OBJECTIVE: To observe cardiac ultrastructure and the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and hypoxia inducible factor-lα (HIF-lα) in electric shock death rats and to explore the application of these indexes as the basis of medical identification in electric shock death. METHODS: Seventy-two SD rats were randomly divided into electric shock death group, postmortem electric shock group and the control group. The changes of myocardial ultrastructure were observed by transmission electron microscope, and the expressions of myocardial HSP70 and HIF-1α were observed by immunohistochemical technology. RESULTS: Myocardial myofibril fracture, mitochondrial cristae and membrane dissolution, and disordered arrangement of Z lines and M lines were observed in electric shock rats. HSP70 and HIF-lα were strong positive expressions in the electric shock death group, significantly compared with the control and postmortem electric shock groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The expressions of HSP70 and HIF-lα were obviously increased in electric shock death group, which may be used as the diagnostic indicator of electric shock death.
Animals ; Death ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism* ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The inhibition activity of 36 flavonoids against CYP1A2 was determined by our previously developed in vitro method. The Comparative Molecular Similarity Indexes Analysis (CoMSJA) approach was used to probe the quantitative relationships between the flavonoids' molecular structural descriptors and their inhibitory activities. A reliable CoMSIA model with the combined electrostatic and hydrophobic fields was derived with the regression coefficient R2 of 0.948 and the cross-validation regression coefficient q2 of 0.630, separately, which is capable of elucidating the quantitative relationship between the 3D structural descriptors of the flavones and their bioactivities. Comparing with flavone, the larger pi-pi conjugated system of alpha-naphthoflavone significantly improved the biologically inhibitory ability. Based on the core structure of the latter, either electropositive substituents or hydrophobic groups at the 6, 3', and 4' ring positions or electronegative counterparts at the 5 ring position, can enhance the inhibitory potency against CYP1 A2 according to the CoMSIA contour maps.
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microsomes, Liver ; metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Structure ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship

Objective To investigate the effect of 131I on apoptosis of thyrocytes in patients with Graves disease. Methods Forty-seven patients with Graves disease were divided into two groups, two week group (G2w) and four week group (G4w). All patients underwent thyoid needle biopsy before 131I treatment and the repeated biopsy at two weeks (G2w) or four weeks (G4w) after 131I treatment. The positive units of pro-apoptotic proteins (Fas, FasL) and anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) were studied with immunohistochemistry staining. The differences of the two groups were compared with t-test. Liner correlation analysis was applied to study the correlation between 131I dose and apoptosis-related proteins and that between serum sTSH after 131I treatment and apoptosis-related proteins. Results Fas, FasL and Bcl-2 expression (positive units) were significantly increased in both groups after 131I treatment, G2w :22.84 ± 9.31 vs 16.20 ± 6.75,21.13±6.29vs 14.56±4.06, 21.69±7.83 vs 15.22 ±5.94, t= -3.08, -3.73, -4.05 (allP<0.05); G4w:21.69 ±4.52 vs 15.83 ±5.03, 19. 11 ±3.75 vs 14.02 ±4.98, 19.06 ±3.44 vs 16.63 ±4. 73, t = - 5.26, - 5.00, - 2.41 (all P<0.05). However, no statistical differences were found between G2w and G4w (t = 0. 53, 0. 82, 1.46, all P > 0.05). Significant correlation was found between 131I 0. 727, rFasL = 0. 763 (both P<0.05)), but not between the dose and Bcl-2, rBcl-2 = - 0. 094, 0. 102(both P > 0.05). There were significant correlation between serum sTSH three months after 131I treatment and apoptosis-related proteins, rFas = 0.433, rFasL = 0. 601, rBcln2 = - 0. 397, (all P<0. 05). Conclusions 131I can induce thyrocytes to express the pro-apoptotic proteins in patients with Graves disease.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel with low-dose cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion in the treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma.

METHODSThe patients were treated with paclitaxel liposome 60 mg/m(2) i.v. gtt on d1, 8, 15, DDP 15 mg×m(-2)×d(-1) by i.v. gtt on d1-5, 5-Fu 500 mg×m(-2)×d(-1) by civ for 120 h, administered every 21 days.

RESULTSOut of the whole group, 3 cases achieved CR, 29 cases achieved PR with an ORR of 54.2% and median TTP of 7.1 months. Out of 40 cases in the primary treatment, 3 cases achieved CR, 22 cases achieved PR with an ORR of 62.5% and median TTP of 7.6 months. Out of 20 evaluable retreated cases, no case achieved CR, 7 cases achieved PR with an ORR of 36.8% and median TTP 6.3 months. The main toxicities were hematological toxicities, nausea and vomiting of grade I-II.

CONCLUSIONThe combination regimen of paclitaxel, low-dose cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil is effective and well tolerated for patients with advanced gastric carcinoma, especially for primary treatment cases. It is worthy of further study.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Liposomes ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Neoplasm Staging ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Remission Induction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Survival Rate ; Vomiting ; chemically induced ; Young Adult

Autopsy ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; Enterovirus ; isolation & purification ; Enterovirus B, Human ; isolation & purification ; Enterovirus Infections ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of mixed grafting of allogeneic PADM and autologous STS on wound healing of full-thickness defect in rats.

METHODSFull-thickness defects with size of 6 cm x 4 cm were produced on the back of 12 SD rats, and they were divided into E group (n = 6) and C group (n = 6) according to the random number table. The wounds in E group were grafted with a mix of allogeneic PADM (expansion rate 10: 5) and autologous STS with thickness of 0.2 mm, while those in C group were grafted with autologous STS in the same thickness. The wound healing rate, survival rate, contraction rate, and expansion rate of transplanted skin were observed at post operation week (POW) 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 20. Tissue samples form wounds and surrounding normal skin were harvested at POW 20 for histopathological observation as follows. The structure of collagen fiber bundle was observed by HE staining, the diameter and gap rate of collagen fiber bundle were also measured. The distribution of type I and III collagen was observed by sircus red staining, and the contents of type I, III collagen and their ratio were also examined. Data were processed with independent samples t test, Levene test, and t' test.

RESULTSSurvival rate of transplanted skin in E group at POW 2 [(76.1 +/- 13.1)%] was obviously lower than that in C group [(94.5 +/- 1.3)%, t' = 3.440, P = 0.018]. Contraction rate of transplanted skin in E, C groups at POW 3 showed significant difference [(34 +/- 8)% vs. (16 +/- 12)%, t = -3.211, P = 0.009]. Compared with those in peri-wound normal skin, collagen fiber bundles in C group showed signs of homogenization, and collagen fibers were thin with irregular arrangement. Collagen fiber structure and arrangement of composite skin in E group were similar to those surrounding normal skin with incomplete degradation of PADM. Diameter of collagen fiber bundle [(9.6 +/- 0.8) microm], gap rate between collagen bundle [(24 +/- 5)%], content of type I collagen [(80.2 +/- 5.4)%] and the ratio of type I to type III collagen (4.3 +/- 1.2) in E group were all increased as compared with those in C group [(7.3 +/- 1.4) microm (t = -3.562, P = 0.005), (17 +/- 4)% (t = -2.760, P = 0.020), (68.1 +/- 8.4)% (t = -2.981, P = 0.014), 2.3 +/- 1.0 (t = -3.204, P = 0.009)], while content of type III collagen [(19.8 +/- 5.4)%] in E group was lower than that in C group [(32.0 +/- 8.4)%, t = 2. 981, P = 0.014]. Above-mentioned indexes of collagen in wound of E group were similar to those of normal skin surrounding the wound.

CONCLUSIONSAllogeneic PADM used as dermal regeneration template is beneficial in improving collagen fiber bundle structure in dermis layer of rats with full-thickness skin wounds when repaired with autologous STS, and it accelerates maturation of regenerative dermal tissue.

Animals ; Burns ; surgery ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Dermis ; cytology ; transplantation ; Extracellular Matrix ; transplantation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; injuries ; Skin Transplantation ; Skin, Artificial ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in the diagnosis of bladder cancer.

METHODSUrine samples from 100 patients suspected of having bladder cancer were collected before cystoscopy for immediate urine cytology and FISH analysis. The criteria for FISH abnormality were determined by evaluating the urine specimens from 20 subjects without urogenital neoplasm.

RESULTSThe overall sensitivity of cytology and FISH was 43.2% and 82.4%, and their specificity was 92.3% and 88.5%, with diagnostic concordance rate of 56.0% and 84.0%, respectively. The differences between FISH and cytology showed statistical significance in the sensitivity, diagnostic concordance rate, non-muscle-invasive cancer and primary cancer.

CONCLUSIONThe sensitivity and efficiency of FISH in the detection of bladder cancer are superior to those of cytology, especially for prophase cancer.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; diagnosis ; Cytodiagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Urine ; cytology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE(99m)Tc-[bis (dimethoxypropylphosphinoethyl)-ethoxyethylamine (PNP5)]-[bis (N-ethoxyethyl)-dithiocarbamate (DBODC)] nitride ([(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+)) is a new myocardial perfusion tracer with high heart uptake and rapid liver clearance. The objectives of this study were to compare the myocardial imaging of [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) with (99m)Tc-MIBI in a canine model of acute myocardial ischemia.

METHODSThe left anterior descending artery (LAD) was occluded in 12 adult beagle dogs, adenosine was then infused intravenously at a rate of 0.14 mg.kg(-1).min(-1) for 6 min. At the end of 3 min of adenosine infusion, 185 MBq of [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) or (99m)Tc-MIBI was injected intravenously. The occluder was released after 6 min adenosine infusion. Serial myocardial SPECT imaging acquisitions were obtained at 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 h after tracer injection, respectively. Rest myocardial SPECT imaging was acquired in the next day.

RESULTSSimilar as (99m)Tc-MIBI, [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) exhibited high heart uptake, minimal lung uptake and minimal redistribution. No significant myocardial washout was observed with both tracers over a period of 2 hours. [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) clearance from the liver was more rapid than that with (99m)Tc-MIBI (heart-liver radio at 60 min, 1.36 +/- 0.43 vs. 0.58 +/- 0.21, P = 0.005). [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) the ability to detect myocardial ischemia was also comparable between the two tracers ([(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) detected 3.60 +/- 1.52 defect segments, (99m)Tc-MIBI detected 4.25 +/- 0.96 defect segments, P = 0.48). The image quality of [(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) was better than (99m)Tc-MIBI.

CONCLUSION[(99m)Tc (N) (PNP5) (DBODC)](+) is comparable to (99m)Tc-MIBI on detecting myocardial ischemia in this model and liver clearance is more rapid and the image quality is better than (99m)Tc-MIBI.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Dogs ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; diagnostic imaging ; Organophosphorus Compounds ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of (99m)Tc-N-NOET ((99m)Tc-N-ethoxy-N-ethyl dithiocarbamato-nitrito) myocardial perfusion SPECT for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

METHODSA total of 42 patients [mean age (54 +/- 9) years, 35 men] with suspected chest pain were included in this study. 740 MBq of (99m)Tc-N-NOET was injected intravenously during bicycle exercise when the heart rate attained reached more than 85% of the expected maximum, or in cases of angina pectoris, severe arrhythmias and ischemic ST segment changes. (99m)Tc-N-NOET 740 MBq, SPECT myocardial imaging acquisitions were obtained at 15 minutes and 2 hours after (99m)Tc-N-NOET injection. Coronary angiography was performed in all patients.

RESULTSCoronary artery stenosis was detected in 26 patients and normal coronary angiography was shown in 16 patients. (99m)Tc-N-NOET myocardial perfusion imaging was abnormal in twenty-one patients out of the 26 patients with significant coronary artery stenosis (sensitivity, 81%); 14 out of 16 patients with normal angiography had a normal myocardial perfusion imaging (specificity, 88%). The positive predictive value, negative predictive value and predictive accuracy of (99m)Tc-N-NOET myocardial perfusion imaging for detection of CAD was 91%, 74% and 83%, respectively. The sensitivity of the imaging for detecting single vessel, double vessels and triple vessels disease were 60% (6/10), 86% (6/7) and 100% (9/9), respectively. There was mild (99m)Tc-N-NOET lung uptake in patients with coronary artery stenosis 15 minutes post (99m)Tc-N-NOET injection.

CONCLUSIONSPECT myocardial perfusion imaging with (99m)Tc-N-NOET supplied an important diagnostic tool for detecting coronary artery disease. Lung uptake with stress (99m)Tc-N-NOET might be related to coronary artery disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organotechnetium Compounds ; Thiocarbamates ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

To clone KGF-2 gene, get hKGF-2 protein and detemine its activity. The cNDA of human KGF-2 was isolated from fetal lung by RT-PCR and cloned into pBV220 plasmid. The recombinant pBV220-hKGF-2 plasmid was transformed into E. coli (BL21), induced at 42 degrees C for the expression of hKGF-2. Recombinant human KGF-2 was purified from the ultrasonic-treated BL21 by heparin-Sepharose CL-6B treated column chromatography and cation exchange column chromatography. MTT method was used for the determination of its biological activity. SDS-PAGE showed that rhKGF-2 was expressed in E. coli BL21 as soluble protein of approximately 20kD. The rhKGF-2 protein can stimulate the proliferation of NIH3T3 cells significantly from 1 ng/mL to 10 ng/mL. HKGF-2 cDNA wasclned and highly expressed in E. coli BL21 and the purified rhKGF-2 showed the mitogenic activity on NIH3T3 cells.
Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fetus ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Lung ; chemistry ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; isolation & purification