Objective: To investigate the expressions of EphrinB2 and its receptor EphB4, microvessel density (MVD), and Ki-67 in human brain astrocytomas and explore their pathological significance. Methods: Expressions of EphB4/EphrinB2, MVD and Ki-67 were detected by tissue microarray and Maxvision shortcut immunohistochemical staining in 84 cases of human astrocytomas and 12 cases of traumatic brain tissues. Results: The difference was significant in expressions of EphB4/ EphrinB2, MVD and Ki-67 labeling index (LI) between human astrocytomas and controlled human traumatic brain tissues (P < 0.05). Expression of EphB4/EphrinB2, MVD and Ki-67 LI had positive cooelation with tumor grade. Ki-67 LI and MVD positively correlated with expressions of EphB4 or EphrinB2 protein (P <0. 05). Conclusion: There is a close correlation between expression of EphB4/ EphrinB2 and differentiation degree, tumor angiogenesis in human brain astrocytoma. The over-expressions of EphB4 and EphrinB2 play an important role in promoting tumor development and angiogenesis. EphB4/ EphrinB2, MVD, and Ki-67 are fine reference parameters to estimate malignancy degree and pathologic features of human brain astrocytomas.

Objective To explore the cataract surgery quality on blindness prevention and postoperative problems in village in short period. Design Population-based survey. Participants 251 cases(254 eyes) received operation and 131 cases(134 eyes)were surveyed 6-month postoperatively. Methods Patients were examined 6-month after the small incision extracapsular cataract extraction and intra ocular lens(IOL) implantation. Examinations were conducted by a special oculist including far vision, near vision, external in- spection, anterior segment, posterior segment, intraocular pressure. Main Outcome Measures Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, diopter, eye complications of surgery. Results Naked far vision of the operated eye more than or equal to 0.3 was 41.8%, naked far vi- sion of the eye more than or equal to 0.05 was 82.8%; corrected far vision more than or equal to 0.3 was 64.2%, corrected far vision more than or equal to 0.05 was 92.3%. Naked near vision more than or equal to 0.1 was 79.9%, corrected near vision more than or e- qual to 0.1 was 85.8%. The main postoperative complications were ametropia, posterior capsule opacification(PCO), deformed pupil, pupil displacement, pigments of IOL, eccentric IOL and intraocular hypertension. The chief reasons of eyes that could not be recovered were vitreous, retina or optic nerve diseases, the key factors that caused living vision less than 0.3 were ametropia, PCO, the disease of vitreous, retina and optic nerve. Conclusions The serious complications affecting the surgery result are limited in a low range. The most important factors of the eye corrected far vision less than 0.05 are the vitreous, retina and optic nerve diseases. In order to improve the visual sight, we should add equipment to calculate the IOL diopter accurately.

Objective To examine mycological profile of eryptococcal meningitis in patients with non-acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) during treatment and follow-up so that to support clinical therapy. Methods Data of 28 cuhure-confirmed cryptoeoccal meningitis patients with non-AIDS were retrospectively analyzed. Fungat smear, count, culture and latex agglutination test of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were done during treatment and follow-up. Initial treatment included intravenous amphotericin B plus oral flucytosine or f;uconazole for at least 6 weeks, and consolidation treatment included oral fluconazole and (or) itraeonazole for at least 2 months. All 28 patients were cured. The data were analyzed by rank-sum test. Results The positive rate of CSF fungal smear was 92.9% before treatment and gradually decreased, and the fungal count was significantly reduced over time after treatment. While fungal smears of some patients were still positive after initial treatment. Fungal growth time in culture was gradually extended, and fungal culture turned to be negative in all patients after 2 weeks of treatment. The positive rate of latex agglutination test of CSF was 100%. Cryptococcal antigen titer decreased steadily after treatment, which was not correlated with the decrease of fungal count. Conclusion Mycological tests of patients with eryptococcal meningitis should be interpreted comprehensively during treatment, and result of each test should be specifically analyzed.

The immunotherapy for malignant glioma faces unique difficult, due to some anatomical and immunological charac teristics including the existence of blood brain barrier, the absence of lymphatic tissues and dendritic cells (DCs) in the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma, and the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therefore, immunotherapeutic approaches will not be beneficial unless the compromised immune status in malignant glioma patients is overcome. DC based immunotherapy, vaccinating cancer patients with DCs pulsed with various tumor antigens, is one of the most promising immunotherapeutic approaches for treatment of malignant glioma because it seems able to overcome, at least partially, the immunosuppressive state associated with primary malignancies. The preparation of DCs, choice of antigen, and route and schedule of administration are improving and optimizing with rapid development of molecular biology and gene engineering technology. DC vaccination in humans, after a number of pre-clinical models and clinical trials, would increase the clinica lbenefits for malignant glioma immunotherapy.

Objective To explore the effect of alfacalcidol soft capsules on immune function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods A total of 172 COPD patients were random-ly divided into the trial group ( n=86 ) and the control group ( n=86 ) . They all accepted the conventional treatment, but the patients in the trial group were given the treatment of alfacalcidol soft capsules 0.25μg? d -1 for 6 months.The difference of immune function ( CD3 +, CD4 +, CD8 +and CD4 +/CD8 +), pulmonary function [forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide of lung/alveolar volume ( DLCO/VA ) ] and acute exacerbations of COPD during 6 months follow -up were compared between the two groups.Results The contrations of CD3 +, CD4 +, CD8 +and CD4 +/CD8 +after treatment in the trial group were significantly higher than that before treatment and control group (P<0.05).The FEV1,FEV1/FVC,DLCO/VA after treatment in the trial group were significantly higher than that before treatment and control group(P<0.05).There were no significant difference of CD3 +,CD4 +, CD8 +, CD4 +/CD8 +, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, DLCO/VA before and after treatment in the control goup(P>0.05).The rate of acute exacerbations of COPD in the trial group (9.30%)was sig-nificantly lower than that in the control group ( 25.58%) during 6 months follow-up.Conclusion Alfacalcidol soft capsules could improve the pulmonary function and reduce acute exacerbations by improving immune function of patients with COPD.

OBJECTIVETo detect the possible relationship between PARKIN gene and the Chinese pedigree with autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson's disease(AREP).

METHODSClinical examination was carried out in 6 patients from 3 Chinese pedigrees with AREP and their 23 family members. PCR amplification of all exons of PARKIN gene was performed. The PCR products were analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) to screen for point mutation and polymorphism. And in the samples with abnormal DHPLC result, further sequencing was conducted to confirm the type of mutation and polymorphism.

RESULTSAll exons of PARKIN gene from the research subjects were successfully amplified. A heterozygous point mutation (Gly284Arg) in exon 7 was found in one pedigree. A polymorphism (Ser167Asn) in exon 4 was found in another pedigree. All the patients had the past history of exposure to environmental poison.

CONCLUSIONWhen acting together with risky environmental factors, the heterozygous mutation Gly284Arg in PARKIN gene may cause AREP. The polymorphism Ser167Asn in PARKIN gene increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and may cause AREP when acting together with hydrargyrism.

Age of Onset ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, Recessive ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical outcomes of superior labrum from anterior to posterior (SLAP) repair and biceps tenodesis in treating type I SLAP injury.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to March 2012, 38 patients with type II SLAP injury were treated with SLAP repair and biceps tenodesis, and all patients were unilateral SLAP injury. Sixteen patients treated with biceps tenodesis included 8 males and 7 females with an average age of (49.3±3.7) years old (ranged, 45 to 54); 10 cases were on the left side and 6 cases on the right side; 10 cases were caused by falling down, 2 cases were caused by throwing damage and 4 cases were caused by daily life damage; the time from injury to operation were from 3 to 8 weeks. Twenty-two patients treated with SLAP repair included 14 males and 8 females with an average age of (49.0±2.8) years old (ranged, 44 to 56); 13 cases were on the left side and 9 cases were on the right side; 14 cases were caused by falling down, 5 cases were caused by throwing damage and 3 cases were caused by daily life damage; the time from injury to operation were from 3 to 7 weeks. Preoperative, postoperative at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years' UCLA and SST score were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant differences in UCLA and SST score between two groups before operation. At 6 months after operation, UCLA and SST score in biceps tenodesis group was higher than SLAP group, and action,range of anteflexion, strength of anteflexion, degree of satisfaction in biceps tenodesis group was higher than SLAP group. There was no significant meaning in SST and UCLA score between two groups at 1 and 2 years after operation.

CONCLUSIONShort-term efficacy of biceps tenodesis for SLAP injury is better than SLAP repair, but long-term efficacy is fairly.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Tendon Injuries ; surgery ; Tenodesis

Background:A ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often fatal.In addition to surgery and transarterial embc lization,radiofrequency ablation (RFA) might be another option for treating a ruptured HCC.Unfortunately,conventional RFA has a limited ablation zone;as such,it is rarely used to treat ruptured tumors.Case presentation:This case was a 60-year-old man who had a large,ruptured HCC in which hydrochloric acid (HCI)-enhanced RFA successfully controlled the bleeding and made the tumor completely necrotic.Conclusion:Considering the effectiveness of HCI-enhanced RFA in achieving hemostasis and tumor ablation,it might be a new option for treating large,ruptured HCCs.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of using an endovascular metal stent as a highly efficient and site-specific gene delivery system.

METHODSStents were formulated with a collagen coating. Anti-DNA monoclonal antibodies were covalently bound to the collagen surface by a cross linking reagent of N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP). Binding capacity and stability of antibody and plasmid DNA on stents were quantified by radioactive labeling. The gene transduction efficiency was evaluated in cell culture and in rabbits.

RESULTSThe amount of antibodies binding on collagen matrix through SPDP reaction was 15 times higher than that of through physical absorption (P < 0.005). The binding stability of plasmid was significantly better than the control groups (P < 0.01). There was no harmful effect on cell growth with the anti-DNA antibody modified stents. The stents retrieved from cell culture after 72 hours of incubation in A10 cells showed numerous transducted cells only infiltrating the surface coating indicating a highly localized and efficient gene delivery pattern. Results of in vivo gene transfer by this modified stent revealed (2.8 +/- 0.7)% of total cells transduction and the higher transduction location was neointimal layer (about 7%). No distal spread of vector was detectable in the anti-DNA antibody modified stent implantation animals.

CONCLUSIONSAnti-DNA antibody modified stents represent a novel highly efficient and site-specific gene delivery system which can deliver various kinds of plasmid vectors. The release of plasmid DNA tethered on the stents could be controlled in some conditions. This novel system provided a novel platform for cardiovascular site-specific gene therapy.

Animals ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; immunology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; Collagen ; DNA ; genetics ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; Male ; Mice ; Plasmids ; Rabbits ; Stainless Steel ; Stents

Objective To investigate the effects of different dialysates on expression of protein kinase C-? (PKC?) and apoptosis of U937 cell line. Methods Different dialysates were added into culture fluid with U937 cell line at exponential phase of growth, and groups were divided: fluid A+fluid B group (dialysate A+dialysate B), fluid A+fluid B+rottlerin (PKC? specific inhibitor)group, fluid A+powder B group (dialysate A+powder B) and fluid A+powder B + rottlerin group. Besides, blank control group and normal control group were established. Cells were harvested 24 h and 48 h after treatment, morphological changes were observed by Hoechst33258 fluorescence staining, cell apoptosis was measured by Annexin-V-FITC/PI double staining, and expression of PKC? mRNA and protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results Cell apoptosis significantly increased in fluid A+powder B group, with typical morphology of apoptosis. After treatment for 24 h and 48 h, cell apoptosis rates in fluid A+powder B group were significantly higher than those at corresponding time points in blank control group, normal control group and fluid A+powder B+rottlerin group (P0.05). Conclusion Fluid A+powder B can significantly increase apoptosis of U937 cell line, the mechanism of which may be associated with the up-regulation of expression of PKC?. Compared with fluid A+powder B, fluid A+fluid B is superior in reducing apoptosis of peripheral blood monouclear cells.