Fibronectin containing extra domain A (EDA+ FN),a functional glycoprotein participating in several cellular processes,correlates with chronic liver disease.Herein,we aim to investigate the expression and secretion of EDA+ FN from hepatocytes in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the underlying mechanisms.Circulating levels of EDA+ FN were determined by ELISA in clinical samples.Western blotting and flow cytometry were performed on L02 and HepG2 cell lines to analyze whether the levels of EDA+ FN were associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related cell death.Circulating levels of EDA+ FN in NAFLD patients were significantly higher than those in control subjects,and positively related with severity of ultrasonographic steatosis score.In cultured hepatocytes,palmitate up-regulated the expression of EDA+ FN in a dose-dependent manner.Conversely,when the cells were pretreated with 4-phenylbutyrate,a specific inhibitor of ER stress,up-regulation of EDA+ FN could be abrogated.Moreover,silencing CHOP by shRNA enhanced the release of EDA+ FN from hepatocytes following palmitate treatment,which was involved in ER stress-related cell damage.These findings suggest that the up-regulated level of EDA+ FN is associated with liver damage in NAFLD,and ER stress-mediated cell damage contributes to the release of EDA+ FN from hepatocytes.

The present study was aimed to explore the changes of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK) level in skeletal muscle after exposure to acute hypobaric hypoxia and exhaustive exercise. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sea level and high altitude groups. The rats in high altitude group were submitted to simulated 5 000 m of high altitude in a hypobaric chamber for 24 h, and sea level group was maintained at normal conditions. All the rats were subjected to exhaustive swimming exercise. The exhaustion time was recorded. Before and after the exercise, blood lactate and glycogen content in skeletal muscle were determined; AMPK and pAMPK levels in skeletal muscle were detected by Western blot. The results showed that the exhaustion time was significantly decreased after exposure to high altitude. At the moment of exhaustion, high altitude group had lower blood lactate concentration and higher surplus glycogen content in gastrocnemius compared with sea level group. Exhaustive exercise significantly increased the pAMPK/AMPK ratio in rat skeletal muscles from both sea level and high altitude groups. However, high altitude group showed lower pAMPK/AMPK ratio after exhaustion compared to sea level group. These results suggest that, after exposure to acute hypobaric hypoxia, the decrement in exercise capacity may not be due to running out of glycogen, accumulation of lactate or disturbance in energy status in skeletal muscle.
AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Altitude ; Animals ; Computer Simulation ; Glycogen ; metabolism ; Hypoxia ; physiopathology ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Male ; Motor Activity ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Physical Exertion ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE; To determine the clinical value of preoperative in vivo location of sentinel lymph node (SLN) by lymphoscintigraphy (LS) in oral carcinoma.

METHODS10 patients with oral carcinoma were included in this study (7 male to 3 female). 99mTc-dextron was injected peritumorally 24 h before surgery. Lymphoscintigraphy images were obtained in anterior and lateral views. SLNs were detected and removed with the aid of dye during surgery. A standard radical neck dissection was then performed, and all lymph nodes were analyzed by HE staining.

RESULTSSLNs were successfully detected in 10 regions of 8 patients via lymphoscintigraphy. Consistent with the result of LS, 15 blue-stained SLNs were identified by means of dye method in 8 of 10 regions which the LS images indicated.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that preoperative in vivo location of SLN via lymphoscintigraphy should be helpful for the application of SLNB in oral carcinoma.

Female ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphoscintigraphy ; Male ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Kangquan Recipe (KQR) on sex steroids and cell proliferation in an experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) model in rats.

METHODSSeventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal group, the model group, the finasteride group, and the low-, middle-, and high-dose KQR groups, 12 in each group. Except those in the normal group, the rats were injected with testosterone after castration for the establishment of BPH model and then given respectively with normal saline, finasteride, and low-, middle-, and high-dose of KQR for 30 days. The levels of plasma testosterone (T) and estradiol (E(2)) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the mRNA expression ) of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in prostate tissue was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after administration.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the prostate weight, the plasma T, and the mRNA expression of PCNA were significantly lower, and the plasma E(2) and the ratio of E(2)/T were higher in the three KQR groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the prostate weight, plasma T and E(2), and ratio of E(2)/T among the finasteride group and the three KQR groups (P>0.05). The mRNA expressions of PCNA were significantly higher in the middle- and low-dose of KQR groups than those in the finasteride group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONKQR shows multitarget effects on experimental BPH rats, and the mechanism might be related with regulating the balance of plasma T and E(2) and decreasing the PCNAmRNA expression in prostate tissue to restrain cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cookbooks as Topic ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostate ; drug effects ; pathology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the degeneration and regeneration of skeletal muscle after denervation.

METHODSDenervation was carried out in gastrocnemius muscles in 30 adult BALB/C mice by cutting the sciatic nerve. The gastrocnemius muscles were removed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks after denervation, respectively. Specimens were processed for histological study and immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSMuscle fiber atrophy followed by degerneration and regeneration was observed in the early period of denervation. Fusion of the regenerated muscle cells with each other followed by degeneration of the cells and growth of fibro-connective tissue were observed in the later stage. The expression of myoglobin and actin decreased in 1-4 weeks after denervation. The postive expression of the proteins was observed in some 8 weeks' cells and in many degenerated 12-14 weeks' muscle cells.

CONCLUSIONDegeneration and regeneration may coexisted in the denervated muscles. The regenerated muscle cells can't fully develop due to the deficit of nerve regulation and degenerate again. The regenerated muscle cells will melt each other and can't develop to mature muscle fiber in the later stage.

Animals ; Female ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Muscle Denervation ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; pathology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; innervation ; physiology ; Muscular Atrophy ; physiopathology ; Nerve Regeneration ; physiology ; Sciatic Nerve ; physiology ; surgery

Objective　To study the effect of acute serious smoke inhalation injury to unilateral lung on contralateral lung and the therapeutic efficacy of massive bronchoscopic lavage with saline to the primary injured bronchoalveolus at early stage after smoke inhalation on mitigating the secondary damage of the other lung and so as to confirm the therapeutic validity of lung lavage to smoke inhalation injury. Methods　Fifteen mongrel dogs were insufflated with sawdust smoke into left lung and then randomized into 2 groups. The dogs in group A were maintained intravenous glucose saline transfusion and breathed air freely for 24 h after injury. Those in group B received a massive bronchoscopic lavage with 250 ml of saline to injured lung at 1 hour after injury and then were administrated similarly to those in group A. Gas exchange function of bilateral lungs in the process were observed and pathologic and phyiopathologic changes of the lung specimen were examined after the process. Results　While the total lavaging volume was kept to 250 ml, the liquid volume remained in left lung after each operating was from 90 ml to 140 ml. All animals had a significant decline in pulmonary function after smoke inhalation injury. PaO2 in group B decreased significantly soon after the lavage and then increased gradually to exceeding that in group A. The left lung showed serious edema similarly in two groups but in right lung the water content was less, dynamic and static compliance was more in group B than in group A. Conclusion　Bronchoalveolar massive lavage at early post-injury stage to injured lung after unilateral lung smoke inhalation injury can mitigate secondary damage of the non-injured lung. Lung lavage can decrease the intensity of secondary systemic inflammatory reaction and show a therapeutic validity to smoke inhalation injury.

