Objective To summarize the experience of 40 patients with carotid artery stenosis treated by carotid artery stenting (CAS). Methods Endovascular plasty and stent placement were performed in 40 patients with carotid artery stenosis from October 2000 to July 2002. A total of 43 stents were placed into, comprising 39 WALLSTENT stents and 4 SMART stents. Out of the 40 cases, cerebral protection devices were used in 5 cases. Results The stent placement was completed successively in all the patients.Diameters of carotid artery all returned to 4mm or above.Mild intraoperative ischemic stroke occurred in 2 cases, and severe intraoperative ischemic stroke was found in other 2 cases: visual field loss of the left eye in 1 case, with after-effects even 3 months after surgery; loss of consciousness and right hemiplegia in 1 case, whom was cured to full consciousness subsequently. The complication rate was 10% (4 of 40) and the rate of severe ischemic stroke was 5% (2 of 40). No complications were seen in patients with cerebral protection devices. Conclusions CAS is effective in the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. Carotid stenting with cerebral protection devices may further ensure the patients' safety.

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) play an important regulatory role in the plantarbuscular mycorrhiza/rhizobium nodule symbiosis. However, the biological action of CDPKs in orchid mycorrhiza (OM) symbiosis remains unclear. In the present study, a CDPK encoding gene, designated as DoCPK1 (GenBank accession No. JX193703), was identified from D. officinale roots infected by an OM fungus-Mycena sp. using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods, for the first time. The full length cDNA of DoCPK1 was 2137 bp in length and encoded a 534 aa protein with a molecular weight of 59.61 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.03. The deduced DoCPK1 protein contained the conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase catalytic domain and four Ca2+ binding EF hand motifs. Multiple sequence alignment demonstrated that DoCPK1 was highly homologous (85%) to the Panax ginseng PgCPK1 (ACY78680), followed by CDPKs genes from wheat, rice, and Arabidopsis (ABD98803, ADM14342, Q9ZSA2, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis showed that DoCPK1 was closely related to CDPKs genes from monocots, such as wheat, maize and rice. Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that DoCPK1 was constitutively expressed in the included tissues and the transcript levels were in the order of roots > stems > seeds > leaves. Furthermore, DoCPK1 transcripts were significantly accumulated in roots 30 d after fungal infection, with 5.16 fold compared to that of the mock roots, indicating involvement of DoCPK1 during the early interaction between D. officinale and Mycena sp., and a possible role in the symbiosis process. This study firstly provided important clues of a CDPK gene associated with OM symbiosis, and will be useful for further functional determination of the gene involving in D. officinale and Mycena sp. symbiosis.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, composed of MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K), MAPK kinase (MAP2K), and MAPK, is abundantly conserved in all eukaryotes. MAPK along with MAPK cascade plays a vital regulatory role in the plant-arbuscular mycorrhiza/rhizobium nodule symbioses. However, the biological function of MAPK in orchid mycorrhiza (OM) symbiosis remains elusive. In the present study, a MAPK gene, designated as DoMPK1 (GenBank accession No. JX297594), was identified from D. officinale roots infected by an OM fungus-Mycena sp. using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods. The full length cDNA of DoMPK1 was 1 263 bp and encoded a 372 aa protein with a molecular weight of 42.61 kD and an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.07. The deduced DoMPK1 protein contained the conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase catalytic domain (39-325) and MAP kinase signature (77-177). Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that DoMPK1 was highly homologous (71%-85%) to MAPK genes from various plant species and was closely related to those from monocots. Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis revealed that DoMPK1 was constitutively expressed in leaves, stems, roots and seeds, and the transcript abundance was not significantly different in the four included tissues. Furthermore, DoMPK1 transcript was markedly induced in roots at 30 d after fungal infection, with 7.91 fold compared to that of the mock inoculated roots, suggesting implication of DoMPK1 in the early D. officinale and Mycena sp. interaction and an essential role in the symbiosis. Our study characterized a MAPK gene associated with OM symbiosis for the first time, and will be helpful for further functional elucidation of DoMPK1 involving in D. officinale and Mycena sp. symbiotic interaction.

lymphocytic thyroiditis.

To explore the expression of Beclin1 in osteosarcoma and investigate the effects of down-regulation of autophagy on the chemotherapeutic sensitivity to cisplatin (DDP), the expression of Beclin1 in 28 specimens of osteosarcoma (group A) and 19 specimens of normal bone tissues (group B) were immunohistochemically detected. The expression of Beclin1 mRNA in MG63 cells treated with different concentrations of DDP was examined with RT-PCR. After down-regulation of autophagy in MG63 cells by an autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), the cell proliferation inhibition rate of MG63 cells treated with DDP was evaluated by using the MTT assay. The positive rates of Beclin1 were 67.85% in group A and 94.73% in group B. Its expression was lower in osteosarcoma than in normal bone tissues, with a significant difference found between them (P<0.05). RT-PCR showed that the expression of Beclin1 mRNA in the cells treated with high-dose DDP were higher than that in the non-treated cells, and no significant difference in the expression of Beclin1 mRNA was found between the cells treated with low-dose DDP and the non-treated cells. There was a positive correlation between the level of Beclin1 mRNA expression and the concentration of DDP. MTT assay showed that the proliferation inhibition rates of the cell treated with 3-MA and DDP combined were substantially increased when compared with those treated with DDP alone (P<0.01). This study demonstrated that autophagy may be implicated in the carcinogenesis of osteosarcoma, and DDP may induce autophagy in the MG63 cells. It also suggests that the down-regulated autophagy could increase chemotherapeutic sensitivity of DDP to osteosarcoma.

OBJECTIVE To dectect the possible association between interleukin-4 receptor gene polymorphism and allergic rhinitis. METHODS The study was conducted in two different groups: patients with allergic rhinitis (the case group,n=50) and healthy people (the control group,n=40). The IL-4R Q576R polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The study compared frequencies distribution of genotype and allele between the two groups,and calculated odds ratio (OR) of genotype. RESULTS IL-4R allelic frequencies showed significant difference between the two groups (x2=9.12,P

Objective To investigate the changes of proteomics in serum of Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats after accumulated irradiation with 137Cs γ-rays.Methods A total of thirty mature SD rats were randomly divided into three groups:0.2 Gy group,2 Gy group and healthy control group.Rats were irradiated at a dose rate of 0.336 mGy/min for 10 d and 20 d continuously.Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) was used to analyze the different protein expression in serum of irradiated rats.Gene Ontology,KEGG pathway and protein-protein interaction network analysis were conducted using softwares.Results In total,363 protein spots were identified.Twenty nine proteins were differentially expressed in both groups compared with control,of which 10 proteins were up-regulated and 19 proteins were down-regulated.Based on the information of GO categories,these differentially expressed proteins were mainly located in the cytoplasm and membrane concerning the function of binding and catalytic activity.Analysis with the PAJEK software demonstrated that 16 differentially expressed proteins could form a complicated interaction network where glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1),phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) and protein disulfide-isomerase (PDI) might be key nodes.Conclusions Accumulated irradiation can induce differentially expressed proteins in serum of irradiated rats.Analysis on functional roles of the screened proteins GSTP1,PGK1 and PDI may provide insight into further mechanistic investigations and underlying molecular biomarkers induced by accumulated irradiation.

Head and Neck Neoplasms ; surgery ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Thoracic Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical prosthetic effect of IPS-Empress 2 pressahie ceramic crowns.

METHODS198 teeth of 70 patients were restored with IPS-Empress 2 pressahie ceramic crowns. The patients were asked to return in one week and every half year. The clinical prosthetic effect was evaluated.

RESULTSThrough follow-up of 3-38 months, the veneer porcelain crowns of 3 teeth were broken. 2 crowns fall off due to teeth fracture, gingivitis occurred in 2 teeth, pulpitis or periapical periodontitis occurred in 3 teeth. The shades of 3 crowns were darkening. The prosthetic effect of 185 teeth was satisfied. The rate of satisfaction was 93.4%.

CONCLUSIONIPS-Empress 2 pressable all-ceramic crown has the advantages of aesthetic effect, good hiocompatihility and simple fabrication. But its strength is not enough for posterior teeth and it can not cover the deep color of non-vital teeth and metal materials.

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endovascular intervention to revise peripheral bypass problems through prosthetic approach.Methods Among 17 cases undergoing graft bypass anastomotic stenosis and graft thrombosis was identifled in 16 cases(inflow or outflow obstructive lesions in 10),inflow obstructive lessions in 1(without anastomotic and graft thrombosis).All revision procedures were taken under local anesthesia,16 patients were treated by means of surgical thrombectomy followed by endovascular intervention through prosthesis itself in addition to one who had no thrombectomy.The graft patency and clinical outcome were observed.Resuits Thirteen stents were implanted in 13patients with distal anastomotic stenosis and 1 with proximal anastomotic stenosis including 10 stentings/PTAs in iliac popliteal,posterior tibial or anterior tibial arteries.One stent was implanted in 1 patient with common femoral stenosis.Stenting were not used(abandoned)in 2 patients,of which one underwent a foot amputation and calf gangrene occurred a week later,and the other had a redo of grafting.Follow-up time is 1-35 months.with an average of 12±4 months.One had a below-knee amputation two months after intervention,the other had symptoms recurred and treated with a redo 3 months afterwards.the third died of myocardial infarction six months later.Grafts remained patent in the rest 13 patients at follow-up.Conclusions Endovascular intervention through prosthesis is a safe and effective method,which offers an alternative means to treat anastomotic stenosis.inflow or outflow obstructive lesions.