Objective patients with pSS and 30 cases of healthv contrels.The streptavidin immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the expression and distribution of MMP-9 and CD147 in labial salivary glands.Quantitative analysis was performed by image analysis software-image plus 5.0 at the site of positive expression of MMP-9 and CD147.The correlation between their expression and the infiltrating lymphocyte foci per 4 mm2 of labial gland was analyzed by SPSS software as well as the correlation between the expression of MMP-9 and CD 147 in the salivary glands of patients with pSS.Results MMP-9 was hiKhly expressed in labial salivary glands from 52 patients with pSS and 30 healthy controls,but the expression of MMP-9 in pSS was stronger compared with that of healthy controls(P<0.01).There was a significant positive correlation between lymphocyte foci score and up-regulated expression of MMP-9 in labial salivary glands from 52 patients with pSS(P<0.01).CD147 was highly expressed in labial salivary glands from 52 patients with pSS and 23 healthy controls，but over-expression of CD147 in PSS was more Drominent compared with that of controls(P<0.01).There was a significant positive correlation between lymphocyte foci score and up-regulated expression of CD147 in labial salivary glands from 52 patients with pSS(P<0.01).The expression of MMP-9 and CDl47 was detected in ductal and acinar epithelial cells,lymphocyte foci in pSS.There was linear correlation between the expression of MMP-9 and CDl47 in the salivary glands of patients with pSS(P<0.01).Conclusion The results of this study suggest that the abnormal expression of MMP-9 and CD 147 is involved in the pathogenesis of pSS and play a crucial role.The interaction of MMP-9 and CD147 may be one of theimportant mechanisms leading to labial salivary glands destruction found in pSS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical outcomes of the posterior C1,2 screw-rod combined with C2 unilateral translaminar screw and contralateral pedicle screw fixation and autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion in treating upper cervical instability with vertebral artery variations.

METHODSFrom June 2008 to December 2012, the clinical data of 12 patients with upper cervical instability underwent C1 lateral mass screws-C2 unilateral laminar and contralateral pedicle screws fixation combined with autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion were analyzed retrospectively. There were 8 males and 4 females with a mean age of 47.5 years (ranged, 16 to 77 years). Patients suffered from occipitocervical activity limitation of motion with pain or not, VAS was 0-7 points with an average of (3.50 +/- 2.71) points. Unilateral vertebral artery hypoplasia was demonstrated by vertebral arteriography (VAG) or CTA in all patients. Cervical X-ray and CT scans were done within 7 days after surgery in order to confirm internal fixation position. Internal fixation loosening and breakage, reduction losing, bone fusion ratio were observed during follow-up.

RESULTSNo nerves and vertebral artery injuries occurred during operation. Cervical pain obviously decreased and VAS was (0.92 +/- 0.90) points. Cervical alignment of 12 patients had well-recovered by X-ray while Atlantoaxial ventral lamina cortex of 1 case was encroached by CT scan without neurological symptom. All patients were followed up for 6 months to 3 years, no internal fixation loosening and breakage, reduction losing were found. All patients obtained bone fusion in 6-12 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONPosterior C1 lateral mass screws-C2 unilateral laminar and contralateral pedicle screws fixation combined with autogenous bicortical iliac crest graft fusion can achieve biomechanical stability and raise the successful rate of bone fusion, while avoiding the risk of vertebral artery injury and overcoming the insufficient of bone fusion during bilateral laminar screws placement as well. Posterior C1 lateral mass screws fixation is a safe and effective additional method in treating upper cervical instability with vertebral artery variations.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertebral Artery ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation among prevertebral hyperintensity (PVH), sagittal canal diameter on MRI and neurologic function of patients after cervical vertebral hyperextension injury without fracture and dislocation.

METHODSThe clinical data of 100 patients with cervical vertebral hyperextension injury without fracture and dislocation were retrospectively analyzed from September 2010 to December 2013. The patients were divided into PVH group and non-PVH group according to the presence of PVH on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. There were 39 patients in PVH group, including 31 males and 8 females, aged from 21 to 83 years old with an average of (58.10 ± 14.78) years; and the other 69 patients in non-PVH group, including 49 males and 12 females, aged from 32 to 77 years old with an average of (55.05 ± 10.36) years. The sagittal disc level canal diameters of subaxial cervical spine were measured on mid-sagittal magnetic resonance imaging. The age, sex, cause of injury, and the segments of spinal stenosis were recorded. American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale and motor score were used to evaluate the neurological status.

RESULTSThe ASIA motor score of the group with PVH was 52.56 ± 31.97 while the ASIA motor score was 67.70 ± 22.83 in non-PVH group (P = 0.013). More patients with intramedullary hyperintensity signal on MRI were observed in the PVH group than in non-PVH group (P = 0.006). There was a significant positive correlation between ASIA motor score and sagittal disc level canal diameter of injury segment (P = 0.003). The neurological status was worse in patients with multi-level sagittal canal diameters below 8 mm.

CONCLUSIONThe PVH and the disc-level canal sagittal diameter of the injury segment are associated with neurological status. The patients with multi-level sagittal canal stenosis are vulnerable to severe cervical spinal cord injury.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cervical Vertebrae ; injuries ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Canal ; pathology ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of serum levels of six cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-5, IL-4, IL-2) in patients with advanced serous ovarian cancer prior to surgery.

METHODSThe serum levels of six cytokines were detected in 51 patients with advanced serous ovarian cancer and 46 healthy controls, using cytometric bead arrays.

RESULTSThe serum levels of IFN-γ (20.68±11.45), IL-2 (4.54±1.18), IL-4 (5.66±2.25), IL-5 (2.72±0.86) µg/L and IL-10 (5.93±7.92) µg/L were higher (P<0.01, P<0.05) and the serum level of TNF-α (7.53±8.47) was lower (P<0.01) in patients with advanced serous ovarian cancer than those in the healthy controls. The IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (3.93±2.34) of the patients was lower than that of the controls (P<0.01). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that patient's age (P=0.016), menopausal status (P=0.001) and serum IL-10 level (P=0.010) correlated significantly with patient's survival. Cox regression analysis showed that serum IL-2 (P=0.045) and IL-10 levels (P=0.007) were the independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with advanced serous ovarian cancer have Th1/Th2 imbalance and immune function disturbance. The age of patients and menopausal status are important prognostic factors. IL-2 and IL-10 level are also independent predictors of survival.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-5 ; blood ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Preoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy using standardized Dermatophagoides farinae extract for children with combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome.

METHODSFifty-two children, from 4 to 14 years of age, with mite-sensitive combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome were treated sublingually with standardized Dermatophagoides farinae extract. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by monthly follow-up visits. After treatment for 1 or 2 years using the standardized Dermatophagoides farinae extract, the asthma and rhinitis symptom scores, medication scores and adverse reactions before and after treatment were evaluated. SPSS 17.0 software was used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe allergic asthma symptom scores before treatment during the day were 3.22 ± 0.66 and at night 2.05 ± 0.57. After 1 year of treatment, the day and night scores (1.68 ± 0.61, 0.94 ± 0.32) respectively, were decreased significantly (q values were 15.25 and 13.78 respectively, all P < 0.01). After 2 years of treatment, the scores (0.61 ± 0.28, 0.43 ± 0.13) were also decreased significantly (q values were 10.29 and 6.07 respectively, all P < 0.01). The allergic rhinitis symptom scores and medication scores were 2.34 ± 0.59 and 3.09 ± 1.01 respectively before treatment and 1.21 ± 0.46 and 1.89 ± 0.64 after 1 year of treatment. The differences were significant (q values were 15.48 and 18.61 respectively, all P < 0.01). The allergic rhinitis symptom scores and medication scores were 1.02 ± 0.37 and 1.49 ± 0.38 after 2 years of treatment. There was no significant difference between 2 years of treatment and 1 year of treatment (q values were 2.53 and 2.78 respectively, all P > 0.05). There were no severe adverse events during the treatment, except for mild mouth cavity discomfort.

CONCLUSIONSSublingual immunotherapy using standardized Dermatophagoides farinae extract is safe and effective in the treatment of children with combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome.

