Background and purpose:Previous studies have shown that Bubl was a critical component of the spindle checkpoint.Paclitaxel sensitivity was considered to be dependent on the functionality of this spindle checkpoint.This study investigated the effects of pEGFP-Bubl-shRNA plasmid stably transfected into the cell cycle and its sensitivity in human ovarian cancer cell line A2780.Methods:After the pEGFP-Bubl-shRNA plasmid and empty plasmids were constructed.they were transfected into A2780 cells by the Lipofectamine 2000~(TM).The nontransfected cells were the control.RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to determine the target gene and protein expression.The rate of proliferation inhibition was tested by an MTT assay,apoptosis and cell cycles were determined by flow cytometry,and the mitotic index was determined bv Hoechst33342 dye.Results:RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that pEGFP-Bubl-shRNA/A2780 group displayed a low expression of Bubl compared to the A2780 and pEGFP-Cl/A2780 group(P＜0.05).The sensitivity of the pEGFP-Bubl-shRNA/A2780 group was significantly lower than the non-transfccted and pEGFP-Cl/A2780 cells(P＜0.05).Flow cytometry revealed that the rates of G2/M phase and apoptosis were significantly lower in the pEGFP-Bubl-shRNA/A2780 group than those in the control group (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Bubl plays an important role in the paclitaxel treatment.A down-regulation of Bubl could reduce the drug sensitivity and rate of G_2/M cells in human ovarian cancer cell line A2780.

Objective: To analyze the expression of CMTM1-v17 in normal prostate tissue and prostate carcinoma originated cell lines, and study its impact on the transactivation of androgen receptor and the possible mechanism. Methods: The expression of CMTM1-v17 in normal prostate tissue was analyzed with immunohistochemistry method. In immounocytochemistry was used to analyze the expression of CMTM1-v17 in prostate carcinoma originated cell lines. Luciferase assay was used to study the impact of CMTM1-v17 on the transactivation of AR and its mechanism. Results: The results of immunohistochemistry showed that CMTM1-v17 was highly expressed in prostate. In prostate cancer originated cell lines, CMTM1-v17 could also be detected in prostate cancer originated cell lines PC3, Du145 and LNCaP. And the results of luciferase implied that the relative luciferase activity of the PC3 cells transfected with 1 ?g and 2 ?g pCDI-CMTM1-v17 plasmids separately were 70.8 and 34.7, compared with the control set as 100. When trichostatin A, the inhibitor for histone deacetylase, was used, the repression of androgen receptor could be recovered with trichostatin A treatment,for the relative luciferase activity of the PC3 cells transfected with 1 ?g and 2 ?g pCDI-CMTM1-v17 plasmids and treated with 100 nmol/L trichostatin A rebound to 90.9 and 86.4. Conclusion: CMTM1-v17 is highly expressed in both normal prostate and prostate carcinoma originated cell lines. It may recruit histone deacetylas to inhibit the function of androgen receptor.

In this article, the status of spindle assembly checkpoint and the alteration of its major component, Mad2 protein level were examined in A2780 and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell lines. Recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pEGFP-Mad2 was transfected into paclitaxel-resistant SKOV3 cells and Mad2 protein was knocked down by Mad2-specific siRNA in paclitaxel-sensitive A2780 cells. Then the expression level of Mad2 gene was detected by Western blotting. Flow cytometry revealed that SKOV3 cells were not fully arrested in G(2)/M phase in contrast to A2780 cells in the presence of paclitaxel. However, paclitaxel sensitivity assay showed that sensitivity to paclitaxel was reversed after the transfection in both cell lines in terms of number of cells arrested at G(2)/M phase and the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly changed. These results suggest that weakened spindle checkpoint with reduced expression of Mad2 is associated with resistance to paclitaxel in ovarian cells and Bcl-2 may be involved in this process.

OBJECTIVETo validate the efficiency and accuracy of an improved Demons deformable registration algorithm and evaluate its application in contour recontouring in 4D-CT.

METHODSTo increase the additional Demons force and reallocate the bilateral forces to accelerate convergent speed, we propose a novel energy function as the similarity measure, and utilize a BFGS method for optimization to avoid specifying the numbers of iteration. Mathematical transformed deformable CT images and home-made deformable phantom were used to validate the accuracy of the improved algorithm, and its effectiveness for contour recontouring was tested.

RESULTSThe improved algorithm showed a relatively high registration accuracy and speed when compared with the classic Demons algorithm and optical flow based method. Visual inspection of the positions and shapes of the deformed contours agreed well with the physician-drawn contours.

CONCLUSIONDeformable registration is a key technique in 4D-CT, and this improved Demons algorithm for contour recontouring can significantly reduce the workload of the physicians. The registration accuracy of this method proves to be sufficient for clinical needs.

Objective To investigate the expression of OPN, α-SMA, E-cadherin and their correlation in the chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) rat model, and to explore the possible role of OPN in CAN.Methods Orthotopic renal-transplantation using Fisher rats as donors and Lewis rats as recipients was done to establish CAN group, and Lewis to Lewis rats as control group. Rats in each group were sacrificed 12 weeks after the surgery. Blood and urine were collected for further test. Allograft samples were collected and sectioned for HE, Sirus-red staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results There were CAN morphological changes of the allograft in CAN group. As compared with control group, immunohistochemistry and Western blot revealed that the expression of OPN and α-SMA in CAN group was significantly increased, and that of E-Cadherin reduced. Its trend was correlated with the inflammatory response and the EMT of tubule epithelial cells.Conclusions OPN expression in rat CAN model is significantly up-regulated. OPN may play a role in CAN. OPN might affect the CAN by promoting EMT of tubule epithelial cells.

Objective To study the effect of tranilast on cyclosporine A (CsA)-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in human renal tubular epithelial cells, and investigate the mechanism of its antifibrotic effect. Methods Cultured HK-2 cells were divided into four groups: (1)In the control group, cells were treated without any medicine; (2) The cell were treated with CsA (4. 2μmol/L) for 72 h; (3) The cells were treated with a combination of CsA (4. 2 μmol/L) and tranilast (100μmol/L); (4) The cells were treated with tranilast (100 μmol/L) alone for 72 h.Morphological changes of the cells were assessed by phase-contrast microscopy. The immunofluorescence and Western blotting were adopted to detect the expression of E-cadherin, α-SMA and OPN mRNA and proteins respectively. Results Tranilast could markedly ameliorate the morphological changes of HK-2 cells stimulated by CsA. The irmmunofluorescence staining revealed the expression of E-cadherin was markedly decreased in HK-2 cells stimulated with CsA for 72 as compared with the control group, while the expression of α-SMA and OPN was significantly higher in CsA group than the control group. The expression of E-cadherin in the CsA + Tranilast group was higher than the CsA group, while the expression of α-SMA and OPN in the CsA + Tranilast group was lower than the CsA group. Western blotting showed that protein expression level of E-cadherin in CsA group was dramatically lower than that in the control group (P＜0. 05), while that of α-SMA and OPN in CsA group was significantly higher than in the control group (P＜0.05). The protein expression level of E-cadherin in HK-2 cells in the CsA + Tranilast group was markedly higher than in the CsA group (P＜0.05), and that of α-SMA and OPN in CsA + Tranilast group was significantly lower than in the CsA group (P＜0. 05). Conclusion Tranilast can block the CsA-induced epithelialto-mesenchymal transition in HK-2 cells probably by suppressing the expression of OPN.

Objective To explore whether the PDA patients in the early stage of Eisenmenger syndrome can accept interventional surgery. Methods Three patients were choose from the “National Multicenter Prospective Registration Study on Pulmonary Artery Hypertension”, Clinical assessment, as well as examinations and registrations associated with PAH, was conducted in accordance with relevant provisions of the registration study within 1 wk prior to surgery. The way of the interventional treatment were right heart catheterization and pulmonary vasodilator testing (a capsule of iloprost solution for inhalation), and measurement of the pulmonary arterial pressure, descending aortic pressure, ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow, ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure [mean≤15 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)], before and after testing. After clear the results of pulmonary vasodilator test all patients underwent transcatheter closure testing, if it was positive,the amplatzer was released if her family members’ approved;Conversely, the amplatzer was quickly withdrawn with negative results, and symptomatic treatment was conducted based on the patient’s clinical symptoms. Results The first cases pulmonary vasodilator test was negative, but positive in transcatheter closure testing. Satisfaction immediate effect of surgery, and the occluder was released with her family members’ approval. patients of Example 2 and Example 3 were negative in pulmonary vasodilator testing and transcatheter closure testing, can not released the occluder. Conclusions Some Patents Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) patients in early stage of Eisenmenger syndrome is feasible to accept interventional therapy , try plugging test is may be an important indicator of prognostic assessment.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of prucalopride in the treatment of severe chronic constipation.Methods The clinical data of 60 patients with severe chronic constipation [slow transit constipation (STC), functional defecation disorder (FDD) and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C)] who were admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from February to August 2014 were prospectively analyzed.A prospective, clinical observational study was performed.Treatment plans included that patients withdrew the initial treatments of laxative and exema and took orally 2 mg prucalopride once daily for 2 weeks, and continued to be treated by oral prucalopride if frequency of the spontaneous complete bowel movement (SCBM) per week was satisfactory (or improvement of symptoms was more than 50％) till 4 weeks, and then were followed up after stopping prucalopride.If improvement of symptoms was less than 50％ after 2-week treatment, other treatment plans were performed according to symptoms of patients from week 3 to week 6 : (1) for patients with STC, prucalopride + two chain bacillus subtilis probiotic capsules were administered orally if patients were satisfied with frequency of SCBM per week and without improvement of abdominal distension;prucalopride + Chinese herb decoction were administered orally if patients had improvement of frequency of SCBM per week with abdominal distension or poor stool output;oral prucalopride + acupuncture were administered if patients were unsatisfied with frequency of SCBM per week or less bowel movements and without improvement of abdominal distension or poor stool output.(2) For patients with FDD, oral prucalopride + acupuncture + biofeed-back therapy were administered.(3) For patients with IBS-C, prucalopride + two chain bacillus subtilis probiotic capsules were administered orally if patients had abdominal distension;prucalopride Chinese herb decoction were administered orally if patients had improvement of frequency of SCBM per week and no improvement of abdominal distension or poor stool output.All patients used a diary for recording the frequency of SCBM per week, stool consistence, exertion in defecation and adverse reactions, which was submitted to doctors for inputting data at the return visit weekly.Results There was good overall medicine compliance in patients.Of 60 patients, 43 patients completed treatments (21 with STC, 11 with FDD and 11 with IBS-C).After 2-week treatment, there were 19 patients with satisfied therapeutic effects, 14 with improvement of constipation and 10 with poor therapeutic effects.After 4-week treatment, constipation in 17 patients was cured, constipation in 18 patients was improved,and constipation in 8 patients was not improved.Nineteen of 60 patients were complicated with adverse reactions within 1 week of the medication, including 6 patients dropping out of the trial due to medication withdrawal and others with improvement by symptomatic treatment or spontaneous remission.Conclusions Prucalopride is effective for the treatment of severe chronic constipation with a good toleration, and it can improve the overall satisfaction of patients combined with Chinese herb decoction and acupuncture.

Objective To analyze the characteristics of the genotype, phenotype, and follow-up of Gitelman's syndrome (GS) in the largest group of Chinese patients. Methods Sixty seven patients with GS underwent SLC12A3 gene analysis. Clinical characteristics and biochemical findings at the first presentation as well as follow-up were reviewed. Additionally, the associations of genotypes and phenotypes were explored. Results Forty-one different SLC12A3 mutations were identified in 67 patients with GS, including 11 novel ones, and 5 recurrent ones. 3 families (5. 7% ) had triple SLC12A3 mutations. Typical hypocalciuria and hypomagnesemia were not found in 6(9% ) and 8 (11. 9% )patients, respectively. In addition, male patients had an earlier age of onset and a higher urinary fraction excretion of electrolytes. 2 patients presented with chronic kidney disease, 13 (19. 4% ) with type 2 diabetes, 14 (20. 9% )with impaired glucose tolerance, and 5(7. 5% ) with impaired fasting glucose. Conclusion This study revealed 41 mutations in 67 Chinese patients with GS, including 11 novel variants and 5 high-frequency ones. Fraction excretion of electrolyte in urine may be more sensitive in the evaluation of phenotype compared with those of blood. It is difficult to correct hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia in GS. Patients with GS are at higher risk of the development of diabetes than ordinary people.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the rules for acupoint selection of acupuncture and moxibustion in domestic clinical treatment of perimenopausal syndrome based on data mining technology in modern times.

METHODSThe relevant literature were retrieved from Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang database on this disease treated with clinical acupuncture and moxibustion in China from 1978 to 2013. The database of acupuncture-moxibustion prescription was set up. The relevant regulations of data mining technology were used to analyze the rules for acupoint selection.

RESULTSTotally, 211 papers, 254 acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions and 130 acupoints were included. The total frequency of acupoints application was 2193 times, with 14 meridians involved. The utilization of the acupoints in the lower limbs and on the back were 33.0% (723/2193) and 23.8% (521/2193) and those of yin and yang meridians were 51.8% (1136/2193) and 44.0% (965/2193), respectively. The utilization of the specific acupoints accounted for 88.7% (1946/2193).

CONCLUSIONIn clinical treatment of perimenopausal syndrome with acupuncture and moxibustion in modern times, the acupoint selection from involved meridians is the basis, associated with multiple methods of acupoint combination; yin and yang meridians are equally important and the specific acupoints are considered particularly critical in application.