Objective:To investigate the effect of DKK1 on linearly patterned programmed cell necrosis (LPPCN) and vasculogenic mim-icry (VM) and the related molecular mechanism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods:A total of 173 human NSCLC speci-mens were collected to detect LPPCN by H&E staining, detect VM with CD31/PAS double staining, and investigate DKK1 and related protein expression by immunohistochemistry. The clinical pathological significance of LPPCN, VM, and DKK1 and the correlation of them were analyzed. Human NSCLC H460-DKK1 cells were engrafed in nude mice to evaluate the influence of DKK1 up-regulation on VM and LPPCN in vivo. Results:Approximately, 14.45%(25/173) of NSCLC had VM and 49.71%(86/173) had LPPCN. 25.6%(22/86) of NSCLC cases in LPPCN-positive group formed VM. Both of VM and LPPCN were all correlated with poor differentiation, late TNM stage, easy recurrence and metastasis and poor prognosis in NSCLC. DKK1 expression in the VM-positive group and the LPPCN-positive group was higher than that in the VM-negative group and the LPPCN-negative group, respectively. DKK1, LPPCN, and VM were positive-ly correlated with VE-cadherin, MMP-2,β-catenin nuclear expression and Twist1. H460-DKK1 transplantation tumor model confirmed that DKK1 promotes the expression of VM and LPPCN and related proteins in NSCLC. Conclusion:The increase of theβ-catenin and Twist1 expression induced by DKK1 may promote the formation of LPPCN and VM in NSCLC.

Objective To study the mechanism of marcosomia by investigating insulin-like growth factor 2(IGF_2)imprinting status,expression level and the promoter usage in the placenta of macrosomia. Methods We selected heterozygous cases for Apa Ⅰ polymorphism in exon 9 of IGF_2 gene and then analyzed its imprinting status in 168 placentas of macrosomia and normal pregnancies.IGF_2 transcription levels and promoter usages in macrosomic and normal placenta were evaluated by using semi-quantitative RT- PCR assay.Results Thirty specimens of macrosomic placenta and 30 of normal placenta were identified as heterozygous for IGF_2.All of the heterozygous specimens showed maintenance of imprinting.The expression of placental IGF_2 mRNA(2.2?1.2)was significantly higher in macrosomia than that of normal weight group (1.6?0.6,P 0.05).Conclusion It is possible that over expression of IGF_2 in placenta contributes to macrosomia while the promoter usage and imprinting status are not associated with macrosomia.

Objective To determine the status of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the association of multiple ACEs with both parental alcoholism and later personal alcohol abuse among Chinese medical students with a view of improving adolescent health and reducing alcohol abuse among them. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 2073 Chinese medical students completed a survey on ten categories of ACEs in Anhui province of China. The association of parental alcoholism with ACEs and personal lcohol abuse was assessed by logistic regression analyses. Results The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for each category of ACEs in the subjects whose parents (either fathers or mothers or oth) had alcohol abuse was 2 to 14 times higher than that inthose with parental alcoholism (P<0.05). Subjects with i-parental alcoholism had the highest likelihood of ACEs. Compared with the subjects without ACEs, the risk of personal alcohol abuse was increased by 2-4-folds in the subjects with ACEs, irrespective of parental alcoholism (P<0.05). The total number of ACEs (ACE score) had a graded relationship to 4 categories of personal alcohol abuse with or without parental alcoholism. The prevalence of personal alcohol abuse among the subjects with parental alcoholism was higher, which was ndependent of ACE scores. Conclusion The prevalence of ACEs is generally serious in China. Efforts should be made to prevent and treat children with ACEs and subsequently to reduce alcohol abuse and later problems.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the lipopolysaccharide receptor CD14-159C/T gene polymorphism on the synthesis and release of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1), and its relation to sepsis in patients with severe burn.

METHODSVenous blood from 35 patients with burn area equal to or larger than 30% TBSA was obtained on post burn day (PBD) 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 respectively. Eleven volunteers were enrolled as healthy control group (HC).CD14-159C/T gene polymorphism was detected with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Plasma level of HMGB1 was determined with ELISA. Leukocyte HMGB1 mRNA expression was determined with RT-PCR. Data were processed with chi(2) test, analysis of variance, and t test.

RESULTSAmong the C-159T genotype of CD14 gene in the 35 patients, the distribution frequency of the T and the C allele was respectively 57.2% and 42.8%. Seven cases (20.0%) were homozygous for the C allele (CC), 16 cases (45.7%) were heterozygous (TC), and 12 cases (34.3%) were homozygous for the T allele (TT). Allele and genotype frequencies in cases were testified as reaching the Hard-Weinberg equilibrium. The incidence of sepsis was markedly lower in CC homozygous patients than in TC heterozygous and TT homozygous patients. Only one of the 3 septic patients in CC homozygous type died; 4 of 9 septic cases in TC heterozygous type and 4 of 7 septic cases in TT homozygous type died. Plasma levels of HMGB1 of patients were significantly elevated early on PBD 1 as compared with HC group, and higher values were found in TC heterozygous and TT homozygous patients than that in CC homozygous patients on PBD 14, 21, 28 (with F value respectively 3.5671, 4.2035, 3.8529, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Higher HMGB1 mRNA expression was found in septic patients as compared with non-sepsis patients on PBD 14 (1.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.4, t = -2.205, P < 0.05). Plasma level of HMGB1 was also respectively higher in septic patients than in non-sepsis patients on PBD 7, 21 [(44 +/- 29) ng/mL vs. (26 +/- 12) ng/mL, t = -2.355, P < 0.05; (25 +/- 15) ng/mL vs. (10 +/- 6) ng/mL, t = -3.872, P < 0.01)].

CONCLUSIONSCD14C-159T gene polymorphism might markedly influence the synthesis and release of HMGB1, and it is associated with increase in susceptibility of sepsis in patients with severe burn.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; genetics ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sepsis ; etiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo control the quality of Qizhiweitong granules with the all-time multi-wavelength fusion fingerprint quantification as the major technique.

METHODAgilent TC-C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) chromatographic column was adopted, with 0.02% formic acid water-acetonitrile as the mobile phase for linear gradient elution. The flow rate was 1 mL x min(-1), column temperature was 30 degrees C, and detector wavelength was 230, 254, 283 nm. Matlab was adopted for all-time multiple-wavelength fusion for data in dif format.

RESULTA good relationship was shown for albiflorin in 56.5-452 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 8), paeoniflorin in 107-856 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 8), licorice glycoside in 73.4-687 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 8), naringin in 109-872 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 8), neohesperidin in 48.0-384 mg L(-1) (r = 0.999 8), and glycyrrhizic acid in 38.6-308 mg x L(-1) (r = 0.999 8), with recoveries of 0.999 8.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, accurate and highly reproducible, and can provide basis for quality control of Qizhiweitong granules.

Benzoates ; analysis ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Glycosides ; analysis ; Monoterpenes ; Quality Control

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Liver ; cytology ; drug effects ; ultrastructure

Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; analysis ; genetics ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; blood

BACKGROUNDDespite technical advances in tools used to facilitate implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices, there are many hurdles related mainly to the variation in the anatomy of the coronary veins. One such difficulty is the presence of a very sharply-angulated or tortuous of the lateral or posterolateral cardiac vein.

METHODSTotally 44 patients, 28 males and 16 females, with congestive heart failure and intraventricular conduction delay were studied retrospectively. There were 23 patients who had left ventricular (LV) lead implantation using standard techniques and equipment. For the other 21 patients with LV lead implantation we used the Attain Select II catheter delivery system. The patients were seen every 3 - 6 months for 12 months and the efficacy of the primary procedure, LV lead implantation time, procedure and fluoroscopy time and the complications associated with the two techniques were evaluated.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the age, gender, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, ischemic etiology, QRS duration, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and LV dyssynchrony between the two groups. The LV lead implantation time, procedure time and fluoroscopy time were significantly shorter in the group using the Attain Select II catheter delivery system; LV lead implantation time from (51 ± 7) minutes to (40 ± 7) minutes (P < 0.001), procedure time from (143 ± 17) minutes to (124 ± 18) minutes (P = 0.001), and fluoroscopy time from (45 ± 7) minutes to (35 ± 6) minutes (P < 0.001). A successful procedure of LV lead implantation was significantly improved from 17/23 (74%) patients using the standard techniques and equipment, to 20/21 (95.3%) patients using the Attain Select II catheter delivery system (P = 0.06)

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible and safe to implant LV leads through the coronary sinus using the Attain Select II catheter delivery system.

Aged ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate an effective method to facilitate the physical and mental recovery of drug abusers in detoxification restoration period.

METHODSIntegrated interventions were adopted to observe the changes in the physical and mental conditions of female drug abusers who had withdrawn drugs.

RESULTSComparing behavioral changes between the two groups before and after intervention, we found that changes of score in the intervention group were all higher than those in the control group in terms of their physical symptoms or state of anxiety.

CONCLUSIONIt is necessary to help drug abusers understand the harm of drug-abuse, build up self-confidence and improve EQ through interventions. It will be beneficial for the drug addicts to refrain from drug-taking and regain a normal life. Our study has proved that positive results can only be obtained from integrated intervention projects.

Adult ; Anxiety ; Counseling ; Female ; Humans ; Self Concept ; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers ; Substance-Related Disorders ; psychology ; therapy

Background and Objective：Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM 1)deficiency may increase the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).This study was to evaluate the correlation of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the coding region of GSTMl gene to NPC susceptibility in southern China population.Methods：In total 239 NPC patients and 286 age-matched healthy controls were entered into the study.Among them.225 out of 239 NPC patients and 273 out of 286 controls were used for statisticaI analysis.SNP screening of all exons.relevant intron-exon boundaries.and the promoter region of GSTM 1，in total 4739bp，was performed by PCR direcl sequencing.The loci T1270533G and C1256088Cwere selected for the case-controI study using the tetra-Primer ARMS-PCR.as well as the sequencing method.Results：In totaf 29 SNPs of GSTM 1 were identified by sequencing.Missense mutation occurred in the polymorphic loci of T1270533G and C1256088C.However.no evident relationships between the variant of T1270533G and clinicaI phenotypes of NPC were obsewed in the NPC group and healthy control group(OR=0.1 70，95%CI=0.95-0.306for homozygote TT).The deletion frequency of C1256088C was 45%(45/100)for NPC patients and 42%(42/100)for controls.Conclusions：The polymorphism of T1270533G does not affect the detoxification function of GSTM1.The T1270533G JOCUS has no apparent association with genetic susceptibility to NPC in the southern China population.The IOSS rate of C1256088C is high in this study.