Perinatal cardiac tumors are rare and the vast majority are histologically benign. Clinical manifestations depend on their size and location. Most of them are clinically unimportant but an arrhythmia or a cardiac failure may present as a feature of obstruction of the outflow tract. Cardiac rhabdomyoma is the most common type of the cardiac tumor and associated with the tuberous sclerosis, and may be the only sign of the tuberous sclerosis, especially, in fetus. We report a case of a cardiac tumor detected during routine prenatal ultrasonographic evaluation, which demonstrated features of rhabdomyoma. After birth, the newborn was diagnosed as tuberous sclerosis with brain MRI scanning.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Brain ; Fetus ; Heart Failure ; Heart Neoplasms* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Parturition ; Rhabdomyoma ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; Ultrasonography*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate interfering effect of several short interfering RNAs (siRNA) on HCV 5' untranslated region(5' UTR).

METHODSThe green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used as reporter gene. A fused gene of HCV-5'UTR and GFP was constructed. It was cloned into the plasmid pCDNA3.1 named as pcDNA-HCV-5'UTR-GFP. Three siRNAs were designed and transfected into HepG2 cells with pcDNA-HCV-5'UTR-GFP. The change of the fluorescence intensity of HepG2 cells was shown by fluorescence microscopy and numerically detected under 488 nm wave length by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe fused gene of HCV-5'UTR and GFP was successfully constructed. The seven groups displayed inhibitory effects on the gene expression of GFP. The inhibition rates of siRNA A, B and C were 68.4 percent, 72.6 percent and 75.6 percent, respectively. The inhibitory rates of siRN A + B, siRN B +C and siRN A +C were 91.8 percent, 87.2 percent and 92.4 percent, respectively. The inhibitory rates of siRN A+B +C was the highest, up to 95.7 percent.

CONCLUSIONThese siRNAs could inhibit expression of HCV 5'UTR gene, the inhibitory effect of combined siRNA was better than that of single siRNAs.

5' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transfection

The pregnancy-associated breast cancer is one of the most common malignancy developed during pregnant period and occupies 1-2% of the all breast cancer patients. There is no evidence to implicate pregnancy or lactation in either the etiology and the progression of breast cancer. Careful breast examination early in the pregnancy is very important to find solid masses before breast engorgement hides them. But unfortunately, delay in the diagnosis is common and most of patients with operable primary lesions have positive axillary lymph nodes. The treatment of choice is the modified radical mastectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy. The authors report a patient of breast cancer diagnosed and treated during pregnancy with review of literature.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Lactation ; Lymph Nodes ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Pregnancy*

BACKGROUNDMacrophage stimulating protein (MSP) is produced by human bone marrow endothelial cells. In this study, we sought to observe its effects on inducing the expansion of early hematopoietic progenitor cells which were cultured in a liquid culture system in the presence of the combination of stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin 3 (IL-3), interleukin 6 (IL-6), granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), erythropoietin (EPO) (Cys) and MSP or of Cys and bone marrow endothelial cell conditioned medium (EC-CM).

METHODSHuman bone marrow CD34(+) cells were separated and cultured in a liquid culture system for 6 days. Granulocyte-macrophage colony forming unit (CFU-GM) and colony forming unit-granulocyte, erythrocyte, macrophage, megakaryocyte (CFU-GEMM) were employed to assay the effects of different treatment on the proliferation of hematopoeitic stem/progenitor cells. The nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reductive test and hoechest 33258 staining were employed to reflect the differentiation and apoptosis of the cells respectively.

RESULTSMSP inhibited the proliferation of CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM in semi-solid culture and the inhibitory effect on CFU-GEMM was stronger than on CFU-GM. MSP inhibited the differentiation of early hematopoietic progenitor cells induced by hematopoietic stimulators. Bone marrow (BM) CFU-GEMM was 2.3-fold or 1.7-fold increase or significantly decreased in either Cys + EC-CM, Cys + MSP or Cys compared with 0 hour control in liquid culture system after 6 days.

CONCLUSIONMSP, a hematopoietic inhibitor, inhibits the differentiation of early hematopoietic progenitor cells induced by hematopoietic stimulators and makes the early hematopoietic progenitor cells expand in a liquid culture system.

Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL3 ; Chemokines, CC ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; drug effects ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; pharmacology

AIM:To clarify whether sulforaphane (SF) has protective effects on retina neuronal cells in dia-betic rats and to identify the related mechanisms involved in this process. METHODS:The diabetic rat model was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The protective effects of SF were evaluated by measuring the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS),detecting apoptosis of retina neuronal cells with TUNEL staining and counting the survival retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). The nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and the protein expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were examined by immunofluorescence analysis and Western blot. RE-SULTS:SF treatment significantly attenuated ROS generation, decreased the apoptosis of retina neuronal cells and in-creased the numbers of survival RGCs in the diabetic rats. Meanwhile,SF significantly increased the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and the protein level of HO-1 in the retinas of diabetic rats. However,HO-1 inhibitor,protoporphyrin Ⅸ zinc(Ⅱ) diminished the inhibitory effects of SF on RGCs apoptosis. CONCLUSION:SF partially exerts the beneficial neuroprotec-tive effects via the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway,therefore alleviating retinal oxidative stress and decrea-sing the apoptosis of retina neuronal cells.

Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between the intake of salt and salted food and the infection of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) among 40-69 years old local residents in a county with high gastric cancer risk in Anhui province. Methods From July 2015 to August 2018, we conducted a questionnaire and a serological test for Hp among 40-69 years old local residents in Lujiang county, Anhui province. The questionnaire focused on the consumptions of salt and salted food. The relationship between Hp infection and risk factors was analyzed by gender. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the relevant influencing factors. Results The Hp infection rate of total local residents was 50.07%. Among male subjects, age, body mass index(BMI), marital status, educational level, job, labor intensity and income had no link to Hp infection (all P>0.05). But among female subjects, BMI was associated with Hp infection ( 2=13.454,P=0.001). Besides, alcohol consumption was a risk factor for Hp infection in male subjects(OR=1.789，95% CI:1.188-2.694，P=0.003). But, high intake of salt and salted food had no effect on Hp infection after adjustment for alcohol consumption variable in men using multivariate analysis (all P>0.05). After adjusted for BMI variable among female individuals, high salt intake (≥9 g/day) (OR=1.462，95% CI:1.060-2.015，P=0.021) and the high salted food intake (≥1 times /day) were risk factors for Hp infection in women(OR=1.560，95% CI:1.021-2.383，P=0.040). Conclusions In one county with high gastric cancer risk in Anhui province, high salt intake (≥9 g/day) and high salted food intake (≥1 times/day) are risk factors for Hp infection among 40-69 years old female local residents.

BACKGROUNDIsocitrate lyase (ICL) was previously demonstrated to play a pivotal role in the intracellular metabolism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Presently several lines of evidence suggest that ICL from MTB (MTB-ICL) may play some roles in the interaction between MTB and host macrophage. However, there has been no research on the interaction between MTB-ICL and host macrophage.

METHODSMTB-icl and M. smegmatis (MS)-icl genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into the E. coli-mycobacterium shuttle plasmid pUV15 to obtain recombinant shuttle plasmids pMTB-icl and pMS-icl. Following transformation into MS by electroporation, the expression of pMTB-icl and pMS-icl was verified by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. The expression of recombinant plasmids derived from pUV15 when rMS was phagocytized by macrophage was also verified via fluorescence microscope. Ms 1 - 2c, rMS-pUV15, rMS-pMS-icl and rMS-pMTB-icl were used to infect RAW264.7 cells and the survival of intracellular MS was monitored by bacterial culture at 0, 24 and 48 hours after infection. The culture supernatants from macrophage infected by Ms 1 - 2c, rMS-pUV15, rMS-pMS-icl and rMS-pMTB-icl were collected and the interferon (IFN)-gamma and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were measured by ELISA or by Griess assay, respectively. The apoptosis of macrophage was assayed by the in situ TUNEL technique.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed that both pMTB-icl and pMS-icl could be expressed in MS. Fluorescence microscopic observation showed that recombinant plasmids derived from pUV15 (pUV15-IG) could also be expressed in MS when MS were phagocytized by macrophage. Bacterial culture data demonstrated that rMS-pMTB-icl exhibited significantly increased intracellular survival in the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 compared with Ms 1 - 2c, rMS-pUV15 and rMS-pMS-icl. This increased intracellular survival was not accompanied by the upregulation of IFN-gamma and NO in host macrophage. But a lower apoptosis rate of macrophages infected with rMS-pMTB-icl was observed when compared with macrophages infected with other strains of MS.

CONCLUSIONSMTB-ICL could promote the intracellular survival of MS. Suppressing the apoptosis of host macrophage may be one of the important mechanisms involved in this increased intracellular survival.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Isocitrate Lyase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; cytology ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Microbial Viability ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Mycobacterium smegmatis ; enzymology ; genetics ; growth & development ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; enzymology ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transformation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo set up a rapid method for detection of drug resistance mutation in HBV, based on multicolour real time PCR. To detect the mutation of blood serum, which were collected from patients.

METHODTo establish two reaction systems, each reaction system contains four resistance loci. On the new multicolor real time PCR method, the sensitivity and specificity were analysed, and detecting the drug resistant mutation of blood serum collected from 30 cases patients.

RESULTSConstruction of a multicolor fluorescence PCR for detection drug resistance in HBV was constructed, better specificity, sensitivity analysis of up to 1 x 10(3) copies/ml. Sample of 30 cases were detected, there were 2 YVDD (6.67%), 1 YIDD (3.33%), and there were 5 cases of 1896 variation, accounting for 16.67%. Other sites were not detected mutations.

CONCLUSIONThe multicolor real time PCR detection system could be used for rapid and simple analysis of drug resistance for the clinical hospital. The 1986 mutation in HBV pre-C region are relatively high.

Drug Resistance, Viral ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the value of the metastatic to examined lymph nodes (rN) ratio in gastric cancer patients who underwent radical resection.

METHODSIn this retrospective study, data were collected from the medical records of 710 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy (R0) for gastric cancer from 1980 to 2006 in the Department of Surgical Oncology at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the number of examined lymph nodes: Group 1 consisted of 327 patients with <15 examined lymph nodes and Group 2 consisted of 383 patients with ≥15 lymph nodes. rN categories staging and pN categories were divided separately according to the metastatic lymph node ratio and the examined lymph nodes. The prognostic factors were analyzed by univariate (Log-rank) and multivariate (Cox model) analysis methods.

RESULTSThe median survival time was 74 months (95% CI:55.6-92.4 months) in Group 1 and 96 months (95% CI:77.8-119.2 months) in Group 2, and the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). On multivariate analysis, the N ratio remained as an independent prognostic factor in both Group 1 (P<0.01, RR=1.225, 95% CI:1.102-1.362) and Group 2 (P<0.01, RR=1.421, 95% CI:1.269-1.592). However, pN stage was an independent prognostic factor only in Group 1. When the rN ratio classification was applied, there were no significant differences between each categories (P>0.05). However, the overall survival of patients with pN1 disease in Group 1 was significantly shorter than that in Group 2 according to the pN stage classification (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe metastatic lymph node ratio is an independent prognostic factor of the prognosis of gastric cancer. The staging system based on metastatic lymph node ratio (rN) is more reliable than the system based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes in the prediction of the prognosis of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery

Posterior lumbopelvic fixation with iliac screws is the most commonly used method for unstable spinopelvic injuries. It has certain limitations including inability to use distraction along the spinopelvic rod as an indirect reduction maneuver, need for complex 3-dimensional rod contouring and complications such as hardware prominence and soft tissue coverage. In the present case report, we described a surgical technique of lumbopelvic fixation with sacral alar screws for traumatic spinopelvic instability resulted from a unilateral Denis-III comminuted sacral fracture and the L5 burst fracture. On the opposite side of the sacral fracture, caudal screws were implanted into the pedicle of the S1, whereas on the side of sacral fracture, two sacral alar screws were placed parallel to the superior sacral endplate as well as the plane of sacroiliac joint. In addition, horizontal stabilization was conducted with cross-link connections to maintain the longitudinal traction. For sacral fracture associated with traumatic spinopelvic instability, this modified lumbopelvic fixation technique using sacral alar screws makes longitudinal reduction easier, requires less rod contouring, and reduces hardware prominence without compromising the stability.
Bone Screws ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Humans ; Sacrum ; surgery ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery