Objective To assess the variations in different thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) detection kits for evaluating thyroid function during pregnancy and to establish the corresponding normal reference ranges.Methods This study was based at the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine.A total of 200 pregnant women who visited the hospital between June,2011 and September,2012 were recruited in this study according to the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) criteria.Blood samples were sequentially collected from the women at the first (T1,9-12 weeks),second (T2,16-24 weeks) and third (T3,32-36 weeks) trimesters to determine the serum TSH and FT4 levels using four different detection kits (Siemens-C,Siemens-Ⅰ,Abott and Roche).A linear trend test was used to analyze serum TSH and FT4 levels with four different kits.A percentile range of P2.5 to P97.5 was used to establish the normal trimester-dependent reference ranges of TSH and FT4 levels for different detection kits.The Bootstrap method was used to compare the differences in the four reference ranges.Results Similar dynamic changes in TSH and FT4 levels during pregnancy were detected among the different kits (F=0.950,P=0.595; F=11.640,P=0.081,respectively).Among the four reference ranges of TSH,the Roche kit showed the most remarkable fluctuation during pregnancy,while Roche kit in the first trimester and Siemens C kit in the second and third trimesters showed larger fluctuations in reference ranges of FT4.More importantly,the reference ranges of TSH and FT4 showed significant variations among the four different kits in each trimester (TSH:T1:F=2 945.390,P ＜ 0.01; T2:F=2 826.260,P ＜ 0.01; T3:F=1 698.360,P ＜ 0.01.FT4:Tl:F=1 145.440,P ＜ 0.01; T2:F=2 260.240,P ＜ 0.01; T3:F=1 439.920,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions TSH and FT4 measurement using four different commercial kits showed similar trimester-dependent dynamic changes.However,it is necessary to establish trimester-dependent and detection kit dependent normal reference ranges of TSH and FT4 for thyroid function evaluation for pregnant women.

Objective To analyze the related rules and prognosis analysis for lymphatic metastasis in patients for Siewert Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction.Methods This study retrospectively reviewed 65 patients who underwent radical surgery for Siewert Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction in Beijing Friendship Hospital between July 2013 and March 2017.The primary indicators were sex,age,tumor site,tumor size,macroscopic type,histological type,depth of invasion,operation,tumor emboli and carcinoma nodes.The clinical characteristics and pathological features were analyzed by using Logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.Follow-tup using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect patients' diseases and postoperative survival up to April 2017.Results Lymph node metastasis was observed in 41 of 65 patients (63.1％).Lymph node metastasis frequency was found in No.1,No.2,No.3,No.7,No.11 and No.110 lymph nodes.The incidences of those lymph node metastasis were 45.3％,32.5％,28.8％,22.5％,19.4％ and 8.2％.The metastasis rate of the tumors with diameter over 2 cm was higher than the tumors which were less than 2 cm (71.9％ vs 0;P =0.000);The observed rate of lymph node metastasis was 0,12.5％,69％,95.2％ in early cancer (T1) and advanced cancer (T2-T4) (P=0.000) respectively.The metastasis rate of highly differentiated Siewert Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction was 45.2％ lower than poorly differentiated tumors 79.4％ (P =0.009).Thirty-three cases were found with lymphatic embolus,28 of them (84.8％) were found to be combined with lymph node metastasis among them (P =0.001).All the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The results of multivariable analyzed by binary logistic regression analysis revealed that neoplasms histologic type and lymphatic embolus were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis of Siewert Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction.Sixty-five patients were followed up for 1-45 months,with a median time of 18.81 months.Although there was no statistically significant difference,3 years-overall survival rate showed tumor without lymph node metastasis has better prognosis than with lymph node metastasis and early stage tumor also has better prognosis than advanced tumor.Conclusions Lymph node metastasis of Siewert Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction is related with histological type of tumor and lymphatic embolus.For Siewert Ⅱ and Ⅲ adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction,the incidence of lymphatic metastasis were higher appear in abdominal cavity,which included No.1,No.2,No.3,No.7 and No.11;Meanwhile,the metastasis of mediastinal lymph node is given priority to No.110 lymph node.Therefore,radical total gastrectomy combined with standard D2 lymphadenectomy and No.110 lymphadenectomy are performed in order to improving the prognosis.For patients with lymph node metastasis and tumor in advanced stage,long-term prognosis remains to be further study.

Objective To investigate the effects ofShipi-Gushen-Huayu Recipe on the expressions of collagen I, laminin(LN), transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)andα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)in adriamycin-induced renal fibrosis in rats.Methods A total of male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, with 10 rats in each group: a normal group, a model group, a treatment group and a fosinopril sodium group. Except the rats in the normal group, the rest rats were subjected to renal fibrosisvia tail intravenous injection of adriamycin(4 mg/kg). Two weeks after modeling, the rats in the rreatment group and in the fosinopril sodium group were intragastrically administrated daily withShipi-Gushen-Huayu Recipe extract(43 g/kg)and fosinopril solution(2 mg/kg), respectively,both in the normal group and model group with saline. After 30 days, 24-hours urine protein were determined, and the expressions of collagen I, LN, TGF-β1 andα-SMA in kidney tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry staining.Results The expressions of collagen I(24.64±0.67vs. 32.86±0.88), LN(18.71±0.72vs. 28.35±0.87), TGF-β1(14.71±0.68vs. 18.35±0.96)andα-SMA(17.64±0.74vs. 25.86±0.85)in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group(allP<0.01). The expressions of collagen I, LN, TGF-β1 andα-SMA in the fosinopril sodium group were 27.33±0.73, 20.44±0.81, 15.44±0.85 and 19.33±0.77, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the expressions of collagen I, LN, TGF-β1 andα-SMA in the treatment group and in the fosinopril sodium group.ConclusionShipi-Gushen-Huayu Recipe can significantly down regulate the expressions of collagen I, LN, TGF-β1 andα-SMA in adriamycin-induced renal fibrosis in rats.

Objective To investigate the set-up error of CR in total body irradiation localization and lung shielding.Methods TOR 18FG software was employed to measure the image quality of images at kV and MV levels.The clinical processes were established and the positioning error was analyzed.Results The low contrast resolution and spatial resolution of MV level images were much worse than those at kV level in the condition of total body irradiation,but the image at MV level could be used to identify the high contrast tissues and employed in total body irradiation.The longitudinal errors were (0.50 ± 1.65) cm for left lung and (1.16 ± 1.56)cm for right lung in A P direction,while (1.12 ± 2.22)cm and (0.41 ± 2.16)cm respectively in PA direction.The errors of lateral were (0.81 ± 1.19)cm for left lung and (0.43 ±1.20)cm for right lung in AP direction,while (0.31 ± 1.64)cm and (0.55 ± 1.49)cm respectively in PA direction.Conclusions Application of CR in total body irradiation could make positioning in treatment much easily and reduce the localization errors.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Chemical Industry ; Female ; Humans ; Insecticides ; adverse effects ; Male ; Maximum Allowable Concentration ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; adverse effects ; Phosphorus Compounds ; adverse effects ; Sulfides ; adverse effects

Based on single factor tests,the optimum vacuum belt drying conditions of Qibai Pingfei granule were obtained through Box-Benhnken central combination design and RSM. In this study, drying time, drying temperature and extract density were chosen as independent variables, while transferring rate ginsenoside Rg₁, Re, Rb₁and astragaloside IV were taken as dependent variables. The optimum parameters are as follows: drying time of 112 min, drying temperature of 87 °C and extract density of 1.30 g · mL⁻¹. At the optimum condition, transferring rate ginsenoside Rg₁+ Re, Rb₁and astragaloside IV were 88.01%, 87.31%, 84. 34%. Above all, the optimum processing parameters of vacuum belt drying of Qibai Pingfei granule is reasonable and feasible, which can provide reliable basis for production.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; Desiccation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Temperature ; Vacuum

OBJECTIVETo screen and verify differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer.

METHODSUsing DNA microarray, we screened differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer tissue and its adjacent tissue followed by verification by PCR.

RESULTSA total of 1 444 genes were found to be differentially expressed (differentiation ≥ 1.5-fold; P≤ 0.05) in the prostate cancer tissue, of which 769 (53%) were up-regulated and 675 (47%) down-regulated. Fifty percent of the differentially expressed genes showed a 1.5- to 2-fold differentiation, including 396 up-regulated and 182 down-regulated ones. Additionally, 308 up-regulated and 334 down-regulated genes exhibited a >2- to 5-fold, 46 up-regulated and 78 down-regulated genes a > 5- to 10-fold, and 19 up-regulated and 81 down-regulated genes a > 10-fold differentiation. Verification by subjecting 15 most significantly up-regulated and another 15 most markedly down-regulated genes to quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that most of the genes had a transcriptional profile similar to that in the microarray data, with a Pearson correction coefficient of 0.83 between the microarray data and qRT-PCR results. Totally, 10 significantly differentially expressed genes were identified.

CONCLUSIONDNA microarray analysis provides reliable information on differentially expressed genes in prostate cancer and benign tissues. The 10 significantly differentially expressed genes verified by qRT-PCR could possibly become new bio-markers and specific molecules for tumor identification.

Cell Differentiation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; Up-Regulation

To study the anti-proliferation effect of lambda-carrageenan oligosaccharides (lambda-CO) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and expression of apoptotic relevant genes, the influence of lambda-CO on HUVECs proliferation was measured by MTT assay; apoptotic rate, cell cycle distribution and the level of active caspase-3 of HUVECs were analyzed using flow cytometry; the mRNA level of apoptosis related genes was determined by RT-PCR. At a high concentration of 1 mg x mL(-1), lambda-CO significantly inhibited the endothelial cell proliferation. Annexin-V FITC/PI double stain assay showed that when treated with 0, 0.8, 1 mg x mL(-1) of lambda-CO for 24 h, cell apoptotic rates were (1.67 +/- 1.6)%, (11.48 +/- 2.4)% and (13.81 +/- 2.2)%, respectively, when treated for 48 h, cell apoptotic rates were (2.02 +/- 2.3)%, (13.84 +/- 1.9)% and (38.72 +/- 2.5)%, respectively, cell cycle assay showed the decrease of cells in G0/G1 phase, and increase in S phase. Furthermore, we observed the level of active caspase-3 increased in a dose-dependent manner at 24 th and 48 th. RT-PCR results indicated that mRNA of TNFalpha, p53, caspase-8 and caspase-3 in cells increased after treated with lambda-CO. lambda-CO induce apoptosis of HUVECs in a dose-dependent way and arrests cells at S phase, which mainly due to the up-regulation of apoptotic genes such as TNFalpha, p53, caspase-8, caspase-3 and increase the level of active caspase-3.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carrageenan ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Oligosaccharides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

Total RNA was isolated from Siraitia grosvenorii fruit by the method of modified Trizol, according to S. grosvenorii fruit characteristics of rich phenols, polysaccharide, oil and proteins. The OD260/280, OD260/230, RNA integrity (RIN) and yield of the total RNA with this method were 2.01, 2.02, 9.50 and 260 mirog.g-1, respectively. The open reading frame (ORF) of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), named as SgDHAR, was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and RT-PCR method from S. grosvenorii. The GenBank accession number for this gene is KC907731. The SgDHAR gene contains a full-length cDNA of 1,252 bp including ORF of 819 bp and encodes a predicted protein of 272 amino acids. The molecular mass is 30.217 7 kD and the isoelectric point is 8.76. Homology comparison showed that it shared 87% nucleotide sequence homology with Cucumis sativus. Expression patterns using qRT-PCR analysis showed that SgDHAR was mainly expressed in fruit and stem, followed by flower, and was lowest in root, while the expression level was 6.83 times in triploid. T than that in diploid. Therefore, SgDHAR gene may be involved in abortion of triploid seedless S. grosvenorii.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Flowers ; chemistry ; genetics ; Fruit ; chemistry ; genetics ; Molecular Conformation ; Open Reading Frames ; Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phylogeny ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; genetics ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; genetics ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; genetics ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; RNA, Plant

ObJective To summarize the microsurgieal techniques through direct Sylvian fissure approach. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted in 62 patients undergoing microsurgeries through direct Sylvian fissure approach, including 4 with cavernous angioma in the Sylvian fissure, 5 with insular lobe tumors, 33 with middle cerebral artery aneurysms, 15 with glioma spanning or invading the Sylvian fissure, 1 with metastatic tumor, 2 with arteriovenous malformations, and 2 with temporal lobe epilepsy. Results All the vascular lesions were exposed satisfactorily and managed appropriately. Of the 19 cases ofgliomas and metastatic tumors, total resection was achieved in 13 cases, and subtotal resection in 6 cases. Transient aphasia or hemiparesis occurred postoperatively in a few patients but all recovered within 1 or two months. Conclusions The Sylvian fissure provides a good surgical route as a subarachnoid space between the frontal, parietal, temporal and insular lobes. The Sylvian fissure should be carefully separated under the operating microscope with high-power magnification, and tension-free retaction is critical in important language areas. In the management of tumors involving the Sylvian fissure, we recommend that extended resection be performed after exposure and appropriate preservation of important blood vessels in the fissure.