OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression of apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its effects on proliferation and apoptosis of PTC cells. METHODS: The expression level of APOC1 in PTC and its impact on prognosis were analyzed using GEPIA 2 and Kaplan-Meier databases. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of APOC1 in PTC and adjacent tissues and in 3 PTC cell lines and normal thyroid Nthyori 3-1 cells. In TPC-1 and BCPAP cells, the effect of Lipofectamine 2000-mediated transfection with APOC1 siRNA or an APOC1-overexpressing plasmid on cell growth and colony formation ability were examined by observing the growth curves and using colony-forming assay. The changes in cell cycle and apoptosis of the transfected cells were analyzed with flow cytometry. RT-qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the changes in expressions of P21, P27, CDK4, cyclin D1, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 and the key proteins in the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. RESULTS: APOC1 expression was significantly higher in PTC tissues and the 3 PTC cell lines than in the adjacent tissues and Nthyori 3-1 cells, respectively. In TPC-1 and BCPAP cells, APOC1 knockdown obviously reduced cell proliferative activity, increased the percentage of G0/G1 phase cells, lowered the percentages of S and G2 phase cells, promoted cell apoptosis, and downregulated mRNA and protein expression levels of CDK4, cyclin D1 and Bcl-2 and the protein levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3. APOC1 overexpression in the cells produced the opposite effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and the mRNA and protein expressions. The application of AG490, a JAK2 inhibitor, strongly attenuated APOC1 overexpression-induced activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in BCPAP cells. CONCLUSIONS APOC1 overexpression promotes proliferation and inhibits apoptosis of PTC cells possibly by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and accelerating cell cycle progression.
Humans ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Janus Kinase 2/metabolism* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology* ; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Carcinoma, Papillary

Objective To investigate the incidence of neonatal hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) and analyze the characteristics of HPA gene mutations in the Yangzhou area. Methods From January 2013 to December 2022, 285, 549 newborns in Yangzhou were screened for HPA using either the ninhydrin fluorescence method or tandem mass spectrometry. Urinary pterin analysis, erythrocyte dihydrobiopterin reductase activity measurement and genetic diagnosis were performed to screen positive individuals. Results A total of 29 cases were confirmed as HPA, including 3 cases of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH₄) deficiency and 26 cases of phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency. The overall incidence of HPA in Yangzhou was 1/9, 847, with the incidence of PAH deficiency being 1/10, 983, which were slightly higher than the national average but lower than other regions in Jiangsu Province. Among the cases, 13 (44.83%) were classic phenylketonuria (PKU), 7(24.14%) were mild PKU, and 6(20.69%) were mild HPA. Sixteen patients with PAH gene mutations were all compound heterozygotes, with one case exhibiting three-site mutations. PAH gene mutations were predominantly missense mutations, primarily concentrated in exon 7, followed by exon 6, with E7 c.728G>A (21.21%) being the most frequent mutation. Three cases of BH₄ deficiency were detected with PTS gene mutations, including 1 homozygous mutation and 2 compound heterozygous mutations. E5 c.259C>T was the high-frequency PTS mutation gene in Yangzhou. Conclusion HPA has a certain incidence in Yangzhou, with classic PKU being the predominant type. This study clarified the characteristics of PAH and PTS gene mutations in Yangzhou, enriching the HPA gene database.

Objective To investigate the ultrasound imaging findings of anatomical relationship between femoral artery and vein in children of different ages.Methods Sixty-five children aged 4 months-7 years were enrolled in this study.The children were divided into 3 age groups: group Ⅰ＜ 1 yr;group Ⅱ 1-3 yr and group Ⅲ＞ 3,≤ 7 yr.A protable ultrasound machine was used.The probe was placed at the level of inguinal ligament and 2 and 4 cm below inguinal ligament.The children were placed in supine position.The legs were placed in 2 positions:(1)extended and in standard anatomical position and(2)flexed and 45° abducted and 45° laterally rotated.Results The examination showed that at the level of inguinal ligament,the femoral vein lay behind and lateral to femoral artery in 91% of children.At the level of 4 cm below inguinal ligament,the femoral vein lay posterior and lateral to the femoral artery in all children.When the leg was placed in abducted and laterally rotated,the depth of femoral vein was reduced and the vein was less overlapped by artery in all children,especially in preschool children.Conclusion At the level of 4 cm below inguinal ligament,the femoral vein lies posterior and lateral to the femoral artery in children.When the leg is placed in abducted and laterally rotated,the depth of femoral vein is reduced and the vein is less overlapped by artery.It is indicated that femoral vein puncture should be performed at the level of 4 cm below inguinal ligament with the leg flexed and abducted in all children,especially in preschool children.