Objective To investigate the expression of IL-6/STAT3 signal pathway induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (HiBECs) in vitro.Methods The HiBECs were cultured in vitro.The cells were stimulated by LPS at different concentrations (0,0.1,1,2,4,8 μg/ml) and different time (24,48,72 h).The expression of IL-6 was measured by ELISA to determine the best concentration and time of LPS.Then we chose the best concentration and time of LPS to intervene the cells in the further experiments.The levels of mRNA expression of c-Myc and Mcl-1 were detected by fluorescence quantitative reverse transcrption PCR (RT-qRCR).The proportion of p-STAT3/STAT3 protein and the expression of c-Myc and Mcl-1 protein in HiBECs were analyzed by Western blot.Results LPS upregulated the expression of IL-6, and reached its peak at 4 μg/ml and 24 h(F=16.492,17.763,P<0.001,P<0.01).LPS increased the mRNA expression of c-Myc and Mcl-1(P<0.01).Meanwhile, The ratio of p-STAT3/STAT3 (P<0.05) protein and the expression of c-Myc (P<0.001) and Mcl-1 (P<0.05) protein were upregulated after stimulating with LPS.Conclusion The IL-6/STAT3 signal pathway can be activated by LPS in HiBECs, and LPS may promote the expression of c-Myc and Mcl-1 through this signal pathway.

Objective To test the effects of restuscitation with air or oxygen on the blood gas and cerebral superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration in neonatal rats with experimental intrauterine asphyxia. Method Seventy-seven neonatal rats were randomly (random number) divided into three experimental groups: sham operation group (SHAM), air resuscitation group (AR), and oxygen resuscitation group (OR). In groups AR and OR, animal models of intrauterine asphyxia were established and then resuscitated with air (AR) or oxygen (OR) for 30min. Comparison was made between groups including the mortality 0 hour after resuscitation, and the levels of blood gas and cerebral SOD concentrations 0 h, 6 h and 24 h after resuscitation. Results Mortality of neonatal rats in SHAM group, AR group and OR group were 0 (0/24), 0 (0/26) and 3.7% (1/27), respectively (P ＞0.05). The average levels of blood PaO2 in OR group and AR group 0 h after resuscitation were (69.2 ± 8.2)mmHg and (55.5±10.3) mmHg,respectively (P=0.004). Blood pH and PaCO2 and BE levels in OR group 0 h after resuscitation were not significantly different from those in AR group (P＞0.05). Blood pH, PO2, PCO2and BE levels in OR group were also not significantly different from those in AR group 6 h and 24 hours after resuscitation. The average concentrations of cerebral SOD in OR group 0 h and 6 hours after resucitation were (38.3±9.8) U/mgprot and (8.6±3.6) U/mgprot, and those in AR group were (53.8± 10.6) U/mgprot and (13.0±4.6) U/mgprot, respectively (P = 0.003, 0.04). The cerebral SOD concentration in OR group 24 hours after resuscitation was not significantly different from that in AR group (P＞0.05). The cerebral SOD concentrations in SHAM group 0 h,6 h and 24 hours after resuscitation were much higher than those in OR group and AR group (P＜0.05). Conclusions Resuscitation with air is as good as pure oxygen in neonatal resuscitation, in respect of early mortality and improvement of acidosis in neonatal rats after intrauterine asphyxia. Resuscitation with air will generate less radical oxygen species than pure oxygen in neonatal rats after intrauterine asphyxia.

Objectives To analyze the risk factors for transfusion in very low birth weight infants and to explore the strategies for prevention of anemia. Methods Neonates with gestational age <37 weeks and birth weight <1500 g admitted from January 2015 to June 2016 were included. The neonates were divided into blood transfusion group and non-blood transfusion group. The general conditions and complications were compared, and the risk factors of blood transfusion and the related factors were analyzed. Results One hundred fifty cases of very low birth weight infants were included, among whom 108 cases were from blood transfusion group and 42 cases were from non-blood transfusion group. Compared with the non-blood transfusion group, the gestational age and body weight of the blood transfusion group were smaller, the basic hemoglobin was lower, the parenteral nutrition time was longer, and the total volume of blood collection in hospital was higher, and these differences were all statistically significant (P all<0.05). The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the blood transfusion group were higher than those in the non-blood transfusion group, and they were all statistically different (P all <0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the volume of blood transfusion was higher when the gestational age and body weight were smaller, the longer parenteral nutrition was needed, and the total volume of blood taken from the hospital was higher (P all <0.05). Conclusions The gestational age, body weight, parenteral nutrition time and the total volume of blood collection in very low birth weight infants have different effects on blood transfusion risk and transfusion volume. The incidences of BPD, RDS, and PDA in infants with blood transfusion are higher.

Objective To investigate the effect of equol on ERK mediated signal transduction pathway and to clarify its mechanism of proliferation inhibition on human ovarian carcinoma cell line SKOV-3. Method SKOV-3 cells were treated with 10-8,10-7,10-6,10-5,5?10-5,10-4 mol/L equol for 24,48 and 72h. After pretreatment with 10 ?mol/L U0126 an ERK signaling pathway inhibitor or ICI182,780,estrogen receptor inhibitors for 1h,then treatment with 50 ?mol/L equol for 2h,the cell viability was examined and the expressions of ERK and p-ERK protein were determined using Western blotting. Results Equol was demonstrated to inhibit SKOV-3,proliferation time-and dose-dependently. The expression of p-ERK protein was decreased in dose-dependent manner,while the expression of total ERK was unchanged. Both the single use of U0126,or ICI182,780,and combined with equol could decrease the expression of p-ERK protein. Conclusion Equol could inhibit proliferation in ovarian carcinoma cell lines SKOV-3. Its inhibitory effect appears to be due to down-regulation of p-ERK protein.

Objective To compare target volume and dosimetry between computed tomography (CT)?and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)?guided three?dimensional (3D) conformal brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer, and to provide evidence for optimization of the image?guided approach and improvement of treatment regimen. Methods Thirteen patients with locally advanced cervical cancer who were treated with radical radiotherapy in our hospital in 2014 were enrolled as subjects. All patients received MRI?guided 3D conformal intracavitary/ interstitial brachytherapy. All patients received MRI and CT scans for each brachytherapy fraction, based on which the target volume delineation, intracavitary/ interstitial regimen design, and intracavitary?only treatment regimen design were performed. Comparison of data between MRI and CT scans was performed using paired t test. Results The width and volume of the high?risk clinical target volume ( HR?CTV) were significantly smaller in the MRI simulation than in the CT simulation ((38.0±9?? 4) mm vs. (45.1±8?? 7) mm, P= 0?? 000;(34.2±15?? 3) cm3 vs. (42.9±20?? 4) cm3 , P= 0?? 002), and the width, thickness, and volume of the intermediate?risk clinical target volume (IR?CTV) were also significantly smaller in the MRI simulation than in the CT simulation ((58.8±9?? 4) mm vs. (65.4±10?? 3) mm, P= 0?? 000;(34.8±6?? 3) mm vs. (37.5±6?? 3) mm, P= 0?? 001;(90.9±28?? 5) cm3 vs. (109.0±36?? 4) cm3 , P= 0?? 000). The D90 values for HR?CTV and IR?CTV were significantly higher in the MRI simulation than in the CT simulation (87?? 6 Gy vs. 85?? 8 Gy, P= 0?? 013;67?? 7 Gy vs. 66?? 3 Gy, P= 0?? 005), while the average D2 cm3 values for the bladder and rectum were significantly lower in the MRI simulation than in the CT simulation ( 73?? 1 Gy vs . 75?? 5 Gy , P= 0?? 011 ; 61?? 0 Gy vs . 65?? 7 Gy , P= 0?? 000 ) . Conclusions Compared with the MRI simulation, the CT simulation overestimates the width of target volume. MRI has substantial advantages in dosimetry for target volume and normal tissues. The intracavitary/ interstitial treatment can make up the reduced dose for the target volume resulting from the CT simulation.

Objective·To eliminate the effects of intraperitoneal injection of transmembrane activator and calcium modulator and cyclophilin ligand interactor-Ig (TACI-Ig) on the opitc neuritis and the integrity of myelin sheath in mice.Methods·Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups,which were blank control group,saline control group,low-dose (0.4 mg/kg) TACI-Ig group and high-dose (4 mg/kg) TACI-Ig group,with 6 mice in each group.All groups were received intraperitoneal injection every other day.The saline control group received 0.2 mL saline injection in the same way,and the blank control group was not given any intervention.After 20 d of treatment,the eyeballs and optic nerve tissues were collected from each mouse under anaesthesia,embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and Luxol fast blue (LFB),respectively.Results·H-E staining indicated that optic nerve fibers arranged closely both in blank and saline control groups and the staining of tissues was uniform.The optic nerve structure of low-dose TACI-Ig group was similar to blank and saline control groups,while in high-dose of TACI-Ig group,the infiltration of inflammatory cells was observed.The inflammatory cell infiltration scores were not significantly different in all groups (P=0.610 3).The retinal structures of all groups were clear and distinct to observe,and single ganglion cells arranged tightly with complete cell shape,visible nucleus and uniform distribution.There was no difference in the retina structure among 4 groups.LFB staining indicated that there was no significant loss of the optic nerve myelin in 4 groups by microscope observation (P=0.473 6).Conclusion·Low-dose (0.4 mg/kg) TACI-Ig injection wouldn't damage the normal structure of optic nerves and retinal ganglion cells,meanwhile high-dose (4 mg/kg) of TACI-Ig injection might cause minor infiltration of inflammatory cells into retina.

Objective To explore the correlation between the dose measured in the rectum and reference dose in three?dimensional brachytherapy ( 3DBT ) for cervical cancer, and to evaluate the significance of the dose measured in the rectum. Methods Fifty patients receiving radiotherapy for cervical cancer were selected, and 3DBT was performed after pelvic external beam radiotherapy. According to the rectal monitoring method recommended in the report ICRU38, in vivo monitoring was applied to obtain the dose measured in the rectum, reference point dose ( DICRU ) , and D2 cm3 , and the planned dose was obtained from the planning system. The differences in these values were determined by the paired t?test and correlation analysis was performed with Pearson test. Results The dose measured in the rectum was higher than the planned dose (3. 48 vs. 3. 25,P=0. 000), and lower than DICRU(3. 48 vs. 3. 71,P=0. 000) and D2 cm3(3. 48 vs. 3. 87,P=0. 002). A linear relationship existed between the dose measured in the rectum and the planned dose, with a deviation percentage of-20% to 40% and an average deviation of 8. 16%;63%of the patients with cervical cancer had a deviation of<± 10%;the maximum deviation was 60%. The dose measured in the rectum had a strong correlation with DICRU(r=0. 722), but a weak correlation with D2 cm3 ( r=0. 284) . Conclusions During 3DBT for cervical cancer, the dose measured in the rectum has certain deviations, but has a linear correlation with the planned dose. Both the dose measured and the planned dose underestimate the dose at the reference point in the rectum, and in vivo rectal monitoring may be an effective method for quality control.

Objective To analyze the association of postnatal weight gain proportion of very low birth weight (BW) preterm babies and the onset of severe retinopathy of prematurity,and investigate the optimal cut-off points and predictive ability of postnatal weight gain (WG) proportion for the onset of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Methods A retrospective cohort study.257 preterm infants underwent screening whose weight was less than 1500 g were enrolled in this study.Risk factors include BW,gestational age (GA),history of oxygen inhalation,need for blood transfusions,Apgar score in 1 to 10 minutes,embryo number,delivery mode,in vitro fertilization infants,and WG proportion within 6 weeks after birth and other systemic diseases were recorded.Their correlation with severe ROP is analyzed.Clinical outcomes were divided into severe ROP group (patients who suffered from ROP and required treatment) and mild and no ROP group (patients who suffered from ROP but do not require treatment and-patient without ROP).The severe ROP group included 18 patients and mild and no ROP group included 239 patients.Multiple logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to determine if the WG proportion was independently related to severe ROP development and if it was capable of predicting severe ROP.This study determines the predict value by comparing the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of independent risk factors.Results GA (t=-4.835,P＜0.001),BW(t=-5.192,P＜0.001),history of oxygen inhalation (x2=6.001,P=0.009),proportion of infants who had oxygen inhalation for more than 10 days(x2 =10.019,P=0.002),postnatal WG proportion at 1 week(t =-3.663,P＜ 0.001),postnatal WG proportion at 2 weeks(t=-3.425,P=0.001) had significant difference between two groups.Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that GA (β =-0.858,P =0.008),BW (β =-0.005,P =0.010),postnatal WG proportion at 2 weeks (β=-8.745,P =0.035) were correlated to severe ROP significantly.And their area under the ROC were 0.836[95％ confidence interval (CI):0.752-0.920],0.826 (95％CI:0.947-0.903),0.744 (95％CI:0.598-0.891) respectively.The optimal cut-off points of GA,BW,and postnatal WG proportion at 2 weeks were 28.41 weeks,1241.96 g,12.80％ respectively.Conclusion Low WG proportion at 2 weeks of very low BW preterm babies is an important and independent risk factor for severe ROP and has certain predictive value of the onset of severe ROP.

Objective To investigate the dosimetric differences between Utrecht applicator and ring applicator in three-dimensional (3D) conformal brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer.Methods Twenty-five patients with locally advanced cervical cancer were treated with magnetic resonance imaging-guided 3D conformal brachytherapy.Utrecht applicator and ring applicator were used interchangeably for 96 cycles.Patients were divided into two groups according to the type of applicator.Each group received 48 cycles of treatment, in which ring applicator was first applied for 26 cycles and Utrecht applicator was first applied for 22 cycles.High-risk clinical target volume ( HR-CTV) , width, thickness, and D90 at the point A level, D2 cm3 of organs at risk (OARs), V7 Gy , W7 Gy,A, V7 Gy ,A, and W/T7 Gy were evaluated and analyzed using paired t-test.Results There were no significant differences in HR-CTV and the width, thickness, and D90 at the point A level between the Utrecht group and the ring group ( P=0.487;P=0.340;P=0.857;P=0.921);there were no significant differences in D2 cm3 values of bladder, rectum, sigmoid, and bowel between the two groups ( P=0.136;P=0.802;P=0.985;P=0.458);there were no significant differences in V7 Gy and T7 Gy,A between the two groups ( P=0.076;P=0.435) .The Utrecht group had a significantly larger W/T7 Gy,A than the ring group ( P=0.002 ) .Conclusions Utrecht applicator is appropriate for patients with relatively large width and width/thickness ratio of HR-CTV at the point A level.

Objective To compare the dose to the contralateral breast, ipsilateral lung, and the whole lung in the tangential field radiotherapy for primary breast cancer using the dynamic wedge or physical wedge. Methods With thirteen breast cancer patients chosen, the dose distribution was computed for the plan used in practical treatment with the dynamic wedge and physical wedge. Plans were compared using dose volume histograms for the contralateral breast, ipsilateral lung and the whole lung. As for the contralateral breast, the dose distributions were not computed for the whole breast but computed for the two regions similar to a rectangular area in the axial slice and parts of the whole breast. The mean dose was used to evaluate CB1, CB2 and ipsilateral lung, and V_ 20 was used to evaluate the whole lung. The treatment planning system used was Varian CadPlan. An ionization chamber in a water phantom was used to measure some point doses to simulate the dose to the contralateral breast. Results When using the 30? dynamic wedge, the mean dose to CB1 and CB2 was 1.5%-3.9% and 1.1%- 2.6% , and the mean dose to the ipsilateral lung was 4.1%-14.7%. When using the 30? physical wedge, the mean dose to CB1 and CB2 were 1.5%-4.4% and 1.2%-3.0%, respectively, and the mean dose to the ipsilateral lung was 4.4%-15.2%. The values of V_ 20 were equal. When using the 15? dynamic wedge, the mean dose to CB1 and CB2 decreased compared to 15? physical wedge, but the value reduced was smaller than when using 30? wedge. Also, the measured results verified that the dose to the normal tissue is reduced using the dynamic wedge. Conclusions The mean dose to the contralateral breast was reduced by using the dynamic wedge instead of the physical wedge, and the mean dose to the ipsilateral lung or V_ 20 is reduced or equal to each other. So the probability of normal tissue complication such as a second breast malignancy or pneumonitis associated with radiotherapy are likely to be reduced.