Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphomatoid Papulosis ; Skin Neoplasms

Objective To comparatively analyze Toxoplasma gondii separated from HIV-positive people and RH strain GRA6 gene. Methods By using the nested PCR the amplification of Dali HIV-positive blood samples and RH strains of Toxo-plasma GRA6 genome was performed. The GRA6 gene amplification positive product was selected and the electrophoresis imag-ing was performed by being digested with the Mse I endonuclease and the gene sequences were measured and analyzed. Re-sults The GRA6 gene fragment 800 bp was successfully amplified and about 600 bp and 200 bp bands were got by Mse I. The sequencing results showed that T. gondii GRA6 gene positive samples had 2 nucleotide variation compared with T. gondii strain RH namely 447 base pair at C becoming G and 623 base pair at G becoming T. At 146 bp and 690 bp the Mse I restric-tion sites TTAA were found. Conclusion The preliminary judgment shows that the Dali HIV-positive T. gondii genotype is consistent with RH strain belonging to genotype I.

Objective To study the changes of mRNA and protein expressions of Kras gene in thymic lymphomas induced by ionizing radiation,and to detect the methylation of CpG islands in promoter region of Kras gene,then to investigate the mechanisms for the occurrence of radiation carcinogenesis.Methods The thymic lymphoma models of BALB/c mice were made by X-ray irradiation,then the total RNA was extracted,cDNA was synthesized and the total protein was extracted from both thymic lymphoma tissue and normal thymus tissue;the mRNA and protein expressions of Kras gene in thymic lymphoma tissue and normal thymus tissue were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting method, and the methylation of CpG islands in promoter region of Kras gene was detected by bisulfite sequencing PCR. Results The mRNA expression level of Kras gene in thymic lymphoma tissue was significantly higher than that in normal thymus tissue(P<0.01).The protein expression level in thymic lymphoma tissue was about 1.41 times higher than that in normal thymus tissue;4 CpG sites were methylated detected by bisulfite sequencing PCR in normal thymus tissue, however, 1 CpG site was methylated in thymic lymphoma tissue,the CpG islands in promoter region of Kras gene were demethylation state in thymic lymphoma. Conclusion Ionizing radiation can cause the changes of mRNA and protein expression levels of Kras gene in thymic lymphoma tissue by demethylation state of Kras gene,eventually lead to the occurrence of tumor;it might be one of the mechanisms for the occurrence of radiation carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of mifepristone on cell proliferation of human androgen-independent prostate carcinoma cell lines DU-145, PC-3 in vitro and the possible mechanisms involved.

METHODSThe A values of the prostate cancer cells DU-145 and PC-3 in each group with various concentrations (1, 10, 50, 100 micromol/L) of mifepristone at various time intervals (24-120 h) were detected with the colorimetric 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The apoptosis rates of the DU-145 and PC-3 cells treated with 10 micromol/L of mifepristone for 24 h and 48 h were assessed by flow cytometry analysis technique. Immunohistochemical technique was used to determine the expression of bax, bcl-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins after treatment with 10 micromol/L of mifepristone.

RESULTSThe A values of the cancer cells treated with 1 micromol/L of mifepristone were similar to that of controls, while those of the cells treated with 10 micromol/L, 50 micromol/L and 100 micromol/L of mifepristone were significantly different from that of controls (P < 0.01). Mifepristone markedly inhibited cell proliferation of prostate cancer cells DU-145 and PC-3 on a dose- and time-depending manner. The apoptosis rates of 10 micromol/L mifepristone for DU-145 cell line at 24 h, 48 h were respectively 15.3%, 30.4% with flow cytometry method and then PC-3 cell line were respectively 22.2%, 32.0%. Immunohistochemical technique showed the expression of bcl-2 and VEGF in the DU-145 and PC-3 cells treated with 10 micromol/L of mifepristone were significantly decreased, and the expression of bax was increased.

CONCLUSIONSMifepristone can induce apoptosis of androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines DU-145 and PC-3 in vitro. The apoptosis effect is time-and-dose dependent. Mifepristone could initiate a cell death command via apoptotic pathways decreasing the expression of VEGF protein, downregulating the expression of bcl-2 protein and increasing the expression of bax protein.

Androgens ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Colorimetry ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flow Cytometry ; Hormone Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Mifepristone ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Time Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To survey the treatment stares and clinical features of hospitalized patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) of 13 hospitals in Beijing in 2005.Methods Uniform questionnaires were used to register AMI patients hospitalized from January 1 to December 31,2005 in the 13 hospitals including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals (n = 6) and western medicine hospitals (WM,n=7) from Beijing.A total of 1663 AMI patients were registered (1366 cases in WM hospitals and 297 cases in TCM hospitals).An Access database was established and patient informations were inputed,the clinical features and treatment status of hospitalized AMI patients were analyzed.Results The mean age was (63.9±12.8) years old[(62.8±12.8) years for WM Hospitals and(69.1±11.8) years for TCM hospitals,P＜0.05],male to female ratio was 2.4 :1 (2.7:1 for WM hospitals and 1.6:1 for TCM hospitals,P＜0.05).The median time to hospital was 14 hours in TCM hospitals and 11 hours in WM hospitals (P＞0.05).Incidences of history of cerebrovascular disease,high blood pressure,diabetes,hyperlipidemia and complications such as in-patient arrhythmia,cardiac insufficiency,cardiogenic shock were significantly higher in TCM hospitals than in WM hospitals.The total mortality of 1663 AMI cases was 8.2% (15.8% in TCM hospitals vs.6.6% in WM hospitals,P＜0.01).The reperfusion rate including emergency PCI and thrombolytic therapy rate was 31.3% in 13 hospitals (33.3% in WM hospitals vs.21.9% in TCM hospitals,P ＜0.05).Percent of guideline recommend drug use for AMI was as follows:aspirin 93.6%,ACEI and ARB 85.1%,β-blocker 78.7%,low molecular weight heparin 85.4%,statins 74.7%.Conclusions Reperfusion therapy and guildline recommended drugs were widely used although there was a need for further improvement.The hospitalized mortality showesd a downward trend compared with results from five years ago,patients in TCM hospitals had an independent clinical features.

OBJECTIVETo identify the RUNX2 gene mutation in two unrelated Chinese families with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), and to assess the feasibility of gene diagnosis for patients with CCD.

METHODSGenomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples of 4 patients and 4 healthy members in the two pedigrees as well as 102 unrelated healthy controls. All 7 coding exons and their flanking intronic sequences of the RUNX2 gene were amplified by PCR, then the PCR products were sequenced bi-directionally. The sequencing results were compared with normal sequences in GenBank to identify the mutation. The mutation was confirmed by RFLP with restriction endonuclease.

RESULTSIn one family, a novel heterozygous missense mutation c.346T to A (W116R) in exon 1 of the RUNX2 gene was detected in the two affected individuals, and the mutation was further confirmed with Bsr I restriction endonuclease digestion. In the other family, a novel nonsense mutation c.610A TO T (K204X) was identified in the two patients. No above sequence change was found in the 102 healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONTwo novel RUNX2 mutations were found in two unrelated Chinese families with cleidocranial dysplasia. The identification of these mutations further extended the mutation spectrum of RUNX2 gene and will facilitate prenatal diagnosis and gene diagnosis of CCD.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Cleidocranial Dysplasia ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Restriction Mapping

To explore a rapid and easy method to detect labile iron of pool (LIP) in cells, HL-60 and K562 cells were cultured at a concentration 1 x 10(6)/ml in RPMI 1640 containing 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum. The iron deprivation was induced by adding desferrioxamine (DFO) 10 - 100 micromol/L for 0 - 48 hours. The intracellular LIP was measured by probe calcein-AM. Calcein fluorescence was monitored in 1420 multilabel counter. The results indicated that when HL-60 and K562 cells were incubated with different concentrations of DFO, the calcein fluorescence intensity was higher than that of control group at 12, 24 and 48 hours (P < 0.05). Fluorescence value of representing LIP in DFO groups was lower than that in the control group. In conclusion, DFO can decrease LIP in leukemia cells. The approach used in this study may provide a simple and reliable method for detection of intracellular iron homeostasis.
Cation Transport Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; biosynthesis ; metabolism ; Deferoxamine ; pharmacology ; Fluoresceins ; Fluorescent Dyes ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Iron Chelating Agents ; analysis ; metabolism ; Iron-Regulatory Proteins ; metabolism ; K562 Cells

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hearing Disorders ; chemically induced ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Ribavirin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the roles of total prostate specific antigen (tPSA), PSA density (PSAD) and biopsy Gleason score in predicting the pathologic stage of prostate cancer.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 124 cases of pathologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma, and divided them into Groups A (n=48) and B (n=76) based on the results of bone scanning, CT, MRI, tPSA, PSAD and postoperative biopsy Gleason score, the former with extraprostatic infiltration or distant metastasis, while the latter without. We compared the above parameters between the two groups, screened the main factors that influenced the pathologic staging of prostate cancer by multivariate logistic regression analysis, and appraised the value of each of the parameters in predicting the pathologic stage of prostate cancer with a relative operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

RESULTSThe tPSA level and biopsy Gleason score were significantly higher in Group A than in B (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only tPSA could predict the pathologic stage of localized prostate cancer. The ROC curve exhibited that the combined use of tPSA and Gleason score had a better predicting value than other parameters (Gleason score + tPSA > tPSA > PSAD + tPSA + Gleason score).

CONCLUSIONTotal PSA remains a valuable predictor of the pathologic stage of prostate cancer, and its combination with Gleason score can further improve the predictive accuracy and contribute much to the treatment and prognosis of the disease.

Adenocarcinoma ; blood ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Period ; Prognosis ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of MICA/B in human esophageal cancer, and to analyze its correlation with clinicopathological features.

METHODSThe expression of MICA/B in 40 cases of esophagus carcinoma and corresponding normal esophageal mucosa tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe positive rate of expression of MICA/B protein in the esophageal carcinoma was 75.0% (30/40), and that in the corresponding normal esophageal mucosa was 0 (0/40). Up-regulation of MICA/B expression was found in the esophageal carcinomas. The expression of MICA/B was related with histological grade of the esophageal carcinoma (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONMICA/B protein plays an important role in the esophageal carcinogenesis, and my become a useful molecular marker for the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Up-Regulation