OBJECTIVESTo explore serum cytokines levels (including IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IFN-upsilon) and their significance in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and the subsequent follow-ups, with attempt to estimate the role of various serum inflammatory markers in the diagnosis and assessment of ACS.

METHODSThe study population include 40 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 40 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), and 40 controls. Among the 80 patients, 60 patients attended a follow up 4 months later. Serum inflammatory markers including IL-1beta, slL-2R, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IFN-upsilon were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSSerum IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6, TNF-alpha were significantly higher in AMI group or UAP group compared to the control group and became significantly lower 4 months later in the follow-up patients. Serum levels of IFN-upsilon shows no significant difference between AMI group or UAP group and controls, also showing no significant change when measured in follow up patients. There was no correlation between serum creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme levels and serum inflammatory markers either in UAP or AMI group. Furthermore, when divided into two subgroups using Wagner's QRS scoring system in the AMI group, there is no difference of each serum inflammatory marker between < or = 6 scores group and > 6 scores group.

CONCLUSIONSerum levels of certain inflammatory markers may have some diagnostic value for ACS, and can be a useful marker reflecting disease stability.

Aged ; Angina, Unstable ; blood ; diagnosis ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; blood ; diagnosis ; Receptors, Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Glomus Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hemangiopericytoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Juxtaglomerular Apparatus ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Nephrectomy ; Wilms Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology

This study was aimed to investigate the regulatory effect of phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHI) on methylation of histone H3K4, H3K9 and demethylation of p15 gene in acute leukemia cell line Molt-4, and to explore the possible mechanism inducing re-expression of silent gene. The methylation status of histone H3K4, H3K9 and the expression of P15 protein in the Molt-4 cells treated with PHI were detected by Western blot; the methylation status of p15 gene in the Molt-4 cells before and after treatment with PHI was determined by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP); the expression level of p15 gene mRNA in Molt-4 cells treated with PHI was assayed by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The results indicated that the PHI could increase methylation of histone H3K4 and decrease methylation of histone H3K9 in concentration-and time-dependent manners. After treatment of Molt-4 cells with PHI for 5 days, the methylation of p15 gene was reduced, the significant hypermethylation of p15 gene was reversed, the silenced p15 gene re-expressed; the expressions of p15 mRNA and P15 protein were enhanced in concentration-dependent manner. It is concluded that probably through specifically regulating the methylation level of histone H3K4 and H3K9, the PHI causes the changes of chromosome space structure and results in the demethylation of CPG island in p15 gene, thereby induces the re-expression of p15 gene which was silenced.
Cell Line, Tumor ; CpG Islands ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; drug effects ; Gene Silencing ; Histones ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Isothiocyanates ; pharmacology

This study is to investigate the effect of phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHI), which has been proved to be a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) recently, on gene p15 de novo expression in acute leukemia cell line Molt-4, and to further study its potential mechanism. Modified methylation specific PCR (MSP) was used to screen p15-M and p15-U mRNA. DNA methyltransferasel (DNMT1), 3A (DNMT3A), 3B (DNMT3B) and p15 mRNA were measured by RT-PCR. P15 protein was detected by Western blotting. Hypermethylation of gene p15 was reversed and activation transcription of gene p15 in Molt-4 was de novo after 5 days exposure to PHI in a concentration dependent manner. DNMT1 and DNMT3B were inhibited by exposure to PHI for 5 days (P < 0.05). Alteration of DNMT3A was not significant. It is showed that PHI could reverse hypermethylation of gene p15 and transcriptional activation of gene p15 is de novo by PHI. It may result from down-regulating DNA methyltransferases, DNMT1 and DNMT3B, or up-regulating the histone acetylation that allows chromatin unfolding and the accessibility of regulators for transcriptional activation in the p15 promoter.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15 ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Isothiocyanates ; pharmacology ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To explore the feasibility of "immersion program" in French-taught surgical lessons,as to provide multiple educational methods and practical experiences for the application of bilingual education in clinical medicine.Methods Twenty-nine senior students of French-taught class were randomly divided into group A(n=15) and group B(n=14)."Immersion program" and "transitional bilingual education" were employed for group A and group B,respectively for the first half of teaching session,and "transitional bilingual education" and "immersion program" for the second half,respectively.The differences between the two bilingual education models were compared through quiz.Results In the prior 2 of the 4 quiz,the scores of French quiz and the total scores were much higher in "immersion program" group,and there were significant differences between the two groups(P0.05). Conclusion "Immersion program" helps to improve the ability of presentation,comprehension and application of French in the precondition of equal educational content,and it will be more beneficial when accessing the "immersion program" on the basis of "transitional bilingual education".

OBJECTIVETo evaluate retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial or total adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism.

METHODSFrom February 2000 to September 2003, 130 patients (76 women and 54 men) with a confirmed diagnosis of primary aldosteronism underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic operation. Of the 130 cases, there were 119 cases with Aldosterone-producing Adenoma and 11 cases with Idiopathic Adrenal Hyperplasia (unilateral of 2 cases). Eleven cases with Idiopathic Adrenal Hyperplasia underwent unilateral adrenalectomy. Of the 119 cases with Aldosterone-producing Adenoma, 61 cases underwent total adrenalectomy, and 58 cases underwent partial adrenalectomy. All cases were with preoperatively high plasma aldosterone, low plasma rennin and hypokalemia and arterial hypertension.

RESULTSOperations were successfully performed in all cases. The operative time ranged from 15 to 225 min (mean 52 +/- 40 min, Md = 43 min) and the operative bleeding ranged from 0 to 200 ml (mean 23 +/- 34 ml, Md = 20 ml, zero bleeding means that less than 5 ml) without blood transfusion. The hospital length of stay was ranged from 3 to 9 d (mean 5.1 +/- 1.3 d). No major complication occurred. Kalemia was normalized within one month and aldosterone/PRA ratio was decreased obviously in all cases. Postoperatively blood pressure was normalized within 2 month in 88 cases without using any drug.

CONCLUSIONIt is safe and practical to perform retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial on total adrenalectomy on the patients with primary aldosteronism.

Adrenalectomy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; surgery ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retroperitoneal Space ; surgery

In order to fabricate the HLA-DQA1 genotyping chip and develop an integrated, parallel technical platform to type HLA system, a pair of primers and a set of probes were designed according to the sequences of HLA-DQA1 exon 2, where the polymorphism is concentrated. The oligonucleotide chip was made with the methods developed in our laboratory. The target DNA was asymmetrically amplified with the labeled sense primer. The signals were scanned and analyzed after the hybridization between microarray and PCR product. The allele types of the samples were identified. The result was verified by the standard DNA and DNA sequencing. The results showed that the genotyping was successfully carried out in 50 standard DNA samples and 50 clinical samples. Among them, results of the 50 standard DNA samples matched their templates. In the other 50 samples, results of the randomly selected 10 matched their sequencing results except that two of them got the incompletely result. In reproducible tests, the signal reappear rate was 95%. It is concluded that HLA-DQA1 genotyping by using our array system is simple and convenient with satisfied accuracy and reproducibility.
Genotype ; HLA-DQ Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; HLA-DQ alpha-Chains ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Oligonucleotide Probes ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnostic value of CT/HRCT for the coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) with large opacities.

METHODSSixty-two patients with CWP were examined with both chest radiograph and CT/HRCT scan. Comparison was done.

RESULTSLarge opacities were found in 19 patients in the chest radiograph of 62 patients with CWP. The detection rate was 30.6%. Thirty large opacities were found using chest radiograph. Forty-three patients with large opacities were found using the CT/HRCT. The detection rate was 69.4%. One hundred and twenty-three large opacities were found using CT/HRCT. Ninety-three more large opacities were found by CT/HRCT than by chest radiograph. The total detection rate of large opacities by CT was 4.1 times than by chest radiograph. Both differences were statistically significant (chi2 = 18.58, P < 0.01). CT/HRCT found all patients with large opacities detected in the chest radiograph. Seventeen patients with Stage III large opacities (>or= 1.0 cm x 2.0 cm) were found by the chest radiograph. The detection rate was 27.4% (17/62). Twenty-seven large opacities were found using chest radiograph. Thirty-four patients with Stage III large opacities were found using the CT/HRCT. The detection rate was 54.8%. The found Stage III large opacities added up to 67. The found Stage III large opacities by CT/HRCT were 40 more than using chest radiograph. Both differences were statistically significant (chi2 = 9.63, P < 0.01). CT/HRCT was reliable to show the morphology, the inside structure, the tiny lesion and the special location of the large opacities of CWP. It could provide more important information for differential diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONCT/HRCT is significantly better than the chest radiograph in the diagnosis of complicated CWP. It can find the large opacities that the chest radiograph can not. It has a great diagnostic and practical value as an assistant examination method. CT/HRCT could be considered as the reference and evidence for staging progression in diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthracosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Coal Mining ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the HIV-1 drug resistance associated mutations and examine the susceptibility of HIV-1 with these mutations to antiretroviral in treatment-naive individuals in Liaoning province from 2004 to 2008.

METHODSRNA was extracted from 20 plasma samples of diagnosed untreated HIV-1-infected treatment-naive patients by drawing method. After the viral loading (VL) test, the protease and nucleoside reverse transcriptase coding regions were amplified by RT-PCR, nested PCR and sequence analysis directly. Levels of resistance and prevalence were evaluated according to the Stanford University HIV Drug Resistance Database's algorithm (http://hivdb.stanford.edu).

RESULTSAmong the 20 plasma samples, 13 got PCR products because of their VL values higher than 1000 copies/ml.Meanwhile, the 13 samples got 65 sequences by using 5 primers each. Polymorphisms in subtype H and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) CRF10_CD sequences were identified. An overall prevalence of 30.8% (4/13) resistance to NNRTIs, 7.7% (1/13) to PI and no NRTIs mutations were found. The most frequent substitutions (4/13) in the RT region at positions P225H, K238S, V179D, K238T and a major position I54S in PR implied to a multiple drug-resistance. A71V or L10V only, respectively, substitution in PR was found in 3 samples, but no any worse with drug sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONHIV-1 polymorphisms in subtype H and CRFs CRF10_CD sequences were identified circulating in Liaoning. A major mutation position I54S in PR implied that it would be the time to commence a higher level drug regimen.

Anti-HIV Agents ; pharmacology ; China ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; drug effects ; genetics ; Genotype ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; virology ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Mutation ; RNA, Viral ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and biologic behavior of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with rhabdoid features.

METHODSTen cases of RCC with rhabdoid features collected during the period from 1995 to 2005 were enrolled into the study. The clinical findings were analyzed and the hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were also performed.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 33 to 69 years (mean age = 52 years). Nine of the patients were males and 1 female. Five patients showed evidence of perinephric invasion. Two patients presented with regional lymph node metastases and 1 patient showed distant metastasis to the lung. Histologically, the rhabdoid foci were characterized by loosely cohesive trabeculae, acini, lobules and clusters of rhabdoid cells in otherwise clear cell RCC (9 cases) or papillary RCC (1 case). The rhabdoid cells were round to polygonal in shape and contained globular eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm, eccentric nuclei, vesicular chromatin pattern and prominent nucleoli. Coagulative tumor necrosis was commonly seen. Immunohistochemical study showed that the rhabdoid cells were diffusely positive for CD10 (10/10), cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (10/10), epithelial membrane antigen (10/10) and vimentin (10/10). Focal staining for neuron-specific enolase and S-100 protein was also noted. They were negative for CK7, CK20 and myogenic markers (including myogenin, smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin). The mean Ki-67 labeling index of the rhabdoid component was higher than that of the non-rhabdoid component (P < 0.05). Follow-up information was available in 8 patients. While 6 patients are still alive without recurrence, 2 patients died of the disease 6 and 29 months respectively after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSRCC with rhabdoid elements are mainly observed in clear cell RCC and need to be distinguished from oncocytic renal tumors and malignant rhabdoid tumor of kidney. The higher proliferative activity in the rhabdoid areas may indicate more aggressive biologic behavior.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nephrectomy ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism