This study investigated the growth-regulating effects of progesterone (Prog) on nPR-negative malignant melanoma cells and the possible mechanisms. A375 and A875 cells were cultured and treated with Prog of different concentrations. For signal transduction pathway studies, the cells were pretreated with Prog receptor antagonist (RU486, 1x10(-7) mol/L) or MAPK inhibitor (U0126, 5x10(-6) mol/L) for 1 h and then co-incubated with prog (10(-9) mol/L) for another 24 h. Indirect immunofluorescence assay, MTT, flow cytometry and Western blotting were used for assessing the nPR expression, cell growth, cell apoptosis and ERK1/2 Phosphorylation, respectively. Our results showed that lower progesterone concentration promoted the proliferation of both A375 and A875 cells, but this growth-stimulatory effect decreased at progesterone concentration of 1x10(-7) mol/L or higher. The response could be abolished by MAPK inhibitor U0126, but could not be blocked by progesterone antagonist RU486. Flow cytometry exhibited that high concentration ([Symbol: see text]1 x 10(-7) mol/L) progesterone increased the apoptosis of the two cells in a dose-dependent manner. The level of ERK1/2 phosphorylation was increased by a lower progesterone concentration, but reduced by a higher concentration (1x10(-6) mol/L). These results suggest progesterone exerts growth-regulating effects on nPR-negative tumor cells through a non-genomic mechanism.

Objective To assess the value of using MRI to evaluate the histopathological characteristic of limb soft-tissue aggressive fibromatosis (AF). Methods The MBI findings and histopathological data of 20 patients with AF were obtained and analyzed. The difference between the different signal regions in AF were compared of signal intensity in T1-weighted images, T2-weighted images and degree of enhancement. The data were processed with paired t test. The histopathology of different signal regions was observed in 6 cases on HE stain and Masson trichromic stain of AF specimen. Results (1) AF predominantly originated from the skeletal muscles (19/20), presenting as Iobulated mass with infiltrative growth(20/20) ;(2) A few claw-shaped neo-arteries(7/7) were delineated in the periphery of the mass in the 3D DCEMRA images as well as the mild tumor staining(7/7) ; (3) Based on the MRI findings, the porenchyma of 20 AF was divided into two distinct regions of structure: region Ⅰ and region Ⅱ. Region Ⅰ presented as hypointensity on both T1-weighted and T2-weighted images and no enhancement after i. v. administration of contrast. Region Ⅱ presented as mild hyperintensity on T2-weighted images and iso- or hypointensity on T1-weighted images and marked enhancement; (4) The signal intensity in T1-weighted images, T2-weighted images and degree of enhancement was 0. 10 ± 0. 02,0. 24 ± 0. 03, and ( 5.22 ± 0.42)% in region Ⅰ , respectively; and 0.79±0.04,3.05±0.08 and(151.5±8.61)% in region Ⅱ, respectively. The differences between region Ⅰ and region Ⅱ were statistically significant of signal intensity in T1-weighted images( t = 67. 37 ), and signal intensity in T2-weighted images( t = 196. 56) and degree of enhancement(t =76. 62) (P <0. 01 ) ; (5) Histologically, AF was composed of fibroblasts, fibrecytes and bundles of collagen fiber. On Massen triehromie stain, region Ⅰ was stained blue, being proven the mature collagen fibers. Region Ⅱ was predominantly composed of fibroblasts, fibrecytes and was not stained. Conclusion The region Ⅰ and region Ⅱ are the characteristic MRI manifestations of AF, and MBI precisely reflects the histopathological and biological feature of the tumor.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of astaxanthin on renal fibrosis and apoptosis induced by partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats.

METHODSNinety-six male adult SD rats were randomized into 6 equal groups, namely the blank control group, sham-operated group, UUO group, and astaxanthin group at high, medium, and low doses. Left ureteral ligation was performed in UUO and astaxanthin groups, and two days before the operation, the rats in astaxanthin groups were lavaged with 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg astaxanthin daily for 14 days, while the same volume of saline was given to rats in UUO group and sham-operated group. Renal pathological in the rats was observed with HE staining, and the expression levels of TGF-β1, SGK1, and CTGF in the left kidney were detected immunohistochemically; the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected using Bcl-2 and Bax detection kits.

RESULTSCompared to UUO group, high- and medium-dose astaxanthin groups showed obviously ameliorated renal pathologies and reduced expressions of TGF-β1, SGK1, and CTGF in the left kidney with lessened renal cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONAstaxanthin can reduce UUO-induced renal fibrosis and renal cell apoptosis, demonstrating the renoprotective effect of astaxanthin against renal fibrosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Ureteral Obstruction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Xanthophylls ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective:To examine the trend of burden on ischemic heart disease (IHD) and epidemiological transition on related risk factors among the Chinese population from 1990 to 2017.Methods:Based on open access data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study, we used years of life lost (YLD), years lived with disability (YLL), and disability-adjusted of life years (DALY) to describe the changes of IHD burden stratified by different sex and age groups from 1990 to 2017. We applied population-attributable faction ( PAF) to analyze the burden attributable to risk factors and epidemiological transition. Results:In 2017, rates on YLD, YLL, and DALY for IHD were 74.2/100 000, 2 459.6/100 000, and 2 523.1/100 000, respectively. DALY rate and YLL rate for IHD in males were invariably higher than those in females except for YLD rate in females. 24 modifiable risk factors were causally associated with IHD. The top five risk factors that influencing DALYs, PAF, and DALY rate in 2017 appeared as: high blood pressure (16.429 million person years, 54.6 %, 1 163.1/100 000), high LDL cholesterol (13 941 million person years, 46.3 %, 987.0/100 000), diet high in sodium (10.900 million person years, 36.2 %, 771.1/100 000), smoking (8.647 million person years, 28.7 %, 612.2/100 000), and low-nut diet (7.452 million person years, 24.8 %, 527.6/100 000). DALY rate for IHD showed an increase of 90.9 %, from 1 116.4/100 000 in 1990 to 2 131.0/100 000 in 2017. Compared with 1990, the YLD rate experienced an evident increase in those aged 15-49 and over 70, in 2017. Annual average growth rate of YLD rate was higher in the ≥70 age group, between 2007 and 2017 (0.4 %) than that between 1990 and 2007 (0.2 %). The annual average increasing rates of both YLL and DALY were much lower from 2007 to 2017 (0.6 %, 0.6 %) than those from 1990 to 2007 (1.3 %, 1.2 %). From 1990 to 2017, DALYs attributed to meaty food (929.7 %), beverages with high sugar content (822.7 %), and high body-mass index (327.3 %) experienced the highest increase. The largest increase in PAF occurred for beverages with high sugar content (400.0 %). DALY rates increased for the 8 risk factors whereas decreased on the 7 risk factors, in consecutive rankings between 2007 and 2017. Conclusions:Despite the fact that burden on IHD-caused premature death had been reducing, related disabilities remain challenging with IHD the leading cause of burden, particularly in the ≥70 year-olds. Higher IHD burden from premature death was seen in males but disability appeared higher in females. It is significantly important to strengthen programs on prevention and control for hypertension including reducing modifiable risk factors such as smoking, unreasonable diet habits.

Objective To apply 3D printing technology to fabricate patient-specific silicone tissue compensators for the chest wall and compare the advantages and clinical characteristics between conventional bolus and 3D-printed PLA materials. Methods The chest wall data of two breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy were obtained based upon the CT images. A patient-specific 3D printing silicone rubber bolus (3D-SRB) was designed and fabricated. The conformability of 3D-SRB,3D-PLA and conventional bolus to the chest wall were validated. Ecipse8. 6 planning system was adopted to statistically compare the dosimetric parameters of virtual plan with those after using three tissue compensators. Results The 3D-SRB was successfully designed and fabricated with a similar hardness to conventional bolus. During the process of validating conformability and radiotherapy planning,3D-SRB and 3D-PLA were superior to conventional bolus in terms of conformability to chest wall and planning dosimetric distribution.3D-SRB was advantageous in repeatability, conformability and comfortable experience compared with 3D-PLA. Regarding dosimetric parameters,3D-SRB yielded the highest repeatability with the virtual plan, followed by 3D-PLA and conventional bolus. Conclusion It is applicable to utilize 3D-SRB as the patient-specific compensators for the chest wall,which is of significance in clinical practice.

This study investigated the growth-regulating effects of progesterone(Prog)on nPR-negative malignant melanoma cells and the possible mechanisms.A375 and A875 cells were cultured and treated with Prog of different concentrations.For signal transduction pathway studies,the cells were pretreated with Prog receptor antagonist(RU486,1×10 7 mol/L)or MAPK inhibitor (U0126,5×10-6 mol/L)for 1 h and then co-incubated with prog(10-9 mol/L)for another 24 h.Indirect immunofluorescence assay,MTT,flow cytornetry and Western blotting were used for assessing the nPR expression,cell growth,cell apoptosis and ERK1/2 Phosphorylation,respectively.Our results showed that lower progesterone concentration promoted the proliferation of both A375 and A875 cells,but this growth-stimulatory effect decreased at progesterone concentration of 1 × 10-7mol/L or higher.The response could be abolished by MAPK inhibitor U0126,but could not be blocked by progesterone antagonist RU486.Flow cytometry exhibited that high concentration(≥1×10-7 mol/L)progesterone increased the apoptosis of the two cells in a dose-dependent manner.The level of ERK 1/2 phosphorylation was increased by a lower progesterone concentration,but reduced by a higber concentration(1×10-6 mol/L).These results suggest progesterone exerts growth-regulating effects on nPR-negative tumor cells through a non-genomic mechanism.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical application of an angle gauge in internal fixation with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) for femoral intertrochanteric fracture.Methods:A retrospective analysis was carried out in the 54 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture of the femur who had been treated with PFNA internal fixation from February 2016 to August 2018 at Department of Orthopedic Trauma, Central Hospital of Shengli Oilfield. In the experimental group of 25 patients whose PFNA internal fixation was assisted by an angle gauge to measure the anteversion angle, there were 9 males and 16 females with an age of 74.4 years ± 4.6 years, and 7 cases of type 31-A1, 11 cases of type 31-A2, and 7 cases of type 31-A3 by the AO classification; in the control group of 29 patients whose PFNA internal fixation was not assisted by an angle gauge, there were 9 males and 20 females with an age of 74.4 years ± 3.9 years, and 9 cases of type 31-A1, 16 cases of type 31-A2, and 4 cases of type 31-A3 by the AO classification. The 2 groups were compared in terms of operation time, corrections of anteversion angle, intraoperative X-ray exposure times and Harris hip scores at the last follow-up.Results:There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in their preoperative general data, indicating they were compatible( P>0.05). Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly shorter operation time (64.0 min ± 6.5 min versus 72.7 min ± 3.9 min), significantly fewer corrections of anteversion angle (2.8±1.2 versus 4.7±1.5) and significantly fewer X-ray exposure times(7.0±1.2 versus 11.6±1.6) (all P<0.05). This cohort was followed up for 6 to 24 months (average, 11 months). By the Harris hip scores at the last follow-up, therewere 22 excellent cases, 2 good cases and one fair case in the experimental group, and 23 excellent cases, 4 good cases and one poor case in the control group, showing an insignificant difference between the 2 groups ( P>0.05). Conclusion:Application of an angle gauge to assist PFNA internal fixation can lead to shorter operation time, fewer corrections of anteversion angle and fewer X-ray exposure times in the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fracture.

Heart failure(HF)is a highly morbid syndrome that seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients and generates an enormous socio-economic burden.In addition to cardiac myocyte oxidative stress and apoptosis,which are considered mechanisms for the development of HF,alterations in cardiac energy metabolism and pathological autophagy also contribute to cardiac abnormalities and ultimately HF.Silent information regulator 1(Sirt1)and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase(AMPK)are nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(NAD+)-dependent deacetylases and phosphorylated kinases,respectively.They play similar roles in regulating some pathological processes of the heart through regulating targets such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α(PGC-1α),protein 38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK),peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors(PPARs),and mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR).We summarized the synergistic effects of Sirt1 and AMPK in the heart,and listed the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)that exhibit cardioprotective properties by modulating the Sirt1/AMPK pathway,to provide a basis for the development of Sirt1/AMPK activators or inhibitors for the treatment of HF and other cardiovascular diseases(CVDs).