Background The pathogenesis of dry eye is complicated,hormone level is thought to be one of impact factors in the development of dry eye.The regulation of the synthesis process of metalloproteinases(MMPs) in tissue has been reported.However,the effects of hormone on expression of MMP-2 in lachrymal gland is not clear.Objective This study was to investigate the effects of estrogen and androgen on the expression of MMP-2 in lachrymal gland in ovariectomized rats,and explore the role of MMP-2 in dry eye.Methods Sixty-four 3-monthold clean female Wistar rats were randomized into control group(8 rats),sham operation group(8 rats)and experiment group(48 rats).Ovariectomy(OVX) was performed on the rats of experiment group,and only fat tissue of abdominal cavity was cut off in the rats of the sham operation group.After 5 months of OVX,the experimental rats were subdivided into model control group,vehicle group,estrogen and androgen systemic or topical utilization groups and 8 rats for each group.Six weeks after administration of the drugs,the lachrymal gland was obtained.The expression of MMP-2 mRNA in the lachrymal gland was detected by reverse transcription PCR(RT-PCR),β-actin mRNA was used as an internal control,and the expression of MMP-2 protein was detected by Western blot,GAPDH was used as protein loading control.The use and care of the rats complied with the ARVO Statement.Results The expression of MMP-2 mRNA was strongest in the systemic estrogen group and was weakest in the systemic androgen utilization group.A significant difference in the MMP-2 mRNA expression was found among the 8 groups(F=18.60,P＜0.01),and the MMP-2 mRNA was significantly higher in the model group than that of the normal control group(0.66±0.10vs.0.47±0.10)(q=3.01,P＜0.05).In addition,the MMP-2 mRNA was significantly higher in the systemic estrogen group compared with the model group (0.83 ±0.10 vs.0.66-0.10) (q =2.79,P＜0.05) ; while the expression of MMP-2 mRNA was significantly declined in the systemic androgen group in comparison with the model group(0.12±0.04 vs.0.66±0.10)(q=11.41,P＜0.01).The MMP-2 protein presented with a strongest expression in the systemic estrogen utilization group and a weakest expression in the systemic androgen utilization groups.The expression level of the MMP-2 protein in the lachrymal gland was significantly different among the 8 groups(F =7.28,P＜0.01).The MMP-2 in the model group was significantly higher than that of the normal group(0.55±0.13 vs.0.38±0.08) (q =2.39,P＜0.05),and that in the systemic estrogen group was increased in comparison with the model group(0.69±0.12 vs.0.55±0.13) (q =1.85,P＜0.05).However,the MMP-2 in the systemic androgen group was significantly lowed in comparison with the model group(0.27±0.07 vs.0.55±0.13) (q =4.32,P＜0.01).Conclusions Estrogen may up-regulate the expression of MMP-2 in lachrymal gland,but the effect of androgen is opposite.Hormone level may play an important role in the regulation of the function of lachrymal gland.

Background The underlying mechanism of choroidal neovascularization(CNV) is multifactorial and complex.Focal adhesion kinase(FAK) plays a crucial role in controlling essential cellular processes and influencing distinct steps of the angiogenic response.But to our knowledge,seldom study on the effect of FAK on CNV formation has been reported previously.Objective In this study,the effect of several CNV risk factors on the expression of FAK in cultured retinal pigment epithelium(RPE) cells was investigated to illuminate effect of FAK on CNV.Methods Human RPE cells were isolated from donor eyes and exposed to H2O2,swallow of outer segment of photoreceptors(POS) and extracellular matrix(ECM) separately with the treating as follows:RPE cells were co-cultured with 10,20,50 and 100μmol/L H2O2 for 20 days;POS(1×106/ml) were co-cultivated with RPE cells for 20 days(setting control group,POS group,hypoxia group with 200μmol/L CoCl2,and POS+hyoxia group);RPE cells were cultured on the plates coated with 100mg/L fibronectin(FN),laminin(LN) or collagen typeⅠfor 30minutes or 1 hour.The expression of FAK and pFAK in RPE cells were examined by Western blot analysis.Results FAK was highly expressed in the 20μmol/L and 50μmol/L H2O2 groups compared with control group(P＜0.01);while he expression level of pFAK was reduced after treated with H2O2 in comparison with the control group(P＜0.01).After cultured with POS for 20 days,the undigested lysosome could be observed in RPE cells.The expressions of FAK and pFAK in RPE cells were not significantly changed between control group and POS groups(P＞0.05),but those in hypoxia group were significantly up-regulated in comparison with control group(P＜0.01).Compared with the hypoxia group,the expression amount of pFAK was elevated in POS+hyoxia group(P＜0.01).In comparison with control group,the increased pFAK expression was seen in FN,LN and collagen typeⅠtreating for 1-hour groups(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion FAK pathway participates in several CNV-initiated signaling,such as H2O2,POS and ECM,in cultured RPE cells.It is reasonable to believe that FAK potentially plays an important role in CNV-dependent disorder.

Objective To explore the mutation of androgen receptor(AR)gene in a patient with 46,XY disorder of sex development(DSD)and to improve the diagnostic level and understanding of androgen insensitivity syndrome(AIS).Methods The clinical data of the child was analyzed,including physical examination,relevant laboratory examination,karyotype,pelvic B ultrasound,pelvic magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and AR gene mutation.The peripheral blood of the child and his parents were drawn,and peripheral blood DNA was extracted.The polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-DNA sequencing method was used to amplify all exons of the AR gene in the child and his parents.Then,they were directly sequenced.Results A 7-years and 2-months old child who suffered from DSD,revealed physical examination that the child had normal female external genitalia,as the clitoris length was 2.0 cm×0.8 cm,with visible vaginal opening,and there were masses at bilateral inguinal region,with a size of 1.5 cm×0.8 cm.The results of human chorionic gonadotropin(HCG)stimulation test:testosterone was 0 nmol/L,androstenedione was 1.78 nmol/L,dihydrotestosterone was 0.07 nmol/L before HCG was injected;but testosterone was 4.69 nmol/L,androstenedione was 2.10 nmol/L,dihydrotestosterone was 0.33 nmol/L after HCG was injection.Sex chromosome analysis reported 46,XY karyotype.Pelvic B ultrasound revealed the absence of a uterus and ovaries and the presence of bilateral testes like gonad at each side of internal inguinal ring,with a size of 1.4 cm×1.0 cm×0.8 cm in the left,1.5 cm×0.7 cm×0.8 cm in the right;but the kidney,ureter,urinary bladder,adrenal gland and retroperitoneal for B ultrasound revealed no abnormality.Pelvic MRI(non-enhanced and enhanced)showed the presence of a blind ending vagina between rectum and urinary bladder(40 mm in depth)and the absence of uterus and ovarian tissue.DNA sequencing found one c.1685T>C heterozygous mutation(p.Ile562Thr)on exon 2 of AR gene in the child.But retrieving and summarzing documents of the domestic and foreign information databases and websites,the locus mutation of AR gene had never been reported.The structure prediction of the mutated protein(Polyohen2 and SIFT software)was significantly changed.By verifying the locus site of the parents of this child,it was found that his mother carried the same mutation,but his father was found to be normal.Conclusions A c.1685 T>C mutation(p.Ile562Thr)on exon 2 of AR gene is a novel mutation.Combined with the patient's clinical manifestations and computer prediction results,it may suggest that the novel mutation of AR gene can lead to the occurrence of AIS.

Objective To investigate the expression in the VEGF,TGF-?1 of cervical squamous car- cinoma infected by HPV16,18.Methods Cells exfoliated from cervix(collected by clinician)of 99 women with cervical cancer and 54 women as a control group were analyzed blindly by human papillomavirus type 16 and 18 Fluorescent Polymerase Reaction Diagnositic kit.The expression of VEGF,TGF-?1 of the positive HPV16,18 of 38 women with cervical squamous cancer were studied by immunohistochemical stain.Results The positive expression of HPV16,18 was observed in 53 in the case of cervical cancer with positive rates of 54 %,but the positive rates was 7 % in the control group(P

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics

Objective To analyze the data from intensity-modulated radiotherapy ( IMRT) for prostate cancer guided by kilovoltage cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and to provide a clinical basis for selecting the optimal image registration method and reasonable target volume margins.Methods A total of 16 patients with prostate cancer who received radical IMRT were enrolled, and CBCT for online position verification was performed 214 times.The images were obtained after conventional skin marking and laser alignment, and automatic registration, bone registration, soft tissue registration, and manual registration were performed for CBCT images and planned CT images.The differences between these four registration methods were evaluated, and the margins for extending clinical target volume into planning target volume (PTV) were calculated.Results The setup errors in left-right, anterior-posterior, and cranial-caudal directions for automatic registration, bone registration, soft tissue registration, and manual registration were-0.6±2.8 mm/-0.6±4.5 mm/-0.6±3.8 mm,-0.7±2.7 mm/-0.9±4.5 mm/-0.8±4.1 mm,-0.8± 2.6 mm/-0.3±4.4 mm/-1.1±4.0 mm, and-0.6±2.9 mm/-0.7±5.1 mm/-0.9±3.9 mm, respectively. There were no significant differences between the four registration methods.The margins for extension in the left-right, anterior-posterior, and cranial-caudal directions were calculated as 4.7 mm, 5.2 mm, and 6.5 mm, respectively.Conclusions With a comprehensive consideration of various factors, a default setting of automatic registration and manual fine adjustment is appropriate for CBCT-guided radiotherapy for prostate cancer.The margins for extension in the left-right, anterior-posterior, and cranial-caudal directions are 4.7 mm, 5.2 mm, and 6.5 mm, respectively.

Objective To observe the motions of the rectum and bladder by image?guided radiotherapy ( IGRT) and to analyze their impact on treatment. Methods Eighteen patients with prostate cancer undergoing intensity?modulated radiotherapy ( IMRT) were enrolled in the study and 247 cone?beam computed tomography ( CBCT) images were obtained from this study. The clinical target volume, bladder, and rectum were contoured on all simulated CT and CBCT to examine their volume and position changes. The dose distributions were recalculated based on the data of the x?, y?, and z?axis setup errors. The doses to planning target volume ( PTV) and organs at risk were calculated in the replanning, and their impact on treatment was analyzed. Comparison of the planning and replanning results was made by paired t?test. The effects of displacements and volumes of the bladder and rectum on target doses were analyzed by Pearson correlation method. Results Great changes in the volumes of the bladder and rectum were observed during the treatment. For the planning and replanning results, PTVD95% was 7777. 37 cGy vs. 7628. 56 cGy ( P=0. 027), PTV Dmin was 87. 91 cGy vs. 83. 35 cGy (P=0. 000), and RVP was 5. 89% vs. 8. 31%(P=0. 000). There were correlations between PTVD95% and the motions of the bladder and rectum, with correlation coefficients of 0. 296 and 0. 177, respectively. The correlation coefficient between rectal volume and PTVD95% was 0. 115, indicating a certain correlation. There is a certain correlation between and PTV Dmin and bladder volume, with a correlation coefficient of?0. 128. Conclusions The recovery of the state during localization for the bladder and rectum, especially the latter, has great significance to ensure the target dose and reduce exposure of the rectum in the IMRT for prostate cancer.

Objective To analyze the treatment outcome and related influencing factors of Tibet- an nationality new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Qinghai Province，so as to provide evidence for tuberculosis control and treatment among Tibetan population． Methods Statistical analysis was conducted on 5 564 Tibetan nationality new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases in Qinghai province who were reported in the China Tuberculosis Information Management System and approved to receive treatment from 2008 to 2017． The main influencing factors were detected by unconditional Logistic regression model analysis，dependent variable was successful treatment or not，independent variables were other factors related to the treatment outcome． Ｒesults The treatment success rate of Tibetan nationality new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases was 87. 1% ( 4 848 /5 564) ，and the adverse outcome rate was 12. 9% ( 716 /5 564) ． Unconditional Logistic regression model analysis indicated that non-full- course supervision management，living in agricultural and pastoral area，having severe disease，floating population，and age older than 60 years were risk factors of adverse outcome． The odds ratio( OＲ) 95% confidence interval( CI) of the above risk factors were 13. 044( 10. 671-15. 944) ，2. 305( 1. 703-3. 119) ， 2. 090( 1. 346-3. 243) ，1. 967( 1. 443-2. 682) ，and 1. 909( 1. 410-2. 586) ． Clinical consultation，farmers and herdsmen were protective factors． The OＲ( 95% CI) were 0. 451( 0. 375-0. 543) ，and 0. 786( 0. 627- 0. 985) ． Conclusions Treatment success rate of Tibetan nationality new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis cases was low． Therefore，the directly observed treatment short-course ( DOTS) strategy should be strictly implemented and the full-course supervision management should be strengthened to improve the treatment success rate． More attention should be paid to the elderly，severe，floating，agricultural and pastoral populations among the Tibetan population．

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the clinical and laboratory characteristics of antinuclear antibody (ANA) positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: The clinical and laboratory data of 428 RA cases from Department of of Rheumatology and Immunology Peking University Third Hospital from Jan 2013 to Dec 2018 were collected and used to analyse characters between ANA positive group and ANA negative group. T test was used for the quantitative data in accordance with normal distribution. Wilcoxon rank sum test was used for the quantitative data of non normal distribution. The qualitative data were analyzed by chi square test. But while 1≤theoretical frequency < 5, chi square test of corrected four grid table was used. And Fisher exact probability method was used when theoretical frequency < 1. RESULTS: The number of ANA positive group was 231 (54%). The female rate was obviously higher in ANA positive group (82.7% vs. 63.5%, χ²=20.355, P < 0.01). The rate of metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJs) involvement was lower in ANA positive group (22.1%) than in ANA negative group (33.0) (χ²=6.414, P < 0.05). The incidence of secondary Sjögren's syndrome (sSS) was much higher in ANA positive group(19.5% vs. 4.1%, χ²=23.300, P < 0.01). The positivity of rheumatoid factor (RF), as well as the positivity of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide(CCP) antibody was much higher in ANA positive group (77.1% vs. 53.8%, χ²=25.743, P < 0.01, 74.9% vs. 59.4%, χ²=11.694, P < 0.01, respectively). The levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) of ANA positive group were higher [(15.1±5.1) g/L vs. (13.8±5.3) g/L, t=2.359, P < 0.05, 1.25 (0.92) g/L vs. 1.05 (0.65) g/L, Z=-3.449, P < 0.01, respectively]. But the levels of hemoglobin (Hb) and platelet (PLT) was lower in ANA positive group[(109.64±17.98) vs. (114.47±18.48) g/L, t=-2.734, P < 0.01; (266.4×10⁹±104.6×10⁹) vs. (295.9×10⁹±100.1×10⁹) /L, t=-2.970, P < 0.01, respectively]. CONCLUSION The incidence of sSS was obviously higher in ANA positive group than in ANA negative group. Serum IgG of ANA positive group was higher, but Hb and PLT were lower.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/epidemiology* ; Autoantibodies ; Female ; Humans ; Laboratories ; Peptides, Cyclic ; Rheumatoid Factor

Encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) is a natural epidemic zoonotic pathogen. However, no reports have been published regarding the isolation, identification and full-length genome of EMCV from a local aardvark population. In present study, an EMCV isolate HNXX13 was isolated from aardvarks named Huainan-pig in Henan Province. The systematic identification, full-length genome sequencing and molecular characteristic analysis of the isolate HNXX13 were conducted. The result showed that the isolate was spherical with a diameter of 24-30 nm, neither heat- nor acid-resistant, sensitive to trypsin, insensitive to chloroform, not protected by bivalent cationic, and the specific fluorescence was observed in the cytoplasm of BHK-21 cells infected with the isolate by using indirect fluorescence assay. The full-length genome of EMCV HNXX13 generated a 7 725bp sequence (GenBank: F771002), with 81.0%-99.9% nucleotide identity to reference strains from different animals, and 99.5% with a Chinese reference strain isolated earlier from a commercial pig herd. The phylogenetic tree based on the full-length genome and ORF sequences identified that all EMCV strains were divided into three groups G1, G2 and G3, and strain HNXX13 belonging to the G1 group with other Chinese reference strains. The result also identified that this EMCV infection could cause severe clinical signs in a local aardvark population, and enriches the molecular epidemiological data of EMCV in China. Regional differences exist in EMCV genome and transmission is limited within a certain area. However, the cross-infection and transmission of EMCV between aardvark and mice appears most likely. Mutations have occurred in some amino acids of EMCV strain HNXX13 during the transmission in local aardvark herd and these mutations might make the virus easier to infect the aardvark.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; virology ; Cardiovirus Infections ; veterinary ; virology ; China ; Encephalomyocarditis virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genome, Viral ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Xenarthra ; virology