Objective To study the expression of telomerase and its possible clinical significance in patients with condyloma acuminatum,bowenoid papulosis,Bowen's disease and vulvar squamous cell car- cinoma.Methods The human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) was detected by immunohisto- chemistry technique in all patients.Histopathological analysis was done in patients with bowenoid papulosis or Bowen's disease.Results There was a significant difference in the expression of hTERT among normal tissue,condyloma acuminatum and squamous carcinoma,and the expression rate increased successively from normal control to squamous carcinoma.In bowenoid papulosis,the expression of bTERT was significantly higher as compared to that in condyloma acuminatum,significantly lower as compared to that in squamous carcinoma,and was as the same as that in Bowen's disease.Histopathologically,the degree of cell atypia was significantly higher in Bowen's disease than that in bowenoid papulosis.Conclusions The expression of telomerase increases successively from normal skin,benign tumors to malignant carcinomas,which sug- gests that the expression of telomerase may play an important role in both cell proliferation and immortaliza- tion.

Objective To analyze the ophthalmologic characteristics and examinations which caused by vertebral-basilar insuffi- ciency.Design Retrospective case series.Participants 469 eases of vertebral-basilar insufficiency.Methods Retrospective analysis of 469 cases of vertebral-basilar insufficiency patients with ophthalmologic signs' features,incidence,the main cause,color Doppler flow imaging and(or)digital subtraction angiography clearly stenosis location,the degree of stenosis from July 1st 2005 to July ist 2007 in PLA General Hospital.Main Outcome Measures Ophthalmologic signs' related reasons and supplementary examination.Results 96 cases were with the corresponding eye symptoms(20.4%).Vision decreased in 83 cases,diplopia was in 56 cases,ipsilateral hemiopia quadrant blind in 12 cases and depending on deformation in 10 cases,fundus arteriosclerosis in 72 cases,nystagmus in 39 cases,the eye movement disorder in 16 cases.Among 96 patients with associated ocular symptoms,75 patients with color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI)showed unilateral vertebral artery abnormal in 66 cases(88%),among those blood flow velocity decreased in 26 cases,17 cases with vascular plaque stenosis,thinning in 20 cases,3 cases with complete occlusion;different bilateral vertebral artery abnormal in 9 cases(12%),among those velocity dropped in 4 cases,two cases with vascular plaque stenosis and thinning in 3 cases.Forty-five cases with the digital subtraction angiography(DSA),left vertebral artery was abnormal in 24 cases,18 cases with stenosis,occlusion in 5 cas- es,abnormal bending in 1 case.Right vertebral artery was abnormal in 16 cases,13 cases with stenosis,occlusion in 3 cases.Bilateral vertebral artery stenosis was found in 2 cases;vertebral artery stenosis was in 3 patients.Conclusion Vertebral-basilar insufficiency may cause eye-related symptoms,therefore,vision acuity decrease,fundus 'arteriosclerosis,diplopia and nystagmus symptoms are more likely for patients with vertebral-patients with basilar artery insufficiency performance of the eye.(Ophthalmol CHN,2002,16:406-410)

This case report describes a 44-year-old woman with primary spinal cord malignant melanoma localized in the lumbar region. This is a very rare lesion. The patient presented with back pain and slight weakness in her lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintense signals on T1-weighted images and hypointense signals on T2-weighted images. The entire tumor was removed surgically. The patient's postoperative clinical examination revealed mild neurological improvements. Histopathological investigations confirmed the tumor was a malignant melanoma. When treating common lesions of the lumbar spinal cord with a benign appearance, surgeons should be aware of the potential for malignant tumors.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Melanoma ; diagnosis ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; diagnosis

Pancreatic tuberculosis (TB) is extremely rare and mimics pancreatic carcinoma both clinically and radiologically. This paper discusses the occurrence of 2 heterogeneous masses located in the head and tail of the pancreas in an adult male. In this patient, laparotomy was performed because of the high suspicion of pancreatic carcinoma. Intraoperative fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed the coexistence of pancreatic carcinoma with pancreatic TB, and a combined resection of the distal pancreas and spleen was successfully performed. Following surgery, the patient received standard chemotherapy for TB. At 7-month follow-up, computed tomography showed resolution of the mass in the pancreatic head. Clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for pancreatic TB in patients with pancreatic masses. The coexistence of malignancy and TB should be considered when patients present with multiple pancreatic masses.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Follow-Up Studies ; Head ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Male ; Pancreas ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; Spleen ; Tuberculosis

Rats were continuously given different doses of water extract of Polygonum multiflorum (1, 10 g x kg(-1)) for 7 days to prepare liver microsomes. Cocktail in vitro incubation approach and Real-time quantitative PCR technology were used to observe the effect of water extract of P. multiflorum on CYP450 enzymatic activities and mRNA expressions in rat liver. Compared with the blank control group, both 1, 10 g x kg(-1) water extract of P. multiflorum treated groups showed significant inhibitions in CYP2E1 enzymatic activities and mRNA expressions (enzymatic activities of CYP2E1, P < 0.01; mRNA expression of CYP2E1, P < 0.05 in 1 g x kg(-1) group, P < 0.01 in 10 g x kg(-1) group). They revealed a significant increase in the enzymatic activity of CYP3A1 (P < 0.01), but without significant change in mRNA expressions. The 10 g x kg(-1) group showed a significant inhibition in CYP1A2 enzymatic activities and mRNA expressions in rat livers (P < 0.01).
Animals ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Male ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Polygonum ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

In order to explored the change of PML/PML-RARalpha protein during tetraarsenic tetrasulfide (As4S4) treatment, acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells from a group of newly diagnosed APL patients were examined by indirect immunofluorescence staining with anit-PML monoclonal antibody. The results showed that all samples typically presented many microspeckle signals throughout the nucleus before treatment. The redistribution occurred as early as on the second day after As4S4 treatment, which revealed loss of microspeckles with the presentation of a few large speckles. Anti-PML staining also emerged in the perinuclear cytoplasm. At last, microspeckles and large speckles all disappeared. When the therapy was combining all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) with As4S4, similar results were obtained. However, APL cells from patients treated with ATRA alone performed totally different appearance, presenting microspeckles and large speckles at the same time, followed with entirely large speckles. The conclusion is that As4S4 makes redistribution of PML/PML-RARalpha protein in leukemic cells from APL patients during the treatment, which is quite different from that during the treatment of ATRA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arsenicals ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Nuclear Proteins ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; analysis ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Transcription Factors ; analysis ; Tretinoin ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the polymorphism of the TPH gene T3792A locus in Han ethnic group of north China and its application value in forensic science. METHODS: The polymorphism of T3792A locus of the TPH gene was analyzed by the ASPCR of blood samples from 173 unrelated individuals of north Chinese Han population. RESULTS: The distribution of the T3792A locus polymorphism of the TPH gene in Han ethnic group of north China followed the Hardy-Weinberg law, with the allele A and T gene frequency of 0.486 and 0.514, respectively. CONCLUSION The TPH gene T3792A locus shows a very good genetic polymorphism, and may be applied to individual identification and paternity testing.
Asian People/genetics* ; China/ethnology* ; Forensic Genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Paternity ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic anterior resection of rectal carcinoma with preservation of the left colonic artery.

METHODSFrom February 2006 to February 2009, 52 patients with rectal carcinoma formerly scheduled for Dixon operation (clinical stage I and II) received laparoscopic Dixon surgery. The inferior mesenteric artery, left colonic artery, sigmoid artery or superior rectal artery, and lymph nodes were dissected through the vasa vasorum approach. The left colonic artery was retained by transecting the inferior mesenteric artery inferior to the left colonic artery. The operative time, intraoperative hemorrhage volume, intraoperative complications, anastomotic tension, number and histopathological features of the dissected lymph nodes surrounding the inferior mesenteric artery, and the rates of local recurrence, lymph node metastasis and anastomotic leakage were analyzed.

RESULTSThe operation was successfully completed in all the 52 cases. The operative time ranged from 115 to 320 min with a mean of 150 min. The mean intraoperative hemorrhage was 25 ml (range 15-75 ml). None of the patients had perforation of the rectum, injuries to blood vessel, ureter or adjacent organs, or anastomotic tension. The number of dissected lymph nodes surrounding the inferior mesenteric artery ranged from 4 to 8, with a mean of 6.2. The dissected lymph nodes in the base of the inferior mesenteric artery showed no cancer cell metastasis, while 4 patients had cancer cell metastasis in the lymph nodes surrounding superior rectal artery. None of patients had anastomotic leakage. Local recurrence was found in only 1 case at 7 months after the operation.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic anterior resection of the rectal carcinoma with preservation of the left colonic artery can be completed in patients with rectal carcinoma planning to receive Dixon operation (clinical stage I or II). This surgical approach preserves more supplying vessels and prevents anastomotic leakage without increasing the anastomotic tension or affecting lymph node dissection surrounding the inferior mesenteric artery.

Adult ; Anastomosis, Surgical ; methods ; Arteries ; surgery ; Colon ; blood supply ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Inferior ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and toxicity of bortezomib in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma(MM).

METHODSSixteen patients(9 males, 7 females, mean age 57. 5 yrs) with refractory or relapsed MM were treated with bortezomib (1. 3 mg/m(2) ) by intravenous bolus twice a week for 2 weeks, or 3. 5 mg once a week in a 21-day cycle, followed by an intravenous injection of dexamethasone 30 - 40 mg. The patients had received one to four courses at least. Response to bortezomib was evaluated according to the criteria of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) before initiation of each bortezomib chemotherapy course. Adverse events were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria, version 3. 0.

RESULTSThe median follow-up duration from the beginning of bortezomib treatment was 6 months. Clinical response was observed in 14 patients (87.5%), including near complete response in 6, partial response in 5, minimal response in 3 and no response in 2. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea and vomiting in 12, constipation in 3, severe diarrhea in 3 patients), thrombocytopenia (8 patients) and fatigue(3 patients). The adverse events were subsided on routine supportive care.

CONCLUSIONSBortezomib in combination with dexamethasone is an effective therapy with a high response rate and manageable toxicities for patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Boronic Acids ; administration & dosage ; Bortezomib ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Pyrazines ; administration & dosage ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT) from sibling donors for treatment of multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSTen patients with MM received allo-PBSCT with conditioning consisting of fludarabine plus melphalan and cyclophosphamide mostly.CsA plus mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and short-term MTX were applied to prevent graft versus host disease (GVHD) in 8 patients, FK506 plus short-term MTX in other 2 patients.

RESULTSAll patients engrafted successfully, the median time for ANC > 0.5 × 10(9)/L was 16 (12 - 24) days, and for BPC > 20 × 10(9)/L 23 (16 - 102) days. Five patients developed acute GVHD, and only one III-IV aGVHD. Of 9 patients, 7 developed chronic GVHD. The transplant-related mortality (TRM) at 100 days was 10% (1/10), mainly from heart and renal failure and severe infection. The 1-year expected overall survival (OS), 1-year disease-free survival (DFS) and relapse rate were 67.5%, 55.56% and 11.11% respectively. Up to now, 6 patients were still alive, of them 1 patient have survived over 99 months after allo-PBSCT.

CONCLUSIONYoung MM patients having HLA-identical sibling donors well tolerated allo-PBSCT based on fludarabine to prolong their OS by reducing TRM, though further work is warranted.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; surgery ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Siblings ; Tissue Donors ; Transplantation, Homologous