Objective To detect v raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homologue B1 (BRAF) in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to investigate its clinical significance in RA.Methods Synovial fluid samples were obtained from patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA).Serum samples were obtained from patients with RA,OA and heathy controls.The presence of BRAF in the synovial fluid and sera were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Western blotting was used to detect the expression of BRAF protein in the synovial tissue of RA and OA.The associations between the BRAF and the clinical features and laboratory parameters of RA were evaluated.Data analysis were performed using t test and Spearman's association analysis.Results ① The level of BRAF in the synovial fluid of RA [(84±59) ng/ml] was significantly higher than OA [(38±41) ng/ml] (t=3.290,P=0.002).② The level of BRAF in the sera of RA patients [(22.0±12.5) ng/ml] was also higher than OA [(6.8±7.5) ng/ml,t=3.882,P＜0.01] and healthy controls [(4.8±2.2) ng/ml,t=6.766,P＜0.01].③ In RA patients,the BRAF protein level in the synovial fluid [(102±52) ng/ml] was significantly higher than that in the serum [(21±12) ng/ml] (t=-4.316,P=0.003).④The expression level of BRAF in the synovial tissue of RA (0.284±0.045) was higher than that in OA patients (0.191±0.013,t=3.169,P=0.034).⑤ The level of BRAF in the synovial fluid had a negative correlation with disease duration (r=-0.40,P=0.019) and a positive correlation with rheumatoid factor (RF) levels (r=0.37,P=0.03).Conclusion The presence of BRAF in the synovial fluid and synovium of RA indicates that BRAF may play a role in the pathogenesis of RA,especially in the early stage.

AIM: The study was undertaken to investigate the effort of Dexamethasone (DEX) on cultured rabbit corneal epithelial (RCE) cells and rabbit corneal epithelial wound healing.METHODS: For the in vitro experiments, primary cultures of RCE cells were used. DEX in different concentrations was added to cultured RCE cells. The effects were measured with tetrazolium salt (MTT)method and flow cytometry. For the in vivo wound-healing experiments, a central corneal deepithelialization was created and were treated with 0.1g/L DEX eyedrop randomly explain how randomly. Epithelial wound healing was evaluated clinically and analyzed histopathologically using light microscopy along with immunohistochemical staning and electronic microscopy.RESULTS: Less than 0.1g/L DEX didn't influence survival rate in cell culture conditions by MTT assay. Flow cytometric studies revealed that 0.1g/L DFX had no effect on cellular growth phase in cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cells. The mean time of the epithelial healing was significantly shorter in the DEX-treated group than in the control group at 24h. There were strong proliferative-cell-nuclear-antigen(PCNA) expressions in newly generated epithelial cells of both groups. The Dex-treated group had a more regular architecture of stromal lamella and significantly less inflammatory response than the control group under electronic microscopy.CONCLUSION: Less than 0.1g/L DEX had no inhibiting effect on cultured rabbit corneal epithelial cell growth.0.1g/L DEX eye drops can effectively promote epithelial growth and reduce inflammatory response, which may have useful clinical application at the early stage of corneal wound healing process.

0.05 indicating no statistical difference.However,the noise measurements for the L and C groups were 30.05 and 27.80,respectively,with P

Objective To investigate the characteristics of renal hemodynamic and the esoteric prostacyclin(PGI2),thromboxane A2(TXA2)level in children with early Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP),and study the function of TXB_2/6-Keto-prostaglandin F(6-Keto-PGF_(1?))(T/K)numerus in early changes of kidney injury.Methods Children involved in the experiment were dicided into 3 groups.Thirty-one patients with HSP,divided into 2 groups according to routine urianlysis:children with HSP without renal damage group(n=16)and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN)group(n=15).Control group with 16 healthy children,their age and sex match with the other 2 groups.The urine of all children,including the children in control group,was sampled in 24 hours.The urinary production of the samples were kept in the freezer at-20 ℃.The radioimmunoassay was applied to determine the 6-Keto-PGF_(1?),TXB_2 quantitatively,and calculate the number of T/K.In the early morning the children accept the Doppler arteria renalis sonography with an empty stomach to determine the Vmax of the period of contraction of the arteria renalis the Vmin of diastolic phase and the resistent index(RI).SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results 1.The renal hemodynamic indicated a change of high velocity and resistance,the masculine rate(83.9%)was ob-viously higher than that in routine urinalysis(48.4%)(?2=5.79 P0.05).The RI in the former group(0.798?0.165)was much higher than that in the other one(0.637?0.116)(t=4.02 P

Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; deficiency ; Humans ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo compare different expression profiles of all known chemokine receptors in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines with different metastasis potentials.

METHODSEighteen pairs of chemokine receptor primers were designed using Premier software. Expression profiles of the 18 chemokine receptors on four HCC cell lines of lower to higher potentials of metastasis (SMMC-7721, MHCC97-L, MHCC97-H and HCCLM6) were analyzed by RT-PCR. Expression of CXCR4 was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSExpression profiles of chemokine receptors on four HCC cell lines with different metastatic potentials had significant differences (P < 0.01), in which CCR10, CXCR4 and CXCR6 expressions decreased gradually as the metastatic potential of the cell lines increased. The expressions of CCR3, CCR4, CCR10, CCR12 and XCR1 on HCCLM6 were significantly reduced compared with SMMC-7721 (P < 0.01), whereas the expressions of CXCR1 (P = 0.006) and CXCR5 (P = 0.003) exceeded that of SMMC-7721. Except for CXCR2, CXCR6 and XCR1, most of chemokine receptors on MHCC97-H were expressed differently compared with MHCC97-L (P < 0.05), in which expressions of CCR1 (P = 0.002), CCR2 (P = 0.004) and CCR5 (P = 0.046) exceeded MHCC97-L. CXCR4 was detected only on the positive controls and SMMC-7721 when the template of total RNA was reduced one-half in RT-PCR.

CONCLUSIONChemokine receptors are expressed very differently at mRNA level on HCC cell lines with different metastatic potentials. The different profiles of chemokine receptors in tumor microenvironment and the function of CXCR4 in HCC should be further studied. Our findings have important implications in understanding the relationship between chemokine receptors and the metastatic potential of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, Chemokine ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the roles of surviving and caspase-3 in the development of oral cancer.

METHODSArchival tissue sections of 17 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), 28 oral leukoplakia with dysplasia, 10 normal oral mucosa were obtained from Capital Medical University School of Stomatology for immunohistochemical staining of markers of survivin and caspase-3. The cell apoptosis was detected with terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nucleotide shift enzyme (TdT) mediated d-UTP end labeling (TUNEL). Positively stained cells were counted and analyzed statistically to determine potential relationship between survivin, caspase-3 and cell apoptosis.

RESULTSThe expression of survivin was faint or negative in normal epithelial cells. The average positive rate of survivin was (1.05 ± 1.21)% in control group and (21.89 ± 10.45)% in OSCC. Caspase-3 was expressed in all the normal mucosa,but it obviously down-regulated in dysplasia and OSCC. The apoptosis index (AI) decreased from (0.89 ± 0.46)% in normal mucosa to (0.21 ± 0.12)% in OSCC.

CONCLUSIONSBoth survivin and caspase-3 are associated with carcinogenesis of the oral mucosa. Survivin may restrain cell apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-3.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; Leukoplakia, Oral ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mouth Mucosa ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Mouth Neoplasms ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Precancerous Conditions ; enzymology ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective To study the correlation of neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1) with pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction in epileptic rats and explore its effect on cognitive dysfunction in epileptic rats.Methods A total of 120 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control group (n=20) and experimental group (n=100); and rats in the experimental group were subdivided into 5 groups (n=20),the epilepsy models were induced by pilocarpine,and rats in these 5 groups received daily treatments for 30 days with either saline,carbamazine,oxcarbazine,aniracetam or donepezil (nootopic).Spatial learning and memory abilities were assessed with Water Maze test.Hippocampus tissue was assessed for NCAM1 mRNAs by RT-PCR and proteins by immunochemistry.Results The mean escape latency of rats in the Morris water maze test:carbamazepine treatment group ＞oxcarbazepine treatment group ＞aniracetam treatment group ＞epilepsy group ＞donepezi treatment group; significant differences were noted between each two groups (F=91.920,P=0.000).Immunohistochemical and RT-PCR results:donepezi treatment rgroup ＞aniracetam treatment group ＞epileptic group ＞oxcarbazepine treatment group ＞carbamazepine treatment group＞ control group; there were differences between each 2 groups (Immunohistochemical result:F=324.510,P=0.000; RT-PCR result:F=81.160,P=0.000).Conclusion NCAM1 expression in the hippocampus rises within 30 days of epileptic attack,who participates in the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction; carbamazepine can aggravate the cognitive dysfunction and donepezil can obviously improve the cognitive function of epilepsy.

OBJECTIVETo assess agreement between the ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (USCOM) and conventional echocardiography (ECHO) in the measurement of cardiac output in newborn infants, investigate the accuracy and clinical utility of the USCOM in healthy neonates. To explore a more convenient, faster, more accurate hemodynamic monitoring method, for improving the outcome of the critically ill neonates.

METHODFrom October 1(st), 2011 to March 31(st), 2012, a total of 49 infants were included, 20 were term infants, 29 were preterm infants. Cardiac outputs were measured by both ultrasonic cardiac output monitor and echocardiography in all the infants, 60 times measurements were done in both the term infants the preterm infants. The cardiac output of the left and right ventricles, heart rate, diameter and velocity time integral of the aortic valve and pulmonary artery valve of each infant were recorded. The consistency of two methods was analyzed as described by Bland-Altman.

RESULTTerm the term infant group includea 20 term infants, 11 were male and 9 were female, the mean gestational age were (38.1 ± 0.56) weeks, mean age were (2 ± 1) days, mean weight were (3.2 ± 0.29) kg, mean Apgar score were 10. The mean left ventricular output measured by Echo was (242.3 ± 38.9) ml/(kg·min), measured by USCOM was (211.7 ± 38.5) ml/(kg·min); The mean right ventricular output measured by ECHO was (318.9 ± 47.0) ml/(kg·min), measured by USCOM was (340.7 ± 76) ml/(kg·min). Agreement between Echo and USCOM for left ventricular output (LVO) was (bias, ± limits of agreement, mean % error): (30.6 ± 51.1) ml/(kg·min), 21%, and for right ventricular output (RVO): (-21.8 ± 105) ml/(kg·min), 33.2%. The diameter of the aortic valve and pulmonary artery valve measured by conventional echocardiography were significantly larger than that estimated by ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (P < 0.001). The velocity time integral of the pulmonary artery valve measured by ultrasonic cardiac output monitor were significantly larger than measured by conventional echocardiography (P < 0.001). The heart rate, velocity time integral of the aortic valve measured by two methods had no significant differences (P > 0.05). The preterm neonates group included 29 preterm infants, 18 were male and 11 were female, the mean gestational age were (32.6 ± 2.8) weeks, mean age were (2 ± 1) days, mean weight were (1.88 ± 0.57) kg. All the infants were diagnosis as preterm infant, low birth weight. The mean left ventricular output measured by ECHO was (259.8 ± 70) ml/(kg·min), measured by USCOM was (235.6 ± 61.8) ml/(kg·min), the mean right ventricular output measured by ECHO was (318.9 ± 47.0) ml/(kg·min), measured by USCOM was (340.7 ± 76) ml/(kg·min). Agreement between Echo and USCOM for left ventricular output (LVO) was (bias, ± limits of agreement, mean % error): (24.1 ± 71.2) ml/(kg·min), 27.4%, and for right ventricular output (RVO): (-29.5 ± 192.9) ml/(kg·min), 51.8%. The diameter of the aortic valve and pulmonary artery valve measured by conventional echocardiography were significantly larger than estimated by ultrasonic cardiac output monitor (P < 0.001). The velocity time integral of the pulmonary artery valve measured by USCOM were significantly larger than that measured by conventional echocardiography (P < 0.001). The heart rate, velocity time integral of the aortic valve measured by two methods had no significant differences (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAgreement between USCOM and conventional ECHO in the LVO measurement is acceptable, both in the term group and the preterm group. LVO measurement measured by USCOM is recommended. The accuracy and clinical utility of the USCOM in neonates is acceptable. USCOM is a convenient, fast and accurate hemodynamic monitoring method in neonates. While the agreement between USCOM and conventional ECHO in the RVO measurement is poor, especially in the preterm group, the results of the RVO cannot be considered interchangeable in the two methods.

Cardiac Output ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; instrumentation ; methods ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Male ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ventricular Function ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of flexible bronchoscopy in congenital great vessel diseases complicated with airway compression.

METHODThe medical records of patients with great vessels abnormalities who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) from October 2005 to June 2009 were retrospectively reviewed; 34 cases were diagnosed as airway compression by flexible bronchoscopy, 10 cases as vascular ring, 24 cases as aortal arch obstruction. The age of the patients was 6 d - 11 m, body weight 2.2 - 8.7 kg [(4.6 +/- 1.4) kg]. Recorded airway abnormalities detected by bronchoscopy and CT, cardiac vascular defects and airway compression were consistent with the findings on operation. The relation between the airway compression and cardiac vascular abnormalities, treatment of the airway compression and outcome were analysed.

RESULTBronchoscopic assessment was successfully performed in NICU or operating room for all the patients. (1) Initial presentation of the 34 cases were tachypnea, stridor, refractory lung infection and prolonged mechanical ventilation. (2) Extrinsic compression was found in all the 10 cases with vascular ring by bronchoscopy initially which indicated vascular ring, airway compression was mainly of lower part of trachea. Diagnosis of 9 cases was consistent with CT diagnosis and in 1 case the diagnosis was confirmed by surgery; among these cases, 7 had congenital tracheal stenosis. (3) In the 24 cases with aortic obstructive lesion, 5 were detected to have tracheal stenosis by CT before correction of vascular abnormality, among whom one case was indicated to have tracheal stenosis by bronchoscopy, the other 19 cases were found with airway compression by bronchoscopy during or after vascular correction. Among the 24 cases, 21 had left main bronchial stenosis, 2 had congenital tracheal stenosis. Airway compression diagnosed by bronchoscopy agreed with the findings of CT. Two cases developed transient decrease of oxygen saturation, 5 cases developed transient tachycardia.

CONCLUSIONFlexible bronchoscopy plays an important role in assessment of the airway compression complicated with great vessel abnormalities. Bronchoscopy is an accurate, convenient, safe and rapid way for airway assessment, but further examination of the peripheral structure and vascular malformation need combined examination with CT.

Airway Obstruction ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Bronchoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Malformations ; complications ; diagnosis