tralateral parietal lobe. Conclusions CIMT can improve the patients' upper-limb function effectively. The constraint-induced movement of the affected arm during CIMT appears to induce cortical reorganization and compensation as measured by fMRL

Objective To investigate the evidence of cortical reorganization in stroke hemiplegia treated with constraint-induced movement therapy(CIMT)by fMRI.Methods Five patients with chronic stroke were evaluated with the Action Research Arm Test(ARAT).The functional MRI(fMRI)was performed on a 3.0-T MRI with echo-planar imaging.The subjects were required to finish the finger-tapping task and undergo fMRI before and after CIMT.A block design was used for the inspection.Results After CIMT,the function of upper limb(sick side)of patients improved significantly assessed by ARAT(P<0.001),and cortical reorganization was found on fMRI.Conclusion CIMT can improve motor function of upper limb of chronic stroke patients with hemiplegia and induce cortical reorganization as measured by fMRI.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangiopericytoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Meningioma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the impact of the recombined plasmid vector with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) encoding soluble tumor necrosis factor related apoptesis inducing ligand (pIRES-EGFP-sTRAIL) on proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, and investi-gate the feasibility and efficiency of the transfection of pIRES- EGFP- sTRAIL into HepG2 by ultrasound micro-bubble contrast agent. Methods pIRES-EGFP-sTRAIL was constructed and transfected into HepG2 cells by using different types of mediated methods: microbubble echocontrast agent combining appropriate dose of ultra-sound irradiation, liposome method, microbubble echocontrast agent only or blank medium treatment. Transfec-tion efficiency was evaluated by EGFP-expressed cell count; proliferation-lnhibiting rate and the apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells were determined by MTT method and flow cytometry analysis; changes of cell morphology were examined by microscopy with Hoechst33258 dyeing; expression of caspase-8 and caspase-3 was detected by Western blot. Results Ultrasound microbubbh enhanced pIKES-EGFP-sTRAIL uptake by HepG2 cells, and the transfection efficiency was significantly higher in ultrasound microlmbble group than that in other groups( P<0.05 ) ; pIRES- EGFP- sTBAIL effectively inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis by triggering caspase cascade. Both the inhibiting rate and apoptosis rate were significantly higher in ultrasound microbubble group than those in other groups(P<0.05). Conclusion pIRES-EGFP-sTRAIL expresses ef-fectively in HepG2 cells, sTRAIL has a potential role on the inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis of HepG2 cells by triggering caspase cascade, and this role can be enhanced by the administration of low-intensity ultrasound and microbubble echecontrast agent.

Objective To study the risk factors of lymph node metastasis in the central neck compartment of thyroid carcinoma,and to explore the reasonable range of lymph node dissection in central neck dissection for clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma patients.Methods From Dec.2015 to Dec.2016,a total of 200 patients with CN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma were randomly divided into two groups according to the registration number:unilateral central neck dissection group and bilateral central neck dissection group in Department of Thyroid Surgery,Fujian Medical University Union Hospital.The risk factors of lymph node metastasis and value of bilateral central neck dissection were analyzed.Results The risk factors of lymph node metastasis in the central papillary thyroid carcinoma were ≥0.7 cm in diameter and older than 45 years in age and gender in male.Further analysis found that contralateral central lymph node metastasis occurred in patients with tumor diameter ≥0.5 cm.The positive rate was 22％.The number of lymph nodes detected in the unilateral and bilateral central areas was 9.53±6.04 and 12.19±7.18,P=0.035,respectively.The positive numbers of lymph nodes were 1.17±1.47 and 2.11±2.75,P=0,022 respectively.Conclusion In patients with tumor diameter ≥0.5 cm,bilateral central neck dissection is conducive to improving the thoroughness of tumor dissection and does not increase the risk of complications.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of nNOS and ultrastructural changes in the penile tissue of rats with prolactinoma-induced erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSWe established the model of prolactinoma in 20 male Westar rats by peritoneal injection of diethylstilbestrol (DES) and treated the control rats with normal saline (n = 10) or sterilized arachis oil (n = 10). After 8 weeks, we performed the apomorphine test and measured the weight of the pituitary gland and the levels of serum prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) to confirm the successful construction of the prolactinoma-induced ED model. Then we determined the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue by immunohistochemistry and examined the ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernosum under the transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSThe prolactinoma-induced ED model was successfully established in 15 rats. The weight of the pituitary gland was significantly increased in the rats treated with DES as compared with the normal saline and sterilized arachis oil controls ([46.7 ± 15.5] vs [11.7 ± 2.4] and [12.4 ± 2.3] mg, both P < 0.05). The level of serum PRL was markedly higher while that of T remarkably lower in the former than in the latter two groups ([1,744.9 ± 304.5] vs [11.5 ± 2.4] and [10.6 ± 1.9] ng/ml, both P < 0.0l; [1.54 ± 0.46] vs [3.11 ± 1.08] and [3.04 ± 1.11] ng/ml, both P < 0.05). The rate of penile erection was significantly reduced in the prolactinoma-induced ED model rats in comparison with the normal saline and arachis oil controls (16.7% vs 100% and 87.5%, both P < 0.05), and so was the expression of nNOS in the penile tissue (0.024 ± 0.011 vs 0.066 ± 0.019 and 0.058 ± 0.021, both P < 0.05). Transmission electron microscopy manifested significant ultrastructural changes in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the cavernous tissue in the prolactinoma-induced ED models.

CONCLUSIONThe ultrastructural changes of the penile cavernous tissue and the reduced expression of nNOS in penile tissue may be the most important mechanisms of prolactinoma-induced ED in rats.

Animals ; Apomorphine ; Carcinogens ; Diethylstilbestrol ; Erectile Dysfunction ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; ultrastructure ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; enzymology ; ultrastructure ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; chemically induced ; complications ; Prolactin ; blood ; Prolactinoma ; chemically induced ; complications ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testosterone ; blood

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effect of interleukin-24 (IL-24) on apoptosis of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) in children with acute leukemia. Every group of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (ANLL) had 20 children who did not receive any therapy. The bone marrow was taken from patients and controls, the MNC were isolated from bone marrow, DNA was detected by glucose electrophoresis. Apoptosis of BMMNC was assayed by flow cytometry with propidium iodine staining. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression level of bcl-2, caspase-3 mRNA, and to analyze the effect of IL-24 on them. The results showed that the IL-24 induced apoptosis of BMMNC in children with acute leukemia. After acute leukemia BMMNC were exposed to IL-24 for 48 hours, DNA ladder fragment appeared, and the apoptotic rate of the group treated with IL-24 of 50 ng/ml was obviously higher than that of the control group (0 ng/ml). IL-24 decreased the bcl-2 mRNA expression level, enhanced caspase-3 mRNA expression level of BMMNC from AL patients. It is concluded that the IL-24 can induce apoptosis of AL BMMNC in vitro, which may be due to decreasing of bcl-2 mRNA level and enhancing of caspase-3 mRNA level.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukins ; pharmacology ; Leukemia ; pathology ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism

ITS2 sequence was used as a barcode to identify herbal tea ingredient Plumeria rubra and its adulterants. Genomic DNAs from forty eight samples were extracted, the ITS2 sequences were amplified and sequenced bi-direstionlly, and then assembled and obtained using CodonCode Aligner. The sequences were aligned using ClustalW, the genetic distances were computed by kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model and the Neighbor-joining (NJ) phylogenetic trees were constructed using MEGA5.0. Results showed that the length of ITS2 sequence of P. rubra were 244 bp. The intra-specific genetic distances (0-0. 016 6) were much smaller than inter-specific ones between P. rubra and its adulterants(0.320 8-0.650 4). The NJ tree indicated that P. rubra and its adulterants could be distinguished clearly. Therefore, Using ITS2 barcode can accurately andeffectively distinguish herbal tea ingredient P. rubra from its adulterants, which providesa new molecular method to identify P. rubra and ensure its safety in use.
Apocynaceae ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Flowers ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the stimulated effect of liver regeneration on colon cancer cells in remnant liver in rats.

METHODSRat models with liver metastases or retro-peritoneal metastases of colon cancer were established: animals underwent 37% or 70% liver resection and were compared with a sham laparotomy (15, 25, 15 cases, respectively). Metastases were performed two weeks before resection. Rats were killed 3 weeks after the resection. Total body weight, liver and tumor weights were recorded. The human colon adenocarcinoma cell line Lovo was cultured in the presence of portal serum withdrawn 24 hours and 14 days after partial hepatectomy (PH). DNA synthesis was assessed by flow cytometry analysis for 5-Bromodeoxyuridine (5-BrdU) incorporation.

RESULTSThe tumor growth was accelerated in the remnant liver in 70% PH group, but the tumors in 37% PH group and retro-peritoneal site were not influenced by PH. Compared with the control group, after cultured 72 hours with portal serum withdrawn 24 h after PH, a higher 5-BrdU incorporation was found in the Lovo cell lines (P < 0.05), and it reached the peak after 120 hours of culture (P < 0.05). No difference was found between the groups when cultured with the portal serum withdrawn 14 d after PH (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPH may accelerate the growth of residual microscopic tumor in the liver which contributes to local recurrence. It has no systemic effect and effects on the cancer cell lines in extrahepatic sites. The excision extension is related to the stimulating effects on the cancer cell line, and subtotal hepatectomy is presumably a major determinant.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Liver Regeneration ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the dynamic changes of caveolin-1 with the degrees of liver fibrosis and portal venous pressure (PVP) in the process of rat liver cirrhosis formation induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN); also to investigate the mechanisms of caveolin-1 in the regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS).

METHODSLiver cirrhosis was induced in rats by DMN. The degrees of liver fibrosis and PVP were measured. NOS activity was assessed by citrulline generation. Protein expressions of caveolin-1, eNOS and caveolin-1-eNOS interactions were examined by Western blot and immunoprecipitation, respectively.

RESULTSFour weeks after DMN administration, liver fibrosis was at its peak and then decreased gradually. Immunoprecipitation and Western blot demonstrated that there was enhanced binding of caveolin-1 with eNOS in the process of rat liver cirrhosis. An increase in caveolin-1 expression was detected but the expression of eNOS was lower in cirrhotic tissues than in normal liver tissues. Caveolin-1 protein levels were positively correlated with the degrees of liver fibrosis and the levels of PVP (r=0.967, P < 0.01; r=0.922, P < 0.01, respectively), while NOS catalytic activity was negatively correlated with the degrees of liver fibrosis and levels of PVP (r= 0.973, P < 0.01; r=-0.947, P < 0.01) respectively.

CONCLUSIONSCaveolin-1 upregulation is associated with the development of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis. Over-expression of caveolin-1 in perisinusoidal cells may promote caveolin-1-eNOS binding and reduce the activity of eNOS.

Animals ; Caveolin 1 ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Portal ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar