Objective To evaluate the clinical role of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) for the diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer.Methods 18F-FDG PET/CT and 99Tcm-MDP ECT whole body bone scan were both performed in 40 patients with prostate cancer proved by biopsy or surgery.We then evaluated the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT for prostate cancer.Results Of 40 cases,17 cases were detected by 18 F-FDG PET/CT with a sensitivity of 42.5％.Of the 17 cases with lymphoma metastasis,8 cases were detected by CT while 15 cases were detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT.The sensitivity of 18F-FDG PET/CT is 88.2％.Though 18F-FDG PET/CT and 99Tcm-MDP bone scan have a similar sensitivity in detecting bone metastases,18 F-FDG PET/CT has better specificity and accuracy in detecting bone metastases than that of an 99Tcm-MDP bone scan.Conclusions Though the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detecting primary focus of prostate is limited,it still has an important role in detecting lymph node metastases and bone metastases.18F-FDG PET/CT has its superiority in prostate cancer staging.It can also help clinicians to select the regimen of treatment.

The investigator raised the possibility that the authors hadn't conducted the research. Therefore, the entire article has been retracted in accordance with this journal's policy and Editorial decision.

Objective To investigate the deficit of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation in the different age of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like animal model and the protective effect of 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside(TSG), which is the main component of Polygonum multiflorum, on ERK activation. Methods A generally accepted animal model of AD - PDAPPV717I transgenic (Tg) mouse was observed from 4 to 16 months old. Tg mice were randomly divided into 3 model groups(4, 10 and 16 months old mice)and TSG treated (at doses 120 and 240 μmol/kg/d) groups. TSG was administered to some Tg mice with an age range 4-10 months. In untreated 10 months old Tg mice, the TSG was administrated to those falling in the age range 10-16 months. For the control group we adopted the same age and background C57BL/6J mice. The ERK1/2 expression and phosphorylation were detected by Western blotting.Results In the 4-month-old PDAPPV717I Tg mice, phosphorylation of ERK1/2 decreased significantly in hippocampus and cortex compared with age matched control. In the 10-month-old Tg mice, decrease of ERK1/2 activation was aggravated in cortex but was less in hippocampus. The treatment of TSG at the doses of 120 and 240 μmol/kg for 6 months (from the age of 4 to 10 months) significantly up-regulated ERK1/2 activation in Tg mice. In the 16-month-old Tg mice, over-activation of ERK1/2 occurred in both hippocampus and cortex. The transgenic mice treated by TSG for 6 months (from the age of 10 months to 16 months) showed significant inhibition of over-activation of ERK1/2. Expression of total ERK1/2 showed no difference among control, Tg model and TSG treated groups.Conclusion PDAPPV717I transgenic mice with an age range from 4 to 16 months revealed the time-dependent deficit of ERK1/2 activation. TSG can bring the down or over activation of ERK1/2 into normal. Because ERK1/2 activation plays the crucial role in cellular signal transduction and learning-memory ability, TSG may have beneficial potential to the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like AD.

Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. It is very important to explore the biomarkers for the early prediction of preeclampsia. Some peptides released from placenta, such as soluble Flt-1 and placenta growth factor (PlGF), have been revealed for definite prospects of application. Meanwhile, the recent advances in proteomics, metabolomics and microRNA shed light on searching of new biomarkers for preeclampsia prediction.

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of five natural anti-oxidants (schisandrin B, Sch B; silibinin, SIB; propyl gallate, PG; sodium ferulate, SF; total flavonoids of hippophase, TFH) on experimental oxidative injuries of lens. METHODS: All fresh transparent lenses of rabbit eyes except control group were bathed in Fenton reaction system in order to produce a model of oxidative damages of lens, meanwhile Sch B, SIB, PG, SF, TFH and pirenoxine sodium (PS) were added in the reaction system in different groups respectively. Lenses were incubated for 24 hours. Then total protein (TP), soluble protein (SP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH), vitamin C (Vit C), total activities of anti-oxidation (TAO) and malondiaoldehyde (MDA) in homogenized lenses were measured to observe the effects of five anti-oxidants on above index. RESULTS: Five anti-oxidants increased the anti-oxidative index and decreased MDA in lens of oxidative damages in different levels, the effects are better than that of PS, especially in group SF and Sch B. CONCLUSION: The five natural anti-oxidants protected lens against experimental oxidative injuries very well. There are wide prospects to pursue effective anti-cataract drugs from natural anti-oxidants.

AIM: To investigate the effects of Co-SZ eye drop on galactose cataract in rats. METHODS: Based on folk remedy, SZ eye drop was made from leech, as a modified SZ eye drop, Co-SZ eye drop was enriched in Zinc and Vitamin C. In the present study, animal model of galactose cataract in SD rats was used. All animals were randomly divided into 3 groups : control group(using 0.9 % NaCl instead of SZ and Co SZ), SZ group and Co-SZ group. Lens opacities were examined dynamically in each groups via FS-3V slit-lamp microscope. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione (GSH) and soluble protein (SP) in the lenses were measured in 15 days. RESULTS: Both the Co-SZ and SZ eye drops could significantly delay and alleviate galactose cataract in rats, with better effect of Co-SZ than SZ eye drop. The antioxidant index indicated that SOD, GSH-Px, GSH in Co-SZ and SZ group were significantly higher than that in control group. Furthermore, SOD, GSH-Px in Co-SZ group were higher than that in SZ group significantly. CONCLUSION: Co-SZ eye drops could significantly delay and alleviate galactose cataract in rats, the effect is much better than SZ eye drops. The different effect between SZ and Co-SZ eye drops could be raised from the different content of Zinc, which is involved in anti-oxidation.

Objective To study the structure of class 1 integrons in 90 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated during two periods of 1992-1996 and 2003-2005,and to get information about the structure changing of class 1 integrons by comparing their structures in two different periods.Methods Routine PCR and long PCR were performed to amplify the class 1 integrons and the gene cassettes they carried, followed with sequencing and blast via GenBank.Results Thirteen out of 41 strians ioslated during the period of 1992-1996 were positive on class 1 intergrons.Long PCR showed that the class 1 integron was 1868 bp in length and contained 2 resistance genes averagely.Six types of resistance genes of qacEA1 (n=6), sull (n=14),aadA1 (n=2),aadB (n=1),PSE-1 (n=2) and tetA (n=1) were found in these integrons, which consisted of 5 patterns of resistance cassette arrangements.Nineteen strains were proved to carry class 1 integrons in 49 isolates from 2003-2005.The mean DNA sequence length of them was 3383 bp with 3.6 resistant genes in averagely,10 types of resistance genes,qacEA1 (n=18),sull (n=25),aadA1 (n=6), aadB (n=7),aacA4 (n=2),PSE-1 (n=3),VEB-1 (n=4),OXA10 (n=1),cm1 A (n=1) and tetA (n =2),were identified in these integrons,which were composed of 9 patterns of resistance cassette arrangements.Conclusion In terms of produce length and resistance cassettes carried in the integrons, greater complexity is found in the structure of class 1 integrons in strains isolated during 2003-2005 than those during 1992-1996.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors for lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer and application value of its nomogram prediction model.Methods:The retrospective case-control study was conducted. The clinicopathological data of 914 patients with T1 colorectal cancer who underwent radical resection in the Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from June 2008 to December 2019 were collected. There were 528 males and 386 females, aged from 25 to 87 years, with a median age of 63 years. Observation indicators: (1) clinicopathological data of patients with T1 colorectal cancer; (2) follow-up; (3) analysis of influencing factors for lymph node metastasis; (4) development and internal validation of a nomogram predition model. Patients were regularlly followed up once three months within postoperative 2 years and once six months thereafter to detect tumor recurrence and survival. The endpoint of follow-up was at postoperative 5 years. Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as Mean±SD, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the t test. Measurement data with skewed distribution were represented as M (range). Count data were described as absolute numbers or percentages, and comparison between groups was analyzed using the chi-square test. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates and draw survival curves. The Log-rank test was used for survival analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Logistic regression analysis. Based on results of multivariate analysis, a Logistic regressional nomogram for prediction of lymph node metastasis probability was constructed using R language software. The calibration curve was used to evaluate the consistency between probability predicted by the nomogram model and actual observation probability, which was reprensented by a consistency index. The Bootstrap method was used for evaluation of the model performance to receive the calibration curve. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test was used to calculate the goodness of fit in model. Results:(1) Clinicopathological data of patients with T1 colorectal cancer: 687 of 914 patients underwent direct surgery and 227 underwent remedial operation after endoscopic resection. All the 914 patients were confirmed as pT1NxM0 colorectal cancer by pathological examination. The tumor diameter was (2.3±1.2)cm. The pathological catogaries of 914 patients included 865 cases of adenocarcinoma and 49 cases of mucinous adenocarcinoma. The tumor differentiation degree of 914 patients included 727 cases of high or middle differentiation and 187 cases of low differentiation or undifferentiation. Of the 914 patients, 633 cases had submucosal infiltration depth ≥1 000 μm and 281 cases had submucosal infiltration depth <1 000 μm. There were 110 cases with nerve vessel invasion and 804 without nerve vessel invasion. The number of intraoperative lymph node dissection was 13 (range, 1-48). There were 804 cases in stage N0 of N staging, 98 cases in stage N1 and 12 cases in stage N2. There was no perioperative death. (2) Follow-up: 886 of 914 patients were followed up for 25 months (range, 1-129 months). During the follow-up, 24 patients had tumor recurrence or metastasis. The 5-year cumulative tumor recurrence rate of 914 patients was 4.8% and the median recurrence time was 17.0 months. Liver was the main site of tumor recurrence, accounting for 58.3%(14/24). The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate of 914 patients was 95.2%. The 5-year recurrence-free survival rate was 96.3% of 804 patients without lymph node metastasis, versus 86.6% of 110 patients with lymph node metastasis, showing a significant difference between the two groups ( χ2=6.83, P<0.05). (3) Analysis of influencing factors for lymph node metastasis: results of univariate analysis showed that preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), preoperative CA19-9, tumor differentiation degree, submucosal infiltration depth, nerve vessel invasion were related factors for lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer ( odds ratio=2.56, 3.25, 2.21, 2.68, 3.39, 95% confidence interval as 1.41-4.67, 1.22-8.66, 1.43-3.41, 1.56-4.88, 2.10-5.48, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that preoperative CEA ≥5 μg/L, preoperative CA19-9 ≥37 U/mL, poor differentiation or undifferentiation, submucosal infiltration depth ≥1 000 μm and nerve vessel invasion were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer ( odds ratio=2.23, 3.47, 2.01, 2.31, 2.91, 95% confidence interval as 1.02-4.15, 1.08-10.87, 1.03-3.27, 1.40-4.47, 1.64-5.13, P<0.05). (4) Development and internal validation of a nomogram predition model: based on results of multivariate Logistic analysis, a nomogram prediction model for lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer was developed. The nomogram score was 59 for preoperative CEA >5 μg/L, 100 for preoperative CA19-9 ≥37 U/mL, 48 for poor differentiation or undifferentiation, 67 for submucosal infiltration depth ≥1 000 μm and 92 for nerve vessel invasion, respectively. The total of different scores for different clinicopathological factors corresponded to the probability of lymph node metastasis. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawed to evaluate the predictive performance of nomogram for lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer, with the area under curve of 0.70(95% confidence interval as 0.64-0.75, P<0.05). The Bootstrap internal validation of predictive performance in the nomogram predition model showed a consistency index of 0.70 (95% confidence interval as 0.65-0.75). The calibration chart showed a good consistency between the probability predicted by the nomogram model and actual probability of lymph node metastasis. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed a good fitting effect in model ( χ2=1.61, P>0.05). Conclusions:Preoperative CEA ≥5 μg/L, preoperative CA19-9 ≥37 U/mL, poor differentiation or undifferentiation, submucosal infiltration depth ≥ 1 000 μm and nerve vessel invasion are independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer. The constructed nomogram model can help predict the probability of lymph node metastasis in T1 colorectal cancer.

Objective:To evaluate the characteristics of cervical hardness and softness in the second trimester, and to explore the predictive value of the combination of cervical elastographic parameters and cervical length(CL) in spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB).Methods:The clinical data of 147 women with full-term birth(full-term birth group) and 24 women with sPTB(sPTB group) who received prenatal examination in Chengdu Women′s and Children′s Central Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were reviewed. Multiple parameters were measured between 16-28 gestational weeks by the transvaginal ultrasound E-cervix technique. CL, elasticity contrast index(ECI), hardness ratio(HR), mean strain at internal os(IOS), mean strain at external os(EOS), the ratio of IOS to EOS(IOS/EOS) were obtained.Elastographic parameters and CL were compared between the two groups. Furthmore, binary regression was established, while the area under ROC curve(AUC) was used to evaluate the predictive efficiency of elastographic parameters and CL in sPTB, both alone and in combination with other parameters.Results:The elastographic parameters IOS and IOS/EOS in the sPTB group were higher than those in the full-term birth group, while HR and CL were lower than those in the full-term birth group (all P<0.05). There were no statistical differences of ECI and EOS between the two groups(both P>0.05). The AUCs of predicting sPTB with single IOS, IOS/EOS were 0.684 and 0.625, higher than the AUCs of HR, CL. The combination of IOS/EOS and CL, IOS and CL showed higher AUCs than elastographic parameters alone, with the AUC 0.788 of IOS/EOS combined with CL. The sensitivity was 70.8%, and the specificity was 87.3% corresponding to the optimum cutoff value(IOS/EOS was 1.22, CL was 3.46 cm). Conclusions:In the second trimester, sPTB has a lower hardness cervix than that of full-term women, especially the internal os of cervix. The combination of IOS/EOS and CL tends to improve the ability of predicting sPTB in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVETo study the in-vitro inducing apoptosis mechanism of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells by 2',4'-di- hydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethylchalcone (DMC), a chalcone compound from Cleistocalyx operculatus.

METHODQuantitative DNA fragmentation assay was carried out to detect the effect of DMC of different concentrations on SMMC-7721 cells, according to the method of Sellins and Cohen with some modifications. Telomerase activities of the cells were determined by PCR-ELISA methods. The expression quantity of c-myc and hTERT mRNA were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR The effect of DMC on expression levels of cmyc and hTERT protein were measured by western blot.

RESULTThe percentage of DNA fragmentation increased with notable concen- tration dependence, after treatment with DMC for 48 h. Compared with that of control group, the telomerase activity of the cells de- creased by (66.2 ± 2.1)% after 48 h treatment with 20 μmol x L(-1) DMC, the mRNA expression of c-myc and hTERT decreased by (67.3 ± 2.1)% and (64.4 ± 2.3)%, respectively, and the protein expression of c-myc and hTERT decreased by (69.6 ± 1.9)% and (71.3 ± 2.4)%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONDMC can induce SMMC-7721 cell apoptosis and the apoptosis mechanism may be related to the decreased mRNA and protein expression of c-myc and hTERT.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chalcones ; pharmacology ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Syzygium ; chemistry ; Telomerase ; genetics ; metabolism