Adrenal Gland Diseases ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Head and Neck Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma ; pathology ; Neurofibroma ; pathology ; Scalp ; pathology

Objective To investigate the ionic mechanism of remifentanil-induced vaso-relaxation by recording calcium-activated K~+-currents(IKCa)in human arterial smooth muscle cells(MASMCs).Methods Human MASMCs were obtained freshly by the method of enzymolysis.IKCa were separated with 4-AP 5 mmol?L~(-1) and recorded by the whole-cell voltage-clamped technique.The effects of remifentanil(1.2,4.8,19.4 mmol?L~(-1))on amplitude and threshold of activation for IKCa were assessed.Results Remifentanil significantly increased IKCa and had no effect on the threshold of activation for IKCa as compared with the control group(P＜0.05 or 0.01),and the IKCa returned to the baseline level after remifentanil was washed out.Conclusion Remifentanil produces vasodilation by activating IKCa in MASMCs.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic outcomes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) occurring after renal transplantation.

METHODSWe reviewed a total population of 2045 adult kidney recipients between January 1998 and October 2012, 12 of which developed NHL. Their clinical features and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS12 patients with a median age of 52.5 (range: 30-68) years old, including 5 males and 7 females, were diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) at a median interval of 84 (range: 12-253) months after transplantation. The incidences of developing NHL at 2-year, 5-year and 10-year were 0.10%, 0.15% and 0.44%, respectively. The locations of lymphoma were diverse, including central nervous system, stomach, liver, kidney, pancreas, uterus, ribs, sKin, soft palate and Waldeyer ring. After reduction of immunosuppression intensity, 3 cases received surgical therapy, 6 cases with chemotherapy, 1 case with surgery combined with chemotherapy, 1 case with chemotherapy combined with irradiation and 1 case without treatment. The overall response rate was 81.8%, including 8 cases with CR, 1 with PR and 2 with progression. During a median of 11.5 (range: 1 to 130) months follow-up, 3 patients died.

CONCLUSIONNHL was a rare but serious complication after renal transplantation occurred with bimodal distribution, which was symptomatic diversity and non- specificity. The most histopathological type was DLBCL. Reduction of immunosuppression intensity was not enough to get efficacy, and CHOP with or without rituximab was effective in the treatment of NHL after renal transplantation.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; adverse effects ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of seminal plasma lipoprotein (a) in abnormal semen liquefaction and its clinical significance.

METHODSAccording to The WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, we conducted semen routine analyses of 101 patients with abnormal semen liquefaction and 26 normal healthy controls. We added chymotrypsin to the semen for 30 minutes of incubation at 37 degrees C. When there were filaments, we centrifuged the semen and obtained the upper seminal plasma to determine the level of lipoprotein (a).

RESULTSThe level of lipoprotein (a) was significantly higher in the 101 patients ([526.2 +/- 243.5] mg/L) than in the 26 normal controls ([296.9 +/- 105.2] mg/L) (P < 0.01) .

CONCLUSIONLipoprotein (a) can inhibit fibrin dissolution, and delayed fibrin dissolution in semen liquefaction may be related to the increased level of seminal plasma lipoprotein (a). The seminal plasma lipoprotein (a) level should be taken into account in the clinical diagnosis of male infertility caused by abnormal semen liquefaction.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Lipoprotein(a) ; analysis ; Male ; Semen ; metabolism ; Seminal Plasma Proteins ; analysis ; Young Adult

Objective To elucidate gene mutation and promoter methylation changes of p16 gene in pheochromocytomas (PHEO) and paragangliomas (PGL) and to assess its relation with tumor clinical characters. Methods A total of 34 tumors (20 PHEO, 14 PG L, 15 benign, 19 malignant) were collected.Direct sequencing of p16 gene after PCR was performed to analyze genetic alterations. Hypermethylation of p16 gene promoter CpG island was analyzed by methylation specific PCR(MSP). In addition, mRNA expression was detected by RT-PCR. Results Homozygous deletion and gene mutation were not observed in 34 PHEO and PGL. Aberrant methylation of p16 gene promoter CpG island was found in 35.3% (12 of 34 tumors, 3 PHEO, 9 PGL). The p16 promoter hypermethylation in PGL was significantly higher than PHEO (P=0. 005). The higher p16 promoter hypermethylation was associated with malignant behavior, tumor number, and younger age at presentation, but no statistical significance, due to the limited number of cases. The p16 mRNA expression in malignant cases was lower than in benign tumors(0.83±0.65 vs 1.12±0.81 ,P=0.278). Conclusion p16 gene homozygous deletion and mutation were not frequent in PHEO and PGL. The promoter hypermethylation is mainly attributed to inactivation of the p16 gene.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of lymphatic micovessel density (LMVD) detected by monoclonal antibody D2-40) with the VEGF-C expression in human breast cancer.

METHODSTissue samples of 102 breast cancers, 25 breast fibroadenomas and 10 normal breasts were collected. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detected the lymphatic micovessels with monoclonal antibody D2-40. The expression of VEGF-C was detect by SP immunohistochemistry, and VEGF-C mRNA by hybridization in situ.

RESULTSIn 102 breast cancers, the positive rate of D2-40 was 76.5% (78/102), higher than that in the breast fibroadenomas. LMVD in the periphery of breast cancer was 30.1 lymphatic microvessels per x 100 field of vision, which was significantly higher than that in the central area of the tumors (P = 0.000). The LMVD in the periphery of the breast cancers was correlated with the number of metastatic lymph nodes (r = 0.964, P < 0.01). The positive rates of VEGF-C protein and mRNA were 55.9% (57/102) and 59.8% (61/102), respectively, significantly higher than that in the breast fiberoadenomas and normal breast tissues (chi2 = 11.653, P = 0.003; chi2 = 10.345, P = 0.006), and were significantly correlated with the status of lymph node metastasis, clinical stage and the expressions of c-erbB-2 and p53 protein (P < 0.05). Both of VEGF-C protein and mRNA were significantly correlated with LMVD detected by D2-40 (P < 0.05), especially with the LMVD in the periphery of breast cancers (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe monoclonal antibody D240 can be used to detect the lymphatic endothelium in human breast cancer. The lymphatic microvessel density in the periphery of breast cancer is correlated with the lymph node metastasis and expression of VEGF-C. Therefore, VEGF-C may play a significant role in the lymphangiogenesis leading to metastasis of breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphatic Vessels ; pathology ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ischemic preconditioning on chaperone hsp70 expression and protein aggregation in the CA1 neurons of rats, and to further explore its potential neuroprotective mechanism.

METHODSTwo-vesseloccluded transient global ischemia rat model was used. The rats were divided into sublethal 3-min ischemia group, lethal 10-min ischemia group and ischemic preconditioning group. Neuronal death in the CA1 region was observed by hematoxylineosin staining, and number of live neurons was assessed by cell counting under a light microscope. Immunochemistry and laser scanning confocal microscopy were used to observe the distribution of chaperone hsp70 in the CA1 neurons. Differential centrifuge was used to isolate cytosol, nucleus and protein aggregates fractions. Western blot was used to analyze the quantitative alterations of protein aggregates and inducible chaperone hsp70 in cellular fractions and in protein aggregates under different ischemic conditions.

RESULTSHistological examination showed that ischemic preconditioning significantly reduced delayed neuronal death in the hippocampus CA1 region (P < 0.01 vs 10-min ischemia group). Sublethal ischemic preconditioning induced chaperone hsp70 expression in the CA1 neurons after 24 h reperfusion following 10-min ischemia. Induced-hsp70 combined with the abnormal proteins produced during the secondary lethal 10-min ischemia and inhibited the formation of cytotoxic protein aggregates (P < 0.01 vs 10-min ischemia group).

CONCLUSIONIschemic preconditioning induced chaperone hsp70 expression and inhibited protein aggregates formation in the CA1 neurons when suffered secondary lethal ischemia, which may protect neurons from death.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; Cell Count ; methods ; Cell Death ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression Regulation ; physiology ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Male ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Time Factors

Administration of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine (CSA) after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) induces a systemic auto-immune syndrome resembling graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), this syndrome termed autologous GVHD has significant antitumor activity, it can reduce the incidence of tumor relapse after APBSCT. The antitumor effect of this auto-aggression syndrome can be enhanced by the administration of gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN). Five consecutive patients who received APBSCT received therapy inducing autologous GVHD. Intravenous administration of CSA [1 mg/(kg.d) for 28 days] was begin on the day of transplantation. gamma-interferon (0.025 mg/m(2) qod) was administered sub-cutaneously from days 7 throngh 28 after transplatation. Results showed that four of five occured autologous GVHD-skin demage, five in control didn't occur autologous GVHD. The relapse rate of the treated cases was 20% (1/5) versus 60% (3/5) of the control, and the median survival time of the treated cases was 20 (4 - 30) months versus 10 (2 - 20) months of the control. The data indicates that autologous GVHD results in low relapse rate of the patients rececving APBSCT.

An expression plasmid carrying anthrax protective antigen (PA) gene was constructed, which has an OmpA signal sequence attached to the 5' end of PA gene. The plasmid was transformed into E. coli and induced to express recombinant PA (rPA) . The recombinant protein, about 10% of the total bacterial protein in volume, was secreted to the periplasmic space of the cell. After a purification procedure including ion-exchange, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and gel filtration, about 15 mg of 95 % pure rPA was obtained from 1-liter culture. The bioactivity of rPA was proved by in vitro cytotoxicity assay. The polyclonal antiserum from rabbits immunized with rPA could inhibit the action of anthrax lethal toxin in vitro, which suggests that antibodies against rPA can provide high passive protection against anthrax. The results reported here may be helpful to develop a safe and efficacious recombinant PA vaccine against anthrax.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Anthrax Vaccines ; immunology ; Antigens, Bacterial ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; toxicity ; Bacterial Toxins ; chemistry ; genetics ; immunology ; toxicity ; Base Sequence ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plasmids ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology