Pseudomonas sp. M18, one of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria, can produce secondary metabolites including phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and pyoluteorin (Plt). PA2572 gene coding protein is a probable two-component response regulator in Pseudomonas according to homologous speculations. In order to investigate its genetic function, PA2572 homologous gene, ppbR, was amplified from M18 genome, inactivated by inserting a Gm cassette. The resulting reconstruct was introduced into the M18 genome using homologous recombination technique, so as to obtain the null mutant M18P. The results showed that the M18P has less flagellar swimming and swarming motility, and yielded fewer PCA. The production of PCA was only 50% of the wild type. However, there was no remarkable difference between mutant and wild type in producing pyoluteorin in KMB medium.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) combined with GnRH analogue (GnRH-a) in the treatment of adenomyosis with uterine body enlargement.

METHODSTwelve women (mane age 40.3 years) with adenomyosis and uterine cavity depth over 11 cm received injections of GnRH-a every 4 weeks, and after the uterine cavity depth was reduced to below 10 cm, LNG-IUS was deployed. VAS pain score, PBAC bleeding score, uterine volume, and hemoglobin levels of the women were measured before the treatment and at 6 and 12 months after LNG-IUS placement.

RESULTSThe VAS pain score was significantly lowered at 6 and 12 month after LNG-IUS placement (P<0.05), and the PBAC bleeding score also showed significant reductions (P<0.05). The uterine volume decreased significantly at 6 and 12 months after LNG-IUS placement as compared with that before the treatment, but was significantly greater at 6 month in comparison with that at the time of LNG-IUS placement (P<0.05). Serum hemoglobin levels underwent significant increments after LNG-IUS placement (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLNG-IUS combined with GnRH analogue injection can be effective in the treatment of adenomyosis with dysmenorrhea and hypermenorrhea.

Adult ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Endometriosis ; drug therapy ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Levonorgestrel ; administration & dosage ; Uterine Diseases ; drug therapy

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transfected with different oncogenes differentiate into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro.

METHODSMSCs, transfected with different oncogenes c-myc, K-ras, c-myc and K-ras and amplified in vitro, were infused into rats via vena portae. The recipient rats were divided into the hepatic impairment group, which were fed with tetrachloromethane and the healthy control group. At day 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42 following grafting, the complete livers were obtained and examined using fluorescence detection, conventional pathology and immunohistochemistry detection of GFP, c-kit and AFP to study the colonization and distribution of stem cells in rat liver.

RESULTSNo immunological rejection occurred after grafting of allogenic MSCs. The infused MSCs colonized in the recipient rat liver. Liver tumors were present in 6 rats grafted with MSCs that were transfected with K-ras, K-ras and c-myc, and the protein expression of AFP was detected using immunocytochemistry at day 7. Rats grafted with MSCs that were transfected with c-myc gene had no obvious tuberosity or tumor. Small oval cells were found microscopically in the periphery of vena portae, and immunohistochemistry staining of AFP was negative. Immunohistochemical staining of c-kit was positive in all livers of rats that were transfected with MSCs.

CONCLUSIONSHepatocellular carcinoma may derive from genetically mutated MSCs.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Genes, myc ; genetics ; Genes, ras ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the multiple iron metabolism-related genes expression, its regulation by iron and the expression correlation among the genes in rat tissues.

METHODSTwo groups (n=30) of Sprague-Dawley female weanling rats were fed with a control diet and an iron deficient diet respectively for 4 weeks. All rats were then sacrificed, and blood and tissue samples were collected. The routine blood examination was performed with a veterinary automatic blood cell analyzer. Elemental iron levels in liver, spleen and serum were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mRNA expression of genes was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR.

RESULTSAfter 4 weeks, the hemoglobin (Hb) level and red blood cell (RBC) count were significantly lower in the iron deficient group compared with those in the control group. The iron levels in liver, spleen and serum in the iron deficient group were significantly lower than those in the control group. In reference to small intestine, the relative expression of each iron-related gene varied in the different tissues. Under the iron deficiency, the expression of these genes changed in a tissue-specific manner. The expression of most of the genes significantly correlated in intestine, spleen and lung, but few correlated in liver, heart and kidney.

CONCLUSIONFindings from our study provides new understandings about the relative expression, regulation by iron and correlation among the mRNA expressions of transferrin receptors 1 and 2, divalent metal transporter 1, ferritin, iron regulation proteins 1 and 2, hereditary hemochromatosis protein, hepcidin, ferroportin 1 and hephaestin in intestine, liver, spleen, kidney, heart, and lung of rat.

Animals ; Ferritins ; blood ; Gene Expression ; Hepcidins ; Iron ; Liver ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe changes of growth, body composition and biochemical markers associated with growth (IGF-1) in prepubertal children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODSThirty-one children aged 3-10 years with OSAHS were followed up for 1 year after the corresponding surgery. During the same period of time, 20 children of similar age without OSAHS (excluded any other diseases that could result growth retardation or hypoxemia) were also followed up for 1 year. PSG, height, weight as well as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured during the preoperative period, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery in patient group. The same indexes were measured before surgery, and only height and weight were recorded after surgery in the control group. Wilcoxon signed- rank test and Mann-Whitney U test are used to analyze the data.

RESULTSThe lowest oxyhemoglobin saturation of the patient group (0.88) is significantly lower than that of the control group (0.98), and was found increased at the 6 months post-op follow up (0.97, U = 238.5, P > 0.05), no significant change was found at the 1 year follow up. The post-op AHI (6 months after surgery) of the patient group (6.0/h) decreased to the similar level of the control group (0/h, U = 240.0, P > 0.05), and was similar to 1 year after surgery. Height of the patient group (116 cm), which was lower than the control group (U = 127.0, P < 0.001), significantly increased 1 year (138 cm) after the corresponding surgery (Z = 3.726, P < 0.01), and reached the similar levels of the control group (137 cm) 1 year after the surgery (U = 123.5, P > 0.05). The serum IGF-1 levels of the patient group (33.7 ng/ml), which were significantly lower than those of the controls preoperatively (44.1 ng/ml, U = 206.0, P < 0.05), increased to similar levels with the controls 6 months after the operation (50.3 ng/ml, U = 261.0, P > 0.05), and the 1 year post-op follow up was similar to the control group too (48.6 ng/ml, U = 163.0, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe cure of OSAHS could accelerate growth in prepubertal children, and the serum IGF-1 levels increases at the same time. The growth retardation is presumed in children with OSAHS.

Body Height ; Body Weight ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; etiology ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; blood ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the deep pathogenesis of acquired cholesteatoma.

METHODSThe temporal bone slides of 12 ears with retraction pocket were histopathologically studied under microscope, especially focusing on the location of retraction pocket and inflammatory pathology in the local middle ear cavity next to retraction pockets. The temporal bone slides of 11 ears with acquired cholesteatoma were histopathologically observed and 33 cases diagnosed as acquired cholesteatoma were clinically observed observed in the local middle ear cavity next to the part without retraction pocket of eardrum. The results of pathological observation of the temporal bone slides with acquired cholesteatoma and clinical observation during operation for acquired cholesteatoma show that cholesteatoma invade mainly and occupied the ossicular chain eara of the middle ear cleft.

CONCLUSIONIn the pathological process of otitis media, the intractable pathological changes in the ossicular chain area can inward adhere posterosuperior quadrant or pars flaccida of the eardrum to form retraction pocket and permanently infiltrate the external squamous epithelial layer of retraction pocket to excessively proliferate and keratinize, leading to formation of acquired cholesteatoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear ; pathology ; Ear, Middle ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media ; pathology ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the long-term results of midline partial glossectomy with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

METHODSTwenty-four severe OSAHS patients treated with midline partial glossectomy and UPPP from January 2003 to March 2004 were included in this study, the follow-up was 5 years. The median of preoperative lowest arterial oxygen saturation (LSaO(2)) of this group at night (the same below) 0.650, and AHI was 56.5 times/h, UPPP was performed under general anesthesia, no tracheotomy performed. Criteria of curative effects: AHI < 5 times/h was recovery, AHI < 20 times/h and decreased beyond 50% marked improvement, only AHI decreased beyond 50% improvement.

RESULTSPost-operation AHI (6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 5 years after surgery) decreased significantly compared to that before the surgery, and post-operation LSaO(2) was significantly higher than that of preoperative (Wilcoxon's signed rank test, the same below, P < 0.01). The LSaO(2) and AHI were significantly different between 1 year, 2 years, 5 years and 6 months post-operatively (P < 0.01). Six months after surgery, PSG results showed that 21 were recovery, marked improvement for the other 3 cases, the recovery rate was 87.5%. One year after surgery, 18 were recovery, marked improvement in 3 cases, the recovery rate 75.0%. Two years after surgery, 14 cases recovery, marked improvement in 4 cases, the recovery rate 58.3%. Five years after surgery, 6 were recovery, the recovery rate 25.0%. Among 5 cases with hypertension before the surgery, after surgery antihypertensive drugs were not necessary in 4 cases, and the dosage was decreased in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONThe midline partial glossectomy with UPPP surgery may be an effective treatment for the severe OSAHS, long-term effect is satisfactory.

Adult ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Palate, Soft ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; surgery ; Tongue ; surgery ; Uvula ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo summarize our experiences in the diagnosis and treatment of placenta accreta in the second trimester of pregnancy.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 31 patients were admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital with placenta accreta in the second trimester of pregnancy from January 2002 to January 2010.

RESULTSAmong 31 cases, one case (3.2%) was suspected to be with placenta accreta by ultrasound examination and 30 cases (96.8%) were normal before delivery. Placenta accreta was identified during follow-up in 12 cases (38.7%) after delivery. Fourteen patients underwent curettage again after delivery,which was effective in 6 patients (42.9%) and failed in 8 patients,in whom uterine artery embolization (UAE) was further applied. Thirteen patients underwent UAE without curettage. In total,21 cases underwent UAE, which was effective in 19 patients (90.5%); one patient with abnormal β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) 5 months after embolization underwent lesion resection and one case with slightly increased β-HCG were lost to follow-up. Hysteroscopy was effective in 3 patients,of whom two patients underwent lesion resection by hysteroscopy and one case who was suspected to be with trophoblastic disease by ultrasonography before surgery and confirmed to be placenta accreta during hysteroscopy examination underwent lesion resection. One case experienced hemorrhagic shock during vaginal delivery and underwent emergency laparotomy. Among all these 31 patients,massive hemorrhage occurred in 13 cases during delivery and hemorrhagic shock in 2 cases. Three cases had postpartum hemorrhage and stopped bleeding after UAE. None needed hysterectomy.

CONCLUSIONSPlacenta accreta in the second trimester of pregnancy is usually diagnosed after childbirth,which may be delayed in some cases. Therefore,special attention should be paid to this disease during follow-up. Conservative treatment was the main therapy of placenta accreta in the second trimester of pregnancy. UAE is effective in stopping bleeding.

Adult ; Dilatation and Curettage ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Placenta Accreta ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Artery Embolization ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo prepare the alpha-asarone reservoir patch and investigate its release and transdermal absorption characteristics in vitro. The efficient enhancers were chosen to improve the drug's permeation rate.

METHODThe alpha-asarone reservoir patch was prepared using 1% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) of ethanol solution as medium and ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) membrane to control the release of drug. The Franz diffusion cells were used and several permeation enhancers were evaluated. High performance liquid chromatorgraphy (HPLC) was used to determine alpha-asarone's content and permeation rate.

RESULTThe release mechanisms of alpha K-asarone patch in vitro coincided with zero-order kinetic. 30% ethanol cooperates with 1% Isopropyl Myristate (IPM) have the best effect on permeation of the patch. The permeation rate reaches (20.67 +/- 1.33) microg x cm(-2) h(-1).

CONCLUSIONEthanol combined with IPM is good permeation enhancer, which facilitated the permeation of alpha K-asarone to fit the clinical requirements. However, the further studies of the skin's stimulation and bioavailability are needed.

Acorus ; chemistry ; Administration, Cutaneous ; Anisoles ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Ethanol ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypromellose Derivatives ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methylcellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Myristates ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyvinyls ; chemistry ; Skin ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Skin Absorption ; drug effects