Objective To investigate the significance of calcification in thyroid node for diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma.Method Retrospective analysis of 107 thyroid nodules' pre-operative ultrasonic and postoperative pathologic results.Results Total ultrasonic thyroid calcification ratio was 27.1%(29/107),which in benign samples was lower than Ihat in malignant samples(17.2%vs 70.0%,P＜0.01).Micro-calci-fication ratio in benign samples Was lower than thai:in malignanl samples(8.0%vs 50.0%,P＜0.01).Conclusion The ralio of thyroid carcinoma with calcification is higher,so the detection of thyroid carcinoma,especially micro-single-calcification should be significant.

In this study , 4116 traditional Chinese medicine ( TCM ) prescriptions of 994 outpatients of gastric
cancer from the Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine were analyzed with the use of Clinical Research Information Sharing System and the data mining method of scale-free networks . The core drugs and compatibility were visually displayed on diagrams which revealed the characteristics of gastric cancer treatment with TCM prescriptions in this hospital with high credibility . This method has certain meaning and value for the study of TCM prescriptions .

Objective To develop a fluorescence signal activatable multifunctional molecular probe with theranostics function through combining ultrasmall gold nanorods(UGNRs) with fluorescein,and to evaluate its therapeutic effect on photothermal therapy (PTT) in breast cancer cells.Methods The UGNRs were synthesized by the one-pot seedless method,then the functionalized modification of UGNRs were conducted using cysteamine.Finally,the activatable ultrasmall gold nanorods (AUGNRs) were synthesized by amide condensation of —NH2 of cysteamine and —COOH of carboxylated fluorescein CyS.The cell uptake ability and GSH-mediated imaging ability of AUGNRs were studied using breast cancer 4T1 cells.4T1 cells co-cultured with AUGNRs were irradiated with 808 nm excitation light,and the PTT effects were assessed by MTT colorimetric staining and calcein-AM/PI staining.Results The AUGNRs were synthesized successfully,which could be uptaken by 4T1 cells quickly and efficiently,and could achieve intracellular glutathione (GSH) triggered fluorescence recovery.No obvious cytotoxicity of AUGNRs to 4T1 cells was observed in the co-cultivation.Moreover,obvious PTT effects could be induced by 808 nm laser,which could effectively kill 4T1 cancer cells.Conclusion The fluorescence signals of AUGNRs can be induced by intracellular GSH,and tumor cell destruction can be achieved by 808 laser-excitated PTT effects.

Objective To assess the clinical relevance of polymorphisms at position-251 in the promoter region of IL-8 gene and the incidence of sepsis in patients with severe trauma.Methods A total of 296 patients with severe trauma were included in the prospective cohort study.Incidence of sepsis was decided on the basis of the clinical manifestations and blood culture results.Muhiple organ dysfunction score (MODS) was performed using Marshall' s standard.IL-8/-251 gene polymorphisms were genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RFLP).IL-8 plasma level was determined using ELISA method.Results Genotype frequency at IL-8/-251 locus in trauma patients was in accord with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P ＞ 0.05).Sepsis incidence in trauma patients with TT,TA,and AA genotypes at IL-8/-251 locus was 58.1％,49.6％,and 25.0％ respectively.Multiple regression analysis showed inverse correlation between sepsis incidence and quantity of A alleles [OR =0.637,95％ CI (0.421,0.963),P ＜ 0.05].Carriers of AA genotype presented lower MODS score than those of other two genotypes (P ＜ 0.05).IL-8 plasma level presented significant difference among carriers of the three genotypes (P ＜ 0.01) and A alleles were associated with the down-regulation of IL-8 (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion IL-8/-251T/A polymorphisms are implicated in the development of posttraumatic sepsis and AA genotype is protective against posttraumatic sepsis.

Objective To explore the function and mechanism of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in bladder cancer cell proliferation and aggressivity.Methods The ERα expression bladder cancer cell line T24ERα model was established.The cell growth was detected by MTT assay,apoptosis by flow cytometry,cell invasion by matrigel transwell.Western blot was used to check signals by ERα regulation in bladder cancer cells related to the proliferation and metastatic ability.Results Compared to the control group,the cell inhibition rates of experimental group in 96 h and 144 h were 18.85％ and 37.21％,respectively.The difference was significant compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The apoptosis rates of the experimental group and control group were (18.93 ±1.41)％ and (9.91 ±1.08)％ (P＜0.05).The experimental group through matrix adhesive cell proportion was (10.00 ± 2.00)％,significantly lower than that of the control group (26.00 ± 3.61) ％ (P ＜ 0.05).Western blot showed integrin-β1,p-FAK,p-Src and Scr expression were reduced compared to control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion ERα could inhibit bladder cancer cell growth and metastasis through down-regulating integrin-β1-FAK/Src signal pathway,while promote the apoptosis of bladder cancer cells.

Objective To investigate the function of CFTR in ApoE-/- mice with HHcy-induced hepato-cellular injury. Methods Thirty six 5-week old ApoE-/- mice were divided into three groups , including the ApoE-/- group, the HHcy group and the intervention group, (n = 12). Twelve normal C57BL/6J mice were fed with regular mouse diet as the normal control (SPF grade). HL-7702 human liver cells were intervened by Hcy (100 μmol/L) and 100 μmol/L Hcy + folic acid (100 μmol/L Hcy + F). The changes of Hcy, ALT and AST in the serum and the expression of CFTR mRNA and protein in liver and liver cells were detected. The concen-trations of ALT and AST in the liver cell intervened by VX-770 agonist and CFTR(inh)-172 inhibitor were mea-sured by ELISA. Results Compared with the control group , the levels of Hcy , ALT and AST were higher and the levels of CFTR mRNA and protein were lower in the Meth group (P < 0. 05 ) , while the reverse result in the Meth + F group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of CFTR mRNA and protein were de-creased and the levels of ALT and AST were increased in the 100 μmol/L Hcy group (P < 0.05). Compared with the 100 μmol/L Hcy group , the levels of CFTR mRNA and protein were increased and the levels of ALT and AST were decreased in the 100 μmol/L Hcy + F group (P < 0.05). Stimulated with VX-770 can reduce the concentrations of ALT and AST and the vice versa in the CFTR (inh)-17 group the concentration was increased in liver cells. Conclusion CFTR plays an important role in the regulation of hepatocellular injury by HHcy.

3' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

OBJECTIVETo obtain very end full-length cDNA of hepatitis C virus (HCV) 5' untranslated region (5' UTR), and analyse its primary and secondary structure.

METHODSBy reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), a patient infected with genotype 2a HCV was found. Total RNA isolated from the serum as template, the cDNA of 5' noncoding region was amplified using rapid amplification of cDNA ends methods (RACE), the fragments were recombined by A-T clone strategy, the recombinants were confirmed by RFLP and PCR then sequenced. Secondary structures were analysed by RNA draw.

RESULTSVery end full-length cDNA of 2a genotype HCV 5' UTR was obtained by RACE. In five clones obtained, three contained full-length 5' UTR cDNA, and A21G, G170A, T222C, T247C, C339T substitutions were found compared with HC-J6. he homologies with HCV-1,HC-J6,HC-C2, HC-J8 were 93.6%-94.4%, 92.1%-93.0%, 98.8%-99.7%, 96.2%-96.5%, respectively; however, the substitutions did not alter the secondary structure. Two out of five clones were deleted to have 53 and 144 bases at 5' terminus of HCV 5' UTR, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSRACE is rapid and effective, works well to obtain very end of virus genome. With that, Authors obtained full-length cDNA of genotype 2a of HCV 5' UTR. There are genes deleted at 5' terminus circulated in hepatitis C patients.

5' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Hepacivirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C ; virology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Aim To explore the role of ERO1 αand its DNA methylation in homocysteine (Hcy)-induced in-hibition of hepatocytes proliferation.Methods The hepatocytes stimulated with 0 μmol·L -1 Hcy were set as the normal group (NC group)and the hepatocytes stimulated with 1 00 μmol·L -1 Hcy as the experimen-tal group (Hcy group).Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT)reduction assay was used to reflect the prolifer-ation of the hepatocytes;qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of ERO1 α;the expression of green fluorescence protein was observed in hepatocytes after the recombinant plas-mid of ERO1 α was constructed,which was used to confirm if the recombinant plasmid into hepatocytes was successful,then the mRNA and protein levels of ERO1 αwere assayed and the proliferation of the hepa-tocytes was also detected;ntMSP was used to detect the change of ERO1 αDNA methylation.Results The mRNA and protein levels of ERO1 αwere decreased in Hcy group compared with NC group,and the prolifera-tion activity of hepatocytes in Hcy group was de-creased.Sequencing result showed that the recombi-nant plasmid of ERO1 αwas constructed successfully. QRT-PCR and Western blot revealed that ERO1 αwas overexpressed. The result of MTT suggested that ERO1 αoverexpression restored hepatocyte proliferation inhibited by Hcy.Hcy caused ERO1 αDNA hyperm-ethylation.Conclusions Hcy inhibits hepatocyte pro-liferation by downregulating the expression of ERO1 α, and methylation of ERO1 αpromoter may play a role in this process.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of sacroiliac joint pain after lumbar fusion surgery and to present the clinical outcomes after a combining intra-and peri-articular injection.Methods Totally 20 male and 15 female patients (48-75 years old) from January 2013 to December 2016 were retrospectively included in the present study.The patients were all with sustained low back and hip pain after prior posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery.Nine cases were diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation,22 cases with lumbar stenosis,and 4 cases with degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis.Ten cases were performed with single level fusion,16 cases with two level fusion,9 cases with 3 or more level fusion.Autogenous iliac bone graft was not applied in any of those patients.The pain of the patients was confirmed from the sacroiliac joint through specific symptoms and signs.They were divided into two groups and were treated with either standard intra-articular injection (17 cases) or a combine of intra-and peri-articular sacroiliac injection (18 cases).Peri-articular injection was conducted at 1 cm above the inferior margin of the sacroiliac joint.Recover ratios of visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) at 2 weeks post-operatively were recorded and were compared between the two groups.Results No statistical difference was found in gender,fusion location,fusion levels,pre-operative VAS and ODI score between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).The combination of intra-and peri-articular sacroiliac injection showed significantly better results than the single intra-articular injection in VAS score immediately after injection (t=2.159,P=0.038),VAS score at 2 weeks after injection and ODI score at 2 weeks after the injection (t=2.705,P=0.011;t=2.156,P=0.039,respectively).Conclusion Both intra-and extra-sacroiliac joint diseases may lead to sacroiliac joint pain after lumbar fusion surgery.A single intra-articular sacroiliac injection could not provide optimistic outcomes.Further extra-articular injection is required at approximate 1 cm above the inferior margin of the sacroiliac joint.The technique combining intra-and peri-articular injection could guarantee improved early clinical outcomes.