AIM: To study the effects of cripto antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) on telomerase activity in colon cancer LS-174T cells. METHODS: Colon cancer LS-174T cells were treated with cripto ASODN. The expression of cripto mRNA was studied using real-time PCR. The telomerase activity was detected by telomeric repeat amplification protocol enzyme-linked immunoabsordent assay (TRAP-ELISA). The growth of LS-174T cells was observed with soft agar. RESULTS: Cripto ASODN inhibited the growth of LS-174T cells in a dose-dependent manner in soft agar. Cripto ASODN decreased the telomerase activity in colon cancer LS-174T cells, and the effects of repression were time-and dose-dependent. CONCLUSION: Cripto may contribute to the activation of telomerase in colon cancer.

Objective To investigate the effects of down-regulation of polo-like kinase-1 (PLK1) gene by RNA interference (RNAi) on the invasion of a human malignant melanoma cell line A375 and their possible mechanisms.Methods Cultured A375 cells were classified into several groups:blank control group receiving no treatment,liposome group transfected with lipofectamine only,and three siRNA groups transfected with three concentrations of a small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting PLK1 respectively.After additional culture,real time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to quantify the expressions of PLK1 mRNA and protein in A375 cells respectively,Transwell invasion assay to evaluate the invasive capacity of A375 cells,agarose gel electrophoresis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl-transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labelling (TUNEL) to detect anoikis in A375 cells.The colony-forming capacity was also evaluated for A375 cells.Statistical analysis was carried out by one-factor analysis of variance.Results There was a significant decrease in PLK1 mRNA and protein expressions as well as in colony-forming units in the siRNA groups compared with the blank control group (all P ＜ 0.05).The invasive capacity of A375 cells was significantly inhibited in the siRNA groups with the number of migrating cells in Transwell assay being 39 ± 5,19 ± 5 and 9 ± 3 in A375 cells transfected with 3.125,6.250 and 12.500 nmol/L siRNAs respectively,compared to 56 ± 5 in the blank control group (all P ＜ 0.05).A characteristic DNA ladder was observed on agarose gel electrophoresis in the siRNA (6.250 nmol/L) group.Compared with the blank control group and liposome group,the three siRNA groups showed increased apoptotic index (3.86％ ± 0.35％ (3.125 nmol/L siRNA),7.35％ ± 0.36％ (6.250 nmol/L siRNA) and 17.56％ ± 0.38％ (12.500 nmol/L siRNA) vs.1.15％ ± 0.25％ (blank control group) and 1.18％ ± 0.22％ (liposome group),all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions PLK1 siRNA can inhibit the invasion of malignant melanoma cells,likely by inducing anoikis in these cells.

Objective To study the mutation of papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E6 gene, and to compare with the result of other researchers. Methods DNA was extracted from cervical cancer tissue sam-pies, then HPV16 E6 genes were amplified and sequenced using the HPV16 E6 specific primers from cervi-cal cancer DNA samples. Results HPV16 E6 gene mutations at the position of nt178 were found in 18 case from 35 cervical cancer samples, the mutation rate was 51.43%, resulting in nucleotide change of Asp to Glu. E6 mutations are found at the position of nt442 in 4 cervical samples. E6 mutation was found in 1 to 2 case in other nucleotide. Conclusion High frequency mutations of E6 gene of HPV16 at the position of nt178, nt442 have been found in cervical cancer samples in Hubei, China. The role of E6 gene mutation in cervical cancer development should be studied further.

Objective To evaluate mini-dose pre-injection test in the use of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (CEMRA), and to inspect the possibility of contrast medium peak-time prediction by age, body weight and heart rate.Methods The data from mini-dose pre-injection test of contrast medium before vertebral artery CEMRA were retrospectively reviewed in 55 patients. The linear correlation and regression of the data including age, body weight, heart rate, and the reaching-time, peak-value-time, duration and peak-value-signal of contrast medium was performed by using SPSS software.Results The age (n=55, =62 years old, M=59 years old), body weight (n=55, = 63 kg), heart rate (n=40, =73 beats per minute), peak-value-time (n=55,=17.5 seconds), peak signal intensity (n=55,=472), and duration of contrast (n=49,=10.35 seconds)were analyzed. No statistically significant correlation existed between peak-value-time of contrast medium and the age (r=0.231, t=1.728, P=0.090), body weight (r=0.118, t=0.865, P=0.392), and heart rate (r= -0.046, t=-0.284, P=0.776). The peak-value-time correlated negatively with peak signal intensity (r=-0.322, t=-2.56, P=0.016)and positively with duration of contrast (r=0.658, t=5.99, P=0.000). The peak signal intensity was negatively correlated with body weight(r=-0.356, t=-2.77, P=0.008). The linear regression analysis show b=-0.284, t=-2.285, P=0.026 between peak-value-signal and peak-value-time, b=-0.322, t=2.590, P=0.012 between peak-value-signal and body weight.Conclusion Mini-dose pre-injection test was more helpful to adjust the rate of contrast medium injection and determine the time delay during scanning. But the prediction of contrast peak-time based on age, body weight and heart rate was unreliable.

Objective To investigate the level of serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and lactic dehydrogenase(LDH) and clinical features of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(NHL), and the correlation between the level of serum CA125 and LDH. Methods Forty patients with NHL were studied and the variances of the serum CA125, LDH level before treatment were analysed. Results A higher serum of CA125was associated with clinical phase,group,hydrothorax and ascites,intemational prognostic index (IPI), and had weaker positive correlation to LDH. Conclusion Measurement of serum CA125 had important clinical significance to the patients with NHL especially to the patients with hydrothorax and ascites.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with single spinal metastasis of thoracic, lumbar or sacral vertebra treated with microwave ablation in situ.Methods:For 28 patients with single spinal metastasis of thoracic, lumbar or sacral vertebra, detailed and personal surgical plans were carried out. Instead of en bloc resection, hyperthermia ablation in situ was performed followed by strengthening procedures under the guidance of G-arm fluoroscopy machine. Intraoperatively, spinal cord and nerve root were properly protected. The bone defects were reconstructed by bone cement after the diseased lesions were revomed. All patients were followed up for almost 1 year postoperatively. During follow-up, X-ray and MRI images were obtained, and the level of pain and neurologic outcomes were also examined.Results:All 28 patients successfully received microwave ablation in situ. The average ablation time was approximately 8 minutes and the average amount of bone cement implanted was approximately 10.5 ml. The pain scores of digital pain classification before and 3 months after operation were 7.86±1.58 and 3.07±1.89( P<0.05). The postoperative neurological function of 22 patients was improved than that before operation. No significant changes were observed in 5 patients. The neurological function of the affected limb was relieved, whereas the symptoms of the healthy limb were slightly worse in the remaining case. Conclusions:Microwave ablation in situ is a feasible and effective surgical method for single spinal metastasis of thoracic, lumbar or sacral vertebra. It might possess many advantages, such as clear surgical field, smaller incisions, less bleeding, and safe margins during the operations. Further more, it could significantly relieve pain, restrict tumor growth, and improve the quality of life of patients. It is an innovative and distinctive therapeutic alternative for single spinal metastasis, which deserves widespread application.

To perform modal analysis of CT shelter by applying computer simulation technology so as to pro-vide theoretical guidance for CT shelter structure optimization. Based on CAD model, the finite element model of a CT shelter was established with ANSYS simulation platform. Through modal analysis, different-order modal frequency and modal shape of the shelter were computed and the kinetic characteristics were evaluated. Low order modal frequency was kept away from the natural frequency range of chassis system resonance to avoid the overall structure reso-nance; the 3rd and the 4th modal frequency and engine idle speed frequency were very close so that local resonance might occur; road roughness excitation frequency covered the first 6 order modal frequencies and the further vibration-re-ducing measures of CT equipment were suggested. Based on the theories of finite element method and current software platform, modal analysis of shelter structure can be simulated and the results can provide valuable data for the improvement of kinetic characteristics and structure design.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between preoperative high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) levels and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (OPCABG) surgery.Methods:We prospectively selected 123 patients who received OPCABG at Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 2019 to October 2019, and collected relevant preoperative and postoperative data. Patients were divided into a normal Hs-CRP group(78 cases) and an elevated Hs-CRP group(45 cases)according to the cutoff value (2 mg/L) of Hs-CRP level. The data of the two groups were compared, and regression analysis was performed on the postoperative data with differences to define independent factors.Results:The leukocyte count in the Hs-CRP group was significantly higher than that in the normal Hs-CRP group[(6.5±1.6)×10 9/ml vs. (7.4±2.1) ×10 9/ml, t=-2.839, P=0.005]. In the elevated Hs-CRP group, proportion of patients with atrial post-CABG atrial fibrillation (38% vs. 19%, χ2=5.100, P=0.024), duration of hospitalization[(21.2±7.1)days vs.(16.0±4.6)days, t=-4.469, P=0.000], hospital costs[(143.1±30.7)×10 3 yuan vs. (123.7±21.8)×10 3 yuan, t=-4.090, P=0.000]were significantly higher than those in the normal Hs-CRP level group. Smoking ( OR=1.660, 95% CI: 1.186-1.993, P=0.031) and Hs-CRP ( OR=1.170, 95% CI: 1.050-1.294, P=0.007) were independent risk factors for post-CABG atrial fibrillation. Hs-CRP ( B=0.436, 95% CI: 0.197-0.675, P=0.000) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, B=-0.180, 95% CI: -0.289--0.071, P=0.001) were independent influencing factors of duration of hospitalization. Hypertension ( B=-11.256, 95% CI: -20.670--1.842, P=0.020), Hs-CRP( B=1.235, 95% CI: 0.217-2.254, P=0.018) and LVEF ( B=-1.168, 95% CI: -1.634--0.702, P=0.000) were independent influencing factors of hospital costs. Conclusion:The preoperative Hs-CRP level of OPCABG is an independent influencing factor of post-CABG atrial fibrillation, duration of hospitalization and hospital costs. This finding lays the foundation for Hs-CRP combined with other indicators to accurately predict the prognosis of OPCABG and screen high-risk patients.

Objective To explore the personality change in patients with epilepsy during the interictal period and the correlation between clinical features and personality change. Methods One hundred and fifteen patients with idiopathic or cryptogenic epilepsy were chosen as the epileptic group and 42 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects served as controls. All participants were evaluated by Mini Mental Status Examination and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale to ensure the normality of cognition and mental state.Personality was evaluated by adult version of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ)in interictal epilepsy patients and healthy controls.Scores of psychoticism (P),extraversion (E),neuroticism (N) and lie (L)were obtained using computer software. Pearson correlation analysis and logistic regression were used to investigate the scores of EPQ and influential factors.Results P and N scores were significantly elevated in epilepsy patients compared with controls ( P scores:50.48 ± 9.55 vs 46.59 ± 7.28,N scores:51.13 ±12.89 vs 46.83 ± 9.40 ; t =2.374,2.266,both P ＜ 0.05 ),while E scores were significantly decreased (51.74 ± 10.74 vs 60.37 ± 9.84;t =- 4.511,P ＜ 0.01 ).There were no significant differences in L scores.Multivariate analysis showed that disease duration was independently correlated to P scores (β =0.043,P＜0.05),while education was correlated to E scores (β =0.109,P ＜ 0.05 ).There were no significant correlations between personality scores,patient age,gender,age of onset,frequency,seizure type,National Hospital Seizure Severity Scale scores,family history,history of status epilepticus and antiepileptic drugs usage.Conclusions High psychoticism and neuroticism and low cxtraversion scores are correlated to patients with epilepsy during the interictal period.Disease duration is an independent risk factor for psychoticism personality,and education level is an independent risk factor for extraversion personality in epilepsy patients.

Aim To determine whether AngⅡin para-ventricular nucleus (PVN)was involved in the chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH ) induced-hypertension in rats.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were ran-domly divided into Sham and CIH groups,the Sham rats were exposed to continuous normoxia,while the CIH rats were submitted to CIH (8 h per day for 15 days).The conscious noninvasive method with tail cuff was performed in rats to record the systolic blood pres-sure during establishing the model of CIH induced hy-pertension.Mean arterial pressure (MAP)and heart rate (HR)were recorded in vivo on a PowerLab data acquisition system after CIH.Rats were fixed on the stereotaxic instrument to conduct microinjection in the PVN.We used Western blot to measure Ang Ⅱ level and AngⅡtype 1 receptor (AT1 R)protein expression in PVN.Results The level of PVN Ang Ⅱin CIH rats was significantly higher than that in Sham rats,a-long with increased AT1 R protein expression.Microin-jection of Ang Ⅱ(0.03,0.3,3 nmol)in bilateral PVN dose-dependently increased MAP in both CIH and Sham rats,and this response was significantly augmen-ted in CIH rats.Losartan (50 nmol),AT1 R antago-nist,had no effect on MAP in Sham rats,but caused significant MAP decreases in CIH rats,and prevented Ang Ⅱ-induced increases in MAP in both CIH and Sham rats.Conclusion The results suggest that the increased AngⅡrelease and enhanced AT1 R activation in the PVN contribute to CIH induced-hypertension in rats.