ObjectiveTo find out if the immune system derived thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) β splice variant(TSHβ-Ⅴ) would be regulated by circulating thyroid hormone levels to get a further understanding of the function and mechanism of this TSHβ-Ⅴ in thyroid homeostasis.MethodsA total of 20 weaning Balb/c mice (half male and half female) were selected and randomly divided into two groups according to their body mass and gender(n =10).Mice of control group were fed with common diet and deionized water.Mice of the low-iodine(LI) group were fed with low-iodine diet(containing iodine 20 - 40 μg/kg,iodine-intake about 0.25 μg/d) and deionized water.The experimental period was 3 months.At the end of the experiment,mice were executed and the blood was collected to observe the levels of TSH and thyroid hormone by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA) ; bone marrow (BM),peripheral blood(PBL),thyroid gland and pituitary were collected to assay the TSHβ-Ⅴ mRNA expression by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).ResultsThe serum free thyroxine(FT4) and total thyroxine(TT4) levels in LI group of mice[(0.47 ± 0.70)nmol/L,(2.41 ± 0.28)pmol/L] were significantly lower than that of the control group of mice [(55.2 ± 3.68) nmol/L, (32.72 ± 1.02) pmol/L,t =43.81,86.04 、all P ＜ 0.01 ] and the serum total triiodothyronine(TT3) and free triiodothyronine(FT3) reduction in LI group of mice[ (0.76 ± 0.08)nmol/L,(4.01 ± 0.40)pmol/L] were significantly lower than that of the control group of mice [ (1.10 ± 0.06)nmol/L,(5.40 ± 0.38)pmol/L,t =9.81,7.5 1,P ＜ 0.01 ].Iodine insufficiency strongly elevated the serum TSH in LI group of mice[ (35.67 ± 17.39)mU/L] than that in control group of mice[ (0.24 ± 0.10)mU/L,t =- 6.11,P ＜ 0.01 ].The mRNA levels of TSH β-Ⅴ in BM (9.62 ± 0.60) and in PBL( 9.25 ± 0.83 ) of LI group of mice were lower than those in control group of mice (7.69 ± 0.36,7.11 ± 0.41,t =6.77,5.64,P ＜ 0.01),while the mRNA level of TSH β-Ⅴ in pituitary of LI group of mice (1.99 ± 0.61) was increased compared with that in control group of mice (5.75 ± 0.98,t =- 8.02,P＜ 0.01).Compared with control group of mice(9.12 ± 0.62),the level of thyroid TSH β-Ⅴ mRNA in LI group of mice (9.32 ± 0.91 ) was not significantly changed (t =0.45,P ＞ 0.05).There was no detectable native TSHβ in BM,PBL and thyroid.The mRNA level of native TSHβ in pituitary in LI group of mice( - 7.17 ± 1.78) was dramatically elevated compared to that in control group of mice( - 1.43 ± 0.51,t =- 7.60,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionsThe mRNA levels of TSHβ-Ⅴ are suppressed in BM and PBL in low iodinediet induced hypothyroidism mice,which suggest that immune system derived TSHβ-Ⅴ may be more important thannative TSHβ in immune-thyroid regulation.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect of Zhuyun Ning Recipe Ⅱ in treating spleen-kidney deficiency type of threatened abortion with polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS). Methods A total of 40 qualified outpatients and inpatients admitted in the First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine were included into the study. Twenty patients diagnosed as spleen-kidney deficiency type of threatened abortion with PCOS complicated with insulin resistance (IR) were included into group A, 20 patients with spleen-kidney deficiency type of PCOS non-IR threatened abortion were included into group B,and 20 normal women with early pregnancy were included into group C. Groups A and B were given oral use of Zhuyun Ning RecipeⅡfor 30 days, and group C did not receive any medication. The scores of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms, blood beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG), serum progesterone, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR), interleukin-18(IL-18), and interleukin-20(IL-20) of groups A and B were observed before and after treatment,and were compared to those of group C. Results (1)After treatment for 30 days,the observation indexes of group A were much improved(P < 0.05 or P < 0.01 compared with those before treatment), and the indexes in group B except for HOMA-IR were also improved (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The inter-group comparison showed that the differences of blood β-HCG, serum progesterone,and IL-10 were insignificant (P > 0.05);HOMA-IR and IL-18 levels in group A were higher than those in groups B and C, and the differences were significant (P < 0.01). However, the differences of HOMA-IR and IL-18 were insignificant between group B and group C (P > 0.05).(2)During the treatment, neither adverse reaction nor toxic or side effect was found.(3)The follow-up results showed that 5 cases of group A,2 cases of group B,and 4 cases of group C had full-term normal delivery,and the health state of newborn babies was quite well. One case of group A had pregnant diabetes at late pregnant stage,and the other patients of group A got through the middle and late pregnancy,without any pregnant complications. Conclusion Zhuyun Ning Recipe Ⅱ is effective on relieving symptoms of threatened abortion patients with PCOS,and can improve the related laboratory indexes and pregnancy outcomes of the patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and significance of caspase-1 in normal and hyperplastic prostate tissues.

METHODSTwenty-eight paraffin-embedded sections, including 21 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and 7 normal prostate tissue samples, were investigated immunohistochemically for caspase-1.

RESULTSThe rate of caspase-1 expression in the BPH tissues was 71.4% (15/21 ) while that in the normal prostate tissues was 100%. The expression level of caspase-1 in both epithelial cells and interstitial cells of the hyperplastic prostate tissues was obviously lower than that of the normal prostate tissues (P < 0.01). Within the BPH tissues, the expression level of caspase-1 in the epithelial cells was higher than in the interstitial cells, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of caspase-1 is dramatically reduced in the hyperplastic prostate tissues, which indicates that the decline of caspase-1-dependent apoptosis might be involved in the progress of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 1 ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostate ; enzymology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; enzymology ; pathology

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the impact of previous abdominal operations on the outcome of laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery and to evaluate the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic reoperation in treatment for colorectal cancer.

METHODSAccording to the statistical standards, 653 consecutive patients treated from March 2002 and March 2009 were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into three groups: upper abdominal surgery group (n = 48), middle-lower abdominal surgery group (n = 110) and non-previous abdominal surgery group (n = 495). Demographic, pathoanatomical and surgical data were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant differences in demographic, pathoanatomical data and post-operative complications among the three groups. Compared with the other two groups, middle-lower abdominal surgery subgroup had a higher intra-operative conversion rate due to intra-abdominal adhesion (4.2%, 11.8% and 3.8% in upper abdominal surgery group, middle-lower abdominal surgery group and non-previous abdominal surgery group, respectively). And no significant differences was found in operating time [(132 ± 36), (141 ± 42), (132 ± 36) min], intra-operation blood loss [(58 ± 50), (81 ± 99), (57 ± 57) ml], blood transfusion rate (6.3%, 10.9%, 7.9%), low sphincter-preserving surgery rate (47.1%, 44.7%, 55.2%), time of first flatus passage [(2.5 ± 1.4), (2.9 +/- 1.7), (2.5 ± 2.1) d], fasting time [(5 ± 4), (5 ± 4), (4 ± 3) d], hospital stay [(17 ± 9), (15 ± 8), (16 ± 10) d] between the three groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe history of previous abdominal operations should not be regarded as a contraindication for laparoscopic colorectal cancer reoperation. The laparoscopic reoperation for colorectal cancer is safe and feasible.

Abdomen ; surgery ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Reoperation

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA-(Apurinic or Apyrimidinic Site) Lyase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEPO) on p-Akt and caspase-9 expressions in the hippocampus of rats with status epilepticus (SE) and explore the neuroprotective mechanism of rhuEPO.

METHODSAdult male SD rats were randomized into control, PTZ, rHuEPO, LY294002 group, and DMSO groups and treated with normal saline (NS), PTZ, PTZ+rHuEPO, PTZ+LY294002+rHuEPO, and PTZ+DMSO+rHuEPO, respectively. The behavioral and electroencephalogram (EEG) changes of the rats were recorded, and the expressions of p-Akt and caspase-9 were detected using immunohistochemistry. The hippocampal expression of caspase-9 mRNA was detected using RT-PCR, and the expressions of Akt and p-Akt proteins were determined with Western blotting.

RESULTSThe p-Akt-positive cell and p-Akt protein expression increased significantly while the caspase-9-positive cell and caspase-9 mRNA expression decreased in rHuEPO group as compared with those in PTZ group (P<0.05). LY294002 treatment prior to rHuEPO injection significantly abolished the effects of rHuEPO on caspase-9 and p-Akt immunohistochemical positivity and caspase-9 mRNA and p-Akt protein expressions (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdministration of rHuEPO activates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in SE rats and increases the expression of p-Akt protein to regulate the expression of caspase-9, a regulatory factor of the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway, and therefore provides anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective effects.

Animals ; Caspase 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Erythropoietin ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins ; Status Epilepticus ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate JAK2 exon 12 mutations in patients with Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and the clinical characteristics of patients with JAK2 exon 12 mutants.

METHODSAllele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) was applied to identify JAK2 V617F mutation. Genomic DNA corresponding to exon 12 of JAK2 gene and epigenetic regulator gene (TET2, ASXL1, EZH2) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Identification of mutants was by direct sequencing and classification of mutation types by sequencing followed by plasmid cloning. SNP genotyping of two 46/1 tag SNPs, rs12340895 and rs10974944, was analyzed using commercially available Taqman assays on the 7500HT real-time PCR instrument according to standard protocols.

RESULTSNo JAK2 exon 12 mutation was detected in patients with ET, PMF or JAK2 V617F positive PV. Among 13 JAK2 V617F negative PV patients, JAK2 exon 12 mutation was detected as N542-E543del in 2(15.4%) patients who presented with a phenotype of predominant erythrocytosis and erythroid colonic grown from their bone marrow samples in the absence of exogenous EPO, reduced serum erythropoietin (EPO) level, and no mutations in TET2, ASXL1 or EZH2 genes. One of the affected patients was heterozygous for 46/1 but the second was negative for this haplotype.

CONCLUSIONThere was no need to detect JAK2 exon 12 mutation in ET, PMF or MPN-U patients without JAK2 V67F mutation. Ph negative MPN patients with JAK2 exon 12 mutations had somewhat unique clinical and laboratory features.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow Neoplasms ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; genetics ; Philadelphia Chromosome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the etiology and individualized treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in young adult men.

METHODSIncluded in the investigation were 110 young adult men with ED, at the mean age of 28 (ranging from 22 to 39) and with the average disease course of 24 months (ranging from 6 to 48). The etiology of ED was determined for each patient by history inquiry, medical examination, laboratory investigation and erectile function test, and then individualized therapies were administered accordingly.

RESULTSOf all the diagnosed cases of ED, 42 (38.2%) were psychogenic, 36 (32.7%) organic and 32 (29.1%) of the mixed type. Four cases of schizophrenia were transferred elsewhere, 4 pelvic fracture induced cases gave up treatment, and the other 102 received individualized therapies, with the average effectiveness rate of 88.2%.

CONCLUSIONDetermination of the etiology of ED and the corresponding individualized treatment is the linchpin for improving the therapeutic effect of ED in young adult men.

Adult ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Erectile Dysfunction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To evaluate the laparoscopic management in diagnosing and treating small intestinal stromal tumors.MethodsSeventeen patients with small intestinal stromal tumors,who underwent laparoscopic diagnosis and surgical procedures,were retrospectively analyzed with the size of tumor,operative time,blood loss,length of incision,time for passage of flatus,post-operative hospital stay,operative complications and result of follow-up.Results All the 17 patients were diagnosed and treated by laparoscopic partial intestinal resections.The mean diameter of tumors was(3.6?1.3)cm,operative time(62.1?25.7)min,blood loss(17.1?15.2)mL,length of incision(3.4?1.1)cm,time for passage of flatus(2.2?1.2)d and post-operative hospital stay(7.8?2.0)d.As for the complications,one(5.9%)anastomosis bleeding was found and was treated by non-surgical procedure.After follow-up for 2-34 months,no recurrent tumor was found.Conclusion Laparoscopic exploration is useful to diagnose small intestinal stromal tumor accurately,and laparoscopic partial intestinal resection is a safe,effective and less invasive procedure for small intestinal stromal tumors.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application of laparoscopic local resection for gastric tumors.Methods Twenty-three patients with gastric tumors who were performed laparoscopic gastric local resection were retrospectively analyzed with the size of tumor,location of tumor,operative time,blood loss during the operation,time for passage of flatus,post-operative hospital stay,operative complications,post-operative pathological findings and result of follow-up.Results Twenty-three patients were successfully performed laparoscopic local resection,including 8 laparoscopic wedge resection(LWR)and 15 intragastric mucosal resections(IGMR),with no conversion to open surgery.The mean size of gastric tumor was(2.8?1.3)cm,the mean operative time was(82.2?35.5)min,the mean blood loss was(26.5?15.3)mL,the length of incision was(3.1?1.1)cm,the time for passage of flatus was(2.1?0.9)d,and the mean post-operative hospital stay was(7.8?2.0)d.Two patients(8.7%)were found with postoperative gastric mucosal blee-ding and were recovered well through non-operative treatment.The median time of follow-up was 12 months(2-45 months),and no recurrent tumor was observed.Conclusion Laparoscopic local resection is a feasible,safe,effective and less invasive procedure for gastric tumors.