The mechanism of the development of sporadic renal cell carcinomas is complicated,which is different from that of hereditary renal-cell carcinoma.Genetics abnormality such as loss of 3p,VHLgene mutations may help differentiate pathological subtype of renal cell carcinoma and some gene markers may be useful predictors for prognosis.The current status of genetic study in renal cell carcinomas is reviewed in this article.

Aim Subcortical ischemic vascular demen-tia ( SIVD ) induced by chronic hypoperfusion due to small-artery disease is a common cause of vascular de-mentia ( VaD) , which is recognized as the second most prevalent type of dementia. The aim of this study was to determine whether carnosine played a protective role in cognitive impairment induced by permanent occlu-sion of the right unilateral common carotid arteries ( rUCCAO ) in SIVD. Methods Adult male mice ( C57BL/6 strain ) were subjected to rUCCAO, and treated with carnosine or saline. Locomotor test, open field test, hot plate test, freezing test and Morris water maze were performed after rUCCAO. Results There were no differences among rUCCAO group, carnosine group and sham group for total distance traveled in lo-comotor test. In the open field test, carnosine (200, 500 mg · kg-1 ) significantly revised the decrease of latency spent in the center induced by SIVD . There were no differences between rUCCAO and sham groups for the pain threshold. In freezing test, rUCCAO in-duced a significant reduction in content memory, which was completely reversed by treatment of carnosine. In Morris water maze training trials, rUCCAO-treated mice showed prolonged escape latency in acquisition phase, carnosine ( 200, 500 mg · kg-1 ) markedly shortened the escape latency. Conclusion These data suggest that carnosine has a neuroprotective effect on cognitive impairment induced by rUCCAO in mice.

Objective To summarize our experience on diagnosis and treatment of bilateral primary breast cancer (BPBC). Methods Clinicopathologic records, including clinical manifestations, diagnosis and immunohistochemical expressions of 16 patients with BPBC, treated from 2001 to 2009 in Jiangsu Provincial Cancer Hospital, were analyzed retrospectively. Results The 16 patients with BPBC accounted for 0.47% of all patients diagnosed as malignant tumors of breast during the same period in our hospital. All of the 16 patients were women, with the median age of 53 years (ranged 41-69 years). 7 patients were in bilateral synchronous breast cancer (BSBC), with the median age 47 years (ranged 41-54 years), among whom 5 patients got BSBC just before menopause. 9 patients were in bilateral asynchronous breast cancer (BABC), with the median age 58 years (ranged 43-69 years), among whom 1 patient got BABC before menopause. The median interval between the first and second breast carcinoma of BABC was 52 months (ranged 14-196 months). Conclusions Compared with BABC, the occurrence age of the patients with BSBC was smaller. BABC was more common in premenopausal women. The interval time of BABC was irregular. The active follow-up after the occurrence of contralateral breast cancer and endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor-positive patients were recommended.

Objective To investigate the distribution of water-borne fluoride and the current status of water defluoridation project by improving drinking water quality in endemic fluorosis areas in Shandong province,and to provide scientific basis for making strategies in prevention and control of the disease. Methods According to "the National Technical Scheme for Endemic Disease Control in 2004, 2005 and 2006", 113 endemic fluorosis diseased counties(cities, and districts) of the province's 17 cities were screened in order to investigate the fluoride level in drinking water in fluorosis villages, recheck the fluoride level after implementing the water defluoridation project, and investigate the current status of the water defluoridation project. The fluoride level in drinking water was determined by F-ion selective electrode. Results There were a total of 5816 water defluoridation projects in the province. Most of them were carried out by drilling a deep well to get under-ground water. The wells still in good condition were accounted for 72.80% (4234/5816). Intermittent operated wells were accounted for 3.11% (181/5816). Abandoned wells were accounted for 24.09%(1401/5816). Level of water fluoride was determined in 6940samples from fluorosis villages(villages that not carry out the water defluoridation project as well as villages carried out the water defluoridation project with abandoned wells were included) and the value that lower or equal to 1.00mg/L was determined in 2987 villages which accounted for 43.04% (2987/6940). Level of water fluoride that over 1.00 mg/L was found in 3953 villages which accounted for 56.96% (3593/6940), and the highest level of water fluoride was 11.33 mg/L. Level of water fluoride were determined in 4415 samples from water defluoridation project and the value lower or equal to 1.00 mg/L was in 2983 wells which accounted for 65.53%(2983/4415). The value over 1.00 mg/L was in 1522 wells which accounted for 34.47%(1522/4415), the highest value of water fluoride was 9.71 mg/L. Conclusions Level of water fluoride in up to 1/2 of the villages and 1/3 of the projects, is still higher than the standard in Shandong province. Nearly 1/4 of the project has been abandoned. The current situation for endemic fluorosis control is still not good in the province, countermeasures for endemic fluorosis must be carried out as soon as possible and surveillance of water defluoridation project must be strengthened.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of excessive fluoride on calcium overload and apoptosis in cultured rat ameloblasts in vitro.

METHODSLogarithmic-phase ameloblasts (HAT-7) were treated with 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 mmol · L(-1) sodium fluoride (NaF) solution. Cell activities were detected by using a Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK-8) assay after 48 h of treatment. The effect of fluoride on cell apoptosis was analyzed by using flow cytometry. Excessive fluoride-induced calcium concentration and calreticulin expression changes in ameloblasts were detected by using laser scanning confocal microscopy, Western blot analysis, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSNaF inhibited ameloblast activity at 1.6, 3.2, and 6.4 mmol · L(-1) (dose-dependent) after 48 h of induction. The Ca2+ fluorescence intensity of HAT-7 cells incubated with 1.6 and 3.2 mmol · L(-1) NaF was higher than that in the control group. The fluoride-induced early-stage apoptosis of ameloblasts after 48 h of induction and the early-stage apoptosis rate was positively correlated with fluoride concentration. Calreticulin mRNA expression in HAT-7 cells was higher than that in the control group after 48 h of incubation with 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 mmol · L(-1) NaF.

CONCLUSIONExcessive fluoride-induced calcium overload in ameloblasts and further caused endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis.

Ameloblasts ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; Calcium Fluoride ; Fluorides ; Phosphates ; Rats ; Sodium Fluoride

Objective To analyze CT findings of insulinoma,and to summarize the causes of missed diagnosis of nontypical insuli-noma.Methods Clinical and CT manifestations of 18 patients with 18 insulinomas were analyzed retrospectively which were proved by surgery and pathology,and the causes of the missed diagnosis of nontypical insulinoma were also summarized.Results 10 patients with 10 insulinoma underwent CT plain scan with isodensity in 9 and slightly lower density in 1 with thread-like capsule.Other 18 patients underwent enhanced CT scan,10 of whom showed obvious enhancement in arterial phase with isodentisy in 6 and slightly higher density in 4 in portal phase,and isodensity in 10 in delayed phase.4 lesions showed mild-to-moderate enhancement in arterial phase with slightly higher density than normal pancreas in 2 and isodentisy in 2 in portal phase,and slightly higher density than nor-mal pancreas in 1 and similar density to pancreas in 3 in delayed phase.In portal phase,the enhanced degree in 8 was similar to the pancreas,and that in 6 was slightly higher or higher than that of pancreas.In delayed phase,13 were similar to the pancreas and other 1 was higher than that.3 of 18 lesions were easily missed,and 4 lesions with missed diagnosis showed isodensity on plain CT and en-hanced CT,and were further detected by other imaging methods.Conclusion Multiphase enhancement CT scanning can be used as the first choice for the insulinoma.

OBJECTIVETo study the association of genetic polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase (GSTM1 and GSTT1) with susceptibility to primary liver cancer in Chinese.

METHODSLiterature search of the PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and ISI Web of Science databases identified 25 relevant case-control studies of glutathione S-transferase genetic polymorphisms and primary liver cancer, representing a total of 2788 cases and 5548 controls. The extracted data was applied to the RevMan v4.2 software for meta-analysis. Data with significant heterogeneity was assessed by the fixed effects model, otherwise a random effects model was applied. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTSThe correlation between the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and susceptibility to primary liver cancer showed statistical significance (cases: P = 1.8 * 10(-11) and controls: P = 4.6 * 10(-11); Pearson's Chi-squared test). The OR value for GSTM1 was 1.67 (95% CI: 1.39-2.01) and for GSTT1 was 1.59 (95% CI: 1.26-1.96). In the GSTM1-GSTT1 interaction analysis, both GSTM1 and GSTT1 were null genotypes with OR = 3.34 (95% CI: 2.23-5.00), which was higher than the null genotype for either one of them alone and which indicated higher relative susceptibility. Compared with individuals for whom both GSTM1 and GSTT1 were non-null genotypes, the presence of at least one null genotype showed higher risk of primary liver cancer.

CONCLUSIONThe null genotypes of glutathione S-transferase genetic polymorphisms GSTM1 and GSTT1 are risk factors for primary liver cancer respectively, and their associated risk is increased when both are present.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between polymorphisms in the DNA repair gene, xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD), and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Chinese population by performing a systematic review of the previously published clinical data.

METHODA comprehensive literature search of the BIOSIS Previews and PubMed databases was carried out to identify all case-control studies of XPD polymorphisms and HCC risk. Meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of developing HCC for carriers of the various XPD polymorphisms.

RESULTSSix case-control studies were selected for this meta-analysis, and comprised a total of 3424 HCC cases and 3636 controls. The pooled ORs (95% CIs) of XPD codon 751 and 312 allelomorphs were 1.25 (0.70 to 2.24) and 0.85 (0.58 to 1.25), respectively. Compared with the XPD wild-type homozygote Lys/Lys genotype of codon 751, the pooled OR (95% CI) of Lys/G1n + Gln/Gln genotypes for HCC risk was 1.31 (0.71 to 2.42). Compared with the XPD wild-type homozygote Asp/Asp genotype of codon 312, the pooled OR (95% CI) of Asp/Asn + Asn/Asn genotypes for HCC risk was 1.19 (0.73 to 1.95).

CONCLUSIONPolymorphisms in the XPD codons 751 and 312 are not associated with HCC risk in the Chinese population.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Codon ; genetics ; DNA Repair ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group D Protein ; genetics

Aged ; Humans ; Laryngectomy ; instrumentation ; Larynx, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effects of needle-pricking therapy, a newly medical and minimally invasive technique, for functional retrograde ejaculation and to explore its mechanism. Methods Thirty-six patients with functional retrograde ejaculation were randomly divided into an observation group(19 cases) and a control group(17 cases) In the observation group,needle-pricking therapy was used at Guanyuan(CV 4) and bilateral sacral plexus nerve,lumbar 1 nerve and greater occipital nerve stimulating points,once a week. In the control group, midodrine tablets were prescribed orally,three times a day. All the treatment was given for 9 weeks. The clinical effects of the two groups were observed, and the levels of luteinizing hormone(LH), testosterone(Tes) and estra4 diol(E2) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of the observation group was, 89. 47%(17/19), which was better than 47.06% (8/17) of the control group(P<0. 05). The LH and Tes were obviously increased and E2 was decreased compared with those before treatment in the observation group(all P< 0. 01). Tes was raised(P<0. 05) and E2 was apparently declined in the control group(P<0. 01). After treatment, the differences of serum LH and Tes were statistically significant between the two groups(both P<0. 01).

CONCLUSIONNeedle-pricking therapy has advantages for functional retrograde ejaculation probably in that stimulating lumbosacral nerves can strengthen the function of pelvic floor muscles and urethral expansion muscle and regulate sexual gland axis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Ejaculation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome