BACKGROUND:Bone tissue transplantation or osteogenic material fil ing is after used for bone defect repair. To remove autologous bone tissues can lead to additional damage and secondary deformity, therefore, it is extremely urgent to search for a new osteogenic material. OBJECTIVE:To construct the porousβ-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/col agen scaffold modified with human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP2) gene, and to observe its effects on differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cel lines. METHODS:The porousβ-TCP/col agen scaffold modified with hBMP2 gene was prepared. Then in vitro culture system of MC3T3-E1 cel lines with composite scaffold was established. There were scaffold and plate groups, and each group was divided into two subgroups according to the different concentrations of plasmid. Samples were col ected and observed morphological y by scanning electron microscope and light microscope after complex culture. After 1, 3, 7 and 14 days of induction, calcium nodules were observed through alizarin red staining, the cel cycle was detected by real-time PCR, and expressions ofαI-chain col agen type I gene, Osterix and bone sialoprotein were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The number of cel s adhered, differentated and distributed on the composite scaffold was significantly higher than that of the single scaffold (P<0.05). Alizarin red staining and real-time PCR detection showed that the osteogenesis ability of MC3T3-E1 cel lines in the scaffold group was stronger than that in the plate group. To conclude, the porousβ-TCP/col agen scaffold modified with hBMP2 gene is an appropriate candidate for bone defect repair.

BACKGROUND:Ligustrazine has been shown to restore the function of the femoral headviathe revascularization, increased blood flow, theabsorption ofnecroticbone, and bone regeneration. OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of ligustrazine on remodeling of periodontal tissues and the expression of osteoprotegerin in the maintenance phase in rats with orthodontic tooth movement. METHODS:Thirty-two healthy male Wistar rats were included and equaly randomized into four groups. Maxilary left first molar mesialization was performed through traction of 50 g force for 21 days to establish the rat model of tooth movement. 5, 10, 15 mg/L ligustrazine (50 μL) were localy injected into the first molar periosteum in model rats on the day before removing the orthodontic forcing device. Same volume of saline was injected in the control group. The injection was administered every other day. At 1 and 4 weeks after injection, the distance of tooth movement, the recurrence distances and percentage were determined and calculated. The pathological changes in periodontal tissues were observed by immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The width ofthe parodontium and number of osteoblasts were observed under an optical microscope. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The recurrence distance inthecontrol group was increased compared withtheexperimental group, while the number of osteoblasts and osteoprotegerin immunoreactivity were decreased. Good width of the parodontium and smal recurrence trend were found in 10mg/L ligustrazine group. These findings indicate that ligustrazine promotes the proliferation of osteoblasts and enhances the expression of osteoprotegerin, which is beneficial to the retention of teeth after orthodontic surgery.

Objective To evaluate the effects of the chronic Keshan disease's self-management in Liangshan Prefecture of Sichuan Province. Methods According to "The Serf Management Program of Chronic Keshan Disease in Liangshen Prefecture of Sichuan Province", 56 chronic Keshan disease patients were selected in the personalized self-manngemant evaluation under the instructions by endemic disease specialists and the rural doctors. Evaluation was based on changes of indexes such as the clinical symptoms, general health conditions, the electrocardiogram, X-ray, the heart function, etc, before treatment and 3 and 6 months following the treatment. Results Clinical signs and symptoms of the patients were significantly improved 3 and 6 months after the treatment, and the improvement was more obvious 6 months than 3 months following the treatment(P<0.05 or< 0.01). After treatment for 3 months, the patients'electrocardingram and heart function did not show obvious change (X2=0.05,039, P0.05); hut obvious improvements Eexcept X ray results(X2=0.61 ,P0.05)] were seen 6 months after treatment (X2=4.36,16.84, P<0.05 or<0.01). Altogether, among the 56 patients evaluated after treatment for 6 months, none achieved the clinical cure standard, 26 cases(46.3%) showed significant improvement, 17 cases (30.4%) were stable, 5 cases (8.9%) were aggravated,one case (1.8%) lost contact, and 6 cases (10.6%) died. Conclusion The project of the chronic Keshan disease's self-management is suitable for the present situati,on of the endemic regions and can he introduced to many places in our country.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate levels of common specific fusion transcripts M-bcr-abl, m-bcr-abl, TEL-AML1, AML1-ETO, PML-RAR alpha, CBF beta-MYH11 in untreated leukemia patients.

METHODSSpecific fusion transcript levels were detected by TaqMan-based real-time quantitative RT-PCR technique in a total of 208 samples, including 195 bone marrow samples from 50 M-bcr-abl(+) chronic phase-chronic myeloid leukemia (CML-CP), 10 M-bcr-abl(+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 19 m-bcr-abl(+) ALL, 11 TEL-AML1(+) ALL, 30 AML1-ETO(+) acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 58 PML-RAR alpha(+) acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and 17 CBF beta-MYH11(+) AML patients and 13 peripheral blood samples from 13 M-bcr-abl(+) CML-CP patients. abl was chosen as internal control gene. Fusion transcript level was calculated as fusion transcript copies/abl transcript copies in percentage.

RESULTSBone marrow and peripheral blood samples of CML-CP patients had similar M-bcr-abl fusion transcript levels (median 30% vs 35%, P > 0.05). M- and m-bcr-abl (median 64% vs 54%) levels were similar in ALL patients (P > 0.05), M-bcr-abl level was significantly higher in ALL than CML-CP patients(P < 0.001). Median TEL-AML1 level was 228% in ALL patients. Among AML patients, AML1-ETO level was significantly higher than CBF beta-MYH11 and PML-RAR alpha levels (median 388% vs 145%, 388% vs 47%, all P < 0.001), CBF beta-MYH11 level was significantly higher than PML-RAR alpha level (P < 0.001). Fusion transcript levels of L-, V- and S-type PML-RAR alpha were 45%, 44% and 55%, respectively. L-type was significantly lower than S-type (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONSFusion transcript levels in untreated leukemia patients were different and patient-to-patient variations did exist. Detection of fusion transcript levels in untreated leukemia patients not only provides baseline for minimal residual disease monitoring and treatment evaluation but also enable the comparison in inter-laboratory data.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics of newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with NPM1 mutation.

METHODSNPM1 mutation (including A, B, D mutation type) was detected in 206 patients with newly diagnosed AML by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe incidence of NPM1 mutation was 15.5% in total AML patients and 32.5% in normal karyotypes AML patients. The characteristics of 174 NPM1 wild type patients v.s. that of 32 NPM1 mutation patients was as follow, median age (46 vs 35 years old, P < 0.01), WBC counts (27 × 10(9)/L vs 8 × 10(9)/L, P < 0.01), BPC (82 × 10(9)/L vs 36 × 10(9)/L, P < 0.01), proportion of AML-M(5) (31.2% vs 5.8%, P = 0.01), incidence of normal karyotypes (92.6% vs 40.8%, P < 0.01), incidence of FLT3-ITD-positive (25.0% vs 7.5%, P < 0.01), CD34-positvie (23.3% vs 69.5%, P < 0.01), cases with fusion gene (0 vs 47.1%, P < 0.01). No statistic difference was found in sex, percentage of blasts in bone marrow, complete remission rate, overall survival between the two groups. Relapse-free survival in AML patients with NPM1-mutation and FLT3-ITD-negative tended to be higher than in those with NPM1-mutation and FLT3-ITD-positive.

CONCLUSIONIt is necessary to detect NPM1 mutation and FLT3-ITD in newly diagnosed AML patients, especially in patients with high WBC and BPC, CD34-negative, normal karyotype, which might help to molecular classification and treatment.

Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Prognosis ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between three types of bcr/abl fusion transcripts and clinical manifestation in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

METHODM-, m- and micro -bcr/abl fusion transcripts were detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique in 537 fresh bone marrow samples of patients suspected CML clinically.

RESULTSOf 573 patients, 479 expressed M-bcr/abl transcripts, among whom 370 were in chronic phase (CP), and 109 in accelerated (AP)/blastic phase (BP). The percentages of patients with b2a2 transcripts in CP and AP/BP were 32.4% (120/370) and 36.7% (40/109) (P > 0.05). The b2a2 transcript patients in blastic crisis were 52.6% (10/19) for lymphoblastic and 33.3% (30/90) for myeloblastic (P > 0.05). The platelet count of untreated patients with b3a2 isoform [(485.9 +/- 333.8) x 10(9)/L, n = 125] was distinctly higher than those with b2a2 isoform [(380.5 +/- 321.9) x 10(9)/L, n = 62] (P < 0.05). 66.0% (31/47) and 64.4% (29/45) of the patients in CP and AP/BP respectively co-expressed M- and m-bcr/abl transcripts (P > 0.05). One patient expressed only m-bcr/abl transcript was of typical acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). Both two micro -bcr/abl(+) patients were of typical CML.

CONCLUSIONSAlmost all typical CML patients express M-bcr/abl transcripts, most of them coexpress M-bcr/abl and m-bcr/abl transcripts, a few possesses only micro -bcr/abl fusion gene. m-bcr/abl(+) are usually associated with AML or CML in myeloblastic crisis besides acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Patients with b3a2 isoform are prone to higher platelet count before treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the main angiogenic cytokines and plays an important role in the development of human solid tumors. However, it is not clarified whether VEGF governs the progress of the chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This study is to estimate VEGF expression in the bone marrow cells from normal and adult CML patients and various leukemic cell lines. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for detection of VEGF mRNA. VEGF concentrations in the cell cultural supernatant and the plasma from normal and CML patient bone marrows were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). VEGF mRNA was positive in 67 of 72 cases of bcr/abl(+) CML patient bone marrow cells (93.1%), in 5 of 10 CML patients post Allo-BMT bone marrow cells (50%), and in 6 of 10 normal bone marrow cells (60%), the expression rate of VEGF mRNA in CML patients bone marrow cells was higher than that in CML patients post Allo-BMT and normal bone marrow cells. VEGF mRNA also expressed in the HL-60, K562, CEM, KG1a, NB4, and Nalm6 cells, but not in the Jurkat cells. The mean VEGF concentration in the plasma (380.6 pg/ml) from 22 untreated CML patients was 9 folds higher than that from 9 CML patients post Allo-BMT (38.0 pg/ml). The mean VEGF concentration in the cultural supernatant (499.8 pg/ml) of 17 newly diagnosed CML bone marrows was 2.5-folds higher than that in 11 normal donors (141.3 pg/ml). The CML marrow cells secrete more VEGF than normal marrow cells do. Our results suggest that the abnormality of VEGF transcription and translation expression may play an important role in the development of CML.

In order to investigate the features of M-bcr/abl and m-bcr/abl fusion transcripts in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), M-bcr/abl and m-bcr/abl fusion transcripts were sequentially detected by RT-PCR technique in 72 CML patients after SCT. The results showed that M-bcr/abl positive rate (79.2%, 42/53) within 6 months after SCT was remarkably higher than that in 6-12 months group (34.3%, 11/32) and >or= 12 months group (35.1%, 13/37) (P < 0.001), and the clinical relapse rates in corresponding periods were 1.9% (1/53), 0% (0/32) and 16.2% (6/37) respectively. M-bcr/abl and m-bcr/abl fusion transcripts occurred in 5 of 6 clinically relapsed patients. In period of more than 6 months after transplantation, none of 17 M-bcr/abl(+) samples from 14 patients in cytogenetic remission appeared positive reaction of m-bcr/abl. It is concluded that M-bcr/abl(+) fusion transcript still existed in most patients after SCT, and usually disappeared within 6 months. Existence of M-bcr/abl is not a clinical relapse marker in CML patients. Simultaneous detection of M-bcr/abl and m-bcr/abl fusion transcripts can be helpful for monitoring residual disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; metabolism ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Recurrence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transplantation, Homologous

To investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on beta1 integrin (VLA-4 and VLA-5) activation ability in K562 cells transfected with antisense VEGF121 cDNA, K562 cells were transfected with antisense (As), sense (S) and vector (V, pcDNA(3)). Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the expression rate of VLA-4 (CD49d/CD29) and VLA-5 (CD49e/CD29) and beta1 integrin activation ability in the transfected K562 cells. The results showed that the expression rates of VLA-4 and VLA-5 were more than 92% in the transfected K562 cells and there was no difference among the K562/V, K562/S and K562/As cells. However, beta1 integrin activated 9EG7 expression rate in K562/As cells was higher than that in K562/V cells [(75.6 +/- 10.5)% vs (41.2 +/- 2.1)%, P < 0.01)] after activation with beta1 integrin activator 8A2. It is concluded that function of beta1 integrin to be activated is restored in K562 cells transfected with antisense VEGF121 cDNA.
DNA ; genetics ; DNA, Antisense ; genetics ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Integrin alpha4beta1 ; biosynthesis ; Integrin alpha5beta1 ; biosynthesis ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; K562 Cells ; Lymphokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

To investigate the biological features of leukemic cells in bcr/abl fusion transcript-positive B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), 3- or 4-color flow cytometry with directly conjugated monoclonal antibodies was used to detect the immunophenotype of the cells in 26 patients with bcr/able-positive B-ALL and 32 patients with bcr/abl-negative B-ALL. bcr/abl fusion transcript was detected by RT-PCR. Immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement was detected by PCR. The results showed that all of the B-ALL patients were positive for CD19. There was significant difference in expression of CD34 (96.2% vs 65.6%), CD10 (96.2% vs 71.8%) and CD38 (43.8% vs 95.4%) between bcr/abl-positive and -negative groups. In bcr/abl-positive B-ALL group, the co-expression rates of CD10(+)/CD19(+)/CD34(+), CD10(+)/CD34(+)/HLA-DR(+) and CD10(+)/CD34(+)/CD38(-) were 92.3% (24/26), 73.1% (19/26) and 56.2% (9/16), respectively. In bcr/abl-negative group, co-expression of CD10(+)/CD19(+)/CD34(+) and CD10(+)/CD34(+)/HLA-DR(+) were 43.8% (14/32) and 37.5% (12/32), respectively, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) between bcr/abl-positive and -negative groups, but none of the cases co-expressed CD10(+)/CD34(+)/CD38(-). The detection rate of monoclonal IgH gene rearrangement (58.8%, 10/17) was lower in bcr/abl-positive group than that (85.7%, 12/14) in bcr/able-negative group. It is concluded that the expression rates of CD34 and CD10 are higher, and CD38 and IgH gene rearrangement are lower in bcr/abl-positive B-ALL cases, CD10(+)/CD34(+)/CD38(-) is a unique feature of immunophenotype, and this phenotype of leukemia cells is closer to that of early B-lineage progenitor cells.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD19 ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; immunology ; Child ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neprilysin ; analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis