Research advances on the techniques for diagnosing burn wound depth / 中华烧伤杂志

The accurate diagnosis of burn wound depth is particularly important for evaluating the disease prognosis of burn patients. In the past, the diagnosis of burn wound depth often relied on the subjective judgment of doctors. With the continuous development of diagnostic technology, the methods for judging the depth of burn wound have also been updated. This paper mainly summarizes the research progress in the applications of indocyanine green angiography, laser Doppler imaging, laser speckle contrast imaging, and artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of burn wound depth, and compares the advantages and disadvantages of these techniques, so as to provide ideas for accurate diagnosis of burn wound depth.

Ultrasound characteristics of testicular Leydig cell tumors , , , 1 / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To explore the color Doppler ultrasonic characteristics of testicular Leydig cell tumors (LCT) and improve the clinical diagnosis of the disease.@*METHODS@#We retrospectively analyzed 4 cases of testicular LCT diagnosed and treated in our hospital and summarized the experience in the ultrasonic diagnosis of LCT with a review of the relevant literature.@*RESULTS@#All the 4 testicular LCTs were solitary and quasi-round, 1 in the left and 3 in the right. The smallest mass was 1.8 × 1.5 cm and the largest 3.1 × 2.5 cm, and 2 were complicated by hydrocele of tunica vaginalis. The margins of tumors were distinct in 2 cases and indistinct in 1, and changed from distinct to indistinct in another during the follow-up. Hypoechoes were revealed in all the 4 cases in ultrasonography, 2 with abundant internal blood flow, 1 with abundant peripheral blood flow, and the other with abundant internal blood flow changed from circular blood flow surrounding the mass.@*CONCLUSIONS@#A typical sporadic LCT was ultrasonically manifested as an isolated hypoechoic infracentimetric mass with a clear demarcation from the adjacent pulp. It exhibited intrinsic hypervascularization associated with a typical peripheral rim pattern. Larger lesions more often presented a lobulated shape and intense hypervascularization. Although these ultrasonic characteristics do not reveal the nature of LCT with certainty, they can help the surgeon with the decision on testis-sparing surgery or perhaps even on the active monitoring for the smallest lesions in a population with impaired fertility.

Effects of inhibition of miR-221 expression on proliferation and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells / 肿瘤

Objective: To investigate the effects of inhibition of microRNA-221 (miR-221) expression on the proliferation and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells. Methods: Has-miR-221 inhibitor and has-miR-221 inhibitor negative control were synthesized, and then transfected into bladder cancer T24 and J82 cells. The transfection efficiency was observed under a fluorescence microscope 5 h after transfection. The expression levels of miR-221 in T24 and J82 cells were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR at 24, 48 and 72 h after transfection; the proliferation of T24 and J82 cells was also detected by MTT assay. The expression levels of p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), Bax and Bcl-2 mRNAs and proteins in T24 and J82 cells 48 h after transfection were measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively; the apoptosis of T24 and J82 cells was determined by flow cytometry (FCM) and acridine orange (AO)-ethidium bromide (EB) staining. Results: The efficiencies of has-miR-221 inhibitor transfection into T24 and J82 cells were 80% and 90%, respectively. The expression levels of miR-221 in T24 and J82 cells after transfection with has-miR-221 inhibitor were lower than those in the negative control group and the blank control group (only adding liposome) (P < 0.05). The proliferative inhibition rates of T24 and J82 cells after transfection with has-miR-221 inhibitor were higher than those in the negative control group and the blank control group (P < 0.05), and this effect was in a time-dependent manner. The expression levels of PUMA and Bax mRNAs and proteins in T24 and J82 cells after transfection with has-miR-221 inhibitor were higher than those in the negative control group and the blank control group (P < 0.05), and the expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein were opposite (P < 0.05). The apoptosis rates of T24 and J82 cells after transfection with has-miR-221 inhibitor were higher than those in the negative control group and the blank control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Inhibition of miR-221 expression can suppress the proliferation of bladder cancer cells and induce apoptosis.

P-selectin gene -2123 polymorphism in children with Henoch-Sch-nlein purpura / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether P-selectin gene -2123 polymorphism is associated with the pathogenesis of Henoch-Sch-nlein purpura (HSP) in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) is used to identify the distribution of allele and genotype frequencies of P-selectin gene promoter -2123 polymorphism in 86 children with HSP (including 40 cases of purpura nephritis) and 70 healthy controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the healthy controls, the frequencies of GG genotype and G allele of P-selectin promoter -2123 in children with HSP increased significantly (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in P-selectin promoter -2123 genotype and allele frequencies between the patients with and without nephritis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>P-selectin gene promoter -2123 polymorphism appears to be associated with the pathogenesis of HSP in children.</p>

Effect of survivin antisense oligodeoxynucleotide on proliferation and apoptosis of human malignant melanoma cells / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of survivin antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) on proliferation and apoptosis of human malignant melanoma cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>hMMC A375 colonies in log growth phase were collected and divided into control group (C, without transfection), sense chain group [SC, transfected with 600 nmol/L survivin sense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN)], mismatch chain group (MC, transfected with 600 nmol/L survivin mismatch sense ODN), liposome group (L, treated with liposome), antisense chain group (AC, transfected with survivin ASODN, and subdivided into AC 200, 400, 600 nmol/L subgroups) according to the random number table. Transfection result was observed under inverted fluorescence microscope. Inhibition rate of cell proliferation was calculated after determination of cell viability with MTT method. Cell cycle and apoptosis rate were detected with bi-variable flow cytometry. Expression of survivin protein was determined with Western blot. Activity of caspase-3 was assessed with kinase method. Data were processed with analysis of variance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Cell transfection rates in SC, MC, AC 600 nmol/L groups were all above 80%. (2) Compared with those in SC group [(5.23 +/- 0.25)%], MC group [(5.09 +/- 0.13)%] and L group [(4.70 +/- 0.45)%], inhibition rates of cell proliferation in AC 200, 400, 600 nmol/L groups 24 hours after transfection [(10.30 +/- 0.56)%, (16.69 +/- 0.58)%, (24.67 +/- 0.67)%] were significantly increased (F = 746.91, and P values all below 0.05). As time after transfection went on, proliferation inhibition rate was increased obviously. (3) Apoptosis rate in AC 200, 400, 600 nmol/L groups 24 hours after transfection was respectively (13.5 +/- 1.9)%, (20.1 +/- 1.5)%, (32.1 +/- 2.9)%, which were significantly higher than those in C, SC, MC, and L groups [(6.5 +/- 0.6)%, (5.6 +/- 0.7)%, (6.4 +/- 1.0)%, (6.5 +/- 1.3)%, F = 139.9, P values all below 0.05]. Cells in AC group were blocked in G2/M stage. (4) Compared with those in C group, expression amount of survivin protein decreased, and caspase-3 activity obviously increased (F = 63.1, P values all below 0.05) in AC group. No significant difference in caspase-3 activity between SC, MC, L groups and C group was observed (F = 0.512, P values all above 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Survivin ASODN can inhibit the proliferation of hMMC A375 in a concentration-time dependent manner, and it induces G2/M stage block and promotes its apoptosis.</p>

The significance of TGF-beta expression in scar in adenosine receptor A(2A) knockout mice / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the mechanism of scar hypertrophy in adenosine receptor A(2A) (A(2A) R) knockout mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Animal models of hypertrophic scar were established in 12 A(2A) R knockout mice and 12 wild-type mice as control. The thickness and the size of transverse section of the hypertrophic scar were observed by H-E staining. The hydroxyproline (HYP) in the scar was measured colorimetrically. The TGF-beta expression was tested by Western blotting method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The hypertrophic scar in wild-type mice was more severe than that in knockout mice. Compared with self-control, the increase of the thickness and the size of transverse section of hypertrophic scar was markedly higher in wild-type group than in the knockout group (P < 0.01). There was significant difference in HYP content between the two groups (P < 0.01). Compared with self-control, the increase of TGF-beta expression in wild-type group was much more than that in knockout group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The TGF-beta expression decreases in the A(2A) R knockout mice. The scar hypertrophy is also much less in the A(2A) R knockout mice.</p>

Morphological observation of nerve fibers at different periods in full-thickness burn wound / 中华烧伤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the change in quantity and morphology of nerve fibers in different periods in granulation tissue in full-thickness burn wound.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The granulation tissue samples were harvested from 40 patients with full-thickness burn in our unit at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th post burn week (PBW), 10 samples were obtained at each time point. Donor site tissues from 10 burn patients were used as normal control. Immunofluorescent staining technique with anti-neurofilament (NF) monoclonal antibody was employed to examine the expression of nerve fibers in granulation tissue and normal skin. The morphology of nerve fibers was observed with fluorescence microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fluorescence microscopy showed: nerve fibers were short and rare at 1 PBW, the ratio of nerve fibers positive area was (0.14 +/- 0.08)%. Nerve fibers increased slightly and were in single filament without branches, and the positive area ratio of nerve fibers (0.40 +/- 0.09)% was much lower than that of normal control [(0.62 +/- 0.12)%, P < 0.05]. Nerve fibers increased significantly and were arranged like a mesh with more branches and sproutings, and the positive area ratio of nerve fibers was (0.73 +/- 0.16)% at 3 PBW. The quantity of nerve fibers at 4 PBW was similar to that of 3 PBW, and the positive area ratio of nerve fibers was (0.66 +/- 0.13)%. Observations under LSCM: the nerve fibers were short at 1, 2 PBW; was irregular at 3 PBW, among them some were swollen and distorted, and fragmentation and vacuolation were observed. They became aggregated at 4PBW with less branches, similar to that at 3 PBW. The structures of nerve fibers in normal control were intact, without obvious pathological changes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The change in quantity and morphology of nerve fibers in burn wound is related to the time of granulation tissue development.</p>

Association between transforming growth factor beta-1 gene polymorphism and chronic allograft nephropathy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association between transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta1) gene polymorphism and chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty patients with failed renal allografts and clinically and histopathologically confirmed CAN were enrolled in this study along with another 50 renal transplant recipients with normal graft function. The DNA extracted from whole blood of the patients was amplified with PCR with sequence-specific primers for determining TGF-beta1 genotypes (position +869, codon 10 and position +915, codon 25). According to documented descriptions, the patients were classified into high and moderate-to-low cytokine production genotypes. The distribution frequencies of high production genotypes was then compared between CAN and non-CAN groups. To eliminate interference in the analysis of the association between TGF-beta1 polymorphism and CAN, other possible risk factors for CAN were screened, including the patients' gender, age, HLA match, delayed graft function, acute rejection, immunosuppressive regimen, cytomegalovirus infection, hypertension, and high cholesterol.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CAN patients showed significantly greater proportion of high cytokine production genotype than the non-CAN group [70% (35/50) vs 38% (19/50), Chi(2)=10.306, P=0.001). Of the screened risk factors for CAN, only acute rejection showed some difference between the two groups, but analysis after subgrouping according to acute rejection did not suggest its influence on CAN, which supports the result that the rate of high production genotype was significantly higher in CAN group than in the non-CAN group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Most CAN patients have high TGF-beta1 production genotype, which might be a risk factor for CAN after renal transplantation. TGF-beta1 genotyping can be of value in predicting the risk of CAN after renal transplantation.</p>

RNA interference inhibits the expression of survivin and induces the apoptosis of PC-3 cells / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the inhibitory effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on the expression of survivin mRNA and its inducibility of the apoptosis of PC-3 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>siRNA expression vectors were designed and constructed to be directed at survivin and transfected into PC-3 cells by Lipofectamine in 4 groups: plasmid A, plasmid B, negative sequence and control E. RT-PCR, Western blot and flow cytometry were used to detect the expression of survivin mRNA and the apoptosis of PC-3 cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression rates of survivin protein were 18.94% +/- 0.63%, 16.35 +/- 0.23%, 46.41% +/- 0.76% and 46.20 +/- 1.47%, those of survivin mRNA were 27.94% +/- 1.43%, 24.51% +/- 1.37%, 49.46% +/- 0.71% and 48.49% +/- 1.32%, and the apoptosis rates of PC-3 cells were 12.80% +/- 1.33%, 16.48% +/- 1.00%, 3.03% +/- 0.62% and 2.96% +/- 0.41% respectively in different groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>RNAi can effectively inhibit the expression of survivin mRNA and induce the apoptosis of PC-3 cells.</p>

A three-dimensional finite element analysis on the effect of seven different occlusions on TMJ / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of tooth apical stress changes caused by different types of occlusion on the TMJ stresses.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The apical stresses measured from photo-elastic experiments (2 Kg centric vertical loading to seven types of occlusions separately) were applied to the established 3D finite elemental model. The stress distributions on condyle, superfacial cartilage of condyle and TMJ disc were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The stress on both anterior surface of condyle and its superfacial cartilage and on the intermediate band of disc were mainly compressive, while the stress on both posterior surface of condyle and its superficial cartilage and on the posterior band of disc were mainly tensile (P < 0.01). (2) The values of TMJ stresses of models with flat surface occlusion, distal occlusion, unilateral partial molar teeth cross bite, and occlusion with right second and third molar tooth missing were different to some extent from that with normal occlusion, among which the TMJ stress from the flat surface occlusion differed most significantly (P < 0.01). The TMJ stresses of models with unilateral upper third molar hyper-eruption occlusion and unilateral lower third molar hyper-eruption occlusion did not significantly differ from that with normal occlusion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Changes of apical principle stress resulted from different types of occlusions during centric biting have effects to some extent on TMJ stress quantitatively but not qualitatively.</p>