[Correlation between CFTR 5T polymorphisms and the risk of congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between the 5T site polymorphism of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene and the risk of congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD).

METHODS

This case-control study included 40 male patients with isolated CBAVD in the experimental group and 104 healthy men as controls. We used the Sanger sequencing method to encode the CFTR gene intron 9 (TG) m-n(T) and type the haplotypes, followed by a review and meta-analysis of the data obtained from the experiment and relevant literature from the PubMed, Web of science, Medline, CNKI and an exploration of the correlation between 5T mutation and the risk of CBAVD.

RESULTS

Sanger sequencing revealed 6 genotypes in the CBAVD patients, including TG11-5T, TG12-5T, TG13-5T, TG11-7T, TG12-7T and TG11-9T, and 7 in the healthy controls, which were TG11-5T, TG12-5T, TG10-7T, TG11-7T, TG12-7T, TG13-7T and TG11-9T. Compared with the controls, the CBAVD patients showed obviously increased rates of the TG12-5T haplotype (4.81% ［10/208］ vs 16.25% ［13/80］) and the TG13-5T haplotype (0% vs 7.5% ［6/80］), but no significant difference in the TG11-5T haplotype (1.92% ［4/208］ vs 2.50% ［2/80］). There was a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the TG12_13-5T haplotype (OR = 7.40, 95% CI: 4.83－11.34, P < 0.01). The TG12_13-5T haplotype was found to be highly correlated with CBAVD.

CONCLUSIONS

The haplotype of TG12_13-5T increases the risk of CBAVD in men, which has provided a theoretical basis for male reproduction.

[Development and clinical application of an adjustable digital cannulated nail guide based on Mimics software]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate effectiveness of self-designed adjustable cannulated screw guide, and to provide an effective auxiliary tool for inverted triangular arrangement of compression cannulated screws in clinical treatment for transcervical femoral neck fractures.

METHODS

The sketch of instrument was drawn with Solidworks software, and physical product was obtained after production. The data were obtained by Mimics software. Combined with the guide, it was first used on 22 cadaveric bones, 22 dry cadaveric bones, including 12 males and 10 females. Then the distribution of guide pins was evaluated by X-ray film. The anatomical size and screw distance of femoral head and neck were measured in different ways, and statistically compared. From January 2018 to June 2020, 45 hospitalized patients with femoral neck fracture were selected and divided into new guide group (22 patients) and free hand nail group (23 patients) according to whether the instrument was used or not. The clinical data and operation conditions between two groups were recorded and compared.

RESULTS

The anatomical data of X-ray, three-dimensional and physical measurement were basically the same, whlie had no difference (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between physical measurement and three-dimensional measurement (P>0.05). The distance between screws and needle entry point was designed as an isosceles triangle(r=0.992 8, P<0.000 1), but due to the existence of femoral anteversion and torsion angle, it was an approximate isosceles triangle in the femoral neck (r=0.824 1, P<0.000 1). The patients between two groups were followed up for an average of 2 years. There was no significant difference in the number of fluoroscopy and puncture between new guide group and free hand nail group(P>0.05). The screw parallelism was better and operation time was shorter which had statistically difference(P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in final Harris score and incidence of complications between two groups(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Self-made femoral neck cannulated screw guide combined with preoperative planning of Mimics software is conducive to placement of inverted triangular arrangement of cannulated screws, but it still needs to be improved and followed up in the later large-scale use.

Bending effect on the Majorana bound states in planar Josephson junctions

We consider the bending effect on the formation of Majorana bound states (MBSs) in planar Josephson junctions where the normal stripe is tilted in a V shape. Our results show that the MBSs remain robust for moderate bending angles. Beyond some critical angles, the degradation of MBSs can be revealed by its eigenspectrum as well as the Majorana polarization (MP). Our results show that the parameter space of bending angle for robust MBSs can be significantly enlarged by tuning the superconducting phase difference across the Josephson junction. These findings suggest that the interplay of the junction geometry and the device parameters provides richer degree of freedom in designing topological superconducting devices for future applications. The MP analysis is an indispensable tool for characterizing the Majorana states.

[Study on optimization of image processing parameters of pneumoconiosis by DR]

Objective: To explore the effect of different post-processing parameters of digital radiography (DR) on the quality of chest X-ray for pneumoconiosis diagnosis, and to provide suggestions on parameter setting suitable for this kind of DR machine. Methods: From January 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022, the chest films of 35 workers in the department of radiology of Hangzhou occupational disease prevention and treatment hospital were randomly selected and printed after setting different image post-processing parameters. The quality of chest film was evaluated by the measurement of optical densitometer and the combination of subjective and objective by professional physicians. Results: When the density is set to 2 and the contrast/detail contrast is 4.5, the optical density of each area of DR chest film meets the requirements of chest X-ray quality, and the qualified rate of physician quality evaluation is the highest. Conclusion: Reasonable setting of image post-processing parameters can improve the quality of chest radiograph.

Band-dependent normal-state coherence in Sr2RuO4: evidence from Nernst effect and thermopower measurements

We present the first measurement on the Nernst effect in the normal state of the odd-parity, spin-triplet superconductor Sr2RuO4. Below 100 K, the Nernst signal was found to be negative, large, and, as a function of magnetic field, nonlinear. Its magnitude increases with the decreasing temperature until reaching a maximum around T* approximately equal to 20-25 K, below which it starts to decrease linearly as a function of temperature. The large value of the Nernst signal appears to be related to the multiband nature of the normal state and the nonlinearity to band-dependent magnetic fluctuation in Sr2RuO4. We argue that the sharp decrease in the Nernst signal below T* is due to the suppression of quasiparticle scattering and the emergence of band-dependent coherence in the normal state.

[Calculus formation in the prostatic cavity after transurethral resection of the prostate: causes, treatment and prevention]

OBJECTIVE

To study the causes, clinical manifestations, treatment and prevention of calculus that develops in the prostatic cavity after transurethral resection of the prostate.

METHODS

We reported 11 cases of calculus that developed in the prostatic cavity after transurethral resection or transurethral plasmakinetic resection of prostate. The patients complained of repeated symptoms of frequent micturition, urgent micturition and urodynia after operation, accompanied with urinary tract infection and some with urinary obstruction, which failed to respond to anti-infective therapies. Cystoscopy revealed calculi in the prostatic cavity, with eschar, sphacelus, uneven wound surface and small diverticula in some cases. After diagnosis, 1 case was treated by holmium laser lithotripsy and a second transurethral resection of the prostate, while the other 10 had the calculi removed under the cystoscope, followed by 1 -2 weeks of anti-infective therapy.

RESULTS

After treatment, all the 11 cases showed normal results of routine urinalysis, and no more symptoms of frequent micturition, urgent micturition and urodynia. Three- to six-month follow-up found no bladder irritation symptoms and urinary tract infection.

CONCLUSION

Repeated symptoms of frequent micturition, urgent micturition, urodynia and urinary tract infection after transurethral resection of the prostate should be considered as the indicators of calculus in the prostatic cavity, which can be confirmed by cystoscopy. It can be treated by lithotripsy or removal of the calculus under the cystoscope, or even a second transurethral resection of the prostate. For its prevention, excessive electric coagulation and uneven wound surface should be avoided and anti-infection treatment is needed.

[Characteristics of ammonium N and nitrate N accumulation in dryland soil in relation with wheat yield]

A total of eleven field trials in Yongshou, Shaanxi Province and seven in Luoyang, Henan Province were conducted with two treatments (without N as control and with 150 kg N x hm(-2) addition). The wheat biomass and seed yield were determined, and so were the nitrate and ammonium N concentrations in five layers (0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80, 80-100 cm) at each trial site. Results showed that soil ammonium concentrations in the two provinces were very low while nitrate N concentrations were relatively high. Soil nitrate N occupied 91% of the total mineral N, and exhibited the same trend as the total mineral N in reflecting soil N supplying capacity. Without N application, the cumulative nitrate N amounts in the 0-40, 0-60, 0-80 and 0-100 cm layers in Yongshou were significantly correlated with wheat biomass and seed yield while no such correlation existed in Luoyang. With N addition, the relations of cumulative nitrate N of the different layers to wheat biomass and yield were greatly declined in Yongshou whereas those of Luoyang were changed to be negative. The yield increases were significantly correlated with the amount of nitrate N accumulated in the 0-80 and 0-100 cm layers of the two sites under N addition. Wheat mainly depended on nitrate N from the 0-20 cm layer at seedling stage, 0-40 cm at reviving, and 0-60 cm at elongation stages, and could utilize 0-100 cm nitrate N at maturity. After wheat harvest, the concentration of ammonium N was not significantly different from the initial value while that of nitrate N greatly decreased.

Enhanced Visible-Photocatalytic Activities in Strong Acids and Strong Alkalis of Flexible Iron-SrTiO3 Nanofibrous Membranes

Traditional SrTiO₃ (STO) materials have high brittleness and poor deformation resistance. In this work, macroscopically flexible iron-doped SrTiO₃ (SFTO) nanofibrous membranes were prepared by electrospinning and calcination, which can be easily isolated and can maintain integrity to recycle as photocatalysts. Moreover, the SFTO nanofibrous membranes showed enhanced photocatalytic performance under strong acids (pH = 2) and strong alkalis (pH = 12). The SFTO nanofibrous membranes increased the catalytic rate of Congo red (CR) dye by about 10 times in visible light. The mechanism of photocatalytic activity enhancement was discussed by the combined effects of hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals. The successful preparation of SFTO nanofibrous membranes has offered a simple and economical approach to photocatalysis as well as environmental remediation.

Theoretical investigation of the scanning tunneling microscopy of Majorana bound states in topological superconductor vortices

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is an indispensable tool in detecting Majorana bound states (MBSs) in vortices of topological superconductors. By reducing the computational complexity via non-uniform grids, we systematically study the tunnel coupling as well as the temperature dependence of the differential conductance of MBSs in two dimensional devices. Numerical results show that the conductance peak approaches the quantized value 2e ²/h in strong coupling limit at low temperatures which are characteristic features of MBSs. More interestingly, a conductance local minimum in the spatially scanning is observed when the STM tip is placed at the vortex center. The dip structure can be enhanced with increased temperature or enlarged vortex size. We ascribe this observation to the sensitivity of the Andreev reflection processes of carriers at the vortex center where the thermal energy could be comparable to the vanishing pair potential. We also investigate the STM of two-vortex systems where the hybridization of the vortices can lead to oscillatory behavior of the state energy. With small inter-vortex distances, the original MBSs in vortices can merge into topologically trivial states and the conductance peak can be significantly suppressed.

[Studies on the mechanism of thermostability and thermophilicity change of thermostable alkaline phosphatase and its mutants]

The relationship among the substituted amino acids, the 3D structure simulated on PC through CPHmodels Server ( http://www.cbs.dtu. dk/services/CPHmodels/) and the thermostable performance of 4 thermostable alkaline phosphatase(TAP) mutants selected from a clone bank of more than 200 mutants were analyzed to explore the mechanism of thermostability change. These mutants are TAP(A410T) (A410-->T), TAP(P396S) (P396-->S), TAP2(N100S T320-->I) and TAP4(N100-->S P396-->S A410 -->V P490-->S). TAP and the mutants' thermostable performance was evaluated by measuring the highest tolerable temperature (T1/2) and the optimal reaction temperature (Topt). The 3D structure neighboring the substituted amino acids was simulated by Swiss-PDBViewer to observe the relationship between the structure change and the thermostable performance of TAP and its mutants. The results displayed that all these amino acid substitutions except the T320-->I mutant brought about only a little local change on TAP's 3D structure and very little effect on their optimal reaction temperature, but a significant decrease (nearly 10 degrees C) on their highest tolerable temperature. However, the T320-->I mutation due to close to TAP's active sites did bring about a significant descendents of the mutant in both the highest tolerable temperature and the optimal reaction temperature. Thus, it seems to be able to conclude that most of the amino acid substitutions, no matter where they locate and what structure change they may make, can cause TAP's highest tolerable temperature reduced significantly. What's more, if the mutation occurring near or in the active sites, it can also cause TAP's optimal reaction temperature reduced significantly at the same time.

[Extragonadal germ cell tumor: A case report and review of the literature]

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the clinical diagnosis and treatment of extragonadal germ cell tumor.

METHODS

We analyzed the clinical data on a case of extragonadal germ cell tumor diagnosed and treated in the General Hospital of Eastern Theater Command and reviewed the relevant literature.

RESULTS

The patient was initially diagnosed with retroperitoneal tumor and treated by resection of the tumor together with the left kidney due to the large volume of the tumor, which was complicated by pancreatic injury. Postoperative pathology showed it to be extragonadal germ cell malignancy. Postoperative examination revealed space-occupying lesion in the left testis, with serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionicgonadotropin (hCG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) negative, followed by stage-two resection of the left testis, which was pathologically shown with testicular seminoma. The patient received 7 courses of cisplatin, etoposide bleomycin (PEB) regimen and was followed up for 8 years, which found no recurrence or metastasis, and the patient fathered no child during the postoperative follow-up.

CONCLUSION

For patients with a history of cryptorchidism and tumors located in the central axis, special attention should be paid to physical examination of the testes, testicular ultrasonography, and determination of AFP and other indicators to identify gonadal tumor metastasis. And if so, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be considered first to reduce surgical complications and achieve accurate management.

Neurological worsening during treatment of HIV-negative cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with Evans syndrome

A 49-year-old woman with a rare autoimmune hematological disease, Evans syndrome, was admitted to the authors' hospital with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome-like reconstitution syndrome after effective antifungal therapy for cryptococcal meningitis. She initially improved after receiving corticosteroid treatment; after prednisone was tapered, her clinical presentation and brain imaging deteriorated but finally improved with the addition of thalidomide. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome-like reconstitution syndrome is a rare complication in cryptococcal meningitis patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Thalidomide can be given in addition to corticosteroid therapy to effectively control the paradoxical inflammatory response and improve clinical outcomes.

[Molecular cloning of human sperm surface protein P34H gene and semi-quantitative analysis of its expression in testis and epididymidis]

OBJECTIVES

To identify, clone and sequence human sperm protein P34H gene and perform semi-quantitative analysis of its expression in testis and epididymidis.

METHODS

Total RNA was prepared from human epididymidis tissue. cDNA fragment encoding human P34H was amplified by RT-PCR using specific primers, and then was cloned into pGEM-T vector. Inserted P34H gene was sequenced by ABI 377 DNA Sequencer. Meanwhile, semi-quantitative analysis of P34H expression in testis and caput, corpus, cauda epididymidis was done by RT-PCR based on beta-actin as an inner control.

RESULTS

Human sperm protein P34H gene was successfully cloned and its cDNA sequence was submitted to GenBank(Accession No. AF515625).

CONCLUSIONS

The cloning of P34H gene may be useful for the further basic and clinical studies on P34H.

[Effect of miR-513a-3p targeting MDM2 on proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells]

Objective: To investigate the effects of miR-513a-3p on proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells and its mechanism. Methods: The miR-NC (miR-negative control mimics), miR-513a-3p (miR-513a-3p mimics), anti-miR-NC, anti-miR-513a-3p, si-NC, si-MDM2 (murine double minute 2), miR-513a-3p+ pcDNA3.1 (co-transfected with miR-513a-3p and pcDNA3.1), miR-513a-3p+ pcDNA3.1-MDM2 (co-transfected with miR-513a-3p and pcDNA3.1-MDM2) were transfected into BGC-823 cells, respectively. The expression of miR-513a-3p was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and the protein expressions of cyclin D1, MMP-2, p21, E-cadherin, MDM2 were detected by western blot. The viability of BGC-823 cells of each group was detected by 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The migration and invasion of each group were detected by Transwell, the targeting relationship between miR-513a-3p and MDM2 was detected by double luciferase reporter gene assay. Results: The expression of miR-513a-3p in gastric epithelial cells GES-1 was 0.76±0.08, significantly higher than 0.21±0.02 in gastric cancer cells BGC-823 and 0.34±0.03 in MGC-803, respectively (P<0.05). The cell viabilities of the miR-NC group at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h were 0.57±0.05, 1.03±0.10, 1.43±0.14, respectively, while those of the miR-513a-3p group were 0.36±0.03, 0.48±0.05, and 0.63±0.06, respectively. The migration and invasion numbers of miR-NC group were 130±11.80 and 117±10.60, respectively, those of miR-513a-3p group were 58±5.64 and 50±5.13, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The cell viabilities of the si-NC group at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h were 0.53±0.05, 0.95±0.10, 1.36±0.14, respectively. Those of the si-MDM2 group were 0.39±0.04, 0.57±0.06, and 0.80±0.08, respectively. The cell migration and invasion of the si-NC group were 141±12.02 and 109±10.60, respectively, while those of the MDM2 group were 66±6.67 and 61±6.18, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The cell viabilities of the miR-513a-3p+ pcDNA3.1 group at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h were 0.34±0.03, 0.46±0.05, and 0.61±0.06, respectively. Those of miR-513a-3p+ pcDNA3.1-MDM2 group were 0.48±0.05, 0.82±0.08, 1.17±0.12, respectively. The migration and invasion of miR-513a-3p+ pcDNA3.1 group were 56±5.71 and 51±5.16, respectively, while those of miR-513a-3p+ pcDNA3.1-MDM2 group were 113±10.28 and 104±10.02, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: miR-513a-3p may inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells through targeting regulation of MDM2, which will provide new targets for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

[Value of MRI in prenatal diagnosis of abnormal fetal kidneys]

Objective: To investigate the value of MRI in the prenatal diagnosis of abnormal fetal kidneys. Methods: From December 2014 to March 2016, 51 women underwent MRI and were confirmed as having fetuses with abnormal fetal kidneys when follow up. Their clinical and MRI profiles were analyzed retrospectively, including MRI manifestation, the fetal kidney signal intensity of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). The signal intensity of DWI and ADC of the abnormal kidney and the normal opposite kidney, and those of the normal and abnormal kidneys in different individuals were compared. The accuracies of MRI and ultrasound in evaluating abnormal fetal kidneys were also compared. Results: MRI could accurately demonstrate the morphological features of abnormal fetal kidneys. There was no statistically significant difference between DWI signal intensity and ADC value of the abnormal kidney[368 ± 125, (1.516 ± 0.420) × 10^-3 mm²/s] and the normal opposite one[410 ± 125, (1.362 ± 0.251) × 10^-3 mm²/s], P values were 0.165 and 0.184, respectively. The DWI signal intensity of normal kidneys (401 ± 124) was higher than that of renal cysts (182 ± 40, P <0.01), and the ADC value of normal kidneys[(1.306 ± 0.252) × 10^-3 mm²/s] was lower than that of renal cysts[(2.912 ± 0.235) × 10^-3 mm²/s] and multicystic dysplastic kidneys[(1.870±0.654) ×10^-3 mm²/s], P values were <0.01 and 0.045, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of MRI and prenatal ultrasound for abnormal fetal kidneys were 94% (63/67) and 85% (57/67), respectively. However, there was no statistical difference between the two methods (P=0.070). Conclusion: MRI have an important role in the prenatal diagnosis and evaluation of abnormal fetal kidneys.

[Single nucleotide polymorphism of the TP53 gene is not correlated with male infertility]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1042522 of the tumor protein p53 (TP53) gene with the risk of male infertility.

METHODS

This casecontrol study included 380 male patients with idiopathic infertility and 398 normal fertile men as controls from the Nanjing area. We genotyped the SNP rs1042522 of the TP53 gene by Sequence Mass Array and analyzed the correlation of the SNP with male infertility using the logistic regression model.

RESULTS

Compared with the normal controls, the patients with idiopathic infertility showed significantly decreased sperm concentration (［77.34±49.24］ vs ［13.13±24.96］ ×106/ml), percentage of progressively motile sperm (［42.55±9.57］ vs ［10.38±5.57］%), serum testosterone level (［14.07±5.36］ vs ［11.89±4.50］ nmol/L), and folliclestimulating hormone level (［16.80±18.20］ vs ［4.55±7.17］ U/L) (P < 0.05) but no statistically significant differences in other parameters. No correlation was observed between the SNP frequencies and male infertility and similar results were found in the subgroups of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

SNP rs1042522 of the TP53 gene is not significantly correlated with the risk of male infertility.

[Gene expression profiles in normal human prostate epithelial cells exposed to low-dose cadmium: A bioinformatics analysis]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the biological network regulation and key proteins of gene expression microarray in human normal prostate epithelial cells after treated with low-dose cadmium, and provide some new theoretical evidence for the pathogenesis of cadmium-related prostate cancer.

METHODS

We downloaded 19 copies of gene chip data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), involving 9 samples of prostate epithelial cells exposed to low-dose cadmium and 10 cases of normal control. Using the Gene-Cloud of Biotechnology Informs platform, GenClip2.0 and Sytoscape 3.5.1, we screened differentially expressed genes, explored their protein interaction networks and biological pathways and, from the perspective of transcriptome, analyzed the changes in the genetic network of normal human prostate epithelial cells and their possible molecular biological functions after low-dose cadmium treatment.

RESULTS

Totally, 1 050 (1.92%) differentially expressed genes were found in the prostate epithelial cells treated with low-dose cadmium, involved in such biological functions as the cell physiological process, MAPK regulation, regulation of intracellular signal transduction, and immunological effect. The HSP90AB1, BUB3 and PRKAR1A genes were the core nodes of the protein network, which showed statistically significant differences in their expressions and a correlation with the malignant transformation of normal cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-dose cadmium can cause genetic changes in normal human prostate epithelial cells and the differentially expressed genes are mainly involved in such biological functions as the cell physiological process, MAPK regulation, regulation of intracellular signal transduction, and immunological effect.

Effects of myakuryu on hemorheological characteristics and mesenteric microcirculation of rats fed with a high-fat diet

There is evidence that hyperlipidemia can induce hemorheological and microcirculatory disturbances. Myakuryu, a Chinese traditional medicine is efficacious in promoting lipid metabolism and protecting oxidative stress, but whether this drug can ameliorate rheologic disturbances caused by hyperlipidemia is still unknown. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of myakuryu on hemorheological and microcirculatory disturbances induced by hyperlipidemia. Wistar rats were divided into a group on control diet (n=8) and a group on high-fat diet (HFD, n=44). Eight weeks later, plasma triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were determined. Sixteen animals with the highest levels of hyperlipidemia from the HFD group were randomly divided into two sub-groups: the untreated hyperlipidemia group (n=8) and the group treated with myakuryu (n=8). At the end of the sixteenth week, rheological and microcirculatory parameters were measured. Chemical analysis showed that myakuryu treatment caused significant reductions of plasma TG and TC levels (P<0.01), and the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in the erythrocyte membrane (P<0.05). Rheological and microcirculatory measurements showed that myakuryu treatment led to a significant decrease in the erythrocyte aggregation index, plasma viscosity and blood viscosity at shear rates of 50, 100 and 150 s(-1) and in adherent leukocytes in mesenteric venules. There was a significant increase in erythrocyte deformation, electrophoretic mobility, membrane fluidity and F-actin content in the erythrocyte membrane as well as in red cell velocity in mesenteric venules. Our findings suggest that myakuryu treatment can improve blood flow and reduce adherent leukocytes in the venules of rats fed with HFD by ameliorating blood viscosity, erythrocyte deformability and aggregation, and other hemorheological characteristics.

[Epididymal sperm protein P34H and male reproduction]

During epididymal transit, mammalian spermatozoa acquire new surface proteins that are necessary for gamete interaction. P34H, a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase(SDR) superfamily, is acquired on the acrosomal cap of human spermatozoon during its maturation arising within epididymis. P34H has been shown to be involved in sperm-zona pellucida interaction. Research revealed that the occurrence of low concentration of sperm protein P34H were significant amongst the idiopathic infertile male population and P34H protein could also be considered as a marker of epididymal sperm maturation in human. Therefore the level of sperm protein P34H is proposed to be a auxiliary diagnostic tool for male infertility. This paper reviews the molecular properties and regulation of the expression of P34H and its association with male reproduction.

Ultrasound-guided open nephron sparing surgery without renal artery occlusion for central renal tumors

From January 2008 to January 2013, 11 patients with central renal tumors underwent ultrasound-guided open nephron sparing surgery (ONSS) without renal artery occlusion. We removed the lesions, and the cut edges of the tumors were negative. Thus, we deduced that ultrasound-guided ONSS is suitable for the cases with obscure tumor boundary or multiple lesions. It could achieve the purpose of thoroughly removing lesions, as well as to expand the application range of nephron sparing surgery.

PARP1 acetylation at K119 is essential in regulating the progression and proliferation of cervical cancer cells

Cervical cancer, CC, is one of the malignant cancers in women worldwide. Many studies about the genesis and progression of CC have been done at genomic, transcriptional, translational, and epigenetic levels. However, much less is done at post-translational modification (PTM) level. We first used pan-PTM antibodies to compare the pan PTM levels between clinical normal cervical tissues and CC tissues; we then sent the selected samples for label-free identification of acetylation sites. Next, we employed WT or K119A mutant PARP1-EGFP-STREPII plasmid transfection in Hela cells and examined various indexes including colony formation, wound healing, ROS generation, early apoptosis, and immunofluorescence and quantification of proliferation markers (Ki67, PCNA, and p-P53). Last, we examined the levels of multiple important kinases regulating cervical cancer progression. We found that pan-acetylation was the most downregulated in clinical CC samples, whereas the acetylation of PARP1, Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1, was upregulated at K119. Next, we showed that PARP1-WT overexpression significantly suppressed the proliferation and progression in CC cell line Hela, while K119A overexpression didn't show any impact. Finally, PARP1-WT overexpression significantly decreased p-ERK1/2 while didn't affect the phosphorylation levels of other important kinases such as AKT, MTOR, and RPS6. This study discovered a new type of PTM of PARP1 in CC, and showed that PARP1 acetylation at K119 is essential in regulating the proliferation and progression of CC through ERK1/2. Further studies are required to investigate how PARP1 acetylation impact its function.

[Pancreas multidisciplinary team optimizes the diagnosis and treatment of pancreas-related diseases and improves the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients]

Objectives: To evaluate the role of pancreas multidisciplinary team(MDT) clinic in the diagnosis of pancreatic diseases,patient compliance with MDT advice,and the impact of MDT on the postoperative survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods: The study included 927 patients(554 males,373 females,aged (58.1±13.3)years (range: 15 to 89 years)) that had visited the pancreas MDT clinic of Zhongshan Hospital from May 2015 to December 2021,and 677 patients(396 males, 281 females, aged (63.6±8.9)years(range: 32 to 95 years)) who underwent radical surgery and with pathologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma from January 2012 to December 2020,of whom 79 patients had attended the pancreas MDT. The clinical and pathological data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Diseases were classified in accordance with 2010 WHO classification of tumors of the digestive system and usual clinical practices. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for drawing the survival curve and calculating the survival rate. The univariate analysis was done by Log-rank test and the multivariate analysis was done by COX proportional hazards model. Survival rates were compared using χ2 test. Results: Among the 927 patients that had visited the MDT clinic,233 patients(25.1%) were referred due to undetermined diagnosis. A direct diagnosis was made in 109 cases (46.8%,109/233) by the MDT clinic, of which 98 were consistent with the final diagnosis,resulting in an accuracy of 89.9%(98/109). The direct diagnosis rate in the recent years(36.6%(41/112),from June 2019 to December 2021) decreased compared to that in the previous years(56.2%(68/121),from May 2015 to May 2019),yet the accuracy in the recent years(90.2%,37/41) was basically the same as before (89.7%,61/68). The rate of compliance of the entire cohort was 71.5%(663/927), with the compliance rate in the recent two and a half years(81.4%,338/415) remarkably higher than that in the previous four years(63.4%,325/512). Patients with pancreatic cancer that attended the MDT exhibited a trend toward longer median postoperative survival than patients that did not attend the MDT,but the difference was not statistically significant(35.2 months vs.30.2 months,P>0.05). The 1-year and 3-year survival rates of patients that attended the MDT were significanly higher than patients that did not attend the MDT(88.6% vs. 78.4%,P<0.05;32.9% vs. 21.9%,P<0.05,respectively),but the 5-year survival rate was not statistically different(7.6% vs. 4.8%,P>0.05). Conclusions: The pancreas MDT clinic is an accurate and convenient way to diagnose intractable pancreatic diseases,and in the recent years the patients' compliance rate with MDT advice has increased. Pancreatic cancer patients that have attended the MDT have higher 1-year and 3-year postoperative survival rates,but the long-term survival benefits of MDT still needs to be proved by clinical studies on a larger scale.

Effects of age, obesity and growth-hormone on adipogenic activity in human plasma

The potential was examined for insulin, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) alone or in combinations to stimulate glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity, a sensitive marker of differentiation of adipose precursor cells in primary culture. Insulin, but not growth hormone or IGF-1, stimulated GPDH in the presence of fetal calf serum and cat serum. The content of growth hormone in adult rat heparinised plasma seemed, however, important for such stimulation, but was also dependent on feeding status of the plasma donor, and was abolished by hypophysectomy of the cell donor. GPDH activity was then analysed in heparinised plasma in the over-night fasting state in humans to examine a potential influence of age, obesity and pregnancy. In comparison with non-obese adults, GPDH-stimulatory activity was higher in plasma from infants and small children. A similar trend was seen in plasma from teenagers. This activity was probably partly dependent on growth hormone, because this increase of activity could be inhibited by excess of anti-human growth hormone antiserum. Obesity in adulthood or among teenagers was not associated with any difference in plasma activity to stimulate cellular differentiation, and plasma from women during late pregnancy had a low stimulating capacity. Simultaneous analyses of the potential of plasma to stimulate lipid accumulation in adipose precursor cells was proportional to the triglyceride concentration. Overall, the inhibitory effect of antihuman growth hormone antiserum on the differentiating capacity of human plasma was small or non-existing. It is therefore suggested that in human plasma, factors other than growth hormone might be important for the differentiation of adipocyte precursor cells.