Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucocele ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myxoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Toes ; Vimentin ; metabolism

The AC impedance of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells were measured in our laboratory by Agilent 4294A impedance analyzer in the frequency range of 0.01-100 MHz. And then the effect of hematocrit on electrical impedance characteristics of hepatoma cells was observed by electrical impedance spectroscopy, Bode diagram, Nyquist diagram and Nichols diagram. The results showed that firstly, there is a frequency dependence, i.e., the increment of real part and the imaginary part of complex electrical impedance (δZ', δZ"), the increment of the amplitude modulus of complex electrical impedance (δ[Z *]) and phase angle (δθ) were all changed with the increasing frequency. Secondly, it showed cell volume fraction (CVF) dependence, i. e. , the increment of low-frequency limit (δZ'0, δ[Z*] 0), peak (δZ"(p), δθ(p)), area and radius (Nyquist diagram, Nichols diagram) were all increased along with the electric field frequency. Thirdly, there was the presence of two characteristic frequencies: the first characteristic frequency (f(c1)) and the second characteristic frequency (f(c2)), which were originated respectively in the polarization effects of two interfaces that the cell membrane and extracellular fluid, cell membrane and cytoplasm. A conclusion can be drawn that the electrical impedance spectroscopy is able to be used to observe the electrical characteristics of human hepatoma cells, and therefore this method can be used to investigate the electrophysiological mechanisms of liver cancer cells, and provide research tools and observation parameters, and it also has important theoretical value and potential applications for screening anticancer drugs.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Membrane ; Cytoplasm ; Electric Impedance ; Electrophysiological Phenomena ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; Membrane Potentials

Animals ; Cochlea ; pathology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Hyperlipidemias ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Otoacoustic Emissions, Spontaneous

Humans ; Psoriasis ; metabolism ; Receptors, Notch ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVEThe glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) can induce palatal cleft; however, the mechanism involved remains unclear. E-cadherin is an important cell adhesion molecule, and it can significantly affect cell fate and embryonic development. Recent studies have indicated that E-cadherin expression in palatal epithelial cells is suppressed in normal palate fusion. This study aimed to determine whether the change in E-cadherin expression is related to the incidence of cleft palate in DEX-induced mice.

METHODSMice were divided into the experimental group and the control group. Pregnant mice were injected with DEX on E10.0-E12.0, whereas mice in the control group were injected with normal saline. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, immunohistochemistry, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were employed to evaluate the effect of DEX on fetal mouse palatal processes, particularly the changes in E-cadherin and β-catenin expression levels in the phases of the experimental and control groups.

RESULTSData indicated that the incidence of cleft palate in the DEX group was 43.59% (17/39), whereas that in the control group was only 3.03% (1/33). The results of HE staining showed that the obviously shortened palatal processes could not contact and fuse with one another in the DEX-treated mice model compared with those in the control group. The ectopic expression of E-cadherin in embryonic palatal mesenchymal cells was also analyzed. The expression levels of E-cadherin and β-catenin in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicated that DEX could induce E-cadherin gene upregulation and ectopic expression, as well as high β-catenin expression, thereby inhibiting the growth of mesenchyme cells and cleft palate.

Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cleft Palate ; chemically induced ; embryology ; Dexamethasone ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the functional and ultrastructural changes of cerebral microvascular endothelial cells at early stage following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. Methods The rat models with closed brain injury were established with the improved Marmarous method. The expressions of thrombomodulin (TM) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were determined by immunohistochemical techniques (5 rats per group) and real-time quantitative RT-PCR (5 rats per group) respectively at 1, 4, 8, 12, 24 hours and at days 3 and 7 after injury. Results TM and vWF started expression at 4 hours, reached peak at 24 hours and recovered to normal at day 7 after TBI. The expression levels of TM and vWF at different time points in sham control group showed statistical difference compared with damage group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The activation of the cerebral microvascular endothelial cells at early stage after TBI is the main mechanism of early secondary brain injury.

