Objective To investigate the expressions of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) protein and mRNA in colon mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC) and to analyze its correlation with endoscopic and histological grading. Methods The biopsies from 32 UC patients and 26 healthy controls were collected, and the expressions of 5-LOX mRNA and protein in colonic mucosa was determined by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry assay, respectively. The endoscopic and histological grading of 32 UC patients were also recorded. Results According to endoscopic grading, there were 10 cases of grade Ⅰ , 19 of grade Ⅱ and 3 of grade Ⅲ in 32 UC patients, and there were 19 cases of grade Ⅰ , 9 of grade Ⅱ and 4 of grade Ⅲ according to histological grading. The expressions of 5-LOX mRNA and protein in UC patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (P ＜0. 05 ). The rate of 5-LOX protein expression increased with endoscopic and histological grades, which was also positively correlated with endoscopic grades ( P ＜ 0. 05 ), but not with histological grades ( P ＞0. 05 ). Conclusion The expressions of 5-LOX mRNA and protein in colon mucosa from UC patients might be a marker for disease activity. 5-LOX may play a pivotal role in inflammation of UC and be a target site for treatment.

Objective To investigate the expressions of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in colonic mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC)and to analyze the relationship between them. Methods The specimens of colonic mucosa from 32 UC patients were graded according to endoscopic and histological grading standards, and specimens of colonic mucosa from 26 healthy controls were also collected. The expressions of COX-2 and 5-LOX mRNA and protein in colonic mucosa were determined using real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The correlation between COX-2 and 5-LOX was analyzed. Results For UC patients,10 were class 1, 19 class 2 and 3 class 3 according to endoscopic grading, whereas 19 were class Ⅰ , 9 class Ⅱ and 4 class Ⅲ according to histological grading. The expressions of COX-2 and 5-LOX mRNA in active UC patients were 81. 25% and 53.13%, respectively, and were 11.54% and 19. 23% in healthy controls, respectively, with significant differences between the two groups (all P values＜0.01). The positive expressions of COX2 and 5-LOX increased in accordance with increasing of endoscopic grading and histological grading.The levels of COX-2 and 5-LOX were 20. 08±1.17 and 37.83 ±1.48 in colonic mucosa tissues of UC patients, respectively, and 48.42 ± 1.69 and 11.28 ± 1.62 in healthy controls, respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups (all P values＜0.05). A good positive correlation was found between COX-2 and 5-LOX. Conclusions The expressions of COX-2 is closely related to 5-LOX in UC patients. Both may play a pivotal role in inflammation of UC.

Objective Clinical values of endoscopy and histopathology in differential diagnosis of Crohn's disease(CD) and intestinal tuberculosis were evaluated by characterising the distinctive diagnostic features of CD and intestinal tuberculosis in surgically resected specimens.Methods To review retrospectively the surgical enterocolonic specimens and to compare the clinical,endoscopic and morphologic features of CD or intestinal tuberculosis.Selected histological parameters were evaluated retrospectively in both 30 cases of CD and intestinal tuberculosis.Results The sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of endoscopy in diagnosis of CD and intestinal tuberculosis were 80.0%,25.6% 49.3% and 86.7%,46.2% 63.8% respectively.The histological characteristic parameters of intestinal tuberculosis were confluent granulomas often with caseous necrosis and thinning submucosa;the features of CD were granulomas without caseous necrosis ,submucosal hyperplasia fissure like ulceration and prominent lymphoid aggregates.Some histopathology similarities of CD and intestinal tuberculosis were found,such as chronic non-specific inflammation of intestinal wall,ulceration,collections of epithelioid histocytes,microgranulomas and transmural inflammation.Conclusions Although distinctive diagnostic features of CD and intestinal tuberculosis were found in their clinical,endoscopical and pathological study.The final differential diagnosis depends largely upon pathology.

OBJECTIVE:To study the feasibility of purifying the effective blood-fat dropping parts from radix puerariae and fructus crataegi and to optimize the technical conditions and parameters.METHODS:Absorption capacities of four different macroporous resins on pueraria total isoflavones,crataegi total flavonoids and crataegi total triterpenic acid were compared.With adsorption quantity as index,optimization of the technics of purifying the effective blood-fat dropping parts from radix puerariae and fructus crataegi with macroporous resins were performed.RESULTS:AB-8resin showed a best adsorbability on the effective blood-fat dropping parts from radix puerariae and fructus crataegi,its optimum purification condition was the following,the concentration of the stock solution was0.13g crude drug/ml with a flow rate at0.5ml/min,and its pH value at about3.5(the same as the stock solution);80%ethanol solution was taken as the eluting solvent at an eluting flow rate of2ml/min.The purity coefficient of the purified effective portions was above85%.CONCLUSIONS:AB-8macroporous resin could be used for the purification of the effective blood-fat dropping parts from radix puerariae and fructus crataegi,the process is feasible and the reproduction of resin is easy.

