OBJECTIVE To evaluate the possibility that CdCl2 induces autophagy and apoptosis in HEK293 cells,and the role of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2) and AKT proteins in autophagy. METHODS Green fluorescence protein(GFP)-light chain 3B(LC3B)expression plasmid was transfected into HEK293 cells. After 24 h,HEK293 cells were induced with CdCl2 2,4,8 and 10μmol·L-1 for 12 h. The expression of GFP-LC3B was detected by fluorescent microscopy. HEK293 cells were induced with CdCl2 2,4,8 and 10μmol · L-1 without transfection of GFP-LC3B for 12 h while autophagic vacuoles were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The expression of LC3B-Ⅱ/Ⅰproteins and the phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and AKT were analyzed by Western blotting. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry microscopy. HEK293 cells were treated with 3-MA 20μmol · L-1+CdCl2 10 μmol · L-1 for 12 h before cleaved caspase 3 protein was detected by Western blotting. RESULTS When HEK293 cells were exposed to CdCl2(≤10μmol · L-1)for 12 h,cytoplasmic GFP-LC3B punctuates were observed under the fluorescence microscope,and autophagic vacuoles were observed under an electron microscope. The expression of LC3B-Ⅱ/Ⅰ,p-ERK1/2 and p-AKT proteins was significantly increased in CdCl2-induced cells(P<0.05,P<0.01). Moreover,apoptosis was observed. The addition of 3-MA 20μmol · L-1+CdCl2 10μmol · L-1 enhanced apoptosis. Cleaved capase 3 protein expression was significantly increased(P<0.01). CONCLUSION CdCl2(≤10μmol·L-1)can induce autophagy in HEK293 cells. ERK1/2 and AKT proteins might be associated with the activation of autophagy that is accompanied by apoptosis,suggesting that autophagy can inhibit apoptosis at certain concentrations of CdCl2.

Objective:To investigate the value of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in diagnosis of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis for early cervical cancer.Methods:Retrospectively analyze the preoperative PET/CT examination results and postoperative pathological results of patients with early cervical cancer who underwent surgical treatment from May 5, 2019 to August 31, 2020, and analyze the clinical characteristics, so as to explore the high risk factors of PET/CT in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis.Results:The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve (AUC) of PET/CT in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis were 75.2%, 60.0%, 81.3% and 0.707, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, tumor diameter >4 cm, lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI) positive, depth of invasion, high squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) level and cytological grade were important factors for PET/CT in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis ( P<0.05); Multivariate analysis showed that tumor diameter >4 cm was an independent risk factor for PET/CT diagnosis of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis ( P=0.015). Conclusions:PET/CT has a certain diagnostic value in the evaluation of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis, but it can not fully reflect the facticity of lymph node metastasis; tumor diameter > 4cm is an independent risk factor for PET/CT in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis.

Aim: To prepare a novel contraceptive patch containing gestodene(GEST) and ethinylestradiol(EE), and to study the in vitro characterization and in vivo contraceptive effect. Methods: Double-layer technique was applied to sustain steady 7-day permeation flux of drugs. Polariscope examination was carried out to observe the drug distribution behavior in the patch. Uniformity, adhesion, skin irritation, release and permeation tests were conducted to evaluate in vitro characterization. Anti-implantation and anti-fertility experiments were carried out to investigate its contraceptive effect. Results: The in vitro release profiles of both drugs were in accordance with Higuchi equation. The daily permeated amount of GEST per 10 cm2 patch was about 75 μg while the amount of EE was 30 μg.The in vitro transdermal permeation of both drugs from the patches displayed a zero-order process. Permeation rate constants were 0. 377 μg/(cm2·h) for GEST, and 0. 092 μg/(cm2· h) for EE, respec-tively. After transdermal administration, the embryonic number of the test groups was zero, and the uterus coefficients of those groups were significantly reduced compared with those of the control group (P < 0. 01). Conclusion: Double-layer transdermal drug delivery system(TDDS) could allow the steady 7-day permeation flux of drugs when the drug ratio between the immediate-release layer and the reservoir layer was 1:4. In vivo charac-terization demonstrated its contraceptive effects. The prepared novel patch might be a promising non-oral contra-ceptive preparation.

Objective:To clarify the characteristics and differences between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)in male children.Methods:Forty boys with OCD and 40 boys with ADHD were selected from out-patient department,and 40 normal boys matched with age,gender and IQ were recruited as the controls.Patients'diagnosis was made according to the International Statistical Classifica-tion of Diseases and Related Health Problems,Tenth Revision (ICD-10).The choice delay tasks (CDT1 /2)were assessed respectively for the measurements of normal or high ecological validity of delay aversion.In CDT1 /2, waiting time and scores of the tasks were indicators reflecting the delay aversion.Results:The scores of CDTs were higher in children with OCD than in the controls [CDT1,(30.9 ±3.2)vs.(27.6 ±3.8);CDT2,(31.3 ±4.4)vs. (28.5 ±4.9);P <0.01].The scores of CDTs were lower in children with ADHD than in the controls [CDT1, [(25.0 ±4.3)vs.(27.6 ±3.8)];CDT2,[(26.2 ±4.6)vs.(28.5 ±4.9);P <0.001].Conclusion:The results in-dicate that the children with OCD have a trend to choose the task with longer waiting time and higher score,and the children with ADHD trend to choose the task with shorter waiting time and lower score.The results suggest that the pathogenesis of hyperactivity/impulse control may be different between OCD and ADHD in delay aversion.

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is used to quantitatively analyze the hardness of the tissue by Young's modulus.The hardness of the tissue is visualized in the form of color coding to distinguish the benign and malignant tissue detected.SWE has higher sensitivity,accuracy and specificity compared with traditional color doppler,which is more objective than elastography,safer,cheaper and simpler than MRI.SWE has a good application prospect in the diagnosis,clinical staging and curative effect monitoring of cervical cancer.

Perioperative neurocognitive disorders(PND)is a common complication after surgery or anesthesia, especially in elderly patients.The effects and mechanism of body temperature on PND are still controversial.In this paper, the relationship between body temperature and PND and its possible mechanism of action were discussed based on some research results of perioperative body temperature management in elderly patients, aiming at suggesting the significance of body temperature management in preventing PND.

Preterm birth is the most common maternal complication in twin pregnancies. In recent years, cervical cerclage has been of long-standing interest in the prevention of preterm birth in twin pregnancies. However, its clinical application in the treatment of cervical insufficiency of twin pregnancies remains a controversial subject. In addition, infection or inflammation conditions are considered to be closely related to the perinatal outcomes of twin pregnancies after cervical cerclage. This paper reviews the research progress on cervical cerclage in twin pregnancies, recommending cervical cerclage for twin pregnancies with cervical length≤15 mm or cervical dilatation, while it is not suggested for those with cervical length of 15-25 mm or history-indicated cervical cerclage. The clinical significance of preoperative evaluation of intraamniotic infection or inflammation of twin pregnancies needs to be further explored, but it is necessary to avoid the effect of antibiotic use on the evaluation of surgical effects.

Gallbladder cancer constitutes the most prevalent malignant tumor of the biliary tract. It exhibits clinical characteristics such as challenging diagnosis in early stages, aggressive invasiveness, and poor prognosis. Studies have discovered that the occurrence, development, and metastasis of malignant tumors are closely associated with the inflammatory response, and the level of systemic inflammation within the body can be reflected by peripheral blood inflammatory indicators. This review delineates the research progress on the correlation between peripheral blood inflammatory markers and the prognosis of gallbladder cancer, with the intention of providing references for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis evaluation of gallbladder cancer.

Objective To explore the values of shear wave elastography (SWE) and ultrasonic grading in liver grafts from brain death donor (DBD).Methods Liver grafts of 39 DBD cases were examined preoperatively by ultrasonography (US) and SWE.Blood samples were tested preoperatively.Based upon early allograft function of liver recipients,the donors were classified into early allograft dysfunction (EAD) and early allograft function normal (non-EAD) groups.The SWE/ US grading results of EAD group were compared with those of non-EAD group.Receiver operating curve (ROC) was employed for analyzing the diagnostic accuracy of SWE/US grading in EAD.Results The SWE value of EAD group was significantly higher than that of non-EAD group [(6.65 ± 2.69)vs.(3.50 ± 1.27) kPa,P＜0.05].Ultrasonic grading of EAD group was also significantly higher than that of non-EAD group (P＜0.05).The area under ROC curve (AUROC) of SWE in EAD was 0.939,optimal cut-off value 4.56 kPa,AUROC of ultrasonic grading 0.806 (P =0.003) and optimal cut-off value level 3.5.Conclusions SWE quantifies fibrosis in liver grafts of DBD with a high diagnostic accuracy.There are significant correlations between EAD after liver transplantation and SWE value of liver grafts and ultrasonic grading.SWE and ultrasonic grading may improve the assessments of liver grafts of DBD.

Objective To investigate the effect of exosomal miR-146a-5p expression on gray matter volume in patients with major depressive disorder(MDD).Methods A total of 113 MDD patients(MDD group)and 107 healthy controls(HC)(HC group)were selected.Peripheral blood was collected and exosomes were isolated to quantify miR-146a-5p expression.Brain high-resolution T1 WI images of MDD and HC were obtained via MR,and gray matter volume was computed via SPM12 software.The interaction effect of"Depression×miR-146a-5p expression"on gray matter volume was analyzed using SPM's Flexible factorial design,and the between-group difference was assessed by extracting the mean value,thus to analyze whether MDD-related gray matter volume abnormalities were dependent on miR-146a-5p expression.Results Exosomal miR-146a-5p expression was significantly elevated in MDD group compared to HC group.Voxel-based factorial analysis revealed a relationship between high miR-146a-5p expression in MDD group and reduced gray matter volume in the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices(independent voxel threshold P＜0.001,AlphaSim corrected),and a significantly reduced gray matter volume as compared with HC group was detected in the two regions.Conclusion The exosomal miR-146a-5p is overexpressed in patients with MDD and may be associated with specific cortical atrophy in patients with MDD.