Ascites ; etiology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Function Tests ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rats ; Stem Cells ; cytology

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color ; Venous Pressure

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of human angiopoietin-1 (Ang1) in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis of human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 in nude mice.

METHODSRecombinant human Ang1 sense or antisense eukaryotic expression vectors were constructed, and transfected by lipofectin into human gastric cancer line SGC7901. Stable transfectants were obtained respectively, namely 7Ang1+ for sense, 7Ang1- for antisense, and 7901P for empty vector transfected cells. Semiquantitative PCR and Western blot were employed to testify the transfection efficiency. Cell growth curve and cell cycle were observed by MTT assays or flow cytometry. In in vivo study, growth of SGC7901 xeno-transplant was observed in BALB/c nude mice. Microvessel density (MVD) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry for Factor VIII staining.

RESULTSStably transfected cell lines were established and decreased expression of Ang1 protein and mRNA in the antisense transfected SGC7901 cells was achieved. Tumorigenesis of 7Ang1- cells on day 30 days was significantly inhibited with decreased MVD as compared to that in 7901P and 7Ang1+ cells (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAngiopoietin-1 plays an important role in tumorigenesis and angiogenesis of gastric cancer which can be partially abrogated by antisense technique.

Angiopoietin-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA, Antisense ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Microcirculation ; pathology ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of anticoagulation protein defect in the pathogenesis of unexplained recurrent miscarriage.

METHODSFifty-seven patients with a history of unexplained abortion were enrolled as the investigation group for tests of protein C, protein S, antithrombin III (AT-III), as well as activated protein C resistance (APC-R). The control group consisted of fifty healthy women with a history of normal pregnancy and delivery. Blood samples were obtained for, measuring serum activity of protein C, protein S, AT-III, and APC-R. Patients with positive APC-R were tested for factor V (FV) Leiden gene mutation by PCR-RFLP method.

RESULTSOf the 57 patients, 12 (21.1%), 1 (1.8%), and 5 (8.8%) cases were found with protein S, protein C, and AT-III deficiency respectively, and 13 (22.8%) cases with positive results of APC-R. Of the control group, no protein C or AT-III deficiency was ever found, whereas 2 (4.0%) volunteers were presented with protein S deficiency and 3 (6.0%) with positive results of APC-R. No FV Leiden gene mutation was identified in all the patients with positive APC-R results. Late spontaneous abortion cases had higher incidence of anticoagulation protein defect than the early cases.

CONCLUSIONAnticoagulation protein defect may play a role in the pathogenesis of fetal loss, especially for those occurring in late stage of pregnancy.

Abortion, Habitual ; blood ; etiology ; Activated Protein C Resistance ; blood ; complications ; genetics ; Adult ; Antithrombin III ; metabolism ; Antithrombin III Deficiency ; blood ; complications ; Factor V ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Point Mutation ; Protein C ; metabolism ; Protein C Deficiency ; blood ; complications ; Protein S ; metabolism ; Protein S Deficiency ; blood ; complications

OBJECTIVETo assess the application value of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.

METHODSTRUS and examination of prostatic secretion (EPS) were used in the diagnosis of 3 500 cases of chronic prostatitis from September, 2000 to May, 2006.

RESULTSLower resonance of the inner gland, low-level echo, uneven echo light spots, incomplete outlines and unsmooth borderlines were found in 2279 cases (65.1%), and the enlarged prostate in 1 084 cases (31.0%), with clear integrated amicula and enhanced echogenic spots at the juncture of the external and inner gland. No obvious changes were noted in 137 cases (4.0%), and in another 391 cases (11.2%) were detected alteration of the acoustic image of cystospermitis and blurred margins and uneven echoes of the seminal vesicle. The WBC count in EPS was < 10/HP in 132 cases (3.8%), 10-19/HP in 2 156 cases (61.6%) and > or =20/HP in 1212 cases (34.6%).

CONCLUSIONTRUS, as a diagnostic means for chronic prostatitis, can be easily performed and causes little pain and therefore is readily accepted by patients. Combined with EPS, TRUS can provide more definite diagnostic evidence, and for those who are afraid of pain and reject EPS, it is a desirable alternative in the diagnosis of chronic prostatitis.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Prostatitis ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Rectum ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography ; methods

Humans ; Liver Failure ; therapy ; Liver, Artificial ; adverse effects ; Renal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; Sorption Detoxification ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo establish rhesus haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation model by nonmyeloablative conditioning, and examine the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in haploidentical transplantation.

METHODSThe recipient haploidentical rhesus monkeys were conditioned with a nonmyeloablative regimen consisted of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, 200 cGy total body irradiation, and rabbit anti-human thymocyte globulin. Cyclosporine A, mycophenolate mofetil and anti CD25 antibody were used for graft versus host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Rhesus monkeys in one group were given hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) only, while in the other group HSC combined with MSC. The differences in hematopoiesis recovery, chimerism level, and GVHD between the two groups were evaluated.

RESULTSStable chimerism could be achieved in recipient monkeys. Hematopoiesis recovery was mainly related with chimerism level. MSC seemed capable of facilitating HSC engraftment, as there were more mixed chimerism and less GVHD occurrence in the HSC combined with MSC recipient group.

CONCLUSIONA rhesus haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation model is successfully established by nonmyeloablative conditioning. MSC was of great benefit to haploidentical transplantation.

Animals ; Chimerism ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Haploidy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Macaca mulatta ; genetics ; surgery ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Models, Animal ; Transplantation Conditioning

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence, etiology and clinical characteristics of adrenal lesions detected by abdominal computed tomography (CT).

METHODSThis retrospective study was conducted in patients with adrenal lesions detected by abdominal CT examinations in Nanfang Hospital between July, 2014 and June, 2015. The clinical data of the patients were collected for analysis of the demographics, comorbidities, imaging characteristics, biochemical profiles, clinical diagnosis and intervention.

RESULTSA total of 939 patients with adrenal lesions were identified from 19 004 patients undergoing abdominal CT scan over the defined period. The mean age of the patients was 53.2 years and 560 of the patients were male. Among the total cases with adrenal lesions, the percentages of cases with adrenal masses tended to increase progressively with age. Endocrine studies were done in 270 of the total patients, which identified non-functioning masses in 38.9%, primary aldosteronism in 16.3%, Cushing's syndrome in 4.1%, subclinical Cushing's syndrome in 7.0%, and pheochromocytomas in 7.0% of the cases. Adrenal incidentalomas was detected in 191 patients, with a detection rate of 1.0% among the overall patients undergoing abdominal CT scans. Imaging study detected adenomas (70.3%), cortical carcinomas (2.4%), and metastases (0.5%). Of 191 patients with adrenal incidentalomas, only 76 (39.8%) underwent endocrine evaluation, including 34 with nonfunctioning adrenal masses, 17 with pheochromocytoma, 7 with primary aldosteronism, and 5 with subclinical Cushing's syndrome.

CONCLUSIONs The overall detection rates of adrenal lesions and adrenal incidentalomas by abdominal CT were 4.9% and 1.0%, respectively, in our cohort of patients undergoing the examination over the defined period. Although most of the lesions were benign and nonfunctioning, malignant and functional lesions were also detected. As many as 60% of the patients with adrenal incidentalomas did not have hormonal testing. Clinicians need to have greater awareness of adrenal incidentalomas and standard protocol for its management should be established.

To explore the effect of ligustrazine on the expression of adherent molecule VCAM-1/VLA-4 of bone marrow cells in syngenic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) mice, the mice were divided into 3 groups: normal group (which received no treatment), BMT control group and ligustrazine-treated groups. BMT mouse models were established. The BMT control group and the ligustrazine-treated group were orally administered 0.2 ml saline per mouse and 2 mg ligustrazine per mouse, respectively, twice a day. On the day 7, 14, 21, 28 after BMT, mice were respectively killed. Bone marrow nucleated cells were detected, and then the expression of VCAM-1/VLA-4 was assayed by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. The results showed that in ligustrazine-treated group, the accounts of bone marrow nucleated cells on the day 7, 14, 21, 28 after BMT were all higher than that in BMT control group. The expression level in the ligustrazine-treated group was significantly higher than that in the BMT control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). It is concluded that ligustrazine can enhance VCAM-1/VLA-4 expression in bone marrow after syngenic bone marrow transplantation in mice, which may be related to the mechanisms underlying the ligustrazine accelerating hematopoietic reconstitution in allogenic bone marrow transplantation.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; methods ; Flow Cytometry ; Immunohistochemistry ; Integrin alpha4beta1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pyrazines ; pharmacology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transplantation, Isogeneic ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics