Previous studies have revealed Twist,a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor,plays an important role in breast cancer metastasis.To clarify the molecular mechanism of its involvement in cancer metastasis,Twist was silenced by RNAi in highly metastatic 4T1 cells.Then microarray chips were used to investigate the gene-expression pattern of the Twist-knockdown 4T1 cells and the normal 4T1 cells.The results indicated that silencing of Twist significantly suppressesed lung metastasis of 4T1 cells in vivo.Direct comparison of gene-expression profiles showed that 167 genes in Twist-knockdown cells differed dramatically in expression levels from those in control cells.Among the 167 genes,26 well-known tumor-associated genes,including 15 up-regulated and 11 down-regulated genes were found.These genes appear to be regulated by Twist during breast tumorigenesis.The findings provide new insights into the mechanism by which Twist is involved in tumorigenesis.

Objective: To evaluate the eruption of mandible third molar in orthodontic patients with non-extraction or extraction of the lower premolars. Methods: We selected 3 group of the orthodontic patients. One group consisted of 23 subjects (12 males, 11 females, average age 13.5 years) with non-extraction. One group consisted of 23 subjects (12 males, 11 females, average age 13 years) with lower first premolar extraction. One group consisted of 21 subjects (11 males, 10 females, average age 14.07 years) with lower second premolar extraction. The panoramic radiography was taken. The lower third molar angulation and eruption space were measured before and after the orthodontic treatment. The comparison of treatment changes in 3 groups were performed by means of a paired-sample t test using SPSS 17.0 software package. Results: The RS, LS, Rratio and Lratio increased significantly after treatment in patients with lower first premolar extraction(P<0.01). The RM3 and LM3 increased(P<0.05) and RS, LS, Rratio and Lratio increased significantly(P<0.01) after treatment in patients with lower second premolar extraction(P<0.05). Conclusion: The mandibular third molars show improvement in eruption space and inclination in the orthodontic patients with lower premolar extraction.

Objective To explore the clinical value of serum procalcitonin(PCT)and C-reactive protein(CRP)combination detec-tion in early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis complicating spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP).Methods The peripheral blood sam-ples were collected from 30 cases of liver cirrhosis complicating SBP,30 cases of simple ascites liver cirrhosis (non-SBP)and 45 healthy subjects as control group.The serum PCT level was detected by the dry immunofluorescence quantitation method and the serum CRP level was detected by the immunoturbidimetry.The sensitivity and specificity of PCT,CRP and PCT combined with CRP in diagnosing liver cirrhosis complicating SBP were compared and the relationship between PCT levels and prognosis was ana-lyzed.Results Compare with the healthy control group and the non-SBP group,the serum PCT and CRP levels in the SBP group were markedly increased(P <0.05).The sensitivity of PCT,CRP and PCT combined with CRP in diagnosing liver cirrhosis compli-cating SBP was 93.3%,90.0% and 96.6% respectively,and the specificity was 90.0%,75.0% and 95.0% respectively.Conclusion The combination detection of serum PCT and CRP can increase the sensitivity and specificity of the diagnosis and has more clini-cal value in early diagnosing liver cirrhosis complicating SBP.

Objective To evaluate the curative effect of stretching therapy combined with oral administration of Chinese herbal medicine Tongjing Powder in treating dysmenorrhea patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis. Methods Sixty dysmenorrhea patients were randomly divided into two groups, 30 cases in each group. Treatment group was given oral use of Tongjing Powder (mainly composed of Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Rhizoma Chuanxiong, Radix Paeoniae Alba, Rhizoma Cyperi, Aspongopus, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Pollen Typhae, Faeces Trogopterori, Rhizoma Curcumae, and Semen Persicae) combined with stretching therapy. The control group was given oral use of Tongjing Powder alone. Each group was treated for 3 menstrual cycles. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of dysmenorhea were observed during the treatment and 3-month follow-up after treatment. Before and after treatment, pulse index (PI), resistance index (RI), the ratio of systolic peak value to the diastolic peak value (A/B) of uterine artery blood flow in the two groups were detected. And the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated after treatment. Results (1) The VAS scores of the two groups after treatment and at the end of the third menstrual cycle after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment(P<0.05), and the decrease in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group(P < 0.05).(2) After treatment for 3 menstrual cycles, the total effective rate was 96.7％ in the treatment group, which was higher than that in the control group(76.7％). And the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05). (3) The color Doppler energy (CDE) imaging results showed that PI, RI, A/B of uterine artery blood flow in the two groups were decreased after treatment (P < 0.05 compared with those before treatment) , but the differences between the two groups were insignificantly(P > 0.05). Conclusion Stretching therapy combined with oral administration of Chinese herbal medicine Tongjing Powder exerts certain short-term and long-term effect in treating dysmenorrhea patients with Qi stagnation and blood stasis, with good safety and feasibility.

Objective:To investigate the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2)signal pathway in the pathogenesis of stress-induced gastric ulcer.Methods:Animal model of stress-induced gastric ulcer was established in rats with water-immersion restraint(WIR)stress.The mucosal activation of ERK1/2 was observed before and 5,15 and 30 min,and 1, 2 and 3.5 h after WIR stress.Some animals were also treated with an intravenous injection of PD98059(1 mg/kg),a specific ERK1/2 inhibitor,1 h prior to WIR stress.Expression of total ERK1/2 and caspase-3 were detected by Western blot analysis; ERK1/2 activity was measured by kinase activity assay using myelin basic protein as a specific substrate.DNA-binding activities of the transcription factors activator protein-1(AP-1)and nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B)were determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays(EMSA).Mucosal TNF-?and IL-1?mRNA expression was analyzed by Northern blot analysis.The degrees of the gastric mucosal lesions were expressed as ulcer index(UI)and pathological evaluation.Apoptosis in the gastric mucosa was examined by an in situ TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)method.Results:Activated ERK1/2 was very weakly expressed in the gastric mucosa of normal rats.ERK1/2 was rapidly activated in the gastric mucosa of rats 15 min after WIR stress and the activity reached the maximal after 3.5 h.Pretreatment with PD98059 significantly inhibited ERK1/2 activation,decreased AP-1 and NF-?B activities and TNF-?and IL-1?mRNA expression,and obviously relieved gastric mucosal lesions,accompanied by caspase-3 activation and increased apoptosis.Conclusion:The present results indicate that ERK1/2 activation plays an important role in the development of stress-induced gastric ulcer.

0.05).Conclusions Fluid therapy guided by functional hemodynamic index SVV in elderly patients with severe sepsis under MV is safe and more effective than that guided by CVP.SVV is valuable in prodicting the response to fluid treatment in elderly patients with severe sepsis.

Objective To explore the significance of the plasma procalcitonin (PCT) level for directing antibiotic therapy in elderly patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).Methods The 50 elderly patients with VAP were randomly separated into the regular therapy group and the PCT-directed therapy group. The regular therapy group was given regular antibiotic therapy, while the antibiotic therapy was decided according to the plasma level of PCT in the PCT-directed therapy group. The used time and utilization rate of antibiotics, as well as inflammatory indicators including white blood cells, neutrophils, C-reactive protein (CRP) and clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment, there were no significant differences in white blood cells, neutrophils and CRP between the PCT-directed therapy group and regular therapy group [(8.9 ± 3.5 ) × 109/L vs. (9.4 ± 3.7) × 109/L, 0.62 ± 0.04 vs.0.60±0.04, (18.7±8.5) mg/Lvs. (21.6±6.0) mg/L, t=0.47, 1.84 and 1.37, allP＞0.05],but the CPIS was markedly lower in PCT-directed therapy group than in regular therapy group [(4.0± 1.4) scores vs. (4.7± 1.0) scores, t= 2. 18, P＜0.05]. The neutrophils, CRP and CPIS were significantly lower after treatment than before in the both groups. The concentration of PCT was decreased after treatment than before [(0.5 ± 0.9) mg/L vs. (1.7 ± 0.7) mg/L]. Meanwhile, the time using antibiotics was longer in regular treatment group than in PCT-directed therapy group [(8.72±1.32) d vs. (5.17±0.72) d, t=11.96, P＜0.01], the utilization rate of antibiotics was higher (95.2 % vs. 55.2 %, χ2 = 12.41, P＜0.01) in regular treatment group. Conclusions Using PCT levels for directing treatment in elderly patients with VAP can achieve better curative effect and reduce the use of antibiotics.

Objective To evaluate the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in endotoxic shock-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in rabbits.Methods Thirty healthy male New Zealand white rabbits, aged 2 months, weighing 1.5-2.0 kg, were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =10 each) using a random number table: control group (group C), ALI group, and wortmannin group (group W).In group W, wortmannin 0.6 mg/kg (in 0.08 ml/kg dimethyl sulfoxide) was injected via the auricular vein, while the equal volume of normal saline was given in C and ALI groups.And 30 min later, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 5 mg/kg (in 2 ml of normal saline) was injected via the auricular vein in ALI and W groups, while the equal volume of normal saline was given in group C.The rabbits were sacrificed at 6 h after LPS or normal saline injection.The lung was immediately removed for microscopic examination and for determination of wet/dry lung weight ratio (W/D ratio), expression of phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) , Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) (by Western blot), and expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA (using fluorescent quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction).The pathological changes of the lung were scored.Results Compared with group C, the lung injury scores and W/D ratio were significantly increased, and the expression of p-Akt, Nrf2 protein and mRNA, and HO-1 protein and mRNA was up-regulated in ALI and W groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group ALI, the lung injury scores and W/D ratio were significantly increased,and the expression of p-Akt, Nrf2 protein and mRNA, and HO-1 protein and mRNA was up-regulated in group W (P＜0.05).Conclusion Activation of PI3K/Akt/Nrf2 pathway is the regulatory mechanism of the body adapting to the development of endotoxic shock-induced ALI in rabbits.

Objective To investigate the influence of left ventricular-arterial coupling(VAC) on clinical prognosis of elderly patients with septic shock.Methods A total of 56 elderly septic shoek patients were enrolled in this study,all of whom were admitted to Department of Intensive Care Unit in Zhejiang Hospital from August 2014 to October 2015.The patients were divided into two groups according to the status of left ventricular-arterial coupling when septic shock was diagnosed,which were left ventricular-arterial uncoupling group(UC group) and left ventricular-arterial coupling group(C group).Various parameters were recorded,including blood lactate level,central venous oxygen saturation(ScvO2),serum level of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTN Ⅰ),dose of vasoactive drugs,the total fluid volume and urine volume per hour within 24 hours.The 28-day survival rate was a key index of prognosis.Multivariate logistic regression was taken to analyze risk factors related to death within 28 day.Results Compared with C group,UC group had lower values of left ventricular ejection fraction[(42.43 ±4.76)％ vs (53.17±3.01)％;P＜0.01] and cardiac index[(2.36±0.68) L· min-1 · m 2vs (2.93±0.45)L · min-1 · m-2;P ＜0.01].Yet serum levels of NT-proBNP[lg NT-proBNP 3.93 ±0.53 vs 3.40 ±0.63;P =0.004] and cTN Ⅰ [lg cTN Ⅰ-0.16 ± 0.68 vs-1.03 ± 0.69;P ＜ 0.001] in UC group were higher than those in C group.Moreover,the total fluid volume within 24 hours [(3 806.3 ± 831.4) ml vs (3 142.0±770.0) ml;P =0.016],blood lactate level[(5.61 ±2.68) mmol/L vs (3.93 ± 1.59)mmol/L;P =0.043] and dose of norepinephrine[(0.630 ±0.300) μg · kg-1 · min-1 vs (0.292 ±0.234)μg · kg-1 · min-1;P =0.001] in UC group were greater than those in C group,while ScvO2 [(60.75 ±2.91)％ vs (64.42 ±2.19)％;P＜0.001] and urine volume per hour[(0.518 ±0.358) ml vs (0.926 ±0.678) ml;P =0.007] were less than those in C group.Compared with C group,UC group had a lower 28-day survival rate [43.2％ (19/44) vs 9/12;P =0.049].Ea/Ees ratio was negatively correlated with LVEF,ScvO2 (r =-0.686,P ＜ 0.001;r =-0.411,P =0.002),positively correlated with NT-proBNP,cTN Ⅰ (r =0.294,P =0.028;r =0.363,P =0.006),yet no obvious correlation was noticed with blood lactate level (r =0.170,P =0.21).Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that VAC(OR =11.187,95％ CI 2.489-50.285;P =0.002),lactate level (OR =1.727,95 ％ CI 1.164-2.563;P =0.007) and lg cTN Ⅰ (OR =0.247,95 ％ CI 0.079-0.779;P =0.017) were independent risk factors affecting 28-day mortality.Conclutions In elderly patients with septic shock,left ventricular-arterial uncoupling indicates a lower 28-day survival rate,worse cardiac function and tissue perfusion.Ea/Ees ratio might sever as a predictive indicator of 28-day mortality.

Objective To explore significance of alpha‐fetoprotein isoform L2(AFP‐L2) in the screening of Down syndrome in pregnant women ,so as to provide references for clinical application .Methods A total of 250 healthy pregnant women and 22 preg‐nant women with Down syndrome were enrolled in this study .Serum specimens were collected and AFP‐12 was separated and cap‐tured by using the magnetic bal ,time‐resolved fluorescence immunoassay was used to detect levels of AFP and AFP‐L2 ,and the percentage of AFP‐L2 (AFP‐L2% ) was calculated .Results The serum level of AFP of pregnant women with Down syndrome [(20.2±4.2)ng/mL]was lower than that of healthy pregnant women[(46.7±19.9)ng/mL],and had statistically significant difference(P<0 .05) .Serum AFP‐L2% of pregnant women with Down syndrome was higher than that of healthy pregnant women , and had statistically significant difference(P<0 .05) .Conclusion Detection of AFP level and AFP‐L2% could be an indicator for Dow n syndrome screening .