Mean hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of about 3 500 subjects derived from 17 studies of Himalayan highlanders (Tibetans, Sherpas, and Ladakhis) was compared with lowlanders (Chinese Han, Indian Tamils) lived in the Himalayas, and European climbers during Everest expeditions as well as Andean natives. The results found that Hb concentration in Himalayan highlanders was systemically lower than those reported for Andean natives and lowland immigrants. These comparative data demonstrated that a healthy native population may successfully reside at high altitude without a significant elevation in Hb, and the lower Hb levels of Himalayan highlanders than those of migrated lowlanders and Andean natives are an example of favourable adaptation over the generations. In addition, excessive polycythemia has frequently been used as a marker of chronic mountain sickness (CMS). Altitude populations who have a higher Hb concentration also have a higher incidence of CMS. The low Hb in Himalayans suggested as showing adaptation over many generations in Tibetan stock. Recent work in Tibet, suggested that Tibetans there may have adapted to high altitude as a result of evolutionary pressure selecting for genes which give an advantage at altitude. All of the population genomic and statistical analysis indicated that EPAS1 and EGLN1 are mostly likely responsible for high altitude adaptation and closely related to low Hb concentration in Tibetans. These data supported the hypothesis that Himalayan highlanders have evolved a genetically different erythropoietic response to chronic hypoxia by virtue of their much longer exposure to high altitude.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Altitude ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Hemoglobins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases ; genetics ; Tibet

Objective To investigate the effect of gypenoside on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated inflammatory response. Methods The BV2 microglia cell line was cultured in vitro. The BV2 microglia cells were divided into four groups: normal control, LPS (10 ng/ml), GP + LPS (GP 20 μg/ml, LPS 10 ng/ml), and GP (20 μg/ml). After 24 h cultivation, ELISA was used to detect the levels of tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. Immunocytochemistry staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of nuclear factor (NF-κB) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS-1). Results Compared with the normal control group, the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the expression level of NF-κB in the LPS group were increased significantly (all P < 0. 001). Compared with the LPS group, the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the expression level of NFκB were decreased significantly, while the expression level of SOCS-1 was increased significantly (P < 0. 001). There were no significant differences in the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the expression levels of NF-κB and SOCS-1 between the GP group and normal control group (all P > 0. 05 ). Conclusions GP can significantly inhibit the LPS-mediated microglial inflammatory response. SOCS-1 protein may be involved in GP inhibiting LPS-mediated microglial inflammatory response.

This paper describes the development of the combined tumor therapeutic equipment based on the theory of 1 + 1 = 3 or 1 + 1 > 3 tumor combined treatment synergism. It has become a promising and valuable method dealing with cancer tumors for its good adaptability, better effectiveness and convenience. The therapeutic equipment is combined with PC and MS windows operation system, and adopts intellectual temperature control device, which realizes homogeneous and smooth heating to intracavity tumor focus and automatic processing and statistical management of all case data. The equipment works stably and is of great value in clinical applications.
Algorithms ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; instrumentation ; methods ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; Male ; Microcomputers ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Software ; Therapy, Computer-Assisted ; instrumentation

ABSTRACT:Objective To evaluate the curative effect of tension-free vaginal tape-obturator (TVT-O)and modified TVT-O in treating female stress urinary incontinence (SUI).Methods We selected 1 1 3 female patients diagnosed with SUI from January to December 2013 in our department and divided them into standard TVT-O group (group A,5 6 cases)and modified TVT-O group (group B,5 7 cases).We evaluated prospectively the safety,short-term efficacy and complications of operation in the two groups.Results The length from bilateral obturator membrane to the puncture point in the skin was greater in group A than in group B.The average intraoperative blood loss was more in group A than in group B.The median NRS score of postoperatie thigh pain in group A was higher than in group B (P<0 .0 5 ).The two groups did not differ significantly in operation duration,postoperative catheterization,mean hospital stay duration,the length and position from bilateral obturator membrane to the puncture point,or surgical efficacy (P>0.05).Conclusion Both TVT-O and modified TVT-O techniques are effective in treating female SUI.Modified TVT-O has a short path to get through the adductor muscles and less intraoperative blood loss;therefore,it can significantly reduce the complications such as postoperative pain to enhance the quality of life after operation. 

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of combination of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4), CA125 and the Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA) in diagnosis of ovarian carcinoma.

METHODSTo detect the serum concentration of HE4 using ELISA and CA125 using ECL in patients of ovarian carcinoma group (n = 119), borderline ovarian tumor group (n = 36), benign ovarian neoplasm group (n = 96) and female healthy control group (n = 53). The ROMA based on the serum level of CA125, HE4 and a woman's menopausal status was used to calculate the predicted probability (PP) and diagnostic results of ovarian cancers.

RESULTSThe receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed the cut-off value was 67.3 pmol/L (the AUC was 0.906, the sensitivity was 80.7% and specificity was 94.6%). The serum levels of HE4 and CA125 in the ovarian carcinoma group were significantly higher than that in the borderline ovarian tumor group, benign ovarian neoplasm group and female healthy control group (P < 0.01). The serum levels of CA125 and HE4 showed statistically no significant difference between the borderline ovarian tumor group and benign ovarian neoplasm group (P > 0.05). The levels of HE4 and CA125 were reduced significantly in ovarian patients after surgery therapy (P < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of HE4 + CA125 combination was 92.7% and 72.5%. The ROMA that can classify patients into high and low risk groups was established as 9.3% in premenopausal and 27.3% in postmenopausal women.

CONCLUSIONSHE4 is a helpful biomarker for ovarian carcinoma diagnosis. Biomarker combination of HE4 and CA125, and applying of the ROMA are helpful to improve the accuracy in diagnosis of ovarian cancers.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; blood ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; CA-125 Antigen ; blood ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; blood ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Cystadenoma, Serous ; blood ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Endometriosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Proteins ; metabolism ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Teratoma ; blood ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDHyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBO) is a new method of ischemia preconditioning. In this study, we examined its effects on skin flap survival and the mechanisms involved.

METHODSThirty-six rats were divided into three groups: HBO preconditioning, control, and sham groups. An extended epigastric adipocutaneous flap based on the right superficial epigastric artery and vein was raised. A 3-hour period of flap ischemia was induced by clamping the pedicle vessels with a microvascular clamp. At the end of ischemia induction, the clamp was removed and the flap was resutured. Rats in the HBO preconditioning group were treated with HBO four times before surgery. Microcirculation in the skin flap was measured on postoperative days 1, 3 and 5. The size of the flap was measured on postoperative day 5, before the animals were sacrificed. Samples of the skin flap were prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in the flap samples were measured.

RESULTSSurviving flap size was significantly higher in the HBO preconditioning group compared with controls, with a reduced inflammatory response and increased perfusion. IL-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels in the HBO preconditioning group were lower than in controls.

CONCLUSIONSHBO preconditioning improved flap survival in this ischemia-reperfusion rat model. The mechanisms responsible for this effect may relate to attenuation of the inflammatory response and increased flap perfusion following HBO preconditioning.

Animals ; Graft Survival ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; methods ; Ischemia ; surgery ; Male ; Microcirculation ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; Surgical Flaps

This study was designed to evaluate the role of bcl-2 transcriptional regulation induced by calmodulin I (CaM I) in pressure overload rat hypertrophic hearts. The model of hypertensive Sprague-Dawley rat was established by abdominal aortic constriction. The hearts were collected four weeks after abdominal aortic constriction. Velocity and isopyknic gradient centrifugation was employed to fractionate rat myocardial nuclei. Western blot analysis revealed a marked increase in phosphorylated cAMP response-element binding protein (pCREB) of cardiac hypertrophy group compared with that in control group (P<0.05), while the protein level of cAMP response-element binding protein (CREB) was constant (P>0.05). Immunohistochemistry results showed a significant increase of CaM I protein in cardiac hypertrophy group relative to the control group (P<0.05). Nuclear run off transcription assay displayed a significant increase in bcl-2 mRNA treated with trifluoperazne compared with non-drug treatment (P<0.05). The results obtained suggest that the transcription of bcl-2 is possibly regulated by CaM I hypertrophic rat hearts, and CREB phosphorylation seems to be a minor factor in bcl-2 transcriptional regulation.
Animals ; Aorta, Abdominal ; pathology ; Calmodulin ; physiology ; Cardiomegaly ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Constriction ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Invasion and metastasis are key factors contributing to the high mortality rate of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involving a complex mechanism. In the invasion and metastasis of HCC, miRNAs can serve as either oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes to regulate the differentiation and proliferation of tumor cells being and play important roles in tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. This review summarizes the recent progress in research of the molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs targeting GSK-3β regulate HCC invasion and metastasis and examines the roles of miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, metastasis, and GSK-3β regulation.

OBJECTIVEAim of our study was to compare hematological parameters in Tibetan natives with those in Han migrants living on the Tibet plateau in order to determine the potential effects of age, gender, and ethnicity on hematological response to hypoxia.

METHODSBlood hemoglobin (Hb, g/dl), hematocrit (Hct, %), red blood cells (RBC,10(6)/mm3) were measured in 3 588 healthy Tibetan natives and 3 371 Han migrants ranging in age from 5 to 72 years, living at a mean altitudes of 2 664 m, 3 813 m, 4 525m and 5 226 m.

RESULTSHemoglobin (Hb) concentration analysis was made by multiple regression equations relating hemoglobin to altitude and age. For 2 093 Han males, Hb = 9.612+ 0.001440xaltitude+ 0.06148xage. For 1 948 Tibetan males, Hb =12.202+ 0.000462xaltitude+ 0.02893xage. For 1 278 Han females, Hb = 10.858+ 0.000939xaltitude+ 0.02632xage. For 1 640 Tibetan females, Hb = 11.402+ 0.000626xaltitude+ 0.00412xage. Each of the four equations was statistically significant (P < 0.001), and had variance (r2) of 0.86 or more, indicating that altitude and age accounted for at least 85% of the variation in hemoglobin levels. The coefficients for altitude and for age were higher (P < 0.05) in Han males than in Tibetan males and higher (P < 0.05) in Han females than in Tibetan females. The Tibetan postmenopausal females had higher Hb values than premenopausal females only presented at altitude above 4 000 m while this phenomenon was beginning at altitude of 2 664 m among Han females.

CONCLUSIONWe conclude that gender and increasing age in Tibetans are associated with lower hemoglobin values than those in Han at high altitude, and we speculate that genetic factors seems to be important.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Altitude ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; ethnology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibet ; Transients and Migrants ; Young Adult

A practical approach to the synthesis of the A, B and C-ring subunit of cyclopamine has been developed. This synthetic tactic highlights the utility of mandelate acetal-mediated resolution of the fused ring ketone (±)-4 and IBX-mediated oxidation cascades from 12 to 9. The availability of advanced intermediates from enantiomerically pure (+)-4 and 2 could provide efficient access to biologically active and structurally diverse C-nor-D-homo-steroidal alkaloids such as cyclopamine.
Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic ; methods ; Molecular Structure ; Organic Chemistry Phenomena ; Stereoisomerism ; Steroids ; chemistry ; Veratrum Alkaloids ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry