Objective To compare contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) features of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) and angiomyolipoma (AML), and to explore the value of CEUS for differential diagnosis. Methods CEUS appearance of 106 CCRCCs and 25 AMLs confirmed pathologically were analyzed retrospectively. For each lesion, the enhancement degree, the homogeneity of enhancement, the presence of perilesional enhancement, the washing-in and washing-out pattern and the process of enhancement (i.e. diffuse, centrifugal or centripetal enhancement) were evaluated. The results were compared with the pathologic findings. Results There was no statistically significance in the degree of enhancement and the washing-in and washing-out pattern between CCRCC and AML (P>0.05). However, significantly different was found in the homogeneity of enhancement, the presence of perilesional enhancement and the process of enhancement between CCRCC and AML (P<0.01). Heterogeneous enhancement, perilesional enhancement and diffuse enhancement were mainly seen in CCRCC, and the positive predictive value for CCRCC was 97.26%, 100% and 94.74%, respectively. When all the three CEUS findings combined were used as criterion for differentiating CCRCC from AML, the positive and negative predictive values was 100% and 95.00%, respectively. Conclusion CEUS characteristics of CCRCC is different from that of AML. CEUS is useful for the differential diagnosis of CCRCC and AML.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) combined with Bosniak classification in diagnosis of cystic renal cell carcinoma (CRCC). Methods Routine and contrast-enhanced ultrasonic manifestations of 24 patients (24 lesions) of CRCC confirmed with operation and pathology were retrospectively analyzed. The number of septa, thickness of wall and septa, with or without solid nodules and blood supply were evaluated. Each tumor was categorized on CEUS images using the Bosniak classification system, and the diagnostic coincidence rate was calculated. Results On routine ultrasonographic images, there were 2 lesions without septa, 8 with a few septa and 14 with multiple septa, 5 lesions with septa and (or) wall thickness ≤1 mm and 19 lesions thickness ＞1 mm; solid nodules were shown in 7 lesions and the color flow was shown in 11 lesions. On CEUS images, there were 8 lesions with a few septa and 16 with multiple septa, 1 lesion with septa and (or) wall thickness ≤1 mm and 23 lesions thickness ＞1 mm; solid nodules were shown in 9 lesions, and the enhancement could be demonstrated in all the lesions. According to Bosniak classification system, CEUS demonstrated 15 grade Ⅲ and 9 grade Ⅳ lesions. The diagnostic coincidence rate of CEUS combined with Bosniak classification was 100%. Conclusion The blood supply and sophisticated internal structures of CRCC can be shown better with CEUS than routine ultrasonography. CEUS combined with Bosniak classification can be used for the diagnosis of CRCC.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)　on the synthesis of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1)　and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in gastric epithelial cells. Methods: a VacA(+) and CagA(+) international standard H. pylori line NCTC11637 and a human gastric epithelial carcinoma cell line BGC-823 were used. Western Blotting was applied to detect the synthesis of cyclooxygenase. Results: The content of COX-2 protein increased obviously after the cells were incubated with H. pylori sonicating extract for 1　h and the increase lasted for at least 6　h whereas the content of COX-1 protein did not change during the incubation with H. pylori extract. H. pylori lipopolysaccharide (LPS) had no effect on COX-2 synthesis. Conclusion: H. pylori stimulated the synthesis of COX-2 in BGC-823 cells and the effect was LPS-independent.

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for improving the education of rational drug use and skills for clinical medical students in the internship period. METHODS:Teachers in the respiratory department of our hospital took part in training interns and clinical pharmacists took part in teaching rounds to train about medication education and skills,including linking up the theoret-ical knowledge of rational drug use,training of skills about issuing rational prescriptions and judging drug information,guiding to participate in the education of rational use of drugs to patients and evaluating the knowledge and skill of rational drug use. RE-SULTS & CONCLUSIONS:Carrying out rational drug use education in practice will improve the mastery of knowledge of rational drug use,enhance the awareness of rational drug use and the idea,which is helpful for achieving the irrational drug use in clinical practice,and improve the overall quality of medical services. but there still remain some problems to be explored.

Objective　To observe the level of muscarinic receptors in airway and lung tissues, and the effect of inhaled ipratropium bromide on these receptors in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods　This model was developed by exposure of rats to 250?ppm SO2 gas, 5?h/d, 5?d/wk, for a period of 7?wk. The COPD rats inhaled 0.025% aerosolized iratropium bromide for 20?min, 2 times daily, in an airtight chamber. Muscarinic receptors in airway and lung tissues of normal rats, ipratropium bromide-treated COPD rats and the recovering COPD rats were measured by the radio-ligand binding assay. Results　Airway/lung pathology and pulmonary function tests showed that chronic SO2 exposure caused pathophysiologic changes similar to those observed in human COPD. The density (0.038±0.011, pmol/mg protein) and affinity (Kd, 23±11?pmol/L) of muscarinic receptors in airway and lung tissues of COPD rats were not changed compared with those of normal control rats (0.030±0.008 and 29±19, respectively, P>0.05). Densities of the muscarinic receptors were not changed after inhalation of ipratropium bromide for 5 days, but increased significantly after inhalation for 30 days, as compared with those of the untreated COPD rats. The muscarinic receptors returned the normal levels at day 6 after cessation of ipratropium bromide treatment. There were no differences among different groups of rats in equilibrium dissociation constants (Kd). Conclusion　A rat model of COPD with pathophysiologic changes similar to the human counterpart was developed using chronic SO2 exposure. There was no significant change in the number and function of muscarinic receptors in airway and lung tissues of the COPD rats, but upregulation of the muscarinic receptors was observed after long-term inhalation of ipratropium bromide.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography can be used to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography was performed in 103 patients suspected of prostate cancer before biopsy. Time intensity curves were reconstructed for systematic biopsy sites and sonographic abnormalities. The characteristics of the curves were described using hemodynamic indices including arrival time (AT), time-to-peak (TTP), and peak intensity (PI). The differences of hemodynamic indices between high-grade and low-grade cancer were analyzed and the correlations between the hemodynamic indices and biopsy Gleason score were studied. RESULTS: Prostate cancer was detected in 41 of 103 patients and there were significant differences in the hemodynamic indices between the biopsy sites of the non-malignant patients and prostate cancer lesions (p < 0.05). The prostate biopsies revealed 154 prostate cancer lesions, including 31 low-grade lesions and 123 high-grade lesions. The hemodynamic indices AT and TTP of high-grade tumors were significantly shorter than those of low-grade tumors (p = 0.001, 0.002). In addition, high-grade peripheral zone (PZ) tumors had higher PI than low-grade PZ tumors (p = 0.009). The PZ prostate cancer Gleason score correlated with PI, AT and TTP, with Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.223, -0.335, and -0.351, respectively (p = 0.013, < 0.001 and < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurements of hemodynamic indices correlate with the prostate cancer Gleason score.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy, Needle ; *Contrast Media ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phospholipids/*diagnostic use ; Prostate/pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms/blood supply/diagnosis/*ultrasonography ; Sulfur Hexafluoride/*diagnostic use ; Ultrasonography, Doppler ; Ultrasonography, Interventional

Objective To explore the influence of cucurbitacin E (CuE) on autophagy in human bladder cancer cell line T24 and further study its impacts on cell proliferation. Methods MTT assay was used to determine the proliferation inhibition capacity of CuE on T24 and western blot to check the impacts of CuE treatment on the expression of classic autophagy markers LC3A/B and p62. LC3 turnover assay and GFP-RFP-LC3 fluorescent assay were performed to determine autophagy flux. Western-blot was used to check the autophagy inhibition ability of 3-MA on CuE treatment and MTT assay and cell counting assay were used to check the influence of CuE-induced autophagy on cell proliferation with/without autophagy inhibition. Results CuE inhibited the proliferation of T24 and the IC50 in 24 h was about 0.75 μmol/L. CuE treatment increased the expression of LC3A/B Ⅱ and LC3A/B Ⅱ/Ⅰ ratio (P < 0.05) , but decreased the expression of p62 (P < 0.05) , indicating the induction of autophagy. Autophagy flux was induced because of positive LC3 turnover assay and the increase of yellow and red dots in GFP-RFP-LC3 fluorescent assay (P < 0.05). CuE-induced autophagy was inhibited by 3-MA (P < 0.05). With autophagy inhibition, CuE's proliferation suppression ability on T24 was attenuated (P <0.05). Conclusion CuE induces autophagy in bladder cancer cell line T24 and the induced autophagy positively contributes to the inhibitation of cell proliferation.

Background::Findings on the association of genetic factors and colorectal cancer (CRC) survival are limited and inconsistent, and revealing the mechanism underlying their prognostic roles is of great importance. This study aimed to explore the relationship between functional genetic variations and the prognosis of CRC and further reveal the possible mechanism.Methods::We first systematically performed expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Then, the Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to filter out the survival-related eQTL target genes of CRC patients in two public datasets (TCGA and GSE39582 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database). The seven most potentially functional eQTL single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with six survival-related eQTL target genes were genotyped in 907 Chinese CRC patients with clinical prognosis data. The regulatory mechanism of the survival-related SNP was further confirmed by functional experiments.Results::The rs71630754 regulating the expression of endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase 1 ( ERAP1) was significantly associated with the prognosis of CRC (additive model, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.08-1.88, P = 0.012). The results of dual-luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the A allele of the rs71630754 could increase the binding of transcription factor 3 (TCF3) and subsequently reduce the expression of ERAP1. The results of bioinformatic analysis showed that lower expression of ERAP1 could affect the tumor immune microenvironment and was significantly associated with severe survival outcomes. Conclusion::The rs71630754 could influence the prognosis of CRC patients by regulating the expression of the immune-related gene ERAP1. Trial Registration::No. NCT00454519 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/)

The high diversity of T cell receptors (TCRs) is the basis for recognizing antigens, playing an essential role in adaptive immunity. TCR diversity is generated from V(D)J rearrangement during the thymocyte development in the thymus. Standing out from the four TCR genes, Tcra and Tcrd genes are characterized by locating at the same locus and sharing specific V genes. Hence, their rearrangement and regulation have a certain particularity. Previous studies mainly focused on cis-regulatory elements and trans-acting factors regulating the Tcra/ Tcrd rearrangement. However, recent progress has shown that chromatin spatial organization plays an essential role in antigen receptor gene rearrangement. Chromatin organization proteins, such as CTCF-Cohesin, are involved in regulating rearrangement and enhancing the diversity of TCR repertoire by loop extrusion. Recombinase RAG also scans chromatin of antigen receptor genes for rearrangement. This review described the progress in the rearrangement of Tcra and Tcrd genes and the possible regulatory mechanism, especially the influence of the chromatin spatial organization.