The effects of different concentrations of NaF on the proliferation and differentiation of osteroblasts were observed. Osteroblasts were obtained from the calvaria of 24-h newborn Sprague Dawley (SD) rat by using enzymic degestion method and cultured in the medium containing 10-7 mol/L to 10-5( 10-4 mol/L NaF. The rate of cell proliferation, ALP activity and osterocalcin were examined by the methods of MTT, biochemical assay and radioimmunologic assay (RIA) respectively. The results showed that the effect of NaF on the proliferation of osteroblasts was regulated in a double-phase manner: low doses of NaF (10-7 mol/L, 10-6 mol/L,10 5 mol/L) increased cell proliferation by 11. 3 o, 10. 9 % and 10. 6 % (P＜0. 05) respectively, vice versa at high doses (10-4 mol/L, 5×10-4 mol/L). As compared with control group, high doses of NaF decreased the proliferation rate by 9. 6 %, 9. 7 % respectively. The response of cell differentiation to NaF was varied. The influence of NaF on ALP activity was similar to that of cell proliferation. However, all concentrations of NaF used stimulated the secretion of osterocalcin with the highest secreting rate being up to 67. 14 % at 5×10 4 mol/L NaF. It was concluded that the influence of NaF on the proliferation of rat calvarial osteroblasts regulated in a double-phase manner, but the action on cell differentiation was varied.

Objective To observe the effects of different concentration of NaF on osteoblasts function of bone formation and dose effect relationship.Methods Osteoblasts were obtained from the calvaria of 24 hour newborn SD rats by enzymic degestion and cultuered in the medium with 10 -7 ～5? 10 -4 mol/L NaF.The ALP activity and osterocalcin were examined by biochemical assay and radioimmunologic assay (RIA) respectively.Results Results showed that the effect of NaF on ALP activity was in a double phase manner,e.g. low concentration NaF(10 -7 ,10 -6 ,10 -5 mol/L) increased ALP activity ( P

Objective:The occurrence of numerous tumors, particularly classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL), is related with Ep-stein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. However, the incidence of CHL and its association with EBV varies significantly with ethnicity, geo-graphic location, sex, and age. This study investigated the association of EBV infection with CHL in Northern Chinese Han population. Methods:EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER) was detected in 136 cases of CHL through in situ hybridization. Results:A total of 37 cas-es were EBER positive (28%). The mixed cellularity (MC) subtype had the highest positive EBER rate of 49%(23/47;P<0.001), fol-lowed by lymphocyte-rich subtype with 30%(3/10), nodular sclerosis (NS) subtype with 14%(10/73), and 1ymphocyte depletion with 0%(0/2). Our study identified a single age distribution in the third decade. Moreover, NS subtype showed an evident single peak in the third decade. However, MC subtype had a lower peak in the fifth decade. The incidence of EBER showed a bimodal age distribution with two peaks in the first and fifth decades (21.6%and 24.3%, respectively). Conclusion:CHL in Northern Chinese Han population was associated with EBV infection, particularly the MC subtype.

Objective To investigate the effects of PTD4-GFP-Apoptin protein on proliferation inhibition and apoptosis-inducing of different types of leukemia cells. Methods Genetic engineering was used to restructure a carrier containing PTD4-GFP-Apoptin gene, and MTT was applied to detect the expressed PTD4-GFP-Apoptin fusion protein and its effect on the leukemia cell proliferation. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to detect the effects on cell apoptosis. Results MTT cell proliferation inhibitory experiment showed that PTD4-GFP-Apoptin had different degree of proliferation inhibition on different types of leukemia cells;furthermore, the inhibitory effect presented positive correlation with time and concentration. FCM showed that PTD4-GFP-Apoptin had apoptosis-inducing effect on HL-60 cells, and the apoptotic rate had significant difference compared with the control group (P <0.05). Conclusions PTD4 can carry large proteins to penetrate the cell membrane, and PTD4-GFP-Apoptin may produce the inhibiting proliferation in vitro for a variety of leukemia cells. Apoptin can induce tumor cell apoptosis without affecting normal cells, which might become a new agent for the clinical treatment of leukemia.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of Intraoperative Iso-C3D navigation guiding cervical pedicle screw fixation. Methods Twenty-two cases adopted cervical pedicle screw fixation of cervical spine, including 9 cervical spine fractures, 4 cervical tumors, 6 cervical destabilizing, 3 cervical syndrome. The cervical pedicle screw position were assessed with post-operative CT by grade. Results One hundred and twelve screws were fixed in 22 cases successfully. Grade: 107 in A grade (95.5%); 3 in B grade: 1 in C grade; 1 in D grade. There were not any complication. Conclusion Intraoperative Iso-C3D navigation can improve precision of cervical petiole screw fixation distinctively.

Objective To explore the molecular mechanism by which promyelocytric leuxemia (PML) suppresses human gallbladder cancer cell line (GBC-SD) growth.Methods GBC-SD cells were infected by green fluorescent protein recombinant adenovirus (Ad-GFP), GFP-positive cells were examined by microscopy.Cultured gallbladder carcinoma cells (GBC-SD) were infected with Ad-PML or Ad-control.Cell death was detected by DNA laddering and TUNNEL analysis.Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometer.Results An infection efficiency of 100% can be achieved at a concentration of 100 multiplicity of infection (MOI).The growth rate of the Ad-PML-infected GBC-SD cells was significantly inhibited.DNA laddering was detected at 72 h post-infection.The amount of apoptotic cells significantly increased in the Ad-PML-infected GBC-SD cells without evident alterations in cell cycle distribution.Conclusion PML suppresses growth of human gallbladder cancer cell line GBC-SD by inducing apoptosis.

Oncocytic lipoadenoma is a rare tumor, with only 18 cases having been reported since the first in 1998. We encountered a case of oncocytic lipoadenoma presenting as a slowly growing parotid mass in a 71-year-old man. This tumor is characteristically comprised of a mixture of oncocytes and adipocytes. The present case is one of five reported cases of oncocytic lipoadenoma showing sebaceous differentiation. The results of immunohistochemical study with DOG1 antibody supported the origination of this tumor in the striated duct.
Adipocytes ; Aged ; Humans ; Oxyphil Cells ; Parotid Gland*

OBJECTIVETo investigate anticancer effect and potential mechanism of tanshinone II(A) (Tan II(A)) on human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line CNE cells.

METHODAntiproliferative effect of Tan II(A) on CNE cells was evaluated by morphological examination, cell growth curves, colonial assay and MTT assay. Apoptosis detection was carried out using Hoechest 33258 and PI double-dyeing method. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration and mitochondria membrane potential were detected by fluorospectrophotometer. Bad and MT-1A transcript analysis in CNE cells was analyzed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTTan II(A) could inhibit CNE cells proliferation in dose- and time-dependent manner. 50% inhibiting concentration of Tan II(A) on CNE cells in 24, 48, 72 h was 45.7, 24.8, 3.3 mg x L(-2), respectively. Typical apoptotic morphology such as chromatin aggregation was observed in CNE cells with Tan II(A) treated for 24 h, and the apoptotic inducing effect was in a dose-dependent manner. After treated with Tan II(A), intracellular Ca2+ concentration of CNE cells was increased, mitochondria membrane potential of the cells was decreased, relative mRNA level of Bad and MT-1A was up-regulated.

CONCLUSIONTan II(A) had anticancer effect on CNE cells through apoptosis via calcineurin-dependent pathway and MT-1A downregulation.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Metallothionein ; genetics ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; bcl-Associated Death Protein ; genetics

INTRODUCTIONNecrotising fasciitis (NF) is often found in patients with diabetes mellitus, chronic renal failure, alcoholism, malignancy or liver cirrhosis. However, it remains unknown whether liver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of NF. This study aimed to determine whether liver cirrhosis is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of NF, and to identify the relationship between severity of liver cirrhosis and occurrence of NF.

METHODSThe National Health Insurance Research Database, maintained by Taiwan's National Health Insurance programme, was retrospectively analysed, and the hospitalisation data of 40,802 cirrhotic patients and 40,865 randomly selected, age‑ and gender‑matched non‑cirrhotic control patients was collected. The medical records of all patients were individually followed for a three‑year period from the patients' first hospitalisation in 2004.

RESULTSDuring the three‑year follow‑up period, there were 299 (0.7%) cirrhotic patients with NF and 160 (0.4%) non‑cirrhotic patients with NF. Cox regression analysis showed that liver cirrhosis was a risk factor for the occurrence of NF during the study period (hazard ratio 1.982; p < 0.001). Among cirrhotic patients, those with complicated liver cirrhosis had a higher risk for the occurrence of NF than patients with non‑complicated liver cirrhosis (hazard ratio 1.320; p = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONCirrhotic patients had a higher risk for the occurrence of NF than non‑cirrhotic patients, and the risk for NF was especially high among patients with complicated liver cirrhosis.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Alcoholism ; complications ; Comorbidity ; Fasciitis, Necrotizing ; complications ; physiopathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Taiwan ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) contributes to poorer short-term mortality in cirrhotic patients with ascites. However, it is unknown how long the effect of the first SBP event persists in these patients. METHODS: The National Health Insurance Database, derived from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program, was used to identify and enroll 7,892 cirrhotic patients with ascites who were hospitalized between January 1 and December 31, 2007. All patients were free from episodes of SBP from 1996 to 2006. RESULTS: The study included 1,176 patients with SBP. The overall 30-day, 90-day, 1-year, and 3-year mortality rates in this group were 21.8%, 38.9%, 57.5%, and 73.4%, respectively. The overall 30-day, 90-day, 1-year, and 3-year mortality rates in the non-SBP group were 15.7%, 32.5%, 53.3%, and 72.5%, respectively. After adjusting for gender, age, and other medical comorbidities, the adjusted hazard ratios of SBP for 30-day, 30- to 90-day, 90-day to 1-year, and 1- to 3-year mortality were 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30 to 1.71), 1.19 (95% CI, 1.02 to 1.38), 1.04 (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.20), and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.77 to 1.05), respectively, compared with the non-SBP group. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of SBP on the mortality of cirrhotic patients with ascites disappeared in those surviving more than 90 days after the first SBP event.
Ascites* ; Comorbidity ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Mortality* ; National Health Programs ; Peritonitis* ; Taiwan*