Objective: To determine whether the canonical Wnt signalling pathway is abnormally activated in NHL (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma), and to explore its association with pathogenesis of NHL. Methods: The expression levels of β-catenin, GSK-3β (glycogen synthase kinase-3β) and its inactive form p-GSK-3β (Ser9) (phosphorylation of GSK-3β at Ser9 residue) in NHL cell lines including SUDHL-4, Raji and Namalwa were detected by Western blotting, and the normal human lymphocytes were served as the controls. The mRNA levels of CTNNB 1 gene (encoding β-catenin), canonical Wnt signaling pathwayrelevant gene LRP 5 (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5) and target gene c -Myc were detected by real-time fluorogenic quantitative PCR. Results: The expressions of total cellular proteins and β-catenin protein in cell nuclei were significantly up-regulated in three NHL cell lines as compared with in those normal human lymphocytes. The elevated expression levels of p-GSK-3β (Ser9) were observed in lymphoma cell lines, but the expression level of GSK-3β was not significantly different between the lymphoma cell lines and the normal human lymphocytes. The mRNA expression levels of CTNNB1, LRP5 and c-Myc were significantly higher in lymphoma cell lines than those in the normal human lymphocytes. Conclusion: Given the important role of β-catenin as an activation marker in canonical Wnt signaling pathway, the evidence of up-regulated expression of β-catenin and the changes of other relevant molecules in canonical Wnt signaling pathway suggests that the constitutional activation of canonical Wnt signaling pathway may contribute to the pathogenesis of NHL. Copyright © 2013 by TUMOR.

Wnt signaling pathway is an important pathway for regulating the development of embryo and organs. It has been shown to play a key role in proliferation, differentiation, polarity, adhesion and motility of cells. The constitutive activation of canonical Wnt pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of many carcinomas. In recent years, accumulating studies have suggested its association with the pathogenesis of malignant lymphomas. This review summarizes the latest progress in research on canonical Wnt pathway and its role in lymphocyte development and the occurrence of malignant lymphomas, in order to provide the new clues of mechanism for pathogenesis of lymphomas and then disclose new potential therapeutic targets which are based on this pathway. Copyright © 2012 by TUMOR.

Humans ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted ; methods

Comet Assay

Dopamine(DA) modulates diverse wake-related behaviors including movement,reward, and cognition.Dopaminergic neurons are located in the substantia nigra pars compacta and ventral tegmental area.There are five distinct DA receptors(R):D_1R,D_2R(D_(2S)R and D_(2L)R), D_3R,D_4R and D_5R in the central nervous system, in which D_1R and D_2R are majorly expressed. The affinity of D_2R for endogenous DA is significantly higher than that of D_1R.Re- cently,studies by pharmacological and gene knock-out animals revealed that dopamine D_2R is essential inmaintaining wakefulness.Here,we review the progress on roles of D_2R in sleep-wake regulation.

Objective To detect the MRI manifestations and discrimination of tuberculous spondylitis and pyogenic spondylitis with atypical features in early stage. Methods Six patients with pathologically proved tuberculous spondylitis and 7 patients of pyogenic spondylitis with atypical clinical features and were included. MRI features of the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, paraspinal soft tissues and their enhancement patterns were analyzed. Chi-Square test was used to compare the MRI features of two diseases. Results Patients with pyogenic spondylitis had a significantly higher incidence of disk space narrowing (8 intervertebral bodies), abnormal signal in superior/inferior of vertebral body (12 intervertebral bodies) and endplate with high signal (13 intervertebral bodies), which were not seen in the patients with tuberculosis spondylitis (P<0.05).Patients with tuberculous spondylitis had a significantly higher incidence of local abnormal signal in anterior of vertebral body (4 intervertebral bodies) and paraspinal abscess spanning vertebral body (5 intervertebral bodies), while none of them was found in patients with pyogenic spondylitis (P<0.05). Conclusion MRI is accurate for the differentiation of tuberculous spondylitis and pyogenic spondylitis with atypical feature in early stage.

Objective To study the risk factors of MRI for the prediction of collapse in patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head.Methods Twenty-two patients (39 hips) diagnosed avascular necrosis of femoral head by MR were enrolled in our study.The following MR appearances were evaluated:bone marrow edema,joint fluids,signal intensity and location of the lesion.The volume and surface area of the necrosis zone were calculated.The time of follow-up was 18-84 months (median,25 months).Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the risk factors by SPSS 13.0.The maximum value of Youden index was selected as the critical point to predict the collapse of femoral head and to define the sensitivity,specificity and accuracy.Results In the 39 hips with femoral head necrosis,21 hips had collapse.Bilateral collapse occurred in 5 cases.In 25 hips with the necrosis surface larger than 25％,collapse occurred in 21 (84％); In 8 hips with the volume of femoral head necrosis larger than 30％,collapse occurred in all cases; 1n 33 hips with the necrosis locating at the superolateral quadrant,collapse occurred in 21 (63.6％); In 22 hips with necrotic areas showing heterogeneous signal intensity,collapse occurred in 18(81.8％) ;In 25 hips with large amount of joint effusion,collapse occurred in 16 (64％) ;in 18 hips with bone marrow edema,collapse occurred in 13 (65％).Joint fluid,heterogeneous signal intensity and lesions in the superolateral quadrant,volume ratio,and area ratio were the high risk factors,while bone marrow edema was a relatively low risk factor.The area under ROC curves for area ratio of NASA was greater than that for volume ratio (0.987 vs 0.902).When the critical value for area ratio was 26.7％,the true positive rate was 95.2％,true negative rate was 94.4％,and Youden's index was 0.896.Conclusions The collapse of necrosis of femoral head may result from many factors.The femoral head was easy to collapse when it had large enough area of necrosis and mixed signal intensity,a large amount of joint effusion,bone marrow edema,and superolateral quadrant location.The critical value for area ratio to predict the collapse of femoral head was about 26.7％.The area ratio is more accurate than volume ratio in predicting the collapse of necrosis of femoral head.

Objective To study the changes of DNA repair genes and enhanced anti-tumor effect of cisplatin induced by mifepristone in human ovarian cancer drug resistance cells.Methods The alterations of cisplatin concentration producing 50％inhibition(IC50)in the COC1/DDP cell lines were examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT)assay.RT-PCR and flow cytometry were used to analyze the changes of the mRNA of ERCC1,BRCA1,hMLH1 genes and cell cycle and apoptosis.Subcutaneous implantation of COC1/DDP was established in nude mice and the enhanced anti-tumor effect of cisplatin by mifepristone was observed in vivo.ResultsCisplatin IC50 values of COC1/DDP cell were decreased from(3.71±0.38)μg/ml to(3.18±0.46),(1.95±0.14),(0.64±0,18)μg/ml respectively when treated with 2.5,5.0,10.0 μmol/L mifepristone.Mifepristone could down-regulate the mRNA levels of ERCC1,BRCA1,hMLH1 genes and enhance G0/G1 phase block effect pf cisplatin,and 2.5,5.0,10.0 μmol/L mifepristone combined with cisplatin increased rate of cell apoptosis from 0.08％to 5.11％,9.13％and 12.24％ respectively.The percentage of inhibition of xenograft tumor volume in combined treatment group was 70.1％,which was significantly different(P＜0.05).Conclusion By down-regulating ERCC1,BRCA1,hMLH1 genes,blocking G0/G1 phase,and increasing apoptosis rate,mifepristone could enhance anti-tumor effect of cisplatin.

Objective To consummate modern hospital equipment management.Methods Medical equipment management network system was developed based on the platform of 'No.1 Military Medical Project'.The software could locate the site,register and count the maintenance and usage of the equipment.Results The accurate cost-accounting report and benefit analysis report for equipment were created.Conclusion The scientific and standard management for equipment impels the in-depth application of hospital informationization.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2008,29(2):58-59]

The widely application of the radio knife alleviates the patient's pain and improve the medical quality.The radio knife is high frequency power equipment based on the theory that electricity concentrates on the skin.It can directly cut the tissue,homeostasis and cauterize.The safety requirement of this equipment is very strict because unsafe operation will burn the tissue,cause temporal unaware hurt and even endanger the patient's life.If the safety support system is imperfect,disastrous loss or medical conflict will be caused.Users must be cautious in using and familiar with the safety and protection of the radio knife.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2008,29(2):96-98,104]