BACKGROUND:Tauroursodeoxycholic acid is a hydrophilic bile acid derivative that has neuroprotective effects in a variety of neurological disease models.However,there are few reports on the effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid on spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of tauroursodeoxycholic acid on apoptosis of spinal cord neurons under hypoglycemic and hypoxic conditions,as well as the effect on recovery of motor function in mice after spinal cord injury. METHODS:(1)In vitro experiment:Primary spinal cord neurons were isolated from C57 BL/6 mouse embryos at 13.5 days of gestation.After 72 hours of culture,the cells were divided into three groups.In the normal group,cells were cultured in Neurobasal complete medium that was incubated in a CO2 incubator(5%CO2 + 95%air)for 24 hours.In the oxyglucose-deprived group,sugar-free Neurobasal medium was added and incubated in a triple-gas incubator(94%N2+5%CO2+1%O2)for 12 hours,and then the medium was replaced with Neurobasal complete medium and incubated in a CO2 incubator for 12 hours.In the experimental group,the treatment procedure was approximately the same as that in the oxyglucose-deprived group,except that taurodeoxycholic acid was added along with the sugar-free Neurobasal medium.TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis,cell counting kit-8 assay was applied to detect cell activity,and immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect cellular β-microtubule protein expression.(2)Animal experiment:Sixty C57 BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group,spinal cord injury group and experimental group,with 20 mice in each group.Animal models of T9-T10 spinal cord injury were established using Allen's percussion method in the spinal cord injury group and the experimental group.Starting from the 1st day after modeling,taurodeoxycholic acid solution was given by gavage in the experimental group and normal saline was given by gavage in the sham-operated and spinal cord injury groups once a day for 14 consecutive days.Spinal cord tissue repair was assessed using behavioral and histological methods. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In vitro experiment:TUNEL staining,cell counting kit-8 and immunofluorescence staining showed that compared with the normal group,the number of apoptotic cells was higher(P＜0.01),while cell activity and β-microtubule protein expression were lower in the oxyglucose-deprived group(P＜0.01);compared with the oxyglucose-deprived group,the number of apoptotic cells was lower(P＜0.01),while cell activity and β-microtubule protein expression were higher in the experimental group(P＜0.01).Animal experiment:The Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores in the open field test and hind limb footprint experiments showed that the mice in the experimental group had better recovery of walking and motor functions than those in the spinal cord injury group.Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that significant deformities and cavities were observed at the site of spinal cord injury and the number of nerve cells was significantly reduced in the spinal cord injury group.Compared with the spinal cord injury group,the experimental group showed a significant reduction in the area of spinal cord injury,less spinal cord deformity,fewer cavities,and an increase in the number of nerve cells.Immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of neuronal nucleus-labeled neuronal cells in the spinal cord injury group was less than that in the sham-operated group(P＜0.01),and the number of neuronal nucleus-labeled neuronal cells in the experimental group was higher than that in the spinal cord injury group(P＜0.01).To conclude,tauroursodeoxycholic acid could effectively reduce glucose/oxygen deprivation-induced apoptosis of spinal cord neurons and axonal loss,and promote the recovery of motor function in mice with spinal cord injury.

Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential and compare the clinicopathological charac-teristics of patients with multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential who underwent different surgical methods.Methods:Clinicopathological data and prognosis of patients admitted to Peking University Third Hospital from January 2010 to September 2023 were collected.Patients who underwent radical nephrectomy or nephron-sparing surgery and were pathologically diagnosed with multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential were identified.Based on the surgical methods,the patients were divided into radical nephrectomy group and nephron-sparing surgery group.The clinicopathological characteristics of the two groups were compared.Results:A total of 35 patients were enrolled in this study.The median age at diagnosis was 53.0(39.0-62.0)years.Among the 35 patients,23 were males(65.7％)and 12 were females(34.3％).Nine patients underwent radical nephrectomy(25.7％),while 26 patients underwent nephron-sparing surgery(74.3％).The clinical T-stage of 35 patients did not exceed T2a stage.The median operation time was 145.0 min,and the median estimated intraoperative blood loss was 20.0 mL.The median postoperative hospitalization days was 6.0 d.The postoperative pathological results did not indicate renal sinus invasion,sarcomatous change,adrenal invasion or lymph node invasion.Based on the surgical methods,the patients were divided into a radical nephrectomy group and a nephron-sparing surgery group.There was no significant difference in clinicopathological charac-teristics between the two groups.Except for one patient who was lost to the follow-up,all the other patients were followed up for 8-111 months,with a median follow-up time of 70.5 months.Only one patient died from non-cancer-specific reasons,other patients had no tumor metastasis or recurrence.Conclusion:Patients with multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malignant potential have a good prog-nosis.There is no significant difference in clinicopathological characteristics of patients between nephron-sparing surgery group and radical nephrectomy group for multilocular cystic renal neoplasm of low malig-nant potential.

Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of pT 3a stage non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC). Methods:The clinical data of 438 patients with pT 3a stage renal cell carcinoma treated by surgery at Peking University Third Hospital from March 2013 to March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 58 cases in the nccRCC group and 380 cases in the clear cell RCC (ccRCC) group. There were statistically significant differences in age, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and comorbidities between the two groups (all P<0.05). Therefore, propensity score matching was used to adjust the baseline data of the two groups. After matching, there were 58 cases in the nccRCC group and 232 cases in the ccRCC group. There were no statistically significant differences in gender (male/female: 34/24 cases and 165/67 cases), age (53.3±16.8 years and 56.6±11.6 years), ASA classification (1/2/3/4: 19/34/5/0 cases and 60/163/8/1 cases), comorbidities (present/absent: 16/42 cases and 76/156 cases), tumor maximum diameter [6.7 (5.3, 8.4) cm and 5.8 (4.6, 7.8) cm], and nephron sparing surgery(yes/no: 4/54 cases and 15/217 cases) (all P > 0.05). The overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) of two groups were compared, the Kaplan-Meier method was employed to plot survival curves. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the relationship between different pT 3a characteristics in the nccRCC group and progression-free survival. Results:In the matched cohort, the median follow-up time for the nccRCC group and ccRCC group were 28.0 (16.3, 45.3) months and 31.0 (18.0, 57.0) months, respectively. The pathological types in the nccRCC group included chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (20 cases, 34.5%), papillary renal cell carcinoma (20 cases, 34.5%), Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma (8 cases, 13.8%), mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma (3 cases, 5.2%), and other or unclassified renal cell carcinoma (7 cases, 12.1%). There was no statistical significance between the nccRCC and ccRCC groups in terms of invasion of the renal vein without involvement of the vein wall (yes/no: 5/53 cases and 41/191 cases), vascular invasion (yes/no: 18/40 cases and 52/180 cases), invasion of the perirenal fat (yes/no: 15/43 cases and 39/193 cases), invasion of the renal pelvis and sinus (yes/no: 51/7 cases and 200/32 cases), or sarcomatoid differentiation (yes/no: 2/56 cases and 4/228 cases)(all P > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference in lymph node involvement (yes/no: 3/229 cases and 9/49 cases, P < 0.01). The 5-year PFS and OS of nccRCC group were 67% (95% CI 52%-86%) and 70% (95% CI 55%-89%) respectively. While the 5-year PFS and OS of ccRCC group were 78% (95% CI 70%-86%) and 87% (95% CI 81%-93%) respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in PFS between the two groups ( P>0.05), but there was a statistically significant difference in OS ( P<0.01). Furthermore, within specific pathological types, the 5-year PFS and OS rates of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma were 88% (95% CI 67%-100%) and 86% (95% CI 63%-100%) respectively, followed by papillary renal cell carcinoma with 5-year PFS of 55% (95% CI 33%-91%) and 5-year OS of 65% (95% CI 44%-97%), and Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma with 5-year PFS of 38% (95% CI 9%-100%) and 5-year OS of 43% (95% CI 10%-100%). The difference in PFS and OS between ccRCC, chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, papillary renal cell carcinoma, and Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma was statistically significant ( P<0.01). In addition, the multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the independent risk factor for PFS in nccRCC patients is the invasion of the renal vein without venous wall involvement ( HR = 8.0, 95% CI 1.8-36.2, P<0.01). Conculsions:Compared to ccRCC, pT 3a nccRCC is more prone to lymph node metastasis. Among them, papillary renal cell carcinoma and Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma have a poorer prognosis, resulting in an overall lower survival period for pT 3a nccRCC patients. Among different pT 3a characteristics, invasion of the renal vein without invading the vein wall is an independent risk factor for PFS in nccRCC patients.

Objective:To understand the knowledge and behavior changes of pregnant women on iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) prevention and treatment in iodine deficiency areas in Anhui Province before and after the implementation of the intervention measures, and to provide a scientific basis for pregnant women's iodine nutrition improvement.Methods:From March to December 2018, from Lujiang County, an iodine deficiency area in Anhui Province, Lucheng and Nihe towns were selected as the survey sites. Relying on the township health centers, pregnant women in early pregnancy (≤12 weeks) were selected as the survey subjects, and long-term follow-up was conducted. The edible salt samples of pregnant women in early pregnancy were collected and salt iodine content was detected by direct titration method. The urine samples of pregnant women in the morning in early, middle (13 - 28 weeks) and late pregnancies (≥29 weeks) were collected, urinary iodine content was determined by arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry. Baseline questionnaire survey was conducted for pregnant women in early pregnancy, mainly including basic information, IDD prevention and treatment knowledge (pregnant women prone to iodine deficiency, the harm of iodine deficiency in pregnant women, suitable iodine supplement methods for pregnant women and foods with high iodine content), and the consumption frequency of iodine-rich foods. After the baseline survey, the knowledge publicity on IDD prevention and treatment was carried out in townships, and iodine-rich foods such as kelp and laver were recommended to supplement iodine. The intervention activities lasted for 6 months, and retrospective questionnaire survey was conducted on pregnant women in late pregnancy.Results:A total of 128 edible salt samples were collected from the families of pregnant women in early pregnancy, and the median salt iodine was 21.5 mg/kg. The iodized salt coverage rate was 99.2% (127/128), the qualified rate of iodized salt was 98.4% (125/127), and the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 97.7% (125/128). A total of 129, 95 and 70 urine samples were collected from pregnant women in early, middle and late pregnancies, the medians urinary iodine were 179.0, 185.5 and 189.7 μg/L, respectively, all of which were at the appropriate iodine level. The total awareness rates of IDD prevention and treatment before and after intervention were 22.4% (28/125) and 64.6% (82/127), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2 = 45.538, P < 0.01). Compared with the awareness rates before the intervention, the awareness rates of the harm of iodine deficiency in pregnant women, suitable iodine supplement methods for pregnant women and foods with high iodine content were all higher after the intervention ( P < 0.01). There were statistically significant differences in the frequency of eating kelp, laver and other iodine-rich foods among pregnant women in early, middle and late pregnancies (χ 2 = 163.170, 102.373, P < 0.01). Before the intervention, 57 (45.2%) pregnant women had not eaten kelp, which decreased to 1 (0.8%) pregnant woman after the intervention. Before the intervention, 72 (57.1%) pregnant women had not eaten laver and other iodine-rich foods, which decreased to 7 (5.5%) pregnant women after the intervention. Conclusions:After the intervention, the awareness rate of IDD prevention and treatment knowledge and the frequency and proportion of iodine-rich foods consumption among pregnant women in iodine deficiency areas in Anhui Province have increased significantly. It is recommended to carry out publicity and education on IDD prevention and treatment knowledge in early pregnancy.

Objective:To establish an automatic colorimetric method for determination of iodine in drinking water by enzyme-labeled instrument (hereinafter referred to as this method).Methods:The water iodine was measured in the range of 0 - 10 μg/L and 0 - 100 μg/L, experiments were carried out on linear relationship, detection limit, precision and accuracy of this method. And the results were compared with the National Reference Laboratory for Iodine Deficiency Disorders recommended arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry method.Results:In the range of 0 - 10 μg/L and 0 - 100 μg/L, all│ r│ > 0.999 0, the detection limits were 0.6 and 1.1 μg/L (samples were 200 and 100 μl), respectively; the relative standard deviation ( RSD) of water samples of low, medium and high iodine mass concentrations were < 3%, the recovery rates ranged from 92.5% to 108.3% and 93.2% to 108.9%, with a total average recovery of 100.0% and 100.3%, respectively. This method and arsenic cerium catalytic spectrophotometry method were used to detect 40 water samples in the range of 0 - 10 μg/L and 0 - 100 μg/L, there was no significant difference in water iodine content between the two methods ( t = 0.99, P > 0.05). Conclusion:This method has good linear curve relationship for determination of water iodine content, good precision and high accuracy, and it is suitable for wide application.

Objective:To establish a direct and rapid method for direct determination of arsenic in urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).Methods:The newly collected urine samples were diluted directly with pure water without pretreatment. The total arsenic content in urine was determined directly by ICP-MS. The method was studied from the aspects of linear range of standard curve, correlation coefficient, detection limit, precision and accuracy.Results:The concentration of arsenic in urine was in the range of 0 - 200 μg/L, the ratio of arsenic to germanium was in good linear relationship with arsenic concentration, the correlation coefficient was 0.999 5 - 0.999 9 ( n = 6), the lowest qualitative and quantitative detection limits of arsenic in urine were 0.66 and 1.94 μg/L(the sampling volume was 0.50 ml), respectively. Five urine samples with different arsenic concentrations were tested for intrabatch and inter batch precision with RSD ranging from 1.51% to 6.84% and 1.85% to 5.03%, respectively. The total arsenic of urine samples from the Center for Endemic Disease Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention was determined with this method, and the results were within the range of the published consensus value. The recovery rate of 4 urine samples with arsenic concentration range 3.19 - 89.36 μg/L was 99.25% - 103.67%, and the total average recovery rate was 101.51%. Conclusions:Application of ICP-MS method to detect arsenic content in urine, urine samples can be directly injected to realize the automation of injection, detection process and result analysis. The test parameters such as sensitivity, precision and accuracy of the method meet the requirements of the development of biological sample detection method and are suitable for rapid and direct determination of total arsenic in urine.

To evaluate immune efficacy of the recombinant Lactobacillus casei, we constructed pLA-Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-F/L. casei and obtained the expression products. PCR amplified the NDV F gene carrying part of the major epitopes. The target gene was inserted to the shuttle plasmid pLA, and then transformed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) in order to screen positive recombinant plasmid. The positive recombinant plasmid was transformed into L. casei by electroporation to construct pLA-NDV-F/L. casei. The positive strains were identified by PCR. The reactivity of the recombinant bacteria was identified by Western blotting and the protein expression was detected by indirect immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and laser confocal microscopy. The 14-day-old chickens in each group were vaccinated by oral plus nose drops. The pLA-NDV-F/L. casei twice immunization group and three times immunization group, the commercial vaccine group, the pLA/L. casei group, the unchallenge PBS and the challenge PBS group were established. IgG in serum and sIgA in the lavage fluid of intestinal, nasal and lung were detected by ELISA. The protection rate of chickens was evaluated. The results showed that 94.10% of the recombinant bacteria expressed the F protein. The recombinant protein was highly expressed on the surface of L. casei with a protein size of 62 kDa, which specifically bound to anti-NDV serum. The levels of anti-F IgG and sIgA antibodies in each test group were significantly higher than those in the control groups. The duration of antibody in the pLA-NDV-F/L. casei three-time immunization group lasted 28 days longer than that in the twice immunized group, and there was no significant difference between antibody peak values. The attack protection rates in each group of immunized pLA-NDV-F/L. casei three times, twice, attenuated vaccine, pLA/L. casei and PBS were 80%, 80%, 90%, 0% and 0%, respectively. Therefore, the antigenic protein of NDV F was successfully expressed by L. casei expression system, which has of reactogenicity and immunogenicity, and could induce protective immune responses in chickens.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; Chickens ; Immunization ; Lactobacillus casei ; Newcastle disease virus ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; Viral Vaccines

Objective To evaluate the application of exponential apparent diffusion coefficient (eADC)value in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules.Methods Routine MR sequences and axial diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)sequences with different b-values(0, 300,500,800 s/mm2)were performed in 46 patients with 51 histopathologically confirmed thyroid nodules,including 35 malignant nodules and 1 6 benign nodules.The eADC values of each thyroid nodules’solid component with different b-values were measured and assessed by independent samples t test.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)curves were drawn and used to determine the diagnostic threshold and assess the screen test.Results The eADC values of the malignant nodules were higher than that of benign nodules (P<0.05)in all of the three different b-values.The eADC values of the malignant nodules and the benign nodules were 0.618±0.080 and 0.492±0.071 (b=300 s/mm2),0.520±0.104 and 0.371±0.077 (b=500 s/mm2)and 0.407±0.114 and 0.286±0.097 (b=800 s/mm2)respectively. According to the ROC curve,the area under the curve(AUC)was 0.883,0.890 and 0.824 when the b-value was set as 300,500 and 800 s/mm2respectively.When the b-value was set as 500 s/mm2and the diagnostic threshold was 0.454,the sensitivity,specificity, positive predictive value,negative predictive value and Youden index were 74.3%,93.8%,96.3%,60.9% and 0.68,respectively.Conclusion The eADC value is helpful in differentiating benign from malignant thyroid nodules,and the best result can be obtained by using DWI with b-value of 500 s/mm2.

Objective To investigate the endogenous carnosine,glutathione system and oxidative stress level in serum of patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM),and the potential relationships among them.Meth-ods The serum of 102 healthy people,96 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 74 patients with diabetic car-diomyopathy in the third affiliated hospital of QiQihar Medical University were enrolled.Carnosine content was mea-sured by ELISA.T-GSH,GSH and GSSG were detected by using micro-enzyme labeling assay.GSH-Px,GST and GRAC were detected by using colorimetry. The content of NO was detected by nitrate reduction method. The con-tent of H2O2was detected by using molybdic acid coloring method. The activities of NOS and CAT was determined by colorimetry. Results Compared with the healthy control group,the average level of human serum carnosine, GSH content,GRAC,GSH/GSSG ratio,GST activity and T-SH content in the DM and DCM group were signifi-cantly reduced(P < 0.05,respectively). NO content,H2O2and iNOS activity were increased,but CAT activity was decreased in DCM group.Conclusion Decreases of levels of serum carnosine and glutathione(GSH)and the imbalance of redox state were observed in patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy,which may promote the occur-rence and development of the diabetic cardiomyopathy.

How to cultivate professional degree postgraduates with independent and innovative research ability has become an important goal of graduate education.In this article,doctoral postgraduates in the department of urology were chosen as subjects who received education of English book report and received education of new style of literature review in different time.In order to explore the effective measures to cultivate the clinical scientific research quality and ability of the professional degree postgraduates in Department of Urology,we evaluated different kinds of research quality of postgraduates under different methods of literature review through the scores of teachers' judges and questionnaires.