Objective　To investigate the existence, intensit y and persisting time of biologic activity of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF ) collected from dogs with acute severe smoke inhalation injury in early post-i njury stage. Methods　BALF was collected 1 h after the est ablishment of acute severe sawdust smoke inhalation injury in 5 dogs, and the fl uid was perfused into the lungs of Wistar rats in the amount of 5 ml/kg (gro up C). Normal saline (group A) and BALF from normal dog (group B) were perfused into the lungs of rats and served as control. The respiratory rate, PaO2, lung water content and the expanding stability of lungs in all rats were determ ined at the time points of 4,12 and 24 h after the purfusion. Results　 Compared with the rats in group A and B, the rats in group C had higher mortality, wider range in RR, higher lung water content, PaO2 decreased obviou sly and lower lung expanding stability. The rats in control groups showed sl i ght mechanic obstruction in their airways in the course of experiment. Meanwhile ，the rats in group C showed higher oxidative activities and lower total anti-o xidative activities in lung tissues. Conclusion　It is certai n that the BALF collected from dogs with acute severe smoke inhalation injury in early post-injury stage could induce obvious injury in lung structure of norma l rats, showing certain mechanic obstruction in small airways. The injuring act ivity of the BALF can be alleviated ultimately 24 h after the perfusion of the B ALF.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a multiplex STR genotyping method for autosomal STR and Y-STR loci in forensic biological practice. METHODS: Widely used autosomal STR loci and Y-STR loci were selected. A set of PCR primers was designed, and a 5-dye fluorescent labeled STR multiplex PCR reagent kit was developed. RESULTS: A kit was developed which can simultaneously detect 15 autosomal STR loci, 10 Y-STR loci, and an Amelogenin. CONCLUSION The 15 autosomal STR plus 10 Y-STR kit in combination with capillary electrophoresis method was used to STR genotyping with accurate and reliable results. The new one-step testing kit can potentially be widely used in forensic cases and DNA databank in the future.
Amelogenin ; Chromosomes, Human, Y/genetics* ; DNA Primers ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Genotype ; Genotyping Techniques/instrumentation* ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, pathologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of primary osteosarcoma in elderly patients.

METHODSTwelve cases of primary osteosarcoma occurring in patients older than 60 years were encountered during the period from 1985 to 2010. The clinical manifestations, radiologic features and pathologic findings were studied and the follow-up data were analyzed.

RESULTSThe sites of involvement included long bones (number = 7), ilium (number = 1), craniofacial bones (number = 2) and soft tissue (number = 2). Radiologic examination showed a mixture of osteosclerotic and osteolytic lesions in 10 patients, soft tissue lesions with high-density areas in 2 patients and soft tissue lesions with periosteal reaction in 8 patients. Histologically, most cases showed features of conventional osteosarcoma. There were 2 cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma-like osteosarcoma, 2 cases of chondroblastic osteosarcoma and 1 case of well-differentiated intraosseous osteosarcoma. Immunohistochemical study played little role in pathologic diagnosis. Ten patients had undergone amputation, including one patient who had received adjuvant chemotherapy beforehand. Nine patients had follow-up information available. Three of them died of lung metastasis and 1 died of cardiovascular disease.

CONCLUSIONSPrimary osteosarcoma rarely occurs in elderly patients and can easily be missed. Correlation with clinical, radiologic and histologic features is important for arriving at a correct diagnosis.

12E7 Antigen ; Aged ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Chondrosarcoma ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Femoral Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ilium ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymphoma ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteitis Deformans ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Radiography ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the 5-item version of the international index of erectile function (IIEF-5) as a method to differentiate the causes of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODSIn all, 103 ED patients (mean age 46.8 +/- 18.7) were reviewed by IIEF-5. Penile blood flow was also assessed in each patient after an intracavernosal injection (ICI) and audio-visual sex stimulation by duplex Doppler ultrasonography. The 99mTc-(113m)In dual radioisotope test was performed to confirm specific vascular causes in the vasculogenic ED cases. Kruskal-Wallis TEST was employed to compare the scores of IIEF-5 with the results of ICI, duplex Doppler ultrasonography and the 99mTC-(113m)In dual radioisotope test.

RESULTSOf the total number of ED cases, 37 (37/103, 35.9%) were nonvasculogenic, 18 (18/103, 17.5%) arteriogenic, 35 (35/103, 34.0%) venogenic and 13 (13/103, 12.6%) combined vasculogenic. There was no significant difference in the IIEF-5 scores either between the vasculogenic group and the non-vasculogenic one (P = 0.253) or among different groups of the vasculogenic ED patients.

CONCLUSIONIIEF-5 cannot be used as a tool for differential diagnosis of vasculogenic ED, or to compare its specific vascular causes, nor can the scores of IIEF-5 reflect penile vascular conditions.

Adult ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; diagnostic imaging ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ultrasonography