Cranial Fossa, Anterior ; Humans ; Liposarcoma, Myxoid ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Skull Base Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo study the changes in biological behaviors of meningitis E. coli K1 strain E44 after deletion of polyphosphate kinase 1 (ppk1) gene and explore the role of ppk1 in the pathogenesis of E. coli K1-induced meningitis.

METHODSThe wild-type strain E. coli K1 and ppk1 deletion mutant were exposed to heat at 56 degrees celsius; for 6 min, and their survival rates were determined. The adhesion and invasion of the bacteria to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs) were observed using electron microscopy and quantitative tests. HBMECs were co-incubated with wild-type strain or ppk1 deletion mutant, and the cytoskeleton rearrangement was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope.

RESULTSThe survival rate of the ppk1 deletion mutant was significantly lower than that of the wild-type strain after heat exposure. The ppk1 deletion mutant also showed lowered cell adhesion and invasion abilities and weakened ability to induce cytoskeleton rearrangement in HBMECs.

CONCLUSIONSppk1 gene is important for E.coli K1 for heat resistance, cell adhesion and invasion, and for inducing cytoskeletal rearrangement in HBMECs.

Brain ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoskeleton ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; microbiology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; physiology ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Phosphotransferases (Phosphate Group Acceptor) ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the capability of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) differentiating into adipose cells in vitro and to determine their changes in cell morphology, structure and function during differentiation.

METHODSPDLSCs isolated by magnetic-activated cell selection were treated continuously with adipogenic medium for 21 d. Then the cell morphology, ultrastructure, adipose specific markers of low density lipoprotein (LPL) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) were analyzed by inverted contrast microscope, trans mission electron microscope (TEM), flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. These adipose-like cells were also identified by oil red O staining to determine the formation of lipid droplet, and the non-induced cells were used as control.

RESULTSAfter continuous induction, the treated cells differentiated into adipose-like cells with round shape, and large amount of lipid drop in cytoplasm. 96.54% of the PDLSCs were found to differentiate into adipose cells as showed by flow cytometry, the specific markers of LPL mRNA and PPAR-gamma mRNA, and oil red O staining, respectively. Further, PPAR-gamma protein was detected in the induced cells in a time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONHuman PDLSCs have the potential of differentiating into adipose cells under appropriate condition, and the differentiated cells exhibited characteristics of adipose cells both from cell morphology and from their functions.

Adipocytes ; Cell Differentiation ; Humans ; PPAR gamma ; Periodontal Ligament ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVEElectron microscopical study of infected cells to identify the pathogenic agent of SARS.

METHODSVero E6 cells infected with lung autopsy samples or nasopharyngeal swabs from SARS patients of Beijing and Guangzhou were inoculated. The supernatant and cultured cells exhibiting identifiable cytopathic effect (CPE) were prepared for electron microscopic study.

RESULTSExamination of CPE cells on thin-section revealed characteristic coronavirus particles within the cisternae of endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, vesicles and extracellular space. They were mainly spherical or oval in shape, annular or dense, about 80 nm in diameter. Negative-stain electron microscopy identified coronavirus particles in culture supernatant, 80 - 120 nm in diameter, with club-shaped surface projections. Elongated, rod-, kidney- or other irregular shaped virons with the size of 100 - 200 nm by 60 - 90 nm were also found in the cultured cells infected with the lung samples from the Guangdong patients. Infectious virons entered cells by endocytosis or membrane fusion and released through a budding process.

CONCLUSIONThese data indicate a novel coronavirus as the causative agent of SARS. Most viral particles showed typical characteristics of coronavirus. The potential role of special shape viruses is expected to be further investigated.

Animals ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron ; SARS Virus ; ultrastructure ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; virology ; Vero Cells

BACKGROUNDComputed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic lung biopsy is a well-established technique for the diagnosis of pulmonary lesions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency and complication rate of CT-guided lung biopsy in a Chinese population.

METHODSCT-guided cutting needle lung biopsies were performed in our institution on 1014 patients between January 2000 and October 2010. A chest radiograph was taken after the biopsy. Data about basic patient information, final diagnosis, and complications secondary to biopsy procedure (pneumothorax and bleeding) were extracted.

RESULTSThe diagnostic efficiency of CT-guided lung biopsy was 94.8%; only 53 patients did not get a final diagnosis from lung biopsy. Final diagnoses found 639 malignant lesions (63.0%) and 322 benign lesions (31.8%). Pneumothorax occurred in 131 patients and 15 required insertion of an intercostal drain. Small hemoptysis occurred in 41 patients and mild parenchymal hemorrhage occurred in 16 patients. The overall complication rate was 18.5%.

CONCLUSIONSCT-guided cutting needle biopsy of pulmonary lesions is a relatively safe technique with a high diagnostic accuracy. It can be safely performed in clinical trials.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy, Needle ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation among serum levels of manning-binding lectin (MBL), MBL-associated serine proteases-2 (MASP-2), complement Cand high-sensitive C reactive protein (HsCRP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSFasting venous blood were collected from 50 RA patients (25 in active stage and 25 in remission) and 40 healthy subjects for detecting serum levels of MBL, MASP-2, complement Cand HsCRP using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immune turbidity assay.

RESULTSThe serum levels of MBL and MASP-2 were significantly lower and HsCRP level was significantly higher in patients with RA (in both acute stage and remission) than in the healthy control group (P<0.05), but complement Clevel was similar between the RA patients and control group. Bivariate Pearson correlation analysis showed that in RA patients, MBL was positively correlated with MASP-2 level (r=0.550, P=0.001) and negatively with HsCRP (r=-0.323, P=0.022) but not correlated with C(r=-0.022, P=0.882); MASP-2 was negatively correlated with HsCRP (r=0.453, P=0.453) and was not correlated with C(r=0.049, P=0.738). ROC curve analysis revealed the largest area under curve (AUC) of HsCRP (0.844, P=0.001) and smaller AUCs of MBL (0.025, P=0.001) and MASP-2 (0.266, P=0.001). HsCRP had a much higher sensitivity (84%) than MBL (10%) and MASP-2 (40%) in the diagnosis of RA.

CONCLUSIONIn RA patients, MBL and MASP-2 are negatively correlated with HsCRP level. Serum MBL and MASP-2 levels decrease with the progression of joint injury in RA patients, suggesting their involvement in the pathological process of RA; but due to their low sensitivity, they are not appropriate indicators for evaluating the disease activity of RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Complement C3 ; analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Mannose-Binding Lectin ; blood ; Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the immunophenotype and gene rearrangement pattern of pulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis.

METHODSNine cases of pulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis, included 5 cases of open lung biopsy, 3 cases of lobectomy specimen and 1 case of autopsy, were retrospectively analyzed by immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA, immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement studies.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 3 to 59 years. The male-to-female ratio was 3: 6. Histologically, all cases showed lymphocytic infiltration surrounding the blood vessels and in the perivascular areas. Most of these lymphoid cells expressed T-cell marker CD3. There were also variable numbers of CD20-positive B cells. The staining for CD56 was negative. According to the WHO classification, there were 4 cases of grade I , 1 case of grade II and 4 cases of grade III lesions. Six cases had gene rearrangement studies performed and 3 of them demonstrated clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement (including 1 of the grade II and 2 of the grade III lesions). No T-cell receptor gene rearrangement was detected.

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary lymphomatoid granulomatosis may represent a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders. Some of the cases show B-cell immunophenotype and clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangement, especially the grade II and grade lesions. They are likely of lymphomatous nature.

Adult ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; CD3 Complex ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Pneumonectomy ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

AIMTo investigate the protective role of HO/CO systems in IL-1beta induced islest apoptosis and to explore the mechanisms of the protective effect of fructose-1, 6-disphosphate (FDP).

METHODSThe pancreases of the rats were removed to collect islets cells. The cells were incubated with IL-1beta with/or FDP. Cell activity, insulin secretion, HO-1 activity, CO content and apoptotic percentage were detected.

RESULTSHO-1 activity and CO content of the normal control group were low. IL-1beta induced a significant decrease of cell activity and insulin release, flow cytometry analysis showed that apoptotic percentage of islet cells remarkably increased following the addition of IL-1beta, FDP obviously improved the islets cellular activity damaged by IL-1beta, and basic amount of insulin secretion and stimulated by high glucose were improved (P < 0.01). Content of CO and activity of HO-1 were higher in the IL-1beta group than the normal control group (P < 0.05), and there were significant differences between the FDP groups and IL-1beta group. FDP decreased cell apoptotic percentage. Activities of HO-1 and content of CO were higher than that in the IL-1beta group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONFDP can attenuate the IL-1beta induced apoptosis of cultured beta cells, the mechanism of which may be improved HO-1 activity and CO content.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carbon Monoxide ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fructosediphosphates ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; physiology ; Insulin ; secretion ; Interleukin-1beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The present study was to investigate the effect of kinetin on ovary and uterus of D-galactose-induced female mouse model of aging. Aging female mice model caused by D-galactose were used as model group, the aging model mice intragastrically administered with kinetin solution (daily 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) were used as kinetin groups, and the mice with solvent as normal group (n = 20). To detect the effects of kinetin, estrous cycle, estradiol content, ovarian and uterine wet weight and organ index, SOD and GSH-Px activities, MDA and total protein contents, as well as the reserve function of ovaries were examined. The results showed that, kinetin-induced changes in two kinetin groups were observed, compared with the model group: (1) the estrous cycle was shortened; (2) serum estradiol content was significantly increased; (3) the wet weights of the ovary and uterus were increased significantly; (4) SOD and GSH-Px activities of ovary and uterus were significantly higher; (5) the MDA contents of the ovary and uterus were reduced significantly; (6) total protein contents of the ovary and uterus were increased significantly; (7) the numbers of mature oocytes in fallopian tubes were increased significantly. The results show that kinetin can protect ovary and uterus against oxidative damage, prevent low estrogen secretion caused by ovarian oxidative damage, shorten the estrous cycle in mice, and eventually maintain ovarian and uterine vitalities.
Aging ; Animals ; Estradiol ; metabolism ; Estrous Cycle ; drug effects ; Female ; Galactose ; Kinetin ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Organ Size ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Uterus ; drug effects

Adult ; Aged ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics