Objective　To study the effects of estradiol-17β (17β-E2) on the synthesis of GnRH and GH in submandibular gland of rat. Method　Immunohistochemical ABC method was used to observe the localization of GnRH and GH in submandibular gland of rat.Results　　The synthsis of GnRH was promoted and the synthesis of GH was inhibited by 17β-E2 in rat's submandibular gland.　Conclusion　The 17β-E2 may play an important regulative role in the synthesis of GnRH and GH.

Objective: Our aim was to study the role of telomerase activation in the course of cervical carcinogenesis and progression.Methods:Telomeric repeat amplification protocol(TRAP) assay was used to measure telomerase activity in tissue samples with various cervical conditions:40 with cervical cancer, 50 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN), 20 with normal cervice. Results:The positive rate of telomerase activity was 95.0%,44.0%, and 10.0% in cervical cancer, CIN, and normal cervices, respectively, which was significantly higher in cervical cancer than that in CIN and normal cervices, so was that in CIN than that in normal cervices (P<0.01) . The positive rate was 22.2%, 37.5%, and 75.0% in CINⅠ,Ⅱ, and Ⅲ, respectively, which was significantly higher in CINⅢ than that in CIN Ⅱand CINⅠ (P<0.01).Conclusion:Telomerase activation may relate to cervical carcinogenesis, which correlates well with the grade of cervical lesions.

OBJECTIVETo clarify the role of midkine (MK) in vulvar carcinogenesis though examination of its expression in vulvar lesions including vulvar condyloma acuminata (VCA), vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) and vulvar squamous cell carcinomas (VSCC), and to analyze the relationship between MK expression and human papilloma virus (HPV) infection.

METHODSThirty VSCC, 15 VIN and 10 VCA patients were studied by streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method. MK expression was compared with clinicopathologic features of vulvar tumors.

RESULTSMK was expressed in 26 of 30 VSCC (87%), 3 of 5 VIN III and all VCA samples, whereas no MK expression was detected in the VIN I-II samples or in normal epithelium. The difference of MK expression between VIN III and VSCC was statistically significant (P < 0.05). MK was more intensely expressed in differentiated-type (well differentiated and moderately differentiated) VSCC than in undifferentiated-type (poorly differentiated) VSCC. There was no statistically significant correlation between MK expression and clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and HPV infection in VSCC. MK expression were observed in all HPV-positive specimens including 2 VSCC, 1 VIN III and all VCA.

CONCLUSIONSMK gene expression may be a late event in vulvar squamous cell malignant transformation, and may be associated with vulvar tumor cell differentiation. HPV-positive vulvar tumors expressed MK protein.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; chemistry ; virology ; Carrier Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Condylomata Acuminata ; metabolism ; virology ; Cytokines ; Female ; Humans ; Papillomaviridae ; chemistry ; Papillomavirus Infections ; metabolism ; Precancerous Conditions ; chemistry ; virology ; Tumor Virus Infections ; metabolism ; Vulvar Diseases ; metabolism ; virology ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; chemistry ; virology

Objective To investigate the difference in the vulnerability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with unilateral and bilateral intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted among 44 patients with unilateral IPH (30 cases) or bilateral IPH (14 cases) in the carotid plaques detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in our hospital between December, 2009 and December, 2012. The age, maximum wall thickness and incidence of fibrous cap rupture were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with those with unilateral IPH, the patients with bilateral IPHs had a significantly younger age (66.6 ± 9.4 years vs 73.7 ± 9.0 years, P=0.027), a significantly greater maximum plaque thickness (6.3 ± 1.9 mm vs 5.0 ± 1.3 mm, P=0.035) and a higher incidence of ulcers (50% vs 13.3%, P=0.025). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between bilateral IPHs and the occurrence of ulcer with an odd ratio (OR) of 6.5 (95%confidence interval [CI]:1.5-28.7, P=0.014). After adjustment for gender in Model 1, bilateral IPHs were still significantly associated with presence of ulcer (OR=5.7, 95%CI: 1.1-29.2, P=0.036). But after adjustment for age (P=0.131) or maximum plaque thickness (P=0.139) in model 2, no significant correlation was found between bilateral IPHs and the presence of ulcer. Conclusion Compared with patients with unilateral IPH, those with bilateral IPHs are at a younger age and have a greater plaque burden and a higher incidence of fibrous cap rupture, suggesting a greater vulnerability of the carotid plaques in patients with bilateral IPHs.

Objective To investigate the difference in the vulnerability of carotid atherosclerotic plaques in patients with unilateral and bilateral intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted among 44 patients with unilateral IPH (30 cases) or bilateral IPH (14 cases) in the carotid plaques detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in our hospital between December, 2009 and December, 2012. The age, maximum wall thickness and incidence of fibrous cap rupture were compared between the two groups. Results Compared with those with unilateral IPH, the patients with bilateral IPHs had a significantly younger age (66.6 ± 9.4 years vs 73.7 ± 9.0 years, P=0.027), a significantly greater maximum plaque thickness (6.3 ± 1.9 mm vs 5.0 ± 1.3 mm, P=0.035) and a higher incidence of ulcers (50% vs 13.3%, P=0.025). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between bilateral IPHs and the occurrence of ulcer with an odd ratio (OR) of 6.5 (95%confidence interval [CI]:1.5-28.7, P=0.014). After adjustment for gender in Model 1, bilateral IPHs were still significantly associated with presence of ulcer (OR=5.7, 95%CI: 1.1-29.2, P=0.036). But after adjustment for age (P=0.131) or maximum plaque thickness (P=0.139) in model 2, no significant correlation was found between bilateral IPHs and the presence of ulcer. Conclusion Compared with patients with unilateral IPH, those with bilateral IPHs are at a younger age and have a greater plaque burden and a higher incidence of fibrous cap rupture, suggesting a greater vulnerability of the carotid plaques in patients with bilateral IPHs.

OBJECTIVETo build a protocol of separation and induction of megakaryocytes derived from cord blood mononuclear cells.

METHODSRed blood cells were precipitated by hydroxyethyl starch (HES). Mononuclear cells were obtained by density gradient centrifugation with Ficoll. The inducing efficiencies of megakaryocytes by using of different cytokine cocktails and culture media were analyzed.

RESULTSThe best choice for erythrocyte sedimentation and high efficiency of nucleated cells retrieving were obtained by using of 1.5% HES. The isolated cord blood mononuclear cells were cultured with domestic serum-free medium supplemented with 116t (IL-11, IL-6, TPO), st36(SCF, TPO, IL-3, IL-6), pt36 (PDGF,TPO,IL-3,IL-6) or pst36 for 7 days. St36 group (50 ng/ml SCF, 50 ng/ml TPO, 20 ng/ml IL-3 and 50 ng/ml IL-6) yielded the most CD41/CD61 positive [(6.79±1.97)×10⁴]. The cell viability [(82.85 ± 0.64)%] of st36 group by using of imported serum-free medium was better than [(60.90±6.93)%] that in domestic medium on day 7 after induction, and CD41/CD61 positive cells count [(18.60±1.97)×10⁴] were more than domestic serum-free medium group. Therefore, we chose imported serum-free medium containing st36 to induce cord blood mononuclear cells. After a prolonged culture, the total cell numbers increased accompanied with an elevated percentage of CD41/CD61 positive cells, which reached (54.27 ± 6.31)% on day 14. Wright-Giemsa staining showed that different phase cells, such as megakaryoblast, promegakaryocyte and granular megakaryocyte, occurred after 10 days'culture. Clone forming unit-megakarocytes (CFU-MK) assay showed that the colonies count increased with the prolonged incubation. CFU-MK colonies were [1 236.0±32.9] on day 14, which was higher than that in medium without induction (P<0.01). Platelets from megakaryocytes showed agglutination function after 10 days'culture.

CONCLUSION1.5% HES was the best solution to precipitate erythrocytes. The combination of an imported serum-free medium with IL-3, IL-6, SCF and TPO showed better induction efficiency than domestic medium or other cytokine cocktails. Meanwhile, induced megakaryocytes produced functional platelets.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Division ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells ; cytology