MicroRNA(miRNA)is a small non-coding RNA that contains 21 to 23 nucleotides and can down-regulate gene expression by translational repression.Recent studies found that some miRNAs might function both as oncogenes and tumor suppressors;its role in the tumorigenesis may complement and enrich the mechanisms of tumorigenesis.Liver cancer is a great threat to human health,whose pathogenesis is still not completely understood.MiRNAs can influence the tumorigenesis,differ- entiation and treatment of liver cancer.Here we summarizes the related progression in research of miRNA and liver cancer.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of Dynesys system for the treatment of multiple segment lumbar degenerative disease.

METHODSA total of 28 patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease treated with Dynesys system from December 2008 to May 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 16 males and 12 females, aged from 27 to 75 years old with an average of 49.1 years. Thirteen patients with multiple segmental lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion, including L3-L5 in 7 cases, L2-L4 in 1 case and L4-S1 in 5 cases. Fifteen patients with multiple segmental lumbar spinal stenosis, including L3-L5 in 10 cases, L4-L5 in 4 cases and L2-S1 in 1 case. The symptoms of lumbago and (or) intermittent claudication in all patients were treated with conservative treatments for more than 6 months and these methods did not work. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to analyze the lumbar and leg pain, imaging data were used to measure the intervertebral space height and intervertebral motion of fixed segment and upper adjacent segment, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to evaluate the clinical effect.

RESULTSAll operations were successful and the patients were followed up from 38 to 65 months with an average 50.6 months. At final follow-up, ODI and VAS of the low back pain and leg pain were (25.10±6.52)%, (1.25±0.70) points and (1.29±0.89) points, respectively and were decreased compared with preoperative (P<0.05). Postoperative intervertebral space heights were increased and intervertebral motions were decreased in fixed segment compared with preoperative (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in intervertebral space heights and intervertebral motions of upper adjacent segment between preoperative and postoperative (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONDynesys system may obtain long-term clinical curative effect in treating multiple lumbar degenerative disease. It can partially preserve the intervertebral motions of the fixed segments, have little effect on adjacent segments. The long-term clinical effect of Dynesys still need longer time follow-up observation.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; pathology ; surgery ; Joint Instability ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Visual Analog Scale

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of procalcitonin(PCT) in early diagnosis of neonatal infections.Methods Rapid hemi-quantitative immunoassay was used to measure PCT levels in 196 hospitalized neonates, who were divided into sepsis group,(local-)infection group, virus-infection group and non-infection group.Results If plasma PCT≥0.5 ?g/L was taken as positive,the positive rates in sepsis group,local-infection,virus-infection,non-infection group were 87.87%,41.66 %,12.0%,11.11%,respectively.The positive rate of sepsis group was significantly higher than that of the other 3 groups(all P

Objective: To investigate the effect of taurine on learning and memory impairment, cytokines secretion in rats intrahippocampally injected with ?-amyloid (A?) 1-40. Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into control group, A? injected group, taurine (0.3g/kg?d, 0.6g/kg?d) groups. The rats were fed with taurine for 7 days, and then subjected to bilateral intrahippocampus injection of A?1-40 or vehicle. Two weeks later, all rats performed Morris water maze test. The contents of IL-6, TNF-? were checked by way of radio-immunity assay for hippocampus samples. Results: Compared with A?model group, the escape latency and distance were significantly reduced in taurine (0.6g/kg?d) group; the ratio of swimming distance in the target quadrant to that in the whole pool of the probe trial; the content of cytokines of IL-6 and TNF-?in hippocampus were reduced significantly. Conclusion: Taurine can effectively attenuate the cognitive dysfunction caused by A?1-40 in rats. The reduced cytokines content in hippocampus might contribute to this effect.

AIM: To identify the non-steroid transcription factors upregulating the expression of L-plastin in hormone-independent prostate cancer, and partly elucidate the mechanism of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. METHODS: TF SEARCH software was used to analysis the possible binding sites of transcription factors in the 3’ end of L-plastin promoter that had been identified as important part of regulation response elements. Gel shift assay and supershift assay were used to confirm the transcription factors binding the speculated response elements. PCR site-mutagenesis technique was performed to delete the binding site of transcription factor and luciferase activity assay was carried out after deletion of the binding site. RESULTS: SP-1 respond element GGTGGGGCGGGGA located at -54- -41 of L-plastin promoter was identified with the TF SEARCH software. Gel shift assay and supershift assay confirmed that SP-1 was the transcription factor binding to GGTGGGGCGGGGA. Mutant deleted the SP-1 binding-site had low-luciferase activity than that of the naive. CONCLUSION: SP-1 plays an important role in the up-regulation of L-plastin expression in hormone-independent prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the color stability and opacity of seven resin-based composite products after ultraviolet irradiation.

METHODSSeven kinds of light-cured resin-based composite products (Aelite Flo, Filtek Z350 Flowable, Clearfil AP-X, Dyract AP, Z100, Durafill VS, Filtek Z350 Universal) were tested in the study (five for each group). Changes in color and opacity of test samples were determined before and after 8, 16 and 24 h ultraviolet irradiation using the CIE 1976 L*a*b* system and CIE 1931 XYZ system by a colorimeter.

RESULTSThe color of resin disks suffering ultraviolet irradiation was different in different irradiating time. Color difference values ranged from 1.85-3.21 for 8 h ultraviolet irradiation to 2.88-4.55 for 24 h ultraviolet irradiation. Opacity values ranged from 0.75-0.82 before ultraviolet irradiation to 0.80-0.98 after 24 h ultraviolet irradiation. Among all the groups, Z100 and Filtek Z350 Flowable showed the biggest color change, while Filtek Z350 Universal showed the highest opacity.

CONCLUSIONIt can be concluded that for some products, ultraviolet irradiation leads to color instability and opacity variation.

Color ; Colorimetry ; Composite Resins ; Humans ; Light ; Materials Testing ; Methacrylates

Objective:To observe the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM)on pacing parameters and postoperative com-plications in patients With implantation of permanent artificial cardiac pacemaker.Methods:A total of 80 patients With sick sinus syndrome,Who received implantation of permanent artificial cardiac pacemaker from Jun 2008 to Jun 2011,Were enrolled.According to complicated With DM or not,they Were divided into DM group (n=40)and non-DM control group (n=40).Pacing parameters and postoperative complications Were compared betWeen tWo groups.Results:There Were no significant difference in atrial and ventricular pacing threshold,sensing and of pace-maker impedance in baseline betWeen tWo groups (P>0.05).All parameters of pacemaker increased in tWo groups after implantation 12 months;compared With non-DM control group,there Were significant increase in pacing threshold [atrial:(0.59±0.23)V vs.(0.67±0.25)V,ventricular:(0.47±0.28)V vs.(0.54±0.35)V],sens-ing [atrial:(2.33±1.16)mV vs.(2.92±1.36)mV,ventricular:(12.21±4.82)mV vs.(12.77±5.36)mV], impedance [atrial:(537.12±115.32)Ωvs.(662.48±235.26)Ω,ventricular:(602.48±222.46)Ωvs.(762.41± 235.38)Ω]of pacemaker in DM group,P<0.05 or <0.01;and incidence rate of postoperative complications (12.5%)in DM group Was significantly higher than that of non-DM control group (5%),P<0.05.Conclusion:Electrocardiographic reconstruction is more severe in SSS patients complicated DM,in these patients postoperative complication incidence significantly elevates.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the myocardial electrophysiological effect and its underlying mechanisms of atorvastatin (Ator) on isolated rat hearts injured by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).

METHODSIsolated SD rat hearts were mounted on Langendorff system, and a local I/R was induced by ligation (30 min) and release (15 min) of the left anterior descending artery. During the reperfusion period, the effect of Ator on diastolic excitation threshold (DET), effective refractory period (ERP) and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) on rat heart were measured.

RESULTCompared with the control group, medium concentration of Ator prolonged the ERP in normal rat hearts; low, medium and high concentration of Ator significantly inhibited the decrease of DET, ERP and VFT induced by I/R. However, pretreatment with L-NAME cancelled these cardiac electrophysiological effects of Ator.

CONCLUSIONAtor reduced electrophysiological alteration induced by I/R in isolated rat hearts, which may be mediated by activating nitric oxide pathway to enhance the myocardial electrophysiological stability.

Animals ; Atorvastatin Calcium ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Pyrroles ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective:To explore the urgent management strategy for quadriplegia following China Wenchuan earthquake under filed condition.Methods:The 57-year-old male patient was sent to the earthquake relief team of Changzheng Hospital,Second Military Medical University.He was hit by heavy object during the Sichuan earthquake 6 days ago.Physical examination revealed cervical spinal cord injury accompanied by incomplete paralysis.The patient underwent cervical 3-7 laminectomy under general anesthesia.Results: After surgery,the muscle strength of lower limbs recovered to grade four from grade one;the muscle strength of upper limbs recovered to grade five from grade three.Sensory loss was found below the nipple level and totally recovered after operation.Conclusion:Early surgery for quadriplegia following earthquake trauma can timely relieve compression to the spinal cord and therefore improve prognosis of patients.Under field condition where facilities are not readily available,decompression of spinal cord can be achieved by lamineetomy via posterior approach.The key to successful operation is correct diagnosis and skillful manipulation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel shisanwei ingredients pill on AC-cAMP-PKA signal transduction pathways in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of depressive rats.

METHODSixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups according to the sugar consumption test (10 rats in each group), normal control group,model group,fluoxetine group (3.3 mg x kg(-1)) and low dose, medium dose and high dose group (0.25, 0.5, 1 g x kg(-1)) of Betel shisanwei ingredients pill. Except the normal control,the other groups were treated with the chronic unpredictable mild stress stimulation combined with lonely raising for 28 days. 10 mL x kg(-1) of drugs were given to each rat once daily,continuously for 28 days. The AC activity of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were determined by radiation immunity analysis (RIA), while cAMP and PKA quantity were determinated by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA).

RESULTThe AC activity, cAMP and PKA quantity of hippocampus and prefrontal of mouse model of Chronic stress depression decreased significantly than those of control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, the AC activity, cAMP and PKA quantity of rat hippocampus and prefrontal cortex in the fluoxetine group and the Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel shisanwei ingredients pill group indecreased significantly than those of model group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Especially for the high dose group of Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel shisanwei ingredients pill.

CONCLUSIONThe AC-cAMP-PKA signal transduction pathways in hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of depression model of rats is down-regulated, whereas Mongolian pharmaceutical Betel shisanwei ingredients pill could up-regulated it to resist depression.

Adenylyl Cyclases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Depression ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Prefrontal Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects