In Systemic lupus erythematosus several correlations with anti-Ro antibodies have been noted. They are the increased incidence of photos nsitive skin disease, rheumatoid factor positivity, Sjogren's syndrorme, and a greatly increased incidence of the DR 3 hapIotype. In this study we examined the prevalence of anti-Ro anibodies(not concerned for anti-La, Sm, RNP) by double immunodiffusion method among thirty two Korean patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who had positive results on routine fluorescent antinuclear antibody test. We also have seen skin manifestations on these patients, and examined if there is any difference of the incidence for each skin sign between anti-Ro positive and negative subgroups. From the data obtained, the proportion of anti-Ro positives among these patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was 53% Regarding to the difference of the incidence of cutaneous rnanifestations between the two subgroups, the photosensitivity reaction was recongnized as a uniqu symptorn rnore prevalent (p<0. 05) in anti-Ro positive subgroup with the frequency of 65%.
Antibodies ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Humans ; Immunodiffusion ; Incidence ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Prevalence ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Skin Manifestations

Aim To investigate and evaluate the effect of ligustrazine on the expression of scavenger receptor type AI, the human ?-interferon activation site (GAS) elements regulatory systems of SR-AI expression wasfirst established in the Xenopus oocytes. Methods A plasmid, in which the human SR-AI gene was constructed downstream from the GAS elements, was microinjected into the nucleus of Xenopus oocytes. The oocytes then were cultured in the smooth muscle cell conditioned medium (SCM), In which the cell were cultured with the treatment of oxLDL for 2 days. In the other groups, the oocytes were treated with SCM containing the nature medicines ligustrazine, and the positive control drug ?-interferon respectively. Results The results demonstrated that SCM could upregulate the expression of SR-AI in this system, this action was suppressed by ligustrazine and ?-interferon. Conclusion Similar to the action of ?-interferon, ligustrazine can prevent the over-expression of SR-A induced by oxLDL, via their effect on the GAS elements regulatory pathway.

Congenital dilatation of the common bile duct is relatively rare anomaly. Its pathogenesis has not been completely understood. Complications of the choledochal cyst are mainly suppurative cholangitis, liver cirrhosis, stone formation, malignant change, bile peritonitis due to spontaneous and traumatic rupture. We experienced one case of choledochal cyst associated with hemorrhagic tendency and a cerebral hematoma, which is extremely rare complication. The 3 months old male patient reported here was treated with complete excision of cyst and Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostomy after correction of bleeding tendency and removal of cerebral hematoma. Postoperative course was relatively uneventful. 11 days after operation, the patient was discharged with full improvement.
Bile ; Cholangitis ; Choledochal Cyst* ; Choledochostomy ; Common Bile Duct ; Dilatation ; Hematoma* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Peritonitis ; Rupture

Objective To summarize and explore the clinical value of selective partial neurotomy of muscular branch of triceps in the treatment of spastic talipes equines.Methods Forty-two cases were included in our study from Aug.2000 to Des.2007,all these cases accepted the operation of selective partial neurotomy muscular branch of triceps.In this study,29 cases were male,13 cases were female.Muscle force of legs,muscular tension,pathologic reflex,gesture and function of legs after operation were compared with that of before operation.Results The mean fallow-up was 18 months.During the fallow-up of this study,muscular tension degraded,the function of ankle joints and the gesture of extremitas inferior were improved obviously.The effective power was about 90% after 12 months follow-up.Conclusions Selective partial neurotomy of muscular branch of triceps is a effective method for the treatment of spastic talipes equines.The operation procedure is simple and effective,and could be generalized in the primary level hospital.

BACKGROUND: Under indirect co-culture conditions, chondrocytes can induce bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into chondrocytes. Osteocytes are the seed cells of chondrocytes, but co-culture of osteocytes with chondrocytes is rarely reported. OBJECTIVE: To induce the chondrogenic differentiation of periosteum-derived cells (PDCs) by indirect co-culture with chondrocytes. METHODS: Chondrocytes were isolated from the rabbits by trypsin and collagenase Ⅱ digestion. Rabbit PDCs were obtained by the explants culture method. Passage 2 chondrocytes and PDCs underwent indirect co-culture at 1:1 in Transwell system as experimental group. PDCs cultured alone were as control group. After 2 weeks of culture, the cellular morphological changes were observed by inverted contrast phase microscope. The expression levels of collagen type Ⅱ and proteoglycan were detected by collagen type Ⅱ immunohistochemistry and toluidine blue staining. The mRNA expression levels of proteoglycan, collagen type Ⅱ and SRY-related protein-9 were detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 2 weeks of culture, PDCs in the experimental group were gradually transformed to chondrocyte-like cells, while PDCs in the control group still remained long spindle-shaped. Collagen type Ⅱ immunohistochemistry staining and toluidine blue staining were positive in the experimental group, while the results were negative in the control group. Additionally, RT-PCR results indicated that the relative mRNA expression levels of proteoglycan, collagen type Ⅱ and SRY-related protein-9 in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Therefore, chondrocytes can induce PDCs to differentiate into chondrocytes under indirect co-culture conditions.

BACKGROUNDPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a kind of ligand-activated transcription factors binding to peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE), a specific recognition site. It is thought to play a critical role in glucose and lipid metabolism and in inflammation control. The aim of this study was to establish a new cellular model for the quick screening of lipid-lowering drugs, which may be effective as PPAR-gamma ligands on the PPRE-mediated pathway regulatory system.

METHODSTwo plasmids were constructed: pXOE-PPARgamma, in which the human PPARgamma gene was in the downstream of TFIIIA gene promoter, and pLXRN-PPRE-d2EGFP, in which the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene was subcloned into PPRE. The xenopus oocytes were injected with these two plasmids, and consequently treated with prostaglandin E1, pioglitazone, and different kinds of lipid-lowering drugs. After 3 days, the oocytes were observed under a fluorescence microscope. To confirm the drug action,we injected pXOE-PPARgamma plasmid into the oocytes, which then treated with prostaglandin E1 and Hawthorn flavonoids. The mass of expressed lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in the cells was determined by enzyme labeling linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe expression of EGFP was only induced by prostagalandin E1, pioglitazone, Hawthorn flavonoids. A concentration-response relationship was seen between expressed EGFP and Hawthorn flavonoids. The levels of LPL in both Hawthorn flavonoids groups and PPARgamma ligand prostagalandin E1 group injected with pXOE-PPARgamma plasmid increased significantly (< 0.001) compared with controls, and a concentration-response relationship was observed between LPL mass and Hawthorn flavonoids.

CONCLUSIONSIt is possible to establish a PPRE regulatory EGFP reporter system in xenopus oocytes to monitor the activity of PPARgamma ligand. Hawthorn flavonoids can increase the expression of gene downsteam of PPRE by effect on the PPRE pathway regulatory system.

Alprostadil ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Crataegus ; Female ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; biosynthesis ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Oocytes ; metabolism ; PPAR gamma ; physiology ; Peroxisome Proliferators ; pharmacology ; Plasmids ; Response Elements ; physiology ; Xenopus

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanisms and effective target points of lipid-lowering drug, Rhizoma Curcumae Longae, and study the effect of curcumin on the expression of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors in macrophages in mice.

METHODSMacrophages in mice were treated with curcumin, which was purified from the ethanolly extraction of Rhizoma Curcumae Longae for 24 h. The LDL receptors expressed in the macrophages were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and assay of DiI labeled LDL uptake by flow cytometer.

RESULTSIt was found for the first time that 10 micromol/L-50 micromol/L curcumin could obviously up-regulate the expression of LDL receptor in macrophages in mice, and a dose-effect relationship was demonstrated.

CONCLUSIONOne of the lipid-lowering mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine, Rhizoma Curcumae Longae, was completed by the effect of curcumin through the up-regulation of the expression of LDL receptor.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hypolipidemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; Mice ; Receptors, LDL ; drug effects ; genetics ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects ; genetics

Granular cell tumor (GCT) of the breast is a rare clinical entity, and is believed to be of schwannian origin and to follow a benign clinical course. A 50-year-old woman presented with a slowly growing mass in the right breast. Fine needle aspiration cytology revealed a cellular smear containing isolated or clustered cells showing round to oval nuclei with abundant oncocytic granular cytoplasm. Nuclei showed a fine granular chromatin pattern and occasional small single nucleoli. Cell boundaries were poorly defined, and naked nuclei were frequently found. Histologically, the tumor showed features of typical GCT, and immunohistochemical staining findings strongly supported the diagnosis. The present study demonstrates that GCT of the breast can mimic malignant lesions of breast both clinically and radiologically. The recognition of its cytologic features and suspicion of this lesion would undoubtedly aid the correct diagnosis of mammary GCT.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Breast* ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Granular Cell Tumor* ; Humans ; Middle Aged

Cutaneous metastasis from bladder cancer is very rare. A 48-year-old man presented with a 5 month history of a dome-shaped nodule on his scalp. Histopathologic examination of the skin lesion revealed the proliferation of atypical cells, which were similar to those of urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder. We herein report on a case of cutaneous metastasis from urothelial carcinoma of the urinary bladder with a review of the Korean literature.
Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Scalp ; Skin ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder*

Xanthogranuloma is a benign, fibrohistiocytic lesion that presents as a yellowish, cutaneous papule or nodule. Although the head, neck, and trunk are the most common sites for xanthogranuloma, it can appear at any site on the body. We report a rare solitary xanthogranuloma on the palm of 24-year-old man.
Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Young Adult