Objective To investigate the inhibitory effect of curcumin on the telomerase activity of HeLa cells.Methods The growth inhibition rate of HeLa cells treated with curcumin was measured with MTT method.The expression of hTERT mRNA was studied using RT-PCR.Telomerse activity was examined by TRAP-ELISA.Results The growth of HeLa cells treated with curcumin was inhibited in concentration dependent manner and the expression of hTERT mRNA and the level of telomerase activity were down-regulated significantly.Conclusion Curcumin can inhibit telomerase activity of HeLa cells.The underlying mechanism might be related to the down-regulation of hTERT transcription.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of prenatal nicotine exposure on cardiac ejection function and myocardial fibrosis of the offspring of rats.METHODS Pregnant rats were sc given nicotine 6.0 mg· kg-1,once daily for 17 d.The body mass and heart mass of the offspring were detected at the 21th day of gestation,and 15 and 90 d after birth.Heart rate of 90 d offspring was recorded by ECG,and cardiac functions were detected by Doppler ultrasonography,including cardiac output (CO),stroke volume (SV),ejection fraction (EF),left ventricular long axis shortening fraction (FS),interventricular septum diastolic diameter (IVSd) and left ventricular posterior wall diastolic diameter (LVPWd).The myocardial ultrastructure was detected under an electron microscope.Masson staining was used to detect the myocardial collagen fiber deposition.The level of collagen protein type Ⅰ in heart tissue was detected by radioimmunoassay.RESULTS Compared with control group,prenatal nicotine exposure resulted in a decrease of heart mass and body mass in groups of 21 d fetal rats and 15 d offspring(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),but had no effect on the 90 d offspring.Compared with the normal control group,the heart rate of 90 d offspring increased [366+10 vs (418+10) min-1] (P＜0.05),CO,FS and EF decreased (P＜0.01),and IVSd and LVPWd increased (P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Electron microscopy revealed that in the heart of nicotine 90 d offspring,myocardial fiber arrangement was loosened and confused,while extracellular matrix increased.Masson staining showed collagen deposited in the myocardium.The level of collagen type Ⅰ in heart tissue increased [0.59±0.09 vs (0.40±0.05) tμg·g-1 tissue] (P＜0.01).CONCLUSION Prenatal nicotine exposure induces the increased level of cardiac collagen type Ⅰ,myocardial fibrosis and decrease of cardiac ejection function in adult offspring,which may lead to increased susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases.

Caveolin-1(Cav-1) is a scaffold protein of caveolae that acts as a tumor modulator by interacting with cell adhesion molecules and signaling receptors.Evidence from a variety of studies indicate that caveolin-1 exhibits the heterogeneity of Cav-1 expression in different tumors.Current research has clearly established a role for Cav-1 as a a novel prognostic marker,Future studies will undoubtedly offer novel exciting opportunities to develop anti-cancer therapies.

Objectives Explore the experiences of professor Li Shunmin in treating chronic kidney diseases (CKD) according to spleen and kidney theory.Methods Information of medical records was acquired from Shenzhen TCM hospital information management department. It included the records from Jan, 2014 to Mar, 2016. Access database was established and SQL was used for data processing. Cytoscape 2.8 software was used to visualize the results and analyze the treatment characteristics in CKD.Results ProfessorLi used herbs of nourishing spleen and kidney to treat CKD. The herbs included Astragalus membranaceus, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Rehmannia glutinosa and Gordon Euryale. The rules of treatment included invigorating spleen and kidney, and regulating liver and lung. The characteristics of using herbs included combination of cooling and warming herbs, bitter and pungent herbs, and sweet herbs for CKD.Conclusions Data mining could help to discover the rules of Li Shunmin in treating CKD. The results confirmed the academic attitude of treating CKD on spleen and kidney. It provided ideas and direction for CKD treatment.

The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells in vitro and the possible mechanism involved were investigated, and the correlation between the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in NPC evaluated. The NPC cells were transfected with PAd-trackVEGF165 plasmid. The expression levels of VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA and protein in NPC cells were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. It was found that the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA and protein was significantly increased in NPC cells after transfection of VEGF165. It was concluded that the expression of VEGF was correlated to the in vitro invasion of NPC cells, and the induction of MMP-2 by VEGF was a key process of NPC cell invasion.

This study examined the dynamic characteristics of upper airway collapse at soft palate level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by using dynamic 3-Dimensional (3-D) CT imaging. A total of 41 male patients who presented with 2 of the following symptoms, i.e., daytime sleepiness and fatigue, frequent snoring, and apnea with witness, were diagnosed as having OSAHS. They underwent full-night polysomnography and then dynamic 3-D CT imaging of the upper airway during quiet breathing and in Muller's maneuver. The soft palate length (SPL), the minimal cross-sectional area of the retropalatal region (mXSA-RP), and the vertical distance from the hard palate to the upper posterior part of the hyoid (hhL) were compared between the two breathing states. These parameters, together with hard palate length (HPL), were also compared between mild/moderate and severe OSAHS groups. Association of these parameters with the severity of OSAHS [as reflected by apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and the lowest saturation of blood oxygen (LSaO(2))] was examined. The results showed that 31 patients had severe OSAHS, and 10 mild/moderate OSAHS. All the patients had airway obstruction at soft palate level. mXSA-RP was significantly decreased and SPL remarkably increased during Muller's maneuver as compared with the quiet breathing state. There were no significant differences in these airway parameters (except the position of the hyoid bone) between severe and mild/moderate OSAHS groups. And no significant correlation between these airway parameters and the severity of OSAHS was found. The position of hyoid was lower in the severe OSAHS group than in the mild/moderate OSAHS group. The patients in group with body mass index (BMI)≥26 had higher collapse ratio of mXSA-RP, greater neck circumference and smaller mXSA-RP in the Muller's maneuver than those in group with BMI<26 (P<0.05 for all). It was concluded that dynamic 3-D CT imaging could dynamically show the upper airway changes at soft palate level in OSAHS patients. All the OSAHS patients had airway obstruction of various degrees at soft palate level. But no correlation was observed between the airway change at soft palate level and the severity of OSAHS. The patients in group with BMI≥26 were more likely to develop airway obstruction at soft palate level than those with BMI<26.

This study examined the dynamic characteristics of upper airway collapse at soft palate level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by using dynamic 3-Dimensional (3-D) CT imaging.A total of 41 male patients who presented with 2 of the following symptoms,i.e.,daytime sleepiness and fatigue,frequent snoring,and apnea with witness,were diagnosed as having OSAHS.They underwent full-night polysomnography and then dynamic 3-D CT imaging of the upper airway during quiet breathing and in Muller's maneuver.The soft palate length (SPL),the minimal cross-sectional area of the retropalatal region (mXSA-RP),and the vertical distance from the hard palate to the upper posterior part of the hyoid (hhL) were compared between the two breathing states.These parameters,together with hard palate length (HPL),were also compared between mild/moderate and severe OSAHS groups.Association of these parameters with the severity of OSAHS [as reflected by apnea hypopnea index (AHI) and the lowest saturation of blood oxygen (LSaO2)] was examined.The results showed that 31 patients had severe OSAHS,and 10 mild/moderate OSAHS.All the patients had airway obstruction at soft palate level.mXSA-RP was significantly decreased and SPL remarkably increased during Muller's maneuver as compared with the quiet breathing state.There were no significant differences in these airway parameters (except the position of the hyoid bone) between severe and mild/moderate OSAHS groups.And no significant correlation between these airway parameters and the severity of OSAHS was found.The position of hyoid was lower in the severe OSAHS group than in the mild/moderate OSAHS group.The patients in group with body mass index (BMI)≥26 had higher collapse ratio of mXSA-RP,greater neck circumference and smaller mXSA-RP in the Muller's maneuver than those in group with BMI＜26 (P＜0.05 for all).It was concluded that dynamic 3-D CT imaging could dynamically show the upper airway changes at soft palate level in OSAHS patients.All the OSAHS patients had airway obstruction of various degrees at soft palate level.But no correlation was observed between the airway change at soft palate level and the severity of OSAHS.The patients in group with BMI≥26 were more likely to develop airway obstruction at soft palate level than those with BMI＜26.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of microtuble-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). METHOD: The expression of LC3 in 50 cases of LSCC, 45 cases of para-carcinoma, 10 cases of laryngeal papilloma and 16 cases of polyp of vocal cord were detected by immunohistochemistry (MaxVision method). Expression level of LC3 mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR in 41 of LSCC, 41 of para-carcinoma tissue and 11 of polyp of vocal cord. RESULT: The positive rates of LC3 protein expression were 60.0%, 93.3%, 90.0%, 93.8% in LSCC tissue, para-carcinoma, laryngeal papilloma and poly of vocal card tissues, respectively. The positive rates of LC3 were significantly lower in LSCC than in para-carcinoma and poly of vocal cord (chi2 = 18.135, P < 0.01). The mRNA levels of LC3 were significantly lower in LSCC than in para-carcinoma and poly of vocal cord (0.57 +/- 0.08 )vs (0.99 +/- 0.11) and (1.07 +/- 0.05) , F = -255.872, P < 0.01. The expression of LC3 were related to tumor location and pathological grade (P < 0.05), but not related to age, T stage, clinical stage and lymphoid metastasis (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Expression of LC3 are down-regulated in LSCC. The change of autophagic capacity may play an important role in occurrence and development of LSCC.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) overexpression on matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells in vitro and the possible mechanism involved were investigated, and the correlation between the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 in NPC evaluated. The NPC cells were transfected with PAd-trackVEGF165 plasmid. The expression levels of VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA and protein in NPC cells were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. It was found that the expression of VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA and protein was significantly increased in NPC cells after transfection of VEGF165. It was concluded that the expression of VEGF was correlated to the in vitro invasion of NPC cells, and the induction of MMP-2 by VEGF was a key process of NPC cell invasion.

Objectives:To investigate the screening status of warning signs for mental and behavioral development (WS) and influencing factors of infants and young children (IYC) in poverty eliminated regions of Henan Province.Methods:This study was a cross-sectional study. A total of 15 680 IYC aged 6-23 months from 51 poverty eliminated counties in Henan province from June to September of 2023 were selected through a multi-stage random sampling method. IYC′s early warning signs were screened using the WS checklist (WSC). Children′s socio-demographic characteristics, maternal information, birth status, and illness conditions such as fever and diarrhea within 2 weeks were measured through a uniformly designed questionnaire. All participants also received the measurement of height, weight, and hemoglobin concentration level. Logistic regression model was used to explore the influencing factors of positive WSC and conducted sensitivity analyses.Results:Among the sample of 15 680 IYC, there were 8 462 boys (53.97%) and 7 218 girls (49.03%), with their age of (15±5) months. A total of 291 (1.86%) IYC were positive in WSC. Parenting risk ( OR=5.07, 95% CI 3.93-6.52, P<0.001) and preterm birth ( OR=1.63, 95% CI 1.06-2.52, P=0.027) were both positively associated with the odds of WSC′s positivity. Being girls ( OR=0.66, 95% CI 0.52-0.85, P=0.001), age (12-17 months, OR=0.47, 95% CI 0.35-0.62, P<0.001; 18-23 months, OR=0.40, 95% CI 0.30-0.54, P<0.001), and maternal educational level (junior high school, OR=0.46, 95% CI 0.32-0.66, P<0.001; senior high school or vocational high school, OR=0.35, 95% CI 0.23-0.56, P<0.001; college and above, OR=0.36, 95% CI 0.23-0.57, P<0.001) were all negatively associated with the risk of WSC′s positivity. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that, after excluding anemic children, the association between preterm birth and WSC′s positivity was not significant ( OR=1.54, 95% CI 0.95-2.49, P=0.081). Despite this situation, being girls, age and maternal educational level were still negatively associated with the odds of WSC′s positivity (all P<0.05); preterm birth, parenting risk were remained positive associated with the risk of WSC′s positivity (all P<0.05) either by excluding children with protein-energy malnutrition or 2-week morbidity, or using prevalence ratio instead of OR. Conclusions:Among the IYC in poverty eliminated regions of Henan Province, the risk of positivity of WSC was higher for those IYC with parenting risk, preterm birth, boys, younger age, and lower maternal education level. These influencing factors, such as gender, age, preterm birth, parenting risk and maternal educational level, were in certain stability across different IYC characteristics and estimation models.