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

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 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.

on index of vestibular dynamic compensation and as a guidance of the vestibular rehabilitation evaluation.

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

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of liver transplantation for patients with cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODSAccording to the requirements of Cochrane systematic review, a thorough literature search was performed in Pubmed/Medline, Embase and Cochrane Central Register electronic databases ranged between 1995 and 2009 in terms of the key words "liver transplantation", and "cholangiocarcinoma" or "cholangiocellular carcinoma" or "bile duct cancer". And restricted the articles published in the English language. Two reviewers independently screened the studies for eligibility, evaluated the quality and extracted the data from the eligible studies with confirmation by cross-checking. Data were processed for a meta-analysis by Stata 10 software with 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates and incidence of complications.

RESULTSA total of 14 clinical trials containing 605 patients were finally enrolled in this study. The overall 1-, 3-, 5-year pooled survival rates were 73% (95%CI: 0.65 - 0.80), 42% (95%CI: 0.33 - 0.51) and 39% (95%CI: 0.28 - 0.51), respectively. Of note, preoperative adjuvant therapies (OLT-PAT group) rendered the transplanted individuals comparably favorable outcomes with 1-, 3-, 5-year pooled survival rates of 83% (95%CI: 0.57 - 0.98), 57% (95%CI: 0.18 - 0.92) and 65% (95%CI: 0.40 - 0.87), respectively. In addition, the overall pooled incidence of complications was 62% (95%CI: 0.44 - 0.78), among which that of OLT-PAT group (58%, 95%CI: 0.20 - 0.92) was relatively acceptable compared to those of liver transplantation alone (61%, 95%CI: 0.33 - 0.85) and liver transplantation with extended bile duct resection (78%, 95%CI: 0.55 - 0.94).

CONCLUSIONSIn comparison to curative resection of cholangiocarcinoma with the 5-year survival rate reported from 20% to 40%, the role of liver transplantation alone is so limited, but neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy combined with liver transplantation can bring better short- and long-term prognosis.

Bile Duct Neoplasms ; surgery ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; surgery ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; 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 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

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