OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of post-treatment PSA kinetics on the prognosis of prostate cancer (PCa).

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 114 cases of locally advanced PCa treated by maximal androgen blockade (MAB) combined with brachytherapy, and analyzed the association of the changes in PSA kinetics with the prognosis of the patients.

RESULTSThe median survival time of the patients was 81 (15 - 144) months, with 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of 91. 23%, 78.07% and 68.42% , respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that the baseline PSA level, PSA nadir, the time of PSA decreasing to nadir, PSA doubling time, and the extent of PSA declining were all predictive factors for the survival time of the PCa patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that PSA nadir, the time of PSA decreasing to nadir, and the extent of PSA declining were three independent prognostic factors, which prolonged the long-term survival of the patients by 1.7, 3.2 and 6.8 times, respectively.

CONCLUSIONFor locally advanced PCa treated by MAB combined with brachytherapy, PSA nadir <1 micro g/L, the time to nadir <3 months, and the extent of PSA declining >96% are independent prognostic factors.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgens ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Brachytherapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To measure the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in neuron-like cells resulted from rat bone mesenchymal stem cell (BMSCs) differentiation induced by salvia miltiorrhiza injection and provide some theoretical basis for the BMSCs transplantation. Methods The rat BMSCs were separated from rat bone marrow and cultured in vitro. After induced by basic fibroblast growth factor and 10mL/L salvia miltiorrhiza injection, the cells were identified with immunofluorescence staining against NeuN. The same procedure was performed on primarily cultured hippocampal neurons. Then, the [Ca2+]i of the differentiated neuron-like cells was determined and compared with primarily cultured hippocampal neurons. Results The BMSCs after induced by basic fibroblast growth factor and salvia miltiorrhiza injection expressed neuronal phenotypes similar to the cell appearance of neurons with NeuN. The average fluorescence intensity of the neuron-like cells derived from BMSCs was 984.75±79.51, while the average fluorescence intensity of the primarily cultured hippocampal neurons was 769.42±60.93. No significant difference was found between them (P>0.05). Conclusion The neuron-like cells from rat BMSCs differentiation induced by salvia miltiorrhiza injection possess certain neuronal properties.

BACKGROUNDKCNJ11, ABCC8, PPARG, and HNF4A have been found to be associated with type 2 diabetes in populations with different genetic backgrounds. The aim of this study was to test, in a Chinese Han population from Beijing, whether the genetic variants in these four genes were associated with genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes.

METHODSWe studied the association of four representative SNPs in KCNJ11, ABCC8, PPARG, and HNF4A by genotyping them using ABI SNaPshot Multiplex System in 400 unrelated type 2 diabetic patients and 400 unrelated normoglycaemic subjects.

RESULTSrs5219 (E23K) in KCNJ11 was associated with genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.400 with 95% CI 1.117 1.755, P = 0.004 under an additive model, OR = 1.652 with 95% CI 1.086 2.513, P = 0.019 under a recessive model, and OR = 1.521 with 95% CI 1.089 2.123, P = 0.014 under a dominant model) after adjusting for sex and body mass index (BMI). We did not find evidence of association for ABCC8 rs1799854, PPARG rs1801282 (Pro12Ala) and HNF4A rs2144908. Genotype-phenotype correlation analysis revealed that rs1799854 in ABCC8 was associated with 2-hour postprandial insulin secretion (P = 0.005) after adjusting for sex, age and BMI. Although no interactions between the four variants on the risk of type 2 diabetes were detected, the multiplicative interaction between PPARG Pro12Ala and HNF4A rs2144908 was found to be associated with 2-hour postprandial insulin (P = 0.004 under an additive model for rs2144908; and P = 0.001 under a dominant model for rs2144908) after adjusting for age, sex and BMI, assuming a dominant model for PPARG Pro12Ala.

CONCLUSIONSOur study replicated the association of rs5219 in KCNJ11 with type 2 diabetes in Chinese Han population in Beijing. And we also observed that ABCC8 as well as the interaction between PPARG and HNF4A may contribute to post-challenge insulin secretion.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; genetics ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4 ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PPAR gamma ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying ; genetics ; Receptors, Drug ; genetics ; Sulfonylurea Receptors

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of frontoethmoidal cells in normal Chinese subjects.

METHODSTwo hundred and two Chinese subjects without symptoms of frontal sinus disease were undergone spiral computed tomography (CT). The multiplanar reconstruction images were evaluated using a standard triplanar reconstruction protocol on a computer workstation.

RESULTSThere were 121 males and 81 females. The mean age was (39.4 +/- 13.5) years. Of all the frontal cells identified in 159 sides (39.4%) of frontal recesses, the prevalence of type I, type II, type III and type cells were 24.3% (98 sides), 6.9% (28 sides), 8.2% (33 sides) and 0% (0 side) respectively. Suprabulbar cell, supraorbital ethmoid cells, and frontal bulbar cell were identified in 148 sides (36.6%) Jian-hu, 22 sides (5.4%), and 36 sides (8.9%) respectively. While the interfrontal septal cells was found in 25 patients (12.4%). The prevalence of agger nasi cell was 94. 1% (380 sides). Two hundred and forty-four uncinate processes (60.4%) had one superior attachment for each uncinate process; the other 160 uncinate processes (39.6%) had two superior attachments for each uncinate process. The single superior attachment of the uncinate process into the surrounding structures was identified to have the following distribution: 53.0% (n=214) to the lamina papyracea, 5.2% (n=21) to the middle turbinate, 2.2% (n=9) to the skull base. Most of the uncinate process' two superior attachments were either into the lamina papyracea and the skull base (27.5%, n=111) or into the lamina papyracea and the middle turbinate (8.7%, n=35). The other 14 uncinate processes (3.5%) superiorly attached to the skull base and the middle turbinate. The prevalence of recessus terminalis was 89.1% (n=360).

CONCLUSIONThe result demonstrated the normal frontal recess pneumatization patterns in normal Chinese.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ethmoid Sinus ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Adriamycin (ADR)-induced heart failure and the protective effects of Sini decoction (SND).

METHODSD rats were randomly divided into three groups, control group, heart failure group and SND group. ADR was injected in the rats of heart failure group and SND group by caudal vein. After injection, the rats in SND group were given SND (3.75 g x kg(-1) x d(-1), p.o.). Three weeks later, cardiac function, content of malondialdehyde (MDA) of both myocardium and mitochondria and activity of Cu-Zn SOD and Mn SOD were measured. The mRNA expression of Cu-Zn SOD and Mn SOD were also detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTCompared with control group, LVSP and +/- dp/dt max were obviously decreased, while LVEDP was markedly increased in the heart failure group. The mRNA expression and the activity of Cu-Zn SOD and Mn SOD in heart failure group were obviously lower than that in the controls'. In addition, the MDA content of both myocardium and mitochondria were clearly increased in heart failure rats. In SND-treated rats, the cardiac function, the activity and the mRNA expression of Cu-Zn SOD and Mn SOD were significantly elevated and the content of MDA was reduced, which had no statistic difference with the rats in control group.

CONCLUSIONThe data suggest that oxidative stress is present in the mitochondria of myocardium in ADR-induced heart failure rats and it can be eased by SND. The mechanism may be closely related to SOD.

Animals ; Doxorubicin ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Heart Failure ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Heart Function Tests ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mitochondria, Heart ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (flt-1 and flk-1) in the retina of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and its relation to the alteration of retinal blood vessels.

METHODSEighty-six newborn Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into hyperoxia and air groups, then each group was further divided into 1, 3, 7 and 14 days subgroups. The rats in hyperoxia group inhaled 75% oxygen and ROP model was thus set up. These animals were sacrificed respectively after 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, then the retinal endothelial cells were marked by CD34 to observe the change of retinal blood vessels. The expression of VEGF, flt-1 and flk-1 in the retina was measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe retinal capillary density index (RCDI) in control group increased as days went on (F = 21.589, P < 0.01, but it was the least on the 7th day in hyperoxia group, after the rats had been returned to air for 7 days, RCDI increased significantly (F = 67.885, P < 0.01); In the control group, the expression of VEGF and flk-1 was the strongest in the retina on the 7th day, the result had significant difference as compared with the 1st and 14th day (P < 0.05). The expression of VEGF and flk-1 on the 7th day in hyperoxia group was weaker than that of control group (P < 0.05). But on the 14th day in hyperoxia group, they were stronger than that of control (P < 0.05). The localization of the expression of flt-1 was changed when blood vessels altered, but there was no significant difference in expression intensity as a whole (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWhen the premature retina was exposed to hyperoxia, the expression of VEGF and flk-1 was reduced, and retinal blood vessels were also decreased; but the expression of VEGF and flk-1 was stronger in retina when premature rats were exposed to relative hypoxia, and the retinal blood vessels also increased significantly. It is concluded that VEGF and flk-1 may play important roles in the development of retinal blood vessels and its change in ROP. However, flt-1 has less effect compared with flk-1.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hypoxia ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ; analysis ; Retina ; chemistry ; pathology ; Retinal Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

Objectives: To compare regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rScO2) changes during cardiac surgery in children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Methods: A total of 60 children aged 3~36 months were enrolled (28 in VSD group 32 in TOF group). rScO2was monitored by Fore-Sight near-infrared spectroscopy device. rScO2, pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2), systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, heart rate, stroke volume index, cardiac index, systemic vascular reststance index the maximal slope of systolic upstroke (dp/dt max) were obtained at following time points: after anesthesia induction (t0), pericardium opening (t1), 5 min after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) initiation (t2), 5 min before separation from CPB (t3), separation from CPB (t4), post-modified ultrafiltration (t5), end of surgery (t6). Results: (1) The lowest rScO2value was observed at separation from CPB (t4), and which was significantly lower than that at t0(P<0.05) for both groups; rScO2, stoke volume index, cardiac index, and dp/dt max at t5were significantly higher than at t4(all P<0.001) for both groups. (2) rScO2and SpO2were significantly higher at t5and t6than at t0(both P<0.05) in TOF group. rScO2at t0-t2was significantly lower in TOF group than in VSD group (both P<0.05). rScO2increased more significantly after modified ultrafiltration and rScO2was positively correlated with SpO2at t0and t1(r=0.35, P<0.05 and r=0.64,P<0.01) in TOF group. (3) In the total cohort, rScO2was positively correlated with age, weight at t0, t1, t3, t4, t5, t6(all P<0.01). After modified ultrafiltration, the increase in cardiac index was positively correlated with increase in rScO2(r=0.41, P<0.05), and the amount of cardiac index and rScO2increases were negatively correlated with age (r=-0.30;r=-0.34, both P<0.05). Conclusions: rScO2is closely related with age and weight. Cerebral oxygen delivery before biventricular surgical correction is lower in TOF group than in VSD group, and the cerebral oxygenation improves significantly after surgical repair. Modified ultrafiltration could significantly improve systemic hemodynamics and rScO2, and TOF children and younger children benefit more from modified ultrafiltration. Pre- and post-separation from CPB period is vulnerable to cerebral desaturation, it is therefore of importance to maintain the cerebral oxygen delivery-consumption balance at these periods for children with TOF and VSD undergoing surgical repair.

Objective To study the relationship between regional cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rScO2) and hemodynamic parameters under different end-tidal carbon dioxide partial pressure (PetCO2) levels during anesthesia induction period in children undergoing ventricular septal defect(VSD) repair.Methods A total of 25 patients aged from 2 to 37 months (median 6 months) were enrolled,who received selective VSD repair at Beijing Anzhen Hospital from April to May 2017.After admission,anesthesia induction and intubation,invasive radial artery pressure were established routinely and hemodynamic device-MostCare was used,Fore-Sight was used to monitor rScO2 of the right frontal brain.By means of adjusting mechanical ventilation parameter,PetCO2 was maintained at 30 (T1),35 (T2),40 (T2),45 (T3) mmHg(1 mmHg =0.133 kPa) in sequence.Pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2),heart rate (HR),systolic pressure (SysP),difference between dicrotic pressure (DicP) and diastolic pressure (DiaP) (Pdic-a),stroke volume index (SVI),cardiac index (CI),systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI),and pulse pressure variation (PPV) were recorded at T1,T2,T3 and T4.Results (1) Comparison among groups:rScO2 at T4,T3,T2 and T1 were (80.5 ± 4.0) ％,(78.2 ± 4.6) ％,(74.4 ± 5.7) ％,(70.8 ± 6.5) ％,respectively,rScO2 at T2,T3 and T4 were higher than that at T1,and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).SysP at T3 [(85 ± 9) mmHg] and T4 [(84 ± 10) mmHg] were lower than that at T1 [(92 ± 15) mmHg],and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).DicP at T2[(64 ± 12) mmHg],T3[(60 ± 10) mmHg],and T4 [(59 ±9) mmHg] were significantly lower than that at T1 [(68 ± 15) mmHg],and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).DiaP at T2 [(44 ± 6) mmHg],T3[(41 ±6) mmHg],and T4 [(41 ±6) mmHg]were lower than that at T1 [(47 ±7) mmHg],and the differences were statistically significant(all P ＜ 0.01).SVRI at T4 [(1 382 ± 262) dyne · s cm-5 · m2] was significantly lower than those at T1 [(1 486 ± 241) dyne · s cm-5 · m2],T2 [(1 440 ± 279) dyne · s cm-5 · m2] and T3 [(1 418 ±266) dyne · s cm-5 · m2],and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).PPV at T3 [(11 ± 4) ％] and T4 [(13 ± 5) ％] was significantly lower than that at T1 [(18 ± 12) ％],and the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).(2) Correlation analysis:in total population,PetCO2 was positively correlated with rScO2 (r =0.582,P ＜ 0.01).At T1,rScO2 was positively correlated with DiaP and DicP (r =0.600,0.658,all P ＜ 0.01),as well as SysP,CI,SVI,Pdic-a (r =0.460,0.424,0.522,0.534,all P ＜ 0.05),rScO2 was negatively correlated with HR and PPV (r =-0.450,-0.490,all P ＜ 0.05).At T2,rScO2 was positively correlated with DiaP and DicP (r =0.689,0.692,all P ＜ 0.01),as well as SysP,SVI (r =0.534,0.445,all P ＜ 0.05).At T3,rScO2 was positively correlated with SysP (r =0.495,P ＜ 0.05),and negatively correlated with PPV (r =-0.562,P ＜ 0.01).At T4,the rScO2 was not correlated with any hemodynamic parameters (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions During anesthesia induction in ventricular septal defect children,rScO2 increases significantly with the increase in PetCO2.When PetCO2 is at 30 and 35 mmHg,rScO2 is mainly affected by hemodynamics.When PetCO2 is at 40 and 45 mmHg,rScO2 is mainly affected by PetCO2,but less affected by hemodynamics.

Objective On July 6, 2010, the parents of a patient with confirmed measles reported several suspected measles patients with fever and rash in their village. An investigation was carried out to verify and understand the cause of the outbreak. Methods Several suspected cases had an onset of fever and rash in this and other neighboring villages during June 1 to August 3,2010. A confirmed case was a suspected case with measles-specific IgM identified in the serum. We conducted door-to-door visits and searched the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention Information System to identify cases, also conducted a retrospective cohort study among migrant children aged 8 months-14 years to identify risk factors related to measles. Results We identified 19 measles cases (17 confirmed case, 2 suspected cases)in the village, and all of them were migrants. Children aged 1-2 years had the highest attack rate(13%). The primary case-patient had onset on the day she arrived in this village(June 4,2010). Caretakers from an unlicensed private clinic were providing service in the village but did not report the outbreak to the public health authority. The outbreak was identified only after receiving a report from the parents of one of the patients, by that time the outbreak had lasted for one month. The measles vaccine coverage rate was 81% among the 315 migrant children aged 8 months-14 years. Among the 61 unvaccinated children, those who reportedly being contacted a measles patient had a higher attack rate(14/16, 88%)than those who did not(2/45, 4.4%)(Relative risk=20, Fisher' s exact 95% confidence interval: 5.7-94). Conclusion The low measles vaccine coverage among migrant children and lack of measures taken on the incident, timely isolation diagnosis/reporting by the caretakers from the unlicensed private clinic etc. had contributed to this prolonged outbreak. Measures need to be taken to improve the immunization services for migrant populations and to enhance measles surveillance programs in the area.

Objective To investigate the role of miR-211/TFAM in the regulation of proliferation of breast cancer cells .Methods In the present study , we transfected breast cancer cells with miR-211 mimics or miR-211 inhibitor to achieve miR-211 and detected the expression of miR-211 and the expression level of TFAM proteins in response to miR-211 overexpression or miR-211 silencing;luciferase reporter gene plasmid with or without a six base pairs mutation in the 3′UTR of TFAM ( mut-TFAM/wt-TFAM) were conducted and co-transfected with miR-211 mimics or miR-211 inhibitor, then the change of the luciferase activity was detected;then pcDNA3.1/TFAM plasmid was constructed and co-transfected with miR-211 mimics or miR-211 inhibitor, TFAM protein expression level changes were determined in response to miR-211 overexpression or miR-211 silencing; lastly the cell proliferation was determined in response to mimics NC/miR-211 mimics and pcDNA3.1/TFAM co-transfection.Results Overex-pression of miR-211 inhibits the expression of TFAM protein , miR-211 silencing promote TFAM protein expression;miR-211 can regulate the expression of TFAM by direct targeting;TFAM over expression was achieved by pcDNA3.1/TFAM transfection , and TFAM overe xpression can restore the inhibitory effect of miR-211 on TFAM;miR-211 inhibited the growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells , TFAM can promote the growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells;TFAM restored the inhibitory effect of miR-211 on growth and proliferation of breast cancer cells .Conclusions miR-211 regulates the growth of breast cancer cell with targeting of HMGB .