Objective: To detect the novel apoptosis-related protein PDCD5 expression in granulosa cells of polysystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) and normal ovary, and explore the pathogenesis of PCOS. Methods:The granulosa cells were collected from 30 cases of PCOS and normal ovary in IVF-ET. Expression of PDCD5 was detected by flow cytometry; immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Cell apoptosis was detected by Propidium Iodide (PI) staining. Results: The number of hypodiploidy cells associated with apoptosis in granulosa cells of PCOS was greater than that of the normal control. PDCD5 protein expression in PCOS granulosa cells was significantly higher than that in normal ovary(P

Objective To study the imaging characteristics of the ligaments in craniocervical junction (CCJ), and to optimize the examination methods and scanning sequences of the ligaments in this region. Methods Two groups of 51 healthy volunteers in each were selected to undergo CT and MRI examination respectively. The CT and MRI features of the ligaments in CCJ were assessed. Two senior imaging doctors compared the results of showing the ligaments in CCJ by several MRI sequences, including T1 WI ,T2 WI, proton density weighted imaging (PDWI), T2 * WI and short time inversion recovery (STIR) ,and proton density fat saturate (PDFSAT). Standard normal rank transformation was done according to the primary data,and then analysis of variance of repeated measurement was applied. Results CT and MRI could both demonstrate the ligaments (except the anterior atlantooccipital membrane only seen on MRI) and their adjoins in CCJ, while MRI had more advantages than CT. The display ratio of the anterior atlantooccipital membrane was 100% (51/51) by MRI. The display ratio of the apical ligament was 29.4%(15/51) by CT and 43.1% (22/51) by MRI. The posterior atlantooccipital membrane-dura complex,tectorial ligament-dura complex, transverse ligament, and alar ligament could be demonstrated clearly by CT and MRI, the display ratio was 100% respectively (51/51). The results of PDWi scored by two doctors were both 5.0, there were no significant differences between them (F = 0.000, P > 0.05), which were significantly higher than T, WI (M = 3.0), T2Wi (M = 3.0), T2 * WI (M = 1.0), STIR (M = 1.0), and PDFSAT(M = 3.0)(P < 0.01). Conclusion MRI was superior to CT in demonstrating the ligaments in CCJ. PDWI was the optimal MRI sequence. Imaging research of normal ligamentous structures in CCJ could provide valuable diagnostic and therapeutic information for evaluating the ligamentous diseases.

Objective To estimate the value of computed tomography perfusion for clinical stage and approach the correlation of perfusion parameters and Cyfra21-1.Methods 63 patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma were confirmed by pathology and follow up underwent CT perfusion,which were divided into three groups by international clinical staging criteria(stageⅠ,stageⅡand stageⅢ-Ⅳ).BF,BV,MTT,TTP and Cyfra21-1 were recorded and compared with correlation in different clinical staging.Results There was no significant difference of Cyfra21-1 between stageⅠand stageⅡ(Z =1.439,P =0.1 62).There was significant differ-ence of Cyfra21-1 between stageⅠand stageⅢ-Ⅳ(Z =3.356,P =0.000),stageⅡand stageⅢ-Ⅳ(Z =4.959,P =0.000).There was significant difference of BF and BV between stageⅠand stageⅡ,stageⅠand stageⅢ-Ⅳ(P <0.05),of MTT and TTP between stageⅠand stageⅢ-Ⅳ,stageⅡand stageⅢ-Ⅳ(P <0.05).There was no significant difference of BF and BV between stageⅡand stageⅢ-Ⅳ(P >0.05),of MTT and TTP between stageⅠand stageⅡ(P >0.05).Cyfra21-1 and perfusion parameters in all groups have relationship(r=0.76,0.76,-0.82,-0.82,P <0.05).Conclusion The statistically significant of positive correlation be-tween Cyfra21-1 and perfusion parameters in head and neck squamous carcinoma suggests that CT perfusion could play a complemen-tary role in clinical assessment.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Probiotics are expected to confer benefits on patients with constipation, but how probiotics act on constipated patients with variable stool consistencies remains unclear. We investigated the effect of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) on constipation-related symptoms, especially stool consistency, of constipated patients. METHODS: Constipated patients meeting the Rome III criteria were divided into 3 groups according to the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS): hard (hard stool [HS], BSFS < 3), normal (normal stool [NS], ≤ 3 BSFS ≤ 4), and soft (soft stool [SS], 4 < BSFS ≤ 5) stools. Subjects in each group consumed a probiotic beverage containing 1010 colony-forming units of LcS daily for 28 days. RESULTS: LcS intervention significantly alleviated constipation-related symptoms and increased defecation frequency in all subjects. Four weeks of LcS supplementation softened the hard stools in HS, hardened the soft stools in SS, and did not alter the ideal stool consistency in NS. The short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations were highest in SS, followed by NS and HS. LcS intervention increased the stool SCFA levels in HS but reduced or did not alter the levels in NS and SS. LcS intervention increased the Pseudobutyrivibrio and Roseburia abundances in HS and decreased the Pseudobutyrivibrio abundance in SS. CONCLUSIONS: LcS supplementation improved the constipation-related symptoms in constipated subjects. Differences in baseline stool consistency could result in different anti-constipation effects of LcS intervention. LcS balanced the stool consistency—softened the HS and hardened the SS. These effects could be associated with modulation of the gut microbiota and SCFA production.
Beverages ; China ; Constipation ; Defecation ; Fatty Acids, Volatile ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Humans ; Lactobacillus casei ; Lactobacillus ; Probiotics ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVETo validate the conversion factor (CF) for the conversion of BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels to the international scale in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

METHODSIn 2012, the international reference laboratory in Adelaide, Australia (IMVS) sent two batches of RNA samples, 30 samples per batch, to Peking University People's Hospital (PKUPH). By comparing BCRABL (P210) transcript levels reported by the two laboratories, CF of PKUPH was calculated and validated by IMVS. In 2013, PKUPH prepared the exchange samples for validation of CF of 9 hospitals who have calculated CFs before. The fresh BCR-ABL (P210) (+) cells were serially diluted by BCR-ABL (P210) (-) cells to prepare 22 kinds of samples with different BCR-ABL transcript levels, each kind had 10 parallel samples. Trizol reagent was added in each tube. Ten hospitals tested BCR-ABL transcript levels of one set of 22 samples. Agreement between BCR-ABL transcript levels of each laboratory and PKUPH was assessed by the Bland-Altman method.

RESULTSPKUPH successfully validated its CF with bias 1.1 fold and 95% limits of agreement between -4.7 and 4.9 fold. Of 9 hospitals whose validation performed by sample exchanges with PKUPH, 6 hospitals successfully validated their CF with bias ≤±1.4 fold and 95% limits of agreement within ±6 fold.

CONCLUSIONValidation of CF examined the stability of the detection of BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels, which was necessary for the valid conversion of BCR-ABL (P210) transcript levels to the international scale in CML.

Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; standards ; Transcription, Genetic