ObjectiveTo study the expression levels of YB-1 protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues,tissues adjacent to tumour and normal liver tissues,and to explore the clinical significance.MethodsTo study the expression levels of YB-1 protein,immunochemistry was carried out on 58 HCC tissues and their corresponding adjacent tissues to tumour and on 20 normal liver tissues.The YB-1 protein with nuclear translocation was detected by Western blot in HCC tissues,tissues adjacent to tumour,normal liver tissues,HCC cell lines including QGY-7701 and SMMC-7721,and a normal hepatic cell line LO2.ResultsPositive signals of YB-1 protein were detected at a high level in HCC tissues (72.4％,42/58) when compared to tissues adjacent to tumour (41.4％,24/58) and to normal liver tissues (35 ％,7/20) (P＞0.05).The nuclear expression of YB-1 (31％,18/58) was significantly correlated with the pathologicalgrade,tumour size and portal venous invasion (P＜0.05).Using Western blot,the YB-1 protein with nuclear translocation was expressed at a higher level in HCC tissues (0.474±0.107) than in tissues adjacent to tumour and in normal liver tissues (P＜0.05).Similar results were obtained in HCC cell lines and the normal hepatic cell line (P＜0.05).ConclusionThe high expression of YB-1 in HCC and its nuclear translocation may be involved in human HCC progression.YB-1 may be a potential target for HCC treatment in the future.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect of the sacrococcygeal space injection for the treatment of failed back surgery syndrome.

METHODSFrom July 1998 to October 2012,47 patients with failed back surgery syndrome were treated and included 39 males and 8 females with an average age of 61.5 years old ranging from 35 to 89 years old. Among them,41 patients experienced one time of operation, 6 patients with twice of operation. Forty-one patients underwent single,bilateral fenestration or central laminectomy decompression, discectomy. Six patients underwent total laminectomy discectomy and inter body fusion and pedicle screw fixation. All patients were examined by X-ray plain film, CT or MRI before treatment. The anticoagulation was discontinuation before treatment. The needle was put into the sacrococcygeal gap at prone position in the sense of frustration,suction without cerebrospinal fluid and blood,with injection of Mailuoning (Chinese characters: see text) 15 ml. The pain was assessed by VAS before and after treatment. The Oswestry low back pain disability index and survival quality interference degree were evaluated.

RESULTSAt 1 month after treatment,the pain VAS decreased from 59.24 +/- 17.35 before treatment to 19.19 +/- 11.19 after treatment (P < 0.05); The Oswestry low back pain disability index decreased from (41.35 +/- 9.87)% before treatment to (23.17 +/- 17.56)% after treatment (P < 0.05); The survival quality interference degree decreased from 6.5 +/- 2.2 before treatment to 2.6 +/- 1.4 after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe sacrococcygeal gap injection for treatment of failed back surgery syndrome has advantages of simple, safe, fewer complications, and low treatment cost.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Failed Back Surgery Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Sacrococcygeal Region ; diagnostic imaging

Objective To investigate the value of array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) technique for the detection of chromosomal analysis of miscarried embryo, and to provide genetic counseling for couples with spontaneous abortion. Methods Totally 382 patients who underwent miscarriage were enrolled in this study. All aborted tissues were analyzed with conventional cytogenetic karyotyping and array-CGH, respectively. Results Through genetic analysis, all of the 382 specimens were successfully analyzed by array-CGH (100.0%, 382/382), and the detection rate of chromosomal aberrations was 46.6% (178/382). However, conventional karyotype analysis was successfully performed in 281 cases (73.6%, 281/382), and 113 (40.2%, 113/281) were found with chromosomal aberrations. Of these 178 samples identified by array-CGH, 163 samples (91.6%, 163/178) were aneuploidy, 15 samples (8.4%, 15/178) were segmental deletion and (or) duplication cases. Four of 10 cases with small segmental deletion and duplication were validated to be transferred from their fathers or mathers who were carriers of submicroscopic reciprocal translocation. Of these 113 abnormal karyotypes founded by conventional karyotyping, 108 cases (95.6%, 108/113) were aneuploidy and 5 cases (4.4%, 5/113) had chromosome structural aberrations. Most array-CGH results were consistent with conventional karyotyping but with 3 cases of discrepancy, which included 2 cases of triploids, 1 case of low-level mosaicism that undetcted by array-CGH. Conclusions Compared with conventional karyotyping, there is an increased detection rate of chromosomal abnormalities when array-CGH is used to analyse the products of conception, primarilly because of its sucess with nonviable tissues. It could be a first-line method to determine the reason of miscarrage with higher accuracy and sensitivity.

Background and purpose:Remarkable advances have been made in cancer chemotherapy by developing new anticancer drugs and therapy strategies.However,multidrug resistance in human cancers remains a major clinical challenge for cancer treatment.Attempts in several clinical studies to reverse multidrug resistance protein (MDR) by using MDR modulators have not yet generated promising results.Our aim was to explored the mechanism of reversal of multidrug resistance in human leukemia K562 cells by PI3-K inhibitor.Methods:Trypanblue dye exclusion method was used to observe the drug sensitivity and the effect of LY294002 on the drug resistance.Western blot to analyze P-gp and p-Akt phenotypes,and flow cytometer was used to measure the intracellular drug accumulation. Results:K562/D induced by DNR was cross resistant to DNR,ADR,VCR and VP16 (Resistance Index:65,52,134 and 50 respectively).DNR induced over-expressions of P-gp and p-Akt in K562/D cells;LY294002 increased the intracellular drug accumulation,and then reversed the drug resistance to DNR,ADR,VCR and VPI6 in K562/D cells(Resistance Index:23,21,63 and 29 respectively),but not in the sensitive cells (K562/S).Conclusion:The multidrug resistance of K562/D cells can be induced by DNR which is related to the P-gp and p-Akt over-expressions, and LY294002 can reverse multidrug resistance in human leukemia cells in vitro via inhibits PI3-K/Akt pathway.

BACKGROUNDFolic acid is very important for embryonic development and dihydrofolate reductase is one of the key enzymes in the process of folic acid performing its biological function. Therefore, the dysfunction of dihydrofolate reductase can inhibit the function of folic acid and finally cause the developmental malformations. In this study, we observed the abnormal cardiac phenotypes in dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene knock-down zebrafish embryos, investigated the effect of DHFR on the expression of heart and neural crest derivatives expressed transcript 2 (HAND2) and explored the possible mechanism of DHFR knock-down inducing zebrafish cardiac malformations.

METHODSMorpholino oligonucleotides were microinjected into fertilized eggs to knock down the functions of DHFR or HAND2. Full length of HAND2 mRNA which was transcribed in vitro was microinjected into fertilized eggs to overexpress HAND2. The cardiac morphologies, the heart rates and the ventricular shortening fraction were observed and recorded under the microscope at 48 hours post fertilization. Whole-mount in situ hybridization and real-time PCR were performed to detect HAND2 expression.

RESULTSDHFR or HAND2 knock-down caused the cardiac malformation in zebrafish. The expression of HAND2 was obviously reduced in DHFR knock-down embryos (P < 0.05). Microinjecting HAND2 mRNA into fertilized eggs can induce HAND2 overexpression. HAND2 overexpression rescued the cardiac malformation phenotypes of DHFR knock-down embryos.

CONCLUSIONSDHFR plays a crucial role in cardiac development. The down-regulation of HAND2 caused by DHFR knock-down is the possible mechanism of DHFR knock-down inducing the cardiac malformation.

Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; genetics ; physiology ; Female ; Heart ; embryology ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; etiology ; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; physiology ; Zebrafish ; Zebrafish Proteins ; genetics ; physiology

AIMTo explore the effects of different doses of tyrosine modulation on behavioral performances in open field test of psychological stress rats.

METHODSThe animal model of psychological stress was developed by restraint stress for 21 days. Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 10) as follows: control group (CT), stress control group (SCT), low, medium and high-doses of tyrosine modulation stress groups (SLT, SMT and SIT). The changes of behavioral performances were examined by open-field test. Serum levels of cortisol, norepinephrine and dopamine were also detected.

RESULTSThe levels of serum cortisol were all increased obviously in the four stress groups, and their bodyweight gainings were diminished. The behavioral performances of SCT rats in open-field test were changed significantly in contrast to that of CT rats. However, The behavioral performances of SMT and SHT rats were not different from that of CT rats. In addition, the serum levels of norepinephrine and dopamine were downregulated obviously in SCT and SLT groups, and no differences were observed in other groups.

CONCLUSIONPsychological stress can impair body behavioral performances, and moderate tyrosine modulation may improve these abnormal changes. The related mechanisms may be involved with the changes of norepinephrine and dopamine.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Dopamine ; blood ; Male ; Norepinephrine ; blood ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Restraint, Physical ; psychology ; Stress, Psychological ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Tyrosine ; therapeutic use

AIMTo observe the impairment of homocysteine (Hcy) on neurons in vitro and the related mechanisms.

METHODSWe examined the consequences of treatment of cultured rat cortical and hippocampal neurons with Hcy and detected the neurons' apoptosis, calcium influx, DNA damage and oxidative injury.

RESULTSPrimary cortical and hippocampal neurons were treated with Hcy (250 micromol/L) for 4 h resulted in apoptosis time-dependently. S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) could significantly, but MK-801, an NMDA receptor inhibitor, couldn't repress the Hcy induced neuron apoptosis. Hcy could induce neuron calcium overload through activating the NMDA receptors. The DNA of neurons was damaged by Hcy because the methylation reactions were inhibited. Hcy treatment also induced MDA level significantly increased, but did not affect the neurons' T-AOC.

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicate that Hcy compromises neuronal homeostasis by multiple, divergent routes, including DNA damage, neuron exitotoxicity, and oxidative injury. Hcy mediated neuron apoptosis was mainly due to DNA damage.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; metabolism ; DNA Damage ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; pathology ; Homocysteine ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo classify and repair "Butterfly Ear" deformity which presents characters of dysplasia of inferior auricle of ear and congenital bat ear.

METHODThe repairment procedures include: type I: auricular cartilage flap inversion folding technique. type II: local ear skin flap. type III: soft tissue expander autogenous, rib cartilage framework.

RESULTSThe method was used in 19 cases from October 2001 to March 2005. Postoperative follow-up showed satisfactory results in all cases.

CONCLUSIONAccording to "Butterfly Ear" deformity classification, different technique could be applied.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; classification ; surgery ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo classify the blood vessel distribution of the expanded skin in the mastoid region and its relevance to reasonable and reliable design of the expanded flap for auricular reconstruction in congenital microtia.

METHODSThe blood vessel distribution of the expanded skin in the mastoid region was observed by light permeation test. The expanded flaps with different ratio of length to width were designed according to their blood vessel distribution types.

RESULTSThe vascular distribution of the expanded skin in 403 cases was divided into five types. All the flaps survived completely.

CONCLUSIONSThe blood vessel distribution type of the expanded skin in mastoid region has great significance for the design of post-auricular expanded flap in auricular reconstruction.

Congenital Abnormalities ; surgery ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Ear ; abnormalities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mastoid ; surgery ; Skin ; blood supply ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Tissue Expansion Devices

Objective:To investigate the mastery and application of medical ethics basic knowledge in geriatric ward medical staffs,and the way which they receive relevant education. Methods:From November 2016 to January 2017,240 questionnaires about medical ethics were distributed among medical staffs in clinical department in the Chinese PLA General Hospital,among them,30 were medical groups and 210 were nursing groups;and a total of 233 valid questionnaires were collected. The nurses were divided into geriatric ward nursing group and non - geriat-ric ward nursing group,according to whether they work in the geriatric wards or not. Results:Only 2. 14％ and 7. 72％ participants fully and correctly answered the core concepts and basic principles of medical ethics,respec-tively. The rate of informed consent in medical staffs in geriatric group was significantly higher than that of non -geriatric group (92. 66％ vs 82. 11％ ,P = 0. 02);the patient' s privacy protection in geriatric nursing group was significantly higher than that of non - geriatric nursing group (92. 66％ vs 31. 57％ ,P < 0. 001). 28. 75％ of the respondents received medical ethics continuing education curriculum,and the proportion of correctly receiving ex-pectable death in these medical staffs (71. 40％ ) was significantly higher than that of other education pathway groups (36. 17％ ). Conclusion:Medical staffs lack more knowledge on medical ethics. Clinical work in geriatric medicine has higher demand for medical ethics knowledge,and continuing medical education can help to improve the cognitive level of medical ethics in medical staffs.