AIM: To investigate the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on the proliferation of neural stem cell in adult rats with focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS: The experiment was conducted in the Center of Science and Experiment, Jinzhou Medical College from January to July 2006. Totally 72 healthy SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group and NGF treatment group with 24 rats in each group. Focal cerebral ischemia models were prepared by Logna et al modified thread occlusion method, and the functional evaluation was performed after the animals were awake for 2 hours to select the rats whose nervous function reached grade 2 or above. The sham-operation group was treated like the model group except thread occlusion. 1 000 ?g/kg NGF was administered in the NGF treatment group immediately after ischemia, once a day. After the animals were executed at days 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, immunohistochemical and double immunofluorescence labeling were adopted to observe the effect of NGF on the expression of nestin and the cell type after ischemia. RESULTS: All 72 rats were involved in the result analysis. ①Round or ellipse nestin positive cells were found in both the model group and NGF treatment group. The number of nestin positive cells in the NGF treatment group was remarkably more than in model group except 1 day after ischemia, moreover, the number of the cells in the two groups was more than in the sham operation group [model group: (3.47?0.5), (5.13?1.14), (13.95?3.56), (8.97?2.08); NGF group: (3.81?0.66), (9.88?2.08), (19.87?3.86), (26.17?2.90); sham-operation group: 0, P

Cancer development is a complex process that involves multiple genetic changes and multiple signaling pathways . Recent findings show that the GRIM-19 is a novel apoptosis regulation gene , and its gene mutations and loss of protein expression have been observed in many tumor types such as urinarysystem tumor , digestive system neoplasm , which are closely related to cancer devel-opment.Thus, GRIM-19 may be a potential target for gene therapy .Pro-apoptotic mechanisms of GRIM-19 and its related proteins such as STAT3,GW112,p16INK4aare overviewed in this article.

Objective Some drugs can effectively improve the uptake of 131 I in dedifferentiated thyroid cancer .This study was to investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) combined with interferon-α2a (IFN-α2a) on the iodine uptake and re-tention rate of FTC-133 follicular thyroid carcinoma cells . Methods FTC-133 cells were cultured in the presence of 2 μmol/L AT-RA and/or 1500 IU/mL IFN-α2a for 72 hours.The the cells were collected for measurement of the uptake and retention rate of Na 125 I. Results The Na125 I uptake of the FTC-133 cells was significantly increased after 72-hour incubation with 2μmol/L ATRA and 1500 IU/mL IFN-α2a (2423.1 ±237.5) as compared with those of the control (1279.5 ±102.8), ATRA (1438.2 ±149.6), and IFN-α2a groups (1355.3 ±198.4) (P<0.05).Statistically significant differences were observed in the retention rate of Na 125I in the FTC-133 cells at different time points in the each of the blank control , 2μmol/L ATRA, 1500 IU/mL IFN-α2a, and combination groups (P<0.01), but not in that of Na125I among these groups (P<0.05). Conclusion ATRA in combination with IFN-α2a can promote the Na125 I uptake but cannot improve the Na 125 I retention rate in FTC-133 cells.

Objective To study cell apoptosis and differentiation in postnatal developing spiral ganglion(SG)of rat.Methods By means of transmission electron microscope(TEM),cell apoptosis and the ultrastructure of rat SG neurons were investigated during postnatal days 1,3,5,7,10,14,and 30.Results In P5 and P7,neural cell apoptosis was observed in rat SG neuron.The typical morphological alterations of apoptotic cells included a crescent-shaped band of condensed chromation round the nuclear periphery,apoptotic bodies,and cell shrinkage.The first appeared type 2 neurons with densely packed neurofilaments in the cytoplasm could be recognized with confidence at postnatal day 7.The type 2 neurons at this time showed obvious signs of cell shrinkage.Cell apoptosis disappeared subsequently.In subsequent developing period,the morphological characteristics of type 1 and type 2 neurons became more remarkable and gradually achieved their mature structure.Conclusion The neural cell apoptosis was an important event in the postnatal development of rat SGCS.Cell apoptosis,occurred prior to appearance of the type 2 neurons,may be related to remodeling of the outer hair cell innervation and type 2 neuron differentiation.

Objective Applying diffusion weighted image (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to analyze brain injury caused by hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in term neonates.Methods From June 1,2010 to January 5,2011,thirty-eight full term neonates with HIE were hospitalized in the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University.Those with nervous system diseases were excluded.The 38 cases were divided to mild HIE group (n=24) and moderate-to-severe HIE group (n=14).The control group included 10 normal full term neonates without history of asphyxia.All babies were scanned by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Spin echo-echo planar imaging sequence was used for DWI images.ADC values of nine regions (frontal lobe gray matter,frontal white matter,parietal gray matter,parietal white matter,corona radiata,caudate nucleus,putamen,posterior limb of the internal capsule and thalamus) were measured.MRI and DWI images were compared.ADC values were compared by analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls test.Results ADC values of the nine indicated regions (frontal lobe gray matter,frontal white matter,parietal gray matter,parietal white matter,corona radiata,caudate nucleus,putamen,posterior limb of the internal capsule and thalamus) were (1.37±0.07),(1.81±0.12),(1.35±0.10),(1.84±0.09),(1.23±0.11),(1.28±0.09),(1.18±0.08),(1.05±0.07) and (1.15±0.08) ×10-3 mm2/s in control group,(1.28±0.11),(1.60±0.15),(1.27±0.09),(1.59±0.20),(1.19±0.15),(1.19±0.13),(1.11±0.09),(0.97±0.11) and (1.06±0.12) ×10-3 mm2/s in mild HIE group,and (1.18±0.14),(1.51±0.22),(1.19±0.09),(1.56±0.19),(1.03±0.16),(1.08±0.07),(1.02±0.07),(0.87±0.09) and (0.96±0.12) × 10-3 mm2/s in moderate-to-severe HIE group.ADC values among the three groups had statistical difference (F=3.89,3.21,4.05,3.30,3.28,3.27,4.12,4.75and 4.72,all P＜0.05).ADC values of frontal lobe gray matter,frontal white matter,parietal gray matter,parietal white matter,putamen,posterior limb of the internal capsule and thalamus in mild HIE group were lower than those in control group (all P＜0.05).All of the ADC values of nine regions in moderate-to-severe HIE group were lower than those in control group (all P＜0.05).ADC value of frontal lobe gray matter,parietal gray matter,corona radiata,caudate nucleus,putamen,posterior limb of the internal capsule and thalamus in moderate-to-severe HIE group were lower than those in mild HIE group (all P＜0.05).Conclusion DWI and ADC values could reflect brain injury caused by HIE,and ADC values can be used to quantitatively analyze the degree of hypoxic-ischemic injury.

BACKGROUND: Now, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is international y recognized as gold standard for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, but the errors can be found in the measurement results due to the heterotopic ossification and bone hyperplasia exists in the measurement part. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of bone metabolic markers in the diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients with osteoporotic fractures, and to research its correlation with the changes of pathological histology and bone mineral density. METHODS: Four bone biochemical markers in 50 elderly patients with osteoporosic fractures were measured preoperatively. According to the results, 25 patients had significantly increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (considered as the increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b group), and 25 patients had increased bone alkaline phosphatase (considered as the increased bone alkaline phosphatase group). During operation, the bone tissues of eight patients in each group were treated with hematoxylin-eosin staining and electron microscopy scanning in order to detect the pathological changes. After operation, the patients in the increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b group received salmon calcitonin anti-osteoporosis treatment, and the patients in the increased bone alkaline phosphatase group received the anti-osteoporosis treatment of bone peptide injection. The bone mineral density and the four bone biochemical markers were detected again at 6 months after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in the preoperative bone mineral density and four biomechanical markers between two groups (P > 0.05). The pathological examination results of bone tissue on the fracture site showed that the number of osteoblasts was reduced and the number of oeteoclasts was increased in the increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b group; while in the increased bone alkaline phosphatase group, the pathological examination results showed the number of osteoblasts was reduced; the trabecular bone/bone area ratio was decreased in two groups, and there was a significant difference in the decrease degree between two groups (P < 0.05). The electron microscope scanning showed that the osteoclasts of two groups were more active than that of the normal group. The sloppy of trabecular bone in the increased tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b group was more obvious than that in the increased bone alkaline phosphatase group, and the absorption vacuoles were increased. There were significant differences in the bone mineral density and four biomechanical markers between two groups before and after anti-osteoporosis treatment (P < 0.05). The detection of bone metabolic markers could help us to make it clearly that the main function of osteoblast reduce or osteoclast increase in bone tissue of patients, and guide us to use anti-osteoporosis drugs in target. Pathological histology examination can better reflect the condition of osteoblasts, osteoclasts and trabecular bone in bone tissue on the fracture site. Target application of anti-osteoporosis drugs in the osteoporosis patients can effectively improve the efficacy and reduce the relative complications.

ObjectiveTo determine the optimal timing of antenatal taurine supplementation to improve neuron and neural stem cell proliferation in fetal rats with intrauterine growth restriction.Methods Twenty-five pregnant SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (five rats in each group): group A was the control group, group B to E were the fetal growth restriction (FGR) model groups with low-protein diet during the experiment, group C, D, and E were supplemented with taurine [300 mg/(kg·d)] at day 9, 11 and 15, respectively. The birth weight of newborn rats was measured after natural delivery. The rats with body weight two standard deviations lower than the average weight in group A were diagnosed as FGR. There were five litters of newborn rats in each group, and two were randomly selected from each litter, resulting in ten newborn rats in each group. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7) positive cell expression in newborn rat brain tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Single factor analysis of variance, LSD tests were used for statistical analysis.ResultsThe average birth weight of newborn rats in group A, B, C, D and E were (6.61±0.45), (4.65±0.23), (5.37±0.17), (5.74±0.21), and (5.00±0.24) g, respectively. Average birth weight was lower in group B than in group A (t=2.447), higher in group D and E than in group B (t=2.306 and 2.306), higher in group D than in group C and E (t=2.306 and 2.306), and the differences were statistically significant (allP<0.05). The positive expression of PCNA in the brain of neonatal rats was mainly located in the nucleus. The number of PCNA positive cells in each high power field (×400) in group A, B, C, D and E was 31.03±5.38, 46.49±4.38, 59.65±5.37, 67.76±5.84, and 53.53±6.94, respectively. The number of PCNA positive cells in group B was higher than that in group A (t=2.110), higher in groups C, D and E than in group B (t=2.110, 2.110 and 2.131), higher in group D than in group C and E (t=2.101 and 2.110), and the differences were all statistically significant (allP<0.05). The positive expression of FABP7 was mainly located in the cytoplasm of neonatal rat brain. The integral optical density (IOD) in group A, B, C, D, and E was 451 733.1± 141 452.3, 207 232.2±60 525.2, 333 766.6±68 412.1, 380 647.4±131 145.9, and 278 967.1±127 630.7, respectively. The IOD in group B was lower than that in group A (t=3.165,P=0.000), higher in groups C, D and E than in group B (t=5.272, 7.132, 2.950), and the differences were statistically significant (allP<0.05). Although the IOD in group D was higher than that in group C, the difference was not significant (t=1.953, P>0.05). The IOD in group D was higher than that in group E, and the difference was statistically significant (t=4.182,P<0.05).ConclusionsAntenatal taurine supplementation can promote neuron and neural stem cell proliferation in rats with FGR. The effect is most obvious on the 11th day of pregnancy, and may lead to the promotion of brain development.

Objective To determine the accuracy of multi-slice CT pneumocolon in the staging of colonic carcinomas.Methods Thirty-six patients, who were strongly suspected to have colonic disorders, underwent CT pneumocolon before and after intravenous injection of iodinated contrast agent. CTVE, MPR, SSD, and Raysum images were then obtained by using 4 different softwares in workstation (ADW3.1). 33 positive cases were staged preoperatively according to TNM standard. All cases were proved by surgical or colonoscopic histology. Sensitivity and accuracy of MSCT were determined for the detection of cancers, lymph nodes, and metastases. Results MSCT pneumocolon examinations demonstrated 32 lesions, missing one case. Sensitivity and positive accuracy value for T staging were 96.97% (32/33) and 87.88% (29/33), respectively; Sensitivity and positive accuracy value for lymph node involvement were 73.91% (17/23) and 69.57% (16/23), respectively. The density of metastatic lymph node was higher than that of normal one. Five cases in M stage were all diagnosed correctly.Conclusion MSCT pneumocolon is a better method of depicting the colorectal carcinoma. It allows for accurate staging of the colorectal carcinoma, especially detecting the invasion of adjacent tissues and distant metastasis. However the value for early T staging in colorectal carcinoma and minute metastasis of lymph nodes is limited. It is helpful to combine all the findings of lymph nodes, including the size, density, and location, to make a correct diagnosis.

As an important branch of systematic biology, metabonomics is an emerging discipline following genomics, proteomics and transcriptomics. It focuses on the quality and quantity changes of the small molecular metabolites in appointed physiological or pathological state, and provides important informa?tion for studies of diseases mechanism, clinical early diagnosis and prognosis prediction. Compared with tra?ditional clinical diagnostic method ( single index) , metabonomics method can more comprehensively analyze metabolites changes in the body. This review introduces the metabonomics and summarizes its application in thyroid diseases.

Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy(HCT)compared with chemotherapy (CT)for ovarian cancer. Methods Related literatures were searched by two independent investigators from the following electronic databases:PubMed,Cochrane Library,EMbase,VIP,WanFang Data,CNKI and CBM.Then the meta?analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software. Results A total of 10 RCTs involving 546 patients were included. The results of Meta?analysis showed that the HCT group was superior to the CT group in the effective rate,tumor control rate,effective rate of CA125,ascites control rate and PD,with significant differences(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the improvement rate of life quality and the incidences of myelosuppression,severe myelosuppression,severe nausea and vomiting,severe constipation and diarrhea,liver and renal damage(P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with CT,HCT can significantly increase short?term curative effect,ameliorate the quality of life,and it does not increase the incidence of adverse reactions. HCT is worthy of clinical applica?tion.