Objective To evaluate the frequency of the infections with Ureaplasma urealyticum and/or Mycoplasma honinis in preterm 23 to 32 week births and the association with the outcomes of new born. Methods One hundred and eighty-seven mother/premature infant dyads with deliveries between 23 and 32 weeks gestational age. Ueaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma honinis and IL-6 were determined by PCR and radioimmunity. Medical information and outcome of newborns were recorded. Results Compared with control group, the incidence of Ureaplasma urealyticum and/or Mycoplasma honinis, IL-6 and preterm premature rupture of the fetalmembranes ( PPROM ) were higher in spontaneous group. The PPROM were more common among infants with a positive Ureaplasma urealyticum and/or Mycoplasma honinis. Infants with positive cord blood Ureaplasma urealyticum and/or Mycoplasma honinis were likely to have neonatal systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but not significantly different for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Conclusion Infection with Ureaplasma urealyticum and/or Mycoplasma honinis may play an important role in the causal pathway for spontaneous preterm labor, and impact the outcome of premature infants.

Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Feasibility Studies ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Radionuclide Imaging

The difference of gene expression profile changes in Barrett's esophagus (BE) and cardia intestinal metaplasia (CIM) epithelium was studied and the novel associated genes were screened in the early stage by cDNA microarray. The cDNA retro-transcribed from equal quantity mRNA from BE and CIM epithelial tissues were labeled with Cy3 and Cy5 fluorescence as probes. The mixed probe was hybridized with three pieces BiostarH-40s double dot human whole gene chip. The chips were scanned with a ScanArray 4000. The acquired images were analyzed using GenePix Pro 3.0 software. It was found a total of 141 genes were screened out that exhibited differentially expression more than 2 times in all three chips. It was identified that in gene expression profiles of BE, 74 genes were up-regulated and 67 down-regulated as compared with CIM. The comparison between the difference of gene expression profile changes in BE and CIM epithelia revealed that there existed the difference between BE and CIM at gene level. 141 genes with the expression more than two time were probably related to the occurrence and development of BE and the promotion or progress in adenocarcinoma.

Purpose:To study the therapeutic effects of beta-ultrasound guided percutaneous alternating cryogenic- heating therapy(ACHT) through liver puncture combined with other regional therapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods:68 patients with advanced hepatocelluar carcinomas were divided into 4 groups.Group A,17 patients are treated with ACHT plus transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE).Group B,16 patients were treated with ACHT plus intravenous chemotherapy;GroupC,19 patients were treated with TACE only;GroupD,16 patients were treated with in- travenous chemotherapy only.Results:In ACHT+TACE group,the rate of complete response(CR) plus partial response (PR) was 88.2%,the 0.5-,1-year survival rates were 94.1%,94.1%,the rate of AFP decreased was 84.6%.In ACHT+ ICT group,the rate of complete response(CR) plus partial response(PR) was 87.5%,the 0.5-,1-year survival rates were 87.5%,68.8%,the rate of AFP decreased was 78.6%.In the TACE group,the rate of complete response(CR) plus par- tial response(PR) was 57.6%,the 0.5-,1-year survival rates were78.9%,42.1%,the rate of AFP decreased was 69.2%. In ICT group,the rate of complete response(CR) plus partial response(PR) was 25.0%,the 0.5-,1-year survival rates were 50.0%,18.8%,the rate of AFP decreased was 41.7%.For CR+PR,ACHT+TACE group and ACHT+ICT group were significantly higher than TACE group and ICT group,but significant changes between ACHT+TACE group and ACHT +ICT group were not found.For survival rates,ACHT+TACE group was significantly higher than the other 3 groups, ACHT+ICT group was significantly higher than ICT group.There were no serious side effects after chemotherapy except that 5 patients' leucocytes decreased to degree Ⅲ.The postoperative complications after ACHT included bleeding,hemoglo- binuria and reactive thoracic,which disappeared after short term treated.Conclusions:Alternating cryogenic-heating therapy (ACHT) through liver puncture combined with other regional therapy is effective in treating advanced hepatocellular carci- noma and its side effects and postoperative complications are mild.

Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurosurgery ; trends

Objective To observe the effect and significance of high-expression HOXB4 in controlling proliferation and cycle of human cartilage endplate stem cells (CESCs).Methods CESCs were divided into adenovirus-mediated HOXB4 delivery group (Group A),empty virus delivery group (Group B) and blank control group.Gene and protein expressions of HOXB4 in Group A were detected by PCR and Western blot respectively; cell proliferation among those groups were determined using cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) technique; cell cycle among those groups was measured by propidium iodide (PI) assay and flow cytometry.Results (1) Over-expressed HOXB4 virus was transferred to CESCs successfully; (2) Real-time quantitative PCR results showed 3.6 times higher expression of HOXB4 in Group A than in blank control group.Western blotting indicated HOXB4 protein in Group A was 3 times the level in control group; (3) HOXB4 promoted CESCs proliferation (P ＜ 0.05) and blocked the cells at phase S.Cells at phase S in Group A was increased from 29.27 to 30.28 (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Over-expressed HOXB4 accelerates proliferation of CESCs and increases cell population at phase S,indicating that HOXB4 hindering CESCs degeneration may be an approach to treat lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; analysis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism

AIM:To study the direct reprogramming method of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) conver-ted into induced neural stem cells (iNSCs).METHODS:Sox2-infected MEFs were cultured in NSCs culture medium for 10 d.Subsequently , repeated suspension and adherent culture were performed for 3 times for the purification of iNSCs .The iNSCs were cultured in suspension medium .Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of neural stem cell marker genes and pluripotent marker gene .In vivo, iNSCs were microinjected into the mouse cerebral cortex .Immunofluorescence was performed to detect the expression of neural stem cell , neuron, oligodendrocyte and astrocyte markers in vitro and vivo. RESULTS:A variety of neural stem cell marker gene expression was significantly increased in iNSCs detected by real -time PCR.Immunofluorescence confirmed that iNSCs expressed nestin and differentiated into neurons , oligodendrocytes and as-trocytes in vitro and vivo.CONCLUSION:Sox2 is sufficient to trigger the direct reprogramming from MEFs to iNSCs .iN-SCs have the ability of self-renew and 3 differentiation potentials in vivo and vitro.iNSCs are the suitable seed cells of SCI .

Fifty oocytes were studied with light microscope and electron microscope. The shape of oocyte is round, about 50—100?m in diameter. The nucleus is large and spheroidal in shape. The diameter of the nucleus is 15—20?m. All the oocytes are surrounded by zona pellucida and follicular cells. Call-Exner bodies are seen between these follicular cells. A great number of microvilli are present on the surface of oocytes. The paired membranes of nucleus envelope is clearly seen. There are a lot of nuclear pores on nuclear envelope, about 4,000/mm~2. The nuclear pore complex is disinct. The cytoplasm of oocyte abounds with organelles which are distributed regularly. The cristae of mitochondria are short and scarety. The mitochondrial matrix becomes very dense. The cavities of endoplasmic reticulum are distended. Well developed Golgi complex are usually found at the periphery of oocytes. Annulate lamellae consist of parallel flat sacs with a length of 1.5—2.0?m. There are structures like nuclear pores on the flat sac. Some bunchs of fibrous material in the cytoplasm of oocytes are called yolk plates Each yolk plate consists of a regular alternating dark and light bands with a periodicity of 20nm. Cortical granules are round with a diameter of 0.2—0.4?m. They are wrapped up in a membrane. Their electron density is high.

In the experiments we used T_6 medium prepared by ourselves and mixed with diferent concentrations of human serum albumin or mother's serum, from which we prepared follicular flushing medium, insemination medium and growth medium. Clomiphene citrate and HCG were used for inducing superovulation. The semen was obtained through masturbation and artificially capacitated. A mature ovum and 2-3 drops of capacitated semen were incubated together in insemination medium in the culture box containing 5% CO_2 in air atmosphere at 37℃. The ovum was aspirated and transferred into the growth medium and incubated for 16-17 hours. By this time the ovum was already fertilized with the appearance of 2 pronuclei. About 30 hrs, it normally developed into two-cell stage, 40-44 hrs, it cleavaged into 4-cell stage. After 72 hrs, the fertilized ovum grew into morula. Up to June, 1986 twentythree ova in vitro fertilized and cultured were transfered into 14 mothers, uteri at the four-cell stage. The details of fertilization and the early embryo development in vitro were described.