Objective To investigate the changes in histological characteristics and collagen content in uterosacral and cardinal ligaments of pefimenopausal women in relation to relaxation of pelvic supports.Methods Twenty-eight subjects undergoing hysterectomies were selected,in which 14 cases were perimenopausal women with relaxation of pelvic support as the relaxation group and 14 women at perimenopansal age with leomyoma,cervical cancer,adenomyosis as the control group.Samples of cardinal ligaments and uterosacral ligaments were obtained at hysterectomies,and the tissues were shced and stained bv Masson's trichrome technique.Histological characteristics of the samples were studied and immunohistochemistry assay was applied to demonstrate the contents of collagen types I andⅢ.Results (1)The collagen in uterosacral ligaments and cardinal ligaments were stained blue by tlle MaSson's trichome technique.In comparison to the control group,the relaxation group had milder positive stains of the collagen and the stains were distributed in unequal intensities.Collagen content was arranged in loose pattern.Focal arrangement of the collagen was dense but fragmented.Collagen fibers were atrophic. (2)In immunohistochemistry assay and image analysis,collagen was positive in light to deep brown areas.In the relaxation group,positive units of collagen types I and III in cardinal ligaments were 13.8±2.1 and 9.6±2.4 respectively.Positive units of coHagen types I and Ⅲ of cardinal ligaments in the control group were 27.4 ±3.5 and 17.7 ±4.0 respectively.Difierences between these two groups were statistically significant (P

Objective: To detect the expression of CDX2, COX-2, and NF-κB in the tissues of gastric carcinoma (GC), precancerous lesions, and normal gastric mucosa and to in vestigate the correlation among CDX2, COX-2, and NF-κB. Methods:Data on the expression of CDX2, COX-2, and NF-κB were evaluated using immunohistochemistry in 60 cases with GC, 45 cases with precancerous lesions, and 20 cases with normal tissues. The protein levels in different pathological tissues, as well as their correlation with GC, were analyzed. Results:The positive rates of NF-κB and COX-2 proteins were significantly higher in GC group than those in precancerous lesion and normal tissue groups (P<0.05). CDX2 was expressed in GC and precancerous lesion groups but poorly expressed in the normal mucosa. The positive rate of CDX2 expression was significantly higher in precancerous lesion group than that in GC group (P<0.01). NF-κB expression was positively correlated with COX-2 in GC (P<0.01), whereas CDX2 expression was negatively correlated with COX-2 and NF-κB in GC (P<0.01). Conclusion:CDX2, COX-2, and NF-κB are possibly correlated with one another, and they cooperate during the onset, progression, and metastasis of GC.

BACKGROUND:The third molar extraction may lead to different degrees of soft tissue damage. Ultrasound and ultrashort waves belong to hyperthermia, which can increase tissue temperature and improve the therapeutic efficacy of soft tissue stretch. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of soft tissue stretch combined with ultrasound and ultrashort wave therapy for patients who were recently diagnosed with trismus and pain folowing third molar removal. METHODS:Sixteen patients with trismus and pain after third molar removal were randomly divided into two groups: patients in stretch group received soft tissue stretch with ultrasound and ultrashort wave therapy, while those in control group received only ultrasound and ultrashort wave therapy. Patients received the treatment five times per week, totaly for 2 weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:It was found that after treatment pain was significantly reduced at the temporomandibular joint, and the range of maximum active mouth opening increased significantly. The improvement in mouth opening and temporomandibular joint function was better in the stretch group than the control group. These findings indicate that ultrasound and ultrashort wave therapy can improve symptoms of trismus and pain folowing third molar removal, and the combination of ultrasound and ultrashort wave therapy and soft tissue stretch therapy can achieve more effective results.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and neuroimaging features of atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RT) of the central nervous system and the survival prognosis in different locations.Methods:The clinical data of 27 patients with AT/RT confirmed by biopsy or postoperative pathology in Sanbo Brain Hospital of Capital Medical University from October 2012 to September 2020 were collected, including 17 males and 10 females, aged (7.6±10.0) years, ranging from 0.2 to 39.0 years old.The clinical features and the results of the first preoperative imaging examination were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into supratentorial, infratentorial and trans supratentorial and infratentorial groups according to the location.The survival time of the three groups was compared by Kaplan-Meier survival curve.Results:All patients presented with headache, including 12 cases with vomiting.There were 12 cases of supratentorial, 10 cases of infratentorial and 5 cases of supratentorial and infratentorial.There were 20 cases of cystic degeneration, 7 cases of calcification, 6 cases of hemorrhage and 13 cases of peritumoral edema.The median survival time of patients with infratentorial AT/RT was longer than that of patients with supratentorial and transtentorial AT/RT (χ 2=7.353, P=0.025). Conclusion:Central nervous system AT/RT is easy to occur in young children, and the survival time of AT/RT patients is longer.

italic>α-Conotoxin ArIB[V11L,V16D] is currently the most optimal selective inhibitor of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) known. In order to explore chemical modification methods and enrich its application in targeting nAChR, this study utilized the linker to covalently connect camptothecin and 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin to the [2,4] disulfide bond of ArIB[V11L,V16D]. Therefore, two peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs), ArIB[V11L,V16D]-5 and ArIB[V11L,V16D]-6, and one fluorescent-labeled peptide, ArIB[V11L,V16D]-7 were constructed. Cytotoxicity evaluation showed that the IC₅₀ values against non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549 of the two PDCs were respectively 1.3 and 4.1 times of camptothecin, indicating slight reduction in activity at the cellular level which was related to the linker structure. Fluorescence spectrum scanning revealed that the excitation and emission wavelength of the fluorescent-labeled peptide were 340 nm and 403 nm respectively, and the fluorescence features of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin as a marker were retained without fluorescence quenching. This modification strategy laid a solid foundation for the further application of α-conotoxin ArIB[V11L,V16D] in PDCs and fluorescent probes.

?AIM:To compare the coherence and difference on the fundus examination made with two kinds of optical coherence tomography ( OCT): Angio-OCT and fourier domain-optical coherence tomography ( FD-OCT) .?METHODS:Using Angio-OCT and FD-OCT to measure the retinal nerve fiber layer ( RNFL ) thickness, optic parameters, and ganglion cell complexes ( GCC ) thickness from 20 subjects respectively.The coherence was tested with Pearson's correlation coefficient, the difference was tested with paired Student t testing.?RESULTS:The total correlation of the RNFL thickness, optic parameters, GCC thickness made with two kinds of OCT was between 0.7-0.8;the RNFL thickness, optic disk area etc.made with the Angio-OCT were lower than those made with FD-OCT except for the GCC thickness.?CONCLUSION: The results made with two kinds of OCT from the same subject has certain coherence, but cannot be compared directly.

Objective This study was to understand the structure characteristics of prophages in the genome of Enterococcus hirae R17,and also to analyze their interaction relationships with the host bacterium.Methods The gene distribution and gene encoding characteristics of prophages in the genome of Enterococcus hirae R17 were identified using the PHAST software.The virulence gene,antimicrobial resistance genes,and environmental resistance genes in the prophages were also analyzed.Results Three prophages were found on the chromosome of Enterococcus hirae,including two incomplete prophage elements (Prophage-1 and Prophage-2) and one complete prophage (Prophage-3).Some function genes of bacteria were found in the sequence of three prophages,including nucleotide transportation and metabolism related genes.One incomplete prophage carrying erythromycin-and bacitracin-resistance genes was identified in the plasmid,which suggested that prophage induced gene horizontal transfer caused erythromycin-and bacitracin-resistance of Enterococcus hirae R17.Conclusion This study laid a solid foundation for the diversity analysis of prophages of Enterococcus hirae.Prophages played an important role in promotion of antimicrobial resistance of enterococci.Scientists should pay more attention to the spread of antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity induced by prophages.

Objective To evaluate the effect of metformin on inflammatory response around the hematoma after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in mice. Methods A total of 60 male C57/BL6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups:Sham group, model group and metformin group, 20 mice for each group. The model group and metformin group were injected bacterial collagenase (1 μL, 0.075 U) into the striatum. The Sham group was injected 1 μL saline into the striatum. The metformin group was treated with metformin (gavage administration, 100 mg/kg) 6 h after ICH and for 7 consecutive days. The model group was given equal saline orally. The expression levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the calcium binding protein 1 (Iba-1) around the hematoma (microglia) were detected by immunohistochemical staining at 3 days and 7 days after ICH. Interleukin-1β and TNF-α were detected by Western blot assay at 3 days after ICH. Results Results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the positive expression levels of MPO and Iba-1 were significantly lower than those in model group 3 days and 7 days after treatment (P<0.05). The expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly lower in metformin group than those in model group 3 days after treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion Metformin can reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory cells and the excessive activation of microglia after ICH in mice.

Objective To explore the molecular mechanisms of primary amenorrhea by using arrayCGH technology. Methods Ten patients with primary amenorrhea and 10 female volunteers with regular menstrual cycles as healthy controls were selected. All patients and control samples were analyzed by conventional chromosome analysis (G-banding technology) and array-CGH technology, respectively. ArrayCGH was performed using Affymetrix Cytogenetic 2. 7M arrays following the manufacturer's standard protocol. Results Both the patient group and control group analyzed by conventional G-banding karyotype technology showed a negative result with a normal female karyotype: 46, XX. The result of array-CGH analysis demonstrated a microdeletion of approximately 110 000 bp located at the end of the short arm of X chromosome [46, X, del (X) (p22. 33 )] were identified in 5 patients, which was not detected in the control group. All healthy control samples by array-CGH analysis showed no pathological DNA copy number variation. Conclusions Array-CGH technology can improve the diagnosis rate of chromosomal disease at the DNA level. It is necessary to provide array-CGH for higher resolution genetic analysis of idiopathic primary amenorrhea patient who can not be identified by conventional technology.

Objective To analyze the outcomes of radiotherapy for 74 patients with intracranial ger-minoma. Methods Between 1990 and 2007,74 patients with intracranial germinoma(9 pathologically diag-nosed and 65 clinically diagnosed) were treated with radiotherapy in our hospital. The median age at diagno-sis was 15 (range 5-45) years. Radiation treatment fields varied among patients, including craniospinal irra-diation(CSI), whole brain irradiation, whole ventricular irradiation with primary tumor boost, and involved-field irradiation only to the primary tumor plus margin. The dose was 38.5 -50.0 Gy to the tumor,18-25 Gy to the whole brain/ventricular,and 21-25 Gy to the whole spinal cord in fractions of 1.6-2.0 Gy per day,5 fractions per week. Results The median follow-up time was 80(range 12-168) months and the fol-low-up rate was 97%. Fourteen patients had been followed up for over 10 years. The 1-,5- and 10-year o-verall survival rates were 99% ,96% and 93%. The corresponding disease free survival rates were 97%, 90% and 83%, respectively. Relapses occurred in 9 patients. For the 6 patients with in-field relapse, the dose to the tumor was 38.5-40.0 Gy in 3 patients, 41-45 Gy in 2 and 46-50 Gy in 1. Relapse in the spinal cord was found in 3 patients and none of them received spinal irradiation. Twenty-one patients re-quired hormonal replacement therapy because of radiation induced hypofunction of prehypophysis. Conclu-sions Radiotherapy alone is a curative treatment for intracranial germinoma. The proper dose should be de-termined by tumor numbers and the examination of cerebrospinal fluid.