Purpose To explore the expression of Aurora kinase A (Aurora-A), minichromosome maintenance protein 7 (MCM7) and human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein (HPV 16 E7) in uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and to investigate their relationship with clinicopathological factors. Methods Immunohistochemical method was employed on 20 cases of low-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN1) , 30 cases of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+3), 40 cases of CSCC, and 20 ca-ses of chronic cervicitis. Results (1) Aurora-A localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus. MCM7 protein positive staining localized in the nucleus. In the nucleus, and (or) the cytoplasm appeared brown particles positive for HPV 16 E7. (2) The expression of Aurora-A, MCM7 and HPV 16 E7 were higher in the group of CIN2+3 and CSCC than that in the group of chronic cervicitis or CIN1 ( P<0. 0083). (3) In cervical cancer, the expression of Aurora-A, HPV 16 E7 showed positive correlation (P<0. 001, rs =0. 657). The expression of MCM7, HPV 16 E7 showed positive correlation (P<0. 001, rs =0. 616). The expression of Aurora-A, MCM7 showed positive correlation (P<0. 001, rs =0. 597). (4) Aurora-A expression levels was associated with tumor cell differentiation, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0. 05). MCM7 expression levels was associated with tumor cell differentiation and clinical stage (P<0. 05). HPV 16 E7 expression had no correlation with patient age, tumor size, tumor differentiation, clinical stage and lymph node metastasis (P>0. 05). Conclusion Aurora-A, MCM7 and HPV 16 E7 expression are gradually increased with disease progres-sion, and closely related to the occurrence and development of cervical cancer, they are expected to be early diagnosis, early treatment of biological indicators of cervical cancer.

Background Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a serious ocular disease which may cause blindness.The primary pathogenesis of NVG is ischemic retinopathy derived by central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) and diabetic retinopathy (DR).Clinical characteristics of NVG are variable based on the difference of primary diseases,such as CRVO and DR.However,there is a few studies regarding the diffcrcnces of NVG initiated by CRVO and DR.Objective This study was to compare the clinical characteristics in NVG patients secondary to CRVO and DR.Methods A series case observational study was carried out in Hiserve Hospital of Qingdao University from January 2009 to June 2012.Twenty-nine eyes of 27 patients with NVG caused by CRVO (10 eyes of 10 patients) and DR (19 eyes of 17 patients) were included.The history of underlying diseases,course of NVG,intraocular pressure(IOP),fundus findings and complications after treatment were analyzed and compared between the CRVO-derived NVG and DR-derived NVG.All patients underwent panretinal photocoagulation,improving microcirculation therapy,anti-glaucoma (drug or surgery) and causative disease treatment,and some of them received vitrectomy or/and cataract surgery.Two eyes from each group received intravitreal injection of ranibizumab.The follow-up time in both groups was (14.00±10.13) months and (17.89±12.52) months,respectively.Results The median time of underlying disease was 3.3 months (2 weeks to 6 months) in the CRVO patients and 11.1 months (4 to 36 mouths) in the DR patients,with a significant difference between them (Z =-2.40,P＜0.05).CRVO-derived NVG progress was much faster than that of DR-derived NVG.The number of the eyes with visual acuity improvement after treatment was 2 in the CRVO-derived NVG and 15 in the DR-derived NVG;while the number of the eyes with unchanged or worse visual acuity was 8 and 4 in the CRVO-derived NVG eyes and the DR-derived NVG eyes (x2 =9.38,P＜0.01).The difference of IOP in pre-and post-treatment was (37.00±9.91)mmHg in the CRVOderived NVG eyes and (8.92±12.05)mmHg in the DR-derived NVG eyes,showing a significant difference between them (t =6.30,P＜0.01).In the CRVO-derived NVG eyes,optic disc edema,retinal hemorrhage,and vein dilatation were seen in 6 eyes,and mild optic disc edema and retinal hemorrhage were observed in 4 eyes.After treatment,fundus could not be seen in 4 eyes,in other 2 eyes optic disc and retinal laser spots were unclearly observed.In addition,pale optic disc and retinal vessel occlusion appeared in 2 eyes,and silver wire-like arteries exhibited in 2 eyes.In pre-treated DR-derived NVG eyes,fundus could not be seen in 8 eyes and Ⅲ-Ⅳv stages of DR findings appeared in 11 eyes.After treatment,retinopathy was stabilized in 16 eyes of 15 cases.Advanced retinopathy(V-Ⅵ stages of DR findings) was revealed in 3 eyes of 3 cases.The incidence of the complication after treatment was 100.0％ in the CRVO-derived NVG eyes and 21.1％ in the DR-derived NVG eyes (x2=5.18,P＜0.05).Conclusions The clinical characteristics of NVG secondary to CRVO and DR are variable,an appropriate treatment option should be selected according to different features of NVG.

OBJECTIVETo study the therapeutic effect of combined multifunctional external fixator for treatment of tibiofibular fracture.

METHODSFrom Oct 1999 to Apr 2006, 37 patients of tibiofibular fractures were treated with combined multifunctional external fixator. There were 28 males and 9 females with an average of 47.8 years (range,from 22 to 76 years). There were 7 cases with transverse fracture, 18 comminuted fracture, 8 spiral fracture and 4 oblique fracture;closed fracture was in 29 cases and open fracture was in 8.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up 6 to 13 months (mean,9 months)and achieved union of the fractures.

CONCLUSIONCombined multifunctional external fixator for tibiofibular fracture has many advantages such as minimal invasion, convenient operation, reliable fixation and high union ratio of fracture. Moreover,the treatment has no influence on motion of knee and ankle joint, even patient can walk with external fixator without long-term bed rest.

Adult ; Aged ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fibula ; injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

Objective To analyze the relevant factors of early warning in emergency patients with high risk of acute sores, explore the application value of transcutaneous oxygen pressure(TcPO2) and transcutaneous carbon dioxide pressure(TcPCO2)monitoring in the early warning of emergency patients with pressure ulcers. Methods This was a study of 186 consecutive emergency patients who were under care in the emergency department. The transcutaneous oxygen/carbon dioxide pressure monitor was used in monitoring the oxygen saturation of the skin of sacrococcygeal region and the chest. Meanwhile,the Braden scale was used in assessing risk factors for pressure ulcers and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was applied to evaluate the early prediction of pressure sore with TcPO 2/TcPCO2 monitor. Results Implementing the logistic regression model with six indicators, this research concluded that TcPO2 CV and PO2 were independent risk factors for the development of Braden scale in patients with high risk. The area under the ROC curve showed that TcPO2 CV had a excellent predictive value for the high-risk group and determined its cut-off value to be 20％. Which means patient with both a value of TcPO2CV over 20％ and a high risk of Braden scale had a larger possibility of pressure ulcers. Conclusions TcPO2 CV was an independent risk factor for patients under emergency care to develop pressure ulcers. A value of TcPO2CV over 20％indicated a high risk of pressure ulcers.

Objective:To explore evaluative value of ultrasound contrast for carotid atherosclerotic plaque angiogene-sis in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).Methods:A total of 62 CHD patients (CHD group)and 62 healthy subjects undergoing physical examination (healthy control group)were selected.Both groups received ultra-sound contrast examination.Plaque condition was observed:its time to peak (TTP),area under the curve (AUC) and ratio of maximum peak intensity (IMAX%)were compared between two groups.Results:Compared with healthy control group,there were significant rise in detection rates of soft plaque (8.06% vs.56.45%),hard plaque (3.23% vs.25.81%)and mixed plaque (1.61% vs.17.74%),P =0.001 all;significant reduction in TTP [(22.04±3.41)s vs.(17.69±3.62)s],and significant rise in IMAX% [(50.11±4.12)% vs.(68.25±6.29)%] and AUC [(1485.62±254.13)Db/s vs.(2312.15±352.69)Db/s]in CHD group,P =0.001 all.Ultrasound con-trast indicated that carotid low echo plaque showed diffuse enhancement and carotid ulcer plaque showed linear en-hancement of ulcer boundary in CHD group,but there was no significant enhancement in carotid plaque image in healthy control group.Conclusion:Ultrasound contrast can determine the nature of atherosclerotic plaques,assess degree of angiogenesis,and provide clinical reference.

Objective:To study the expression of IL-21/BCL-6/Blimp-1 in CE patients and discusse the mechanism of the pathogenesis of the echinococcosis.Methods:27 patients and 30 health persons were collected from the first affiliated hospital of Xinjiang medical university in the same period.IL-21 was detected by ELISA and the expression of IL-21/BCL-6 /Blimp-1 mRNA was detected by Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) in CE patients.At the same time,17 patients were followed up in the group of patients,and the expression of IL-21/BCL-6/Blimp-1 was detected before and after treatment.Results:(1) The results of PCR showed that the levels of IL-21/BCL-6 mRNA were significantly increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the CE patients compared with the healthy control group (P<0.05).The expression of IL-21/BCL-6 /Blimp-1 mRNA in patients before the treatment was higher than that of patients after treatment(P<0.05).(2)The level of IL-21 in peripheral blood of CE patients was sig-nificantly higher than that in the healthy control group and basically returned to normal after the cure (P<0.05).IL-21 was positively correlated with BCL-6(r=0.733, P<0.01).Conclusion:BCL-6 and Blimp-1 May promote the human immune system to resist parasitic infection in the course of the development of the disease.IL-21, BCL-6 and Blimp-1 are significantly reduced after effective treatment,indicating that these factors are involved in the immune mechanism of the development of the disease.

OBJECTIVEHeart failure is responsible for a huge burden in hospital care. Our goal was to evaluate the value of N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (Nt-proBNP) on predicting death or hospital readmission after hospital discharge in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

METHODSFrom March 2003 to April 2005, 135 consecutive patients (97 male and 38 female, mean age 60.7 years +/- 13.1 years) with chronic heart failure [dilated cardiomyopathy (44%) and coronary heart disease (35%)] were included in this study. Plasma concentrations of the Nt-proBNP were measured by ELISA on admission. All patients received conventional therapy and were followed up for 24 months. The primary end point was death or readmission.

RESULTS(1) During the follow up period (640 days +/- 100 days), 11 patients died and 39 patients rehospitalized, the median Nt-proBNP level on admission was significantly higher in patients died during the follow up period (5908 ng/L) than that of rehospitalized patients (2768 ng/L, P = 0.038). Plasma Nt-proBNP level on admission were significantly higher in primary end point group (n = 50, 2947 ng/L) than that in non-primary end point group (n = 85, 917 ng/L, P < 0.01). (2) Variables associated with an increased hazard of death and/or rehospitalization were Nt-proBNP and NYHA degree when analyzed by logistic regression models. Increased Log Nt-proBNP was the strongest independent predictor of an adverse outcome of CHF (odds ratio 13.8, 95% confidence interval 2.29 to 2.78, P < 0.01). (3) Area under the curve for Nt-proBNP in evaluating prognosis of CHF patients was 0.885 (positive predictive value 88.5%, negative predictive value 11.5%).

CONCLUSIONNt-proBNP level on admission is a strong predictor of rehospitalization and death within 24 months after hospital discharge in patients with chronic heart failure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Prognosis ; Ventricular Function ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine whether -Taq I T/C and -Fok I C/T polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene are associated with the familial aggregation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

METHODSBased on a population-based case-control family design, 288 family members from 27 case families and 230 family members from 27 control families were recruited. VDR gene polymorphisms were analyzed. VDR-Taq I T/C and VDR-Fok I C/T polymorphisms were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTSThe frequency of VDR-Taq I TT genotype in the case families was significantly higher than that in the control families (P < 0.05) , however, the frequency of VDR-Fok I CC genotype in the case families was significantly higher than that in the control families (P < 0.05). The frequency of family members carriying Taq I T-Fok I C haplotype in the case families was significantly higher than that in the control families (OR = 1.67, P < 0.05), however, the frequency of family members carrying Taq I C-Fok I T haplotype in the case families was significantly lower than that in the control families (OR = 0. 24, P < 0.05). The similar results were found in the familial biological kinship relatives with any HBV-infected makers.

CONCLUSIONVDR-Taq I and -Fok I gene polymorphisms are likely to play a substantial role in HBsAg familial aggregation.

Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct a bait plasmid containing human telomerase RNA with multiple point mutations in a yeast three-hybrid system and evaluate the toxicity of the recombinant bait plasmid.

METHODSThe primers were designed according to the hTR sequence and the target mutation sites for inducing T-->A mutations at the 41st, the 80th and 102nd nucleotides of the hTR gene using the overlapping extension PCR (OE-PCR) method. The mutant was cloned into PMD18T vector, confirmed by sequencing, sub-cloned into the bait plasmid PRH3' and identified with PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. The recombinant bait plasmid was then transformed into yeast L40 ura3/pHyblex/ZeoMS2 for toxicity test.

RESULTSSequence analysis demonstrated successful introduction of point mutations at the target sites without causing random mutation. The recombined bait plasmid constructed showed no obvious toxicity against the host yeast cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe recombinant plasmid containing the human telomerase RNA mutant (PRH3'-hTRm) has been successfully constructed and can be used as the bait plasmid in yeast three-hybrid system.

Base Sequence ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; genetics ; Telomerase ; genetics ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Larp4b is a member of the LARP family, which can interact with RNA and generally stimulate the translation of mRNA. Abnormal expression of Larp4b can be found in leukemia patients in our previous study. This study was purposed to detect the relative expression of Larp4b mRNA in different subpopulations of mouse hematopoietic cells, to construct lentivirus vector containing shLarp4b targeting mouse gene Larp4b and to explore its effects on mouse Lin(-) cells infected with shLarp4b by lentivirus. SF-LV-shLarP4b-EGFP and control vectors were constructed and two-plasmid lentivirus packing system was used to transfect 293T cells. After 48 h and 72 h, lentivirus SF-LV-shLarp4b-EGFP was harvested and was used to infect Lin(-) cells. After 48 h, EGFP(+) cells was sorted by flow cytometry (FCM). Meanwhile, semi-quantitative real time-PCR, AnnexinV-PE/7-AAD staining, PI staining and colony forming cell assay (CFC) were performed to determine the expression of Larp4b and its effect on the proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. The results showed that Larp4b was highly expressed in myeloid cells. SF-LV-shLarp4b-EGFP was successfully constructed according to the restriction endonuclease digestion assay. RT-PCR confirmed that Larp4b was efficiently knockdown in mouse Lin(-) cells. The low expression of Larp4b did not affect the colony forming number, the apoptosis and cell cycle of Lin(-) cells. It is concluded that knockdown of Larp4b in mouse Lin(-) cells do not contribute to the colony forming ability and the growth of Lin(-) cells in vitro. This useful knockdown system will be used to study in vivo Larp4b in future.
Animals ; Autoantigens ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mice ; Plasmids ; Ribonucleoproteins ; metabolism ; Transfection