Prostate cancer is one of the common cancers in old men. Androgen ablation is a major option for the treatment of the metastatic diseases. However, most of the cancers progress to a more aggressive stage, so-called androgen-independent (or hormone refractory) relapse beyond any cure. The androgen receptor (AR) is an important factor in regulating the differentiation and proliferation of prostate epithelial cells, and also plays a critical role in cellular survival. Studies have demonstrated that aberrant activation of the AR is a major determinant in prostate cancer progression. We have provide a brief summary of AR-mediated cellular survival and an introduction to the advances of RNA interference techniques in silencing AR expression as a novel therapy for prostate cancer.
Apoptosis ; physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; physiopathology ; RNA Interference ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; physiology

BACKGROUNDAn apnea test is essential in the clinical determination of brain death. This study was conducted to analyse complications associated with the apnea test in the determination of the brain death.

METHODSOn 93 adult patients in coma in Zhejiang Province of China from January 2003 to December 2006, 179 apnea tests were performed as a part of the determination of brain death. Potential risk conditions and complications were analysed during apnea tests.

RESULTSDuring apnea, serious cardiac arrhythmia did not occur in all patients. Complications occurred in 37 of 179 (21%) apnea tests. Hypotension occurred in 30 patients (17%) and it was observed in 8/94 (9%) tests with baseline value of systolic arterial blood pressure not less than 120 mmHg, and 22/85 (26%) less than 120 mmHg (P < 0.05). Severe hypoxaemia occurred in 10 patients (6%) of which 3/138 (2%) tests with baseline value of arterial oxygen pressure not less than 200 mmHg, and 7/41 (17%) less than 200 mmHg (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrated that complications occurred mostly in patients with inadequate baseline systolic arterial blood pressure and preoxygenation. Adequate precautions during the apnea tests may reduce the risk of cardiovascular and oxygenation complication.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apnea ; physiopathology ; Brain Death ; diagnosis ; Carbon Dioxide ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Hypotension ; etiology ; Hypoxia ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective Radiological findings of very rare hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit have not been reported.Radiological findings on different imaging studies of four cases with hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit were described and the literature was reviewed so as to understand features of hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit.Methods CT and MR imaging findings of four cases with hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit confirmed by histopathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results A mass was found in the superotemporal quadrant in the anterior extraconal space of the orbit in three cases and in the inferonasal quadrant in one case. CT studies revealed a homogeneously ovoid tumor with benign remodeling of the adjacent bone in three cases and a homogeneously irregular mass without any bony change in one case.MR imaging showed a mass in the orbit that was mildly hypointense on T_1-weighted sequences and hyperintense on T_2-weighted images with areas of flow voids representing vessels within the peripheral portion of the tumor in four cases.All four patients demonstrated significant enhancement immediately after intravenous administration of contrast material and a type D time-signal intensity curve (TIC)pattern on MR dynamic contrast enhancement scanning.Conclusions Hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit appeared as a hypervascular tumor predominantly in the extraconal space with areas of flow voids within the tumor and early significant enhancement of the tumor after intravenous administration of contrast material.MR imaging is the best method in demonstration of features of hemangioendotheliomas in the orbit and in diagnosis of these tumors.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo compare the effectiveness of using multiple ligation probe amplification (MLPA) and denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) in screening the exon deletions and duplications of the DMD gene.

METHODSMLPA technique was applied to detect exon deletions and duplications previously confirmed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC).

RESULTSFrom October 2004 to October 2005, 22 unrelated DMD probands and their possible female relatives with clinical diagnosis with dystrophinopathy at our hospital entered this study. Both DHPLC and MPLA detected DMD gene depletion in 11 probands and DMD duplications in 3 probands. MLPA detected deletions and duplications in 2 probands, which were not detected by DHPLC. MLPA also successfully identified the carriage status of the potential female carriers of the probands.

CONCLUSIONCompared with DHPLC and traditional PCR techniques, MLPA is a superior tool to analyze the deletions and duplications in affected males as well as in the identification of the carriage status of potential females carriers.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Duplication ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; genetics ; Mutation ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods

OBJECTIVETo seek consciousness regaining methods at early stage for coma patients in neurosurgery.

METHODSPatients whose Galsgows Coma Scale (GCS) < 8 including cerebral contusion, cerebral hemorrhage and brain tumor were randomly divided into an observation group (218 cases) and a control group (237 cases). Conventional medicine and/or surgery were used in two groups. After vital signs became stable, Xingnao Kaiqiao needling method was applied at Shuigou (GV 26), Baihui (GV 20), Neiguan (PC 6), etc. and combined with exercise therapy in observation group, while no rehabilitation therapy was used in control group. The therapeutic effect between two groups was compared.

RESULTSAfter 30 days' treatment, the conscious rate of observation group (80.7%, 176/218) was higher than that of control group (46.8%,111/237), and there was statistics significance between them (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONEarly acupuncture combined with exercise therapy can improve the conscious rate of coma patients in neurosurgery, thereby decrease their mortality and disability rate.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Coma ; therapy ; Consciousness ; Exercise Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective To evaluate MR imaging findings of uveal metastases.Methods MR imaging findings of 20 cases with uveal metastases comfirmed by pathology or follow-up were retrospectively analyzed.MR imaging was performed in 20 patients,of which postcontrast T1-weighted imaging was performed in 19 patients including dynamic contrast enhancement scanning in four cases.Results Metastatic tumor was found in the iris and ciliary body in two cases,and in choroid in 18 cases.The tumor demonstrated slightly hypointense signal on Tl-weighted imaging and isointense signal on T2-weighted imaging in two cases,isointense signal on T1-weighted imaging and isointense signal on T2-weighted imaging in nine cases,isointense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hyperintense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in three cases,isointense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hypointense signal on T_2- weighted imaging in three cases,slighdy hyperintense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hypointense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in two cases,and slightly hyperintense signal on T_1-weighted imaging and slightly hyperintense signal on T_2-weighted imaging in one case.The tumor appeared as mild thickness of the wall of the globe in eight cases,a crescent mass in three cases,a fusiform mass in seven cases,and a nodule in two cases.Nineteen patients showed moderate or marked enhancement on postcontrast T_1-weighted imaging.The time-intensity curve of dynamic contrast enhancement in four patients suggested a rapid enhancement and slow washout pattern.Retinal detachment was observed in 11 patients and abnormal signal intensity within the vitreous body was seen in two cases.Conclusion MRI can display the location,shape, signal characteristics,and enhancement pattern of uveal metastases,contributing to diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the Notch1 mRNA and protein expression in human breast cancers and normal mammary tissues, and their relationship with the clinical indicators of breast cancers were analyzed.

METHODSNotch1 gene of human breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) and normal mammary gland tissues were amplified by RT-PCR, and the expression of Notch1 protein was detected by immunohistochemical Streptavidin-Biotin Complex (SP) stain in 60 IDC, 30 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and 60 normal mammary tissues.

RESULTSNotch1 gene of human IDC and normal mammary tissues both could express in a transcription level; the positive rates of Notch1 protein expression in normal mammary tissues and DCIS were 55% and 70%. Respectively, which did not differ statistically (P > 0.05), while the positive rate in IDC was 90%, significantly higher than that of the normal mammary tissues and DCIS (P < 0.05). The high expression of Notch1 protein in IDC correlate significantly with lymph node metastasis, pathological grades and TNM stages.

CONCLUSIONSNotch1 protein was over expressed in breast IDC. A high Notch1 protein expression is considered associating with the evolution and malignant transformation of the breast tumor. The expression of Notch1 gene maybe impact the effect of on the progression of breast cancers.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mammary Glands, Human ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, Notch1 ; genetics ; metabolism

Artemisinin,a new and a very potent antimalarial drug, is produced by the plant Artemisia annua L. with a very low yield ranging from 0.01% to 0.8% on a dry-weight basis. This makes artemisinin an expensive drug. Several studies reported chemical synthesis of the artemisinin, but none of them seems a viable economical alternative compared with the isolation of artemisinin from the plant. Hence, a higher artemisinin concentration in the plant is necessary for cheap antimalarial drug production. Many types of cyclic sesquiterpenes in Artemisia annua have been characterized to date, each derived from the common cyclic precursor FDP in a reaction catalyzed by a sesquiterpene synthase. Sesquiterpene synthases are widely regarded as the rate-determining regulatory enzymes in the pathways they participate, and a number of sesquiterpene synthases have been cloned from Artemisia annua up to now. This report is a brief review on the following sesquiterpene synthases: epi-cedrol synthase, amorpha-4,11-diene synthase, beta-caryophyllene synthase, (E)-beta-farnesene synthase, germacrene A synthase, as well as a new sesquiterpene synthase whose function remains largely unknown. The report is of help for a better understanding of metabolic engineering of Artemisia annua.
Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Antimalarials ; Artemisia annua ; enzymology ; genetics ; Artemisinins ; metabolism ; Carbon-Carbon Lyases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Sesquiterpenes ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo detect the disease-causing point mutations in the dystrophin gene of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients.

METHODSThe approach of denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) coupling with sequencing was used to screen the point mutations of 79 exons and the untranslated regions of dystrophin gene without large deletions/duplications, which was in 6 unrelated DMD probands from 6 DMD families.

RESULTSFive disease-causing mutations, 697-698insGT, C616T, G1255T, C4279T, and C2302T, were ides created the new stop codons in downstream sites of mutations, respectively. In addition to the disease-causing point mutations, a point mutation T5586+61A in intron 39 was also found at patient 3, and a missense mutation A694T in exon 8 was detected at patient 5. Four point mutations, C2168+13T, 5740-13dupG, G5234A and C5280T, were also detected at patient 6 whose causative point mutation was unavailable. Seven point mutations have not been reported previously. Bi-directional PCR amplification of specific alleles (Bi-PASA) method was established to distinguish the haplotypes of heterozygote or homozygote in a single PCR reaction.

CONCLUSIONVia automated DHPLC screening or detecting the subexonic mutations in dystrophin gene is feasible to clinical laboratories, and also is a superior method in terms of sensitivity and efficiency.

Base Sequence ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Dystrophin ; genetics ; Gene Duplication ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; genetics ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Deletion