OBJECTIVETo investigate a new surgical method to treat unilateral limb lymphedem after radical mastectomy.

METHODS10 cases of upper limb lymphedema after radical mastectomy were treated using flap transfer (the lateral thoracic skin flap or latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap combined with liposuction).

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the upper limb perimeter reduced in varied degrees. Nuclear lymphatic radiography showed notable changes in lymphatic circulation. The effective results were steady during the follow-up of 3-18 months.

CONCLUSIONFlap transplantation combined with liposuction is a useful treatment for limb lymphedema from radical mastectomy.

Breast Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Lymphedema ; etiology ; surgery ; Mastectomy, Radical ; adverse effects ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have revealed the important role of free radicals in renal damage induced by high-energy shock waves (HESW). This study aimed at investigating the effects of Astragalus membranaceus, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, on free radical-mediated HESW-induced damage to renal tubules in a live rabbit model.

METHODSForty-five healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n = 15), sham group (n = 15), and herb-treated group (n = 15). Three days prior to HESW application, the controls received verapamil (0.4 mg/kg), the shams received physiological saline (20 ml), and the herb-treated animals received Astragalus membranaceus (2.4 g/kg) intravenously. HESW (1500 shocks, 18 kV) was applied to the right kidneys of all anesthetized rabbits. We measured superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels before and after shock treatment in blood and kidney homogenates. Histopathological changes were also observed.

RESULTSMDA levels increased and SOD activity decreased significantly in the sham group (P < 0.05 for both) after shock treatment. MDA levels showed a much less increase in the controls (P < 0.05) and did not increase to statistically significant levels in the group receiving Astragalus membranaceus (P > 0.05). SOD values were significantly higher in the controls than in the shams (P < 0.05). By contrast, SOD levels recovered rapidly in the rabbits receiving Astragalus membranaceus, reaching a nadir within 24 hours, and returning to baseline more quickly than in control and sham rabbits (P < 0.05). Histopathological examinations showed that renal tubular damage in the controls was less severe than in the shams, while damage in the Astragalus membranaceus group was even more mild, with rapid recovery in comparison with the controls.

CONCLUSIONThis study provides preliminary evidence indicating that Astragalus membranaceus has strong protective effects on free radical-mediated renal tubular damage induced by HESW and that these effects are superior to the effects of verapamil.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Free Radicals ; toxicity ; High-Energy Shock Waves ; adverse effects ; Kidney Tubules ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Rabbits ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the recombination events between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci within two families.

METHODSIdentification of HLA-A, -C, -B, -DRB1 and -DQB1 loci was firstly carried out using polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific oligonucleotide. Then HLA high resolution typing was performed using polymerase chain reaction sequencing-based typing. The recombination between HLA loci was identified by family genetic analysis. The parentage possibility was analyzed by short tandom repeat technique.

RESULTSRecombination between the HLA-A and C loci was identified within two families. One individual inherited a paternal haplotype that was the result of a recombination event between the father's HLA-A and -C loci on his chromosomes. The other individual inherited a maternal haplotype that was the result of a recombination event between the mother's HLA-A and -C loci. The high parentage possibilities were obtained in the family members.

CONCLUSIONThe recombination events of HLA-A and -C have been found in two Chinese families, which may help further study on the mechanism of HLA recombination.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Loci ; genetics ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-C Antigens ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Recombination, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze the sequence of the exons 2-4 of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) novel allele HLA-B*15:129.

METHODSDNA of the proband was extracted from whole blood by commercial DNA extraction kit. The amplification for HLA-B exons 2-4 was performed separately by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with allele group specific primers. The PCR products were digested with enzymes and then directly sequenced for exons 2-4 of HLA-B locus in both directions.

RESULTSSequencing results showed the HLA-B alleles of the proband included B*07:02 and a novel allele. The sequence of the novel allele has been submitted to GenBank (accession no. EF473219) and the allele has been officially named B*15:129 by the WHO Nomenclature Committee. Comparing with the HLA-B*15:01:01:01, the sequence of exons 2-4 of HLA-B*15:129 showed three nucleotide difference in exon 3 at positions 362 and 363 from GG to AT and positions 369 from C to T, which resulted in an amino acid change from Arg to Asn at codon 97.

CONCLUSIONA novel HLA-B allele was identified and has been officially named B15:129 by the WHO Nomenclature Committee.

Alleles ; Base Sequence ; DNA Primers ; Exons ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Typing ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

This study was aimed to discriminate the alleles in the HLA-C*07:01:01G and HLA-C*07:02:01G groups and analyze their associations with HLA-B locus. Samples previously typed as HLA-C*07:01:01G and HLA-C*07:02:01G were collected. The nucleotide sequences in exons 1 to 7 of the HLA-C locus were sequenced by polymerase chain reaction sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT) and HLA-B genotyping was also preformed by PCR-SBT in these samples. The results showed that 4 samples (30.8%) were confirmed as HLA-C*07:01:01 and 9 samples (69.2%) were HLA-C*07:06 among 13 samples previously typed as HLA-C*07:01:01G. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis showed that HLA-C*07:06 allele was strongly related with HLA-B*44:03. All samples were typed as C*07:02:01 among 102 individuals previously typed as C*07:02:01G. LD analysis showed that C*07:02:01 was strongly related with HLA-B*51:01, B*46:01, B*39:01, B*40:01, B*38:02, B*15:02 alleles. It is concluded that HLA-C*07:01:01 and HLA-C*07:06 alleles are confirmed in the HLA-C*07:01:01G group and HLA-C*07:02:01 is a preferred allele in the HLA-C*07:02:01G.
Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Exons ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-C Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

This study was purposed to investigate the nucleotide sequences of a novel HLA-B*15:124 allele and its molecular mechanism. The genomic DNA from whole blood was extracted by using commercial DNA extraction kit. The sequences of exon 2, 3 and 4 of HLA-B locus in the proband were amplified by PCR with group-specific primers, the PCR products were purified by enzymes digestion, then exon 2 to 4 of HLA-B locus for both orientations was sequenced. The results showed that 2 HLA-B alleles of proband were gained after amplification and sequencing of group-specific primers, among them one was a B*40:03, another was a novel allele. After BLAST analysis, the novel allele showed nucleotides different from HLA-B*15:52 in exon 3 at nucleotide position 427 A > T and 440 G > T which resulted in amino acid change from Thr to Ser at codon 143 and Trp to Leu at conon 147. It is concluded that a novel HLA-B allele has two different nucleotides. This HLA-B allele is identified and has been officially named B*15:124 by the WHO Nomenclature Committee.
Alleles ; Base Sequence ; Exons ; Female ; HLA-B Antigens ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular genetic basis for a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) novel allele HLA-A*9206 in the Chinese population.

METHODSDNA was extracted from whole blood by PEL-FREEZ DNA extraction kit. The amplification of HLA-A exons 1-8 of the proband was preformed and the PCR products were sequenced using ABI sequencing kit. Both strands of exons 2, 3 and 4 of the amplified product were sequenced. The polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) was performed to split the two alleles apart and confirm the mutations detected by sequencing.

RESULTSThe sequencing results showed that the HLA-A alleles of the proband were A*1101 and a novel allele. The sequence of the novel allele has been submitted to GenBank (EF062306). After Blast analysis, the novel allele shows one nucleotide different from the HLA-A*0206 in exon 3 at nucleotide position 530 (C to T). This results in an amino acid change from Ala to Val at codon 153.

CONCLUSIONThis allele is a novel allele and has been officially named A*9206 by the WHO Nomenclature Committee.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Base Sequence ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

Neospora caninum is the etiologic agent of bovine neosporosis, which affects the reproductive performance of cattle worldwide. The transmembrane protein, NcSRS2, and dense-granule protein, NcGRA7, were identified as protective antigens based on their ability to induce significant protective immune responses in murine neosporosis models. In the current study, NcSRS2 and NcGRA7 genes were spliced by overlap-extension PCR in a recombinant adenovirus termed Ad5-NcSRS2-NcGRA 7, expressing the NcSRS2-NcGRA7 gene, and the efficacy was evaluated in mice. The results showed that the titer of the recombinant adenovirus was 10(9)TCID50/ml. Three weeks post-boost immunization (w.p.b.i.), the IgG antibody titer in sera was as high as 1:4,096. IFN-gamma and IL-4 levels were significantly different from the control group (P<0.01). This research established a solid foundation for the development of a recombinant adenovirus vaccine against bovine N. caninum.
Adenoviridae/*genetics ; Animals ; Antibodies, Fungal/blood ; Antigens, Fungal/genetics/*immunology ; *Drug Carriers ; Fungal Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; Fungal Vaccines/administration & dosage/genetics/*immunology ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Interferon-gamma/blood ; Interleukin-4/blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neospora/genetics/*immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins/genetics/immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic/administration & dosage/genetics/immunology

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and treatment of Müllerian duct cysts and their involvement with malignancy.

METHODSA 44-year-old male patient with papillary cystadenocarcinoma involving a Müllerian duct cyst was presented. The presentation treatment, and pathological and radiological appearances were retrospectively analysed and discussed with literature review. The main manifestation was intermittent episode of hemospermia accompanying terminal hematuria and infertility for 15 years. Final diagnosis was determined by the findings of transrectal ultrasound scan, CT scan, MRI imaging, cystoscopic examination and biopsy.

RESULTSExploratory laparotomy was performed through a suprapubic retrovesical approach. The finding that a duct-like wedge of tumor tissue passed through the prostate near cyst neck to the posterior urethra without affecting the adjacent prostatic tissue during tylectomy confirmed that it arises from Müllerian duct system. Pathohistologic examination disclosed a papillary cystadenocarcinoma and it infiltrated the wall of the cyst. Both seminal vesicles and ejaculatory duct had no carcinoma invasion.

CONCLUSIONMüllerian duct cyst involving with malignancy is exceedingly rare, the diagnosis is based on the findings of transrectal ultrasound scan, CT scan, MRI imaging, cystoscopic examination. The final diagnosis depends on the pathohistologic examination. Lumpectomy is effective and have a good outcome.

Adult ; Cystadenocarcinoma, Papillary ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Cysts ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Genital Neoplasms, Male ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Mullerian Ducts

OBJECTIVETo screen the antimalarial compounds of daphnetin derivatives against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.

METHODPlasmodium faciparum (FCC1) was cultured in vitro by a modified method of Trager and Jensen. Antimalarial compounds were screened by microscopy-based assay and microfluorimetric method.

RESULTSDA79 and DA78 showed potent antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum cultured in vitro.

CONCLUSIONThough the relationship between the structures of daphnetin derivatives and their antimalarial activities has not been clarified yet, this study may provide a new direction for discovery of more potential antimalarial compounds.

Animals ; Antimalarials ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; Plasmodium falciparum ; drug effects ; Umbelliferones ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology