The purpose of this study is to investigate the Sal I, Nru I and Mse I restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of factor IX gene in Chinese Han people. The frequencies of FIX-192 and FIX-793 for A and G, and FIX-698 for T and C were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in unrelated normal Chinese Han people. A sample of 214, 210 and 206 unrelated X chromosomes were analyzed for FIX-192 and FIX-793 and FIX-698, respectively. The results showed that the frequencies for FIX-192 were 0.878 for A and 0.122 for G, with a heterozygosity rate of 0.213, and the frequencies for FIX-793 were 0.552 for A and 0.448 for G, with a heterozygosity rate of 0.494, the frequencies for FIX-698 were 0.311 for T and 0.689 for C, with a heterozygosity rate of 0.429. It was concluded that the SalIand NruI and MseI RFLPs of FIX gene may be useful markers for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis in Chinese families with hemophilia B patients.
China ; DNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific ; metabolism ; Factor IX ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

Vitiligo is an intriguing depigmentary disorder and is notoriously difficult to be treated. The ultimate goal of vitiligo treatment is to replenish the lost melanocytes by immigration from hair follicle and to restore the normal function of melanogenesis by residual melanocytes. There are two types of topical calcineurin inhibitors called tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, and are recommended as the first-line treatments in vitiligo. Although pimecrolimus is efficacious for the repigmentation of vitiligo, its intrinsic mechanisms have never been investigated in vitro. This research aimed to study the ability of pimecrolimus on stimulating melanogenesis, melanocyte migration and MITF (microphthalmia associated transcription factor) protein expression. Results showed that pimecrolimus at the dosages of 1, 10, 10² nM were neither mitogenic nor cytotoxic to melanocytes. The addition of pimecrolimus at 10, 10² and 10³ nM significantly increased intracellular tyrosinase activity, which was consistent with the elevated content of melanin content at the same concentrations. The peak effect was seen at 72 h in response to 10² nM pimecrolimus. Results of the wound scratch assay and Transwell assays indicate that pimecrolimus is effective in facilitating melanocyte migration on a collagen IV-coated surface. In addition, MITF protein yield reached the highest by pimecrolimus at 10² nM. In brief, pimecrolimus enhances melanin synthesis as well as promotes migration of melanocytes directly, possibly via their effects on MITF protein expression.
Calcineurin ; Calcineurin Inhibitors ; Collagen ; Emigration and Immigration ; Hair Follicle ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Tacrolimus ; Vitiligo ; Wounds and Injuries

Objectives: Understanding the lingual nerve’s precise location is crucial to prevent iatrogenic injury. This systematic review seeks to determine the lingual nerve’s most probable topographical location in the posterior mandible. Materials and Methods: Two electronic databases were searched, identifying studies reporting the lingual nerve’s position in the posterior mandible.Anatomical data in the vertical and horizontal dimensions at the retromolar and molar regions were collected for meta-analyses. Results: Of the 2,700 unique records identified, 18 studies were included in this review. In the vertical plane, 8.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0%-21.7%) and 6.3% (95% CI, 1.9%-12.5%) of the lingual nerves coursed above the alveolar crest at the retromolar and third molar regions. The mean vertical distance between the nerve and the alveolar crest ranged from 12.10 to 4.32 mm at the first to third molar regions. In the horizontal plane, 19.9% (95% CI, 0.0%-62.7%) and 35.2% (95% CI, 13.0%-61.1%) of the lingual nerves were in contact with the lingual plate at the retromolar and third molar regions. Conclusion This systematic review mapped out the anatomical location of the lingual nerve in the posterior mandible, highlighting regions that warrant additional caution during surgeries to avoid iatrogenic lingual nerve injuries.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVECT-guided microwave coagulation is a minimally invasive surgery for patients with liver cancer. Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and fentanyl is commonly used. The depth of anesthesia during microwave coagulation for liver cancer is still monitored by clinical signs. There are few subjective and effective indicators. This study explored the application of Narcotrend-assisted "depth of anesthesia" monitoring on microwave coagulation for patients with liver cancer during total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and fentanyl.

METHODSForty liver cancer patients underwent CT-guided microwave coagulation were randomly assigned to receive Narcotrend index monitoring or standard clinical monitoring for depth of anesthesia with 20 patients in each group. All patients received total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and fentanyl. The depth of anesthesia for patients in the Narcotrend group was measured according to a Narcotrend index, which was maintained between D2 and E0. The depth of anesthesia for those in the standard clinical practice group was measured according to heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and patient movement. Changes of hemodynamics, the duration of the emergence from anesthesia, and the recovery of orientation were recorded. The doses of propofol and fentanyl, postoperative visual analogue scores (VAS), and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were also recorded.

RESULTSThere was no significant alteration in heart rate or mean arterial pressure between the two groups. Compared with other anesthetic stages, both heart rate and mean arterial pressure decreased during the induction of the anesthesia in the two groups(P<0.05). The doses of propofol were higher in the standard clinical practice group than in the Narcotrend group [(460+/-30) mg vs. (380+/-35) mg, P<0.01]. The duration of emergence and orientation were longer in the standard clinical practice group than in the Narcotrend group [(9.5+/-2.9) min vs. (4.9+/-2.2) min, P<0.01; (12.2+/-3.5) min vs. (6.6+/-3.2) min, P<0.01, respectively]. There was no difference in the dosage of fentanyl, VAS, or the incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor patients with liver cancer, monitoring the depth of anesthesia with Narcotrend on microwave coagulation can contribute to lower dosage of propofol and shorten duration of recovery during total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and fentanyl.

Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, Intravenous ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Fentanyl ; administration & dosage ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Microwaves ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; instrumentation ; methods ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Amniotic Fluid ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Keratin-13 ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Respiratory Aspiration ; metabolism ; pathology

This study was to evaluate the role of reticulated platelets (RP) assay in the distinguishing the different causes of thrombocytopenia. The RP and immature platelet fraction (IPF) were stained by a nucleic acid-specific dye oxazine, and assayed by XE-2100 blood cell counter with an upgraded software in the reticulocyte/optical platelet channel. RP and IPF were measured in 137 thrombocytopenic patients and 187 normal controls. The results showed that the mean IPF was 1.07% in normal controls, and 10.28% in 109 patients with immune thrombocytopenia (p<0.01), RP absolute value in ITP group was higher than that in control group, there was significant difference between them (p=0.036). The mean IPF was 10.47% in patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (PITP), and 9.45% in patients with secondary ITP (SITP). There was no significant difference of IPF between PITP and SITP group (p=0.635), but IPF in these 2 groups both were significantly higher than the normal controls. The mean IPF in 28 thrombocytopenic patients with hypocellular marrow was 2.37%. There was no difference of IPF between thrombocytopenic patients with hypocellular marrow and the normal controls (p=0.252), but the absolute counts of RP in the former was significantly lower than in the latter (p<0.05). The IPF cut-off for a diagnosis of thrombocytopenia with hypercellular marrow was 2.45%, the sensitivity was 92.7% and specificity 94.1%. It is concluded that the whole-blood IPF measurement by XE-2100 blood cell counter is an useful screening test to differentiate patients with thrombocytopenia of different causes. An IPF above 2.45% has both a high sensitivity and specificity for a diagnosis of thrombocytopenia with a hypercellular marrow.
Adult ; Blood Platelets ; cytology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; blood ; diagnosis ; Reticulocytes ; cytology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the incidence of precore mutation in HBeAg negative HBV infected patients and the therapeutic effect of the immune therapy (levamisole + HBV vaccine + dipyridamole) on patients chronically infected by HBV with precore mutation.

METHODSThe precore region of HBV from the HBeAg (-) chronic hepatitis patients was sequenced and the patients suffered from HBV with precore mutation were treated with immune therapy.

RESULTSThe precore mutation rate was 10/12. The therapeutic effect of the immune therapy on the precore mutation patients (5/7) was better than that on the HBsAg(+), HBeAg(+) patients (2/11), P less than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONThe precore mutation rate was quite high in the HBsAg(+), HBeAg(-) patients we studied. The immune-therapy has some therapeutic effects on the patients with precore mutation. But the number of cases was too small, further study is needed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Dipyridamole ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Levamisole ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Mutation

BACKGROUNDHepatic fibrosis is the key stage of the pathological progress from hepatic injury to cirrhosis. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been known as having significant clinical therapeutic effects on chronic liver diseases. Our research aimed to study the effect of UDCA on the signaling pathway of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1)/Smad and discuss its possible molecular mechanisms of inhibiting hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSRat hepatic stellate cells were cultured in vitro and randomly assigned to 4 groups. Group A was control group, with only DMEM culture medium applied, and groups B, C, D were experimental groups, with different doses of UDCA (1.0 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L and 0.25 mmol/L respectively) added into their DMEM culture medium for further culture of 24 hours and 48 hours. The protein expressions of TGFbeta1, TGF type I receptor, Smad3, Smad4 and Smad7 were measured by Western blotting, as well as the expressions of TGFbeta1, Smad3, Smad7 and cAMP response element (CREB) binding protein (CBP) mRNA by real-time PCR. SPSS 11.5 statistical package was adopted for data analyses.

RESULTSCompared with control group, the mRNA expressions of TGFbeta1 in the high and middle UDCA dose groups for 24 hours and 48 hours significantly decreased (P < 0.05), the protein expressions of TGFbeta1 in the two above groups for 48 hours and in the high dose group for 24 hours significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The protein and mRNA expressions of Smad3 in each UDCA dose group for 24 hours and 48 hours significantly decreased, with significant difference among different UDCA dose groups and between that of 24 hours and 48 hours observed (P < 0.05). The protein and mRNA expressions of Smad7 in the high and middle UDCA dose groups for 24 hours and 48 hours significantly increased. The CBP mRNA expression in each UDCA dose group for 24 hours and 48 hours significantly decreased (P < 0.05), with significant difference among different UDCA dose groups observed (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUDCA could curb the development of hepatic fibrosis through affecting the signaling pathway of TGFbeta1/Smad by inhibiting the expressions of TGFbeta1, Smad3 and CBP and increasing the expression of Smad7.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholagogues and Choleretics ; pharmacology ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; genetics ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad Proteins ; metabolism ; Smad3 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Smad4 Protein ; metabolism ; Smad7 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo improve the level of clinical diagnosis and differential diagnosis of benign and malignant prostate lesions.

METHODSOne hundred and nine cases of prostate cancer and prostate hyperplasia were evaluated by the expression of high molecular weight cytokeratin (CK34BE12), prostate specific antigen (PSA) and protein P53 gene using the immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSThe basal-cells in all of the benign lesions were stained with the CK34BE12 and PSA, while it had not immunoreactivity with P53. In contrast, the prostate carcinoma were not stained or partly stained with the CK34BE12 and PSA, but P53 show significant immunoreactivity with the tissue.

CONCLUSIONBased on the routine histological studies with the expression of CK34BE12 and PSA together, they can indicate the existence of basal-cell distinctly and show indirectly whether the basal-cell is integrated. Combining the expression of P53 to determine the existence of cancer gene, it can help to distinguish benign and malignant prostate lesions.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; biosynthesis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Staining and Labeling ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis

[Objective]To investigate the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on infected state of human alve?olar type Ⅱ epithelial cells.[Methods]Human alveolar type Ⅱ epithelial cells A549(1×105/mL)2 mL and PA(3×104 CFU/mL)2 mL has grown after 6 hours,add hUCMSC(1 × 106/mL)2 mL as the experimental group,add equal amounts of phosphate buffer (PBS)for infection,A549 and PBS and the medium has grown as the control group. A549 cells morphological changes between the compared groups(Transmission electron microscope,TEM),A549 cell viability(new CCK-8 cell proliferation assay Kit),A549 cells apoptosis(Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining flow cytometry)and the expression of A549 pulmonary surfactant A(SP-A) (Western blot).[Results]Transmission electron microscope cell morphology observation displayed ,infection group A549 cell dam?aged obviously,cell quality appeared empty bubble degeneration,chromatin height agglutination,visible apoptosis bodies;experi?ment group cell package film structure full,nuclear film full,nucleolus obviously,nuclear chromatin electronic density low,chroma? tin uniform,no apoptotic bodies;control group A549 cell structure full,membrane surface micro-fluff rich,nuclear film full,nucle?ar week clearance structure normal,chromatin uniform;infection group and control group compared,Infection group A549 cell sur?vival significantly reduced[(70.35±2.89)% and(97.37±2.07)%,n=3,P<0.01],apoptosis rate significantly increased[(8.63%± 0.16)%and(2.55±0.11)%,n=3,P<0.01],In the infected group,PA could damage A549 cells and decrease the amount of SP-A ex?pression(n=5,P<0.05). In the experiment group,the protective effect of hUCMSC on the A549 cells after infection may increase the expression of SP-A(n=5,P<0.05);[Conclusions]HUCMSC inhibits the infection of A549 cells apoptosis and protection of A549 cells secrete SP-A.