Objective To evaluate the prevalence of the DJ-1 mutation in early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD) patients,and analyzed the association between the certain polymorphic marker g.168_185del in intron1 and Parkinson' s disease (PD).Methods We screened all 7 exons and exon-intron boundary regions of DJ-1 by PCR and direct nucleotide sequencing in 90 Chinese patients with EOPD.We also compared the allele and genotype frequencies of the g.168_185del polymorphism between EOPD patients and controls.Results We found no causative DJ-1 mutations in our cohort of Chinese EOPD patients.But we did identified 4 known polymorphic variants,including the g.168_185del in intron 1,g.5027G ＞ A (rs17523802),g.5065T ＞ C (rs226249),and g.5094C ＞ T (rs11121064) within exon 1.Del/Ins frequencies of the g.168_185 del polymorphism were 11.1％ (10/90)and 13.3％ (14/105) in EOPD group and normal group,respectively.Ins/Ins frequencies were 88.9％ (80/90) and 86.7％ (91/105),thex2 and P value of genotype frequency were 0.222 and 0.669 between EOPD patients and controls,respectively.The insert frequencies were 94.4％ (170/180)and 93.3％ (196/210) in EOPD patients and controls,the deletion frequencies were 5.6％ (10/180) and 6.7％ (14/210),thex2 and P value of allele frequency were 0.207 and 0.679 between EOPD patients and normal,respectively.Furthermore,the P value of genotype and allele frequencies were 0.736 and 0.744 between familial EOPD patients and controls,respectively;P values of genotype and allele frequencies were 0.847 and 0.852 between sporadic EOPD patients and control group,respectively.There was no statistical difference between groups.Conclusion Mutations in DJ-1 are uncommon in Chinese EOPD patients,and no association is observed between the DJ-1 intron 1 g.168_185del polymorphism and risk of PD.

[Objective] To investigate the incidence and risk factors for posttransplantation anemia (PTA) following kidney transplantation. [Methods] A retrospective cohort study reviewing the medical records of the patients who received a renal transplant at our center from January 2004 to June 2008 was performed. All possible risk factors for PTA were recorded. Outcomes among the patients with PTA were compared with those without PTA using t-test and chi-square analysis methods. Logistic regression analysis was done to rank the relative risk of potential variables and calculate the 95% CI. [Results] Prevalence of PTA in our center was 31.0% (hemoglobin <120 g/L or Hct< 0.38 for males, < 110 g/L or Hct < 0.35 for males). Univariate and Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factors for PTA after kidney transplantation were female (RR=8.738; 95%CI 2.558～29.853; P= 0.001), creatinine level (RR=1.035; 95%CI 1.018～1.052; P<0.001) and acute rejection (RR=19.827; 95%CI 2.056～191.19; P=0.01); [Conclusions] PTA is a frequent complication after kidney transplantation. Great attention should be paid to this complication considering its negative effect on graft function. Female, impaired renal function and acute rejection are risk factors of anemia in kidney transplantation recipients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between polymorphism of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) exon 4 gene and different syndromes in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: Two hundred patients with CHD were divided into four groups according to syndrome differentiation, including syndrome of phlegm (PS), syndrome of blood stasis (BSS), syndrome of phlegm-blood stasis blocking (PBBS) and syndrome of non-phlegm and non-blood stasis (NPNBS). One hundred healthy volunteers were included in control group. Blood lipids were measured by routine examination. Total DNA of peripheral blood was extracted. ApoE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. All data were analyzed by SAS software. RESULTS: (1)The occurrence rate of epsilon4 allele of ApoE in patients with CHD was 19.5%, significantly higher than 9.5% in the control group (P<0.05), and the E 3/4 genotype was especially more frequent (P<0.01). (2) The levels of total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with epsilon4 were higher than those in patients without epsilon4 (P<0.01). (3) The frequencies of epsilon4 allele and E3/4 genotype in patients with PS were significantly higher than those in patients with BSS (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ApoE epsilon4 allele, especially E3/4 genotype, is the risk factor of CHD. There is a relatively close relationship between patients with ApoE epsilon4 allele and PS. It may be one of the main susceptible genes in CHD patients with PS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the safe and effective treatment for painful venous malformation (VM) in limbs.

