BACKGROUND:Morphological characteristics of the rabbit lumbar vertebrae are of great significance for animal experiments about lumbar spine, but there is a lack of study on the lumbar morphology in rabbits. OBJECTIVE:To establish a three-dimensional model of rabbit lumbar vertebrae, and to observe its morphological characteristics, thereby providing anatomical basis for the animal experiments about lumbar spine.METHODS:Twenty New Zealand rabbits were subjected to 64-row multi-detector CT (Siemens) scan, and the three-dimensional models were constructed based on the CT data from 140 lumbar vertebrae. The morphological parameters of L1-7 were measured, and the internal and external structures of lumbar vertebrae and changes of different segments were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Changes of the morphological parameters of each lumbar vertebra:the L1-7 height first increased and then decreased, and the shortest height was in the L7, which was (1.12±0.18) cm. L1 vertebral body exhibited the shortest transverse diameter, (1.03±0.15) cm, and the longitudinal diameter did not differ significantly among vertebrae. The transverse and longitudinal diameters of L1-6 spinal canals were on a rise, but decreased abruptly at L7. The pedicle width of L1-7 increased gradually;the pedicle height of L1-5 increased gradually, and then began to decrease markedly, and the shortest at L7, (0.58±0.11) cm. The width and length of L1-6 spinous process increased steadily, but decreased at L7. The length of L1-3 transverse process increased gradually, tended to be steady at L3-6, and increased notably at L6-7;there were significant differences in the transverse process angle at L1-6, but the angle increased markedly to (58±2)° at L7, (2) These results indicate that the internal and external structures of lumbar vertebrae and changes of different segments are obtained through morphological measurement of lumbar vertebrae in New Zealand white rabbit, which provides a detailed anatomical data for relative animal experiments.

The nuclear transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. The aberrant NRF2 signaling confers enhanced antioxidant capacity, which is linked to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. The current study investigates the biological effects and molecular mechanism of tribbles homolog 3 (TRIB3), a stress-induced protein, in regulating cell survival and apoptosis in lung cancer. This study first performed the RNA sequencing data analysis with 576 lung adenocarcinoma patients from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database. The NRF2- antioxidant response element (ARE) signature was enriched in patients with high TRIB3 expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used to confirm the effect of TRIB3 on the kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (KEAP1)-NRF2 pathway. Abrogation of TRIB3 impaired NRF2 transcriptional activity and reduced the expression of its target genes. Moreover, TRIB3 enhanced NRF2 stability via blocking KEAP1-NRF2 interaction. TRIB3-depletion promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, restrained cell proliferation, and enhanced carboplatin-induced apoptosis. In addition, NRF2 overexpression recovered the tumor inhibition effect of TRIB3-depletion. Consistently, TRIB3 failed to modulate apoptosis in NRF2 depletion cells. In summary, this study shows that TRIB3 inhibits the KEAP1-NRF2 interaction and upregulates the transcriptional activity of NRF2, thereby promoting lung cancer cell proliferation and reducing the sensitivity to chemotherapy. Targeting the TRIB3-NRF2 signal axis may become a new strategy for ROS homeostasis and lung cancer treatment.

The effects of beta-cypermethrin (consisting of alpha-cypermethrin and theta-cypermethrin) on the transient outward potassium current (I(A)) and delayed rectifier potassium current (I(K)) in freshly dissociated hippocampal CA3 neurons of rats were studied using whole-cell patch-clamp technique. The results indicated that alpha-cypermethrin increased the value of I(A) and theta-cypermethrin decreased the value of I(A), though both of them shifted steady activation curve of I(A) towards negative potential. theta-cypermethrin contributed to the inactivation of I(A). The results also showed that alpha-cypermethrin and theta-cypermethrin decreased the value of I(K), and shifted the steady state activation curve of I(K) towards negative potential. Both alpha-cypermethrin and theta-cypermethrin had no obvious effects on the inactivation of I(K). theta-cypermethrin prolonged recovery process of I(K). These results imply that both transient outward potassium channels and delayed rectified potassium channels are the targets of beta-cypermethrin, which may explain the mechanism of toxical effects of beta-cypermethrin on mammalian neurons.
Animals ; CA3 Region, Hippocampal ; cytology ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Insecticides ; toxicity ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Voltage-Gated ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pyrethrins ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of spiral computed tomography in the preoperative assessment of the degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum and circumferential resection margin status of rectal cancer compared with large tissue slice technique.

METHODSFifty-seven patients with rectal cancer diagnosed by fiber colonoscopy and pathology from March 2007 to December 2007 underwent preoperative 64-layers spiral CT examination. The degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum and circumferential resection margin status were evaluated. Large tissue slice technique was applied in the pathologic study after the total mesorectal excision of the rectum to determine the degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum and the circumferential resection margin status. The spiral CT findings were compared with pathologic results. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the CT results were assessed respectively.

RESULTSThe overall spiral CT accuracy was 93.0% (53/57) for the degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum, and it was 94.7%, 94.7% and 96.5% for degree I, II, III infiltration, respectively. Fifty-three cases (93.0%) were accurately predicated with the circumferential resection margin status. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of spiral CT measurement was 80.0%, 97.6%, 92.3% and 93.2%, respectively, and was consistent well with the histopathological diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSSpiral CT provides accurate preoperative assessment for the degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum and circumferential resection margin status of rectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesentery ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; diagnostic imaging ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Rectal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Rectum ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

OBJECTIVETo analyze the therapeutic effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty versus percutaneous kyphoplasty for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

METHODSFifteen patients (24 vertebrae) underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty and 15 (18 vertebrae) received percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The postoperative recovery of the anterior vertebral body height, visual analogue scale (VAS) and locomotor activity before and after the operations were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAll the patients were available for the follow-up lasting for 3-15 months (average 7 months). In the vertebroplasty group, the VAS score decreased from 8.68 preoperatively to 1.74 postoperatively and to 1.13 at the final follow-up. The VAS score in the kyphoplasty group decreased from 8.62 preoperatively to 1.72 postoperatively and to 1.21 at the final follow-up. Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty were effective in improving the anterior vertebral body height, but kyphoplasty showed a better effect. None of the patients developed serious complications associated with the operations.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous kyphoplasty both achieve rapid and significant improvement of back pain in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, but kyphoplasty shows a better effect in terms of vertebral body height restoration and cement leakage reduction.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; methods ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebroplasty ; methods

Betulinic acid is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoid, which has antiretroviral, antimalarial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study is to investigate the HBV DNA replication inhibition in the mouse model with betulinic acid. Hydrodynamic injection method via the tail vein with the Paywl. 3 plasmid was used to establish the animal mode (n = 15), and the mice were randomly divided into the PBS control group (n = 5), Betulinic acid treatment group (n = 5) and lamivudine control group (n = 5). The day after successful modeling , the mice would have taken Betulinic acid (100 mg x kg(-1)), lamivudine (50 mg x kg(-1)), PBS drugs orally, once daily for 7 days, blood samples were acquired from the orbital venous blood at 3, 5, 7 days after the administering, HBsAg and HBeAg in serum concentration were measured by ELISA and the mice were sacrificed after 7 days, HBV DNA southern detections were used with part of mice livers. The results showed that betulinic acid significantly inhibited the expression of HbsAg in the mice model at the fifth day compared with the control group, and there was no significant differences between the effects of lamivudine and the PBS control group; both the betulinic acid and lamivudine groups had no significant inhibition for the HBeAg expression; the HBV DNA expressions of the liver tissue from the betulinic acid and lamivudine groups were inhibited compared with the control group. Taken together, these results reveal betulinic acid can inhibit the HBsAg expression and replication of the liver HBV DNA in the mouse model.
Acute Disease ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; DNA Replication ; drug effects ; DNA, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Male ; Mice ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

Objective To investigate the genotype distribution of thalassemia intermedia , major and compound thalassemia in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2012 to 2015. Methods Retrospectively 1 084 suspected thalassemia cases were analyzed in recent four years .Three common deletions of αglobin chain were detected by GAP-PCR.Three common point mutations of αglobin chain and seventeen common mutations of βglobin chain were identified by PCR reverse dot blot hybridization . Hemoglobin electrophoresis was carried out by Capillary Electrophoresis System .RBC associated parameters and morphology were analyzed by hematology analyzer and blood smear .Results 702 cases were confirmed to be thalassemia, and the positive rate was 64.76% (702 /1084).19 types of gene defects were detected. There were 4 types of gene defects in 23 case with α-thalassemia intermeida, including -α3.7 /--SEA , -α4.2 /--SEA , αCSα/--SEA and αQSα/--SEA , -α3.7 /--SEA to be the most common genotype (18 cases) .3 cases with β-thalassemia intermeida were confirmed and the genotypes were βCD 17(A→T) /β-29(A→G) , β-28(A→G) /β-28(A→G) andβIVS-Ⅱ-654(C→T) /βCD17(A→T) , respectively.There were also 1 βCD 41 -42(-TTCT) /βCD17(A→T) thalassemia major case. The genotypes of 2 HbE/β-thalassemia cases were βCD41 -42(-TTCT) /βE and βCD17(A→T) /βE.5 αβ-thalassemia including 2 βCD 41 -42(-TTCT) /βA compounded with αα/-α3.7 , 1βIVS-Ⅱ-654(C→T) /βA compounded with --SEA /αCSα, 1βCD17(A→T) /βA compounded with -α4.2 /ααand 1βCD 41 -42(-TTCT) /βA compounded with αCS α/αα.Rare and untypical haematological results were found , such as normal level HbA 2 and undetectable HbH, in compound heterozygosity with --SEA /αCS α and βIVS-Ⅱ-654(C→T) /βA. Conclusions The genotypes of thalassemia intermedia, major and compound thalassemia in Peking Union Medical College were highly variable .

OBJECTIVETo study the relation between histopathologic grading and some of the cytogenetic and molecular biology characteristics of breast cancer.

METHODSOn the basis of estrogen receptor (ER) expression, DNA content, S-phase fraction (SPF), bcl-2 and mutant p53 protein (mtp53) expression were examined by FCM in 121 breast cancer patients. In 66 patients with invasive ductal breast cancer, histopathologic grading was also examined.

RESULTSThe aneuploidy rate and DNA index (DI) were significantly different in grade I, II and III breast cancer. SPF and mtp53 expression significantly increased with increase in histopathologic grading (P < 0.05), but bcl-2 did not show this trend. SPF and mtp53 expression were significantly more in breast cancer with negative ER than in those with positive ER (P < 0.05). Again, no such differences in bcl-2 regardless of ER expression. Correlations existed between DI vs SPF, DI vs mtp53, and SPF vs mtp53 expressions (P < 0.01) but bcl-2 did not correlate with any one of them.

CONCLUSIONCytogenetic and molecular biology studies on the basis of histopathologic grading may provide more information in prognostic prediction of breast cancer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aneuploidy ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA, Neoplasm ; analysis ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Estrogen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; S Phase ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

BACKGROUND: Chinese medicine is effective for preventing and treating glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis, however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. DKK1, an inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, can be up-regulated by glucocorticoid. Thereafter, DKK1 is an important target in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To explore the regulatory effect of Zuogui pill on DKK1 in the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. METHODS: Eighteen three-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, model group and Zuogui pill group. Rats in the model and Zuogui pill groups received the subcutaneous injection of dexamethasone to establish the model of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. The Zuogui pill group rats were administrated Zuogui pill extracts, and the control rats were given the same volume of normal saline. At 1 month after modeling, the lumbar vertebrae were removed to test the bone mass and microstructures by micro-CT scanning. The biomechanical properties were detected by compression test. The mRNA expression levels of DKK1, Runx2 and CTSK were determined by Qpcr. The serum alkaline phosphatase activity was tested. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, in the model group, the volumetric bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume fraction, trabecular number, and trabecular thickness were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05), the trabecular separation and structure model index were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05). The serum alkaline phosphatase activity was on a decline. The mRNA expression level of DKK1 showed a significant up-regulation (P ＜ 0.05). The mRNA expression level of Runx2 showed a down-regulated trend while mRNA expression level of CTSK showed an up-regulated trend. Compared with the model group, the Zuogui pill group showed significantly enhanced volumetric bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume fraction, and trabecular number (P ＜ 0.05); the structure model index was significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05); the trabecular separation was reduced; the serum alkaline phosphatase activity was enhanced; the mRNA expression level of DKK1 showed a significant down-regulation (P ＜ 0.05); the mRNA expression level of Runx2 showed an up-regulated trend while mRNA expression level of CTSK showed a down-regulated trend. The vertebral compressive strength in the Zuogui pill group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P＜0.05). In summary, Zuogui pill prevents and treats glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis possibly through the down-regulation of mRNA expression of DKK1.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of the patients with gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.

METHODSThe clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of 103 gastric MALT lymphoma patients admitted to our hospital from April 2001 to August 2011 were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe onset of gastric MALT lymphoma was often insidious without specific clinical manifestation, the most common complaints were abdominal pain or discomfort, weight loss, poor appetite, nausea and vomiting. According to Musshoff staging system, 75(72.8%) patients were at early stages (I/II) and 28 (27.2%) patients at advanced stages (III/IV). There was no significant difference in five-year overall survival (OS) between the patients in surgery group and non-surgery group (60.4% vs 78.9%, respectively, P = 0072), while there was statistical difference in five-year progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups (31.7% vs 52.8%, respectively, P = 0.023). Helicobacter pylori (Hp) was detected in 94 patients (91.2%). Anti-Hp treatment was effective with 100% overall response rate. In 94 patients with complete follow-up data, the 5-year OS rate was 75%, 5-year PFS rate was 46%. Univariate survival analysis showed that the B symptoms, Musshoff staging, performance staging, stage-modified IPI, levels of LDH, nodal involvement and levels of β(2)-microglobulin were correlated with OS and PFS (P < 0.05). The Cox regression analysis showed that Musshoff-III/IV stage, stage-modified IPI score > 2 and B symptoms were independent factor for OS (P < 0.05), whereas Musshoff-III/IV stage was independent factor for PFS (P = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONThe gastric MALT lymphoma had a favorable outcome with high OS rate. The anti-Hp therapy was an effective treatment for the gastric MALT lymphoma, which avoid the surgical trauma and improve the quality of life. The prognostic analysis showed that Musshoff staging, B symptoms or stage-modified IPI score were independent factors for OS and Musshoff staging was also an independent factor for PFS.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; microbiology ; pathology ; Helicobacter Infections ; pathology ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; microbiology ; pathology ; Young Adult