Objective To investigate the expression and significance of transforming growth factor beta receptors (TGF?RⅠ, TGF?RⅡ) in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Methods The expression of TGF?RⅠand TGF?RⅡwere assessed by quantitative real-time PCR and streptavidin -peroxidase (SP) immunohistochemical techniques in specimens of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and normal control skin. Results Eighteen patients with basal cell carcinoma and twenty-four with squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled in the study. The expression levels of TGF?RⅠand RⅡmRNA were significantly down-regulated in basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in comparison with those in control skin specimens (P

OBJECTIVETo study the possible relationship between serum ferritin levels and susceptibility to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

METHODSThe papers relating to the relationship between serum ferritin levels and susceptibility to childhood ADHD were searched in the Database CBM, CNKI, VIP and PubMed. The Meta-analysis software RevMan 5.0 was used for the heterogeneity test and for the pooled OR calculation. Sensitivity and publication bias analysis were performed.

RESULTSFive control studies were included for the Meta analysis, including 258 cases of ADHD and 138 control cases. There was heterogeneity in the studies on the relationship between serum ferritin levels and susceptibility to childhood ADHD (P=0.003). So the studies were analyzed using the random-effect model. The pooled OR of serum ferritin levels and susceptibility to childhood ADHD was -23.09 (95%CI:-33.06-13.13; P<0.00001). The funnel plots did not indicate the existence of publication bias.

CONCLUSIONSThe results from present Meta analysis can prove that serum ferritin levels are associated with susceptibility to childhood ADHD.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; blood ; etiology ; Child ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans

Integration of "5+3" training mode is to accelerate the construction of standardization of clinical medical personnel training system,and the establishment of the new training mode.The training goal is to make the students become the high-level clinicians with the ability of clinical thinking and clinical practice,and scientific research and teaching,who can independently and pro-fessionally prevent and treat the related common disease.Therefore,guided by the general training goal of our students,we designed and practiced a teaching mode centered on "immune disease mechanism analysis" in the teaching of medical immunology,aiming at improving students'ability of clinical thinking,self learning and team coorperation.

OBJECTIVETo assess suppression effects of vector-based small interfering RNA (siRNA) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression of human tongue squamous carcinoma cell line (Tca8113) in vitro.

METHODSTwo siRNA targeting VEGF constructed in eukaryotic expression vector (Pu-VEGF-siRNA1, Pu-VEGF-siRNA2), eukaryotic expression vector as the experiment control, all of which were transfected into Tca8113 cells with Lipofectamine 2000. Non-transfection cell was used as negative control. VEGF mRNA and protein were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively.

RESULTSCompared to the experimental and negative controls, the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in the Pu-VEGF-siRNA1 group and Pu-VEGF-siRNA2 group. But there were no significant differences between two controls (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVector-based siRNAs targeting VEGF are efficient in down-regulating VEGF expression in Tca8113 cells.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Tongue Neoplasms ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies suggested that zinc level was related to a certain diabetic microvascular complication. However, the relationship between zinc level and all the microvascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between zinc level and each diabetic microvascular complication and identify the features related to low serum zinc level.

METHODSWe included the hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at our department from May 30, 2013 to March 31, 2014. We initially compared the serum zinc levels between patients with specific microvascular complications and those without. We then analyzed the association between zinc level and each microvascular complication. Furthermore, we identified the unique features of patients with high and low serum zinc levels and analyzed the risk factors related to low zinc level.

RESULTSThe 412 patients included 271 with microvascular complications and 141 without any microvascular complications. Serum zinc level was significantly lower in patients with diabetic retinopathy (P < 0.001), diabetic nephropathy (DN, P < 0.001), or diabetic peripheral neuropathy (P = 0.002) compared with patients without that specific complication. Lower zinc level was an independent risk factor for DN (odds ratio = 0.869, 95% confidence interval = 0.765-0.987, P < 0.05). The subjects with lower serum zinc level had manifested a longer duration of diabetes, higher level of hemoglobin A1c, higher prevalence of hypertension and microvascular complications, and lower fasting and 2-h C-peptide levels.

CONCLUSIONSLower serum zinc level in T2D patients was related to higher prevalence of diabetic microvascular complications, and represented as an independent risk factor for DN. Patients with lower zinc level were more likely to have a longer duration of diabetes, poorer glucose control, and worse β-cell function.

Adult ; Aged ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; complications ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; blood ; etiology ; Diabetic Neuropathies ; blood ; etiology ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; blood ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Zinc ; blood

BACKGROUNDMixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) is one of the most common and severe symptoms in chronic hepatitis C patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mixed cryoglobulinemia is a factor associated with sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin.

METHODSThis is a single-center study including 57 chronic hepatitis C patients who received combination treatments of pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin. Serum cryoglobulin was detected by cryoprecipitation prior to treatment. Serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels were checked before treatment, during the fourth and 12th week of treatment, and during the 24th week after cessation of treatment. The genotype of HCV was determined at baseline. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the factors associated with sustained virological response.

RESULTSTwenty-five patients were with MC (43.9%). Twenty-four weeks after cessation of antiviral treatment, sustained virological response achievement in MC(+) patients was significantly lower than that in MC(-) patients (32.0% vs. 75.0%, P = 0.001). Univariate Logistic regression analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis found that only MC (odds ratio: 6.375; 95% CI: 1.998- 20.343, P = 0.002) was negatively associated with sustained virological response achievement.

CONCLUSIONMC is an independent factor negatively associated with sustained virological response in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cryoglobulinemia ; etiology ; metabolism ; Cryoglobulins ; metabolism ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) + 49A/G polymorphism with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children.

METHODSPapers about the association of CTLA4+49A/G polymorphism with T1DM in children were collected by searching PubMed, EBSCO, CBM, CNKI, and Wanfang Data. A meta-analysis was performed to examine differences in the genotypes (AG, GG, and GG+AG) and G allele at position 49 of the CTLA-4 gene between a childhood T1DM group and a control group.

RESULTSA total of 10 papers involving 1084 T1DM children and 1338 healthy children were included. The Meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association of the genotypes (AG, GG, and GG+AG) and the G allele at position 49 of the CTLA-4 gene with T1DM using a fixed effect model according to the heterogeneity test results of all studies. The pooled OR values (95% CI) were 1.13 (0.97-1.33), 1.42 (1.16-1.75), 1.20 (1.03-1.40), and 1.21 (1.09-1.33), suggesting a significant difference in genotypes (AG, GG, and GG+AG) and the G allele at position 49 of the CTLA-4 gene between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSCTLA-4 +49A/G polymorphism is associated with T1DM in children.

CTLA-4 Antigen ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo understand the demography changes and behaviors in drug users.

METHODSelf-reported questionnaires was used and longitudinal investigation was conducted in one of the detoxication centers in Beijing in 1998 and 2000. Drug users were randomly chosen.

RESULTSResults showed that age of drug users tend to become younger with the numbers of drug users aged below 25, increased from 18.7% in 1998 to 28.2% in 2000. Majority of drug users remained males, but the proportion of females seemed to increase. Distribution of occupation showed that the largest increase fell among individual enterprisers, from 15.2% in 1998 to 25.9% in 2000. With educational back-ground, the proportion of lower than elementary education level, including illiterate, increased. Fifty percent of drug users were unmarried which increased from 40.8% in 1998 to 53.2% in 2000. Needle sharing was quite common, 16.5% in 1998 and 11.9% in 2000, but the decrease was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Fifty-seven point three percent of the injecting drug users did not have constant partners to share equipments. Proportion of extra-marriage sexual practice increased from 12.5% in 1998 to 27.5% in 2000, and significant difference (Chi-square = 12.50, P < 0.001). Multiple partners in extra-married drug users was also found (mean = 2). Compared to 1998, condom use during every sexual practice increased in 2000, but 47.7% drug users still never used condom.

CONCLUSIONIn summary, as the quick increase of drug users, sharing of injecting equipment and high-risk sexual behavior, including multiple partners and unprotected sex, were quite common, with the possibility of HIV epidemic in drug users.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Demography ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Longitudinal Studies ; Male ; Needle Sharing ; adverse effects ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Safe Sex ; statistics & numerical data ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the current status of penis and testicular development in boys and the effects of overweight/obesity on their development in the Zhengzhou area of Henan Province.

METHODSHeight, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, penis length and testicular volume were measured in 3 546 4 to 12-year-old boys. The penis length and testicular volume were compared between the overweight/obesity and normal weight groups.

RESULTSBefore 9 years of age, the testicular volume was progressively smaller, and after 9 years old, it gradually increased. By the age of 11, it increased rapidly. The penis length increased gradually between 4 and 11 years of age, and after the age of 11 it increased rapidly. Phimosis was found in 144 cases (4.01%) and cryptorchidism was found in 18 cases (0.51%). A total of 639 (18.02%) boys were overweight or obese among 3 546 boys. At the ages of 6 and 7 years, the testicular volume in the overweight/obesity group was greater than in the normal control group (P<0.05). The penis length in the overweight/obesity group was significantly shorter than in the normal control group (P<0.05) by the age of 11 years. The correlation analysis showed that the testicular volume at the ages of 4 and 5 years was positively correlated with height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference in overweight/obese boys. The penis length at the ages of 7 and 8 years was negatively correlated with weight, waist circumference and hip circumference. By the age of 12 years, the penis length was positively correlated with the height.

CONCLUSIONSThe development of penis and testicles in boys in the Zhengzhou area is in line with the level of sex development of Chinese boys. Overweight/obesity adversely affects the development of penis and testicles.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Penis ; growth & development ; Testis ; growth & development