Objective] Observing Cortex Lycii Radicis' effect(Cortex Lycii) on rat insulinoma cells(INS-1) proliferation and apoptosis. To explore the mechanism of Cortex Lycii on Pancreatic Beta Cell Proliferation and apoptosis.[ Methods] After primary culture, cells were randomly divided into blank control group:control,11.1mmol·L-1 glucose,HG,30mmol·L-1 glucose, HG+Cortex Lycii(1g·L-1), HG+Cortex Lycii(2g·L-1), HG+Cortex Lycii(4g·L-1), the survival rate of cells was observed by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8);the apoptosis rate was observed by Annexin V stammg. [Results] ①Compared with HG the better effect of cell proliferation groups of Cortex Lycii(P<0.01), the best is group of Cortex Lycii(2g·L-1)(P<0.05) ②Compared with HG group the higher survival rate is group of Cortex Lycii(P<0.01), the lower apoptosis rate of Cortex Lycii(2g·L-1) compared with Cortex Lycii(1g·L-1). [Conclusion] Cortex Lycii can promote the proliferation of pancreatic beta cell, inhibit the apoptosis to protect the pancreatic beta cell. The optimal concentration is 2g·L-1.

Objective To study the sonographic features of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) associated with cervical lymph nodes metastasis for early diagnosis and prediction of the invaded cervical lymph nodes. Methods The sonographic features of 170 patients with pathologically confirmed PTC in First Afifliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between 2011 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 59 cases with neck lymph nodes metastases and 111 cases without neck lymph nodes metastases. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was aaplied to analyze the cut-off values of resistance index (RI) and peak systolic velocity (PSV) for judging the presence or absence of cercical lymph node metastasis. The Chi-square test and rank sum test were used to compare the different sonographic features between each group. The Logistic regression analysis was used to obtain the relevant factors of PTCs with cervical lymph node metastasis. Results ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off values of RI and PSV were 0.735,13.95 cm/s. The primary tumor diameter, the existence of halo, the involvement of thyroid upper pole, the microcalciifcation, the blood suply classiifcation and the RI, PSV were statistically signiifcantly different between PTCs with and without cervical lymph node metastasis, whereas no statistical signiifcance was detected between the primary tumor echo pattern, boundary and the longitudinal/transveral ratio between the metastatic and nonmetastatic group. Logistic regression analysis showed that the PTC primary tumor diameter and PSV were independent factors coorelated with cervical lymph node metastasis. Conclusion Some sonographic features of PTC are closely correlated with lymph nodes metastasis, which are valuable in predicting the cervical lymph nodes metastasis in patients with PTC pre-operatively.

Objective To investigate the deficit of extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 activation in the different age of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-like animal model and the protective effect of 2,3,5,4′-tetrahydroxy stilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside(TSG), which is the main component of Polygonum multiflorum, on ERK activation. Methods A generally accepted animal model of AD - PDAPPV717I transgenic (Tg) mouse was observed from 4 to 16 months old. Tg mice were randomly divided into 3 model groups(4, 10 and 16 months old mice)and TSG treated (at doses 120 and 240 μmol/kg/d) groups. TSG was administered to some Tg mice with an age range 4-10 months. In untreated 10 months old Tg mice, the TSG was administrated to those falling in the age range 10-16 months. For the control group we adopted the same age and background C57BL/6J mice. The ERK1/2 expression and phosphorylation were detected by Western blotting.Results In the 4-month-old PDAPPV717I Tg mice, phosphorylation of ERK1/2 decreased significantly in hippocampus and cortex compared with age matched control. In the 10-month-old Tg mice, decrease of ERK1/2 activation was aggravated in cortex but was less in hippocampus. The treatment of TSG at the doses of 120 and 240 μmol/kg for 6 months (from the age of 4 to 10 months) significantly up-regulated ERK1/2 activation in Tg mice. In the 16-month-old Tg mice, over-activation of ERK1/2 occurred in both hippocampus and cortex. The transgenic mice treated by TSG for 6 months (from the age of 10 months to 16 months) showed significant inhibition of over-activation of ERK1/2. Expression of total ERK1/2 showed no difference among control, Tg model and TSG treated groups.Conclusion PDAPPV717I transgenic mice with an age range from 4 to 16 months revealed the time-dependent deficit of ERK1/2 activation. TSG can bring the down or over activation of ERK1/2 into normal. Because ERK1/2 activation plays the crucial role in cellular signal transduction and learning-memory ability, TSG may have beneficial potential to the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like AD.

Objective To analyze the CT findings of melamine induced urinary calculi.Methods Nineteen children with a history of ingestion of melamine contaminated infant formula milk were studied, including 12 males and 7 females, age ranged from 50 days to 5 years.Results CT demonstrated renal pelvic and ureteral stones in 13 cases, with urinary obstruction in 9 of them.The size of the stones ranged from 0.3 cm × 0.3 cm to stag-horn calculus.The density of the stones measured from a low of 40-70 HU up to a high of 410 HU with an average density of 160 HU.Conclusion CT scan is an excellent modality in demonstrating urinary tract calculi caused by melamine. It is the method of choice when ultrasound examinations are equivocal.

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1) in matrine (MAT) induced differentiation of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells, and to explore its correlation to cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signal pathway.

METHODSNB4 (an APL cell line sensitive to ATRA) and NB4-R1 (a resistant strain of ATRA) were observed as subjects in this study. Effects of combined treatment of 0.1 mmol/L MAT and 1 [mol/L ATRA on the differentiation of two cell lines were detected using nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test and flow cytometry (CD11b). Expressions of PML/RARot and PLSCR1 protein/gene were detected using Western blot and Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay. Meanwhile, H89, PKA antagonist, was used to observe cell differentiation antigen and changes of aforesaid proteins and genes.

RESULTSMAT combined ATRA could significantly elevate positive rates of NBT and CD11 b in NB4-R1 cells, and significantly down-regulate the expression of PML/RARapha-fusion protein/gene (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). ATRA used alone could obviously enhance the expression of PLSCRI in NB4 cells at protein and mRNA levels (P < 0.01). But the expression of PLSCR1 was up-regulated in NB4-R1 cells, but with statistical.difference only at the protein level (P <0. 01). In combination of MAT, PLSCR1 protein expression was further elevated in the two cell lines (P < 0.01). Besides, there was statistical difference in mRNA expressions in NB4-R1 cells (P < 0.05). All these actions could be reversed by treatment of 10 micromol/L H89 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMAT combined ATRA could significantly induce the differentiation of NB4-R1 cells, and inhibit the expression of PML/RARalpha fusion gene/protein, which might be associated with up-regulating PLSCR1 expression.

Alkaloids ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; Phospholipid Transfer Proteins ; metabolism ; Quinolizines ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Tretinoin ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Up-Regulation

At present, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) accounts for about 15%-20% of childhood acute leukemia. Although overall survival rate is increasing with the help of risk stratification, stratification of chemotherapy, and supportive treatment, conventional pharmacotherapy still has a limited clinical effect and certain limitations in improving remission rate in previously untreated patients and reducing recurrence after remission. With the development of precision medicine, the mechanisms of targeted therapy, including abnormal activation of AML-related signaling pathways and epigenetic modification, have been found in recent years. Molecular-targeted drugs can therefore act on specific receptors and target genes to improve clinical effect and the prognosis of AML patients.
Child ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Molecular Targeted Therapy

Objective Up to the present time, no reports are seen at home or abroad on the clinical characteristics of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with persistent inflammation-immunosuppression-catabolism syndrome (PICS), and few studies have been conducted on the risk factors for PICS.This article summarizes the clinical characteristics of PICS in SAP patients and presents a multivariate regression analysis of its risk factors.Methods This is a retrospective study on the clinical data about 214 cases of SAP treated for over 14 days in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015.According to the diagnostic criteria of PICS, we divided the SAP patients into a PICS group (n=149) and a non-PICS group (n=65).We compared the systemic and pancreatitis-specific complications and mortality rates in the SICU and at 12 months after discharge.We also performed a multivariate regression analysis on the risk factors of PICS.Results The incidence rates of biliary SAP and multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) were significantly higher in the PICS (44.3% and 93.3%) than in the non-PICS group (29.2% and 55.4%) (P=0.038).The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that the risk factors for PICS included obesity (OR=2.3;95% CI: 1.0-5.2), biliary causes (OR=4.2;95% CI: 1.4-13.0), and MODS (OR=4.4;95% CI: 1.3-14.4).The survival rate at 12 months after discharge was remarkably lower in the PICS than in the non-PICS group (88.5% vs 98.2%, P=0.036).Conclusion The incidence rate of PICS is high in SAP patients.Obesity, biliary causes and MODS are independent risk factors for PICS.The complication of PICS may be an important indicator of the poor prognosis of SAP.

OBJECTIVETo explore the quality of life and related social support among people living with HIV/AIDS with related factors.

METHODS331 people living with HIV/AIDS and 148 of their family members were selected using a typical sampling method. Questionnaires on general conditions, tables on history of infection, generic quality of life inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) and social support scale (SSS) were used.

RESULTSData from one-way analysis suggested that people living with HIV/AIDS and their family members with the different sexs, different villages and different cultural backgrounds had differences in GQOLI-74 scores (P < 0.05) while people living with HIV/AIDS with the different villages had differences in SSS scores (P < 0.05). Results from Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that being elderly and negative life events were negatively associated with social support (P < 0.05), while factors as more advanced educational background, harmonious neighborhood relationship and having bother pouring nature were the predictive factors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMany factors might affect dimensions of quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS and their family members in rural areas of northern Anhui. Community care and social support of HIV/AIDS should still be greatly enhanced in the countryside of China. A community care mode based on family and neighborhood was expected to be developed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; ethnology ; psychology ; China ; Cultural Characteristics ; Family Relations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Social Support

To investigate the regulatory role of microRNA-223 (miR-223) on c-myc and its role in hepatocarcinogenesis. miR-223 and c-myc mRNA expressions in normal tissue, paraneoplastic tissue, liver cancer tissue and liver cancer cells were tested with microRNA microarray and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). C-myc protein expression was detected by Western blot. MiR-223 mimic was transfected into HepG2 cells and the expression changes of c-myc mRNA and protein were tested with qRT-PCR and Western blot respectively. MiR-223 was down-regulated by 61.53% and 30.77% respectively in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent tissues as compared to normal liver tissues and the expression of miR-223 was also decreased in HepG2 cell as compared to fetal liver cells L02, whereas the expressions of c-myc mRNA and protein increased in paraneoplastic and HCC tissues compared with normal liver tissues. It prompts that the expressions of miR-223 and c-myc are negatively correlated. No obvious difference found among c-myc mRNA expressions after miR-223 mimics transfection. The c-myc abnormal high-expression may play a dynamic role in hepatocarcinogenesis due to the miR-223 down-regulation.

OBJECTIVETo clarify the regulatory elements of Rad51 gene in its 5'flanking region.

METHODSVarious constructs were obtained by cloning different DNA fragments into pGL3 reporter vector. These constructs were then introduced into osteosarcoma cell line U2-OS by calcium phosphate method for transient expression of reporter gene, and luciferase activities were measured by luciferase assay.

RESULTSCells transfected with pGL3 constructs containing fragment -964 to +1430 and -733 to +1430 showed high luciferase activities. Obvious elevation of luciferase activities was also observed in cells transfected with pGL3 constructs containing four shorter derivative fragments -964 to -412, -746 to -412, -651 to -412 and -536 to -412. The highest luciferase activities were measured in transfected cells with plasmids containing fragment -964 to -412, and the lowest were in transfected cells with plasmids containing fragment -536 to -412. Luciferase activities in transfected cells with plasmids containing fragment -651 to -412 were higher than that in transfected cells with plasmids containing fragment -746 to -412.

CONCLUSIONIt is believable that the basic transcription-promoting element (promoter) for Rad51 gene resides between -536 to -412, and two transcription-enhancing elements (enhancer) or binding sites of positive transcription factors reside between -651 to -536 and -964 to -746, whereas one transcription-inhibiting element (silencer) or binding site of negative transcription factor may reside between -746 to -651.

5' Flanking Region ; DNA Repair ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rad51 Recombinase