ObjectiveTo study the effect of α7 ( α7 AChR) agonist nicotine on regulating sensitivity of regular chemotherapeutic agent in cholangiocarcinoma cells,and explore the possible target.MethodsThe effect of nicotine and α-BTX pretreatment on the survival ability of cholangiocarcinoma cells was investigated when applied with 5-FU by using MTT and Flat cloning formation experiment.ResultsApplied with 5-FU,in various con centrations nicotine stimulating group( 10-3 g/L,10-4 g/L,10-5 g/L ),the survive rate of QBC939 was 128％,124％,118％,while that in α-BTX stimulating group and combined stimulation group was 92％,94％,93％,92％,respectively.The cloning formation ability of nicotine- stimulating group (6.2 ± 0.40) was significantly higher than α- BTX stimulating group (3.2 ± 0.20 ),combined stimulation group ( 3.2 ± 0.20 ) and control group ( 3.4 ±0.33).ConclusionNicotine can prevent chemotherapy-induced apoptosis,and improve cholangiocarcinoma cell survival via α7 nicotine acetylcholine receptor in vitro.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of resection of internal wall for pancreatic mucinous cystic neolplasms (MCN).Methods Successive observation and cyst wall thickness measurement of the pathological sections of 24 cases with pancreatic MCN admitted in our hospital during 2008-2011.One patient with pancreatic tail MCN was treated by resection of internal wall.Results The cyst wall thicknesses of the 24 cases vary from 2 mm to more than 2 cm,and the thicknesses of fibrous envelop near pancreatic vary from 0.1 mm to 8.0 mm.The fibrous envelop thickness of 17 cases were more than 0.5 mm(70.8％,17/24).These cases could be treated with resection of internal wall.Pancreatic leakage occurred in 8 of the 24 patients (33.3％,8/24).The patient treated by resection of internal wall had no pancreatic leakage.Conclusion We consider that 70.8％ cases of pancreatic MCN could be treated by resection of internal wall to cure MCN and avoid the possibility of postoperative pancreatic fistula.

OBJECTIVETo develop a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique for fetal SRY gene identification using cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 pregnant women and cell-free DNA was extracted by the phenol/chloroform method from plasma. The nested PCR was carried out to amplify the fragment of SRY gene by two sets of PCR primer pairs. Direct sequencing analysis was then performed on the PCR product.

RESULTSAmong the 17 women bearing male fetuses, SRY sequences were detected in 15 plasma samples after nested PCR amplification, while none of the 13 women bearing female fetuses had the positive results. The accuracy and sensitivity were 93.3% (28/30) and 88.2% (15/17), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe phenol/chloroform extraction for fetal DNA in maternal plasma was effective and simple. And the nested PCR amplification of SRY sequence is a convenient and low-cost approach for the non-invasive early prenatal diagnosis of sex-linked inheritant diseases.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Fetus ; Genes, sry ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; blood ; genetics ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and safety of autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-PBHSCT) and its therapeutic effect on refractory rheumatism among preschool children.

METHODSThree boys with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) respectively, 3 to 6 years old with the mean age of 5 years with 3.5 to 22 months course of disease with 14 months on average, received auto-PBHSCT. Their conditions were so severe that conventional therapy failed to control the diseases. The changes of both clinical manifestations and immunologic indexes were observed before and after transplantation with long term following up at specialty clinic of rheumatism.

RESULTThe time when neutrophil count >or= 0.5 x 10(9)/L in the 3 children was days +9, +13 and +11 respectively, that of platelet count >or= 20 x 10(9)/L was days +14, +18 and +13 respectively. The cellular immune function remained abnormal with CD4 cells at a low level and CD4/CD8 being inverted. As to the JDM child, the skin rash had disappeared and his muscle tone was improved to grade 5 within one month after the transplantation. The EMG and serum creatase level returned to normal and muscle MRI findings were improved greatly within 2 months after the transplantation. As to the JSLE child, skin rash and proteinuria had disappeared, MRI of brain showed that the pathological changes had been absorbed and EEG returned to normal 3 months after the transplantation, all the autoantibodies turned to negative within 8 months after transplantation. As to the JRA child, the arthritis had been improved remarkably within 3 weeks after auto-PBHSCT. There was no swelling of joints nor movement limitation 3 months post transplantation. The steroids and immunosuppressive drugs were discontinued post transplantation. Cushing syndrome disappeared. Their body heights increased by 10 to 15 cm in the past 18 months, and they all returned to school. There was no relapse during follow-up periods of 25 - 27 months.

CONCLUSIONThe therapy with auto-PBHSCT for refractory rheumatism among preschool children was remarkably effective in a short-term, yet the safety and long-term effect still need to be further studied.

Child ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rheumatic Diseases ; therapy ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

Endothelial progenitor cells are precursors of endothelial cells, which are able to differentiate into mature endothelial cells. Studies are needed to increase more detailed understanding on the mechanisms of EPC-differentiation, survival, homing and distribution of the tissue. The human EPC has potential to be used as diagnostic and prognostic or therapeutic tools in the future. This review describes recent studies on the biological characteristics and clinical application of EPC, including immunophenotype and functional characteristics of EPCs, mobilization, release and differentiation of EPCs, EPC number and recruitment, clinical application of EPCs, and so on.
Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Stem Cells ; cytology

BACKGROUNDBipolar electro-coagulation has a reported efficacy in treating epilepsy involving functional cortex by pure electro-coagulation or combination with resection. However, the mechanisms of bipolar electro-coagulation are not completely known. We studied the acute cortical blood flow and histological changes after bipolar electro-coagulation in 24 patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy.

METHODSTwenty-four patients were consecutively enrolled, and divided into three groups according to the date of admission. The regional cortical blood flow (rCBF), electrocorticography, the depth of cortex damage, and acute histological changes (H and E staining, neuronal staining and neurofilament (NF) staining) were analyzed before and after the operation. The t-test analysis was used to compare the rCBF before and after the operation.

RESULTSThe rCBF after coagulation was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The spikes were significantly reduced after electro-coagulation. For the temporal cortex, the depth of cortical damage with output power of 2-9 W after electro-coagulation was 0.34 ± 0.03, 0.48 ± 0.06, 0.69 ± 0.06, 0.84 ± 0.09, 0.98 ± 0.08, 1.10 ± 0.11, 1.11 ± 0.09, and 1.22 ± 0.11 mm, respectively. Coagulation with output power of 4-5 W completely damaged the neurons and NF protein in the molecular layer, external granular layer, and external pyramidal layer.

CONCLUSIONSThe electro-coagulation not only destroyed the neurons and NF protein, but also reduced the rCBF. We concluded that the injuries caused by electro-coagulation would prevent horizontal synchronization and spread of epileptic discharges, and partially destroy the epileptic focus.

Adult ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Epilepsy ; surgery ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Temporal Lobe ; surgery ; Young Adult

The biological characterization, differentiation and regeneration of hepatic stem/progenitor cells are the one of very active and interested fields. In this report, intravenous injection of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) cells into the BALB/c-nu and SCID mice, an animal model for transplantation and liver injury, was reported. Using of flow cytometry and tissue typing (HLA), it was found that the HUCB cells were survived in mouse liver for 9 weeks. After separation from perfused liver, HUCB cells were detected by hematopoietic colonies (CFU-GEM M) in hepatocyte culture. It was concluded that the transplanted HUCB hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells can be survived in the liver over a long period of time.
Animals ; Cell Division ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; HLA-DR Antigens ; analysis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Liver ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, SCID

AIM:To investigate the expression of fatty-acid amide hydrolase(FAAH)in paraventricular nu-cleus(PVN)and its contribution to renal sympathetic nerve activity in rats with chronic heart failure(CHF).METH-ODS:A rat model of CHF was established by ligation of the left coronary artery to induce acute myocardial infarction. Eight weeks after ischemia,the rat model of CHF was identified by echocardiogram and histopathological observation.The plasma level of norepinephrine(NE)was detected by ELISA.The protein expression levels of FAAH in the PVN were de-termined by Western blot.The N-arachidonoylethanolamide(AEA)generation in PVN was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography.After microinjection of AEA,PF3845(an FAAH inhibitor)or rAAV2-FAAH shRNA virus in PVN, the sympathetic drive indexes were recorded in different experiment groups.RESULTS: Compared with the rats in sham group,the cardiac function and AEA concentration in PVN were significantly reduced, while the plasma NE level and FAAH expression in PVN were obviously increased in the CHF rats(P<0.05).After microinjecion of PF3845, AEA or rAAV2-FAAH shRNA virus in PVN, the sympathetic drive indexes were decreased significantly and the cardiac function were improved in the CHF rats.CONCLUSION:Upregulated FAAH expression in PVN may result in sympathoexcitation in the rat with CHF.

The epileptic eye and head movements during epileptic seizures may be much more complicated thanpeople originally understood, which can be ipsilateral or contralateral to the electroencephalographyfocus. Here, we describe a male patient with drug resistant focal seizures associated with a directionalseparation between head and eye movement before evolving into generalized tonic-clonic seizure.His contralateral head leading turning showed forced, sustained, and unnatural features companiedby ipsilateral eye staring. Stereoeletroencephalography monitoring was performed, and 4 habitualseizures were recorded over 5 days. Three seizures showed left head leading turning and generalizedtonic-clonic seizure, and only one showed dizziness and ringing in the ears. All the seizures showedthat the ictal onset contacts were located in the posterior inferior temporal sulcus which borders onthe anterolateral part of medial superior temporal area. The patient underwent a resection includingtemporooccipital region, and the histopathology showed focal cortical dysplasia type Ic. He has beenseizure free for two years after operation. The scores of the intelligence and memory quotient improvedhalf year after operation.

Objective To illustrate the semiological characteristics of the three sub-types within the broad bilateral asymmetric tonic seizures (BATS),summarize their predictive values on lateralization and localization of seizure onset zone (SOZ),and analyze the difference between BATS and asymmetrical tonic limb posturing (ATLP).Methods A retrospective review of 385 patients who underwent stereotactic electrode implantation in the Sanbo Brain Hospital,Capital Medical University from September 2011 to May 2018 was performed.As long as there was a clinical epileptic seizure in the presence of BATS or ATLP,the patients were classified into the corresponding groups.Postoperative prognosis was assessed using Engel's grading criteria for a follow-up of no less than six months.Seizure descriptions were based on the classification of epileptic seizures introduced by Lüiders,which used arrows to connect the symptoms in chronological order.Results There was no statistically significant difference between the classic BATS and bilateral proximal tonic seizure in terms of whether it could be an independent seizure,as the onset and end of the seizure,with version and generalized tonic-clonic seizure (P＞0.05).Compared with the ATLP,except for whether it could be an independent seizure (P=1.000) and onset before versive seizure (P=0.068),the BATS showed significantly different semiological features (P＜0.05).The classic BATS and secondary motor area epilepsy had a 100.0％ predictive accuracy on the lateralization of SOZ.In the patients with broad BATS,the SOZ distribution was more extensive,but it was rare in the orbitofrontal gyrus,frontal pole and mesial temporal lobe.Compared with the bilateral proximal tonic seizures from the other regions,those originated from supplementary somatosensory motor area and its adjacent areas were rare and showed no statistically significant difference (0/8 vs 40.0％ (18/45),x2=3.226,P=0.072) but a low trend.The predictive value of BATS on lateralization of SOZ was higher than that of ATLP (84.9％ (45/53) vs 57.1％ (24/42),x2=9.086,P=0.003),and BATS was less originated from temporal lobe than ATLP (3.8％ (2/53) vs 23.8％ (10/42),x2=8.523,P=0.004).Conclusion Different from ATLP,the broad BATS are characterized by tonic proximal upper limb posturing,and have a higher predictive value on lateralization and localization of SOZ.