Human tissue kallikrein-binding protein (Kallistatin, KAL), a secretory protein that participates in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways by binding to the extracellular receptor, however, at present has not been reported about the intracellular activity, and whether it has the similar biological activity with extracellular activity. Here we constructed no signal peptide KAL (NSK) into the adeno-associated virus vector to explore the intracellular activity of KAL. Both the endothelial cell and lung cancer cells could express KAL, but not secreted after rAAV2-NSK transfection. The proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were inhibited, but the apoptosis rate was not affected. The proliferation rates, mobility and tubule formation of all the three tested lung cancer cells, such as NCI-H446, NCI-H460 and A549, were inhibited to different extents. This cellular study not only confirmed the intracellular activity, but also suggested it may serve as a kind of "balance factor" in multi-targeted controlling, which may provide a new train of thoughts to explain the regulatory contradiction in PI3K-Akt signaling pathways by KAL.
Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Dependovirus ; Genetic Vectors ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Serpins ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection

In order to reveal feasibility of different concentrations of Ca2+ and SA on Platycodon grandiflorum under high temperature stress, the effects of Ca2+ on physiological index and related photosynthetic parameters were studied. Pot cultured P. grandiflorum leaves under the same outdoor conditions were sprayed with CaCl2 and SA separately, and then placed in the high incubator [35 degrees C/25 degrees C (day/night), light intensity 3 600 lx], and sprayed with distilled water at 25 degrees C and under high temperature stress were set as the control. The related photosynthesis, relative conductivity, contents of proline, malondialdehyde, soluble protein, activities of SOD and CAT, ASA and GSH content were measured. The results show that the 6 mmol x L(-1) CaCl2 and 1.5 mmol x L(-1) SA enhanced the activities of SOD and CAT, the contents of proline and soluble protein, and effectively reduced the damage of heat stress on cell membrance. At the same time, the exogenous Ca2+ and SA increased the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid, the efficiency of leaf photosynthesis and ASA and GSH content, and thus effectively resisted the oxidative stress caused by high temperatures, but with the increasing concentration of spraying, P. grandiflorum decreased the ability to resist high temperature stress. In conclusion, the foliage spraying CaCl2 and SA could reduce the damage of high temperature stress on P. grandiflorum leaves.
Calcium ; metabolism ; Hot Temperature ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Photosynthesis ; Plant Leaves ; metabolism ; Platycodon ; metabolism ; Salicylic Acid ; metabolism ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of T2WI, DWI and 3D-VBIE at 3.0 T MR in the differentiation of recurrent rectal cancer and benign pelvic lesions after curative rectal operation.

METHODSA total of 28 patients with abnormal pelvic lesions confirmed by CT or MR from April 2007 to October 2010 were evaluated with MR imaging. All the patients received examinations of both T2WI and DWI, and 24 of them received additional examination of 3D-VIBE. Thirteen patients with MR imaging in the same period who were confirmed to have no diseases of the rectum were used as control group. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC) value and the ratio of the signal intensity(SI) of the lesions to the gluteus maximus in T2WI(SI(L)/SI(M)) and the ratio of the net added signal intensity of the lesions to the net added signal intensity of the iliac artery(SI(L)/SI(A)) at the time of 35 seconds after the iliac artery achieved its highest intensity were measured and calculated. The type of the time-intensity curve(TIC) was over viewed and classified as the benign type when the TIC was rising slowly or constantly and lasted for more than 90 s; however the malignant type when the TIC was rising significantly but lasted less than 90 s kept as a horizontal line for a period or was descending slowly or rising slowly.

RESULTSThere were 29 lesions of different final diagnosis, including 17 recurrence rectal cancers, 4 fibrous masses, 6 stoma inflammations, 1 sinus and 1 abscess. Fourteen of them were confirmed by pathological examination. The ratio of SI(L)/SI(M) was 2.84±1.52 in the benign group, 2.58±0.80 in the malignant group, and 2.13±0.58 in the control group, the differences between the 3 groups were not statistically significant(F=1.620, P=0.211). When the ADC value of 1.21×10(-3) mm(2)/s was set as a diagnostic threshold, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and coherence for the diagnosis of the malignant lesions were 100%(17/17), 91.7%(11/12), 96.6%(28/29) and 0.928, respectively. When the SI(L)/SI(A) value of 0.28 was set as a diagnostic threshold, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and coherence for the diagnosis of the malignant lesions were 100%(13/13), 66.7%(8/12), 84.0%(21/25) and 0.675. When considering the TIC as the diagnostic standard, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the diagnosis of the malignant lesions were 100%(13/13), 83.3%(10/12) and 92.0%(23/25), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe signal intensity of T2WI has no specificity in the differentiation of malignant lesions and benign lesions while the DWI and the 3D-VIBE have high values in it.

Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; diagnosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the detection rate of small hepatocellular carcinomas using 3.0T MRI 3D-volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) sequence dynamic contrast-enhanced scan, and to evaluate its application in the diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinomas.

METHODSImaging data of 61 cases of small hepatocellular carcinomas obtained using a 3.0 T Siemens Magnetom Trio Tim magnetic resonance scanner for plain scan and multi-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced scans of three-dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (3D-VIBE) were retrospectively analyzed with reference to their pathological diagnoses. The signal and enhanced features and the detection rates of the tumors in different phases of examination were analyzed.

RESULTSSixty-six lesions were detected in the livers of the 61 patients by pathological examinations, of which 49 had pseudocapsule formation. In their T1WI plain scanning, 43 (65.15%) lesions were found, of which pseudocapsules were found in 19 (38.78%). In their T2WI imaging, 53 (80.30%) lesions were found. In dynamic enhanced 3D-VIBE sequence, 65 (98.48%) lesions were found, of which 35 (71.43%) were found with pseudocapsules. The sizes of the carcinomas ranged from 0.8 to 3.0 cm, 2.1cm on the average. The results of statistical analysis for the detection rates of the cancers of the three different sequences were significantly different (chi2=24.197, P less than 0.05). The differences of qualitative accuracy obtained by plain scan (T1WI + T2WI) and 3D-VIBE sequence were significantly different (chi2=66, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSION3.0 T MRI 3D-VIBE sequence dynamic contrast-enhanced scan is high-speed and can clearly demonstrate the arterial phase, the portal venous phase and the parenchymal phase images. It not only can find small lesions which can not be found with a plain scan, but also can assist diagnosis through a time-intensity curve. It is of great value for detection and differential diagnosis of small hepatocellular carcinomas.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the osteoblast-like characteristics of human periodontal ligament cells affected by elastic stress in vitro, and the role of corebinding factor a 1 (cbfa1) in alveolar bone formation during orthodontic tooth movement.

METHODSRat dig-labeled cbfa1 cDNA probe was prepared from SD rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro. Human periodontal ligament cells were cultured on the elastic bottom plate and stimulated by elastic stress using mechanical loading system for cultured cells in vitro. The expression of cbfa1 mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization method.

RESULTSCbfa1 mRNA express in human periodontal ligament cells stimulated by elastic stress and did not express in normal human periodontal ligament cells.

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that elastic stress plays a role in the differentiation process from human periodontal ligament cells to osteoblast-like cells. Cbfa1 is a transcription factor in alveolar bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement.

Adolescent ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Elasticity ; Humans ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Transcription Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT)-computed tomography(CT) in diagnosis of oral carcinoma invasion to mandible.

METHODSThirty-four patients with oral carcinoma invasion to mandible were divided into two groups, group A (surrounding invasion) and group B (central invasion). The edge of the invasion was evaluated by SPECT-CT, CT and pathological examination. The results of CT and SPECT-CT were analyzed by quantitative methods.

RESULTSIn group A, the cancer-invaded area of the mandible exhibited on SPECT-CT was 1.0 cm lager than that on pathological examination, 2.4 cm lager than that on CT. The difference of invaded area shown on CT was 1.4 cm smaller than that of pathological examination. There were significant difference among the three methods. In group B, the affected area on SPECT-CT was 1.2 cm lager than that of pathological examination, 4.2 cm lager than that of CT. The invision area on CT was 3.0 cm smaller than that of pathological examination. There were significant difference among the three methods.

CONCLUSIONSSPECT-CT could find the jaw central tumor earlier than CT and the range of lesion showed by SPECT-CT was the adequate range of bone incision during operation. The range of lesion showed by CT was influenced by the type of tumor and the range of bone incision was determined according to the pathological type. If the false negative result was eliminated, only SPECT-CT or CT was needed to estimate the invasion range of mandible.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors related to outcome of chronic severe hepatitis B.

METHODSA total of 336 consecutive patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) were analysed retrospectively. According to the outcome, objects were divided into survival group (n = 137) and death group(n = 199), then to observe the differences between them in respect to age, sex, family history, prothrombin activity (PTA), complications including ascites, infection, electrolyte disturbance, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome and the corresponding quantity of complications in each individual, antivirus therapy, artificial liver support system (ALSS) therapy, and alprostadil therapy. Finally, risk factors related to prognosis were selected by stepwise Logistic regression analyse.

RESULTSIn univariate analyse, significant differences between the two groups were found related to age, PTA, complications and its quantity (P < 0.01 for all), and antivirus therapy (P < 0.05) rather than sex, family history and treatment of ALSS or alprostadil. Logistic regression revealed that risk factors comprised of PTA and quantity of complications, antivirus therapy was the only protective factor.

CONCLUSIONA numbers of factors including age, PTA, complications and its quantity, and antivirus therapy affect the prognosis of CSHB, among which, antivirus therapy can reduce the death rate.

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of irinotecan (CPT-11) combined with cisplatin (DDP) in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSOf 36 NSCLC patients consisting of 23 males and 13 females with a medium age of 52 years included, there were 26 adenocarcinomas, 7 squamous cell carcinomas, 1 adeno-squamous cell carcinoma and 2 unclassified types; 13 stage III B and 23 stage IV; 24 chemonaive and 12 previously treated by chemotherapy with a medium Karnofsky status of 90. All patients had measurable or evaluable parameters. The regimen was administered as following: CPT-11 60 mg/m2, IV, D1, 8 and 15; DDP 80 mg/m2, IV, D1; every 28 days as a cycle.

RESULTSTotally, 97 cycles were carried out in these 36 patients with a medium cycles of 3. Of 35 evaluable patients, 22.9% (8/35) achieved partial response, 60.0% (21/35) had stable disease and 17.1% (6/35) progressive disease. The response rate was 29.2% (7/24) for chemonaive patients and 9.1% (1/11) for these previously treated. The 1-year survival rate was 45.4% with a medium time to tumor progression (TTP) of 199 days for the responders. The incidence rate of grade III/IV adverse events were: 16.7% for neutropenia, 13.9% alopecia, 5.6% diarrhea, 2.8% nausea and vomiting, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIrinotecan plus cisplatin is effective with tolerable adverse events in treating patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, but further investigation trials are needed.

Adult ; Aged ; Alopecia ; chemically induced ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Camptothecin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Diarrhea ; chemically induced ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the characteristics of variation and the genetic evolution of non-structural protein (NS1, NS2) genes related to avian influenza subtype H5N1 viruses isolated from the boundary region of Yunnan province.

METHODSSwab samples were collected from foreign poultry and wild birds in the boundary regions of Yunnan province and screened by H5/N1 subtype-specific multiplex RT-PCR. The NS segment of H5N1 virus from the positive samples were amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into pMD18-T vectors for sequencing. The alignment and phylogenetic analysis on those available NS1, NS2 genes were performed with sequences of the known reference strains.

RESULTS71 positive samples were identified from 1240 samples, with the positive rate as 5.72%. Fourteen different NS segment sequences were obtained from 30 representative positive samples and could be divided into 3 distinct clades or sub-clades (I-1, I-2 and II), by phylogenetic analysis. The NS1/NS2 genes and Hemagglutinin (HA) genes of H5N1 viruses from the boundary regions of Yunnan province showed different relationships regarding the characteristics on genetic evolution. The substitution or mutation of key amino acids sites had been noticed in the nuclear location signal domains, effect domain, and other pathogenicity markers.

CONCLUSIONNS genes of H5N1 subtype viruses in boundary region of Yunnan province showed genetic divergence and the virus of clade I-2 and II had become dominant epidemic strains in this region since 2010.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Birds ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Evolution, Molecular ; Genome, Viral ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; epidemiology ; virology ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo analyze the feature of epidemiological of rotavirus diarrhea in Lulong county, Hebei province.

METHODS426 stool specimens were collected from inpatant with acute diarrhea from children less than 5 years old. Rotavirus-positive specimens were identified by ELISA kit. G/P typing assays were confirmed with multiplex seminested RT-PCR.

RESULTSRotavirus was detected in 202 of 426 (47.42%) specimens. Genotyping of rotavirus showed that G3 was predominant (57.9%), followed by Gmix (16.3%), G9 (14.9% ), G1 (7.9%), G4 (1%), G2 (0.5%), P-genotyping showed that P [8], Pmix, P [4], P [9], type were found in 58.4%, 28.7%, 6.9% and 1% respectively. The most common G/P combination identified was G3P [8].

CONCLUSIONGroup A rotaviruses was a major pathogen of diarrhea in Children in Lulong. G3P [8] was the predominant type in 2009, Gmix and Pmix abound, and G9 serotypes has become the second predominant after G3 strain in the region.

Age Distribution ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Diarrhea ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Rotavirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Rotavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Seasons