Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; complications ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Nasal Polyps ; complications ; congenital ; Nasopharyngeal Diseases ; complications ; congenital

Previous studies have revealed Twist,a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor,plays an important role in breast cancer metastasis.To clarify the molecular mechanism of its involvement in cancer metastasis,Twist was silenced by RNAi in highly metastatic 4T1 cells.Then microarray chips were used to investigate the gene-expression pattern of the Twist-knockdown 4T1 cells and the normal 4T1 cells.The results indicated that silencing of Twist significantly suppressesed lung metastasis of 4T1 cells in vivo.Direct comparison of gene-expression profiles showed that 167 genes in Twist-knockdown cells differed dramatically in expression levels from those in control cells.Among the 167 genes,26 well-known tumor-associated genes,including 15 up-regulated and 11 down-regulated genes were found.These genes appear to be regulated by Twist during breast tumorigenesis.The findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which Twist is involved in tumorigenesis.

Objective To retrospectively evaluate the mammographic features of breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)and DCIS with small invasive foci,and to analyze the correlation between the mammographic findings and the prognostic biologic factors.Methods The mammographic examination was performed in 95 consecutive women with breast DCIS(n = 50)and DCIS with invasive foci(n = 45 ).The prognostic biologic factors including progesterone receptor(PR),C-erbB-2,and p53 were evaluated in 62 of 95 cases.Categorical data were expressed as percentages and analyzed by using the X~2 test,and furthermore the odds ratio was measured.Results(1)Only one abnormality was seen on mammography in 62 patients. Combined two abnormalities on mammography were seen in 26 patients.Mammograms were normal in 7 patients.(2)Calcifications with or without other abnormality were noted in 62 cases.Of them,73% (n =45)had higher probability of malignancy calcifications and the others were intermediate concern calcifications.Clustered calcifications(36 lesions)was the most common distribution,which usually accompanied by another abnormality.And then were segmental(18 lesions)distributed pattern.As far as the shape of mass (n = 22)was concerned,the oval shaped lesion(13 cases)was the most common,and the margin of the mass appeared as ill-defined in 15 eases,microlobulated in 1,circumscribed in 4,and obscured in 2,respectively.Isodensity mass had a higher frequency in this group(12/22,55%).Other non-calcification findings included architecture distortion(7 cases),local asymmetry (15 cases),global asymmetry (5 cases),and solitary dilated duct (3 cases),and most of them accompanied with other signs. (3)For expression profile of the biological factors,significant differences were found among malignant calcification group,intermediate concern calcification group,and non-calcification group. The odds of PR positive for the lesions noted as non-calcification were 11.00 times higher (X~2 =8.571 ,P=0.003 ;95% CI, 1.998—60.572)than the lesions noted as intermediate concern calcifications,and 8.80 times higher (X~2 = 9.748,P=0.002 ;95% CI,2.024—38.253)than the lesions noted as malignant calcifications.The odds of C-erbB-2 positive for the lesions showed as malignant calcifications were 12.35 times higher (X~2=7.353, P=0.007 ;95% CI,1.447—105.443)than the lesions showed as non-calcification,and 5.74 times higher (X~2=4.977,P = 0.026;95% CI,1.110—29.645)than the lesions showed as intermediate concern calcifications.Conclusion The mammographic features of DCIS and DCIS with small invasive foci were characteristic.Mammographic findings could be a prognostic markers,which could provide a possibility for making a treatment plan.

Adult ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Interdigitating ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; etiology ; Pemphigus ; etiology

The effects of androgen on lipid and the cardiovascular system are very important. The relationship between androgen and lipoprotein is rather complicated and influenced by many factors. The effects of endogenous androgen on the metabolism of lipoprotein vary with age, environment, nutrition and gender, while the effects of exogenous androgen on lipoprotein vary with different androgen preparations, administration methods and diseases to be treated. Androgen can impact the metabolism of lipoprotein, vascular endothelium, macrophage, vascular smooth muscle, angiotasis, blood coagulation, platelet and so on. The effects of polymorphism of the androgen receptor gene CAG on the cardiovascular system are important and yet somehow controversial and have to be further investigated.
Androgens ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Cardiovascular System ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; physiology

AIMTo analyze factors influencing the efficacy of hormonal suppression of spermatogenesis for male contraception.

METHODSA nested case-control study was conducted, involving 43 subjects, who did not achieve azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia when given monthly injections of 500 mg testosterone undecanoate (TU), defined as partial suppressors compared with 855 subjects who had suppressed spermatogenesis (complete suppressors). Sperm density, serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations at the baseline and the suppression phase were compared between partial and complete suppressors. Polymorphisms of androgen receptor (AR) and three single nucleotide variants and their haplotypes of FSH receptor (FSHR) genes determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing technique were compared between 29 partial and 34 complete suppressors.

RESULTSBaseline serum LH level was higher and serum LH as well as FSH level during the suppression phase was less suppressed in partial suppressors. Additionally, in a logistic regression analysis larger testis volume, higher serum FSH concentrations alone, or interaction of serum LH, FSH, testosterone and sperm concentrations were associated with degree of suppression. The distribution of polymorphisms of AR or FSH receptor genes did not differ between partial and complete suppressors. In cases with incomplete FSH suppression (FSH 0.2 IU/L), the chances of reaching azoospermia were 1.5 times higher in the subjects with more than 22 CAG triplet repeats.

CONCLUSIONPartial suppression of spermatogenesis induced by 500 mg TU monthly injections is weakly influenced by hormonal and clinical features but not polymorphism in AR and FSHR genes.

Adult ; Azoospermia ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Contraceptive Agents, Male ; administration & dosage ; Drug Resistance ; genetics ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; Receptors, FSH ; genetics ; Sperm Count ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Testosterone ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Trinucleotide Repeats

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Angiopoietin-2 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Molecular Structure ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; prevention & control ; RNA Interference ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism

The fragmentation pathways of two taxanes drugs have been studied in positive ion mode by Q-TOF with the advantages of high mass accuracy and high resolution analysis. The [M+H] + ions were observed by ESI-MS, from which the molecular weights were obtained. Using the protonated pseudo-molecular ions [M+H]+ as internal reference compounds, the accurate mass and element composition of the fragment ions were determined. The collision induced dissociation (CID) data of the [M+H] ions provided fragmentation pathways of related compounds. Results showed that the major cleavage pathways of paclitaxel and docetaxel were the same that the cleavage of C-O bond between the side chain and taxol skeleton easily occurred, then stripping of the functional groups on the parent ring. Some common fragments were formed, such as m/z 105.033 7, 291.137 3, 309.148 5, 327.159 7, 387.181 2 and 509.217 4, which would provide a basis for future qualitative and quantitative analysis of taxanes in vitro and in vivo.
Paclitaxel ; chemistry ; Peptide Fragments ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Taxoids ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the correlation between serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels and infection sites,as well as between PCT and bacterial species in gram negative (G-) bacteria induced sepsis,so as to provide rationale for therapeutic strategy of using antibiotic in sepsis.Methods The data of patients with sepsis admitted in Emergency Department and ICU from January 2014 to June 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.The blood culture of G-bacteria and PCT detection were carried out simultaneously within 24 hours after admission.The clinical data was analyzed to find out the correlation between PCT levels and infection sites,as well as between PCT levels and pathogenic bacterial species.Results A total of 187 specimens (came from 162 patients) were enrolled in the study with a median age of 70 years old and a median sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score of 4.PCT levels were found to be associated with bacterial species.PCT level caused by Escherichia coli bacteremia infection was higher than that caused by Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia and Burkholderia cepacia bacteremia infection (4.62 ng/mL vs.2.44 ng/mL;4.62 ng/mL vs.0.81 ng/mL;P ＜ 0.05).Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) for PCT was 0.61 to discriminate Escherichia coli infection from Acinetobacter baumannii infection and an AUC was 0.66 to discriminate Escherichia coli infection from Burkholderia cepacia infection.When the cutoff point of PCT was 30.32 ng/mL,it could predict Escherichia coli infection rather than Acinetobacter baumannii infection with 94.10％ specificity,90.00％ positive predictive value and positive likelihood ratio for 4.24.When the cutoff point of PCT was 8.01 ng/mL,it could predict Escherichia coli infection rather than Burkholderia cepacia infection with 85.70％ specificity,93.94％ positive predictive value,and positive likelihood ratio for 3.01.When PCT cutoff value reached 47.31 ng/mL,the specificity and positive predictive value were both 100.00％.PCT level caused by urinary tract infection was higher than that caused by pulmonary infection (11.58 ng/mL vs.2.07 ng/mL,P ＜ 0.05),and the AUC was 0.69.When the cutoff point of PCT was 32.11 ng/mL,it could predict Escherichia coli infection rather than Acinetobacter baumannii infection with 90.60％ specificity,86.18％ negative predictive value and positive likelihood ratio for 3.68.Conclusions PCT elevation in G-bacteria induced sepsis might be associated with infection sites and bacterial species.

Objective To investigate the modulation for multidrug resistance cell line K562/A02 us- ing a specific siRNA against mdrl,GST?.Methods siRNA were synthesized targeting the coding region se- quences of mdrl(79～99 nt)and GST?(308～327nt)respectively,and cloned to plasmid pSilence2.1-U6.The cloned products pSilenee-mdr1 and pSilence-GST? were transfected into K562/A02 cells.Expression of mdr1 and GST? mRNA were assayed by SYBR Green Ⅰ real-time PCR.The apoptosis of cell line K562/A02 was examined by Flow cytometry,50% inhibition concentration(IC_(50))of doxorubicin on K562/A02 cell was deter- mined by MTT method.Results The siRNA expression vector against mdr1,GST? mRNA was constructed successfully.After transfected with pSilenee-mdr1,the expression of mdr1 mRNA in K562/A02 in was re- duced 71.5 % compared to the mock transfeetion,from(2.8?1.65)?10~8 copy/?g RNA to(3.9?2.37)?10~7 copy/?g RNA(P