Subacute thyroiditis can cause destruction of thyroid follicles and subsequent transient thyrotoxicosis.In cases of simultaneous occurrences of subacute thyroiditis and Graves' disease,the former may be missed and thus may further exacerbate thyrotoxicosis.Herein,we report in detail a case with abrupt onset of thyrotoxic heart disease when taking anti-thyroid medications,in order to call attention to the diagnosis and treatment of concomitant Graves' disease and subacute thyroiditis.

Objective To evaluate the effect of gender matching on the outcomes of livingdonor renal transplantation.Methods A total of 419 cases of living-donor renal transplantation in our center were divided into male-donor-male-recipient (MDMR) group,male-donor-female-recipient (MDFR) group,female-donor-male-recipient (FDMR) group,female-donor-female-recipient (FDFR)group.The outcomes including graft and patient survival,acute rejection and renal function were analyzed retrospectively.Results Compared to MDMR group,MDFR group and FDFR group had lower Scr [(80.7±17.9),(87.4±21.9) μmol/L vs (120.3±72.5) μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05] and uric acid (UA) [(318.1 ± 86.4),(303.5 ± 66.9) μmol/L vs (358.4 ± 77.8) μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05] 6 months after operation.Compared to MDFR group,FDMR group had higher Scr[(117.7±27.4) μmol/L vs (80.7±17.9) μmol/L,P ＜ 0.01],UA [(371.0±92.4) μmol/L vs (318.1±86.4) μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05] and lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) [(70.4± 17.8) ml/min vs (79.6± 18.9) ml/min,P ＜ 0.05].Compared to FDMR group,FDFR group had lower Scr [(87.4±21.9) μmol/L vs (117.7±27.4) μmol/L,P ＜ 0.01] and UA [(303.5±66.9)μmol/L vs (371.092.4) μmol/L,P＜ 0.01].Compared to MDFR group,FDFR group showed lower GFR [(72.4±25.3) ml/min vs (82.7± 18.7) ml/min,P ＜ 0.05] 1 year after operation.Compared to MDMR group,FDFR group showed lower UA [(322.9±69.7) μmol/L vs (376.0±66.2) μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05] 2 years after operation.Compared to FDMR group,FDFR group showed lower Scr [(88.7 ±27.0) μmol/L vs (112.7±27.8) μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05] and UA [(318.3 ±61.2) μmol/L vs (396.2± 100.3) μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05] 3 years after operation.5 years after operation,there were no significant differences in above indexes,the incidence of slow graft function,acute rejection and survival of graft and patient among groups.Conclusions Male recipients of female donors have the worst renal function while female recipients have better outcomes after operation.

Objective To investigate the age-related change of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) content in stimulated whole saliva. Methods Ninety-four healthy adults aged 20-94 yrs were enrolled. Samples of whole stimulated saliva were collected from all subjects, the SLPI content was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The flow rate of the SLPI in older groups was lower than in the young group (P0. 05) , but the contents of SLPI secretion per time-unit of the three older groups[(2. 12?1. 70), (2. 17?2. 65) , (1. 91?2. 51) ng/min, all P

[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To investigate the effect of miR-496 over-expression on the growth and metastasis of colon cancer cells and its molecular mechanism .METHODS:The proteins interacting with miR-496 were screened by bioinfor-matic method.The levels of miR-496, CTNNB1 mRNA and β-catenin protein in colon cancer cell lines , HT29, HCT116 and SW480, and normal colonic epithelial cell line NCM 460 were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot .HT29, HCT116 and SW480 cells were transfected with miR-496 mimics using Lipofectamine 2000 and named as HT29-miR-496 mimics, HCT116-miR-496 mimics and SW480-miR-496 mimics cells, respectively, and the cells transfected with the scramble served as negative control .The cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, and colony formation and metastatic abilities were determined by MTT assay , LDH assay, colony formation assay and Transwell method , respective-ly.The promoter activity of miR-496 was measured using luciferase reporter gene assay .The protein levels of β-catenin, eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1), p-4E-BP1, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6(LRP6), p-LRP6, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-13 and TIMP-2 were monitored by Western blot.RESULTS:Endog-enous miR-406 interacted with β-catenin was found in the colon cancer cells .Low miR-496 expression in the HT29, HCT116 and SW480 cells and high miR-496 expression in NCM460 cells were detected.In contrast, high β-catenin ex-pression was found in the HT29, HCT116 and SW480 cells and low β-catenin expression was observed in the NCM460 cells.Compared with control group , the cell viability, colony formation rate and the number of metastatic cells remarkably decreased in the HT29-miR-496 mimics, HCT116-miR-496 mimics and SW480-miR-496 mimic cells (P<0.05).The promoter activity of miR-496 was significantly increased in colon cancer cells transfected with miR-496 mimics, and was 1.75, 2.04 and 1.61 times as high as control group .miR-496 over-expression inhibited β-catenin levels, and p-4E-BP1 and p-LRP6 protein levels were also reduced .siRNA-or over-expressed miR-496-mediated β-catenin down-regulation in-hibited MMP-7 and MMP-9 expression , but promoted TIMP-2 expression .CONCLUSION:The expression level of miR-496 in the colon cancer cells is low , but in the normal colonic epithelial cells is high .miR-496 over-expression inhibits the protein levels of MMP-7 and MMP-9, and promotes the protein expression of TIMP-2 via inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin path-way, thus suppressing malignant phenotype in the colon cancer cells .

Objective To investigate the effects of paeonol on renin-angiotensin system (RAS) occurred on the development of ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats. Methods The left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated to establish the model of AMI in male SD rats. Six groups were set up:sham-operation group, AMI model group, captopril control group, paeonol low dose group (6 mg/kg), paeonol middle dose group (9 mg/kg) and paeonol high dose group (12 mg/kg). Rats were given treatment for 4 weeks after the AMI model was established. HE staining was used to observe changes of myocardial tissue. Real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin Ⅱ receptor type1(AGTR1) and endothelin (ET)-1 of six groups. Western blot assay was used to detect the protein levels of peptidyl-dipeptidase A (ACE), angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang)-Ⅱand AGTR1 in six groups. Results The transcription of AGT, AGTR1, ET-1mRNA and the expressions of ACE, Ang-Ⅱ and AGTR1 protein were significantly higher in myocardial tissue of AMI rats than those of sham-operation rats (P＜0.05). Compared with model group, the expressions of AGT, AGTR1, ET-1mRNA and ACE, Ang-Ⅱ, AGTR1 protein were significantly decreased in paeonol high dose group and captopril control group (P＜0.05). Paeonol reduced the expressions of those mRNA and protein levels in a significant dose dependent manner. Conclusion Paeonol can slow down the deterioration of the ventricular remodeling after AMI in rats, which may be related to the inhibition of over-activation of RAS.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS)is a deadly infectious disease caused by SARS Coronavirus(SARS-CoV).Inactivated SARS-CoV has been explored as a vaccine against SARS-CoV.However,safe and potent adjuvants,especially with more efficient and economical needle-free vaccination are always needed more urgently in a pandemic.The development of a safe and effective mucosal adjuvant and vaccine for prevention of emergent infectious diseases such as SARS will be an important advancement.PIKA,a stabilized derivative of Poly(I:C),was previously reported to be safe and potent as adjuvant in mouse models.In the present study,we demonstrated that the intraperitoneal and intranasal co-administration of inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine together with this improved Poly(I:C)derivative induced strong anti-SARS-CoV mucosal and systemic humoral immune responses with neutralizing activity against pseudotyped virus.Although intraperitoneal immunization of inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine alone could induce a certain level of neutralizing activity in serum as well as in mucosal sites,co-administration of inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine with PIKA as adjuvant could induce a much higher neutralizing activity.When intranasal immunization was used,PIKA was obligatorily for inducing neutralizing activity in serum as well as in mucosal sites and was correlated with both mucosal IgA and mucosal IgG response.Overall,PIKA could be a good mucosal adjuvant candidate for inactivated SARS-CoV vaccine for use in possible future pandemic.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of perioperative use of fish oil on post-operative fatigue(POF) of rat.MethodsAfter one week's preoperative behavior training,12 rats presented poor behavior were excluded from 60 healthy adult male SD rats as the normal controls of serum parameters.The remaining 48 rats were randomly divided into model group and fish oil treatment group by random number table.The fish oil treatment group received 10 days' (3 days before surgery and 7 days after surgery) intraperitoneal injection of fish oil [2 ml/( kg · d) ],and the model group with saline.On the 1st,3rd,5th,and 7th post-operative day,rats were assessed by Morris water-maze and tail suspension test.Serum levels of interleukin ( IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),superoxide dismutase (SOD),and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) were measured.ResultsSerum parameters:on the 1st and 3rd post-operative day,the IL-6 level in the fish oil treatment group [ (66.22 ±8.80),(56.03 ± 1.19) pg/ml] was significantly lower than in model group [ (83.30 ± 10.69),(82.72 ± 24.27) pg/ml ] (P =0.034,P =0.038 ) ; on the 1 st,3rd,5th,and 7th post-operative day,the TNF-α level in the fish oil treatment group [ ( 104.36 ±5.02),(84.49 ±7.81 ),(64.47 ±2.89),(39.29 ±2.52)pg/ml ] was significantly lower than in model group [ ( 120.01 ± 14.99 ),( 119.68 ± 8.84),(75.29 ± 2.58 ),(41.96±1.65) pg/ml] (P=0.014,P=0.003,P=0.000,P=0.004); onthe1st,3rd,5th,and 7th postoperative day,the IL-1β level [(155.11 ±9.08),(79.39±5.86),(57.26±16.07),(35.42±1.53) pg/ml]was significantly lower than model group [ (204.87±30.61),(198.82±54.83),(152.12±29.06),(64.35 ± 2.70) pg/ml ] ( P =0.024,P =0.002,P =0.000,P =0.000) ; on the 5th postoperative day,SOD ( 1.08±0.08) μmol/L was significantly higher than model group (0.71±0.06) μmoL/L (P=0.000) ; on the 5th and 7th postoperative day,GSH-PX [ (31.21 ± 1.30), (30.78 ± 1.83) μmol/L] was significantly higher than model group [ (25.03 ±1.74),(27.57±3.57) μ mol/L](P=0.000,P=0.036).Behavior:in tail suspension test,on the 1st and 3rd postoperative day,value of struggle in fish oil treatment group [ (6620 ± 1390),(7011 ± 1472) mv · s] was significantly higher than in model group [ (4739 ± 1040),(4344 ± 1130) mv · s](P=0.048,P=0.043); cumulative fixed time [ (118.42±10.05), (101.02±8.68) s] and single rest time [ (55.39±7.70),(56.60±5.88) s] was lower thanin modelgroup [ (135.08+12.44),(131.02±9.24) s; (65.73±3.78),(64.93±3.25) s] (P=0.042,P=0.012,P=0.043,and P=0.042).In Morris water-maze,on the 3rd and 5th postoperative day,escape latent period of fish oil treatment group [ (48.263 ±1.815),(44.955±2.567) s] was lower than model group [ (51.543±1.990),(49.956±2.888) s] (P=0.035,P=0.035) ; on the 1st,3rd,5th,and 7th postoperative day,the cross platform number (1.04±0.25,1.95±0.49,2.42 ±0.41,3.21 ±0.53) was significantly higher than in model group (0.58 ±0.26,1.20±0.33,1.50±0.39,2.17±0.68) (P=0.002,P=0.003,P=0.018,P=0.035).ConclusionPerioperative use of fish oil can reduce postoperative inflammatory response,enhance antioxidant defense capability,and mitigate post-operative fatigue.

Background and purpose:Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel was gaining more attention in the treatment for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The prediction of the sensitivity to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel could enable clinicians to individualize treatment protocols for NPC. Recently we found that 99mTc-MIBI imaging in NPC could predict tumor response to chemotherapy with cisplatin plus 5-FU. However, there was no study to support similar findings in NPC patients receiving chemotherapy containing docetaxel. This study was to evaluate the value of double-phase 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT in predicting response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel-based regimen for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods:Thirty-one nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients participated in this prospective study. Before treatment, early and delayed single-photon emission computed tomography/compute tomography (SPECT/CT) images were obtained instantly and 2 hours after an intravenous injection of 25-30 mCi 99mTc-MIBI. All patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of docetaxel, cisplatin plus 5-FU for two cycles. The relationships between efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the early uptake ratio, late uptake ratio and washout rate of 99mTc-MIBI were evaluated.Results:According to the MRI, the early uptake of 99mTc-MIBI (2.67±0.83) in the lesions which were sensitive to chemotherapy was significantly higher compared with that (1.69±0.46) in the insensitive lesions(P=0.003). The difference of the late uptake between the sensitive(1.46±0.39) and the insensitive (1.06±0.62) was also statistically significant (P=0.026). However, the washout rate of 99mTc-MIBI was not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.23). Through ROC curve analysis, the AUC for early uptake of 99mTc-MIBI and late uptake were 0.84. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 74.2%, 87.5%, 95.8%and 46.7%for early uptake when the cut off value of 1.97 was used. Conclusion:The uptake of 99mTc-MIBI in both early phase and late phase could predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with docetaxel-based regimen.