This article presents a brief introduction of the gap junctions on CA_1 pyramidal cells of guinea pig hippocampus observed by freeze replica technique. In freeze replicas of the hippocampus of guinea pig, gap junctions were observed on the E-face of the CA_1 pyramidal cells and the apical dendrites, the intramembranous particles aggregated as a large or a small area and arranged regularly or irregularly.

Objective To explore the imaging features and its correlation with pathological findings of giant cell tumor of the ten-don sheath (GCTTS).Methods The clinical data,radiographic images and pathological characteristics of sixteen cases of GCTTS confirmed by pathology were retrospectively reviewed.Plain CT,pre and post-contrast MR were performed in all patients.HE stai-ning was used to investigate the histological characteristics of GCTTS,and immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the ex-pression of CD68.Results There were nine cases of local type GCTTS and seven cases of diffuse type GCTTS in our present study. Nine cases were located in the knee joint,four cases in the foot,and three cases in the hand.Compared with normal skeletal muscle signals,lesions showed isointensity or low intensity on T1 WI and inhomogeneous low intensity on T2 WI.Three cases caused adja-cent bone destruction,one case lead to adjacent bone absorption,and no abnormality was found in other twelve cases.Six cases were injected Gd-DTPA for enhanced scan,in which four cases showed significantly heterogeneous enhancement,one case mild heteroge-neous enhancement,and one case no heterogeneous enhancement.Pathology examination results revealed that GCTTS parenchyma cells were mainly formed by histocyte-like monocytes,and scattered multinuclear giant cells.GCTTS mesenchyme was rich in gelat-inous fiber and hemosiderin pigmentation.Conclusion MR has a significant advantage in detecting specific hemosiderin pigmentation and determining lesions area of GCTTS.Combination of MR with pathology results may improve the diagnosis accuracy.

Background:Recently,studies have shown that piperlongumine( PL)selectively killed cancer cells by elevating reactive oxygen species(ROS)in various cancers. However,the effect of PL on gastric cancer cells remained to be further studied. Aims:To investigate the effect of PL on proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell line MKN45 and its underlying mechanism. Methods:MKN45 cells were treated with different doses of PL,caspase inhibitor,antioxidant, and their combinations,respectively. Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay;cell cycle,apoptosis and intracellular ROS level were measured by flow cytometry;and Western blotting was employed to determine the expression of apoptosis-related proteins( XIAP,cleaved-caspase3,7,9 and cleaved-PARP),p53 and its downstream target genes( p21, GADD45α and PUMA). Results:PL inhibited the proliferation of MKN45 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In MKN45 cells treated with PL,the proportion of cells in G1 phase,apoptotic rate and intracellular ROS level were significantly increased,the expression of inhibitor of apoptosis protein XIAP was down-regulated,and the caspase-dependent apoptosis pathway,p53 and its downstream target genes were activated. Pretreatment with antioxidant NAC or Z-VAD-FMK, a general caspase inhibitor could partially abolish the effect of PL on ROS production and its antitumor effect. Conclusions:PL can inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell cycle G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in MKN45 cells. Its antitumor effect may be associated with a ROS-mediated p53 activation and subsequent triggering of caspases cascade of cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; physiology ; Dehydroepiandrosterone ; physiology ; Lipid Metabolism ; physiology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate and compare the clinical effects of 2-micron laser vaporization resection of prostate (2-micron laser) and versus transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) in this prospective random control study.Methods Sixty patients of BPH were randomly divided into two groups including the 2-micron laser group (n =30) and the TURP group (n =30).The perioperative markers and therapeutic results including duration of surgery,blood lose during surgery,improvement of symptoms after treatment,postoperative bladder washing time,the mean bladder irrigating time,hospital stay time,and recent complications were recorded and analyzed.Results The international prostate symptom score((6.6 ± 1.8) vs.(33.2 ±2.2),(5.7 ± 1.3) vs.(33.4 ±2.3) respectively),maximal urinary flow((20.6 ± 1.5) ml/s vs.(7.8 ± 4.3) m/s,(19.5 ± 1.7) ml/s vs.(8.3 ± 4.5) ml/s respectively),residual urine volume((22.3 ±4.7) ml vs.(57.2 ± 10.5) ml,(26.3 ±7.2) ml vs.(60.2 ± 14.5) ml respectively) were significantly improved in both groups after operation (P =0.005,0.008,0.036,0.001,0.005,0.013 respectively),but the differences between these two groups were not significant (P =0.16,0.49,0.97 respectively).The volume of hemorrhage ((20.9 ± 12.1) ml vs.(55.3 ± 27.8) ml),the mean bladder irrigating time ((1.0 ±0.5) d vs.(3.5 ±0.7) d),cathererization time ((3.2 ± 1.3) d vs.(6.0 ± 1.5) d),hospital stay time ((6.8 ±0.7) d vs.(10.6 ±0.6) d) were significantly less or shorter in the 2-micron laser group than in the TURP group (P =0.009,0.005,0.035,0.03 respectively).There was no significant difference in rates of complications between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The therapy of 2-micron laser is safer and more efficacious than TURP for BPH patients,with advantages of short surgery duration,little blood loss,and quick recovery.

The paper is a report of sociological investigation about thousands of peoples who were exposed to acute infection of schistosomiasis in subdistrict Younyuan, Wuhan City. 9 organizations, 258 families (944 persons) were surveyed with sociological metheds such as outlined questionare, personal questioning, visit and meeting. The result showed that some factors (age, profession, cultural level, size of residing place, distance between residing place and Yangtze river, frequency of swimming in river) were closely related with the epidemic outbreak of acute schistosomiasis. Thus we suggest that public health education should be implemented as an important antischistcsomiasis measure for local residents in urban epidemic areas when snail host (Oncomelania hupensis) of Schistosoma japonicum has not been controlled.

Objective To investigate the relationship of expressions of cylooxygenase-2(COX-2) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1?(HIF-1?) in hepatocelluar carcinoma(HCC) and the possible antineoplastic mechanism of selective COX-2 inhibitor.Methods The expressions of COX-2 and HIF-1? in 53 cases of HCC tissues were detected immunohistochemically.Western blot was employed to evaluate the effects of variant concentration of COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam on expression of HIF-1? in Cobaltchloride-stimulated SMMC-7721 cell.Results Of 53 tumor tissues,the expression of COX-2 was 22/53(41.5%) strongly positive stained,11/53(20.8%) positive stained,and 20/53(37.7%) negative stained.Meanwhile the expression of HIF-1? was 18/53(34.0%) strongly positive stained,18/53(34.0%)positive stained,17/53((32.1%)) negative stained.The expression of COX-2 was correlated positively with HIF-1? in HCC(r=0.440,P

Objective To explore the plasma ghrelin levels in children and adolescents with short stature and the role of ghrelin in growth hormone-releasing hormone-growth hormone(GHRH-GH) axis.Methods One hundred and fifty-seven children(115 male,42 female) with short stature were selected.Fasting plasma sample was extracted from 10 mL vemous blood of the children with short stature.Insulin tolerance test and arginine stimulation test was performed initially to differential diagnosis.And blood samples was divided into 3 ca-tegories:37 cases of complete growth hormone deficiency (CGHD),52 cases of partial growth hormone deficiency(PGHD) and 68 cases of idiopathic short stature(ISS) during these two growth hormone(GH)provocative tests.Controls consisted of age and gender-match 20 health children.Plasma ghrelin levels were measured by radioimmunoassay.Serum GH was detected by chemiluminescence method,and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was measured by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Fasting glucose,insulin,testosterone,estra-diol,luteinizing hormone,follicle-stimulating hormone were measured.Statistical analysis were conducted by using SPSS 11.5 software.Results The fasting ghrelin levels of CGHD group were significantly lower than that of ISS group and control group(Pa0.05).The ghrelin levels were positive correlated with the stimulated GH peak(r=0.176 P0.05).Conclusion Ghrelin has an important role on GH secretion and abnormal secretion of ghrelin might be a reason of growth hormone deficiency which due to hypothalamic abnormality.

The concentrations of berberine (BBR) and 8-cetylberberine (8-BBR-C16) in rat plasma and tissue were determined by RP-HPLC. Both the plasma pharmacokinetics characteristic and tissue distribution differences of BBR and 8-BBR-C16 were compared to provide experimental data for the mechanism research and further drug development. After the oral administrations of BBR and 8-BBR-C16 at the dose of 80 mg x kg(-1) for rats, the pharmacokinetics result showed that compared with BBR, the C(max) and AUC(0-t), of 8-BBR-C16 increased by 2.8 times and 12.9 times respectively, t1/2 extended from 3.61 h to 11.90 h. The tissue distribution result showed that compared with BBR, the concentration of 8-BBR-C16 in various organizations increased and the retention time extended remarkably. The maximum concentration was achieved in lung and the highest concentration in it was 3 731.82 ng x g(-1). After being derived, the C(max) in plasma and bioavailability of 8-BBR-C16 increased remarkably and the circulation time in vivo extended. The drug concentration in tissue increased remarkably, and the distribution ratio changed too, with strong targeting selection in lung.

Objective: To evaluate the physical properties of SY-1 silicone elastomer with various ratios of cross-linker to base. Methods: The ratios of cross-linker to base were set at 0.5 %、1 %、 1. 5 %、 2 % 、2. 5 % respectively while other conditions were kept same, then the major physical properties of the elatomer were studied with a tensile tester and ASTMD 2240 method. Results: The elongation(%) due to tension, tensile strength (MPa), laceration strength (kN/m) and hardness (A) of SY-1 silicone elastomer with the ration of 0. 5% of cross-linker to base were 540?47,4. 3?0. 28, 14. 4?2.4 and 18. 0?3. w; those of that with 1% 440 ?54,4.0?0.32,18. 2?3.1 and 24. 0?3. 61 with 1.5% 430?51, 4.1?0. 29, 13.6?2.2 and 25.0?2.1; with 2% 350?46, 2.5?0. 33, 9.0?2.1 and 28.0?1.9; with 2.5% 280?36, 2.0?0. 3, 11.0?2.5 and 29.0? 2.8, respectively. Conclusion: The physical properties of SY-1 silicone elastomer with a ratio of 1% of crosslinker to base are more suitable for prothesis fabrication.