Adult ; Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Military Medicine ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) in the prepuce of hypospadias children and its relationship to the incidence of hypospadias.

METHODSPrepuce tissues were collected from 37 children aged 6-15 months undergoing hypospadias repair and 11 age-matched controls receiving circumcision. Based on the position of the urethral meatus, the hypospadias cases were classified as severe (n = 13) and mild-moderate (n = 24). The mRNA and protein expressions of ZEB1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of the ZEB1 protein was remarkably higher in the severe (100% [13/13]) and mild-moderate hypospadias patients (75.0% [18/24]) than in the controls (9.1% [1/11]), with statistically significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed the integrated density value (IDV) of the ZEB1 mRNA expression to be (0.67 ± 0.21), (0.81 ± 0.24), and (1.55 ± 0.29) in the control, mild-moderate, and severe hypospadias patients, respectively, significantly higher in the severe hypospadias than in the control and mild-moderate hypospadias groups (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the latter two (P = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ZEB1 is significantly increased in hypospadias patients, and its upregulation is positively correlated with the severity of hypospadias, which suggests that the overexpression of ZEB1 may contribute to the development of hypospadias.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Circumcision, Male ; Foreskin ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; classification ; etiology ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Urethra ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

Approximately 3 to 5％ of newly diagnosed metastatic cancers are of unknown primary tissue origin due to difficulties identifying a primary tumor using standard diagnostic approaches.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been demonstrated to be able to assist pathologist with improved accuracy in diagnosing cancers of unknown primary origin (CUP).In this short commentary,we will highlight some of the recent advancements in miRNA based cancer diagnosis as well as some future directions for the field.

Objective To explore the effects of different vitamin A(VA) levels on thyroid cells apoptosis and its gene expression of mice taking excessive iodine. Methods Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups according to body weight 3 weeks after born: normal control(NI) group, high iodine(HI) group, low vitamin (LVA) group, high iodine plus low vitamin A(HI+LVA) group, high iodine plus vitamin A1 (HI+VA1) group, high iodine plus vitamin A2(HI+VA2) group. The VA was given in food(4000,4000,0,0,8000,16 000 U/kg), and the iodine was given as potassium iodate in water (I-:50,3000,50,3000,3000,3000 μg/L). The apoptosis was tested using in situ end labehng(TUNEL) method. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to measure the level of mRNA of apoptosis gene(Fas, FasL, Bcl-2) in tissues. Results Apoptotic index measured by TUNEL method was rising along with the mice age. Compared to NI group[(14.09±5.68)%], apoptotic index was significantly increased in HI[(20.91±9.57)%], HI+LVA[(20.29±9.90)%]and HI+VA2 [(19.51±8.25)%]groups in the three months(P < 0.05). Compared to NI group[(16.80±9.90)%], apoptotic index was significantly increased(P < 0.05) in HI[(23.22±8.58)%],LVA[(22.56±6.17)%],HI+LVA [(25.99±9.62)%],HI+VA1 [(21.65±7.74)%]groups in the six months. Compared with the NI group(Fas: 1.29±0.25,1.27±0.26; FasL: 1.60±0.13,1.65±0.13), the mRNA levels of Fas and FasL in HI group(Fas: 1.57±0.36,1.49±0.35; FasL: 1.85±0.46,1.84±0.32) were increased, but the differences were not remarkable(P > 0.05) in the three and six months. Compared with the HI group, the mRNA levels of Fas in HI+ VA1, HI+VA2(1.33±0.35, 1.30±0.26) groups were decreased to the level in NI group in the six months. The mRNA levels of Fas and FasL were not different (P > 0.05) between HI+LVA(I.60±0.27,1.88±0.46) and HI groups in the three months. The mRNA levels of Bcl-2 were not remarkably differences in the three months (1.05±0.19,0.96±0.33,0.95±0.26,1.18±0.27,1.10±0.19,0.98±0.36, all P > 0.05), and in the six months (1.35±0.28,1.60±0.25,1.48±0.18,1.71±0.26,1.66±0.29,1.56±0.35, all P > 0.05). Conclusions Excessive iodine can cause thyroid cells apoptosis in mice. Supplementation of suitable amount of VA can regulate the levels of the apoptosis-related genes expression, and partly antagonize the apoptosis caused by high iodine.

Objective To detect the levels of five trace elements in whole blood of patients with Keshan disease(KSD) and dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) and explore their role in the pathogenesis of KSD.Methods One hundred and four patients with chronic KSD were selected from Keshan diseased areas in Shandong,Sichuan and Inner Mongolia.Thirty patients with DCM were selected from Qilu Hospital of Shandong University,Jinan Central Hospital,The First People's Hospital.Ninety-one healthy people from KSD endemic areas and 39 healthy people from Jinan were selected as endemic healthy controls and non-endemic healthy controls,respectively.Blood samples were collected to determinate the level of selenium (Se),copper (Cu),zinc (Zn),chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn) with fluorescence method and atomic absorption spectrometry,according to the principle of informed consent.Results The level of Se,Zn and Cr of KSD group[(36.0 + 4.9)μg/L,(22.73 + 4.62)mg/L,(0.56 + 0.17)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls [(56.4 ± 6.8)lμg/L,(25.35 ± 4.44)mg/L,(0.71 ± 0.17)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05],but the level of Cu of KSD group[(0.95 ± 0.24)mg/L] was significantly higher than that of non-endemic healthy controls[(0.73 ± 0.13) mg/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The level of Se and Cr of KSD was significantly lower than that of endemic healthy controls[(54.5 ± 5.4)μg/L,(0.87 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05],and Cu was significantly higher than that of endemic healthy controls[(0.66 ± 0.02)mg/L,P ＜ 0.05].The level of Cu and Zn of KSD was significantly lower than that of DCM [(1.21 ± 0.23)mg/L,(27.09 ± 7.10)mg/L,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of Se and Cr of DCM group[(39.6 ± 3.5)μg/L,(0.58 ± 0.14)mg/L] was significantly lower than that of non-endemic healthy controls(all P ＜ 0.01),but Cu[(1.21 + 0.23)mg/L] was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with non-endemic healthy controls,the level of Se of endemic healthy control group was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.01),while Cu was significantly increased (P ＜ 0.01).Se,Zn and Cr level of KSD decreased gradually following elevated heart function level,but the level of Cu gradually increased.Conclusions The metabolism of Se,Cr,Cu and Zn is unbalanced in KSD patients,whose Se level is still lower than that of people in non-endemic areas.The change of Se,Cr,Cu and Mn level between KSD and DCM is consistent.

Recent studies have revealed temporal waveform envelope cues as a function of time having significant influence on tone recognition in continuous interleaved sampling (CIS) of cochlear implants. In this study, temporal cues of speech signal have been modulated so that to different tones have nearly the same temporal waveform envelope. The processing signal is named modulated signal. The modulated signals and original signals are processed through software emulations of cochlear-implant signal processors. The recognition score of the modulated signals and originals are compared. The result indicates that temporal cues have great influence on tone recognition, but spectral cues are the principal factor determining the identification of tones.
Acoustic Stimulation ; instrumentation ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cochlear Implants ; Cues ; Deafness ; therapy ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Pitch Perception ; physiology ; Speech Acoustics ; Speech Perception

BACKGROUND:Gemcitabine hydrochloride is a water-soluble anticancer drug that induces apoptosis in tumor cells, but it has an excessive release in vivo. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) electrospun fiber membranes carrying gemcitabine hydrochloride on the growth of human osteosarcoma cell lines MG-63. METHODS:PLA electrospun fiber members with (experimental) or without (control) gemcitabine hydrochloride were fabricated and characterized. Two kinds of fiber membranes were immersed in low-glucose DMEM medium, and the supernatants were collected in the two groups at 3, 5, 7 days, respectively. Passage 5 human osteosarcoma cell lines MG-63 were inoculated into 96-well plates containing low-glucose DEME with 15％ fetal bovine serum, and divided into seven groups. Groups 1-3 were cultured in the experimental supernatants of 3, 5, 7 culture days, and groups 4-6 were cultured in the control supernatants of 3, 5, 7 culture days, respectively. The remaining group acted as the negative control with no supernatant. Thereafter, cell counting kit-8 was used to detect cell proliferation, and RT-PCR was used to measure expression of Bcl-2 and Bax at 3 days of culture. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) No obvious particle was found on the smooth and even surface of the fiber members in the experimental and control groups. There was no significant difference in fiber diameter, contact angle and tensile strength between the two kinds of fiber membranes. (2) The results of cell counting kit-8 showed that compared with the negative control group, the supernatant released from the control group had no effect on the MG-63 proliferation at different time points, while the supernatant released from the experimental group could inhibit the MG-63 proliferation at different time points (P<0.05), and the inhibitory effect became more and more obvious with the prolongation of release time. (3) RT-PCR findings showed that compared with the control group, the supernatant released from the experimental group could increase Bax mRNA expression and decrease Bcl-2 mRNA expression at the same time point. To conclude, the PLA electrospun fiber membranes carrying gemcitabine hydrochloride can sustainably inhibit MG-63 proliferation and promote cell apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs2297508 and rs11868035 of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Han and Dongxiang populations in Gansu.

METHODSA total of 342 patients with T2DM and 343 healthy controls of Han ethnics and 218 patients with T2DM and 238 healthy controls of Dongxiang ethnics were enrolled during 2006 and 2009. Genotypes of rs2297508 and rs11868035 were determined by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (PCR-DHPLC). Plasma levels of lipid, glucose and insulin in all subjects were assayed by biochemical techniques. Chi-square test was used for data analysis.

RESULTSThe genotypic and allelic frequencies of rs2297508 and rs11868035 polymorphisms did not differ significantly in the control groups of Han and Dongxiang ethnics (P> 0.05). But those of T2DM patients were significantly higher than in the controls (P< 0.01). Plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels for carriers of C allele for rs2297508 were significantly higher than those of non-carriers from the control group of Han ethnics (P<0.05). That of carriers of CC genotypes for rs11868035 was significantly higher than carriers of GG genotype in the control group of Dongxiang ethnics (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNP rs2297508 and rs11868035 of SREBP-1c gene may be associated with T2DM, and C allele appears to be a risk factor for T2DM in Gansu Han or Dongxiang ethnics. Han and Dongxiang ethnics did not differ significantly in terms of genotypic and allelic frequencies for the two SNPs. SNP rs2297508 of SREBP-1c gene may be associated with increased plasma levels of LDL-C in both Han or Dongxiang ethnics.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Base Sequence ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 1 ; blood ; genetics

BACKGROUNDPodocyte has inflammatory role in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an anti-inflammatory agent, can suppress macrophage infiltration and reduce renal injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), another renal protecting agent, can decrease podocyte loss in DN. In this study, we detected the expression levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and nephrin to evaluate podocyte's role in inflammatory reaction in DN, observe and compare the effect of MMF alone and in combination with valsartan, on preventing podocyte loss in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.

METHODSDiabetic model was constructed in uninephrectomized male Wistar rats by single peritoneal injection of STZ (65 mg/kg). The successfully induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into four groups: diabetes without treatment group (DM), valsartan treated group (DMV), MMF treated group (DMM), and combined therapy group (DMVM). Normal rats of the same sibling were chosen as control (NC). At the end of the 8th week, serum biochemistry, 24-hour urinary protein (UP) and the ratio of kidney weight/body weight (RWK/B) were measured. The rats were sacrificed for the observation of renal histomorphology through light and electron microscope. Nephrin, desmin and MCP-1 levels were detected by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical assays. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of nephrin and MCP-1.

RESULTSCompared with group NC, serum glucose level, 24-hour UP and RWK/B in group DM were significantly higher (P < 0.01), and the nephrin mRNA level in DM group was significantly lower (P < 0.05). The nephrin mRNA expression levels in group DMV, DMM and DMVM were all higher than that of DM group (P < 0.05) and no significant differences were found among the three treatment groups (P > 0.05). Treatment with MMF, valsartan or their combination could significantly decrease the 24-hour UP and RWK/B, and suppress glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrotic lesions in diabetic rats. In diabetic rats, the high expressions of desmin and MCP-1 in kidney were suppressed by valsartan, MMF or their combination.

CONCLUSIONSPodocytes are involved in the inflammatory reaction of diabetic rats. MMF could suppress MCP-1 and desmin expression, enhance nephrin expression, and attenuate proteinuria in diabetic rats. The combined therapy of valsartan and MMF did not show any superiority over monotherapies on renal protection. MMF may have renoprotective effect in early stages of diabetic nephropathy through preventing podocytes loss and anti-inflammatory activity.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL2 ; analysis ; Desmin ; analysis ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; analysis ; Mycophenolic Acid ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tetrazoles ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Valine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan

The clinical and hematologic features in 22 patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone marrow were observed and analyzed. Morphology of bone marrow cells, bone marrow biopsy and other accessory examinations were performed. The primary or cardinal symptoms of metastatic carcinoma of bone marrow included anemia (17 cases, 77.3%), ostealgia (10 cases, 45.5%), fever (8 cases, 36.4%), hemorrhage (4 cases, 18.2%) and complicated hemolytic anemia (4 cases, 18.2%). The primary carcinomas, diagnosed by pathologic and accessory examinations, include gastric carcinoma (6 cases, 27%), lung cancer (3 cases, 13.6%), ovarian cancer (2 cases, 9%), mammary cancer, prostatic carcinoma, osteocarcinoma and metastatic malignant melanoma (1 case, respectively), and unknown primary lesion (7 cases, 31.8%). The hematologic features were decrease of hemoglobin (17 cases, 77.3%) and blood plate count (16 cases, 72.7%), leukocytosis (11 cases, 50%), immature leukocytes (14 cases, 63.6%) and erythrocytes (9 cases, 40.9%) seen on the peripheral blood smear, and reticulocytosis (4 cases, 18.2%). Masses of metastatic carcinoma cells can be frequently seen at two sides and tail of bone marrow smear. Bone marrow biopsy of 8 cases demonstrated the infiltration of carcinoma cells with nest-like distribution in the bone marrow cavity. Examination of MRI in 6 case showed destruction of bone and corpus vertebra and abnormal signal focus. Bone marrow biopsy could contribute to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and determine the origin of primary carcinoma. MRI plays an important role in diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma in bone marrow.