Objective This study is undertaken to evaluate the changes of serum cytokine levels in different stages of collagen induced arthritis(CIA)rats,to search for the specific proteins related with rheuma- toid arthritis(RA)pathogenesis and inflammation,and to explore the mechanism of RA pathogenesis.Methods Rat cytokine antibody array coated with 19 specific cytokine antibodies was used to examine serum samples at peak and late stage of CIA rats,and were compared to normal cytokine levels.At the same time,ELISA assay for serum TNF-?production was used to verify the array results.Results Among the target cytokines,10 up- regulating cytokines were kept in high expression in different phases of disease,while 1 showed significant change only at the peak of disease.There was no downregnlating cytokines in the results.Serum TNF-?assay results were consistent to the array results.Conclusion Cytokines show different expression in CIA at differ- ent stages,and specific cytokines can be used as the candidates to further study of the RA pathogenesis.This study also provides molecular makers for early diagnosis.

Objective To develop paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles from poly (ε-caprolactone)-poly (ethylene glycol)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL-PEG-PCL),and to evaluate in vitro cytotoxicity as well as in vivo antitumor activity against EMT-6 tumor breast cell.Methods Paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles were prepared by thin-film hydration and ultrasonic method.The physical status of paclitaxel inside the polymeric micelles was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).In vitro cytotoxicity of paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles against EMT-6 cell line was assessed by MTT assay.In vivo anticancer activity was evaluated against EMT-6 tumorbearing mice,with commercially available Taxol injection as control.Results Paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles exhibited homogeneous spherical shapes with apparent core-shell morphology.The average diameter of paclitaxelloaded polymeric micelles was 93 nm.DSC study indicated that paclitaxel was in solid amorphous state after being encapsulated in the polymeric micelles.In vitro cytotoxicity demonstrated that the cytotoxic effect of paclitaxelloaded polymeric micelles was lower than that of Taxol injection at the same paclitaxel content.Paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles showed greater tumor growth-inhibition effect in vivo on EMT-6 breast tumor in comparison with that of Taxol injection,with tumor growth inhibition of 85.79％ and 63.37％,respectively (P＜0.05).Conculsions The prepared paclitaxel-loaded polymeric micelles showed high anti-tumoral efficacy and low toxicity,and might have the potential to be developed as an effective anticancer drug-delivery system for cancer chemotherapy.

Humans ; Intestines ; Stomach Neoplasms/complications*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps, as well as the management of donor site defects.

METHODS17 free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps were applied for the traumatic defects or deformities on face, neck, foot, hand, ankle and lower leg, respectively. The donor site defects were closed directly or covered by paraumbilical island flaps.

RESULTSThe 17 flap size ranged from 5 cm x 3 cm to 19 cm x 14 cm. 16 flaps survived completely except 1 flap with partial necrosis, which was closed by free skin graft. The donor site defects were closed directly in 10 cases, and covered by paraumbilical island flaps in 7 flaps without no flap necrosis. The abdomen had a good appearance.

CONCLUSIONSGood appearance can be achieved with free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps for the defects on face, neck, foot, hand, ankle and lower leg. Paraumbilical island flap can be used for the donor site defects.

Arteries ; Foot ; Free Tissue Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Transplant Donor Site ; surgery ; Wounds and Injuries ; surgery

Histocytochemistry ; methods ; Humans ; Pathology, Clinical ; methods ; Specimen Handling ; methods ; Staining and Labeling ; methods

Objective To investigate the clinical features of and GJB2 gene mutations in a Chinese Han patient with keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome (KID syndrome),in hope to offer evidence for the clinical and genetic diagnosis of KID syndrome.Methods Clinical data were collected from a patient with KID syndrome.DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of the patient and his two family members (mother and brother).PCR was performed to amplify the exon 2 and its flanking splicing sites of GJB2 gene followed by bidirectional direct DNA sequencing. Results The patient presented with the typical triad of vascularizing keratitis,ichthyosis and congenital deafness.A G148A mutation in the exon 2 of GJB2 gene,resulting in the substitution of aspartic acid by asparagine at position 50 of the junction protein connexin 26 (Cx26),was identified in the patient,but not in either of his family members.Conclusion The G148A mutation in GJB2 gene may be responsible for the clinical phenotype of KID syndrome in this Chinese patient.

The SRY gene from buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) genome was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) with primers based on the sequence of Hostein SRY gene. The amplified fragment was 2005 bp include 5UTR ( 1 - 504bp) and 3'UTR(1196 - 2005bp). And the amplified fragment was cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis showed that the coding region of SRY gene (505 - 1195bp) from buffalo was highly homologous with those of other bovine counterpart genes (96% homology) , especially in the HMG box region (99%homology). It was found that there were only signal on male buffalo genome on Southern blot,which indicate SRY gene are highly conservative on evolves.

To investigate the biological role of snake venom cystatin(sv-cystatin) in tumor progression, the cDNA of sv-cystatin amplified by PCR from pUC18-cystatin plasmid was cloned into methanol-inducible expression vector pPICZ?A. The linearized recombinant plasmid pPICZ?A-cystatin was transfered into Pichia pastoris, strain GS115 by electrophoration. Transfermants with phenotype Mut+ selected were identified by PCR analysis and induced in 1.0% methanol. The reombinant sv-cystatin protein was examined by SDS-PAGE, Western blot analysis. The molecular mass of expression product was about 14 kDa and approximately 16 mg/L of recombinant sv-cystatin was produced from one of GS115-cystatin transformants. The chromatography purified protein could reduce the activity of papain. The ability of B16F1 cells treated with recombinant sv-cystatin to invade the reconstituted basement membrane decreased significantly (P

Objective To evaluate the correlation between cerebral blood volume and permeability surface by using muhislice CT perfusion imaging with glioma grade.Methods Ninteen patients with gliomas underwent conventional MR and multislice CT perfusion imaging preoperatively.These patients were divided into low grade and high grade groups which were correspond to WHO Ⅱ grade gliomas and WHO Ⅲ or Ⅳ grade gliomas respectively.CT data were transferred to on-line working station and processed to obtain time-signal curves,color perfusion maps and calculated perfusion parameters,including cerebral blood volume(CBV),cerebral blood flow(CBF),mean transit time(MTT)and permeability surfaces (PS)in tumoral parenchyma.Kruskal-Wallis test and correlation of CBV and PS was assessed by using SPSS 11.0 software.Results The median of CBV and PS in low-grade and high-grade glioma were 2.7, 6.5 ml/100 g;0.389,12.810 ml?100 g~(-1)?min~(-1),respectively,corresponding t value were 12.907, 13.500 with P

Objective To explore the relationship between IL-1?-511C/T and IL-1?+3953C/T site polymorphisms and the susceptibility of pediatric epilepsy.Methods Under the case-control study,IL-1?-511C/T and IL-1?+3953C/T site polymorphisms in 117 patients with pediatric epilepsy and 95 healthy individuals controls(healthy control group) were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction restriction and fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP),the relationship between IL-1?-511C/T,IL-1?+3953 C/T site polymorphisms and the risk of pediatric epilepsy were analyzed.SAS 8.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results Multiple variate logistic regression analysis revealed that compared with healthy control group,there was no relationship between the IL-1?-511C/T site polymorphisms and the susceptibility of pediatric epilepsy individuals,carrying at least one +3953T variant allele(CT and TT genotypes) had a significantly increased risk for pediatric epilepsy(adjusted OR=2.46,95%CI 1.03-5.87),compared with the wild-type genotype(+3953CC).Furthermore,individuals with epilepsy or febrile seizures family history had a significantly higher risk(adjusted OR=4.12,95%CI 1.28-29.34),compared with those with both CC genotypes.Conclusions These findings support the hypothesis that IL-1?-511C/T site polymorphisms have no relationship with epilepsy,but the IL-1?+3953C/T polymorphism may contribute to the risk of developing pediatric epilepsy.