Objective To study the incidence of PTEN, p53 and Ki-67 expression in astrocytoma and show the relationship between PTEN, p53 expression and the proliferation activity. Methods The surgical specimens from 68 brain astrocytoma patients were analysed to detect PTEN, p53 and Ki-67 expression with immunohistochemical method. Results The incidence of PTEN, p53 and Ki-67 expression was 54.4 %,45.6 % and 48.5 % respectively in astrocytoma. With the grade of astrocytoma increasing the levels of PTEN protein decreased, on the other hand the levels of p53, Ki-67 increased. There was a negative correlation between PTEN expression and grade of astrocytoma while there was a positive correlation between p53, Ki-67 expression and grade of astrocytoma by using the Spearman Correlation test to analyse the data. The incidence of Ki-67 positive expression was 24.3 % in 37 cases exhibiting PTEN positive staining, whereas the incidence of Ki-67 positive expression was 77.4 % in 31 cases exhibiting PTEN negative staining. In statistics, there was an inverse correlation between PTEN and Ki-67 expression. Conclusion There is an inverse correlation between histopathological grades of astrocytoma and PTEN expression. A positive correlation is found between p53, Ki-67 expression and histopathological grades of astrocytoma. PTEN can inhibit tumor cell proliferation in astrocytoma.

Objective To investigate the role of activation of Akt/mTOR pathway in denfense against UVB-induced apoptosis in cultured human skin keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Methods HaCaT cells were irradiated with UVB at different doses for various durations. Western blotting was performed to detect dynamic changes of Akt/mTOR pathway-related signaling molecule, such as phosphorylated-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), -Akt, -4EBP1, etc; apoptosis was estimated by staining with DNA dye Hoechst 33342. To evaluate the role of signaling molecules in defense against UVB-induced apoptosis, HaCaT cells were pretreated before irradiation with EGFR inhibitor (PD153035), PI3K inhibitor (LY294002), mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin) followed by the detection of expressions of signaling molecule and apoptosis. Results UVB could activate Akt/mTOR pathway in a dose- (5 ～ 30 mJ/cm2) and time- (5 ～ 30 min) dependent manner. PD153035,LY 294002 and rapamycin could inhibit UVB-induced activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway. The apoptosis rate in HaCaT cells was upregulated by pretreatment with rapamycin and LY294002. Conclusion The activation of Akt/mTOR signaling pathway could inhibit the UVB-induced apoptosis in cultured HaCaT cells.

Objective: To understand the relationship between chloroquine resistance and the virulence of Plasmodium berghei. Met hods: Dynamic changes of histopathologic features of livers, spleens, brains, hearts, lungs and kidneys of mice infected with the chloroquine-sensitive (N) and the chloroquine-resistant (RC) strains of P. berghei were compared. Results: In mice infected with the N strain, deposition of heavy hemoz oin in livers and spleens, congestive edema in lungs, and congestion and embolis m in the brain capillaries were observed. The histopathologic features revealed ac ute inflammatory reaction. In mice infected with the RC strain, histopathologic variations of livers and spleens were associated with changes of parasitemia. In terstitial pneumonia was displayed in lungs. There were chronic histopathologic changes of the organs in the mice infected with RC strain. Conclusion: The mice infected by the N strain with potent virulence die due to adher ence of the erythrocytes to microvascular endothelia and embolism of the microva scula, especially in their brain. Immune responses of the mice infected by the R C strain with poor virulence may be a delayed-type hypersensitive inflammation a ssociated with CD4+Th1 at an early stage of the infection, but may become anti body-dependent immune response assisted with CD4+Th2, which play a key role in elimination of the malaria parasites at later stage of the infection.

Objective To apply the problem-based learning (PBL) based on the web in the rehabilitation therapy teaching. Methods The 64 students of rehabilitation therapy in grade 2009 and 2010 were taught with selected 3 chapters of physiology, using traditional teaching and PBL based on the web respectively. They were investigated through questionnaire after learning. Results Compared with he traditional teaching, PBL based on the web could improve the interesting of learning, self-study ability, and scope of knowledge. Conclusion PBL based on the web could improve the quality of physiology teaching for students of rehabilitation therapy.

Objective To study related factors of the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) in Tibetan patients with schizophrenia in Qinghai Province. Methods The related factors on DUP were investigated in totally 188 Tibetan pa?tients with schizophrenia using questionnaires of mental health services and symptom onset for schizophrenia. All the Ti?betan patients were provided with the National Continuing Management and Intervention Program for Psychoses (686 Pro?gram). Results The median (low quartile, upper quartile) of DUP in Tibetan patients with schizophrenia was 375 days (4 days, 1661 days). The patients were divided into short DUP group (DUP≤375days, 90 patients) and long DUP group (DUP>375 days, 98 patients). There were significant differences in mode of onset,marital status, educational level, family type, place of residence between short DUP group and long DUP group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis found that lack of family structure (OR=2.340, 95%CI:1.130~4.847, P=0.022), chronic onset (OR=2.136, 95%CI:1.172~3.891, P=0.013) and living in pastoral areas (OR=2.239, 95%CI:1.097~4.571, P=0.027) were risk factors of DUP. Conclusion Ti?betan patients with schizophrenia have a longer DUP and related risk factories of DUP are lack of family structure, chron?ic onset and living in pastoral areas.

Bacillus anthracis collagen-like protein(BclA) is a structural component of the exosporium filaments,as well as the immunodominant antigen on the spore surface.The genes encoding BclA proteins were cloned and sequenced from three Bacillus anthracis strains separated from China.It was founded that the BclA proteins of strain A16R and 40048,containing 388 and 322 amino acids,72 and 50 copies of GXX repeat,5 and 3 copies of 21-amino-acid sequence(GPT)_(5)GDTGTT(BclA repeat) respectively,are different from those reported by foreign scholars;while the BclA protein of strain 40022,containing 370 amino acids,66 copies of GXX repeat,and 5 copies of BclA repeat,is identical with that of strain 53169 reported by others.The results are helpful for the molecular typing of B.anthracis strains,and provide a basis for the elucidation of the pathogenesis and immunogenicity of B.anthracis spore.

Objective To investigate the effect of gastrodin on rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration induced by platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) and its possible mechanisms.Methods Enzyme digestion method wasused to obtain rataorticVSMCs and be purified bypassage.Immunofluorescence staining was used to identify VSMC marker proteins.A PDGF-BB induced cell migration model was established.Transwell chamber assay was used to evaluate the effect of gastrodin on PDGF-BB induced VSMC migration.Western blots were performed to detect the phosphohorylation levels of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK).Results The purity of primary cultured VSMC was more than 99％.The VSMC migrated number in the PDGF-BB group was 85.2 ± 3.486 per field.It was significantly more than 42.5 ± 1.927 per field in the control group (t =9.981,P＜0.001),and gastrodin was enable to make PDGF-BB induced the number of VSMC migration significantly reduce to 71.3 ± 1.783 per filed (t=3.550,P =0.002).Western blots analysis showed that gastrodin inhibited PDGF-BB induced JNK phosphorylation (0.190 ± 0.015 vs.0.190 ± 0.015; t =14.548,P =0.000).Conclusions Gastrodin inhibits PDGF-BB induced VSMC migration,its mechanisms may be associated with the inhibition of the JNK signaling pathway activation.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Methicillin ; pharmacology ; Methicillin Resistance ; genetics ; Sequence Homology ; Staphylococcus aureus ; drug effects ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo propose a new computer software-based medical image processing technique with high resolution digital scanner for radiotherapy verification.

METHODSUnder the platform of Windows 2000, the software, programmed with Visual C++.NET, was developed according to modular design. All data of the films and the treatment planning system could be processed as images or dose curves for a robust result.

RESULTSMany functions such as data acquisition, automatic analysis and computation and image processing were integrated in the system. Both geometric and dosimetric errors could be calculated at the same time to verify the radiotherapy accuracy.

CONCLUSIONThis system has good accuracy and stability for cost-effective radiotherapy verification.

Film Dosimetry ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; standards ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Software

Objective:Position emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT) is a new bio-imaging system which is combined metabolic with anatomic imaging.This study was to compare the accuracy of conventional staging methods(including computed tomography,ultrasound,magnetic resonance imaging,and detection of bone marrow) with that of PET/CT for lymphoma staging and re-staging. Methods:A total of 42 patients with lymphoma diagnosed by operation or biopsy,received conventional and PET/CT staging.The accuracy of these two methods and their impact on lymphoma staging were compared.Results:The accuracy of PET/CT scan was 95.2%(40/42),and that of conventional staging was 78.6%(33/42).The detection rates of internal lymph node were 97.1%(66/68) and 88.2%(60/68),respectively.The detection rates of outer lymph node were 91.7%(22/24) and 58.3%(14/24),respectively.Compared with conventional staging methods,7 cases were up-staged and 2 cases were down-staged by PET/CT,which led to the change of therapy in 8 cases.Conclusion:PET/CT scan is more sensitive and accurate than conventional staging methods in staging and restaging of lymphoma.