Background and purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the necessity of central compartment neck dissection in laryngeal cancer.Study Design: Retrospective study at a tertiary referral medical center. Methods:Patients with laryngeal squamous cell cancer who underwent neck dissection were evaluated, and a retrospective analysis of clinicopathologic factors and follow-up data were performed. Results: One hundred and eighteen patients from 1999 to 2009 were enrolled. There were 11.9% central compartment lymph node metastasis in all patients, including the 10 patients with central compartment lymph node metastasis in 34 patients underwent compartment neck dissection and 4 patients do not underwent compartment neck dissection but had central neck recurrence in the follow up time. Subglottic or pyriform extension were risk factors in central compartment lymph node metastasis and central neck recurrence (P=0.002). Central compartment lymph node metastasis had closed relationship with levelⅣmetastasis (P<0.001), extracapsular extension (P=0.001), vascular extension (P=0.015) and poor local control rates (P=0.035) respectively. Patients who were positive for lateral neck lymph node metastasis had poor disease-free survival rate (P=0.014) and poor local control rates (P=0.025), and supraglottic cancer had a trend to metastases to levelⅡ(P=0.044). Conclusion:Central compartment neck dissection might be considered a potential therapeutic approach for patients with laryngeal cancer.

This study reports the outcomes of a collaborative program between dialysis clinics and a referral hospital, which consisted of clinical monitoring and supplementary routine surveillance, for improving the quality of vascular access care. Methods: This retrospective observational study was performed at five dialysis clinics as part of a 2-year collaborative program (2019–2020) in conjunction with a hospital-based dialysis access management center. A total of 392 hemodialysis patients (arteriovenous fistula [AVF], n = 339 and arteriovenous graft [AVG], n = 53) were included. Outcome measures included the prognosis of vascular access, clinic satisfaction, and referral rate to the hospital. Results: Increased vascular access flow was observed and critical flow events decreased from the first to the second year (AVF: 18.3% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.001; AVG: 26.2% vs. 20.1%, p = 0.30). There were fewer percutaneous transluminal angioplasty events in the AVG group (0.77 per person-year vs. 0.51 per person-year, p = 0.005). New AVF or AVG creation events also remained low. All dialysis clinics were satisfied with the program. The overall referral rate from the participating clinics increased (65.7% vs. 72.0%) during the study period independently of the physical distance between the dialysis clinic and the hospital. Conclusion: The collaboration between dialysis clinics and a referral hospital for improving the quality of vascular access care was successful in this study, and the model can be used by other clinics and hospitals looking to improve care coordination in dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the safety and curative effects of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in the treatment of silicosis.

METHODSThe protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the hospital, and ten patients with silicosis who had given written consent were enrolled in this study. BMSCs isolated from 100 ml of bone marrow for each case were purified and cultured. In each case the 3rd generation of qualified BMSCs (5 × 10(7)) were intravenously administered weekly for 3 weeks. Three cases among 10 patients were treated with BMSCs modified by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene. The clinical symptoms, chest films, chest CT, pulmonary functions, T cells, serum IgG and ceruloplasmin (CP) were observed in 6 or 9 months after treatment.

RESULTSNo obvious sub-effect was observed in cases treated with BMSCs, the clinical symptoms (such as cough, sputum and chest tightness) basically disappeared in 9 months after treatment. Pulmonary function tests showed that FVC increased from 71.2% ± 17.0% to 84.0% ± 10.9% (P < 0.01) and FEV1.0 increased from 67.5% ± 17.7% to 80.6% ± 14.9% (P < 0.01). The levels of serum CP and IgG significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Further, the chest films and CT in cases treated with autologous BMSCs modified by HGF gene were improved to different extent.

CONCLUSIONTreatment with autologous BMSCs modified by HGF gene exhibit a beneficial effect on silicosis.

Adult ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Female ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Silicosis ; surgery ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo construct the recombinant plasmid pPHU281_A_Spec_B, which knock out Porphyrmonas gingivalis (Pg) FimA gene.

METHODSGenomic DNA was extracted from PgATCC33277 which was cultured in anaerobic condition. The upstream and downstream gene of FimA was cloned from Pg genenomic DNA with specific restriction sites by polymerase chain reaction. Suicide vector pPHU281 was inserted by three fragments: upstream, downstream of FimA gene and spectinomycin resistance gene. The recombinant plasmid was confirmed by electrophoresis and sequenced after amplification in compentent cells DH-5α.

RESULTSThe gene sequence was identified by DNA sequencing analysis. The recombinant plasmid pPHU281_A_Spec_B was successfully constructed.

CONCLUSIONSThe recombinant plasmid pPHU281_A_Spec_B was constructed, which may be used for the constructon of FimA deficient Pg.

Base Sequence ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Fimbriae Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Knockout Techniques ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genetic Vectors ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo study the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) in children.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed on the clinical records of children aged under 3 years who were diagnosed with primary urinary tract infection (UTI) from September 2011 to February 2012. These children were divided into those with upper UTI (UUTI) (APN) and those with lower UTI (LUTI) (non-APN) based on 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan results as a gold standard. The UUTI and LUTI groups were compared in terms of serum levels of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic values of serum PCT and CRP.

RESULTSSixty-five children with UTI, including 39 cases of APN and 26 cases of LUTI, were included in this study. The APN cases had significantly higher serum levels of PCT (3.08 ng/mL vs 0.37 ng/Ml; P<0.01) and CRP (6.25 mg/L vs 3.01 mg/L; P<0.01) than the LUTI cases. The sensitivity and specificity of serum PCT level for APN were 84.6% and 88.5%, respectively, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.873 (95%CI=0.781-0.965) and an optimal threshold point of 1.03 ng/mL. The sensitivity and specificity of serum CRP level for APN were 71.8% and 69.2%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.735 (95%CI=0.612-0.858) and an optimal threshold point of 3.91 mg/L.

CONCLUSIONSAs a result of its high sensitivity and specificity for the disease, serum PCT can be used as a marker in the early diagnosis of APN in children.

C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Pyelonephritis ; blood ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUNDPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha is one of the subtypes of PPARs. It regulates metabolism of lipid and lipoprotein, as well as glucose homeostasis. In addition, PPARalpha influences cellular proliferation, inflammation, differentiation and apoptosis, which plays a vital role in cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role and mechanisms of PPARa activation in relation to acute myocardial damage induced by isoproterenol in rats.

METHODSThirty male Wister rats were randomly divided into control group, isoproterenol (Iso) injured group and fenofibrate (FF) treatment group. Acute myocardial damage caused by isoproterenol intraperitoneal injection induced ischemia was established. We determined the levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum as well as the concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) in serum and myocardium. The mRNA expressions of PPARa, muscular type carnitine palmitransferase (M-CPT-I) and medium chain lipid acetyl coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD) were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the levels of serum CK and LDH were significantly increased after FF and Iso treatments. Moreover, the concentrations of FFA in both serum and myocardium were obviously increased in the Iso group and FF group, while the mRNA expressions of PPARalpha, M-CPT-I and MCAD declined, respectively (P < 0.01). When compared with the Iso group, significant decreases in serum CK and LDH were observed in the FF group. The concentrations of FFA both in serum and myocardial tissue were markedly decreased in the FF group, while the expressions of PPARalpha, M-CPT-I and MCAD mRNA were increased (vs. Iso, P < or = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe utilization of FFA was reduced in isoproterenol induced acute myocardial damage. PPARalpha activation by its activator fenofibrate may play a key role in energy metabolism in acute myocardial damage induced by isoproterenol in rats.

Animals ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Energy Metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; metabolism ; Fenofibrate ; pharmacology ; Heart ; drug effects ; Isoproterenol ; toxicity ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; PPAR alpha ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo verify the binding of p53 to p21WAF1/CIP1 gene promoter and detect its binding to hsp90 beta gene promoter in vivo.

METHODSChromatin immunoprecipitation and PCR analysis were used to measure specific gene regulation sequence and Western blot analysis to investigate p53 protein.

RESULTSThe p53 binding sequences on the promoters of p21WAF1/CIP1 and hsp90 beta gene were found in the p53 antibody immunoprecipitated DNA fragments and p53 was detected in the immunoprecipitated samples.

CONCLUSIONSp53 binds to promoters of p21WAF1/CIP1 and hsp90 beta gene in vivo, and regulates the expression of the two genes.

Binding Sites ; Chromatin ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; Cyclins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Precipitin Tests ; methods ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Protein Binding ; Transcription, Genetic ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

The present study demonstrated that bone marrow cells from diabetic rats were able to form cell clusters expressing insulin,C-peptide,glucagon,somatostatin and islet amyloid .polypeptide,and other genes associated with development and function of islets such as glucose transporter-2,glucokinase,glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor,PDX-1,Ngn3,NeuroDl,Pax-6 and NKX2.2 genes.These islet-like cells might be derived from adult stem cells in bone marrow.

The objective of this study was to explore the protective effects of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on hematopoietic organs of irradiated mice. Human bone marrow MSC were isolated, ex vivo expanded, and identified by cell biological tests. Female BALB/c mice were irradiated with (60)Co γ-ray at a single dose of 6 Gy, and received different doses of human MSC and MSC lysates or saline via tail veins. The survival of mice was record daily, and the femurs and spleens were harvested on day 9 and 16 for pathologic examination. The histological changes were observed and the cellularity was scored. The results showed that the estimated survival time of MSC- and MSC lysate-treated mice was comparable to that of controls. The hematopoiesis in the bone marrow of mice that received high-dose (5×10(6)) of MSC or MSC lysates was partially restored on day 9 and the capacity of hemopoietic tissue and cellularity scorings were significantly elevated as compared with that of controls (P < 0.05). Proliferative nudes were also obviously observed in the spleens of mice that received high-dose of MSC or MSC lysates on d 9 after irradiation. The histological structures of the spleen and bone marrow of the mice that received high-doses (5×10(6)) of MSC or MSC lysates were restored to normal, the cell proliferation displayed extraordinarily active. Further, the cellularity scores of the bone marrow were not significantly different between the high-dose MSC and MSC lysate-treated mice. It is concluded that the bone marrow MSC can promote the hematopoietic recovery of the irradiated mice, which probably is associated with the bioactive materials inherently existed in bone marrow cells.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; surgery ; Transplantation, Heterologous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of long-term anoxic exposure on the sperm function of male adults at different altitudes.

METHODSA total of 28 male adults that had stayed at the altitude of 5 340 m for 1-3 years were included as a high-altitude group (HAG), 34 at the mean altitude of 3 800 m for 2-5 years as a middle-altitude group (MAG) and 31 permanently at the altitude of 1 300 m as controls. Semen specimens were collected and the real-time semen analysis was performed by using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system.

RESULTSThe sperm density, VCL, VSL, VAP and LIN in the HAG were (51.12 +/- 14.61) x 10(6)/ ml, (48.17 +/- 13. 52) microm/s, (32.64 +/- 6.70) microm/s, (41.21 +/- 9.32) microm/s and 52.24 +/- 8.14, respectively, significantly lower than those of the control (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, there was a progressive decrease in sperm concentration, sperm motility rate, VSL, VCL, LIN, VAP and ALH in the MAG.

CONCLUSIONThe higher the altitude, the more obvious was the negative effect of anoxic exposure on the sperm function of male adults.

Adult ; Altitude ; Control Groups ; Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted ; Humans ; Male ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; physiology