[Investigation on Demodex infection status and influencing factors in medical students in Wuhu City].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the Demodex infection status and influencing factors in medical students in Wuhu City. METHODS: The mite specimens were collected by the cellophane tape method, and the influencing factors were investigated through the questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 316 medical students were surveyed, 117 students were infected with Demodex mite, and the total infection rate was 37.03%. There was no significant difference between the male and female in the infection rate (χ2 = 0.00, P > 0.05). Of the 117 infected cases, the infection rate of simple Demodex folliculorum was 51.28%, the infection rate of simple Demodex brevis was 24.79%, and the rate of mixed infections was 23.93%. The rate of the mild infection (83.76%) was significantly higher than that of the moderate infection (12.82%) and that of the severe infection (3.42%). The infection rate in the forehead was the highest (29.41%). Among the students with the oily skin, the infection rate of Demodex mite was related to sex. The infection rate of simple Demodex brevis in the male (3.70%) was lower than that in the female (16.42%) (χ2 = 6.92, P < 0.05), while the rate of the mixed infections in the male (17.28%) was higher than that in the female (4.48%) (χ2 = 5.91, P < 0.05). The infection rate of facial skin with symptoms (51.80%) was higher than that of normal facial skin (33.05%) (χ2 = 9.14, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the infection rate of Demodex mite and the living habits and other factors. CONCLUSIONS: There is some infection of Demodex in the medical students. The infection rate of facial skin with symptoms is higher than that of the normal facial skin. So we should strengthen the prevention and treatment of Demodex infection in medical students.

Potent therapeutic effects of shouwu jiangqi decoction on polycystic ovary syndrome with insulin resistance in rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Shouwu Jiangqi Decoction (SJD) on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with insulin resistance (IR) in rats and to explore the underlining molecular mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 51 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: control group (n=7), model group (n=8), SJD high-dose group (n=9), SJD medium-dose group (n=9), SJD low-dose group (n=9) and DMBG group (n=9). Radioimmunoassay was used to measure serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone concentrations and qRT-PCR and western blot were used to examine the expression levels of mRNA and protein respectively of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) and phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) p85α in different groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>FSH level significantly decreased in the model group compared with the normal control (P<0.01), and high-dose SJD and DMBG can significantly increase FSH level (P<0.01). LH level showed a mild increase without statistic significance in the model group compared with the control and different dosages of SJD had no significance effect on LH level, while DMBG can significantly decrease LH level (P<0.01). Testosterone level significantly increased in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.01), and high-dose SJD and DMBG can significantly decrease testosterone level (P<0.01). The expression of IRS-1 as well as PI3Kp85α were significantly decreased in the model group compared with the normal control group at both mRNA (P<0.001) and protein (P<0.01) level, and both high-dose SJD and DMBG can enhance IRS-1 and PI3K expression (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SJD has potent therapeutic effects on PCOS with IR in rats. The therapeutic effects of SJD on IR and ovulatory dysfunction are probably achieved through correcting the defective insulin signaling transduction.</p>

MicroRNAs and prostate cancer / 中华男科学杂志

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies in the urinary system of males. A growing number of studies have shown that microRNAs, as small ribonucleic acid molecules and a class of non-coding small RNAs, are closely related with PCa and a variety of microRNAs are abnormally expressed in it. This article focuses on the roles of microRNAs in the occurrence and progression of PCa, with a description of differentially expressed microRNAs in PCa and an analysis of their association with its prognosis as well as their correlation with chemotherapy, androgen receptors, and metastasis of PCa.

Tumorigenesis and spontaneous metastasis by luciferase-labeled human xenograft osteosarcoma cells in nude mice / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone. Mouse models of human OS can invariably provide greater insight into the complex mechanisms that underlie the development and pathogenesis of this aggressive tumor. Bioluminescence technology favored tracing cancer cells in vivo. In this study, an OS model was described and evaluated using human OS cell line, Saos2, labeled with luciferase (Saos2-luc).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Saos2 cells were infected by lentivirus loading a firefly luciferase gene. Luciferase expression of Saos2-luc cells was characterized both in vitro and in vivo. Specific biologic and oncologic features of Saos2-luc cells were analyzed. The OS was established as orthotopic xenografts in nude mice. Both orthotopic tumors and spontaneous lung metastasis were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Tumorigenesis and spontaneous lung metastasis in nude mice could be monitored in vivo through in vivo imaging system. The enhancement in proliferation, migration and invasion abilities and the attenuation in adhesion ability were observed in Saos2-luc cells compared with Saos2 cells. Furthermore, there were the up-regulation of Osteocalcin, CCR10, CXCR1 and ID1 and the down-regulation of ALP, collagen I, CCR1, CCR3, CXCR3, NID and N-cadherin in Saos2-luc cells compare to Saos2 cells. The rate of spontaneous lung metastasis in Saos2-luc cells was higher than that in Saos2 cells, although without significant difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Lentivirus transfection may cause alteration of gene expression profiles and further biological functions. This model can be used in the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of tumorigenesis and the screening of new therapeutic agents.</p>