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To evaluate the safety and feasibility of single-segment lumbar microdiscectomy without drainage.The clinical data of 135 patients with single-segment lumbar disc herniation treated by microdiscectomy surgery from January 2018 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 95 males and 40 females, aged from 18 to 40 years old, with a mean of (28.3±5.4) years. They were divided into drainage group (78 cases) and non-drainage group (57 cases) according to whether the drainage tube was placed during operation. The general conditions of patients were recorded such as age, gender, operation segment, body mass index(BMI), symptom duration, follow-up time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, out-of-bed time, hospital stay, postoperative drainage removal time and drainage volume of drainage group, postoperative body temperature. VAS of incisional pain in supine resting state on the 1 and 3 days after operation, the VAS of low back pain and lower extremity radiating pain during ground exercise before operation, 3 days, 1 month and 3 months after operation were compared. Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was collected before operation, 1 month and 3 months after operation. The ratio of complications was calculated such as symptomatic incision hematoma, poor incision healing, incision infection, exacerbation and progressive aggravation of neurological dysfunction, and unplanned secondary surgery.There were no significant differences in age, gender, operation segment, BMI, symptom duration, follow-up time, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative body temperature between two groups. The average hospital stay and out-of-bed time in non-drainage group were shorter than in drainage group(Single-segment lumbar microdiscectomy without drainage can shorten the average hospital stay and promote early exercise out of bed, and reduce the trauma and stress reaction of drainage. No drainage may be an option for patients with enhanced recovery after lumbar microdiscectomy.

Objective To explore the value of elastography strain ratio(SR)combined with breast ultrasound imaging reporting and data system(BI-RADS-US)in the differential diagnosis of breast nodules.Methods A total of 471 breast nodules(from 471 patients)were reclassified by SR combined with BI-RADS-US.With the pathology results as gold standard,the area under the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve(AUC)was employed to evaluate the diagnostic performance,and the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy were compared between the combined method and BI-RADS-US.Results Among the 471 breast nodules,180 nodules were benign and 291 were malignant.The AUC of the combined method was statistically significantly higher than that of BI-RADS-US(0.798 vs. 0.730;Z= 2.583, P= 0.010).SR,BI-RADS-US,and the combined method for diagnosing breast nodules had the sensitivity of 86.6%,99.0%,and 96.6%,the specificity of 67.2%,47.2%,and 63.3%,and the accuracy of 79.2%,79.2%,and 83.9%,respectively.The combined method increased the specificity from 47.2%(BI-RADS-US)to 63.3%(χ

Hollow core anti-resonant fiber (HARF) has found a handful applications in optical communications, nonlinear optics and high power delivery. The intrinsic property of the fiber also renders it an ideal candidate for biosensing, which has not been explored intensively. Herein, we demonstrate an optical fiber sensing platform, taking advantages of the state-of-the-art HARF technology and superior physicochemical properties of 2D material black phosphorus, for ultra-sensitive detection of bisphenol A (BPA) in blood and environmental samples. The specially designed HARF can not only achieve broadband transmission of light, but also confine light in the low refractive-index liquid core, ensuring maximum overlap of light and liquid core. Modification of the inner surface of HARF with 2D black phosphorus nanoflakes functionalized with fluorescently labeled BPA-specific aptamer provides a smart sensing interface enabling highly selective detection of BPA via measuring the fluorescence. The limit of detection is 1.69pM, which is more than two orders of magnitude enhancement compared to the conventional plate assay. The proposed assay is not interfered with the BPA analogues BPB and BPS. The long optical path with tight optical confinement greatly enhances the analyte-light interaction and improves the sensitivity of the sensing platform. The proposed sensing platform can be further developed for versatile applications.

The etiology of Keshan disease (KD), an endemic myocardiopathy in regions of China, is largely unknown. To show the protein changes in serum from KD patients versus controls and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and to search specific biological markers for differential diagnosis for KD. Serum of 65 patients with KD was compared with 29 patients with IDCM, 62 controls from KD areas and 28 controls from non-KD areas by ClinProt/MALDI-ToF technique. The genetic algorithm, quick classifier algorithm and supervised neural network algorithm methods were used to screen marker proteins and establish diagnostic model. Thirty-four differential peaks were identified in KD patients compared with the healthy controls from non-KD areas. Thirty-eight differentially peaks were identified in KD patients and controls from KD areas; and sixty-seven differentially peaks were identified in patients with KD and patients with IDCM. We believe that marker protein peaks screened in KD patients, healthy controls and IDCM patients may provide clues for the differential diagnosis and treatment of KD.

To investigate characteristics of cervical cytology and management in pregnant women.From Aug. 2006 to Jan. 2010, 5152 pregnant women who received antenatal and postpartum examination underwent cervical cytological screening by liquid-based cytological test (LCT) in China-Japan Friendship Hospital. The cytological diagnosis was in accordance with the Bethesda system (TBS) 2001 diagnosis and classification system. The abnormal LCT results were followed up at 3 months after postpartum. The diagnosis of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were based on colposcopic examination and biopsy during pregnant. The diagnosis of atypical glandular cells (AGC) was based on curettage and biopsy at postpartum 6 weeks. The histopathology of biopsy were compared and analyzed.(1) Cervical cytological changes related with pregnancy: among 5152 cases, it was found navicular cells in 3215 cases (62.40%), decidual cells in 783 cases (15.20%), reactive glandular cells in 369 cases (7.16%), and trophoblastic cells in 55 cases (1.07%). (2) LCT results: among 5152 cases, the normal samples were 4125 cases (80.07%), the inflammatory samples were 542 cases (10.52%), and the samples of abnormal epithelial cells were 485 cases (9.41%). Among those abnormal cases, 291 cases (5.65%) were in atypical squamous cells (ASC), 153 cases (2.97%) were in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 33 cases (0.64%) were in HSIL, 1 case (0.02%) were in SCC and 7 cases (0.14%) were in AGC. (3) Histological pathology results: all women with HSIL and SCC underwent colposcopic examination and biopsy, it was found 28 cases in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)II-III, 1 cases in adenosquamous carcinoma. 7 women underwent curettage and biopsy at postpartum 6 weeks which were diagnosed by AGC, the histopathological diagnosis was all negative. The concordance rate of cytopathologic and histopathologic diagnosis was 71% (29/41). (4) FOLLOW-UP: 485 women with abnormal LCT results were all followed up to 3 months at postpartum. Women with HSIL, SCC and AGC undergoing biopsy showed normal LCT results during follow-up. Those women with ASC and LSIL did not undergo colposcopic examination and biopsy. The regression rate was 72.3% (321/444) at postpartum 3 months.The navicular cells were primarily morphological characteristics of cytology during pregnant and postpartum women. Some changes were easily confused with malignant lesions. It should be careful discrimination, and avoid excessively diagnosis and misdiagnosis. It suggested that we should follow up those women closely and expand the indication of colposcopic biopsy.

IANT hydronephrosis is a rare urological entity. It was first defined as the presence of more than 1 000 mL of fluid in the collecting system. That disease is seen more often in males than in females (2.4..1) and more often on the left side than on the right side (1.8..1). It is usually secondary to ureteropelvic junction obstruction, stone, or congenital abnormality. Among the etiologies of giant hydroureteronephrosis, obstruction of ectopic ureteral orifice into prostatic urethra is a very rare one. Most of the cases are diagnosed and treated in infancy or childhood. However, some patients remain asymptomatic until later in life. Adults may present with intermittent abdominal or flank pain, renal insufficiency, urinary tract infection, or gross hematuria after minor trauma. Here we report a unique case of a giant hydroureteronephrosis associated with ipsilateral inguinal hernia and contralateral hydronephrosis to contribute to better understanding of this disease.

In this paper, we prepared a novel cationic self-assembled micelle from poly(epsilon-caprolactone)-poly(ethyl glycol)-poly(epsilon-caprolactone) grafted polyethyleneimine (PCEC-g-PEI). The PCEC-g-PEI micelles, formed by self-assembly method, had mean particle size of ca. 82 nm and zeta potential of +22.5 mV at 37 degrees C, and could efficiently transfer pGFP into HEK293 cells in vitro. Meanwhile, as a model hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drug, honokiol was loaded into PCEC-g-PEI micelles by direct dissolution method assisted by ultrasonication. The honokiol loaded cationic PCEC-g-PEI micelles could effectively adsorb DNA onto its surface, while it could release honokiol in an extended period in vitro. This study demonstrated a novel DNA and hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drug co-delivery system.

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a natural dietary isothiocyanate, has anti-cancer activity in various in vitro and in vivo models. PEITC inhibits angiogenesis but the molecular mechanisms that underlie this effect are not known. We have now demonstrated that PEITC is an effective inhibitor of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), a transcription factor that plays an important role in expression of pro-angiogenic factors. PEITC inhibited the activation of a HIF-dependent reporter construct following incubation of cells in hypoxia, or treatment with the hypoxia mimetic cobalt chloride. PEITC also interfered with the accumulation of HIF1alpha protein and induction of the endogenous HIF target genes, CAIX, GLUT1, BNIP3 and VEGF-A. The ability of PEITC to inhibit HIF activity was independent of the activity of prolyl hydroxylases, the Von-Hippel-Landau protein and the proteasome, all of which are required for the normal rapid turnover of HIF1alpha in normoxia. Decreased expression of HIF1alpha in PEITC treated cells was not associated with changes in the levels of HIF1alpha RNA suggesting that PEITC may inhibit HIF activity by decreasing translation of the HIF1alpha RNA. Consistent with this, PEITC decreased phosphorylation of the translation regulator 4E-BP1. Our data demonstrate that PEITC is an effective inhibitor of HIF activity. This may contribute to the anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer effects of PEITC.

