Objective: To investigate the expression of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in endometrial carcinoma tissues and its rela-tionship with the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of the disease. Methods: A total of 267 paraffin-embedded endometrial carci-noma specimens of patients with complete follow-up data were collected from the Shijiazhuang Bethune International Peace Hospital between January 2005 and June 2014. CD31-PAS dual staining was performed to identify the VM structure. Tissue samples were then divided into VM-positive and VM-negative groups. CD133 expression was detected by immunohistochemical streptavidin peroxidase method. Results: Among the 267 endometrial carcinoma patients, 65 cases (24.3%) were VM positive. VM formation was closely corre-lated with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Staging (χ2=9.987, P=0.002), histodifferentiation grade (χ2=11.795, P=0.001), myometrial invasion depth (χ2=5.499, P=0.019), vascular cancer embolus (χ2=22.599, P<0.001), and lymph node me-tastasis (χ2=7.848, P=0.005). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that survival time was significantly shorter in the VM-posi-tive group (median survival time was 51 months) than in the VM-negative group (median survival time was 100 months) (χ2=70.973, P<0.001). Moreover, CD133 expression was significantly higher in the VM-positive group [75.4% (49/65)] than in the VM-negative group [58.9% (119/202)] (χ2=5.720, P=0.017). Conclusion: VM is closely correlated with the pathogenesis, development, and malignancy of endometrial carcinoma. Furthermore, VM is one of the important indexes influencing the prognosis of this disease. Therefore, CD133-positive cells may contribute to VM formation.

Objective To evaluate retained fetal cardiovascular function after radio frequency ablation in complicated monochorionic diamnionic twins.Methods A total of 19 complicated monochorionic diamnionic twins [10 twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) and 9 selective intrauterine growth restricted (sIUGR)] who were diagnosed at Fetal Medicine Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from December 2013 to July 2015 were enrolled,and the cardiovascular profile score (CVPS) and Tei index of retained fetus were measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 24 h,3 days,1 week,1 month,2 months respectively.Each case was matched by normal fetuses with same gestational age as control group and the same parameters were measured.Results (1) TTTS:CVPS [(8.71 ± 1.11) scores] was increased significantly at 3 days postoperatively compared with preoperation [(6.86 ± 2.12) scores],and there was a statistical significance (t =2.571,P ＜ 0.05);CVPS [(9.29-± 0.95) scores] had no statistical significance 1 month postoperatively (P ＞ 0.05) as compared with controls [(10.00 ± 0.00) scores].Tei indexes of the left ventricle (LV-Tei) (0.41-± 0.06) and Tei indexes of the right ventricle (RV-Tei) (0.42 ± 0.06) decreased as compared with those before operation (LV-Tei:0.66 ± 0.19,RV-Tei:0.63 ± 0.12) with significant difference (LV:t =-3.193,P ＜ 0.05;RV:t =-3.565,P ＜ 0.05),but there was no statistical significance 1 month after operation(all P ＞ 0.05) as compared with the controls (LV-Tei:0.35-± 0.03,RV-Tei:0.35-± 0.03).(2) sIUGR:CVPS [(9.71 ± 0.45) scores] showed no statistical significance 1 week after operation (P ＞ 0.05) as compared with controls [(10.00 ± 0.00) scores].Tei indexes of the right and left ventricle 1 week after operation were lower than after operation with significant difference (LV-Tei:0.39 ± 0.04 vs.0.47 ± 0.06,t =-6.687,P ＜ 0.01;RV-Tei:0.38 ± 0.04 vs.0.47 ± 0.05,t =-6.000,P ＜ 0.01).Compared with the controls,RV-Tei (0.38 ± 0.04)had no statistical significance 1 week after operation (P ＞ 0.05),LV-Tei (0.36-± 0.02) showed no statistical significance 1 month after operation (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Retained fetal cardiovascular function of TTTS and sIUGR can be restored obviously after operation.In TTTS,its cardiovascular function is recovered completely 1 month postoperatively.In sIUGR,its cardiovascular function is recovered completely 1 week postoperatively.

Objective:To investigate the expression of APRIL in NSCLC and to analyze the relationship between expression of APRIL and clinicalpathological characteristics of NSCLC.Methods:RTQ-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of APRIL mRNA and protein in 68 pair of tumor tissues and corresponding adjacent normal tissues of NSCLC.50 Formalin-fixed,paraffin-embedded NSCLC samples were tested for APRIL protein location and expression by IHC,with results compared to the clinical and pathological parameters of NSCLC to determine significance.Results:The results showed that the expression level of APRIL mRNA and protein in tumor tissues was significantly higher than in normal tissues(both P

BACKGROUND:According to the core functional zone of amino acid sequence of the osteoinduction in bone morphogenetic proteins, our research group synthesized bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) active polypeptides Ⅰ and Ⅱ by artificial solid-state synthesis method. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the osteoinductive ability of BMP active polypeptides Ⅰ and Ⅱ in animals. METHODS:Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups, and respectively implanted with hydroxyapatite/polylactic acid carrying 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 g/L BMP active polypeptides I, hydroxyapatite/polylactic acid carrying 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 g/L BMP active polypeptides Ⅱ, and hydroxyapatite/polylactic acid alone. At 3 and 5 weeks postoperatively, X-ray, CT and histological detection were conducted to evaluate osteoinductive conditions in the seven groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 3 and 5 weeks postoperatively, there were better local osteoinductive effects in the groups hydroxyapatite/polylactic acid carrying BMP active polypeptides Ⅰ and Ⅱ than the group of hydroxyapatite/polylactic acid, indicating both two kinds of BMP active polypeptides possessed a certain osteoinductive ability. Moreover, this osteoinductive ability became stronger with time. At 5 weeks postoperatively, the osteoinductive effect in the 0.4 and 0.8 g/L BMP active polypeptides I groups was better than that in the 0.2 g/L BMP active polypeptides I group and the 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 BMP active polypeptides Ⅱ groups (P < 0.05). In addition, there was no difference in the osteoinductive effect of 0.4 and 0.8 g/L BMP active polypeptides I groups. These results indicate that BMP active polypeptides I has a stronger osteoinductive ability than BMP active polypeptides Ⅱ.

Heat shock protein 27 ( HSP27 ) is an endogenous protein that plays an important role in a great variety of physio-logical and pathological processes. It can express a large number under body stress conditions. Recent studies have shown estro-gen upregulates the expression of HSP27 through a number of ways, playing a perfect “triple protection” role. In the early stage of atherosclerosis, estrogen induces the phosphorylation of HSP27 via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Phosphorylation of HSP27 can resist the injury of vascular endothelial cells( VECs) through an antioxidant and anti-apoptotic pathway as well as the inhibition of cytochrome C. In the stage of forming foam cells, estrogen induces the expression and release of HSP27 from mac-rophages by stimulating the estrogen receptor β ( ERβ) , then HSP27 inhibits the LDL uptake and the release of proinflammato-ry cytokine by binding scavenger receptor A ( SR-A) . During the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells ( VSMCs) , estrogen induces estrogen receptor α ( ERα) and protein phosphatase 2 ( PP2A) to form a complex that enhances the activity of PP2A, then it can lead to the dephosphorylation of HSP27 and finally inhibit cells proliferation and migration. In summary, the anti-atherosclerotic effect of estrogen is closely re-lated to the role of HSP27. Given the side effects of estrogen re-placement therapy( MHT) , regulating HSP27 may provide a no-vel therapy for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular dis-eases in menopausal women clinically.

Objective To compare the dosimetric differences between two plans of RapidArc and 5F-IMRT for breast cancer radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery.Methods Eight female patients with left-sided breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery were selected.A dose of 50 Gy in 25 fractions was prescribed for plans of RapidArc and 5F-IMRT.Target conformity index (CI),homogeneity index (HI),target coverage,exposure dose volume delivered to organ at risk were compared between two plans.At the same time,treatment delivery time and monitor units (MU) were also compared.Results The target conformity index (CI) in RapidArc plan (·0.88 ±0.03) was higher than that in 5F-IMRT plan (0.79 ±0.02,t =8.28,P ＜ 0.05).The homogeneity index (HI) in RapidArc plan 9.01 ± 0.73 was significantly lower than that in 5F-IMRT plan10.44 ± 1.08 (t =-2.73,P ＜0.05).For the dose volume delivered to the ipsilateral lung in two plans,the values of V10,V20,V30,and Dmean in RapidArc plan were lower than those in 5F-IMRT plan(t =-7.53,-7.20,-8.39,-7.80,P ＜ 0.05).However,the value of V5 in RapidArc plan was higher than that in 5F-IMRT plan (t =5.67,P ＜0.05).For the heart,the values of V5,V10 and Dmean in RapidArc plan were higher than those in IMRT plan(t =10.46,28.76,5.40,P ＜ 0.05),while the value of V30 in RapidArc plan was lower than that in 5F-IMRT plan(t =-6.12,P ＜0.05).The values of V5 in contralateral lung and breast were higher in RapidArc plan than those in 5F-IMRT plan(lung:t =21.50,P ＜0.05;breast:t =5.44,P ＜0.05).The MU in RapidArc plan was decreased by 25％,and the average treatment delivery time was saved by 60％,compared with that of 5F-IMRT plan.Conclusions During breast cancer radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery,compared with 5F-IMRT plan,the RapidArc plan could improve the target HI,and reduce both the irradiated dose in high-dose volume and MU,and shorten the treatment time,but increased the exposed volume in low-dose volume of normal tissues.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and potential advantages of RapidArc applied to the radiotherapy of the postoperative rectal cancer.Methods 8 postoperative patients with rectal cancer were selected to be treated with a dose of 50Gy in fraction of 2Gy every time and 5 times a week.IMRT and RapidArc were used respectively to compare different target conformities,homogeneity index,dose-volume histogram data,treatment times and monitor units.Results The conformal index by RapidArc was 0.89±0.02 which was better than those by 5F-IMRT,0.87±0.02 (t =3.286,P ＜ 0.05),while the homogeneity index of target volume (1.060±0.005) and average dose [(52.55±0.76) Gy] by RapidArc were a little less than the homogeneity index of target volume (1.064±0.007) and average dose [(52.90±0.82) Gy] by 5F-IMRT (t =-1.459,-1.000,P ＞ 0.05).The exposure dose and mean dose of bladder and small bowel in high dose region by RapidArc were lower than those by 5F-IMRT,as well as bone marrow.The differences were statistical significant (P ＜ 0.05).The monitor units by RapidArc and by 5F-IMRT were (631±68) MU and (1046±146) MU,respectively (t =-5.830,P ＜ 0.05),while the mean treatment times were (78±5) s and (348±29) s,respectively (t =-26.358,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with 5F-IMRT,RapidArc improves the target conformities and lowers the exposure dose for the organs at risk in high dose region while using fewer monitor units and less treatment time,which helps comforting patients and improving the efficiency.

Autophagy is a common phenomenon which widely ex-ists in eukaryotic cells. Researches have shown that autophagy plays a critical role in maintaining cellular hemostasis, cell com-ponents update and keeping a normal physiological state. In re-cent years, the study has found that autophagy is closely related to the growth, the development of cardiovascular diseases and tumors. Further studies show that in different pathological condi-tions, autophagy could both promote angiogenesis and inhibit the formation of blood vessels. Therefore, it is particularly critical to elucidate the mechanisms of autophagy in the regulation of angio-genesis in different pathological conditions. The role of autophagy in cardiovascular diseases especially in the regulation of angio-genesis is discussed in this paper. Besides, the paper also in-cludes the discussion about the mechanisms of autophagy in the regulation angiogenesis, which may provide references for follow-up research and clinical treatment.

1H NMR metabonomics approach was used to reveal the chemical difference of urine between patients with Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome (XCHTS) and healthy participants (HP). The partial least square method was used to establish a model to distinguish the patients with Xiao-Chaihu-Tang syndrome from the healthy controls. Thirty-four endogenous metabolites were identified in the 1H NMR spectrum, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis showed the urine of patients with Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome and healthy participants could be separated clearly. It is indicated that the metabolic profiling of patients with Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome was changed obviously. Fifteen metabolites were found by S-pot of OPLS-DA and VIP value. The contents of leucine, formic acid, glycine, hippuric acid and uracil increased in the urine of patients, while threonine, 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, acetamide, 2-oxoglutarate, citric acid, dimethylamine, malonic acid, betaine, trimethylamine oxide, phenylacetyl glycine, and uridine decreased. These metabolites involve the intestinal microbial balance, energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways, which is related with the major symptom of Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome. The patients with Xiao-Chaihu Tang syndrome could be identified and predicted correctly using the established partial least squares model. This study could be served as the basis for the accurate diagnostic and reasonable administration of Xiao-Chaihu-Tang syndrome.

The therapeutic effectiveness of nutritional support in the treatment of severe chronic hepatitis and posthepatitic cirrhosis was evaluated. 143 patients with severe chronic hepatitis and 83 with posthepatitic cirrhosis were evaluated with SGA for assessing the nutritional status before the treatment. Patients with severe chronic hepatitis were divided into three groups: group A subject to enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN), group B subject to comprehensive treatment (CT)+PN; group C subject to CT+EN. The patients with posthepatitic cirrhosis were divided into two groups: group D receiving CT and group E receiving CT+PN+EN. The function of liver and kidney and nutritional status were monitored to assess the therapy in 6 weeks. The results showed before treatment, over 90 % patients had moderate to severe malnutrition. After nutritional support, the liver function (ALT, T-bil) and nutritional status (TP, TC) in group A was improved significantly as compared with that in groups B and C (P<0.05). Compared with group D, the values of TP and Alb were increased significantly in group E (P<0.05), but the levels of ALT, AST and T-bil had no obvious change. It was suggested that most patients with severe chronic hepatitis or posthepatitic cirrhosis had malnutrition to varying degrees. The nutritional support treatment could obviously improve the nutritional status of these patients, and was helpful to ameliorate the liver function of the patients with severe chronic hepatitis. Among the methods of nutritional support treatment, PN combined with EN had the best effectiveness.