Objective To investigate the effects of mifepristone on apoptosis and expression of relative genes in early pregnant chorionic villi and decidua Methods The specimen of early pergnant chorionic villi and decidua obtained from 10 cases of requesting temination of pregnancy by curettage, 20 cases of mifepriston contragestation The paraffin sections were used to determine apoptotic cells by TdT mediated dUTP biotin nick end labeling method, to identify bcl 2, bax, fas, fasL and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) by immunohistochemistry, to demonstrate fas and fasL mRNA by in situ hybridization Results In normal early pregnant specimens, apoptotic cells were mainly observed in syncytiotrophoblast, but not in cytotrophoblast cells, occationally seen in decidua cells The antigen of bax, fas, fasL were present in syncytiotrophoblast cells and decidua with lower amount While bcl 2 antigen staining was strong in cytotrophoblastic cells and in decidua PCNA protein was present in cytotrophoblastic and decidual cells only In the specimens treated with mifepristone, apoptotic cells were increased in syncytiotrophoblastic cells of villi and visualized in decidua cells The expression of fas, fasL and bax was also higher than that of nomal Conclusions Mifepristone increased apoptosis in syncytiotrophoblastic and decidua cells, but had no effect on the expression of bcl 2 and PCNA

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors, the fms-like tyrosine-1 (flt-1) and kinase insert domain-containing receptor (KDR) in endometrial carcinoma and investigate the functions of VEGF and its receptors for endometrial carcinoma angiogenesis and its relation to the grade of tumor.

METHODSImmunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization technique were used to measure the level of VEGF, flt-1, KDR protein and mRNA in endometrial carcinoma tissue from 23 patients and endometrial samples from 6 normal menopausal women. A few endometrial carcinoma samples were homogenized for Western blot analysis. The blood vessel density was estimated by counting blood vessels stained with endothelial marker VIII factor.

RESULTSThe VEGF and its receptors were widely expressed in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells and tumor cells of endometrial carcinoma. The level of VEGF protein in endothelial cells and endometrial cancer cells of grade II and III tumor tissues was higher than that in grade I and normal menopausal endometrium (P < 0.05). VEGF mRNA did not show higher expression with the increase of tumor grade but its expression in normal tissue was lower than that in cancer (P < 0.05). The expression of flt-1 protein and mRNA in endothelial cells got higher in III than in grade II and I (P < 0.05), but invariable in cancer cells (P > 0.05), flt-1 expression in cancer was higher than that in normal menopausal endometrium either in endothelial cells or in cancer cells (P < 0.05). The expression of KDR protein in endothelial and cancer cell was high but did not alter with the increase of tumor grade (P > 0.05), the level of its mRNA was higher in cancer than that in normal tissue (P < 0.05). The microvascular density in grade III (48 +/- 12) was higher than that in grade II (26 +/- 16), grade I (27 +/- 14) and normal menopausal tissue (26 +/- 11, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression pattern of VEGF, flt-1 and KDR protein and mRNA increased with the increase of tumor grade in endometrial carcinoma indicates that VEGF and its receptors contribute to the neovascularization of tumors and is one of the factors that relate to rapid tumor growth of endometrial carcinoma.

Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

The elastic parameters of soft tissues are important for medical diagnosis and virtual sur-gery simulation.In this study;we propose a novel nonlinear parameter estimation method for soft tissues.Firstly;an in-house data acquisition platform was used to obtain external forces and their corresponding deformation values.To provide highly precise data for estimating nonlinear param-eters;the measured forces were corrected using the constructed weighted combination forecasting model based on a support vector machine (WCFM_SVM). Secondly;a tetrahedral finite element parameter estimation model was established to describe the physical characteristics of soft tissues;using the substitution parameters of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio to avoid solving compli-cated nonlinear problems.To improve the robustness of our model and avoid poor local minima;the initial parameters solved by a linear finite element model were introduced into the parameter estimation model. Finally;a self-adapting Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm was presented;which is capable of adaptively adjusting iterative parameters to solve the established parameter estimation model. The maximum absolute error of our WCFM_SVM model was less than 0.03 Newton;resulting in more accurate forces in comparison with other correction models tested. The maximum absolute error between the calculated and measured nodal displacements was less than 1.5 mm;demonstrating that our nonlinear parameters are precise.

OBJECTIVE： To investigate inhibitory effects of protopine on the proliferation of human hepatic stellate cells HSC-LX2 and to explore its mechanism preliminarily. METHODS： MTT assay was used to detect the effects of 25， 50， 100， 200， 400 and 500 μmol/L protopine on the proliferation of HSC-LX2 cells. The inhibitory effect of cell proliferation was calculated. HSC-LX2 cells were divided into control group （1640 medium containing 5％ fetal bovine serum）， protopine low-concentration， medium-concentration and high-concentration groups （100， 200， 400 μmol/L）. After treated for 24 h. The apoptotic rate of the cells was detected by flow cytometry. RT-PCR was used to determine the mRNA expression of α-SMA， Collagen Ⅰ， Collagen Ⅲ， MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in cells. The protein expressions of α-SMA， Collagen Ⅰ， Collagen Ⅲ and MMP-2 were detected by Western blot. RESULTS： The inhibitory rates of 25， 50， 100， 200， 400 and 500 μmol/L protopine on proliferation HSC-LX2 cells were 0， 6.9％， 18.7％， 34.2％， 48.9％， 53.9％， respectively. Compared with control group， mRNA expression of Collagen Ⅰ， TIMP-1 and protein expression of α-SMA were decreased significantly in protopine low-concentration， medium-concentration and high-concentration groups， while protein expression of MMP- 2 was increased significantly， with statistical significance （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Apoptotic rate of HSC-LX2 cells and mRNA expression of MMP-2 were increased significantly in protopine medium-concentration and high-concentration groups， mRNA expression of α-SMA and Collagen Ⅲ， protein expression of Collagen Ⅰ and Collagen Ⅲ were decreased significantly， with statistical significance （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： Protopine can induce the apoptosis of HSC-LX2 cells and inhibit their cell proliferation， and reduce the expression of a-SMA， Collagen Ⅰ， Collagen Ⅲ and TIMP-1， and increase the expression of MMP-2.

OBJECTIVETo study long-term effect on renal function exposed to environmental cadmium.

METHODSStratified random sampling and cluster sampling method of epidemiological investigations were carried out in northern Guangdong province between April, 2011 and August, 2012. A total of 167 residents who lived in high cadmium exposure area for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in exposed group. Moreover, A total of 145 residents who had similar living and economic conditions and lived in local for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in control group. We used health questionnaires and medical examinations in order to acquire their health status. Home-harvested rice and vegetables were collected using quartering method for detection of cadmium level. Urine specimens of residents were collected for detection of cadmium level and creatinine as well as renal dysfunction biomarkers, namely, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamidase (NAG), β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), and retinol binding protein(RBP), respectively. The analysis of spearman rank correlation and multiple regression were used to investigate the relationships between age, urinary cadmium levels and renal injury biomarkers.

RESULTSThe cadmium levels in rice and vegetables of exposed group were 0.75 and 0.10 mg/kg, both were significantly higher than 0.07 and 0.01 mg/kg in the control group (Z values were -6.32 and -7.84, all P values < 0.001). The urinary cadmium level of exposed group was 8.29 µg/g · cr, which was higher than that of the control group 2.03 µg/g · cr with significant difference (Z value was -11.39, P < 0.001). After stratified the total population by age, the urinary cadmium level in 40-49 years, 50-59 years and ≥ 60 years subgroups were 7.22, 8.71, and 13.10 µg/g · cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.80, 2.04, and 2.05 µg/g · cr in the control group (Z values were -5.22, -7.41, and -7.14, all P values < 0.001). After stratified the total population by gender, the urinary cadmium level of male and female were 5.12 and 12.36 µg/g · cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.79 and 2.16 µg/g · cr in the control group (Z values were -7.68 and -9.03, all P values < 0.001). Comparing the differences of renal dysfunction biomarkers (NAG, β2-MG, RBP) between two groups. The level of urinary β2-MG and RBP of exposed group were 0.21 and 0.04 µg/g · cr, which were higher than 0.05 and 0.00 µg/g · cr of the control group with significant difference (Z value was -7.08 and -9.65, all P values < 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that NAG, β2-MG and RBP were positively correlated with urinary cadmium and age, the correlation coefficients were 0.57, 0.49, 0.21 and 0.22, 0.26, 0.23 respectively (all P values < 0.001). After adjusting the effect of age, it was appeared that urinary cadmium levels contributed most to the alteration of NAG, β2-MG and RBP, the standardized regression coefficients were 0.57, 0.49 and 0.20 (all P values < 0.001), and suggested that the cadmium body burden was one of the most important factors for renal dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONResidents, who had cadmium contaminated rice and vegetables for a long time, would take the risk of increasing body burden of cadmium and urinary early biomarkers of renal tubular injury that referred to occurrence of renal dysfunction.

Adult ; Aged ; Cadmium ; Creatinine ; Environmental Exposure ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Food Contamination ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Oryza ; Risk ; Time ; Vegetables

Objective To study long-term effect on renal function exposed to environmental cadmium. Methods Stratified random sampling and cluster sampling method of epidemiological investigations were carried out in northern Guangdong province between April, 2011 and August, 2012 . A total of 167 residents who lived in high cadmium exposure area for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in exposed group. Moreover, A total of 145 residents who had similar living and economic conditions and lived in local for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in control group. We used health questionnaires and medical examinations in order to acquire their health status. Home-harvested rice and vegetables were collected using quartering method for detection of cadmium level . Urine specimens of residents were collected for detection of cadmium level and creatinine as well as renal dysfunction biomarkers, namely, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamidase(NAG), β2-microglobulin(β2-MG), and retinol binding protein(RBP), respectively. The analysis of spearman rank correlation and multiple regression were used to investigate the relationships between age, urinary cadmium levels and renal injury biomarkers. Results The cadmium levels in rice and vegetables of exposed group were 0.75 and 0.10 mg/kg, both were significantly higher than 0.07 and 0.01 mg/kg in the control group (Z values were-6.32 and-7.84, all P values<0.001). The urinary cadmium level of exposed group was 8.29μg/g·cr, which was higher than that of the control group 2.03μg/g·cr with significant difference(Z value was-11.39, P<0.001). After stratified the total population by age, the urinary cadmium level in 40-49 years, 50-59 years and≥60 years subgroups were 7.22, 8.71, and 13.10μg/g·cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.80, 2.04, and 2.05μg/g·cr in the control group (Z values were-5.22,-7.41, and-7.14, all P values<0.001). After stratified the total population by gender , the urinary cadmium level of male and female were 5.12 and 12.36μg/g · cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.79 and 2.16 μg/g · cr in the control group (Z values were-7.68 and-9.03, all P values<0.001). Comparing the differences of renal dysfunction biomarkers (NAG, β2-MG, RBP) between two groups. The level of urinaryβ2-MG and RBP of exposed group were 0.21 and 0.04μg/g · cr, which were higher than 0.05 and 0.00 μg/g · cr of the control group with significant difference(Z value was-7.08 and-9.65, all P values<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that NAG,β2-MG and RBP were positively correlated with urinary cadmium and age, the correlation coefficients were 0.57,0.49,0.21and 0.22, 0.26, 0.23 respectively (all P values<0.001). After adjusting the effect of age, it was appeared that urinary cadmium levels contributed most to the alteration of NAG, β2-MG and RBP, the standardized regression coefficients were 0.57, 0.49 and 0.20 (all P values<0.001), and suggested that the cadmium body burden was one of the most important factors for renal dysfunction. Conclusion Residents, who had cadmium contaminated rice and vegetables for a long time, would take the risk of increasing body burden of cadmium and urinary early biomarkers of renal tubular injury that referred to occurrence of renal dysfunction.

Objective To study long-term effect on renal function exposed to environmental cadmium. Methods Stratified random sampling and cluster sampling method of epidemiological investigations were carried out in northern Guangdong province between April, 2011 and August, 2012 . A total of 167 residents who lived in high cadmium exposure area for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in exposed group. Moreover, A total of 145 residents who had similar living and economic conditions and lived in local for more than 15 years, aged above 40 were selected in control group. We used health questionnaires and medical examinations in order to acquire their health status. Home-harvested rice and vegetables were collected using quartering method for detection of cadmium level . Urine specimens of residents were collected for detection of cadmium level and creatinine as well as renal dysfunction biomarkers, namely, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamidase(NAG), β2-microglobulin(β2-MG), and retinol binding protein(RBP), respectively. The analysis of spearman rank correlation and multiple regression were used to investigate the relationships between age, urinary cadmium levels and renal injury biomarkers. Results The cadmium levels in rice and vegetables of exposed group were 0.75 and 0.10 mg/kg, both were significantly higher than 0.07 and 0.01 mg/kg in the control group (Z values were-6.32 and-7.84, all P values<0.001). The urinary cadmium level of exposed group was 8.29μg/g·cr, which was higher than that of the control group 2.03μg/g·cr with significant difference(Z value was-11.39, P<0.001). After stratified the total population by age, the urinary cadmium level in 40-49 years, 50-59 years and≥60 years subgroups were 7.22, 8.71, and 13.10μg/g·cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.80, 2.04, and 2.05μg/g·cr in the control group (Z values were-5.22,-7.41, and-7.14, all P values<0.001). After stratified the total population by gender , the urinary cadmium level of male and female were 5.12 and 12.36μg/g · cr, which both were significantly higher than 1.79 and 2.16 μg/g · cr in the control group (Z values were-7.68 and-9.03, all P values<0.001). Comparing the differences of renal dysfunction biomarkers (NAG, β2-MG, RBP) between two groups. The level of urinaryβ2-MG and RBP of exposed group were 0.21 and 0.04μg/g · cr, which were higher than 0.05 and 0.00 μg/g · cr of the control group with significant difference(Z value was-7.08 and-9.65, all P values<0.001). Pearson correlation analysis showed that NAG,β2-MG and RBP were positively correlated with urinary cadmium and age, the correlation coefficients were 0.57,0.49,0.21and 0.22, 0.26, 0.23 respectively (all P values<0.001). After adjusting the effect of age, it was appeared that urinary cadmium levels contributed most to the alteration of NAG, β2-MG and RBP, the standardized regression coefficients were 0.57, 0.49 and 0.20 (all P values<0.001), and suggested that the cadmium body burden was one of the most important factors for renal dysfunction. Conclusion Residents, who had cadmium contaminated rice and vegetables for a long time, would take the risk of increasing body burden of cadmium and urinary early biomarkers of renal tubular injury that referred to occurrence of renal dysfunction.