ObjectiveTo explore the clinical characteristics of pathological fracture in extremities caused by bone tumors or tumor-like lesions. MethodsFrom August 2002 to December 2010, 139 patients with pathological fractures were entered in the study, including 79 males and 60 females with an average age of 31.1 years. Fractures included tumor-like lesion in 55 cases, benign tumor in 13, giant cell tumor (GCT)in 7, primary malignant tumors in 28, and metastatic tumors in 36. Forces induced to fractures were classified into four grades: spontaneous fracture, functional activity, minor injury, severe injury. Age, fracture location, histological results, fractures forces, prodromes, and misdiagnosis were all observed. Chi-square test were use to compare forces and prodromes within different tumors. ResultsThe highest morbidity rate is 32.4％(45/139) which lies in 11-20 years old. The cites of fractures including femurs in 71 cases, humerus in 36, tibia in 15, fingers in 7, radiuses in 4, fibula in 3, ulnas in 2, and metatarsus in 1. Fracture forces include spontaneous fractures in 29 cases, functional activity in 42, minor injuries in 65, and traumatic injuries in 3. Sixty-seven patients(48.2％) had local prodromes. The prodromes of both malignant tumors and metastatic tumors were more than benign tumors. Twenty cases experienced misdiagnosis with average delay time of 12 weeks. ConclusionMinor injury forces and local prodromes are clinical key features of pathological fractures. Both of them are key points of avoiding misdiagnosis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of poly ( ADP-ribose ) polymerase ( PARP) inhibitor ABT888 combined with carbo on apoptosis of human breast cancer cells.Methods:MTT was used to detect the cell viability of MDA-MB-435s cells after treatment of carbo and ABT 888 with different concentration .FACS and Western-blotting were used to detect the cell apoptosis rate and apoptosis-related protein expression , respectively . Results: Combined application of carbo and ABT 888 significantly inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-435 s cells, and the inhibition rates were significantly higher than that of carbo or ABT 888 alone .The combination of carbo and ABT888 markedly induced cell apoptosis (26.3%±1.5%) more than carbo (18.6%± 1.6%, P<0.01) and ABT888 (14.7%±2.3%, P<0.01) alone.Combination of carbo and ABT888 significantly down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptosis factors Bcl-2 and up-regulated the pro-apoptosis proteins Bax and cleaved caspase-3. Conclusion:The combination of carbo and ABT 888 can suppress the proliferation and induce apoptosis of human breast cancer DA-MB-435s cells.

The female sex is traditionally considered a favorable prognostic factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, no particular study has reported this phenomenon. To explore the prognostic impact of gender on patients with NPC after definitive radiotherapy, we reviewed the clinical data of 2063 consecutive patients treated between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2003 in the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. The median follow-up for the whole series was 81 months. The female and male patients with early stage disease comprised 49.4% and 28.1% of the patient population, respectively. Both the 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) rates of female patients were significantly higher than those of male patients (OS: 79% vs. 69%, P < 0.001; DSS: 81% vs. 70%, P < 0.001). For patients with locoregionally advanced NPC, the 5-year OS and DSS rates of female vs. male patients were 74% vs. 63% (P < 0.001) and 76% vs. 64%, respectively (P < 0.001). A multivariate analysis showed that gender, age, and TNM stage were independent prognostic factors for the 5-year OS and DSS of NPC patients. The favorable prognosis of female patients is not only attributed to the early diagnosis and treatment but might also be attributed to some intrinsic factors of female patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy, High-Energy ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDCalcium phosphate cement (CPC) is a favorable bone-graft substitute, with excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity. However, its reduced osteoinductive ability may limit the utility of CPC. To increase its osteoinductive potential, this study aimed to prepare tissue-engineered CPC and evaluate its use in the repair of bone defects. The fate of transplanted seed cells in vivo was observed at the same time.

METHODSTissue-engineered CPC was prepared by seeding CPC with encapsulated bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) expressing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and green fluorescent protein (GFP). Tissue-engineered CPC and pure CPC were implanted into rabbit femoral condyle bone defects respectively. Twelve weeks later, radiographs, morphological observations, histomorphometrical evaluations, and in vivo tracing were performed.

RESULTSThe radiographs revealed better absorption and faster new bone formation for tissue-engineered CPC than pure CPC. Morphological and histomorphometrical evaluations indicated that tissue-engineered CPC separated into numerous small blocks, with active absorption and reconstruction noted, whereas the residual CPC area was larger in the group treated with pure CPC. In the tissue-engineered CPC group, in vivo tracing revealed numerous cells expressing both GFP and rhBMP-2 that were distributed in the medullar cavity and on the surface of bony trabeculae.

CONCLUSIONTissue-engineered CPC can effectively repair bone defects, with allogenic seeded cells able to grow and differentiate in vivo after transplantation.

Animals ; Bone Cements ; chemistry ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Calcium Phosphates ; chemistry ; Cells, Cultured ; Femur ; surgery ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Background Calcium phosphate cement (CPC) is a favorable bone-graft substitute,with excellent biocompatibility and osteoconductivity.However,its reduced osteoinductive ability may limit the utility of CPC.To increase its osteoinductive potential,this study aimed to prepare tissue-engineered CPC and evaluate its use in the repair of bone defects.The fate of transplanted seed cells in vivo was observed at the same time.Methods Tissue-engineered CPC was prepared by seeding CPC with encapsulated bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) expressing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and green fluorescent protein (GFP).Tissue-engineered CPC and pure CPC were implanted into rabbit femoral condyle bone defects respectively.Twelve weeks later,radiographs,morphological observations,histomorphometrical evaluations,and in vivo tracing were performed.Results The radiographs revealed better absorption and faster new bone formation for tissue-engineered CPC than pure CPC.Morphological and histomorphometrical evaluations indicated that tissue-engineered CPC separated into numerous small blocks,with active absorption and recorstruction noted,whereas the residual CPC area was larger in the group treated with pure CPC.In the tissue-engineered CPC group,in vivo tracing revealed numerous cells expressing both GFP and rhBMP-2 that were distributed in the medullar cavity and on the surface of bony trabeculae.Conclusion Tissue-engineered CPC can effectively repair bone defects,with allogenic seeded cells able to grow and differentiate in vivo after transplantation.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of infectious pathogens in burn patients with sepsis based on metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology.Methods:This study was a retrospective observational study. From July 2021 to December 2023, 109 burn patients with sepsis who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to the Department of Burns of the First People's Hospital of Zhengzhou, including 68 males aged 57 to 92 years and 41 females aged 48 to 83 years. Blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, sputum, or other fluid specimens were collected from the patients during their hospital stay for microbiological culture (86 patients) and mNGS technology detection (109 patients). The types of specimens and pathogens detected by mNGS technology were counted. Patients were divided into intensive care unit (ICU) group (78 cases) who were admitted to the ICU and non-ICU group (31 cases) who were not admitted to the ICU, and the pathogens for infection in the two groups of patients were analyzed. In addition, the detection of pathogens in the specimens of 86 patients who underwent both mNGS technology detection and microbiological culture detection was analyzed.Results:Among the 109 specimens detected by mNGS technology, there were 42 blood specimens, 17 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimens, 4 sputum specimens, 6 cerebrospinal fluid specimens, 16 pus specimens, and 24 tissue fluid specimens; a total of 39 pathogens were detected, including 13 bacteria, 12 fungi, 10 viruses, 2 parasites, and 2 mycoplasmas. The overall positive rate of pathogen detection was 88.99% (97/109). Ranked by the detection rate, the top three Gram-negative bacteria were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas spp, the top three Gram-positive bacteria were Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis; the top three viruses were human herpesvirus, cytomegalovirus, and circovirus; the top three fungi were Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus flavus. Twenty-seven patients were infected with one pathogen, 45 patients with two pathogens, and 25 patients with three or more pathogens. Compared with those in non-ICU group, the proportions of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas spp, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Aspergillus fumigatus, and cytomegalovirus detected in the patients in ICU group were significantly higher (with χ2 values of 8.62, 7.93, 3.93, 5.48, 4.28, and 5.58, respectively, P<0.05). In the pathogens detected by mNGS technology and microbiological culture method, the most common bacteria were Klebsiellapneumoniaeand Acinetobacter baumannii, and the most common fungi were strains of Aspergillus and Candida. There were 19 pathogens those could only be detected by mNGS technology, such as Lichtheimia ramosa, Pneumocystis jirovecii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, viruses, etc.; there were no pathogens detected by microbiological culture method that couldn't be detected by mNGS technology. Compared with those detected by microbiological culture method, the overall positive rate, bacterial positive rate, and fungal positive rate detected by mNGS technology were significantly increased (with χ2 values of 45.52, 5.88, and 4.94, respectively, P<0.05). The 27.91% (24/86) of patients were detected positive by both methods, and 72.09% (62/86) of the patients were detected positive by mNGS technology but negative by microbiological culture method. The consistency test of the results obtained by the two detection methods showed that the difference was not statistically significant ( κ=0.02, P>0.05). Conclusions:The positive rate of pathogen detection in specimens using mNGS technology is higher than that detected by using conventional microbiological culture method, and it can detect pathogens those cannot be detected by the latter, such as Lichtheimia ramosa, Pneumocystis jirovidii, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, viruses, etc. Detection using mNGS technology can help clarify the types of infectious pathogens in burns patients with sepsis, and provide basis and guidance for clinical medication.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase(PARP)inhibitor ABT888 combined with carbo on apoptosis of human breast cancer cells.

METHODSMTT was used to detect the cell viability of MDA-MB-435s cells after treatment of carbo and ABT888 with different concentration. FACS and Western-blotting were used to detect the cell apoptosis rate and apoptosis-related protein expression, respectively.

