Objective To explore the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF- lα)and nestin in the hippocampus of developing rats after pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced starus epilepticus (SE),and the correlation between HIF-1α level and proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs). Methods A total of 768 SD rats,including rats of postnatal 7 days (P7,n-192),rats of postnatal 14 days (P14,n=192),rats of postnatal 21 days (P21,n=192) and rats of postnatal 28 days (P28,n=192),were equally randomized into vehicle group (n=96) and control group (n-96),respectively; SE rat models of the vehicle group were induced by intraperitoneal injection of 1％ PTZ (80 mg/kg); and rats of the control group were received injection of normal saline (NS); 6 and 12 h,and 1,2,3 and 7 d after the inducement,the mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α in the hippocampus of rats in these 8 groups were examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Another 48 21-d- old SD rats were equally randomized into vehicle I group (n=24) and intervention group (n=24); and rats in the intervention group received injection of HIF-lα antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASODN) into the right hippocampus and NS into the left hippocampus; 6 h after the injection,these 48 rats were induced into SE models by intraperitoneal injection of 1％ PTZ (80 mg/kg); 2 d after the inducement, the mRNA expression of HIF-1α in the hippocampus was examined by RT-PCR; and 7 and 14 d after theinducement, the protein expressions of HIF-1α and nestin in the hippocampus were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results The mRNA expression of HIF-1 α in the hippocampus of all the rats in the vehicle group after SE increased significantly with similar trend.Six h after SE,the HIF-1α mRNA expression significantly decreased with time prolongation (P＜0.05). Major HIF-1α positive cells were located in different areas at different time after SE. In intervention experiment, the HIF-1α mRNA expression 2 d after SE and the number ofnestin positive cells 7 and 14 d after SE in the vehicle I group and the left hippocampus of intervention group(being intervented with ASODN) obviously decreased as compared with those in the right hippocampus (being intervented with NS,P＜0.05). Conclusion The mRNA and protein expressions of HIF-1α in the hippocampus of developing rats are enhanced after SE with a correlation of age-in-days; correlativity between HIF-1α and proliferation of NSCs might exist after SE.

Objective To explore the pathological and imaging features of epithelioid angiomyolipoma(EAML). Methods A 47-year-old man presented with dull pain in left upper abdomen for 1 year admitted to hospital.Accompanied with several enlarged lymph nodes,a mass with the largest diameter of 28 cm in the left kidney was inhomogeneously enhanced on CT.The left kidney and the mass were radically resected with regional lymph node dissection after general anaesthesia. Results During the operation,a well-circumscribed,encapsulated mass with several paraaortic lymph nodes was found on the upper-middle left kidney.The gross cut surface showed fleshy texture with regions of necrosis.Microscopically and immunohistochemistrically,diffuse sheets of epithelioid cells were found with positivity for HMB-45 and negativity for EMA.CT features included higher pre-contrasted density,absent fat,enhanced mode of quick wash-in and slow wash-out.There was neither metastasis nor recurrence during the 1 year follow-up. Conclusion EAML with malignant potency is a rare tumor of mesenchymal tissue presenting with some specific radiopathological features and a good prognosis.

Acne Vulgaris ; therapy ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Needles

OBJECTIVE: To establish the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism with blood samples by liquid-based cytology technique and to study the validity of method. METHODS: The blood samples were collected from patients who suffered from amniotic fluid embolism. The components of amniotic fluid in blood samples were examined with blood smear by two direct smear methods (supernatant smear, sediment smear) and two liquid-based cytology methods (automatic smear, manual smear). The positive detection rate of each method was calculated. RESULTS: The positive detection rates of two liquid-based cytology methods (84.6% and 92.3%, respectively) were much higher than those of two direct methods (53.8% and 61.5%, respectively). CONCLUSION The liquid-based cytology technique could improve the positive detection rate of amniotic fluid embolism.
Amniotic Fluid ; Cytological Techniques/methods* ; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid/diagnosis* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

METHODSWe summarized the clinical presentation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytological findings in 4 cases of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

RESULTSAll the patients presented with signs of elevated intracranial pressure such as headache. Enlarged cerebral ventricles and dural enhancement were found by MRI, with also the presence of malignant cells in cytological slides.

CONCLUSIONCSF cytological examination is important for diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis.

Aged ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningeal Carcinomatosis ; cerebrospinal fluid ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo retrospectively investigate the diagnosis and the outcome of Caroli's disease treated by surgical procedures.

METHODSThe clinical data of 68 patients with Caroli's disease treated by surgical procedures between 1996 and 2002 were reviewed, retrospectively.

RESULTSThe patients, with a M/F ratio of 1:1.35 and a mean age of 46, presented mainly with recurrent cholangitis. Of all the patients, 26 had a history of operation for cholelithiasis or cholangitis. On admission, the image investigations suggested that the lesions located at left lobe in 44 patients, right lobe in 9 patients, and whole liver in 15 patients. The coexisting cyst in common bile duct was found in 20 patients. The malignant transformation was found in 5 patients (8.8%). Hepatectomy was performed in 82.4% of patients, with a morbidity rate of 15.0% and mortality rate of 0 after the surgery. The long-term outcome of symptom-free in hepatectomy group was 90.2%, significantly higher than the 33.3% in non-hepatectomy group (P < 0.01) after a 3 to 10 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSHepatectomy offers a curative procedure for local Caroli's disease, and liver transplantation is a good option for diffuse sufferers.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Caroli Disease ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the optimal timing of hepatectomy for intrahepatic lithiasis complicated with acute cholangitis.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-six patients with hepatolithiasis who had a history of acute cholangitis and underwent hepatectomy were reviewed retrospectively. According to the period between the surgery and last attack of acute cholangitis, 126 patients were divided into 3 groups: > 3 months (group A, n = 73), 1 approximately 3 months (group B, n = 28), < 1 month (group C, n = 25). The operation time, blood loss, hospital stay, postoperative complications and stone residual rate were compared among the groups.

RESULTSThe intraoperative blood loss of C group was (644.0 +/- 625.7) ml, which was significantly higher than those of A and B group [(409.2 +/- 250.7) ml and (423.2 +/- 237.1) ml, respectively]. The numbers of patients who needed transfusion and the amount of blood transfusion in group C were also higher than those of group A and B. The incidence rate of complications, residual stone in group C were all markedly higher than those of group A and B. The period of hospital stay in group C was much longer than that in group A and B.

CONCLUSIONSThe optimal timing of hepatectomy for hepatolithiasis complicated with acute cholangitis is at least one month after subsidence of cholangitis.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cholangitis ; complications ; Cholelithiasis ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

Hoffa fracture associated with ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture is very rare. Three cases of this rare type of injury were retrospectively reviewed. The sites of femoral shaft fractures and Hoffa fractures were documented. All femoral shaft fractures were managed with internal fixation. The rate of misdiagnosis for the Hoffa fractures was documented. Functions of the affected knees were evaluated according to the modified Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) scores at two years follow-up. Femoral fractures were either transverse or composite in all three cases. Ipsilateral Hoffa fractures occurred at medial condyle in two cases, and lateral condyle in one case. Only one Hoffa fracture was identified preoperatively. All the femoral shaft fractures healed uneventfully. In the patient whose Hoffa fracture was correctly diagnosed, the modified HSS score was 94. In another patient, whose Hoffa fracture was treated by a second operation, the modified HSS score was 93. And in the third case, who refused additional operation for the Hoffa fracture, the modified HSS score was only 70. Conclusively femoral shaft fracture can be associated with ipsilateral Hoffa fracture, especially in motorcycle accident. This type of injury is very rare and misdiagnosis is common.
Diagnostic Errors ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo compare the short-term outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer after subtotal esophagectomy via thoracoscopy in prone position and in left lateral position.

METHODSBetween September 2008 and September 2010, thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy (TLE) with thoracoscopic mobilization of the esophagus and mediastinal esophagectomy was performed in 41 patients in prone position (group A) and other 41 patients (group B) performed by the same surgeon in left lateral position.

RESULTSPreoperatively, the endoscopic location of the tumor was in the upper third in 5 cases (2 vs. 3), the middle third in 21 cases (12 vs. 9), and the lower third in 56 cases (27 vs. 29). The median operative time was 230 (range 170-310) min in group A and 280 (range 190-380) min in group B (P=0.04). The median intraoperative blood loss was 275 (range 100-320) ml in group A and 360 (range 120-670) ml in group B (P=0.09). The median number of lymph nodes dissected was 8.4 (range 4-23) in group A and 6.9 (range 6-21) in group B (P=0.03). The postoperative complications totaled 6 (14.6%) in group A and 8 (17.1%) in group B (P=0.44). After a median follow-up period of 15.7 (range 2-28) months for group A and 16.3 (range 3-31) months for group B, 19 patients in group A died and 21 patients in group B.

CONCLUSIONSFor esophageal cancer under T3N1M0, surgical outcomes are similar between prone thoracoscopic esophageal mobilization and left lateral position. Prone position may be associated with better lymph node dissection.

Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prone Position ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracoscopy ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Sperm membrane proteins play a key role in spermatogenesis, sperm maturation and sperm-oocyte interaction. A deeper research would shed new light on the molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis, sperm maturation and fertilization. In recent years, with the extensive application of a variety of current molecular biological methods and bioinformatics to reproductive medicine, some sperm membrane proteins found previously have been cloned and sequenced. Furthermore, new sperm membrane proteins, being found continuously, will make a solid foundation for the development of contraceptive vaccine as well as for the investigation into the mechanism of fertilization at levels of gene and protein. This article reviews the current progress in the researches on sperm membrane proteins.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; physiology ; Animals ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; physiology ; Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins ; physiology ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; growth & development