Administration, Sublingual ; Adolescent ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Asthma ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Male ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

The aim is to study the intestinal absorption of different combinations of active compounds out of Gegenqinlian decoction. Rat single pass intestinal perfusion model with jugular vein cannulated was used. Samples were obtained continuously from the outlet perfusate and the mesenteric vein. The levels of puerarin, daidzin, liquilitin, baicalin, wogonoside, jatrorrhizine, berberine and palmatine were determined by LC-MS/MS and their permeability coefficients were calculated. The results showed that Glycyrrhiza could promote the absorption of the active ingredients in Pueraria which is the monarch herb; meanwhile, Pueraria also played a role in promoting the absorption of liquilitin. Based on the Gegenqinlian decoction and the different combinations experiments, the results concerning the absorption of baicalin and wogonoside were as follows. For baicalin, Pueraria and Glycyrrhiza could promote its absorption and the effect of Pueraria was more obvious. For wogonoside, Pueraria could also promote its absorption, while Glycyrrhiza played a opposite role. Pueraria and Glycyrrhiza both played a part in promoting the absorption of jateorhizine, berberine and palmatine, the effective compounds in Coptis.
Animals ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; metabolism ; Berberine Alkaloids ; metabolism ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Flavanones ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; metabolism ; Glucosides ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Intestinal Absorption ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; metabolism ; Male ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVESTo identify serum biomarkers associated with early gastric cancer.

METHODSSerum proteins or peptides were purified with weak cation exchange magnetic beads in 433 patients with gastric cancer and 120 healthy subjects. Distinct peaks were selected using Biomarker Wizard software. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC) was generated to analyze discrimination capability of peaks between gastric cancers and health people.

RESULTSThirteen distinct peaks were identified between 42 gastric cancer and 42 health people matched by age and gender(P<0.001). There were 5 peaks (2745, 2768, 6629, 3402, and 6436 m/z) with AUC greater than 0.8. Peak of 6629 m/z was identified to be transthyretin. The sensitivity and specificity of 6629 m/z were 65.5% and 92.0%. The sensitivity of 6629 m/z was 59.4% in I(A gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONTransthyretin precursor may be of value in the early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Protein Array Analysis ; Proteomics ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the difference of gene expression profiles in gastric cancer (T), pericancerous mucosa (P) and the gastric mucosa from distant cutting margin (C), and to screen an associated novel gene in early gastric carcinogenesis by oligonucleotide microarray.

METHODSU133A (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA) gene chip was used to detect the gene expression profile difference in T, P and C, respectively. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the detected results.

RESULTSWhen gastric cancer was compared with normal gastric mucosa, 766 genes were found,with a difference of more than four times in expression levels, including 530 up-regulated [Signal Log Ratio (SLR) > 2], and 236 down-regulated (SLR< -2). When P was compared with C, 64 genes were found, with a difference of more than four times in expression levels, including 50 up-regulated (SLR > 2), and 14 down-regulated (SLR< -2). Compared with C, a total of 143 genes with a difference of more than four times in expression levels both in T and P tissues. Of the 143 genes, 108 were up-regulated (SLR > 2), and 35 were down-regulated (SLR< -2).

CONCLUSIONSGene chip can reveal 143 same genes both in pericancerous mucosa and gastric mucosa. These genes may be related to the carcinogenesis and development of early gastric cancer.

Female ; Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Precancerous Conditions ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology

Adult ; Ascites ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo screen the carcinogenesis associated genes in gastric carcinoma by gene chip.

METHODSU133A (Affymetrix Santa Clara, CA) gene chip was used to detect differentially expressed genes in tumor tissues, paratumor mucosa and normal mucosa. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the screened results.

RESULTSA total of 150 genes were detected with a difference of expression levels more than 3 times in paratumor mucosa compared with normal gastric mucosa, 130 of which were up-regulated and 20 down-regulated. According to the function classifications of the differentially expressed genes, the most common ones were enzyme and enzyme regulon activity associated genes(28, 18.7% ). The frequencies of nuclei acid binding activity associated genes,signal transduction associated genes and protein binding associated genes were 11.3%, 10%, and 8.7% respectively. Seventy-one differentially expressed genes were detected both in tumor tissues and paratumor mucosa compared with normal mucosa, 61 of which were up-regulated and 10 down-regulated. Among these 71 genes,e leven genes were localized on chromosome 19, 6 on chromosome 1, 2, 16, 17 respectively. No abnormal differentially expressed gene were detected on chromosome 5, 14, 22 and Y.

CONCLUSIONSThese 71 genes differentially expressed both in tumor tissues and paratumor mucosa may be associated with carcinogenesis of gastric carcinoma. The four kinds of genes associated with enzyme and enzyme regulon activity, nuclei acid binding activity, signal transduction, and protein binding should be the main genes for the study of carcinogenesis in gastric carcinoma.

Gastric Mucosa ; pathology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology