Objective To analyze the clinical data of patients with Cushing's syndrome(CS)and to un-derstand the relationship between glucose metabolism and CS .Methods Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), the level of insulin, body mass index(BMI), 24-hour urinary free cortisol(24h UFC), family history of diabetes in patients with CS were retrospectively analyzed .Results The course of disease in patients of CS complicated with diabetes mellitus ( CS/DM) group was longer than CS complicated with impaired glucose tolerance ( CS/IGT) and CS complicated with normal glucose tolerance (CS/NGT)group.66.67%of patients with CS/NGT have insu-lin resistance .Logistic regression analysis indicated that age , course of disease , midnight plasma cortisol were risk factors of CS induced diabetes mellitus .CS/DM group had higher proportion of family history of diabetes . 24h UFC and BMI had no significant differences among the three groups (P>0.05).Conclusions Age, course of disease , midnight plasma cortisol are risk factors of CS induced diabetes mellitus .OGTT and insulin level de-termination are necessary for diagnosis and intervention treatment at the early stage .

Objective To investigate the effects of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α on glycolysis of human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells and the possible mechanism.Methods TE13 and Eca109 cells were cultured under normal oxygen (20％O2) and hypoxia (1％O2) conditions.The hypoxia was duration 6 hours,12 hours,24 hours and 48 hours.HIF-1α gene was stable silented by RNA interference method and TE13/small interfering HIF cells and Eca109/siHIF cells were obtained.The cell culture condition and time was same as TE13 and Eca109 cells.The changes of HIF-1α expression were detected by Western-blot.The changes of lactic acid concentration in cell culture supernatant were determined by Spectrophotometry.The changes of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) and lactic dehydrogenase A (LDHA) expression at mRNA level were examined by realtime polymerase chain reaction.The changes of GLUT-1 and LDHA expression at protein level were tested by Western blot.Using t or t' test to analyze the effects of hypoxia duration on HIF-1αexpression at protein level.One-way ANOVA was applied for the difference analysis between the groups.Results In TE13 and Eca109 cells,the HIF-1α expression significantly increased under hypoxia condition and reached the peak at 12 hour (t=6.11,8.31; both P＜0.05).The lactic acid secretion of TE13/siHIF cells and Eca109/siHIF cells was (1.24±0.33) and (1.28±0.37) mmol/L,which significantly decreased when compared with TE13 and Eca109 cells [(3.25±1.34) and (4.91±1.69) mmol/L,t=2.53,3.59,both P＜0.05].The lactic acid secretion of TE13 and Eca109 cells significantly increased after hypoxia [(6.48±1.73) and (8.02± 1.95) mmol/L,t=2.715,2.050,both P＜0.05].There was no significant lactic acid secretion in TE13/siHIF cells and Eca109/siHIF cells after hypoxia (P ＞ 0.05).The expressions of GLUT-1 and LDHA at mRNA level were significantly suppressed in TE13/siHIF cells and Eca109/siHIF cells (normal oxygen:t=6.98,3.92,7.25,3.67,all P＜0.05).The expression of GLUT-1 at protein level remarkably weaked (normal oxygen:t=4.57、16.56,hypoxia:t=6.19、6.09,all P＜0.05),while the expression of LDHA at protein level slightly decreased (P＞0.05).Conclusions The level of glycolysis can be lowered by suppression HIF-1α expression in human esophageal squamous carcinoma cells.The pathway may be involved in the suppression of GLUT-1 and LDHA expression.Except for HIF-1α,there may be other regulating factors in LDHA protein expression at same time.

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of blocking PI3K/AKT pathway by wortmannin on hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and the effect on the expression of glycolysis associated genes in human esophageal carcinoma cell lines TE1 and TE13,and to analyze the relation between PI3K/AKT-HIF-1α pathway and glycolysis in esophageal carcinoma cells. Methods Esophageal carcinoma cell lines TE1 and TE13 pretreated with wortmannin (2 μmol/L) were incubated under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.And each cell line was divided into four groups.The expression of HIF-1α and glycolysis associated genes GLUT-1,LDHA and HK-Ⅱ at protein level were measured by.Western blot.The expression of HIF-1α,GLUT-1,LDHA and HK-Ⅱ at mRNA level was determined by real-time PCR. The activities of LDH and HK-Ⅱ and lactic acid (LA)concentration in the culture supernatant were tested with spectrophotometer method.Results Under normoxic condition,HIF-1α was expressed in TE1 cells and the expression of HIF-1α was inhibited by wortmannin (2 μmol/L),the most significant inhibitory effect was at 12 hours,therefore 12 hours was selected for the subsequent hypoxia experiment.Compared with untreated cells,the expression of HIF-1α、HK-Ⅱ 、GLUT-1、LDH-A at protein level significantly decreased in TE1 and TE13 cells after pretreated with wortmannin (P ＜ 0.05),and the expression of HIF-1α、HK-Ⅱ at mRNA level significantly decreased (P＜ 0.05).Under normoxic and hypoxic conditions,the HK-Ⅱ and LDH activities in TE1 and Te13 esophageal carcinoma cells significantly decreased after treated with wortmannin compared with untreated cells (P＜0.05).Under hypoxia condition,the enzyme activity increased in untreated cells (P＜ 0.05). Under normoxic and hyp0xic conditions,the lactic acid concentration in the culture supernatant obviously decreased in cells treated with wortmannin compared with untreated cells (P＜ 0.05). Under hypoxia condition,lactic acid concentration increased in wortmannin treated cells (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions Under normoxic and hypoxic conditions,wortmannin decrease lactic acid concentration through inhibiting the expression of HIF-1α and glycolysis associated genes, which indicate PI3K/AKT-HIF-1α pathway was closely related to glycolysis in esophageal carcinoma cells.

Objective To investigate the effect of age on the association between normal thyroid hormone level and coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods A total of 1163 euthyroid patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) from January 2013 to June 2014 were enrolled and categorized into 2 groups:the young and middle-aged group (＜60 years,n=602) and the elderly group (≥60 years,n=561),and each group was sub grouped into the CAD and non-CAD group according to CAG.Height,body weight,and levels of serum lipid,fasting blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin,free triiodothyronine (FT3),free thyroxine (FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were measured.Results In the youth and middle-aged group,309 patients (51.3％) were diagnosed as CAD,and there was no significant difference in the levels of FT3,FT4 and TSH between CAD and non-CAD patients [(5.3±0.6)mmol/L vs.(5.3±0.5)mmol/L,(11.8 ±1.9)mmol/L vs.(11.8±1.8) mmol/L,(2.0±1.1) mIU/L vs.(2.0±1.0)mIU/L,all P＞0.05].In the elderly group,357 patients (63.6％) were diagnosed as CAD,and the FT3 level was lower in the CAD patients than in the non-CAD patients[(5.1±0.6)mmol/L vs.(5.2±0.5) mmol/L,P＜0.01].Logistic regression demonstrated that FT3 was an independent influencing factor for CAD in elderly patients (OR=0.564,P＜0.01).Conclusions The association between normal thyroid hormones levels and CAD varies along with age.Thyroid hormones have no relationships with CAD in the young and middle-aged people.The decline of FT3 level may increase the risk of CAD in the elderly.

Objective To confirm a case of pachydermoperiostosis (primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy) at the molecular level by gene sequencing.Methods Peripheral blood samples were obtained from a 26-year-old male patient with pachydermoperiostosis and his parents,and DNA was extracted from these blood samples.Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify all the exons of HPGD and SLCO2A1 genes,and gene sequencing to identify gene mutations.According to sequencing results,the spatial structure of relevant proteins was predicted.Results Gene sequencing showed a homozygous frame-shifting mutation c.310_31 1delCT (p.L104AfsX3) in exon 3 of the HPGD gene in the patient.His mother was a heterozygous carrier of the mutation,but no mutation was identified in his father.The prediction of spacial structure of proteins revealed that the above gene mutation could shorten the length of the encoded peptide by about 60％.Conclusion Typical clinical manifestations and imaging findings are helpful for the primary diagnosis of pachydermoperiostosis,while mutation analysis of HPGD and SLCO2A1 genes is a main approach to its final diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the changes of hypoxia-inducible factor(HIF)-1α and hexokinase-Ⅱ(HK-Ⅱ)expression in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its effect in glycolysis.Methods TE13 cells and Eca109 cells were cultured under hypoxic condition(1 ％O2)for different hypoxic time(6,12,24 and 48 hours).Cells cultured under normal oxygen condition(20％O2)were set as control.The changes of HIF-1α and HK-Ⅱ expressions at protein level were detected by Western blot.HIF-1α genes were specifically silenced with RNA interference technology(RNAi),and then the changes of HIF-1α and HK-Ⅱ expression were determined by realtime PCR and Western blot.Under normal oxygen and hypoxic condition,the changes of lactic acid concentration in cell culture medium were detected by spectrophotometric method.Results Under hypoxic condition,the expression of HIF-1α and HK-Ⅱ gradually increased as hypoxic time extended(P＜0.05),reached a peak at 12h and then gradually decreased as time extended.Compared with that under normal oxygen condition,the expression of HK-Ⅱ in TE13 cells and Eca109 cells significantly increased under hypoxic condition(P＜0.05),which was more significant after 12 hours hypoxia.The result of realtime PCR indicated that under normal oxygen condition the expression of HIF-1α at RNA level in TE13/shRNA cells and Eca109/shRNA cells significantly decreased compared with TE13 cells and Eca109 cells without interference(P＜0.05).The expression of HK-Ⅱ at RNA level was consistent with the result of HIF-1α.Under normal and hypoxia condition,the expression of HK-Ⅱ at protein level in TE13/shRNA cells and Eca109/shRNA cells significantly decreased compared with TE13 cells and Eca109 cells without interference,and the difference was statistic significant(P＜0.05).The lactic acid secretion of TE13 cells and Eca109 cells under hypoxia condition(14.707 ± 3.594 and 15.062 ±3.901)was higher than that under normal oxygen condition(6.070±1.839 and 6.891±1.592,P＜0.05).The lactic acid secretion of TE13/shRNA cells and Eca109/shRNA cells significantly decreased compared with TE13 cells and Eca109 cells without interference,and the difference was statistic significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion The expressions of HIF-1α and HK-Ⅱ in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma significantly increased under hypoxia conditions.The expression of HK-Ⅱ is closely correlated with lactic acid concentration and HIF-1α expression.HIF-1α may affect cell glycolysis through HK-Ⅱ.

[Summary] To discuss the clinical features and treatment of primary adrenal lymphoma( PAL) with empty sella(ES).The lymphoma of the patient was nonspecific,the levels of serum sodium, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and gonadotropin were decreased.MRI confirmed ES, CT showed bilateral adrenal enlargement.CT-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the adrenal gland revealed a cytological diagnosis of diffused large B cell lymphoma( DLBCL).The patient had received R-CHOP chemotherapy, which results in a complete functional recovery and the tumoral masses disappeared.PAL combined with ES was rarely reported, which is difficult to diagnose due to complex hormone levels.

Objective:To observe the effects of continuous light exposure on skeletal muscle fiber type transformation and lipid metabolism, and to explore its internal relationship.Methods:Mice were randomly divided into normal light group and 24-hour continuous light group by random number table. The serum and skeletal muscle lipid content and urine 6-sulfatoxymelatonin(6-SML)level were detected by ELISA. The expression of circadian clock and lipid metabolism related genes mRNA were observed by realtime PCR. The muscle fiber type and lipid deposition were evaluated by tissue immunofluorescence as well as oil red O staining.Results:Compared with the normal light group, the level of 6-SML in urine at night decreased( P<0.05), and the expression level and rhythm of brain and muscle ARNT-like protein 1(Bmal1), circadian locomotor output cycles protein kaput(Clock), and period 2(Per2)mRNA in the skeletal muscle changed in continuous light group. In addition, the body weight, blood lipid, free fatty acid, and triglyceride contents of skeletal muscle in continuous light group increased significantly( P<0.05 or P<0.01), the expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1b (Cpt1b)mRNA, the key enzyme of fatty acid oxidation, decreased significantly( P<0.05), while the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase(Scd1)mRNA, a lipid synthesis related gene, increased significantly( P<0.01). Further immunofluorescence analysis showed that the proportion of slow muscle fibers decreased and that of fast muscle fibers increased in continuous light group(both P<0.05). Conclusion:The process of ectopic deposition of lipid in skeletal muscle in mice induced by continuous light exposure may be related to the remodeling of skeletal muscle fibers.

Purpose: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may act as oncogenes in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Exosomes containing lncRNAs released from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) accelerate tumorigenesis and confer chemoresistance. This study aimed to explore the action mechanism of the CAF-derived lncRNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) on cisplatin (DDP) chemoresistance and cell processes in SCLC. Materials and Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was conducted to determine the expression levels of MEG3, miR-15a-5p, and CCNE1. Cell viability and metastasis were measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-h-tetrazolium bromide and invasion assays, respectively. A xenograft tumor model was developed to confirm the effect of MEG3 overexpression on SCLC progression in vivo. Relationships between miR-15a-5p and MEG3/CCNE1 were predicted using StarBase software and validated by dual luciferase reporter assay. Western blotting was used to determine protein levels. A co-culture model was established to explore the effects of exosomes on MEG3 expression in SCLC cell lines. Results: MEG3 was overexpressed in SCLC tissues and cells. MEG3 silencing significantly repressed cell viability and metastasis in SCLC. High expression of MEG3 was observed in CAF-derived conditioned medium (CM) and exosomes, and promoted chemoresistance and cancer progression. Additionally, MEG3 was found to serve as a sponge of miR-15a-5p to mediate CCNE1 expression. Overexpression of miR-15a-5p and knockout of CCNE1 reversed the effects of MEG3 overexpression on cell viability and metastasis. Conclusion MEG3 lncRNA released from CAF-derived exosomes promotes DDP chemoresistance via regulation of a miR-15a-5p/CCNE1 axis. These findings may provide insight into SCLC therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To observe 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) impact on ultrastructure of tight junctions (TJs) of nasal mucosa epithelial cells in rats models of allergic rhinitis (AR). METHOD: Ninety-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, loratadine group, and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid group, and each group had 24 rats. Ovalbumin was used to establish a rat AR model. The behavioral changes and the tight junctions of nasal epithelial were observed and compared in different groups after 2,4,6 and 10 weeks intervention. RESULT: The length of TJs in allergic rhinitis model became shorter, electron-high-density plasma membrane became thicker, number of the integration loci reduced and gap of TJs widened or even ruptured. With the consistent effect of allergens,the changes of TJs in the model group aggravated gradually,and the changes of ultrastructure of TJs in 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid group was relieved apparently compared to model group and even were close to the control model with time. CONCLUSION 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid can recover the ultrastructure of the tight junctions of AR rat nasal epithelial cells.
Animals ; Cell Count ; Epithelial Cells ; ultrastructure ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Nasal Mucosa ; cytology ; Ovalbumin ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; drug therapy ; Tight Junctions ; drug effects