Purpose To investigate the expression of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 in prostate cancer ( PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia ( BPH) , and to analyze their correlation with clinicopathological parameters of PCa. Methods Immunohistochemistry was used to de-tect Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 protein in 45 cases of PCa and 60 cases of BPH. Results The positive rate of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 in PCa tissues was significantly lower than that in BPH (P<0. 05). The expression of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 was not correlated with the age of patients and distant metastasis (P>0. 05), but it was correlated with the pathological grade and clinical stage of PCa (P<0. 05). Conclusion Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 are lowly expressed in PCa. There is positive correlation between the expression of Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 (rs =0. 645, P<0. 01). Apaf-1 and Caspase-9 might be correlated with the carcinogenesis and development of PCa.

Objective To investigate the effects of oxidative stress and lipoic acid(antioxidant)on bone metabolism and explore the underlying mechanism. Methods A total of 24 Wistar rats aged 8 weeks were randomly divided into three groups. Osteoporosis rats model was established by bilateral ovaries deleted. Rat in lipoic acid group was injected with lipoic acid(60 mg/kg)for 8 weeks. The bone mineral density(BMD),steo?calcin,ALP,Ca,P,MDA,SOD and GSH?Px were detected. The levels of OPG and RANKL in serum were measured by Western blotting. OPG and RANKL mRNA were detected by real?time PCR. Results The level of BMD level in blood,SOD,GSH?Px,OPG mRNA and protein level in femur of osteoporosis group were significantly lower than the control group(P<0.05). On the other hand,steocalcin,ALP,MDA,RANKL mRNA and protein level were significantly higher than the control group(P<0.05). The level of BMD level in blood,SOD,GSH?Px,OPG mRNA and protein level of lipoic acid group were significantly higher than the osteoporosis group(P<0.05). The steocalcin,ALP,MDA,RANKL mRNA and protein level were significantly lower than the osteoporosis group(P<0.05). Conclusion Oxidative stress may increase osteoporosis through the upregulation of OPG/RANKL pathway in rats ,and antioxidant lipoic acid can alleviate the progress of osteoporosis.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of hydrophilic polymers on the stability of self-microemulsifying drug deliv-ery systems (SMEDDS). METHODS:Taking felodipine (FDP) as model drug,the content of FDP was determined by HPLC method. The effects of pure water,0.5% Kollidon VA64,HPMC E5,HPMC K100LV,HPMC K4M,PVP K30 solution,while 0.1%,0.5% and 1.0% HPMC E5 and Kollidon VA64 on residual content of dissolved FDP were determined in SMEDDS. RE-SULTS:The residual contents of dissolved FDP in SMEDDS placed in Kollidon VA64,HPMC E5,HPMC K100LV,PVP K30, HPMC K4M and pure water for 1 h were 92.7%,63.6%,50.2%,46.2%,36.0%and 24.0%,respectively. The order of maintain-ing the supersaturation state was Kollidon VA64>HPMC E5>HPMC K100LV>PVP K30>HPMC K4M>pure water. The residu-al contents of dissolved FDP in SMEDDS placed in 0.1%,0.5%,1% Kollidon VA64 and HPMC E5 and pure water for 1 h were 93.2%,95.1%,96.0% and 48.4%,62.1%,75.1%. CONCLUSIONS:Kollidon VA64 and HPMC E5 can significantly inhibit drug release in SMEDDS and be used as stabilizer of SMEDDS,wherein Kollidon VA64 was better.

AIM: To investigate whether grafting neural stem cells (NSCs) improves the impaired cognitive deficits and spatial recognition after ischemic-hypoxic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats. METHODS: Non-immunosuppressed 7-day-old SD rats were used as research subject and randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) sham group (n=10); (2) HIBD group (n=11); (3) transplant group (n=13). (2) and (3) were anesthetized and subjected to a hypoxic/ischemic injury obtained by combination of left carotid ligation and exposure to 8% oxygen for 2 h. At 3 days post injury, hypoxic-ischemic brain damaged animals were re-anesthetized and randomized to receive stereotactic injection of NSCs prelabeling with BrdU or control media into the hippocampus in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Cognitive (i.e., learning) deficits were assessed at 2 to 4 weeks after transplantation. At the end of the behavioral tests, the animals were killed and evaluated for NSC survival and histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Transplant group showed significantly improved cognitive function in selected tests as compared with HIBD group during the 4-week observation period. They took less time than HIBD group in finding the 3 arms baited with water and had a decreased number of working and reference memory errors in radial maze acquisition tests. Histological analysis showed that transplanted NSCs attenuated CA1 cell loss after HIBD, and NSCs survived for as long as 4 weeks after transplantation and were detected in the hippocampus. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that transplanted NSCs attenuate brain damage and cognitive dysfunction after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage. This approach warrants continued investigation in light of potential therapeutic uses.

Objective To explore epidemic characteristics and trend of livestock brucellosis in Zibo,and to provide a scientific basis for development of prevention strategies to brucellosis.Methods Epidemiology statistical analysis and forecast was made based on related information such as the active immunization data of human brucellosis,the infection data between people and livestock,and the active immunization data among livestock over the years since 1954.Results From 1954 to 2011,37 years had brucellosis cases reported in Zibo City,with accumulative reports of 380 cases,and the average incidence rate was 0.2512/100 000,distributed in 118 villages 56 counties 3 towns 5 districts of the whole city.From 1954 to 1988,only 14 years had brucellosis cases reported,with accumulative reports of 94 cases,and the average incidence rate was 0.1573/100 000.From 1989 to 2011,each year had brucellosis cases reported,with accumulative reports of 283 cases,and the average incidence rate was 0.3158/100 000,of which the highest incidence was in 2011 (45 cases).From 1958 to 2011,there were a total of 140 154 livestock went through serology monitoring,1162 positives,and the positive rate was 0.83％,while the total immunization number of sheep was 884 900,of which 28 years did not carry out immunization work.Conclusions The incidence rate has decreased year by year since the seventies of last century.But the epidemic is on the rise since 1989,while new epidemic areas are emerging and the history affected areas are still serious,therefore the brucellosis prevention and control situation is still grim.

A rapid and sensitive method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of four selenium species Se(Ⅵ), Se(Ⅵ), selenomethionine, and Se-methylselenocysteine in Se-enriched yeast by liquid chromatography-hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HPLC-HG-AFS). The isolation of the analytes from yeast samples was accomplished by proteaseⅩⅣ and trypsin enzymatic digestion. The target compounds were separated on a PRP-X100 anion exchange column and analyzed by HG-AFS. The mobile phase was 20 mmol/L (NH4)2HPO4. Good linearity was obtained for all the selenium species, with linear correlation coefficients higher than 0. 9996. The LODs of the four species were between 0. 5 and 5. 0 μg/kg. Average recoveries for the four analytes were in the ranges of 82 . 5%-101 . 2%, with intra-and inter-day RSD lower than 8. 6% and 14. 5, respectively. The proposed analytical method is simple, sensitive, with low operation cost, making it applicable for the determination of the selenium species in Se-enriched feeds.

Objective To explore the feasibility of tubular model based segmentation method for cystic artery and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction model of Calot's triangle.Methods A tubular model based 3D region growing algorithm was proposed for the segmentation of cystic arteries and its adjacent vessels from 13 patients' CT images in DICOM format.The data was transferred to 3D visualization workstation based on a set of CalotShow1.0 software for 3D reconstruction.Results The method could effectively segment cystic artery and obtain the 3D model of Calot's triangle.Conclusions The 3D reconstruction model based on tubular model related vessel segmentation method and CalotShow1.0 can accurately display the spatial positions and adjacent relationships of cystic artery and Calot's triangle.

The effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on pulmonary shunt were studied during gen- eral anesthesia and postoperative period.Twenty cholecystectomy patients were randomly divided into experiment group (group P) and control group (group Z). PEEP and ZEEP were used separately after induction. Artery blood and mixed blood from the right ventricle were taken for blood gas analysis and determine the amount of pulmonary shunting before anesthesia. half and hour, one and half an hour and two and half an hour after anesthesia and one hour after the operation.The results showed that shunt in group P decreased gradually during general anesthesia and returned to the level of preoperation at an hour after operation. Shunt in group Z was increased continually and the level was significantly higher than preoperation an hour after operation. Shunt between two groups was significant difference (P

Objective To investigate the protective effects of hyperbaric oxygen(HBO)against brain dam- age from hypoxic ischemia(HIBD)in neonatal rats.Methods One hundred and seventeen 7-day-old Sprague- Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:a control group(n=32),a hypoxic ischemia brain damage group (HIBD group,n=30),a hyperbaric air group(HBA group,n=27),and a hyperbaric oxygen group(HBO group, n=28).The HIBD model was established by permanent occlusion of the left common carotid artery followed by expo- sure to a mixture of 8% oxygen/92% nitrogen for 2 h(at 37℃).HBO therapy was administered to the HBO group after the hypoxia exposure once a day for 7 d,as was HBA therapy to the HBA group.Apoptotic cells in the cortex and hippocampus(A_(CH)cells)were measured using TUNEL at 9 d after birth,and the ratios of left and right cerebral hemisphere weight(R_(L/R))and rate of weight gain(GRW)were recorded 14 d after birth.A radial arm maze acquisi- tion test(RAMAT)was administered at 30 to 35 days.Lastly,the neuron density in the CA_1 subfield of the rats' hip- pocampi(ND_(CAI)was measured with Nissl staining.Results R_(L/R)and GRW in the HIBD group were significantly lower than in the control group(P＜0.01),while R_(L/R)was increased in the HBO and HBA groups,especially in the HBO group(P＜0.01),although there was no significant difference in GRW between the groups.Compared with the control group,A_(CH)cells were increased and ND_(CAI)was decreased in the HIBD group(P＜0.01),while A_(CH)cells were decreased and ND_(CAI)was elevated in the HBO group in comparison with the HIBD group(P＜0.01).There was no change in A_(CH)cells or ND_(CAI)in the HBA group.The RAMAT results for the HIBD group,including the time to find the arms baited with water,average times of working errors and reference memory errors,were significantly high- er than those of the control group,while these values for the HBO group were obviously lower than for the HIBD group,and there was no change for the HBA group(P＞0.05).Conclusion HBO therapy might increase the re- covery of learning and memory function by attenuating HIBD in neonatal rats.

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies worldwide.Previous studies have shown that microRNA-449b (miR-449b) functions as a tumor suppressor in many cancers.However,the role of miR-449b in NSCLC is still unknown.In the present study,miR-449b was significantly downregulated in NSCLC samples and cell lines.Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 3'-UTR region of leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 4 (LGR4) mRNA had putative complementary sequences to miR-449b,which was further confirmed by the luciferase assay.Western blotting showed that restoration of miR-449b in NSCLC cells decreased the expression of LGR4.Interestingly,over-expression of miR-449b inhibited growth and invasion of NSCLC cells in vitro.Furthermore,ectopic expression of LGR4 reversed miR-449b-suppressed proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells.Therefore,the data of the present study demonstrate that miR-449b inhibits tumor cell growth and invasion by targeting LGR4 in NSCLC.