Medullary thyroid cancer is a kind of rare malignancy arising from unregulated replication of parafollicular C cells of the thyroid gland. Therapeutic approaches to patients with medullary thyroid cancer have their own features,which are different from those to patients with papillary thyroid cancer,the most com-mon type of thyroid cancer. The targeted therapy using tyrosine kinase inhibitors has brought new hope for the management of aggressive medullary thyroid cancer in recent years.

Objective: To observe the haemodynamic changes within ovarian stromal blood flow in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS). Methods: 41 patients with PCOS and 10 ovulatory women underwent transrectal ultrasound associated with Doppler flow measurement of the artery within ovarian stroma during the early follicular phase (days 2-5 of the menstrual cycle) or any day in patients with amenorrhea . Results:The peculiar vascular pattern wich one prominent blood vessel showed passing through the ovarian stroma from ovary gate. This sign was observed in all ovaries in patients with PCOS.There was no significiant difference in Vmax、PI、RI between left and right ovary.The Vmax,PI,RI of the right ovarian stromal artery were (18.99?3.12)cm/s, 0.74?0.12, 0.50?0.03 respectively. The indices of the left ovarian stromal artery were (18.76?3.23)cm/s, 0.75?0.11, 0.49?0.04 respectively. Conclusion: Vascularization of the ovarian stroma is prominent in patients with PCOS than in the control. The decreased vascular resistance to ovarian stromal perfusion in patients with PCOS may lead to perfusion increasment. TRS can be used as a non-invasive, convenient, and sensitive method for assessing the blood flow within the ovarian stroma.

Aim To investigate the effect of metformin (Met) on connexin43(Cx43) expression in H9c2 cells cultured with high glucose and the relevant mecha-nisms.Methods Rat myocardial cells H9c2 were cul-tured with high glucose , then combined with 3μmol· L-1 and 5 μmol · L-1 of Met for 24 h respectively . The viability and toxicity of H9c2 cells were detected by MTT and LDH , respectively .The expression and distribution of Cx43 were detected by immunofluores-cence staining .The intracellular oxygen species reac-tive ( ROS) level was detected by fluorescencemicrosco-py.And the expression of Cx43, P-AMPK, AMPK and GAPDH was determined by Western blot .Results The viability of H9c2 cells was increased and the level of intracellular ROS was decreased in Met group , while there existed no significant difference in LDH release among groups.Met significantly increased the phos-phorylation of AMPK and the expression of Cx 43, and improved the distribution of Cx 43 also.Conclusion The beneficial effect of Met on cardiovascular system in diabetic patients may via up-regulating the expression of Cx43 and down-regulating of intracellular ROS through activation of AMPK .

Objective To observe the effects of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) on autophagy, apoptosis and motor function after acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) in rats. Methods Thirty-six adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham group, n=12), simple spinal cord injury group (SCI group, n=12), ALC treatment group (ALC group, n=12). Spinal cord injury model at the level of T10 segment was established using Allen's method. They were assessed with Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan (BBB) scale three days after injury. Then the rats were sacrificed, and the expression of microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II in spinal cord was detect-ed with Western blotting and immunofluorescent labeling, and the number of apoptotic cells were assessed with TUNEL staining. Results The expression of LC3-II and the number of apoptotic cells increased in SCI group compared with those in Sham group (P<0.01), while the BBB score decreased (P<0.001). The expression of LC3-II increased and the number of apoptotic cells decreased in ALC group compared with those in SCI group (P<0.001), while the BBB score increased (P<0.01). Conclusion ALC may promote autophagy, and inhibit apopto-sis to improve the locomotor function after ASCI.

Objective:To study the effects of Hedgehog signal transduction pathway on the cell proliferation, apoptosis and connexin 32 (Cx32)and connexin 43 (Cx43)membranous distribution of breast cancer cells,and to explore its mechanism in the cell proliferation and metastasis of breast cancer.Methods:The breast cancer MCF-7 cells at logarithmic growth period were divided into cyclopamine groups and blank control groups. The MCF-7 in cyclopamine groups were treated with 5,10,20,30 and 40μmol·L-1 for 24,48 and 72 h;MTT assay was applied to detect the inhibitory rate of proliferation of MCF-7 cells. After the MCF-7 cells were treated with 0 (negative control group)and 25μmol·L-1 cyclopamine for 48 h,flow cytometry was employed to determine the apoptotic rate and to analyze membranous distribution of Cx32 and Cx43 in the MCF-7 cells.Results:Compared with blank control group,the inhibitory rates of proliferation in cyclopamine groups were increased (P<0.05), and the inhibitory effect of proliferation was increased with the increasing of cyclopamine doses and prolongation of treatment time.After treated with 25μmol·L-1 cyclopamine,the apoptotic rate of MCF-7 cells was higher than that in blank control group (P<0.05).The positive expression rates of Cx32 and Cx43 48 h after treatment were higher than those in negative control group (P<0.05).Conclusion:Hedgehog signal transduction pathway can inhibit the apoptosis and mediate membranous distribution of Cx32 and Cx43 in breast cancer cells.

Objective To select an efficient ion exchange resin to purify the 60Co contaminated well-water for storing radioactive source and to ensure the radioactivity of 60Co in treated well-water below 10 Bq/L.Methods The radioactivity of 60Co in the water samples was measured by using the potassium cobaltinitrite coprecipitation-β counting method.The treatment efficiencies of two different ion exchange resins for the simulated 60Co-bearing waste water were compared to select a better one to dispose of the 60Co contaminated well-water.Results The treatment efficiency of MBD-15-SC mixed ion exchange resin was about 5.8 times higher than ZGCNR50 strong-acid cation exchange resin.The radioactivity of 60Co in the contaminated well-water could be reduced from 4.16 × 105 Bq/L to 1.16 Bq/L by two-stage sorption of MBD-15-SC mixed ion exchange resin.Conclusions Using several times of two-stage MBD-15-SC mixed ion exchange resin could effectively purify the 60Co contaminated well-water.The quality of the treated well-water could meet the sewage discharge standards.

Aim To investigate the effect of simvastatin ( Sim ) on endogenous antioxidant system after acute myocardial infarction ( AMI ) and its potential mecha-nisms. Methods The acute myocardial infarction ( AMI ) rat models were made by ligation left anterior descending of coronary artery. Then the successful models were randomly divided into myocardial infarc-tion group ( MI group) and simvastatin group ( Sim,20 mg·kg-1·d-1), another group without ligation left anterior descending of coronary artery served as sham group(Sham group). The Sim group was administered simvastatin by gavage for 7 days. MI group and Sham group received saline. Hemodynamic parameters, lipid levels, troponinI ( c-TnI ) and lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) concentrations were examined after 7days, and the levels of superoxide dismutase ( SOD) and glutathi-one peroxidase ( GP) of myocardial antioxidant system were detected by ELISA. The expression of cardiac p-Akt and p-eNOS protein were detected by Western blot. Results Acute myocardial infarction significant-ly lowered cardiac hemodynamic parameters, increased serum c-TnI and LDH levels, lowered levels of SOD and GP, and lowered the expression of p-Akt and p-eNOS protein. However, Sim could effectively prevent the deterioration of cardiac function, reduce serum c-TnI and LDH levels, increase levels of SOD and GP, and increase p-Akt and p-eNOS protein expression. Conclusion Early using Sim can effectively improve heart function after acute myocardial infarction, acti-vate myocardial antioxidant system,and reduce myocar-dial necrosis, which may be related to increasing the expression of p-Akt and p-eNOS.

Objective To evaluate the effect of basic aloe mastic on the healing process after tooth extraction in rats. Methods The models of tooth extraction wound were established by extracting the left and right maxillary first molares in 60 Wistar rats,and randomly divided into two groups. Right sides of teeth extraction socket were used as experimental groups,experimental group 1 was filled with 30% aloe mastic ,experimental group 2 was filled with 50% aloe mastic. Left sides of teeth extraction socket were used as control group. The histological observation was performed after tooth extraction at 2,4,6,8,11,and 15 days. Results There was a significant difference of the wound areas between experimental groups and control group at early stage (15 d) after tooth extraction (P

Objective: To unveil the efficacy of Shaolin internal qigong exercise in treating capsulitis of the shoulder (CS) and explore objective outcome measures by observing the changes in the surface electromyography (sEMG) signals of shoulder muscle groups after regular practice of Shaolin internal qigong exercise in CS patients. Methods: Sixty CS patients were randomized into two groups by the random number table method, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in the qigong group practiced Shaolin internal qigong exercise on a regular basis, while patients in the electroacupuncture (EA) group received EA treatment. Before and after treatment, the sEMG signals of six muscles, i.e. biceps brachii, triceps brachii, deltoid, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles, of the affected side were recorded at 45° abduction of the shoulder, 60° forward flexion and 90° internal rotation with the elbow flexed during maximal isometric contraction, and the integrated electromyography (iEMG) of each muscle was calculated. Results: The total effective rate was 93.3％ in the qigong group, higher than 83.3％ in the EA group (P<0.05). Intra-group comparison showed that the iEMG of biceps brachii, triceps brachii, pectoralis major and deltoid muscles in the qigong group increased significantly after intervention at 45° abduction of the shoulder, 60° forward flexion and 90° internal rotation with the elbow flexed (all P<0.05), and the iEMG of trapezius and latissimus dorsi muscles decreased (both P<0.05); in the EA group, the iEMG of biceps brachii, pectoralis major and deltoid muscles increased significantly during contraction (all P<0.05), while the iEMG of triceps brachii, trapezius and latissimus dorsi muscles had no significant changes (all P>0.05). After intervention, there were significant differences in the iEMG of most of muscles between the two groups (all P<0.05), except for the iEMG of deltoid muscle at 45° of abduction of the shoulder joint during isometric contraction (P>0.05). Conclusion: Shaolin internal qigong exercise can effectively increase the motion intensity of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, pectoralis major and deltoid muscles and reduce the compensation of the latissimus dorsi and trapezius muscles in CS patients; compared with EA, it produces a better result in improving the coordination and stability in shoulder joint movements.

Autophagy dysregulation, mitochondrial dynamic abnormality and cell cycle re-entry are implicated in the vulnerable neurons of patients with Alzheimer's disease. This study was designed to testify the association among autophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and cell cycle in dividing neuroblastoma (N2a) cells. The N2a cells were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations of 3-methyladenine (3-MA). The cell viability was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. They were randomly divided into control group (cells cultured in normal culture medium) and 3-MA group (cells treated with 10 mmol/L 3-MA). The cell cycle was analyzed in the two groups 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after treatment by flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to evaluate the expression levels of mitofission 1 (Fis1), mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), cell cycle-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and cdc2. The flow cytometry revealed that the proportion of cells in G(2)/M was significantly increased, and that in G0/G1 was significantly reduced in the 3-MA group as compared with the control group. Western blotting showed that the expression levels of Fis1, LC3, and CDK4 were significantly up-regulated in the 3-MA group at the four indicated time points as compared with the control group. Mfn2 was initially decreased in the 3-MA group, and then significantly increased at 6 h or 12 h. Cdc2 was significantly increased in the 3-MA group at 3 h and 6 h, and then dropped significantly at 12 h and 24 h. Our data indicated that 3-MA-induced suppressed autophagy may interfere with the cell cycle progression and mitochondrial dynamics, and cause cell death. There are interactions among cell cycle, mitochondrial dynamics and autophagy in neurons.