Expression of HLA class Ⅱ antigens(HLA-DR, DQ and DP), interleukin2 receptors(IL-2R) and transferrin receptors(TfR) of blood monocytes from 10 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes meIlitus (IDDM) were assayed with the indirect immune fluorescence technique using corresponding monoclonal antibodies and the FITC-labelled second antibody. The results showed that the number of HLA-DQ~+ monocytes was much more in diabetics than in normal controls. The percentages of HLA-DR~+ and HLA-DP~+ monocytes in diabetics were not different significantly from those in normal controls. Besides, IL-2R~+ and TfR~+ monocytes were also found to be very much increased in diabetics as compared with controls. It was possible that increased expression of HLA-DQ antigen, IL-2R and TfR of monocytes in patients with IDDM might play a role in the pathogenesis of the autoimmune reaction.

The present study demonstrated that bone marrow cells from diabetic rats were able to form cell clusters expressing insulin,C-peptide,glucagon,somatostatin and islet amyloid .polypeptide,and other genes associated with development and function of islets such as glucose transporter-2,glucokinase,glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor,PDX-1,Ngn3,NeuroDl,Pax-6 and NKX2.2 genes.These islet-like cells might be derived from adult stem cells in bone marrow.

OBJECTIVETo identify the FTIR spectroscopic characterization of breast cancer and explore the possibility of application of FTIR in differentiation of malignant and benign breast lesions.

METHODSFTIR spectra of surgically removed fresh breast tissues were measured by spectrometer equipped with mid-infrared fiber optics and an ATR probe. Peaks in the spectra were measured and relative intensity ratios were calculated and analyzed if there are significant differences between the spectra of malignant and benign breast lesions.

RESULTSThere were significant differences (P < 0.05) between the spectra of malignant breast cancers and benign breast tissues in the relative intensity ratios of different peaks (I1640/ I1550 and I1160/I1120 for protein structures; I1640/I1460 and I1550/I1460 for relative content of protein and lipid; I1460/I1400 for lipid structures; I1310/I1240 for nucleic acid).

CONCLUSIONFTIR spectroscopy could be a useful tool in clinical diagnosis of breast cancer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast ; chemistry ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipids ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared ; methods

OBJECTIVETo ascertain whether connexin 26 (Cx26) gene was a nuclear modifier gene in an extensive family with matrilineal nonsyndromic deafness associated with A1555G mutation in Huaiyin, China.

METHODSFollowing PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) with ApaI restriction enzyme, Cx26 genes from 26 cases, with A1555G mitochondrial mutations in this family, and 62 controls (including 2 patrilineal relatives, 10 spouse controls and 50 unrelated controls), were sequenced.

RESULTSCompared with the reference sequence of Cx26 gene, totally four kinds of nucleotide changes,79G -->A, 109G-->A, 341G-->A and 235delC, were detected in a heterozygous form. However, the former three were previously reported polymorphisms, and only the 235delC was a previously described recessive mutation associated with most autosomal nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss in Japan and China. Further study showed that the heterozygous 235delC mutation existed in both one individual with mild hearing loss and two individuals with normal hearing. Clinical characterization showed that 235delC mutation did not seem to modify the deafness phenotype due to the A1555G mutation. Moreover, this 235delC mutation was deduced to derive from a married-in control. Finally, there were no co-segregation between the phenotypes of hearing loss and the genotypes for Cx26 genes based on the four kinds of nucleotide changes.

CONCLUSIONSThe heterozygous 235delC mutation of the Cx26 gene may not modulate the severity of hearing loss associated with A1555G mutation and Cx26 gene is unlikely to be a modifier gene for hearing loss due to A1555G mitochondrial mutation in this Chinese family.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; Deafness ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sequence Analysis ; Young Adult

Objective: To explore the pregnancy outcome and disease status among patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) when they stopped TKI treatment during pregnancy. Methods: The clinical characteristics, reproductive outcomes and disease status of the patients who stopped TKI due to pregnancy between November 2004 to November 2017 were retrospectively collected. Results: A total of 14 CML patients in chronic phase (CML-CP), 12 patients were Sokal-low-risk. The median time of TKI treatment was 46.5 (15-123) months before the drug was stopped. The median age at the time of pregnancy was 29 (24-32) years. The median time of TKI exposure was 4 (0-9) weeks in 12 accidental pregnancies. Outcomes were available for 13 pregnancies, 9 cases (69.2%) delivered healthy babies, 1 case (7.7%) delivered polydactylia malformation baby, 3 cases (23.1%) had spontaneous abortion. The last one was still in pregnancy (no organ malformations were observed in color Doppler ultrasound). At the end of the follow up date, 10 children developed normal, the median age was 14 (0.7-65) months. Of the 14 patients who stopped TKI, 7 in complete molecular response (CMR), 3 in MR(4) (BCR-ABL(IS) <0.01%, ABL transcript >10 000), 2 in major molecular response (MMR), 2 in complete cytogenetic response (CCyR). The median time of TKI discontinuation during pregnancy was 33.5 (4-40) weeks. At the end of pregnancy, 4 cases were in CMR, 4 in MR(4), 1 in MMR and 4 in CCyR. No patients lost CCyR and complete hematologic remission. Conclusions: During the treatment of imatinib and Nilotinib, unplanned pregnancy may have a normal infant, but may lead to spontaneous abortion and congenital malformations. Female of CML-CP who had sustained and stable MMR at least 24 months and Sokal-low-risk had higher safety factor discontinued TKI during pregnancy, but still had a risk of increasing tumor load, so monitored the level of BCR-ABL of peripheral blood monthly during pregnancy is necessary.
Adult ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate/therapeutic use* ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy* ; Pregnancy ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the characteristics and prognosis of clonal chromosomal abnormalities appearing in Philadelphia negative metaphases (CCA/Ph(-)) cells in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. Methods: The clinical data of 30 cases with CCA/Ph(-) during TKI treatment in Henan Cancer Hospital from August 2007 to July 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The univariate factor was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. Multiple-factor was analyzed by Cox proportional risk model. Results: Of the 30 cases, 19 (63.3%) were males. At the first detection of CCA/Ph(-) the median age was 44 (rang 14-68) years old and the median treatment of TKI was 13 (rang 2-94) months. The clones proportion of first detected CCA/Ph(-)≥ 50% was found in 18 (60.0%) cases. TKI treatment for 3 months with BCR-ABL(IS) less than 10% was seen in 14 (46.7%) patients. 63.3% (19/30) of CCA/Ph(-) was transient (only one time) and 36.7% (11/30) was repeated (≥2 times) . Trisomy 8 dominant accounted for 60.0% (18/30) , -7/7q- for 13.3% (4/30) , loss of chromosome Y 6.7%. With a median of follow-up 50 months, 76.7% (23/30) cases were in complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) ; 63.3% (19/30) in major molecular response (MMR) , 43.3% (13/30) in undetectable minimal residual disease (UMRD) . The median event-free survival rate of (EFS) were 44 months, and 2-year and 5-year EFS were (82.1±7.3) % and (52.4±12.8) %, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) were 50 months, and 2-year and 5-year OS rates were (92.6±5.0) % and (77.2±14.7) %, respectively. Univariate analysis shows that the 2-year EFS of who in males, more than 2 times CCA/Ph(-), BCR-ABL(IS)>10% at 3 months after TKI were significantly lower than women, transient CCA/Ph(-), and BCR-ABL(IS)≤10% (P<0.05) . The 2-year OS rate in whom the occurrence frequency of CCA/Ph(-) more than twice was significantly lower than those with transient CCA/Ph(-) (P<0.05) . Multivariate analysis showed that CCA/Ph(-) was an independent risk factor (RR=4.741, 95%CI 1.21-18.571, P=0.018) for EFS in CML patients. Conclusion: Trisomy 8, -7/7q-, and -Y were the most common CCA/Ph(-) during TKI treatment, with high clones proportion of ≥50%. CCA/Ph(-) mainly occurred transiently or was permanent occasionally. CCA/Ph(-) recurrence (≥2 times) was an independent risk factor for EFS and OS in CML with TKI.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; Male ; Metaphase ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the methods of diagnosis and surgical treatment for nonfunctional islet cell tumor (NICT).

METHODSForty-four patients with non-functional islet cell tumor treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University during January 1968 to June 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 9 males and 35 females, aged from 7- to 70-years-old. Clinical manifestation: 15 cases (34.1%) of abdominal masses, 17 patients (38.6%) with epigastric or back pain, 5 cases of jaundice, 5 cases (11.4%) for upper abdominal fullness or vomiting, 10 cases (22.7%) of pancreatic tumor noticed by routine health checkups or imaging examinations. Imaging examination: CT scan, sonography, ERCP, MRI, upper GI series were performed in 33 (75.0%), 16 (36.4%), 6 (13.6%), 2 (4.5%), and 10 cases (22.7%) respectively. Operation methods: 39 patients (88.6%) underwent surgical resection and the other 5 patients did not.

RESULTS

COMPLICATIONSpancreatic fistula in 7 patients (15.9%), intra-abdominal bleeding in 4 (9.1%), gastrojejunal anastomosis outlet obstruction in 1 (2.3%), biliary fistula in 2 (4.5%) and incisional infection in 3 (6.8%). Surgery related mortality happened in 2 patients (4.5%), both treated before 1999. Twenty-five patients underwent operation between January 1999 and June 2008 were followed up for 6 to 108 months. All survive except one died 75 months after the surgery for unknown reason.

CONCLUSIONSNo specific clinical manifestation is recognized for non-functional islet cell tumor. Spiral CT is an optimal diagnostic method, while surgery is the first choice for treatment. Middle segmental pancreatectomy has become an alternative surgical protocol for NICT.

Adenoma, Islet Cell ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatectomy ; methods ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo address the question whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could lower responsiveness of allogeneic T lymphocytes against alloantigens, and explore a feasible strategy for prevention of graft versus host disease (GVHD) occurred in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

METHODST cells were co-cultured with (60)Co-irradiated bone marrow MSCs from different individuals. The proliferative activity of T cells and their reactivity to allogeneic cells and ConA were evaluated with (3)H-TdR incorporation assay.

RESULTST cells could not be activated upon primary or even secondary exposure to allogeneic MSCs (compared the CPM value of 27,529 +/- 969 of T cell alone with that of primary and secondary exposures to allogeneic MSCs were 9,126 +/- 654 and 13,260 +/- 874, respectively). When MSCs were induced to express HLA-DR, they still could not elicit T cell activation. The proliferation rate of allogenous T cells exposed to MSCs was dramatically declined when T cells from the same donor's MSCs were used as stimulator (CPM value decreased from 45,876 +/- 5285 before coculture to 9850 +/- 1618 after coculture). Furthermore, the results remained unchanged even ConA was added into the culture system.

CONCLUSIONSHeterogenetic MSCs could suppress T cell activation. MSCs pretreatment might be useful in the prevention of GVHD in HLA-mismatched bone marrow transplantation.

Bone Marrow Cells ; immunology ; Cell Communication ; immunology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Graft vs Host Disease ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between c-reactive protein (CRP) and blood pressure in a general population.

METHODSWe randomly selected 3889 subjects aged 18 - 74 years stratified by gender and age in Baqiao, a rural area of Jiangsu Province. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on medical history, smoking, alcohol intake and use of medications. Blood pressure was measured by mercury sphygmomanometer. Serum CRP (hCRP) concentration was measured using a high sensitivity BNprosec immunonephelometric assay. Subjects were divided into 4 groups according to their interquartile range of CRP levers: group Q1 (men hCRP < 2.04 mg/L; women hCRP < 1.80 mg/L); group Q2 (men 2.04 mg/L ≤ hCRP < 3.01 mg/L; women 1.80 mg/L ≤ hCRP < 2.76 mg/L); group Q3 (men 3.01 mg/L ≤ hCRP < 4.14 mg/L; women 2.76 mg/L ≤ hCRP < 3.84 mg/L); and group Q4 (men 4.14 mg/L ≤ hCRP; women 3.84 mg/L ≤ hCRP).

RESULTSSystolic blood pressure (SBP, adjusted P = 0.016) and pulse pressure (PP, adjusted P = 0.003) of men and PP (adjusted P = 0.002) of women were increased in proportion to increased CRP levels. Diastolic blood pressure was not associated with CRP levels. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that logCRP was independently associated with SBP and PP in men and PP in women. hCRP was independently associated with hypertension in men. Compared with group Q1, male people in group Q4 faced a 40.4% (95% confidence interval: 4.9% - 87.9%) higher risk of hypertension.

CONCLUSIONShCRP was independently associated with PP in men and women, and SBP in men. hCRP was independently associated with hypertension in men but not in women in this study population.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; epidemiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Sex Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Adolescent ; Busulfan ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; mortality ; therapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; mortality ; therapy ; Male ; Mycophenolic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; mortality ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome