lncRNA-PCAT1 rs2632159 polymorphism could be a biomarker for colorectal cancer susceptibility.

Background: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in lncRNAs could be biomarkers for susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC), but the association of PCAT1 polymorphisms and CRC susceptibility is yet to be studied. Methods: Five tagSNPs covering the PCAT1 gene were detected through Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR among 436 CRC patients and 510 controls. An expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) bioinformatic analysis was then performed. Results: In the present study, PCAT1 rs2632159 polymorphism increased CRC risk by 1.37-fold and 2.19-fold in the dominant and recessive models, respectively (P=0.040 and 0.041). When the CRC cases were divided into colon cancer and rectal cancer, we found that this polymorphism affected colon cancer risk under the dominant model (P=0.022, OR = 1.51) and affected rectal cancer susceptibility under the recessive model (P=0.009, OR = 3.03). A more pronounced effect was observed in the male subgroup in that PCAT1 rs2632159 SNP increased rectal cancer risk by 3.97-fold (P=0.017). When PCAT1 rs2632159 was present, epistatic effects were observed with rs1902432 and rs785005 (P=0.011 and 0.008, respectively). eQTL analysis showed that rs2632159 could influence binding with the transcription factors EBF, LUN-1, and TCF12. Conclusion:PCAT1 rs2632159 SNP could be a biomarker for CRC risk. And the rs1902432 SNP might only have potential to be a biomarker for colon cancer risk.

The association of polymorphisms in lncRNA-H19 with hepatocellular cancer risk and prognosis.

Hepatocellular cancer (HCC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality. Genetic polymorphisms may affect the susceptibility and clinical outcomes of cancers. We aim to manifest the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of lncRNA-H19 gene with the risk and prognosis of HCC. A total of 944 samples composed of 472 HCC patients and 472 matched controls were included in the risk analysis and amongst them 350 HCC samples were investigated in the prognosis analysis. KASP method was conducted for the SNP genotyping. The TT + CT genotype of rs2839698 was found to be associated with a 1.32-fold increased HCC risk (P=0.037, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-1.70). In the stratified analysis, rs2839698 (odds ratio (OR) = 1.57, P=0.007, 95% CI = 1.13-2.18) and rs3024270 (OR = 1.71, P=0.019, 95% CI = 1.09-2.68) were found to show more obvious increased HCC risk in the age ≤60 subgroup. And we found that rs2839698 showed an increased HCC risk in the ever smoking subgroup. But in the male subgroup of rs2735971, it showed a decreased HCC risk. Furthermore, haplotype analysis showed that rs2735971-rs2839698-rs3024270 G-T-C significantly increased the risk of HCC (OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.01-1.51, P=0.043). Multilogistic analysis revealed no significant results of the interaction effects of the SNPs and environment factors. And in our study, rs2839698 showed a significant poor prognosis in the ever smoking subgroup (hazard rate (HR) = 5.19, 95% CI = 1.12-24.07, P=0.035). lncRNA-H19 rs2839698 SNP has the potential to be predictors for HCC risk and prognosis.

Treatment of Goiter with Traditional Chinese Medicine Regimen Xing Qi Hua Ying Tang: A Clinical Study on 72 Patients with Multinodular and Diffuse Goiter.

OBJECTIVE: The present work aimed to further explore the therapeutic potential of Xing Qi Hua Ying Tang (XQHYT) by conducting a systemic clinical study in patients with goiter. DESIGN: Seventy-two patients with either multinodular or diffuse goiter were enrolled and randomly assigned into treatment group receiving XQHYT (n = 36) and control group receiving Hai Zao Yu Hu Tang (n = 36). LOCATION: Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Shanxi. SUBJECTS: Patients were diagnosed multinodular goiter or diffuse goiter resulting from Qi stagnation. INTERVENTION: All patients took the extract twice a day (100 mL each time) for two courses of treatment, of which a single course lasted for 3 months. Before the treatment was commenced and after the completion of the treatment, general body checks, thyroid function test, and goiter size examination were performed. OUTCOME MEASURES: Scoring of the clinical symptoms using Chinese medicine symptomatology was also done. RESULTS: The symptom score of the treatment group was significantly lower than that of the control group (treatment group, 8.26 ± 2.62; control group, 10.02 ± 2.62; p < 0.05). Substantial reduction in goiter size was seen in 82.3% of XQHYT-treated patients, whereas in the control group only 67.7% of patients exhibited constricted goiter. When assessed by both the Chinese medicine criteria and goiter size, the overall effective rate of the treatment group was 91.2%, whereas that of the control group was only 67.7%. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). XQHYT did not affect the normal functions of liver, kidney, and heart. For both groups of patients, their levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T4 and free T3 were normal before the treatment, and were not affected by the treatment. CONCLUSION: XQHYT was shown to be a promising therapeutic regimen for the treatment of goiter. The herbal regimen ameliorated clinical symptoms of patients that were accompanied with reduction in the size of goiter.

Expression of RSK4, CD44 and MMP-9 in metastatic renal cell carcinoma and its correlation with clinicopathologic features / 临床与实验病理学杂志

Purpose To investigate the expression of RSK4 (ribosomal S6 protein kinase 4),CD44 and MMP-9 protein in primary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) and metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC),and to explore the level of expression as well as the association with clinicopathologic features and clinical outcome.Methods The expression of RSK4,CD44 and MMP-9 in 52 pRCC and 48 mRCC samples was detected by immunohistochemistry and its relationship with clinicopathologic features as well as prognosis was analyzed by statistical methods.Results In the 48 mRCC samples,there were 36 (75％,36/48),33(68.75％,33/48) and 44 (91.7％,44/48) positive for RSK4,CD44 and MMP-9,respectively,while the positive rate in 52 pRCC samples were 23 (44.2％,23/52),18 (34.6％,18/52) and 36 (69.2％,36/52),respectively.Statistical analysis showed that the expression of RSK4,CD44 and MMP-9 in mRCC samples was higher than the pRCC samples (PRsK4 =0.002,PMMP-9 =0.002,PcD44 =0.001).Furthermore,the expression of RSK4,CD44 and MMP-9 in mRCC samples was not correlated with ages,genders,Fuhrman grading and the metastatic sites (P ＞ 0.05).Further analysis showed that there was positive correlation among the three proteins (P =0.008),particularly,the expression of RSK4 and CD44 (P =0.019),MMP-9 and CD44 (P =0.05) were positively correlated,while the expression of RSK4 and MMP-9 (P =1.00) had no significance of correlation.Conclusion The expression of RSK4,CD44 and MMP-9 in mRCC samples is significantly higher than pRCC samples,suggesting that the three may mediate the metastasis of renal cell carcinoma,and its specific mechanism of action remains to be further studied.

Diagnostic accuracy of loop-mediated isothermal amplification in detection of Clostridium difficile in stool samples: a meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) remains a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. More recently, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) has become readily available for the diagnosis of CDI, and many studies have investigated the usefulness of LAMP for rapid and accurate diagnosis of CDI. However, the overall diagnostic accuracy of LAMP for CDI remains unclear. In this meta-analysis, our aim was to establish the overall diagnostic accuracy of LAMP in detection of Clostridium difficile (CD) in stool samples. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search was done in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases up to February 2014 to identify published studies that evaluated the diagnostic role of LAMP for CD. Methodological quality was assessed according to the quality assessment for studies of diagnostic accuracy (QUADAS) instrument. The sensitivities (SEN), specificities (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were pooled statistically using random effects models. Statistical analysis was performed by employing Meta-Disc 1.4 software. Summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves were used to summarize overall test performance. Funnel plots were used to test the potential publication bias. RESULT: A total of 9 studies met inclusion criteria for the present meta-analysis. The pooled SEN and SPE for diagnosing CD were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91-0.95) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.98-0.99), respectively. The PLR was 47.72 (95% CI: 15.10-150.82), NLR was 0.07 (95% CI: 0.04-0.14) and DOR was 745.19 (95% CI: 229.30-2421.72). The area under the ROC was 0.98. Meta-regression indicated that the total number of samples was a source of heterogeneity for LAMP in detection of CD. The funnel plots suggested no publication bias. CONCLUSIONS: The LAMP meets the minimum desirable characteristics of a diagnostic test of SEN, SPE and other measures of accuracy in the diagnosis of CD, and it is suitable as a rapid, effective and reliable stand-alone diagnostic test for diagnosis of CDI, potentially decreasing morbidity and nosocomial spread of CD.

Case-control study on T-shaped locking internal fixation and external fixation for the treatment of dorsal Barton's fracture / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare clinical effect of T-shaped locking internal fixation and external fixation in treating dorsal Barton's fracture,and investigate selective strategy of internal fixation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2008 to January 2013, 100 patients with dorsal Barton's fracture were randomly divided into two groups. In treatment group, there were 30 males and 20 females with an average age of (33.8±3.6) years old;30 cases were type B, 20 cases were type C;and treated with T-shaped locking internal fixation. In control group, there were 32 male and 18 females with an average age of (32.9±3.4) years old; 29 cases were type B, 21 cases were type C; and treated with external fixation. Volar tilt, ulnar deviation and radial height at 3 months after operation were detected and compared between two groups. Mechara functional evaluation were used to evaluate postoperative clinical effects. Clinical cure time, postoperative complications,joint mobility and function score were recorded and compared between two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In treatment group,volar tilt was (11.9±2.7)°, ulnar deviation was (20.8+ 2.9)°,and radial height was (10.9±1.8) mm; while volar tilt was (9.1±1.6)°, ulnar deviation was (17.1±2.9)°, and radial height was (8.1±1.5) mm in control group. Treatment group was better than control group in volar tilt, ulnar deviation and radial height. Clinical cure time in treatment group was(12.0±2.3) weeks, shorter than control group (18.0±4.1) weeks. The incidence of complications in treatment group was lower than control group. According to Mehara functional evaluation,20 cases got excellent results, 25 good, 3 moderate and 2 poor in treatment group; 16 cases got excellent results, 14 good, 10 moderate and 10 poor in control group. Treatment group was better than control group in clinical effects.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>T-shaped locking internal fixation with postoperative functional exercise for the treatment of dorsal Barton's fracture fits for biomechanics demands,and has advantages of stable fixation,rapid recovery, less complications and good functional recovery, it has better clinical effects.</p>

[Extraction of fatty constituents from Tabanus bivittatus and their analysis by GC-MS].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the extracting condition of fatty constituents from Tabanus bivittatus and analyse by GC-MS. METHODS: Taking fatty yield as index, the extraction technology parameters of fatty constituents of Tabanus bivittatus ere optimized by single factor test and orthogonal test. RESULTS: The optimum extraction parameters were as follows: the ratio of acetone to petroleum ether 1: 2, extraction time 2 h, solid-liquid ratio 1: 50. Twenty-one fatty acids were identified by GC-MS. CONCLUSION: The process is reasonable and with good reproducibility. The main components of fatty acids in Tabanus bivittatus are palmitoleic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid.

[Study on acting mechanism of anti-morphine conditioned place preference between aqueous extract of Corydalis yanhusuo and L-THP and comparison of their effects].

OBJECTIVE: To study the acting mechanism of anti-morphine conditioned place preference (CPP) between aqueous extract of Corydalis yanhusuo and L-THP and compare their effects. METHOD: The CPP model was established by injecting morphine in rats with a increasing dose for 10 days, with the initial dose of 10 g x kg(-1) and the final dose of 100 g x kg(-1), 10 mg x kg(-1) was increased each day, thus 100 mg x kg(-1) was injected by d 10. Having been treated with differential doses (2, 1 and 0.5 g x kg(-1)) of C. yanhusuo (containing L-THP: 0.153, 0.077 and 0.038 mg x kg(-1) respectively) and L-THP (3.76, 1.88 and 0.94 mg x kg(-1)) for six days, the CPP effect in rats was detected. Both colorimetry and immunohistochemistry methods were adopted to detect the content of glutamate neurotransmitter in each brain region and the expression of NR2B in VTA-NAc-PFC neuroanatomical circuit. RESULT: Compared with the physiological saline treatment group, C. yanhusuo (2, 1 g x kg(-1)) and L-THP (3.76 and 1.88 mg x kg(-1)) groups showed a notably shorter retention period of rats in white boxes (morphine-accompanied boxes) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) and remarkably lower glutamic acid content in VTA, NAc and PFC and NR2B expression. CONCLUSION: Both C. yanhusuo and L-THP can substantially inhibit the effect of morphine CPP, reduce the increasing glutamic acid content in VTA-NAc-PFC neuroanatomical circuit and down-regulated NR2B expression, which may be one of mechanisms on reducing the effect of morphine CPP. C. yanhusuo preparations containing L-THP (1 x ) showed 24-fold effect of L-THP monomer of single application in terms of the behaviouristics of inhibitory effect on CPP as well as the similarity in terms of transmitter glutamic acid of in VTA-NAc-PFC neuroanatomical circuit and pharmacological mechanism of NR2B.

Further studies on the chemical constituents of Chinese folk medicine Gentiana apiata N.E. Br.

One new secoiridoid glycoside with conjugated diene, named 3-epi-swertiajaposide C (1), was isolated from the whole plants of Gentiana apiata N.E. Br., together with 11 known compounds, 7-deoxyloganic acid (2), isoorientin (3), gentiopicroside (4), silybin B (5), swertiamarin (6), asystasioside A (7), 6'-O-beta-D-glucopyranosylgentiopicroside (8), umbelliferone (9), oleanolic acid (10), kaempferol (11), and beta-sitosterol (12). The structure of the new compound (1) was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence including UV, IR, MS, NMR, HMBC, HMQC, and NOESY. Compounds 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 11 were found in this plant for the first time. Moreover, silybin B (5) was isolated from the other plants besides Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn for the first time by the present study.

Comparative proteomics and correlated signaling network of rat hippocampus in the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy.

In temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), the seizure origin typically involves the hippocampal formation. The pilocarpine-induced TLE provides a model to investigate the molecular and functional characterization of epileptogenesis by mimicking the human epileptic condition. Here, we employed a 2-D gel-based proteomic technique to profile proteome changes in the rat hippocampus after pilocarpine treatment. Using MALDI MS and MS/MS, 57 differentially expressed proteins were identified, which were found either up-regulated and/or down-regulated at the two time points 12 h (acute period; Ap) and 72 h (silent period; Sp) compared with the control. These proteins can be related to underlying mechanism of pilocarpine-induced TLE, indicating cytoskeleton modification, altered synaptic function, mitochondrial dysfunction, changed ion channel, and chaperone. Five of the identified proteins, synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25), synapsin-2 (SYN2), homer protein homolog 2 (HOMER2), alpha-internexin (INA), and voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) were investigated by semiquantitative RT-PCR, and SNAP25 and INA were further validated by Western blot and immunohistochemistry staining. Furthermore, association of these pilocarpine-induced proteins with biological functions using the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) tool showed that nucleic acid metabolism, system development, tissue and cell morphology were significantly altered. IPA of the canonical networks indicated that six membrane proteins (e.g., SNAP25, SYN2, and HOMER2) participated in three biological networks as starting proteins. Our results offer a clue to identify biomarkers for the development of pharmacological therapies targeted at epilepsy.

The estimation of the number of underground coal miners and the annual dose to coal miners in China.

This paper introduces an estimation method for the number of underground coal miners and the annual dose to coal miners in China. It shows that there are about 6 million underground miners at present and the proportion is about 1, 1 and 4 million for national key coal mines, state-owned local coal mines, and township and private-ownership coal mines, respectively. The collective dose is about 1.65 x 10(4) person-Sv y(-1), of which township and private-ownership coal mines contribute about 91%. This paper also points out that the 2000 UNSCEAR report gives the number of miners of coal production and their collective dose, which are underestimated greatly because the report only includes the number of underground miners in national key coal mines, which only accounts for 1/6 of the workers all working under the best ventilation conditions in China.

[Bioinformatics studies on photosynthetic system genes in cyanobacteria and chloroplasts].

This study compared homology of base sequences in genes encoding photosynthetic system proteins of cyanobacteria (Synechocystics sp. PCC6803, Nostoc sp. PCC7120) with these of chloroplasts (from Marchantia Polymorpha, Nicotiana tobacum, Oryza sativ, Euglena gracilis, Pinus thunbergii, Zea mays, Odentella sinesis, Cyanophora paradoxa, Porphyra purpurea and Arabidopsis thaliana) by BLAST method. While the gene sequence of Synechocystics sp. PCC6803 was considered as the criterion (100%) the homology of others were compared with it. Among the genes for photosystem I, psaC homology was the highest (90.14%) and the lowest was psaJ (52.24%). The highest ones were psbD (83.71%) for photosystem II, atpB (79.58%) for ATP synthase and petB (81.66%) for cytochrome b6/f complex. The lowest ones were psbN (49.70%) for photosystem II, atpF (26.69%) for ATP synthase and petA (55.27%) for cytochrome b6/f complex. Also, this paper discussed why the homology of gene sequences was the highest or the lowest. No report has been published and this bioinformatics research may provide some evidences for the origin and evolution of chloroplasts.