OBJECTIVE Angiogenesis therapy has attracted interest as a potential treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the anti-proliferative activities and anti-angiogenesis effects of saikosaponins (SS)-b on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its regulation on VEGF/ERK/HIF-1α signal pathway. METHODS H22 hepatoma-bearing mice model and HepG-2 cells were used to study the anti-tumor and anti-angiogenesis effects of SS-b in vivo and in vitro. Pathological change of tumor tissue was observed by HE staining, the microvascular changes were detected by immunohistochemical method. The effects of SS-b on angiogenesis were examined by using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. The effects of SS- b on proliferation, migration and invasion were investigated by MTT assay, scratch wound healing assay and transwell assay inhuman umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) and HepG2 cells in vitro. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2/9(MMP-2/9), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression and the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinase(ERK) were analyzed using RT-PCR and Western-blot. RESULTS SS-b effectively inhibited the tumor growth of H22 mice in vivo. The inhibitory rate of tumor was 49.1%, 50.7%, 66.1% in SS-b 5, 10 and 20 mg·kg-1 group respectively. HE staining results showed that SS-b induced tumor necrosis and nuclear dissolution in H22 mice. Moreover, SS-b also reduced the number of microvessels of tumor tissue in H22 mice significantly and suppressed the angiogenesis of CAM induced by b-FGF. SS-b had an obvious inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HUVEC cells and HepG-2 cells. These effects were associated with down-regulation of the expression of MMP2/9 and suppression of VEGF/ERK/HIF-1α signaling in H22 mice and Hep-G2 cells. CONCLUSION Our findings showed that SS-b exerts anti-tumor effects by inhibit?ing tumor angiogenesis via regulating VEGF/ERK/HIF-1α signal pathway in vivo and in vitro.

Objective:To analyze the main inputs and outputs of China's health reform,to propose suggestion on improving health policy.Methods:Using health economics input and output analysis methods.Results:From 2009 to 2016,more than 50％ of Chinese health personnel were distributed in the hospital and increased by year,more than 70％ of the government's main health expenditure were paid for disease treatment,the total number of new patients was 2.44 billion,and the number of inpatients was 100 million.The actual medical burden of individual residents in China was 49.36％ in 2016.The prevalence of chronic diseases among residents increased by 9％ from 2008 to 2013.Conclusion:China should put more new health investment and resources into disease prevention and control,so as to improve the health level and health input and output performance of residents.

Objective The study was carried out to investigate the effects of different dietary Ca levels on bone metabolism, based on the osteoprotegerin ( OPG)-receptor activator of NF?κB ligand ( RANKL)?receptor activator of NF?κB ( RANK) system in growing WHBE rabbits. Methods Twenty one weaned male WHBE rabbits at the age of 42 days were divided into 3 groups (I, II and III) according to dietary Ca levels (0. 95%, 1. 10%, and 1. 30%, respectively) for a 42?d feeding trial. The above three diets had similar phosphor (P) (about 0. 64 g/kg), digestible energy (9. 50 MJ/kg), crude protein (about 19. 70%) and crude fibre (13. 57%) contents. When the feeding trial finished, the serum in?dices of bone metabolism (Ca, PTH and BALP) were detected, and the OPG?RANK?RANKL system in bone tissue was analyzed by real?time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay and immunohistochemistry, respectively. At last, the relationships between bone metabolism and dietary Ca were evaluated according to RANKL/OPG ratio. Results All the contents of serum Ca, PTH and BALP had no significant differences in the groups I, II and III (P>0. 05). Both the RANKL mR?NA and RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio were lowest in the group II and had significant differences with group I and III ( P<0. 05). Dietary Ca levels had significant effects on the protein expression of OPG?RANK?RANKL in bone tissues (P<0. 01). The positive index of OPG in the groups II and III was significantly higher than that in the group I(P<0. 01), while the positive index of RANK in the group II was lower than those of the group I and III(P<0. 01). The protein ex?pression positive index ratio of RANKL to OPG was also lowest in the group II, showing a significant difference with group I(P<0. 01). Furthermore, both the gene transcription ratio of RANKL to OPG and the protein expression positive index ratio of RANKL to OPG had significant correlations (with quadratic curve) to the dietary Ca levels (R2 =0. 4068, 0. 8433;P<0. 05,P<0. 001). Conclusions In summary, the bone metabolism of WHBE rabbits during growing periods has sig?nificant correlation with dietary Ca levels. An optimal bone metabolism status can be obtain at 1. 10% dietary Ca level as demonstrated in this study.

DNA Polymerase gamma ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; genetics ; Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis of Schilder ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation

BACKGROUNDThis study was to examine the expression of total vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the anti-angiogenic VEGF 165 b isoform in the vitreous body of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) patients, and to further study the role of the VEGF splicing in the development of ROP.

METHODSThis was a prospective clinical laboratory investigation study. All patients enrolled received standard ophthalmic examination with stage 4 ROP that required vitrectomy to collect the vitreous samples. The control samples were from congenital cataract patients. The expression of total VEGF and the anti-angiogenic VEGF 165 b were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results were analyzed statistically using nonparametric tests.

RESULTSThe total VEGF level was markedly elevated in ROP samples while VEGF 165 b was markedly decreased compared to control group. The relative protein expression level of VEGF 165 b isoform was significantly decreased in ROP patients which were correlated with the ischemia-induced neovascularization.

CONCLUSIONSThere was a switch of VEGF splicing from anti-angiogenic to pro-angiogenic family in ROP patients. A specific inhibitor that more selectively targets VEGF 165 and controls the VEGF splicing between pro- and anti-angiogenic families might be a more effective therapy for ROP.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Protein Isoforms ; metabolism ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vitreous Body ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child featuring short stature. METHODS: G-banded karyotyping, chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and high-throughput sequencing were carried out on peripheral blood sample from the child. RESULTS: The karyotype of the child was ascertained as 45,XY,-4[3]/46,XY,r(4)(p16q35)[84]/47,XY,-4,r(4)(p16q25)*2[7]/48,XY,-4,r(4)(p16q35)*3[1]/46,XY,dic r(4;4)(p16q35;p16q35)[2]/46,XY,add(4)(p16)[3]. A 647 kb deletion at 4p16.3 was identified by CMA, which encompassed 6 OMIM genes including ZNF141, PIGG, PDE6B, ATP5I, PCGF3 and MYL5. High-throughput sequencing has identified no pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants consistent with the clinical symptoms. CONCLUSION A rare ring chromosome 4 syndrome was identified by combined chromosomal karyotyping, CMA and high-throughput sequencing. Conventional cytogenetic analysis and genetic testing in combine have enabled the diagnosis in this case.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child with clinically suspected nephronophthisis (NPHP). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples of the patient and her parents were collected subjected to high-throughput sequencing. Sanger sequencing was used to verify the gene variants. RESULTS: The patient, a 7-year-old girl with congenital blindness, was admitted to a local hospital due to repeated vomiting for 7-8 days and then transferred to author's hospital due to renal failure. Her urine occult bloods (3+) and urine protein (1+) were abnormal. Her blood urea nitrogen and creatinine showed a significant progressive increase. Renal ultrasound showed a mild enlargement in bilateral renal, increased echogenicity, loss of corticomedullary differentiation, and the presence of cysts in both kidneys. No familial genetic history was found in the family of patient and the child was clinically diagnosed with nephronophthisis. The proband was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the CEP290 gene, namely c.2587-2A>T and c.2251C>T, which were inherited from her mother and father, respectively. Based on the ACMG guidelines, both variants were predicted to be pathogenic. CONCLUSION The patient was diagnosed with NPHP type 6 due to variants of the CEP290 gene. Above finding has provided new evidence for the genotype-phenotype correlation of this disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis of a Chinese patient featuring global developmental delay. METHODS: Peripheral venous blood samples from the proband and his parents and sister were taken for the extraction of DNA. Target capture and next generation sequencing was carried out to detect genetic variants associated with the disease. Suspected variant was validated by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Genetic testing discovered that the proband has carried hemizygous c.150G>T and c.150+1G>T variants of the KDM5C gene which are inherited from his mother. His younger sister also carried the variants. The c.150+1G>A variant was unreported previously, which has altered a splice site and was predicted to be pathogenic by bioinformatics analysis. CONCLUSION The hemizygous c.150+1G>T variant of the KDM5C gene, known to underlie X-linked Claes-Jensen type syndromic mental retardation, probably accounts for the disorder in the patient. Identification of this variant has enriched the variant spectrum of the KDM5C gene.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of a child with lymphangiectasia and lymphedema. METHODS: DNA sample of the patient was extracted and subjected to whole exome sequencing. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The patient was found to carry compound heterozygote variants (c.521G>A and c.472C>T) of the CCBE1 gene, which were respectively inherited from his parents. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygote variants of the CCBE1 gene probably underlie the disease in this child.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and genetic features of a Chinese girl featuring mental retardation, intellectual disability, language development delay and epilepsy. METHODS: G-banded chromosomal karyotyping was carried out for the child. Genomic DNA of the patient and her parents was extracted and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. The results were analyzed with bioinformatic tools and validated by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The karyotype of the child was ascertained as 46,XX. Sequencing result showed that she has carried a de novo heterozygous c.1861C>T (p.R621X) variant of the SYNGAP1 gene. CONCLUSION The nonsense variant c.1861C>T (p.R621X) of the SYNGAP1 gene probably underlies the disease in this child. Above result has enabled genetic diagnosis and counseling for her family.