1.0～(?)1.5 cm(14.81%)(P=0.10).There was no lymph node metastasis in tumors less than 1.0 cm in diameter. The 5-year survival rates for cases with or without lymph node involvement were 92.31% and 60.0%,respectively,the difference was significant(P=0.000).The 5-year survival rates of 12 patients showing ground-glass opacity(GGO)on chest CT was 91.67% without any lymph node involvement.Conclusions:There is mediastinal and hilar lymph node involvement even with tumor diameter less than 2 cm.The results of the present study suggested that routine lymph node dissection is necessary even for cases with tumor diameter less than 2 cm.However,if the tumor is within 1.0 cm in diameter with obvious GGO showing on chest CT,these are good candidates for partial resection without mediastinal lymph node dissection.

The study aims to characterize and compare interferon reference standards from 5 manufacturers. By testing molecular mass and trypsin-digested peptide mass mapping, the amino acid sequence was verified and post-translational modifications such as disulfide bond were identified. Results show that the molecular mass and amino acid sequence were consistent with theory; the disulfide bonds of 4 lots of interferon were Cys1-Cys98/Cys29-Cys138, 1 lot was Cys29-Cys139/Cys86-Cys99; N-terminal "+Met", acetyl N-terminal and Met oxidation were identified in part of the sample. UPLC-MS can be used to characterize and compare interferon reference standards from different manufacturers.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Interferons ; standards ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Molecular Weight ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Peptide Mapping ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Reference Standards

Acanthosis Nigricans ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Erythrokeratodermia Variabilis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratoderma, Palmoplantar ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effect of tea polyphenols (TP) on renal damage in rats model induced by D-galactose. Methods Rats were injected with D-galactose (150 mg/kg?d),ip for 8 w,to induce renal damage. From the 3rd week,TP (150,75,37.5 mg/kg?d),aminoguanidine (150 mg/kg) and vitamin E (150 mg/kg) were administered with D-galactose for 6 w. After treatment,fasting blood glucose and 2 h blood glucose in oral glucose tolerance test were measured. The levels of HbA1C and fructosamine in serum,the activity of aldose reductase and content of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in plasma and in kidney tissues and the activity of SOD,GSH-Px,and the contents of MDA in kidney tissues were measured,and 24h urinary protein,blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) were detected. The apoptosis of renal cells were detected by flow cytometer. Results After treatment of D-galactose for 8 w,2h glucose level in oral glucose talerance test was increased significantly,the activity of aldose reductase and the content of AGES were increased significantly in blood. The levels of AGEs and MDA in renal tissues were also enhanced significantly. However,the activities of SOD and GSH-Px decreased. Additionally,the contents of 24h urine protein,BUN,Cr and the apoptotic rate of renal cells were increased significantly. High and middle dose of TP could can decrease the activity of aldose reductase in red blood cells,and inhibit the formation of glycation products in model rats induced by D-galactose. Also,TP could enhance the antioxidative activities and decrease the contents of AGEs and MDA in renal tissues. Mesnwhile,24h urine protein,BUN and Cr and the apoptotic rate of renal cells were increased significantly. Conclusion TP can inhibit glycation reaction induced by D-galactose and then protect renal from damage caused by glycation.

