Adenocarcinoma ; blood supply ; metabolism ; mortality ; secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression pattern of caspase-3 and HCLS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1) at different time after cerebral contusion in rat, and explore the new method for estimating the injury interval. METHODS: The cerebral contusion model was established using adult SD male rats. Then the rats were randomly allocated into 8 groups: 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after cerebral contusion, sham-operation and normal control. Expression of caspase-3 and HAX-1 protein after cerebral contusion in rat was detected by Western blotting. Laser scanning confocal microscope was used to observe the number of HAX-1 positive cells and TUNEL-stained cells after cerebral contusion. RESULTS: The expression of caspase-3 increased parallelly with the time after cerebral contusion and reached the peak value on 3 d. The expression of caspase-3 decreased gradually and still maintained a high level expression on 7 d (P < 0.05). The expression of HAX-1 positive cell went up after injury, and reached the peak value at 6 h (P < 0.05), then turned down gradually after 12 h and went out of detection after 3 d. The number of TUNEL-stained cells increased obviously at 2 h and reached the peak value on 3 d. The number of TUNEL-stained apoptotic cells decreased gradually and still maintained a high level expression on 7 d (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The expression of caspase-3 and HAX-1 after cerebral contusion has time sequential regularity, which may provide new evidence for forensic diagnosis of cerebral contusion interval.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Cerebellum/pathology* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVEFamilial left ventricular noncompaction(LVNC) is quite rare. We screened for the presence of LVNC and related clinical characteristics in a 5-generation Chinese family.

METHODSComprehensive medical history was obtained from 40 members in a 5-generation Chinese family. Systemic clinical investigations including echocardiography (UCG), routine and ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG), X-rays were performed in 33 family members. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance image (MRI) was carried out in 2 family members.

RESULTSSudden cardiac death (including 1 occurred while following-up) was reported in 7 family members (17.5%, 7/40). LVNC was diagnosed in 10 out of the 33 family members (30.3%) and heart enlargement was evidenced in 3, heart failure in 2, complete left branch conductive block in 3, serious sick sinus syndrome (SSS) treated with permanent pacemaker implantation in 1 and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia treated with radiofrequency ablation procedure in 1 out of these 10 LVNC patients. Primary pedigree analysis revealed that offspring from female patients were at the highest risk to be affected by LVNC (15/18, 83.3%) while LVNC was absent in offspring of male LVNC patients (0/8). Moreover, clinical heart failure symptoms and arrhythmias were more severe in female LVNC patients than in male LVNC patients.

CONCLUSIONPrimary familial investigation reveals the matrilineal inheritance of familial LVNC in this 5-generation Chinese family, further investigations are warranted to explore the potential mutations in the mitochondrial genome responsible for LVNC in this family.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Cardiomyopathies ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; Young Adult

This study is to explore new lead compounds by inhibition of Pin1 for anticancer therapy using temperature sensitive mutants. As Pin1 is conserved from yeast to human, we established a high-throughput screening method for Pin1 inhibitors, which employed yeast assay. This method led to the identification of one potent hits, 8-11. In vitro, 8-11 inhibited purified Pin1 enzyme activity with IC50 of (10.40 +/- 1.68) micromol x L(-1), induced G1 phase arrest and apoptosis, showed inhibitory effects on a series of cancer cell proliferation, reduced Cyclin D1 expression, was defined as reciprocally matched for protein-ligand complex in virtual docking analysis and reduced cell migration ability. In vivo, we could observe reduction of tumor volume after treatment with 8-11 in xenograft mice compared with vehicle DMSO treatment. Altogether, these results provide for the first time the involvement of 8-11 in the anticancer activity against Pin1.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; methods ; G1 Phase ; High-Throughput Screening Assays ; methods ; Humans ; Mice ; NIMA-Interacting Peptidylprolyl Isomerase ; Neoplasms ; pathology ; Peptidylprolyl Isomerase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Temperature ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Yeasts

OBJECTIVETo investigate relationship between expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) as well as their correlation with angiogenesis and prognosis in gastric carcinoma.

METHODSHIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA expression were analyzed using in situ hybridization, microvessel density (MVD) was determined by anti-CD34 immunostaining in 118 cases gastric carcinoma.

RESULTSThe positive rates of HIF-1alpha mRNA and IGF-II mRNA were 49.2% and 47.4%, respectively. In stage T3-T4 cases, positive rates of HIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA expression, the frequencies of vessel invasion, lymph node and distant metastasis were significantly higher than those in stage T1-T2 cases. The mean MVD in stage T3-T4 tumors, vessel invasion, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis were significantly more frequent than those in stage T1-T2 tumors. The mean MVD in tumors with positive HIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA expression was significantly higher than those in tumors without HIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA expression. The expression of HIF-1alpha was positively correlated with IGF-II mRNA. There were positive correlations between MVD and expression of HIF-1alpha and IGF-II mRNA, respectively. The mean survival time and 5-year survival rate in cases with positive HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression and MVD value >/= 41.5 were significantly shorter than those in cases with negative HIF-1alpha and VEGF expression and MVD value < 41.5.

CONCLUSIONSHIF-1alpha and IGF-II play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis, especially in tumor angiogenesis. So test of the expression of HIF-1alpha and IGF-II may act as a useful index of treatment and prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood supply ; genetics ; metabolism ; Survival Analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate mRNA expression of syndecan-1 and heparanase in gastric carcinoma, and their correlation with the growth-pattern, invasion, metastasis and prognosis of gastric carcinoma.

METHODSIn situ hybridization technique was used to examine mRNA expression of syndecan-1 and heparanase in 118 specimens of gastric carcinoma.

RESULTSThe positive rates of syndecan-1 mRNA and heparanase mRNA were 42.4% and 55.9%, respectively. The expression of syndecan-1 mRNA and heparanase mRNA were related to tumor invasion depth (chi(2) = 32.95, P = 0.001; chi(2) = 23.19, P = 0.001), vessel invasion (chi(2) = 46.22, P = 0.001; chi(2) = 33.78, P = 0.001), lymph node (chi(2) = 28.62, P = 0.001; chi(2) = 25.43, P = 0.001) and distant metastasis (chi(2) = 63.30, P = 0.001; chi(2) = 65.76, P = 0.001), and syndecan-1 mRNA positive expression was related to tumor size (chi(2) = 6.25, P = 0.012). There was a negative relationship between Syndecan-1 mRNA and heparanase mRNA expression (r = -0.844, P = 0.001). The mean survival time of cases with low expression of syndecan-1 mRNA was significantly shorter than that of cases with high expression (r = 36.48, P = 0.001), and meanwhile, the mean survival time of heparanase mRNA positive cases was significantly shorter than that of cases with negative expression (r = 34.41, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThe mRNA expression of syndecan-1 and heparanase can predict the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma, and can be used as markers of prognosis of gastric carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucuronidase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Syndecans ; genetics ; metabolism

Zanthoxyli Radix is a traditional Chinese medicine. It can be used for the treatment of wind-cold-dampness arthralgia, muscle and bone pain, fall fracture, hernia, sore throat, toothache and other diseases. Due to possessing many excellent and mild pharmacological properties, there are lots of reports about Zanthoxyli Radix worldwide. At present, more than 100 bioactive components have been extracted and purified from Zanthoxyli Radix. Nitidine chloride (NC), one of the most important alkaloids in Zanthoxyli Radix, has the activities of anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-bacteria, etc. In this review, we summarize the chemical components of Zanthoxyli Radix, pharmacological activity and mechanism of action of NC to provide references for further research and utilization of Zanthoxyli Radix.

OBJECTIVESTo understand the epidemiological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreaks in some areas of Guangdong province and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control measures against it.

METHODSStandardized questionnaire was used on individual cases. Data on the epidemiological characteristics as time, place, persons and aggregation status of SARS cases, development of the epidemics, were analyzed with software EPI 6.0.

RESULTSThe incidence of SARS in Guangdong province was 1.72/100,000 with case fatality rate as 3.64%. Most cases of SARS occurred between the last ten days of January and the first ten days of February with the peak (61.88% of the patients) occurred in the first ten days of February. As to the distribution of place, Pearl river delta region-economically developed with great number of mobile population-was heavily affected areas (account for 96.66% of the total patients). The majority of patients were young adults and medical staff seemed to be the most affected subgroup (account for 24.9% of the patients in total). Family and hospital aggregation of patients comprised the another two important characteristics of SARS (account for 37.1% of the total patients).

CONCLUSIONCurrent knowledge on SARS suggested that it was an air-borne infectious disease with human beings served as the source of infection. The incubation period of the disease was from 1 to 12 days with a median of 4 days. Respiratory secretions and close contact contributed to person-to-person transmission. Most cases were distributed in Pearl river delta region, an area famous for its economic development and heavy flow of mobile population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; epidemiology ; Contact Tracing ; Disease Outbreaks ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the incidence of intra- and extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) and growth restriction in premature infants, and to illustrate the growth pattern of them in postnatal and infantile period.

METHODSAll premature infants were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the recent 7 years. The criteria for enrollment were (1) gestational age < 37 weeks; (2) single fetus; (3) admitted within the first 24 hours of life; (4) hospitalization period ≥ 14 days; (5) clinical follow-up persisted till ≥ 3 months of corrected gestational age. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), EUGR and growth restriction were defined as having a measured growth value (weight) that was ≤ 10(th) percentile of Chinese infants' growth curve in corrected age on admission, discharge and follow-up period. Results were analyzed by using SPSS 12.0 statistical software package by chi-square test, rank-sum test, and t test.

RESULTSTwo hundred and thirty nine infants were involved, 134 were boys and 105 girls. The incidence of IUGR and EUGR assessed by weight was 25.5% and 40.6%, respectively. The lower the birth weight was, the higher the incidence of IUGR and EUGR was. The percentile of body weight in the growth curve at discharge was lower than that at birth (Z = -7.784, P = 0.000). The incidence of growth restriction assessed by weight was 20.5%, 15.0%, 8.8%, 17.0%, 10.4%, 10.1%, 11.9%, 7.0% at corrected gestational age of 38 - 40 weeks, corrected age of 28 d, 61 d, 91 d, 122 d, 152 d, 183 d, and 274 d, respectively. The incidences of growth restriction were stable when the corrected age was older than 91 days. The incidence of growth restriction in female premature infants at 183 days' corrected age was higher than that in male children (χ(2) = 6.181, P = 0.017), the incidence was 19.3% and 3.8% respectively. During the follow-up period, most of the average body weight of premature infants whose gestational age was < 32 weeks or birth weight ≤ 1500 g were lower than the 50(th) percentile of the growth curve except the average body weight of boys whose gestational age < 32 weeks at corrected age of 2 and 4 months.

CONCLUSIONSPremature and/or low birth weight infants are at high risk of growth restriction, especially very low birth weight infants. The incidence of growth restriction decreased with growth. Long-term prognosis requires further investigation.

Body Weight ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; growth & development ; Male ; Weight Gain