Objective To study the value of DSA for hepatic vascular anatomy,and to evaluate the efficacy of portal vein occlusion in rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumor.Methods Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups with 10 in each group,including test group A and positive control group B of ham operation.For the test group A,portal branch ligation(PBL)was performed for the left external branch after 3 weeks of the tumor implantation to the left external lobe.Two weeks later,the DSA of hepatic artery and portal vein were performed in all of the rabbits.Results The total displaying effectiveness of the branches of hepatic artery by DSA was better than that by vascular perfusion.There was hypovascular blood supply to hepatic artery implantation of the tumor in the test group A,comparing with that of the group B.Conclusion DSA can clearly display spacial details of the hepatic vascular anatomy in rabbits,and play an important role in post-procedual evaluation of the portal vein occlusion in rabbits.

OBJECTIVETo further analyse the relationship between the new technology and clinical characteristics in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) patients, and summarize the data of PNH during the past 15 years in China.

METHODS76 consecutive patients with PNH diagnosed in Peking Union Medical Colleague Hospital from 1997 - 2011 retrospectively.

RESULTSMost of the patients were diagnosed based on flow cytometric data. There were 46 male and 30 female patients. The median age at diagnosis was 40 (10 - 74). 46 (60.5%) patients presented with classical PNH, 16 (21.1%) pancytopenia, and 14 (18.4%) thrombosis. Anatomic locations of first thrombosis were intra abdominal in 7 patients, lower extremities in 3 patients, intracerebral in 2 patients, and pulmonary thrombosis in 2 patients. The size of PNH clone at first determination (shown by CD55 and CD59 negative percentage) was (61.23 ± 27.47)% and (60.24 ± 25.59)% on neutrophils; (34.24 ± 25.50)% and (32.22 ± 23.12)% on erythrocytes, respectively. The mean LDH level was (1199.2 ± 893.5) U/L. In our cohort, 13(17.0%) patients suffered from renal deficiency, 12 (15.8%) patients cholecystolithiasis, 10 (13.2%) patients hemorrhage and 9 (11.8%) patients infections. In a median of 7-year (range 0.5 - 20 years) follow-up (68 patients), 2 (2.9%) patients developed into myelodysplastic syndromes/ acute myeloid leukemia, 1(1.5%) patient ovary cancer, 11(14.5%) patients died. Patients with thrombosis had higher percentage of CD59 negative neutrophils \[(73.45 ± 22.32)%\] compared with those without thrombosis \[(58.3 ± 20.2)%\] (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe cohort had higher percentage of classical hemolysis, thrombosis and renal dysfunction compared with previous reports in China. Patients with thrombotic events had higher percentages of CD55 and CD59 negative neutrophils.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; CD59 Antigens ; Child ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutrophils ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to explore the expression of survivin in leukemia cells and to investigate the effect of GM-CSF on survivin expression. The survivin expressions in 37 previously untreated leukemia patients and 10 normal persons as well as in three kinds of leukemia cell lines (K562, HL-60, U937) were analyzed by RT-PCR. The HL-60 cells were treated by the proper concentration of GM-CSF, and the changes of survivin mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by using RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The results indicated that the positive rate of survivin gene in 37 leukemia patients was 67.6% (25/37) and significantly higher than that in normal control (20.0%). The expression level was higher in ALL cells than that in AML cells (73.3% vs 63.6%). Moreover, three kinds of leukemia cell lines all expressed survivin. After treating with the proper concentration of GM-CSF for 2 days, the expression of survivin obviously increased and the expression level of survivin mRNA was up-regulated by 26%, the expression level of survivin protein was up-regulated by 49%. It is concluded that the survivin gene extensively express in leukemia and its cell lines, and its expression can be obviously increased by GM-CSF.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; metabolism ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; metabolism ; U937 Cells

OBJECTIVEIn order to study the pathogenesis of latex allergy and the significance in the prevention and cure of occupational diseases.

METHODS651 cases in the out-patient department were tested with skin prick test (SPT), and the specific IgE (sIgE) to latex were detected by means of disk ELISA and Western-blot.

RESULTSIt was found that the positive rate of latex SPT (37.5%) and sIgE (31.25%) were rather higher in patients in comparison with those of the normal. The positive rate of latex sIgE was much higher in the high-risk group than that of the low-risk group and the normal. The serum of the patients can react with multi-bands in the latex glove extracts.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of latex allergy is rather high, this disease is mediated by IgE. The people in high-risk should be tested by latex allergy in order to take proper occupational and daily protection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Latex Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Outpatients ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy and adverse effects between arsenic trioxide (ATO) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).

METHODSThe clinical data of 71 patients with newly diagnosed APL were retrospectively analyzed. Two groups were classified according to the induction regimens, namely ATO group (n = 41) and ATRA group (n = 30). The complete remission (CR) rate and the time to CR were compared between these two groups.

RESULTSThe CR rate was 97.5% in ATO group and 93.3% in ATRA group (P > 0.05). The median time to CR was 29 days (21-45 days) in ATO group, which was significantly shorter than 38.5 days (24-63 days) in ATRA group (P < 0.001). Retinoic acid syndrome occurred in 52.9% of patients treated with ATRA, which affected the further use of ATRA.

CONCLUSIONSBoth ATO and ATRA have high response rates for newly diagnosed patients with APL. Compared with ATRA, ATO induction therapy has shorter time to achieve CR and less adverse effects, and therefore may be the first-line therapy for APL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arsenicals ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Tretinoin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of RhoA down-regulation by RNA interference on the invasion of tongue carcinoma Tca8113 and SCC-4.

METHODSDetermination of the human RhoA sequence as well as the design and constructionof a short specific small interfering RNAs (siRNA) were performed. The siRNA of RhoA gene was transfected into humantongue squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 and SCC-4 cells line by Lipofectamine 2000. Quantitative real-time polymerasechain reaction was used to examine the mRNA expressionlevels of RhoA. Protein expressions of mRNA, galectin-3,and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were evaluated byWestern blot. Transwell invasion assay was performed toassess the invasion ability of tongue carcinoma.

RESULTSRhoA expressions in Tca8113 and SCC-4 cells were reducedsignificantly after transfection of RhoA-siRNA. Protein levels f galectin-3 and MVP-9 were also down-regulated significantly. Invasion ability was inhibited as well.

CONCLUSIONRhoA-siRNA can effectively inhibit RhoA expression in Tca8113 and SCC-4 cells. The invasion ability of tongue carcinoma cells decreased with down-regulation of the protein expressions of galectin-3 and MMP-9, indicating that RhoA-siRNA can inhibit invasion of tongue carcinoma. Results show that RhoA may play an important role in the processes of invasion and metastasis of tongue carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Galectin 3 ; metabolism ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Tongue Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of metoprolol on cardiac function and myocyte calcium regulatory protein expressions in rabbits with heart failure.

METHODSRabbit heart failure model was established by aortic insufficiency induced volume overload followed 14 days later by pressure overload induced by abdominal aorta constricting (HF, n = 11), another 8 rabbits with heart failure were treated with metoprolol (ME) for 6 weeks, sham-operated rabbits (n = 11) served as control. Cardiac function was measured by echocardiography at the end of study. Caffeine-induced calcium transients of myocytes loaded by Fluo-3/AM were observed under Laser scanning confocal microscope. Calcium regulatory protein expression was determined by Western blot analysis.

RESULTSCompared to control animals, the ejection fractions [EF, (45.7 +/- 3.0)% vs. (72. 6 +/- 5.0)%, P < 0.01] and the amplitude of caffeine-induced calcium transients [(16.0 +/- 3.5) FI vs. (43.5 +/- 6.2) FI, P < 0.01] were significantly decreased while its time to peak was significantly prolonged [(129.8 +/- 14.5) s vs. (52.2 +/- 7.4) s, P < 0.01] in HF rabbits. The RyR2 (0.106 +/- 0.007 vs. 0.203 +/- 0.021, P < 0.01) and the ratio of SERCA2a and NCX (1.22 +/- 0.23 vs. 1.96 +/- 0.12, P < 0.01) were also significantly reduced in myocytes of HF rabbits. Metoprolol significantly attenuated the decrease of EF [(60.2 +/- 5.1)%], the amplitude of calcium transient [(32.8 +/- 5.4) FI], the RyR2 expression (0.164 +/- 0.016) and the ratio of SERCA2a and NCX (1.68 +/- 0.17, all P < 0.05 vs. HF rabbits) and attenuated the increase of the time to peak of caffeine-induced calcium transients [(91.4 +/- 10.9) s, P < 0.05 vs. HF rabbits].

CONCLUSIONMetoprolol could improve the cardiac function possibly by preventing the alterations of calcium regulatory proteins and increasing calcium transients in failing heart.

Animals ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart Failure ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Metoprolol ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of porcine anti-human lymphocyte globulin (P-ALG) plus cyclosporine A (CsA) therapy for severe aplastic anemia (SAA).

METHODSForty-eight SAA patients (31 males, 17 females) including 17 very severe aplastic anemias (vSAA) were treated with ALG plus CsA between 1999 to 2009 in our hospital and the outcomes were analyzed retrospectively for early mortality, response rate and quality, survival rate, toxicity and complications.

RESULTSThe median age was 28 (13 - 64) years. The interval from diagnosis to treatment was 45 days. The median neutrophil count at diagnosis was 0.178 × 10(9)/L. Overall response was 83.3% (54.2% complete, 29.2% partial) with a median time of 90 (23 - 380) days. 10.4% died of infection within 30 days mainly of fungi infection. Only 1 patient relapsed 2 years after treatment. No clonal disease was found. The 1.5-year survival rate was 87.5%. vSAAs had less response, higher early mortality and less survival (64.7%, 29.4% and 51.8%, respectively) compared to that of SAA (93.5%, 0, 100%, respectively, P < 0.05). Grouped patients with different age, gender, intervals between diagnosis and treatment and pre-existing infections had similar response. The main side effects were fever and skin rash (52.1%), serum sickness (16.7%), impaired liver function (60.4%) and hemorrhage (2.1%). No treatment-related mortality was found.

CONCLUSIONP-ALG plus CsA is an ideal and well tolerated treatment for SAA but not for vSAA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; therapeutic use ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Swine ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of artificial liver support system (ALSS) in the treatment of liver failure patients.

METHODSThis is a prospective, multi-center, controlled, large sample clinic trial. 518 patients with liver failure from 5 hospitals were studied and followed. All the patients received similar pharmacological manipulation according to one and the same protocol but were divided into an ALSS treatment group and a control group without ALSS treatment. The ALSS treatment procedures included plasma exchange, molecular adsorbent recirculating system (MARS), plasma exchange plus hemofiltration and other combined nonbioartificial methods. The analysis of survival time was computed using the Kaplain-Maier method, and comparison among groups was done using Log-Rank, Breslow and/or the Tarone-Ware test.

RESULTSSurvival time of acute liver failure patients was prolonged from 4.0+/-0.2 days to 8.0+/-0.4 days (P=0.004). ALSS was shown to be two times more effective. ALSS increased the survival time of acute on chronic (A on C) liver failure patients from 27.0+/-1.6 days to 39.0+/-4.0 days (P less than 0.01). In addition, it increased the survival time of the patients in the middle and end stage of subacute liver failure and A on C liver failure, but had no significant effects on early stage patients. The survival time of middle stage patients was 38.0+/-17.5 days in the control group vs 66.0+/-18.6 days in the ALSS group (P less than 0.05). The survival time of end stage patients of the control group and the ALSS group was 18.0+/-4.0 days vs 26.0+/-2.5 days (P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSMulti ALSS treatment is more effective than the standard medicinal liver care treatment. Multi-ALSS treatment could increase survival time of patients suffering from acute liver failure or A on C liver failure, especially in their middle and end stages. It is important and necessary to treat these patients with ALSS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Failure, Acute ; mortality ; therapy ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical features of invasive pulmonary fungal infection (IPFI) secondary to malignant blood diseases (MBD).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 52 patients with IPFI secondary to MBD admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1995 to December 2008.

RESULTSThe incidences of IPFI secondary to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and aplastic anemia (AA) were 4.6%, 3.2%, 2.8%, and 2.5%, respectively. In patients with IPFI secondary to AML, 88.5% (23/26) of the patients suffered from the infections during the non-remission (NR) period (including relapse), and 11.5% (3/26) in the complete-remission (CR) period. In all the patients with IPFI secondary to malignant blood diseases, 86.5% (45/52) of MBD were neutropenic or agranulocytic, and 67.3% (35/52) had been treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics for more than 96 hours before anti-fungal therapy. The total mortality after anti-fungal therapy was 13.7% (7/51). More than half of patients with fluconazole or itraconazole as the first-line therapy had to switch to other medicines because of poor infection control.

CONCLUSIONSIPFI secondary to MBD is most common in AML patients. Patients with NR of AML, neutropenia or agranulocytosis, and long-term broad-spectrum antibiotics usage are susceptible to IPFI. Fluconazole and itraconazole have low efficacy, and other more potent anti-fungal medicines should be considered.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; complications ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult