DEDD is a member of the death-effector domain protein family. DEDD inhibits the Smad3 mediated transcriptional activity and participates in the regulation of apoptosis. In this study, how the death-effector domain of DEDD participates in the regulation of Smad3 activity and apoptosis has been further investigated. Immunoblotting, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation had been used to detect the effects of the full length DEDD and its two truncated mutants, N-DEDD and C-DEDD on Smad3 subcellular distribution, phosphorylation, and interaction between Smad4. The effects of the full length DEDD and its two truncated mutants on cell apoptosis and proliferation had also been explored by flow cytometry and MTT assay. It showed that DEDD and N-DEDD inhibit TGF-beta1 induced Smad3 nuclear translocation and the formation of Smad3-Samd4 complex. DEDD and its two mutants can induce cell apoptosis and inhibit cell proliferation. These results suggested that DEDD inhibits the activity of Smad3 through its death-effector domain. Both the two truncated mutants of DEDD participate in the regulation of apoptosis and cell proliferation.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the commonly encountered pathogens and drng resistance of bacteria causing secondary infection in patients with malignant tumors and provide reference for clinical antimicrobial usage.METHODS Statistical analysis was made retrospectively in the classification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing in 1 204 strains of pathogens isolated from clinical samples of hospitalized patients with malignant tumors from Jan 2003 to Oct 2005.RESULTS Among 1 204 strains,Gram-positive strains accounted for 31.1%;Gram-negative ones accounted for 52.8%;and fungi accounted for 16.1%.The principal strains were Candida albicans,Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus,Klebsiella pneumoniae,and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.The most frequent infection sites were in respiratory tract,urinary tract and skin-soft tissue.Multiple drug resistant rate of Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains had a tendency of elevation.CONCLUSIONS To reduce the coming of drug resistant strains,etiologic examination should be done in treatment of infectious diseases and antimicrobial therapy should be decided according to the results of susceptibility.

Objective To evaluate hepatic functional reserve and operational risks of primary hepatic carcinoma in Child A using functional CT.Methods In 128 cases of primary hepatic carcinoma of Child A undergoing hepatoectomy and identified by pathology, CT perfusion scanning and measurement of remannent hepatic volume were done before operation and whole patients were divided in-to acute hepatic failure group(AHF group,33 cases)and non-acute hepatic failure(non-AHF group,95 cases).All variables were ana-lyzed by one way analysis of variance(one-way ANOVA)firstly.The variables with significance (P<0.05)were analyzed with Step-wise Logistic regression further.Results One-way ANOVA result:There were significant difference between two groups in RHVS measured by CT,PVP,HBF,HBV,serum creatinine,thrombinogen activity,total bilirubin and intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05).The StepwiseLogistic regression analysis demonstrated that decreased RHVS and the lowed PVP were the independent risk factors of AHF complicated to hepatoectomy of primary hepatic carcinoma(P<0.01).Conclusion Hepatic functional reserve and operational risks of primary hepatic carcinoma could be j udged with functional CT before operation .

The relationship between glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) M1, T1 genotype and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated. GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes in genomic DNA from 67 children with ALL and 146 healthy controls were analyzed by using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The frequencies of GSTM1, M1-T1 null genotypes in ALL children were significantly higher than in the healthy controls (76.12% versus 52.74%, OR=2.856, P<0.001; 50.74% versus 24.66%, OR=3.148, P<0.001, respectively). However, there was no significant relationship between GSTT1 null genotype and ALL of children (61.19% versus 49.32%, OR=1.621, P>0.05). It was suggested that GSTM1 null genotype might be a risk genotype of childhood ALL, while there as no correlation between GSTT1 null genotype and childhood ALL.
Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase/*genetics ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Acute/*genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic/*genetics

In order to investigate the levels of stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor c-kit protein and mRNA in pediatric aplastic anemia (AA) and their relevance to the pathogenesis, immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization were utilized to detect the expression of SCF and its receptor c-kit gene protein and mRNA, respectively in 59 children with AA and 51 normal controls. The relationship between SCF and c-kit and the pathogenesis of AA was analyzed subsequently. The results showed that the positive rate of SCF protein and mRNA expression in children with AA was significantly lower than that in healthy controls (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the positive rate of c-kit protein and mRNA expression between children with AA and control group (P > 0.05). It was concluded that the expression of SCF is significantly decreased in children with AA, which may be closely associated with the pathogenesis of the AA. c-kit may be unrelated to the development of pediatric AA. Therefore, AA in children may have abnormalities at SCF/c-kit signal transduction levels.
Anemia, Aplastic/etiology ; Anemia, Aplastic/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor/*biosynthesis ; Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor/genetics ; Stem Cell Factor/*biosynthesis ; Stem Cell Factor/genetics

