To investigate the relationship between the diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm(AAA) and the concentration of elastin, forty five healthy male Wistar rats were selected,5 rats of them were used as normal control, the other 40 rats were randomly divided into 2 groups. A 1 cm segment of the abdominal aorta of the rat was isolated and perfused with pancreatic elastase in the experimental group, and the control group was given normal saline solution. Laparotomy was performed immediately after operation and on the 2, 7, 14 day, the aortas were measured and harvested. Histological studies were carried out to analyze the changes in elastin. The aortic diameter progressed to aneurysmal dimension in the experimental group. Histological study revealed loss of elastin in tunica media of the aorta in the experimental group. Neither macroscopic nor microscopic lesions were found in control group. It is suggested that there is a significant correlation between the aortic diameter and the decreased elastin content.

Objective To explore the regulation mechanism of autophagy-related protein, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), via c-Jun in methotrexate resistant human choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cell lines. Methods Human choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cell lines, and methotrexate resistant choriocarcinoma JEG-3 (JEG-3/MTXR) cell lines were used in our present study. Phosphorylation c-Jun (p-c-Jun) was evaluated after exposure to 0.02 ng/ml methotrexate for 72 hours in both cells by western blot. c-Jun gene was knockdown by small interference RNA (siRNA) in JEG-3/MTXR cells, and LC3 was evaluated by western blot and reverse transcription-PCR. The binding of LC3 promoter with c-Jun protein was detected via chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) with or without 0.02 ng/ml methotrexate exposure. Results The results showed that p-c-Jun was up-regulated after methotrexate treatment for 72 hours (1.99±0.20, versus 0.20±0.06 at 0 hour;P<0.05) by western blot analysis in JEG-3/MTXR cell lines. Further investigation demonstrated that c-Jun-siRNA could inhibit the up-regulation of LC3 formation and after methotrexate exposure (LC3 mRNA:1.24±0.17 versus 3.03±0.43;LC3 protein:0.52±0.07 verus 1.20± 0.15; all P<0.05). The binding of LC3 promoter by c-Jun protein was up-regulated after methotrexate treatment by the method of ChIP in methotrexate resistant JEG-3/MTXR cells [(2.95 ± 0.35) times]. Conclusion Autophagy-related gene LC3 expression regulated by c-Jun protein may be involved in the effect mechanism of the development of methotrexate resistance in choriocarcinoma JEG-3 cells.

Objective To investigate the effect of combined Metformin and esomeprazole therapy on plasma levels of gastrin,blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c) and insulin in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled study of 41 elderly patients with type 2 diabetes was conducted.Patients were randomly assigned into treatment group(combination therapy with Metformin 0.5 g,bid or tid and Esomeprazole 20 mg,qd,for 12 weeks)and placebo group(Metformin monotherapy 0.5 g,bid or tid,for 12 weeks).Fasting blood samples were taken from vein before and after treatment.Fasting serum levels of gastrin,glucose,HbA1c,insulin,lipids,liver and renal functions were compared between the two groups.The homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) and insulin secretion index (HOMA-β)were calculated,and complications were recorded.Results There were no significant differences in body mass index and waist circumference between the two groups.Serum gastrin level was slightly increased in the treatment group 12 weeks after treatment,but without statistically significance [(127.20±9.21)ng/L vs.(131.53±7.84)ng/L,P＞0.05],and serum gastrin level had no significant differences in the placebo group before and after treatment [(128.42±4.58)ng/L vs.(127.51±3.47)ng/L,P＞0.05].However,there were no significant differences in the changes of blood glucose,HbA1c,insulin,HOMA-β and HOMA-IR before versus after therapy,and between the two group(all P＞0.05).Conclusions Combined Metformin and insulin therapy cannot increase serum gastrin and insulin levels and has no significant effect on reducing blood glucose and HbA1c levels in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective To perform the chromosome detection in 1 237 infertile patients for analyzing the karyotypes results and investigating the relationship between infertility and chromosome abnormalities .Methods The peripheral venous blood samples in 1 237 infertile patients in our hospital from March 2010 to December 2014 were collected ,performed the lymphocyte culture ,ob‐tained cells ,fixed under hypotonic condition ,prepared the section and observed them by microscope after G‐banding treatment .Re‐sults Among 1 237 patients ,111 cases abnormal karyotypes were detected with the total abnormal detection rate of 8 .9% ,in which ,57 cases were sex chromosomes abnormality ,54 cases were euchromosomes abnormality .Conclusion Chromosome abnor‐mality is one of the important causes leading to primary infertility .Infertility caused by chromosome abnormalities is irreversible ,so the chromosome cytogenetic examination is especially important in the diagnosis and treatment process of infertile patients .

Objective To explore the protective role of PR-39 on the ischemia reperfusion injury renal tissue of rats.Methods 60 male SD rats were enrolled and randomly divided into experimental KP group and negative control KE group.The rats orthotopic renal transplantation model were established.The recombinant adenoviral vectors containing promoter KSP and PR-39 gene (KP) or none (KE) were injected via renal artery.HE staining,immunohistochemistry and TUNEL staining were performed on the rats' renal tissues at 2 days after IRI modeling,and the renal tubular interstitial injury score and peritublar capillary rarefaction was also evaluated.The renal function related factors of rats was monitored before and after IRI,and the blood urea nitrogen and creatinine level was also compared between KP and KE groups.Results Blood urea and creatinine concentration was increased,part of glomerular and tubular injury in renal tissue were also visible in rats underwent renal IRI,which proved the rat orthotopic renal transplantation model were successfully estabilshed.PR-39 gene specifically expressed in renal interstitial tissue,but not in glomerular.The degree of kidney tublar injury and the number of apoptotic cells were lower in KP groups by comparing with negative control KE groups.Renal tubular injury was significantly decreased in group KP than in group KE.Peritubular capillary rarefaction index is smaller in KP than in KE group.The blood urea nitrogen and creatinine level in KP group were significantly lower than those in KE group,and the renal function were also recovered more quickly.Conclusion The specific expressed PR-39 in renal interstitial and tubule,can inhibit the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells and promote the angiogenesis of peritubular capillary,so as to exert its protective role on IRI renal tissue.

Objective To explore the value of image fusion guided contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in detecting liver nodules with abnormal blood supply missed by ultrasonography (US) and CEUS.Methods In 35 patients with HBV cirrhosis,forty-two liver nodules with abnormal blood supply which were missed by US and CEUS but detected by contrast-enhanced CT/MRI were analyzed retrospectively.Image fusion guided CEUS was performed after ultrasound and contrast enhanced CT/MRI images were fused.The fusion time,technical success rate,nodule detection rate and diagnosis accuracy rate were analyzed.Results Image fusion was underwent successfully in all 35 patients,the technical success rate was 100％.Average fusion time was (4.1-± 1.8)min(1-17 min).Forty liver nodules with abnormal blood supply were detected by image fusion guided CEUS,and the detection rate was 95.2％ (40/42).One nodule located at the top of right liver was missed because of the influence of lung gas,the other one was invisible due to its deep position.The diagnosis accuracy rate of image fusion guided CEUS was 97.5 ％ (39/40),and two nodules misdiagnosed by contrast-enhanced CT were diagnosed correctly by image fusion guided CEUS.Conclusions Image fusion guided CEUS had a high detection rate and diagnosis accuracy rate for liver nodules with abnormal blood supply missed by US and CEUS.It can improve the clinical diagnosis and guide interventional procedures.

