The rol genes on pRiA4 plasmid of Agrobacterium rhizogenes are potent genes that promote secondary metabolism. Molecular breeding of Atropa belladonna can be conducted by introducing rol genes to increase tropane alkaloids (TAs) content in A. belladonna. In this study, the rolB gene was overexpressed in A. belladonna plants to study the effect of rolB gene on the biosynthesis of TAs. The phenotype, TAs content and expression levels of key enzyme genes in the pathway of TAs biosynthesis of transgenic A. belladonna were analyzed. The results showed that transgenic A. belladonna had developed root system, enlarged leaves, increased leaf fresh weight, deepened leaf color, enlarged flowers, changed flower shape, reduced pistil height and decreased pollen vitality. The content of TAs in the stems of transgenic A. belladonna was significantly higher than that of the control, and the contents of scopolamine, anisodamine, hyoscyamine can reach 2.11-2.91, 1.23-2.37 and 4.88-5.20 times of the control, respectively. Compared with the control group, the expressions of key enzymes putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT), type III polyketide synthase (PYKS), tropinone reductase I (TRI), aromatic amino acid aminotransferase 4 (ArAT4), UDP-glycosyltransferase 1 (UGT1) and hyoscyamine 6-β-hydroxylase (H6H) in the TAs biosynthesis pathway were up-regulated, and the expression of tropinone reductase II (TRII) as a metabolic shunting gene was down-regulated. The results indicated that rolB gene enhanced TAs synthesis ability in roots and accumulation in stems of A. belladonna by enhancing metabolic flow of TAs synthesis pathway and weakening the metabolic shunt of competing pathway. This study laid a foundation for molecular breeding of A. belladonna with high-yield TAs content using rolB gene.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) associated lung involvement, concentrating on clinical characteristics, pathological findings of lung involvements, response to treatment, and prognosis.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the characters of the clinical manifestations, thin-section CT and pathological findings of CSS. The study involved 16 patients. Clinical data were obtained by chart review. All patients underwent transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB). Six of them underwent surgical lung biopsy as well.

RESULTSThe patients included 7 men and 9 women, aged from 14 to 61 years (median, 47.5 years). Extrathoracic organs involved included nervous system (7/16) and skin (5/16). Respiratory symptoms included cough (12/16), exertional dyspnea (11/16), hemoptysis (4/16), and chest pain (3/16). CT findings included bilateral ground-glass opacities (12/16), bilateral patchy opacities (12/16), and centrilobular nodules (6/16). The pathological findings of TBLB demonstrated increased eosinophils (3/16), vasculitis (3/16), and interstitial pneumonia (16/16). The pathological findings of surgical lung biopsy of 6 cases showed necrotizing vasculitis in 4 cases, capillaries in 5, eosinophilic pneumonia in 3, granulomas in 2, and airway abnormalities in 3. All patients improved in symptoms after therapy during the study period (range, 3 to 51 months; median, 15 months).

CONCLUSIONSAsthma may be present in CSS patient when there is bronchial involvement. Ground-glass opacities and consolidation seen on high-resolution CT reflect the presence of eosinophilic pneumonia, vasculitis, and pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage. TBLB has significant limitations for the diagnosis of CSS. Early diagnosis and therapy can result in satisfactory prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; Biopsy ; Churg-Strauss Syndrome ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cyclophosphamide ; Female ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) is an extremely rare condition even in the most populous nations. However, diagnostic tools are inadequate for the young surgeon to be made aware of such a rare condition before surgery. Hence, basic understanding of the epidemiology, etiology, and management for this unusual but discoverable condition are necessary and essential. METHODS: The exclusive case reports of CDF, which were published from 1983 to 2014 concerning mainland Chinese people, were performed to review the epidemiology, etiology, and management. RESULTS: A total of 728 cases were incorporated into this review among 48 papers. More than half of the CDF cases were female (416) with an average age of 57.3 years. CDF was usually caused by cholelithiasis (573 of 728). Epigastric pain (589 of 728) and cholangitis (395 of 728) were the most common symptoms of CDF. CDF was usually detected and confirmed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) (475 of 728) in Mainland China. The fistulas larger than 1 cm (82 of 654) were recommended for surgical biliary reconstruction. Fistulas between 0.5 cm and 1.0 cm (467 of 654) which were followed frequently by cholangitis attacks also required surgery; the rest were recommended to have stone removal and/or the application of an effective biliary drainage. Fistulas less than 0.5 cm (105 of 654) were usually received conservative therapy. CONCLUSION: CDF should be considered in differential diagnosis of recurrent epigastric pain and cholangitis. A possible ERCP should be arranged to investigate carefully. Depending on the size of fistula and clinical presentation, different programs for CDF are indicated, ranging from drug therapy to choledochojejunostomy.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biliary Fistula ; China* ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Cholangitis ; Choledochostomy ; Cholelithiasis ; Diagnosis* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Management ; Drainage ; Drug Therapy ; Epidemiology* ; Female ; Fistula* ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility, reliability and therapeutic effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

METHODSThe clinical data of adjuvant chemotherapy after OLT in 10 advanced HCC patients were studied retrospectively. FAP chemotherapy regimen was adopted calcium folinate (CF) 200 mg/m(2) and 5-Fluorouracil 500 mg/m(2) iv on D1 to D5, and doxorubicin 40 mg/m(2), cisplatin 30 mg/m(2) iv on D1, with 28 days as a cycle. The opportune time of chemotherapy, chemotherapy regimen, synergistic action between cytotoxic agent and immunosuppressive agent on liver and kidney and side-effects were preliminarily evaluated.

RESULTS7/10 patients are surviving, with the longest survival of 32 months, and the shortest 9 months. Three patients died after operation, two at 13 months, one at 20 months after OLT, all died of metastasis. The incidence of one year survival was 9/9. During the period of chemotherapy, the side-effects of adjuvant chemotherapy were moderate.

CONCLUSIONChemotherapy which is able to prolong the life-span of patients with advanced HCC after orthotopic liver transplantation is feasible and effective, the side-effects were mild. The choice of opportune time of chemotherapy might influence the outcome.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; administration & dosage ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; therapy

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the expression of centromere protein H (CENP-H) in breast cancer and to correlate it with clinicopathologic data, including patient survival. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting to detect the expression of CENP-H in normal mammary epithelial cells, immortalized mammary epithelial cell lines, and breast cancer cell lines, we observed that the mRNA and protein levels of CENP-H were higher in breast cancer cell lines and in immortalized mammary epithelial cells than in normal mammary epithelial cells. We next examined CENP-H expression in 307 paraffin-embedded archived samples of clinicopathologically characterized breast cancer using immunohistochemistry, and detected high CENP-H expression in 134 (43.6%) samples. Statistical analysis showed that CENP-H expression was related with clinical stage (P = 0.001), T classification (P = 0.032), N classification (P = 0.018), and Ki-67 (P < 0.001). Patients with high CENP-H expression had short overall survival. Multivariate analysis showed that CENP-H expression was an independent prognostic indicator for patient survival. Our results suggest that CENP-H protein is a valuable marker of breast cancer progression and prognosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blotting, Western ; Breast ; cytology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival Rate ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ancient Chinese medical formula Xiayuxue Decoction ([symbols; see text], XYXD) on activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and defenestration of sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) in CCl4-induced fibrotic liver of mice.

METHODSHigh performance liquid chromatography was used to identify the main components of XYXD and control the quality of extraction. C57BL/6 mice were induced liver fibrosis by CCl4 exposure and administered with XYXD for 6 weeks simultaneously. Liver tissue was investigated by hematoxylin-eosin and Sirius-red staining. Sinusoidal fenestrations were observed by scanning electronic microscopy and fluorescent immunohistochemistry of PECAM-1 (CD31). Whole liver lysates were detected of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type-I collagen by Western blot. Primary rat HSCs-T6 cells were analyzed by detecting α-SMA, F-actin, DNA fragmentation through confocal microscopy, Western blot, terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and cellomics arrayscan, respectively.

RESULTSAmygdalin and emodin in XYXD were identified. XYXD (993 mg/kg) inhibited Sirius red positive area up to 70.1% (P<0.01), as well as protein levels of α-SMA and type-I collagen by 42.0% and 18.5% (P<0.05) respectively. In vitro, XYXD (12.5 &mu;g/mL, 50 &mu;g/mL) suppressed the activation of HSCs and reversed the myofibroblastic HSCs into quiescent, demonstrated as inhibition of fluorescent F-actin by 32.3% and 46.6% (P<0.05). Besides, XYXD induced the apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells by 20.0% (P<0.05) and 49.5% (P<0.01), evidenced by enhanced TUNEL positivity. Moreover, ultrastructural observation suggested XYXD inhibited defenestration of SECs, which was confirmed by 31.1% reduction of protein level of CD31 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSXYXD inhibited both HSCs activation and SECs defenestration which accompany chronic liver injuries. These data may help to understand the underlying mechanisms of XYXD for prevetion of chronic liver diseases.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelium ; drug effects ; pathology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Myofibroblasts ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Primary Cell Culture ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

BACKGROUNDMycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) and Beijing family typing based on detecting the deletion of RD105 sequence are two common genotyping methods used to study the molecular epidemiologic characteristics of Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis. We collected 218 strains of M. tuberculosis between 2004 and 2006 in the Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu province in Northwest China.

METHODSMIRU-VNTR analysis and Beijing family typing based on detecting the deletion of RD105 sequence were used to type the 218 strains, and their typing power was evaluated to look for practical and efficient genotyping methods suitable for the region.