Objective Portal hypertension and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) have been implicated in small-for-size liver graft dysfunction. Matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 are critically involved in hepatic I/R injury. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in acute small-for-size graft injury. Methods 108 rats were divided into three groups:100 % (full-size), 50 % (half-size) and 25 % (quarter-size) liver transplantation groups. Blood and liver samples were collected to assess liver function, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content, tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histological changes. ELISA, real-time PCR, gelatin zymography, and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expression pattern of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in liver grafts. Results The expression levels of MMP-9 were significantly higher in quarter-size and half-size grafts than those in full-size liver grafts 6, 12, and 24 h after reperfusioa And theelevated levels of MMP-9 were related to graft size inversely. However, MMP-2 was expressed and remained in all groups invariably. MMP-9 overexpression was accompanied by extensive liver I/R injury, as evidenced by significant increases in hepatic microscopic damage scores, MDA content,MPO activity and liver function levels. Furthermore, MMP-9 was found mainly to locate around periportal area. The presence of the active form of MMP-9 was significantly higher in small-for-size grafts, which was correlated with sinusoidal dilatation, congestion and hemorrhage. Conclusion These results support critical function of MMP-9 in acute small-for-size liver graft injury. Moreover,portal hypertension may be a crucial trigger for expression and activation of MMP-9.

Objective To describe the understanding level of disease of children with leukemia and their ways of obtaining disease information in order to help nurses and parents to select appropriate content and manners to communicate with children about disease information.Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 children' parents using a descriptive qualitative research method,and the data were analyzed using content analysis.Results Children during remission stage of leukemia had different understanding levels of their disease.Ways of children with leukemia to obtain disease information was correlated with their mental maturity.Conclusions Disease information should be told according to children's age,disease course and level of thinking,and health professionals and parents could provide appropilate ways of obtaining information for children on basis of their mental maturity.

Objective To explore the value of serum SC5b-9, anti-C1q antibody, C3 and C4 levels in the assessment of lupus activity. Methods The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure SC5b-9 and anti-C1q antibody, rate nepheiometry was used to detect the serum level of C3 and C4 in sera of 62 SLE patients, 35 patients with other rheumatic diseases (including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, primary Sjogren' s syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, systemic sclerosis and vasculitis) and 35 healthy controls. And the correlation between above-mentioned parameters and lupus clinical manifestations, disease activity and histological type of lupus nephritis were analyzed. Results In SLE patients, the levels of SC5b-9 and anti-C1q antibody were significantly higher than those in patients with other rheumatic diseases and healthy controls (P<0.05). The titers of SC5b-9 and anti-C1q antibody negatively correlated with C3 and C4 (P<0.05), and positively correlated with SLEDAI (P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of the combination of these three measurements for SLE was 95.37% and 98.46 respectively. SC5b-9 and anti-C1q antibody were associated with the presence of proliferative glomerulonephritis (P <0.05). Conclusion Taking the evaluation of all these three measurements simultaneously is valuable for the diagnosis of lupus flare. SC5b-9 and anti-C1q antibody may play major roles in the immunopathogenesis of lupus nephritis.

Objective To identify the prognosis factors of the patients with high-degree carotid artery stenosis and evaluate the effect of different therapy prospectively.Methods A hundred and three patients with spoke or tansient ischemic attack(TIA)suffering from severe carotid artery stenosis were included into this study consectively.They were given intra-artery intervention or antiplatelet therapy based on clinical factors and the intension of the patients or their Legally Autllorized Representative (LAR)and thus divided into 2 groups.Forty patients were transplanted with stent,63 were given only with antiplatelet drugs.The major outcome of end-point was the 2-year functional prognosis evaluated by modified Rankin score(mRS),while the minor one was the cardiovascular events in 1 year.2 year or longer after the index stroke or TIA,which was defined as stroke,TIA,acute myocardic infarction(AMI)and sudden death in this study.Results There were no statistical significances of sex,years,medical histories,blood pressure, total cholesterol,triglyceide in two groups at baseline.For the major outcome,intra-artery intervention was an independent protective factor for impaired function(mRS 3-6)with the method of binary Logistic(RR= 0.13,P=0.001,95%CI 0.036-0.460).For the minor outcome,the incidence of the cardiovascular events in 1 year and 2 year after the index stroke or TIA was lower in the intra-artery intervention group than in the antiplatelet therapy(For 1 year follow up,intervention group:antiplatelet therapy group= 12.5%:42.9%,OR=0.19,95%CI 0.07-0.55,P=0.001;For 2 year follow up,17.5%:47.6%,OR =0.23,95%CI 0.09-0.60,P=0.002).The median time of cardiovascular events in the two groups was further investigated in 55 months and 54 months separately. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference.Survival analysis with Cox-regression showed that neither therapy of intra-artery intervention nor antiplatelet therapy was an independent factor for the cardiovascular events(RR=1.063,95%CI 0.40- 2.83,P=0.900).Conclusions For the stroke or TIA patients suffering from high-degree carotid artery stenosis,intra-artery intervention is superior pure drug therapy in achieving better theapeutical effect and reducing the incidence of the cardiovascular events after the index stroke or TIA.However,its long term effect needs further study.