Purpose:To study the expression of CD44v6 protein in breast carcinoma and its prognostic significance. Methods:100 cases of formalin-fixed paraffin-embeded female breast invasive ductal carcinoma tissues were retrospectively analyzed using EnVision~(TM) immunohistochemical method with the monoclonal antibody CD44v6.Statistical analysis was based on the Log-rank test and Cox analysis.Results:Sixty-six of 100 cancer tissues expressed CD44v6.Positive staining was mainly on the cell membranes.There was significant correlation between CD44v6 immunoreactivity and lymph node me- tastasis and TNM stage.The 5-and 10-year survival rates were 82.76% and 78.37% of patients with CD44v6 low-expres- sion tumors,and 64.1% and 49.88% of those with CD44v6 high-expression tumors,respectively;the difference between the two groups of patients was significant(P

Aim To evaluate the antianginal efficacy of trimetazidine in combination with other regular anti-ischemic drugs in the treatment of stable angina. Methods Twenty-two male cases with stable,effort-induced angina and positive exercise ECG test were treated with trimetazidine for 12 weeks.Exercise ECG test was examined again in the end of the study. Results There were obviously increased in exercise tolerance,total exercise workload after treatment(P

Objectives:To investigate the effects of zinc supplements on the nutritional state of gut mucosa after major burns. Methods:Weanling rats were fed zinc deficient chows (zinc content: 1.6 ?g/g) for seven days to induce zinc deficient status. Then 20% TBSA deeper second degree scalds were made and the rats were divided into three groups fed on chows different in zinc contents. Zinc contents were 1.6 ?g/g, 24.7 ?g/g, 286.9 ?g/g respectively. A group of rats fed normal zinc content (24.7 ?g/g) diets before and after scalds was designed as control. Rats were killed on the eighth day after burns and certain sections of jejunum and ileum were resected. Vincristine was injected 6 hours before they were killed, which was supposed to block cell division in metaphase. DNA and protein contents as well as crypt cell production rate (CCPR) were calculated. Results: DNA contents and CCPR of jejunal mucosa were markedly improved in the group of zinc supplements. Protein contents were also improved to some extent. The same trend could be seen in ileac mucosa too. Conclusions: Zinc plays an important role on the nutritional states and proliferation of gut mucosal cells. To supplement zinc after major burns in rats with zinc deficent could help to repair the injured intestinal mucosa.

Background Excessive production,deposition and contraction of extracellular matrix (ECM) of human lens endothelial cells (LECs) is one of main causes to posterior capsular opacification (PCO).Researches indicated that Wnt3a protein was involved in production of ECM and fibrosis in epithelial cells,but its effect on LECs is still unclear.Objective This study aimed to elucidate the roles of Wnt3a in production of ECM and gel contraction of LECs.Methods Lipofectamine-mediated transient transfection technique was used to introduce cDNA of Wnt3a gene and pcDNA3-HA vector into the LEC cell line SRA01/04 to act as Wnt3a transfection group and control group respectively.After 48 h of transfection,Western blot was used to detect the expression of Wnt3a,main components of ECM Col-Ⅰ,Col-Ⅳ and integrin β1.Immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression and distrubition of α-SMA and F-actin;collagen contraction was observed by mingling SRA01/04 cells with Col-Ⅰ.Results After 48 hours of transfection using lipofectamine 2000,the expressions of wnt3a protein in SRA01/04 cells was 0.703 ±0.105 in the wnt3a transfected group,and that in the control group was 0.290 ± 0.066,showing a significant difference between the two groups (t =5.782,P＜0.01).Western blot assay showed that the expression levels of Col-Ⅰ and Integrin β1 was 0.697±0.021 and 0.875±0.055 in the Wnt3a transfected group,and which was significantly higher than 0.370±0.020 and 0.580±0.030 in the control group (t =19.600,8.156,both P＜0.01).The expression level of Col Ⅳ in the Wnt3a transfected group was higher than that of the control group (0.430±0.020 vs 0.383 ±0.031),but the difference was not significant (t =2.514,P＞0.05).Immunofluorescence assay revealed that F-actin and α-SMA were weakly expressed in the cell membrane primarily in the control group,while they were strongly expressed in the cell membrane,cytoplasma in the Wnt3a transfected group.Tewnty-four hours after addtion of Col-Ⅰ,the gel contraction area ratio appeared to be more obvious in comparison with the 8 hours (64.1％ ±2.3％ vs 98.9％ ± 1.0％),and gel contraction area ratio was lower in the Wnt3a transfected group than that in the control group (64.1％ ± 2.3％ vs 93.9％ ± 3.1％).Conclusions The overexpression of Wnt3a activates the production of ECM,and the remodeling of celluar skeleton and cellular contraction.

AIM: To investigate the role of epigenetic modification in Pdx-1 gene transcription and expression, and to compare the differences between epigenetic modifications of Pdx-1 gene promoter in various cell types of mice. METHODS: The promoter DNA methylation and histone modification status of Pdx-1 and MLH1 genes in NIT-1 cells, NIH3T3 cells and mouse embryonic stem cells were measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation-real time PCR method. The expression levels of these genes in the three cell lines were measured by real time RT-PCR. The relation between epigenetic modifications and gene expression was analyzed. RESULTS: (1) Compared to mES cells, there was lower DNA methylation and higher H3K4m3 modification levels in the promoter of Pdx-1 gene in NIT-1 cells (P<0.05). DNA methylation, H3 acetylation, H3K4m3 and H3K9m3 modification levels in the promoter of Pdx-1 gene in NIH3T3 cells were distinctly increased (P<0.05). (2) Pdx-1 gene transcription expressed only in NIT-1 cells. The Spearman's rho between Pdx-1 gene expression and DNA methylation (r=-0.802,P<0.01) was observed. The Pearson correlation between Pdx-1 gene expression and H3K4m3 modification (r=0.997,P<0.01) was also found. The Spearman's rho between Pdx-1 gene expression and H3K9m3 modification (r=-0.879,P<0.01) was observed. (3) No correlation between housekeeper MLH1 gene expression and epigenetic modification was found. CONCLUSION: DNA methylation, H3K4m3 and H3K9m3 modification coordinated participate to regulate and control the expression of Pdx-1 gene. It is of great significance to the differentiation of β cells from ES cells.

Objective To observe the clinical effect of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)combined with autologous peripheral blood stem cells(PBSC)transplantation in the treatment of lower extremity ischemic disorders.Methods Fourty-two cases of lower extremity ischemic disorders in the treatment group were treated with PTA and autologous peripheral blood stem cells injection and 40 cases in control group were treated with PTA exclusively.Results All the procedures were successful.In treatment group,ABI improved from 0.32 ±0.11 to(at the 3rd month)and 0.49 ±0.13(at the 6th month)(t=-6.765,-6.040,P＜0.05)while TcPO_2 improved from(26.1 ± 2.3)mm Hg to(32.7 ±4.2)mm Hg(at the 3rd month)and(34.5 ±2.7)mm Hg(at the 6th month)(t=-8.901,-14.250,P＜0.05).In control group,ABI improved from 0.30 ±0.12 to 0.47 ±0.15 and 0.47 ±0.130=-5.631,-5.873,P＜0.05)while TcPO_2 increased from(25.9 ±2.4)mm Hg to(28.9 ±2.9)mm Hg(at the 3rd month)and(28.9 ± 2.1)mm Hg(at the 6th month)(t=-5.090,-5.389,P＜0.05).There was significant difference in TcPO_2 on follow-up between the two groups after the treatment(P＜0.05).Conclusion Autologous PBSC transplantation in combination of PTA was effective for the treatment of lower extremity ischemic disorders.PBSC injection helps to increase TcPO_2.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical effects of suture anchors technique for acute distal avulsion fracture of patella. Methods From January 2007 to July 2009, 33 patients(18males and 15 females, ranging from 28 to 72 years, with an average of 49.3 years) were treated with the suture anchors technique. The average time from injury to surgery was 3.5 days(2 to 7 d). Injury reason: traffic accident in 12 cases, injured in daily life in 11 cases, sports injury 9 cases, no clear trauma history in one case. The Bostman evaluation system, follow-up X-ray, and knee mobility were used to analyze the clinical effects of suture anchors technique. Results All patients obtained the follow-up and the average time was 16.5 months(12 to 23 months ). One patient suffered foreign body reaction, and his wound healing was good after operation. The remaining patient wound healing was good. No complications were found in all patients,such as popliteal fossa artery, tibial nerves or peroneal nerve complication. Bostman patella fracture functional score 27.3±2.3 points at the sixth months follow up, 28 cases were rated as excellent, 5 cases were good, and the excellent and good rate was 100%. Six months later, X-ray showed bone healing, knee activity recovered well. The Range of Motion was extension for -2.5°±2.1° and flexion for 122°±5.3°. Conclusion Suture anchors fixation in treatment of acute distal avulsion fracture of patella has a good efficacy, safety and reliability advantages, and without the second operation. This technique provides an alternative in lower pole patella fracture.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dipyridamole ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; drug therapy ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

Objective To improve the key steps of direct volume rendering(DVR) method to obtain ideal semitransparent 3D visualization of medical images from 2D slices.Method An arbitrary data set was classified into a simple one and a complex one according to the boundaries existing within the data set,thereby a piecewise linear function was used to construct the transfer function(TF).Low-grayed voxels were regarded as a kind of material which did not radiate but do induce attenuation of sampling lights.The TF was adjusted according to the opacity distribution when one resampling process ends,and the rendering procedure was completed.Result Interior structures of tissues in different levels were rendered.Conclusion Multi-level visualization of 3D medical images for the semitransparent effect can be obtained by considering all the tissues in the data set as semitransparent materials.