Splice variants are transcripts that exhibit various functions or activities and are obtained from alternative splicing of precursor mRNA. An increasing number of tumor-specific splice variants are being discovered and their roles in cancer development and progression are being investigated. In this study, the expression patterns and activities of tumor-specific splice variants were charac-terized. The results suggest that a variant-specific gene therapy that targets cancer cells would be more specific and would have minimal effect on healthy tissues. Using antisense oligonucleotides, mRNA that contributed to cancer cell survival and altered splicing patterns was downregulated in a clinical trial. The results provide a new appreciation for the gene therapy of cancer. Identification of novel tu-mor-specific splice variants and constant improvement of therapeutic strategies by modifying splicing patterns can lead to the develop-ment of more effective and safer cancer therapies.

Objective: To study the preventive effect of lycopene (LP) on hyperglycemia in alloxan-induced diabetic rats, and reveal its possible mechanism.Method:Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 5 groups:three groups of LP at doses of 5, 20, 50 mg(/kg bw ?d)for 15d, one control group and one model group of salad oil. Then alloxan (ALx) were injected intraperitoneally to the rats at dose of 150 mg/kg bw. At D4 and D14 after ALx injection, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and body weight was measured, and at D14 GSP, FINS, NEFA, SOD,GSH-Px and MDA in liver were also determined . Results:Compared with the indices in group with ALX injection only,both the 2h blood glucose and GSP in group with medium-dose LP decreased significantly(P

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in imaging and quantitatively evaluating early enamel caries and provide experimental evidence for the clinical diagnosis of early caries.

METHODSThe smooth surface of bovine teeth showing early artificial caries and demineralization changes was scanned by an all fiber-based OCT for images and optical profiles, which were compared with images from a polarized light microscope (PLM) and mineral loss from an atomic absorption spectrometer. Data were analyzed by paired-sample t-test and Pearson correlation analysis using SPSS software.

RESULTSThe images of enamel with early caries and demineralization from OCT coincided with those from PLM. The integrated reflectivity loss in the early caries group was significantly lower than that in the demineralized group (P < 0.05), whereas no significant difference in demineralized depth was found between the two groups (P > 0.05). A linear correlation was observed between integrated reflectivity loss and mineral loss (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOCT can be used to nondestructively and accurately image early caries and quantify lesion extent and degree, suggesting the extensive use of this approach in the clinical diagnosis of early caries.

Animals ; Cattle ; Dental Caries ; Dental Enamel ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Tooth Demineralization

Objective Quantitative analysis of optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of naturally occurred early enamel caries was performed to find quantitative parameter indicator for detecting early caries by OCT.Methods Three human premolars with enamel natural caries in D0,D1,and D2 stages were selected respectively and scanned by OCT.The ratios of the average gray value of the caries region (object region) and sound region (background region),namely,the object-background contrast (OBC) were calculated in OCT images and selected as the quantitative parameters to analyze the OBC trend of different degree of enamel caries.Results Within the fixed depth,the OBC value showed a trend of first increase and then decrease with the severity of dental caries,indicating that OBC value increased with the severity of dental caries from normal to D1 stage,and then decreased from D1 to D2 stage.Conclusion The OBC value can be used as a new quantitative indicator for OCT to estimate the severity of naturally occurred early caries.

2 mmx3 mm experimental windows were prepared in adamant slippery surfaces of 7 fresh uprooted permanent teeth. The teeth surfaces in the windows area were demineralized to create artificial caries mould of early stage by aciding the experimental teeth surfaces of 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 hours with demineralized liquid (pH 4.5) in vitro. The demineralized changes on the experimental teeth surfaces were detected by dental Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) system, which were newly developed by our research group recently, and the detecting results were compared with clinical digital photomicrography and scanning electron microscopy on the same tooth sample, to checkout the efficacy and feasibility of dental OCT for early quantification detecting of artificial enamel demineralization in vitro. The dental OCT system can safelydetect early enamel demineralization of micron level and noninvasively obtain fine resolution quantification information both in surfaces view and sectional view; OCT could accurately detect surface demineralization changes on the experimental windows of artificial dental caries as early as after 12 hours aciding treatment, earlier than the visual inspection and clinical digital photomicrography. OCT could obtain both superficial view and sectional view of quantificational demineralization in early enamel caries homeochronously, and had high correlation to the results of ultramicromorphological changes detected by scanning electron microscopy. Dental OCT system developed by our group could accurately detect early artificial dental caries atraumaticly with high sensitivity and safety. Moreover, it can obtain quantification data in micron level without damaging the experimental teeth samples.

BACKGROUNDTo observe the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) on human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 in vitro.

METHODSHuman lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 was used to investigate the killing role of PDT with hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) as photosensitizer and semiconductor successive laser as light source. The cultured cell was treated with different concentrations of HPD and different do-sages of laser, then MTT colorometric assay was applied to measure the OD492.

RESULTS5 mg/L of HPD was confirmed no effect. 10 mg/L of HPD could produce a marked therapeutical effect under the condition of same laser dosage. When the concentration of HPD was increased, the effect was not risen obviously. 10 J/cm² of laser could lead OD492 to decrease to platform under the condition of same HPD concentration. So the killing effect was saturated when the PDT parameters were selected as 10 mg/L of HPD and 10 J/cm² of laser. Under the same laser capacity density of 10 J/cm², A549 cells were exposured to three different duty-time fabrications which were 214 mw×10 min, 428 mw×5 min and 714 mw×3 min.The outcomes showed that OD492 had no statistical difference.

CONCLUSIONSPDT has a significant killing effect on human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549. 10 mg/L of HPD and 10 J/cm² of laser were the best parameters of this experiment. The PDT effect is not influenced by different duty-time fabrications under the best laser capacity density.

Objective To study the findings of 256‐slice CT angiography in atherosclerosis of the intracranial carotid arteary . Methods 402 cases of atherosclerotic lesions in the neck and brain were collected from 2013 to 2014 in our hospital ,in which there were 274 cases of male and 128 cases female .All patients underwent 256‐slice CT angiography of the head and neck .The incidence of atherosclerosis involvement in the intracranial carotid artery was analysed .The characteristics of carotid plaque on different sexes , age(≤60 years and >60 years) and location (right and left ) were observed .The length and property of plaque ,and stenostic rate of the artery were measured respectively .Results There were 164 cases (40 .80% ) of intracranial carotid artery athrosclerosis in 402 cases of atherosclerotic lesions of the neck and brain ,in which the incident rate of male was 38 .32% and female 46 .09% (χ2 =2 .182 ,P=0 .140) .The incident rate of >60 years group was more than that of ≤60 years group (χ2 <31 .105 ,P<0 .001)for both sexes . There were no differences on lesion location (right or left)for different sexes or age groups (χ2 <0 .035 ,P>0 .088) .And there were also no differences on lesion length (≤10 mm ,11-20 mm ,>20 mm) for different sexes or age groups (χ2 <0 .027 ,P>0 .091) . Calcified plaques were seen the most (79 .81% ) ,mixed plaques were seen more (15 .46% ) ,and lipid plaques (1 .58% ) and fibrous plaques (3 .15% ) were seen less .The mixed plaques were more seen on >60 years group than that on ≤60 years group for male pa‐tients (χ2 =12 .204 ,P=0 .001) ,but no other difference was found for plaque property in other different sexes or age groups .Mild stenosis of the corated artery was found in 54 .57% lesions ,moderate stenosis in 39 .75% and severe stenosis in 5 .68% ,and there were no any difference in different sexes or age groups (χ2 <2 .062 ,P>0 .151) .Conclusion CT angiography of the head and neck is of important significance for diagnosis of atherosclerosis in the intracranial carotid artery .

OBJECTIVETo explore the impact of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) on Wnt and NF-κB pathways in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODSSD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC), DN model group (DM) and GSK-3β inhibitor group (DI). Blood glucose and 24-hour urine protein were monitored in three groups. Renal tissue samples were stained by HE. The expression of GSK-3β and NF-κB proteins was studied by immunohistochemistry. GSK-3β and NF-κB mRNAs were detected by RT-qPCR.

RESULTSTen weeks after STZ injection, the level of blood glucose increased significantly in DM group [(23.2±5.4) mmol/L] and DI group [(25.0±4.0) mmol/L], compared with NC group, and the level of 24-hour urinary protein increased significantly in DM group [(185.2±35.6) g/24 h] and DI group [(179.6±44.7) g/24 h], compared with NC group. Two weeks after LiCl injection, the level of blood glucose and 24-hour urinary protein decreased in DI group (17.6±2.1) mmol/L, (106.9±30.0) g/24 h], compared with DM Group. Compared with NC group, pathological changes of the kidney of DM group aggravated along with increased mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3β and NF-κB. But the pathological changes of the kidney in DI group alleviated along with declined mRNA and protein expression of GSK-3β and NF-κB as compared with DM group (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNF-κB protein expression positively correlates with the GSK3β expression. Wnt and NF-κB signal pathways play an important role in the development of diabetic nephropathy.

Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Kidney ; pathology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Wnt Signaling Pathway

Objective??To?explore?the?efficacy?of?optical?coherence?tomography?(OCT)?in?imaging?and?quantitatively?eva-luating?early?enamel?caries?and?provide?experimental?evidence?for?the?clinical?diagnosis?of?early?caries. Methods??The?smooth?surface?of?bovine?teeth?showing?early?artificial?caries?and?demineralization?changes?was?scanned?by?an?all?fiber-based?OCT?for?images?and?optical?profiles,?which?were?compared?with?images?from?a?polarized?light?microscope?(PLM)?and?mineral?loss?from?an?atomic?absorption?spectrometer.?Data?were?analyzed?by?paired-sample?t-test?and?Pearson?correlation?analysis?using?SPSS?software.?Results??The?images?of?enamel?with?early?caries?and?demineralization?from?OCT?coincided?with?those?from?PLM.?The?integrated?reflectivity?loss?in?the?early?caries?group?was?significantly?lower?than?that?in?the?demineralized?group?(P<0.05),?whereas?no?significant?difference?in?demineralized?depth?was?found?between?the?two?groups?(P>0.05).?A?linear?correlation?was?observed?between?integrated?reflectivity?loss?and?mineral?loss?(P<0.05).?Conclusion??OCT?can?be?used?to?nondestructively?and?accurately?image?early?caries?and?quantify?lesion?extent?and?degree,?suggesting?the?extensive?use?of?this?approach?in?the?clinical?diagnosis?of?early?caries.

Objective To investigate the relationship of miRNA gene polymorphisms with blood pressure(BP)responses to the sodium and potassium diet intervention.Methods In 2004,we recruited 514 participants from 124 families in seven villages of Baoji,Shaanxi Province,China.All subjects were given a three-day normal diet,followed by a seven-day low-salt diet,a seven-day high-salt diet,and finally a seven-day high-salt and potassium supplementation.A total of 19 miRNA single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were selected for analysis.Results Throughout the sodium-potassium dietary intervention,the BP of the subjects fluctuated across all phases,showing a decrease during the low-salt period and an increase during the high-salt period,followed by a reduction in BP subsequent to potassium supplementation during the high-salt diet.MiR-210-3p SNP rs 12364149 was significantly associated with systolic BP(SBP),diastolic BP(DBP)and mean arterial pressure(MAP)responses to low-salt diet.MiR-4638-3p SNP rs6601178 was significantly associated with SBP while miR-26b-3p SNP rs115254818 was significantly associated with MAP responses to low-salt intervention.In addition,miR-26b-3p SNP rs115254818 was significantly correlated with SBP,DBP and MAP responses to high-salt intervention.MiR-1307-5p SNPs rs1 1191676 and rs2292807 were associated with SBP and MAP responses to high-salt diet.MiR-4638-3p SNP rs6601178,miR-210-3p SNP rs12364149,miR-382-5p SNP rs4906032 and rs4143957 were significantly associated with SBP response to high-salt diet.In addition,miR-26b-3p SNP rs115254818 was significantly associated with SBP,DBP and MAP responses to potassium supplementation.MiR-1307-5p SNPs rs11191676,rs2292807,and miR-19a-3p SNP rs4284505 were significantly associated with SBP responses to high-salt and potassium supplementation.Conclusion miRNA gene polymorphisms are associated with BP response to sodium and potassium,suggesting that miRNA genes may be involved in the pathophysiological process of salt sensitivity and potassium sensitivity.