Objective To study the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) in human renal clear cell carcinoma (RCC) and the effect of STATI inhibition on the radiosensi-tivity of RCC. Methods The expression of STAT1 in 34 human RCC samples compared with 12 normal kid-ney tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry method. For in vitro experiments, a human RCC cell line, CRL-1932, was used. Western blotting was performed to evaluate the expression of total and phospory-lated STAT1. Fludarabine and siRNA were respectively used to inhibit the expression of STAT1 in CRL-1932 cells. Clonogenic assay and trypan blue staining assay were used to evaluate the radiosensitivity of CRL-1932 cells. Results The expression of both total and phospborylated STAT1 in human RCC samples was signifi-cantly higher when compared to normal kidney tissues. Similarly, the expression of STAT1 was higher in CRL-1932 cells when compared to fibroblast and Wilm's tumor cell lines. STAT1 expression was inhibited by both fludarabine and siRNA. Radiosensitivity of CRL-1932 cells was enhanced by both fludarabine and siRNA induced STAT1 inhibition. Conclusions STAT1 is over-expressed in both human RCC tissue and cell line. Inhibition of STAT1 can enhance the radiosensitivity of RCC cells.

Objective To analyze and determine the clinical, molecular pathology and genetic features of a Chinese family with dystrophinopathy. Methods Clinical data of the proband and his family members were collected. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed on muscular biopsy tissues with antimerosin, emerin and the N, C and central rod domains of dystrophin. Genomic DNA was extracted using standard procedures from the peripheral blood leukocytes. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to test Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene to determine the ways and sites of genetic mutation, and analyze the relationships between genotype and phenotype. Results Patients from this family were clinically diagnosed as muscular dystrophy, and they presented serious manifestations although the immunohistochemistry analysis for the proband exhibited partial loss of dystrophin staining, and positive expression with merosin and emerin. Further test with MLPA detected the loss of exons 45--54 in DMD gene in the proband, while his mother had heterozygositic loss in exons 45--54. Conclusions The losses of exons 45--54 in the proband are all derived from his mother, who carries genetic mutation with normal phenotype. He has been diagnosed as dystrophinopathy. At the same time, his partial loss of dystrophin is not parallel to the out-of-frame mutation of the gene and his severe clinical manifestations. Abnormal expression of dystrophin is the pathological basis for dystrophinopathy phenotype. Its clinical outcome depends not only on the degree of the protein expression, but also on the function of the sites where the DMD gene less occurs.

Altitude ; Altitude Sickness ; Animals ; Hypoxia ; Iron ; Mice ; Spleen

0.05);Compared to Gram-negative bacilli group of sputum culture,Gram-positive cocci group had significant diffe-rence in the incidence of gastrointestinal dysfunction and microcirculatory disorders(Pa

INTRODUCTIONThis study aims to validate the Zarit Burden Interview as an instrument to measure the level of burden experienced by caregivers of patients with dementia (PWD) in Singapore.

MATERIALS AND METHODSAdult family caregivers of PWD were recruited from the ambulatory dementia clinic of a tertiary hospital and the Alzheimer's Disease Association. All subjects completed a battery of questionnaires which consisted of demographic questions and the following instruments: the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Burden Assessment Scale (BAS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Dementia Management Strategies Scale (DMSS), and the Revised Memory and Behaviour Problems Checklist (RMBPC). A subgroup of subjects also completed the ZBI for the second time 2 weeks after the fi rst survey.

RESULTSA total of 238 subjects completed the survey. As hypothesised, the Zarit burden score was strongly correlated with BAS, GHQ-28, DMSS, and RMBPC scores (Pearson's correlation coefficient: 0.53 to 0.73); caregivers who undertook the major role in caregiving, had spent >1 year in caregiving, or experienced financial problems had higher Zarit burden scores than those who were not main carers, with ≤1 year of caregiving, or reported no/minimal financial problems, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha value for the ZBI items was 0.93; the intra-class correlation coefficient for the test-retest reliability of the Zarit burden score was 0.89 (n = 149).

CONCLUSIONThe results in this study demonstrated that the Zarit Burden Interview is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the burden of caregivers of PWD in Singapore.

Adult ; Caregivers ; psychology ; Cost of Illness ; Dementia ; nursing ; Female ; Humans ; Interview, Psychological ; methods ; standards ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; standards ; Stress, Psychological ; diagnosis ; ethnology

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) in patients with pulmonary oligometastases.Methods:Clinical data of patients with pulmonary metastases treated with SABR from 2011 to 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The local control rate (LCR) and overall survival (OS) were calculated by Kaplan- Meier method. log-rank test was used for univariate analysis and Cox’s regression model for multivariate analysis. Results:A total of 214 lung metastases were detected in 159 patients, and the median follow-up time was 43 months. The 1-, 3-and 5-year LCR were 90.1%, 73.9% and 65.8%, respectively. The 1-, 3-and 5-year OS were 73.8%, 43.6% and 11.9%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that biological effective dose (BED)≥100 Gy was significantly correlated with LCR ( P=0.033). Cox’s multivariate analysis showed that BED and primary tumor source were the independent prognostic factors of LCR ( P=0.023, P=0.043). No>grade 3 adverse events were observed in all patients during treatment. Conclusions:SABR is a safe and effective treatment of lung oligometastases. SABR should be actively aD ministered for pulmonary oligometastases, especially for those with lesions from lung cancer and the radiation dose should be selected as BED ≥100 Gy.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy between the vaginal ovarian cystectomy and the laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy. Methods A total of 104 patients with ovarian cyst hospitalized in our hospital during June 2013-June 2016 were selected and divided into observation group (vaginal ovarian cystectomy, n=55) and control group (laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy, n=49). There were no significant differences in mean age, body mass index (BMI), abdominal surgical history, cyst diameter and cyst type between the two groups. The operation time, blood loss in operation, hospitalization expenses and average hospital stay were observed in the two groups. The ovarian reserve function before and after the operation was also observed. Results The operation time [(46.9±18.4 min)], hospitalization cost [(8165.3±951.8) yuan] and the average length of hospital stay (4.5 ± 1.9 days) were significantly less in the observation group than those of the control group [(62.3 ± 26.5) min], [(12543.9 ± 1464.4) yuan] and [(6.8 ± 2.3) days], (P<0.05). Before the operation, there were no significant differences in estradiol (E2), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing (LH), FSH and antral follicle count (AFC) between the two groups. After the operation, the values of FSH/LH (1.4±0.4 vs. 1.8±0.6) and FSH [(9.2±2.9) U/L vs. (13.6±4.3) U/L] were significantly decreased in the observation group than those of the control group. The AFC (7.2±1.6 vs. 6.0±1.3) was significantly more in the observation group than that of the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The vaginal ovarian cystectomy is of little damage to ovarian reserve function, which is suitable for women of child-bearing age and conforms to the requirement of"value medicine".

Objective To observe the change of hard tissue in dental immediate implantation.Methods Twenty implants were implanted in 10 patients including 10 implants of immediate implantation and 10 regular implantation.They were followed up for one year after functional loading.Hard and soft tissue changes were evaluated by measuring the mesial and distal bone lever on X-ray.Pocket probing depth and papilla index were assessed during 1 year follow up period.Results After one year of functional loading,the implant retention rate was 100％,the patient subjective satisfaction rate was 100％.Hard and soft tissues around implant showed no pathological abnormalities.The average absorption of hard tissue after 1 year in conventional group was (1.76 ±0.21) mm,and (1.80 ±0.15) mm in immediate implant group,which showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups.The pocket probing depth in immediate implantation group was (2.31 ± 0.84) mm and (2.27 ± 0.84)mm in conventional group (P ＞0.05).The frequency distributions of the scores of papilla index of both groups were not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusions The hard and soft tissue changes in immediate dental implantation were within the normal ranges.

Objective To prolong the action time of the drug in the eye and enhance the therapeutic effect,axitinib composite film was prepared for ocular surface repair,anti-infection and inhibit comeal neovascularization.Methods Axitinib as a model,using cast film technology combined with calcium ion cross-linking technology to prepare drug-loaded composite membrane.Determination of drug content by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),detection of drug release in vitro.Results The composite film was transparent,the thickness was (85 ± 11) μm,the diameter of 200 μm diameter of axitinib drug carrier was (6.5 ± 0.8) μg/film.The drug-loaded films had good corneal dissolvability and histocompatibility.Conclusion After the initial process optimization,the successful preparation of axitinib eye composite film.Composite film has slow release function,greatly increasing the drug in the eye tissue retention time,clinical application prospects.

italic>Artemisia argyi (A. argyi) is a Chinese herbal medicine in China. The main active components are volatile oils, flavonoids, and other compounds, which have various pharmacological activities. Methoxylated flavonoids are the main active ingredients in A. argyi. Flavonoid O-methyltransferase (FOMT) is a key enzyme in the O-methylation of flavonoids. In order to further understand the function and characteristics of FOMT proteins, this paper carried out the whole genome mining and identification of FOMT genes in A. argyi and performed phylogenetic, chromosomal localization, gene sequence characterization, subcellular localization prediction, protein structure, gene structure analysis, and expression pattern analysis. The results showed that a total of 83 FOMT genes were identified in the genome of A. argyi. The phylogenetic tree shows that FOMT genes are divided into two subgroups, CCoAOMT (caffeoyl CoA O-methyltransferase) subfamily (32 genes) and COMT (caffeic acid O-methyltransferase) subfamily (51 genes). Gene sequence analysis showed that the number of amino acids encoded by FOMT was 70-734 aa, the molecular weight was 25 296.55-34 241.3 Da, and the isoelectric point was 4.51-9.99. Compared with 32 members of the CCoAOMT subfamily, nearly 1/3 of the 51 members of the COMT subfamily were hydrophobic proteins and 2/3 were hydrophilic proteins. Subcellular localization prediction showed that more than 80% of CCoAOMT subfamily members were located in the cytoplasm, and 96% of COMT subfamily members were located in the chloroplast. COMT subfamily members have more motifs than CCoAOMT subfamily members. The N-terminal motifs of COMT subfamily proteins are relatively variable, while the C-terminal motifs are relatively conserved. Expression pattern analysis showed that CCoAOMT subfamily members were mainly expressed in roots, while COMT members were mainly expressed in leaves. Some FOMTs showed the tissue expression specificity by real-time quantitative PCR analysis, especially in leaves. In this study, we identified and analyzed the FOMT gene family in A. argyi, and provided a theoretical basis for further research on the function of FOMTs and the biosynthesis of methylated flavonoids in A. argyi.