Glycine/analogs & derivatives* ; Humans ; Vasculitis, Leukocytoclastic, Cutaneous

OBJECTIVEThe influence of the mimic hematopoietic microenvironment and adhesion factor on the initial divisional behavior of human cord blood hematopoietic progenitors was studied in the culture system with certain cytokines.

METHODS(1) CD(34)(+) CD(38)(-) single cell was sorted by FACS. (2) The stem cell supporting stromal feeder layer AFT024 and single adhesive factor fibronectin (Fn) were used in the culture system and their influence on the initial division was observed.

RESULTS(1) In the presence of the combined cytokines, the CD(34)(+) CD(38)(-) human cord blood cells displayed fixed fraction of quiescent, slow and fast division, and asymmetric division. (2) There was no influence of adhesive factor itself on initial division of CD(34)(+) CD(38)(-) cells. (3) The hematopoietic microenvironment mimicked by AFT024 promoted CD(34)(+) CD(38)(-) cells to proliferate extensively and undergo more asymmetric division.

CONCLUSIONS(1) CD(34)(+) CD(38)(-) cells are heterogeneous and composed of various subpopulations with different initial proliferative behavior, including asymmetric division. (2) The hematopoietic microenvironmental mimicked by AFT024 supports the hematopoietic progenitors better than cytokines and single adhesion factor do, for their proliferation extensively and preservation the self-renewal capacity.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase ; analysis ; ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Lineage ; drug effects ; immunology ; physiology ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Fibronectins ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Stromal Cells ; physiology

A knife-edge method is used here to measure the beam width of the highly repetitive high-power thin disk Yb:KYW femtosecond laser (MABEL-Mannheim Biomedical Engineering Lab, University of Heidelberg, Germany). Presented in this paper is the detailed measuring process together with the results verified by theoretical calculating and scanning electron microscope measurements respectively. Therefore, it is concluded that the knife-dege method is an effective beam width measurement tool of high-power femtosecond lasers.
Bioengineering ; instrumentation ; Lasers ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; instrumentation

Objective　To study the apoptotic effects of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) on the nigral dopaminergic neurons of mice and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridium ion (MPP+) on pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, as well as the antagonism of Eldepryl against MPTP's apoptotic effect. Methods　Three groups of C57BL mice were treated with MPTP, Eldepryl plus MPTP and normal saline, respectively, for 7 days before performing TUNEL (terminal deoxyneucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-x nick end labeling) and FACS (fluorescence activated cell sorting) analyses of neuronal apoptosis in the substantia nigra. The same tests were employed in cell culture to examine apoptosis in PC12 cells treated with MPP+, MPTP or PBS. Results　Intraperitoneal administration of MPTP 30*!mg/kg could induce nigral apoptosis, and oral use of Eldepryl prior to MPTP treatment could completely prevent the nigral apoptosis caused by MPTP. MPP+, an intermediate metabolite of MPTP, could lead to the apoptosis of PC12 cells, whereas MPTP itself had no such effect on PC12 cells. Conclusions　The experiment indicated that the neurotoxin, MPTP, might cause the death of nigral neurons through a mechanism of apoptosis and this effect might be mediated by its bioactive intermediate metabolite MPP+. Eldepryl could protect the neurotoxicity from MPTP.

The genus Rhodococcus is of considerable interest in recent years, stemming from their diverse applications in biodegradation, bioremediation, biotransformation and biosurfactant. Using Nocardia/Rhodococcus-Escherichia coli shuttle plasmid pNV18.1 as the backbone vector, we tested the driven efficiency of promoters Ptac and PlacZ of E. coli and Pami-1/Pami-2 of R. ruber in host R. rhodochrous ATCC 33278 by overexpression of nitrile hydratase. Results showed that the specific activity of nitrile hydratase per dry cell weight in engineered Rhodococcus strains driven by Ptac, Pami-1, Pami-2 and PlacZ was 7.5, 6.3, 5.3 and 1.8 times of that in the wild, respectively. It indicated that these promoters could be well recognized by RNA polymerase of Rhodococcus. We further expressed the beta-galactosidase reporter gene (lacZ) in R. ruber driven by promoter PlacZ. Results indicated that lacZ was an appropriate reporter gene for genetic or metabolic engineering research of Rhodococcus.
Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Genes, Reporter ; genetics ; Lac Operon ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Rhodococcus ; enzymology ; genetics ; beta-Galactosidase ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the correlation of the expression of homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and apoptosis in cervical cancer.

METHODSFormalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue samples from 50 cervical cancers and 15 normal uterine cervix cases were obtained. Apoptosis was quantified by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and the expression of HIPK2 as well as HPV by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSHIPK2 protein expression was detected in 88.0% (44/50) of cervical cancers and 6.7% (1/15) of normal cervical tissues. HPV was found in 78.0% (39/50) of cervical cancers and 20.0% (3/15) of normal cervical tissue samples. The expression of HIPK2 protein was significantly and positively correlated with HPV presence (r=0.467, P<0.01), but negatively with apoptotic index (r=-0.370, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHIPK2 protein expression is positively correlated with HPV infection, but negatively with apoptotic index in cervical cancers. Therefore, HIPK2 may be involved in the mechanism of apoptosis in cervical cancer and may play an important role in cervical carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Cervix Uteri ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Papillomaviridae ; Papillomavirus Infections ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology

OBJECTIVE: Surgical resection of thalamic and brainstem cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) is associated with significant operative morbidity, but it may be outweighed, in some cases, by the neurological damage from recurrent hemorrhage in these eloquent areas. The goals of this retrospective cohort study are to describe the technical nuances of surgical approaches and determine the postoperative outcomes for CCMs of the thalamus and brainstem. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed an institutional database of patients harboring thalamic or brainstem CCMs, who underwent surgical resection from 2010 to 2014. The baseline and follow-up neuroimaging and clinical findings of each patient and the operative details of each case were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of eight patients, including two with thalamic and six with brainstem CCMs, were included in the study cohort. All patients had progressive neurological deterioration from recurrent CCM hemorrhage, and the median modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at presentation was 3. The median CCM maximum diameter and volume were 1.7 cm and 1.8 cm³, respectively. The thalamic CCMs were resected using the anterior transcallosal transchoroidal and supracerebellar infratentorial approaches each in one case (13%). The brainstem CCMs were resected using the retrosigmoid and suboccipital trans-cerebellomedullary fissure approaches each in three cases (38%). After a median follow-up of 11.5 months, all patients were neurologically stable or improved, with a median mRS of 2. The rate of functional independence (mRS 0-2) was 63%. CONCLUSION: Microneurosurgical techniques and approaches can be safely and effectively employed for the management of thalamic and brainstem CCMs in appropriately selected patients.
Brain Stem* ; Cohort Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma, Cavernous, Central Nervous System* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Microsurgery ; Neuroimaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalamus* ; Vascular Malformations

Treatment of giant posterior circulation aneurysms, via endovascular or microsurgical approaches, carries a high risk of morbidity and mortality. While flow-diverting stents (FDSs) represent a potent therapy for endovascular reconstruction of complex aneurysms, they are also associated with novel complications for which effective salvage techniques are lacking. We present a unique complication from failed treatment with a FDS. A 51 year-old male presented with increasing headaches secondary to a giant, fusiform aneurysm of the left posterior cerebral artery, which was largely thrombosed. Due to progressive enlargement of the aneurysm corresponding to worsening clinical symptoms, the lesion was treated with two Pipeline embolization devices (ev3, Plymouth, MN, United States). Three months after Pipeline embolization device treatment, complete posterior cerebral artery occlusion was observed at the origin of the proximal stent. Despite the lack of arterial inflow, the aneurysm dome continued to grow, resulting in obstructive hydrocephalus. Therefore microsurgical intervention was undertaken to trap and excise the aneurysm. The patient's postoperative course was complicated by multiple venous infarcts, ultimately resulting in death. Successful microsurgical obliteration of aneurysms previously treated with FDSs is extremely difficult. A combination of judicious preoperative planning and meticulous intraoperative surgical technique are requisite for effective management of these complicated cases.
Aneurysm ; Endovascular Procedures ; Headache ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Posterior Cerebral Artery* ; Stents ; Stroke

Urochondra setulosa (Trin.) C.E. Hubbard is a coastal halophytic grass thriving on the coastal dunes along the Pakistani seashore. This grass could be useful in coastal sand dune stabilization using seawater irrigation. The purpose of this investigation was to test the hypothesis that Ca(2+) (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 50.0 mmol/L) alleviates the adverse effects of KCl, MgSO(4), NaCl and Na(2)SO(4) at 0, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mmol/L on the germination of Urochondra setulosa. Seed germination was inhibited with increase in salt concentration with few seeds germinated at and above 400 mmol/L concentration. No seed germinated in any of the KCl treatments. Inclusion of CaCl(2) substantially alleviated the inhibitory effects of all salts. Germination was higher under photoperiod in comparison to those seeds germinated under complete darkness. Among the CaCl(2) concentrations used, 10 mmol/L was most effective in alleviating salinity effects and allowing few seeds to germinate at 1000 mmol/L KCl, MgSO(4), NaCl and Na(2)SO(4) solution.
Calcium ; pharmacology ; Germination ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Light ; Photobiology ; Poaceae ; drug effects ; growth & development ; radiation effects ; Salts ; pharmacology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; radiation effects

Bovine theileriosis is a tick-borne disease that is hampering the development of the domestic cattle industry in northern China. This study involved a molecular survey of bovine Theileria species in 137 blood samples from cattle in the Jilin province of China. The DNA samples were screened by species-specific 18S rRNA PCR. Results revealed that 19.7% (27/137), 17.5% (24/137) and 10.9% (15/137) were found to be infected with Theileria sinensis, Theileria orientalis, respectively. Mixed infection was found in 8.8% (12/137). The overall detection rates of Baishan, Yanji, Jilin and Liaoyuan districts was 60.0%, 17.5%, 5.3% and 0%, respectively. There is little information on the detection and distribution of bovine Theileria species in northern China. Therefore, this study provides important data for understanding the epidemiology of Theileria species and designing appropriate approaches for the diagnosis and control of bovine theileriosis in northern China.