[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the therapeutic effects of lentivirus-mediated shRNA targeting growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHSR1a) on colorectal cancer cell line SW480 both in vitro and in vivo.METHODS: Human GHSR1a sequence was used for the design of shRNA targeting GHSR1a, which was introduced to lentivirus, followed by transfection into SW480 cells.CCK-8 assay was performed to detect cell viability.The mRNA expression of GHSR1a and PTEN in colorectal cancer cells was detected by RT-PCR.The protein levels of GHSR1a, ghrelin, PTEN, p-AKT and p53 were determined by Western blot.Stable GHSR1a silencing in SW480 xenografts in nude mice was established.After the mice were sacrificed and weighted, immunohistochemistry was used to detect the positive expression of Ki-67 and PTEN in the tumors.RESULTS:GHSR1a was over-expressed in the malignant cells in comparison with the normal cells in vitro. The tumor specific lentivirus-mediated shRNA targeting GHSR1a gene and GHSR1a knockdown SW480 cells were success-fully constructed.After transfection with GHSR1a shRNA, the expression of GHSR1a at mRNA and protein levels was markedly inhibited in the SW480 cells.Furthermore, GHSR1a silencing by specific shRNA showed increased PTEN, inhi-bition of AKT phosphorylation and promotion of p53 release in the SW480 cells.In vivo results demonstrated that down-re-gulation of GHSR1a in the SW480 cells significantly decreased the expression of Ki-67 and increased the expression of PTEN in the tumor tissues, leading to a marked reduction in tumor weight in comparison to blank control or negative control
tumors.CONCLUSION:Down-regulation of GHSR1a by shRNA technique inhibits the growth of colorectal cancer cell line and xenograft tumor through activation of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Understanding inter-species transmission of influenza viruses is an important research topic. Scientists try to identify and evaluate the functional factors determining the host range of influenza viruses by generating the recombinant viruses through reverse genetics in laboratories, which reveals the viruses' molecular mechanisms of infection and transmission in different species. Therefore, the reverse genetic method is a very important tool for further understanding the biology of influenza viruses and will provide the insight for the prevention and treatment of infections and transmission. However, these recombinant influenza viruses generated in laboratories will become the potential threat to the public health and the environment. In this paper, we discussed the biological safety issues of recombinant influenza viruses and suggested we should set up protocols for risk management on research activities related to recombinant highly pathogenic influenza viruses.
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; Laboratories ; Microbiology ; Orthomyxoviridae ; genetics ; Public Health ; Reassortant Viruses ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Safety

Objective To explore the method and superiority of laparoscopic management of children's varicocele. Methods High position ligation of varicocele under laparoscope was performed and internal spermatic arteries were reserved intraoperatively. Results 32 cases had smooth recovery after operation, and no complication occurred. The hospital stay was (1～3)days postoperatively. 29 cases had been followed up for 6 months～1 year and no relapse and testis atrophy occurred. Conclusions The method has the advantages of simpleness, minimal invasion and quicker recovery. Reservation of internal spermatic artery can prevent testis atrophy.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of Shuanghuang tongfeng capsule(SHTF) on the gouty arthritis.METH-ODS:The gouty arthritis model of rats and rabbits were induced using sodium urate(MSU). The swollen degree of the rat foot,and the amount of synovial fluid,the leucocyte count in synovial fluid and the degree of inflammation of the synovial tissue of joints in rabbits were measured.The effect of SHTF on gouty arthritis was observed. RESULTS:The swollen degree of the foot of rat was lessened obviously by SHTF capsule(5、10、20 g?kg-1,ig).The amount of synovial fluid and the leucocyte count in synovial fluid of the rabbit were decreased significantly by SHTF capsule (4、8、16 g?kg-1,po).The inflammation of the synovial tissue in rabbits was improved obviously by SHTF capsule (8 and 16 g?kg-1,po). CONCLUSION: SHTF capsule have remarkable protective effect on the gouty arthritis induced by sodium urate.

Objective To discuss the surgical treatment for huge hepatoblastoma in children,and the technique of hepatectomy without blockade of the blood supply to the remained liver lobes.Methods We reviewed 12 cases of huge hepatoblastorna who had been operated from July 2001 to January 2009 in our hospital.The mean age of the children was 3.2 years(range,11 months to 12 years).The diameter of the tumor was from 10 to 23 cm.3～7 cycles of chemotherapy was routinely administrated before operation.When the tumor reduced to a certain size that radical resection could be performed safely,regular hepatectomy was conducted.Hepatoblastoma resection without blocking the blood supply to the remained liver lobes was performed in every patient.Results The operations were successfully accomplished in all the 12 children.5 cases received right trihepatectomy (segment Ⅳ,Ⅴ～Ⅷ),4 cases received right hemihepatectomy(segment Ⅴ～Ⅷ),and the other 3 cases received Ⅳ,Ⅶ,Ⅷ segmentectomy,right Ⅴ,Ⅵ segmentectomy,and left hemihepatectomy respectively.The intraoperative hemodynamic parameters were stable,and there was no perioperative mortality.Postoperative chemotherapy wag routinely administrated.The follow-up period varied from 2 to 92 months.11 children survived and were disease free,among those 6 children have survived for more than 5 years.One child had brain and lung metastasis 5 months post operation,and died 7 months post operation. Conclusion Preoperative chemotherapy administrated to children with huge hepatoblastoma can reduce the tumor size and render tumor reseetable.Hepatoblastoma resection without blocking the blood supply to the remained liver lobes is a safe and feasible surgical technique.

Objective To observe age-dependent feature of damage of hippocampus to different maturational stages rats after kindling repeated seizures.Methods The effects of 5 daily pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions in different rats beginning at postnatal day 10,20,60(P10,P20,P60)were evaluated.In the 3 groups,Thionin staining method was utilized to observe morphological changes and cell counting of dentate granule cells,CA3,CA1,and hilar neurons.Timm's method of silver sulfide staining was adopted to observe the mossy fiber sprouting.Results 1.Cell counting of CA1,CA3 and hilar neurons in P10 and P20 groups demonstrated no differences from controls in rats,whereas P60 with daily seizures had a significant decrease in CA1,CA3 neurons(8.22?1.88,5.62?1.68 vs 6.31?1.50,3.62?1.40)(t=2.246,2.587 Pa

Objective To investigate environmental risk factors associated with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS).Methods A retrospective study was carried out from Feb 2005 to Apr 2006.A total of 108 cases with PCOS and 108 patients without PCOS(control group)were interviewed using a designed questionnaire.Results Univariate analysis of environmental factors indicated that risk factors related to PCOS were:occupation,education,disposable plastic cup for drinking,cooking oil fume and indoor decoration,all of which were significantly related to PCOS(P

Objective To discuss the expressions and clinicopathologic significances of insulin-like growth factor Ⅱ mRNA binding protein 3 (IMP3)in squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL)and cervical squa-mous cell carcinoma (CSCC)before and after the therapy of radiation and chemotherapy.Methods The expressions of IMP3 in 80 cases of CSCC,90 cases of SIL (60 cases of HSIL,30 cases of LSIL)and 30 cases of cervicitis were detected by immunobistochemistry.The relations between IMP3 and clinicopathological cha-racteristics of CSCC were analyzed.Results The expression rates of IMP3 in CSCC,HSIL,LSIL and cervici-tis were 86.3%(69 /80),78.3%(47 /60),33.3%(10 /30)and 0(0 /30),and the difference among the four groups was statistically signicant (χ2 =87.01,P <0.01).The positive expression rate of IMP3 declined by radiation or chemotherapy (60.0% vs.85.0%,χ2 =5.79,P =0.013).The expression of IMP3 was related with lymph node metastasis (χ2 =3.97,P =0.046),differentiated degree (χ2 =5.95,P =0.018),clinical stage (χ2 =5.82,P =0.016)and invasion depth (χ2 =5.73,P =0.017).There was nothing to do with age (χ2 =0.11,P =0.745).Conclusion IMP3 expresses excessively in CSCC,and is associated with pathologi-cal grade and invasion progress.Radio-chemotherapy can reduce the expression of IMP3.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between change of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and rat renal damage in dietary hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: High cholesterol (HC) group was fed with diet supplemented with 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid for 8 weeks. Another group was fed with normal diet. Expression of iNOS at protein level was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining and iNOS mRNA levels in renal cortex by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The apoptotic cells in renal tissue at 8th week were evaluated by TUNEL method. RESULTS: Total serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels in HC group were higher than that in control group ( P

Objective To evaluate the clinical features of and appropriate surgical modality for congenital choledochal cyst(CCC). Methods Retrospective study on the clinical data of 85 surgically treated CCC cases was made. Results Among the 85 cases 12 were found malignant in character(14%). Out of the 29 cases in which the junction of pancreaticobiliary ductal system was showed by image, junction anomaly was identified in 26 cases. Surgical correction was applied to 83 cases with cyst excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy as the main procedure. External drainage of the CCC was adopted first in 4 cases to tide the patients over serious infection, before second stage definite radical resection was carried out. Excellent and good result were achieved on follow-up in 47 out of 60 CCC cases undergoing CCC resection and Roux-en-Y reconstruction, while only one out of 6 undergoing CCC internal drainage enjoyed fair result. Conclusions External drainage is mandatory for CCC patients with severe infection. The total choledochal cyst excision, with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunstomy is effective in the treatment of CCC.