Background and purpose:Connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) is a member of CCN family,it has been reported that CTGF involve in many biological processes and various pathological conditions.In our study,the correlation of CTGF expression and biological effects on breast cancer cell lines were investigated.Methods:The eukaryotic expression vectors containing CTGF open reading frame(ORF) pcDNA3.0/CTGF were constructed and transfected into breast cancer cell lines.The relationship between CTGF expression and breast cancer cell growth ability and proliferation,cell cycle distribution,apoptosis,cell motility and invasive capacity in vitro were observed.Results:Upregulation of CTGF expression in MCF-7 cell line could inhibit its growth ability and proliferation,increased the proportion of G0G1 phase cells,enhanced apoptosis and inhibited its invasive ability in vitro.Downregulation of CTGF expression in MDA-MB-231 cell line increased its growth ability and proliferation,decreased apoptosis and promoted its invasive ability in vitro.There were no differences of cell motility among different groups in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines.Conclusions:CTGF can inhibit breast cancer cell growth by increasing cell apoptosis and/or the proportion of cells in G0G1 phase.CTGF can also inhibit breast cancer cell invasive ability.

Objective To describe the natural history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN)Ⅰand the biologic factors associated with the progression of CINⅠ and to analyze the predictive values of p16INK4a protein for the progression of CINⅠ. Methods From August 2010 to July 2013, 104 patients referred for abnormal cytology [≤ low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL); including negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM), atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), LSIL] and high-risk (HR) HPV positive,and were diagnosed CINⅠ by colposcopy-assisted biopsy and followed at 1-year intervals in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. In order to analyze the relationship between the progression of CINⅠ with clinical biologic factors, including patient age, cervical cytology before colposcopy, loads of HR HPV, HPV L1 capsid protein, p16INK4a protein,χ2 tests was used to compare the different frequencies of factors in groups of progressed and persisted/regressed CINⅠ, then five factors with progressed CINⅠwere processed into binary logistic regression analysis. Results (1) In the first year of follow-up, among 104 patients(including 15 cases NILM,78 cases ASCUS,11 cases LSIL), 52 cases of them were NILM and HR HPV negative, 30 cases were negative for intraepithelial lesion, 10 cases were CINⅠ, 5 cases were CINⅡand 7 cases were CINⅢ. In total, 82 cases (78.8%,82/104) cases had regressed, 10 cases (9.6%,10/104) persisted, 12 cases (11.5%,12/104) progressed [including 5 cases (4.8%,5/104) progressed to CIN Ⅱ, 7 cases (6.7%,7/104) progressed to CIN Ⅲ, none progressed to invasive cancer]. (2) All patients, 88 cases of them accepted immunohistochemical detection the expression of p16INK4a protein. The result shown that 30 cases (34%,30/88) were positive and 58 cases (66%,58/88) were negative. And 94 cases accepted immunocytochemical detection the expression of HPV L1 capsid protein, 49 cases (52%,49/94) were positive and 45 cases (48%,45/94) were negative. (3) Univariate analysis showed that age of the patient, loads of HR HPV, cervical cytology before colposcopy and the expression of HPV L1 capsid protein were not risk factors of the progression of CINⅠ(all P>0.05) except for the expression of p16INK4a protein (P<0.05). Multivariable analysis found that p16INK4a protein positive was associated with progression of CINⅠ(OR=5.1,95%CI:1.162-22.387,P=0.031). (4) Thirty-one cases were p16INK4a protein positive, 8 cases (27%,8/30) of them progressed,while 4 cases (7%,4/58) of 58 cases with p16INK4a protein negative progressed,in which there were significant difference (P<0.05). The sensitivity was 75%, the specificity was 71%, the positive predictive value was 27%and the negative predictive value was 93%for progression to CINⅡ-Ⅲof p16INK4a protein staining. Conclusions The progression rate of CINⅠwith abnormal cytology (≤LSIL) and HR HPV positive was lower, and there was no progression to invasion at 1-year intervals. Immunostaining of p16INK4a protein as the risk factors of CINⅠprogression could have a role in prediction of CINⅠand the management of high-risk CINⅠ.

Objective To investigate the characteristics and risk factors of occupationai exposure to bloodborne pathogens among health care workers (HCWs),and evaluate prevention and treatment countermeasures.Methods Record Form for Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Among Health Care Workers was used for retrospective survey on the occurrence of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens in a hospital between January 1,2013 and December 31,2015.Results A total of 246 cases of blood/body fluid occupational exposure occurred.The main occupational exposure population were nurses (n =95,38.62％);occupational exposure mainly occurred in wards(n =148,60.16％);the main mode of occupational exposure was sharp injury(n =219,89.02 ％);the main opportunity of occupational exposure of HCWs was surgical accident(n =69,28.05 ％);the main exposure source was hepatitis B virus(n =123,50.00 ％);none of HCWs developed infection after local treatment and prophylactic medication.Conclusion Medical institutions should strengthen the training for HCWs about occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens,enhance protection awareness,standardize operation procedures,and improve working environment,so as to minimize the occurrence of occupational exposure.

Objective An effective reproducible protocol for complete plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis has beendeveloped for Herpetospermum pedunculosum,an endangered Tibetan medicinal herb.Methods The cotyledonexplants used in this study were excised from seedlings germinated in vitro.Callus was induced from cotyledonexplants on Murashige and Skoog's medium,supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid(2,4-D,0.1-1.0mg/L)alone or in combination with 6-benzylaminopurine(BA,0.5,1.0,and 2.0 mg/L).Results The calli showeddifferentiation of globular embryos after three weeks of incubation on MS medium supplemented with variouscombinations of BA and NAA.Sixty-two percent of the embryogenic calli produced somatic embryos in MS basalmedium supplemented with BA(1.0 mg/L)+NAA(2.0 mg/L).The addition of KN(0.5 mg/L)to MS mediumcontaining both BA and NAA(2.0 mg/L each)significantly increased the frequency of somatic embryogenesis.Themaximum percentage of embryogenic calli formation was 83%,and globular embryos formed and germinatedsuccessfully in this medium.Then,transferring the regenerated plants from this medium to hormone-free MSmedium will further enhanced the development of the plants,and the healthy plantlets are formed successfullywithin four weeks.The plantlets were transferred to soil to acclimatize under greenhouse conditions and 75%survived.Conclusion Somatic embryogenesis protocol as reported here can play a key role in the propagation andconservation of this endangered species.

Humans ; Liver Diseases ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prognosis

A 57-year-old man was admitted to hospital with diarrhea for 10 months and dizziness for 4 months. The patient had 1-2 liters watery stool per day, without pyogenic blood or abnormality in gastroenteroscopy examination. The level of hemoglobin and albumin was generally normal, and fasting test was positive. At the same time, he was accompanied with hyperalgesia of lower limbs and orthostatic hypotension. After the discussion of multiple disciplinary teams, the patient was diagnosed with amyloidosis by sural nerve biopsy, myocardial MRI, and the assays of urine immunoelectrophoresis and serum free light chain. Light chain amyloidosis was confirmed after excluded the diagnosis of familial amyloidosis. The patient was improved after courses of chemotherapy with melphalan and dexamethasone.

Objective To study the expression of intermediate-conductance-Ca~(2+)-activated K~+ (IKCa1)channels in endometrial cancer and its role in regulating proliferation of endometrial cancer cells. Methods Western blot and RT-PCR were used to examine the expression of IKCa1 channels in 13 normal endometrial specimens and 25 endometrial cancer specimens;and RNA interference(RNAi),[ ~3H ] thymidine incorporation,and inhibitor of IKCa1 channel were used to explore the role of IKCa1 channels in regulation of proliferation of endometrial cancer cells HEC-1A.Results The expression rate and level of IKCa1 mRNA in endometrial carcinoma(84%,0.89?0.52)were higher than in normal endometria(8%, 0.14?0.12;P

The mainly antigenic sites for the adenovirus neutraliation are present on Loop1 and Loop2 of hexon.Majority research were focus in the human adenovirus.Little was known on infectious canine hepatitis virus (ICHV), which was also called canine adenovirus typeⅠ.Here,ICHV (the isolated strain) DNA was isolated and purified from the cultured MDCK cells.The Loop1 and Loop2 fragments were amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method,and then was connected by ligase T4.The target fragment was then connected with vector pET28a.The nucleotide sequence ecoding Loop1 and Loop2 was determined.The nucleotide sequence identity of Loop1 region between the isolated strain and CLL, RI261 and Toronto A26/61 strains is 100%, 100% and 83.8%, and the nucleotide sequence identity of Loop2 region between the isolated strain and CLL, RI261 and Toronto A26/61 strains is 88.1% , 88.1% and 99.3%, and amino acid identity is 93.6%, 93.6% and 98.6%.The recombinant Loop protein was expressed in E.coli and was approximately 36kDa in size,and then was purified. Then BALB/c mice were injected subcutaneously in the back and armpit with the recombinant Loop protein.The anti-ICHV antibody titers of immunized serum was tested by indirect ELISA and the titers were up to 1:320.Western blot demonstrated that immunized sera could specifically combine with ICHV. The research laid a foundation for creating new genetic engineering products of infectious canine hepatitis virus.

The effects of pioglitazone (PIO) and tumor necrosis faetor-?(TNF-?) on two kinds of adiponectin receptor (AdipoR) mRNA expression were observed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by RT-PCR.AdipoR mRNA expression was up-regulated during 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation;PIO could increase the AdipoR mRNA level expressed in undifferentiated and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes in a time-and dose-dependent manner,and TNF-?had no influence on the expression of AdipoR mRNA.

ObjectiveTo examine the prognostic value of 99mTC-MIBI single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with suspected or diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods116 patients with suspected or diagnosed CAD were examined with 99m TC-MIBI SPECT exercise and rest myocardial imagings, and followed by investigation of cardiac events.Results Follow-up information was complete in 106 patients. Over an average follow-up of 25±8 months, cardiac events occurred in 11 patients. Univariate analyses showed that age, old myocardial infarction, exercise peak heart rate, the change in heart rate from rest to exercise peak, exercise peak systolic blood pressure, the change in systolic blood pressure from rest to exercise peak, abnormal myocardial imaging, the number of myocardial perfusion defect and ischemic volume rate (IVR) were the effective predictors of subsequent cardiac events. Multivariate stepwise Logistic regression analyses revealed that the size of IVR was the only variable with independent predictive value for occurrence of subsequent cardiac events. IVR more than 25% was associated with a significantly increased frequency of subsequent cardiac events (relative risk ratio was 5.9, P<0.005). IVR less than 25% or even normal myocardial perfusion imaging was associated with a very low-risk of cardiac event and a very good prognosis.Conclusion 99mTC-MIBI SPECT myocardial imaging is the most effective noninvasive technique that predicted the occurrence of cardiac event in patients with suspected or diagnosed CAD. According to the size of IVR, high-risk and low-risk patients can be effectively identified.