Previously, we reviewed biological evidence that mercury could induce autoimmunity and coronary arterial wall relaxation as observed in Kawasaki syndrome (KS) through its effects on calcium signaling, and that inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate 3-kinase C (ITPKC) susceptibility in KS would predispose patients to mercury by increasing Ca2+ release. Hg2+ sensitizes inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) receptors at low doses, which release Ca2+ from intracellular stores in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, resulting in delayed, repetitive calcium influx. ITPKC prevents IP3 from triggering IP3 receptors to release calcium by converting IP3 to inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate. Defective IP3 phosphorylation resulting from reduced genetic expressions of ITPKC in KS would promote IP3, which increases Ca2+ release. Hg2+ increases catecholamine levels through the inhibition of S-adenosylmethionine and subsequently catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), while a single nucleotide polymorphism of the COMT gene (rs769224) was recently found to be significantly associated with the development of coronary artery lesions in KS. Accumulation of norepinephrine or epinephrine would potentiate Hg2+-induced calcium influx by increasing IP3 production and increasing the permeability of cardiac sarcolemma to Ca2+. Norepinephrine and epinephrine also promote the secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide, a potent vasodilator that suppresses the release of vasoconstrictors. Elevated catecholamine levels can induce hypertension and tachycardia, while increased arterial pressure and a rapid heart rate would promote arterial vasodilation and subsequent fatal thromboses, particularly in tandem. Genetic risk factors may explain why only a susceptible subset of children develops KS although mercury exposure from methylmercury in fish or thimerosal in pediatric vaccines is nearly ubiquitous. During the infantile acrodynia epidemic, only 1 in 500 children developed acrodynia whereas mercury exposure was very common due to the use of teething powders. This hypothesis mirrors the leading theory for KS in which a widespread infection only induces KS in susceptible children. Acrodynia can mimic the clinical picture of KS, leading to its inclusion in the differential diagnosis for KS. Catecholamine levels are often elevated in acrodynia and may also play a role in KS. We conclude that KS may be the acute febrile form of acrodynia.
Acrodynia ; Arterial Pressure ; Autoimmunity ; Calcium ; Calcium Signaling ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; Catecholamines ; Child ; Coronary Vessels ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epinephrine ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Hypertension ; Inositol ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate ; Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors ; Inositol Phosphates ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Norepinephrine ; Permeability ; Phosphorylation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Powders ; Relaxation ; Risk Factors ; S-Adenosylmethionine ; Sarcolemma ; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ; Tachycardia ; Thimerosal ; Thrombosis ; Tooth ; Tooth Eruption ; Vaccines ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; Vasodilation

160 cases of x-ray films of male foot have been studied with a view to examine thesupernumerary foot bone, the number of sesamoid bone beneath the head of metatarsus,the correlation of certain foot bone and the cortical thickness of metatarsus. The supernumerary bone in the foot is quite large in number (35%), among which theaccessory scaphoid (14.4%), the accessory fibula (8.75%), the intermetatarsal bone (4.37%)and the os trigonum (2.5%) are most frequently found. Their number, position, shapeand dimensions are quite different. The sesamoid bone beneath the metatarsal head may be absent: occasionally it maybe fissured into two pieces. In one case, its maximum number reaches as many as eight. The study of the correlation of certain foot bone shows: (1) The mean value of the intermetatarsal angle between Ⅰ and Ⅱ metatarsus isa approximately 10?(min. 3--4, max. 15?), left side 9.14?+2.4?, right side 9.75??2.34?. (2) The mean value of the intermetatarso-digital angle of hallux is approximately18--19, (min. 8--9?, max. 30?), left side 19.35??15.4?, right side 18.71??4.9?. (3) The mean value of the Bohler's angle is apporximately 30?, (min. 12?, max.65?), left side 32.03?+12.9?, right side 37.21??11.75?. (4) The mean value of the breadth of protruding scaphoid tuberosity is 0.6 cm,(min. 0.1 cm, max. 1.3 cm.). (5) The head of the first metatarsus is frequently lying proximal to the second.Their distance varies from 0.9 cm. to+0.5 cm. The cortex of the second metatarsus in the thickest, its medial side is thicker thanthe lateral side. The thickness of Ⅰ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ metatarsus decreases in order. The above mentioned findings are discussed anatomically.

Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway, has features of both heritability as well as environmental influences which can be introduced in utero exposures and modified through aging, and the features may attribute to epigenetic regulation. Epigenetic regulation explains the association between early prenatal maternal smoking and later asthma-related outcomes. Epigenetic marks (DNA methylation, modifications of histone tails or noncoding RNAs) work with other components of the cellular regulatory machinery to control the levels of expressed genes, and several allergy- and asthma-related genes have been found to be susceptible to epigenetic regulation, including genes important to T-effector pathways (IFN-γ, interleukin [IL] 4, IL-13, IL-17) and T-regulatory pathways (FoxP3). Therefore, the mechanism by which epigenetic regulation contributes to allergic diseases is a critical issue. In the past most published experimental work, with few exceptions, has only comprised small observational studies and models in cell systems and animals. However, very recently exciting and elegant experimental studies and novel translational research works were published with new and advanced technologies investigating epigenetic mark on a genomic scale and comprehensive approaches to data analysis. Interestingly, a potential link between exposure to environmental pollutants and the occurrence of allergic diseases is revealed recently, particular in developed and industrialized countries, and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as environmental hormone may play a key role. This review addresses the important question of how EDCs (nonylphenol, 4 octylphenol, and phthalates) influences on asthma-related gene expression via epigenetic regulation in immune cells, and how anti-asthmatic agents prohibit expression of inflammatory genes via epigenetic modification. The discovery and validation of epigenetic biomarkers linking exposure to allergic diseases might lead to better epigenotyping of risk, prognosis, treatment prediction, and development of novel therapies.
Acetylation ; Aging ; Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; Asthma ; Biomarkers ; Developed Countries ; Endocrine Disruptors ; Environmental Pollutants ; Epigenomics ; Gene Expression ; Histones ; Hypersensitivity ; Interleukin-13 ; Interleukins ; Methylation ; Prognosis ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Statistics as Topic ; Tail ; Translational Medical Research

The prevalence of asthma and allergic disease has increased worldwide over the last few decades. Many common environmental factors are associated with this increase. Several theories have been proposed to account for this trend, especially those concerning the impact of environmental toxicants. The development of the immune system, particularly in the prenatal period, has far-reaching consequences for health during early childhood, and throughout adult life. One underlying mechanism for the increased levels of allergic responses, secondary to exposure, appears to be an imbalance in the T-helper function caused by exposure to the toxicants. Exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals can result in dramatic changes in cytokine production, the activity of the immune system, the overall Th1 and Th2 balance, and in mediators of type 1 hypersensitivity mediators, such as IgE. Passive exposure to tobacco smoke is a common risk factor for wheezing and asthma in children. People living in urban areas and close to roads with a high volume of traffic, and high levels of diesel exhaust fumes, have the highest exposure to environmental compounds, and these people are strongly linked with type 1 hypersensitivity disorders and enhanced Th2 responses. These data are consistent with epidemiological research that has consistently detected increased incidences of allergies and asthma in people living in these locations. During recent decades more than 100,000 new chemicals have been used in common consumer products and are released into the everyday environment. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the environmental effects on allergies of indoor and outside exposure.
Adult ; Asthma ; Child ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immune System ; Immunoglobulin E ; Incidence ; Inflammation* ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Sounds ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Vehicle Emissions

Colon, Transverse ; injuries ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; methods ; Humans ; Intestinal Perforation ; complications ; Intra-Abdominal Hypertension ; complications ; Male ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; complications ; therapy ; Young Adult

Objective: To construct the lentiviral plenti6/V5-D-TOPO vector containing TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk and control vector by developing a lentivirus mediated gene transfer program incorporating a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase(HSVtk) in the dominant negative TGF-β type Ⅱ receptor (TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk) expression vector. Methods: The PCR methods were used to amplify the genes TβR Ⅱ DN and HSV-tk from the respective plasmids. Then the genes were Linked by recombinant PCR technology to construct the fusion gene TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk and control vector TRANSglytk. According to the operation manual (from the Invitrogen company), ToPe cloning technology were used to construct the plasmids of plenti6/VS-D-TOPO(R)-TβRⅡ Dnglytk and plenti6/VS-D-TOPO -TRANSglytk. Both of the constructed plasmids were verified by sequencing.Results: The constructions of the plasmids of plenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk and plenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TRANSglytk were completed smoothly. The DNA sequencing results showed that both the plasmids were constructed correcdy and can be used in the production of infectious lentivirus vectors. Conclusion: Using TOPO cloning technology in the construction of the plasmids of plenti6/VS-D-TOPO -TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk and plenti6/VS-D-TOPO(R)-TRANSglytk and recombinant PCR in the fusion genes are feasible. The recombinant PCR combined with ToPe cloning technology can be the simple, highly efficient and rapid way to construct lentiviral vector and construction of plenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TβR Ⅱ Dnglytk, which will lay a foundation for tumor immunotherapy.

Objective Our hypothesis was if we rendered host' s cytotoxic tumor lymphocytes insensitive to TGF-β,these immune cells could be able to overcome the TGF-β mediated immunosuppression and reject the tumor.We aimed to develop a lentivirus mediated gene transfer program incorporating a herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase(HSV-tk)in our dominant negative TGF-β type Ⅱ receptor(TβRⅡDNglytk)expression vector.So we first need to construct the lentiviral pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO vector containing TβRⅡDNglytk and produce the recombinant lentivirus as the transfection vector.Methods PCR were used to amplify the genes TβRⅡDN and HSV-tk from the respective plasmids.Then the genes were linked by recombinant PCR technology to construct the fusion gene TβRⅡDNglytk and control vector TRANSglytk.According to the operation manual from the Invitrogen company,TOPO cloning technology was used to construct the plasmids of pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TβRⅡDNglytk and pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TRANSglytk.Both of the constructed plasmids were verified by sequencing.ViraPowerTM Lentiviral System and 293 FT cells provided by Invitrogen were used to produce the recombinant lentivirus vector,the tillers of the lentivirus were determined by 293 cells.Results The construction of the plasmids of pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TβRⅡDNglytk and pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TRANSglytk were completed succefully.The DNA sequencing results showed that both the plasmids were constructed correctly.Using them we successfully produced infectious lentivirus vectors with appropriate tilters.Conclusions Using TOPO cloning technology in the construction of the plasmids of pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TβRⅡDNglytk and pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TRANSglytk and recombinant PCR in the fusion genes is feasible.Recombinant PCR combine with TOPO cloning technology can be a simple,highly efficient and rapid way to construct lentiviral vector.The production of infectious lentivirus with appropriate tilters using 293FT is suitable and feasible.The construction of pLenti6/V5-D-TOPO(R)-TβRⅡDNglytk and production of the infectious lentivirus will lay a foundation for immunotherapy of prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND:Accurate diagnosis of infected aortic and iliac aneurysms is often delayed, hampering timely treatment and potentially resulting in a fatal consequence. The aim of this study was to discover useful clinical features that can help physicians to identify these patients. METHODS:We reviewed the discharge notes from two hospitals and identified all patients who had a diagnosis of infected aneurysms of the thoracoabdominal aorta and iliac arteries between July 2009 and December 2013. Eighteen patients, aged from 41 to 93, were reviewed. Only 6 patients were diagnosed accurately in their first visit to our ED. RESULTS:Most patients had at least one underlying illness, and it took 1 to 30 (9.9±6.5) days for physicians to diagnose their infected aneurysm. Localized pain and fever were the two most commonly presented symptoms. The majority (92％) of isolated microorganisms were gram-negative bacilli, including Salmonella spp, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. Two of the 3 patients who underwent non-operative therapy died, and all of the patients who underwent a combination of medical and operative therapies survived. CONCLUSION:We suggest that physicians liberally use computed tomography scans on patients with unknown causes of pain and inflammatory processes. A combination of surgical and medical treatments is indicated for all patients with infected aortic and iliac aneurysms.

Cadmium (Cd) is ubiquitous in the human environment and has toxic effect on soil microbial biomass or its activity,including microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and basal respiration (BR), etc., Cmic, DHA, BR were used as bioindicators of the toxic effect of Cd in soil. This study was conducted to determine the effects of Cd on soil microbial biomass and its activity in a paddy soil. The inhibition of microbial biomass and its activity by different Cd concentrations was described by the kinetic model (M1) and the sigmoid dose-response model (M2) in order to calculate three ecological doses of Cd:ED50, ED10 and ED5. Results showed that M2 was better fit than M1 for describing the ecological toxicity dose effect of cadmium on soil microbial biomass and its activity in a paddy soil. M2 for ED values (mg/kg soil) of Cmic, DHA, BR best fitted the measured paddy soil bioindicators. M2 showed that all ED values (mg/kg) increased in turn with increased incubation time. ED50, ED10 and ED5 of Cmic with M2 were increased in turn from 403.2, 141.1,100.4 to 1000.7, 230.9, 144.8, respectively, after 10 d to 60 d of incubation. ED50, ED10 and ED5 of DHA with M2 increased in turn from 67.6, 6.2, 1.5 to 101.1, 50.9, 41.0, respectively, after 10 d to 60 d of incubation. ED50, ED10 and ED5 of BR with M2 increased in turn from 149.7, 6.5, 1.8 to 156.5, 50.8, 35.5, respectively,after 10 d to 60 d of incubation. So the ecological dose increased in turn with increased incubation time for M2 showed that toxicity of cadmium to soil microbial biomass and its activity was decreased with increased incubation time.

Endometriosis coexisting with a dermoid cyst of the ovary is extraordinarily rare, although both these benign conditions are said to be common in women in the reproductive age group. There are only two previous case reports,which is evident from our literature review from January 1960 through January 2010. Acute abdomen is one of the greatest diagnostic challenges and easily ignored by the clinicians to exclude the possibility of gynecologic illness. A 35-year-old woman was referred by the doctor in Family clinic. She experienced a three-day period of severe right lower abdominal pain and intermittent vomiting. Ultrasonography identified a bilocular, cystic, hypoechoic, and hyperechoic tumor, 7 cm × 6 cm × 6 cm in the right adnexal region. Laparoscopic cystectomy was performed under the impression of ovarian cyst with torsion or hemorrhage. The frozen section was benign and appendiceal status was adequate. Histopathologic examination described an ovarian cyst composed of endometrial-type lining with stromacells (endometriosis) and benign teratoma tissue with plenty of skin appendages and sebaceous glands. We report this unusual and interesting ovarian mass to remind physicians that the usage of the Endobag after cystectomy, the benefits on minimizing operative time, spilled opportunity, and postoperative complications. Laparoscopic techniques for large ovarian masses might be considered. The experience of the surgeon is also very important to prevent misdiagnosis or complication. Further follow up is mandatory for this simultaneous finding of ovarian endometriosis with coincidental dermoid cyst as a separate pathology in single ovary of such a nature. It also presents a challenge to the clinicians and to the pathologists.
Adult ; Dermoid Cyst ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Endometriosis ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Ovary ; pathology ; surgery