Adult ; Biopsy, Needle ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Nephritis, Interstitial ; pathology ; Renal Dialysis ; Sarcoidosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Tuberculosis, Renal ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of Erigeron Injection (EI) on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats.

METHODSUnilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model rats were taken as the subject of study. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group (A), the UUO model group (B) and the treatment group (C) treated with intraperitoneal injection of EI 5 mL/kg per day from 24 h before to 9 days after the operation. On the 10th day of UUO, rats were killed and their kidneys were processed to paraffin sections with HE, PAS and picro-sirius-red staining. The pathological change of renal tubular interstitial tissue and relative cortical/interstitial volume (C/I) as well as the relative content of collagen (RC) were observed by light microscope. The expression of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and collagen I in the renal mesenchyma were examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSMarked renal interstitial fibrosis changes were found in Group B and C, but the changes were milder in Group C. C/I and RC were higher in Groups B and C as compared with those in Group A (P < 0.01), but they were much lower in Group C than in Group B (P < 0.01). The expression of TGF-beta1, alpha-SMA and collagen I were higher in Group B and C than those in Group A (P < 0.05), but they were lower in Group C than in Group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEI could ameliorate renal interstitial fibrosis in rats, which might be partially realized by down-regulating the expression of TGF-beta1 to prevent the renal epithelial cell differentiation and reducing the synthesis of collagen I.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Erigeron ; chemistry ; Fibrosis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; Ureteral Obstruction ; complications

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of phosphatase and tensin homology deleted on chromosometen ten (PTEN) protein, a tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer and its correlation with p27(kip1) and cyclin D1 expression.

METHODSPTEN protein expression, p27(kip1) and cyclin D1 protein expression were detected by immunohistochemical method in paraffin sections from 61 women with primary breast cancer. PTEN protein expression was compared with clinico-pathologic parameters as related to p27(kip1) and cyclin D1.

RESULTSPTEN, being shown in the cytoplasm, was negative in 6.6% (4/61), reduced in 41.0% (25/61) and positive in 52.5% (32/61) samples. PTEN expression level was correlated with axillary lymph node status, loss of estrogen receptor stain, recurrence and metastasis. On univariate analysis, the disease-free survival rate of patients with higher PTEN expression (> 50% cells stained) was better than those with lower expression (P = 0.0101). However, there was no correlation between p27(kip1), cyclin D1 expression or PTEN expression.

CONCLUSIONPTEN, its lower expression being correlated with poor outcome of breast cancer patients, plays a prominent role in breast cancer. p27(kip1) or cyclin D1 may not be the primary downstream genes of PTEN in breast cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; chemistry ; mortality ; pathology ; Cyclin D1 ; analysis ; physiology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; analysis ; physiology ; Prognosis

When the glomerular mesangial cells of rats were cultured in vitro at high glucose concentration,the activity of extraeellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),the expression of transforming growth factor-?_1(TGF-?_1)mRNA and the content of typeⅣcollagen in the supematant were higher than those at normal glucose concentration.These effects were inhibited by fluvastatin.The results showed that the activation of ERK signal transduction pathways appeared to play a role in the onset and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Furthermore,fluvastatin could protect the kidney by inhibiting ERK signal transduction pathway and TGF-?_1 expression.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the possibility for removal of resinifying agent, time required for removal and the working length loss by Resosolv or Chloroform.

METHODS40 human teeth (80 root canals) obturated with FR phenolaldehyde agent were divided into four groups, 20 root canals per group. Group A: Resosolv with K file; group B: chloroform with K file; group C: Resosolv with Ultrasonic K file; group D: Chloroform with ultrasonic K file. Calculating the pereentage for removal of resinifying agent, time required for removal and the working length loss.

RESULTSThe effectiveness of Resosolv for removing resinifying agent was better than chloroform. 87.5% of canals could be negotiated by Resosolv; 45% of canals be negotiated by chloroform.

CONCLUSIONResosolv is an effective solvent for canals obturated with resinifying agent.

Chloroform ; chemistry ; Humans ; Retreatment ; Root Canal Filling Materials ; chemistry ; Root Canal Obturation ; methods ; Solvents ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effects of high-frequency electromagnetic field (HF-EMF, 30 MHz, 0-1600 V/m) on the apoptosis and ultramicrostructure of the hippocamp and demonstrate the cytotoxicity of hippocamp.

METHODS120 Wistar female adult rats were randomly divided into ten groups based on body weight with different levels of 30 MHz electromagnetic field (0, 25, 100, 400, 1600 V/m) for eight hours daily. Five group rats were irradiated for three days. The other five group rats were irradiated for fifty-six days. Weekly the rats were continuously exposed five days. The apoptotic rate of the hippocamp was detected with TUNEL System. Meanwhile, the ultramicrostructure was observed with the transmission electron microscope.

RESULTS(1) There was no significant difference on the apoptotic rate and pathological change of the hippocamp cell between the exposure and the control groups through short term experiment (P > 0.05). (2) The apoptotic rate of the granulocyte on the DG campus of the hippocamp in the 400 V/m group and the 1600 V/m group (0.165% +/- 0.049%, 0.189% +/- 0.049% respectively) were increased significantly (P < 0.01) through inferior chronic experiment compared with the control group (0.052% +/- 0.016%). Along with the increase of radiation dose, the ultramicrostructure of the neuron cell appeared more abnormal cells. Especially there were marked change on the neuron in the 1600 V/m group.

CONCLUSIONSThere is no association between cell apoptotic rate of the hippocamp and short period exposure to HF-EMF (30 MHz, 25-1600 V/m). However inferior chronic exposures to HF-EMF might induce the cytotoxicity, especially in the high dose exposure (1600 V/m) under our experiment.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Endocytosis ; radiation effects ; Female ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Neurons ; pathology ; radiation effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Uvaria kweichowensis is a folk nongovernmental herb used to treat cure inflammation and tumour in the Southwest area of China. During the course of our investigation for antitumour agents from the stems of Uvaria kweichowensis, six amides were obtained by means of solvent extraction, chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 repeatedly. And their structures were identified as uvariadiamide (1), cepharanone (2), aristololactam A II (3), enterocarpam II (4), aristololactam A Ia (5), and 4,5-dioxodehydroasimilobine (6) on the basis of chemical methods and spectral analyses (EI-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound; the other compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.
Amides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Aristolochic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Uvaria ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and safety of ultrasound-guided transrectal microwave ablation in reducing the prostate volume.

METHODSUltrasound-guided transrectal microwave ablation of both sides of the prostate was conducted on experimental dogs with the output volume of 30W for 120 seconds. The dogs were sacrificed on the very day of the ablation, and the prostate and its surrounding tissues were excised for observation of the thermal lesions and pathological examination.

RESULTSA total of 12 thermal lesions were achieved on the two sides of the prostate. The ultrasonogram manifested dense echo and increasing extent in the ablated area, and then an irregular heterogeneous echogenic area and clearly differentiated margin. Pathological examination of the gross specimen showed a little stagnant blood under the rectal mucous, the urethra and bladder not injured, and the thermal lesions elliptical, clearly margined and with the mean size of (0.94 +/- 0.30) cm3.

CONCLUSIONUltrasound-guided transrectal microwave ablation of the prostate can effectively cause coagulative necrosis of the local tissue without inflicting thermal injury upon the surrounding tissues. Conventional grayscale ultrasound can give a real-time'display of the extent of thermal lesion and the whole process of the ablation.

Animals ; Catheter Ablation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Dogs ; Feasibility Studies ; Male ; Microwaves ; Prostate ; diagnostic imaging ; Rectum ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

Objective To explore the association between the characteristics of the genetic polymorphism of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B and HLA-DR alleles and asthma in Guangxi Zhuang and Han nationality children.Methods Eighty-four blood-unrelated asthmatic individuals,57 cases of Han nationality and 27 cases of Zhuang children with asthma,and 168 healthy controls,included 83 cases of Han nationality and 85 cases of Zhuang people without asthma and atopy living in Nanning region of Guangxi were involved in the study.All asthmatic patients′serum total IgE levels were measured with UniCAP Pharmacia system,and skin-prick test with ten kinds of inhalant allergens were taken and pulmonary functions were measured among the patients.HLA oligonucleotide array was used to 40 gene alleles of HLA-B and 26 HLA-DR.Comparison of the frequency distribution of HLA-DR alleles and HLA-B alleles in 2 groups was evaluated by chi-square test,and the risk for asthma of the HLA allele′s carriers was valuated by OR value.Results Twenty-seven alleles at HLA-B locus and 21 alleles at HLA-DR were detected.The distribution of HLA-B46,HLA-DRB1070X and HLA-DRB111XX alleles only in Han people was distinctive in the asthmatic patients compared with those in healthy controls(Pa

The factors influencing the incidence of common complications (pneumothorax and pulmonary hemorrhage) of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lumps near pulmonary hilum were investigated. CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lumps near pulmonary hilum was performed on 48 patients. The complications of pneumothorax and pneumorrhagia as well as the contributing factors were analyzed statistically. The major complications associated with CT-guided needle biopsy included pneumothorax (13 cases, 27.1%) and pulmonary hemorrhage (14 cases, 20.24%). χ(2) test revealed that pneumothorax was associated with the lesion size and depth of needle penetration, and pulmonary hemorrhage with the depth of needle penetration and needle retention time with a significant P value. Pneumothorax was observed in 7 cases (17.5%) out of 40 cases with diameter of mass greater than 3 cm, and in 6 cases (60%) out of 10 cases with depth of needle penetration greater than 4 cm. Additionally, pulmonary hemorrhage was identified in 12 cases (41.4%) out of 29 cases with needle retention time longer than 15 min, and pulmonary hemorrhage in 7 cases (70%) out of 10 cases with depth of needle penetration greater than 4 cm. CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of lumps near pulmonary hilum is safe and effective. The key factors to prevent the complications include correct evaluation of lesion size, depth of needle penetration and the needle retention time before the operation.
Biopsy, Needle ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed