As master genes during embryogenesis, Homeobox(Hox) genes play important roles not only in embryonic development, cellular growth and differentiation and the expression of the specific genes of some tissue, but also in controlling hematopoietic tissue development and differentiation in a germ line -specific and stage-specific. At present studies showed there is a close relationship between Hox genes and tumorgenesis. This article reviews the advances in the research on correlation between homeobox genes and tumorgenesis.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of regulation of endothelium participating angiogenesis by macrophage. Methods Human umbilical vein cell line (ECV-304) was cultured. When 60% of the ECV-304 cells became confluent, human macrophage cell line (U937) after being stimulated by concanavalin A (Con A) was co-cultured with them. The cells were then divided into four groups, i.e. control group (pure ECV-304 culture), co-culture group of Con A with ECV-304, co-culture group of U937 with ECV-304, and co-culture group of U937 with Con A and ECV-304. After 48 hours of co-culture, the morphology of ECV-304 cells was observed under invert microscope, and the changes in cell cycle of ECV-304 were determined by flow cytometry. In addition, the changes in the expression levels of homeobox (HOX) B2 mRNA and VEGF receptor KDR of endothelia cells were assessed by RT-PCR. Results In ECV-304 co-cultured with Con A and U937 group, inter-endothelial gaps were found to be widened, cell shape became abnormal with obvious processes simulating neurons, and the endothelial S phase was prolonged significantly (P

Objective To explore the role of active macrophages on the vascular endothelial participation in angiogenesis. Methods Vasculuar endothelial cell line ECV-304 was inoculated and cultured to 60% confluence.ECV-304 cells were then cultured lonely, with ConA(24?g/ml), with macrophage cell line U937(1?10 5/ml) or with U937 and ConA together to make four groups.The change of the ECV-304 cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry and that of the DNA synthesis was detected by 3H-TdR incorporation test. The change of the expression of endothelial VEGF receptor KDR mRNA was detected by RT-PCR while that of the integrin receptor ? ? ? 3 expression by immune fluorescent antibody technique on flow cytometry. Results Endothelial cells in S phase increased obviously with increased DNA synthesis in ECV-304 cells stimulated by active macrophages. In addition, the expression levels of the VEGF receptor KDR mRNA and integrin receptor ? ? ? 3 up-regulated significantly(P

Objective To investigate the effect of strong ion-irradiation and active macrophage on vascular endothelial cells. Methods The vascular endothelial cells(ECV-304) were divided into 3 groups: ECV304(A), ECV-304 with radiation (B)and ECV-304 with active macrophage U937 and radiation(C). The survival rates, cell cycle and apoptosis of ECV-304 were determined 48 hours after irradiation. The concentrations of TGF-?1 and VEGF in the cultured supernatant were determined by ELISA method.The protein expression of the endothelial receptor KDR in ECV-304 cells was detected by immunofluorescence and flow-cytometry while its mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR. Results After high dose of ion-irrdiation, the cellular proliferation activity decreased, apopototic cells increased and the cell ratio in G2/M phase increased.In addition,The secretion of VEGF and TGF-?1 was promoted with the increased KDR expression. Active macrophages could alleviate the decrease of cellular proliferation and the increase of apoptotic cells and cell ratio in G2/M phase induced by ion-irriation.Furthermore,the VEGF secretion and the KDR expression were enhanced and the secretion of TGF-?1 was inhibited by the active macrophages. Conclusions Ion irradiation could induce the decrease of cellular proloferation, the increase of apoptotic cells and the cells in G2/M phase.This might partly be related to the inhibiting roles of TGF-?1 secreted by the ECV-304 cells.Active macrophages might protect the endothelial cells from radiation injury.

0.05);group C is the lowest-cost treatment options and the most economical one.

The canine model to study inhalaton injury established in our lab was employed,and neutrophil NADPH oxidase activity,blood gas analysis,lung water volume,chest radiographs,and pulmonary histopathological changes were observed in the dogs after they were exposed to smoke inhalaton.It was found that carbon monoxide poisoning,hypoxemia,metabolic aci-dosisi respiratory alkalosis and lung damage developed rapidly and early after smoke inhalation;white blood cells disappeared from the circulation 5 minutes after injury onward;the activity of neutrophil NADPH oxidase increased gradually from the 30th minute to the 6th hour after injury,then decreased and approached to its preinjury level in the 12th hour after injury.It is postulated on the basis of the above findings that neutrophils would accumulate in the lungs after smoke inhalation and experince a "respiratory burst" characterized by the activation of NADPH oxidase and the production of large amounts of oxygen and other active oxygen radicals,which would play a significant role in the pathogenesis of acute lung damage in the early stage of smoke inhalation injury.

The dynamica changes of the activity of serum tumor necrosis factor(TNF)was determined in 24 patients with severe burns,and the changes of cardiac and hepatic enzymes,plasma lactate and glucose,serum protein,WBC count etc were determined as well.It was found that TNF was produced in large amounts to damage and degenerate the vascular endothe-lium.Consequently intravascular emboli were more liable to occur to result in tissue hypoxia.TNF could also induce the release of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs)from the bone marrow.PMNs by chemotacsis accumulated in the inflammatory tissues to produce large amounts of toxic products,which could damage the cells and tissues directly to result in multiple organ failure.Furthermore,TNF,through the mediation of pyrogen and cachectin,could induce febrile reaction,exhaustion of glycogen reserve,and increment of muscular protein catabolism.Eventually the energy consumption of the host would be incresed and his defensive function weakened.

Objective To promote the understanding and diagnostic acuity of Hirayama disease by studying the features of electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction. Methods EMG was performed in 33 patients with Hirayama disease. Surface electrode was applied to examine the median nerve, cubital nerve, musculospiral nerve and part of the popliteal nerve, and the motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV), distal motor latency (DML) and the amplitude of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) were recorded. The sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) was also examined in the median nerve, cubital nerve and part of the sural nerve. Results The neurogenic abnormalities were detected in extremity muscles, with exception of brachioradial muscle, of upper limbs. In all the 33 patients damage was found on the illness-side and 97.0% on the contralateral side. One patient was found to have neurogenic abnormality of brachioradial muscle and 4 of proximal muscles, including 1 in whom muscle of lower limbs was involved. EMG abnormality rate of distal muscles (89.9%) was significantly higher than that of the proximal muscles of upper limbs (6.7%) and also muscles of lower limbs (1.7%). EMG also showed that there was delayed distal motor latency (DML) and decreased wave amplitude of compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in the nerves of upper limbs. statistically significant difference was found between the CMAP amplitude of affected limb (2.52?1.83mV) and the contralateral upper limb (9.82?3.57mV) by the detection of ulnar nerve conduction, while no difference and no nerve block were found between the DML of affected limb (4.25?1.33ms) and the contralateral upper limb (3.28?0.36ms). Conclusions Electrophysiological changes may be detected in some patients with subclinical Hirayama disease, of which the electrophysiological test is valuable in establishing early diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the bacterial distribution and resistance to antibiotics of severely burned patients in our institute.Methods The bacteria culture of secretions from burn wounds was performed and bacterial susceptibility testing was carried out using Kirby-Bauer method.The correlation data were compared with those of years 1985～1998. Results gramnegative bacteria were still more than grampositive ones. Pseudomonas aeruginosa took the first place in gramnegative bacteria and staphylococcus aureus was the most often dectected grampositive bacteria. Almost all isolated bacteria had an increasing drug resistance to frequently used antibiotics. Conclusions More efforts should be put on to the regular bacteriological surveys and antibiotics usage to postpone the occurrence of drug resistance of bacteria and lengthen the effective period of antibiotics.

Objective To evaluate the progress and experience in treatment of burn patients in the past 10 years (1993～2002) so as to bring forth ideas for further researches in burn surgery. Methods The general clinical data, complications, survival rate and causes of death in 5378 burn patients treated in our institute were collected and analyzed. The results were compared with those cases treated in our hospital during the years 1983～1992. Results in the past 10 years, there were no significant differences in the general clinical data including age, sex, causes, location, burn area and depth, incidence of combined injury and inhalation injury compared with those in the years 1983～1992. The survival rate of the cases in past 10 years was higher than that of the cases in the years 1983～1992. The main causes of death were organ dysfunction, inhalation injury and infection, among which the incidence of organ dysfunction stood foremost.Conclusions The results suggest that hypoxemia due to severe burn shock and inhalation injury, and endotoxin derived from burn wound still are the main causes of burn death. Protection of the body from early damage of postburn remains to be the most urgent problem in the burn research at present.