AIM: To observe whether arachidonic acid (AA) could induce apoptosis in mouse fibroblast cell line L929 and the potential mechanism involved. METHODS: The viability and damaged degree of L929 was monitored by MTT and the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Lipid peroxidation in L929 was measured as malondialdehyde (MDA) content by colorimetric assay. Hoechst 33258 staining was used to observe AA-induced morphological changes. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to detect DNA fragmentation. RESULTS: Treatment of L929 cell with AA for 24 h, in the range of 40-160 ?mol/L, caused a great decrease in cell survival and increased MDA contents and the release of LDH simultaneously( P

Objective To explore whether the mitochondrial toxicity markers of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)are of significance in monitoring mitochondrial toxicity during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).Methods Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA),mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2 )and p53-inducible ribonucleotide reductase small subunit 2 (p53R2 )were selected as mitochondrial toxicity markers.The expression changes of theses markers of PBMC in 22 AIDS patients were detected by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR)at baseline,48 weeks and 96 weeks after initiation of the treatment. All the patients received stavudine/zidovudine and lamivudine as the mainstay of the HAART regimen. Independent-samples t test was used.Results The relative expression level of mtDNA in patients before HAART was 3.27 ± 0.94,and decreased to 2.16±0.85 at week 48 and 1 .66±0.66 at week 96, respectively.The differences were both significant compared with the level prior to the treatment (t =-3.90,P <0.01 and t =-6.29,P <0.01 ,respectively).The relative expression level of TK2 before HAART was 0.37 ±0.13,and increased to 1 .01 ±0.25 at week 48 and 2.13 ±0.61 at week 96 of the treatment.After pairwise comparisons of the three pairs of data (pre-HAART vs week 48 of the treatment,pre-HAART vs week 96 of the treatment and week 48 vs week 96 of the treatment),the differences were all significant (t = 10.77,8.00 and 3.56,respectively;all P < 0.01 ).The relative expression level of p53R2 was 0.86±0.39 before HAART,but gradually increased to 2.36 ±1 .14 and 7.73±0.65 ,respectively,at week 48 and week 96 of the treatment.The differences in p53R2 levels among three groups after pairwise comparison were all significant (t=3.27,12.26 and 13.25,respectively;all P < 0.01 ).Conclusions The expression levels of mtDNA,TK2 and p53R2 in PBMC could change significantly during HAART in AIDS patients,which might be used as indexes for monitoring mitochondrial toxicity.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of low-dose CT perfusion imaging(CTPI)examination combined with iterative model reconstruction (IMR) in the brain.Methods 80 patients with clinical suspicion of acute cerebral infarction underwent the cerebral CTPI were enrolled in this study.30 normal hemispheres on group A [35 cases,80 kV,150 mAs, filtered back projection(FBP)] and group B(45 cases,80 kV,30 mAs, IMR) were selected to evaluate respectively.The pictures' subjective scores, effective radiation dose (ED),CT value,SD,signal to noise ratio(SNR), contrast to noise ratio(CNR) and the perfusion parameters of the grey matter (GM) and white matter(WM) in each hemisphere of the middle cerebral artery(MCA) territory were respectively compared at ASPECTS level 2 for the two groups.Results The ED were 2.52,0.50 mSv for group A,B.There were no statistical significances in the perfusion parameters,CT value, SD, CNR of the ROIs of the GM and WM,the SNR of the ROIs of the GM and the pictures' subjective scores between group A, B (P>0.05).There was statistical significance in the SNR of the ROIs of the WM between group A,B (P<0.05).Conclusion IMR combined with 30 mAs of the CTPI can reduce the radiation dose apparently while maintain the stability of the image quality and perfusion parameters.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of co-infusing cord blood (CB) as the third party cells on graft versus host disease (allo-GVHD) prophylaxis after unrelated or haploidentical donor allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).MethodsFrom 2007 to 2011,41 patients receiving unrelated or haploidentical donor allo-HSCT were analyzed retrospectively.Twenty-five patients received one unit of HLA 4/6-6/6 matched CB one day before SCT as CB group,and median MNC dose was (1.64 ± 0.49) × 107/kg.Sixteen cases not receiving CB served as control group.All patients received antithymocyte globulin,cyclosporine,methotrexate,and mycophenolate mofetil as GVHD prophylaxis.The incidence and severity of aGVHD,and treatment-related mortality were compared between two groups.ResultsThe main clinical characteristics in both groups were comparable.The cumulative incidence of aGVHD in CB group and control group was 44.0％ versus 68.8％ respectively (x2 =2.403,P＞0.05).The cumulative incidence of grades Ⅲ to ⅣV aGVHD in CB group and control group was 16.0％ and 37.5％ respectively (x2 =2.445,P＞0.05).The 100-day treatment-related mortality in CB group and control group was 12.0％ and 12.5％ respectively (x2 =0.002,P＞0.05).ConclusionCord blood as the third party cells might reduce the incidence and severity of aGVHD in unrelated or haploidentical donor HSCT.The efficacy and the mechanism of this strategy need to be further explored by prospective randomized controlled trials.

A bacterial strain which could grow well on the substrate of PAEs as the sole source of carbon and energy was isolated from contaminated sludge in the river of WeiFang in ShangDong province and it was designated as JDC-3. Based on the morphology,biophysical and biochemical properties as well as molecular characteristics,this isolate was preliminarily identified as Delftia sp.. A fragment of phthalate dioxygenase gene was successfully amplified from the genus of Delftia for the first time using a set of degenerate primers. Meanwhile,the degradation capability of JDC-3 was determined by HPLC using DMP as test substrate. The results showed that the optimal pH and temperature were at 7.0～8.0 and 30?C～35?C respectively. The degradation kinetics of JDC-3 was studied in different initial DMP concentration under optimal conditions. The results indicated that the degradation dynamic equation was ln C =-0.06837 t + A when DMP concentration was lower than 300 mg/L,with half life of 12.48 h. The degradation rate decreased and half life of JDC-3 prolonged as the initial concentration kept on increasing.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of Yufeining, a traditional Chinese medicine, on induced sputum interleukin-8 (IL-8) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the stable phase.

METHODSThirty-six patients with COPD were divided into trial group (18 cases) and control group (18 cases) randomly. The trial group was treated with Yufeining pills taken orally for half a year; the control group was not given any medicine. Routine lung function was recorded before and after treatment. Total cell count (TCC), differential cell counts (DCCs) and IL-8 in induced sputum were determined at the baseline and 6 months later.

RESULTSThe indices of lung function improved significantly after 6 months' treatment in trial group (P < 0.05); TCC and absolute neutrophil count decreased significantly compared with baseline in the trial group (P < 0.05); Sputum IL-8 concentration dropped significantly after 6 months' treatment, from a mean of 5.216 +/- 2.914 microg/L to 4.222 +/- 2.140 microg/L (P < 0.05). There were insignificant changes in the parameters in the control group between baseline and 6 months later.

CONCLUSIONYufeining could improve lung function, decrease sputum TCC, absolute neutrophil count and IL-8 concentration, and relieve airway inflammation in patients with COPD in the stable phase.

Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-8 ; analysis ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Sputum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the characteristic of late stent malposition after drug-eluting stent implantation by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

METHODSThe study comprised of 32 patients (target vessels: 51, total stents: 71) underwent drug eluting stent implantation one year ago [average (14.8 +/- 5.2) months]. OCT images of the stent were analyzed at interval of 0.5 mm. The stent malposition was detected, the thickness of intima and gap between the stent strut and vessel wall were measured.

RESULTSStent malposition was detected in 7 patients without clinical cardiac events, including positive remodeling (n = 4), overlapping stents (n = 1) and stent struts covered with thrombus (n = 2). Stent strut apposition with complete intima coverage was about 97.6%, stent struts malposition was 2.4% including half of struts located at the ostium of side branch. The intima coverage of stent struts is similar between the struts at the side branch and others [(0.06 +/- 0.05) mm vs. (0.05 +/- 0.03) mm, P > 0.05].

CONCLUSIONThe causes of late stent malposition include the primary malposition after stent implantation, positive remodeling, overlapping stents and stent struts located at the ostium of side branch. Thinner intima coverage was also observed on the stent struts with malposition.

Aged ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Treatment Failure

OBJECTIVETo analyze the incidence and time trends of esophageal and gastric cancers in Linzhou city bassed on the data of Linxian Tumor Registry, and to provide valid reference data for research and effective estimation of cancer control in this area.

METHODSAll incidence records for the both cancers during 1988-2003 were drawn from Linzhou Tumor Registry and grouped by sex, age, year and then linked to corresponding population data. The incidence rates of those two topographic site cancers were calculated and the age-adjusted rates were calculated by direct standardization to the world population. A joinpoint model was used to get the annual percentage change (APC) of the age-adjusted rates, and to estimate the epidemiological trends of both cancers in population of Linzhou city.

RESULTSIn the year 2003 the age-adjusted incidence rates of esophageal and gastric cancers were 81.78 per 100 000 and 77.08 per 100 000, respectively, in the population of Linzhou city. The incidence rate of both cancers showed a decreasing trend from 1988 to 2003. The APC of the incidence rates of esophageal cancer was - 2.6% and that of gastric cancer was - 1.8%, and both indexes were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence rates of esophageal and gastric cancers have presented a decreasing trends in the population of Linzhou city. This trend will continue along with the development of social economy, elevation of living standard and improvement in living habit and environment.

Cardia ; China ; epidemiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Sex Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study the alterations and relationship of surfactant protein (SP)-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP).

METHODSelf-control method was used for the study on SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum, infected and non-infected BALFs in 32 MMP children with only one side of MPP.

RESULTThe contents of SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in infected BALF were [mg/L;M (IQR) ]: 243 (90-468) , 187 (43-333) , 148 (47-426) ;104 (37-257) , 56 (25-131) , 35 (12-147) in non-infected BALF; 35 (25-69) , 33 (9-149) and 24 (15-62) in serum. The correlation coefficient of KL-6 between serum and infected BALF were -0.534 and -0.378 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere were significant correlation between the alterations of SP-A, SP-D and KL-6 in serum and lung infection in children with CAP. KL-6 in serum may be more sensitive than SP-A and SP-D.

Adolescent ; Biomarkers ; blood ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; chemistry ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mucin-1 ; blood ; metabolism ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma ; blood ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A ; blood ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D ; blood ; metabolism ; Severity of Illness Index

Meningioma is a common intracranial tumor in adults. Pediatric cases account for approximately 1.5% of all intracranial meningiomas, and very few cases show malignant histological features. Primary pediatric malignant meningioma in the cerebellopontine angle is extremely uncommon. Herein, we report a 2-year-old girl with malignant meningioma in the cerebellopontine angle. The clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment protocol are discussed.
Cerebellar Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Meningioma ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Radiography ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism