Objective: To evaluate the application value of ultrasound and dermoscopy in the precise preoperative evaluation of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) , and to analyze the association of high-frequency ultrasound and dermoscopic findings with pathological recurrence risk of BCC. Methods: Clinical data were collected from 33 outpatients with confirmed BCC in the Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital between April 2016 and December 2018, and high-frequency ultrasonographic and dermoscopic findings from 36 BCC lesions were analyzed. The lesions were classified into high-risk and low-risk groups based on pathological findings. Statistical differences in ultrasound and dermoscopic characteristics between high-risk and low-risk BCC groups were analyzed by using Fisher′s exact test, and the correspondence between high-frequency ultrasonographic and dermoscopic features of BCC was analyzed by calculating the simple matching coefficient. Results: Of the 36 BCC skin lesions, 4 were high-risk lesions and 32 were low-risk lesions. Ultrasonographic features of the high-risk and low-risk lesions overlapped markedly, and no significant differences were observed between the high-risk and low-risk lesions with regard to the shape, boundary, internal echo, hyperechoic spots, or posterior echo (all P > 0.05) . However, 24 (75.0%) low-risk lesions were confined to the dermis, whereas 4 high-risk lesions involved the subcutaneous tissue, and there was a significant difference between the high-risk and low-risk BCC groups with regard to the distribution of BCC (P = 0.008) . In 5 BCC lesions, ultrasound could identify small easy-to-ignore lesions or deep and invisible lesions besides obvious lesions. There were no significant differences in dermoscopic features between high-risk and low-risk groups. However, none of spoke-wheel area, milky-red structureless area, milia-like cysts, comedo-like openings and rainbow pattern was observed in 4 high-risk BCC lesions. The simple matching coefficient between enhanced hyperechoic spots in the lesion observed by ultrasound and milia-like cysts under a dermoscope was 36.1%, and the simple matching coefficient between discontinuous hyperechoic echo in the epidermis on ultrasonography and ulcer/erosion under a dermoscope was 75.0%. Conclusion High-frequency ultrasound and dermoscopy both provide important information for preoperative evaluation of risk of BCC lesions, and high-frequency ultrasound can identify easy-to-ignore hidden lesions in clinical practice.

Objective:To check RNA binding protein QKI-5's expression level in breast cancer cells and inhibiting effect on cancer cell proliferation.Methods:QKI-5's expression level was checked in different breast cancer cells by Western blotting,cancer cells of overexpressed QKI-5 gene could be stabilized by slow virus infection construction,MTT and FCM were used to check cell period to express QKI-5's influence on cell proliferation and period.Results:MCF-7 cells have relatively low QKI-5 expression level in three breast cancer cells,MTT experiment result has obvious reduced influence on QKI-5's expression of MCF-7 cell proliferation P＜0.05,mean-while,cell period inspection shows that overexpressed QKI-5's MCF-7 cells have obvious G1 retardant,cells in S and G2/M periods are reduced.Conclusion:High expression of QKI-5'in breast cancer could cause slow cell proliferation by inhibiting cancer cell period,hence causing limited tumor growth.

Objective To evaluate the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on autophagy in melanocytes,and to explore its possible regulatory mechanisms.Methods Normal human melanocytes at exponential growth phase were divided into several groups:blank control group receiving no treatment,positive control group treated with 100 nmol/L sirolimus solution,and experiment groups treated with H2O2 solution at different volume fractions of 10-7-10-3 respectively.After 4-hour treatment,cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the cellular proliferative activity and detect apoptosis of melanocytes respectively.Acridine orange staining was performed to detect autophagosome formation,transmission electron microscopy to observe ultrastructural changes of autophagosomes,and Western blot analysis to measure the expression of autophagy-specific protein Beclin 1 and microtubuleassociated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B).A total of 84 autophagy-related genes were analyzed by RT2 Profiler PCR Array,so as to screen differentially expressed autophagy-related genes.Results After the treatment with H2O2 at different volume fractions of 10-3,5 × 10-4,10-4,5 × 10-5,10-5,5 × 10-6 and 10-6,experiment groups showed significantly decreased cellular proliferative activity,but significantly increased apoptosis rate compared with the blank control group (F =286.95,301.23,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).With the increase in volume fractions of H2O2,the cellular proliferative activity was significantly gradually decreased (P ＜ 0.05),while the apoptosis rate showed an opposite trend (P ＜ 0.05),except that the 5 ×10-6 H2O2 group showed no significant differences in the apoptosis rate compared with the 10-5 H2O2 group and 10-6 H2O2 group.Acridine orange staining and electron microscopy showed autophagosome formation in the 10-5 H2O2 group,10-6 H2O2 group and positive control group.Western blot analysis revealed that Beclin1 expression and LC3B-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰ ratio were significantly higher in the 10-5 H2O2 group,10-6 H2O2 group and positive control group than in the blank control group (all P ＜ 0.05).RT2 Profiler PCR Array showed significant up-regulation of ATG12,ATG3,ULK1,PIK3CG,PTEN and PIK3C3 genes and significant downregulation of EIF2AK3 gene in the 10-5 H2O2 group,10-6 H2O2 group and positive control group compared with the blank control group.In the 10-5 H2O2 group and positive control group,the mTOR gene was significantly up-regulated,and the ULK2 gene was significantly down-regulated.The 10-6 H2O2 group showed no obvious changes in the expression of mTOR gene,but significant up-regulation of AMPK and JNK1 genes.Conclusion H2O2 at volume fractions of 10-5 and 10-6 can induce autophagy in melanocytes,likely by influencing the expression of some related signaling molecules.

Curcumin is the main active component in turmeric, which possesses many pharmacologic effects, including anti-in-flammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-atherosclerosis, liver and kidney protection and so on. However, due to its poor bioavail-ability, its clinical application is limited. Therefore, the methods for improving the bioavailability of curcumin were reviewed by refer-ring to a large number of literatures. The bioavailability of curcumin can be improved by different administration routes and various dos-age forms. The review provides theoretical basis and research ideas for the development of new drugs.

Objective:To evaluate the role of miR-124 in breast cancer and its underlying mechanism. Methods:Quantitative re-verse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was employed to quantify the expression level of miR-124 in the breast can-cer cell lines and matched tissues of 52 patients. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration of MDA-MB-231 and T-47D were deter-mined by miR-124 overexpression in vitro. Luciferase vectors (pMIR-SP1 3'UTR) were also constructed. The predicted target gene of miR-124 was identified via luciferase activation assay. The mRNA and protein expression of SP1 was detected via qRT-PCR and West-ern blot, respectively. Results:MiR-124 was decreased in breast cancer tissues and cell lines. This result is correlated with metastatic capacity, TMN stages, and prognosis in breast cancer tissues. In breast cancer cell lines, ectopic overexpression of miR-124 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro. MiR-124 mimics significantly inhibited luciferase activation (P<0.05) in HEK293 cells and could significantly decrease the mRNA (P<0.05) and protein expression levels of SP1 in MDA-MB-231 and T-47D cells. Con-clusion:MiR-124 could be inhibited in breast cancer. The low miR-124 expression is associated with poor prognosis. In addition, miR-124 could inhibit cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by targeting SP1. These findings confirm that miR-124 downregulation may be a key mechanism for breast cancer carcinogenesis.

Objective Diallyl disulfide ( DADS) has achieved remarkable effects in treatment and research of diverserfied cancers.The article was to explore the effects and the mechanism of DADS on the xenograft growth of human small cell lung cancer ( SCLC) cells in nude mice . Methods A total of 25 nude mice were selected to establish xenograft model of NCI-H446 human SCLC cells.The nude mice bearing with SCLC H446 were divided into 5 groups by random selection:positive control group(DDP 66 mg/kg), negative control group(physiological saline), 20 mg/kg DADS group, 60 mg/kg DADS group and 180 mg/kg DADS group, which is 40.6%, 53.1%and 66.4%, respectively.The growth of xenograft tumor in mice was observed after being treated with differ-ent concentrations of DADS .The morphological changes of the tumors were examined under light microscopy .Phase distribution and apoptosis of xenograft cells were analyzed by flow cytometry ( FCM) . Results The growth of xenograft tumor were inhibited signifi-cantly by DADS, resulting in decreased cell density and cellular atypia .Moreover, xenograft cell cycle was blocked in G 2/M and cell apoptosis rate was enhanced . Conclusion DADS can significantly inhibit the growth of NCI-H446 cells and lead to apoptosis .

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of RhoA in regulating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion level in breast cancer cells and in the proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) under hypoxia.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to examine the effect of V14RhoA plasmid transfection-induced RhoA activation and RhoA knockdown on VEGF secretion level in breast cancer MCF-7 cells under hypoxic condition. A MCF-7/HUVEC co-culture model was established to assess the effect of the changes in RhoA expressions in MCF-7 cells on HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation under hypoxia.

RESULTSUnder hypoxic condition, RhoA activation promoted VEGF secretion in MCF-7 cells, and RhoA knockdown inhibited VEGF secretion. In the co-culture model, RhoA activation in the MCF-7 cells enhanced HUVEC proliferation, migration, and tube formation, and RhoA knockdown inhibited these changes.

CONCLUSIONUnder hypoxic condition, RhoA indirectly influences HUVECs to affect tumor angiogenesis by regulating VEGF level in breast cancer cells.

Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; secretion ; Humans ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; secretion ; rhoA GTP-Binding Protein ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the incidence,pathogenetic factors,prognosis and correlation factors of acute kidney injury(AKI) in the hospitalized elderly patients. Methods The clinical data of 4781 elderly patients (aged 65 years and over) in our hospital from June 2008 to December 2009 were collected in this study using the hospital information system(HIS).The patients with AKI were picked out and were retrospectively analyzed. Results Among 4781patients,515cases (10.8％) suffered from AKI and the incidence of AKI increased with growing age. Single factorial analysis of etiology showed that infections (39.2％) was the most common causes of AKI.Multifactorial analysis revealed that the major causes of AKI were infections (81.0％),followed by hypovolemia (67.2 ％ ),nephrotoxic drugs (64.1％ ),cardiovascular diseases (32.3 ％),respiratory failure(17.7％) and neoplasm (9.5％). Multivariate logistic analysis and cox proportional hazard models indicated multiple organ dysfunction syndrome(MODS),gastrointestinal bleeding,mechanical ventilation and malnutrition were independent risk factors inducing end events such as dialysis or death and influencing time of live. Conclusions There is high incidence of AKI in the elderly hospitalized patient.Infections,hypovolemia,nephrotoxic drugs and cardiovascular diseases are the common causes of AKI.Active treatment of primary diseases,early diagnosis and prevention are beneficial for improving the prognosis of AKI.

BACKGROUND: Hippocampus is one of an important brain areas related with memory,and plays a critical role in associative memory function.Hippocampal CA3 is one of the most important regions to form associative memory.CA3 is functionally divided into autoassociative and heteroassociative memories,and memory formation and retrieval require the development of detailed models of hippocampal function.OBJECTIVE: To establish a detailed model of hippocampal CA3 function according to CA3 structure.METHODS: The model was a three-layered Hopfield-like neural network and was constituted by 280 Izhikevich artificial neurons,and is modulated by Hebbian rules.The model was simulated using MATLAB under the condition of adding the Gaussian white noise to its input.In the simulation,memories were represented by synchronous firing sequences.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The simulating results show that the third layer of model had heteroassociative memory function;the first and the second layer of the model could implement autoassociative memory.The model implemented well the memory functions of three subregions of hippecampal CA3.But it is impossible to understand the functions and dynamics of a real biological neural network by constructing a simple model.The model proposed has 280 neurons,which are far less than the real number of neurons.It suggests that there is a big gap between the properties of the model and a real biological neural network of CA3.

Objective A spiking Hopfield-like neural network was proposed and used to simulate the disorder of hippocampal associative memory disorder caused by synaptic deletion.Methods A three-layered Hopfield-like spiking neural network model with auto-associative memory function and hetero-associative memory function was proposed according to anatomical structure of hippocampal CA3,and both associative memories of the models were simulated under Matlab platform.Disorder of hippocampal associative memory was also simulated according to Ruppin's 'synaptic deletion' theory.Results With the increasing of synaptic deletion level,both associative memory functions impaired gradually.Conclusion Synaptic deletion of hippocampal CA3 region can lead to the disorder of autoassociative memory as well as heteroassociative memory.