RESULTSCombined application of carbo and ABT888 significantly inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-435s cells, and the inhibition rates were significantly higher than that of carbo or ABT888 alone. The combination of carbo and ABT888 markedly induced cell apoptosis(26.3%±1.5%) more than carbo(18.6%±1.6%, P<0.01) and ABT888(14.7%±2.3%, P<0.01) alone. Combination of carbo and ABT888 significantly down-regulated the expression of anti-apoptosis factors Bcl-2 and up-regulated the pro-apoptosis proteins Bax and cleaved caspase-3.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of carbo and ABT888 can suppress the proliferation and induce apoptosis of human breast cancer DA-MB-435s cells.

Apoptosis ; Benzimidazoles ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Carboplatin ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; Humans ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Purpose To study the expression of biomolecules of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway including CD44,TRIM24,TAGLN-2,ER and PR in breast invasive ductal carcinoma,and to explore their clinicopathologic significance.Methods The expression of CD44,TRIM24,TAGLN-2,ER and PR in 73 cases of breast invasive ductal carcinoma were detected by immunohistochemist~ (IHC) technology.And the relationship between the expression of these biomarkers and the age of patients,tumor size,histological grade,lymph node metastasis was analyzed.Besides,the influence of these biomarkers on prognosis and the relationship between the expression of these biomarkers were also analyzed.Results There was no significant relationship between the expression of these biomarkers and the age of patients,tumor size,histological grade,lymph node metastasis.CD44 expression was positively conelated with TAGLN-2 expression (r =0.311,P =0.007),TRIM24 expression was positively correlated with TAGLN-2 expression (r =0.421,P =0.000).CD44 expression was negatively correlated with ER expression (r =-0.285,P =0.015).ER expression was positively correlated with PR expression (r =0.598,P =0.000).The postoperative 5-year cumulative survival-rate of CD44 positive group was lower than those of CD44 negative group (P =0.002),in contrast,the postoperative 5-year survival rate of ER positive group was higher than those of ER negative group (P =0.026).Conclusion Through PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,CD44 and TRIM24 may up-regulate TAGLN-2 expression,however,CD44 may down-regulate ER and PR expression.CD44 and ER may act an useful predictor for the prognosis of breast invasive ductal carcinoma.Combined detection of CD44,ER and PR may provide additional therapeutic information which may be useful in breast cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Dendrobium officinale granule (DOG) on symptoms, blood pressure and serum biochemical indexes of long-term-alcohol-induced hypertension rats.

METHODThe alcohol-induced hypertension rat model was established by feeding alcohol drink to normal rats (the alcohol volume fraction increases from 5% to 22%). Since the 4th week, DOG was administered for 32 weeks, once everyday. During the experiment, body weight, kinematic parameters (locomotor activities, grip strength, duration of vertigo) and blood pressures (systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure) were detected regularly. On the 28th and 32nd weeks, blood samples were collected to determine serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), uric acid (UA), creatinine (Cr), cholesterol (CH) and triglycerides (TG).

RESULT(1) Sign: The DOG-administered group showed reduction in the duration of vertigo and increase in appetite, body weight, locomotor activities and grip strength. (2) Blood pressure: The DOG-administered group showed significant decrease in blood pressure since the 8th week. (3) Biochemical indexes: The DOG-administered group showed notable decrease in serum ALT, AST, ALP, Cr, UA, TG level, but without significant change in TC level.

CONCLUSIONThe long-term administration of DOG can relieve alcohol-induced hypertension, while alleviating general signs, liver and kidney injuries and abnormal blood fat biochemical indexes.

Animals ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Ethanol ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Male ; Motor Activity ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

Objective To investigate effects of different de-cellularization methods on biomechanical properties and histological structure of annulus fibrosus in pigtails and provide experimental evidence for the construction of tissue engineering annulus fibrosus. Methods Sixty Fresh annulus fibrosus were dissected from caudal disks of pigs and randomly assigned to 4 groups with 15 in each group. Triton X-100 group(Group A): annulus fibrosus were treated with hypotonic Tris-HCl buffer for 48 hours and de-cellularized with Triton X-100, DNase Ⅰ and RNase A. SDS group (Group B): annulus fibrosus were subjected to 3 cycles of freeze-thaw and subsequently de-cellularized with SDS, DNaseⅠ and RNase A. Trypsin group (Group C): annulus fibrosus were de-cellularized with Tris buffer containing trypsin, DNase Ⅰ and RNase A. Control group: fresh annulus fibrosus underwent no treatment. After the de-cellularization process was completed, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was carried out to examine the efficacy on cell removal, and the ultrastructure of annulus fibrosus were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The collagen content, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content and biomechanical parameters in each group were also detected. Results HE staining and scanning electron microscopy showed that no residual cells were found in Group A, B and C. The structure of annulus fibrosus in Group A was not disturbed, while that in Group B and C was damaged severely and slightly, respectively. There was no statistical difference in collagen content among Group A, B and C, as compared to the control group (P>0.05). But the GAG content was significantly more lower in Group A, B and C than in the control group (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in ultimate load, ultimate stress, toughness, elastic modulus and mechanical work to fracture between Group A, C and control group (P>0.05), while these parameters of Group B were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions The Triton X-100-treated annulus fibrosus retained the major extracellular matrix composition after cell removal and preserved the major structure and mechanical strength, which is preferable for the construction of tissue engineering annulus fibrosus.