A medical robot that is used for closed reduction and the internal fixation of intramedullary locking nailing in treatment of tibial fracture is designed.The system is primarily composed of stereotaxic frame and computer system.Using C-shaped arm-taken X-ray images containing various marked points and keyhole-two-end-center of intramedullary nail,the system calculates the actual position of keyhole in the coordinate system of stereotaxic frame according to space mapping relation and locates the pilot hole on the reference coordinate according to computation.Electric-traction system can realize the precise reduction and remote control operation by network transmission of operation data.In the closed reduction and the internal fixation of intramedullary nail for treatment of tibial fracture in 17 patients,robot reducing fracture and computer-assisted localization of distal keyhole were used.Remote control operation was applied in 4 of them.All operations were performed according to the preset procedure and planning of robot and navigation system.All distal lock nails were successfully implanted at one time.Results demonstrated that both medical robot and computer-assisted localization and navigation system can satisfy fracture reduction and distal Iock nail implantation in the closed reduction and the internal fixation of intramedullary nail for treatment of tibial fracture and shorten intraoperative fluoroscopy time;in addition,remote control operation is reliable and easily mastered due to its simple systemic structure.

To investigate the distribution of variant genotypes of Fc gamma receptor IIIa (Fc gamma R IIIa) in healthy Chinese population of Zhengzhou city, genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of healthy donators. The genotypes of Fc gamma R IIIa-158 were determined by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 137 healthy people in Zhengzhou city. The results showed that frequencies of variant genotypes FF, VV and VF were 42.3%, 48.9% and 8.8% respectively. The distribution of Fc gamma R IIIa-158 in healthy Chinese population of Zhengzhou city was polymorphic and different from that of African Americans (AA) and Caucasian Americans (CA).
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; European Continental Ancestry Group ; Genotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, IgG/*genetics ; Variation (Genetics)

The relationship between glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) M1, T1 genotype and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was investigated. GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes in genomic DNA from 67 children with ALL and 146 healthy controls were analyzed by using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The frequencies of GSTM1, M1-T1 null genotypes in ALL children were significantly higher than in the healthy controls (76.12% versus 52.74%, OR=2.856, P<0.001; 50.74% versus 24.66%, OR=3.148, P<0.001, respectively). However, there was no significant relationship between GSTT1 null genotype and ALL of children (61.19% versus 49.32%, OR=1.621, P>0.05). It was suggested that GSTM1 null genotype might be a risk genotype of childhood ALL, while there as no correlation between GSTT1 null genotype and childhood ALL.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics

In order to investigate the levels of stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor c-kit protein and mRNA in pediatric aplastic anemia (AA) and their relevance to the pathogenesis, immunocytochemical and in situ hybridization were utilized to detect the expression of SCF and its receptor c-kit gene protein and mRNA, respectively in 59 children with AA and 51 normal controls. The relationship between SCF and c-kit and the pathogenesis of AA was analyzed subsequently. The results showed that the positive rate of SCF protein and mRNA expression in children with AA was significantly lower than that in healthy controls (P＜0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the positive rate of c-kit protein and mRNA expression between children with AA and control group (P＞0.05). It was concluded that the expression of SCF is significantly decreased in children with AA, which may be closely associated with the pathogenesis of the AA. c-kit may be unrelated to the development of pediatric AA. Therefore, AA in children may have abnormalities at SCF/ckit signal transduction levels.

Objective To investigate the difference of Theory of Mind (ToM) processing (especially in social-perceptual component and social-cognitive component) in male methamphetamine (METH) addicts, and test whether the deficits of ToM is correlated with their psychotic symptoms or not. Methods Thirty METH addicts with psychotic symptoms (METH-P group), 31 METH addicts with no psychotic symptoms (METH-NP group) and 41 healthy controls (control group) were recruited. Eyes Task and Faux pas Task were used to test the social-perceptual component and social-cognitive component in all participants. The psychotic symptoms of METH addicts were assessed using Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Results Compared with control group, performance was poor in Eyes Task and Faux pas Questions in both METH-P group and METH-NP group (P＜0.05). Performance in Eyes Task was poorer in METH-P group than in METH-NP group (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in performance in Faux pas Questions scores between METH-P group and METH-NP group (P＞0.05). Multivariate linear regression analysis demonstrated that BPRS positive symptom score were correlated with Eyes Task scores of METH addicts (β=-0.415, P=0.001). Conclusions METH addicts exhibit deficits in both ToM social-perceptual component and ToM social-cognitive component. METH-associated psychosis are related to the deficit in social-perceptual component of ToM.