Animals ; Biogenic Polyamines ; metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Humans ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Pulmonary Edema ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Bushen Gujin Recipe (BGR) on serum and synovial expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) model rabbits.

METHODSTotally 36 8-month-old healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Western medicine group (Meloxicam, at the daily dose of 6 mg/kg), and the TCM group (BGR, at the daily dose of 53 g/kg), 9 in each group. Modeling was performed in all rabbits except those in the normal control group by using Hulth A method. All medication was performed for 8 consecutive weeks. Contents of IL-1 and TNF-α were detected using ELISA from serum, partial synovial tissue of the front knee joint, cartilage and subchondral bone of the medial femoral condyle.

RESULTSThe joint space became narrowed in the Western medicine group, ranging between the model group and the TCM group. The articular surface was rough with obvious osteophytes. The joint space was slightly narrower in the TCM group; the articular surface was slightly rough with mild osteophytes. Compared with the normal control group, contents of IL-1 and TNF-α in serum and synovial increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, contents of IL-1 and TNF-α in serum and the synovial fluid decreased in the two treatment groups (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in contents of IL-1 and TNF-α between the Western medicine group and the TCM group.

CONCLUSIONBGR promoted the synthesis of cartilage matrix and carti- lage repair through inhibiting the secretion of IL-1 and TNF-α, and prolonging cartilage degeneration.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Synovial Fluid ; Synovial Membrane ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Guide wire plays an important role in the fixation of femoral neck fracture with dynamic hip screw (DHS). Breakage of a guide wire during operation is a very rare condition. We met such a dilemma in DHS fixation of a 54-year-old male patient who sustained Garden type IV fracture of the right femoral neck. The distal end of the guide wire broke and was entrapped in the fractured femoral neck. We tried to get the broken part out by a cannulated drill. Reaming was started with the cannulated drill slowly rotating around the guide K-wire until the reamer fully contained the target under fluoroscope. A bone curette was used to get the broken wire out but failed, so we had to use the cannuated drill to dredge this bone tunnel. Finally the broken wire end was taken out, mixed with blood and bone fragments. Through the existing drilling channel, DHS fixation was easily finished. The patient had an uneventful recovery without avascular necrosis of femoral head or non-union of the fracture at one year's follow-up. A few methods can be adopted to deal with the broken guide wire. The way used in our case is less invasive but technically challenging. When the guide wire is properly positioned, this method is very practical and useful.
Bone Wires ; adverse effects ; Device Removal ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography

OBJECTIVEThis article reports a population genetic study on six short tandem repeat(STR) loci, D7S820, D19S253, D12S391, D5S818, D16S539 and D8S1179, in a sample of unrelated Chinese Han individuals(n=122-173) living in Hebei province.

METHODSDNA extraction from blood samples (200 in number) and multiplex amplification of the above six loci were carried out. Using denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver stain, the authors investigated the distribution of allele frequencies of the six loci in Han population in Hebei province.

RESULTSThe STR polymorphisms at all of the six loci were observed in Chinese Han population in Hebei province. The observed heterozygosities of D7S820, D19S253, D12S391, D5S818, D16S539 and D8S1179 were 0.828, 0.757, 0.769, 0.837, 0.785 and 0.852, respectively. The measured values of the power of discrimination (PD) were 0.914, 0.919, 0.940, 0.909, 0.917, 0.944; of the mean exclusion chance(MEC) 0.618, 0.740, 0.801, 0.557, 0.655, 0.696 and of the polymorphism information content (PIC) in Chinese 0.771, 0.760, 0.762, 0.708, 0.776 and 0.794, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe genotype distributions of the six STR were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The numerical values of the PD and MEC are relatively high in Hebei province, and thus can be of significant application in population genetics and forensic medicine.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; DNA ; analysis ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Population Groups ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; genetics ; physiology

Human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) was highly expressed in Escherichia coli by inserted the synthesized whole hPTH cDNA into the vectors pBV220 and pET22b. After expression and disruption, the purified product was acquired through cation exchange chromatography and reverse phase chromatography. From the results of N-terminal sequencing and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis the recombiant prtein was indentified as intact hPTH. In in vitro Bioassays the recombinant hPTH stimulated adenylate cyclase as the standard did. In ovariectomized rats the recombinant hPTH markedly increased the femoral bone mass and bone mineral density.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Chromatography, Ion Exchange ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Ovariectomy ; Parathyroid Hormone ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sequence Alignment ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of the HCT-CI score in chemotherapy risk assessment and prognosis of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSThe clinical data of 116 AML patients older than 60 years in the department of Hematology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 2000 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients received cytarabine-based regimens, including protocol DA, MA, IA, AA or CAG, followed by cytarabine-based postremission treatment. (1) Comorbidities were evaluated by using HCT-CI score, the early death rates and median survival time were compared among these different groups. (2) These prognostic factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS(1) All 116 cases were followed-up. The patient cohort was divided into those with HCT-CI scores of 0, 1 or 2, or ≥ 3. Early death rates were 3.7%, 12.1% and 23.21% in above three groups, respectively (P < 0.01). Overall survival were 345, 225 and 113 days, respectively (P < 0.01). (2) HCT-CI score ≥ 3 (P < 0.01), antecedent MDS history (P = 0.035), high-risk karyotype (P = 0.018), white blood cells at diagnosis ≥ 100×10(9)/L (P = 0.041) were independent adverse prognostic factors with multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION(1) The HCT-CI score can objectively assess elderly AML patients with comorbidities and predict chemotherapy risk in older patients receiving AML induction therapy. (2) Antecedent MDS history, high-risk karyotype, high white blood cell, and HCT-CI score ≥ 3 are independent adverse prognostic factors of elderly AML patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Treatment Outcome

Bortezomib/therapeutic use* ; CD56 Antigen ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of combination of angiopoietin-1 (ANG-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor₁₆₅ (VEGF₁₆₅) gene transfer mediated by recombinant adeno-associated viral vector on the neovascularization in chronic ischemic porcine myocardium.

METHODSAn ameroid constrictor was implanted around the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) via endoscopy. Six weeks later, coronary angiography revealed that the myocardial ischemia was established by gradual occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX). Sixteen swine with the total occlusion or partial stenosis (> 85 %) of the LCX were divided into 4 groups (4 in each group): group I, group II and group IV (control) received direct myocardium injection of rAAV₂ VEGF₁₆₅, rAAV₂ ANG-1 or PBS alone, respectively; group III received rAAV₂ VEGF₁₆₅ and rAAV₂ ANG-1. Selective coronary angiography and ultrasonography were performed perioperatively to evaluate the cardiac function and the formation of collateral circulation. The expression of VEGF₁₆₅ and ANG-1 proteins were assessed using ELISA or Western blot. The degree of angiogenesis was assessed by use of immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTAngiography showed that the occlusion of all LCX was completed or exceeded 95% 6 weeks after ameroid constrictor implantation, indicating the successful establishment of animal model. The expression levels of VEGF₁₆₅ in group I and III and ANG-1 in groups II and III began to increase at d7 after transfection and reached the peak at d14; then decreased gradually to the normal level after 3 months. The expression levels of VEGF₁₆₅ in group II and group IV or that of ANG-1 protein in group I and group IV had no markedly changes at different time after transfection. There were significant increase in capillary density and arteriole density and more side branch vessels formed in group III compared with other groups. Echocardiographic measurements showed that the left ventricular systolic function of animals in groups I, II and III increased significantly after gene transfection, especially in group III; but there was no changes in group IV.

CONCLUSIONMyocardial perfusion and the left ventricular systolic function are improved after rAAV₂ VEGF₁₆₅ or rAAV₂ ANG-1 transfection, which is associated with the angiogenesis in porcine model of chronic myocardial ischemia.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Angiopoietin-1 ; genetics ; Animals ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Vessels ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of percutaneous lung biopsy in hematologic patients with lung infection.

METHODS28 cases hematologic patients received CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy when they developed a fever associated with pulmonary nodules or lumps in CT scan whose clinical diagnosis were unclear during or after chemotherapy. Sample of each lesion were drawn twice. The lung tissue was re-scanned after lung biopsy to check up in order to discover bleeding and pneumothorax. Biopsy tissue was examined by bacteria culture, acid-fast staining and pathology. Pathological examination contained HE staining, acid-fast stain, PAS stain, TB-DNA, methenamine silver and others.

RESULTS28 cases contain 24 males and 4 females. Median age was 40 15 - 77 years old. Blood tests were as follows: 3 cases with HGB > 110 g/L, 9 with HGB 90 - 110 g/L, 12 with HGB 60 - 89 g/L, 4 with HGB < 60 g/L. 8 with WBC > 10×10(9)/L, 6 with WBC (4 - 10)×10(9)/L, 13 with WBC < 4×10(9)/L, 1 with WBC < 2×10(9)/L; 14 with PLT > 100×10(9)/L, 5 with PLT (50 - 100)×10(9)/L, 5 with PLT < 50×10(9)/L, 4 with PLT < 30×10(9)/L. 4 cases had mild extended PT, 3 mild extended APTT, 3 FIB lower than normal. Lung CT scans were as follows: 4 cases with simply lesion in right lung, 4 with simply lesion in left lung, 20 with lesions in bilateral lung. 8 cases were diagnosed as fungal infection, 3 as tuberculosis infection, 1 as lung cancer, 1 as pulmonary infiltration of lymphoma, 1 as pulmonary infiltration of leukemia, and 14 as inflammatory changes with no specific diagnosis. 4 cases came with pneumothorax during lung biopsy, mild to moderate in 3 cases and severe in 1 case. Severe patient turned better after CT-guided suction. 3 cases with mild hemoptysis turned better after treatment.

CONCLUSIONWhen hematopathy patients are with pulmonary nodules or lumps in CT scan whose clinical diagnosis is unclear, CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy is safe and conducive to early diagnosis and conducive to early rehabilitation of patients if the coagulation function is basically normal and platelet count is not too low.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Female ; Hematologic Diseases ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; diagnosis ; Young Adult