Objective To investigate the level change and correlation of serum IL-18 and soluble Fas/Fas ligand(sFas/sFasL) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to evaluate their roles in the pathogenesis of COPD. Methods The levels of serum IL-18 and sFas/sFasL in 36 patients with COPD of acute aggravation stage and 20 healthy control subjects were detected by ELISA. Results The levels of serum sFasL and IL-18 in patients with COPD were significantly lower than those in healthy control subjects, while there was not significant differene in serum sFas level between the two groups. Conclusion The serum sFasL and IL-18 level decreass in patients with COPD of acute aggravation stage indicated that cell apoptosis level and immune function reduced in the patients.

AIM: To investigate the effect of indwelling time of lacrimal silicone drainage tube on chronic dacryocystitis and its effect on visual acuity.?METHODS: The clinical data of 92 patients ( 110 eyes ) with chronic dacryocystitis treated with lacrimal drainage tube in our hospital from January 2013 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the indwelling time, the patients were divided into 6wk group (42 patients 50 eyes ) and 12wk group ( 50 patients 60 eyes). Comparison of two groups on clinical efficacy, vision, overflow symptoms, complications and recurrence was taken.?RESULTS:The effective rate was significantly higher in the 6wk group than in the 12wk group (P<0. 05). The visual acuity and incidence of epilepsy symptoms at 3mo after extubation was not signifcantly different (P<0. 05). The incidence of complication was 14. 0％ (7/50) at 3mo after extubation in 6wk group and significantly lower than that in the 12wk group which was 38. 3％ (23/60, P<0. 05). The recurrence rate was 2. 0％ (1/50) in the 6wk group, which was significantly lower than that in the 12wk group (18. 3％, 11/60;P<0. 05).?CONCLUSION: The clinical efficacy of lacrimal silicone drainage tube for 6wk and 12wk is similar to patients with chronic dacryocystitis. There is also little difference in the visual acuity of patients with dacryocystitis, but with the prolongation of the lacrimal duct drainage tube, rinse patency rate, increase the difficulty of extubation, complications and recurrence rate, the clinical situation should be based on the patient as much as possible to shorten the lacrimal duct silicone drainage tube retention time.

BACKGROUNDDNA hypomethylation of long interspersed nuclear elements-1 (LINEs-1) occurs during carcinogenesis, whereas information addressing LINE-1 methylation in Wilms tumor (WT) is limited. The main purpose of our study was to quantify LINE-1 methylation levels and evaluate their relationship with relative telomere length (TL) in WT.

METHODSWe investigated LINE-1 methylation and relative TL using bisulfite-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) pyrosequencing and quantitative PCR, respectively, in 20 WT tissues, 10 normal kidney tissues and a WT cell line. Significant changes were analyzed by t-tests.

RESULTSLINE-1 methylation levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and relative TLs were significantly shorter (P < 0.05) in WT compared with normal kidney. There was a significant positive relationship between LINE-1 methylation and relative TL in WT (r = 0.671, P = 0.001). LINE-1 Methylation levels were significantly associated with global DNA methylation (r = 0.332, P < 0.01). In addition, relative TL was shortened and LINE-1 methylation was decreased in a WT cell line treated with the hypomethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine compared with untreated WT cell line.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that LINE-1 hypomethylation is common and may be linked to telomere shortening in WT.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Methylation ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Long Interspersed Nucleotide Elements ; genetics ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Telomere ; genetics ; Wilms Tumor ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting survivin on adhesion and invasion of human colon carcinoma cell line SW480 in vitro.

METHODSAccording to the sequence of the coding region of survivin gene, two strings of 19 nucleotides of inverted sequence flanking the loop sequence of two complementary 9-base oligonucleotides were designed and synthesized to prepare the hairpin construct as the DNA templates for the target shRNA. The shRNA templates were cloned into shRNA expression vector pRNAT-U6.1/Neo, and the resulted vector pRNAT-U6.1/Neo-survivin was transfected into SW480 cells using Lipofectamine 2000. Western blotting was performed to evaluate survivin gene silencing induced by shRNA transfection at the protein level, and the biological behaviors of the SW480 cells were investigated by cell-matrix adhesion, invasion and gelatin-zymography assays.

RESULTSWestern blotting revealed significantly lowered survivin protein expression in transfected SW480 cells, and survivin gene silencing induced by shRNA significantly suppressed the metastatic potential of SW480 cells in association with suppressed MMPs activity.

CONCLUSIONSSurvivin may play an important role in modulating human colorectal carcinoma cell invasion and metastasis, and survivin gene silencing can inhibit human colorectal cancer cell invasion and the production of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Survivin may affect invasion and metastasis of human colorectal carcinoma cells via regulating the production of MMPs.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Inverted Repeat Sequences ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; secretion ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; deficiency ; genetics ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; genetics ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

Objective To investigate the relationship between children's body mass index (BMI)at 5 to 6 years old and glucose concentrations of mothers without pre-existing diabetes or a gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM) diagnosis during pregnancy.Methods A prospective observational study was performed in offspring whose mother had no pre-existing diabetes or a GDM diagnosis during pregnancy in the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical Uni versity from Jan.2006 to Dec.2007.The data of maternal glucose concentrations of oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT)were acquired through referring to clinical records.Weight and height at 5 to 6 years old were measured and used to calculate BMI.Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the association between children's BMI and maternal glucose concentrations.The influence of maternal glucose concentrations on the risk of overweight of offspring was analyzed by Logistic regression.Results There were 860 cases of children were followed-up,including 459 male cases and 401 female cases.The average BMI of children was(15.6 ± 2.7) kg/m2.There were 78 cases of overweight (9.06％) and 50 cases of obesity(5.81％).The mean maternal fasting glucose level of the OGTT was (3.8 ± 0.6) mmol/L and 2 h glucose level of the OGTT was (6.0 ± 0.9) mmol/L.After adjusting for progestation BMI,maternal weight gain during pregnancy,sex,birth weight,age and paternal weight,at the 5 to 6 years old,BMI of offspring of mothers whose fasting glucose level of the OGTT≥5.51 mmol/L were significantly higher than those of mothers whose average blood glucose level ＜5.51 mmol/L(β =0.45,95％ CI:0.15-0.80).Maternal fasting glucose level of the OGTT≥5.51 mmoL/L was associated with an greater risk of children's overweight(OR =2.32,95％ CI:1.30-3.96).Conclusions Even though the mother was in the absence of pre-existing diabetes or GDM during pregnancy,fetal exposure to high maternal glucose concentration may also promote the development of overweight in the offspring at 5 to 6 years old.

Donation after brain death followed by circulatory death (DBCD) is a unique practice in China. The aim of this study was to define the pathologic characteristics of DBCD liver allografts in a porcine model. Fifteen male pigs (25-30 kg) were allocated randomly into donation after brain death (DBD), donation after circulatory death (DCD) and DBCD groups. Brain death was induced by augmenting intracranial pressure. Circulatory death was induced by withdrawal of life support in DBCD group and by venous injection of 40 mL 10% potassium chloride in DCD group. The donor livers were perfused in situ and kept in cold storage for 4 h. Liver tissue and common bile duct samples were collected for hematoxylin and eosin staining, TUNEL testing and electron microscopic examination. Spot necrosis was found in hepatic parenchyma of DBD and DBCD groups, while a large area of necrosis was shown in DCD group. The apoptosis rate of hepatocytes in DBD [(0.56±0.30)%] and DBCD [(0.50 ± 0.11)%] groups was much lower than that in DCD group [(3.78±0.33)%] (P<0.05). And there was no significant difference between DBD group and DBCD group (P>0.05)). The structures of bile duct were intact in both DBD and DBCD groups, while the biliary epithelium was totally damaged in DCD group. Under electron microscope, the DBD hepatocytes were characterized by intact cell membrane, well-organized endoplasmic reticulum, mild mitochondria edema and abundant glycogens. Broken cell membrane, mild inflammatory cell infiltration and sinusoidal epithelium edema, as well as reduced glycogen volume, were found in the DBCD hepatocytes. The DCD hepatocytes had more profound cell organelle injury and much less glycogen storage. In conclusion, the preservation injury of DBCD liver allografts is much less severe than that of un-controlled DCD, but more severe than that of DBD liver allografts under electron microscope, which might reflect post-transplant liver function to some extent.

57 rubella virus strains were isolated using Vero cell line or Vero/SLAM cell line from patients' throat swabs during rubella outbreaks and sporadics in 10 provinces of China from 2003 to 2007. Fragments of 1107 nucleotides of E1 genes of the isolates were amplified by RT-PCR, the PCR products were directly sequenced and analyzed. The phylogenetic analysis based on 739 nucleotides showed that out of 57 Chinese rubella virus strains, 55 belong to a distinguish branch of 1E genotype when comparing with 1E genotype rubella strains from other countries, and the other 2 Chinese rubella virus strains belong to 2B genotype. Most of the nucleotide mutations of 57 rubella viruses were silent mutations, and the amino acid sequences were highly conserved. Except one amino acid change (Thr212 --> Ser212) in two rubella viruses at the hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization epitopes, there had no change found at the important antigenic epitope sites of the other rubella viruses. 1E genotype rubella viruses isolated from 10 provinces of China from 2003 to 2007, and two imported 2B genotype rubella viruses from Vietnam suggested that 1E genotype was the predominant genotype in this period of time. The rubella virus genotypes circulated during 2003 to 2007 were different from that circulating during 1979 to 1984 and 1999 to 2002, the rubella prevailed in recent years was mainly caused by 1E genotype rubella viruses with multi-transmission routes.
Genotype ; Mutation ; Phylogeny ; Rubella virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Time Factors

Donation after brain death followed by circulatory death (DBCD) is a unique practice in China. The aim of this study was to define the pathologic characteristics of DBCD liver allografts in a porcine model. Fifteen male pigs (25-30 kg) were allocated randomly into donation after brain death (DBD), donation after circulatory death (DCD) and DBCD groups. Brain death was induced by augmenting intracranial pressure. Circulatory death was induced by withdrawal of life support in DBCD group and by venous injection of 40 mL 10% potassium chloride in DCD group. The donor livers were perfused in situ and kept in cold storage for 4 h. Liver tissue and common bile duct samples were collected for hematoxylin and eosin staining, TUNEL testing and electron microscopic examination. Spot necrosis was found in hepatic parenchyma of DBD and DBCD groups, while a large area of necrosis was shown in DCD group. The apoptosis rate of hepatocytes in DBD [(0.56±0.30)%] and DBCD [(0.50 ± 0.11)%] groups was much lower than that in DCD group [(3.78±0.33)%] (P<0.05). And there was no significant difference between DBD group and DBCD group (P>0.05)). The structures of bile duct were intact in both DBD and DBCD groups, while the biliary epithelium was totally damaged in DCD group. Under electron microscope, the DBD hepatocytes were characterized by intact cell membrane, well-organized endoplasmic reticulum, mild mitochondria edema and abundant glycogens. Broken cell membrane, mild inflammatory cell infiltration and sinusoidal epithelium edema, as well as reduced glycogen volume, were found in the DBCD hepatocytes. The DCD hepatocytes had more profound cell organelle injury and much less glycogen storage. In conclusion, the preservation injury of DBCD liver allografts is much less severe than that of un-controlled DCD, but more severe than that of DBD liver allografts under electron microscope, which might reflect post-transplant liver function to some extent.
Allografts ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Brain Death ; China ; Death ; Heart Arrest ; Hepatocytes ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Liver ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Liver Transplantation ; methods ; Microscopy, Electron ; Organ Preservation ; methods ; Swine ; Tissue Donors ; Tissue and Organ Procurement ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of retinol-binding protein (RBP) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its related factors.

METHODSThe clinical data of 123 patients with AML from October 2012 to February 2016 and 100 healthy controls were collected and the correlation of RBP expression level with sex, French-American-British (FAB) subtypes, molecular mutations, peripheral white blood cells and long-term outcomes was analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with AML patients, the RBP expression level was significantly higher in healthy controls (61.02±34.97 vs 34.44±14.08 mg/L)(u=8.658, P<0.01). Patients with M3 showed higher RBP level (40.74±15.79 mg/L) compared with that of M4 (28.40±13.64 mg/L)(P<0.01) and M5 (31.97±15.31 mg/L)(P<0.05). Negative correlation was observed for RBP and white blood cells in patients with AML (r=-0.352, P<0.001), which was more remarkable in patients with M4 (r=-0.563, P<0.01) and M5 (r=-0.423, P<0.01). AML patients achieved complete remission (CR) (48.64±9.24 mg/L) showed higher RBP level than that before treatment (u=4.876, P<0.01), but lower than healthy controls (u=2.106,P<0.05). After CR, patients with M3 showed higher RBP level than that of non-M3 patients (54.91±5.25 mg/L vs 41.36±7.33 mg/L)(t=8.777,P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONDetecting RBP expression may provide some useful information for urderstanding the pathophysiology and improving the treatment of patients with AML.

Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Leukocyte Count ; Mutation ; Remission Induction ; Retinol-Binding Proteins

Objective:The Chinese pediatric mesh-type reference phantoms were developed and applied in the dose assessment of X-ray radiography.Methods:The 5- and 10-year-old Chinese pediatric mesh-type reference phantoms were developed based on the CT data. Based on the phantoms, the Monte Carlo method was applied to simulate the X-ray radiography to calculate the organ dose conversion coefficient and the effective dose conversion coefficient in different radiography conditions.Results:The 5- and 10-year-old Chinese pediatric mesh-type reference phantoms were developed, and the physical parameters were consistent with the national standard. The differences of the organ mass between the established phantoms and reference data were within 2%. The database of the pediatric chest posteroanterior projection and abdominal anteroposterior projection, tube voltage 60-90 kVp, total filtration 2.5~4 mmAl were simulated, and the difference between the effective dose conversion factor and the literature result was within 3%.Conclusions:The established Chinese pediatric mesh-type reference phantoms can be applied in the studies of radiation protection and clinical medicine and their result can provide an important reference for the dose assessment of the pediatric X-ray radiography.