Objective To explore the effects of wearing ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) on motor function in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). Methods Fifty-two children with SCP were randomly divided into a wearing-for-training group (n = 16, group 1 ), a day-wearing group (n = 19, group 2) and a day-night-wearing group (n = 17, group 3). In addition to the conventional rehabilitative treatment given to all participants, the children in group 1 wore AFOs during movement training, and children in group 2 wore AFOs in the daytime for 6-8 h per day, while AFOs were applied to the children in group 3 for 24 hours a day except for cleaning and during certain training routines. All the treatments were continued for 2 months. Clinical assessments included the range of passive ankle dorsi-and plantarflexion (APROM) , modified Ashworth scale (MAS) ratings, and the D and E dimensions of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM). All were performed before and after treatment. Results Before treat-ment, no statistically significant differences were found among the three groups in terms of APROM, MAS, or GM-FM. There were significant subsequent improvements in groups 2 and 3 when compared with group 1 in terms of APROM, MAS and GMFM results. Group 2's improvements in APROM and MAS results were not significantly better than those of group 3, but their average GMFM score improvements were significantly better. Conclusion Wearing AFOs in the daytime 6-8 hours per day is more effective in reducing spasticity and improving functional performance in children with SCP.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the CT image characteristics of liver secondary lymphoma.

METHODSThe medical records of 13 patients were reviewed. There were 12 non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases and 1 Hodgkin lymphoma case. Abdomen CT scan was performed in all cases, plain scan and enhanced CT scan were performed in 11 cases, plain CT scan was performed in 2 cases.

RESULTSOf the 13 cases, 11 were nodular type, 1 was diffuse type, and 1 was mixed type. Plain CT scan showed low density, enhanced CT showed circular enhancement in 1 case, mild to midrange delayed enhancement in 1 case, midrange enhancement in 1 case, mild enhancement in 2 cases, blood vessel floating sign in 3 cases, no enhancement in 6 cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe characteristics of liver secondary lymphoma CT image of liver secondary lymphoma includes blood vessel floating sign and enhancement.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hodgkin Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Lymphoma ; diagnostic imaging ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Angiography, Digital Subtraction ; methods ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between gene p53 codon 72 polymorphism and pathological scar formation occurrence after caesarean section.

METHODSThe method of molecular beacon with real-time PCR was applied to detect gene polymorphism of p53 codon 72 in blood samples taken from 303 pregnant women (within a week after caesarea section). The clinical visits were taken 3 times for 12th to 18th months to ascertain clinical formation of pathological scar and its relationship to genotype of p53. The chi-square method was used to analyze the relationship of p53 gene polymorphism and abnormal scar formation occurrence by statistical software SPSS 13.0.

RESULTSTotal of 303 pregnant women were assayed. 30 patients were found with pathological scar by clinical visit in the total 303 pregnant women. The genotype frequencies of total three types (C/C, C/G and G/G) of p53 gene codon 72 in patients with pathological scar are significantly different from that of normal pregnant woman. The frequency of C/C genotype in patients are higher than that of normal pregnant women (P < 0.01). The frequency of C/C genotype in these patients with pathological scar is higher (46.7%, 14/30) than C/G (33.0%, 10/30, P < 0.01) or G/G (20%, 6/30) genotype (P < 0.01). The C allele frequency in the patients is 63.7%. It is also higher than G allele (36.7%, P < 0.01). The OR value is 2.30. Therefore the C allele of p53 gene codon 72 is a risk factor for pathological scar.

CONCLUSIONSThere was a certain relationship between p53 gene codon 72 C allele and pathological scar formation after caesarean section.

Alleles ; Cesarean Section ; Cicatrix ; genetics ; Codon ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genes, p53 ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Ethanol ; administration & dosage ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy

Acute Disease ; Blast Crisis ; genetics ; Genes, Retinoblastoma ; Genes, Wilms Tumor ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; U937 Cells

To explore the feasibility of real-time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) for selecting cell strains which overexpress a certain transgene, expression level of RbAp46 was detected in transfected cell strains by using optimal real-time PCR with SYBR Green I. Meanwhile, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to compare with the QRT-PCR. The results showed that values of RbAp46(N) were 2064.42 +/- 253.47, 860.94 +/- 291.07, 234.456 +/- 31.08, 18.17 +/- 5.14 and 1.46 +/- 0.54 in K562/RbAp46, K562/CMV, SHG44/RbAp46 monoclone, SHG44/RbAp46 multiclone and SHG44/CMV, respectively. The results were consistent with that determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. It is concluded that QRT-PCR provides a highly efficient and reproducible method for selection of transfected cell subclones at different level of transgene expression.
Blotting, Western ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organic Chemicals ; chemistry ; RNA, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Retinoblastoma-Binding Protein 7 ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Transfection ; Transgenes ; genetics

In order to study the potential effects of exogenous WT1 gene isoform on apoptosis in leukemia cell line NB4 and its possible molecular mechanisms, the eukaryotic expression recombinant vector (pCB6(+)/WTA) containing full-length human WT1 isoform (WTA: -17aa/-KTS) cDNA and the vacant vector-alone were introduced into the leukemia cell line NB4 respectively by electroporation. The WTA mRNA and protein in cells were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Binding of Annexin V were tested by flow cytometry and agarose gel electrophoresis to verify whether exogenous WTA could induce apoptosis of NB4 cells. Expressions of p21, p53, bcl-2, bcl-XL and c-myc genes were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR after introducing recombinant vectors into the NB4 cells. The results showed that in exposure to As(2)O(3) at 0.8 micromol/L for 48 hours, the NB4/WTA cells exhibited the morphological hallmarks of apoptosis, the marked DNA ladder shown by gel electrophoresis, and the enhanced apoptosis rate marked by Annexin V. RT-PCR showed an increase in p21 and c-myc genes expression, a decrease in bcl-2 and a relative constant expression of p53, bcl-XL in NB4/WTA cells. It is concluded that the introduction and expression of exogenous WTA gene can lead to apoptosis of NB4/WTA cells by down-regulating the Bcl-2 gene expression and up-regulating the p21 and c-myc genes expression.
Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; WT1 Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; bcl-X Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo prepare a specific high molecular weight polymer contrast agent capable of specifically targeting hepatocarcinoma cells (HCC) and to investigate its affinity in vitro using HepG2 cells.

METHODSThe high molecular weight polymer polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLAG)-COOH was prepared by the double emulsion technique. PLAG-COOH microbubbles were combined with glypican-3 (GPC3) antibody to generate HCC targeting high molecular polymer ultrasound contrast agents by the carbodiimide method. The affinity for HCC cells was confirmed by measuring attachment to cultured HepG2 cells by flow cytometry and comparing the results with the properties observed for non-targeted high molecular weight polymer ultrasound contrast agents.

RESULTSThe average diameter of the targeted high molecular weight polymer ultrasound contrast agents was (800+/-10) nm. In vitro targeting of HepG2 cells showed that many of the targeted high molecular weight polymer ultrasound contrast agents attached tightly to the cell surface and that the GPC3-PLGA has a particularly strong targeting ability.

CONCLUSIONA HCC-specific high molecular contrast agent, GPC3-PLGA, was synthesized and evidenced a strong targeting ability towards HepG2 cells in vitro. This new agent may be exploited to improve diagnosis of liver cancer at the molecular level.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Contrast Media ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Microbubbles ; Molecular Weight

OBJECTIVETo study the potential effects of exogenous WT1 gene isoform on the differentiation of leukemia cell line NB4 and its possible molecular mechanisms.

METHODSThe recombinant eukaryotic expression vector (pCB6 + /WTA) containing full-length human WT1 isoform (WTA: -17AA/ -KTS) cDNA and the blank pCB6 + vector were transfected into leukemia cell line NB4 by electroporation. The WTA mRNA and protein in cells were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell morphology, NBT reduction and CD11b antigen expression in NB4 cells were assayed to evaluate cell differentiation. Expression of PML/RARalpha, p21 and c-myc genes was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR after transfection.

RESULTSCompared with NB4/WTA cells, NB4 and NB4/CMV (NB4 cells transfected with pCB6 + vector) cells had higher morphological differentiation rates and higher CD11b expression levels after exposure to ATRA for 48 hours. The percentage of NBT reduction in NB4/WTA cells was lower than that in control groups. The difference in NBT reduction rate between NB4/WTA and control cells was gradually increased after treated with ATRA for three days. The expression levels of PML/RARalpha, p21 and c-myc genes in NB4/WTA cells were notably increased.

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of exogenous WTA gene could partially inhibit the differentiation of NB4 cells by up-regulating the expression of PML/RARalpha, p21 and c-myc genes.

Cell Cycle ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection ; WT1 Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism