Long non-coding RNA HOTAIR in plasma as a potential biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of long non-coding RNA HOTAIR in the plasma of breast cancer patients and its value in the diagnosis of breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HOTAIR levels were measured in 24 tumor tissues and 70 plasma samples from breast cancer patients using quantitative real-time PCR. The correlations of plasma HOTAIR level with the clinicopathological features of the patients were analyzed. A multivariate logistic regression model was established to analyze the value of plasma HOTAIR in comparison with plasma CA153 and CEA levels for breast cancer diagnosis. We further detected HOTAIR levels in the plasma and breast cancer tissues of 24 patients before and after operation and investigated their correlation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Breast cancer patients had increased expressions of HOTAIR in the tumor tissues and plasma, and plasma HOTAIR level was significantly correlated with estrogen receptor (ER) level (P=0.004) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.010). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the multivariable logistic regression model showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of plasma HOTAIR was 0.82 (P<0.001) for breast cancer diagnosis with a diagnostic sensitivity and a specificity of 73.3% and 93.3%, respectively. The diagnostic power and specificity of plasma HOTAIR was much higher than those of CA153 (AUC=0.66, P=0.030) and CEA (AUC=0.52, P=0.001), and the combination of the 3 markers further enhanced the diagnostic power (AUC=0.84) and specificity (96.7%). Plasma HOTAIR level was significantly reduced in the patients after the operation (P<0.0001) and showed a moderate correlation with its expression in tumor tissues (r=0.62, P<0.0001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Plasma HOTAIR may serve as a potential biomarker for breast cancer diagnosis.</p>

Role of axl in preeclamptic EPCs functions / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Axl encodes the tyrosine-protein kinase receptor, participating in the proliferation and migration of many cells. This study examined the role of Axl in functions of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Axl was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting in both placentas and EPCs from normal pregnancy and preeclampsia patients. The Axl inhibitor, BMS777-607, was used to inhibit the Axl signalling pathway in EPCs. Cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and adhesion were measured by CCK-8 assay, cell differentiation assay, Transwell assay, and cell adhesion assay, respectively. Results showed the expression levels of Axl mRNA and protein were significantly higher in both placentas and EPCs from preeclampsia patients than from normal pregnancy (P<0.05). After treatment with BMS777-607, proliferation, differentiation, migration and adhesion capability of EPCs were all significantly decreased. Our study suggests Axl may play a role in the function of EPCs, thereby involving in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Follow-up and outcome as well as the related biological factors on the cases with indeterminate HIV antibody level / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the follow-up visit, outcome and auxiliary diagnosis method on the cases with indeterminate antibody level measured by Western blotting as well as the related biological factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The cases with indeterminate result were followed up according to the National Guideline for Detection of HIV/AIDS (2009) and samples were collected for HIV antibody detection, p24 antigen and nucleic acid were detected as a supplementary diagnosis at the same time. The samples were also be detected for HBV, HCV, TP, HTLV-I/II, ANA, and AFP, and the results were compared to that of screened positive and confirmed negative cases.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 73 were followed up successfully and taken a second HIV test, 25 cases were tested positive and 48 were tested negative for HIV during the follow-up period. For the 25 HIV positive cases, the HIV seroconversion rate was 100.00% at any time point when the interval between the first and returning detection was longer than 1 week. The major Western blotting bands for the cases with indeterminate result were p24 and gp160 and it was different between HIV positive and negative cases in Western blotting band profiles. The consistency and sensitivity of nucleic acid detection were higher than 90.00%, and were higher than that of p24 antigen (69.09% (38/55) and 27.27% (6/22)) (χ(2)(consistency) = 6.875, χ(2)(sensitivity) = 18.893, P < 0.05). The positive rates of ANA and AFP of indeterminate cases excluded from HIV infection were 20.83% (10/28) and 6.25% (3/48) and higher than that of screened positive and confirmed negative cases (0.00%), the difference had statistic significance (χ(2)(ANA) = 19.430, χ(2)(AFP) = 5.520, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It is critical to get timely diagnosis for the indeterminate cases according to the new national guideline for detection of HIV/AIDS. Nucleic acid detection has higher application value as auxiliary diagnosis for HIV infection than p24 antigen. The increased levels of ANA and AFP may be the factors resulting in the nonspecific indeterminate results.</p>

Comparison of effect of carvedilol and motoprolol on high altitude chronic congestive heart failure / 中国综合临床

Objective To compare the effect of carvedilol and motoprolol on high altitude chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods Ninety patients with high altitude chronic CHF were divided into three groups randomly:Twenty patients in the regular treatment group treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) ,diuretics and digoxin; motoprolol (50 mg twice daily) was given in the motoprolol group( 34cases) additional to regular treatment; carvedilol (25 mg twice daily) was given in the carvedilol group(36cases ) additional to regular treatment. All the patients were followed up for six months and measured the changes of cardiac function by echocardiography. Results Left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) was ( 57. 3 ± 6. 5 ) mm and (57.2 ± 6. 9) mm in the carvedilol group and the motoprolol group respectively, and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD) was (46. 6 ± 7.0) mm and (44. 0 ± 6. 9 ) mm in the carvedilol group and the motoprolol group respectively, which were all significantly smaller than that in the regular treatment group ([64.7 ±9. 1]mm and [53.4 ±9.8]mm for LVEDD and LVESD,respectively) (Ps ＜0.05). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the carvedilol group and the motoprolol group ( [47.5 ± 8. 1] % and [52. 9 ±8.5] % ,respectively) was higher than that in regular treatment group( [42. 8 ±9. 2]% ) (Ps ＜0. 05).The improvement of LVEF in the carvedilol group was better than that in the motoprolol group (P ＜ 0. 05 ). One case died in the motoprolol group and no death in the carvedilol group,4 cases died in the regular treatment group,the mortality in the motoprolol group and the carvedilol group was significantly lower than that in the regular treatment group. Conclusion Carvedilol and motoprolol significantly improved cardiac function in high latitude CHF patients,and the effect of Carvedilol is slightly better than that of motoprolol.

Investigation of HIV and syphilis infection and AIDS-related behaviors among money boys, in Guangzhou, China / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the HIV and syphilis infection and AIDS-related behaviors among money boys (MB) in Guangzhou.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 152 subjects were recruited from MB gathering place (clubs, parks, Internet etc.) by a local NGO. Of which, 151 individuals completed the investigation and blood sample collection. An anonymous face to face interview were used to obtain data of AIDS-related behavior, knowledge and attitudes. Venous blood samples were collected for HIV and syphilis antibody test. χ(2) test were used to compare the characteristics of HIV and syphilis infection subjects and P < 0.05 was counted as significant.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HIV and current syphilis infection rate were 11.3% (17/151) and 19.9% (30/151), respectively. Among the subjects, 47.0% (71/151) had unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with commercial male sex partners, 43.7% (66/151) had UAI with non-commercial male sex partners in the past six month. 85.4% (129/151) were aware of AIDS-related knowledge, while 34.4% (52/151) thought they have no risk of HIV infection, 24.5% (37/151) didn't know the prevalence of HIV among MSM in China, and 55.0% (83/151) had no idea of HIV prevalence or thought HIV prevalence was not serious at all among MB. MB who had experienced sex after drunk/used drugs had higher proportion of syphilis infection (33.3% vs 16.5%; χ(2) = 4.26, P = 0.039), and who had ever been experiencing condom broken during sex had much higher syphilis infection rate than those didn't (36.7% vs 15.7%; χ(2) = 6.64, P = 0.010). A multi-Logistics regression analysis showed that subjects had ever been experiencing condom broke during sex in the past six month were associated with syphilis infection (χ(2) = 6.24, P = 0.012; OR = 3.11, 95%CI = 1.28 - 7.57).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Money boys have high prevalence of HIV and syphilis infection. They are lack of perception of HIV risk and active in unsafe sex behavior.</p>

Activation of endogenous neural stem cells in experimental intracerebral hemorrhagic rat brains / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Many researchers suggest that adult mammalian central nervous system (CNS) is incapable of completing self-repair or regeneration. And there are accumulating lines of evidence which suggest that endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) are activated in many pathological conditions, including stroke in the past decades, which might partly account for rehabilitation afterwards. In this study, we investigated whether there was endogenous neural stem cell activation in intracerebral hemorrhagic (ICH) rat brains.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After ICH induction by stereotactical injection of collagenase type VII into globus pallidus, 5-Bromo-2 Deoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered intraperitoneally to label newborn cells. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect Nestin, a marker for neural stem cells, and BrdU.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nestin-positive or BrdU-Labeled cells were predominantly located at 2 sites: basal ganglion around hemotoma, ependyma and nearby subventricular zone (SVZ). No positive cells for the 2 markers were found in the 2 sites of normal control group and sham group, as well as in non-leisioned parenchyma, both hippocampi and olfactory bulbs in the 4 groups. Nestin+ cells presented 4 types of morphology, and BrdU+ nucleus were polymorphologic. Positive cell counting around hemotoma showed that at day 2, Nestin+ cells were seen around hemotoma in model group, the number of which increased at day 4, day 7 (P <0.01), peaked at day 14 (P <0.05), and reduced significantly by day 28 (P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endogenous neural stem cells were activated in experimental intracerebral hemorrhagic rat brains.</p>

Therapeutic effect of levamisole plus HBV vaccine and dipyridamole on patients chronically infected by HBV with precore mutation / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the incidence of precore mutation in HBeAg negative HBV infected patients and the therapeutic effect of the immune therapy (levamisole + HBV vaccine + dipyridamole) on patients chronically infected by HBV with precore mutation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The precore region of HBV from the HBeAg (-) chronic hepatitis patients was sequenced and the patients suffered from HBV with precore mutation were treated with immune therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The precore mutation rate was 10/12. The therapeutic effect of the immune therapy on the precore mutation patients (5/7) was better than that on the HBsAg(+), HBeAg(+) patients (2/11), P less than 0.05.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The precore mutation rate was quite high in the HBsAg(+), HBeAg(-) patients we studied. The immune-therapy has some therapeutic effects on the patients with precore mutation. But the number of cases was too small, further study is needed.</p>

Removal of Cd~(2+) by an Endophytic Bacteria SDE06 Obtained from Solanum Nigrum L / 微生物学通报

The endophytic microorganisms found widely in many kinds of plants mediate various effects to theirs hosts. In this study, seven different dominant endophytes (SDE01 to 07) isolated from a Hy-peraccumulator-Solanum nigrum L. were resistant to Cd2+, and the strain SDE06 survived even in the medium containing 80 mg/L of Cd2+. Bacteria strain SDE06 was identified as Bacillus sp.. The removal of Cd2+ of SDE06 in different conditions were studied. Under the optimal conditions, the incubating time was 36 h, the solution pH 6.0, the temperature was 37?C and the Cd2+ concentration of medium was 20 mg/L, the highest removal rate was up to 80.2% at this condition.