p21 WAF1/CIP1 gene is known for a most important cell cycle regulator as well as its roles in apoptosis and differentiation. This review focuses on p21 WAF1/CIP1 gene functions and its association with carcinogenesis. Better understanding of the structure and function of p21 WAF1/CIP1 gene may help to comprehend molecular mechanisms of cancers and to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of malignancy.

Objective To evaluate the relation of circadian blood pressure rhythm with vascular status in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension.MethodsAnkle-brachial index (ABI),brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured in 74 elderly patients with non-dipper hypertension (non-dipper group)、78 elderly patients with dipper hypertension ( dipper group),and 72 healthy controls ( control group).Results In comparison with the dipper group,baPWV and IMT of the non-dipper group were significantly increased [ baPWV (1801.61± 314.27) vs (1658.67±274.80) (cm/s)],P＜0.01; IMT:(0.96 ±0.22) vs (0.87 +0.19) (mm),(P＜0.05),while ABI of the non-dipper group was decreased (1.03 ±0.17 vs1.12 ±0.18,P＜0.01).Identification rate was significantly different among 3 groups when baPWV ＞1400 cm/s (x2 =12.57,P ＜0.01) or ABI ＜0.9 ( x2 =9.74,P ＜0.01).The detection of carotid plaques was also significantly different ( x2 =16.49,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions These findings suggest that vascular damage could be found in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension,especially in those with non-dipper hypertension.ABI,baPWV and IMT measurement may be helpful for the assessment of vascular status.

Objective To detect the micro flow signals of carotid plaque by ultrasound B-flow imaging (BFI) and elucidate its relationship with acute cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 63 patients with carotid plaques were divided into 2 groups.acute cerebral infarction (ACI,n =48) and control (n =15).BFI was used to detect the micro flow signals of plaques and comparisons were made with the categorizing results of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEU).The data were analyzed between two methods.Results The micro flow signals were detected in 15.7％ (22/140)patients in the ACI group vs.2.3％(1/44) in the control group.There were more signals in hypoechoic plaques.The detection percentage of micro flow in grade Ⅲ was significantly higher than that in grades Ⅰ and Ⅱ with CEU (P =0.005,P =0.027).No significant differences existed between grades Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P =1.000).Conclusion BFI can detect effectively the micro flow signals of carotid plaques and this characteristic is correlated with the symptoms of ACI.

Objective To explore the relationship between Graves disease and hypokalemic periodic paralysis or thymus hyperplasia.Methods Sixty-two patients with Graves disease were enrolled in this study.Thirty-three patients without thymus hyperplasia were selected as group A and other 29 patients were group B.In addition,30 healthy volunteers served as control group.Results There were no significant difference between group A and group B in terms of sex,age,illness course,thyroid enlargement,exophthalmos,periodic paralysis and the levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3),free thyroxin (FT4),thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) (P ＞ 0.05).The incidence rate of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in male Graves disease with thymus hyperplasia was 62％ (8/13),higher than that in female patients (6％ (1/16),x2 =10.24,P ＜ 0.05).The incidence rate of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in male Graves patients was 62％ (16/26),higher than in female Graves patients (6％ (2/36),x2 =22.96,P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant relationship between Graves disease patients combined with thymus hyperplasia and sex,age,illness course,thyroid enlargement,exophthalmos,periodic paralysis and the levels of FY3,FT4,TSH.Conclusion The incidence rate of hypokalemic periodic paralysis in male Graves disease patients combind with thymus hyperplasia is higher than in female,and therefore it should pay more attention of male Graves patients in case misdiagnosis.

Objective To evaluate periphery artery and renal injury in elderly patients with dipper and non-dipper isolated systolic hypertension(ISH). Methods Totally 187 elderly cases were divided into 51 patients with non-dipper hypertension,70 patients with dipper hypertension aged (72.4±5.6) years and 66 cases with normal blood pressure as control according to results of dynamic blood pressure recorder. Ankle-brachial index (ABI),brachial ankle artery pulse wave velocity (baPWV),retinol-binding protein (RBP) and Cystatin C were assessed. ABI and baPWV were determined by a non-invasive automatic waveform analyzer. Results The baPWV value in nondipper group was higher than dipper group [(1869.3±285.6)cm/s vs.(1703.1±235.2)cm/s,q=4.73,P＜0.01],while the value of ABI in non-dipper group was lower than dipper group (1.0 ±0.2vs.1.1±0.2,q=4.74,P＜0.01).The level of Cystatin C was elevated in non-dipper group versus dipper group [(1.4±0.5) mg/L vs. (1.0±0.5)mg/L,q=6.92,P＜0.01]. There were no differences in RBP concentration among the three groups (F=2.39,P＞0.05).At baPWV＞ 1400cm/s,the level of Cystatin C was increased in 47 cases with non-dipper hypertension as compared with 64 cases with dipper hypertension [(1.4±0.5)mg/L vs.(1.1±0.5)mg/L,q=5.59,P＜0.01].Conclusions The elderly patients with non-dipper hypertension may be more easily suffered from periphery artery and renal injury in comparison with dipper hypertension.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the Yap1 gene and tanshinone ⅡA on the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of Huh-7 hepatoma cells. MethodsA total of 10 pairs of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples and adjacent tissue samples were collected in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from June 1 to December 1, 2019. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to measure the expression of the Yap1 gene and phenotype-related molecules. MTT cell proliferation detection reagent was used to measure the inhibition rate of cell proliferation after the treatment with different concentrations of tanshinone ⅡA. Western blotting was used to measure the changes in the expression of apoptosis-and migration-related markers after different interventions. Flow cytometry and Transwell assay were used to measure apoptosis and cell migration and invasion abilities. The data of 375 cases of liver cancer and 50 cases of relatively normal liver tissue samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas, including clinicopathological information. The t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups, and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups. ResultsIn 8 of the 10 pairs of HCC samples and adjacent tissue samples, HCC samples had significantly higher expression of Yap1 than the adjacent tissue samples. Compared with the normal human liver epithelial cells L02, the Huh-7 and HCCL-M3 hepatoma cells had a significant increase in the expression of Yap1. The silencing efficiency of si-Yap1-3 transfection reached 87.004% at the protein level. MTT results showed that tanshinone ⅡA effectively inhibited the proliferation of Huh-7 cells, with a half inhibitory concentration of 8.683 μmol/L. After the cells were treated with si-Yap1-3 and tanshinone ⅡA, there was an increase in the expression of the downstream marker for proliferation and migration E-cadherin and a reduction in the expression of vimentin, and the results of Transwell assay showed that compared with the si-NC group, the tanshinone ⅡA+si-Yap1-3 group had significant reductions in the migration and invasion abilities of Huh-7 cells (migration: 43.19±2.88 vs 132.20±10.03, t=8.527, P=0.001; invasion: 53.95±4.20 vs 179.10±11.11, t=4.484, P=0.011). The group treated with si-Yap1-3 and tanshinone ⅡA had an increase in the expression of the apoptosis-related marker Bax and a reduction in the expression of Bcl-2, as well as a significantly higher early apoptosis rate than the si-NC group (2598% vs 9.21%, χ2=4.078, P＜0.05). ConclusionOncogene Yap1 silencing combined with tanshinone ⅡA can promote the apoptosis of Huh-7 hepatoma cells and inhibit their migration and invasion, which can provide certain guiding significance for clinical medication.

OBJECTIVETo compare the predictive value of liver enzymes and alcohol consumption for determining risk of type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted in Zhengzhou with a total of 2, 693 men.Participants' height, weight, and histories of smoking and drinking were recorded. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and blood glucose, as well as related metabolic indexes were detected.

RESULTSModerate daily alcohol consumption (more than 35 g ethanol/week and less than 140 g ethanol/week) decreased the risk of type 2 diabetes (OR =0.376, 95% CI:0.306 -0.463, P less than 0.05) but increased risk for higher levels of GGT and ALT (OR GGT =3.012, 95% CI:2.357-3.849, Pless than 0.01; ORALT =1.473, 95% CI:1.043-2.081, Pless than 0.05). In joint analyses of alcohol consumption and liver enzymes, the group of nondrinkers/light drinkers (less than or equal to 35 g ethanol/week) in the fourth quartile of GGT levels had the highest risk for type 2 diabetes (OR =12.219, 95% CI:6.217-24.016, P less than 0.01). The relationship of ALT and daily alcohol consumption with the risk of type 2 diabetes was almost the same as that of GGT (nondrinkers/light drinkers in the fourth quartile of ALT levels (OR =5.357, 95% CI:3.070-9.350, P less than 0.0 1).

CONCLUSIONGGT, ALT and daily alcohol consumption were independently associated with risk of type 2 diabetes. Nondrinkers/light drinkers with the highest levels ofGGT orALT were at high risk of type 2 diabetes.

Alanine Transaminase ; Alcohol Drinking ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Glucose ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase

OBJECTIVE: To carry out G-banded chromosomal karyotyping and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) for a fetus featuring multiple malformations. METHODS: The fetus was found to have increased nuchal thickness, generalized edema, asymmetric lower limbs, tetralogy of Fallot, nasal bone anomaly and cleft palate. Following amniocentesis, G-band karyotyping and CMA were carried out. RESULTS: The fetus had a karyotype of 47,XX,+i(12)(p10) [14]/46,XX[6]. CMA has identified a 33.9 Mb duplication at 12p13.33-p11.1, which was suggestive of tetrasomy 12p. CONCLUSION Combined chromosomal karyotyping and CMA can delineate the origin of abnormal chromosomal fragments during prenatal diagnosis. The fetus was diagnosed with Pallister-Killian syndrome.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravitreal ranibizumab combined with laser (IVR+ Laser) and the intravitreal ranibizumab (IVR) monotherapy for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME).Methods:A meta-analysis was conducted on randomized controlled trial (RCT) literature related to IVR+ Laser therapy and IVR alone for DME.Databases including Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, SinoMed, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data were searched from their inception to April 2022.Literature screening, data extraction, quality evaluation and cross-checking were conducted independently by two researchers according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.Then a meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4.1 software.The two therapies were compared in terms of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), mean number of injections and adverse events.Results:Twelve RCTs involving 1 695 eyes were included in the study.Meta-analysis showed that at the end of follow-up, IVR+ Laser demonstrated better improvement in BCVA and CMT than IVR alone, and there were significant differences in the changes in BCVA and CMT between the two groups (weighted mean difference[WMD]=-0.66, 95% confidence interval[ CI]: -1.11--0.21, P<0.01; WMD=-5.05, 95% CI: -9.21--0.89, P=0.02).IVR+ Laser required significantly fewer injections than IVR alone (WMD=-1.16, 95% CI: -2.07--0.25, P=0.01).There were no significant differences in the adverse events incidence between the two therapies (all at P>0.05). Conclusions:The safety of IVR+ Laser is comparable to IVR alone, and it requires fewer injections for the treatment of DME.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the predominant stromal cells that constitute the tumor microenvironment, and play an essential role in tumor growth, metastasis, chemoresistance and tumor immunity. Autophagy is a cellular process through which cells degrade products in the metabolic process and reuse them to respond to environmental stress. Autophagy is important for tumor initiation, progression and response to therapy, as it connects cellular homeostasis with the extracellular environment that affects immunity and metabolism. This review, by introducing the role of autophagy in CAFs and its regulatory mechanism, summarizes the research progress on studies of autophagy in CAFs and tumor metabolism, progression, metastasis and resistance to therapy.