Carcinoma ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Kangai-1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of two tumor metastasis suppressor genes nm23 and KAI1 in gallbladder adenocarcinoma, and their clinicopathological significance.

METHODSSpecimens and clinical data from 31 gallbladder adenocarcinoma patients were collected. Histopathological grading and the expression of nm23 and KAI1 were detected by HE and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. All cases were followed up for at least three years.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical staining showed that the positive rate of nm23 and KAI1 proteins was 71.0% (22/31) and 61.3% (19/31), respectively. The positive expression rates of nm23 and KAI1 proteins in the early stage carcinomas were significantly higher than those in the moderate and advanced stage ones (P exact = 0.0051 and P exact = 0.0084), and both had an negative correlation with clinicopathologic stage (P trend = 0.0047 and P trend = 0.0058). There was a significant difference in the expression of nm23 and KAI1 proteins among well, moderately and poorly differentiated carcinomas (P exact = 0.0328 and P exact = 0.0020). The expression of nm23 and KAI1 was positively correlated with histopathological grade (P trend = 0.0086 and P trend = 0.0006). There was also a significant difference in the expression of nm23 and KAI1 proteins between 17 survival and 14 dead patients (P exact = 0.0038 and P exact = 0.0001 ). A synergistic effect of nm23 and KAI1 protein on the survival was observed , and seemed to be more important than any individual gene alone (P exact = 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of nm23 and KAI1 proteins are negatively correlated with clinical stage, but positively with histopathological grade in gallbladder adenocarcinoma. These two tumor metastasis suppressor genes may act synergistically to inhibit the tumor metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cell Membrane ; metabolism ; Cholecystectomy ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Kangai-1 Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression levels of telomere repeat binding factor 1(TRF1) protein in normal kidney tissue and kidney cancer.

METHODSSpecimens of kidney cancer and pericancerous tissues were collected from 32 cases of renal carcinoma. A quantitative Western blotting technique was developed using TRF1 monoclonal antibody to determine the expression level of TRF1 protein in total protein extracts from tissue specimens.

RESULTSThe expression level of TRF1 protein was higher in normal kidney tissues (3.611 +/-1.922 microg/microl) than that of cancer tissues (2.428 +/-1.352 microg/microl) (t=5.776, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression level of TRF1 protein is significantly reduced in kidney cancer and the level is negatively correlated with malignant degree of the cancer.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of monoammonium glycyrrhizinate (MAG) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -induced acute lung injury (ALI) and its anti-inflammatory mechanism in mice. All male ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: LPS group; control group; MAG 3, 10, and 30 mg x kg(-1) groups; and dexamethasone (DXM) 5 mg x kg(-1) group. Lung dry weight and wet weight percentage and permeability were detected. Neutrophil infiltration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues was detected by cell count and morphological analysis. The levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10 in lung were detected by ELISA. MPO activity was determined followed the specification. MAG induced a decrease in lung wet weight/dry weight ratio, and significantly decreased in total leucocyte number and neutrophil percentage in the BALF, and MPO activity of lung in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, It could up-regulate the IL-10 level and down-regulate the TNF-alpha level in the lung tissue of ALI mice. These results suggested that the protective effect of MAG in mice on LPS induced ALI was associated with the regulation of TNF-alpha/IL-10 balance, and MAG maybe a potentially treatment for ALI/ARDS.
Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Count ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lung ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Neutrophils ; pathology ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Rheumatoid arthritis of the knee is a common disease, but suppurative arthritis caused by Gemella morbillorum in the same joint is rare. We report a case of suppurative arthritis caused by Gemella morbillorum in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Because the infection symptoms was not typical, the diagnosis was delayed, and the delayed diagnosis and therapy led to a poor outcome of the patient.
Arthritis, Infectious ; complications ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; complications ; Female ; Gemella ; isolation & purification ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections ; complications ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo understand the characteristics of human calicivirus (HuCV) infection in infants with diarrhea in Guangzhou city and to study genotype of the virus.

METHODSThe authors collected fecal specimens from 22 children with acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis from November to December, 2001. HuCV was detected from the specimens by RT-PCR. The PCR products were cloned into the PMD18-T cloning vector and sequenced.

RESULTSHCV was detected from the specimens of 2 cases (9%, 2/22). The nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that the virus strains belonged to genotype 2 of Norwalk-like viruses.

CONCLUSIONHuCV is one of the pathogens causing diarrhea in infants and young children in Guangzhou area. HuCV infection occurred sporadically in autumn and winter.

Base Sequence ; Caliciviridae ; genetics ; Caliciviridae Infections ; complications ; virology ; China ; DNA, Viral ; chemistry ; genetics ; Diarrhea, Infantile ; etiology ; Dysentery ; etiology ; Feces ; virology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid

OBJECTIVETo identify mutations in GATA4 gene in Chinese patients with sporadic congenital heart defects (CHD).

METHODSSingle stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis was performed to screen for mutations in all six exons and exon-intron boundaries of GATA4 in 31 individuals with CHD. Direct DNA sequencing was used to identify the specific mutations.

RESULTSTwo novel missense mutations, V267M in exon 4, V380M in exon 6, and one polymorphism in intron 6 of GATA4 were identified.

CONCLUSIONThe above identified two novel GATA4 mutations associated with CHD in Chinese patients. This suggests that the transcription factor GATA4 may play an important role in cardiogenesis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Exons ; genetics ; GATA4 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Mutation, Missense ; Point Mutation ; Young Adult

In order to investigate the effect of curcumin combined with all-trans retinoid acid (ATRA) on differentiation of ATRA-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells and its molecular mechanism, the NB4-R1, an ATRA-resistant APL cells, was used as a model, counting of NB4-R1 and cell morphologic observation were performed, the effect of curcumin alone or combined with ATRA on proliferation, differentiation of NB4-R1 cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM), the change of AKT phosphorylation in cell differentiation was detected by Western blot. The results showed that ATRA had no influence on NB4-R1 cell proliferation, but enhanced the inhibitory effect of curcumin on NB4-R1 cell growth; the curcumin or ATRA alone did not affect NB4-R1 differentiation; curcumin combined with ATRA could obviously induce CD11b expression; the cell morphology showed obvious differentiation characteristics. ATRA could promote phosphorylation of AKT in NB4 cells at short time, but not had effect on phosphorylation of AKT in NB4-R1 cells; the curcumin could enhance the phosphorylation of AKT in NB4-1R cells, the curcumin combined with ATRA could further enhance the phosphorylation of AKT. It is concluded that PI3K/AKT pathway inactivation may be one of the factors of drug resistance in APL and curcumin promotes differentiation of NB4-R1 through activating PI3K/AKT pathway.
Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo preliminarily explore the effect of combination of volar buttress plate with external fixator for the distal radial fractures of type C3 caused by high-energy injuries.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to June 2007, 13 patients with distal radial fracture of type C3, 9 males and 4 females aged from 26 to 47 (average 37 years), were treated with volar buttress plate combined with external fixator plus the techniques of K-wires and bone grafting as necessary, whose effects were evaluated preliminarily through comparing the volar tilt, radial inclination, radial shortening and wrist function.

RESULTSFollowed up from 7 to 29 months (average 18 months), the volar tilt, radial inclination, radial shortening and wrist function of all patients recovered remarkably. Nine patients achieved excellent and 4 good according to Sarmiento score (modified by Stewart) in the radiological manifestation, while 5 patients displayed excellent, 6 good, and 2 fair according to Gartland-Werley functional assessment system.

CONCLUSION1) Volar buttress plate could support the valor cortex in order to prevent comminuted fragment from displacing and maintain volar tilt and to provide the volar fulcrum for external fixator. 2) External fixator, with the assistance of volar fulcrum, could maintain the volar tilt and the height of distal radius and help unload the fossa. 3) Supplemental K-wires fixation and the bone graft may assist fracture stable.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; External Fixators ; Female ; Fracture Fixation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radius ; injuries ; surgery ; Radius Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo contrast single and double balloon-inflated kyphoplasty for vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) and evaluate its clinical efficacy.

METHODSFrom May 2000 to May 2004, 90 consecutive procedures were performed in 58 patients who suffered from painful vertebral compression fractures, transferring tumour and angioma. Ninety vertebrae were inflated while 62 as A group were double balloon and 28 as B group were single balloon, fracture reduction and bone cement augmentation. Preoperative and postoperative symptom levels, variables, complications were recorded and the vertebral height and Cobb angle were measured and analyzed.

RESULTSAll patients' pain was alleviated or disappeared without syndrome, and the vertebral height and Cobb angle of both groups were improved. The average recovery rate was 72.6% (22.9% approximately 100%), Cobb angle from 17.9 degrees (3.1 degrees approximately 31.6 degrees ) were corrected to 9.6 degrees (0.6 degrees approximately 28.2 degrees ), the average angle was 8.7 degrees (0.3 degrees approximately 27.2 degrees ), and the contrast between preoperative and postoperative showed obvious differences (P <0.001). The average recovery rate of A group was 77.6% (55.3% approximately 100%), B group was 64.3% (22.9% approximately 100%). The average postoperative Cobb angle of A group was 9.9 degrees (0.3 degrees approximately 27.2 degrees ), B group was 8.6 degrees (0.6 degrees approximately 19.8 degrees ) (P >0.05).

CONCLUSIONSAs a promising minimally invasive surgery, balloon kyphoplasty can provide early relief of pain and improve the function as well as spinal alignment in treatment of painful compression fracture owing to recovering the vertebral height and Cobb angle of the vertebral body. Single balloon-inflated kyphoplasty can improve VCFs as double balloon.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Cements ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Orthopedic Procedures ; instrumentation ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; complications ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery