OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of fascin, an actin bundling protein, in the development and progression of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and explore its association with the clinicopathologic characteristics and 5-year survival of the patients.

METHODSUsing tissue array and immunohistochemistry, the expression of fascin was determined in 241 ESCC tissues and the corresponding normal esophageal mucosal tissues.

RESULTSESCC tissues showed a significantly higher overexpression rate of fascin than the corresponding normal esophageal mucosal tissues (68.9% vs 15.5%, P<0.05). The overexpression of fascin was correlated to lymph node metastasis and TMN stage, but not to the patients' age, gender, tumor differentiation and general classification. Survival analysis showed that abnormal expression of fascin was associated with the 5-year survival rate of patients with ESCC.

CONCLUSIONSThe abnormal expression of fascin may play an important role in the progression of ESCC, and detection of fascin expression may have important prognostic values.

Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carrier Proteins ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was inserted into the pseudogene (psi) region of genome of rabies virus rHep-Flury strain, and a recombinant rabies virus carrying GFP, designated as HEP-GFP, was rescued by reverse genetics system. It was demonstrated that green fluorescent protein could be expressed in the chimeric virus after 5 passages in BHK-21 cell line. The research indicated that the pseudogene (psi) region in the genome of rHEP-Flury strain, as an independent functional unit in the process of virus assembly, could independently carry and express exogenous genes.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Cricetinae ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Rabies virus ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo synthesize three amphiphilic molecules (TEG-R1, TEG-R2, TEG-R3), with branched oligo polyethylene glycol as hydrophilic fractions and aliphatic chains (containing six, eight and twelve carbon atoms respectively) as hydrophobic fractions, and study them as insoluble drug vectors.

METHODThree compounds were successfully through acylation, substitution reaction, reduction reaction and esterification. Their structures were verified by NMR analysis; and the critical micelle concentrations (CMC) of TEG-R1, TEG-R2, TEG-R3 were determined by pyrene fluorescence probe spectrometry. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) photos displayed the state of the aqueous solution. The self-assembly solution evaporation method was adopted to prepare drug loading podophyllotoxin micelles, and characterize their grain size, in order to detect the hemolysis of the three amphiphilic molecules.

RESULTNuclear magnetism showed the successful synthesis of three amphiphilic molecules, with critical micelle concentrations of TEG-R1, TEG-R2, TEG-R3 of 50, 50, 10 mg x L(1), respectively. Transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) photos displayed a spherical-like state, with diameter of 20-50 nm. All of the three amphiphilic molecules could be prepared into drug-loading micelles, with the range of grain sizes between 100-200 nm. Hemdytic experiment showed that, among the amphiphilic molecules of the graft six-carbon aliphatic chain, TEG-R1 could not cause hemolysis.

CONCLUSIONAll of the three amphiphilic molecules are micellized in water solution, and can be used as insoluble drug vectors. Among them, TEG-R1 could not cause hemolysis, and is expected to become a new-type drug vector.

Drug Carriers ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Micelles ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Polymers ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of potassium deficiency on glucose and insulin metabolism in primary hyperaldosteronism, including aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA).

METHODSTotally 178 patients who were diagnosed as primary hyperaldosteronism (103 patients with APA and 75 with IHA) were divided into hypokalemia group and normal potassium group according to their serum potassium levels. All patients received 3 hours of oral glucose tolerance test and aldosterone test to observe the relationship among glucose, insulin and serum potassium.

RESULTSArea under curve of serum potassium, area under curve of plasma insulin, and fasting serum insulin were significantly lower in the hypokalemia group than in the normal potassium group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); area under curve of glucose and aldosterone level were significantly higher in the hypokalemia group than in the normal potassium group ( P < 0. 05 ) . The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in IHA than in APA (57. 3% vs 38. 8% ; P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONHypokalemia may play an important role in inhibiting insulin secretion in primary hyperaldosteronism.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Female ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; complications ; metabolism ; Hypokalemia ; complications ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; etiology ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathogenesis of tumors by blocking the normal differentiation process of stem cells.

METHODSBone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) from rats were isolated, cultured and purified by whole bone marrow adherence method. The rat BMSCs were induced to differentiate into adipocytes with dexamethasone, insulin and indomethacin. Blockage of the differentiation process was induced by 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC).

RESULTSThe differentiation experiment showed that at 30 days after the induction, oil red O staining-positive cells occurred with increased intracytolasmic lipid droplets, characteristic for adipocytes. The differentiation blockage experiment showed that at 30 days after induction, the deposits of oil red O staining-cytoplasmic lipid droplets was significantly reduced, indicating that the blocked cells were adipocytes, but not fully differentiated. Morphological identification showed that cell contact inhibition disappeared, abnormal cell nuclei, increased number of micronucleus aberration and karyotype abnormalities, indicating that malignant transformation of the stem cells occurred after the differentiation blockage.

CONCLUSIONSThe results of this study show a blockage of the differentiation of that stem cells at the intermediate phase, and a tendency of malignant transformation of the stem cells. The results of our study provide new evidence that cancer stem cells may be originated by suppression of stem cell differentiation.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Indomethacin ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Methylcholanthrene ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVEA new respiratory virus, human metapneumovirus (HMPV) was recently identified by scientists in the Netherlands first and then in a few other countries. To investigate if this newly discovered virus is associated with the acute respiratory infections in pediatric patients in Beijing, tests were developed to detect HPMV gene fragments from nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from infants and young children hospitalized for acute respiratory infections from November 2002 to March 2003.

METHODSThe HMPV was screened by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RNAs were extracted by Trizol from 247 specimens which had been determined as negative for conventional respiratory viruses including RSV, influenza A and B, parainfluenza I, II, III and adenovirus by indirect immunofluorescence test as well as virus isolation. The HMPV RNAs were detected by reverse transcription tests using random primer and M-MLV reverse transcriptase followed by PCR using the primers designed from the published sequence of the N protein-encoding gene from the first HMPV identified in the Netherlands. PCR products were visualized by 1.2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Selected positive PCR products were sequenced and the sequences of the nucleotides and deduced amino acids were compared with those in the GenBank.

RESULTSAmong those 247 specimens negative for common respiratory viruses, 74 (30.0%) showed the predicted 213 bp PCR products in agarose gel. Most of clinical diagnoses for these 58 patients were pneumonia (36, 48.6%), bronchiolitis (21, 28.4%), and bronchitis and asthma in some patients. Nearly 90 percent of positive specimens were from patients under 2 years of age. Ten out of 74 amplicons were randomly selected for sequence analysis. When compared with the sequences in the GenBank, the nucleotide sequences of these 10 amplicons shared high homology only with those of HMPVs. The nucleotide sequence identities of these 10 samples with those from the Netherlands and Canada were 87% - 99%. When compared with the nucleotide sequence from the first reported strain by Van den Hoogen (strain HMPV 00-1), the sequence identities of these 10 fragments ranged from 88.7% to 99.1%. Among the 10 amplicons from the specimens, the nucleotide identities were 87.3% - 100%. One of the 10 amplicons (No. 1816) shared lower identity with others (87.3% - 89.7%), whereas the other 9 shared higher identities (95.8% - 100%) with each other. The comparison of amino acids showed that these 10 amplicons showed high homology (95.8% - 100%). Again, amplicon No.1816 shared lower homology (95.8% - 97.2%) with others, whereas the other 9 shared higher homology (98.6% - 100%). The amino acid homology between No.1816 and HMPV 00-1 was 95.8%, whereas that of the other 9 with HMPV 00-1 was 98.6% - 100%.

CONCLUSIONThese data suggested that some of acute respiratory infections in pediatric patients in Beijing area are related to the newly identified human metapneumovirus. The HMPV circulating in Beijing may have different genotypes.

Acute Disease ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Metapneumovirus ; genetics ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; pathology ; virology ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; pathology ; virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo investigate the level of mRNA expression of complement C3 and C4 in rat nasal mucosa and to reveal the relationship with the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) .

METHODSTwenty healthy SD rats were randomly divided into AR group and control group, 10 rats for each group. Ten rats was sensitized and intranasally challenged by ovalbumin and Al (OH)3 (as supplement) as allergic rhinitis models, and the control group was treated by saline. RT-PCR was performed to investigate the level of mRNA expression of complement C3 and C4 in nasal mucosa of both groups.

RESULTSC3 and C4 mRNA were detected in both groups. The relative intensity of gene expression was measured. The relative intensity of C3 mRNA expression was 6183+/-1376 in AR group, 4444+/-989 in control group, C4 mRNA was 4398 +/-948 in AR group, and 2771+/-407 in control group. Expression of C3 and C4 in AR group was higher than that of the controls ( P < 0. 05) .

CONCLUSIONThe high level of C3 and C4 mRNA expression in nasal mucosa of rats with allergic rhinitis suggests that C3 and C4 are involved in the immunopathology of allergic rhinitis. The result implies that complement system involved in the rat's allergic rhinitis is possibly activated through the classical pathway.

Animals ; Complement C3 ; metabolism ; Complement C4 ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyse CT and high resolution computerized tomography (HRCT) diagnostic value and morphologic manifestation in coal miner's pneumoconiosis with pleural pathological changes.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-one cases of coal miner patients with pneumoconiosis (0(+) type: 14 cases, type I: 46 cases, type II: 58 cases, type III: 13 cases) and 20 normal people as control group were first examined by routine CT scan at 4 fixed slices, followed by HRCT examination at the region of interest (ROI). Meanwhile, all of them had high-kV chest radiography.

RESULTSAccording to the national standard of the People's Republic of China in the diagnosis of coal miner's pneumoconiosis with pleural plaque, 68 cases of pleural disease making up 51.91% (68/131) were found (type I accounted for 17.65%, type II 63.24%, type III 19.12%). The morphologic manifestation of pleural pathology by HRCT could be classified into four types: (1) nodular type: 73.38%, (2) flat type: 18.71%, (3) irregular type: 7.91%, (4) mixed type. The pleural pathological changes were found in thoracic wall pleura (65.02%), surface of mediastinum (22.16%), and pericardium (12.80%), but not found in the top of lung and costo-phrenic angles. The thickness of pleura was often about 5 approximately 10 mm (88.17%).

CONCLUSIONPleural pathological changes were not seldom seen in coal miner's pneumoconiosis. HRCT is a reliable examination method aiding routine CT to show pleural pathological changes, thus it has a great diagnostic and practical value. It is necessary to make a further comparison study between pathology and imagology.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Coal Mining ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleura ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Pleural Diseases ; diagnosis ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Phytotherapy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the association between hot spring bathing behavior and hypertension and understand the mediation effect of sleep quality problems on the association. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults aged 30 to 65 living and working around five hot springs in Guizhou Province, employing a self-designed questionnaire on the health status and hot spring bathing, and 3 708 qualified questionnaires were collected. Participants were divided into three groups according to their frequency of hot spring bathing: never, occasionally, and frequently. Stratified via sex and sleep quality, the binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between different hot spring bathing frequencies and self-reported hypertension. Results Significant difference was detected in the self-reported hypertension between groups who never bathe(13.7%), who occasional bathe(9.4%)and who frequently bathe(8.5%)among female participants(χ²=10.460, P=0.005). However, no significant difference was found among different bathing groups in males. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that compared with no bathing, occasional(OR=0.692)and frequent (OR=0.594)hot spring bathing were associated with lower hypertension prevalence among female population, and female groups of occasional and frequent bathing with sleep quality problems had smaller OR(OR=0.571 and 0.406, respectively). After sleep quality problems were included, hot spring bathing was still associated with lower hypertension risk, and the OR values of occasional bathing and frequent bathing groups were 0.723 and 0.611, respectively. The sleep quality problems of female population played a partial mediating role in the association between hot spring bathing and hypertension, and the relative mediating effects of occasional bathing and frequent bathing with hypertension were both statistically significant(Z_m=-2.022 and -1.995, P < 0.05), which accounted for 34.34% and 30.15% of the total effects, respectively. Conclusion Regular hot spring bathing may play an auxiliary role in the prevention of hypertension, and it may provide a stronger protection for women, and especially those with sleep quality problems. Sleep quality problems may explain part of the association between hot spring bathing and hypertension in female population.