Objective To report the clinical effects of repairing skin defects in hand by reversed neu- ro-veno-fasciocutaneous flaps based on the superficial branches of radial nerve.Methods Eleven cases with soft tissue defects around the wrist and the dorsum of the hand were treated with superficial branches of radial nerve-cephalic vein neuro-veno-fasciocutaneous flaps.Results The flaps totally survived in the 9 cases,the others were small distal necrosis.Follow-up survey in the(6-48)months after the oporation showed the appear- ante and function were satisfactory.Conclusion Superficial branches of radial nerve neurofasciocutaneous flap is well supplied with blood and easy to perform.It is the ideal flap to repair the skin defects of the first finger web,radial palm and dorsum of hand.

In order to investigate the genetic basis of morphological variation of tetraploid plantlets of Atractylodes macrocephala, diploid plantlets were taken as experimental material, sterile filtration colchicine was used to soak 0.5-1.0 cm long buds. The difference between morphology and stomatal of diploid and tetraploid of A. macrocephala was compared, and genome polymorphism was explored by AFLP. The results showed that the buds dipped in 0.1% colchicine solution for 36 h was optimal conditions to induce tetraploid of A. macrocephala with induction rate of 32.0%. Morphological indexes such as leaf area index, leaf length and width, the density of stomas and the number of chloroplast of tetraploid were distinctly different from diploid. Four hundred and fifty-one bands ranging with 80-500 bp were amplified with 24 pairs of primers, the rate of polymorphism was 32.59%. These amplification sites of diploid were different from tetraploid of A. macrocephala, and the differences in morphology of them were reflected in the DNA polymorphism.
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; methods ; Atractylodes ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tetraploidy

Adult ; Age Factors ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; toxicity ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Police ; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity ; physiology ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; physiology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dc), a methylation inhibitor, on cisplatin-resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549/DDP and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSMTT assay was used to test the cytotoxicity of 5-Aza-dc on A549/DDP cells, and the IC(50) and cisplatin resistance index of A540/DDP cells at 48 hours after 5-Aza-dc (0 µmol/L, 20 µmol/L, 40 µmol/L) treatment at different concentrations. MSP, fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (real-time RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the hMLH1 methylation status, mRNA and protein expressions, respectively.

RESULTSThe IC(50) value of cisplatin in A549/DDP cells was 30.15 ± 0.76 µmol/L. The MTT assay results demonstrated that during the 5-Aza-dc treatment for 48 hours, the dose of 20 µmol/L was non-toxic and 40 µmol/L was low-toxic. 5-Aza-dc at those two doses reduced IC(50) value of cisplatin to 16.54 ± 0.35 µmol/L (RI = 1.82) and 6.82 ± 0.16 µmol/L (RI = 4.42), respectively. MSP, real-time RT-PCR and Western blot showed that 5-Aza-dc at non-toxic and low-toxic doses removed the partial hMLH1-hypermethylation, and up-regulated hMLH1 mRNA and protein expressions.

CONCLUSIONSLow dose 5-Aza-dc can partially reverse the cisplatin-resistance in A549/DDP cells, which may be achieved through removal of hMLH1 hypermethylation and increased expression of hMLH1 gene. 5-Aza-dc may have a role in increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy for patients whose tumors are lack of hMLH1 expression because of hMLH1 promoter hypermethylation.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Azacitidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; DNA Methylation ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

Copper ion was necessary for the transcription of all laccase isozyme genes from Trametes sp. AH28-2, with higher concentrations of Cu2+ (1-2 mmol/L) being more favorable to the synthesis of laccase. In the glucose media containing 0.5 mmol/L Cu2+, the laccase activity of the supernate was rather low (44.3 u/L) and had an increase of 60.3% (71.0 u/L) when 4.0 mmol/L o-toluidine was added. Moreover, the activity reached up to 2584 u/L as the glucose was replaced by cellobiose. And Native-PAGE showed that LacA was the main laccase component if fungus was induced by o-toluidine or copper ions. It had been demonstrated by quantitative RT-PCR that the regulation of lacA expression, induced by o-toluidine, occurred at the transcriptional level, with the accumulation of mRNA transcripts being accompanied by the increase of laccase activity of the culture fluid. In addition, the structural gene of lacA interrupted by 10 introns was 2110 bp in length and the corresponding cDNA sequence was 1560 bp encoding a 520 aa protein, which had high similarities with other laccases from basidiomycetes. Furthermore, a length of 1881 bp of 5'-terminal sequence of transcription control of lacA, amplified by the improved inverse PCR, contained a TATA box, seven CAAT boxes as well as a number of putative cis-acting elements important for its expression, including five MREs, nine CreA-binding sites, four XREs, two STREs and seven nitrogen factor binding sites. The existence of these elements was well in agreement with the data obtained from Trametes sp. AH28-2 shaken-flask cultures.
5' Untranslated Regions ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Copper ; pharmacology ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Isoenzymes ; Laccase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Trametes ; enzymology ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

The effect of CO2 and the manner of CO2 offer on the growth rate and maximual cell density of ultro-high density culture of Chaetoceros mulleri in the photobioreactor were studied in the work. The amount of CO2 offered to the culture was controlled by the parameter of pH value in the culture. Furthermore the growth kinetics of Chaetoceros muller in the photobioreactor was studied. The results showed requirement of CO2 by the cells and the increase of pH in the culture were the key limiting factors to the growth, when a high cell concentration in the culture was reached. The offer of CO2 could improve the statute of CO2, could control the pH in the culture and increase the growth rate and maximum cell density. The results from the experiments of CO2 offer manner showed different efficiency to growth was resulted from differences of CO2 offer manner. The best way is mixing the CO2 and air before the CO2 was offered to the culture.
Bioreactors ; Carbon Dioxide ; pharmacology ; Culture Media ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Diatoms ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo study the influences of hypertension and diabetes on arterial compliances and endothelial microparticle level.

METHODSFifty patients with hypertension and diabetes, 46 with hypertension, and 48 with diabetes were enrolled in this study, with 50 healthy volunteers group serving as the normal control. Large arterial compliance (C1) and small arterial compliance (C2) were measured using CVProfilor DO2020 cardiovascular profiling system, and the levels of CD31+/CD42- endothelial microparticles (EMPs) were determined by flow cytometry in these subjects.

RESULTSCompared with the hypertensive patients, diabetic patients and healthy volunteers, the patients with both hypertension and diabetes showed significantly decreased C1 and C2. C1 and C2 were significantly decreased in the hypertensive patients in comparison with those in the diabetic patients and the healthy volunteers. Compared with the healthy volunteers group, the diabetic patients showed markedly decreased C2 but normal C1. The levels of CD31+/CD42- EMPs were significantly increased in patients with both hypertension and diabetes compared with the other groups, and the diabetic patients had higher EMPs levels than the hypertensive patients. Pearson regression analysis indicated that C1 and C2 were inversely, while the levels of EMPs positively, correlated to the pulse pressure and 2 h plasma glucose; the levels of EMPs were not related with fasting glycemia.

CONCLUSIONHypertension appears to have greater impact on arterial compliance, especially C1, while diabetes is the major factor responsible for increased release of EMPs.

Arteries ; physiopathology ; Blood Pressure ; Case-Control Studies ; Compliance ; Diabetes Mellitus ; physiopathology ; Elasticity ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

In this study the effects of bone marrow stromal cells conditioned medium on the expansion of mature megakaryocytes and colony forming unit-megakaryocyte (CFU-Meg) in vitro were investigated. The serum-free bone marrow fibroblast conditioned medium (F-CM), bone marrow endothelial cell conditioned medium (E-CM) and bone marrow macrophage conditioned medium (M-CM) were collected and ultrafiltrated by using Centriprep-10. F-CM, E-CM, M-CM, the retentate (>10 kDa F-CM, >10 kDa E-CM and >10 kDa M-CM) contained substances whose molecular weight was more than 10 kDa and the filtrate (<10 kDa F-CM, <10 kDa E-CM and <10 kDa M-CM) contained substances whose molecular weight was less than 10 kDa were added in liquid culture system respectively. The results showed that F-CM, >10 kDa F-CM and E-CM, >10 kDa E-CM significantly promoted the expansion of mature megakaryocytes in liquid culture system, the percentage of mature megakaryocytes compared with 0 h control were (287.33-/+16.77)%, (236.67-/+39.72)%, (141.21-/+17.47)% and (179.03-/+30.98)%. But <10 kDa F-CM, <10 kDa E-CM, M-CM, >10 kDa M-CM and <10 kDa M-CM had no positive effects on the expansion of mature megakaryocytes. The effects of F-CM, E-CM or M-CM on the expansion of CFU-Meg were also investigated. The results indicated that F-CM and E-CM promoted the expansion of CFU-Meg in liquid culture system. M-CM had no positive effect on the expansion of CFU-Meg. the percentage of CFU-Meg compared with 0 h control were (168.18-/+30.24)%, (215.17-/+17.4)% and (85.0-/+7.0)%. The results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR ) showed that transforming growth factor -beta1 (TGF-beta1) mRNA was expressed in bone marrow endothelial cells and was not expressed in bone marrow fibroblasts. Thrombopoietin (TPO) mRNA was expressed in bone marrow fibroblasts and was not expressed in bone marrow endothelial cells. These results suggest that F-CM, >10kDa F-CM and E-CM, >10kDa E-CM significantly promoted the expansion of mature megakaryocytes and CFU-Meg in liquid culture system. The effect of F-CM on the expansion of mature megakaryocytes is better than that of E-CM.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Culture Media, Conditioned ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Megakaryocyte Progenitor Cells ; cytology ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; Mice ; Stromal Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between lamivudine-resistant mutants of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and serum HBV DNA loading before antiviral therapy.

METHODSThis study involved 106 patients with hepatitis B receiving lamivudine treatment for an average of 32 months (rang 12-48 months). Serum HBV DNA loadings were measured with PCR before and every 4 to 6 months during lamivudine therapy. HBV YMDD mutants were detected using mismatched PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) during lamivudine treatment.

RESULTSHBV DNA loading was significantly higher in patients infected with HBV YMDD mutants during lamivudine therapy than those infected with HBV without YMDD mutation.

CONCLUSIONHigh viral loading in hepatitis B patients before treatment is associated with high likeliness of HBV YMDD mutation during lamivudine treatment. HBV DNA loading may be indicative for the occurrence of YMDD mutation during lamivudine therapy.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Viral Load ; genetics

As one of the most serious types of psoriasis, pathogenesis of erythrodermic psoriasis (EP) is unclear so far. In this study, we aimed to detect the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokine-associated transcription factors and T-lymphocyte clone in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from EP patients, and gene expression level of T-bet/GATA-3 in skin lesion. The potential role of Th1/Th2 reaction pattern played in the pathogenesis of EP was also discussed. Serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were quantified by ELISA among 16 EP patients, 20 psoriasis vulgaris (PV) patients and 15 healthy controls. The expression levels of T-bet/GATA-3 in the skin lesion and PBMCs were examined by real-time qPCR. The ratio of Th1/Th2 was measured by flow cytometry. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 were higher in EP patients than in the healthy controls. The levels of IL-4 and IL-10 were 69.44±11.45 and 12.62±4.57 pg/mL, respectively, in EP patients, significantly higher than those in PV patients and healthy controls (P<0.05). Flow cytometry revealed the levels of both Th1 and Th2 in PBMCs from EP patients were higher than those in healthy controls, and the Th1/Th2 ratio was dramatically lower than in PV patients (P<0.01). The ratios of IFN-γ/IL-4 and T-bet/GATA-3 in EP patients were both less than 1.0, suggesting a reversal when compared with the other two groups. Our study indicated that the EP patients exerted a Th1/Th2 bidirectional response pattern, and the balance of Th cell subsets inclines to Th2, which might be one of the important mechanisms of EP pathogenesis.