Objective: To investigate the expression and significance of erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular A2 (EphA2), a receptor of tyrosine kinase in human gliomas and the correlation between EphA2 expression and tumor angiogenesis. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the EphA2 expression in 66 surgically resected human glioma tissues, 2 human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cell lines(U251 and U87) and 10 normal brain tissues. Next, we performed Western blotting to further investigate the expression of EphA2 in high-grade GBM and normal brain tissues. Microvessels in the glioma tissues were counted after immunostaining for CD34, and the c orrelation between EphA2 expression and microvessel counts (MVCs) in glioma tissues were assessed. Results: Our immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated variable levels of EphA2 expression in 63 of 66 cases examined (63/66, 95.5%). But EphA2 expression was not detected in all 10 normal brain samples and 3 cases of low-grade gliomas (I-II). There was statistical difference in EphA2 expression between human gliomas and normal brain samples (P < 0.01). The positive rate of EphA2 expression was significantly higher in high-grade gliomas (WHO III-IV) than in low-grade gliomas (WHO I-II) (P < 0.01). The specific EphA2 staining was observed in both glioma tissues and U251 cells. The expression level of EphA2 protein was significantly lower in U87 cells than that in U251 cells. It was not detected in normal brain tissues. Microvessel density (MVD) significantly correlated with expression level of EphA2 protein (P <0.01). The MVD was higher in EphA2-strong positive tumor areas. Conclusion: EphA2 is specifically over-expressed in high-grade gliomas, but is not detected in normal brain tissues. EphA2 may be a novel marker of malignant glioma. It can be used as a molecular target for therapeutic intervention against high-grade glioma. EphA2 is involved in angiogenesis and plays an important role in the initiation and progression of glioma.

Although current synthetic anti-gout drugs have significant therapeutic effects in reducing serum uric acid levels, they have serious side effects such as allergic reactions and liver and kidney damage. Natural products with a wide range of uric acid-lowering and high safety have played a critical role in anti-gout drug discovery and development. This paper reviews the natural products with uric acid-lowering or anti-gout pharmacological effects and the investigation on their mechanisms of action, to provide information for drug discovery and development.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Meningioma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Reoperation ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between occlusal plane and sagittal position of the mandible by examining dental and skeletal morphologies of average angle patients for better understanding of etiologies and definitive clinical guidelines of mandibular malpositions.

METHODSThe lateral cephalograms of 114 female average angle patients with neutral maxillary positions were selected and divided into three groups according to sagittal mandibular positions (ANB angle). Twenty-five skeletal and dental measurements were compared. The correlations between skeletal and dental measurements were analyzed by rectilinear correlation.

RESULTSCant of posterior occlusal plane (OP-P) and height of the upper second molar were significantly related to sagittal position of the mandible (P < 0.05). Height of the upper second molar was relatively inadequate and OP-P was sloped when the mandible was positioned posteriorly; conversely, height of the upper second molar was excessive and OP-P tended to be flat when the mandible was positioned anteriorly. Tooth axial inclinations were affected by sagittal position of the mandible. Maxillary teeth proclined distally and mandibular ones mesially for patients with retrognathia. On the other hand, maxillary teeth proclined mesially while mandibular ones distally for patients with prognathia.

CONCLUSIONThere was a definite relationship between cant of posterior occlusal plane and sagittal position of the mandible in average angle patients, consistent with the dental morphologies of different skeletal configurations. In treating malocclusions of sagittal discrepancy of mandible, the height of posterior teeth and cant of OP-P might be a primary concern.

Adolescent ; Cephalometry ; Dental Occlusion ; Female ; Humans ; Malocclusion ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Tooth ; Tooth Movement Techniques

In this paper, Gaussian pixelate Chinese character processing software is designed, and HMD is used to realize the recognition experiment for pixelate Chinese characters based on simulated prosthetic vision. The structure of recognition system, software design and the experiment for determining Gaussian width (sigma) are presented. It is shown that when sigma is 0.235, the recognition program is the best.
Equipment Design ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Language ; Prostheses and Implants ; Software Design ; Visual Perception

In this article, the implementation of eye movement tracking system includes three procedures: hardware acquisition, data extraction and overall analysis. The system is based on Camshift algorithm with an eye tracking module added, developed on VC++ 6.0. The system can track the eye movement effectively in simulated phosphene evaluation experiment based on prosthetic vision.
Algorithms ; Analysis of Variance ; Eye Movements ; physiology ; Prosthesis Design

OBJECTIVEA method for 3D-data acquisition of partially edentulous cast was introduced to lay the foundation for reconstructing 3D digital model of a partially edentulous cast and studying computer aided design (CAD) to a removable partial denture framework.

METHODSUsing projection system controlled by a computer, four frames of sinusoidal fringe pattern at pi/2 intervals were projected onto the surface of partially edentulous cast consecutively within 0.4 second. Deformed fringe patterns modulated by the surface height of the cast were recorded by a digital camera. The phase value with the height information was demodulated with phase-shifting method. The transition from the unwrapped phase to the height of the points on the cast was performed with triangulation method. The multiview 3D data was integrated automatically to obtain the complete 3D profile data and the 3D digital model of the partially edentulous cast was reconstructed.

RESULTSDense and complete points-cloud data was achieved without scanning blind zone basically. The anatomic structure of reconstructed 3D digital model was sharp and clear.

CONCLUSIONAs an alternative for acquiring 3D data of partially edentulous cast, this method presented here with high precision and high speed meets the need for the subsequent 3D design to removable partial denture framework.

Computer-Aided Design ; Denture, Partial, Removable

The urate transporter 1 (URAT1) which controls urate reabsorption is a membrane transporter in the apical membrane of human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells. It was found that about 90% of patients suffer from hyperuricemia due to insufficient uric acid excretion. Therefore, the development of URAT1 inhibitors that can reduce the level of serum uric acid in vivo by enhancing renal urate excretion has been a hot spot in seeking anti-gout drugs in recent years. In this article, the representative URAT1 inhibitors with uric acid-lowering or anti-gout effects are reviewed, and related medicinal chemical strategies are analyzed, hoping to provide valuable insights into the discovery of new URAT1 inhibitors.

The aim of this study was to observe the change in angiotensin II receptor subtype 1 (AT(1)) autoantibody during the development of renovascular hypertension (RVH). The Goldblatt renovascular hypertension model was established by the two-kidney one-clip method, and a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acid sequence 165-191 of the second extracellular loop of the AT(1)-receptor was used as the antigen. Sera AT(1)-receptor autoantibody was detected by SA-ELISA. It was shown that two weeks after operation both the frequency of occurrence and the titre of autoantibodies to AT(1)-receptor were significantly increased as compared with the pre-treatment control. The increase in autoantibodies lasted several weeks and then decreased gradually to the pre-clipping level at 12 weeks. It is suggested that autoimmune mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of renovascular hypertension and the AT(1) autoantibodies may be one of the mechanisms leading to cardiac hypertrophy.
Animals ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; blood ; immunology ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features, radiologic findings, treatment options and prognosis of dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumor (DNT).

METHODSThe clinicopathologic and radiologic features were retrospectively analyzed in 10 cases of DNT.

RESULTSIntractable partial seizure was the main presenting symptom in all patients. The tumor was located in temporal lobe (number = 5), frontal lobe (number = 3) or parietal lobe (number = 2). CT scan displayed a hypodense lesion. MRI scan revealed the tumor was non-enhancing T1WI hypointense and T2WI hyperintense, with internal septation and hyperintense ring around the tumor seen on FLAIR image. There was neither peritumoral edema nor mass effect. Histologically, the tumor showed the presence of glioneuronal element, with oligodendrocyte-like cells, floating neurons, astrocytes and associated microcystic changes. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated positivity for NeuN and synaptophysin in the neurons and some oligodendrocyte-like cells. Olig2 and S-100 protein were also expressed in the oligodendrocyte-like cells. Ki-67 index were lower than 1% in all cases. Nine cases were treated by complete surgical excision and the remaining case was subtotally excised. No post-operative chemotherapy or radiotherapy was given. One of the 10 cases recurred on follow up.

CONCLUSIONSCorrect diagnosis of DNT requires correlation with clinicopathologic, radiologic and immunohistochemical findings. Complete resection of the tumor and epileptogenic foci is the mainstay of treatment for DNT, with intraoperative EEG monitoring. Post-operative chemotherapy or radiotherapy is not required.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, Nuclear ; metabolism ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2 ; Retrospective Studies ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult