Objective　To study the role of vascular endothelial growth factor in the genesis of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and its relationship with nitric oxide. Methods　Serum vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) levels in 41women with PIH and 20 normal pregnant women were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) in placental tissues were assayed by nitrite reductase. Results (1) Serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF in PIH group were significantly lower than those in normal pregnancy. There was no difference between the mild PIH and normal group in the concentrations of VEGF. VEGF levels in moderate (23.1±4.1) ng/L and severe PIH (14.8±3.9) ng/L were significantly lower than those in normal group (P<0.01). (2) The concentrations of NO in placental tissues in PIH group were significantly lower than those in normal pregnancy (P<0.01). There was no difference between the concentrations of NO in mild PIH and those in normal pregnancy (P>0.05). NO levels in moderate PIH (9.1±2.1) μmol/g and severe PIH (5.6±1.8) μmol/g were significantly lower than those in control group. (3) The serum levels of VEGF positively correlated with the cocentrations of NO in placental tissues. (r=0.65, P<0.01). Conclusion　The serum levels of VEGF and the concentrations of NO in women with PIH are both suppressed. The changes of VEGF levels might play an important role in the pathogenesis of PIH.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between characteristics of cervical cancer at contrast-enhanced ultrasound and prognostic factors.Methods Thirty-five patients with pathologically confirmed cervical cancer were enrolled in this retrospective analysis.All the patients accepted contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination before the surgery.Relationships between the characters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and the expression of ki-67 antigen(cell proliferation marker),tumor diameter,lymph node metastasis and histologic grade were studied.Results (1)Compared to the surrounding normal tissue, the cervical cancer had statistically significant differences in time to peak and peak intensity(P <0.05),the former was shortened,and the latter was increased.(2 )The ratio of perfusion defect and heterogeneous enhancement were significantly higher in tissues,including the ki-67 positive expression tissue,poorly differentiated or larger tumors (≥ 2.0 cm in diameter)(P < 0.05 ).(3 )Compared to the ki-67 negative expression group,time to peak of the ki-67 positive expression group was shorter and the peak intensity was higher,the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05 ).(4 )The peak intensity of poorly differentiated cervical cancers was significantly higher than that of the other groups (P <0.05).Conclusions Enhancement patterns and parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound were associated with prognosis, which may be useful in noninvasive prediction of the patients with cervical cancers.

Objective To investigate the correlation of single nucleotide polymorphisms( SNP) of rs228648 and rs2890565 in urotensin Ⅱ (UTS2)gene with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS). Methods The genotypes of two SNPs in UTS2 gene were determined through polymerase chain reaction Tin-shift genotyping method. 101 Chinese Han families trios in Shandong Province consisting of fathers,mothers,and affected daughters with PCOS and 105 healthy women were recruited. The physiological and biochemical parameters including serum follicular stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone( LH),testosterone,fasting plasma glucose,and insulin were also measured. Results The distributions of three genotypes and two alleles of SNP rs228648 in UTS2 gene were similar between PCOS group and control group. The distributions of genotypes of SNP rs2890565 in UTS2 gene differed significantly between PCOS group and control group (P<0. 05). The frequency of A allele of SNP rs2890565 in UTS2 gene was significantly higher in PCOS group than that in control group( P<0.05). Transmission disequilibrium test(TDT) did not show significantly biased transmission of two different alleles from parents to affected daughters at rs228648 locus (P>0. 05) ,but showed an excess transmission of A allele from heterozygous parents to affected offspring at rs2890565 locus (P<0. 05). The carriers with GG genotype of SNP rs228648 had significantly higher HOMA-IR compared to those with AA and AG genotypes. The carriers with AA or AG genotype of SNP rs2890565 had significantly higher fasting plasma glucose and fasting insulin compared to those with GG genotypes. HOMA-IR in cases with AA genotype was significantly higher than that with GG genotype. Conclusions There is no association of SNP rs228648 with PCOS, but exists association with insulin resistance. The genetic polymorphism of UTS2 gene rs2890565 may be associated with PCOS,and the higher frequency of A allele is likely to contribute to PCOS.

Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Humans ; Mental Disorders ; diagnosis ; Occupational Medicine ; Referral and Consultation ; Symptom Assessment

Objective To explore the correlation between quantitative parameters of blood perfusion with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and microvessel density (MVD),microvessel area (MVA) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).And to investigate the value of CEUS in evaluating the angiogenesis in PTC before operation.Methods Totally 69 cases of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were selected from April 2014 to October 2016 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University.The CEUS characteristics of 69 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into three groups according to maximum diameter of lesions (＜ 1 cm group,1-2 cm group and ＞ 2.0 cm group),and two groups according to pathologic reports (neck lymph node metastatic and nonmetastatic groups).The blood perfusion parameters between or among different groups were evaluated by ttest or one-way ANOVA.Immunohistochemical staining were performed to evaluate the MVD,MVA in the surgical specimens,and the correlation of quantitative parameters with MVD,MVA were assessed by Spearman.Results (1) Peak Intensity (Peak),area under the curve (AUC),MVD and MVA of thyroid carcinoma were lower than the surrounding normal thyroid tissue (14.95 ± 4.96 vs 22.67±6.11,970.01±263.20 vs 1798.35±563.67,118.91±31.32 vs 206.27±39.58,8.58±-2.68 vs 18.47±3.13),and the differences were statistically significant (t=-8.700,-11.061,-14.377 and-20.532,all P ＜ 0.05).(2)With the increase of the lesion's maximum diameter,Peak,AUC,MVD and MVA increased,and the differences were statistically significant (t=0.000,0.000,0.000,0.000;t=0.027,0.044,0.033,0.000;t=0.027,0.044,0.033,0.000,all P ＜ 0.05).(3) Papillary thyroid carcinoma with lymphatic involvement had significantly higher values of Peak,AUC,MVD and MVA than those without lymphatic involvement (16.86±4.36 vs 13.80±3.55,1128.16±290.85 vs 874.39±192.27,114.12±30.69 vs 103.67±22.19,10.30 ± 2.44 vs 7.54 ± 2.29),and the differences were statistically significant (t=3.177,4.366,6.336 and 4.742,all P ＜ 0.05).(4) A positive correlation existed between the Peak,AUC and MVD,and the differences were statistically significant (r=0.506,0.478,all P ＜0.05).Peak,AUC and MVA showed positive correlation,and the differences were statistically significant (r=0.648,0.653,all P ＜ 0.05).TP,MTT and MVD,MVA showed no correlations (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The values of Peak and AUC calculated from CEUS were correlated to MVD and MVA.CEUS may be used to evaluated the angiogenesis of PTC before operation.And CEUS is helpful for prediction of prognosis of PTC.

Objective:To investigate the value of two-dimensional ultrasound combined with shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessing perineal body characteristics in patients with stress urinary incontinence(SUI).Methods:Sixty-four patients with stress urinary incontinence from December 2019 to August 2020 in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University were selected as the SUI group, in addition, seventy healthy females at the same time were selected as the control group. The clinical information data were collected, two-dimensional ultrasound and SWE examination were performed to obtain the perineal body length, height, perimeter, area and the maximum(Emax) and the mean(Emean) modulus of elasticity both at the resting and maximum Valsalva conditions, ROC curve was plotted to evaluate the effectiveness of elastic modulus in evaluating perineal body in SUI.Results:In the resting state, the length, height, perimeter and area of perineal body in the SUI group were not significantly different from those of the control group ( P=0.590, 0.291, 0.082, 0.063). At the maximum Valsalva, the perineal body length, height, perimeter and area in the SUI group were significantly different from those of the control group ( P=0.005, 0.010, 0.001, 0.008). In the resting, the Emax and Emean values of perineal body elastic modulus in the SUI group were higher than those in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant [(36.61±9.81)kPa vs (34.66±10.38)kPa, (27.43±9.78)kPa vs (26.97±8.85)kPa, all P>0.05]. At the maximum Valsalva, the Emax and Emean of the SUI group were significantly smaller than those of the control group, with statistically significant difference[(47.73±8.03)kPa vs (58.06±10.02)kPa, (35.78±7.89)kPa vs (44.33±9.62)kPa, all P<0.001]. The area under ROC curve of Emax and Emean at the maximum Valsalva was 0.738 and 0.647 respectively, the Emax was better than the Emean in assessment of the characteristics of perineal body in SUI patients. Conclusions:Two-dimensional ultrasound combined with SWE technique can quantitatively evaluate the characteristics of perineal body and provide an important imaging method for the diagnosis of SUI.

Objective To estimate cervical stiffness during late pregnancy with virtual touch tissue quantification technique(VTQ) and investigate the value of predicting the outcome of labor induction. Methods Cervical length in pregnancy women at 35 -41 weeks′gestation was measured through perineum ultrasound examination before labor induction,and then VTQ was applied to measure shear wave velocity (SWV)values in region of interest(ROI),the maximum,minimum and average of SWV values were obtained from multiple SWV measurement under the VTQ mode. The outcomes of labor induction were tracked and Bishop scores were recorded,vaginal delivery and cesarean delivery groups were compared using Student′s t-test for continuous variables. ROC curve was plotted to analyze the correlation between parameters and the outcome of labor induction and to determine the most accurate SWV value and cut-off value for diagnosis.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to determine which of the following parameters were significant predictors of the outcome of labor induction. Results The SWV mix,SWV max and SWV mean of vaginal delivery and cesarean section were (0.92 ± 0.13)m/s,(1.37 ± 0.14)m/s,(1.13 ± 0.10)m/s and (1.03 ± 0.13)m/s,(1.74 ± 0.42)m/s,(1.36 ± 0.11)m/s,respectively, there were significant differences between vaginal delivery and cesarean section(all P < 0.05).Based on ROC curve analysis,the SWV mean value in cervix was the best value for predicting the outcome of labor induction.The cut-off value of SWV mean value was 1.23 m/s,the sensitivity,specificity and Youden index were 93.8%,83.4%,0.77,respectively.The SWV value and cervical length were closely correlated to the outcome of labor induction,especially the SWV value according to multivariate logistic analysis. Conclusions VTQ can assess the cervical stiffness with SWV values during pregnancy,and it may have an application value of predicting the outcome of labor induction.

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of restenosis after angioplasty and to clarify the effect of thrombin and its receptor on restenosis development.

METHODSBalloon catheter-induced injury was adopted to induce intimal hyperplasia of the carotid arteries in rats. Antisense thrombin receptor (ATR) cDNA was transfected by perfusing recombinant LXSN ATR plasmid/nanoparticle complex into the segment of the injured carotid artery.

RESULTSPCR result showed integration of the recombined gene. Dot blot showed the expression of antisense TR mediated by recombinant LXSN ATR plasmid/nanoparticle complex in the wall of common carotid arteries of the experimental group rats, which enabled to inhibit TR gene expression and intimal hyperplasia of the injured arteries.

CONCLUSIONSThrombin and its receptor play an important role in the formation of neointima after the injury, which provides a potential clue in developing a new approach for prevention and treatment of restenosis after angioplasty.

Animals ; Carotid Arteries ; Hyperplasia ; Rats ; Receptors, Thrombin ; metabolism ; Thrombin ; pharmacology ; Tunica Intima ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the possibility and efficiency of nanoparticle as a new vector in specific gene transference.

METHODSNanoparticle-DNA complex was prepared with Poly-dl-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) bearing anti-sense monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (A-MCP-1), a specific expression gene, and the package efficiency, release progress in vitro, and the size of the complex were determined. The possibility of the new vector was evaluated with genomic DNA PCR by transferring gene into cultured smooth muscle cells (SMC), cationic lipids as a control. For study in vivo, jugular vein-to-artery bypass grafting procedures were performed on 20 New Zealand white rabbits, of which 6 grafts were transferred with nanoparticle-A-MCP-1 (200 microg), 6 with A-MCP-1 (200 microg) by cationic liposome, 4 with LNCX plasmid, and 4 as control. Fourteen days after the grafts were harvested, the expression of A-MCP-1 and its effect on MCP-1 in vein grafts were detected by dot blot, and the morphologic evaluation of grafts was performed.

RESULTSThe package efficiency of the nanoparticle-DNA complex was 0.9%, release progress in vitro lasted 2 weeks, and the size ranged from 150 to 300 nm. SMC genomic DNA PCR showed that A-MCP-1 gene could be successfully transfected into cells by nanoparticle. The study in vivo indicated that A-MCP-1 mRNA was expressed in both local gene delivery groups, nanoparticle and liposome, meanwhile, MCP-1 expression in vein grafts was significantly inhibited and neointimal hyperplasia was notably reduced.

CONCLUSIONNanoparticle can act as a vector to transfect specific gene.

Animals ; Chemokine CCL2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; DNA, Antisense ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Drug Carriers ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Lactic Acid ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Polymers ; Rabbits ; Transfection

Objective To evaluate the combination of transvaginal conventional ultrasonography and shear wave elastography ( SWE) on the diagnosis of endometrial cancer ,and establish a predictive Logistic regression model . Methods Clinical information collection ,transvaginal conventional ultrasonography ,and SWE check were performed in 112 patients w ho were post‐menopausal vaginal bleeding with ≥5 mm thick endometrium . T he Emax and Emean of Young′s modulus for the endometrium were obtained . Pathology was used as the gold standard ,ROC curve was plotted ,which could be used to evaluate the Young′s modulus on the diagnostic effectiveness on endometrial cancer . Single factor analysis and bring logistic regression methods were applied to assess the values of the clinical variables ,transuaginal conventional ultrasonography variables ,and Young′s modulus in the identification of endometrial cancer . Results In 112 cases of endometrial lesions diagnosed by pathology ,there were 84 cases of benign lesions ( benign group) and 28 cases of cancer( malignant group) . Both Emax and Emean in malignant group were larger than benign group [ (53 .00 ± 16 .07) kPa vs ( 31 .99 ± 13 .89) kPa ,( 27 .25 ± 9 .28) kPa vs ( 19 .94 ± 10 .37) kPa ,all P ＜0 .001] . In the logistical regression analysis ,body mass index ,endometrial thickness ,blood flow grading and Young′s modulus were identified as independent risk factors for endometrial cancer . T he accuracy ,sensitivity and specificity of the logistic regression model in the prediction of endometrial cancer were 89 .29% ,82 .14% , and 91 .67% , respectively . T he area under the ROC curve was 0 .928 . Conclusions T ransvaginal conventional ultrasonography combined SWE technique has an important value in the diagnosis of endometrial cancer .