Objective To investigate the clinical significance of fine needle aspiration biopsy and immunohistochemical markers in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodule.Methods One hundred and eighty-five cases of thyroid nodule were enrolled in the study.All cases received preoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy and immunocytochemistry.Results The sensitivity,specificity,diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy to detect diagnosis of thyroid nodules was 75.0％ (21/28),85.4％ (134/157),83.8％(155/185).The positive rates of p53 and galectin-3 immunodetection in discriminating benign from malignant thyroid nodules were 60.7％ (17/28),85.7％ (24/28),combined with p53 and galectin-3 immunodetection in discriminating benign from malignant thyroid nodules was 50.0％ (14/28).The positive rates of p53 and galectin-3 immunodetection in thyroid adenomas were 0,5.1％ (8/157),combined with p53 and galectin-3 immunodetection in thyroid adenomas was 1.3％ (2/157).The positive rates of p53 and galectin-3 immunodetection in malignant thyroid cytologic specimens,alone or combined were significantly higher than those in thyroid adenomas,there were significant difference(P ＜ 0.05).The diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy with p53 and galectin-3 immunodetection,alone or combined,in discriminating benign from malignant thyroid nodules [94.1％(174/185),93.5％(173/185),91.4％(169/185)] were higher or equal to those in fine needle aspiration biopsy[83.8％(155/185)],there were significant differences (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Immunodetection of p53 and galectin-3 combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules can raise the diagnostic accuracy.

Objective To investigate the effect of allicin on the development of atherosclerosis in apoE-/-mice and explore its underlying mechanism from the perspective of protein S-nitrosylation.Methods Thirty male apoE-/- mice were randomly divided into 3 groups:control group (saline,ig),low-dose group (allicin,9 mg/kg·d, ig)and high-dose group (allicin,18 mg/kg·d,ig).They were fed with high cholesterol diet for 12 weeks.The levels of plasma lipids,oxidized-LDL (ox-LDL),malondialdehyde,tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide (NO)were measured.The atherosclerotic lesions in aortic root were evaluated after hematoxylin and eosin staining and elastica van Gieson and immunohistochemical staining,respectively.Furthermore,in vitro experiments were performed using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).The HUVECs were treated with allicin (10μmol/L or 20 μmol/L)for 24 hours in the presence of ox-LDL (50 μg/mL).The level of NO in supernatant was measured by a nitrate/nitrite assay. The protein S-nitrosylation of the HUVECs was detected through immunofluorescence.Results The histological analysis revealed that allicin treatment not only significantly decreased the areas of the atherosclerotic lesion (all P <0.05)but also suppressed the macrophage accumulation and smooth muscle cell proliferation in the lesion.There was no significant difference in the levels of plasma lipids between control and treated groups.However,allicin exerted obvious anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Interestingly,the allicin treatment led to marked increase of the plasma NO level (P <0.05)and aortic protein S-nitrosylation.The experiments in vitro further proved that the allicin up-regulated the levels of NO and protein S-nitrosylation in HUVECs treated with ox-LDL (P < 0.01 ).Conclusion Allicin can inhibit the development of atherosclerosis.The mechanism is associated with the up-regulation of protein S-nitrosylation in endothelial cells, which plays an important role in anti-oxidization and anti-inflammation.

Objective To investigate the mRNA and protein expression levels of telomeric-repeat binding factor-1 (TRF1) and TRF2 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and the relations between these gene expression levels and clinical data of SLE patients were explored.Methods According to disease activity,these SLE patients were divided into the active group (40 cases) and the stable group (67 cases).These patients were also grouped as renal damage group (46 cases) and renal damage-free group (61 cases) based on their renal conditions.Healthy individuals (41 cases) were also included as control.Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was employed to study the mRNA expression of TRF1 and TRF2.The protein levels of TRF1 and TRF2 were measured by Western Blot (WB).Independent-Samples t test or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in conjunction with the Least-Significant Difference method (LSD method) wasperformed if the data were in normal distributions;otherwise,the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied.Spearman's correlation analysis was also used for statistical analysis.Results The mRNA and protein expression levels of TRF1 and TRF2 in the PBMCs of the active group (TRF1:0.003 1±0.003 3;TRF2:0.010 5±0.064 8) and renal damage group (TRF1:0.002 3 ±0.002 6;TRF2:0.004 3 ±0.003 3) were significantly increased compared to the stable group (TRF1:0.001 2±0.001 1;TRF2:0.004 2±0.008 6),the renal damage-free group (TRF1:0.001 3±0.001 8;TRF2:0.003 4±0.007 2) and healthy (TRF1:0.001 2±0.003 0;TRF2:0.003 4±0.002 7) individuals respectively (P＜0.05).In SLE patients,the expression levels of TRF1 mRNA were correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=0.365,P＜0.05);the expression levels of TRF2 mRNA were correlated with SLEDAI score (r=0.270,P＜0.05),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r=0.304,P＜0.05),creatinine (r=0.258,P＜0.05) and 24-hour urinary protein (r=0.344,P＜0.05).Conclusion Altered expression of TRF1 and TRF2 might be involved in the pathogenesis of Systemic lupus erythematosus.The positive correlation between TRF2 and SLEDAI score,24-hour urinary protein suggest that TRF2 might be usedas a biomarker for disease activity or renal damage in

BACKGROUND:There are many ways for surgical treatment of distal radius fractures. Both volar locking plates and Kirschner wires are common methods. Doctors have considerable flexibility in the choice of the ways of fixation, but both at home and abroad there is no comparison between the effects of the two operations for treating distal radius fractures. OBJECTIVE:To systematicaly review the differences in effectiveness and safety of volar locking plates versusKirschner wires for distal radial fracture. METHODS:Databases such as CBM, CNKI, VIP, PubMed and Cochrane Library were electronicaly searched.Chinese Journal of Orthopaedics,Chinese Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma,Chinese Journal of Trauma andJournal of Practical Orthopaedics were searched by hand. In strict accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria, articles were screened. Methodological quality of included studies was evaluated according to Cochrane Handbook. Data were extracted, and then analyzed with RevMan 5.2 software. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Nine randomized controled trials were included. Meta-analysis results demonstrated that upper limb function scores were better in the volar locking plate group than in the Kirschner wire group [MD=-4.55(-7.89,-1.21),P=0.008] at 3 months of folow-up and [MD=-3.13(-6.08,-0.18),P=0.004] at 12 months. The incidence of infection was lower in the volar locking plate group than in the Kirschner wire group [OR= 0.42(0.23, 0.79),P=0.007]. No significant difference in incidence of complex regional pain syndrome [OR=0.28(0.05, 1.38),P=0.12], incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome [OR=0.75(0.20, 2.76),P=0.66] and tendon injury [OR= 1.66(0.51, 5.41),P=0.64] was detected between the volar locking plate group and Kirschner wire group. These results indicated that compared with the Kirschner wire, volar locking plate fixation for the repair of distal radial fracture is safe and effective. In the permission of economic circumstances, it is suggested that elder osteoporosis patients with distal radial fracture should receive plate fixation.

Objective To study the epidemiological tendency and influencing factors for major chronic diseases in the elderly in Changsha,and to provide the scientific basis for the prevention and control strategies for the aged people.Methods Multi-stage randomized cluster sampling method was used in selecting 3135 persons aged 65 and over in Changsha.Using unified questionnaire and face to face asking method to investigate the prevalence of chronic diseases and its influencing factors.Results 95.7％ of questionnaires were valid (3000/3135).The total prevalence rate of chronic disease was 86.33％ in patients aged from 65-96 (74.83±6.63) years,with 85.49％ (1332) in males,and 87.23％ (1258) infemales(x2=1.93,P=0.164).Most of them had 1-3 kinds of chronic diseases,in 1 patient with 13 kinds of chronic diseases at the most.The most common chronic diseases among the elderly were hypertension,heart diseases,osteoarthritis,diabetes mellitus,benign prostatic hyperplasia,and fatty liver.Multivariate logistic regression suggested that age,marital status,smoking,quality of sleep were common influencing factors for hypertension,heart diseases and diabetes mellitus.Conclusions The prevalence of chronic diseases is high and the influencing factors are ubiquitous among the elderly in Changsha community.Community health education should be carried out to improve the effect of prevention and control of chronic diseases.

This paper introduces one of the young, energetic and rapidly growing research fields in biomedical engineering-Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, which can provide augmentative communication and control capabilities to patients with severe motor disabilities. We summarize the first two international meetings for BCI, and present the most typical research fruits. The problems in current studies and the direction for future investigation are analyzed.
Brain ; physiology ; Communication Aids for Disabled ; Electroencephalography ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation ; User-Computer Interface

Objective To investigate the clinical application of different puncture positions in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL).Methods From February 2015 to March 2017,102 patients with kidney urinary calculi in our hospital were enrolled in the study.According to the selected puncture position,they were divided into prone position (group A,32 cases),lateral decubitus position (group B,37 cases) and half stone oblique supine position (group C,33 cases).The mean arterial pressure (MAP),heart rate (HR) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) were observed before placement of 5 min (T0),after placement of 5 min (T1),30 min (T2),and postoperative 5 min (T3),and the time of established passage,the time of operation and the amount of bleeding during operation and so on.Results The MAP in group B and group C at T1 was significantly higher than that in group A (P ＜ 0.05);The HR in Group B and group C at T2 and T3 were significantly lower than those in group A (P ＜ 0.05);The SpO2 in Group B and group C at T1 and T2 were significantly higher than those in group A (P ＜ 0.05);There was no significant difference in the time of establishment passage,the rate of primary clearing stone and the hospital stay in the groups (P ＞0.05);The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in group C were (120.07 ± 20.19) min and (90.01 ±30.11)ml,significantly less than those in group B and group A (P ＜0.05);The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in group B were (140.17 ±20.48) min and (110.04 ±29.82) ml,significantly less than that in group A [(170.02 ± 21.02) min,(164.02 ± 30.12) ml] (P ＜ 0.05);The postural comfort of group C was better than that of group A and group B (P ＜ 0.05);There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications in the three groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Half stone oblique supine position in the PCNL application has good effect,which is conducive to improving the patient's tolerance to surgery,shorten the operation time,and it is worth popularizing.

We reviewed and developed an indicator system framework for assessing teaching effect of laparoscopic simulation training through literature research, expert consultation, analytic hierarchy process and factor analysis. We also made an empirical study on the constructed index system. The system included 3 domains (A1: evaluation of laparoscopic simulator; A2: operation evaluation of experimental animals; A3: evaluation of clinical practice), 10 second-level indicators and 23 third-level indicators for assessing teaching effect of laparoscopic simulation training. The indicator system framework has good internal consistency (Cronbach α= 0.968) and external consistency (>0.72). The empirical study found that: in the results of A1-A3 in the first level indicator, the score of the experienced group was significantly higher than that of the inexperienced group ( P<0.05). In the evaluation results of the 10 secondary indicators in the secondary indicators B1-B10, the score of the experienced group was significantly higher than that of the inexperienced group ( P<0.01). For the first time, we have established and evaluated a comprehensive evaluation indicator system which is reliable and effective and can be used for further evaluation of teaching effect of laparoscopic simulation training. The following empirical studies have verified the effectiveness and practicability of the evaluation system.

AIM:To explore the effect of polyphenolic compound 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol(DHMBA)on hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R)injury of human umbilical vein endothelial cells(EA.hy926 cells)and its po-tential mechanisms.METHODS:To construct an H/R model,the EA.hy926 cells were cultured in an acidic hypoxia buffer while in an anaerobic workstation.The cells were divided into control,H/R,H/R+different doses of DHMBA,H/R+edaravone(antioxidant)and H/R+reactive oxygen species(ROS)inducer oligomycin A+DHMBA groups.Cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6)levels in cells were mea-sured by ELISA.Phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS)and nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)p65 were measured by Western blot.Intracellular NO levels were determined by laser confocal microscopy.Glutathione(GSH)/glu-tathione disulfide(GSSG)oxidation balance was determined by the dinitrobenzoic acid chromogenic method.Intracellular ROS levels were measured by flow cytometry.Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)leakage was determined using nitro blue tet-razolium staining.Scratch assays were performed to assess cell migration.RESULTS:DHMBA exhibited no significant cytotoxicity between 125 and 1 000 μmol/L.In H/R-injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells,DHMBA improved cell survival,inhibited phosphorylation of NF-κB p65,reduced the content of TNF-α and IL-6,and increased phosphory-lation of eNOS and NO levels.DHMBA also suppressed ROS overload and restored the ratio between GSH and oxidized GSH,decreased in LDH leakage and increased cell migration in H/R-injured human umbilical vein endothelial cells.CONCLUSION:DHMBA can alleviate H/R-induced oxidative stress,inflammation,cellular damage,and dysfunction,which are associated with the ability of DHMBA to inhibit ROS production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of betulinic acid (BA) on the proliferation, migration, apoptosis and cell cycle of pancreatic cancer cells (BxPC-3) in vitro and elucidate the underlying.

METHODThe effect of BA on the proliferation of BxPC-3 was measured by using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Migratory ability of BxPC3 cells were detected by wound healing assay, and the morphological change was observed with light microscope. The influence of BA on cell cycle of BxPC-3 cells was tested by flow cytometry (FCM). Apoptosis was analyzed by using Hochest33342-PI double staining. Western blot technologies were applied to detect the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

RESULTBA exhibited significant cell proliferation and migration inhibition, as well as its potency of inducing apoptosis in BxPC-3 cells in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 value for 72 h was 16.54 mg x L(-1). Cell migration was significantly inhibited at 5 mg x L(-1) of BA. Cells treated with BA showed increased cell population in G0 phase, with decreased G2/M phase population. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was up and down-regulated respectively in BA-treated BxPC-3 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONBA exerted potent effect on growth inhibition, G0 cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in BxPC-3 cells in vitro, possibly associated with the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax expression. The potent antitumor capacity of BA suggested that it could be a promising new anticancer agent in human pancreatic cancer treatment.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics ; metabolism