Objective To study the genes modulated during plasma cell development and their regulating network. Methods The changes of gene expression during differentiation from mature B cells to plasma cells were studied using cDNA microarray and RT PCR. Results The gene expression profile during plasma cell differentiation was established. During mature B cell plasma cell differentiation, numerous genes were modulated, including genes involving immunity, cell growth, survival, and signal transduction. The expressions of several molecules in the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) signaling pathways, such as Ig?, Ig?, Lyn, Syk, BLNK, SWAP 70, and SHP 1 were down regulated. The decreased expression of some of these molecules might be associated with the down regulation of the transcription factor BSAP. Conclusion During plasma cell differentiation, molecules involving BCR signaling pathways are down regulated.

It has been demonstrated that certain members of cyclophilins (CyP) family are related to tomurigenesis, which might result from the role for Cyp in cell proliferation. Most members of Cyp family express specifically in tumor tissue in contrast to in normaltissue and cancer-brink tissue. It is possible that a novel approach to cancer therapy and diagnosis would be appeared through exploring the relationship between Cyp and tumor.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; CD3 Complex ; metabolism ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use

All previous literatures about Chinese herbal medicines show distinctive traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) flavors. Compendium of Materia Medica is an influential book in TCM history. The TCM flavor theory and flavor standardization principle in this book has important significance for modern TCM flavor standardization. Compendium of Materia Medica pays attention to the flavor theory, explain the relations between the flavor of medicine and its therapeutic effects by means of Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming Dynasties. However,the book has not reflected and further developed the systemic theory, which originated in the Jin and Yuan dynasty. In Compendium of Materia Medica , flavor are standardized just by tasting medicines, instead of deducing flavors. Therefore, medicine tasting should be adopted as the major method to standardize the flavor of medicine.
Materia Medica ; standards ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Reference Standards ; Taste

China ; Health Status ; Humans ; Occupational Health ; Shoes

With the keywords of "acupuncture" "acupuncture and moxibustion" "perimenopausal syndrome" "rules of acupoint selection", the clinical literature in recent 10 years regarding perimenopausal syndrome treated with acupuncture and moxibustion was searched from China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI). One hundred and ninety-seven relevant articles were acquired,and after excluding, total 67 articles were in accord with research criterion. With method of artificial count, acupoints selected in the inclusive articles were counted. Frequencies of main acupoints, matching acupoints,meridial distributions and locations of the acupoints selected were calculated,and then rules on main acupoints, matching acupoints, meridial distributions and acupoints locations were analyzed. The result indicates that the acupoints with higher selection frequency on perimenopausal syndrome treated with acupuncture and moxibustion are Sanyinjiao(SP 6), Baihui(GV 20),Taichong(LR 3) Shenshu(BL 23), Guanyuan(CV 4), Shenmen(HT 7),Taixi(KI 3), Zusanli(ST 36), Pishu(BL 20) and Ganshu(BL 18), and the meridians are mainly concentrated on governor vessel, bladder meridian, kidney meridian,stomach meridian, conception vessel and spleen meridian,and the distribution of acupoints are mostly concentrated on the 4 limbs and the back and waist.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Perimenopause ; physiology ; Publications

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking has been recognized as one of the high risk factors in carcinogenesis of lung cancer. Early diagnosis of lung cancer may be of clinical therapy value.OBJECTIVE: To explore the mutation of K-ras oncogene in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) in order to reveal its relationship with cigarette smoking in lung cancer patients.DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial based on the patients.SETTING: Department of Toxicology, College of Radiology and Public Health of a university, and Department of Respiratory Medicine of a university hospital.PARTICIPANTS: The out-patients and inpatients in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University between June 1999 and September 2001 were included. The patients were confirmed to have lung cancer or innocuous diseases by fiber bronchoscopy through bronchoalveolar lavage(BAL) and cytological or pathological examination.METHODS: BALF samples were obtained from 37 smoking patients with lung cancer and 25 nonsmoking patients with lung cancer, and 20 with benign pulmonary diseases in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. They were detected for K-ras codon 12 mutations using polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Codon 12 mutations of K-ras gene.RESULTS: K-ras mutation in patients with lung cancer was found to have an average frequency of 36% (22/62)but no K-ras gene mutation was detected in patients with benign pulmonary diseases. The mutation frequency in heavy smokers(69% ) was higher than that in moderate smokers(31%), mild smokers (25%) and nonsmokers (20%). The mutation was related to age and history of smoking, but not to sex and TNM classification.CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking may be correlated with the mutation of K-ras gene. Early detection of K-ras mutation in BALF may be of clinical value, which helps the identification and diagnosis of smoking-related lung cancer.

Numbering quantities of medical equipment is studied based on Queueing Theory, which can provide a useful and applicable tool for study on medical equipment numbering.

Objective To investigate the correlation of spiral CT(SCT)features with pathology, microvessel density(MVD)、expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)、matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2)in colorectal carcinoma.Methods Forty patients with colorectal carcinoma confirmed by operation were examined by SCT.The resected tumor specimens were immunohistochemically stained for the expression of VEGF,MMP-2 and the calculation of MVD.Results The accuracy of SCT in depicting the pericolic and wall infiltration was 92.5%.The metastasis rates of colorectal cancer with pericolic infiltration and wall infiltration were 75.0% and 33.3%,respectively,the differences were statistically significant between the two groups(P

Purpose To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of giant cell angioblastoma ( GCAB) presenting primarily in the bone. The differential diagnosis is discussed. Methods The clinical, radiological and histopathological profiles in three cases of bony GCAB were reviewed. Results The tumor occurred in two adult females and one boy. The lesion involved the second vertebrae, left distal femur and 3rd to 5th left metacarpal bones in one case each. Clinically, all three patients presented with bone pain. Two patients were accompanied with restricted mobility. Radiological examination showed bone destruction with involvement of adjacent soft tissue in two cases. Histologically, the tumor was composed of irregular angiomatoid nodules which showed striking plexiform architecture. On high power, the nodules were composed of small vessels surrounded by proliferative oval-to-spindled pericytes which showed concentric aggregation around the vascular channels. The hallmark of the lesion was the presence of multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells scat-tered within the nodules. By immunohistochemistry, the endothelial cells were positive for CD31 and CD34, whereas the surrounding pericytes were positive for alpha smooth muscle actin and vimentin. CD68 staining highlighted the osteoclast-like giant cells. Conclu-sions GCAB is a distinctive vascular tumor of intermediate malignancy characterize by local aggressiveness. On rare occasions, GCAB may occur in adult patients and manifest as primary bone lesions. Awareness of its characteristic features will help in the distinction from a variety of disease including granulomatous lesions, plexiform fibrous histiocytoma, tufted hemangioma and Kaposiform heman-gioendothelioma.