OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting YAP on the proliferation and apoptosis of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs).

METHODSSynthesized sequences of siRNA were transfected into hPDLSCs by Lipofectamine™ 2000. The expression of YAP was identified by using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Proliferation activity was detected by using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Changes in the cell cycle and apoptosis rate were detected by using flow cytometry. Results were analyzed by using SPSS 19.0, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSExpression of YAP mRNA and protein were significantly downregulated after 48 h of transfection (P < 0.001). No obvious difference was found in the expression levels of YAP protein between 48 and 72 h, thus indicating that siRNA could inhibit the expression of YAP persistently and effectively. Proliferation activity was inhibited, and apoptosis rate was increased. Cell cycle was changed as the proportion of G₁and S phases increased (P < 0.01) and G₂ phase decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONKnocking down YAP gene by siRNA could inhibit proliferation activity, induce apoptosis, and change the cell cycle of hPDLSCs. Thus, YAP could regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of hPDLSCs.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Periodontal Ligament ; drug effects ; Phosphoproteins ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; drug effects ; Transfection

Objective To observe the effects of kidney-tonifying therapy on spatial learning, memory abilities and ultrastructure of hippocampal dentate gyrus ( DG ) cells of kidney deficiency rats induced by sexual intemperance. Methods SD rats with low reproductive capacity were caused by continuously mating for 6 months, and then were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely model group, low- and high-dose of Liuwei Dihuang pills (LDP) groups (in the dosage of 4.8, 9.6 g·kg-1·d-1), low-and high-dose of Jingui Shenqi pills (JSP) group (in the dosage of 5.2, 10.4 g·kg-1·d-1), 8 rats in each group. Except the model group, the other groups were respectively given with the corresponding medication. SD rats aged 2 months served as the normal control group. After treatment for 30 continuous days, the learning and memory abilities of rats were examined by Morris Water Maze. The cell ultra structure of hippocampal dentate gyrus was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results The results of the place navigation test of Morris water maze showed that the escape latency of rats was prolonged obviously in the model group compared with that of the normal control group (P<0.01), and the escape latency of rats in the medication groups was shorter than the kidney deficiency model group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The results of spatial probe test showed that the residence time in the former hidden platform quadrant and its surrounding area was significantly shortened in the model group compared with that of the normal control group ( P<0.01) , but was prolonged after medication of high-dose JSP ( P<0.05 or P<0.01 compared with that of the model group). Under the electron microscope, the cell ultra structure lesions of hippocampal dentate gyrus were much relieved in the high-dose LDP group, and high-dose JSP group as compared with those of the model group. Conclusion ( 1) Long-term sexual intemperance can impair spatial learning and memory abilities and causes the cell ultra structure lesions of hippocampal dentate gyrus of rats. (2) The kidney-tonifying therapy can significantly alleviate the spatial learning and memory disturbance and the cell ultra structure lesions of hippocampal dentate gyrus induced by sexual intemperance. ( 3) There are not significant differences between the two kidney-tonifying therapies in improving spatial learning and relieving cell ultra structure lesions. The effect of JSP on improving spatial memory abilities is better than that of LDP.

At present, ray-casting algorithm is the most widely used algorithm in the field of medical image visualization, and it can achieve the best image quality. Due to large amounts of computation like sampling, gradient, lighting and blending calculation, the cost of ray-casting algorithm is very large. The characteristic of Streaming single instruction multiple datum extensions (SSE) instruction--supporting vector computation--can satisfy the property of ray-casting algorithm well. Therefore, in this paper, we improved the implementation efficient significantly by vectorization of gradient, lighting and blending calculation, and still achieved a high quality image at the same time.
Algorithms ; Humans ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Pattern Recognition, Automated ; methods

Objective To compare the prognosis prediction value of the 8th edition with the 7th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging System in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods A total of 311 HCC patients after hepatectomy were retrospectively analysed.Patients were staged according to both the 7th edition (TNM-7) and 8th edition (TNM-8) AJCC TNM staging criteria.The survival rates were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods.Multivariate analysis was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.The predictive ability of staging systems was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and area under curve (AUC).Results When stratified according to the TNM-7 system,the overall survival(OS) of stage T1 was higher than that of stage T2,stage T2 higher than stage T3a,however,the 5-year OS rates of stage T4 (16.7％) was higher than those of stage T3a (14.3％) and T3b(10.9％).The difference in survival was significant between stages T1 and stage T3a,T3b,T4 (all P ＜0.05),and that between stages T2 and stage T3b,T4 (all P ＜0.05).When stratified according to the TNM-8 system,the survival rates decreased as the T stage going high.OS rates vary significantly between stagesT1a and stageT3,T4 (P =0.004,0.001),between stage T1b and stage T3,T4 (both P ＜ 0.001),and between stage T2 and stage T4 (P =0.009).The difference in disease free survival (DFS) rates was significant between stages T1a,T1b,T2 and stage T3,T4 (all P ＜0.01).Finally,the area under ROC of TNM-8 is bigger than that of TNM-7.Conclusions Compared with TNM-7 staging,new TNM-8 staging can predict more accurately the prognosis of patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects and its mechanism of ischemia postconditioning (IPO) in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in liver cirrhotic rats.MethodsThirty liver cirrhotic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups according to the random table methods: ischemia postconditioning (IPO) group, IRI group, and pure hepatectomy (PH) group with 10 rats in each group. Rats in IPO group underwent partial hepatectomy (40%), and the first portal was occluded for 20 min, then 3 times of ischemia-reperfusion were performed, and ifnally continuous reperfusion. Rats in IRI group underwent partial hepatectomy (40%), and the ifrst portal was occluded for 20 min, then continuous reperfusion was performed. Rats in PH group underwent partial hepatectomy (40%) only. Inferior vena cava blood was collected at 6, 24 h after operation. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), proportion of cluster of differentiation (CD) 4+, CD8+, regulatory T cells (Treg) and levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10 were tested. Comparison of three groups was conducted by one way analysis of variance and pairwise comparison by LSD-t test.ResultsAfter 6 h reperfusion, levels of ALT and AST in IPO group [(1 623±378) , (1 993±469) U/L] were signiifcantly lower than those in IRI group [(2 690±549) , (3 020±577) U/L] (LSD-t=-4.21,-3.72; P<0.05). After 24 h reperfusion, levels of ALT and AST in IPO group [(307±76) , (555±137) U/L] were still signiifcantly lower than those in IRI group [(518±105) , (1 050±355) U/L] (LSD-t=-4.06,-3.37;P<0.05). After 6 h reperfusion, proportion of CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ ratio, Treg, and levels of IL-4, IL-10 in IPO group were (57±5) %, (25±3) %, 2.3±0.5, (8.9±0.4) %, (1.27±0.25) mg/L, (0.61±0.03) mg/L, respectively. While in IRI group, they were (52±6)%, (12±3) %, 4.5±0.8, (7.3±0.3) %, (0.66±0.11) mg/L, (0.34±0.06) mg/L, respectively. In IPO group, CD8+, Treg, IL-4 and IL-10 increased signiifcantly, while CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased signiifcantly, compared with those in IRI group (LSD-t= 7.74, 6.67, 5.52, 9.31,-6.69;P<0.05).ConclusionIPO can prevent from hepatic IRI injury in liver cirrhotic rats through decreasing the immune injury.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in postoperative survival prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.Methods Clinical data of 322 HCC patients undergoing radical resection in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 2006 and December 2009 were retrospectively studied. Among the 322 patients, 286 were males and 36 were females with the age ranging from 21 to 79 years old and the median age of 51 years old. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the local ethical committee approval had been received. PNI value was calculated according to the examination results 1 week before surgery, then the patients were divided into the high PNI group (n=253) and low PNI group (n=69). The relationship between PNI and postoperative survival time was observed, and the value of preoperative PNI in postoperative survival prognosis was analyzed. The survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test, and the multivariate analysis was conducted using Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsThe 1-, 3-, 5-year disease free survival rate was respectively 48.0%, 34.9% and 31.3% in high PNI group, and 33.3%, 15.8% and 11.7% in low PNI group. The disease free survival in high PNI group was significantly better than that in low PNI group (χ2=9.990,P<0.05). The 1-, 3-, 5-year overall survival rate was respectively 72.3%, 49.0% and 42.6% in high PNI group, and 65.2%, 36.2% and 25.9% in low PNI group. The overall survival in high PNI group was significantly better than that in low PNI group (χ2=8.172,P<0.05). The results of the multivariate analysis showed that AFP, tumor number, tumor diameter, portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and PNI were the independent risk factors for disease free survival rate (HR=1.355, 0.783, 2.295, 1.920, 0.710;P<0.05), and tumor number, tumor diameter, PVTT and PNI were the independent risk factors for overall survival rate (HR=0.780, 2.340, 2.013, 0.653;P<0.05).ConclusionsPreoperative PNI is the independent risk factor for postoperative survival prognosis of HCC patients and can be used as the common index for predicting postoperative survival of HCC patients.

Objective: To evaluate the application of combinatorial probe anchor synthesis (cPAS)-based high-throughput low coverage whole genome sequencing in chromosomal aberration detection in spontaneous miscarriage. Methods: From September 2015 to May 2017, spontaneous miscarriage samples were collected from Inner Mongolia Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital. Those samples were further analyzed with two independent methods, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and low coverage whole genome sequencing on the BGISEQ-500 high-throughput platform. The performance of low coverage whole genome sequencing was assessed by comparing to FISH results. Results: In 595 spontaneous miscarried specimens, low coverage whole genome sequencing revealed 144 cases (24.2%, 144/595) chromosomal abnormalities, of which a subset of 137 cases (23.0%, 137/595) were detected as aneuploidies, 2 cases (0.3%, 2/595) as mosaicisms and 5 cases (0.8%, 5/595) as copy number variation (≥5 Mb). Conclusion cPAS-based high-throughput low coverage whole genome sequencing is a reliable method in detecting chromosomal aberrations inspontaneous abortion tissues, including chromosome aneuploidies, mosaicisms and copy number variation (≥5 Mb).

Objective To evaluate the application of combinatorial probe anchor synthesis (cPAS)?based high?throughput low coverage whole genome sequencing in chromosomal aberration detection in spontaneous miscarriage. Methods From September 2015 to May 2017, spontaneous miscarriage samples were collected from Inner Mongolia Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital. Those samples were further analyzed with two independent methods, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and low coverage whole genome sequencing on the BGISEQ?500 high?throughput platform. The performance of low coverage whole genome sequencing was assessed by comparing to FISH results. Results In 595 spontaneous miscarried specimens, low coverage whole genome sequencing revealed 144 cases (24.2%, 144/595) chromosomal abnormalities, of which a subset of 137 cases (23.0%, 137/595) were detected as aneuploidies, 2 cases (0.3%, 2/595) as mosaicisms and 5 cases (0.8%, 5/595) as copy number variation (≥5 Mb). Conclusion cPAS?based high?throughput low coverage whole genome sequencing is a reliable method in detecting chromosomal aberrations inspontaneous abortion tissues, including chromosome aneuploidies, mosaicisms and copy number variation (≥5 Mb).

Objective To explore the incidence and risk factors of futile recanalization after in-travascular therapy in patients with acute anterior circulation occlusion.Methods Clinical materials of 176 patients with acute anterior circulation occlusion in the registration system of the Stroke Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from August 2015 to December 2021 were retrospec-tively analyzed.All the patients received intravascular therapy to successfully achieve angiographic re-canalization[grade of modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction(mTICI)≥2b],and were divided into futile recanalization group[score of modified Rankin Scale(mRS)was 3 to 6 points]and effec-tive recanalization group(mRS score was 0 to 2 points)based on functional independence at 90 days after surgery.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of futile recanalization after intravascular treatment.Results In the 176 patients,93 patients had futile recanalization,and 83 patients had effective recanalization.There were significant differences in age,gender,atrial fibrilla-tion,score of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)on hospital admission,ischemic time,bridging treatment and hemorrhagic transformation between the futile recanalization group and the effective recanalization group(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high NIHSS score on hospital admission(OR=0.815,95％CI,0.760 to 0.874,P＜0.001)and ischemic time(OR=1.232,95％CI,1.020 to 1.488,P=0.030)were the independent predictors of futile recanalization.Conclusion The incidence of futile recanalization after intravascular treat-ment is relatively high in patients with acute anterior circulation occlusion,while age,gender,atrial fibrillation,high NIHSS score on hospital admission,ischemic time,bridging treatment and hemor-rhagic transformation are the risk factors for futile recanalization after intravascular treatment in AIS patients,and high NIHSS score on hospital admission and ischemic time are the independent predic-tive factors for futile recanalization after intravascular treatment in AIS patients.

Objective To explore the incidence and risk factors of futile recanalization after in-travascular therapy in patients with acute anterior circulation occlusion.Methods Clinical materials of 176 patients with acute anterior circulation occlusion in the registration system of the Stroke Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from August 2015 to December 2021 were retrospec-tively analyzed.All the patients received intravascular therapy to successfully achieve angiographic re-canalization[grade of modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction(mTICI)≥2b],and were divided into futile recanalization group[score of modified Rankin Scale(mRS)was 3 to 6 points]and effec-tive recanalization group(mRS score was 0 to 2 points)based on functional independence at 90 days after surgery.Logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of futile recanalization after intravascular treatment.Results In the 176 patients,93 patients had futile recanalization,and 83 patients had effective recanalization.There were significant differences in age,gender,atrial fibrilla-tion,score of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)on hospital admission,ischemic time,bridging treatment and hemorrhagic transformation between the futile recanalization group and the effective recanalization group(P＜0.05).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high NIHSS score on hospital admission(OR=0.815,95％CI,0.760 to 0.874,P＜0.001)and ischemic time(OR=1.232,95％CI,1.020 to 1.488,P=0.030)were the independent predictors of futile recanalization.Conclusion The incidence of futile recanalization after intravascular treat-ment is relatively high in patients with acute anterior circulation occlusion,while age,gender,atrial fibrillation,high NIHSS score on hospital admission,ischemic time,bridging treatment and hemor-rhagic transformation are the risk factors for futile recanalization after intravascular treatment in AIS patients,and high NIHSS score on hospital admission and ischemic time are the independent predic-tive factors for futile recanalization after intravascular treatment in AIS patients.