Objective: To investigate the relationship between the Smad4-independent pathway of TGF-?1 and drug-resistance of pancreatic cancer. Methods: The sensitivities of Smad4 homozygous-deleted pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC3 to different kinds of anti-cancer drugs (5-Fu, Gemzar, Oxaliplatin, Cisplatin, CPT-11 and Epirubicin) were observed by MTT assay before and after they were transfected with full-length cDNA of TGF-?1 or treated with TGF-?1 (5 and 10 ng/ml) solution. Western blot was used to detect p170 protein expression after stimulation with different concentrations of TGF-?1. Results: Cisplatin had the most powerful killing effect on BxPC3 cells, followed by Oxaliplatin, 5-Fu and CPT-11 with moderate effect and Gemzar and Epirubicin with the least effect. Cells transfected with full-length cDNA of TGF-?1 or treated with TGF-?1 solution became less sensitive to Cisplatin. Western blot revealed upregulation of p170 expression by TGF-?1. Conclusion: The Smad4-independent pathway of TGF-?1 can increase the drug resistance of pancreatic cancer cells through upregulating expression of p170.

Objective:To investigate the expression of PKC? and TGF-? proteins in exocrine pancreatic carcinoma and their relationship. Methods: Forty-two specimens of pancreatic carcinoma and their adjacent tissues were examined for PKC? and TGF-? expression by tissue microarray technique and immunohistochemistry. Results: The expressions of TGF-?1 in the pancreatic carcinoma tissues and their adjacent tissue were 80. 9%(34/42) and 19. 1%(8/42), respectively(P

Objective To observe the age-related changes of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and investigate the effects of ginsenosides(GS) on BDNF in nucleus basalis of Meynert(NBM) and cerebral cortex of aged rats. Methods Twenty-four female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: young group(3-5 months),aged groups(27 months) and GS group(27 months).GS group was fed with GS from 18 to 27 months.Immunohistochemistry and Imaging analysis were used to show the expression and distribution of BDNF in NBM and cerebral cortex of each group. Results BDNF level of aged group was much lower than that of young group in these two brain areas(P

Objective To study CT and MRI findings of the eclamptic encephalopathy in plateau.Methods CT and MRI findings in 28 patients in plateau with eclamptic encephalopathy were retrospectively analyzed.Results CT and MRI appearances of eclamptism were as follow:normal in brain in 3 cases;cerebral edema in 18 cases,including slight encephaledema in 2 cases,focal encephaledema in 11 cases and diffuse encephaledema in 5 cases;cerebral hemorrhage in 6 cases and sinovenous thrombosis in 1 case.Conclusion CT and MRI scan are of significant value in diagnosis and treatment of eclamptic encephalopathy in plateau.

Objective To investigate the expression of proinsulin, insulin, C-peptide in insulinoma and normal pancreas and their roles. Methods Thirty-eight cases of insulinoma and 20 cases of normal pancreas from Sep. 2006 to Dec. 2009 in our hospital were selected. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of proinsulin, insulin, C-peptide. Results Proinsulin, insulin, C-peptide was expressed in insulinoma and normal pancreas. Proinsulin, C-peptide were strongly expressed in 100%insulinoma, while they were weekly expressed in 55% ～60% normal pancreas; insulin was expressed as + + +in 79% insulinoma, while it was expressed as + + + + in 85% normal pancreas. Proinsulin, C-peptide positive cell accounted for 80% ～ 100% of 38 insulinoma, and insulin positive cell accounted for 50% ～ 70%,the proinsulin/insulin ratio ＞ 1 accounted for 78.9%; while the corresponding values were 20% ～ 80%, 60% ～90%, 10.0% in normal pancreas, and the difference was statistically significant ( P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusions The proinsulin/insulin ratio ＞ 1 is 78.9% in insulinoma, and detection of proinsulin may help to diagnose insulinoma.

Purpose Changes of hepatic perfusion and volume of normal adults living at different altitudes are investigated with hepatic perfusion imaging using multi-slice spiral CT to explore the perfusion status of normal human liver in hypoxia condition, and to provide the basis for the diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases. Materials and Methods Sixty volunteers were divided into three groups according to altitude:22 cases in group A with altitude from 2260 to 3100 meters, 20 cases in group B with altitude from 3260 to 4100 meters, and 18 cases in group C with altitude from 4260 to 5260 meters, time-density curves within the ROI was drawn with hepatic hilar region as the center, and hepatic artery perfusion (HAP), portal vein perfusion (PVP), total hepatic perfusion (TLP), hepatic arterial perfusion index (HPI) were calculated using deconvolution method;and point circle method was used to measure the volume of liver manually. Results HAP of group A, B, C were (10.50±3.62) ml/(100 ml · min), (15.03±4.27) ml/(100 ml · min) and (18.39±7.20) ml/(100 ml · min) respectively, and there was significant difference between group A and group C (P<0.05);PVP of three groups were (138.78±14.29) ml/(100 ml · min), (80.42±16.80) ml/(100 ml · min), and (63.78±7.79) ml/(100 ml · min) respectively, signiifcant differences (P<0.05) can be detected for the comparison between each two of them; TLP of the three groups were (149.30±15.55) ml/(100 ml · min), (95.57±18.75) ml/(100 ml · min) and (82.19±10.56) ml/(100 ml · min) respectively, statistically signiifcant differences (P<0.05) can also be found for the comparison between each two of them. HPI of the three groups were 7.00±2.17, 16.27±4.22 and 22.05±7.90 respectively, statistically signiifcant differences (P<0.05) were observed for the comparison between each two of them;liver volume of the three groups were (1173.5±155.2) cm3, (1282.9±362.2) cm3 and (1525.4±352.2) cm3, difference between group A and group C was statistically signiifcant (P<0.05). Conclusion Liver perfusion can be affected by altitude, with the altitude increasing, HAP and HPI will also raise gradually, while PVP and TLP will decrease accordingly, indicating that hypoxia environment due to high altitude will do certain damage on the liver. MSCT perfusion imaging is able to relfect the hemodynamic changes of liver, thus is useful in clinical diagnosis and treatment of liver diseases.

Objective To localize endogenous alkaline phesphatase in human neutrophils with ELF(enzyme-labeled fluorescence)-97 phosphate,which yields an intensely fluorescent yellow-green precipitate at the site of enzymatic activity. Methods Neutrophils were isolated from human blood and fixed,then histochemistry with the ELF-97 phosphate was performed with the ELF-97 endogenous phosphatase detection kit.All photography was performed with a Nikon labophot fluorescence/DIC microscope. Results Fluorescent yellow-green granules,well-distributed but size-varied,were observed in neutrophils under fluorescence microscope.There were 94.102?3.133 percent rate of positive neutrophil alkaline phosphatase among 51 cases of healthy volunteers.Conclusion ELF-97 endogenous phosphatase detection kit can provide sensitive,high-resolution localization of endogenous phosphatase activity in neutrophils.

OBJECTIVETo observe the aging law on anti-hypertensive effect of scrapping therapy on primary hypertension so as to provide the reference evidence for the best treatment frequency of scrapping therapy.

METHODSEighty-nine patients of primary hypertension complied with inclusive criteria were treated with scrapping therapy according to syndrome differentiation. The stimulated sites included the courses of the governor vessel and the bladder meridian on the neck and back region, the line from Quchi (LI 11) to Shousanli (LI 10) and that from Zusanli (ST 36) to Fenglong (ST 40). The strong stimulation for reducing attempt was applied to the case of excessi syndrome, determined by subcutaneous capillary rupture and subcutaneous blood stasis. The mild stimulation for reinforcing attempt was applied to the case of deficiency syndrome, determined by subcutaneous capillary hyperemia and skin flush. Each site was scrapped for 10 times, about 5 cm in width, for 15 min. One scrapping treatment was required. The blood pressure was taken as the observation index separately, named 2:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 3:00 pm, 3:30 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm one day before scrapping, the time before scrapping in the afternoon on the day of treatment, the moment (2:00 pm), 2:30 pm, 3:00 pm; 3:30 pm, 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm, 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm after scrapping, in 24 h and 48 h after scrapping.

RESULTS(1) After one scrapping, the blood pressure was reduced to be (137. 51±10. 24)/(81. 06±10. 56) mmHg half a hour after scrapping from (149. 00±10. 19)/(85. 30±10. 96) mmHg (1mmHg~0. 133 kPa) before scrapping (P<0. 01). (2) The differences were significant in blood pressure at each time point after scrapping as compared with that before scrapping (all P<0. 01). (3) Through nonlinear regression analysis, the systolic blood pressure after scrapping was increased up to 140 mmHg in 47. 2 h after scrapping.

CONCLUSIONScrapping therapy achieves the apparent immediate anti-hypertensive effect on primary hypertension. It is suitable to apply scrapping treatment once every other day.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Essential Hypertension ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged

Benzene ; poisoning ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; chemically induced ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects

Objective To characterize the expressions of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER) in penis skin of patients with congenital hypospadias. Methods Dorsal prepuce, ventral prepuce, and urethral plate were harvested from 30 patients with congenital hypospadias. The expressions of AR and ER in epidermal cells and dermal fibroblasts were assessed respectively by automated immunohistochemistry. Image Pro plus 6.0 was used to analyze the optical density (OD) value of AR and ER in different parts of epidermal cells and dermal fibroblasts. Results AR and ER were located mainly in nucleis of the squamous basal cells and prickle cells, and were also found in nucleis of subcutaneous fibroblast cells. The expression of AR was lower in epidermis of urethral plate than that of dorsal prepuce and ventral prepuce (P<0.05), but no significant difference was detected in dermal fibroblasts. The expression of ER was higher in epidermis of dorsal prepuce than that of urethral plate and ventral prepuce (P<0.05). The dermal expression of ER in fibroblast cells was increased successively in dorsal prepuce, ventral prepuce and urethral plate (P<0.05). Conclusion Lower expression of AR in urethral plate may contribute the development of hypospadias. Disorder of ER in dermal fibroblast cells of prepuce may play an important role in hypospadias.