Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma/diagnosis* ; Death, Sudden/etiology*

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of exogenous ER beta on the growth of breast cancer MCF-7 cells under different treatment.

METHODSAn eukaryotic expression vector containing 1.6 kb of human entire coding sequence of ER beta (pCDNA3-ER beta) was transfected into human breast cancer MCF-7 cells using lipofectamine 2000. The biological activity of ER beta was detected with the luciferase reporter containing estrogen responsive element (ERE) and the expression of ER beta protein by Western blot. The growth properties of MCF-7, pCDNA 3-transfected MCF-7 and pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells under different treatment, including E2 (17beta-estradiol) and 4-OHT (4-hydroxytamoxifen), were observed.

RESULTSA stronger activation of the reporter by ER beta in the presence of E2 was observed in the pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells than in the pCDNA 3-transfected MCF-7 and in MCF-7 cells. Western blot analysis showed that the protein level of ER beta in the pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells was markedly increased. Exogenous ER beta expression did not change the growth properties and the morphology of MCF-7 cells under normal condition. The pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells proliferated at the same rate as naive cells in the presence of 4-OHT, whereas a strong inhibition of the proliferation of the pCDNA 3-ER beta-transfected MCF-7 cells in the presence of E2 was observed.

CONCLUSIONExogenous ER beta expression does not increase the resistance to 4-OHT, and a strong inhibition of the proliferation may occur in the presence of E2.

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Estrogen Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Tamoxifen ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Transfection

Objective To evaluate the performance characteristics of the second trimester double-marker test for the detection of fetal Down's syndrome in mainland China. Methods This prospective national multi-centered study used alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and free β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin( free β-hCG)as the serum markers. From May 2004 to September 2006, 11 centers participated in the collection and analysis of maternal serum AFP and free β-hCG between 14 and 20+6 weeks of pregnancy. The screening results were calculated using the standard algorithm based on the standard database provided with the analytic software. Patients with an increased risk of Down's syndrome pregnancy (≥1/270) were offered genetic anmiocentesis. Outcomes of all pregnancies were obtained.Results A total of 66 132 singleton pregnancies were included in the study. The median maternal age was 27 years. At a cut-eft of 1 in 270, the detection rate (DR) based on a Caucasian database was 72% corresponding to a false positive rate (FPR) of 5%, and the DR based on the Chinese database was raised to 76% corresponding to an FPR of 5%. Conclusion The double-marker test using AFP and free β-hCG is an effective screen strategy for second-trimester detection of fetal Down's syndrome in mainland China. Ethnic variance exists between the Caucasian and Chinese populations. The accuracy of screening is increased by the use of race-specific medians.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of surgical manipulation on the dissemination of cancer cells into blood circulation in patients with gastric cancer and to analyze its risk factors.

METHODSThis study included 45 consecutive patients with gastric cancer undergoing curative resection and 13 control cases (10 healthy persons and 3 patients with peptic ulcer receiving gastrectomy). Peripheral blood was obtained preoperatively and just after surgical manipulation. The mRNA levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) from the blood samples were assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTSCEA mRNA was negative in all control cases. Of the 45 gastric cancer patients, the preoperative positive rate of CEA mRNA was 8.9%, while the postoperative positive rate was 48.9%, which was significantly higher than that of preoperation (P=0.000). Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that operative duration (P=0.014) and tumor depth (P=0.010) were independent risk factors for cancer cell dissemination. Furthermore, the operative duration in patients with positive postoperative CEA mRNA was markedly longer than that in patients with negative postoperative CEA mRNA (P=0.000), and positive rate of postoperative CEA mRNA in advanced gastric cancer was higher compared with that in early gastric cancer (P=0.034).

CONCLUSIONSSurgical manipulation of curative gastrectomy can provoke dissemination of cancer cells into blood circulation, and the operative duration and tumor invasion depth may be 2 of the risk factors for cancer cell dissemination.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To explore the application value and forensic significance of ischemia modified albumin (IMA) in pericardial fluid to diagnose sudden cardiac death.Methods IMA level in pericardial fluid was detected in acute ischemic heart disease group (n=36),acute myocardial infarction group (n=6),cardiomyopathy group (n=4) and control group (n=15) by albumin cobalt binding method.The levels of IMA were compared among these groups.The best cut-off IMA value was estimated and the sensitivity and specificity of acute myocardial ischemia group was distinguished from control group by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve.Results The IMA level in acute ischemic heart disease group was significantly higher than that of control group (P＜0.05).Compared with acute myocardial infarction group and cardiomyopathy group,the IMA level in acute ischemic heart disease group had no significant difference (P＜0.05).The cut-off value for the identification of acute myocardial ischemia which obtained by ROC analysis was 40.65U/mL.And the sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing acute ischemia cardiac disease was 60.0％ and 80.5％,respectively.Conclusion The IMA value in pericardial fluid can be a reference marker for the diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia,which also can provide objective basis for the forensic identification of sudden cardiac death.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of Skp2 gene (s-phase kinase associated protein 2) in the pathological scars and its relationship with p27kip1 level and to investigate its role and its probable mechanism in the pathogenesis of abnormal scars.

METHODSImmunohistochemical technique was performed to detect the expression and distribution of Skp2 and p27kip1 protein in hypertrophic scar (42 cases), keloid (18 cases), normal scar (40 cases) and normal skin (50 cases), statistics was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe positive rate of Skp2 and p27kip1 protein expression was not statistically different between the hypertrophic scar and keloid (P > 0.05), while they were all remarkably significant in comparison between normal scar and abnormal scar (P < 0.05). In pathological scar the protein of Skp2 and p27kip1 showed a strong inverse correlation (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe result indicated that the expression of Skp2 was increased and it may lead to decrease p27kip1 level in the hypertrophic scar and keloid, Skp2 overexpression might play an important role in the proliferation of fibroblasts and in the pathogenesis of pathological scar by adjusting the regulation of cyclins such as p27kip1.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Female ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Keloid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis incidence rates as well as the retention rate in a cohort with 6-month follow-up study among female sex workers (FSWs).

METHODSFrom December, 2004, to January, 2005, a community-based baseline survey was conducted to recruit 343 FSWs for a prospective cohort study in Xichang county of Sichuan province, China. Follow-up visits were conducted at 6 months to analyze risk factors associated with cohort retention for subjects' baseline sociodemographic and sexual behavioral characteristics. Blood specimens were also collected to test antibodies against HIV and syphilis.

RESULTSDuring the 6-month follow-up period, HIV and syphilis incidence appeared to be 1.00 per 100 person-years and 6.23 per 100 person-years, respectively. The rate of retention in the cohort was 53.6% (184/343). Results from multivariate logistic regression model showed that factors were significantly associated with cohort retention including people with minority ethnic background (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.18-0.74), people having participated in AIDS prevention program (OR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.17-2.86) or being clients in the last 6 months > or = 50 (OR = 1.75; 95% CI: 1.11-2.77) and having changed living/working place (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.33-0.94).

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study showed that the syphilis incidence and unprotected sex behavior were high among local FSWs. People belonged to Han nationality, having participated in AIDS prevention program and having a steady living/working place were associated with cohort retention at 6-month follow-up study among FSWs, respectively.

China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Risk Factors ; Sex Work ; Sexual Behavior ; Substance-Related Disorders ; Syphilis ; epidemiology

A solvent diffusion method was used to prepare pegylated asiatic acid (AA) loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (p-AA-NLC). Then central composite design-response surface method was used to obtain optimum condition for preparation technology of p-AA-NLC, where PEG/lipid ratio was 8.0% and AA/lipid ratio was 22.0%. Under the optimum condition, the system had particle size of (111.2±2.9) nm, Zeta potential of (-37.1±0.9) mV, drug loading of (15.4±0.2)% and entrapment efficiency greater than 90%. The deviations between observed values and predicated values were all below 5%, indicating that the established model had a good predictability. Meanwhile, a low-speed single pass perfusion model of rat in situ was set up to estimate the absorption kinetics of p-AA-NLC in small intestine, where the effective permeability (Peff), absorption rate constant (Ka) and other parameters were used to evaluate the drug absorption. It turned out that Peff and Ka in p-AA-NLC group were significantly higher than those in unmodified group (P<0.05), indicating that asiatic acid loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (AA-NLC) could enhance the effects on intestinal absorption after being modified with hydrophilic PEG.

Objective:To explore the effectiveness, safety and cost between urinary follicle stimulating hormone (uFSH) and recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (rFSH) in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in China.Methods:Data were collected from 16 reproductive centers in China covering oocytes collection time from May 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. Eligible patients were over 18 years old, adopting COS with uFSH (uFSH group) or rFSH (rFSH group) as start gonadotropins (Gn), and using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and (or) intracytoplasmic sperm injection for fertilisation, excluding frozen embryo recovery cycle. Generalised estimating equation was used to address the violation of independency assumption between cycles due to multiple IVF cycles for one person and clustering nature of cycles carried out within one center. Controlling variables included age, body mass index, anti-Müllerian hormone level, cause of infertility, ovulation protocol, type of fertilisation, number of embryos transferred, number of days of Gn use.Results:Totally 102 061 cycles met eligibility criteria and were included in the analyses. In terms of effectiveness, after controlling relevant unbalanced baseline characteristics, compared with rFSH group, the high oocyte retrieval (>15 oocytes was considered high retrieval) rate of uFSH group significantly decreased in gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist protocol ( OR=0.642, P<0.01) and in gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist protocol ( OR=0.556, P=0.001), but the clinical pregnancy rate per transfer cycle and the live birth rate per transfer cycle significantly increased ( OR=1.179, OR=1.169, both P<0.01) in both agonist and antagonist protocols. For safety, multiple analysis result demonstrated that in the agonist protocol, compared with rFSH group, the incidence of moderate to severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome of uFSH group significantly decreased ( OR=0.644, P=0.002). The differences in ectopic pregnancy rate and multiple pregnancy rate between the uFSH and rFSH groups were not significant ( P=0.890, P=0.470) in all patients. In terms of cost, compared with rFSH group, the uFSH group had lower total Gn costs for each patient ( P<0.01). Conclusion:For patients who underwent COS, uFSH has better safety, and economic profiles over rFSH in China.