Purpose To detect high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) expression in breast cancer, and to analyze its relationship with clinicopathological features and the levels of HMGA2 in different molecular subtypes of breast carcinomas. Methods An immu-nohistochemical study was undertaken for measuring the levels of HMGA2 in 58 breast carcinomas. Results ( 1 ) The expression of HMGA2 was 0, 62. 5%, 60. 0%, 100. 0% and 80. 0% in Lum A, Lum B, HER-2-OE, basal-like breast carcinoma (BLBC) and un-classification phenotype respectively ( triple negative breast cancer, 92. 3%) . High expression of HMGA2 was associated with the tri-ple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes (P<0. 01). (2) An association was identified between high expression of HMGA2, and high tumor grade, lymph node metastasis (P<0. 05), positive Ki-67, CK5/6 and EGFR (P<0. 05), negative ER and PR (P<0. 01), but no association was observed for tumor size and patients’age. Conclusion An association is identified between high ex-pression, and high tumor grade, lymph node metastasis, positive Ki-67, EGFR and CK5/6, negative ER and PR, that means a high expression of HMGA2 is associated with an adverse outcome in breast cancer. High expression of HMGA2 are associated with the TNBC subtypes. Thus recognizing HMGA2 as a rational target in TNBC. The results of the study have implications for therapeutic target iden-tification and the design of future clinical trials for TNBC.

Purpose To study the levels and subcellular localization of β-catenin in 5 different molecular subtypes of breast carcino-mas. Methods An immunohistochemical study was undertaken for measuring the levels and subcellular localization ofβ-catenin in 58 breast carcinomas. Results ( 1 ) The cytoplasmic expression of β-catenin was 21. 1%, 50%, 60%, 100% and 60% ( TNBC 84. 6%) in Lumina A, Lumina B, HER-2-OE, basal-like breast carcinoma ( BLBC) and uncl phenotype respectively. High cytoplas-mic expression was associated with the BLBC and TNBC subtypes ( P<0. 05 ) . ( 2 ) An association was identified between high cyto-plasmic expression of β-catenin, and high tumor grade (P<0. 01), abnormal E-cadherin, positive Ki-67 and CK5/6 (P<0. 05), negative ER and PR (P<0. 01), but no association was observed for lymph node metastasis, tumor size and patients’age. Conclu-sion An association is identified between high cytoplasmic expression, and high tumor grade, positive Ki-67 and CK5/6, negative ER and PR, that means a high cytoplasmic expression ofβ-catenin is associated with an adverse outcome in breast cancer. High cytoplas-mic expression are associated with the BLBC and TNBC subtypes whcih recognizing Wnt signaling as a rational target in TNBC and BLBC. The results of the study have implications for therapeutic target identification and the design of future clinical trials for TNBC and BLBC.

Objective To investigate and analyze the iodine nutritional status of school-age children six months after implementation of a new standard of iodized salts in northern area of Jiangsu Province,and to provide a basis for control of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods According to the water iodine content,northern area of Jiangsu Province was divided into low,moderate and high iodine areas (the water iodine contents were ＜ 10,l0-150 and ＞ 150 μg/L,respectively).Two towns were selected in each area; one elementary school was selected in each town; and 120 children aged 8-10 were selected in each school.The samples of urine,household salt,and water in each town were collected.Urinary iodine content was tested by arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry;iodine content of household salt sample was determined by direct titration; iodine content of water sample was tested by cerium sulfate catalytic spectrophotometry.Results In low,moderate and high water iodine areas,240,242 and 242 urine samples of 8-10 years old children were tested; urinary iodine median was 135.49,183.62 and 448.99 μg/L,respectively,and the difference between groups was statistically significant (x2 =165.56,P ＜ 0.05).In low,moderate and high water iodine areas,100,131 and 117 household salt samples were tested,and the median of salt iodine was 21.88,22.01 and ＜ 5 mg/kg,respectively.Water samples collected in low,moderate and high iodine areas were 12,14 and 10 copies,respectively,and the median of water iodine was 8.89,38.52 and 189.25 μg/L,respectively,and the difference between groups was statistically significant (x2 =22.27,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The iodine nutritional condition of 8-10 years old children in low,moderate water iodine areas in northern area of Jiangsu Province is appropriate.The new standard is suitable for iodine nutritional needs in the area.The iodine nutritional condition in high water iodine area is excess,iodine intake should be reduced.

Objective To prepare controlled release microspheres of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)& calcium alginate and observe their effect on proliferation of human umbilical vein endo- thelial cells(HUVEC)in order to provide theoretical basis for controlled release of VEGF facilitating an- giogenesis of tissue engineering bone.Methods VEGF-calcium alginate microspheres were prepared by using the needle extrusion/external gelation method to investigate physicochemical character and in vitro release of VEGF.According to the different ingredients added into the culture medium,the seconda- ry cultured HUVEC were divided into four groups,ie,control group,microsphere group,VEGF group and VEGF-calcium alginate microsphere group,in which the proliferation of the cultured HUVEC was ob- served with cell counting method,MTT method and flow cytometry.Results The calcium alginate mi- crospheres were revealed as spherical shape and evenly distributed,with mean grain diameter of(560?50)?m,carrying capacity of 0.72 ng/mg and the encapsulation efficiency of 54%.Smooth controlled re- lease in VEGF-alginate microspheres lasted for more than 10 days.Proliferation of the cultured HUVEC was accelerated the most in VEGF group at the beginning but in EGF-calcium alginate microsphere group at midanaphase compared with other groups,with statistical difference(P＜0.05).There was no statis- tical difference upon cell counting,cell activity and time point of cell cycle between control group and mi- crosphere group.Conclusion VEGF-sodium alginate microapheres can continue activity of VEGF,re- lease VEGF for over 10 days and promote proliferation cultured HUVEC for a long time.

OBJECTIVETo study the mutation in RH120480 fragment of RUNX3 gene among the Chinese patients with keloid.

METHODS20 samples of keloids were collected with each patient's venous blood sample as normal control group. The genomic DNA was extracted from each sample. RH120480 fragment of RUNX3 gene was amplified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The amplification products were analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Some fragments were sequenced directly and then compared with the GenBank data.

RESULTSBy DHPLC, the results of all the blood samples showed single chromatographic peak indicating homoduplexes, meanwhile the results of keloid tissue samples showed double peak indicating heteroduplexes. Through gene sequencing, 19 cases showed gene mutation among the 20 samples of keloid. The mutation incidence was 95%. Two mutation sites were detected including base A absence in 96th sites and base C insert in 279th sites. The base A absence rate was 90% (18/20) in keloid group, and 10% (2/20) in control group. The base C insert mutation rate was 95% (19/20) in keloid group, and 0% (0/20) in control group. There was significant difference in the mutation rate between two groups on the two mutation sites.

CONCLUSIONSThere is a strong correlation between the RH120480 fragment of RUNX3 gene mutation and Keloid. RUNX3 gene could be possibly a scar suppressor gene (SSG).

Adolescent ; Adult ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit ; genetics ; DNA ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Keloid ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEConditioned taste preference (CTP) is a taste learning reflex by which an animal learns to prefer a substance which tastes not well and has been studied with much interest in recent years. However, the neural substrates of CTP are less known. This study aimed to determine the possible neural path- ways of CTP and whether serum leptin level and the leptin receptor (OB-Rb) in the hind brain are involved following CTP formation.

METHODSWe established CTP of quinine in rats with a 2-bottle preference test. The serum leptin concentrations were detected, the expression of c-fos in the rat brain was tested to determine the nuclei in relation with establishment of CTR Finally, the OB-Rb mRNA expression was examined by RT-qPCR assay in parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) of the hind brain.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the level of serum leptin was higher in the CTP group (4.58 ± 0.52 vs 1.67 ± 0.25 µg/L, P < 0.01); increased c-fos positive cells were found in the anterior hypothalamus (AH, 221.75 ± 4.96 vs. 178.50 ± 6.63 cells/mm², P < 0.05), the basal lateral amygdala (BLA, 70.75 ± 6.17 vs 56.50 ± 3.62 cells/ mm², P < 0.05) and the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST, 41.25 ± 1.32 vs 32.50 ± 1.02 cells/mm², P < 0.05). But in ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH, 20.75 ± 2.73 vs 38.5 ± 1.54 per 1 mm², P < 005), PBN (21.50 ± 2.24 vs 36.25 ± 1.49 cells/mm², P < 0.05) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA, 22.25 ± 1.53 vs 35.50 ± 2.11 cells/mm², P < 0.05), the number of c-fos positive cells was decreased in the CTP group. In addition, we found OB-Rb mRNA expression in PBN of CTP group rats was higher than that of control group (0.95 ± 0.055 vs 0.57 ± 0.034, P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference of OB-Rb mRNA expression in NST between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONNuclei AH, BLA, NST, VMH, PBN and CeA participate in the formation of CTP. Leptin and its receptor in PBN may be involved in the formation and maintenance of CTP.

Animals ; Conditioning (Psychology) ; Leptin ; blood ; Rats ; Receptors, Leptin ; physiology ; Rhombencephalon ; physiology ; Taste ; physiology

The effect of outer spermine on cell growth, accumulation of polysaccharides and utilization of nutrient together with the intracellular polyamine contents were investigated in suspension cultures of protocorm-like bodies from Dendrobium huoshanense. The results indicated that spermine at 0.6 mmol/L was the most effective in increasing cell growth and polysaccharide synthesis. The specific growth rate of cell increased from 0.046d(-1) to 0.054d(-1), and the maximum dry weight and polysaccharide production reached 32.4g DW/L and 2.46g/L respectively, which were 1.32-fold and 1.31-fold that of the control on day 30. The titres of intracellular free polyamines were higher in the cultures treated with spermine than that of the control. Invertase and nitrate reductase activities were found to increase significantly in the cultured cells treated with spermine, which was beneficial to the utilization of carbon and nitrogen source.
Biomass ; Carbon ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendrobium ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitrate Reductase ; metabolism ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; metabolism ; Plant Stems ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Polyamines ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; biosynthesis ; Spermine ; pharmacology ; Time Factors ; beta-Fructofuranosidase ; metabolism

Phosphate is an effective factor in the regulation of cell growth and accumulation of polysaccharides. The method for higher polysaccharide production has been obtained through feeding cultivation. The two-stage cultivation was proposed according to the characteristic of cell growth and the accumulation of polysaccharides in the suspension cultures of protocorm-like bodies from Dendrobium huoshanense. A kinetic model was developed to describe the cultivation process. The results indicate that the production of biomass and polysaccharides increases from 28.7g DW/L and 1.86g/L to 44.2g DW/L and 5.22g/L, respectively, and the content of polysaccharides increases from 6.4% to 11.9% . With the evaluated model parameters, the model appears to provide a description for the cultivation process.
Algorithms ; Biomass ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendrobium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Models, Biological ; Plant Stems ; cytology ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; biosynthesis ; Time Factors

Objective To explore the clinical outcome of improved technique of Gamma nail in the treatment of intertrochanteric hip fracture of the elderly patients. Methods From March 2002 to October 2006.39 patients with intertrochanteric hip fracture were operated by improved technique of Gam-ma nail.There were 18 males and 21 females at average age of75.7 years(67_98 years).There were 6 patients with type A1 fracture,24 with type A2 fracture and 9 with type A3 fracture according to AO/ASIF classification.Of all.36 patients(92.3%)had osteoporosis.The operation improvements included the following points:(1)The patients were placed at the lateral decubitus position with the fractured limb on the uppermost,with flexion of knee and hip of 60°.The normal hip and knee were flexed as possible.(2)One-off indirect traction reduction was used after general anesthesia. no requirement of continuous mechanical traction.(3)C-arm image intensifier was employed to obtain normal and lateral projections.Results Of all,35 patients were followed up for a mean period of3 years and 2 months, ranging from 6 months to 5 years and 2 months.Operation data showed incision length of(4.3±1.2)cm,mean opera-tion time of(46±10)minutes,intraoperative bleeding volume of(65±26)ml and intraoperative X-ray exposure of(3.0±2.1)times.Postoperative recovery data showed survival in one-year follow up,with ambulation time of(10.5±3.6)days and fracture union time of(10.9±2.1)weeks.Mean Parker's score wag(6.9±3.2)points 6 months after operation. Conclusions Improved technique of Gamma nail can shorten operation duration,reduce operative trauma and bleeding,reduce X-ray exposure and im-prove success rate of surgery.as facilitates early pest-operative recovery and reduces the perioperative mortality rate of the elderly.

The effect of inorganic phosphate on cell growth, accumulation of polysaccharides together with nutrient utilization was investigated in suspension cultures of protocorm-like bodies of Dendrobium huoshanense. Thirty-day-old cells were transferred into liquid medium with the inoculum density of 100 g/L cells. The results indicate that the optimal concentration of phosphate in medium for cell growth of protocorm-like bodies of Dendrobium huoshanense was 2.5 mmol/L and biomass was 496.5 g/L (fresh weight). Phosphate was a limited factor for cell growth and there was relationship between the levels of intracellular phosphate and cell growth. 2.5 mmol/L of medium phosphate was beneficial to the absorption of carbohydrate and nitrate source. 0.312 mmol/L of medium phosphate was better for accumulation of polysaccharides and production of polysaccharides was 2.22 g/L at 36 d.
Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dendrobium ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Phosphates ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; biosynthesis ; Suspensions