Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology ; Cytodiagnosis ; methods ; Cytological Techniques ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Receptors, Progesterone ; analysis

Objective To analyse the clinical characteristics,therapeutic modalities and prognosis of pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma(LCNEC). Methods The clinical data of 14 patients with pulmonary LCNEC confirmed by surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Results No case was correctely diagnosed before surgery.The immunohistochemical amalysis of the specimens revealed the characters of endocrine carcinoma.Twelve cases received adjuvant chemotherapy of platinum agents,but recurrence or metastasis was found in 8 of them several months after surgery.The median survival time was 19 months.The 1-year,2-year and 3-year survival rate were 85.7%(12/14),21.4%(3/14) and not more than 14.3%(2/14),respectively.The statistical analysis showed that the stage,lymph node metastasis and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy may have impacts on the prognosis of pulmonary LCNEC. Conclusion Pulmonary LCNEC is a carcinoma with poor prognosis,high tendency of invasion and metastasis.The stage of disease,lymph node metastasis,and adjuvant chemotherapy may be related to the prognosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on myocardial tissue pathology,oxidative stress and apoptosis in rat fed a high-fat diet,and to explore the possible mechanism of CIH induced cardiomyocyte injury.Methods A total of 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=8 each).The control group was fed common rat forage,the high-fat group was fed high-fat forage,and the high-fat plus intermittent hypoxia group was fed high-fat forage combined with a 7h/d intermittent hypoxia treatment.The changes of myocardial tissue pathology and ultrastructure of cardiomyocyte,and the activities of apoptosis regulating factor cysteine-containing aspartate-specific proteases-3 (caspase-3) and oxidative stress marker myeloperoxidase (MPO) were observed in the 3 groups after 4 weeks of treatment.Results There were significant differences in the activities of caspase-3 and MPO among the three group (F=89.94,71.24,both P＝0.001).The activities of caspase-3 and MPO were lower in the control group than in the high-fat group and in high fat plus intermittent hypoxia group [(0.21±0.06) vs.(0.80±0.11),(1.15±0.21),(3.20±0.58) vs.(10.87±1.96),(13.17±2.22),P＜0.01].The activities of caspase-3 and MPO were higher in the high-fat plus intermittent hypoxia group than in the high fat group[(1.15±0.21) vs.(0.80±0.11),(13.17±2.22) vs.(10.87±1.96),P＜0.01].No abnormal findings in the structure of cardiomyocyte were observed in the control group,while multiple pathologic damages in cardiomyocyte were detected in the high-fat group,and more obvious injuries in the high-fat plus intermittent hypoxia group.Conclusions The pathologic damages to cardiomyocyte are more serious in high fat and intermittent hypoxia group than in the high-fat group.Apoptosis induced by oxidative stress may play an important role in the pathogenesis of these injuries.

Objective To establish the model of glioma by hypodermic of C6 cells line into the nude mice and observe the growth characteristics. Methods The C6 gliocyte suspension was injected into the left subaxillary hypoderma of nude mice. The diameter and the volume of the tumor were measured and calculated, and the volume-time growth curve was plotted. The cells of tumor were observed under the HE and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immono-histochemistry staining. Results The tumor appeared in inoculation area 7 d after injection, and presented nearly exponential development after about 20 d. The survival time of the nude mice is 22～48 d. The tumors were with sharp border, affluent blood vessel, and a great number of GFAP-positive cells. Conclusion The model of glioma can be well induced by hypodermic of the cultured C6 gliocyte into nude mouse.

BACKGROUNDHigh uric acid (UA) levels and metabolic syndrome (MS) are risk factors for atherosclerotic diseases. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) is a valid and reproducible measurement by which to assess arterial stiffness and a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. However, little is known about the relationship between them, especially in elderly Chinese with MS components who are at high risk for atherosclerotic diseases.

METHODSOne thousand and twenty Chinese subjects (159 women) older than 60 years of age (mean age (70.6 ± 5.7) years) with at least one MS component underwent routine laboratory tests, and baPWV measurements were analyzed.

RESULTSParticipants were divided into four groups by MS components. The mean age did not significantly differ among the MS component groups. We found that not only the diagnostic factors (blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), lipids, glucose) of MS but also baPWV, UA, insulin, homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistence index (HOMAIR) levels increased, and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-C decreased with an increased number of MS components (test for trend P < 0.05). The association between UA and baPWV was observed after adjustment for gender, age, blood pressure, BMI, serum creatinine and high density lipoprotein, and insulin resistance (r = 0.186, P < 0.0001). There were increases in the odds ratios for the association between the number of components of MS, UA and baPWV, even after adjustment for traditional risk factors. However, after adjustment for insulin or HOMA-IR, there were no significant differences in the multivariate odds ratios among the number of MS components for UA.

CONCLUSIONSThe UA level is positively associated with baPWV and MS, but the association between UA and MS is dependent on insulin resistance. Furthermore, baPWV is independently associated with MS in our study population.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Brachial Artery ; physiopathology ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Uric Acid ; blood ; Vascular Stiffness ; physiology

Objective To study the effects of health management on cardiovascular events in the elderly patients with hypertension. Methods A total of 182 elderly patients with hypertension were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 61 ), pharmacologic therapy group (n = 61 ) or health management group ( n = 60). Serum biomarkers, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity ( baPWV ), and blood pressure were tested at baseline and after intervention. Results There were no differences between the 2 groups in clinical characteristics at baseline. The average following-up period was (21 ± 7 ) months. The improvement of systolic blood pressure ( t = 3.915, P = 0. 000 ), pulse pressure ( t = 3. 966, P = 0. 000), and baPWV ( t = 3. 093, P = 0. 002) in the health management group was more significant than the control group;the systolic blood pressure ( t = 2. 008, P= 0. 046 ) was bitterly improved than the pharmacologic therapy group. The accumulative survival rate of the health management group (96. 7% ) was higher than the control group (83.6%; x2 =5. 921 ,P =0. 015) ,similar to the pharmacologic therapy group (93.3%; x2 =2. 821,P=0.091 ). Decreased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and baPWV were protective factors. After adjusted by age and gender,the improvement of systolic blood pressure was found to be an independent protective factors ( RR = 0. 75, P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion Health management in elderly patients with hypertension could more significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective To study the effects of health management on blood pressure and lifestyle of hypertensive outpatients.Methods A total of 319 hypertensive outpatients were randomly assigned to the control group (n =160) or the health management group (n =159).Pharmacologic therapy was given to the control group,while in the health management group,intensive health management combined with pharmacologic therapy was conducted.Blood pressure,height,body weight (BW),total cholesterol (TC),and fasting blood glucose (FBG) of the participants were measured and compared at baseline and 12 months.Results There were no significant differences of clinical characteristics between two groups at baseline.After 12 months' intervention,more significant decrease of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure was found in the health management group (t values were 2.701 and 2.306,respectively;both P ＜ 0.05).There were statistically significant differences of body mass index (BMI) and serum TC levels between the control and the health management group (t values were 2.111 and 2.227,respectively ;P ＜ 0.05).After the intervention,two groups showed no significant difference in current cigarette smoking (x2=2.787,P ＞ 0.05).The participants in the health management group showed improved physical exercises,diet,and adherence to treatment at the end of the observation (x2 values were 59.459,52.018,6.321 and 5.392,respectively; all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with pharmacologic therapy,health management combined with pharmacologic therapy could significantly improve clinical parameters and life style of hypertensive patients.

The high molecular weight genomic DNA of yeast was extracted using three methods.Products were separated on agarose gel electrophoresis,quantified by spectrophotometer ND-1000 and restricted by EcoRⅠand MesⅠ.The result was shown that the genomic DNA extracted by modified benzyl chloride method was the best.The products of wild isolates supported it,too.This method was suitable for restriction of genomic DNA from yeast.

Objective To study the relationship between the intervals of Mitomycin C treatment and cytotoxicity, apoptosis and drug resistance for bladder cancer cells.Methods The bladder transitional cell cancer line BIU-87 was treated for two hours every time for five times with intervals of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively.Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT.p53,bcl-2,Bax and p170 expression were analyzed by Western blot.Results The IC_(50)(?g/ml)were 4.41,0.71,2.83,4.51and 6.16 with treatment intervals of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours respectively, p53 and bcl-2 were significantly down-regulated and bcl-2/Bax was re- duced at 24 hour treatment interval but not changed at 48,72 and 96 hour intervals,p170 was not detected at 24 hour treatment interval but increasingly expressed at 48,72 and 96 hours intervals.Conclusion The in- terval of Mitomycin C treatment is closely related with cytotoxieity and apoptosis and drug resistance of blad- der cancer cells.The intervals of intravesical instillations may play an important role in the effect of chemotherapy.

An extended 5-generation family has been investigated in which 32 of the 111 family members were diagnosed as having retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The proband was a 58-year old male in whom night-blindness was first observed in early childhood, with almost loss of vision by 52 years of age. The symptoms observed in other family members included night-blindness, impaired vision and visual field loss. Dementia, digital abnormalities, deaf-mutism and mental retardation were variously diagnosed in a number of individuals with RP. The affected and unaffected family members were tested for mutations in a range of candidate genes. The 8 exons of three candidate genes have been analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing techniques. A novel mutation was identified in the rhodopsin gene at codon 52 of exon 1 (TTC-TAC) that resulted in a substitution of Phe to Tyr.
DNA Mutational Analysis ; Family Health ; *Genes, Dominant/genetics ; Pedigree ; *Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Retinitis Pigmentosa/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA