Objective To study the expression and clinical significance of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(sVCAM-1)in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP).Methods The levels of plasma VEGF and sVCAM-1 were measured in 58 children with HSP and 23 normal children by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),respectively.Results The plasma levels of VEGF and sVCAM-1 of HSP children at acute stage were significantely higher than those of HSP children at the remission stage and those of the controls(Pa

OBJECTIVETo understand the distribution of marriage status among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the city of Changzhou, and to explore the impact of marriage on AIDS related high risk behaviors and HIV infection in this population.

METHODSTarget sampling (snowball sampling) was adopted to carry out a cross-sectional study, and structured questionnaire-based interviews were conducted to collect information on social demography, HIV related high risk behaviors. Blood and urine samples were collected to detect HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis infections.

RESULTSOf the 655 participants, 37.4% were married. Married MSM mostly sought their sexual partners at the public bathing house (61.6%), while unmarried MSM were mainly through bars (33.6%) or internet (31.1%). The proportion of having anal sex with men during the last 6 months was lower in the married group (50.8%) than in the unmarried group (73.3%), (P < 0.001) The percentage of having sex with women in the last 6 months was significantly higher in the married group (68.9%) than that in the unmarried group (33.2%) (P < 0.001), (OR = 4.454, 95%CI: 3.168 - 6.261). The rates of condom use in the last anal sex with men in married and unmarried groups were 71.0% and 77.6%, respectively (P = 0.152). The rate of condom use in the last intercourse with women was significantly lower in the married group (44.0%) than that in the unmarried group (70.4%) (P < 0.001), (OR = 0.331, 95%CI: 0.205 - 0.535). In the sex trade, most of the married MSM would "buy" sex (66.7%), while unmarried MSM would "sell" sex (63.2%) (P < 0.05), (OR = 3.429, 95%CI: 1.255 - 9.366). The percentage of having drugs in the previous year was higher in married group (3.3%) than that in the unmarried group (0.8%) (P < 0.05). In married and unmarried groups, the infection rates of HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis appeared to be (8.6%, 8.6%), (17.1%, 12.3%), (1.6%, 2.4%), and (3.3%, 9.0%), respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMarriage seemed to have had limited effects on reducing the high risk behaviors of MSM. Different and multiform interventions should be developed according to the different characteristics of married or unmarried MSM population.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Male ; Marital Status ; Middle Aged ; Risk-Taking ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Unsafe Sex ; Young Adult

Aim To explore the mechanism of the protective effect of curcumin on advanced glycation end products (AGEs)-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction whether by elevating peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) or not.Methods The ratio of apoptotic cells was assayed by TUNEL;the mitochondrial membrane potential(△Ψm) was evaluated by Rhodamine-123 fluorescence.The ATP content was assayed by related kits.The activity of caspase-3 was detected by spectrophotometry.The expression of cytochrome C,Bax,and Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot.The PPARγ expression was determined by Western blot and real-time PCR;in addition,its activity was assayed by DNA-binding method.Results AGEs could induce chondrocyte apoptosis and up-regulate the levels of cytochrome C and caspase-3.Simultaneously,AGEs decreased the levels of △ Ψm and ATP production.Mitochondrial permeability conversion pore inhibitor cyclosporine A could significantly protect the cells from apoptosis.In addition,both PPARγ specific agonist pioglitazone and curcumin significantly inhibited AGEs-induced chondrocytes apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction.However,pretreatment with PPARγ specific inhibitor GW9662 (10 μ mol · L-1) could significantly antagonize the protective effect of curcumin on mitochondrial damage induced by AGEs.Curcumin could also significantly increase PPARγtranscriptional activity induced by AGEs,together with a significant induction of PPARγprotein and mRNA expression.Conclusion Curcumin could effectively protect AGEs-induced chondrocyte mitochondrial dysfunction by upregulating PPARγ,thus protecting chondrocytes from apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the value of directional preponderance (DP) in vestibular dynamic compensation evaluation.

METHODSOne hundred fifty-five patients with sudden deafness accompanied vertigo were asked to accept routine vestibular tests including the spontaneous nystagmus (SN) and caloric test with video-nystagmography. DP, SN and unilateral weakness (UW) were selected as the observation parameters. Then the correlation analysis between DP, SN, UW and course of disease were investigated respectively. The change characteristic of the three parameters was also analyzed in the course of vestibular compensation.

RESULTSOf the 155 patients, there were negative correlations between SN, DP and course of disease (r(s) = -0.386, r(s) = -0.424, P < 0.05), positive correlation between SN and DP (r(s) = 0.543, P < 0.05), but no correlation between UW and course of disease (r(s) = 0.004, P > 0.05), and also positive correlation (r(s) = 0.274, P < 0.05) between DP and UW. According to three parameters were positive or negative, three main groups (DP+UW+SN+, DP+UW+SN- and DP-UW+SN-) in DP, UW, SN. The course of disease in three main groups was positively skewed distribution. Median was 6 days, 10 days and 20 days respectively. Through Kruskal-Wallis Test, chi(2) = 24.63, P < 0.05, there was statistical significance among the above three main groups.

CONCLUSIONSDP keeps on changing in the acute stage, static and dynamic compensation stage of peripheral vestibular disease. This indicates that DP can be considered as an objective evaluation index of vestibular dynamic compensation and as a guidance of the vestibular rehabilitation evaluation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Caloric Tests ; Electronystagmography ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Vertigo ; complications ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of detecting cyclin D1 mRNA in paraffin-embedded tissues by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and competitive RT-PCR and its diagnostic and differential diagnostic significance for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

METHODSParaffin-embedded samples of 36 cases of MCL, 71 cases of other small B-cell lymphomas and 20 cases of lymphoid reactive hyperplasia as control group were retrieved from archival materials. Cyclin D1 protein and its mRNA was detected by EnVision and RT-PCR and competitive RT-PCR in all samples. House-keeping gene PGK was choosen as internal control.

RESULTS(1) Cyclin D1 protein was expressed in 27 of the 38 MCL (71.1%). No cyclin D1 expression was found in the control group. (2) PGK was detected in 103 of the 116 cases (88.8%) and also detected in 34 of 36 MCL cases (94.7%). (3) cyclin D1 mRNA was detected in 34 nodal mantle cell lymphoma cases by RT-PCR in paraffin-embedded tissues. The positive rate of cyclin D1 mRNA was 94.4% in mantle cell lymphomas after exclusion of the 2 cases which were negative for both cyclin D1 mRNA and PGK. cyclin D1 mRNA was not detected in other nodal small B-cell lymphomas or lymphoid reactive hyperplasia, except 1 case of B-SLL. Sequencing analysis showed that sequences were identical to cyclin D1. (4) Cyclin D1 mRNA overexpression was detected in 27 cases of nodal mantle cell lymphoma by competitive RT-PCR in paraffin-embedded tissues. The positive rate of cyclin D1 mRNA overexpression was 75.0% in mantle cell lymphomas after exclusion of 2 cases which were negative for both cyclin D1 mRNA and PGK. cyclin D1 mRNA overexpression was not detected in other nodal small B-cell lymphomas or lymphoid reactive hyperplasia.

CONCLUSIONRT-PCR and competitive RT-PCR detection of cyclin D1 mRNA overexpression could be used for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma in paraffin-embedded blocks.

Cyclin D1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Paraffin Embedding ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

Objective To assess the risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii(CRAB)bloodstream infection(BSI)and 28-day short-term mortality in elderly patients,and provide reference for the pre-vention and treatment of CRAB BSI.Methods Clinical data of patients aged ≥60 years and diagnosed with AB BSI in a hospital in Yulin City from January 2013 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed,including demogra-phic and microbiological characteristics,as well as clinical outcomes of the patients.Variables which were significant in univariate analysis were selected for multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression model and Cox propor-tional hazards model.Independent risk factors for infection were further determined,and survival analysis was per-formed using Kaplan-Meier curve.Results A total of 150 patients were included in the study,out of which 16 pa-tients(10.7％)had CRAB BSI and 134 had carbapenem-sensitive AB(CSAB)BSI.The 28-day short-term mortali-ty of AB BSI in elderly patients was 15.3％(23/150,95％CI:9.6％-21.1％),and the short-term mortality of CRAB BSI was higher than that of CSAB([56.3％,9/16]vs[10.4％,14/134]).Deep venous catheterization(OR:15.598,95％CI:1.831-132.910)and combined infections of other sites(OR:15.449,95％CI:1.497-159.489)were related to CRAB BSI in elderly patients.The independent risk factors for 28-day mortality in elderly patients with AB BSI were hemodialysis(OR:11.856,95％CI:2.924-48.076),intensive care unit admission(OR:9.387,95％CI:1.941-45.385),and pulmonary infection being suspected source of bacteremia(OR:7.019,95％CI:1.345-36.635).Conclusion The occurrence of CRAB BSI in elderly patients is related to the combined infection of other sites and deep vein catheterization.Hemodialysis,admission to ICU,and pulmonary infection being suspected source of bacteremia are independent risk factors for the prognosis of AB BSI in elderly patients.

OBJECTIVESTo determine the germ-line mutations of hMSH2 and hMLH1 genes in Chinese hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) families' probands or in patients fulfilling different clinical criteria or guidelines; to clarify the nature and distribution of the mutations; to evaluate the sensitivity of different clinical criteria in mutation prediction.

METHODSThe entire coding regions (35 exons including exon-intron boundaries) of hMSH2 and hMLH1 genes were directly sequenced in 24 Amsterdam criteria (AC) probands, 15 Japanese criteria (JC) probands (except AC kindreds) and 19 Bethesda guidelines (BG) patients (except two former groups). All available affected and unaffected members from families of those with mutations were screened for mutation.

RESULTSIn 16 unrelated families selected by the different clinical criteria, 17 germ-line mutations were found with 11 (64.7%) of hMLH1 and 6 (35.3%) of hMSH2. Two mutations were identified in one of the families. Among the 17 germ-line mutations, 12 had not been reported previously. A diversified mutation spectrum was found, but 6 hMLH1 mutations were found to be concentrated in the region encompassing exon 14, 15 and 16. There was a wide spectrum of mutation type including frame shift, nonsense, splice site mutation, in frame insertion or deletion and missense mutations. The mutation detection rate of hMSH2 and hMLH1 in the AC group was significantly higher than that in the JC group (12/24 vs. 3/15). On the other hand, a low mutation rate (1/19) was detected in 19 BG patients. The mutation cosegregated with disease. Besides, three different genotypes in tumors from probands of mutation-positive families were found.

CONCLUSIONShMSH2 and hMLH1 mutations in Chinese HNPCC families show a wide spectrum. It seems that hMLH1 gene is involved more frequently than hMSH2 gene in Chinese HNPCC families. Different clinical criteria predict mutations with different sensitivities. The Amsterdam Criteria are most sensitive, while Japanese Criteria are highly practical and the Bethesda Guidelines are also practical to some extent. Gene mutations cosegregate with the disease phenotype. Carriers with no symptom in HNPCC families are most vulnerable groups, follow-ups are required for this group to get early diagnosis and to prevent the development of CRCs.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; Carrier Proteins ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; genetics ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Nuclear Proteins ; Pedigree ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the surgical procedures and therapeutic effect of organ cluster transplantation in treating abdominal multiple organ malignant tumors.

METHODSTwo patients with abdominal multiple organ malignant tumors received organ cluster transplantation in May and August 2004. The excised specimen included liver, pancreas, duodenum, stomach, spleen, mesenteric and epigastric lymph nodes. The transplanted organs included liver, pancreas, duodenum. Superior mesenteric artery was involved in the malignancy in one case and was transected and anastomosed to right common iliac artery.

RESULTSThe patients waked up 4 and 5 hours post operation and began recovering 3 and 5 days after. Dynamic examinations showed that the functions of grafted liver, pancreas and duodenum obtained normal function in 10 days post the transplantation. One patient survived for 12 months postoperatively and died of recurrence of cancer; The other recovered uneventfully after transplantation, and discharged automatically 20 days after.

CONCLUSIONSAbdominal organ cluster transplantation is technically feasible and effective for patients with abdominal multiple organ malignant tumors.

Adult ; Duodenum ; transplantation ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas Transplantation ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of gene Af116609 on gastric cancer multi-drug resistance (MDR) by introducing it into gastric cancer multi-drug resistant (MDR) cell line SGC7901/VCR.

METHODSGene Af116609 was cloned from SGC7901/VCR by RT-PCR and its differential expression between gastric cancer MDR cells and its parental cells was displayed by Northern blot. The gene was introduced to gastric cancer cells by transfection of recombinant eukaryotic expression vector by electroporation. MTT assay in vitro was applied to investigate its effect on multi-drug resistance phenotype of gastric cancer cells.

RESULTSThe full length CDS of gene Af116609, as long as 327 bp, was cloned from gastric cancer MDR cell line SGC7901/VCR and its sequence was coincident with the hypothetical gene Af116609 in GenBank. It was overexpressed in MDR cells than its parental cells at mRNA level. In the MTT assay in vitro, the drug sensitive cells transfected with sense eukaryotic expression vector showed upregulated targeted gene, with increased resistance to vincristine, 5-fliorouracil and arabinoside, and decreased resistance to adriamycin, but no influence on resistance to methotrexate. However, the drug resistant cells transfected with anti-sense eukaryotic expression vector, showed down regulated targeted gene, with less resistance to all the five anticancer drugs to different degrees.

CONCLUSIONGene Af116609 is related to MDR phenotype of gastric cancer cells and may become a candidate molecular target to reverse the MDR of gastric cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Autoantigens ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Humans ; RNA, Small Cytoplasmic ; genetics ; Ribonucleoproteins ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; Vincristine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential expression of RPL6/Taxreb107 between drug-resistant gastric cancer cell line SGC7901/ADR and gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 as well as its correlation with multiple-drug resistance (MDR) in gastric cancer cells.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from SGC7901 and SGC77901/ADR, with internal control RT-PCR, Northern blot, gene cloning and expression, construction of eukaryotic expression vector, gene transfection by electroporation. The accumulation and retention of ADR in transiently transfected cell was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe internal control RT-PCR and Northern blot showed high RPL6/Taxreb107 expression in SGC7901/ADR cell line. Sense and antisense eukaryonic expression vectors demonstrated by double enzyme digestion were successfully transfected into gastric cancer cell line SGC7901 and SGC7901/ADR respectively by electroporation. The accumulation and retention of ADR detected 48 hours after transfection showed that RPL6 gene had shown effect on drug resistance in gastric cancer cell.

CONCLUSIONThe high expression of RPL6/Taxreb107 in drug resistant gastric cancer cell shows its correlation with multiple-drug resistance in gastric cancer.

DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; physiology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; physiology ; Humans ; Statistics as Topic ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured