2 cm, 8 were operated and 2 were untreated. All the lesions were located outside the rectum. There were 3 cases of death and 5 cases of distant or lymph node metastasis. Out of the 44 cases, distant or lymph node metastasis occurred in 6 cases, the metastasis rate being 13.6%. Conclusions[WTBZ] Endoscopy is the first choice to diagnose digestive tract carcinoids, which, if ≤ 1 cm in diameter, can be treated with EMR.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and possible molecular mechanisms of adenoid cystic carcinoma with high-grade transformation.

METHODSFour cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma with high-grade transformation were enrolled into the study. Immunohistochemical study for smooth muscle actin, p63, p53 and Ki-67 was carried out. C-myc gene status was analyzed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization.

RESULTSThere were altogether 3 males and 1 female. The mean age of the patients was 55.5 years. Two patients died 17 months and 29 months after operation, respectively. One patient had distant metastasis 23 months after operation and was still alive at 26-month follow up. The remaining patient remained tumor free at 3-month follow up. High-grade transformation in adenoid cystic carcinoma presented either as poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma or undifferentiated carcinoma. Histologic examination showed sheets of pleomorphic tumor cells occupying more than one low-power field. The high-grade carcinoma cells showed increased nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio, prominent eosinophilic nucleoli and active mitosis (ranging from 8 to 25 per high-power field). Comedo necrosis was observed in 2 cases and multiple foci of calcifications in 3 cases. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated loss of myoepithelial differentiation, overexpression of p53 and high proliferative index by Ki-67. No c-myc translocation or copy-number changes were observed.

CONCLUSIONSHigh-grade transformation in adenoid cystic carcinoma is rare. The histopathologic features are rather distinctive and the biologic behavior is aggressive. C-myc gene mutation does not seem to play a key role in the pathogenesis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Eye Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Parotid Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDRNA interference (RNAi) is a potential cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by dominant, gain-of-function superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutations. The success of such therapy relies on the functional small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that can effectively deliver RNAi. This study aimed to design the functional siRNAs targeting ALS-associated mutant alleles.

METHODSA modified dual luciferase system containing human SOD1 mRNA target was established to quantify siRNA efficacy. Coupled with validated siRNAs identified in the literature, we analyzed the rationale of siRNA design and subsequently developed an asymmetry rule-based strategy for designing siRNA. We then further tested the effectiveness of this design strategy in converting a naturally symmetric siRNA into functional siRNAs with favorable asymmetry for gene silencing of SOD1 alleles.

RESULTSThe efficacies of siRNAs could vary tremendously by one base-pair position change. Functional siRNAs could target the whole span of SOD1 mRNA coding sequence as well as non-coding region. While there is no distinguishable pattern of the distribution of nucleobases in these validated siRNAs, the high percent of GC count at the last two positions of siRNAs (P18 and P19) indicated a strong effect of asymmetry rule. Introducing a mismatch at position 1 of the 5' of antisense strand of siRNA successfully converted the inactive siRNA into functional siRNAs that silence SOD1 with desired efficacy.

CONCLUSIONSAsymmetry rule-based strategy that incorporates a mismatch into siRNA most consistently enhances RNAi efficacy and guarantees producing functional siRNAs that successfully silence ALS-associated SOD1 mutant alleles regardless target positions. This strategy could also be useful to design siRNAs for silencing other disease-associated dominant, gain-of-function mutant genes.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Humans ; RNA Interference ; physiology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; physiology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; genetics ; Superoxide Dismutase-1

Objective To study on the results of magnifying endoscopy in gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia, and evaluate their feasibility and accuracy for the diagnosis of these lesions. Methods One hundred patients were examined by magnifying endoscopy, Fujinon EG485 ZH modal, and stained with 0. 5% methylene blue. After defining magnifying endoscopic patterns of gastric pits as types A, B, C, D, and E, the diagnostic classification and endoscopic criteria were developed for the diagnosis of atrophy, IM and dysplasia. The results of 417 histopathological biopsy specimens taken from the corresponding areas of gastric mucosa under magnifying endoscopy were regarded as gold standard. Results Sparse and thick gastric pits mainly appeared in gastric atrophy, IM mainly appeared in gastric mucosa of type C, type D, and type E with positive stain, dysplasia appeared as depressed, slightly raised, or flat mucosa accompanied by loss of clear pattern, fine pits or coarse and irregular microstructure. The sensitivity and specificity of magnifying endoscopies in the diagnosis of atrophy, IM and dysphasia were 95. 85% , 95. 09% ; 88. 30% , 90.83% ; and 91.52% , 94. 41% respectively, all were higher than those of routine endoscopy. Conclusion The diagnostic accuracy significantly increased as depending upon the morphological features of gastric atrophy , IM, or dysplasia under magnifying endoscopy.

Introduction:The 2010 targets of the China Hepatitis B Prevention Programme were a prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) less than 1.0% for children less than five years old and less than 6.0% for the total population. This survey assessed the prevalence of Hepatitis B infection in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China in 2009–2010.Methods:Multistage sampling was used with 2372 subjects among 17 selected villages. Blood specimen collection and testing by enzyme-linked immunosorbnet assay (ELISA) were completed using the following markers for hepatitis infection: HBsAg and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs); hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe); and hepatitis B core antibody (total anti-HBc). The data were analysed with Epi Info, version 3.3.2.Results:The prevalence of HBsAg was 2.4% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.8–3.0; Adjusted Prevalence [AP] 2.9%); anti-HBs prevalence was 51.1% (95% CI: 49.1–53.1; AP 49.2%) and total anti-HBc prevalence was 41.7% (95% CI: 39.8–43.7; AP 45.5%). The prevalence of HBsAg and total anti-HBc positivity increased from young to older age groups, yet the prevalence of anti-HBs positivity decreased from young to older age groups (P< 0.001 for all). There was no difference in the prevalences of HBsAg and anti-HBs among females and males (P= 0.108 and 0.089), but females had a higher prevalence than males for total anti-HBc positivity (P< 0.001). Discussion: This survey showed that in 2010 the prevalence of HBsAg among children aged less than five years was lower than the national target of 1.0% and that the prevalence of HBsAg for the total population was lower than the national target of 6.0%.

Objective To investigate the knowledge and opinions of the staff in community health service centers.Methods Staff in Ganjiang,Jiefang and Nanwai community health service centers of Zhanggong District,Ganzhou City,Jiangxi Province were interviewed with questionnaire based on meeting by chance by trained interviewers about their opinions on 10 aspects of community health services.The data were evaluated by score method and factors influencing the score were studied with logistic regression analysis.Results Generally,the staff's evaluation for community health services was high,satisfying with colleagues' cooperation,professional training and service capacities in 95.96% ,90.91% and 88.88% of them,respectively.But their satisfaction with personal income and staff' s income was poor(24.24% and 43.43%).Staff for logistics were not so satisfied with their personal income.Staff for logistics and senior staff were not so active in their professional training.Conclusions The staff in community health service centers could better understand community health services with satisfaction.Incentive mechanism for the staff in community health services should be introduced with optimized management system to increase staff's income and sustain its stable development.

AIMTo study the relationship of neurotoxicity of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and the function of glutamate transporter.

METHODSUsing in vivo microdialysis together with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to detect the alteration of glutamate in the striatum and extracellular fluid of the PC12 cell. The rate of apoptosis and the activity of PC12 cells are read in a flow cytometer and a photometer for enzyme-labeled assays. The function of glutamate transporter is decided by detecting the ability of L-[3H]-glutamate uptake.

RESULTS6-OHDA was shown to induce apoptosis and decrease the activity of PC12 cells. Increased release of glutamate was also found in PC12 cells and the injured striatum of the PD rats. But glutamate uptake in PC12 cells and rat striatum synaptosomes are inhibited obviously.

CONCLUSIONThe neurotoxicity of 6-hydroxydopamine is associated with declined function of glutamate transporters, which may be one important pathogenesis mechanisms of Parkinson's disease.

Amino Acid Transport System X-AG ; drug effects ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Corpus Striatum ; metabolism ; Glutamic Acid ; metabolism ; Male ; Oxidopamine ; toxicity ; PC12 Cells ; Parkinson Disease ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo construct effective RNA-interference plasmids targeting mouse HIF-1alpha gene and testify their effects and specificities in interfering HIF-1alpha expression.

METHODSThree RNA-interference plasmids targeting mouse HIF-1alpha gene, pBS/U6/HIF-1alpha-siRNAI~III, were constructed and identified using double digestion method in the present study. RT-PCR, immunostaining and western blotting were employed to detect the expression alterations of HIF-1alpha in 293T cells following transfections of the three plasmids, respectively. The interference effect of pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II in SH-SY5Y cell line was further investigated.

RESULTSAll the three RNA-interference plasmids, especially pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II, showed significant inhibition in HIF-1alpha expression in 293T cell line. pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II could also inhibit HIF-1alpha expression in SH-SY5Y cell line, in a dose-dependent way.

CONCLUSIONPlasmid pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II constructed in our study can effectively and specifically inhibit HIF-1alpha expression, and its role in neural tube development and dysfunction will be further investigated. Construct of pBS/U6/HIF1alphai-II plasmid will provide a useful tool to study the role of HIF-1 pathway in embryogenesis, oncogenesis and ischemia development.

Analysis of Variance ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Gene Silencing ; physiology ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe wetland at Dalian Bay in the Northeast of China has been polluted by oil severely. The effect of various microbes and operation parameters on the bioremediation of oil-polluted wetlands at Dalian Bay was investigated and reported previously. In the study, other operation conditions related to the status of medium were investigated via statistical experimental design and analysis and a necessary information is involved to use micro-technology in the application.

METHODSThe method used involved the direct inoculation of selected bacteria, which were capable of degrading oil. The operation conditions were further optimized and evaluated by gravimetrical assay.

RESULTSThe optimal pH and temperature for the studied bacteria to degrade the existing oil pollutants were established as pH 8.0 and 27 degrees C. The mixed of various bacteria showed better results in terms of oil degradation than any single one. Among the selected four factors, disturbance, oxidant, nutrients, and biosurfactant, the former two contributed more impacts on the oil degradation in the early stage of process, while the latter two became the limiting factors in the late stage. Three sets of optimal conditions were obtained for each individual stage, but no one was suitable for the overall process.

CONCLUSIONThe study demonstrated the technical feasibility of using direct inoculation into the contaminated soil samples to remove oil pollutants. It suggested that the operation conditions should be monitored and adjusted during the different stages of bio-reactions in the process to achieve the best result of oil degradation.

Bacteria ; metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; China ; Ecosystem ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oceans and Seas ; Petroleum ; metabolism ; Soil ; analysis ; Soil Pollutants ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Temperature