To observe the serial changes of condition and related factors of Keshan disease (KSD) and provide the scientific basis for disease control and further research.The villages in KSD epidemic area of Juxian, Yishui, Pingyi, Zoucheng counties were selected. Since 1990, every five-year was counted as a stage. For the first to third stage, 3-14 year-old residents and over 14 year-old suspicious patients were selected as surveillance subjects. And in the fourth stage, all residents were selected as surveillance subjects. The same group of surveillance subjects in each stage were observed consecutively for 5 years. Surveillance contents included physical checkup, electrocardiogram (ECG) and Xray. At the same time, the selenium (Se) concentration in hair, wheat, corn and sweet potato was measured. The economic income and grain availability were also investigated.Totally, 14,510 cases were visited during 18 years. The incidence of KSD was 3.02% in the first stage, 2.31% in the second stage, 3.57% in the third stages and 3.65% in the fourth stage. Totally, 14,510 cases were examined by ECG, 809 cases showed the abnormal ECG and the total incidence of abnormal ECG was 5.49%. The incidence of abnormal ECG was 3.52% -5.24% from 1990 to 2004 but was 10.97%-10.91% from 2005 to 2007. 732 of hair samples, 701 of wheat samples, 615 of corn samples and 643 of sweet potato samples were collected and the Se concentration was determined by the fluorescent method. Se levels in hair samples had increased (P0.05) year by year but Se levels in food have not changed significantly. The economic income and grain availability had increased gradually from 535.8 yuan and 254.6 kg per person in 1990 to 2968.0 yuan and 602.0 kg per person in 2007.The condition of KSD was in a stable situation in Shandong Province. Related factors improvement should be an important environmental condition.

BAG-1 is a multifunctional protein that exists as several differentially localised and functionally distinct isoforms. BAG-1 isoforms interact with a diverse array of molecular targets and regulate a wide range of cellular processes, including proliferation, survival, transcription, apoptosis, metastasis and motility. The BAG domain of BAG-1 interacts with chaperone molecules and this is considered important for many BAG-1 functions. The ability of BAG-1 to regulate such a wide variety of cellular processes suggests it might play an important role in many cancer types. For example, regulation of nuclear hormone receptor function and susceptibility to apoptosis might have a major impact on cancer development, progression and response to therapy. There is also increasing evidence that BAG-1 expression is altered in a variety of human malignancies relative to normal cells, and with further understanding of BAG-1 function it might become a powerful prognostic/predictive marker in human cancer. This review describes the structure and function of BAG-1 isoforms and the potential clinical implications of their expression in tumour cells.

Both the amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal domains of IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 are believed to contribute to high-affinity IGF binding. To investigate cooperativity in IGF binding by these domains, we expressed IGFBP-3 fragments 1-88 (NBP-3) and 185-264 (CBP-3) as FLAG and hexahistidine-tagged fusion proteins, respectively. IGF-I and IGF-II bound to NBP-3 poorly and to CBP-3 with moderate affinities, approximately 1 liter/nmol. Coincubating the fragments in equimolar concentrations caused a significant cooperative increase in IGF binding, demonstrated by immunoprecipitation with IGFBP-3, FLAG, or hexahistidine antibodies. Equimolar NBP-3 + CBP-3 bound IGF-II with an affinity (12.2 liter/nmol) only 4-fold lower than that of the IGFBP-3-IGF-II complex and IGF-I with an affinity (3.2 liter/nmol) 13-fold lower than IGFBP-3-IGF-I. Heterotrimeric complexes of NBP-3, CBP-3, and IGF, also demonstrated by affinity labeling, bound acid-labile subunit poorly. Coprecipitation assays with iodinated NBP-3 or CBP-3 indicated that the fragments cannot interact unless IGF is also present. Complexing with NBP-3 + CBP-3 inhibited IGF stimulation of type 1 IGF receptor activity and IGF-II binding to the type II receptor. This study demonstrates that isolated amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal domains of IGFBP-3 cooperate in the presence of IGFs to form high-affinity complexes that retain the ability to block IGF activity.

Qing Fa Guo, Ting Ting Liu, Xi Yan, Xiu Hong Wang, Shuai Shi, Feng Luo, Zhi Yong QianState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of ChinaBackground: Gene therapy is a promising approach to the treatment of a wide range of diseases. The development of efficient and adequate gene delivery systems could be one of the most important factors. Polyethyleneimine, a cationic polymer, is one of the most successful and widely used vectors for nonviral transfection in vitro and in vivo.Methods: A novel biodegradable poly(ester amine) copolymer (PEA) was successfully prepared from low molecular weight polyethylenimine (PEI, 2000 Da) and poly(L-lactide) copolymers.Results: According to the results of agarose gel electrophoresis, particle size and zeta potential measurement, and transfection efficiency, the PEA copolymers showed a good ability to condense plasmid DNA effectively into nanocomplexes with a small particle size (≤150 nm) and moderate zeta potential (≥10 mV) at an appropriate polymeric carrier/DNA weight ratio. Compared with high molecular weight PEI (25kDa), the PEA obtained showed relatively high gene transfection efficiency as well as low cytotoxicity in vitro.Conclusion: These results indicate that such PEA might have potential application as a gene delivery system.Keywords: polyethylenimine, poly(L-lactide), gene delivery, cytotoxicity, transfection efficiency