Objective To analyze the radiologic characteristics of focal organizing pneumonia (FOP) and discuss its values in diagnosis of FOP.Methods 57 lesions of FOP proved by histological examination were studied retrospectively.All of the lesions could be classified into types of nodule(diameter≤30 mm, n=40) and mass(diameter>30 mm, n=17),which were analyzed to explore the imaging characteristics such as location, margin, internal state, and enhancement features.Results 39 lesions were located in the right lung and 18 lesions in the left lung, and 51 lesions in the peripheral and 6 lesions in the inner or middle of the lung.The differences between the location of lobe and lung field were statistically significant.The radiographic common features included air bronchogram were seen in 28 cases, while loose composition sign in 18 cases and vessel convergence in 21 cases.49 lesions occurred in subpleural region, including 34 lesions broad contract with pleura.In 54 lesions with contrast-enhanced CT scan, the difference between arterial phase and plain scan in CT value was 35 HU and difference of venous phase and plain scan was 45 HU, presenting gradual enhancement.14 lesions were inhomogeneous enhancement in mass type and 25 lesions were homogeneous enhancement in nodule type.There were statistic differences in margin, shape, round-glass opacity, necrosis, cave and the relationship with pleura between the nodule type and mass type.Conclusion FOP has specific radiographic features.Enhanced CT scan combining multi planar reformation images is helpful in differential diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of low dose of docetaxel and cisplatin (TP) combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of elderly patients with esophageal cancer.Methods The data of 65 elderly patients with esophageal cancer were studied retrospectively, including 33 patients treated by TP combined with radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy group) and 32 patients by radiotherapy only (radiotherapy group).Patients in both groups received 3D conventional radiotherapy (3D-CRT).In chemoradiotherapy group, 40 mg/1f docetaxel and 40 mg/1f cisplatin were administered once a week on the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22th, 36th day of five successive weeks.Results In chemoradiotherapy group and radiotherapy group, the response (CR+RR) rates were 87.8 ％ (29/33) and 65.6 ％ (21/32), respectively (P ＜ 0.05), the median TTPs were 5.5 months and 4.3 months, and the difference had statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The 1-year survival rate was 69.6 ％ and 59.3 ％ in chemoradiotherapy group and radiotherapy group, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between both groups (P ＞ 0.05).The incidences of esophagitis and gastrointestinal tract were slightly higher in chemoradiotherapy group than those in radiotherapy group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy with low dose TP can treat effectively esophageal cancer in elderly patients with the tolerable toxic reactions.

BACKGROUND:To study the phenotypes of side population cells in leukemia is important for understanding the heterogeneity and origin of tumor cells, molecular markers and targeted therapy.
OBJECTIVE:To identify whether the human chronic myeloid leukemia cellline-K562 contains side population cells or not, and to further observe the differences in expressions of leukocyte differentiation antigens from side population cellsubset and non-side population cells subset.
METHODS:Flow cytometry was used to detect whether there were side population cells in the K562 celllines. Then, the expression of CD34+, CD34+CD38-, CD34+CD38+, HLA-DR+cells in the side population subsets and non-side population subsets.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Flow cytometry results showed that the K562 cellline contained side population cells, and the proportion of side population cells was much lower. The side population cells accounted for (2.7±0.5)%of viable cells in K562. The expressions of CD34+cells and CD34+CD38-cells in the side population subset were significantly higher than those in the non-side population subsets. The expressions of CD34+CD38+cells and HLA-DR+cells in the side population subset and non-side population subset did not have a significant difference. Heterogeneity was found in the differentiation antigen expression between the side population subset and non-side population subset.

Objective: To screen for the differentially expressed genes in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and normal laryngeal tissue using cDNA microarray. Methods: The PCR products of 4 096 genes were spotted on a chemical material coated glass plates in array. The DNAs were then fixed on the glass plate by a serial of treatments. The total RNAs were isolated from the tissues, and then were purified to mRNAs by Oligotex. Both the mRNAs from the laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and normal tissue were reversely transcribed to cDNAs with the incorporations of fluorescent dUTP, for preparing the hybridization probes. The mixed probes were then hybridized to the cDNA microarray. After high stringent washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for the fluorescent signals and showed the differences between 2 tissues. Results: Among the 4 096 target genes, there were 36(0.88%) genes whose expression levels differed between the carcinoma and normal tissues in all 4 cases. Bioinformatical analysis of those genes had been performed. Conclusion: DNA microarray technology is an effective technique in screening for differentially expressed genes between 2 different kinds of tissue. Further analysis of the obtained genes will help to understand the molecular mechanism of malignant carcinoma. [

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and action mechanism of petroleum ether extracts from Saussurea involucrate on brain tissues of hypoxia rats under constant pressure and closed conditions.

METHODThe PESI dosage-dependent experiment for hypoxia rats was conducted under constant pressure and closed conditions by intraperitoneally injecting 125, 250, 500 mg x kg(-1) to finalize that the optimum dosage is the high dose of PESI. Afterwards, 90 Wistar rats were randomly divided into the hypoxic model group, the acetazolamide 250 mg x kg(-1) group and the PESI high dose group. Each group was further divided into three subgroups according to different hypoxia times, with 10 rats in each subgroup. Under the same hypoxia and administration conditions, the rats were sacrificed after 0, 3, 6 h respectively. Their brain samples were collected for common pathological observation and immunohistochemical staining of HIF-1alpha. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect HIF-1alpha, EPO, HO-1 and Caspase-3 gene expressions. And the Western blot assay was adopted to detect HIF-1alpha protein expression.

RESULTThe brain tissues of the hypoxia model group were severely damaged with the increase in the hypoxia time. The acetazolamide group and the PESI high does group were damaged in a much lower degree. According to the gene expression and the Western blot assay, high dose of PESI could inhibit HIF-1alpha expression. According to the pure gene expression test, high dose of PESI could increase EPO and HO-1 mRNA expressions, but inhibit Caspase-3 mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONPESI's protective mechanism for brain tissues of hypoxia rats under constant pressure and closed conditions may be related to its effects in inhibiting HIF-1alpha expression, increasing EPO expression and resisting cell apoptosis.

Alkanes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cytoprotection ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Erythropoietin ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saussurea ; chemistry

Objective:To investigate the inhibitory effects of rosmarinic acid (RA) on high glucose-induced angiogenesis of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMEC) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway-related proteins.Methods:The HRMEC were divided into control group, high glucose group, high glucose+ low concentration RA group, high glucose+ medium concentration RA group, and high glucose+ high concentration RA group, and were cultured in vitro with conventional medium, 30 mmol/L D-glucose medium, 30 mmol/L D-glucose+ 25 μmol/L RA medium, 30 mmol/L D-glucose+ 50 μmol/L RA medium and 30 mmol/L D-glucose+ 100 μmol/L RA medium accordingly.The 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect the cell proliferation.Transwell assay was performed to detect the cell migration.Matrigel assay was employed to determine the tube formation ability of cells.Western blot was utilized to detect the expression levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck like protein (ASC) and cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-1 (Caspase-1). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was used to detect the concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 in supernatant of cell culture. Results:The cell proliferation rate, the number of migrated cells and the number of formed tubes were (100.00±0.92)%, 37.67±9.02 and 45.00±4.58 in the control group, (163.56±1.46)%, 117.33±7.23 and 95.00±9.54 in the high glucose group, (152.29±2.90)%, 78.67±4.04 and 84.67±1.53 in the high glucose+ low concentration RA group, (147.72±2.22)%, 65.33±4.16 and 71.00±3.61 in the high glucose+ medium concentration RA group, (132.47±0.74)%, 52.67±6.81 and 60.00±1.00 in the high glucose+ high concentration RA group, respectively.There were statistically significant differences in cell proliferation rate, the number of migrated cells and formed tubes among all groups ( F=537.07, 64.63, 45.58; all at P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the cell proliferation rate, the number of migrated cells and formed tubes were significantly increased in the high glucose group, high glucose+ low concentration RA group, high glucose+ medium concentration RA group and high glucose+ high concentration RA group, showing statistical significances (all at P<0.05). Compared with the high glucose group, the cell proliferation rate, the number of migrated cells and formed tubes were significantly decreased in the different concentrations RA groups (all at P<0.05). With the increase of RA concentration, the cell proliferation rate, the number of migrated cells and formed tubes were decreased, and there were statistical differences among high glucose+ low/medium/high concentrations RA groups (all at P<0.05). There were significantly differences in the relative expression levels of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 proteins in cells and the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell culture supernatant among all the five groups ( F=145.12, 422.82, 463.79, 2 019.96, 33 406.97; all at P<0.001). Compared with the control group, the relative expression levels of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 proteins as well as the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in cell culture supernatant were significantly increased in the high glucose group, high glucose+ low concentration RA group, high glucose+ medium concentration RA group and high glucose+ high concentration RA group (all at P<0.05). Compared with the high glucose group, the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 proteins as well as the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 were decreased in the different concentrations RA groups, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). With the increase of RA concentration, the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1 proteins as well as the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 were decreased, and there were statistically significant differences among high glucose+ low/medium/high concentrations RA groups (all at P<0.05). Conclusions:RA can inhibit proliferation, migration and tube formation of HRMEC induced by high glucose, and inhibit high glucose-induced activation of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling pathway.

Objective:To understand the molecular pat hophysiology of hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancer.Methods: We studied novel gene expression by cDNA microarray method. The PCR pro ducts of 4 096 genes and 12 800 gene were spotted onto a kind of chemical-mater ial-coated-glass slide in array. Both the mRNAs from 5 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and 3 cases of pancreatic cancer were reversely transcribed to cDNAs with the incorporation of fluorescent-labeled dUTP to prepare the hybridization probes. After hybridization, BioDoor4096 and BioDoor12800 cDNA microarray were scanned for the fluorescent intensity. Tumor invasion-related gene expression w as screened through the analysis of difference in gene expression profile.Results:Among 4 096 and 12 800 target genes, there were 15 genes who se expression level differed from normal and carcinoma tissues. Therefore, they might be associated with metastasis.Conclusion:Further analysis of these differentially expressed metastasis-associated genes will be helpful for understanding the molecular mechanism of malignant carcinoma.

Objective To study the role of autophagy in proliferation,migration and tube formation of retinal vascular endothelial cells (RVECs) under the condition of hypoxia in vitro.Methods Mouse RVECs were isolated from 50 C57BL/6J mice primarily cultured using explant culture method,and the cells were identified by immunofluorescence of CD34.Well cultured RVECs were divided into normal control group,hypoxia control group and hypoxia+ 3-methyladenine (3-MA) group.The cells in the normal control group were cultured in the normal environment for 24 hours,and the cells in the hypoxia control group were cultured 1％ O2 environment for 24 hours,and the cells in the hypoxia+3-MA group were pretreated with 5 mmol/L 3-MA for 4 hours and then exposed to 1％ O2 environment for 24 hours.Microtubule-related protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ) and Beclin-1 protein contents in the cells were detected by Western blot analysis;the ultrastructure of autophagosome was examined under the transmission electron microscope.The proliferation,migration and tube formation of the cells were detected by Click-iTEdU kit,scratch assay and matrigel,respectively.Results Primarily culture cells grew well with the cobblestone-like appearance 5-7 days after culture and showed positive response for CD34.The autophagosome number was increased in the hypoxia control group compared with the hypoxia+3-MA group and normal control group.The LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ ratio was 0.243 ± 0.030,0.658 ± 0.032 and 0.405 ± 0.095;the relative expression of Beclin-1 protein in the cells was 0.260±0.040,0.650±0.071 and 0.461±0.089;the proliferation rate of the cells was (45.93± 6.39) ％,(22.74± 2.35) ％ and (24.12 ± 3.59) ％;the scratch healing rate of the cells was (36.02 ± 5.84) ％,(57.26±11.98) ％ and (18.16±9.73) ％;the number of tube formation was 29.20±6.10,41.40±4.04 and 22.00± 2.92 in the normal control group,hypoxia control group and hypoxia + 3-MA group,respectively,with significant differences among the groups (F =35.86,23.53,34.28,21.12,23.27;all at P＜0.01).Compared with the normal control group,the ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and the expression of Beclin-1 protein,scratch healing rate and the number of tube formation were significantly increased,and the proliferation rate was significantly reduced in the hypoxia control group (all at P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the hypoxia control group,the ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and the expression of Beclin-1 protein,scratch healing rate and the number of tube formation were significantly decreased in the hypoxia + 3-MA group.Conclusions Hypoxia environment activates autophagy of mouse RVECs,which enhances the migration and tube formation abilities of the cells.3-MA inhibits the angiogenesis abilities of mouse RVECs.

Objective ToexplorethevalueofspectralCTimaginginmultiGparameterquantitativeanalysisoflungcancerwithdifferent pathologicaltypes.Methods SpectralCTimagesof72patientswithlungcancerprovedbypathologywereanalyzed,includingadenocarcinoma (ADC)in44cases,squamouscellcarcinoma(SQCC)in23casesandsmallcelllungcancer(SCLC)in5cases.Theslopeof40－100keVspectralattenuationcurve(λH),effectiveatomicnumber(EffectiveGZ),Calciumconcentration,hydroxyapatite(HAP)concentration, normalizediodineconcentration(NIC)and Waterconcentration were measuredandcomparedrespectively.The O n eG W a y analysisof variance (ANOVA ) was used and a value of P＜0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results (1 )O n plain C T ,there were statisticallysignificantdifferencesinEffectiveGZandλHamongthreeGdiseasegroups(F＝3.423,P＝0.04,F＝3.476,P＝0.038,respectively). (2)IncontrastGenhancedarterialphase,theWaterconcentrationandλHshowedstatisticallysignificantdifferencesamongthreegroups (F＝6.303,P＝0.003,F＝5.833,P＝0.005,respectively).(3)Invenousphase,thedifferenceinNICandλH wasstatisticallysignificant amongthegroups(F＝3.974,P＝0.023,F＝6.766,P＝0.002,respectively).(4)Apairwisecomparisonshowedtherewerestatistically significantdifferencesinallquantitativeparametersofspectralCTbetweenADCandSQCCgroups.ROCcurveanalysisshowedthat thosequantitativeparametersinvenousphaseappearedtohavehighdiagnosticefficiencyindifferentiatingADCfromSQCC,especiallyfor theλHinVP,withaAUCof0.754,sensitivityof79.5%,specificityof69.6%andthresholdvalueof1.78.Conclusion CTSpectral multiGparameterimagingprovidesanewsupplementarymethodforpreoperativediagnosisofADCandSQCC,andλHinvenousphase hasthehighestvalueindifferentiatingADCfromSQCC.

OBJECTIVETo explore whether bone marrow stem cells (MSCs) from adult mice can be induced to differentiate into hepatocytes by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) alone and the time phase characteristics in the differentiation progress.

METHODSAdult mouse MSCs were treated with or without 100 ng/ml HGF, on days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28. The morphologic characteristics of the cells were examined; the albumin (ALB), AFP mRNA was analyzed sub-quantively using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immumohistochemistry techniques. The expression of ALB, AFP and CK19 were detected by using anti-ALB, AFP and CK19 antibodies.

RESULTSFreshly isolated adult mouse MSCs expressed ALB and AFP mRNA weakly; in the group without HGF, no ALB mRNA was detected on day 7. The expression of AFP mRNA was reduced significantly on day 7, and could not be detected anymore after day 14. In the HGF treated group, ALB mRNA was not detected on day 7, but the positive lane appeared again on day 14, and the expression of ALB mRNA was increased on day 21 but reduced in the following days. The AFP mRNA was positive at all times, however it tended to decrease after day 14 in the HGF treated groups. The result of immumohistochemistry was consistent with that of RT-PCR, and CK19 was always negative.

CONCLUSIONAdult mouse MSCs can be induced into hepatocyte differentiation in vitro. The optimal time for the induction was 2 to 3 weeks.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Time Factors