Antigens, Nuclear ; metabolism ; Cordotomy ; methods ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Ependymoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Neurocytoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Oligodendroglioma ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adenoma ; pathology ; Adnexal Diseases ; pathology ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; pathology ; secondary ; Cystadenoma, Papillary ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fallopian Tube Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Low back pain is an important cause of disability worldwide. It has a high incidence rate and brings a huge burden to families and society. Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is one of the leading factors causing low back pain and the pathological basis of degenerative disc diseases, such as intervertebral disc herniation and spinal stenosis. However, the etiology of IDD is complex, and the risk factors and specific mechanisms behind remain unclear. Some controversial views have also been observed. Surgery is often considered for patients with severe intervertebral disc diseases, but there is no effective treatment for IDD at the early and middle stages. It will be of great significance to in-depth explore the molecular biological mechanisms and related risk factors, which can bring benefits to the prevention, accurate diagnosis, early treatment, and rehabilitation of degenerative disc diseases. Refer to the literatures published in the past ten years, this paper describes the latest research progress on risk factors related to IDD in terms of aging, genetics, mechanical loading, low-grade infection, biological rhythms, smoking, metabolic disease, estrogen, and nutrition. The results show that IDD is affected by multiple risk factors. These factors can interact with each other, and lead to death, phenotypic transformation, and metabolic disorder of disc cells, leading to a reduction of extracellular matrix and an unbalanced microenvironment and eventually loss of structural integrity of intervertebral disc tissue and IDD. A good body clock, a controlled weight, an appropriate blood glucose level, adequate nutrition, no smoking, a good hormone level, moderate exercise, avoiding injury, and strict aseptic techniques in the clinic will bring benefits to the progress of IDD.

Xylitol, a five-carbon sugar alcohol, has many interesting applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and odontological industries, owing to its high sweetening power, its anticariogenic properties, and its insulin-independent metabolism. The bioconversion of detoxified hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol by microorganisms could be a cheaper alternative to the current chemical process, since it is a simple process, with great specificity and low energy requirements. However, the success of fermentations for xylitol production depends on the productivity of the strain and its tolerance to different toxic or inhibitory compounds existing in the hydrolysates. In addition, a number of culture process parameters proved to have significant effects on xylitol production in hemicellulosic hydrolysate media. One of the most important control variables in this bioconversion is the aeration level, which affects the biochemical pathways in the xylose metabolism. The production of biomass is favored by aerobic conditions, while under anaerobic conditions xylose cannot be assimilated by yeast, whereas xylitol is formed in oxygen-limited incubation conditions. An adapted Candida sp. with enhanced resistance to the inhibitors in the hydrolysate can directly ferment the simply detoxified corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol. In the present study, the combined effects of shaking speed, C/ N ratio, initial pH, and inoculum level on the fermentation of corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol by an adapted Candida sp. were investigated using an orthogonal experimental design in flask. As a result, the optimum fermentation conditions were as follows: 180 r/min, a C/N ratio of 50, initial pH 5.5, and an inoculum level of 5% (volume ratio). Moreover, the optimum concentration factor of hydrolysate varied between 3.0 and 3.72 was obtained. Based on these results, in order to evaluate the effect of aeration rate on the fermentation of corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol in fermentor, batch fermentations were carried out in a 3.7 L stirred fermentor using four different aeration strategies, including three kind of two-stage aeration strategies, which provided relatively high aeration rate in the early stage but reduced it in the later stage, and including a one-stage aeration strategy provided a constant aeration rate. With respect to xylitol yield, the results indicated that two-stage aeration strategy was significantly superior to one-stage aeration strategy. The highest xylitol yield (0.75 g/g) was obtained with oxygen supply strategy C (3.75 L/min for first 24 h, then lowered it to 1.25 L/min, 2.5 L fermentation medium was employed). In this process, without extensive detoxification of hydrolysate, an adapted Candida sp. can efficiently ferment the simply treated corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate to xylitol under the optimized fermentation conditions. This work should help the development of an efficient process for producing xylitol from corn cob hemicellulosic hydrolysate on a larger scale by bioconversion.
Aerobiosis ; Candida tropicalis ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Hydrolysis ; Polysaccharides ; metabolism ; Xylitol ; biosynthesis ; Zea mays ; metabolism

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; Hemangioma ; complications ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; complications ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; immunology ; Spleen ; immunology ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To investigate the effect of nerve growth factor (NGF) on osteogenesis induced by bone morphogenetic protein-9 (BMP-9) in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs).Methods MEFs were respectively transfected with adenovirus-mediated NGF (NGF group), BMP-9 (BMP-9 group) and NGF + BMP-9 (combined group) and green fluorescence protein (GFP) (control group).Cytochemical staining was used to test the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 3 d and 5 d after treatment.Level of osteopontin (OPN) mRNA was detected by RT-PCR 9 d after treatment.Level of OPN protein was assayed by Western blot and immunocytochemistry 9 d after treatment.Mineralization was detected by Alizarin red staining 14 d after treatment.Results ALP activity in MEFs was elevated in BMP-9 group rather than in NGF group, but a significant increase in ALP activity was noted in combined group.In control group, BMP-9 group, NGF group and combined group, level of OPN mRNA was 0.92 ± 0.03, 1.28 ± 0.04, 0.94 ± 0.03 and 1.62 ± 0.04 respectively (F =214.60, P ＜ 0.01);level of OPN protein was 0.60 ± 0.05, 0.84 ± 0.03, 0.53 ± 0.05 and 1.27 ± 0.05 respectively (F =162.5, P ＜ 0.01).In comparison, OPN mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated in combined group than in BMP-9 group (t =10.569 and 11.778,P ＜ 0.05).In control group, BMP-9 group, NGF group and combined group, relative density of OPN protein was 3.63 ±0.17, 6.27 ±0.30, 3.86 ±0.18 and 10.16 ±0.18respectively (F =602.6, P ＜ 0.01), with a significant higher level in combined group than in BMP-9 group (t =22.280, P ＜ 0.05).Level of mineralization was significantly higher in combined group than in BMP-9 or NGF group.Conclusion NGF can potentiate the osteogenesis induced by BMP-9 in MEFs.

Female ; Humans ; Hyperkalemia ; therapy ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; instrumentation

The present study was undertaken to investigate the linkage between angiotensin-(1-7) ［Ang-(1-7)］ and the release of amino acid neurotransmitters in the the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) by techniques of microinjection, microdialysis combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-fluorescent detection. Unilateral microinjection of Ang-(1-7) into the RVLM of anesthetized rats produced an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) accompanied by an increased release of glutamate (Glu). In contrast, microinjection of Ang779, a selective antagonist of Ang-(1-7) receptor, caused a decrease in MAP with a decreased releaceof Glu and an increased release of glycine,taurine and r-aminobutyric acid.The pressor effect of Ang-(1-7)and the depressor effect of Ang779 were in part blocked by corresponding andtagonists of aminoacid receptors.These results suggest that the pressor effect of Ang-(1-7)in the RVLM may be partially due to an increased release of Glu,whereas the depressor effect of Ang779 may be partially attributed to a decreased release of Glu and an increased release of inhibitory amino acid neurotransmitters

OBJECTIVETo study the histopathological changes of livers in idiopathic portal hypertension (IPH).

METHODSLiver specimens from 29 cases with idiopathic portal hypertension were studied. Histological preparations of the livers were stained with haematoxylin eosin and Masson's trichrome; reticular fibers in the liver tissues were demonstrated. The slides were also stained using some immunohistochemistry methods, and the pathological changes of the livers were analyzed.

RESULTSThe characteristic changes found in these IPH livers were dense portal fibrosis; obliteration, with or without phlebitis, of the branches of the portal vein; dilatation of the sinusoids; atrophy and nodular hyperplasia of liver cells.

CONCLUSIONSHistopathological changes of the livers in IPH are dense portal fibrosis, portal vein branch obliteration and nodular hyperplasia of liver cells. These are the main features for a histopathological diagnosis of IPH.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fibrosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; pathology ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo clarify whether neonatal jaundice may cause myocardial damage to term infants with normal birth weight (BW).

METHODSTotally 178 term neonates admitted during March, 2004 to December, 2010 with normal BW were enrolled. Infants with antenatal or neonatal asphyxia, temperature abnormality, septicemia, antenatal viral infection, congenital dysmorphia, congenital heart disease, 21-trisomy, and polycythemia were excluded. There was no maternal complications during the pregnancy. Serum total bilirubin (TB), creatine kinase (CK), MB isoenzymes of creatine kinase (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) were measured. Patients with transcutaneous bilirubin level (TcB) ≥ 342 µmol/L (20 mg/dl) were in Group A (n = 32), and those with TcB below phototherapy level at matched time point were in Group B (n = 25). ECG, for correct Q-T intervals (QTc) and correct QT intervals dispersion (QTcd), and ECHO, for left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), the ratio of the peak velocity of early stage and advanced stage of diastolic phase at the mitral orifice (E/A), were applied to patients in Group A and B. SPSS 13.0 software was used for the data analysis. The coefficients of correlation among age in hours on admission (hr), TB, CK, CK-MB, CK-MB/CK, and cTnI were studied by multiple and partial correlation analysis. Data in Group A and B were compared by independent-samples Mann-Whitney U test (nonparametric method) or Student t-test.

RESULTSWhen the data were analyzed by multiple correlation, there were significant correlation between TB and cTnI, CK-MB, respectively (r = 0.212, -0.161, respectively, all P < 0.05). But, when the data were analyzed by partial correlation, there was no correlation between TB and cTnI, CK-MB, respectively (r' = 0.112, -0.112, respectively, all P > 0.05), negative correlation between hr and TB, cTnI, respectively (r' = -0.490, P = 0.000; r' = -0.162, P = 0.032). There was no significant difference in CK (Z = -1.384, P = 0.166), CK-MB (Z = -0.821, P = 0.412), cTnI (Z = -1.159, P = 0.246), QTc (t = 1.146, P = 0.257), QTcd (t = 1.342, P = 0.185), EF (t = 1.558, P = 0.125), E/A (t = -0.640, P = 0.525) between group A and B. There was significant difference in CK-MB/CK (Z = -3.187, P = 0.001) between group A and B with a lower value in group A [0.075 (0.032 - 0.102)] comparing to that in group B [0.160 (0.073 - 0.284)].

CONCLUSIONThere is no sufficient evidence to support the hypothesis that neonatal jaundice may induce myocardial damage in normal birth weight term infants.

Bilirubin ; blood ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Jaundice, Neonatal ; blood ; complications ; Male ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Term Birth ; Troponin I ; blood ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color