Objective:To search for proteins interacting with ARA267-? with the yeast two-hybrid system in order to further investigate the function of ARA267-?. Methods:We screened a pretransformed human brain cDNA library with the pGBKT7-PHD-SET recombinant plasmid as a bait which express four PHD(plant homeodomain) and one SET[Su(var)3-9, Enhancer-of-zeste, Trithorax] conserved domains in ARA267-?.The plasmids in positive yeast clones were selectively identified by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing. The interactions were retested by yeast two-hybrid assay. Results: There were about six hundreds positive yeast clones on SD/-Ade/-His/-Leu/-Trp/2.5 mmol/L 3-AT/ X-?-Gal high-stringency selection plates. The pACT2-cDNA plasmids in sixty-five yeast clones were isolated and thirty-five cDNA inserts were sequenced. Sixteen different genes,including DR6(death receptor-6), PIAS3 (protein inhibitor of activated STAT3)and RanBPM(Ran-binding protein in the microtubule-organizing center), were identified after BLAST in GenBank. The yeast two-hybrid retest showed that all but RanBPM were true interactors of ARA267-?-PHD-SET. Conclusion: The ARA267-?-PHD-SET can interact with several distinct proteins. This suggests that ARA267-? is a protein having multiple functions. RanBPM might be a transcriptional factor.

Objective In order to choose the best surgical approach for minimally trauma varicocelectomy color Doppler ultrasound(CDU) was used to detect the anatomic relationships of spermatic vein in groin. Methods Sixty varicocele patients were randomly selected. Their spermatic veins were examined by CDU which beginning from superficial inguinal ring,passing the crossing point of spermatic vein and femoral artery ,and ending at the 3cm above the deep inguinal ring. The depths from skin to spennatic vein were measured and the relationships between spermatic vein and femoral artery were recorded. Results The average length of incision is 2.1cm and the average duration of operation is 22 minutes. The average depth from skin to spermatic vein was 1.1cm,1.55cm and 3.56cm respectively at the site of the superficial inguinal ring,the crossing point of spermatic vein and femoral artery,and the deep ingui-nal ring. Conclusion The best approach for minimally trauma varicocelectomy is at the crossing point of spermatic vein and femoral artery because here the spermatic vein is relative superficial and has merged into two or three vessels and the femoral artery can be easily touched by fingers.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of lipocalin 2 (LCN2) combined with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in prostate cancer (PCa).Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of serum LCN2 in patients with PCa (PCa group,n =82),patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH group,n =40) and healthy subjects (NC group,n =30).The levels of serum PSA were measured by chemiluminescence.The diagnostic value of LCN2 combined with PSA in PCa was analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.The relationship between the level of LCN2 and clinical parameters in PCa patients was analyzed.Results The levels of serum LCN2 in PCa group,BPH group and NC group were (88.97 ±40.83) pg/ml,(53.12 ±25.66) pg/ml,(13.34 ±4.86) pg/ml (F=61.306,P ＜0.001).The level of LCN2 in PCa group was significantly higher than that in BPH group and NC group (both P＜0.001).The levels of serum PSA in PCa group,BPH group and NC group were (17.65 ± 8.43) ng/ml,(11.27 ±3.56) ng/ml,(2.61 ±0.87) ng/ml (F=60.959,P＜0.001).The level of serum PSA in PCa group was significantly higher than that in BPH group and NC group (both P ＜0.001).There was positive correlation between serum LCN2 and PSA levels (r =0.360,P ＜ 0.001).The levels of serum LCN2 in PCa patients with different Gleason score,TNM stage and distant metastasis were significantly different (F =8.546,P ＜ 0.001;t =3.421,P =0.001;t =3.622,P =0.010).The area under the curve (AUC) of serum LCN2 was 0.763 (95％ CI:0.677-0.850,P ＜0.001).The sensitivity and specificity of serum LCN2 were 62.2％ and 85.0％.The AUC of PSA was 0.750 (95％ CI:0.665-0.836,P ＜ 0.001).The sensitivity and specificity of serum PSA were 51.2％ and 87.5％.The AUC of LCN2 combined with PSA was 0.822 (95％ CI:0.749-0.895,P ＜0.001).Conclusion Serum LCN2 level in the patients with PCa is significantly higher,which participates in tumor invasion.LCN2 may be a potential serum marker for the diagnosis of PCa.Combined detection of LCN2 and PSA contributes to the early diagnosis of PCa.