OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of growth factors on c-fos and c-jun gene expressions in hepatic stellate cells.

METHODSHepatic stellate cell (HSC) T6 was cultured in media containing different concentrations of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) (8 ng/ml, 40 ng/ml or 200 ng/ml) and transforming growth factor (TGF) beta (0.2 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml or 5 ng/ml) and the cells were collected at different incubation periods (8, 24, 48 or 72 h). Total RNA of the HSC was isolated and c-fos and c-jun gene expression levels were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSC-fos gene expression levels of the HSC cultured in low (8 ng/ml), medium (40 ng/ml) and high (200 ng/ml) concentrations of PDGF were all much higher than those of the control group after exposure to PDGF at 8, 24, 48 or 72 h. The c-fos gene expression levels of the HSC increased as the dosage of PDGF increased and there were significant differences of c-fos gene expression among the three PDGF groups. C-jun gene expression levels of the HSC in low (0.2 ng/ml), medium (1.0 ng/ml) and high (5.0 ng/ml) concentrations of TGF beta groups were much higher than those of the control group after exposure to TGF beta at 8, 24, 48 or 72 h. The c-jun gene expression levels of the HSC increased as the dosage of TGF beta increased and there were significant differences of c-jun gene expression among the three TGF beta groups.

CONCLUSIONPDGF and TGF beta can strongly up-regulate c-fos and c-jun gene expressions in hepatic stellate T6 cells.

Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo sum up the clinical experience in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with the prostate weighing over 80 ml by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) combined with 2 μm continuous-wave laser vaporesection (LVR).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical effects of TURP combined with 2 μm LVR in the treatment of 46 cases of BPH with the prostate volume > 80 ml.

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully accomplished. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were (112.0 ± 20.0) min (range 86-176 min) and (77.9 ± 25.9) ml (range 50-200 ml), respectively. The catheters were withdrawn at 7 days after surgery. Transient urinary incontinence occurred in 6 cases and secondary hemorrhage was found in 2 postoperatively. Six-month follow-up revealed no urethral stricture or other complications. Compared with the baseline, the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) was significantly decreased at 6 months after operation (26.3 ± 1.8 vs 11.6 ± 1.7, P <0.05), and so were the quality of life (QOL) score (5.3 ± 0.7 vs 1.3 ± 1.1, P <0.05) and post-void residual urine (PVR) ([115.5 ± 55.6] ml vs [19.9 ± 11.6] ml, P <0.05). However, the maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) was remarkably increased from (4.1 ± 2.6) ml/s to (16.2 ± 1.7) ml/s (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONTURP combined with 2 μm LVR is safe and effective for the treatment of BPH with the prostate volume >80 ml.

Aged ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organ Size ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; pathology ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethral Stricture ; Urinary Incontinence ; etiology ; Urinary Retention

AIM: To investigate the curative effect of phacoemulsification and intraocular lens ( IOL ) implantation combined with goniosynechialysis in the treatment of age-related cataract merging with primary angle-closure glaucoma ( PACG) . · METHODS: Totally 80 patients with age-related cataract merging with PACG were in our hospital from January 2014 to January 2016. The preoperative average intraocular pressure ( IOP) was 33. 22 ± 3. 17mmHg; the average depth of anterior chamber was 2. 07 ± 0. 15mm;the dynamic situation of primary angle closure ≤1/2 cycle by gonioscope. They were randomly divided into Group A and B for doing a study. All the two groups were treated with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. And the Group A was with goniosynechialysis. The following up period was 2mo, and we observed the IOP, chamber depth and the anterior chamber angle. · RESULTS: The change of chamber depth and intraocular pressure about the two groups: the average intraocular pressure of the Group A was 15. 11 ± 3. 67mmHg,the chamber depth was 3. 11±0. 08mm;those of the Group B were 17. 24 ± 1. 67mmHg, 2. 76 ± 0. 15mm respectively; the differences had statistical significance (P<0. 05). Postoperatively, there were 28 eyes (70%) in Group A with fully open anterior chamber angle, and 18 eyes (45%) in Group B (P<0. 05). · CONCLUSION: The phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation combined with goniosynechialysis in the treatment of age-related cataract merging with primary angle-dosure glaucoma is safe and reliable. It's simple to operate, and do not increase the risk of surgery.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of mind-refreshing and balance-restoring needling method combined with Frenkel exercises in treating ataxia after cerebral stroke. Methods: The recruited 120 patients were randomized into an observation group and a control group, with 60 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by mind-refreshing and balance-restoring needling method, while the observation group was given additional lower-limb Frenkel exercises. Before and after treatment and at the follow-up, the ataxic lower-limb function was scored using Berg balance scale (BBS) and international cooperative ataxia rating scale (ICARS), and Barthel index (BI) was adopted to score the activities of daily living (ADL). Results: After treatment, the markedly effective rate was 70.2％ and the total effective rate was 96.5％ in the observation group, versus 39.7％ and 87.9％ in the control group, and the differences in the markedly effective rate and the total effective rate were statistically significant (P<0.01, P<0.05). The intra-group comparisons showed that the BBS, ICARS and BI scores after treatment and at the follow-up were significantly different from those before treatment in both groups (all P<0.01).There were significant differences in the BBS score between the two groups after treatment and at the follow-up (P<0.05, P<0.01); the between-group differences in the ICARS and BI scores were statistically insignificant after treatment (both P>0.05), while the between-group differences in the ICARS and BI scores were statistically significant at the follow-up (both P<0.05). The interaction effects between the scoring time of BBS and BI and the group factor were statistically significant (P<0.01, P<0.05). Conclusion: Mind-refreshing and balance-restoring needling can effectively improve the lower-limb ataxic symptoms and ADL after stroke; when combined with Fenkel exercises, this needling method can produce more significant efficacy.

To explore the expression spectra of apoptosis-related gene pnas-2 in normal tissues and acute leukemia (AL) patient tissues, the expressions of pnas-2 gene in tissues including heart, brain, placenta, lung, liver, skeletal muscle, kidney, pancreas, spleen, lymph node, thymus, leukocyte, bone marrow and fetal liver were detected by Northern blot. The expressions of pnas-2 in samples including 44 de novo, 9 non-CR, 27 CR and 12 relapsed AL patients were measured by real-time RT-PCR and Northern blot, and the expression levels of pnas-2 in normal and tumor tissues from 31 patients with malignancies were also detected. The results showed that pnas-2 was not expressed in the most tissues except in placenta. The results of real-time PCR indicated that pnas-2 expressions in samples of de novo, non-CR and relapsed patients ware significantly higher than that in CR, tumor tissues and normal tissues. In serial monitoring of 7 AL patients, the expression level of pnas-2 was high at first visit examination, but remarkably decreased after remission, and the pnas-2 expression level increased again when relapsed. It is concluded that the pnas-2 is specifically up-regulated in acute leukemia patients, which might be an oncogene and participate in leukemogenesis.
Acute Disease ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Cedemex on cAMP and cGMP contents in different brain regions in morphine withdrawal rats precipitated by naloxone.

METHODA physical morphine dependent model of rats was established by subcutaneous injection of morphine in gradually increasing dosage within 7 days. cAMP and cGMP contents of VTA, cortex and hippocampus of the rat brains were determined by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTThe morphine withdrawal symptoms of rats were relieved significantly by ig Cedemex. Compared with the controls, cAMP content in the region of VTA, cortex and hippocampus of the morphine dependent rats were significantly higher (P < 0.05), while cGMP contents in those regions were significantly lower (P < 0.05). cAMP contents in the area of VTA, cortex and hippocampus of the morphine dependent rats were significantly reduced, while cGMP contents were significantly increased by ig Cedemex.

CONCLUSIONCedemex may significantly attenuate the morphine withdrawal symptoms in rats. The mechanism of this effect may be related to adjusting the contents of cAMP and cGMP in some brain regions.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP ; metabolism ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Morphine ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo reassess the natural history of polycythemia vera (PV) in Chinese and evaluate the relationship between the incidence of thrombosis, post-polycythaemic myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia( PPMM) , leukemia transformation and the therapeutic outcome and prognostic factors.

METHODSThe clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters and treatment were retrospectively analyzed in 287 patients with PV. Univariate analysis of prognostic factors was performed using Log-rank model and multivariate analysis using COX model in term of the incidence of thrombosis, PPMM, hematologic or non hematologic cancers and mortality.

RESULTSOf the 287 patients, the median follow-up time was 46 (8-360) months. 208 thromboses were recorded in 115 patients. Twice or more thrombotic events occurred on 59 patients (51.34%). Most of these episodes occurred either at presentation or in the 2 years before diagnosis. Elder patients, prior thrombosis, poor response to therapy were associated with poor prognosis. With these three adverse prognostic factors, the patients could be separated into different risk groups. The incidence of thrombosis was higher in high risk group. 36 patients progressed to PPMM, the median time to PPMM was 80 (7-190) months. Higher WBC count, splenomegaly and treatment with alkylating agent and hydroxy-carbamide (HU) were associated with poor prognosis. 2 cases progressed to AML. 1 to lymphoma and 1 to nonhematologic cancer. 13 patients died, the cause of death was fatal thrombosis in 9 and AML in 2.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of thromboembolism is higher and the time to myelofibrosis was shorter in Chinese PV patients than in western PV patients. The main factors that influence the survival of PV patients are thromboembolism and leukemia transformation.

Acute Disease ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukemia ; etiology ; Male ; Polycythemia Vera ; complications ; Primary Myelofibrosis ; etiology ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Thromboembolism ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence and prognosis of 1q21 amplification, 13q14 deletion, TP53 gene deletion and IgH translocation in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSInterphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (I-FISH) with four different specific probes for the regions containing 1q21, 13q14.3 (D13S319), 14q32 and TP53 gene were performed in 43 MM patients.

RESULTSAmong the 43 MM patients, 1q21 amplification was observed in 28 (65.1%) cases, 13q14 deletion in 30 (69.7%) cases, TP53 gene deletion in 8 (18.6%) cases, and IgH translocation in 29 (67.4%) cases. The mortality of MM patients with 1q21 amplification, 13q14 deletion or TP53 gene deletion was higher than those without them.

CONCLUSIONThere is high frequency of 1q21 amplification, 13q14 deletion, TP53 gene deletion and IgH translocation in multiple myeloma, and 1q21 amplification, 13q14 deletion and TP53 gene deletion are poor prognosis factors for MM patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the mechanical properties of bilateral atlantoaxial trans-articular screws and atlas laminar hooks instrumentation with finite element method.

METHODSThere was a volunteer with age of 28 years old, body height 172 cm, body weight of 60 kg and without cervical deformity by X rays. The ligamentous, nonlinear, three-dimensional finite element models of normal upper cervical spine (C0-3) was developed and validated. The destabilized model with bilateral atlantoaxial trans-articular screws and atlas laminar hooks was evaluated for quasistatic loading.

RESULTSThe finite element model of upper cervical spine consists of 229,047 nodes and 152,475 elements, and correlated well with experimental data for all load cases and could be used for experiment. The finite model with bilateral atlantoaxial trans-articular screws and atlas-laminar hooks predicted that the maximum Von Mises Stress was in the region in which screws penetrated the atlantoaxial articular facet. The novel instrumentation resulted in sufficient stability.

CONCLUSIONThe bilateral atlantoaxial trans-articular screws and atlas laminar hooks instrumentation is useful and effective for atlantoaxial arthrodesis.

Atlanto-Axial Joint ; surgery ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Screws ; Cervical Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Internal Fixators ; Joint Instability ; surgery ; Male ; Radiography ; Spinal Fusion ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure on the growth and development of placenta, uterine natural killer (uNK) cell number and angiogenesis at the maternal-fetal interface in pregnant mice.

METHODSFrom day 1 of pregnancy, pregnant mice were exposed daily to DEHP by oral gavage at 125, 250, or 500 mg/kg for 13 consecutive days. The uterine and placental tissues were then harvested for HE staining and immunohistochemistry to examine the effect of DEHP exposure on the growth and development of the placenta and angiogenesis and uNK cell number at the maternal-fetal interface.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the mice exposed to 500 mg/kg DEHP, but not those exposed to 125 and 250 mg/kg, showed significantly reduced number of embryo implantation (P<0.05). DEHP exposure significantly increased the rate of abortion. DEHP exposure at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg significantly and dose-dependently lowered the placental weight compared with that in the control group (0.0637±0.0133, 0.0587±0.0176, 0.0524±0.0183 g vs 0.0786±0.0143 g, respectively; P<0.01), and significantly reduced the total area of the placenta and area of spongiotrophoblasts. DEHP exposure resulted in a significant reduction in the number of fetal vascular branches, and collapse and atresia of blood vessels. The mice exposed to DEHP at 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg had significantly lowered numbers of uNK cells (83.2±10.3, 60.7±12.4, and 50.4±14.5/HP, respectively) as compared with the control group (105.1±14.2/HP) at the maternal-fetal interface (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONDEHP exposure significantly affects the growth and development of the placenta in mice possibly by suppressing angiogenesis and reducing uNK cell number at the maternal-fetal interface during pregnancy.

Animals ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; adverse effects ; Embryo Implantation ; Female ; Fetal Blood ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; Maternal Exposure ; adverse effects ; Mice ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Placenta ; drug effects ; Placentation ; drug effects ; Pregnancy ; Uterus ; drug effects