Objective To investigate the changes of geometry and function of left ventricle (LV) and left atrium(LA) in hypertensive male patients with concentric remodeling.Methods Consecutive male patients were divided into two groups: normal control group(NC group,n=146) and concentric remodeling group(CR group,n=274).The whole patients were checked with echocardiogram.Echocardiographic parameters included: thickness of interventricular septum(IVST) and LV posterior wall(PWT),LV end-diastolic diameter(LVIDd),media-lateral diameter(LVID),LV length(LVL),LA anterior-posterior diameter,media-lateral diameter,superior-inferior diameter,LA area,LV end-diastolic volume,end-systolic volume,stoke volume,ejection fraction(EF),early diastolic peak velocity (E) and atrial contraction peak velocity(A) of the mitral valve flow.LV mean diameter(LVMD) and E/A were calculated.Student t test was used to compare the variables between the two groups.Results IVST,PWT,IVST/LVPWT ratio,LA diameters and LA area in CR group were larger than those in NC group.LVIDd was shorter and LVID was larger in CR group than in NC group.LVL in CR group was larger than that in NC group.LVMD/LVL ratio was smaller than that in NC group.There was no significant difference in LVEF between two groups while E/A ratio in CR group was smaller than that in NC group.Conclusions The concentric remodeling in hypertensive patients makes the LV a thin,long but thick-walled cavity.The LV diastolic function is impaired in CR group but the systolic function reserves well.

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibition effect of celastrol on neovascularization.

METHODSThe effect of celastrol on the in vitro proliferation of endothelial cell of vessel (ECV) was examined by MTT assay. The effect of celastrol on endothelial cell migration, tube formation on Matrigel and Chick chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis was also examined. Matrigel plug assay was used to evaluate the effect of celastrol on angiogenesis in vivo.

RESULTSThe proliferation of ECV was inhibited significantly by celastrol with IC(50) being 1.33 microg/ml. Celastrol inhibited endothelial cell migration and tube formation in a dose-dependent manner. Celastrol also inhibited angiogenesis both in Matrigel plug of mouse model and in chick chorioallantoic membranes.

CONCLUSIONCelastrol, which can inhibit angiogenesis, could be developed as an antiangiogenic drug.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

0.05). The RBC folate level of birth defect group except the urinary defect was significantly lower compared with the control group(233-547 vs 689 nmol/L,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate COX-2 expression in patients with gastric cancer and its relationship with angiogenesis and clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer.

METHODSCOX-2 expression and CD34-stained microvessel density (MVD) were detected by immunohistochemical methods in specimens from 96 patients with gastric cancer. The correlations among COX-2 expression, MVD and clinicopathologic features were analyzed.

RESULTSThe COX-2 positive rate and MVD in gastric cancer were significantly higher than those in the normal gastric mucosa (80.2% vs. 13.3%; 32.5+/- 8.3 vs. 13.1+/- 2.4, all P< 0.01). The COX-2 positive rate and MVD in the patients with stage III and IV were significantly higher (91.4% and 34.9+/- 8.7 respectively, P< 0.01), than that in the patients with stage I and II. The COX-2 positive rate and MVD in the cases with lymph node metastasis were 87.9% and (35.0+/- 8.5) respectively, higher than those in the cases without lymph node metastasis (P< 0.05). The Spearman rank correlation test showed a significant correlation between COX-2 expression and tumor MVD (r=0.311, P< 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCOX-2 plays an important role in gastric cancer angiogenesis. COX-2 and angiogenesis induced by COX-2 contribute to tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVESTo examine the gene expression profile of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during entochondrostosis of mice and explore the expression rules and effects between BMP-2 and VEGF, and to detect the expression of VEGF in BMP-2 induced entochondrostosis in vivo.

METHODScDNA microarray technique with 34,000 genes was used to analyze the gene expression profiles during entochondrostosis in the limbs of mice embryo from E10 to E14. Pathway analysis of BMP-2 and VEGF was performed with GCOS1.2 software. An experimental model of femoral muscular pouch in 20 mice was adopted. The expression of VEGF was examined by in situ hybridization method and immunohistochemical method in BMP-2 induced entochondrostosis in vivo.

RESULTSThe expression signals of VEGF mRNA and VEGF appeared in cytoplasm during condensation of mesenchymal cell. As the mesenchymal cells differentiated into precartilage, the expression signals decreased in mesenchymal cells, but increased in chondrocytes and kept getting denser in the process of cartilage maturity. The peak expression of VEGF mRNA and VEGF in the experimental group appeared on the 14th day, accompanied by numerous hypertrophic chondrocytes. When mature cartilage calcified and new bone trabecula formed, the expression of VEGF mRNA and VEGF decreased in chondrocytes, but still expressed moderately in the osteoblasts and osteocytes.

CONCLUSIONSThe finding reveals a complex pattern of gene coexpression of BMP-2 and VEGF during the critical period of entochondrostosis. It's feasible for the clinical application of BMP-2 in orthopedics.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Male ; Mice ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Osteogenesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Deafness ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effects between electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) combined with intravenous drip of Granisetron and intravenous drip of Granisetron only for treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by the chemotherapy of the malignant tumor.

METHODSThe methods of multicentral, randomized controlled trial were used, the observation group (127 cases) was treated with electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) combined with intravenous drip of Granisetron, and the control group (119 cases) was treated with intravenous drip of Granisetron only.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of 90.5% in observation group was superior to that of 84.0% in control group (P < 0.01); the nausea and vomiting scores of two groups were obviously decreased after treatment (both P < 0.001), and the decreased degree of the observation group was superior to that of control group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36) can significantly alleviate the symptoms such as nausea and vomiting caused by the chemotherapy of the patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; etiology ; therapy ; Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Vomiting ; etiology ; therapy ; Young Adult

S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), which plays a role in cell cycle regulation, is commonly overexpressed in a variety of human cancers and associated with poor prognosis. However, its role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is not well understood. In this study, we examined the clinical significance of Skp2, with a particular emphasis on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), in NPC cases in South China, where NPC is an epidemic. Additionally, we explored the function of Skp2 in maintaining a cancer stem cell-like phenotype in NPC cell lines. Skp2 expression was assessed for 127 NPC patients using tissue microarrays and immunohistochemistry and analyzed together with clinicopathologic features, OS, and DFS. Skp2 expression was detectable, or positive, in 75.6% of patients. Although there was no correlation between Skp2 and any clinicopathologic factor, Skp2 expression significantly portended inferior OS (P = 0.013) and DFS (P = 0.012). In the multivariate model, Skp2 expression remained significantly predictive of poor OS [P = 0.009, risk ratio (RR) = 4.06] and DFS (P = 0.008, RR = 3.56), and this was also true for clinical stage (P = 0.012 and RR=3.201 for OS; P = 0.002 and RR=1.94 for DFS) and sex (P = 0.016 and RR=0.31 for OS; P = 0.006 and RR = 0.27 for DFS). After Skp2 knockdown, a colony formation assay was used to evaluate the self-renewal property of stem-like cells in the NPC cell lines CNE-1 and CNE-2. The colony formation efficiency in CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells was decreased. In Skp2-transfected CNE-1 and CNE-2 cells, side population (SP) proportion was increased as detected by flow cytometry. Skp2 is an independent prognostic marker for OS and DFS in NPC. Skp2 may play a role in maintaining the cancer stem cell-like phenotype of NPC cell lines.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; China ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; pathology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate ; Tissue Array Analysis ; Transfection ; Young Adult

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder. Its main pathological mechanism is the selective degeneration and deletion of dopaminergic neurons in the dense part of the substantia nigra and the damage of dopaminergic neurons caused by the abnormal deposition of a Lewy body, leading to a decreased dopamine level. Positron emission computed tomography (PET)/single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is a molecular imaging technology that can directly or indirectly reflect changes in molecular levels by using a specific tracer. With the research and development on the tracers of related enzymes for labeling dopamine transporter and dopamine receptor and for being involved in dopamine formation, this imaging technology has been applied to all aspects of PD research. It not only contributes to clinical work but also provides an important theoretical basis for exploring the pathological mechanism of PD at a molecular level. Therefore, this review discusses the application value of PET/SPECT in PD in terms of early diagnosis, disease severity evaluation, clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and pathological mechanism.

We aim to reassess the safety of the monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate (M-TURP) without suprapubic cystostomy at our institution over the past decade. This retrospective study was conducted in patients who underwent M-TURP at Peking University First Hospital between 2003 and 2013. A total of 1680 patients who had undergone M-TURP were identified, including 539 patients in the noncystostomy group and 1141 patients in the cystostomy group. After propensity score matching, the number of patients in each group was 456. Smaller reductions in hemoglobin and hematocrit (10.9 g vs 17.6 g and 3.6% vs 4.7%, respectively) were found in the noncystostomy group. In addition, patients undergoing surgery without cystostomy had their catheters removed earlier (4.6 days vs 5.2 days), required shorter postoperative stays in the hospital (5.1 days vs 6.0 days), and were at lower risk of operative complications (5.7% vs 9.2%), especially bleeding requiring blood transfusion (2.9% vs 6.1%). Similar findings were observed in cohorts of prostates of 30-80 ml and prostates >80 ml. Furthermore, among patients with a resection weight >42.5 g or surgical time >90 min, or even propensity-matched patients based on surgical time, those with cystostomy seemed to be at a higher risk of operative complications. These results suggest that M-TURP without suprapubic cystostomy is a safe and effective method, even among patients with larger prostates, heavier estimated resection weights, and longer surgical times.
Aged ; Blood Transfusion ; Cystostomy/methods* ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins/analysis* ; Hemorrhage/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology* ; Propensity Score ; Prostatectomy/methods* ; Prostatic Neoplasms/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate/methods* ; Treatment Outcome