Calcinosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Globus Pallidus ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta ; complications ; genetics ; Skull ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To explore the tumor cell apoptosis induced by the effect in vitro of eukaryotic ex pression of full-length TRAIL cDNA and its extracellular region. Methods The eukaryotic expression vectors for both forms of the cDNA acquired from the fetal heart cDNA library were constructed. After gene transfecting, the stable expression cell lines were obtained by G418 screening. Results The supernatants from tansfectants could induce apoptosis of different tumor cell lines in vitro, and an enhanced effect was observed by adding TFAR19 (TF-1 cell apoptosis-related protein 19), a novel apoptosis gene product discovered in our laboratory. Conclusion Eukaryotic expression products of TRAIL can induce apoptosis of the tumor cells, and TFAR19 could enhance the effect on apoptosis of tumor cells.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the acceptability and influential factors of Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing (VCT) among the Chinese and Ethiopian peacekeepers in Liberia so as to conduct more effective health education of AIDS and enhance the acceptance of VCT.

METHODSAn anonymous questionnaire was used to investigate the attitudes to VCT among 518 Chinese (aged 23-51) and 648 Ethiopian (aged 25-49) peacekeepers in Liberia.

RESULTSThe rates of those who claimed to have never heard of HIV/AIDS were 8.1% and 7.9% in the Chinese and Ethiopian subjects respectively, with no significant differences (P > 0.05) in between. Among those who had heard of HIV/ AIDS, 407 (85.5%) Chinese and 449 (75.2%) Ethiopians expressed their willingness to accept VCT, with a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the two groups. Statistic analysis indicated that the acceptance of VCT was as- sodiated with schooling and knowledge on HIV/AIDS in both groups as well as with the susceptibility to HIV among the Ethiopian subjects.

CONCLUSIONThe acceptability of VCT is obviously lower among those with less schooling and less knowledge of HIV/AIDS. It is important to carry out information-oriented education to increase VCT acceptability among the peacekeepers in the area with a high incidence of AIDS.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; prevention & control ; China ; Counseling ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Ethiopia ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Liberia ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Military Personnel ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo transfect antisense vector of human cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene into COX-2 highly expressing cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939 and explore its biological activities and role in carcinogenesis.

METHODSQBC939 cells were transfected with antisense vector of human COX-2 gene using LipoVec transfecting technique. Transfected cells were selected with G418; COX-2 mRNA was examined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and COX-2 protein expression was detected by immunocytochemistry using isozyme selective antibodies. The proliferative status of transfected cells was measured by using methabenzthiazuron (MTT) assay; Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by using flow cytometry.

RESULTSRT-PCR showed a lower COX-2 mRNA level in antisense vector transfected cells and immunocytochemistry showed a weaker COX-2 protein expression in antisense vector transfected cells. The antisense vector transfected cells proliferative index decreased significantly (P < 0.01), the percentage of S phase decreased remarkably (P < 0.05) in antisense vector transfected cells (9.27% +/- 1.91%) compared with that in QBC939 cells without transfection(16.35% +/- 2.87%), and the percentage of G0/G1 phase increased remarkably (P < 0.05) in antisense vector transfected cells (75.16% +/- 4.13%) compared with that in QBC939 cells without transfection (57.31% +/- 10.16%). Transfection with antisense vector of human COX-2 gene had no significant influence on the apoptosis in QBC939 cells (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTransfection with antisense vector of human COX-2 gene could inhibit the proliferation of human cholangiocarcinoma QBC939 cells.

Apoptosis ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Division ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; DNA, Antisense ; genetics ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; Membrane Proteins ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo discuss the diagnosis and treatment interstitial cystitis (IC).

METHODSThe clinical date of 10 cases of IC (all women) were analyzed. Their age ranged from 31 to 63 years, with a mean of 41 years. Their courses ranged from 1.5 to 7 years, with a mean of 3.4 years. The symptom criteria of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) was met for IC and no patients had Hunner's ulcer. Potassium sensitivity tests (PST) were performed in all cases. Eight were positive. The O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) was used as treatment outcome measures. ICSI score was from 9 to 20 (mean, 14 +/- 4) at baseline. All the patients were treated with hydrodistention initially. Efficacy was evaluated at 1 month after hydrodistention. The patients who failed to respond to the treatment and recurrence after the treatment were treated by oral or intravesical therapy.

RESULTSThe 10 cases were followed up for 3 to 26 months (mean, 7.8 months) after hydrodistention. Five patients obtained symptom relief. Among them, symptom significantly relieved or disappeared in 2, with the score decreased > 7; symptom partially relieved in 3, with the score decreased > 3. Five cases failed to respond to the treatment. Two cases had recurrence 3 and 6 months after the treatment. The effective rate was 50%. The ICSI score was decreased to 11 +/- 6 at 1 month (t = 4.394, P < 0.05) after the treatment. Those who failed to respond or recurrence after hydrodistention were treated by other methods. Two case were treated with oral Pentosan Polysulfate, effective. Three cases were treated with amitriptylin, 2 effective. Three cases were treated with intravesical Dimethyl sulfoxide plus heparin plus dexamethasone, all effective.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of IC should meet the symptom criteria of the NIDDK. PST has significant high positive rate in IC patient, which can be used not only for diagnosis but also for instruction. There are a lot of strategies in the management of patients with IC. Hydrodistention is the first choice.

Adult ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cystitis, Interstitial ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Dilatation ; methods ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of penoplasty with scrotal skin flap for the treatment of buried penis in children.

METHODSThe narrow ring was cut vertically at the ventral side of penis and the prepuce inner plate was circularly cut 0.5 cm from the coronary sulcus. The prepuce was degloved to the base of penis. The abnormal aponeurosis was removed completely. The prepuce was designed to cover the coronary sulcus. The scrotal flaps at both sides were formed and advanced to cover the penile base. Then the prepuce was sutured to reconstruct penile-scrotal angle and scrotum plasty was completed.

RESULTSFrom March 2009 to July 2011, 24 children with buried penis were treated with scrotal flaps. Adhesion at external orifice of urethra was happened in two cases which recovered after urethra expansion. There was one case of necrosis at the distal end of prepuce. All the cases were followed up for 6 months to 2 years with no penile shrinkage. The penile appearance was good without rotation or lateral curvature during erection.

CONCLUSIONSThe buried penis can be best corrected with scrotal flap. It is an ideal method with less complication.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Scrotum ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

This study was aimed to investigate the sensitizing effect of recombinant human PDCD5 (rhPDCD5) protein on chemotherapy of U937 cell line and its mechanism. The flow cytometry was performed to assess the changes of cell apoptosis and cell cycle influenced by rhPDCD5. Hochst 33258 staining was used to observe morphology of the apoptotic cells. The activity change of caspase-3 was detected to analyse the possible mechanisms of rhPDCD5-induced apoptosis. RT-PCR was performed to observe the expression level of drug-resistant genes. The results showed that the percentage of apoptotic cells and the activity of caspase-3 remarkably increased in U937 cells treated with rhPDCD5 combined with chemotherapeutic drug; the cell cycle arrest induced by anti-tumor drug was also enhanced when combined with rhPDCD5; meanwhile, the expression levels of drug-resistant genes were down-regulated in jointly treated U937 cells. It is concluded that the chemosensitizing mechanisms of rhPDCD5 are complex. rhPDCD5 may increase the cytotoxicity of anti-tumor drugs by promoting the caspase-3-related apoptosis, influencing cell cycle, decreasing the expression of drug-resistant genes and reversing drug-resistance.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Humans ; Neoplasm Proteins ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; U937 Cells

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Child ; Humans ; Male

Objective: To investigate the accuracy and repeatability of contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography for measurements of right ventricular structure and function. Methods: The apical four-chamber views and the three-dimensional full-volume images of the right heart were collected from 12 beagles with unenhanced and contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography. The intimal display rate of the right ventricular segments, right ventricular end diastolic longitudinal dimension (RVLD), right ventricular end diastolic area (RVEDA), right ventricular end systolic area (RVESA) and right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) were evaluated respectively with two-dimensional unenhanced and contrast-enhanced echocardiography. Right ventricular three-dimensional full-volume images were processed and analyzed by TomTec software, and right ventricular end diastolic volume (RVEDV), right ventricular end systolic volume (RVESV) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) were measured respectively with three-dimensional unenhanced and contrast-enhanced echocardiography. The measurements of pathological specimen were taken as the gold standard, the accuracies of measuring RVEDVand RVLD by different methods were evaluated. All indexes were measured repeatedly by the same observer and different observers to assess the intraobserver and interobserver reproducibilities of different methods. Results: ①The intimal display rate of the right ventricular segments was higher with contrast-enhanced echocardiography than that with unenhanced echocardiography (P<0.05). ②The measurements of RVEDV by three-dimensional contrast-enhanced echocardiography correlated well with the measurements by anatomical specimens. And the correlation was higher (0.916 vs 0.843), the consistency was better than that by unenhanced echocardiography. The measurements of RVLD by two-dimensional contrast-enhanced echocardiography correlated well with the measurements by anatomical specimens. And the correlation was higher (0.928 vs 0.850), the consistency was better than that by unenhanced echocardiography. ③For inter- and intraobservers reproducibilities, the interclass correlation coefficients of RVLD, RVEDV, RVESV, RVEF, RVEDA, RVESA, RVFAC with contrast-enhanced echocardiography were higher and 95% confidence interval ranges were smaller than those with unenhanced echocardiography. Conclusions Contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography can improve the accuracy and repeatability for measurements of right ventricular structure and function, providing a new evaluation method for patients with poor image quality of the right ventricle in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVETo study the X-ray and CT findings of traumatic bronchial rupture for early radiographic diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSThe chest plain X-ray films and CT images of 21 patients with traumatic bronchial rupture confirmed by operations or bronchoscopy were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSThe main radiographic findings of traumatic bronchial rupture included interrupted tracheobronchial air column, atelectasis, lung ptosis, pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema, pneumothorax or hydropneumothorax. CT scanning also revealed tracheobronchial wall defect, bronchostenosis, and bronchial occlusion, displacement and angulation.

CONCLUSIONChest plain X-ray film combined with CT scanning has important values for early diagnosis of traumatic bronchial rupture.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bronchi ; injuries ; surgery ; Bronchoscopy ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult