Child ; China ; Humans ; Rheumatic Diseases

Objective To investigate whether clinical,endocrine,and sonographic characteristics of infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) could predict the ovarian response to clomiphene citrate (CC) medication.Methods A prospective study was conducted,85 women with PCOS were given CC 50 mg per day for 5 days.In the case of an absent response,doses were increased to 100 daily in subsequent cycles.Clinical,endocrine,and sonographic characteristics were compared between responders and nonresponders.Results The cycle history (oligomenorrhea or amenorrhea) and antral follicle count (AFC) were significantly different in responders from those in nonresponders (P ＜ 0.05).There were no differences in age,serum testosterone,follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),luteotropic hormone (LH),body mass index (BMI),insulin resistant index (HOMA-IR),and glucose and insulin levels between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).In addition,multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that cycle history and AFC were the predictors of ovarian response to CC treatment.Conclusions The cycle history and AFC can be used as the simple and effective parameters to predict ovarian response to CC treatment in PCOS patients.

Objective To understand a cancer hospital inpatient care Ningxia quality of service perceived status quo.Methods Servqual model-based,self-designed Expect Inpatient Nursing Service Quality Perception Questionnaire was used to investigate 160 hospitalized patients and expected to build expectations oncology inpatients quality of care and services-dimensional perception matrix (IPA matrix).Results By analyzing sensible quality (SQ) value and IPA matrix of the Servqual questionnaire,all items except for treating equally and recommend the hospital showed SQ＜0,that was,the actual feelings of patients were less than expected,and there was statistical difference between the actual feelings and expected feelings in the quiet ward,health guide,care level (t=2.963,2.020,2.020,P ＜0.05).IPA matrix showed that ward quiet,health guidance,care level was the priority problems for the hospital.Life Care,protection of privacy,psychological care,level of service,pay the money reached care were the minor priority problems.Conclusions Servqual Model and IPA matrix combination can help to understand the gap between expectations and perception of nursing service,identify problems improvement priorities,identify weaknesses in care for hospital managers,and develop fine effective theory.

This study was aimed to explore the features of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) structures in Shigella by using bioinformatics. We used bioinformatics methods, including BLAST, alignment and RNA structure prediction, to analyze the CRISPR structures of Shigella genomes. The results showed that the CRISPRs existed in the four groups of Shigella, and the flanking sequences of upstream CRISPRs could be classified into the same group with those of the downstream. We also found some relatively conserved palindromic motifs in the leader sequences. Repeat sequences had the same group with corresponding flanking sequences, and could be classified into two different types by their RNA secondary structures, which contain "stem" and "ring". Some spacers were found to homologize with part sequences of plasmids or phages. The study indicated that there were correlations between repeat sequences and flanking sequences, and the repeats might act as a kind of recognition mechanism to mediate the interaction between foreign genetic elements and Cas proteins.
Base Sequence ; Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats ; Computational Biology ; Genome, Bacterial ; Plasmids ; Shigella ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

METHODSWe transfected the lentivirus vector STIM1-pGCSIL-GFP carrying STIM shRNA into human hormone-independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells, and 3 days later observed the transfection efficiency by fluorescence microscopy. At 7 days after transfection, we determined the expression of STIM1 in the PC-3 cells by RT-PCR and Western blot and those of apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, survivin and activated Caspase-3 by Western blot.

RESULTSAt 3 days, inverted microscopy revealed a transfection efficiency of > 80%. At 7 days, the STIM1 expression was significantly inhibited at both mRNA and protein levels. The Bcl-2/Bax rate was remarkably decreased as compared with that of the control group (0. 31 vs 1.24 ) , and the survivin expression was markedly reduced, 0. 14 times that of the relative expression in the control. However, the Caspase-3 cleavage was significantly activated, 1.52 times that of the control (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTIM1 can be regarded as an oncogene in prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Inhibition of its expression can induce PC-3 cell apoptosis by reducing the Bcl-2/Bax rate, decreasing the survivin expression, and activating the Caspase-3 pathway.

Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 ; Transfection ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEThrough orthodontic tooth movement in the pregnant and non-pregnant rats, to investigate the osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression pattern in the periodontal tissues, and to probe its possible roles in orthodontic periodontal remodeling.

METHODSFixed appliances were used to mesially move the rats' maxillary first molars. In situ hybridization method was used to detect the expression changes of OPN mRNA in periodontal tissues.

RESULTSCompared to the non-pregnant rats, the expression of OPN mRNA in periodontal cells of the pregnant rats was more intensive. During the gestational period, the expression intensity had significant difference at different pregnant stages. The highest expressions occurred at the mid-pregnant stage, less at the late-stage and lest at the early-stage.

CONCLUSIONUnder the pregnant state, the expression of OPN mRNA in periodontal tissues may be up-regulated by increased serum progesterone level.

Animals ; In Situ Hybridization ; Male ; Molar ; Osteopontin ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tooth Movement Techniques

Objective To assess the relationship between serum vitamin D and autoimmune thyroid disease.Methods Subjects included total 520 persons receiving regular health examination,and serum calcium,phosphorus,parathyroid hormone (PTH),thyroid peroxidase autoantibody (TPOAb) and 25-dihydroxy vitamin Ds was measured.The incidence of 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 deficiency (≤30 μ g/L)was observed.The relationship between 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 deficiency and autoimmune thyroid disease was analyzed.Results The serum 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 of all the subjects was (24.47 ± 7.21) μ g/L,and the incidence of 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 deficiency (≤30 μg/L) was 61.15％ (318/520),and the positive rate of TPOAb was 21.54％ (112/520).The proportion of TPOAb ＞ 50 kU/L or ＞ 100 kU/L in subjects with 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3≤30 μ g/L was higher than that in subjects with 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 ＞ 30 μg/L [25.79％(82/318) vs.19.80％(40/202) and 9.43％(30/318) vs.4.46％(9/202)],and there was significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).The relationship between 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 and TPOAb was assessed and showed significant inverse correlation (r =-0.13,P ＜0.05).Conclusions Vitamin D deficiency is very common in the population,and autoimmune thyroid disease is related with vitamin D deficiency,which may has impact on the body's immune regulation.Specific mechanism and whether vitamin D supplementation can intervene and treat autoimmune thyroid disease need further study.

Objective To assess the diagnostic accuracy of solitary pulmonary nodules while selecting different backgrounds in 99 Tcm‐MIBI SPECT/CT examination .Methods Totally 38 suspected solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) were analyzed retrospectively .The lesions were divided into malignant group and benign group according to the pathological findings . We selected two different backgrounds , contralateral lung field ( DL ) and the contralateral soft tissue (NST) .The maximum counts and the mean counts of lesion to non‐lesion ratio (L/N) were calculated to evaluate diagnostic efficacy using ROC curve . The relationship between lesion size , pathological grading and L/N ratio was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis . Results With DL and NST as the backgrounds ,the maximum counts and the mean counts of L/N between benign and malignant groups both differed significantly (all P<0 .05) .ROC curve analysis showed as follows :With DL and NST as the backgrounds ,the area under the curve (AUC) of L/DL‐MAX ,L/DL‐MEAN ,L/NST‐MAX ,and L/NST‐MEAN was 0 .73 ,0 .78 ,0 .80 and 0 .86 ,respectively .By pairwise comparison ,there was no significant difference (all P>0 .05) .The size and pathological grading of SPN did not affect 99 Tcm‐MIBI accumulation in the SPN (all P>0 .05) .Conclusion DL and NST both can be used as the background in diagnosis of pulmonary nodules on 99 Tcm‐MIBI SPECT/CT examination .The mean counts of the contralateral tissue used as the background can provide a stable result and a high diagnostic accuracy to assess the SPN .

C8orf32 is a gene which has not been functionally characterized,the mRNA level of this gene is significantly higher in breast cancer tissues than that in normal breast tissues.The amplified cDNA fragment was inserted into the pGEX-6P1 vector fused with the upstream GST gene.The expression vector was transformed into the E.coli BL21(DE3) strain and expression of GST-C8orf32 fusion protein was induced by IPTG..After removal of GST tag by site-specific protease,the C8orf32 protein fused with an eight amino acid peptide tag was obtained.The purity of recombinant C8orf32 protein was about 95%.The identity of the purified protein was confirmed by N-terminal sequencing and tandem mass spectrometry.The polyclonal antibody was prepared by immunizing the New Zealand white rabbits with C8orf32 protein.The polyclonal antibody was proved to recognize the C8orf32 protein correctly.The purified C8orf32 protein can be used for structural and functional studies and the polyclonal antibody can be used for tissue specific protein expression profiling.

Objective To explore the effect of iron chelators on labile iron pool and expression of apoptosis associated genes in cells of K562, an erythroleukemia cell line.Methods K562 cells were incubated at 37 ℃ in RPMI 1640 containing 10% heat-inactived fetal bovine serum in an saturated humidity and 5% CO_2 incubator. K562 cells were incubated with different concentrations of desferro-(xamine(DFO)). The study groups were divided as following: DFO group, iron+DFO group and the control group. Following indices were detected which included apoptosis by flow cytometry (FCM) assay, expression of Rb, c-myc, bax mRNA by RT-PCR. The intracellular LIP was measured with a fluorimetric assay using the metalsensitive probe calcein-AM.Results 1. The viability of K562 cells incubated with different concentrations of DFO was lower than that of control group at 12 h,24 h and 48 h (P