Spermatogenesis is a unique process of cell differentiation, which involves the regulation of a series of complicated post-transcriptional expressions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of none-coding RNAs that play important roles in regulating post-transcriptional gene silencing. MiRNAs are expressed in a cell-specific manner in spermatogenesis and participate in the maturation and differentiation of male germ cells. The specifically altered seminal plasma miRNA is closely related with spermatogenic dysfunction and therefore can be used as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of male infertility. A deeper insight into these specific miRNAs may point a new direction in the studies of the molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis and spermatogenic dysfunction.
Biomarkers ; Cell Differentiation ; Genitalia, Male ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; Semen ; physiology ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics

Objective To study the diagnostic value of double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) and capsule endoscopy (CE) for small intestinal bleeding. Methods Overall detection rates of small intestinal bleeding with DBE, CE and the whole alimentary tract barium meal were compared. Positive rates of bleeding detection with DBE and CE were compared within the same patients. Influence of CE on one-procedure rate of DBE was analyzed. Results In 105 cases of small intestine bleeding, DBE detected 24 cases of Crohn's disease, 15 adenocarcinoma, 12 chronic nonspecific inflammation, 10 small intestinal ulcer of unknown reason, 8 entero-mesenchymoma, 8 polypus, 6 vascular deformation hemorrhage, 5 ancylostomiasis, 5 Mechel's diverticula ( including multiple diverticula), 3 lymphoma and 9 of no evident abnormalities. The positive detection rate of DBE is 91.4% (96/105). Disease detection rates of CE and whole alimentary tract barium meal were 75.0% (30/40) and 33.3% (25/75), respectively. The one-procedure rate of DBE is 90% (36/40) based on CE results, but it was only 69. 2% (45/65) according to clinic features and the whole alimentary tract barium meal. Conclusion The main causes of small intestinal bleeding are benign ulcers (including Crohn's disease) and tumor, as well as chronic inflammation. Polyps, vascular deformation, parasitosis, Mechel's diverticulum and lymphoma are the secondary causes.DBE is superior to CE in diagnosis of small intestine bleeding, but CE can increase the one-procedure rate of DBE.

Objective The study aimed to compare the vector system with the hand instrument in the pain severity during scaling and root planning.Methods 60 periodontal patients were randomly divided into two groups for supportive periodontal therapy (SPT):the experimental group (using vector system) and the control group (using gracey instruments),with 30 cases in each group.And the painfulness after SPT was evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).Results 66％ patients felt mild pain during the supportive periodontal therapy with the application of vector system,while 36％ patients felt mild pain in the control group.24 patients in the experimental group accepted vector system for SPT and 23 patients in the experimental group felt less fear of the treatment.Conclusions Patients will feel less discomfort with the application of the vector system,therefore better compliance will be reached.And the cooperation of the doctors and nurses has great impact on the treatment effect.

Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; methods ; Breast ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Paraffin Embedding ; methods ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism

Plasmablastic myeloma is a rare pathological classification of multiple myeloma. This condition must be differentially diag-nosed because of lack of a distinctive phenotype. Involvement of the central nervous system is a rare complication of multiple myelo-ma. The choice of treatment is important for plasmablastic myeloma. Thus, this article presents a rare case of plasmablastic myeloma with multiple cranial nerve involvement. We clarify the diagnosis through the multidisciplinary team and select the optimal therapy for the patient.

Hypoxia is a general characteristic of most solid malignancies and intimately related to cancer progression. Homeostatic response to hypoxia is primarily mediated by hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) that elicits transcriptional activity through recruitment P300 coactivator. Targeting the interaction of HIF- alpha and P300 would thus constitute a novel approach for cancer treatment by suppressing tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Here, a screening assay was developed for inhibitors targeting the interaction between HIF-1alpha and P300. The nucleotide sequence of human HIF-1alpha and P300 were cloned into pBIND and pACT vectors, named pBIND-HIF1alpha and pACT-P300. The interaction of HIF-1alpha and P300 was identified in HEK293 cell using mammalian two-hybrid system. And compound chetomin decreased their interaction in this mammalian two-hybrid system. We further verified HIF-1 inhibition effect of chetomin in U251-HRE cells. Therefore, we established a screening assay combined HIF-1alpha and P300 mammalian two-hybrid system and U251-HRE reporter assay for HIF-1 selective inhibitors.
Cell Hypoxia ; Disulfides ; pharmacology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; E1A-Associated p300 Protein ; antagonists & inhibitors ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Indole Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

OBJECTIVETo analyze the imaging characteristics of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) and their correlation with histopathological findings.

METHODSCT and MRI imaging and histopathological characteristics of five patients with hepatic EHE were retrospectively reviewed and the correlation of their imaging characteristics with pathological findings was analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 92 lesions were found in the 5 patients, all presenting with multiple nodules. All the 92 lesions were located within a 2-cm zone heneath the hepatic capsule, i.e., the shortest distance from the horder of lesions to the hepatic capsule. 28 of the 92 lesions showed the "capsular retraction" sign. 36 lesions were found in three patients receiving MRI. 77.8% of the 36 lesions demonstrated the "halo" sign on a fat-suppression T2- weighted image, while 91.7% after contrast enhancement. A peripheral dark rim was found in 91.7% of the lesions on a fat-suppression T2-weighted image. In addition, 36.1% of the lesions showed slight internal or edge enhancement at the hepatohiliary phase. In the two patients receiving CT examination, 7 of 56 lesions demonstrated the "halo" sign.

CONCLUSIONSHepatic EHE may manifest as nodular lesions with predilection of peripheral subcapsular growth and nodular confluence, together with "halo" sign and " capsular retraction". The peripheral dark rim on a fat-suppression T2-weighted image and slight enhancement at the hepatobiliary phase can help to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this hepatic tumor. MRI is superior to CT imaging to denict their intra-lesional characteristics.

Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of miRNA-101 on the expression of the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EXH2) in human androgen-independent prostated cancer LNCaP cells.

METHODSWe divided LNCaP cells into a blank control, a negative control, and a miRNA-l01 transfection group, constructed the vector by transfecting synthetic miRNA-101 mimics into the LNCaP cells, and evaluated the efficiency of transfection by fluorescence microscopy. Then we determined the expression level of EZH2 mRNA by qRT-PCR in the three groups of cells and that of the EZH2 protein in the negative control and transfection groups by Western blot.

RESULTSGreen fluorescence signals were observed in over 70% of the LNCaP cells in the transfection group after 24 hours of transfection. At 72 hours, the expression of miRNA-101 was significantly upregulated in the transfected cells (P < 0.01), that of EZH2 mRNA was remarkably lower in the transfection group (0.01 ± 0.10) than in the blank control (0.95 ± 0.40) and negative control (0.86 ± 0.30) groups (both P < 0.01), and that of the EZH2 protein was increased in the negative control but decreased in the transfection group with the extension of culture time.

CONCLUSIONmiRNA-101, with its inhibitory effect on the expression of EZH2 in LNCaP cells, is a potential biotherapeutic for prostate cancer.

Androgens ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of peimine on excision repair cross-complementation 1 (ERCC1) mRNA and lung resistant protein (LRP) expressions in A549/cisplatin (DDP) multidrug resistance (MDR) cell line.

METHODSLung cancer A549/DDP cells were cultured in vitro.Cells at logarithmic growth phase were divided into 4 groups, i.e., the blank control group, the DDP group, the ligustrazine group (DDP+ligustrazine), the peimine group (DDP + peimine). After 48-h drug action, ERCC1 mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR and LRP expression detected by cell immunofluorescence.

RESULTSThere was no statistical difference in expression levels of ERCC1 mRNA and LRP between the DDP group and the blank control group (P > 0.05). Compared with the DDP group, expression levels of ERCC1 mRNA and LRP obviously decreased in the ligustrazine group and the peimine group (P < 0.05). They were obviously lower in the peimine group than in the ligustrazine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPeimine could reverse MDR of A549/DDP cell line. Its mechanism might be associated with down-regulating ERCC1 mRNA and LRP expression levels.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Cevanes ; pharmacology ; Cisplatin ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Endonucleases ; genetics ; Humans ; Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-1 ; genetics ; Lung Neoplasms ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo determine the correlation of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G)expression with CMV active infection after kidney transplantation. MethodsA total of 215 first-time kidney transplantation recipients in one transplantation center were divided into CMV ( + ) group and CMV ( - ) group according to whether they had active CMV infection. mhla-g1 expression on leukocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. The concentrations of soluble HLA-G5 were detected by using ELISA. The sHLA-G5 cutoff levels by ROC curve was employed to predict the active CMV infection. The expression of sHLA-G5 mRNA and protein in leukocytes was analyzed by using RTPCR and Western blotting respectively. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the HLA-G expression in kidney biopsies of 12 cases. ResultsThe expression of mHLA-G1 in peripheral blood was low in both CMV ( + ) group and CMV ( - ) group. Also when CMV-PP65 was positive, there was no significant change in mHLA-G1. In CMV ( + ) group, the proportion of CD14+ mHLA-G1 +cells[(45. 53 ± 17.32)％]in peripheral blood was increased as compared with that in CMV (-)group[(10. 22 ± 5.78)％]. The expression of sHLA-G5 was increased significantly in CMV ( + )group. The optimal cutoff value of sHLA-G5 predicting the active CMV infection was 202. 9 μg/L,with high diagnostic accuracy. HLA-G was positive in the kidney tissue of 10 patients out of 12 patients with active CMV infection. Both RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that sHLA-G5 was significantly higher in CMV ( + ) group than that in CMV ( - ) group. ConclusionROC curve analysis of sHLA-G5 with the cutoff value of 202. 9 μg/L can be used to predict the active CMV infection. The HLA-G levels in peripheral blood were significantly increased and HLA-G expression in the tubular epithelial cells of the graft could be a protection mechanism of the kidney function.