Objective To investigate the effects of carboxymethytl pachymaram ( CMP ) on the methylation of SOCS-1 (suppressor of cytokine signaling-1) gene and the in vitro maturation of human mono-cyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs).Methods Human DCs were induced from the peripheral blood mono-cytes in vitro with the treatment of recombined human GM-CSF and interleukin-4 ( IL-4 ) and cultured with different concentrations of CMP (10, 50, and 100 mg/L).The methylation and expression of SOCS-1 gene were analyzed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) and real-time PCR, respectively. The phenotypic markers of DCs were detected by flow cytometry .Mixed lymphocyte reaction ( MLR) and ELISA were performed to measure the lymphocyte proliferation induced by DCs and IL-12 secretion by DCs . Results CMP promoted the methylation of SOCS-1 gene, but inhibited the expression of SOCS-1 gene in dendritic cells at the concentrations of 50 mg/L and 100 mg/L.The expression of phenotypic markers (CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR), IL-12 secretion and lymphocyte proliferation induced by DCs were significantly enhanced in a dose dependent manner with the treatment of CMP .Compared with control group , the levels of methylated SOCS-1 gene and IL-12 and the lymphocyte proliferation index were increased upon the stimulation with 50 mg/L and 100 mg/L of CMP (P<0.01), but the expression of SOCS-1 gene was de-creased.The expression of CD80, CD83 and HLA-DR on DCs in the presence of 100 mg/L of CMP were higher than those of control group (P<0.05).Conclusion CMP could induce the methylation of SOCS-1 gene and the maturation of DCs derived from peripheral blood monocytes .

Objective:To explore the application effect of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence experiment based on virtual simulation software in undergraduate teaching of medical imaging technology.Methods:Fifty-six undergraduate students from the Batch 2015 and Batch 2016 medical imaging technology of West China Clinical Medical College of Sichuan University were recruited in this study. They were divided into 2 groups: experimental group (Batch 2016) and control group (Batch 2015). The experimental group adopted the teaching method based on virtual simulation experiment, and the control group used the teaching method based on traditional small-sized magnetic resonance. The after-class test scores and final exam scores of the two groups of students were compared, and the questionnaire survey on teaching effectiveness was conducted for students in the experimental group SPSS 21.0 was used for ttest and Mann-Whitney Utest. Results:The scores of theoretical knowledge and the final grades in the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group [(84.55 ± 6.57) points vs. (79.37 ± 6.13) points; (90.03 ± 4.72) points vs. (80.06 ± 7.29) points, all P< 0.05). The effective recovery rate of the questionnaires was 100%, and the questionnaire survey showed that the experimental group was significantly superior to the control group in such four aspects as increasing subject interest, expanding relevant knowledge, solving clinical work, and promoting teamwork ( P< 0.05). Conclusion:In MRI sequence teaching, the teaching method based on virtual simulation software can increase the students' interests in learning, strengthen their understanding of MRI principles, then effectively improve the teaching effect of medical imaging undergraduate education.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between enlarged perivascular space (EPVS) and retinal vessel abnormalities in transient ischemic attack (TIA) and mild stroke patients.Methods:TIA and mild cerebral infarction (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score≤3) patients were enrolled from March to August 2019 in Changzhou Second People′s Hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging and retinal fundus photography were performed in all patients. Retinal arteriovenous diameter was semi-automatically measured, and retinal arteriosclerosis grades, vascular curvature, hemorrhages, microangioma, hard exudation, soft exudation, arteriovenous nicking and venous beads were assessed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the existence of EPVS: EPVS group and non-EPVS group. The baseline data of the two groups were compared and further multivariate Logistic regression was carried out. After normal transformation of the number of EPVS, the correlation between the grades of EPVS and converted EPVS was analyzed. The relationship between the number of converted EPVS and the grades and retinal fundus vascular lesions was further analyzed.Results:A total of 123 patients were included, including 99 patients with cerebral infarction, 24 patients with TIA; 52 patients without EPVS and 71 patients with EPVS. The EPVS group was more than the non-EPVS group in age ((68.61±12.71) years and (63.37±13.53) years, t=-2.198, P=0.030), history of hypertension (52 (73.2%) and 25 (48.1%), χ 2=8.118, P=0.004), hemangioma (17 (23.9%) and 5 (9.6%), χ 2=4.196, P=0.041), arteriovenous nicking (50 (70.4%) and 8 (15.4%), χ 2=36.488, P<0.05) and arteriosclerosis grades (1 (1, 2) and 0 (0, 1), Z=-7.454, P<0.05), and less than the non-EPVS group in central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE; (106.31±15.02) mm and (113.89±11.86) mm, t=3.014, P=0.003) and arteriole-to-venule ratio (AVR; 0.54±0.07 and 0.59±0.05, t=4.553, P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed arteriosclerosis grades ( OR=7.781, 95 %CI 2.876-21.055, P<0.05) and hypertension ( OR=3.203, 95 %CI 1.049-9.777, P=0.041) were related factors for EPVS. Adjusting for age, sex, hypertension and diabetes, the normally transformed EPVS was found positively correlated with arteriovenous nicking ( B=0.556, 95 %CI 0.203-0.910, P=0.003) and arteriosclerosis grade ( B=0.417, 95 %CI 0.259-0.576, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with AVR ( B=-4.213, 95 %CI-6.712--1.714, P=0.001). The grades of EPVS were positively correlated with arteriosclerosis ( r=0.764, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with CRAE ( r=-0.287, P<0.05) and AVR ( r=-0.422, P<0.05). Conclusions:Hypertension and retinal arteriosclerosis are related factors of EPVS in mild stroke and TIA patients. EPVS is correlated with retinal vessel abnormalities. The more serious of EPVS is, the more serious of retinal arteriosclerosis is, the higher ratio of arteriovenous nicking is, the smaller of CRAE and AVR are.

Objective To determine the influence of abiraterone acetate (AA) on neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and the prognostic predicting value of the serum NED markers in mCRPC patients treated with AA.Methods We conducted an analysis in 115 chemotherapy-naive mCRPC patients who were treated with chemotherapy in Renji hospital from 2013 to 2017.The median age was 70,ranged from 65 to 76 years old.The median CgA,NSE and PSA levels were 101.1 ng/ml (78.5-150.0 ng/ml),13.4 ng/ml (10.5-17.6 ng/ml) and 38.8 ng/ml (11.2-123.2 ng/ml),respectively.Among them,48 cases were classified as the group without AA treatment.The other 67 cases were classified as group after AA failure.In group without AA treatment,the median CgA,NSE and PSA levels were 109.1 ng/ml(80-151.5 ng/ml);13.8 ng/ml(10.8-18.2 ng/ml) and 39.2 ng/ml (8.6-200 ng/ml),respectively.In group after AA failure,the median CgA,NSE and PSA levels were 105.4 ng/ml(78.8-175.5 ng/ml),13.8 ng/ml(10.8-17.6 ng/ml) and 39.0 ng/ml(8.4-219.8 ng/ml),respectively.In the group with serial evaluation of NED markers during AA treatment,the median serum CgA,NSE levels at baseline were 115.9 ng/ml(90.1-201.5 ng/ml),13.3 ng/ml (10.4-18.1 ng/ml),respectively.The endpoints were PSA PFS(progression-free survival) and radiographic PFS (rPFS).Results In 34 patients with serial evaluation,serum NED markers level in 19 patients increased after the failure of AA treatment.Median serum CgA and NSE levels were 115.9 ng/ml(90.1-201.5 ng/ml)and 13.25 ng/ml (10.37-18.14 ng/ml) at baseline.Median serum CgA and NSE levels were 129.6ng/ml (75.5-230.5 ng/ml) and 14.7 ng/ml (11.8-19.1 ng/ml) after 6 months treatment,respectively.The median serum CgA and NSE levels were 130.4 ng/ml (95.7-205.7 ng/ml) and 15.2 ng/ml(12.4-18.7 ng/ml) at the time of failure of AA treatment,respectively.There was no significant difference of NED markers between baseline and failure of AA treatment (P =0.243).In logistic univariate analysis,AA treatment and its duration were not independent factors influencing NED(P =0.30;P =0.52).Compared with the NED markers elevation group in the first 6 months of AA treatment and baseline supranormal NED markers group,the NED markers decline group(PSA PFS(17.1 vs.10.4 months,P ＜ 0.001) and rPFS (17.0 vs.10.4 months,P =0.003)) and baseline normal NED markers group(PSA PFS(14.1 vs.9.5 months,P =0.001) and rPFS(16.4 vs.10.5 months,P ＜ 0.001)) has a longer median PSA PFS and rPFS respectively.In multivariate Cox analysis,baseline NED markers level and NED markers variation during the first 6 months of AA treatment remained significant predictors of rPFS(P ＜ 0.05),and PSA-PFS (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions We found there was heterogeneity in changes of NED markers in different mCRPC patients during AA treatment,and AA might not significantly lead to progression of NED of mCRPC in general.Serial CgA and NSE evaluation might help clinicians guide clinical treatment of mCRPC patients.Serum NED markers elevation during the first 6 months of AA treatment and elevated baseline NED markers levels indicated poor prognosis in mCRPC treated with AA.

A patient aged 68 years old presented urinary frequency, urgency, and gross hematuria for 1 month, with initial PSA of 72.72 ng/ml and alkaline phosphatase (ALP)of 114 U/L. Prostate biopsy pathology showed small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of prostate. The patient was immediately administered 6 cycle of chemotherapy including etoposide and cisplatin combined with medical castration. The CDK4 gene was detected 1.99 times amplification by peripheral blood free DNA (cfDNA)gene analysis. The chemotherapy was followed by parbosini therapy. The number and density of bone metastases continued to decrease significantly by bone scan at 3 and 6 months after treatment, with a continuous decline of ALP and PSA. After 1 year of follow-up, pelvic MRI and bone systemic imaging indicated stable lesions, with PSA of 0.05 ng/ml and ALP of 59 U/L.

Metal-based carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing molecules have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties maintaining gastric mucosal integrity. We are interested in further development of metal-free CO-based therapeutics for oral administration. Thus, we examine the protective effect of representative CO prodrug, BW-CO-111, in rat models of gastric damage induced by necrotic ethanol or aspirin, a representative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Treatment effectiveness was assessed by measuring the microscopic/macroscopic gastric damage area and gastric blood flow by laser flowmetry. Gastric mucosal mRNA and/or protein expressions of HMOX1, HMOX2, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, COX1, COX2,