n=6 ) .These differentially expressed miRNAs discovered in the profiling were further validated by real-time PCR in another 20 controls with non-cardiac chest pain , 26 UA patients received no statins , and 19 UA patients received statins .Results: By using TLDA and SAM , significantly decreased expression levels of 21 miRNAs were observed in the UA pa-tients receiving statins compared with those who received no statins ( fold change >3 and false discovery rate<0 .0001%) .The unsupervised hierarchical clustering based on miRNA expression clearly separa-ted the UA patients receiving statins from those who received no statins .Consistent with the profiling da-ta, the levels of 5 inflammation-associated miRNAs (miR-106b, miR-21, miR-25, miR-451, and miR-92a) were down regulated (P<0.05) in the UA patients receiving statins compared with those who re-ceived no statins.Conclusion: A group of inflammation-associated miRNAs, consisting of miR-106b, miR-21, miR-25, miR-451, and miR-92a, could be decreased by treatment with statins and may be used as a novel biomarker for effectiveness of statins therapy in patients with UA .

Objective To evaluate the clinical characters, management and prognostic factors of patients with differentiated invasive thyroid carcinoma (DITC). Methods The data were analyzed retrospectively for 114 DITC patients treated at Department of Head and Neck Surgery of Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan-Meier method, comparison among/between groups was performed using log-rank test, and multivariate analysis was carried out using Cox proportional hazard model. Results After surgery, 68 patients were with tumor residue. The 5-year and 10-year overall survival rate were 91.9% and 80.1% respectively in all patients, while the 10-year overall survival rate were 88.5% 、78.5% and 53.1% in no tumor residue group, micro-residue group and grossresidue group respectively. This study failed to prove that radiotherapy might improve the survival rate in patients with postoperative tumor residue. Multivariate analysis indicated that age, invasion to esophagus and recurrence predict the prognosis. Conclusion DITC may be treated mainly by surgical operation. Radical resection is the key factor in the treatment of DITC. Patients with DITC have a relatively poor prognosis.Age, esophagus invasion and status of tumor residue are the most important factors affecting the prognosis.

Objective To examine the iron content and the expression of hepcidin in early period after subarach-noid hemorrhage (SAH) in rats, and to explore the role of hepcidin in dysregulation of brain iron metabolism after SAH. Methods Totally 90 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into two groups:the sham-operation group and SAH group. The SAH model was established by single blood injection to prechiasmatic cistern. Immunohistochemical and Western Blotting were used to examine the expression of hepcidin at 12, 24, 48 and 72h after SAH. Meanwhile, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer was used to detect the iron content. Results Immunochemistry showed that hepcidin expression in rats in SAH group began to rise at 12 h(0.30±0.06)and gradually increased over time until 72 h(0.56±0.07)compared with the sham group(0.19±0.05). The expression of hepcidin was significantly higher in SAH group than in the sham group(F=31.911, P<0.05). Western blot showed that hepcidin expression in rats in SAH group began to rise at 12h(0.481±0.065) and gradually increased over time until 72h(1.627±0.143)Compared with the sham group(0.238±0.047). The expression of hepcidin was significantly higher in SAH group than in the sham group after SAH(F=147.314,P<0.05). Iron content in SAH group began to rise at 12h after SAH(58.50±9.19)and gradually increased until 72 h(99.34±7.68). The iron con-tents in SAH group were higher at every time points than those in sham group(43.51±4.59)(F=28.799,P﹤0.05). The ex-pression of hepcidin was correlated with the iron content in SAH group(r=0.914,P﹤0.01). Conclusion The increase in iron content following SAH is associated with the increased hepcidin expression.

To report the clinical, imaging, and pathological feature of a rare case of central precocious puberty with primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease(PPNAD), and to conduct a retrospective analysis of PPNAD with relevant literatures. The pubic hair was found in the child for more than one year. Physical examination showed Cushing′s syndrome. ACTH in blood decreased, cortisol rhythm was disordered, 24-hour urine free cortisol increased and the paradoxical increase of urine free cortisol after high dose dexamethasone suppression test. Adrenal enhancement computed tomography(CT)showed multiple small nodular shadows in bilateral adrenal glands. Gonadotropin releasing hormone(GnRH)stimulation test supported central precocious puberty and GnRH analogue was used to control the sexual development. PPNAD was supported by pathology result. The symptoms of Cushing′s syndrome were relieved partially after left adrenalectomy.

Objective To investigate the expression of regulators of G protein signaling(RGS), including RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 in OLETF rats, as well as the effects of metformin on these expressions. Methods LETO rats were used as control group. Eight-week-old male OLETF rats were assigned to two guoups randomly:model and trial(metfomin dose during 8~(th) to 22~(nd) weeks:300mg kg~(-1)·d~(-1);during 23rd to 28th weeks:400 mg·kg~(-1) ·d~(-1))groups. Expressions of RGS mRNA in aorta and heart werequantified by real-time PCR. Results RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 mRNA of the thoracic aorta and left ventricle were significantly higher in model group than in control group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, metformin significantly reduced their mRNA in trial group (P<0.01). Conclusions Upregulation of RGS2, RGS3 and RGS4 mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta and left ventricle of OLETF rats is in correlation with cardiovascular lesions; while downregulation of their expression is in correlation with the action of metformin.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Sanghuangporus sanghuang (SS) has various medicinal effects, including anti-inflammation and anticancer activities. Despite the extensive research on SS, its molecular mechanisms of action on lung cancer are unclear. This study examined the impact of an SS alcohol extract (SAE) on lung cancer using in vitro and in vivo models.MATERIALS/METHODS: Different concentrations of SAE were used to culture lung cancer cells (A549 and H1650). A cell counting kit-8 assay was used to detect the survival ability of A549 and H1650 cells. A scratch assay and transwell cell invasion assay were used to detect the migration rate and invasive ability of SAE. Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl2-associated X (Bax), cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinases 4 (CDK4), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3). Lung cancer xenograft mice were used to detect the inhibiting ability of SAE in vivo.Hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the effect of SAE on the structural changes to the tumor and the expression of Bcl-2, Bax, cyclin D1, CDK4, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in lung cancer xenograft mice. RESULTS: SAE could inhibit lung cancer proliferation significantly in vitro and in vivo without cytotoxicity. SAE suppressed the viability, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. The SAE treatment significantly decreased the proapoptotic Bcl-2/Bax ratio and the expression of pro-proliferative proteins Cyclin D1 and CDK4 in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, SAE also inhibited STAT3 expression. CONCLUSIONS SAE reduced the cell viability and suppressed cell migration and invasion in human lung cancer cells. Moreover, SAE also exhibited anti-proliferation effects in vivo. Therefore, SAE may have benefits in cancer therapy.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical symptoms and potential mutations in the PLA2G6 gene for a child with infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy.

METHODSClinical data of the patient was collected. The coding regions of PLA2G6 gene was subjected to Sanger sequencing using blood DNA from the patient and her parents.

RESULTSThe patient has presented with psychomotor regression and hypotonia, followed by development of tetraparesis. A novel homozygous mutation G68A in the PLA2G6 gene was found by DNA sequencing, while her parents were both heterozygous carriers.

CONCLUSIONThe psychomotor regression and tetraparesis of the patient was caused by infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy due to a novel homozygous mutation in the PLA2G6 gene, which was inherited from her parents.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Group VI Phospholipases A2 ; genetics ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Neuroaxonal Dystrophies ; diagnostic imaging ; genetics ; Radiography

Congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (CLAH) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder, which is characterized by adrenal insufficiency and 46, XY sex reversal. Two cases of CLAH with 46, XY karyotype exhibited male external genitalia were reported to explore the clinical and genetic features. A retrospective analysis of CLAH with relevant literatures was performed.

In order to effectively integrate scientific research data resources and improve data utilization, the National Clinical Medical Research Center had built a "3321" -integration big data sharing innovation platform. By providing full support to scientific research, sorting out the distribution mechanism of achievements, and formulating authority management norms, the big data platform had solved the weaknesses in data sharing ability, sharing willingness, and sharing security, giving full play to the effectiveness of the clinical research big data platform. By February 2022, the center had collected more than 1.04 million elderly patients data through the big data platform, as well as carried out 75 scientific research projects, and established 10 large population-based clinical research queues. The big data platform had realized full coverage of major diseases in the field of geriatric diseases, promoted the high-quality construction of the national clinical medical research center, and improved the scientific research and innovation ability of the cooperative units.

Objective:To analyze the patients′ clinical and genetic characteristics with pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and investigate the correlation between clinical phenotypes and genotypes.Methods:Twenty PHP patients were ascertained at Children′s Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2011 to July 2020. Clinical manifestation, laboratory examination and gene test results were retrospectively analyzed.Results:In these twenty patients, eighteen cases showed resistance to parathyroid hormone (PTH) and thirteen cases had Albright′s hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) phenotype. Gene abnormalities were found in all the twenty PHP patients, which included seven patients with GNAS gene variations (six frameshifts and one missense) and thirteen patients with GNAS gene methylation defects. Moreover, twelve children with both PTH resistance and AHO phenotype were clinically diagnosed as PHP-Ⅰa, meanwhile, seven carried GNAS variations and five had methylation abnormalities with a correct diagnosis of PHP-Ⅰb.Conclusions:Patients with AHO phenotype and PTH resistance may have a high genetic diagnosis rate. Because PHP-Ⅰb clinical phenotype may be similar to PHP-Ⅰa, early genetic detection is required for the differential diagnosis. In addition, children without PTH resistance should also be followed up regularly, which may help the early diagnosis.