OBJECTIVETo clarify the expression and subcellular localization of merlin in vestibular schwannoma.

METHODSFifty four paraffin embedded vestibular schwannoma samples confirmed by pathology after resection were included in the study. The expression of merlin in vestibular schwannoma was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Nerve tissues that were resected during surgical treatment for trigeminal neuralgia and Meniere's disease were used as control. Western blotting was used to analyze the electrophoresis migration of merlin in the acoustic neuroma. Image analysis was used to calculate the positive expression percentage of merlin in each individual. The expression percentage of merlin in the tumor tissue was compared with age and gender of the patients, clinical course of the tumor, tumor growth index, tumor diameter and clinical stage.

RESULTSMerlin was expressed in 0 to 87.5% of the cells in vestibular schwannoma tissue with a mean of (46.66 +/- 5.75)%. There was a negative correlation between merlin expression percentage and tumor growth index. There were no correlations between merlin expression percentage and the age, gender, tumor diameter and clinical stage. There exists a difference for the location of merlin, mainly in the nucleus and perinucleus. There was also a cytoplasmic location. Merlin in the tumor tissue was shown by western blot to be in 65000 and 125000 positions.

CONCLUSIONSMerlin was expressed in vestibular schwannoma tissue, with a different intra-cellular location. Merlin might also exist as a complex with other proteins in the tumor tissue.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neurofibromin 2 ; metabolism ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the killing effect of Herceptin and adriamycin sequentially applied on breast cancer cell line in vitro.

METHODSBT-474 human breast cancer cells in exponential growth phase were treated with Herceptin alone, adriamycin alone and their sequential administration (Herceptin before adriamycin and vice versa), respectively. Under optical microscope, the morphological changes of the cells were observed before and after drug administration. The expression rate and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of HER-2/neu and cell death rate were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSMicroscopically, the cells treated with different protocols all exhibited such changes as darkening and increase of cellular debris with irregular cell morphology. Flow cytometry revealed no significant difference in the expression rate of HER-2/neu in each group before and after treatment, but the MFI of HER-2/neu and death rate of the treated cells were significant different from those of the control group (P<0.05). The cell death rate of Herceptin-pretreated cells was significantly higher than that of adriamycin-pretreated ones (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHerceptin pretreatment enhances the killing effect of adriamycin on breast cancer cell line BT-474, which provides experimental evidence for designing clinical sequential biochemotherapy of breast cancer.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Synergism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; biosynthesis ; Trastuzumab

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of S518 phosphorylation in Merlin on the interaction with CD44 in vestibular schwannoma and the tumor growth.

METHODSThirty-five samples of vestibular schwannoma were identified by pathology. Immunohistopathology and western blot were employed to analyze the expression and localization of S518 phosphorylated Merlin in the tumor tissues. Nerve tissues that were collected during other surgical operation were used as control. The expression level of S518 phosphorylated Merlin was compared with clinical stages, tumor size, clinical course and cystic degeneration. Immunoprecipitation was used to evaluate the impact of S518 phosphorylation in Merlin on the interaction with CD44.

RESULTSIn vestibular schwannoma, Merlin was phosphorylated at S518 and demonstrated perinuclear localization. The S518 phosphorylation level was much lower in the normal control nerve tissues than that in vestibular schwannoma tissues. There was no correlation between the phosphorylation level on Merlin and clinical stages, tumor size, clinical course and cystic degeneration. The S518 phosphorylated Merlin bound CD44 was higher than wild-type Merlin bound CD44 in vestibular schwannoma tissues.

CONCLUSIONSThe affinity of Merlin to CD44 was increased after phosphorylation at S518. Different cellular biological results might be triggered through binding to wild type Merlin and S518 phosphorylated Merlin.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Genes, Neurofibromatosis 2 ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neurofibromin 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neuroma, Acoustic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphorylation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1% propranolol ointment in the treatment of superficial infantile hemangiomas (IHs).

METHODSA retrospective chart review was performed on 49 children (34 female and 15 male) with a median age of 4.1 months (range, 1-10 months). A total of 58 superficial IHs were treated with 1% propranolol ointment. Topical propranolol was applied three times daily for a mean duration of 21.1 weeks (range, 5-59 weeks). Changes in the size, texture, and color of the tumor were monitored and recorded at regular intervals. The treatment response was evaluated using a 3-point scale system: good, partial, and no response. Adverse effects after medication were evaluated and managed accordingly.

RESULTSOf the 49 cases, 26 (53.1%) demonstrated good response, 17 (34.7%) showed a partial response, and 6 (12.2%) had no response. The total effective rate was 87.8% . No systemic complication was observed in any of the patients.