Objective To investigate the accuracy of measurement of lesion length by computed tomography (CT) scan and diffusion?weighted imaging (DWI) for esophageal carcinoma, and to provide an optimized imaging method as a reference for target delineation in esophageal carcinoma. Methods Thirty?five patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma from 2012 to 2013 were prospectively enrolled as subjects. All patients underwent examinations of esophageal endoscopy, CT scan of the thorax and abdomen, and DWI before radical surgery. Lesion lengths were measured by the above methods and compared with the real length of pathological specimen resected at surgery. The consistency between the lesion length measured by each imaging method and the pathological standard were evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland?Altman method. Results Four patients had no hyperintense signal on DWI, resulting in a false?negative rate of 11% in all patients and a false?negative rate of 44%(4/ 9) in patients with stage T1 esophageal carcinoma. Thirty?one patients had lesion lengths measured by DWI for analysis. The tumor length of pathological specimen after surgery was 4?? 58 cm, while the tumor lengths measured by endoscopy, CT scan, and DWI with b?values of 600, 800, and 1000 s/ mm2 were 4?? 56, 5?? 58, 4?? 41, 3?? 99, and 3?? 83 cm, respectively. The ICC values were 0?? 703, 0?? 764, 0?? 946, 0?? 890, and 0?? 882, respectively, with P value of 0?? 000 for all. According to the results of the Bland?Altman method, the highest degree of consistency was achieved between the tumor lengths measured by endoscopy and DWI with a b?value of 600 s/ mm2 and the pathological standard. Conclusions The esophageal tumor lengths measured by DWI are close to the real tumor length of the pathological specimen, in which the lesion length measured by DWI with a b?value of 600 s/ mm2 is most reliable. However, the value of DWI in the early diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma is limited.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of computed tomography ( CT ) and diffusion?weighted magnetic resonance imaging ( DWMRI ) in the diagnosis of regional lymph node metastasis in thoracic carcinoma, and to figure out the methods and thresholds for delineation of lymph nodes with higher reasonability and accuracy. Methods A total of 43 patients with thoracic carcinoma, including 35 patients with esophageal cancer and 8 patients with non?small cell lung cancer, were enrolled as subjects from 2012 to 2013. All patients received abdominal CT scan and DWMRI examination one week before surgery, and regional lymph node metastasis was diagnosed based on the images of CT scan or DWMRI. With the postoperative pathology as the gold standard, the diagnostic efficacy was evaluated and compared between the two methods. The two sets of obtained images were analyzed using the χ2?test. Results The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Youden’ s index of CT versus DWMRI in the diagnosis of regional lymph node metastasis were 57?1% vs. 60?0%, 96?3% vs. 98?9%, 93?8% vs. 96?5%, 50?0% vs. 77?8%, 97?2% vs. 97?4%, and 53?4% vs. 58?9%, respectively;the specificity, accuracy, and positive predictive value of DWMRI were significantly superior to those of CT ( P=0?005,0?038,0?022) . Twenty out of forty lymph nodes diagnosed by CT scan were false positive, and 15( 75%) of them could be corrected by DWMRI. Fifteen out of forty lymph nodes diagnosed by CT scan were false negative, and 3 ( 20%) of them could be recognized by DWMRI. In all 35 metastatic lymph nodes, 5 lymph nodes had no apparent swelling on images, and 13(43?3%) out of the other 30 lymph nodes had a short diameter less than 1?0 cm. Conclusions CT scan has apparent limitation in the diagnosis of regional lymph node metastasis. Many metastatic lymph nodes would be missed if a short diameter not less than 1? 0 cm is the only standard for target volume delineation . With superior specificity , accuracy , and positive predictive value to CT in the diagnosis of regional lymph node metastasis, DWMRI can effectively rule out non?cancerous intumescent lymph nodes and recognize some of small metastatic lymph nodes.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the spatial distribution of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and to explore environmental factors associated with HPAI using geographic information system (GIS) techniques in Mainland China.

METHODSDatabases were set up using the information of HPAI during epidemics in 2004, and linked to digital maps at provincial and county administrative layers in the country through the ArcGIS 8.3 software. Spatial cluster analyses, spatial statistics analyses and tracking analyses on epidemic situation of HPAI were implemented. Environmental factors associated with HPAI were also analyzed on data related to weather, vegetation and migratory birds etc.

RESULTSFindings from spatial cluster analyses showed that high incidence area was centralized in 113.261 degrees ordm; east longitude and 23. 119 degrees ordm; north latitude with a radius of 1090.52 kilometers (relative risk= 2.646, P value= 0.001). Spatial statistical analyses showed that HPAI took place mainly in capital cities of provinces and surrounding areas as well as in the circumference areas of arterial rivers, lakes and seacoasts. Results also showed that HPAI occurrences were associated with low air temperature, high relative humidity and high air pressure as well as with east & central migration routes of migratory birds. The average normalized difference vegetation index was 0.36 +/- 0.11 in epidemic areas of HPAI.

CONCLUSIONHPAI was unrandomly distributed and geographically clustered in China.

Animal Migration ; Animals ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Birds ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Environment ; Geographic Information Systems ; Humidity ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza in Birds ; epidemiology ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo study the combined effect of low temperature and vibration on function of peripheral circulation and nerve.

METHODS64 rabbits were divided into control group, low temperature group, vibration group and combined effect group randomly, 16 each group. The changes of concentration of ET, Ang II, NO in plasma and SCV, amplitude of sensory nerve action potential, latency of sensory nerve action potential, MCV, distal amplitude of motor nerve, and distal latency of motor nerve were measured before and after experiment.

RESULTSAfter experiment, the concentration of ET, Ang II, NO and SCV, amplitude of sensory nerve action potential, latency of sensory nerve action potential, MCV, distal amplitude of motor nerve, and distal latency of motor nerve were (68.84+/-14.81) pg/ml, (544.01+/-70.20) pg/ml, (123.73+/-9.58) nmol/ml, (25.36+/-6.96) m/s, (1.84+/-0.65) microV, (4.05+/-1.04) m/s, (27.40+/-6.05) m/s, (1.60+/-0.52) microV, (3.51+/-1.30) m/s respectively in low temperature group; (70.22+/-15.02) pg/ml, (540.77+/-68.25) pg/ml, (129.46+/-11.99) nmol/ml, (27.69+/-6.16) m/s, (2.19+/-0.53) microV, (3.86+/-0.89) m/s, (30.03+/-5.21) m/s, (1.65+/-0.49) microV, (3.36+/-l.11) m/s respectively in vibration group; (88.47+/-13.20) pg/ml, (687.38+/-101.44) pg/ml, (70.66+/-4.99) nmol/ml, (20.82+/-3.65) m/s, (1.21+/-0.64) microV, (5.05+/-0.94) m/s, (19.97+/-4.37) m/s, (1.09+/-0.49) microV, (4.49+/-1.26) m/s respectively in combined effect group; compared with pre-experiment, the concentration of ET and Ang II in low temperature group, vibration group and combined effect group were increased after experiment, and the NO was decreased (P<0.05); the nerve conduct velocity and amplitude was decreased and the latency was delayed (P<0.05). After experiment, the concentrations of ET and Ang II in combined effect group were higher than low temperature group and vibration group, and the concentration of NO in combined effect group was lower than low temperature group and vibration group (P<0.05). After experiment, the SCV and MCV in combined effect group were slower than low temperature group and vibration group; the amplitude of sensory nerve action potential and distal amplitude of motor nerve were less than low temperature group and vibration group; the latency of sensory nerve action potential and distal latency of motor nerve in combined effect group was longer than low temperature group and vibration group. The factorial analysis results indicated the synergistic effect between low temperature and vibration (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONVibration-induced peripheral vascular impairment and nerve impairment would be intensified by low temperature.

Animals ; Blood Circulation ; physiology ; Cold Temperature ; adverse effects ; Female ; Male ; Peripheral Nerves ; physiopathology ; Rabbits ; Vibration ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo establish a model of ER stress-induced apoptosis with tunicamycin and to examine whether Bim is dysregulated and its potential role in resistance of melanoma cells to apoptosis under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

METHODSA model of ER stress-induced apoptosis was established with tunicamycin. Apoptotic cells were quantitated using the annexin V/propidium iodide method by flow cytometry. Hoechst staining was also used to confirm the apoptotic cell death. Western blotting was used to measure the activation of caspase-3 and -9, and the expression of Bim, GRP78, CHOP, and Foxo1 at the protein level. The expression of Bim, CHOP and Foxo1 at the mRNA level was quantitated by qPCR. The siRNA technique was used to inhibit the expression of Bim.

RESULTSTreatment of the melanoma cells with tunicamycin did not induce significant apoptosis and activation of caspase cascade, whereas it caused marked activation of caspase-3 and -9, and apoptosis in HEK293 cells which were used as a control. With exposure to tunicamycin (3 µmol/L) for 12, 24, 36 hours the Bim protein levels were not increased in Mel-RM and MM200 cells. Its mRNA levels were 0.37 ± 0.05, 0.13 ± 0.02 and 0.02 ± 0.01 in Mel-RM cells, while 0.41 ± 0.06, 0.16 ± 0.04 and 0.21 ± 0.03 in MM200 cells, respectively. The expression of Bim mRNA was significantly reduced compared with that in the control groups of the two cell lines (P < 0.01). siRNA knockdown of Bim protected HEK293 cells against activation of caspase-3. The cell apoptosis of Bim siRNA group was (5.69 ± 0.38)%, significantly lower than that of the siRNA control group (40.32 ± 1.64)% and blank control group (35.46 ± 2.01)% (P < 0.01). In the melanoma cells after exposure to tunicamycin (3 µmol/L) for 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours the transcription factor CHOP at mRNA level were significantly increased and the expressions at protein level were also up-regulated. The expressions of another transcription factor Foxo1 at mRNA level significantly decreased and the expressions at protein level were down-regulated, too.

CONCLUSIONSThe lack of Bim up-regulation contributes to the resistance of melanoma cells to ER stress-induced apoptosis and may be a mechanism by which melanoma cells adapt to ER stress conditions. Transcription factors CHOP and Foxo1 may be responsible for the dysregulation of Bim in melanoma cells upon ER stress.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bcl-2-Like Protein 11 ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Forkhead Box Protein O1 ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; HEK293 Cells ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Melanoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tunicamycin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the patterns of serum soluble CD14 (sCD14) and C-reactive protein (CRP) alterations in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and investigate the correlations of sCD14 variation to the etiology, clinical symptoms, and the number of mononuclear cells in these patients.

METHODSThis study involved 246 CHF patients stratified according to their etiology and clinical symptoms, with 107 normal individuals serving as the control group. Blood samples were collected from these patients the next day after admission and also from the control subjects for measuring serum sCD14 and CPR levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and rate nephelometry, respectively.

RESULTSThe CHF patients had significantly higher serum levels of sCD14 and CRP than the control subjects (P<0.01). In the CHF patients, serum sCD14 and CRP levels differed significantly in the patients with clinical symptoms of different severities (F=3.787, P=0.024), and those with moderate and severe symptoms had significantly higher levels than the asymptomatic patients (P<0.05). The difference in etiologies also resulted in significant difference in sCD14 levels (P<0.05), which were significantly lower in coronary artery disease group than in hypertension group (P<0.05). Significant positive correlations were found between sCD14 and the CRP levels in the CHF patients (r=0.227, P=0.018) and between sCD14 level and the clinical symptoms (r=0.206, P=0.001), but sCD14 level was not correlated to the absolute or relative number of mononuclear cells.

CONCLUSIONSSerum sCD14 and CRP levels are significantly elevated in CHF patients, but this condition may vary as the etiologies and clinical symptoms differ. Increased mononuclear cells do not contribute to the elevation of serum sCD14.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged