NOD mice were treated with pentoxifylline (FTX) to investigate the incidence of cyclophosphamide-accelerated diabetes, the apoptosis and the insulin expression of β-cells and expressions of Fas or FasL mRNA in both pancreas and spleen. The results showed that incidence of diabetes in PTX group was significantly lower compared with control group (P<0.05). The apoptosis of β-cells was decreased in PTX group with higher insulin expression level in islet cells. The expression of FasL mRNA in pancreas of PTX group was lower than that of control group (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in Fas mRNA expression between two groups. Both Fas and FasL mRNA levels in spleen of PTX group were much higher than those of control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

AIM: To investigate the intervention effect of pentoxifylline(PTX) on type 1 diabetes mellitus in non-obese diabetic(NOD)mice and explore its possible mechanism.METHODS: Eight-week-old NOD mice were treated with PTX to investigate the incidence of cyclophosphamide accelerating diabetes.The apoptosis of beta-cells was detected by TUNEL,the expressions of caspase-3 in islet of the NOD mice was checked by immunohistochemistry and the expressions of caspase-8 was determined by RT-PCR.RESULTS: The incidence of diabetes in PTX group was 40.63%,which was obviously lower than 69.70% in the control group(P

Objective To investigate the prevalence of thyroid disorders and positive thyroid autoantibodies,and evaluate the necessity for universal thyroid screening during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.Methods The pregnant women during the second and third trimesters who visited Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated First People's Hospital between June 2006 and February 2008 were chosen for thyroid screening by determining serum free triiodothyronine,free thyroxine,thyrotropin,thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb),and thyrotropin receptor antibody.A personal and family history of thyroid disease and other autoimmune diseases was investigated by questionnaire.The pregnant women were divided into high risk or low risk groups for thyroid disease based on their personal or family histories.Results A total of 2 101 pregnant women were screened,712 ( 33.89％ ) of them were identified to suffer from thyroid disorders or with positive thyroid autoantibody.The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was increased in high risk group.While in low risk group( n =1 983 ),the prevalence of clinical hypothyroidism was 2.27％ ( n =45 ),subclinical hypothyroidism 11.60％ ( n =230 ),clinical hyperthyroidism 0.20％ ( n =4 ),subclinical hyperthyroidism 1.06％ ( n =21 ),hypothyroxinemia 6.45％ ( n =128 ),and euthyroid with positive TPOAb 10.74％ ( n =213 ) in our study.Pregnant women with positive TPOAb were susceptible to thyroid dysfunction.It was shown that 79.74％ of pregnant women with thyroid disorders were diagnosed by universal thyroid screening.Conclusions 33.89％ of pregnant women in the second and third trimesters were identified to suffer from thyroid disorders or positive thyroid autoantibody by universal thyroid screening.Increased prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was found in pregnant women with positive TPOAb.79.74％ of pregnant women with thyroid disorders might be missed if screening was made only in the high risk cases.

ObjectiveTo investigate the influence of positive serum thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) on pregnancy outcomes in biochemically euthyroid women during gestation.MethodsFrom July 2006 to December 2010,in the prenatal care unit all pregnant women,who had no medical and family history of thyroid diseases,underwent thyroid function screening.Serum TPOAb was tested among those pregnant women with euthyroidism.Pregnancy outcomes,including obstetric complications,neonate birth weight,and Apgar score,were compared between 185 TPOAb positive women and 1417 TPOAb negative women.ResultsCompared with TPOAb negative women,it was more frequent for TPOAb positive women to suffer from various obstetric complications.The prevalences of umbilical cord entanglement ( 18.9％ vs 12.9％,RR =1.47,95％ CI 1.06-2.03,P＜0.05 ),threatened premature delivery or abortion (3.8％ vs 1.0％,RR =3.83,95％ CI 1.57-9.37,P＜0.05 ),intrauterine growth retardation (5.4％ vs 0.8％,RR =6.96,95％ CI 3.00-16.17,P＜0.01 ),and neonatal pneumonia ( 4.9％ vs 1.3％,RR =3.83,95％ CI 1.75-8.40,P＜0.01 ) in the group of TPOAb positive women were higher than those in the group of TPOAb negative women.Apgar score of those newborns whose mothers had positive TPOAb was 9.27 ±1.13 at one minute and 9.44 ± 1.09 at five minutes,being lower than that of the TPOAb negative group (9.49 ±0.69 and 9.68 ±0.52,both P＜0.01 ).The rate of newborns with Apgar score at 7 or less by 5 min in group with positive TPOAb was higher than that of group with negative TPOAb ( 1.6％ vs 0.1％,RR =11.49,95 ％ CI 1.93-68.31,P＜ 0.05 ).ConclusionsThese results indicate that pregnant women with normal thyroid function but positive TPOAb may be liable to increase risk of serious pregnancy outcomes,such as threatened premature delivery or abortion,intrauterine growth retardation,and a lower Apgar score in neonatal.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of “taller-than-wide sign” of thyroid malignancy in transverse and longitudinal plane using ultrasound.Methods708 thyroid lesions including 302 benign nodules and 406 malignant nodules ( 390 papillary carcinomas,12 medullary carcinomas,4 follicular carcinomas) that were diagnosed at surgery were included in this study.The sensitivity and specificity of “taller-than-wide sign” in transverse (A/TC ≥ 1 ) and longitudinal plane (A/TL ≥ 1 ) were evaluated using ultrasound.All thyroid malignant lesions were divided into three groups according to size of the nodules:group A≤1 cm; group B≤2 cm,group C＞2 cm.The sensitivity of each group was also evaluated.ResultsThe constituent ratio of “taller-than-wide sign” between benign and malignant nodules was significantly different (P＜0.001 ).The differences of sensitivity of A/TL ≥ 1 and A/TC ≥ 1 among three groups were also found( P ＜0.001),and the sensitivity of A/Tc≥1 was higher than A/TL≥1.ConclusionsA/TC≥1 found by ultrasound contributes to differentiate the thyroid carcinoma from benign nodules.For a large thyroid lesion,other indicators are needed to diagnose thyroid carcinoma.

ObjetiveTo investigate the obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with hypothyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism.MethodsOne hundred and sixty-eight pregnant women with clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism during pregnancy,including 9 controlled hypothyroidism,29 uncontrolled hypothyroidism and 130 subclinical hypothyroidism,were enrolled in this study.The general clinical information,obstetrical complications and neonatal outcomes of these pregnant women were compared with that of 180 healthy pregnant women who delivered during the same period.ResultsCompared with control group,there were no significant differences in the levels of serum free triiodothyronine( FT3 ),free thyroxine ( FT4 ),thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the controlled hypothyroidism group in the third trimester [(3.68 ±1.11 ) pmol/L vs (3.19 ±0.33) pmol/L,(15.48 ±4.14) pmoL/L vs (13.95 ± 1.68) pmol/L,1.87 mU/L vs 1.76 mU/L,P ＞0.05].However,in the second and third trimester,the levels of FT3,FT4 in the uncontrolled hypothyroidism group were lower,while the levels of TSH were higher than in control group [(2.71 ±0.80) pmol/L vs (3.14 ± 0.34) pmoL/L,(10.94 ± 2.68) pmol/L vs (14.25 ±2.01) pmol/L,5.62 mU/L vs 2.28 mU/L,( 2.34 ± 0.70 ) pmol/L vs ( 3.19 ± 0.33 ) pmol/L,( 10.16 ± 1.65 ) pmol/L vs (13.95 ± 1.68) pmoL/L,7.13 mU/L vs 1.76 mU/L,t =2.754～9.15,P ＜0.01],the levels of TSH in the subclinical hypothyroidism were higher than in control group ( t =18.28,18.57,P ＜0.01 ).There was no adverse perinatal outcome of neonate happened in controlled hypothyroidism group.In contrast,the incidences of adverse perinatal outcomes and complications in the uncontrolled hypothyroidism group were higher than that in the control group ( 17.2％ vs 2.8％,37.9％ vs 5.6％,x2 =11.47,28.97,P ＜0.01 ).Compared with that of control group,the incidences of adverse obstetrical outcomes in pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism were increased (40.0％ vs 5.6％,x2 =52.97,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionsThe rate of adverse obstetrical outcomes and complications is increased in women with clinical or subclinical hypothyroidism.But the incidence of adverse outcomes would decrease if hypothyroidism is controlled by treatment.

Objective:In this study,a series of experiments were conducted to research the mechanism of anticancer and preliminary molecular effects of PAMs on the HEPG-2 cancer cells.Methods:Morphological observation and MTT assay were used to explore the inhibition and killing effect of PAMs acting on HEPG-2.AO/EB staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining were employed to observe the apoptosis of HEPG-2 treated with PAMs.The expression level of Foxm1,bcl-2 and others genes in HEPG-2 cells were detected by using qRT-PCR and western blot.Wound healing and transwell experiments determined if PAMs can inhibit the migration of HEPG-2.Results:PAMs can inhibit and kill HEPG-2 cells in time and dose-dependent manners,and the cytotoxic effects were closely related to the cell apoptosis.The mRNA expression of foxm1,bcl-2 and surviving gene were remarkably decreased in HEPG-2 cells after the treatment of PAMs.PAMs decreased the FoXM1 protein expression in HEPG-2 cells,while up-regulating thep53 protein expression.,and it could also inhibit the migration of cancer cells.Conclusions:The possible molecular mechanism for the killing of HEPG-2 cancer cells by PAMs was proposed.By down-regulating the expression of foxm1 and up-regulating the expression of p53,the transcriptional expression of their downstream target genes survivin and bcl-2 was inhibited or reduced,hence enhancing the cancer cell apoptosis.This study provides an important foundation for the development of anti-cancer Chinese folk medicine based on PAMs.

Objective To investigate the value of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound ( CEUS ) in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic neoplasia ( SPN ) before operation . Methods Forty‐six cases of SPN confirmed by operation and histopathological results from January 2012 to June 2018 were enrolled in the study . According to the European Ultrasound Association ( EFSUMB) guidelines for CEUS in 2018 ,the enhancement pattern of pancreatic lesion with normal surrounding pancreatic parenchyma was used for reference . T he enhancement pattern of SPN were observed during the arterial phase ,venous phase and delayed phase . CEUS pattern of 16 cases with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma ( PDAC ) with cystic changes proved by histopathology were observed and compared with SPN . Results T he mean size of 46 cases of SPN was ( 32 .72 ± 25 .51) mm . Fifteen SPN lesions located in the head of pancreas ,31 cases located in the body and tail of the pancreas . Most of SPN were solidcystic lesions with thin separation on conventional B mode ultrasoud ,without communication with the main pancreatic duct . Color flow signals could be detected in 78 .3% ( 36/46) SPN lesions . After the injection of 2 .4 ml ultrasound contrast agent , the substantial part of all SPN showed hyperenhancement ( n＝ 44 ,99 .7% ) or isoenhancement ( n ＝ 2 , 4 .3% ) during the arterial phase ,venous phase and late phase . However ,93 .8% ( 15/16 ) of the PDAC lesion with cystic changes showed consistent hypo enhancement throughout the arterial ,venous and late phase ( P ＜0 .05) . T he accuracy of preoperative diagnosis of CEUS was 95 .6% . Conclusions Depending on its unique advantages such as real‐time observation ,high‐resolution imaging ,and no radiation ,CEUS is helpful for early detection ,accurate localization and preoperative diagnosis of SPN . CEUS has potential role for clinical decision‐making before treatment .

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of naked-eye assessment (NA) of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology(US-FNAC) smears, which was performed by a trained non-cytological physician. Methods: A total of 290 smears of FNAC in 143 thyroid nodules were used to evaluate the value of NA by an assistant with more than two years experience of intervention with ultrasound guidance. NA results such as the background of smear (bloody/non-bloody), thickness (thick/thin), as well as the contents (granulated/non-granulated) were recorded. The correlation between NA and cytological results was analyzed. Number of cells under microscopy, the non-diagnostic rate, and the significance between benignity and malignancy with different features of specimens were compared. Results: There was no significant difference between the NA background and cytological findings(P=0.707, 0.200, 0.705, respectively). There was significance in number of cells, non-dianostic rate between thick and thinner specimens (P=0.000, 0.001, respectively). However, there was no significance in benignity and malignancy between thick and thinner specimens (P=0.385). There was significance in cytology results between the granulated and non-granulated smears(all P=0.000). The difference was found in 51.1% of the smears with granulates were malignancy in cytology. While 77.8% of the non-granulated smears were ultimately diagnosed as benignity. Conclusions The NA could be performed by a trained non-cytological physician and contribute to preliminary predictions of cytology effect.