Objective To explore the relationship between DNA repair gene XRCC1 and XPD polymorphisms and individual susceptibility to prostate cancer. Methods PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay was used to analyze the XRCC1 (C26304T and G28152A) and XPD A35931C polymorphisms in 358 prostate cancer patients and 312 healthy controls. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CD for estimating the correlation between different genotypes and prostate cancer risks. Results Forty-seven(13.1%) cases present XRCC1 28152AA genotype in prostate cancer group, while 24 cases in the control group (7. 1%), individuals with this genotype had a significantly increased risk for prostate cancer (OR 1. 924, 95%CI=1.126 - 3. 288, P=0. 017). There was no significant difference between two groups at XRCC1 C26304T and XPD A35931C sites. Combined analysis of the three sites polymorphisms showed that individuals with XRCC1 28152 AA and XPD 35931AC+CC genotype had a higher risk of prostate cancer than those with three wild genotypes (OR = 3. 087,95%CI 1. 081 - 8.813;OR = 3. 376,95%CI 1.067-10.683;OR 3. 216,95%CI=1. 439-7.188,P = 0. 004). Analysis stratified by age of onset, PSA, Gleason score and T stage revealed that XRCC1 28152AA and XPD 35931 AC+CC high-risk genotype was especially associated with early age at onset of prostate cancer (P<0. 05). Conclusions The XRCC1 and XPD genotypes may be contributed to the risk of developing prostate cancer, particularly for younger patients.

Objective To investigate the changes of target during fractionated radiotherapy for e-sophageal cancer, and to assess their impact on the implementation of radiotherapy. Methods Fourteen pa-tients with unresectable esophageal cancer were enrolled to receive full course conformal radiotherapy. CT scans were performed after every ten fractions. New targets (GTV) were delineated on repeated CT scans. Then the pretreatment radiotherapy plans were copied to the new targets to investigate the conformity between the new GTV and the plans. Results The majority of the GTVs decreased with the increasing fractions dur-ing radiotherapy. However, GTVs of 35.7% (5/14) patients increased by 2.0%-37.7% at the tenth frac-tion. The PTVs covered by 95% isodose curve at the time of pretreatment,tenth fraction,twentieth fraction and thirtieth fraction were 97.81%±1.53%, 91.95%±5.25%, 94.27%±4.23% and 94.03%±6.45%, respectively. Moreover, at tenth, twentieth and thirtieth fraction, there were 6,5, and 4 patients whose PTVs covered by 95% isodose curve were below 95%, respectively. Conclusions There are signifi-cant target changes during fractionated radiotherapy for esophageal cancer, which may result in uncertainties of radiotherapy implementation.

Objective To investigate the influence of acupuncture on learning and memorial function and the expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex of rats with sleep deprivation (SD), for providing theoretical evidence for treating sleep deprivation with acupuncture.Method Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, and an acupuncture group, 20 rats in each group. SD models were established by the modified multiple platform methods; the acupuncture group was intervened by acupuncture at Shenmen (HT 7); while the control group was left intact. Respectively after SD for 24 h and 72 h, the learning and memorial function was tested by using Morris water maze. Ten the rats were sacrificed to collect brain for detecting the expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex via immunohistochemical method.Result The body weight, learning and memorial function, and the expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex of the acupuncture group and model group were significantly different from those of the control group after SD for 24 h and 72 h (P<0.05). The learning and memorial function of the acupuncture group was significantly different from that of the model group after SD for 24 h and 72 h (P<0.05). The body weight and expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex of the acupuncture group were significantly different from those of the model group after SD for 72 h (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can obviously improve the decline of the function of learning and memory of the SD rats, and also up-regulate the declined expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex caused by SD.

Adult ; Carcinoma ; virology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; virology ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; isolation & purification ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Middle Aged ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; virology

Objective:To explore the effect and possible mechanism of normal temperature mechanical perfusion(NMP)plus bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMMSCs)on early endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERs)and cellular apoptosis after donation after cardiac death(DCD)donor liver transplantation.Methods:BMMSCs were isolated and cultured by adherence method.Sixty Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into five groups of sham operation(sham), static cold storage(SCS), NMP, BMMSC and NMP plus BMMSCs(BP)( n=12 each). Liver tissue and serum sample of each group were harvested at Day 1/7 post-operation.Hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining was employed for observing pathological changes of liver tissue; TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling(TUNNEL)staining for detecting cellular apoptosis; immunohistochemistry for detecting the expression of hepatocyte transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP); Western blot for detecting the expressions of GRP-78, p-PERK, ATF4, CHOP and cleaved caspase-3. Results:Compared with SCS group, hepatic injury and inflammation significantly declined in NMP, BMMSC and BP groups and improvement of hepatic injury was the most pronounced in BP group.Cellular apoptosis lessened markedly in BP group at Day 1/7 as compared with SCS group and the difference was statistically significant.The expressions of ERs-related proteins GRP-78, p-PERK and ATF4 spiked in SCS group and the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins CHOP and cleaved caspase-3 were significantly elevated and declined markedly in BP group.And the difference was statistically significant.Conclusions:BMMSCs plus NMP can significantly improve hepatocyte apoptosis and inflammatory response after DCD donor liver transplantation.And its mechanism may be correlated with suppressing early endoplasmic reticulum stress of hepatocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of IL-21 in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG) and its influence on the the class switch of anti-AChR antibodies. METHODS: Blood was taken from 26 patients and 18 healthy controls, and the expression of IL-21R mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of IL-21R on B lymphocytes was measured by flow cytometry, while the concentrations of serum IL-21 and the levels of anti-AChR-IgG and its isotype IgG(1), IgG(2), and IgG(3) were tested by ELISA. RESULTS: The serum concentration of IL-21 in the MG group was higher than that in the control group (31.686±8.499 pg/mL, 15.147±6.366 pg/mL) and the difference was significant (P<0.01). IL-21R mRNA expressed on PBMCs in the MG group was higher than that in the control group (0.139±0.052, 0.101±0.022), and the difference was significant (P<0.05). There was no difference between ocular MG and generalized MG subgroup (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the expression of IL-21R on B lymphocytes also increased in the MG group (P<0.05). In the anti-AChR-Ab positive MG group, the serum concentration of IL-21 showed positive correlation with anti-AChR-IgG(P<0.05),but no correlation with its isotype IgG(1), IgG(2), and IgG(3), respectively(P>0.05). Expression of IL-21R mRNA in the PBMCs showed no correlation with the level of serum anti-AChR-IgG and its isotype IgG(1), IgG(2), and IgG(3), respectively(P>0.05); however the expression of IL-21R in B lymphocytes showed positive correlation with anti-AChR-IgG and it's isotype IgG(1) and IgG(3) (P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.05), but no correlation with IgG(2) (P>0.05). CONCLUSION IL-21 might induce the class switch of anti-AChR antibodies to IgG(1) and IgG(3) isotype through IL-21R on B lymphocytes which promotes the pathogenesis of the MG.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Autoantibodies ; classification ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Class Switching ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; classification ; Interleukins ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myasthenia Gravis ; blood ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; genetics ; Receptors, Cholinergic ; immunology ; Receptors, Interleukin-21 ; blood ; genetics ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum stem cell factor receptor(c-kit)and myocardial fibrosis,cardiac function and prognosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM)complicat-ed with heart failure.Methods A total of 77 patients with DCM complicated with heart failure who were trea-ted in 3201 Hospital from May 2020 to June 2022 were enrolled in the study as study group,and 70 DCM pa-tients without heart failure were enrolled as the control group.The levels of serum c-kit mRNA and three my-ocardial fibrosis markers[α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA),collagen type Ⅰ and collagen type Ⅲ]were detec-ted in the two groups.Cardiac function parameters were obtained by echocardiography.The relationship be-tween serum c-kit mRNA level and myocardial fibrosis and cardiac function was analyzed.According to the oc-currence of major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE),the patients were divided into poor prognosis group and good prognosis group.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of DCM patients complicated with heart failure.Receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was used to analyze the efficacy of serum c-kit mRNA level in predicting the prognosis of DCM patients.Results The serum c-kit mRNA level in the study group was lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).The levels of three myocardial fibrosis indicators in the study group were higher than those in the con-trol group(P＜0.05).The left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF)in the study group was lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05),and the left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVEDV)and left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV)in the study group were higher than those in the control group(P＜0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum c-kit mRNA level was positively correlated with LVEF(r=0.677,P＜0.05),while negatively correlated with α-SMA,collagen type Ⅰ,collagen type Ⅲ,LVEDV and LVESV(r=-0.725,-0.748,-0.744,-0.745,-0.662,P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that serum c-kit mRNA level is an independent factor for the prognosis of DCM patients with heart failure.ROC curve analysis showed that serum c-kit mRNA level had a sensitivity of 82.80％,a specificity of 81.80％,and an area under the curve of 0.829(95％CI:0.745-0.912,P＜0.001)for evaluating the progno-sis of DCM patients complicated with heart failure.Conclusion The serum c-kit mRNA level is significantly decreased in patients with DCM complicated with heart failure,and the serum c-kit mRNA level is correlated with myocardial fibrosis and cardiac function.The detection of serum c-kit mRNA level has a high efficacy in evaluating the prognosis of patients with DCM complicated with heart failure.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of herb-partitioned fire therapy in treating stomachache due to cold-deficiency. Method Sixty patients with stomachache due to cold-deficiency were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 30 cases each. The control group was intervened by Western and Chinese medications, based on which, the treatment group was given herb-partitioned fire therapy. The clinical efficacies of the two groups were observed, as well as the symptoms scores before and after the treatment. Result There was a significant difference in the clinical efficacy between the two groups (P<0.01). The symptoms scores dropped after the intervention in both groups, and the score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion Herb-partitioned fire therapy plus medication is effective in treating stomachache due to cold-deficiency, and it can produce a more significant efficacy than medication alone.

OBJECTIVETo identify the activity of hammerhead ribozyme against transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) in a cell-free system and in activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

METHODSThe ribozyme against TGFb1 was designed with computer software. The transcripts of ribozyme, disabled ribozyme and target RNAs were prepared using the RiboMAX large scale RNA production system. The in vitro cleavage reactions were performed through incubation of 32P-labeled target RNAs with ribozyme or disabled ribozyme in different conditions. The eukaryotic expression vector encoding ribozyme and disabled ribozyme were constructed, and then transfected into HSC-T6 cells which exhibited characteristics of activated HSCs. The intracellular activity of the ribozyme was determined by detecting the ribozyme, disabled ribozyme and the TGFbeta1 expression.

RESULTSThe ribozyme cleaved target RNAs into anticipated products effectively. As expected, the disabled ribozyme possessed no cleavage activity in vitro. Further study demonstrated that the ribozyme expressed efficiently and inhibited TGFbeta1 expression in activated HSCs, while the disabled ribozyme displayed only a slight effect on TGFbeta1 expression.

CONCLUSIONThe ribozyme with perfect cleavage activity in the cell-free system used inhibited TGFbeta1 expression effectively in activated HSCs. This ribozyme can provide a potential therapeutic approach for liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Cell-Free System ; Cells, Cultured ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; RNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Catalytic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; metabolism

·AIM:To compare the similarities and differences of central corneal thickness (CCT) measured by different devices, so as to provide a safe, effective, simple and accurate method for measuring corneal thickness. ·METHODS: Totally 95 eyes of 95 cataract patients enrolled continuously for preoperative examination in ophthalmology department of Putuo Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from September 2016 to December 2016. Handheld automatic PachPen ultrasonic pachymetry (USP), anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and specular microscopy were respectively used to measure the central corneal thickness,and intraocular pressure was measured at the same time. The similarities and differences of these three different devices to measure the central corneal thickness and their correlations with intraocular pressure were observed. Then the data were analyzed statistically. · RESULTS: The CCT value measured by PachPen ultrasonic pachymetry was 544. 43 ± 36. 61μ m, the CCT value measured by AS-OCT was 527.09 ± 35.54μ m, and the CCT value measured by specular microscopy was 533.20 ± 30. 17μ m. There was significant difference between these three groups(F=6.272,P=0.002),and the CCT value measured by PachPen ultrasonic pachymetry was significantly higher than the other two groups. The correlation coefficients between the CCT values of these three groups and intraocular pressure were 0.290, 0.277 and 0.204 (P<0.05) respectively, of which the correlation between the CCT measured by PachPen ultrasonic pachymetry and the intraocular pressure was the highest. There was statistically significant correlation between the CCT values measured by these three measurements (P<0.001). ·CONCLUSION: The CCT value measured by PachPen ultrasonic pachymetry is the highest. The second CCT value is measured by specular microscopy, and the smallest CCT value is measured by AS-OCT. Obvious correlation and good consistency were found in the CCT values measured by three types of devices, and the CCT values were all correlated with intraocular pressure. Therefore,we should take more attention in clinic.