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The aim of this study was to explore the influence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on cardiomyocyte apoptosis in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury via the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway.A total of 60 normal female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats aged 38 weeks were divided into 3 groups, including the sham operation group (n=20), ischemia group (n=20) and ischemia + sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS) group (n=20). Subsequently, differences in cardiac function, the morphology of myocardial tissues, protein expression of JNK2, the content of plasma H2S and malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were analyzed among rats in all groups.Left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP) and maximum rate of pressure rise/fall (± dP/dtmax) were the highest in of rats of the sham operation group and the lowest in the ischemia group. Meanwhile, they were significantly elevated in the ischemia + NaHS group compared with those in the ischemia group (p0.01). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was the lowest in rats of the sham operation group and the highest in the ischemia group. Similarly, it decreased markedly in the ischemia + NaHS group compared with the ischemia group (p0.01). Compared with the sham operation group, the perinuclear space in the myocardium was gradually larger, the arrangement of fibers became significantly more disordered, and the damage of mitochondrial cristae and membrane was remarkably more severe in rats in the ischemia group. Compared with the ischemia group, the above-mentioned conditions of rat cardiomyocytes were markedly improved (p0.01). Meanwhile, the content of H2S and activity of CSE in the cardiomyocytes were altered in rats of the ischemia + NaHS group. Western blotting results indicated that, compared with the sham operation group, both the ischemia group and ischemia + NaHS group showed significantly up-regulated protein expression level of phosphorylated JNK2, with the highest level in the ischemia group. The content of MDA in rat myocardial tissues was markedly higher in the ischemia group than that of the ischemia + NaHS group, with the lowest level in the sham operation group (p0.01). Additionally, the activity of SOD and GSH-Px in rat myocardial tissues was remarkably worse in the ischemia group than that of the ischemia + NaHS group, and it was the strongest in the sham operation group (p0.01).H2S inhibits the activity of the JNK pathway, decreases its phosphorylation level and down-regulates the protein expression level of JNK2, thereby protecting against myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

To explore the sensitivity and specificity of colposcopy directed biopsy (CDB) and the value of loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for the diagnosis and treatment of microinvasive cervical cancer (MCC).One hundred and thirty five patients with MCC were diagnosed with LEEP in Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University from April 2008 to November 2010, and were retrospectively analyzed on CDB diagnoses and following treatment after LEEP. According to patient's desire for preservation of fertility and cone margin status, following strategies after LEEP included follow-up, second LEEP, hysterectomy, modified radical hysterectomy and radical hysterectomy. Single and multiple factors related to residual lesions after LEEP were analysed with Pearson Chi-square test and logistic regression model, respectively.CDB diagnosed MCC with a sensitivity of 4.4 % (6/135), specificity of 100.0% (4 680/4 680), and false negative rate of 95.6% (129/135). Among the 135 patients, 29 did not receive further treatment in our hospital and lost contact. One hundred and six patients had secondary treatment or follow-up in our hospital, 4 of among which were closely followed up; one hundred and two received further treatment, which included 6 cases with second LEEP (3 received extrafascial hysterectomy after repeat LEEP), 59 cases hysterectomy, 14 cases modified radical hysterectomy and 26 cases radical hysterectomy. For factors related to residual lesions after LEEP, single factor analysis showed that the ratio of residual lesion in patients aged 27-39, 40-49 and 50-65 years were respectively 19.0% (11/58), 15.4% (10/65) and 5/12 (χ(2)=4.505, P=0.105). Residual lesions occurred in 24.7% (23/93) of patients with positive LEEP margins, which was more than that 7.1% (3/42) of patients with negative LEEP margins (χ(2)=5.756, P=0.016). The ratio of residual lesions in patients with positive endocervical, ectocervical and deep stromal margins were respectively 29.6%(8/27), 17.1%(7/41) and 30.6%(11/36; χ(2)= 2.275, P=0.321). Residual lesions in patients with or without lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI) were 2/7 and 18.8% (24/128), respectively (χ(2)=0.412, P=0.521). The ratio of residual lesions in patients with invasion depth of1 mm was 17.1% (7/41), 1-3 mm was 19.0% (16/84), and 3-5 mm was 3/10, with no significant difference among three groups (χ(2)=0.870, P=0.647). Logistic regression analysis showed positive cone margin (OR=5.069, P=0.014) and age (OR=1.080, P=0.024) were the independent risk factors of residual lesions after LEEP conization.CDB alone is not adequate for the diagnosis of MCC. For young patients who desire to preserve fertility with a negative cone margin, close follow-up is acceptable. Cone margin status and age are two independent risk factors for residual lesions after LEEP.

In this work, a composite electrode was fabricated by chemical deposition of polydopamine (PDA) and graphene oxide (GO) on the copper foam (CF) surface, followed by annealing treatment. Owing to the cohesive effect of the PDA middle film, GO was coated on CF surface successfully, and then reduced simultaneously while annealing. The resulted rGO/PDA/CF composite electrode was directly used as a supercapacitor electrode and exhibited excellent electrochemical performance, with a high specific capacitance of 1250 F g-1 at 2 A g-1 and favorable cycle stability.

In a series of 111 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), we used immunohistochemistry to examine the expression levels of four epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family members (EGFR, HER-2/neu, HER-3, and HER-4). Expression of the EGFR members was not significantly associated with tumor size. However, their expressions (except for HER-4) were significantly associated with the presence of lymph node metastasis, and all of them were significantly associated with distant metastasis. We further examined the association between the expression levels of the EGFR members and the survival rates in 47 oral SCC patients whose detailed clinical follow-ups were available. The expression of all EGFR members was significantly associated with shortened patient survival, and the association was strongest for HER-2/neu. Furthermore, the combination of HER-2, HER-3, and EGFR but not HER-4 significantly improved the predicting power. The expression level of HER-2/neu was significantly correlated with that of EGFR or HER-3. Similar coexpression patterns were also observed in three oral SCC cell lines studied, but not in four other head and neck SCC cell lines. Taken together, these results indicated that expression levels of EGFR, HER-2/ neu, and HER-3 may help predict the outcome of patients with oral SCC.

In order to investigate the distribution and excretion of sterigmatocystin, a carcinogenic mycotoxin, radioactively labelled compound was studied in rats. The highest concentration of radioactivity in serum appeared 3 h after administration of 0.5 microCi/g bw. The half-lives of distribution and excretion were 0.51 h and 43.9 h, respectively. The radioactivity was concentrated mainly in liver, stomach, kidney, duodenum and lung and to a lesser extent in fat, muscle, testis, rectum and bone. By 48 h, 56.4% had been excreted in faeces and 20.1% in urine. Biliary excretion may be the major route of excretion of sterigmatocystin.