RESULTSThe MIRU typing yielded 115 distinct genotypes, including 98 unique isolates and 17 different clusters containing 120 isolates (55.05%); the cluster rate was 47.25%. By detecting the deletion of RD105 sequence, 188 of 218 (86.23%) isolates belonged to Beijing family. Combination of Beijing family typing and MIRU typing yielded 118 distinct patterns, including 101 unique isolates and 17 clusters containing 117 isolates (54.13%). The largest cluster contained 58 strains with MIRU genotype of 223325173533 which contained 50 strains belonging to Beijing family and 8 strains belonging to non-Beijing family.

CONCLUSIONSThe Beijing family strains occupied a large proportion and the Beijing family MIRU genotype 223325173533 is a dominant strain in Linxia of Gansu. Combining detecting the deletion of RD105 and MIRU typing together provides a simple, fast, and effective method which is low in cost and might be practical and suitable for M. tuberculosis genotyping in China.

Alleles ; China ; epidemiology ; Genotype ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study thoracic high resolution CT findings of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients in convalescent period and the relationship between the features with laboratory and pulmonary function results.

METHODSAll the 100 SARS patients who had been discharged from hospital for about 2 months underwent thoracic high resolution CT examinations. Among them, 65 also had laboratory results and 91 underwent examinations of pulmonary function.

RESULTSForty-nine SARS patients (49.0%, 49/100) in convalescent period still had abnormal findings in CT examination. And ground-glass opacification (95.9%, 47/49) and reticular opacification (59.2%, 29/49) were common. There was no significant difference in the level of lymphocytes and CD4 cells among groups divided according to severity of CT findings (P > 0.01). Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco%) of level 2 and 3 were statistically lower than that of level 0 (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe features of CT findings of SARS patients in convalescent period are not the same as those of patients in period of apparent manifestation. The high resolution CT can reflect pulmonary diffusing function to some degree.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Convalescence ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo analyze possible difference in bronchial asthma between ethnic and geographic groups and explore its correlates among Uygur and Han adults in Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-six clinically diagnosed asthmatic patients at Turpan Prefecture Hospital, Xinjiang, 86 of Uygur and 80 of Han ethnic, and 166 1:1 matched controls from ophthalmological outpatient department at the same hospital were recruited into the study. Interview with questionnaire was conducted and serum levels of eosinophilic cation protein (S-ECP), total IgE (T-IgE) and specific IgE (S-IgE) were measured for all of the participants to study related factors for asthma with univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses.

RESULTSBronchial infection (OR(U) = 5.111, 95%CI: 1.203 - 21.710; OR(H) = 2.498, 95%CI: 1.471 - 5.069), family history of asthma (OR(U) = 3.078, 95%CI: 1.812 - 5.188; OR(H) = 2.711, 95%CI: 1.010 - 6.176), personal allergy history (OR(U) = 2.083, 95%CI: 1.043 - 4.162; OR(H) = 3.998, 95%CI: 1.739 - 9.198), weather change (OR(U) = 2.218, 95%CI: 1.199 - 3.778; OR(H) = 1.733, 95%CI: 1.004 - 2.994) and positive S-IgE (OR(U) = 1.592, 95%CI: 1.018 - 2.491; OR(H) = 3.858, 95%CI: 2.246 - 8.507) correlated with asthma in patients of both Uygur and Han ethnic. Percentage of asthma attack induced by respiratory infection [59.30% (51/86)] and weather change [36.05% (31/86)] in Uygur patients was significantly higher than that in Han ethnic [42.50% (34/80) and 21.25% (17/80), respectively], but percentage of those with personal allergy history [48.75% (39/80)] and positive S-IgE [52.50% (42/80)] in Han ethnic was significantly higher than that in Uygur [32.56% (28/86) and 30.23% (26/86), respectively]. Levels of S-ECP and T-IgE in patients with moderate and severe asthma of both Uygur and Han ethnic [(S-ECP(U) = 7.95 +/- 3.98) microg/L, S-ECP(H) = (11.21 +/- 4.74) microg/L, T- IgE(U) = (72.23 +/- 45.92) kU/L, T-IgE(H) = (108.81 +/- 64.07) kU/L, respectively]were significantly higher than those in controls of the same ethnic [S- ECP(U) = (1.94 +/- 1.16) microg/L, S-ECP(H) = (2.07 +/- 1.63) microg/L, T-IgE(U) = (46.19 +/- 32.47) kU/L, T-IgE(H) = (50.97 +/- 38.51) kU/L; t values were 8.96, 10.52, 2.81, 4.97, P < 0.01], higher in Han ethnic than those in Uygur (t values were 3.01, 2.68, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBronchial infection, family asthma history, personal allergy history, weather change and positive S-IgE all were important correlates of asthma in Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang. Levels of S-ECP and T-IgE in patients with moderate and severe asthma increased during its attacks, higher in Han ethnic than those in Uygur. Genetic and environmental factors may be involved in occurrence and development of asthma.

Adult ; Asthma ; blood ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Causality ; China ; epidemiology ; Climate ; Environmental Exposure ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Pedigree ; Surveys and Questionnaires