Objective To screen serum proteomic marker of hepatic echinococcosis, establish a diagnotic model of serum protein fingerprint patterns, and evaluate its clinical application for hepatic echinococcosis. Methods Serum samples from 68 patients with hepatic echinococcosis matched with 73 controls composed of 33 patients with liver diseases other than hepatic echinococcosis and 40 healthy people were collected. All subjects were divided into training group (37) and testing group (67). Serum protein profiling of patients with hepatic echinococcosis and controls were detected using surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(SELDI-TOF-MS) and weak cation exchange protein chip(WCX2). Peak intensities were compared, in the training group, between 37 patients with hepatic echinococcosis and 37 controls, 5 patients with HCE and 5 patients with HAE, and 8 patients with hepatic echinococcosis before and after operation, respectively. ZJU-Protein Chip Data Analyze System(ZJU-PDAS) was used for data analysis and the model of serum protein fingerprint patterns was build by support vector machine (SVM). The sensitivity and specificity of the model for diagnosis of hepatic echinococcosis were verified by blind method on samples of testing group. Results There were nine different protein peak spectra between hepatic echinococcosis group and control group, of which eight protein peak spectra decreased in patient group, their relative molecular mass were 1044, 1047, 1073, 1075, 1338, 6453, 6649, 8714 m/z, respectively, while one protein peak spectrum(5651 m/z) increased(P < 0.05). The sensitivity,specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive value of the model validated by blind method were 77.4% (24/31), 66.7% (24/36), respectively. There were two different protein peak spectra between HCE group and HAE group, Their relative molecule mass were 8716 and 2751 m/z, respectively (P < 0.05). Six different proteins were detected from pre-operation group and post-operation group. Their relative molecular mass were 1297, 1505, 1525, 1534, 5921, 5941 m/z, respectively(P < 0.05). Conclusions It is a successful way to screen serum proteomic marker in patients with hepatic echinococcosis by SELDI-TOF-MS and Bio-informatics, and the marker has a potential clinical value in diagnosis and judging prognosis of hepatic echinococcosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of autologous bone mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) transplantation on malignant arrhythmia induced by electrophysiological (EP) stimulation and cardiomyocyte ion channels remodeling in a mini-swine model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODSImmediately after AMI (LAD occluded for 120 min), MSC (10 x 10(7), labeled by colloidal gold and co-cultivated with 5-azacytidine, 5-aza, n = 12) or equal volume saline (n = 10) were injected through over-the-wire (OTW) balloon in LAD at distal over D(1). EP stimulation is performed after 2 hours and 4 weeks in both groups to induce arrhythmia. The variance of heterogeneity of sodium currents (I(Na)) and I(Na) steady-state inactivation curves in different zones of infracted wall were investigated by patch clamp technology and the relationship between ionic channel and ventricular arrhythmia is analyzed.

RESULTSEP induced malignant ventricular arrhythmia (VT) rate was similar (MSC 75% vs. saline 90%, P = 0.455) at 2 hours post AMI and was significantly lower in MSC group (25% vs. 80%, P = 0.012) at 4 weeks post AMI. The Peak I(Na) current densities of the Endo, Media and Epi were significantly lower in MSC group [(-14.04 +/- 3.82) pA/pF, (-29.26 +/- 5.70) pA/pF, (-12.43 +/- 3.04) pA/pF] compared those in saline group [(-9.71 +/- 3.38) pA/pF, (-18.98 +/- 4.05) pA/pF, (-8.47 +/- 3.34) pA/pF, all P < 0.05]. The I(Na) steady-state inactivation curves of the Epi, Endo and Media in mini-swine with VT in MSC group [(-126.2 +/- 10.9) mV, (-106.7 +/- 11.9) mV, (-105.4 +/- 11.0) mV] were similar as those in saline group with VT [(-129.1 +/- 10.9) mV, (-112.2 +/- 9.9) mV, (-109.7 +/- 9.2) mV, all P > 0.05] while significantly lower compared to MSC group without VT [(-93.1 +/- 13.8) mV, (-95.2 +/- 15.5) mV, (-103.4 +/- 8.7) mV, all P < 0.05]. The multiple logistic regression analysis showed that I(Na) current density (RR = 1.449, 95% CI 1.276 - 2.079, P = 0.029) and I(Na) steady-state inactivation curves (RR = 1.092, 95% CI 1.008 - 1.917, P = 0.012) were the independent factors for reduced VT.

CONCLUSIONSAutologous MSC attenuated malignant ventricular arrhythmia induced by EP at 4 weeks in mini-swine with AMI which might due to altered cardiomyocyte ion channels remodeling induced by MSC.

Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of conventional metal materials in oral cavity on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODSFour kinds of metal materials (metal ligature wire, forging hard and slotless denture, casting nichrome denture, casting copper alloy denture) in oral cavity were scanned through MRI. FSE sequence T1 weighted imaging (FSE T1), EPI diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequence of ordinary, Propeller DWI imaging were used.

RESULTSIn FSE T1 sequence, metal ligature wire and forging hard and slotless denture produced serious false image, casting nichrome denture produced moderate false image, casting copper alloy denture produced only little false image. In EPI DWI sequence, obvious magnetic-sensitive false image were produced in the dissection tissue of the brain by metal ligature wire. While in Propeller DWI sequence, magnetic-sensitive false image were greatly reduced and satisfactory images were formed.

CONCLUSIONDifferent metal materials in oral cavity have different influence on the MRI. The false images produced by different metal materials are closely related to the type of the material. Magnetic-sensitive false images can be eliminated by Propeller DWI technique.

Dental Materials ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological and molecular genetic characteristics of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), to enable the early diagnosis and to evaluate the treatment.

METHODSWe analyzed 12 families of HNPCC from Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China. Mismatch repair genes hMSH2 and hMLH1 expression and microsatellite instability of tumor tissue were studied using microdissection, microsatellite analysis, immunohistochemical staining and Gene Scan analysis. Direct DNA sequencing of hMSH2 and hMLH1 were performed subsequently.

RESULTSAltogether 32 patients with colorectal cancer were recognized in 12 HNPCC families, with the median age of 45.2 years (75.0% before the age of 50 years). The proximal tumors accounted for 51.1%, while multiple colorectal cancers accounted for 34.4%. Poor differentiation cancers occupied half of the patients (53.1%). And 68.8% of the patients had the tumor of Dukes A and B. Among 12 HNPCC families, 7 cases in 6 HNPCC families developed extracolonic cancer. 13 cases died during follow up of 1 - 23 years. The median survival time was 6.4 years. 19 alive cases followed up from 1 to 28 years. All tumors (9/9) displayed microsatellite instability, with the half losing hMSH2 or hMLH1 expression. In the 5 genetic analyzed kindreds 3 possessed germline mutation. Two of three mutations have not been reported in the worldwide database previously.

CONCLUSIONHNPCC showed distinct clinicopathological characteristics. Microsatellite instability analysis and immunohistochemical staining might be the effective screening methods before direct DNA sequencing for the detection of mutation in mismatch repair genes. It is important to analyze the members of affected families.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; Adult ; Aged ; Carrier Proteins ; China ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Neoplasm ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; analysis ; genetics

BACKGROUNDThe necrosis of a large number of myocardial cells after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) results in a decrease of cardiac function and ventricle remodeling. Stem cell transplantation could improve cardiac function after AMI, but the involving mechanisms have not been completely understood. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of transplantation of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) via the coronary artery on the ventricle remodeling after AMI as well as the mechanisms of the effects of transplantation of different stem cells on ventricle remodeling.

METHODSA total of 36 male pigs were enrolled in this study, which were divided into 4 groups: control group, simple infarct model group, BM-MNC transplantation group, and MSCs transplantation group. At 90 minutes when a miniature porcine model with AMI was established, transplantation of autologous BM-MNC ((4.7 +/- 1.7) x 10(7)) and MSCs ((6.2 +/- 1.6) x 10(5)) was performed in the coronary artery via a catheter. Ultrasound, electron microscope, immunohistochemical examination and real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction were used respectively to observe cardiac functions, counts of blood vessels of cardiac muscle, cardiac muscle nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, myocardial cell apoptosis, and the expression of the mRNA of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in cardiac muscles. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation factors of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (EDD).

RESULTSThe number of blood vessels in the infarct zone and around its border in the BM-MNC transplantation group was more than those in the infarct model group and MSCs group (P = 0.0001) and there was less myocardial cell apoptosis in the stem cell transplantation group than that in the infarct model group (all P < 0.01). The positive rate of NF-kappaB in the stem cell transplantation group was lower than that in the infarct model group (P = 0.001). The gene expression of VEGF in the infarct border zone of the BM-MNC group was higher than that in the MSCs group (P = 0.0001). The gene expression of bFGF in the infarct border zone in the MSCs transplantation group was higher than that in the infarct model group and the BM-MNC group (P = 0.0001). Left ventricular ejection fraction was inversely proportional to the apoptotic rate of myocardial cells and cardiac muscle NF-kappaB but positively correlated with the number of blood vessels and the expression of VEGF and bFGF in the infarct zone and infarct border zone. The Multivariate Logistic regression analysis on the factors influencing the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter after stem cell transplantation showed that the expression of VEGF mRNA in the cardiac muscles in the infarct zone, the number of apoptotic myocardial cells and the expression of NF-kappaB in the infarct border zone were independent factors for predicting the inhibitory effect on the dilation of left ventricular EDD after stem cell transplantation.

CONCLUSIONSTransplantation of autologous BM-MNC and MSCs in pigs can improve the condition of left ventricular remodeling and recover the cardiac functions after AMI. The improvement of cardiac functions is related to the increase of blood vessels, the increased expression of VEGF and bFGF, the reduction of myocardial cell apoptosis, and the decrease of NF-kappaB level in cardiac muscle tissues after stem cell transplantation.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; methods ; Disease Models, Animal ; Heart Function Tests ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Swine ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Remodeling

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features of unexpected sudden death (SUD) clustered in families in Yunnan province.

METHODSThis retrospective study analyzed the clinical features of SUD occurred between July to September 2005 in 7 families in Yunnan province.

RESULTSAll 16 SUD patients shared common clinical features such as fatigue and repeated syncope and one group of SUD patients (n = 8 from 4 families) presented with the gastric intestinal tract manifestations including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea with suspected dietary history and abnormal laboratory enzyme findings (GOT/GPT, CK/CKMB, LDH/LDH1 etc.). In SUD patients without gastric intestinal tract manifestations (n = 8 from 3 families), there were no clear symptoms before death and repeated ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation were recorded in one survivor. There was no clear evidence for the involvements of hereditary and infectious factors for observed SUD.

CONCLUSIONThe reason for the unexpected sudden death clustered in 7 families in Yunnan remains unclear. Repeated syncope and fatigue served as the common clinical features in the presence or absence of gastric intestinal tract manifestations in all SUD cases. Further studies are needed to clarify the pathology and detailed clinical manifestations of SUD occurred in this area.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bias ; Cause of Death ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Death, Sudden ; epidemiology ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult