Relapse, which puzzled several generations of hematologists, is the bottle-neck of radical treatment for leukemias. The progress of Human Microbiome Project at the beginning of 21st century suggested that human body was a super-organism constituted by the core of human cells and symbiotic microorganisms. The elucidation and characterization of endogenous retrovirus and prion protein suggested the possible effects of co-evolutional microorganisms on human health. Recently, the elucidation of the roles of tunneling nanotubes in intercellular communication and transportation suggested a novel way for cellular communication and transport of oncogenic materials. The role and significance of in vivo cell fusion have been studied in more detail. On the other hand, donor cell leukemia was reported. All of these approaches provide novel insights for studying the mechanism of leukemia relapse. Based on previous work, the authors suggest the hypothesis: there are two possible mechanisms for the relapse of leukemias: the minimal residual disease (MRD) and intercellular transportation of oncogenic materials.
Cell Fusion ; Humans ; Leukemia ; pathology ; Neoplasm, Residual ; pathology ; Recurrence

Objective To review the surgical managements of patients with traumatic false aneu- rysms in the extremities.Methods From January 1990 to April 2006,17 patients with traumatic false aneurysms in the extremities were admitted into our hospital.Fourteen patients were treated by vascular repair including vascular repair in seven cases,end to end anastomosis in one,synthetic grafting in one, autogenous vein grafting in one,and direct ligation in four.Three patients were treated nonoperatively, but with local compressive dressing.Results There were no deaths or gangrenes in all cases.The clinical manifestations vanished after the treatment.The mean follow-up period was 13.2 months.The function of the injured extremities recovered satisfactorily.Conclusion Different types of traumatic false aneurysms should be managed by different therapeutic procedures after the diagnoses is made.

Objective To study the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-C, VEGF-D and their receptor-3(VEGFR-3)in patients with colorectal cancer and their clinicopathological value.Methods Eighty specimens of the colorectal cancer and thirty normal adjacent bowels were stud- ied.The expression of VEGF-C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 proteins and mRNAs in specimens of colorectal cancers and normal colorectal tissues was studied by Strept-avidin-biotin complex method and RT-PCR. Clinicopathological data and survival of each patient were recorded and analyzed.Results①The staining of brown or filemot in cytoplast were observed as the positive expression of VEGF-C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 proteins.The positive rate(48.8%,56.3%,38.8%)and mean value(1.09?1.20,1.13?1.09,0.90?1.19)of VEGF-C,VEGF-D,VEGFR-3 expressions in specimens of colorectal cancer were significantly higher than those of the normal bowel tissues(P＜0.05).The expression of VEGF- C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 mRNAs by RT-PCR was correlated with that of VEGF-C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 proteins in colorectal carcinomas and normal bowel tissues.②Significant correlation between VEGF-C(P=0.0069),VEGF-D(P=0.0024)and VEGFR-3 expression was observed in colorectal cancers;moreover,no correlation between VEGF-C and VEGF-D.③The expression of VEGF-C, VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 in colorectal cancers was not correlated with age,gender,site and dimension of lesion,types of gross and histological,degree of differentiation and liver and pulmonary metastasis,but correlated significantly with Dukes' stage(P=0.0234,P=0.0003,P=0.0429)and lymph node me tastasis(P=0.0059,P＜0.01,P=0.0068).The increased death rate(P=0.0374,P=0.0127) and poor survival(P＜0.01,P＜0.01)were observed in the colorectal cancer patients with positive ex- pression of VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 when comparing with the patients of the negative expressions,but the expression of VEGF-D in colorectal cancers was not correlated with prognosis of the patients.Con- clusions Colorectal cancer cells may secrete lymphangiogenetic growth factors VEGF-C,VEGF-D and their receptor VEGFR-3,which induce the growth of lymphatic vessel endothelium and lymphangiogene- sis by VEGF-C,VEGF-D/VEGFR-3 signaling pathway,further accelerate lymphatic metastasis of colo- rectal cancers.VEGF-C,VEGF-D and VEGFR-3 might be acted as molecular phenotypes of lym- phangiogenesis in coiorectal cancers and important markers for evaluating lymphatic metastasis and prog- nosis in patients with coloreetaI carcinoma.

This paper aimed to study the effect nitrogen supplying on biomass accumulation and root respiration dynamic change of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and reveal the metabolic pathway of root respiration impact the biomass accumulating of G. uralensis. Six groups of one-year-old G. uralensis were fertilized with total nutrition containing various nitrogen concentration (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 mmol x L(-1)) every week. At the end of every month, from June to October, the volume respiration rate and biomass of different classes of root samples were determined, and the correlation between root respiration and biomass was analyzed. The results indicated a negative correlation between volume respiration rate and biomass, nitrogen supply significantly affected both root respiration and biomass of G. uralensis by reducing root respiration and increasing root biomass. Under 8 mmol x L(-1) nitrogen supplying, there existed the optimal inhibition of root respiration, which has increased biomass of G. uralensis.
Biomass ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Glycyrrhiza uralensis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Nitrogen ; pharmacology ; Oxygen Consumption ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Seasons ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of early enteral immunonutrition on immunological function of body and intestine in severely scalded rats.

METHODSSixty-four healthy adult SD rats were subjected to 30% TBSA full-thickness scald and randomly divided into enteral nutrition group (EN, n = 32) and enteral immunonutrition group (EIN, n = 32). Another 8 healthy rats were enrolled as normal controls. The changes in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets, the PCNA expression in intestinal mucosa,the amount of plasmocytes in lamina propria of small intestine and the content of s-IgA in small intestine were determined on 1, 4, 7 and 10 post-burn days (PBD).

RESULTS(1) CD3+, CD4+ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were remarkably declined, while CD8+ was obviously raised after scald in EN group, and there were statistically significant differences at most of time-points when compared with those in control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CD3+, CD4+ and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ on 7 and 10 PBD in EIN group were obviously higher (increased from 4 PBD on, and it was 1.86 +/- 0.25 on 10 PBD) than those in EN group (CD4+/CD8+ was 1.26 +/- 0.10 on 10 PBD), while CD8+ in EIN group was evidently lower than that in EN group (P < 0.01). (2) The level of PCNA expression in intestinal mucosa, the amount of plasmocytes in lamina propria of small intestine and the content of s-IgA in small intestine in EIN group were increased significantly compared with EN group on 4, 7, 10 PBD (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONEarly enteral immunonutrition can improve immunological function of body and intestine after severe scald, with better results than enteral nutrition.

Animals ; Arginine ; Burns ; immunology ; therapy ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Enteral Nutrition ; Glutamine ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Shoulder Dislocation ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-fibrogenesis property of intraportal vein small interfering RNA (siRNA) injection targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in a rat model of liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and its effect on hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation.

METHODS24 male rats were randomly divided into four group. rats received CCl4 by subcutaneous injections every three days for 6 consecutive weeks, and meantime they also obtained either siRNA targeting CTGF (as CTGF siRNA group), saline (as model group) or a control siRNA (as control siRNA group) by intraportal vein injection to rats liver at the same approach. Other rats received saline intraportal vein injection for 6 weeks (as normal control group). The expressions of CTGF and a-SMA protein were detected by Western blot. Hepatic histology was evaluated by HE staining and Sirius red staining. The collagen staining areas were measured quantitatively using a computer-aided manipulator with slight modifications. The number of active HSC were evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSSix weeks after CCl4 injection, prominent upregulations were observed in the expressions of CTGF and a-SMA protein in saline or control siRNA-treated rats livers. In rats with CTGF siRNA treatment, the protein expressions of CTGF and a-SMA in liver decreased by 95%+/-2% and 86%+/-11% (F=21.234 and 12.473, P<0.01) respectively, the number of active HSC in liver decreased by 76%+/-9% (F=9.179, P<0.01) as compared to the model group. The attenuation of liver fibrosis was also observed in rats with CTGF siRNA treatment.

CONCLUSIONIntraportal vein siRNA injection targeting CTGF could significantly inhibit CTGF gene expression in rats, thereby attenuate liver fibrosis by decreasing the number of active HSCs.

Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; Gene Silencing ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEPeriventricular leukomalacia (PVL), the principal form of brain injury in the premature infant, is characterized by overt focal necrotic lesions in periventricular white matter and diffuse cerebral white matter injury. The early detection of the disease is not consistently possible with cranial ultrasonography or conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Recently, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) has been shown to be highly sensitive in detecting acute ischemic cerebral injury. This study aimed to evaluate possible role of DWI in early diagnosis of PVL.

METHODSImages and clinical data from 12 preterm infants with PVL diagnosed in our NICU from August, 2005 to April, 2007 were reviewed. MRI using conventional and diffusion-weighted imaging, as well as the assays of blood routine test, serum bilirubin, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood culture, blood gas analysis, blood sugar and serum ions were performed in these preterm infants. All examinations were performed on a 3.0-T MRI system (Philips Intera Acheva Magnetom Vision) with echo-planar imaging capability with the use of a standard protocol. The imaging protocol for all the patients contained diffuse weighted images (EPI-SE, TR = 2144 ms, TE = 56 ms), T1-weighted images (TR = 389 ms; TE = 15 ms; slice thickness = 4 mm) as well as T2-weighted images (TR = 3035 ms; TE = 100 ms; slice thickness = 4 mm). The first MR examinations were performed in all these twelve preterm infants (mean age 4.5 days, range 2 - 7 days). Conventional MRI and DWI sequences obtained in the acute phase were compared. All the neonates underwent another two MRI examinations up to 2 and 4 weeks after delivery; five subjects also underwent MRI follow-up for up to 4 - 8 months (in 3 for 4 months, in 1 for 7 months, and in another for 8 months). Qualitative evaluations were performed to assess the presence of DWI changes compatible with PVL.

RESULTSThe gestational ages of these twelve patients were from 31 to 35 weeks. None of them had intrauterine distress or birth asphyxia. None of the patients had localized neurological signs in the early course except for abnormal muscular tone of some extent, but seizure and apnea were their major symptoms. No other positive signs of nervous system was found in these preterm infants with PVL. First DWI detection (on the average of 4.5 days) in all these infants showed bilateral, symmetric, diffuse high signal intensity (including genu and plenum of corpus callosum), while conventional MRI showed normal images on both T1- and T2-weighted imaging; two weeks later, DWI showed irregularly high, low mixed signals while conventional MRI showed punctate high signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging and slightly lower signal on T2-weighted imaging. Four weeks later, DWI showed cystic low signal intensity where conventional MRI showed low signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging and high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging (cystic PVL). Four months later, DWI showed that the cystic cava became diminished and disappeared, while conventional MRI showed reduced cerebral white matter and dilation of ventricle.

CONCLUSIONBilateral, symmetric, diffuse high signal intensity on DWI seems to be the earliest evidence of PVL; diffusion-weighted imaging performed in the acute phase of the disease may have a higher correlation with later evidence of PVL than does conventional MR imaging. DWI is likely to be a considerable technique in the early assessment of white matter injury and later PVL in preterm infants.

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Leukomalacia, Periventricular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study is to explore the treatment and outcome of epileptogenic temporal lobe cavernous malformations (CMs).

METHODSWe analyzed retrospectively the profiles of 52 patients diagnosed as temporal lobe CMs associated with epilepsy. Among the 52 cases, 11 underwent a direct resection of CM along with the adjacent zone of hemosiderin rim without electrocorticogram (ECoG) monitoring while the other 41 cases had operations under the guidance of ECoG. Forty-six patients were treated by lesionectomy + hemosiderin rim while the other six were treated by lesionectomy + hemosiderin rim along with extended epileptogenic zone resection. The locations of lesions, the duration of illness, the manifestation, the excision ranges and the outcomes of postoperative follow-up were analyzed, respectively.

RESULTSAll of the 52 patients were treated by microsurgery. There was no neurological deficit through the long-term follow-up. Outcomes of seizure control are as follows: 42 patients (80.8%) belong to Engel Class I, 5 patients (9.6%) belong to Engel Class II, 3 patients (5.8%) belong to Engel Class III and 2 patients (3.8%) belong to Engel Class IV.

CONCLUSIONPatients with epilepsy caused by temporal CMs should be treated as early as possible. Resection of the lesion and the surrounding hemosiderin zone is necessary. Moreover, an extended excision of epileptogenic cortex or cerebral lobes is needed to achieve a better prognosis if the ECoG indicates the existence of an extra epilepsy onset origin outside the lesion itself.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; surgery ; Female ; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Temporal Lobe ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult