Objective To investigate the expression of miR-16 in spinal cord and the effects of miR-16 mimics on the pain behavior and the expression of its target gene BDNF during the development and maintenance of bone cancer pain.Methods The bone cancer pain model rats were developed by intra-tibia inoculation of Walker 256 mammary gland cells.Before inoculation and 3,5,7,10,14 d after inoculation,the samples of spinal cord L4～6 lumbar enlargement were collected to detect the expression of miR-16 using real-time PCR.Mice in group BM and group BN were intrathcal injected of miR-16 mimics and its negative control products on 10 d,11 d,12 d after inoculation.Paw withdrawal mechanical threshold (PWMT) was measured using von Frey hair mechanical stimulation.The expression of BDNF was detected using western-blot on 14 d after behavior tests.Results Compared with the base level and the level in group S,the significant decrease of miR-16 expression was observed at 5 d～14dingroupT (5d (0.91±0.04),7 d (0.77±0.01),10 d (0.73±0.03),14d (0.42±0.08)) (all P＜ 0.05).Compared with SH group,PWMT was significantly decreased in BC and BP groups at 5 d～ 14 d (P＜0.05),and in group BM at 5 d～ 10 d(P＜0.05).Compared with BP group,PWMT was significantly higher in BM group at 10～12 d(P＜0.05).Compared with SH group,the expression of BDNF was significantly increased in BN and BP groups((2.78±0.31),(2.34±0.23)) (all P＜0.01).Compared with BP group,the expression of BDNF was significantly decreased in BM group (1.42±0.16) (P＜0.01).Conclusion miR-16 is downregulated in spinal cord of bone cancer pain rats,while intrathcal injection of miR-16 mimics can attenuate the pain behaviors in a rat model of bone cancer pain and decrease the expression of BDNF.miR-16 may modulate bone cancer pain through BDNF.

Objective To evaluate the role of chemokine CXCL12 in the spinal cord in the development of bone cancer pain (BCP) in rats and the relationship with microglial activation.Methods Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 180-220 g,were equally randomized into 4 groups (n =8 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),BCP group (group B),BCP + CXCL12 neutralizing antibody group (group BC),and BCP + IgG control antibody group (group BI).BCP was induced by injecting Walker 256 mammary gland cancer cell suspension (4 × 105 cells/ml) 5 μl into the bone marrow of the right tibia of rats anesthetized with chloral hydrate in B,BC and BI groups,while the equal volume of normal saline was injected instead in group S.On 12,13 and 14 days after injection of mammary gland cancer cells,CXCL12 neutralizing antibody 10 μg/15 μl was intrathecally injected once a day in group BC,while IgG control antibody 10 μg/15 μl was intrathecally injected once a day in group BI.Before injection of mammary gland cancer cells (T0) and on 3,5,7,10,12 and 14 days after injection of mammary gland cancer cells (T16),paw withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimulation (PWMT) was measured.The rats were then sacrificed and L4,5 segments of the spinal cord were removed for determination of Iba-1 (pan-microglial marker) expression in spinal dorsal horn using immunofluorescence after PWMT measurement at T6.Results Compared with S group,PMWT was significantly decreased at T2-6,and Iba-1 expression was up-regulated at T6 in B,BC and BI groups (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with B group,PMWT was significantly increased at T5,6 and Iba-1 expression was down-regulated at T6 in BC group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Chemokine CXCL12 in the spinal cord is involved in the development of BCP,and microglial activation is involved in the mechanism.

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of renal damage in chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) rat model.METHODS:The Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2-week CIH group (2IH), 2-week simulated air control group (2C), 4-week CIH group (4IH) and 4-week simulated air control group (4C).HE staining, PAS staining and Masson staining were used for histological evaluation .Blood was collected for the measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD).The mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase ( Cu/ZnSOD ) was detected by real-time PCR.RESULTS: ( 1 ) No significance difference of renal weight , body weight , and the ratio of renal weight to body weight was observed , while IH caused mor-phologic kidney damage , especially in 4IH group.Hypertrophy of epithelial cells in the kidney tubles and dilation in the glomeruli were observed under light microscope with HE and PAS staining , especially in 4IH group.Masson staining showed no significant fibrotic response in the kidney of the rats exposed to IH .(2) The SOD levels in the serum and kid-ney were decreased after CIH .Compared with the corresponding control groups , the levels of serum SOD were significantly lower in CIH groups, especially in 4IH group.The mRNA expression of Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD in CIH groups decreased significantly as compared with control groups .The mRNA levels of HIF-1αwere significantly higher in CIH groups than those in the corresponding control groups .CONCLUSION: CIH induces abnormalities of glomeruli and convoluted tu-bules, while 4-week IH exposure has not led to fibrotic response .CIH participates in the process of renal oxidative stress damage by upregulating HIF-1αtranscription and downregulating Cu/ZnSOD and MnSOD transcription .

Objective To describe the prevalence and relationship between physical activity (PA),depressive symptoms and school life satisfaction among middle school students in Bengbu,Anhui province.Methods A total number of 5268 boys and girls were analyzed from 4 middle schools.Depressive symptoms were assessed,using the Depression Self-rating Scale for Children,school life satisfaction via the School Life Satisfaction Rating Questionnaire.Self-reported PA and sedentary behaviors were also assessed.Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used.Results Adolescents self-reported rates of participating in sufficient moderate,vigorous and insufficient PA were 14.7％,36.0％ and 59.1％,respectively.The prevalence rates on depressive symptoms and school life dissatisfaction were 24.4％ and 25.9％.After adjusting on sedentary behaviors and other potential confounders,participants who had engaged in sufficient moderate and vigorous PA had odds ratios of 0.73 (0.60-0.89),0.68 (0.59-0.79) and 0.76 (0.63-0.92),0.70 (0.61-0.81) for likelihood of being depressive and school life dissatisfaction,compared to their counterparts who participating in insufficient moderate and vigorous PA.Insufficient PA was positively associated with depression and dissatisfaction of their school lives [OR (95％ CI):1.42(1.24-1.63) and 1.45 (1.27-1.66)].Conclusion High prevalence of insufficient PA was seen among adolescents and PA was closely related to the presence of depressive symptoms and school life dissatisfaction among middles school students.

To evaluate the changes induced in tumor tissue, the feeding artery, and neovascularization upon pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion treatment via transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model. The VX2 liver tumor model was established in 28 rabbits, and baseline tumor volume (V1, in mm3) was measured by spiral scan computed tomography (CT). Then, the rabbits were randomly divided into four groups (n = 7 each) and administered intraarterial therapies of: ultrafluid lipoidol embolization (group A); pingyangmycin (group B); pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion (group C); or saline (group D). All rabbits were sacrificed seven days later, and the response to therapy was determined by measuring the tumor volume (V2, in mm3), calculating the tumor growth rate, detecting expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tumor biomarker, and performing histological analysis of the microvessel density (MVD) in the liver. Prior to therapy, the average V1 of the groups was statistically similar (A: 389.8+/-167.3, B: 404.1+/-184.9, C: 355.1+/-158.3, D: 378.1+/-189.0; (F = 0.257, P more than 0.05). In contrast, after therapy the average V2 of the groups was significantly different (A: 922.6+/-32.9, B: 665.9+/-99.9, C: 349.5+/-177.8, D: 1403.5+/-411.2; F = 26.23, P less than 0.05), as was the tumor growth ratio (A: 1.4, B: 0.6, C: -0.02, D: 2.7) and the mean positive ratio of VEGF (A: 57.1%, B: 42.9%, C: 28.6%, D: 100%; F = 8.407, P less than 0.05). MVD was highest in group D and lowest in group C (all, P less than 0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between VEGF expression and MVD (r = 0.743, P less than 0.01). Pingyangmycin exerts anti-tumor effects in the rabbit VX2 liver cancer model, but is more effective when administered as the combination therapy of pingyangmycin-lipiodol emulsion with TACE.
Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Bleomycin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Emulsions ; Ethiodized Oil ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Iodized Oil ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; blood supply ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Microvessels ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the value of three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) in assessment of left ventricular (LV) strains. Methods Thirty healthy young adults examined by two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) and 3D-STI. And the results of LV measurements were compared, which included mean peak systolic longitudinal strains, radial strains and circumferential strains. Also, the time consumption of these two methods was compared. Results The time needed for 3D-STI in acquisition and analysis of the images were (309.3±23.4)s, (305.5±11.2)s, while the time for 2D-STI were (490.6±14.4)s, (1261.4±39.9)s. The differences were signiifcant(t=-21.81, 69.94, both P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic radial strains was (48.59±7.68)%by 3D-STI and (33.25±7.27)%by 2D-STI. The difference was signiifcant(t=9.16, P<0.01). The global mean peak systolic longitudinal and circumferential strains were (-17.66±3.14)%, (-17.13±2.29)% by 3D-STI and (-21.35±2.46)%, (-21.97±3.84)% by 2D-STI. The differences were signiifcant(t=5.33, 5.99, both P < 0.01). The 3D-STI strains were different at different levels of LV. The longitudinal, circumferential and radial 3D-STI strains were largest at middle levels. However, 2D-STI strains didn′ t show such trend. Peak strains measured by 3D-STI and 2D-STI showed high inter-observer and intra-observer agreement in Bland-Altman chart. Conclusion 3D-STI is a novel, convenient and reproducible method to evaluate the strains of LV.

BACKGROUNDThe research of cancer in patients on hemodialysis (HD) in China has not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and histological features and outcomes of cancer in Chinese HD patients.

METHODSThe study subjects were 49 cancer patients (1.4%) out of 3448 end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients maintained on HD at China-Japan Friendship Hospital from October 1997 to July 2011.

RESULTSUrinary tract cancer (74%) was the most common followed by gastrointestinal tract cancer (12%), breast cancer (6%), lung cancer (4%), thyroid cancer (2%), and hematologic cancer (2%). Thirty-three patients (67%) had urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and 29 of them had aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) as underlying disease. Death occurred in eight patients out of 49, and the survival rate of HD patients with cancer was similar to those without cancer (P = 0.120).

CONCLUSIONThe urinary tract TCC is the most common cancer in HD patients with AAN in one of the centers of northern China.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aristolochic Acids ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; complications ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; Retrospective Studies ; Urologic Neoplasms ; complications ; epidemiology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo characterize molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities in six 46, XX males, and to investigate the clinical manifestations and underlying mechanisms in such patients.

METHODSClinical data of six XX male patients were collected. Karyotyping, multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were utilized to detect and locate the sex determining region (SRY) gene.

RESULTSPCR and FISH showed that all patients were SRY-positive XX males. All patients have their SRY gene located at the tip of derivative X chromosomes, which have resulted from translocation between short arms of X and Y chromosomes. High resolution karyotyping at 550-750 band level has revealed that the translocation breakpoints were at Xp22.33 and Yp11.2 in three patients. In the remaining patients, the breakpoints were either at Xp22.32 and Yp11.31 or Xp22.31 and Yp11.2. The breakpoints at Xp22.32, Xp22.31 and Yp11.31 were rarely reported. Genotype-phenotype correlation analysis indicated that the clinical manifestations were age-specific. Four adult patients have come to clinical attention due to infertility, with typical features including azoospermia and testis dysgenesis, whereas poorly developed secondary sexual characteristics and short stature were main complaints of adolescence patients, and short stature was the sole symptom in a child patient.

CONCLUSIONCombined karyotyping, PCR and FISH are important for the analysis of XX males. Particularly, high resolution karyotyping is valuable for the refinement of chromosome breakpoints and detailed analysis of genotype-phenotype correlation.

46, XX Disorders of Sex Development ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Genetic Association Studies ; methods ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; methods ; Male ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

measured by OCT 1 and 3mo after surgery. Chi-square test was used to compare preoperative and postoperative BCVA. Pearsion’s correlation was used to evaluate relationship between postoperative BCVA and central foveal thickness.RESULTS:The ratio of BCVA<0. 05 was 30%,14%, 11%and 7% respectively for per-operation, 1wk, 1 and 3mo post - operation. After surgery, the central foveal thickness was significantly increased in group with BCVA<0. 3 comparing to group with BCVA≥0. 3. Three month post-operation, central foveal thickness was significantly decreased in both groups comparing to that in 1mo post-operation (P<0. 01). There has significant correlation between 3mo postoperative BCVA and central foveal thickness (r=-0.716, P<0.05).CONCLUSlON: ln this study, BCVA is improved after 3mo follow up. There has significant correlation between postoperative BCVA and central foveal thickness.

Objective: To explore the value of different designed anterolateral thigh flaps(ALT) in the reconstruction of buccal defect after radical resection of buccal cancer. Methods: From March 2009 to May 2016, 142 cases were diagnosed as buccal cancer in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Nanjing University. All patient underwent radical resection, followed by reconstruction with different anterolateral thigh flaps. The clinical date were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 142 cases, the muscuiocutaneous ALT flaps were used in 60 cases, the fasciocutaneous ALT flaps in 60, and the thin ALT flaps in 22. The size of the flaps ranged from 4 cm×5 cm to 14 cm×10 cm. Operative exploration during the perioperative period were performed in 4 patients, including 2 flaps with thrombotic events and 2 flaps with venous thrombosis. Among them, 2 flaps survived completely and 2 flaps were failure. The mean follow-up period was 37 months(range: 3 to 85 months). Conclusions The different designed anterolateral thigh flap for the buccal defects resulting from tumour excision is an ideal choice for reconstruction of buccal defects.