Objective: To investigate the application effect of balloon dilatation and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) combined with pneumatic and ultrasound lithotripsy on the clinical treatment of unilateral kidney stones. Methods: Ninety-four patients with unilateral kidney stones who accepted PCNL in the Department of Urology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from June 2017 to July 2019, were retrospectively analyzed and divided into group A and group B. Among them, 68 patients (group A) were subjected to balloon dilatation combined with pneumatic and ultrasound lithotripsy, while 26 patients (group B) underwent fascia dilatation combined with holmium laser lithotripsy. The clinical effects of two kinds of lithotripsy on the treatment of unilateral kidney stones were compared. Results: The operation time was shorter in group A than that in group B [(107.82±10.87) min vs (115.41±10.68) min, P=0.003]. The increase rate of postoperative white blood cell (WBC) was lower in group A than that in group B (4.41% vs 23.08%, P=0.018). The fever ( ≥ 38.5 ℃ ) rate was lower in group A than that in group B (4.41% vs 23.08%, P=0.018). There were no significant differences in hemoglobin reduction, WBC count, hospital stay, stone-free rate, blood transfusion rate and perforation rate of collection system between the two groups (all P>0.05). Conclusion: Balloon dilatation combined with pneumatic and ultrasound lithotripsy in treatment of unilateral renal stones by PCNL can shorten the operation time, and reduce the increase rate of postoperative WBC and fever rate, which is worthy of being promoted in the clinical treatment of patients with unilateral kidney stones.

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the roots tubers of Serratula chinensis. Methods: The chemical constituents were separated and purified by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS column chromatographies, and preparative HPLC. Their structures were determined by physicochemical properties and spectral data. Results: Sixteen compounds (ecdysteroids) were isolated from the n-butanol fraction of 95% ethanol extract in the root tubers of S. chinensis, and their structures were identified as 20-hydroxyecdysone (1), polypodine B (2), carthamosterone (3), 20-hydroxyecdysone-20, 22-monoacetonide (4), 24-epi-abutasterone (5), polypodine C (6), coronatasterone (7), 20-hydroxyecdysone 2-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), 20-hydroxyecdysone 25-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), polypodine B 20, 22-acetonide (10), shidasterone (11), 2-O-acetyl-20-hydroxyecdysone (12), 3-O-acetyl-20-hydroxyecdysone (13), 20-hyderoxyecdysone-20, 22-butylidene acetal (14), 24-methylene-shidasterone (15), and ajugasterone D (16). Conclusion: Compounds 2, 4, 5, 7-10, 12, 15, and 16 are isolated from this plant for the first time, and compounds 5, 7-10, and 16 are found in the plants of genus Serratula L. for the first time.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects and the therapeutic mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in alveolar bone and gingiva of experimental periodontitis in animal.

METHODSExperimental periodontitis was produced by silk thread sutures combined with high content sugar diet. For HBO therapy, they were exposed to a pressure of 0.25 MPa (2.5ATA), breathing pure oxygen one session a day for 60 min. The treatment course was 2 weeks. The value of PGE(2) in gingiva and alveolar bone was analyzed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA).

RESULTSThe value of PGE(2) in gingiva of control group was 3.21 ng/g, and that of PGE(2) in alveolar bone was 3.22 ng/g. The contents of PGE(2) in gingiva (13.96 ng/g) and alveolar bone (13.32 ng/g) of periodontitis group increased markedly than control group (P < 0.01). The contents of PGE(2) in gingiva (5.21 ng/g) of HBO group were 62.7% which was lower than that of periodontitis group, and the value of PGE(2) in alveolar bone (4.05 ng/g) were 69.6% lower than that of periodontitis group. The difference of PGE(2) in gingiva or alveolar bone was significant for the HBO group and periodontitis group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe contents of PGE(2) in alveolar bone and gingiva increased markedly when experimental periodontitis has formed. The value of PGE(2) in alveolar bone and gingiva reduce markedly after HBO exposure, and the decreased rate of PGE(2) in alveolar bone is more evident than that of PGE(2) in gingiva after HBO therapy.

Alveolar Process ; metabolism ; Animals ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Gingiva ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Male ; Periodontitis ; metabolism

iASPP can prompt the cell proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of many cells. There are putative binding sites of transcription factor GATA-2 upstream of iASPP transcription start site. GATA-2 plays an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and progenitors. This study was aimed to explore the role of GATA-2 protein in iASPP gene transcription. Firstly, the expression of iASPP and GATA-2 protein in some leukemia cell lines was detected by Western blot. Second, The expressive vector of pCMV5-GATA2 and the luciferase reporter vectors containing possible binding sites of GATA-2 were constructed and co-transfected into HEK293 and CV-1 cells. Then the luciferase activity was assayed by luminometer. Also, ChIP assays were performed to further confirm the specific binding of GATA-2 to iASPP promoter. The results showed that GATA-2 was overexpressed in most cell lines with high level of iASPP. GATA-2 exhibited a significant effect on luciferase activity of reporter gene iASPP and in a dose-dependant manner. The relative luciferase activity was up-regulated to about two-fold of the empty vector control when the transfection dose of pCMV5-GATA2 plasmid was increased to 100 ng. While the effect was more significant in CV-1 cells and showed a 6.7-fold increase. The ChIP assay demonstrated the in vivo specific binding of GATA-2 to iASPP. The binding sites of GATA2 were located between nt -361 ∼ -334 in upstream of iASPP gene transcription start site. It is concluded that transcription factor GATA-2 can bind with the cis-regulatory region of the iASPP promoter and up-regulate iASPP expression.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; GATA2 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; K562 Cells ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the risk factors of bronchial asthma of Li nationality in Hainan.

METHODSA total of 13 050 subjects of Li nationality were selected by random unequal ratio stratified cluster sampling method from southern, central and western part of Hainan and investigated with Hainan Epidemiological Asthma Survey Questionnaire of Li Nationality. There were 441 cases of bronchial asthma, and 1296 cases of control that were sampled by random number table method. The logistic regression method was used to analyze risk factors.

RESULTSThe asthma prevalence of Li nationality in Hainan was 3.38%(441/13 050). The main risk factors of asthma were family asthma (OR = 4.323, 95%CI = 3.259 - 5.735), hypersensitiveness (OR = 7.775, 95%CI = 5.686 - 10.632), smoking (OR = 1.494, 95%CI = 1.174 - 1.902), cooking fuels and living environment. Cold air change (OR = 1.604, 95%CI = 1.286 - 2.001) and respirable dust or irritant gas (OR = 2.123, 95%CI = 1.702 - 2.648) were the important incentives.

CONCLUSIONThe main risk factors of asthma among Li nationality were family asthma, hypersensitiveness, smoking, cooking fuels by means of fuel oil, hay or wood, living environment by means of couch grass room and human-livestock mix live, cold air change, respirable dust or irritant gas.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Superoxide anion radical ( O·-2 ) is the first generated reactive oxygen species ( ROS) and plays essential function in life processes. Normal level of O·-2 as important signaling molecular can regulate redox equilibrium, cellular proliferation and differentiation. However, abnormal level of O·-2 is closely associated with diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes. Hence it is significant to uncover diseases mechanism by exploring dynamic regulation of O·-2 . Considering the advantages of fluorescence imaging method, the key factor is to develop O·-2 probes with highly selective and sensitive properties for revealing the molecular mechanism of diseases. Recently, with the development of fluorescence microscopy, many fluorescent probes have been constructed and applied for imaging analysis of O·-2 . In this review, we mainly summarized the progress of O·-2 fluorescent probes according to the different probe structure and prospected the development directions of O·-2 probes.

Objective To develop a rapid test for the detection of F1 antigen of Yersinia Pestis based on gold-immunochromatography.Methods F1 antibodies were coupled with colloidal gold to prepare collidal gold reagent,which was used to detect F1 antibodies based on double antigen sandwich.The collidal gold reagent was estimated for its sensitivity specificity and stablity in labs and 1798 samples were detected in 17 surveillance spots.Results The reagent was sensitive to 0.0010 g/L F1 antigens.The reagens kept stable when it had been placed at 4℃ or room-temperature for 12 months and did not react to Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Yersinia enterolitica.In 17 surveillance labs the reagent was used to test 1798 viscera samples from animal.resulting an accordance rate of 97.11%(1746/1798)to bacterial culture and 96.83%(1741/1798)accordance to reverse indirect hemagglutination assay(RIHA),showing a higher detection rate[9.23%(166/1798)]compared with RIHA[6.79%(122/1798)]and bacterial culture[6.28%(113/1798)].Conclusions The collidal gold reagent,sensitive and specific in diagnosing Yersinia pestis infection of both human and animals,is a rapid method in surveillance spot.

BACKGROUNDProstate stromal cells are known to regulate epithelial growth as well as support and maintain epithelial function. However, how stromal cells regulate epithelial cells and what differences among various histological/pathological prostate stromal cells in prostate cancer progression still remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the different phenotypes of human various histological/pathological prostate stromal cells, and their role in tumor promotion.

METHODSThe different phenotypes of the human normal prostatic peripheral zonal primary stromal cells (NPPF), transitional zonal primary stromal cells (NPTF), and prostate cancer associated primary stromal cells (CAF) were examined with growth curves and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) assay. The different effects on prostate cancer cell line C4-2B by NPPF, NPTF, and CAF were examined with MTT assay and Annexin V-FITC assay. The gene expression of different histological/pathological prostate stromal cells was profiled by microarray and hierarchical cluster analysis.

RESULTSThe growth rate of NPPF, NPTF and CAF gradually increased, followed by decreasing apoptosis. In vitro stromal-C4-2B cell line co-culture models, the proliferation and apoptosis of C4-2B cell line were differently affected by human various histological/pathological prostate stromal cells. CAF showed the most powerful effect to C4-2B cell line, as opposed to a weakest effect of NPTF. Microarray and hierarchical cluster analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes of CAF and NPPF were less than NPPF and NPTF, or CAF and NPTF. This was consistent with clinical observations that prostate cancer mostly derived from the peripheral zone and does not usually occur in the transitional zone.

CONCLUSIONNPPF, NPTF and CAF possess extremely different biological characteristics and gene expression, which may play an important role in genesis and development of prostate cancer.

Adult ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cluster Analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Prostate ; cytology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

BACKGROUNDProstate cancer is one of the most common urogenital tumors in the world with an increasing incidence in China. Androgen deprivation therapy is the major therapeutic option for advanced prostate cancer. However, the role of androgen receptor (AR) in hormone-refractory prostate cancer still remains unclear. This work aimed to investigate the role of AR in an androgen independent prostate cancer cell line by in vitro and in vivo studies.

METHODSThe role of AR in the proliferation and invasion/metastasis ability of PC3-AR9 (a PC3 stable clone expressing human AR driven by natural human AR promoter) were examined with MTT assay, soft agar assay, chamber invasion assay, wound healing assay, and also with orthotopic xenograft mouse model.

RESULTSRestoring androgen receptor in PC3 cells resulted in decreased proliferation and invasion/metastasis ability in MTT, soft agar, chamber invasion and wound healing assay. In the mouse orthotopic xenograft model, PC3-AR9 resulted in smaller primary tumors and metastasis tumors, with a lower proliferation rate and higher apoptosis rate.

CONCLUSIONThe AR might function as a tumor suppressor in PC3 cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Receptors, Androgen ; analysis ; physiology ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; physiology

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have shown that T helper type-2 (Th2) cells can induce the apoptosis of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells or resist the immunosuppressive effect of Treg cells. We hypothesize that an imbalance of Th2/Treg is present in patients with allergic asthma.

METHODSTwenty-two patients with mild asthma, 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, and 20 healthy donors were enrolled. All patients were allergic to house dust mites. The proportion of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and Th2 cells were determined by flow cytometry. The concentration of interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-4 in plasma was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In these subjects, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 17 mild asthmatic patients, 13 moderate to severe asthmatic patients and 14 healthy donors were acquired and expression of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) and GATA-3 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSCompared with healthy donors and patients with mild asthma, the percent of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells and plasma IL-10 levels were decreased in patients with moderate to severe asthma. There were no significant differences in Foxp3 mRNA expression among three groups, but a downward trend seen among patients with asthma. However, the percent of Th2 cells, IL-4 levels and expression of GATA-3 mRNA was markedly higher in patients with mild and moderate to severe asthma than in the control group. The ratio of Th2/Treg and their cytokines was increased in allergic asthma, especially for moderate to severe asthma. The ratio of GATA-3/Foxp3 mRNA was also increased in allergic asthma. In patients with moderate to severe asthma, the percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells was negatively correlated to the percentage of Th2 cells and IL-4 levels.

CONCLUSIONSThe decline of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in patients with moderate to severe asthma may play an important role in progress of the disease. Furthermore, the deficiency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells was associated with the over-expression of Th2 response.

Asthma ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology