The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Phlaeoba albonema Zheng Was determined by using L-PCR and conserved primers walking sequencing.The obtained genome sequence is 15657 bp in size.containing 13 protein-coding genes,2 ribosomal RNA and 22 transfer RNA genes.All the 37 genes are conserved in the same orientations as observed in Locusta migratoria.11202 bp of the mtDNA are coding for proteins,1486 bp for tRNAs,1312 bp for rRNA large subunit(1rRNA),and 844 bp for rRNA small subunit(srRNA).The A+T-rich region is 728 bp in size.The genes overlapping sequences are 41 bp in total and are spreading over 9 locations(1-8 bp at each site).A total of 126 bp intergenic spacer sequences are scattered in 21 regions at the size of 1 to 20 bp,where the largest 20 bp region iS located between the tRNALys and ATP8 genes.The predicted secondary structures of both srRNA and lrRNA were compared with that of Ruspolia dubia,and the patterns of base pairs in tRNA anticodon stem and A/T,C/G bias of protein-coding genes in different strands were discussed.

Objective To study the features and values of ultrasound and Helical computed tomography (CT) in diagnosis of cystic renal cell carcinoma. Methods Twenty patients were preoperatively examined by B-mode ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasound and helical CT. Results All the cases were confirmed by operation and pathology,including 12 cases on the left side and 8 cases on the right side. On B-mode ultrasound images, all lesions appeared as unilocular or multilocular cyst in 5 cases, intratumoral septum in 10 cases,intratumoral nodule in 4 cases,solid-like mass in 1 case. Color blood flow was showed within tumors in 18 patients,in which 17 cases showed the arterial spectrum with a mean resistance index of 0.66. On enhanced CT scans, all the lesions appeared as the early uneven enhancement(19 cases), septal enhancement(6 cases) and mural nodular enhancement(4 cases) respectively. The accuracy of conventional ultrasound combined with color Doppler ultrasound was 85%, while the accuracy of the enhanced CT was 80%.Conclusions Conventional ultrasound combined with color Doppler ultrasound and enhanced CT plays an important role in diagnosis of cystic renal cell carcinoma.

Objective To retrospectively conclude the characteristics of interictal EEG of patients with intractable epilepsy, and then analyze their relationship with postoperative seizures. Methods 168 patients with intractable epilepsy in the epilepsy center of Beijing Tiantan Hospital that underwent strictly preoperative evaluations before surgery were collected and followed up for 2 and 5 years, the characteristics of their interictal EEG and postoperative seizures after 2 years and 5 years were concluded and analyzed. Results There was no significant difference between 2 years and 5 years postoperative seizures in 73 intractable epilepsy patients (P>0.05). There was statistically differences in postoperative seizures between unilateral and bilateral abnormal discharges (P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with unilateral abnormal discharges and located at temporal in interictal EEG predict better outcomes 2 years after operation.

Objective To study protective effects of Wuzi Yanzong Fang on DNA damage induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in mice, and explore its mechanism. Methods BalB/c mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group, Wuzi Yanzong Fang low dose group and Wuzi Yanzong Fang high dose group. Mice in Wuzi Yanzong Fang groups were pretreated with Wuzi Yanzong Fang for 7 days, then the mice in Wuzi Yanzong Fang groups and model group were intraperitoneally injected with CTX (100 mg/kg) every other day for three times, and mice in Wuzi Yanzong Fang groups were continued administered with Wuzi Yanzong Fang. Animals were sacrificed in twelve hours after the final treatment of CTX. ELISA was used to detect 8-OHdG content in serum, and single cell gel electrophoresis to detect DNA damage in bone marrow cells. Results Wuzi Yanzong Fang low dose group and high dose group reduced the level of 8-OHdG in serum. Wuzi Yanzong Fang significantly decreased Olive tail moment, tail moment, tail length and tail DNA%in mouse bone marrow cells. Conclusion Wuzi Yanzong Fang has good protective effects on DNA damage caused by CTX.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of artesunate (ART) on cell differentiation and cell cycle distribution of the prostate cancer cell line PC-3 in vitro. METHODS: PC-3 cells were cultivated with ART from logarithmic growth phase. After 48-hour treatment, the cell cycles were detected by flow cytometry (FCM), and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in cell culture supernatant. The change of cellular morphology was observed under a transmission electron microscope (TEM). RESULTS: In comparison with the blank control group, the rate of G(0)/G(1) plus S stages of PC-3 cells was significantly decreased in the high-dose ART group. The PC-3 cell was arrested in G(2)/M by ART. The rates of G(2)/M of the high-dose ART group and the medium-dose ART group were obviously higher than those of the blank control group and the cisplatin group (P<0.05). The levels of PSA in the three ART groups were significantly lower than that of the normal control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the ART groups, TEM showed that some vacuoles appeared in endochylema, cell polarity was enhanced, cell nucleus leaned to one side of the cell, and microvilli increased on the other side of the cell. CONCLUSION: ART can induce PC-3 cell cycle arrest and differentiation in vitro.

Objective To treat hydrosalpinx by using interventional embolization of fallopian tube or laparoscopic salpingectomy before the performance of auxiliary reproductive technology,i.e.in vitro fertilization and embryo transplant (IVF-ET),and to compare the clinical effect,technical advantages and disadvamages between the two methods.Methods A total of 170 patients with tubal infertility who had received IVF-ET were selected,the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into three groups:(1) interventional embolization group (n=65),using interventional embolization for hydrosalpinx;(2) laparoscopic salpingectomy group (n=55),adopting laparoscopic salpingectomy for hydrosalpinx;and (3) control group (n=50):for these patients bilateral proximal fallopian tube obstruction was performed,and IVF-ET was directly carried out if the patient had no hydrosalpinx.Results No statistically significant differences in the used dosage of gonadotropin (Gn),E2 level on HCG-injection day,the number of follicles on HCG-injection day,the number of retrieved oocytes,the fertilization rate,cleavage rate,clinical pregnancy rate,abortion rate,and ectopic pregnancy rate existed between each other among the three groups (P＞0.05).The technical success rate in both interventional embolization group and laparoscopic salpingectomy group was 100％.No severe complications occurred.The interventional embolization procedure had some advantages,it could be completed at clinic room,the operation time was short,no anesthesia was needed,the medical cost was low,etc.Conclusion Interventional embolization of fallopian tube and laparoscopic resection are equally effective in treating hydrosalpinx before IVF-ET is conducted.Both methods can improve pregnancy outcome,but interventional embolization method is more simple,safe,economical and effective,which deserves to be the preferred method of treatment.

To study the in vitro anti-angiogenesis effect of three curcumin pigments (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin). In the study, the inhibitory effect of the three curcumin pigments on proliferation of HUVEC cells induced by OX-LDL and the effect on migration of HUVEC cells were detected. The effect on neovascularization was observed by chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) test. The effect on cell adhesion factors ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 of HUVECs were tested by Real-time RT-PCR. It was found that the three curcumins could inhibit the proliferation of HUVEC cells induced by OX-LDL within the dosage range 4, 8, 16 mg x L(-1), with a dose-dependence. The proliferative effect of curcumins on HUVECs was greater than the other two derivatives (P < 0.01). All of the three curcumin pigments inhibited the migration of HUVEC cells and the angiogenesis of chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The migration inhibition rate of curcumins at middle and high concentrations was greater than the other two (P < 0.01). All of the three curcumin could down-regulate the expression of VEGF and ICAM-1, and curcumins showed more obvious effect in down-regulating VEGF than demethoxycurcumin and bisdemethoxycurcumin(P < 0.01); Bisdemethoxycurcumin showed the most significant effect in down-regulating ICAM-1 (P < 0.01). All of the three showed no remarkable effect on expression of VCAM-1, and only bisdemethoxycurcumin showed the down-regulating effect (P < 0.05). According to the findings, all of the three curcumin pigments could resist angiogenesis by inhibiting proliferation and migration of endothelial cells and down-regulating the expression of VEGF and adhesion molecules ICAM-1.
Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics

Actins ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hypophosphatemia ; blood ; etiology ; Ilium ; Mesenchymoma ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteomalacia ; blood ; etiology ; Phosphates ; blood ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the role of oxidative stress-dependent Rasextracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signaling in aldosterone (ALDO)-induced mesangial cell proliferation. Methods The incorporation of 3H-thymidine (3H-TdR) and cell count were used as the measure of mesangial cell (MC) proliferation.Western blotting was used to detect the activation of Ki-RasA,c-Raf,MEK1/2,ERK1/2 and PI3K. Results Aldosterone significantly induced human mesangial cell proliferation,and anti-oxidant N-Acetylcysteine (NAC),catalase,and super oxide dismutase (SOD) significantly inhibited ALDO-induced mesangial cell proliferation (P＜0.01,respectively).Stimulation by ALDO for 3 h,Ki-RasA,c-Raf,MEK1/2,and ERK1/2 activity increased by 4.05-, 3.62-, 4.52-, and 3.40-fold compared with control group (P ＜0.01,respectively).NAC almost completely blocked ALDO-induced Ki-RasA,c-Raf,MEK1/2,and ERK1/2 activation (P＜0.01,respectively).Ki-RasA siRNA dose-dependently inhibited Ki-RasA expression, ALDO-induced Ki-RasA activation, and mesangial cell proliferation (P ＜0.01,respectively).c-Raf inhibitor GW5074 and MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 also reduced ALDO-induced mesangial cell proliferation by 65％ respectvely (P＜0.01).Ki-RasA siRNA had no effect on ALDO-induced PI3K phosphorylation.Combining LY294002 and PD98059 completely blocked ALDO-induced mesangial cell proliferation (P＜0.01). Conclusions ALDO-induced Ki-RasA-c-Raf-MEK-ERK signaling activation is dependent on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production,which mediates ALDO-induced mesangial cell proliferation.Inhibition of both ERK1/2 and PI3K signaling simultaneously completely blocks ALDO-induced mesangial cell proliferation.

Objective To explore the protection of early autophagy activation on podocyte injury induced by aldosterone.Methods In vitro cultured mouse podocyte clones (MPC5) were treated with aldosterone for 6,12,24,48 h respectively.Apoptosis of podocytes was detected by Annexin V combined with flow cytometry.After 24 h treatment with aldosterone,the existence of apoptotic body and autophagosome was observed by electron microscopy.The protein expressions of LC3,caspase-3 and nephrin were examined by Western blotting.The mRNA expression of Beclin-l was detected by real-time PCR.Results The induction of apoptosis and autophagy by aldosterone in podocytes was in timedependent mannner.After 24 h treatment with aldosterone,the apoptosis was increased by 26.5％ (P ＜ 0.05)and the expression of nephrin was decreased by 28.0％ (P ＜ 0.05) compared to control group.Aldosterone remarkably induced the expression of Beclin-1 at 6 h and promoted the transformation of LC3-Ⅰ to LC3-Ⅱat 12 h (P ＜ 0.05).Compared to simple aldosterone treatment,the apoptosis rate of podocyte was increased by 39.0％ (P ＜ 0.05) and the expression of nephrin was declined by 19.5％ (P ＜ 0.05) after 3-methyladenine (3-MA) pre-treatment.Conclusions Aldosterone can induce autophagy and apoptosis in podocytes.Autophagy occurs earlier (12 h) than apoptosis (24 h).The occurrence of autophagy can inhibit the apoptosis,so the autophagy pathway may be a new research topic of glomerular disease treatment.