Objective To investigate the apoptotic effects of hypertrophic scar fibroblast (HSF) induced by HMME-PDT.Methods Fibroblasts were cultured from nontreated hypertrophic scars,and cells at passages 4-6 were used for the experiments (photosensitizer dose 4 μg/ml,λ630 nm,pow er density 10 mw/cm2,energy fluence 2.5 J/cm2).Morphological and biochemical changes in fibroblasts were assessed by Hoechst 33258 staining and fluorescence microscopy.The rate of apoptotic or necrotic cells was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) through double staining of Annexin V -FITC and popodium iodide (PI),respectively.Results Marked morphological features of cell apoptosis were viewed under the fluorescent microscope through Hoechst 33258 staining.The analysis of FCM indica ted that the apoptotic rate was significantly increased after HMME PDT [(34.82 ± I.42) ％ vs (3.12±0.28) ％,P＜0.05],and apoptotic rate was higher than necrosis rate [(14.65±1.02) ％ vs (34.82±1.42) ％,P＜0.05].Conclusions Low level exposure to 630 nm PDT mediated by HMME appears to induce fibroblast apoptosis.

Animals ; Brain Injuries ; blood ; cerebrospinal fluid ; chemically induced ; Endotoxins ; toxicity ; Female ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; analysis ; Neurotensin ; analysis ; Rabbits

In this study, the optical data of tongue color of different syndromes in primary hepatic carcinoma (PHC) were detected by optical spectrum colorimetry, and the chromaticity of tongue color was compared and analyzed. The tongue color characteristics of different syndromes in PHC and the relationship between different syndromes and tongue color were also investigated.

Purpose :To study the effect of bFGF on the idiopathic oligoasthenospermia. Methods:bFGF wasused for 34 patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia in the male infertility. The immunohistochemical tech-nique, radioimmunoassay, electromicroscope technique and semen quality analysis were used to investigate thestructure and function of testile of patients. Results: bFGF could promote the proliferation of spermatogenouscells, improve arrangement of cells and ultrastructure of testile. All patients semen were improved. Sexual hor-mones (PRL, FSH, LH, T) in serum araised. The ability of reproduction of patients was increased consequent-ly. Conclusions:bFGF is an effective drug for patients with idiopathic oligoasthenospermia in the male infertility.

This paper introduces an EMG multi-gateway analysis diagnosis and information management system. The clinical applications show that this system has higher efficiency and standard report contents, and easy statistical analysis. And it also offers EMG standard figure, normal value data, nerve and muscle select scheme etc, for reference.
Automatic Data Processing ; Computers ; Electromyography ; instrumentation ; methods ; Equipment Design ; Humans ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; methods ; Management Information Systems ; Medical Records Systems, Computerized ; standards ; Software

BACKGROUNDMolecular testing is more precise compared to serology and has been widely used in genotyping blood group antigens. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of blood group antigens can be determined by the polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific priming (PCR-SSP) assay. Commercial high-throughput platforms can be expensive and are not approved in China. The genotype frequencies of Kidd, Kell, Duffy, Scianna, and RhCE blood group antigens in Jiangsu province were unknown. The aim of this study is sought to detect the genotype frequencies of Kidd, Kell, Duffy, Scianna, and RhCE antigens in Jiangsu Chinese Han using molecular methods with laboratory developed tests.

METHODSDNA was extracted from EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples of 146 voluntary blood donors collected randomly within one month. Standard serologic assay for red blood cell antigens were also performed except the Scianna blood group antigens. PCR-SSP was designed to work under one PCR program to identify the following SNPs: JK1/JK2, KEL1/KEL2, FYA/FYB, SC1/SC2, C/c and E/e.

RESULTSSerologic antigen results were identical to the phenotypes that were predicted from genotyping results. The allele frequencies for Jk*01 and Jk*02 were 0.51 and 0.49, respectively; for Fy*A and Fy*B 0.94 and 0.06; for RHCE*C and RHCE*c 0.68 and 0.32; and for RHCE*E and RHCE*e 0.28 and 0.72. Among 146 blood donors, all were KEL*02/KEL*02 and SC*01/SC*01, indicating allele frequencies for KEL*02 and SC*01 close to 1.00.

CONCLUSIONSThe use of PCR-SSP working under the same condition for testing multiple antigens at the same time is practical. This approach can be effective and cost-efficient for small-scale laboratories and in developing counties. These molecular tests can be also used for identifying rare blood types.

Blood Group Antigens ; genetics ; Butyrophilins ; China ; ethnology ; Duffy Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Kell Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Kidd Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct an eukaryotic coexpression vector containing Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat shock protein 70 (mtHSP70) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) controlled by cytomegalovirus promoter using pIRES-EGFP vector.

METHODSThe mtHSP70 gene fragment was amplified by PCR from pVAX-mtHSP70-HSV2gD using specific primers. The PCR product was cloned into the vector pMD 18-T vector, and the correct clone was selected according to DNA sequence analysis. The interested mtHSP70 gene fragment was subcloned into pCMV-IRES-EGFP vector with XhoI and EcoR I digestion. The recombinant plasmid was transfected into mouse melanoma B16 cell line, and the green fluorescent cells were detected by fluorescence microscopy and mtHSP70 expression was detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid obtained was confirmed by enzyme digestion. The transfected mouse melanoma B16 cells exhibited green fluorescence under fluorescence microscopy and expressed mtHSP70 protein as demonstrated by Western blotting.

CONCLUSIONThe eukaryotic coexpression vector PCMV-mtHSP70-IRES-EGFP has been established to allow further investigation of the role of mtHSP70 gene in tumor immunotherapy.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cancer Vaccines ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the urodynamic features in patients of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with coexisting overactive bladder (OAB).

METHODSClinical data of 235 patients with symptomatic BPH who underwent urodynamic examination during January 2009 to May 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into group of pure BPH, BPH with detrusor overactivity (DO), BPH with coexisting OAB without DO and BPH with coexisting OAB with DO. The difference of age, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-volume, maximum flow rate, residual urine volume, bladder volume of first sensation, bladder volume of strong sensation, bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) and the prevalence of decreased detrusor contractility were compared between these groups. The urodynamic characteristics of DO between group of BPH with DO and group of BPH coexisting OAB and DO were analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 219 cases were included in the final analysis, with mean age of (66 ± 8) years, mean TRUS-volume was (35 ± 24) ml, mean maximum flow rate was (11 ± 6) ml/s. Of the 219 patients, 93 patients (42.5%) had pure BPH, 11 patients (5.0%) had BPH with DO, 52 patients (23.7%) had BPH coexisting OAB without DO, 63 patients (28.8%) had BPH coexisting OAB and DO. Comparing to group of BPH (n = 104), patients with BPH and OAB (n = 115) were older, had higher IPSS, bigger TRUS-volume, less bladder volume of first sensation and strong sensation, higher BOOI and higher prevalence of decreased detrusor contractility. Comparing to group of BPH with coexisting OAB without DO patients, patients of BPH with coexisting OAB and DO had higher IPSS score (19 ± 12 vs 17 ± 10), bigger TRUS-volume [(51 ± 33) ml vs (43 ± 27) ml], higher BOOI (49 ± 18 vs 37 ± 14). Comparing to patients pure BPH, patients of BPH with DO had less bladder volume of first sensation and bladder volume of strong sensation [(82 ± 41) ml vs (118 ± 35) ml;(335 ± 67) ml vs (419 ± 53) ml]. Comparing to group of BPH with DO, patients of BPH with coexisting OAB and DO had higher maximum DO pressure [(45 ± 36) cmH2O vs (39 ± 30) cmH2O (1 cmH2O = 0.098 kPa)] and longer DO time [(7 ± 4) s vs (6 ± 4) s].

CONCLUSIONSThe urodynamic features in patients with BPH differ greatly and these information should be helpful in making choice of treatment and in predicting treatment outcomes.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; complications ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Bladder, Overactive ; complications ; physiopathology ; Urodynamics

AIMTo compare the efficacy and complications of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL) and pneumatic ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URS) in the treatment of lower ureteral calculi.

METHODSFrom August 1997 to June 1999, 210 patients with calculi in the distal third of the ureter were treated with SWL and the other 180 with URS. The stones were fragmented with either HB-ESWL-V lithotripter or JML-93 pneumatic lithotripter through Wolf 7.5 approximately 9.0 Fr ureteroscope. The outcome was assessed in terms of stone clearance rate, re-treatment rate and complication incidence.

RESULTSThe stone clearance rate was 78.1 % with SWL and 93.3 % with URS (P<0.05). SWL had a re-treatment rate of 11.9 %, vs 2.2 % in the URS group (P<0.05). URS caused ureteral perforation in 3.3% of patients, while it was 0 with SWL (P<0.05). The differences in the incidence of other complications such as infection and stricture between the two groups were insignificant.

CONCLUSIONThough the selection of these two options depends on equipments available and the expertise of the operator, we recommend URS as the optimal treatment for distal ureteral calculi.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lithotripsy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Ureteral Calculi ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression.

METHODSThe vector containing short hairpin RNA of iNOS was transfected into Tca8113 cells using the RNA interference (RNAi) technique. The gene and protein expression of iNOS and VEGF was examined by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe expression of iNOS, VEGF gene in Tca8113 cells was significantly different between the experimental and control groups 24 h and 48 h after transfection (P < 0.05). The protein expression of iNOS was different between the two groups 36 h and 48 h after transfection, and of VEGF was also different between the two groups 48 h after transfection (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of VEGF could be down-regulated by silencing the iNOS gene in Tca8113 cells.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; Tongue Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism