Objective To evaluate the association between the polymorphisms of BT-H4 gene and the risk of breast cancer, a case-control study was conducted in the population of Heilongjiang province, China. Methods We genotyped the single nucleotide polymorphisms of rs10754339, rs10801935 and rs3738414 in B7-H4 gene by PCR-RFLP in a Chinese population consisting of 287 breast cancer cases and 305 controls matched for age and sex, tagged all common haplotypes (frequency ≥ 1%), and analyzed the differences between patients and normal controls. Results Our data indicated that in rs10754339, the frequencies of G allele, AA genotype and AG genotype were significantly different between patients and controls (P=0.030, OR 1.359, 95 % CI 1.030-1.794; P=0.018, OR 0.671, 95 % CI 0.482-0.935; P=0.029, OR 1.455, 95 % CI 1.038-2.038, respectively). In rs3738414, the frequencies of A allele, GG genotype and AG genotype were significantly different between patients and controls (P=0.0008, OR 0.604, 95 % CI 0.455-0.803; P=0.001, OR 1.804, 95 % CI 1.289-2.253; P=0.005, OR 0.612, 95 % CI 0.435-0.862). The frequencies of AAA haplotype and GAG haplotype were significantly different between patients and controls (P=0.0015, OR 0.614, 95 % CI 0.456-0.828; P=0.0003, OR 1.954, 95 % CI 1.363-2.803). Conclusion Polymorphisms of B7-H4 gene appear to be associated with breast cancer in the population of Heilongjiang province, China.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effects of Mobi-C cervical artificial disc replacement (CADR) and anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) in treating single cervical disc herniation.

METHODSFrom June 2009 to June 2012, the clinical data of 27 patients with single cervical disc herniation were retrospectively analyzed. There were 18 males and 9 females, aged from 30 to 62 years old with an average of 46.7 years. Of them, 12 patients were treated with CADR (CADR group) and 15 patients with ACDF (ACDF group). All patients had pain and numbness in neck, shoulder and upper limbs, and courses of disease was from 1 to 13 months with an average of 2.4 months. The data of clinical evaluation and questionnaire survey about quality of life were collected before operation, postoperative at 1 week and final follow-up. Odom criterion was used to evaluate postoperative effect. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to record pain levels. Neck disability index (NDI) and health questionnaire SF-36 were used to assess the quality of life.

RESULTSNo complications about nerve and blood vessel were found and the patients were followed up from 6 to 30 months, with an average of 16 months. One week after operation, 10 cases got excellent results and 2 good in CADR group; 5 cases got excellent results and 10 good in ACDF group; there was significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). At final follow-up, 10 cases got excellent results and 2 good in CADR group; 12 cases got excellent results and 3 good in ACDF group; there was no significant difference between two groups (P> 0.05). Pain of upper limbs had obviously relieved between two groups at 1 week after operation and final follow-up (P<0.05). VAS of neck and NDI in CADR group had decreased respectively from preoperative 3.58±0.79, 23.42±6.36 to 0.58±0.51, 5.42±1.68 at 1 week after operation (P<0.05); but the index in ACDF group was no obvious at 1 week after operation. At final follow-up, VAS of neck and NDI and SF-36 score were obviously improved than preoperation (P<0.05) between two groups.

CONCLUSIONMobi-C CADR retains the movement unit in the decompression segment and can quickly recover normal action for patients. Using CADR method has a good curative effect in the early phase, and the clinical effect is reliable, may improve the quality of life.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Total Disc Replacement ; methods ; Visual Analog Scale

Objective:To investigate the influence of sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion protein on the unspecific anti- tumor immunity in vitro.Methods:Ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells were separately transfected with recombinant adenoviral vectors containing sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion gene,sCD80 gene,sCD40L gene or with control adenovirus.The expres- sion of the sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion protein,sCD80 protein and sCD40L protein in the supernatants of SKOV3 cells was determined by ELISA.Dendritic cells(DCs)were cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a patient with ovarian carcinoma.DCs and autologous T cells were co-cuhured and were exposed to different supernatants for 48 h. The allostimulatory effects of DCs on T cells were determined by mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR).The unspecific kill- ing activities of induced T cells against SKOV3/K562 cells were measured by LDH-releasing assay.Results:ELISA assay showed that levels of the sCD80-Linker-sCD40L fusion protein,sCD80 protein and sCD40L protein in the supernatants of transfeced SKOV3 cells were 2.791 ng/ml,1.956 ng/ml and 1.407 ng/ml,respectively.The fusion protein-exposed DCs ([0.382?0.053]vs[0.167?0.028],P

OBJECTIVETo study the microsurgical method of repairing skin and soft tissue defects on head, face, and neck.

METHODSThirty-one patients with skin and soft tissue defects on the head, face, or neck were hospitalized from July 2007 to May 2010, including 10 cases of scalp defects, 4 cases of skin and soft tissue defects on face, and 17 cases of skin and soft tissue defects on neck. Among them, the cause in 20 cases was trauma, and in 11 cases they were secondary to release of cicatricial contraction. Free flaps were transplanted to repair the wounds, including 13 latissimus dorsi flaps, 3 lateral thoracic flaps, 5 scapular flaps, and 10 anterolateral thigh flaps. The area of flaps ranged from 8 cm × 5 cm to 25 cm × 18 cm.

RESULTSAll flaps survived, and all the wounds healed by first intention. The average length of hospital stay was 16.7 days. Twenty-eight patients were followed up for 2 months, and in all of them satisfactory function and appearance were restored.

CONCLUSIONSFree flap graft based on microsurgery can repair wound of skin and soft tissue defects on head, face and neck by a single operation, which eases suffering of patients, and shortens the length of hospital stay.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin ; injuries ; Skin Transplantation ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families based on the germline mutations of MLH1 and MSH2 mRNA.

METHODSRNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the 14 members from 12 different families fulfilling Amsterdam Criteria II. The germline mutations of MLH1 and MSH2 mRNA were detected by cDNA sequencing analysis following reverse transcription-PCR(RT-PCR) with special primers, heat-resistance reverse transcriptase, and expand long template PCR. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the 14 members, the corresponding exons, in which mutations were found using the above method, were amplified with Taq enzyme, sequencing analysis was followed.

RESULTSSix germline mutations were detected and identified from the 6 different families based on mRNA, 4 of them to be in MLH1, the other 2 in MSH2. The MLH1 mutations distribute in the exon 8, 12, 16, and 19. The MSH2 mutations distribute in exons 1 and 2. The 6 mutations were identified from the corresponding exons respectively in genomic DNA sequencing analysis. The mutation types involve in 4 missense, 1 silent, and 1 non-coding area mutations. Five out of the 6 mutations have not been reported previously. Five out of the 6 mutations were pathological, involving in 5 different families. The five families were identified to HNPCC families.

CONCLUSIONHNPCC family can be identified with RNA-based sequencing of MLH1 and MSH2 from peripheral blood, which has the advantages of both cost, time saving and high sensitivity.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Male ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; genetics ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

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

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; surgery ; Endovascular Procedures ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To observes the change of early effective biomarkers of endothelial injury with lowarsenic exposure in drinking water. MethodsNinety rurad residents, who had lived in Yanhe village, Xuyi county and Jiangsu province for at least 10 years, were recruited by simple random sampling in this study. The level of arsenic in their household shallow well were divided into three groups, which were ＜ 10 (32 people), 10 - 50(28 people) and ＞ 50 μg/L(30 people). Blood samples from individuals were collected. Malondialdehyde(MDA) in human plasma, which is considered as the most important marker for monitoring lipid peroxidation, was determined as conjugate with tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulphate(TBA). The level of anti-superoxide anion radical(O-·2),C-reactive protein(CRP) and NO in human plasma was measured with colorimetry, turbidimetry and nitric acid reductase, respectively. The number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells(CEPCs) in peripheral blood was analyzed by CD133+/KDR+ antibodies and flow cytometry. Results Ninety cases underwent questionnaires. Between the groups, the difference of the levels of MDA (61.1, 65.5, 67.5 μmol/kg), O-·2 (4774.6, 5143.3, 4736.0 U/kg) ,CRP[(5.92 ± 2.44), (5.11 ± 2.40), (5.55 ± 2.96)mg/L], and NO[(659.8 ± 387.5), (667.4 ± 486.6), (762.1 ±763.2)μmol/kg], was not statistically significant (F =0.00, 0.46, 0.80, 0.47, all P ＞ 0.05). The difference of the number of CEPCs in different groups of arsenic in drinking water was statistically significant(0.96 x 10-5, 0.77 x 10-5,1.59 x 10-5, F=5.08, P＜ 0.05), where ＜ 10, 10 - 50 μg/L groups were significantly lower than ＞ 50 μg/L group (q =4.58, 6.65, all P ＜ 0.05). ConclusionsThe number of CEPCs in peripheral blood changes significantly with lower-arsenic exposure, whereas there are no obvious changes with the markers of oxidized damage and inflammation. This is the first human demonstration showing that lower-arsenic exposure may cause endothelial injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features of respiratory failure secondary to hypothyroidism.

METHODWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 4 patients with respiratory failure secondary to hypothyroidism.

RESULTSRespiratory failure secondary to hypothyroidism usually happened in the aged patients, presenting as myxedema, disturbance of consciousness, anemia, and hyponatrium. Respiratory symptoms were rare. Type II respiratory failure might occur as disease progressed. The clinical presentation of hypothyroidism was atypical and easily neglected. The hypoxia and hypercapnia ameliorated after thyroid hormone therapy.

CONCLUSIONHypothyroidism is a rare reason of respiratory failure. The prognosis is good after hormone therapy and mechanical ventilation.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; complications ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; drug therapy ; etiology ; therapy ; Thyroid Hormones ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of fast-track surgery in perioperative period on the clinical outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODSClinical data of 117 patients with esophageal cancer between January 2011 and June 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. Sixty-three cases (study group) were treated with fast-track surgery and 54 cases(control group) were treated according to routine protocol in the perioperative period.

RESULTSThe operative time, time to drainage tube removal, and length of hospital stay were significantly shorter in the study group than those in the control group(all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the medical cost was lower(P<0.05). The overall postoperative complication rate was 7.9% in the study group and 24.1% in the control group(P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFast-track surgery in the perioperative period for patients with esophageal cancer can promote bowel function recovery and decrease morbidity.

Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome