Population structure of the blood clam (Tegillarca granosa) in China based on microsatellite markers.

The blood clam, Tegillarca granosa, is widely cultivated in China. We isolated 6 microsatellite loci from T. granosa and used them to investigate genetic diversity and population structure of 5 widely distributed populations of blood clam collected from eastern and southeastern China. The allele number per locus varied from 4 to 9, and the polymorphism information content value was 0.301 to 0.830. The mean observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.304 to 0.460 and 0.556 to 0.621, respectively; the population from Yueqing had the smallest observed heterozygosity. In the neighbor-joining tree, Shandong, Fenghua and Yueqing populations clustered together, and there was geographic divergence between Shandong and Guangxi populations. Some microsatellite loci that were isolated from these mainland China samples were not found in blood clams collected from Malaysia.

Propofol suppresses migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in papillary thyroid carcinoma cells by regulating miR-122 expression.

OBJECTIVE: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer and PTC patients with invasion and metastases features have a poor prognosis. Propofol is an intravenous anesthetic which has been reported to be involved in cancer progression. However, the roles of propofol and the exact molecular mechanisms in PTC remain largely unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cells viability was detected using the CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) assay. The expressions of microRNA-122 (miR-122) were measured by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Cells migration and invasion abilities were investigated by transwell. Western blot was used to demonstrate the expression of metastasis-and EMT-related proteins. RESULTS: We found a significant inhibition of cells viability in TPC-1 and IHH-4 cells compared to Nthy-ori 3-1 cell line after exposed to propofol. The functional experiment showed propofol could suppress cells migration, invasion, and EMT in PTC. Subsequently, a decreased expression of miR-122 was detected in TPC-1 and IHH-4 cells, while a promotion of propofol on miR-122 expression was identified. Furthermore, we found miR-122 could inhibit cells migration, invasion, and EMT in PTC. Next, the rescue study indicated that miR-122 inhibitor transfection could attenuate propofol-induced suppression on TPC-1 and IHH-4 cells metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Propofol suppresses migration, invasion, and EMT in papillary thyroid carcinoma cells by regulating miR-122 expression. The findings may indicate significant clinical implications for anesthetic agents to prevent metastasis and improve outcomes in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Sevoflurane inhibits the progression of PTC by downregulating miR-155.

OBJECTIVE: Surgery resection is the primary treatment for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients with the risk of tumor cell invasion and distant metastasis. Sevoflurane is a volatile anesthetic agent widely used in clinical applications. However, the effect of sevoflurane on PTC cells and its precise mechanism remain largely unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. The migrative and invasive abilities of the cells were measured by transwell assay. The protein expression level of Bax, Bcl-2, MMP 9, and MMP 2 were detected by Western blot. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The qRT-PCR analysis was used to determine miR-155 expressions. RESULTS: Sevoflurane greatly decreased the viability of PTC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, sevoflurane significantly inhibited migration and invasion, but increased the apoptosis in PTC cells, which could be reversed by the addition of miR-155. Besides, sevoflurane evidently increased the Bax protein level and inhibited the protein level of Bcl-2, MMP9, and MPP2 in PTC cells. In addition, miR-155 was upregulated in PTC cells; however, the amount of miR-155 would be decreased in PTC cells treated with sevoflurane. Furthermore, abrogation of miR-155 promoted cell apoptosis and inhibited cell migration and invasion in PTC cells. CONCLUSIONS: Sevoflurane inhibited migration and invasion, while enhanced cell apoptosis by downregulating miR-155 in PTC cells, suggesting important clinical implications for anesthetic agents to prevent the metastasis in PTC.

[Comparative evaluation of UCD and UCD-Cu].

PIP: In order to improve the contraceptive effectiveness of the stainless steel uterine cavity shaped device (UCD), a copper-plated uterine cavity shaped device (UCDcu) was developed. A comparative study on these two kinds of IUDs was conducted between May 1986 and March 1987 involving ten collaborative institutions. 2009 women aged 20-40 who had regular menstrual cycles without excessive bleeding and with no history of pelvic infection were recruited for the study. The UCD cu was inserted in 1004 women, and the UCD was inserted in 1005 women. The insertions were conducted after menstrual periods, after abortion procedures, during periods when the women were feeding, or after Cesarean sections. Both groups of women were comparable in their distributions of age, parity, occupation, and the time period of IUD insertions. They were examined at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the insertions. The life table method was used to calculate failure rates, and Chi-square tests were used to examine the differences in the rates. The 12 months accumulated pregnancy rate was 0.32 in the UCDcu group and 2.99 for the UCD group. The difference was statistically significant. The differences in expulsion rates and experiences of side effects were not statistically significant. Excessive menstrual bleeding led to 10 removals in the UCDcu groups and 5 in the UCd group, but there were more removals due to menstrual cramping in the UCD group than in the UCDcu group (5:0). The UCDcu is superior to the UCD in pregnancy and expulsion rates is associated with no significant disadvantages when compared to the UCD. Further basic and clinical investigations on the UCDcu are warranted.^ieng