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and contrast-enhanced helical CT (CECT) for various small focal nodular lesions (≤2 cm) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods Eighty-one small hepatic space-occupying lesions in 72 patients with liver cirrhosis were detected with CEUS and CECT, respectively. The diagnostic performance was calculated by histological results obtained from biopsy or surgery, which was considered as the gold standard, Results Fifty-three of the 81 small nodules were hepatocellular carcinoma, 26 were regenerative nodules and 2 were hemangioma. On CEUS, 51 (96.2%,51/53) HCC were hypervascular during arterial phase. On CECT, 41 (77.4%, 41/53) HCC were hypervascular (P < 0.01).Nodules which appeared by contrast enhancement during the arterial phase and contrast wash-out during the portal/late phase on CEUS or CECT were considered as HCC. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 86.8% (46/53) ,82.1% (23/28) ,and 85.2 % (69/81) in CEUS, and 73.6% (39/53), 92.9 % (26/28), and 80.2 % (65/81) in CECT, respectively. Overall, there was no significant difference between CEUS and CECT in the diagnostic confidence for small hepatic nodules (P >0.05).Conclusions CEUS is superior to CECT in the detection of arterial vascularization for small hepatocellular carcinoma with a diameter ≤2 cm. The ability of CEUS in the characterization of focal nodular lesions in cirrhotic livers is similar to that of CECT.

Objective To study the effect and mechanisms of berberine (BBR) on the proliferation of papillary thyroid cancer K1 cells induced by high glucose.Methods K1 cells were cultured under 5.5 mmol/L or 25 mmol/L glucose condition with or without different concentration of BBR (0,10,40 and 80 μmol/L) for 24 hours.The proliferations of K1 cells in each condition were detected by MTT.Western blot was used to measure the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrt2),phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K),protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt).The distribution pattern of Nrf2 in K1 cells was determined using immunofluorescent staining.Results Compared with 5.5 mmol/L condition,the proliferation rate [(126.64 ± 5.41) ％ vs (87.31 ± 3.67) ％],expression levels of PI3K (0.425 ±0.019 vs 0.272 ±0.039),p-Akt/Akt (0.446 ±0.021 vs 0.168 ±0.035) and Nrf2 (0.597 ± 0.014 vs 0.308 ± 0.026),and Nrf2 distribution (93.0％ vs 23.1％) in nuclear of K 1 cells under 25 mmol/L condition were significantly elevated,respectively (all P ＜0.01).Addition of BBR in 25 mmol/L condition dose dependently (10,40,80 μmol/L) lowered the proliferation rate of K1 cells [(111.76 ± 4.10)％,(70.03 ±2.18)％,(32.41 ±3.76)％ vs (126.64 ±5.41)％,all P＜0.05],and suppressed the expression of PI3K,p-Akt/Akt,Nrf2,and Nrf2 nuclear distribution (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions BBR dose dependently inhibited the proliferation of high glucose-induced K1 cells.This effect was associated with the suppression on of PI3K/Akt signaling activation,Nrf2 expression and its nuclear translocation.

Objective To evaluate the surgical treatment of carotid artery stenosis. MethodAccording to the level and degree of the stenosis, different operations were performed on 120 patients who suffered from the extracranial carotid stenosis. Treatment result was retrospectively reviewed. ResultSurgery was successful in all the patients. We performed carotid endarterectomy on 111 cases and other operations on 9 cases. The incidence of postoperative complications was low, especially for carotid endarterectomy. ConclusionCarotid endarterectomy is still the main therapy for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis with a satisfactory result.

Humanumbilicalveinendothelialcells(HUVECs)weretreatedwith3nmol/Lliraglutidefor10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, and 270 minutes at the concentrations of 5. 5 or 30 mmol/L glucose. Western blot analysis was used to detected protein expression and phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrates-1 ( IRS-1 ) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase ( eNOS ) . The results showed that the baseline level of phosphorylated-eNOS/eNOS was lower in high glucose group than that in normal group(0. 239 ± 0. 016 vs 0. 400 ± 0. 02,P<0. 05). Liraglutide time-dependently increased phosphorylated-eNOS/eNOS and phosphorylated-IRS-1/IRS-1 levels at 5. 5 or 30 mmol/L glucose.