DNA methylation of DKK-1 may correlate with pathological bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: To investigate DNA methylation (DNAm) status of dickkopf-associated protein 1 (DKK-1) in ossified hip capsule synovium and serum among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Western blot was applied to detect the level of DKK-1 protein expression in hip joint capsule tissues from four patients with AS as well as four patients with femoral neck fracture (FNF) caused by trauma as control. DKK-1 gene promoter methylation (GPM) was examined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction.

Calcitriol Suppressed Isoproterenol-induced Proliferation of Cardiac Fibroblasts via Integrin β3/FAK/Akt Pathway.

Objective: Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition are important features of cardiac fibrosis. Various studies have indicated that vitamin D displays an anti-fibrotic property in chronic heart diseases. This study explored the role of vitamin D in the growth of CFs via an integrin signaling pathway.

[Asymmetric response mechanism of auditory event related potentials].

The classical auditory oddball paradigm is a commonly used experimental paradigm for evoking event related potentials (ERPs). The present study was aimed to explore the auditory cognitive processing mechanism of space perception of human brain. We employed an auditory oddball paradigm of binaural unbiased and biased sound intensity to compare and analyze the response characteristics of ERP.

[Recurrence and survival analysis of postoperative patients aged 25 to 59 years with differentiated thyroid carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the recurrence and survival of postoperative patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) aged from 25 to 59 years.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 36 patients with DTC treated in our hospital from 1996 to 2011, and the recurrence and survival status of the patients were recorded. Kaplan-Meier analysis was carried out to analyze factors that affect the patient's survival.

[Podocyte injury and expression of nephrin and VEGF in rat nephrosis model induced by adriamycin].

Objective: To investigate podocyte injury and the expression of nephrin and VEGF in rat nephrosis model induced by adriamycin.

Methods: The rat adriamycin induced nephrosis model was established, while the biochemical indicators in blood and urine were measured and the pathological changes of the renal tissue were evaluated by light microscope and electron microscope. The podocyte number was counted, and the expression levels of nephrin, VEGF were examined at different time by means of immunohistochemistry.

[Investigation of progesterone receptor on human sperm plasma membrane].

Objectives: To investigate the localization and positive percentage of progesterone receptor (PR) on the human sperm surface.

Methods: After in vitro capacitation, progesterone binding sites on the sperm were quantitatively analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry using fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled bovine serum albumin-progesterone complex (P-BSA-FITC).

Results: The spermatozoa stained by P-BSA-FITC mainly showed two labeling patterns, with the green fluorescence on the whole acrosomal region or the equatorial acrosomal region only and the stainless postacrosomal and tail regions.