OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibition and molecular mechanism of icaritin (ICT) combined doxorubicin (DOX) on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe control group, ICT groups (10, 20, 40, 80, and 160 µmol/L), DOX groups (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 µg/mL), and combination groups (20 µmol/ L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 20 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 40 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +1 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +2 µg/mL DOX, 80 µmol/L ICT +4 µg/mL DOX) were set up. Human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells were respectively cultured and their effects on morphological changes were observed using inverted phase contrast microscope after 24-and 48-h intervention. The cell proliferation inhibition rate of each group was de- termined using CCK-8, and IC50 calculated. The MG-63 apoptosis rate was detected using Annexin V-FITC/ PI double dye flow cytometry. Expression levels of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21 were detected using RT-PCR.

RESULTSICT and DOX could obviously inhibit the proliferation of MG-63 cell. Along with ICT concentration increasing from 10 µmol/L to 160 µmol/L, the cell proliferation inhibition rate also increased gradually from 9.67% ± 3.62% to 89.18% ± 9.66%. The IC50 was 46.93 µmol/L and 3.87 µg/mL respectively. ICT and DOX could cause either early or late stage apoptosis, down-regulate Bcl-2 gene expression, and up-regulate gene expressions of Caspase-3 and p21 respectively (P < 0.05). Aforesaid changes were more obviously seen in combination groups than in lCT groups and DOX groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCT combined DOX had additive or synergistic inhibition effect for the proliferation of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells, which might be related with regulating gene expressions of bcl-2, caspase-3, and p21.

Apoptosis ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; CA-125 Antigen ; metabolism ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymph Node Excision ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the performance of computer-assisted imaging system in the detection of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesion and quality-assurance.

METHODSManual PAP screening (n = 140 580) and image-assisted screening (n = 32 885) were compared for the detection rates of squamous cell abnormalities, the atypical squamous cells (ASC) to squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) ratio, the positive rates of high risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) test in the case of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US), and the correlation between cytopathology and histopathology.

RESULTSCompared with manual screening, computer-assisted imaging system showed increased overall positive detection by 0.32%, decreased detection of ASC by 0.21%, increased detection of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) by 0.22%, increased detection of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion or worse (HSIL) by 0.31%, and decreased ASC to SIL ratio from 2.59 to 1.60. Computer-assisted imaging system did not change the HR-HPV positive rate of the patients who were ASC-US, or the coincidence rate between cytopathology and histopathology. Moreover, the productivity of the laboratory operation increased 58.33%.

CONCLUSIONComputer-assisted imaging system significantly increases the overall positive detection rate of cervical SIL, improves accuracy and work efficiency of screening, decreases the ASC/SIL rate, and strengths the quality-assurance of laboratory testing.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification ; Papillomavirus Infections ; pathology ; Uterine Cervical Dysplasia ; pathology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; pathology ; Vaginal Smears ; methods

OBJECTIVETo identify zebrafish mutants with myelopoiesis defects by ENU mutagenesis and large-scale forward genetic screening.

METHODSMale zebrafish were mutagenized with N-ethyl N-nitrosourea to induce mutations in the spermatogonial cells to generate the founders, which were outcrossed with AB to raise F1 fish. The F1 fish from different founders were mated to generate the F2 families. The F3 embryos from F2 sibling crosses were screened by Sudan black B staining and neutral red staining.

RESULTSA total of 350 F2 families from F1 sibling crosses were screened, and 1424 F2 crosses were analyzed. Six mutations were identified resulting in abnormal Sudan black B staining and neutral red staining, indicating the involvement of neutrophil deficiency or macrophage abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONIt is simple and cheap to induce and screen myelopoiesis deficiency in zebrafish by ENU chemical mutagenesis and Sudan black B staining and neutral red staining. These mutants shed light on the identification of the genes important to myelopoiesis in zebrafish.

Animals ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Male ; Mutagenesis ; Mutation ; Myeloid Progenitor Cells ; physiology ; Myelopoiesis ; genetics ; Zebrafish ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo screen and identify zebrafish mutants with erythropoiesis defects by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis and large-scale forward genetic screening using beta e 1 as the marker.

METHODSThe chemical mutagen ENU was used to treat healthy wild-type male fish (AB strain, F0). The surviving ENU-treated fish were mated with wild-type female fish to generate F1, and further F2 family was generated by F1 family intercross. The adult F2 fish were intercrossed within each F2 family and the resulting F3 embryos from each crossing were subjected to whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) with the beta e 1 probe. Mutagenesis was performed by treating the male zebrafish with ENU to induce mutations in pre-meiotic germ cells to generate the founders, which were outcrossed to obtained the F1 fish. The F1 fish from different founders were mated to generate the F2 families. F3 embryos from the sibling cross in the F2 family were examined by whole mount in situ hybridization using beta e 1-globin probe. The putative mutants were then characterized with different hematopoiesis markers.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONWe identified 4 beta e 1-deficient mutants with erythropoiesis defects, including two with specific erythiod lineage defects and two with concurrent lymphopoiesis defects.

Animals ; Erythropoiesis ; genetics ; Ethylnitrosourea ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Male ; Mutagenesis, Insertional ; Mutation ; Zebrafish ; genetics

Our previous study found that plate factor-4 variant (CXCL4L1) was downregulated in the serum of patients with prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of CXCL4L1 in PCa. In total, 213 PCa patients treated with radical prostatectomy were enrolled and peripheral blood samples of all patients were collected. Expression of serum CXCL4L1 in patients with different tumor stages and grades were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Kaplan-Meier method was applied to estimate the progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), metastasis, biochemical recurrence (BCR)-free survival, and overall survival (OS). Prognostic factors for BCR-free survival and OS were determined by univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. The expression of CXCL4L1 was significantly lower in PCa patients with advanced pathological tumor stage, high-grade Gleason score, and metastasis. Moreover, downregulation of CXCL4L1 not only strongly correlated with aggressive clinicopathological features, but also predicted tumor progression and unfavorable outcomes. Finally, multivariate Cox regression analyses identified CXCL4L1 as an independent prognostic factor for both BCR-free survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.26-3.27; P = 0.004) and OS (HR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.07-4.79; P = 0.033). In conclusion, our results indicate that CXCL4L1 might serve as a novel and promising prognostic biomarker for patients with PCa and potential therapeutic target in the future.
Adenocarcinoma/surgery* ; Aged ; Disease Progression ; Disease-Free Survival ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Platelet Factor 4/blood* ; Prognosis ; Prostate/surgery* ; Prostatectomy/methods* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of internal and external elbow joint approach and olecranon osteotomy approach for the treatment of intercondylar fracture of humerus.

METHODSFrom October 2012 to May 2016, 18 cases of intercondylar fracture of humerus were treated by operation including 12 males and 6 females with a mean age of 33.5 years old (ranged from 4 to 56 years old); 8 cases were operated by internal and external elbow joint approach, 10 cases were operated by olecranon osteotomy approach. According to AO classification, 3 cases were type C1, 8 cases were type C2, 7 cases were type C3. All patients were excluded from neurologic and vascular injuries.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 26 months with an average of 15 months. The incision healed well and no heterotopic ossification was found. According to the modified Cassebaum elbow function score, the result was excellence in 14 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONSAccording to the fracture type, the appropriate surgical approach and fixation were selected in order to get anatomic reduction. Rigid fixation, and early functional exercise is important condition for successful operation and satisfactory functional recovery in intercondylar fracture of the humerus.

Objective To investigate the infection status and epidemiological characteristics of Campylobacter jejuni in diarrhea cases in Jiangsu. Methods Stool specimens of diarrhea cases in Jiangsu Campylobacter jejuni surveillance program were collected in 2020. Campylobacter jejuni was isolated and cultured by the double-well filtration membrane method, and the isolated strains were identified using a fully automated biochemical identification system. Results The positive rate of Campylobacter jejuni in diarrhea cases was 8.38%, with the highest positive rate of Campylobacter jejuni in the diarrhea group of 4-17 years old (27.59%), and the lowest positive rate in the group of 0-3 years old (4.05%). In terms of seasonal distribution, the highest positive rate of Campylobacter jejuni was found in summer (June-August) (9.81%). The positive rate of Campylobacter jejuni in blood stool was the highest (7.39%). Vegetables and their products had the highest positive rate among different categories of suspected foods (33.33%). In terms of processing or packaging methods, catering service food had the highest positive rate (17.46%). In addition, school/institutional collective canteens had the highest positive rate (28.57%) among various eating places. The differences in the positive rates of Campylobacter jejuni among different age groups and different categories of suspected food were statistically significant. Conclusion The monitoring of Campylobacter jejuni in adolescent population should be strengthened, and at the same time, the surveillance and management of vegetables and their products, food service foods and school/institutional collective canteens should be further strengthened.