CONCLUSIONSTopical therapy with 1% propranolol ointment may be a safe and effective method for the treatment of superficial IHs and can be used as an adjuvant treatment measure during the wait-and-see period.

Female ; Hemangioma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Ointments ; Propranolol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Skin Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo determine whether Betahistine mesilate is effective in treating tinnitus.

METHODSRandomized, prospective, double-blind, controlled trial was used in our study. The study group consisted of 60 adult patients who consulted our outpatient clinic complaining of subjective tinnitus, excluded objective tinnitus and the patients who had tinnitus caused by obvious diseases, such as outer and middle ear diseases. Thirty patients were given Betahistine mesilate and Flunarizine Hydrochloride as an experimental group, 30 patients were given Vitamin B6 and Flunarizine Hydrochloride as a control group. After a week of treatment the efficacy of the medicines in two groups was observed. Tinnitus questionnaire was performed before the treatment, and pure tone audiogram, tinnitus pitch and loudness matching were performed both in the beginning and at the end of the treatment.

RESULTSCompletion of treatment, tinnitus loudness matching assessment showed that the efficacy of the Betahistine mesilate group was better then the control group. The efficacy of treatment was respectively 65.5% by per protocol (PP) and 63.3% by intend to treat (ITT) in the Betahistine mesilate group and 39.3% by PP and 36.7% by ITT in the control group. The difference of tinnitus loudness improvement rate between the experimental group and control group was statistically significant. But the subjective tinnitus improvement rate showed no difference between two groups. There were not serious side effects in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSBetahistine mesilate can be a choice for tinnitus treatment clinically. Further studies of larger series and placebo-controlled trial are needed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Betahistine ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Flunarizine ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Tinnitus ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

The study was purposed to investigate whether processing and storage conditions might influence the stability of the HCV RNA in whole blood or in plasma. The samples obtained from seven patients known to be positive for HCV RNA were kept in different storage conditions with different anticoagulants, and at the end of processing the plasma samples were frozen at -80 degrees C until fluorescent quantitative PCR testing. The results showed that there was no significant loss of HCV RNA titers in whole blood anticoagulated with CPDA or ACD or EDTA or none (P > 0.05), while differences in comparison of the EDTA-anticoagulant storage condition with three other anticoagulants storage conditions at 4 degrees C after 48 hours were significant (P < 0.05). The HCV RNA level decreased to 53.8%, 72.5% and 29.8% after 48 hours of storage of whole blood anticoagulated with ACD at 4 degrees C, 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C respectively. The HCV RNA level of plasma samples stored at 4 degrees C and at 25 degrees C (room temperature) after 7 days decreased to 70.9% and 25.1% respectively. After four freeze-thaw cycles the HCV RNA level decreased 38.9% in plasma samples. It is concluded that the HCV RNA is stable relatively. The HCV RNA is resistant to degradation under routine laboratory handling and storage conditions or blood collection, transport and processing conditions. The influence of different anticoagulants on the stability of HCV RNA is different. Blood samples would better be stored at 4 degrees C after collection and plasma separated within 48 hours. And it is important for the stability of HCV RNA undergoing asepsis blood collection process. HCV RNA remains stable at 4 degrees C for at least 7 days or at room temperature for 3 days, allowing greater flexibility in samples collection and transport in transfusion practice nowadays. HCV RNA in plasma samples subject to up to three short-term freeze-thaw cycles is still stable.
Blood Donors ; Blood Preservation ; methods ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; virology ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; drug effects ; Specimen Handling ; standards ; Temperature ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the correlation between signal/cutoff (S/CO) ratios of anti-HCV EIA and their true positivity for determining the predictive value of S/CO ratios.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty-nine samples of blood from donors positive for anti-HCV at the initial screening were collected from Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming and Urumchi. All the samples were retested by Ortho and 6 Chinese domestic anti-HCV EIA kits in duplicate, and detected for HCV RNA (NAT) using Chiron Procleix HIV/HCV system (transcription mediated amplification, TMA). The HCV RNA negative samples were further tested for anti-HCV by Chiron RIBA 3.0. Either NAT or RIBA positive samples were interpreted as the true positive.

RESULTSAll 7 anti-HCV EIA kits had a significant correlation between S/CO ratios and true positivity. The S/CO ratio of Ortho > or = 3.8 predicted the true positivity in 96.1% of the samples tested. The S/CO ratios of BGI-GBI, GWK, SABC, KHB, InTec, and Wantai were > or = 7.0, > or = 10.0, > or = 6.0, > or = 10.0, > or = 8.6, > or = 14.0 and predicted 96.1%, 96.1%, 97.3%, 96.0%, 96.1%, 96.0% of the true positivity, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe S/CO ratios of anti-HCV EIA kits are associated with the true positivity. S/CO ratios of Ortho, BGI-GBI, GWK, SABC, KHB, InTec and Wantai predicting > or = 95% true positivity are > or = 3.8, > or = 7.0, > or = 10.0, > or = 6.0, > or = 1 0.0, > or = 8.6 and > or = 14.0, respectively.

Blood Donors ; Hepacivirus ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; methods ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity

To evaluate the expression of cytoplasmic CD79a (CyCD79a) and other commonly used B-lymphoid immunomarkers including cytoplasmic CD22 (CyCD22), CD19, CD20 and CD10 in various acute leukemia cells and to define the most sensitive and specific markers in the diagnosis of precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pB-ALL), the immunophenotypic data from 221 de novo adult and pediatric acute leukemia patients as studied using multi-parameter flow cytometry in addition to routine morphologic and enzyme cytochemical assay, were retrospectively analyzed. Cytogenetic and/or molecular biological data in all 45 cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and 13 cases of acute leukemia suspected as AML with the fusion genes such as AML1/ETO and CBFbeta/MYH11 were investigated. The results showed that CyCD79a and CyCD22 were the most sensitive and specific markers respectively for pB-ALL. Expression of CyCD79a was seen in 100% of 58 cases of pB-ALL. At the same time, none (0%) of all 147 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 15 cases of precursor T-cell acute leukemia (pT-ALL) was positive for CyCD22. The conclusion is made that united detection of CyCD79a and CyCD22 is the optimal immune combination for the diagnosis pB-ALL and the distinguishing pB-ALL with AML and pT-ALL.
Acute Disease ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; immunology ; CD79 Antigens ; immunology ; Cytoplasm ; immunology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; genetics ; immunology ; pathology ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo identify the impact of age and gender on cardiac structure and left ventricular function in normal Chinese by echocardiography.

METHODSCardiac structure, valve flow velocity and cardiac function were measured by echocardiography in 15,692 healthy volunteers. Subjects were grouped by age at 5 years interval in population older than 5 years. Children under 5 years were divided into 3 age groups (< 1 years, 1 - 3 years, 4 - 5 years). Hierarchical cluster analyses were performed for ages, based on indexes of cardiac structure and function respectively.

RESULTSSix groups (< 1 years, 1 - 3 years, 4 - 5 years, 6 - 10 years, 11 - 20 years, > or = 21 years) were generated after the age hierarchical cluster analyses based on index of cardiac structure. Four groups (< or = 30 years, 31 - 50 years, 51 - 80 years, > or = 81 years) were generated based on spectral current flow. Six groups (< 1 years, 1 - 3 years, 4 - 5 years, 6 - 10 years, 11 - 15 years, > or = 16 years) were generated based on left ventricular systolic function and five groups (< or = 15 years, 16 - 30 years, 31 - 50 years, 51 - 80 years, > or = 81 years) were generated based on left ventricular diastolic function. Cardiac structure index were similar between male and female in age groups < or = 10 years and significantly lower in females than males in age groups > or = 11 years (P < 0.05). Valve flow velocity was similar between male and female in various age groups (P > 0.05). Left ventricular systolic function was similar between male and female in age groups < or = 10 years but was significantly higher in males than females in age groups > or = 11 years (all P < 0.05). Left ventricular diastolic function was similar between female and male in various age groups (P > 0.05) and equally decreased with aging in both female and male subjects.

CONCLUSIONSThe cardiac development in Chinese population can be divided in 6 phases and becomes stable in subjects older than 21 years, left ventricular systolic function becomes stable in subjects older than 16 years and the left ventricular diastolic function declines physiologically with aging.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cluster Analysis ; Echocardiography ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Heart ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Young Adult

This study is to explore whether the protective effect of resveratrol on ischemia-reperfusion injury is correlated with the structural and functional association between M3 receptor (M3 subtype of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor) and Cx43 (connexin 43 gap junction proteins). Immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting and immunofluorescence were applied to investigate whether resveratrol has an effect on structural and functional association between M3 and Cx43. The effect of resveratrol on electrocardiogram Lead II ex vivo in rats, SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity and MDA (malondialdehyde) content was also observed in order to evaluate the protective effect of resveratrol on ischemia-reperfusion injury. Resveratrol could restore the structural and functional association between M3 receptor and Cx43 gap junction proteins that was partially destroyed under ischemia-reperfusion injury. The phosphorylation and spatial distribution disturbances in Cx43 expression caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury were also restored. Also, the QRS duration, SOD activity and MDA content were restored. Resveratrol could restore the structural and functional association between M3 receptor and Cx43 gap junction proteins.
Animals ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Electrocardiography ; Heart ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Muscarinic M3 ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism