Objective To investigate the impact of alterations within the space of Disse micro- environment on the migration of hepatic stellate cells(HSC) during the process of liver fibrosis,and to ex plore the novel mechanism of liver fibrosis from the view of cell migration.Methods A modified in vitro Boyden chamber system to partially mimic in vivo microenvironment of Disse space of normal and liver fibrosis was employed.The effects of fibrogenetic growth factors on the migration of HSC in liver fibrosis were observed via cell migration and cell proliferation experiments.Results Enhanced platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)-BB,transforming growth factor(TGF)-?1 and/or epithelial growth factor(EGF) in liver fibrosis resulted in an increase in migratory capacity of activated HSC.The enhanced migration of HSCs induced by PDGF-BB was partially associated with their increased proliferation,while,TGF-?1 or EGF-induced migration was proliferation independent.The elevation of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)during liver fibrosis had no effect on the migration of HSCs.Conclusions The study provides valuable insights into the role of space of Disse microenvironment in regulating HSC migratory behavior.TGF-?1,PDGF-BB and EGF,which increased in liver fibrosis, could induce the migration of activated HSC.However,bFGF or VEGF has no such kind of effect,al- though they also increased during liver fibrosis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Larynx ; pathology

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; virology

Objective To investigate the role of survivin and P53 in apoptosis of gastric adeno- carcinoma,as well as its relationship with the clinicopathologic features and the prognosis.Methods The gas- tric tissue microarrays were composed of those from 100 cases of gastric cancer and 30 controls.At these tissue microarrays,expressions of survivin and P53 were investigated immunohistochemically,and tumor cell apoptosis index was examined by TUNEL method.Of the 100 cases,47 cases were followed-up from 14 months to 13 years,in which the survival was analyzed.Results Two paraffin-embedded gastric carcinoma tissue micro- arrays were successfully constructed,including 114 and 116 tissue spots,respectively.Immunohistochemical analysis showed that survivin was expressed in 78 cases (78%).No expression of survivin was detected in control tissue (P0.05).In the 47 cases with followed-up data,univariant analysis revealed that the survival was correlated with invading of vessel and nerve,TNM stages,and expression of survivin.The histological grades and expression of P53 were not related to prognosis.However,Cox stepwise proportional hazards analysis showed that only TNM staging and survivin status retained significant independently in prospecting prognosis.Conclusions The expression of survivin was associated with the pathologic features,TNM stages and prognosis in gastric carcinoma,indicating that overex- pression of survivin may be a poor prognosis factor for gastric carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the resistant effect of houttuyfonate sodium (SH) combined with imipenem (IMP) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) biofilms.

METHODThe two-fold dilution method was used to examine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the tested drug. The crystal violet staining was applied to detect the effect of the combination of 1/2MIC, 1MIC, 2MIC of SH, single IMP, 1/2MIC of SH and IMP of various concentrations on the clearance rate of adherent bacteria, growth of biofilms and alginate production. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA)-propidium iodide (PI) doubling staining assay was employed to observe the bacterial viability and morphological changes after membrane dispersion of each drug group.

RESULTSodium houttuyfonate could enhance the effect of IMP against pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. Particularly, the combination group with the concentration of 2MIC showed the highest effect, with P < 0.001 compared with the negative control group. The above results were proved by the bacterial viability and biofilm morphology under fluorescence microscope.

CONCLUSIONAfter being combined with imipenem, sodium houttuyfonate shows a higher effect against biofilms. It is expected that the combination of the two drugs could improve the clinical efficacy of associated infections.

Alkanes ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Drug Synergism ; Imipenem ; pharmacology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Microbial Viability ; drug effects ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sulfites ; pharmacology

Objective:To investigate the expression of HIF-1?and its relationship with angiogenesis in osteosarcoma.Methods: Osteosarcoma MG-63 cells were cultured in vitro under hypoxia and mimic hypoxia conditions.Thirty paraffin-embedded osteosarcoma tissues and 20 fresh frozen osteosarcoma specimens were collected.The mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1?and VEGF were detected by RT-PCR,Western blotting,ELISA,and immunohistochemistry methods.The mean vessel density(MVD)were also calculated.Results:The mRNA level of HIF-1?had no change under hypoxia and minic hypoxia conditions,whereas the protein expression was increased dramaticaly.The mRNA and protein expression of VEGF was significantly increased under hypoxia and minic hypoxia conditions.The positive rate of HIF-1?mRNA(90%)and VEGF(100%)in 20 fresh frozen tissues were higher than those of the para-tumor tissues(P

Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Skull Base

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints on the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling substances phospholipase C gamma-1 (PLC gamma-1), protein kinase C (PKC) and c-myc in gastric mucosal cells. METHODS: Sixty rats were randomly divided into normal group, stomach meridian group, gallbladder meridian group, stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group. Water-immersion and restrained stress methods were adopted for inducing gastric mucosal injury in the rats. Gastric mucosal cells were separated by using pronase digestion method, and incubated by PD153035, a EGFR inhibitor, and 100 ml/L serum. The expression of PLC gamma-1 in the gastric mucosal cells was tested by enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the expression of PKC by isotope incorporate assay and the expression of c-myc by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR). RESULTS: In gastric mucosal cells, weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the normal group, and relatively strong expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group, among which, the expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc in the stomach meridian group were the strongest, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group (P<0.01). Relative weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and the gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The serum derived from the rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints can activate the EGFR singling pathway, and this provides an evidence for the theory of "relative particularity between meridians and viscera" in traditional Chinese medicine.

Objective To analyze the high resolution CT(HRCT)appearance and its clinical significance in patients with post-traumatic visual loss.Design Retrospective study.Participants 150 patients with post-traumatic visual loss.Methods The optic canal HRCT of 150 patients admitted from March to June of 2007 by Department of Emergency for post-traumatic visual loss were ana- lyzed retrospectively.Main Outcome Measures Pedilection sites and their incidence rates of optic canal and orbital apex region. Results Optic canal fractures were found in 78 patients,manifesting as rupture and displacement of optic canal wall,accompanied with or without adjacent structure fractures.(1)Among 88 sides of fractures,22 sides presented with single fracture,and 66 sides with multi- ple fractures,revolving several optic canal walls.(2)156 sites of fractures were displayed in 78 patients,and the most frequent types were displacement fractures(47.4%).(3)Accompanied adjacent structure fractures were found in 73 cases of the 78 patients,while 40 cases were found in 72 patients without optic canal fracture.Totally,283 sites of adjacent structure fractures were discovered with the most frequent sites of orbital apex region,accounting for 44.5%.Conclusion HRCT could well display optic canal fractures and accom- panied fractures of adjacent structures,providing important informations for diagnosis and intervention of traumatic visual loss.(Oph- thalmol CHN,2007,16:326-329)

Objective To establish a specific fluorescence quantitative method for determining the mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor3(TLR3)in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).Methods Using the Beacon Designer 2.1 software,specific primers and Taqman-MGB probe were designed.The plasmid pMD18-T-TLR3 was constructed as calibrator and the amplified fragment was obtained by reverse- transcript-PCR(RT-PCR).RNA quantification based on cycle threshold values(Ct)was used to establish the standard curve.According to which,the TLR3 mRNA levels in 30 normal individuals,20 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC)and 20 ones with chronic liver cirrhosis induced by HBV were calculated automatically by software after the fluorescence of PCR product was detected continuously during amplification.Results The linear detection range of the assay for TLR3 gene and ?-actin was 10~2-10~8(r= -0.9974)and 10~3～10~8(r=-0.9984),respectively.The coefficient of variation of both intra-and inter- assay reproducibility for high concentration sample were 6.7% and 8.7%,respectively,and those for low concentration sample were 12.3% and 14.0%.The TLR3 mRNA expression level ranges from 3.46?10~2- 4.51?10~3 copies/?g RNA,4.92?10~2-1.42?10~4 copies/?g RNA and 2.58?10~2-7.17?10~3 copies/?g RNA for 30 healthy individuals,20 PBC patients and 20 ones with chronic liver cirrhosis induced by HBV, respectively.Conclusion We have successfully set up a FQ-RT-PCR method for detecting TLR3 mRNA, which may be used as an excellent tool for the clinic and basic study on the expression of TLR3 gene.