The authors studied the redistribution of the myocardial blood flow with radioactive biomicrospheres in dogs suffering from acute myocardial ischemia. After the left anterior descending coronary vessel was ligated, there was a great decrease in blood flow of the central ischemic zone. The blood flow of the zone near the border was greater than the central ischemic zone, and was less than the zone far from the border and the nonischemic zone. The endocardial blood flow of the central ischemic zone and the zone near the border became less than the epicardial blood flow (end./epi

Objective To evaluate the value of multiparametric MRI for prediction of prostate cancer pathology and tumor staging. Methods A total of 80 patients with prostate cancer admitted during the period from 2016 to 2021 were enrolled as the study subjects, and all patients underwent multiparametric MRI. The pathological examination of radical prostatectomy specimens was used as a gold standard to evaluate the predictive value of multiparametric MRI for significant prostate cancaer, extracapsular extension, index lesion location and lymph node metastasis. Results Multiparametric MRI showed a sensitive of 96%, specificity of 60%, positive predictive value of 97.3% and negative predictive value of 50% for prediction of significant prostate cancer, and the concordance between multiparametric MRI and pathology of radical prostatectomy specimens was 75% for prediction of index lesions. In addition, multiparametric MRI showed a 40% sensitivity, 91.4% specificity, 85.7% positive predictive value and 54.2% negative predictive value for identification of extracapsular extension and a 16.7% accuracy for detection of lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Multiparametric MRI is highly sensitive for predicting significant prostate cancer with a high positive predictive value and is highly accurate for identification of index lesions of prostate cancer, which is of great value to propose prostate cancer treatment schemes and evaluate the clinical prognosis among prostate cancer patients.

Objective To define the nuclear agrresome formation is determinated by which part of the UL76 of
HCMV. Full-length, conserved N terminal and unconserved C terminal of pUL76 were constructed to eukaryotic ex-pression plasmid pEGFP-N1 . Methods Primers were designed to amplify full-length and different part of pUL76 according to standard sequence of HCMV AD169 which had been submitted to GenBank(FJ527563. 1). These frag-ments were constructed to eukaryotic expression plasmid pEGFP-N1 . The recombinant plasmids were designated pEGFP-UL76,pEGFP-UL76N, pEGFP-UL76C respectively. Double digestion and sequencing were performed to verify the accuracy of recombinant plasmids construction. Empty vector and three recombinant plasmids were transi-ent transfected to HELF and HepG-2 cells respectively. Reverse transcriptation PCR and Western blot were per-formed to detect the RNA and protein expression level respectively. Different nuclear aggresome formations were visualized with an Olympus fluorescence microscopy. Results pEGFP-N1 and pEGFP-UL76N were unable to in-duce nuclear aggresome formation, whereas pEGFP-UL76 and pEGFP-UL76C were able to elicit nuclear aggresome formation. Conclusion The unconserved C terminal of pUL76 is sufficient to induce nuclear aggresome formation.

Objective To determine the degree of damage to hairs by Geotrichum, and to compare the difference in infection duration and intensity by Geotrichum silvicola isolates from skin lesions and blood and Geotrichum candidumn isolates between hairs from different age groups. Methods In vitro hair perforation test was carried out on the hairs from healthy individuals of different age groups. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to observe hairs perforated by Geotrichum silvicola isolates from skin lesions and blood as well as Geotrichum candidumn isolates. Results Both Geotrichum silvicola and Geotrichum candidumn isolates could perforate hairs. The time taken to perorate hairs was significantly different between isolates of Geotrichum silvicola from skin lesions, blood and Geotrichum candidumn in every age groups (all P ＜ 0.05).The Geotrichum silvicola isolates from blood perforated hairs in the shortest time (range: 53 - 64 days, mean:58.07 ± 3.15 days), followed by those from skin lesions (range: 57 - 66 days, mean: 61.05 ± 2.55 days), and Geotrichum candidumn (range: 61 - 74 days, mean: 67.11 ± 3.78 days). The time taken to perforate hairs by Geotrichum significantly increased with age, and significant difference was observed between hairs from the four age groups, i.e., ＜ 2 years, 2 - 13 years, 14 - 19 yeas, ＞ 19 years, but not between the age group of ＜ 2 years and that of 2 - 13 years (P ＞ 0.05 ). As scanning electron microscopy showed, both Geotrichum silvicola and Geotrichum candidumn could damage hairs, and the degree of damage by Geotrichum silvicola was more severe than that by Geotrichum candidumn. Conclusions The damage to hairs by Geotrichum silvicola is earlier and more severe than that by Geotrichum candidumn. The younger the age, the more liable the hairs to be damaged by Geotrichum.

Objective To compare the effectiveness and safety of Foley catheter(FC)and vaginal prostaglandin E2 suppository(PGE2,Propess)for cervical ripening and labor induction in fullterm pregnant women with unfavorable cervix.Methods A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted.Women with a term or post-term,live,singleton fetus in cephalic presentation,intact membranes,Bishop score＜6,not in labor,medically indicated for labor induction from June 2009 to December 2009 in Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School were randomly divided into two groups:FC group(n=64)and Propess group(n=62).In FC group,a 16-F Foley catheter was inserted into patient's cervical canal; once past the internal os,the balloon was inflated with 80 ml saline.Intravenous oxytocin was initiated after the balloon was spontaneously extruded from the cervix or after 24 hours.In Propess group,vaginal Propess was used.x2 or Fisher's exact test and t test were used to compare the outcomes,delivery mode and induction success rate between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences in gestational weeks,Bishop score,indication of induction,improvement of Bishop score,success rate of induction,rate of vaginal delivery,total duration of labor and volume of postpartum hemorrhage between the two groups(P ＞ 0.05,respectively).Propess group had a higher rate of vaginal birth within 24 hours[56.5％(35/62)vs 28.1％(18/64),t=10.37,P＜0.05],a higher risk for excessively frequent and hard uterine contraction[17.7％(11/62)vs 0.0％(0/64),P＜0.05]and lower incidence of oxytocin induction/augmentation during labor[21.0％(13/62)vs 87.5％(56/64),x2 =56.27,P＜0.05]than those of FC group.There were no differences in neonatal Apgar score,meconium staining and neonatal birth weight between the two groups.Puerperal infection occured in neither group.Conclusions Under strict control of indication and aseptic manipulation,Foley catheter was as effective and safe as Propess for cervical ripening with lower risk of excessive uterine activity.It is suggested that Foley catheter could be used for cervical ripening,especially in patients with economic difficulty.

AIM:To study the changes of mitochondria during apoptosis in Jurkat cells induced by arsenic oxide(As2O3).METHODS:By treated with 4?10-6 mol/L As2O3,apoptosis and necrosis of Jurkat cells were assessed by annexin V-FITC/PI double staining flowcytometry.Mitochondrial mass and its membrane potential(△?m)was measured by NAO/PI and DiOC6(3)/PI staining,respectively.Free radical formation was detected by DCFDA staining.RESULTS:After 48 h of As2O3 treatment,the rates of early apoptotic Jurkat cells in As2O3 and control groups were(18.98?1.40)% and(5.17?0.80)%,respectively(P

Objective · To observe the vascular structure before autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) construction in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and analyze the risk factors of the pre-existing venous neointimal hyperplasia. Methods · The 8 vein samples were screened from 20 ESRD patients at their first time of the AVF construction (non-stenosis group), and the other 8 vein samples were screened from 15 ESRD patients at their at least second time of the AVF repair operation (stenosis group). Sections were prepared and stained with hematoxylin & eosin (H-E) or Masson's trichrome for observation. The intimal thickness was measured by the cellSens software, and its correlation with patients' renal function, calcium-phosphorus metabolism, iron metabolism and inflammatory reaction in the non-stenosis group were analyzed. Results · In the non-stenosis group, there were varying degrees of intimal hyperplasia in 5 (62.5%) cases, loss of endothelial cell layer in 3 (37.5%) cases, and vascular wall replacement by collagenous with atrophy or loss of muscle layer in 5 (62.5%) cases. In the stenosis group, almost all vein samples showed general thickening of the wall and 2 (25.0%) totally lost the muscle layer. Avg It of those two groups were statistically significant (P<0.01). In the non-stenosis group, both of average I/M thickness and average I/M area were negatively related to glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (P<0.05) and positively related to serum phosphorus and calcium-phosphorus product (P<0.05). Conclusion · Some apparently normal vein of ESRD patients showed varying degrees of intimal hyperplasia before AVF construction. The intimal hyperplasia had a remarkable correlation with GFR or calcium-phosphorus metabolism. Early intervention of the intimal hyperplasia prior to AVF construction may be a new prevention and control means.

Objective To evaluate in vitro antifungal activities of five clinically common antifungal agents against Geotrichum silvicola,and to observe morphological changes of Geotrichum silvicola after treatment with terbinafine.Methods Five antifungal agents commonly used in clinic,including terbinafine (TER),amphotericin B (AmB),flucytosine (FC),fluconazol (FCZ) and itraconazole (ICZ),were tested in this study.According to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) M27-A2 document and relevant literatures,a susceptibility test was performed to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the five antifungal agents against G eotrichum silvicola.Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe morphological changes of Geotrichum silvicola treated with different concentrations of TER.Results The MIC values against Geotrichum silvicola were as follows:TER,0.01 μg/ml;AmB,0.4 μg/ml;FC,2 μg/ml;FCZ,2.69 μg/ml;ICZ,0.25 μg/ml.Geotrichum silvicola was sensitive to TER,AmB,FC and FCZ,and sensitive to ICZ in a dose-dependent manner.SEM revealed that after TER treatment,the surface of Geotrichum silvicola became rough and shrinking with irregular defects and holes,and even gave a fragment-like appearance.Conclusions Among the five tested antifungal agents,TER shows the strongest activity against Geotrichum silvicola.Within a certain range,the higher the concentration of TER,the more serious the damage to Geotrichum silvicola.

Robust and efficient control of therapeutic gene expression is needed for timing and dosing of gene therapy drugs in clinical applications. Ribozyme riboswitch provides a promising building block for ligand-controlled gene-regulatory system, based on its property that exhibits tunable gene regulation, design modularity, and target specificity. Ribozyme riboswitch can be used in various gene delivery vectors. In recent years, there have been breakthroughs in extending ribozyme riboswitch's application from gene-expression control to cellular function and fate control. High throughput screening platforms were established, that allow not only rapid optimization of ribozyme riboswitch in a microbial host, but also straightforward transfer of selected devices exhibiting desired activities to mammalian cell lines in a predictable manner. Mathematical models were employed successfully to explore the performance of ribozyme riboswitch quantitively and its rational design predictably. However, to progress toward gene therapy relevant applications, both precision rational design of regulatory circuits and the biocompatibility of regulatory ligand are still of crucial importance.

AIM: To study mitochondrial mass and structural protein changes in dexamethasone (DEX)-mediated mouse thymocyte apoptosis process. METHODS: DEX-induced mouse thymocyte apoptosis model was established. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining was used to identify apoptotic and necrotic cells by flowcytometry, JC-1 staining was adopted to test mitochondrial membrane potential (△?_m), and cellular structural protein changes were studied with CFDA-SE staining. RESULTS: By 1?10~(-6) mol/L DEX stimulation, the apoptotic rate was 51.25%?5.51% and had significantly difference from control group (12.03%?2.00%); the necrotic rate in DEX group was 30.25%?3.67% and also had significantly difference from control group (10.11%?1.11%, P