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OBJECTIVE: Previous studies showed that miR-96 was associated with a carcinogenic effect. To investigate the expression of miR-96 and related target genes in the regulation of prostatic cancer, we compared the expression of miR-96 in both prostatic cancer and adjacent normal tissues, and explored the role of miR-96 in prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PC-3 cell line originated from human prostatic cancer tissues was prepared. RNA was extracted for examination of miR-96 expression. The expressional alternation of miR-96 target genes, forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) and forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a), in prostatic cancer, was confirmed by PC-3 cells transfected with miR-96 and anti miR-96. RESULTS: Compared with control group, levels of FOXO1 and FOXO3a in PC-3 cells treated with anti miR-96 were 1.584 times and 1.637 times higher, respectively. Further, PC-3 cells were transfected with siRNA targeting FOXO1 and FOXO3a, resulting in a significant decrease of FOXO1 and FOXO3a expression, as verified by qPCR and Western blot analyses. Compared with untreated groups, proliferation and cell clonal formation exhibited a marked increase in PC-3 cells under transfection with both siRFOXO1 and siR-FOXO3a. CONCLUSIONS: As target genes of miR-96, FOXO1 and FOXO3a confer protection against prostatic cancer, while the inhibition of FOXO1 and FOXO3a enhances cancer proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to evalu-ate the effects of dietary a-lipoic acid (LA), acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC), and sex on antioxidative ability, en-ergy, and lipid metabolism in broilers. A total of 972 one-day-old broilers with equal sex were randomly as-signed in a 3 x 3 x 2 factorial design using 3 LA, 3 ALC levels, and 2 sexes (6 replications, 9 birds/repli-cation). The LA and ALC levels were 0, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Results showed that increased LA or ALC resulted in increased total antioxidant capac-ity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and decreased levels of malondialdehyde in serum and liver of birds (P < 0.05). In addition, with increasing addition of LA or ALC, an increased (P < 0.01) level of insulin (Ins), as well as decreased (P < 0.05) levels of glucose and glu-cagon (Glu), were observed in serum of broilers. Total cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels decreased (P < 0.05) and nonesterified fatty acid, lipoprotein lipase and lipase levels increased (P < 0.05) in serum with increased administration of LA or ALC. Moreover, a significant (P < 0.05) interaction of LA x ALC was observed for serum and liver SOD, serum GSH-Px, glu-cose, and TG levels. Birds fed diets containing 50 mg/ kg of LA and 50 mg/kg of ALC had higher serum and liver SOD activities and lower serum glucose and TG levels than those fed diets containing 100 mg/kg of LA or ALC alone. The main effect of sex and all interac-tions among main effects (except LA x ALC) were not significant (P > 0.05) for all of the above parameters. Overall, the present data indicate that LA or ALC sup-plementation, or both, at low levels (50 or 100 mg/kg) improved antioxidative ability, energy metabolism, and lipid metabolism in broilers, and synergistic effects by the combined supplementation of LA and ALC were indicated by serum and liver SOD activities and serum glucose and TG levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To measure and compare the difference of personal attenuation rating (PAR) of the workers wearing foam earplugs before and after the training, and to evaluate the effect of ear protector wearing training on the noise protection. Methods: In February 2023, 94 workers exposed to noise in a machinery manufacturing factory were selected as subjects. The production noise in the workplace was measured and subjects were trained to wear earplugs. The PAR values of wearing 3M 1110 foam test earplugs were measured and recorded before and after the training by using the fit testing of hearing protection device. The differences between the actual PAR values with nominal values and the noise attenuation values in related standards were compared, and the protective effect of hearing protection device before and after training was evaluated. Results: The average age of the subjects was (36.76±11.48) years old, the average length of service was (16.34±11.64) years, and the average exposure time to noise was (15.67±11.64) years. The noise detection results of the subjects' posts were ranged from 80.1 to 94.3 dB (A). The results of subjects wore 3M 1110 foam test earplugs for fit testing showed that the binaural PAR value after training was (19.3±6.4) dB (A), which was significantly higher than that before training (11.1±7.4) dB (A) ( t =13.31, P <0.001). After training, 11 people (11.70%) could reach the corrected noise reduction value (NRR value), 26 people (27.66%) could reach the standard of single noise reduction value (SNR value) ×0.6, and 84 people (89.36%) could reach the standard of (NRR-7) /2. The under protection rate of hearing protectors after training (7.45%) was significantly lower than that before training (45.74%), and the difference of different protection levels before and after training was statistically significant (χ(2)=40.83, P <0.001) . Conclusion: It is suggested that enterprises should use the fit testing instead of nominal value estimation to evaluate the noise reduction effect of hearing protection device. Special training on the selection and use of hearing protection device should be strengthened, so as to ensure that workers wear them correctly and improve the protective effect of hearing protection device.

Objective: To investigate the distribution characteristics of cognition-related lifestyles of elderly in communities and explore the integrated effects on early cognitive decline. Methods: The participants were from the Project of Prevention and Intervention of Neurodegenerative Disease for Elderly in China. A total of 2 537 older adults aged ≥60 years without dementia in the 2015 baseline survey and the 2017 follow-up survey were included. The information about their cognition-related lifestyles, including physical exercise, social interaction, leisure activity, sleep quality, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, were collected through questionnaire survey and the integrated scores were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between integrated cognition-related lifestyle score and early cognitive decline. Results: In the 2 537 older adults surveyed, 28.7% had score of 5-6, while only 4.8% had high scores for all 6 healthy lifestyles. Significant differences in healthy lifestyle factor distributions were observed between men and women. Multivariate logistic regression model showed that the risks for early cognitive decline in the older adults who had lifestyle score of 4 and 5-6 were lower than that in those with lifestyle score of 0-3 ( OR =0.683, 95% CI : 0.457-1.019; OR =0.623, 95% CI : 0.398-0.976; trend P =0.030). In the women, the risks for early cognitive decline was lower in groups with score of 4 and 5-6 than in group with score of 0-3 ( OR =0.491, 95% CI : 0.297-0.812; OR =0.556, 95% CI : 0.332-0.929; trend P =0.024). Conclusion: Cognition-related healthy lifestyles are associated with significantly lower risk for early cognitive decline in the elderly, especially in women.

A young woman who complained of visual acuity decreased in the right eye for 12 days visited the Department of Ophthalmology. A solitary and occupancy lesion was seen in the posterior pole of the fundus of the patient's right eye, accompanied by intracranial and pulmonary tuberculosis. The diagnosis was choroidal tuberculoma, intracranial tuberculoma, and invasive pulmonary tuberculosis. After anti-tuberculosis treatment, the lesions of lung were better, but the lesions in the right eye and brain were paradoxical worsening. Finally, the lesion was calcification and absorption after combined glucocorticoid therapy.

Objective: To explore the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A prospective study was conducted among 1 220 healthy singleton pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy, from Chengdu city, Sichuan province. Pre-gestational body mass and other basic information were collected through a set of questionnaires. Weight at the last week before delivery was measured and GWG was classified by IOM criteria (2009). Related information on pregnancy outcomes was collected after delivery, through the hospital information system. Multiple non-conditional logistic regression models were used to test the association between GWG and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results: In total, data on 1 045 pregnant women were analyzed. Compared with adequate GWG, excessive GWG was associated with the increased risks of cord entanglement and large for gestational age ( OR =1.641, 95 %CI : 1.197-2.252; OR =1.678, 95 %CI : 0.132-2.488), respectively. Additionally, when compared with the adequate GWG, insufficient GWG was associated with the increased risk of preterm delivery ( OR =3.189, 95 %CI : 1.604-6.341). Conclusions: Both excessive and insufficient GWG appeared associated with the pregnancy outcomes. Weight monitoring should be strengthened for pregnant women to reduce related risks on adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Bioactive oils extracted from sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) berries contain highly nutritional and medicinal compounds; however, the oil contents of sea buckthorn berries are very low. Thirteen inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) primers were used to identify markers associated with oil content of dry pulp in 51 cultivars and lines, which clustered into three major groups based on 137 polymorphic markers. Dry pulp oil contents in 45 cultivars and lines in Group I ranged from 6.6 to 33.1%; these accessions belonged to H. rhamnoides ssp mongolica and its hybrids with H. rhamnoides ssp sinensis. Three lines (H. rhamnoides ssp mongolica) in Group II had high dry pulp oil contents (33.7 to 37.5%), whereas three lines of hybrids in Group III had low dry pulp oil contents (10.9 to 17.5%). The dry pulp oil content of H. rhamnoides ssp mongolica (27.2 ± 0.9%) was higher than that of hybrids (12.0 ± 1.2%) (P < 0.01). Four ISSR markers (881 340 , 825 1000 , 817 380 , and 807 1100 ) had positive association with high dry pulp oil content (P < 0.01) using stepwise multiple regression analysis. The use of these ISSR markers is a potential strategy to select genotypes with high dry pulp oil content and suitable parental combinations for improvement of sea buckthorn berries., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

A case of multiple primary primitive neuroectodermal tumours (PNETs), which occurred at different levels of the spinal epidural space successively over a period of 8 months, is reported. A 24-year-old male, presenting with rapidly progressive paralysis, hyperthesia and a posterior epidural mass extending from T8 to T10 revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), exhibited a good recovery after initial emergency surgery. Lower back pain, chest pain and paralysis were subsequently reported. Spinal MRI in month 7 revealed a mass extending from T12 to L1 and another mass extending from T4 to T5 was detected epidurally in month 8. Additional operations were performed and radiotherapy was given. Pathological findings were consistent with PNETs and symptoms improved with treatment, particularly following each surgical excision.

Objective: To set up a more detailed classification system for spinal vascular malformations and to discuss the relationship between the classification and therapeutic alternatives., Methods: Case series from the tertiary care center were studied. Spinal vascular malformations in 80 patients were reviewed and classified into intramedullary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) (juvenile and glomus AVMs), intradural arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) (Type I-III), dural AVFs, paravertebral AVMs, and Cobb's syndrome. Therapeutic alternatives to each type of spinal vascular malformations, including surgery, endovascular embolization, and a combination of both, as well as the short-term outcomes, were analyzed., Results: Of the 80 patients, 38 (47.5%) had intramedullary AVMs (23 juvenile and 15 glomus AVMs), 27 (33.8%) had intradural AVFs (6 Type I, 14 Type II, and 7 Type III), 8 (10%) had dural AVFs, and 7 (8.8%) had other malformations. Most of the juvenile AVMs and the Types II and III AVFs were treated by endovascular embolization. Other lesions were treated by surgery or preoperative embolization plus surgery. Among the 76 patients whom we treated, early clinical improvement was achieved in 66 (86.8%). Six (7.9%) remained stable, and four (5.3%) became worse., Conclusion: Our classification system offers only limited guidance for the treatment of spinal vascular malformations. Successful treatment in each individual spinal vascular malformation requires correct understanding of the lesion's anatomic location and its angioarchitecture, as well as the limitations of both surgery and endovascular embolization.

We report a very unusual association of multiple aneurysms in the cranial cavity and the spinal canal, anterior spinal artery syndrome, syringomyelia, and aortic arch interruption between the origins of the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. A 14-year-old boy with a history of 2 years of flaccid paraplegia and rectal and urinary incontinence after two spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhages was encountered in August 1993. Through extensive physical and neuroradiological investigation, an association was found. Because almost all infants with aortic arch interruption die within the first month of life, this older patient gave us an opportunity to study the collateral network and the effect of hemodynamic abnormality on the central nervous system. For treatment, we believe that surgery should be directed to the hemodynamic abnormality of the aortic arch interruption. After bypass surgery from the ascending aorta to the abdominal aorta with an artificial vessel graft, the patient had some neurological improvement, as demonstrated by the sensation level lowering from T7 to L1.

We report two rare cases of parasellar epidural hydatid cysts. Among the 64 patients with intracranial hydatid cysts we have treated in the past 20 years, only these two cases were located epidurally. Because the location and the computed tomographic characteristics were so different from the other cysts, the preoperative diagnosis was difficult to make. We were unable to remove the cysts without rupturing them because they were tightly surrounded. Both patients underwent surgery twice because of a recurrence. The treatment of this kind of case requires further discussion.

The efficacy of high dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow rescue (ABMR) was given to 10 patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Four patients received high dose methotrexate plus ABMR followed by chest irradiation. Six patients giving complete response after induction chemotherapy were given intensive chemotherapy plus ABMR only. The over-all survival of these 10 patients was 30.5 months with a range of 6-96 months. Five of them are surviving as of this writing, 3 survived for more than two years and 2 for more than 5 years. Toxic reactions were not severe. Systemic metastasis was the Leading cause of treatment failure. ABMR was effective and safe. When combined with radiotherapy ABMR could be expected to improve the result of intensive chemotherapy for limited SCLC.

Fifty-four patients with inoperable cancers were treated with a combination of cisplatin and radiotherapy from May 1984 to February 1989. Cisplatin was administered at a dose of 40 mg/week, for a total dose of 160-320 mg, during radiation therapy. In 4 cases with brain metastases, the cisplatin dose was 40 mg/m2. Cisplatin concentration in blood was measured using the flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. Radiation therapy was delivered by a 6 MV X-ray or a cobalt-60 unit up to a total dose of 50-70 Gy. Among the 54 patients, 89% (48) responded to the treatment regimen; complete responses (CR) and partial responses (PR) were 56% and 33%, respectively. Six patients were stable in their disease. Among the 30 patients who had CR's, the 1-year survival rate was 88% (21/24). Two patients (7%) had local relapse. However, among PRs, the 1-year survival rate was 33% (4/12) and local failure (61%) (11/18). Objective tumor response was observed in 4 cases with brain metastasis, 2 of the 4 patients were alive for more than 6 months. Toxic effects were moderate and consisted of emesis and myelosuppression. Grade III bone marrow suppression amounted to 11%, and the interval of recovery was relatively long compared with that reported in the literature. Further prospective controlled studies are recommended.

Chromatin prepared both from the yolk granules beneath the blastoderm and from the nuclei of the blastoderm cells of fertilized and unincubated chicken eggs was examined under electron microscope and its structure was compared. The results indicate that the above two kinds of chromatin fibers seem to have no apparent difference in structural relation and diameter. The electron microscopic appearances of the basic structures of both kinds of chromatin are all "beads-on-a-string"-shaped filaments. After the digestion of chromatin from both raw materials with DNase I, the connecting strings of chromatin fibers were cut off, only the scattered beads could be observed under electron microscope. The diameter of the scattered beads is equal to that of the beads on the chromatin fibers, and most of them are 150 A in diameter.