Adult ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic ; Dimethylformamide ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans

Pneumocystis carinii is a pulmonary pathogen of immunocompromised humans or other mammals. Its infection results from activation of organisms involved in latent infection or from new infection through the air. Almost all children are known to be infected within 2 to 4 years of birth, though prenatal transplacental transmission has not yet been demonstrated. In this study we observed experimental P. carinii infection in neonatal rats, thus investigating the possibility of transplacental vertical transmission by Diff-Quik staining of the lung impression smears and in-situ hybridization for lung sections. The positive rate of P. carinii infection in immunosuppressed maternal rats was 100%, but that in normal maternal rats was 0%. Cystic forms of P. carinii were observed in three of six 1-week old neonatal rats born of heavily infected mothers, but none of them was positive by in-situ hybridization. Five weeks after birth, cystic forms were detected in four neonatal rats. In the lobes of the lungs, no predilection site of P. carinii was recognized. Counts of cystic forms on smears and the reactivity of in-situ hybridization in the lungs of neonatal rats were significantly lower than in maternal rats. The present findings suggest that P. carinii is rarely transmitted through the placenta and proliferates less successfully in the lungs of neonatal rats than in mothers.
Animal ; Animals, Newborn/microbiology* ; Disease Transmission, Vertical* ; Female ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lung/microbiology ; Male ; Opportunistic Infections/transmission* ; Opportunistic Infections/complications ; Pneumocystis carinii/isolation & purification ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/transmission* ; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis carinii/complications ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Joints ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Orthognathic Surgery ; Recurrence ; Skull

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of component I from agkistrodon acutus venomon (AAVC-I) the migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and to elucidate the possible anti-angiogenic mechanism of AAVC-I.

METHODSThe effect of AAVC-I on the migration of HUVECs which was cultivated in vitro and treated with AAVC-1 at four concentrations: 0, 20, 40, 80 microg/ml, was observed by methods of scratch wound-healing and Transwell assay. The expression level of mRNA and protein of P-selectin and intercellular cell adhension molecule-I (ICAM-1) were examined by RT-PCR and Western blot assay.

RESULTSCompared with the blank group, the migration ability of HUVECs in each AAVE-I treated group was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, and the expression level of the mRNA and protein of P-selectin and ICAM-1 were decreased.

CONCLUSIONAAVC-I inhibits the migration of endothelial cell, which is acted by down-regulation of the expression content of mRNA and protein of P-selectin and ICAM-1.

Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Crotalid Venoms ; pharmacology ; Down-Regulation ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND: The development and progression of a tumor can be determined by a complex multistep process involving the activation of oncogenes and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression of p53, Rb, bcl-2 protein and Ki-67 labeling index in the intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: We analyzed 36 cases of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma obtained by surgical resection. Expression of p53, Rb, bcl-2 proteins and Ki-67 labeling index were evaluated by immunohistochemical study. RESULTS: Expression of p53 protein was detected in 61.1% (22/36) of cholangiocarcinoma. Rb protein loss and overexpression were observed 27.8% (7/36) and 72.2% (29/36) of cholangiocarcinoma. But bcl-2 protein was not expressed. No significant correlation was found between p53, Rb and bcl-2 protein expression and age, sex, gross type, histologic grade, vascular invasion and lymph node metastases. The Ki-67 labeling index was significantly higher in p53 positive group and Rb overexpression group than in p53 negative group (p<0.01) and Rb loss group (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between p53 protein and Rb protein expressions, but a negative correlation between Rb protein and bcl-2 protein expressions. CONCLUSIONS: The overexpression of p53 protein and Rb protein may be closely associated with cholangiocarcinogenesis, while bcl-2 has a less crucial role in cholangiocarcinogenesis.
Cholangiocarcinoma* ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Oncogenes ; Retinoblastoma Protein

No abstract available.
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic*

PURPOSE: This study presented the clinical outcomes at a minimum one year following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using autogenous four-strand hamstring tendon and measured the strength of the knee flexor and extensor after tendon harvest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty seven patients who had a symptomatic ACL insufficiency underwent ACL reconstruction using four-strand hamstring autograft from Dec. 2003 to Jun. 2004. The patients were evaluated according to clinical findings (Lachman test, pivot shift test), standard knee scales (Lysholm, IKDC), and KT-1000 manual-maximal side-to-side difference. Functional test including one-leg hop test for distance and vertical jump test was performed and the strength of the knee flexor and extensor was measured using Cybex isokinetic test at last follow-up. RESULTS: At the time of follow-up, the average Lysholm score improved from 63.0 preoperatively to 95.0 and overall IKDC evaluation showed 14 patients was graded as A, 13 as B. There were 18 patients (66.6%) in negative Lachman test and also 25 patients (92.6%) in negative pivot shift test. The average KT-1000 manual-maximal side-to-side difference was 2.1+/-1.2 mm. One-leg hop distance and one-leg vertical jump test showed 12.3% and 22.3% decrement than uninvolved side. On isokinetic cybex test, peak extensor torque was 80.0% and 82.7% and peak flexor torque was 91.2% and 89.4% at the angular velocity of 60 degrees and 180 degrees/sec compared to the contralateral leg. CONCLUSION: ACL reconstruction using autogenous four-strands hamstring tendon seems to be a viable option for restoring stability with good clinical result and less donor site morbidity.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction* ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament* ; Autografts ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humulus ; Knee ; Leg ; Tendons* ; Tissue Donors ; Torque ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: An entry of needle into the epidural space has been identified by the development of negative pressure to the advancing needle; hanging drop, loss of resistance, or use of Macintosh balloon. But it is suspicious that epidural space is a true negative pressure space. METHODS: We measured the epidural pressures of pregnant patients in right lateral decubitus (RLD) and sitting position and compared with the values of non-pregnant patients of respective position. 17G Tuohy needle with closed system was used, the pressure of which was zeroed to the puncture level at third lumbar intervertebral space. RESULTS: Epidural pressures were positive in all subjects. Values of measurement were 13+/-4mmHg, 15+/-7mmHg, 16+/-6mmHg and 25+/-7mmHg for pregnant-RLD, pregnant-sitting, non-pregnant-RLD, and non-pregnant-sitting group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant difference between RLD and sitting position in non-pregnant patient only (p<0.05). It is suggested that the hydrostatic pressure of CSF above puncture level and the hydrostatic pressure of valveless epidural venous plexus blood influenced the epidural pressure of non-pregnant group in sitting position. But in pregnant group, abdominal mass may have elicited a draining effect on epidural venous plexus during lumbar flexion in sitting position and partially nullified the hydrostatic pressure of CSF and blood.
Epidural Space ; Humans ; Hydrostatic Pressure ; Needles ; Pregnancy ; Punctures

No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Abdominal*