METHOD(1) 97 cases with painful VM underwent MRI to detect the location of VM, as well as its size and structure, its relationship with the surrounding tissue. Statistical analysis was also performed. (2) The embolic agent (ethanol) was first injected to embolize the draining vessels of VM, then the Polidocanol plus Methotrexate (MTX) was followed to keep the embolization effect on VM. The therapeutic effect was observed and analyzed.

RESULTSFrom January 2010 to January 2012, 97 patients with painful VM were treated. A Spearman correlation analysis showed no significant correlation between symptoms of pain and lesion growth, volume, or MRI grades (P > 0.05). The lesions in the muscle space are more likely to have the symptoms of pain (P < 0.01), followed by the lesions in the muscle, then the lesions in the joint and subcutaneous tissue. The pain relieve percentage was 95.9% (93/97) after one time embolic sclerotherapy. No severe complication, such as distant embolization, nerve damage, or muscle atrophy happened. No pain reoccurrence happened after 0.5-1.5 years of follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONSThe treatment of embolic scleratherapy is minimal invasive, safe and effective for painful VM with stable results.

Ethanol ; therapeutic use ; Extremities ; blood supply ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Pain ; etiology ; Pain Management ; methods ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Sclerosing Solutions ; therapeutic use ; Sclerotherapy ; methods ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Vascular Malformations ; complications ; pathology ; therapy ; Veins ; abnormalities

c-Met is one member of the receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs).It is closely related between the over-expression of c-Met and a wide variety of tumor occurrence, development, invasion, metastasis, prognosis and drug resistance.Therefore, c-Met is a potential target for oncotherapy, and researches on its inhibitors have become a hot spot in the field of tumor treatment.Aptamers targeting c-Met are gained from systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX).They can bind to c-Met with high specificity and affinity, resulting in the activation or inhibition of c-Met.We envision that anti-c-Met aptamers would be ideal new c-Met inhibitors after optimization, and could be developed into potential targeted drugs for cancers.

Plant cells response to water deficit through a variety of physiological processes. In this work, we studied the function of microtubule cytoskeleton during dehydration/rehydration cycle in moss (Atrichum undulatum) protonemal cells as a model system. The morphological and cytological change of protonemal cells during dehydration and rehydration cycle were first investigated. Under normal conditions, protonemal cells showed bright green colour and appeared wet and fresh. Numerous chloroplasts distributed regularly throughout the cytoplasm in each cell. After dehydration treatment, protonemal cells lost most of their chlorophylls and turned to look yellow and dry. In addition, dehydration caused plasmolysis in these cells. Upon rehydration, the cells could recover completely from the dehydrated state. These results indicated that moss had a remarkable intrinsic ability to survive from the extreme drought stress. Microtubule, an important component of cytoskeleton, is considered to play crucial roles in the responses to some environmental stresses such as cold and light. To see if it is also involved in the drought tolerance, dynamic organization of microtubules in protonemal cells of Atrichum undulatum subjected to drought and rehydration were examined by indirect immunofluorescence combined with confocal lasersharp scanning microscopy. The cortical microtubules were arranged into a fine structure with a predominant orientation parallel to the long axis of the cells in the control cells. After dehydration, the microtubule organization was remarkablly altered and the fine microtubule structure disappeared whereas some thicker cables formed. When the cells were grown under rehydration conditions, the fine microtubule arrays reappeared. These results provided a piece of evidence that microtubules play a role in the cellular responses to drought stress in moss. Furthermore, we analyzed the effects of the microtubule-disrupting agent colchicine on the morphology recovery of the protonemal cells during rehydration process. The cells were incubated with colchicine, followed by drought stress treatment and rehydration in the presence of colchicine to prevent recovery of microtubule organization. Results from immunofluorescence showed that microtubule arrays were broken down into smaller fragments. Compared to the cells treated with drought stress alone, the cells treated with drought stress in the presence of colchicine could not recover after rehydration treatment. The morphology resembled those of the drought treated cells, with obvious plasmolysis phenomena and loss of chlorophyll content. These results support the notion that microtubules were involved in the deccication tolerance mechanism in Atrichum undulatum.
Bryophyta ; metabolism ; physiology ; Droughts ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; physiology ; Microscopy ; Microtubules ; metabolism