Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Larynx ; pathology

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Endoglin ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; metabolism ; SOX9 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate

Objective To investigate the pregnancy outcomes of couples with either maternal or paternal balanced translocations.Methods One hundred and ninety-four couples were divided into three groups based on the kind of translocations:135 with reciprocal translocation,52 with nonhomologous Robertsonian translocations,and 7 with homologous Robertsonian translocations.Past reproductive histories were surveyed.For those who wanted to have their own babies by natural conceptions after knowing their karyotypes as well as the risks of abnormal offsprings,subsequent pregnancy outcomes were recorded.Total pregnancy outcomes were compared between three groups.Results(1)503 previous and subsequent pregnancies were recorded in detail.The pregnancy outcomes are as follows:spontaneous abortions 81.7% (411/503);induced terminations because of fetal abnormalities 3.2%(16/503);birth defects 7.2% (36/503);normal/balanced offsprings 8.0%(40/503).In reciprocal translocations,nonhomologous Robertsonian translocations and homologous Robertsonian translocations,the birth defects rates were 5.7% (20/350),10.9%(14/128)and 8.0%(2/25),respectively(P

Background Haze formation is a key factor of vision reduce following corneal refractive surgery.Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) are documented to participate in haze formation.Laboratory study showed that bevacizumab can not only inhibit corneal neovascularization,but also promote the healing of corneal epithelial basement membrane.However,the impact of bevacizumab on corneal healing after Off-flap epipolis laser in situkeratomileusis (Off-flap Epi-LASIK) is unclear.Objective The present study was to investigate the inhibition effect of bevacizumab on corneal haze after off-flap Epi-LASIK and its active mechanism.Methods Off-flap Epi-LASIK was performed in 24 adult pigmented rabbits and these rabbits were randomized into three groups.Bevacizumab of 0.1 ml (2.5 mg) was subconjunctivally injected 10 minutes after surgery in 16 rabbits and the same amount of bevacizumab was repeatedly injected 4 days after the initial injection in 8 eyes of 16 eyes.In addition,equivalent amount of normal saline solution was used in the same way in the other 8 rabbits.Another 2 health rabbits were used as the blank controls.Operative eyes were examined by slit lamp biomicroscope daily after surgery and haze was scored based on SundarRayde criteria.Corneas were obtained 4 weeks after operation for hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid Schiff staining.Expressions of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in corneal tissue were detected by immunochemistry.Results Corneal epithelium healed completely in all eyes 4-5 days after operation.The haze scores were lower in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group than those in the normal saline solution group (P＜0.05) in 1 week and 4 weeks after operation.However,no significant difference was seen in the haze scores between the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group (P ＞ 0.05).The hostopathological examination showed that the fibrosis response of cornea tissue was slight in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group comparison with the normal saline solution group.At 1 week after operation,the expression levels of TGF-β1 were (49.8 ± 2.1) PU and (38.6 ±4.4) PU in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group,and those of 4 weeks were (37.7 ±4.8) PU and (28.3 ± 3.5) PU,indicating significant decrease in the TGF-β1 expression compared with (65.1 ±5.3) PU and (51.6±2.2) PU of the normal saline solution group in both 1 week and 4 weeks (P＜0.01).The expression levels of α-SMA in corneas were (67.2±10.0) PU and (32.7±3.1) PU at 1 week,and (34.2±5.7) PU and (22.8±3.0) PU at4 weeks after operation in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group,which were significantly lower than (87.8±7.7) PU and (59.4±5.6) PU in the normal saline solution group in both 1 week and 4 weeks (P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the expression levels of TGF-β1 and α-SMA were declined in the bevacizumab repeat injection group compared with single injection group (P＜0.01).Periodic acid Schiff staining exhibited that the basement membrane of cornea was intact and continued in bevacizumab injection group.But corneal basement membrane was discontinuous in the normal saline solution group.Conclusions Subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab downregulates the expressions of TGF-β1and α-SMA in cornea after Off-flap Epi-LASIK and thus prevents haze formation.

Objective To investigate the change of the basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) leve in human detrusor muscle(DM)in bladder outlet obstruction(BOO)due to benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and its implication.Methods Fifty-four patients with BPH were divided into two groups:the obstructive DM stability and instability groups;and 15 men with bladder tumor who underwent operation in the same period were enrolled in the control group.The bFGF mRNA level in DM was measured by reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and the bFGF protein level was measured by immunohistochemical staining method.Results The bFGF-mRNA expression level of bladder smooth muscle cells was significantly lower in the control group than that in the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(all P＜0.05),but there was no significant difference between the obstructive DM stability and instability groups(P＞0.05). Conclusions The expression level of bFGF mRNA in bladder DM is elevated in BOO due to BPH,but there is little or no correlation between the increased expression of bFGF mRNA and detrusor muscle instability.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase was abnormally activated in maldeveloped balloon cells and dysmorphic neurons of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) with refractory epilepsy.

METHODSA total of 12 archival cases of FCD typeIIwith medically intractable epilepsy treated between 2008 and 2010 were retrieved. Perilesional brain tissue was used as control specimens (n = 8). The expression of phosphorylated p-AKT (Ser473), p-mTOR (Ser2448) and p-P70S6K (Thr389) was investigated by imunocytochemistry.

RESULTSThe expression of p-AKT (Ser473), p-mTOR (Ser2448) and p-P70S6K (Thr389) was found in meldeveloped balloon cells and dysmorphic neurons of FCD. A weak stain in a small amount of pyramid neurons was also found in the control group.

CONCLUSIONAbnormal activation of mTOR in maldeveloped balloon cells and dysmorphic neurons of FCD may be a key molecular mechanism underlying the histological changes and repeated seizures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Malformations of Cortical Development ; metabolism ; pathology ; Malformations of Cortical Development, Group I ; Nestin ; metabolism ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; metabolism ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the role of adiponectin in regulating tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) production and preventing fulminant autoimmunological damage of hepatocytes following concanavalin A (Con A) injection into mice.

METHODSThree days after recombinant plasmids pAA-neo-mAd were injected into the mice via the tail veins, Con A was injected into the mice. Mice transfected with empty pAA-neo vector served as controls. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), TNF alpha and adiponectin were detected, and histological examination of livers was carried out at different time points after the Con A injection. All results were subjected to statistical analyses.

RESULTSHistological examinations showed that the damage in livers of mice with high serum adiponectin levels was milder than that of the controls. The serum levels of ALT and TNF alpha were both lower than those of the controls (P less than 0.01, respectively). Statistical analyses showed the serum levels of ALT was negatively related to the levels of adiponectin in the sera (r=-0.5034).

CONCLUSIONAdiponectin is effective in protecting hepatocytes from Con A-induced immunological injury. The mechanism of this protective effect may be caused by inhibiting the synthesis and/or release of TNF alpha.

Adiponectin ; blood ; pharmacology ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Concanavalin A ; adverse effects ; Female ; Immune System Diseases ; chemically induced ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate approach and possibility of transferring basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) gene into rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs).

METHODSThe eukaryotic expression vectors harboring bFGF cDNA were constructed and transfected into rabbit BMSCs mediated by liposome. The transcription and expression of bFGF gene in the transfected BMSCs were detected by means of morphological observation, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RT-PCR. The changes in the biological characteristics of the transfected MSCs were also observed.

RESULTSStable overexpression of bFGF protein was detected in the transfected BMSCs, which showed differentiation towards chondrocyte lineage.

CONCLUSIONStable expression of bFGF gene in transfected BMSCs can induce cell differentiation into chondrocyte lineage.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Male ; Rabbits ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo detect the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of chemokine regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) promoter and first intron of asymptomatic, human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infected individuals of in Han Chinese and evaluate the influence on HIV-1 infection by variants.

METHODSCase-control study was adopted, Genotypes of RANTES promoter -403 and -28 from 538 samples and RANTES first intron In1.1 from 300 samples of Han Chinese were detected by DNA sequencing or by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTSThere were six genotypes of RANTES promoter -403 and -28 found in Han Chinese group. The distribution of genotypes was AC/AC 12.4%, AC/AG 3.5%, AC/GC 29.2%, AG/GC 10.9%, GC/GC 42.1%, AG/AG 1.5%. The haplotypes was GC 62.7%, AC 28.7%, AG 8.6%. Compared with AC/AC, Odd ratio (OR) of RANTES genotypes AC/AG, AC/GC, AG/GC, GC/GC was associated with weaker reduced susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. However, there were no significant contents of the allele frequencies between people living with HIV-1 and healthy individuals. The distribution of RANTES In1.1 alleles were T/T 71.0%, C/T 19.9%, C/C 9.1% and haplotypes were RANTES In1.1T 81%, In1.1C 19%, respectively; There were significant differences of RANTES In1.1 between people with HIV-1 infection and healthy individuals in males. The In1.1C-bearing genotypes would increase susceptibility to HIV-1 infection but no significant differences in females were found. Strong linkage disequilibrium was observed between all of the three RANTES SNPs.

CONCLUSIONThe two -403A/G, -28C/G variants in RANTES promoter region and intron In1.1 T/C mutation genotype were found to be associated with the genetic susceptibility to HIV-1 infection among the Han Chinese. However, the In1.1C allele or its haplotypes in RANTES intron 1 displayed a stronger dominant association with HIV-1 infection in males.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Chemokine CCL5 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Child ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; HIV Infections ; genetics ; HIV-1 ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Introns ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sex Factors

BACKGROUNDLiver transplantation is the most effective treatment for patients with end-stage liver failure, however infection after transplantation is a serious clinical complication. The purpose of this research was to investigate the molecular epidemiology and the influence of multidrug-resistant Gram-positive infection in patients, following liver transplantation, to provide reference for clinical treatment and prevention of Gram-positive bacterial infection.

METHODSWe isolated and detected bacteria from phlegm, throat swabs, urine, wound or wound secretions, blood, and fecal samples from 221 liver transplant patients in our hospital from January 2007 to April 2010. All isolated bacterial strains were identified and tested by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) drug-sensitive detection using the BioMerieux ATB bacterial identification instrument and repetitive extragenic palindromic-polymerase chain reaction (REP-PCR) detection of bacterial homology. Risk factors were calculated by multivariate Logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSWe collected 250 specimens from 221 patients hospitalized following liver transplantation surgery, of which 29 patients developed multiple infections. Sixty-five Gram-positive bacterial strains were isolated from different specimens from 53 infectious patients. We detected 29 multidrug-resistant Gram-positive strains from 29 patients (44.62%), including 20 Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains (68.97%) and nine Enterococcus strains (31.03%). All 20 S. aureus strains were highly resistant to aminoglycosides (gentamicin), cephalosporins (cefoxitin), quinolones (ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin), lincomycins (clindamycin), penicillin, and erythromycin. The resistance rate reached 100% in some cases. The S. aureus strains were highly sensitive to vancomycin and oxazolidinone (linezolid), with MIC50 < 2 µg/ml for both. The nine Enterococci strains were also highly resistant to aminoglycosides, quinolones, and penicillins, and highly sensitive to vancomycin (MIC50 < 2 µg/ml) and oxazolidinone (MIC50 < 1 µg/ml). Using REP-PCR detection, S. aureus was divided into five genotypes with 14 B-type strains. Enterococcus was divided into 11 genotypes, with two D-type strains, two G-type strains, and two K-type strains. The risk factors for Gram-positive bacterial infection in patients following liver transplantation were preoperative use of antibiotics (OR = 3.949, P = 0.004), high intra-operative blood input (OR = 1.071, P = 0.005), and postoperative renal failure (OR = 5.427, P = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONSS. aureus and Enterococcus were the main pathogens causing infection following liver transplantation in patients with drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infection. The isolated strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics. B-type S. aureus strains were predominant. Reasonable use of antibiotics, decreasing intra-operative blood input, and preventing post-operative renal failure may reduce Gram-positive bacterial infections and the appearance of drug-resistant strains following liver transplantation.

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; genetics ; Female ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; drug effects ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; etiology ; microbiology ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Epidemiology