Objective To investigate the effect of a newly developed photosensitizer—chlorophyll derivative combined with irradiation of 650 nm laser for PC3, an androgen independent cell line in vitro. Methods PC3 was cultured and designed to 4 groups,including blank control,laser irradiation,medication of photosensitizer and medication of photosensitizer with laser irradiation (treated).The medicated concentration of chlorophyll was 0.1 g/L and irradation fluence of 650 nm semiconductor laser was 6 J/cm2.Intracellular distribution of photosensitizer and cellular morphological alterations were studied through light microscopy, electron microscopy and laser confocal microscopy. Results It showed the shrinkage, round-up and membrane integrity of treated PC3 under light microscopy.Sable deposits were observed in cytoplasm of cells in both photosensitizer and treated groups.Transmission electron microscopy showed the fragmentation of DNA and condensation of chromatin beneath the karyolemma in treated cells.In cytoplasm,the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria swell to form vesicles and vacuoles.It showed the strong red fluorescence in the cytoplasm of treat cells compared with the red fluorescence indifferent to the background through laser confocal microscopy. Conclusions Chlorophyll derivative based photodynamic therapy is able to induce apoptosis of PC3 in vitro.Mitochondria is presumed to be the primary target of photodynamic therapy and trigger the apoptotic pathway.

Objective To study the clinical significance of the mRNA expression level of a novel gene which encodes a kind of transmembrane prostate protein induced by androgen-PMEPA1, as it may predict the progress of prostate cancer from hormone-dependent to hormone-independent. Methods We used Real-time PCR to detect the mRNA expression of PMEPA1 and GSTP1 in prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, PC-3), epithelia cells of benign prostatic hyperplasia and tissues from 33 patients with prostate cancers and 16 cases of prostatic hyperplasia. Results We found the mRNA expression of GSTP1 and PMEPA1 were both down-regulated in prostate cancer cell lines. The mRNA expression of GSTP1 was up-regulated in 6.1% of cases, down-regulated in 81.8%, and showed no difference in 12.1%. While PMEPA1 was highly expressed in 27.3% of cases, lowly expressed in 27.3%, and not differently expressed in 45.4%. Statistical analysis showed that the mRNA expression of GSTP1 was relevant to ages, but had no relationship with PSA, TNM stage, osseous metastasis or tumor differentiation, while the mRNA expression of PMEPA1 was relevant to osseous metastasis and tumor differentiation, but had no relationship with age, PSA or TNM stage. Conclusions PMEPA1 is possibly a useful biomarker, as it can identify patients with unfavourable prognosis, however, this hypothesis needs to be further studied with large samples.

Objective To evaluate the protective effect of aminophylline on myocardium in the patients undergoing prothetic valve replacement operation of heart.Mothods Thirty patients undergoing prothetic valve replacement operation of heart were randomized to be treated either with aminophylline(n=15)or without aminophylline treatment(n=15). Aminophylline(5mg/kg)was injected intravenously at 15 minutes after induction of anesthesia.Cardiac troponin I(cTnI), cyclic adenosine monophosphate(cAMP),myeloperoxidase(MPO),ratio of aortic blood neutrophil count to coronary vein sinus blood neutrophil count,hemodynamics,time of aortic cress-clamping and other clinical data were recorded during the operation.Results There were no differences between the two groups in the major perioperative variables.Plasm cTnI concentration in both groups increased after off-clamping than that before CPB,however,it was lower in aminophylline group than that in control group.Concentration of cAMP in both groups after off-clamping was lower than that before CPB, however cAMP concentration in aminophylline group after off-clamping was higher than that in control group.Myocardial MPO activity and neutrophil count ratio after aortic off-clamping in aminophylline group was significantly lower than that in control group.Conclusion These results suggest that aminophylline is helpful to unprotection of myocardial and decreases the sequestration of neutrophil in myocardium.The mechanism of the protection may be related to the cAMP increased in myocardium.

There are similarities between magnetotactic bacteria and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans) which isolated from Acid mine drainage(AMD). The weak magnetotaxis of some bioleaching bacteria isolated were found by microscope. A magnetophoresis apparatus was designed based on these weak magnetotaxis and be used to analysis the movement of these strains. The physiological properties of the anear magnetic field strain and removed magnetic field strain which isolated successfully by magnetophoresis apparatus have large difference. The nanometer magnetic particles was extract from the Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans which purified by spread plate method from AMFS and its main elements are Fe and O by energy spectrum analysis. The results show that A. ferrooxidans have weak magnetotaxis and can be isolated by magnetophoresis. With the development of this new isolating method, the research of magnetotactic bacteria and bioleaching will get more benefit from it.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of posterior total vertebral resection in treating thoracic vertebrae tumor in order to provide a safe and effective method in rebuilding spine stability.

METHODSFrom 2002.1 to 2007.12, 18 patients with thoracic spine tumor underwent posterior total vertebral resection and internal fixation. Among the patients, 10 patients were male and 8 patients were female, ranging in age from 45 to 78 years, with an average of 56 years. The course of the diseases ranged from 2 to 13 months. After the operation, the tumor reccurence was monitored by X-ray, and the tumor markers were detected.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for a period ranging from 12 to 60 months, averaged 29 months. All the patients showed a postoperative neurologic improvement, as well as showed radiographic evidence of solid fusion in the follow-up examinations during 3 to 9 months, with an average of (8 +/- 1.4) months.

CONCLUSIONPosterior total vertebral resection for the treatment of thoracic spine tumor is safe and effective.

Aged ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics and make genetic diagnosis in the patients with hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7).Methods Pedigree analysis and clinical examination were performed in one family with SCA7 by clinical findings,of which retinal morphology and visual electrophysiology were available on part numbers.The polymorphic cytosine adenine guanine (CAG) repeats in the encode region of SCA7 gene were detected by combining polymerase chain reaction with deoxyribonucleic acide (DNA) sequencing on 19 familial numbers and 12 controls.Results 6 patients were identified,who manifesting cerebellar ataxia,decreased visual acuity and colour vision defect,as was pigmentary retinopathy on fundoscopy;The 6 patients had not only extinction of the electroretinogram (ERG) but also remarkably reduced amplitudes of oscillatory potentials and flash-visual evoked potentials. On normal alleles CAG repeat size ranges from 8 to 25 repeats,wherease on mutated alleles of the 6 numbers it ranges from 50 to 97 repeats.The 6 numbers were diagnosised as SCA7 patients.One asymptomatic individual of this family,who displayed a normal allele with 18 CAG repeats and another containing abnormal expantion of 56 repeats,was diagnosised as a asymptomatic carrier whose age maybe still below the age of onset.Conclusion The clinical manifestations of SCA7 are heterogeneous,and the detection of CAG repeats can provide an effective way for the gene diagnosis and the prediction of asymptomatic patients.

Objective: To study the application of CT and MRI fusion technique in the diagnosis and treatment of intraocular and orbital tumors. Methods: 2D-images of 13 patients with intraocular and orbital tumors were fused by special-point registration and Iterative Local Closest Point(ILCP) method; 3D-fusion images were reconstructed by Ray Tracing method. Results: A 3D-CT-MRI fusion images of intraocular and orbital tumors were reconstructed and displayed. The CT and MRI data of intraocular and orbital tumors were displayed on the same image as a comprehensive whole,which provided a stereogram of 3D-structure of the normal and abnormal orbital tissues. Anatomical structure of the orbit was clearly visualized by 3D-CT-MRI image. Conclusion: The multi-modality fusion technique can provide more accurate and comprehensive information for clinical diagnosis of intraocular and orbital tumors, which is helpful for doctors' planning of surgical operations,clinical education and doctor-patient communication.

BACKGROUNDSubjective olfactory tests are easy to perform and popularly applied in the clinic, but using only these, it is difficult to diagnose all disorders of the olfactory system. The olfactory event related potentials technique offers further insight into the olfactory system and is an ideal objective test. This analysis was of subjective and objective data on the olfactory function of twelve patients with loss of smell associated with an upper respiratory infection (URI).

METHODSWe tested the twelve patients with URI induced olfactory loss by medical history, physical examination of the head and neck, olfactory tests and medical imaging. Olfactory function was assessed by Toyota and Takagi olfactometry including olfactory detection and recognition thresholds and olfactory event-related potentials (OERPs) recorded with OEP-98C Olfactometer.

RESULTSAn unusual phenomenon was observed in five patients in whom the subjective detection and recognition thresholds were normal, while the expected OERPs were not detectable.

CONCLUSIONSWe suggest that the discordance between olfactory psychophysical measurements and OERPs might be the results of abnormal electrophysiology related with olfactory neuropathy caused by viral URI. In addition, the measurement of OERPs might play a significant role in evaluating olfactory dysfunction.

Adult ; Evoked Potentials ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Olfaction Disorders ; diagnosis ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; complications ; Sensory Thresholds ; Smell ; physiology

BACKGROUNDDifferent strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may have distinct effects on the immune system. The aim of this research was to investigate changes in the immunological function after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in HCC patients.

METHODSA total of 51 consecutive HCC treatment-naïe patients was enrolled in this study and 20 healthy subjects served as controls. The therapeutic strategy was selected according to the tumor stage and general conditions. TACE was performed in 25 cases, TACE plus RFA in 17 and RFA in nine. All the patients underwent routine examinations and peripheral blood was harvested for the detection of lymphocyte subset by flow cytometry 1 day before, and 2 and 4 weeks after the treatment. The serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), ALT and AST were also measured before and 4 weeks after treatment for the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and liver function impairment.

RESULTSWhen compared with healthy controls, the CD4/CD8 ratio and the number of B cells and natural killer (NK) cells were significantly decreased in HCC patients before treatment (P < 0.05). When compared with before treatment, the CD4+ cells and CD4/CD8 ratio decreased but CD8+ cells increased in the TACE group (P < 0.05); the CD4/CD8 ratio and NK cells decreased but CD8+ cells increased in the TACE-RFA group (P < 0.05); the CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells, CD4/CD8 ratio and NK cells increased in the RFA group (P < 0.05). Significant differences in the CD3+ cells, CD8+ cells, CD4/CD8 ratio and NK cells were observed among groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, the AFP level decreased and transaminase level increased in all groups (P < 0.05). Differences of pre and post treatment between groups were statistically significant (P = 0.016, 0.025, 0.018 respectively).

CONCLUSIONSImmunity was compromised in HCC patients; TACE and TACE plus RFA lowered immunologic function to a certain extent. RFA improved it accompanied by a protective effect on liver function.

Adult ; Aged ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; immunology ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; biosynthesis

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