Objective To study the relationship between pain symptoms and the clinico-pathological features of pelvic endometriosis (EM).Methods One hundred thirty patients with laparoseopic diagnosis of EM were studied retrospectively and the relationship between pain symptoms including dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain(CPP),dyspareunia and dysehezia and the anatomical features of pelvic endometriosis were evaluated.Results One hundred (76.9%)patients with pain symptoms and 30 (23.1%)without were included in this study.The number of patients with mild,moderate and severe dysmenorrhoea was 27 (20.8%),41(31.5%),and 32 (24.6%),respectively.Patients with dyspareunia,CPP and dyschezia were 46(35.4%),45(34.6%) and 67(51.5%),respectively.Compared with patients without dysmenorrhea,the proportion of deep utero-sacral nodules (45.0% vs 13.3%,P=0.00),recto-vaginal nodules (16.0% vs 0,P=0.01),complete obliteration of eul-de sac (41.0% vs 10.0%,P=0.00),and lesions of DIE (51.0% vs 16.7%,P=0.00) was significantly increased in patients with dysmenorrhea. The severity of dysmenorrhea was positively correlated with nodules in uterosacral ligaments (P=0.005,r= 0.302),and invasive depth of uterosacral ligaments (P=0.016,OR=5.085).Among patients with endometrioma,significantly more moderate to severe adhesions were found in patients with dysmenorrhea , compared with those patients without dysmenorrhea(29.1% vs 8.3%,P=0.029).Patients with CPP had more nodules in the utero-sacral ligaments(51.1% vs 30.6%,P=0.018)and DIE lesions(57.8% vs 35.3%,P=0.011),compared with those without.More nodules in the utero-saeral ligaments(46,3% vs 28.6%,P=0.028),recto-vaginal nodules(19.4% vs 4.8%,P=0.01),complete obliteration of cul-de sac(44.8% vs 22.2%,P=0.005)and DIE lesions(53.7% vs 31.7%,P=0.01)were found in patients with dyschezia,compared with those without.Nodules in the recto-vaginal pouch were an independent risk factor of dyspareunia.Conclusion Pain symptoms including dysmenorrhea,dyspareunia, chronic pelvic pain,and dysehezia are remarkedly related to endometriotic nodules at the posterior part of the pelvis or those with deep invasions.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the chemical composition of the modified surface of fluoride ion-implanted titanium and assess the effect on the formation of focal adhesion plaque in vitro.

METHODSPure commercial titanium discs were treated with fluoride ion implantation by plasma immersion ion implantation technique (PIII) and chemical composition and value of the surface modification layer were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS). In order to investigate the formation of focal adhesion plaque, MG-63 cells were seeded onto the surfaces of the modified Ti discs and quantified by morphometric analysis using an immunofluorescence microscope.

RESULTSThe full range XPS spectra and fitting results indicated that the surface of fluoride ion-implanted titanium was the mixture of titanium dioxide and titanium trifluoride. Meanwhile, the quantity of focal adhesion plaque on fluoride ion-implanted titanium was more than that on the non-implanted titanium after 6 hours' cell culture.

CONCLUSIONThe XPS data revealed that the modified surface layer of fluoride ion-implanted titanium contained titanium dioxide and titanium trifluoride, which could enhance the formation of focal adhesion plaque.

Fluorides ; Focal Adhesions ; In Vitro Techniques ; Prostheses and Implants ; Surface Properties ; Titanium

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVECombined hypoxic cytotoxic drugs and chemoradiotherapy is an important mean of oncotherapy, and Tirapazamine (TPZ) is one of the most remarkable drugs. It has been shown that TPZ has a synergistic effect with radiotherapy on tumor cells, but whether TPZ would down-regulate the expression of the hypoxia-induced genes has not been reported. This study was to investigate the hypoxia-induced mRNA expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and osteopontin (OPN) in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells and the radiosensitization of TPZ, a hypoxia-specific drug, on HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells in vitro.

METHODSThe IC50 values of TPZ for HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells were measured using MTT assay, and the mRNA expressions of HIF-1alpha and OPN in HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells was determined using RT-PCR under aerobic and hypoxic conditions, respectively. The survival rates of HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells treated with or without TPZ at IC10 in the presence or absence of oxygen for 6 h were determined using colony formation assay following exposure to 1-6 Gy of 60Co radiation. The dose-survival curves were plotted and the values of D0, Dq and SER were calculated as a single-hit multitarget model.

RESULTSThe IC50 values of TPZ were 34.81 μmol/L and 35.02 μmol/L in HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells under aerobic condition, and 30.20 μmol/L and 28.48 μmol/L under hypoxic condition, respectively. The expressions of HIF-1alpha and OPN mRNA were reduced by TPZ in HNE-1 cells, but not in CNE-1 cells under hypoxic condition. For the HNE-1 cells, the respective values of D0 and Dq were 0.89 Gy and 0.28 Gy following normoxic irradiation versus 1.47 Gy and 0.44 Gy following hypoxic irradiation. For the CNE-1 cells, the respective values of D0 and Dq were 0.72 Gy and 0.68 Gy following normoxic irradiation versus 0.95 Gy and 0.56 Gy following hypoxic irradiation. The values of D0 and Dq for HNE-1 and CNE-1 cells treated with TPZ under hypoxic condition following irradiation were 0.66 Gy, 0.21 Gy and 0.85 Gy, 0.79 Gy, respectively.

CONCLUSIONTPZ can down-regulate hypoxia-induced expression of HIF-1alpha and OPN mRNA of HNE-1 cells and radiosensitize the HNE-1 cells but not CNE-1 cells, and act as a hypoxia modifier.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Cobalt Radioisotopes ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Radiation Tolerance ; drug effects ; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents ; pharmacology ; Triazines ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of progesterone and progestin on the expressions of regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis.

METHODSWe collected the samples of endometrium from patients with endometriosis before operation or after insertion of levenorgestrel releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), administration of oral medroxyprogesterone (MPA), or injection of gonadotrophic hormone releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain raction was used to assay the expression of RANTES mRNA. On the other hand, progesterone (Po) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) of different concentrations and different manners were used to treat cultured cells in vitro. RANTES secretion was evaluated in the culture medium using ELISA. In order to evaluate the effect of Po on the secretion of RANTES under stimulation of TNFalpha, the cells were cultured in medium containing 100 U/ml TNFalpha and Po of different concentrations for 24 hours. After the pretreatment of Po for 48 hours at different concentrations, TNFalpha (100 U/ml, 16 h) was added to observe whether Po inhibits RANTES or not.

RESULTSThe expression of RANTES mRNA in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis was significantly higher than in control group (28.0 +/- 9.0 vs. 22.0 +/- 5.6, P < 0.05). Following the exposures to LNG-IUS (24.0 +/- 4.2 vs. 25.9 +/- 4.2, P > 0.05) or GnRHa (23.0 +/- 12.9 vs. 26.9 +/- 5.2, P > 0.05), the expression of RANTES mRNA had no change. MPA significantly increased the expression of RANTES mRNA (42.6 +/- 3.1 vs. 24.3 +/- 5.7, P < 0.05). Po itself had no significant effect on the secretion of RANTES. Stimulated by Po and TNFalpha at the same time, the secretion of RANTES significantly increased. After pretreatment with Po for 48 hours, the reaction of RANTES to the stimulating effect of TNFalpha was down-regulated.

CONCLUSIONThe eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis has high chemotactic activity. It may be feasible to prevent and treat endometriosis with progestins.

Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL5 ; biosynthesis ; Endometriosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Endometrium ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; agonists ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices, Medicated ; Levonorgestrel ; therapeutic use ; Medroxyprogesterone ; therapeutic use ; Progesterone ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Progestins ; therapeutic use ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDEndometriosis is a controversial and enigmatic disease. Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) is responsible for painful symptoms and is the least understood type of endometriosis. Little work has been devoted to define the location of DIE lesions and its relationships with pain. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the anatomical distribution of DIE lesions and pain symptoms.

METHODSClinical data from 354 patients between May 2003 and December 2007 with laparoscopically diagnosed endometriosis were collected including 177 DIE patients and 177 non-DIE patients. The pain symptoms, including dysmenorrhea (DM), chronic pelvic pain (CPP, defined as intermittent or permanent pelvic pain, not related to the menstruation and longer than 6 months), deep dyspareunia (pelvic pain at intercourse) and dyschezia (pelvic pain with defecation), were recorded for every patient before operation. Endometriotic lesions were recorded by their anatomical distributions, the depth of infiltration and lesion colors. And the relationship between the anatomical distribution of DIE lesions and pain symptoms was analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression and binary Logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe duration ((13.79 ± 3.94) years) of pain suffering in DIE patients was much longer than that of non-DIE patients (P < 0.01). In DIE patients, 60.7% of the uterosacral ligament (USL) nodules were bilateral (P < 0.01); 44.6% of the cul-de-sacs were completely blocked. Rectum invasion was observed in 19.9% of DIE patients (P = 0.03); pelvic adhesion was also more common. Up to 98.41% of the deep infiltrative lesions were located in the posterior pelvic compartment. DIE lesions were also found in bladder (1.58%), USL (67.08%), cul-de-sac (12.02%), recto-vaginal septum (12.66%), rectum and rectosigmoid junction (2.85%) and ureter (3.80%). The odds ratio of USL-DIE for CPP, deep dyspareunia, dyschezia were 2.52, 1.29 and 2.24 respectively. And the depth of infiltration correlated with the severity of dysmenorrhea.

CONCLUSIONSDIE lesions were associated with severe pain symptoms. The main distribution of DIE lesions was in the posterior pelvic compartment, and was more widespread and severe in DIE patients. Moreover, resection of these DIE lesions are very important to treat the pain symptoms.

Adult ; Constipation ; physiopathology ; Dysmenorrhea ; physiopathology ; Endometriosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Pelvic Pain ; physiopathology ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo preliminarily investigate the long-term structural and functional injuries of mitochondria in rat brain caused by sepsis.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly assigned into sepsis and control groups. A rat model of sepsis was prepared by an intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria, and the survival assay was performed. Eight rats in the sepsis group were sacrificed at 12, 24, 48, or 72 hours after LPS injection, while rats in the control group were sacrificed after an intraperitoneal injection of an equal volume of normal saline. Mitochondria were extracted from rat brain tissue. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial swelling level were determined by flow cytometry, and the activities of electron transport chain complexes (I-V) were measured using enzyme assay kits. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and electron microscopy were used to observe morphological changes in brain tissue and mitochondria.

RESULTSThe sepsis group had a significantly lower survival rate than the control group (P<0.01). The MMP and activities of electron transport chain complexes (I-V) in the sepsis group, which were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05), were reduced to the lowest levels at 48 hours and partially recovered at 72 hours. The mitochondrial swelling level in the sepsis group, which was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), increased to the peak level at 48 hours and partially recovered at 72 hours. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining revealed substantial damages in the structure of brain tissue, and electron microscopy showed mitochondrial swelling, and vacuolization in a few mitochondria.

CONCLUSIONSIn the rat model of LPS-induced sepsis, both structural and functional injuries are found in cerebral mitochondria, and achieve the peak levels probably at around 48 hours.

Animals ; Brain ; pathology ; physiopathology ; ultrastructure ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Mitochondria ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sepsis ; chemically induced ; mortality ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical significance of genetic detection and changes of red cell enzyme activities of pyrimidine 5' nucleotidase (P5'N), pyruvate kinase (PK) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) in patients with α-thalassaemia (α-thal).

METHODSThree α-thal patients were further processed to gene detection by PCR-trans-dot blot and gap-PCR, and red cell enzymes activities by absorbance at 260 and 280 nm (A) for P5'N and fluorescence spot test for PK and G-6-PD.

RESULTSRed cells in 3 α-thal cases were microcytic hypochromic with obvious augmented target cells and basophilic stippling erythrocytes. Two patients had anemia, splenomegaly, hyperbilirubinemia and augmented LDH. HbH was positively identified by hemoglobin electrophoresis and hemoglobin cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis; the other patient had no such abnormalities. Genotypes of 3 patients were of (-α(3.7)/--(SEA)), (αα(QS)/--(SEA))and (--(SEA)), respectively. The activity of P5'N (but not for PK and G-6-PD) in red cell reduced.

CONCLUSIONSThis is the first documented α-thal with P5'N deficiency. Genetic detection might be clinical significant for the diagnosis and pedigree screening of α-thal.

5'-Nucleotidase ; deficiency ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Erythrocytes ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; alpha-Thalassemia ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child suspected for hypokalemic periodic paralysis. METHODS: Clinical data of the patient was collected, and venous blood samples were taken from the patient and his parents for the extraction of genomic DNA. Next generation sequencing (NGS) with target capture was carried out to detect potential variants. Suspected variants were validated by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The child developed fatigue without obvious reason at the age of 15. Laboratory test revealed hypokalemia but normal serum magnesium. Genetic testing discovered that he has carried two variants in the SLC12A3 gene, namely c.179C>T and c.539C>A. The patient was diagnosed with Gitelman syndrome. CONCLUSION For children with hypokalemia, genetic testing should be considered for the differential diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome from hypokalemia due to other causes.

Objective To investigate the oncolytic effect of E1B mutant adenovirus (d11520) on human malignant gliomas. Methods Ad-βgal vector was used to investigate the infectibility of dl1520.U251,Hep3B (positive control) and T24 (negative control) cell lines were infected with dl1520respectively at 50,5,0.5,0.005 and 0 pfu of multiplicity of infection (MOI).The replication efficiency of d11520 in host cells was assessed by plaque assay.The cytopathic effect (CPE) was assessed by crystal violet staining in a panel of tumor cells. Results Crystal violet staining showed the Hep3B cell line was the most sensitive to dl1520 and had the fastest CPE,followed by the U251 cell line,while the T24cell line had no CEP.The replication and infection rates ofdl1520 in the U251 cell line were lower than in the Hep3B cell line but significantly higher than in the T24 cell line (P＜0.05). Conclusion The E1B mutant adenovirus (dl1520) has a significant oncolytic effect on human malignant gliomas.

Objective To investigate the serum levels of vitamins and antioxidative indexes as well as theircorrelations with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD),and to analyze the influence of different detection methods on same index detection result.Methods Eighty NAFLD patients diagnosed by ultrasound were chosen for detecting the indexes,including the levels of serum RBP,vitamin A (VA),vitamin D (VD,ELISA and enzyme donor competition method),vitamin E (VE),vitamin B12 (VB12),and antioxidative indexes,including malondialdehyde (MDA),superoxide dismutase (SOD,pyrogallol substrate method and WST-1 method) and reduced glutathione (GSH).Results Compared with the normal reference values,the deficiency rate of serum RBP,VA,VD,VE and SOD in NAFLD patients were 11.6％,38.4％,7.9％,86.0％ and 27.9％ respectively.The serum GSH level in the NAFLD group was lower than that in the healthy control group (P＜0.01).Detecting serum VD and SOD by different detection method found that the difference among different detection methods had statistical significance (P＜0.01).Conclusion The levels of serum VA,VE,GSH and SOD in NAFLD patients are significantly reduced.These detection indicators have the important significance for clinical diagnosis of NAFLD.