objectives To explore the clinical significance of the triple screening method and fetal sonographic markers in Down syndrome screening. Methods The retrospective study included maternal blood serum triple-marker screening per-formed in normal singleton pregnancies at 14+1 to 19+6 weeks and ultrasonography screening for fetal chromosomal trisomy at 18+1 to 23+6 weeks from 2010 to 2013. Results In 24 368 pregancies, Karyotype analysis reveal 35 Down syndromes, the incidence is 0.14%(35/24 368). 25/35 were pregnancies with an expected date of delivery lower than 35 years old and 10/35 were pregnan-cies with an expected date of delivery higher than 35 years old. In 1 215 pregnancies, second-trimester serum screening showed high risk (cutoff>1:380), 14 were confirmed as Down syndromes ( sensitivity 40%;specificity 95.06%). In 1 142 pregnant women showed ultrasonography abnormalities, of which 11 were found to have Down syndrome (sensitivity 60%;specificity 91.09%). In 112 pregnancies, second-trimester serum screening and ultrasonography showed high risk, 4 were conformed as Down syn-drome (sensitivity 11.43%;specificity 99.56). Conclusions The most effective method of screening for Down syndrome is by maternal serum biochemistry. Ultrasonography is important in screening fetal trisomy 21. combined screening methods can improve the detection rate of trisomy 21.

To explore the impact of normal range plasma calcium level changes on fibrinogen and homocysteine (Hcy) in non-diabetic elderly patients. Methods: A total of 1030 non-diabetic patients≥65 years were retrospectively studied. According to adjusted plasma calcium concentration (Cac), the patients were divided into 4 quartiles as Q1 group, Q2 group, Q3 group and Q4 group. The relationship between Cac and plasma levels of fibrinogen and Hcy were compared. Results: ① Plasma levels of fibrinogen and Hcy were increased by Cac elevation accordingly, P=0.010 and P<0.001 respectively. ② Cac was obviously related to the prevalence of high fibrinogen (OR=1.75, P=0.019) and high Hcy (OR=1.82, P=0.026). ③ Cac was positively related to fibrinogen (Standardized β=0.15, P<0.001) and Hcy (Standardized β=0.08, P=0.009). Conclusion: Normal range plasma calcium level changes were related to the elevation of plasma fibrinogen and Hcy in non-diabetic elderly patients.

Objective To investigate the signal transduction pathway mechanisms of rats with liver fibrosis regulated by leptin and interfering effects of mistletoe alkali .Methods The hepatic fibrosis in rats model was established by injecting carbon tetrachloride .Forty-five SD rats were randomly divided into normal group ,model group and therapeutic group.All rats except rats in normal group were intraperitoneally injected with 40%carbon tetrachloride in peanut oil with a dose of 2.0 mL/100g according to the body weight twice a week for 8 weeks.Then, the therapeutic group was given mistletoe alkali (8g/(kg· d)) for 8 weeks via gastrogavage.Rats in normal and model group were served with distilled water at the same time.At the end of the 16th week, blood and tissue specimens were taken from all the rats .The influence of mistletoe alkali on liver morphology in liver fibrosis rat model was reviewed by HE and Masson staining .The effects of mistletoe alkali on the expression of Leptin and its receptor ( OB-Rb ) in HSC in fibrosis rat model were determined by immunohistochemistry (IH).The expression of JAK2, STAT3 and the activity of phospho -JAK2, phospho-STAT3 were detected by Western blotting analysis .Results The degree of fibrosis of the model group was more severe than the normal group and the treatment group , which suggested that mistletoe alkali can reverse liver fibrosis in rats . Immunohistochemical staining showed that mistletoe alkali reduced the hepatic expression of leptin and OB -Rb in rats with liver fibrosis in comparison with their expression in the model group .Compared with the normal group , the expression of JAK2 and STAT3 increased in the model group .However, the expression of JAK2 and STAT3 decreased in the medication groups compared with the model group .Conclusion Mistletoe alkali can effectively ameliorate liver fibrosis in rats possibly through inhibiting hepatic leptin and its receptor expressions , which through inhibiting hepatic leptin and its receptor expressions , thus inhibit the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway .

Objective To observe the efficacy of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) for different patterns of optical coherence tomography (OCT) of diabetic macular edema and the relationship between integrity of ellipsoidal zone and visual acuity outcomes.Methods Eighty-five IVR treated eyes were enrolled.The examination of BCVA was according to Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study,and the results were recorded as logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR).Frequency-domain OCT was used to measure the central foveal thickness (CFT) and the integrity of ellipsoidal zone.All eyes were classified as diffuse macular edema (DRT group,31 eyes),cystoid macular edema (CME group,29 eyes),and serous retinal detachment (SRD group,25 eyes).All the patients were treated with intravitreal injection of 0.05 ml (0.5 mg) ranibizumab.The mean follow-up time was (9.21+3.56) months after IVR treatment.The changes of BCVA and CFT in 3 groups were compared and analyzed after 3,6 and 12 months.According to visual acuity at different ranges,the relationship between integrity of ellipsoidal zone and BCVA was analyzed.Results Compared with the average logMAR BCVA before treatment,except for 12 months after treatment in group SRD (t=2.104,P=0.053),the average logMAR BCVA after IVR at 3 months,6 months and 12 months improved in DRT group (t=7.847,6.771,6.426;P=0.000,0.000,0.000),CME group (t=8.560,6.680,5.082;P=0.000,0.000,0.000) and SRD group (t=5.161,3.968,2.104;P=0.000,0.001,0.053).The average logMAR BCVA of the DRT group was lesser than that in CME and SRD group after 12 months treatment (t=-2.043,-3.434;P=0.030,0.001).The average CFT after IVR at 3 months,6 months and 12 months reduced significantly in DRT group (t=12.746,10.687,9.425;P=0.000,0.000,0.000),CME group (t=13.400,11.460,10.169;P=0.000,0.000,0.000),and SRD group (t=1 1.755,10.100,9.173;P=0.000,0.000,0.000).After 12 months of treatment,the average CFT of the SRD group was thicker than that in DRT group and CME group (t=-3.251,-1.227;P=0.003,0.025);there was significant difference in the integrity of ellipsoidal zone among 3 groups (x2=1.267,P=0.531).The results showed that there were significant differences in the integrity of ellipsoidal zone with different ranges of BCVA before and after 12 months treatment (x2=20.145,41.035;P=0.000,0.000).Conclusions IVR could significantly improve the visual acuity of different patterns of DME,reduced the CFT,and had the best efficacy in the DRT group.There was relationship between the integrity of ellipsoidal zone and the visual acuity outcomes.

Objective To analyze the significant impact factors of postoperative hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy.Method The clinical data of 154 patients who underwent pancreatieoduodeneetomy from Jan.2009 to Jun.2012 were retrospectively analyzed.Results The incidence of postoperative hemorrhage was 10.4％ (16/154).The mortality caused by this complication was 12.5％ (2/16).Among these patients,intra-abdominal hemorrhage occurred in seven patients,and gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred in nine patients.One patient suffered from both these complications.There were five and two patients presenting with early or delayed intra-abdominal hemorrhage,respectively.Early and delayed gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred in three and six patients,respec tively.Statistical analysis showed that infection (P=0.002,P＜ 0.01) and pancreatic fistula (P=0.048,P＜0.05) are significantly associated with postoperative hemorrhage.Conclusions Postoperative hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy is a severe complication.Adequate hemostasis and prevention of pancreatic fistula and infection are the key points in reducing postoperative hemorrhage.Proper treatments should be used according to the site,type of onset and severity of hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) on experimental periodontitis in rats.

METHODSForty-two Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Rats in the normal group (NL group) did not undergo any procedure, whereas the other rats were ligatured and treated with saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) (LO group) or treated with CORM-2 (10 mg kg(-1) per day) (CO group). A 3-0 silk suture was placed around the mandibular first molars. Rats were sacrificed after 3, 7, and 10 d. Blood samples were collected from all animals for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) analysis. Changes in alveolar bone levels were measured clinically, and periodontal tissues were histopathologically examined to assess the infiltration of inflammatory cells.

RESULTSLigature placement increased alveolar bone loss and inflammatory cell infiltration in periodontal tissue. Alveolar bone loss in CO group was significantly higher than that in NL group, but was lower than that in LO group (P<0.05). The ratio of inflammatory cell infiltration in LO group was significantly higher than that in CO and NL groups, and that in CO group was lower than in LO group (P<0.05). Serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in the LO group were significantly higher than those in the CO and NL groups, and those in CO group were lower than in LO group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSystemic administration of CORM-2 reduced periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis in rats.

Alveolar Bone Loss ; Animals ; Carbon Monoxide ; Periodontitis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Air ; analysis ; Hydrobromic Acid ; analysis ; Ion-Selective Electrodes ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo establish the quality standard of Entadae Semen, and provide scientific basis for its quality control.

METHODTLC and HPLC were used for qualitative identification and quantitative analysis of phaseoloidin and entadamide A-O-β-D-glucopyranoside in Entadae Semen. The test of water content, ash and ethanol-soluble extractives of Entadae Semen was carried out according to the methods recorded in appendix of Chinese Pharmacopeia (2010 edition).

RESULTThe TLC was well separated with clear spots. The linear range of phaseoloidin was between 0.014 to 2.747 g x L(-1) (r = 0.999 6, n = 9) with an average recovery rate of 101.06% (RSD 0.90%, n = 6); the linear range of entadamide A-O-β-D-glucopyranoside was between 0.002 to 0.452 g x L(-1) (r = 0.999 7, n = 9) withan average recovery rate of 101.52% (RSD 1.09%, n = 6). The content of phaseoloidin in sample is between 5.12% to 9.24%, entadamide A-O-β-D-glucopyranoside is between 0.55% to 2.17%, alcohol-soluble extracts is between 30.9% to 45.2%, water is between 6.6% to 8.6%, and total ash is between 2.4% to 2.9%.

CONCLUSIONThe established standard is acceptable for quality control of Entadae Semen.

China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Fabaceae ; chemistry ; Quality Control

Objective To investigate the effects of up?regulated miR?206/miR?1 on the proliferation of breast cancer stem cells and the effect mech?anism. Methods Breast cancer stem cells(BCSCs)were isolated from breast cancer cell line MCF?7 by fluorescence?activated cell sorting. Cells in the experiment were divided into the blank control group,the negative control group,the miR?206 group and the miR?1 group. The BCSCs were transfected by negative control mimic,hsa?miR?206mimic and hsa?miR?1mimic in all groups except the blank control group. MiR?206and miR?1 expression levels as well as the transcription factor EVI?1 gene were detected by real time PCR. The expression levels of the transcription factor EVI?1 protein were detected by Western blot. MTT method was used to detect the effects of miR?206 and miR?1 on the proliferation of BCSCs. Results The BCSCs(CD44+/CD24-/low cells)isolated from MCF?7 cell lines were successfully cultured in serum?free medium for subsequent studies. After transfection of hsa?miR?206mimic and hsa?miR?1mimic for 48 hours,miR?206and miR?1relative expression levels increased. EVI?1mRNA ex?pression levels significantly decreased. The results of Western blot and MTT showed that up?regulated expression levels of miR?206 and miR?1 could significantly reduce the expression of EVI?1 protein and inhibited the proliferation of BCSCs. The differences in levels of miR?206,miR?1 and EVI?1 protein were statistically significant(P<0.05). Conclusion Up?regulated miR?206 and miR?1 expression can inhibit the proliferation ability of BCSCs,which may be related to the down?regulation of EVI?1.

Objective To investigate the incidence of osteoporosis (OP) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and the relationship between OP and the clinical data. Methods Serum levels of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) and tartrate resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP5b) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) in 60 cases with ankylosing spondylitis, and it was compared with normal controls. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured through dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry ( DXA), including lumbar ( L2 - L4), bilateral femoral neck and greater trochanter. Some clinical data was collected and analyzed at the same time. Results The incidence of OP in AS patients was 35%, and the incidence of OP in the femoral proximal end was higher than that in lumbar. Compared with normal controls[ ( 1.06 ±0. 18 )U/L ], the levels of serum TRACP5b in AS[ (1.31 ± 0. 82 )U/L] patients was significantly higher ( P <0. 05 ). The levels of serum BLAP in OP combined AS group[ ( 21.65 ± 5.41 ) U/L]were significantly lower than non-OP group[ (32. 37 ± 16. 5 ) U/L] ( P <0. 05 ). The disease duration was negatively correlated with the BMD of femoral neck ( P < 0. 01 ). Conclusions There was higher incidence of OP in AS patients, which were related with the abnormality of bone metabolism and the disease duration.Multiple factors participated in the regulation of bone metabolism of AS.