0bjective To evaluate the application of whole body MR diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)in the detection of bone metastasis using skeletal scintigraphy as the referenee.Methods Fonv.two healthy volunteers and 38 patients with malignant tumors were enrolled in our studv.A11 the patients received MR examination and skeletal scintigraphy within one week.MR examination was performed on GE signa 3.0T MR scanner using a build.in body coil.The skeletal system Was divided into eight regons and the images of the whole body MR DWI and skeletal seintigraphy were reviewed to compare the two modalities patient by patient and region by region.The images were reviewed separately by two radiologists and two nuclear medicine physicians,who were blinded to the results of another imaging modality.Results A total of 169 metastatic lesions in 69 regions of 30 patients were detected by whole body MR DWI while 156 lesions in 68 regions of 29 patients were identified by skeletal seintigraphy.There were two cases negative in scintigraphy but positive in whole body MR DWI and one case positive in scintigraphy only.There were eight lesions negative in scintigraphy but positive in whole body MR DWI,mainly located in the spine.pelvis and femur.Seven 1esions were only detected by scintigraphy,mainly located in the skull.sternum.clavicle and scapula.Conclusion The whole body MR DWI reveals excellent consistency with skeletal scintigraphy regarding bone metastasis.and the two modalities are complementary for each Other.

Objective To study the relation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in serum and tumor necrosis fac- tor-?in serum and amniotic fluid in predicting ehorioamnhionitis in patients with premature rupture of membranes (PROM).Methods The levels of MMP-9 in serum and TNF-?in serum and amniotie fluid were measured by ra- dioimmunoassay and ELISA in 67 cases with premature rupture of membranes as study group and 40 cases normal full-termed pregnant women as controls group.Results(1)The levels of TNF-?in amniotie fluid and MMP-9 in serum in study group were significantly higher than those in controls group(P0.05).(2)In study group,the levels of MMP-9 of serum in0.05).Conclusions The levels of TNF-?in amniotic fluid and MMP-9 in serum were valuable clinical indices for identification of chorioamnionitis in patients with PROM.The levels of MMP-9 in serum also could assess the time of rupture of membranes and the degree of ehorioamnionitis.

Ralstonia metallidurans CH34 was isolated from the deposit of a znic factory .The degradation of phenol by R .metallidurans CH34 was investigated. The results showed that R . metallidurans CH34 possesses high ability to degrade phenol with the biodegradation rate constant of 0.33 . The optimal pH , temperature and volume of medium for phenol degradation are pH 7.0 , 30℃ , and 20%(v/v), respectively . In addition , this strain retains its ability to degrade phenol in the presence of high concentration of heavy metal ion .The sodium citrate , sodium succinate can enhance the degradation of phenol.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Drug Discovery ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; Molecular Targeted Therapy ; Neuraminidase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Viral Core Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; antagonists & inhibitors

OBJECTIVETo explore the differentiation fates of rat neural stem cells (NSCs) in different environmental conditions.

METHODSNSCs derived from 16-day-old rat embryo were proliferated in vitro and implanted into the brain of rats with intra-cerebral hemorrhage. At the same time some NSCs were co-cultured in vitro with Schwann cells derived from newborn rats. MAP-2, GFAP and GalC (which are the specific markers of neural cells, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes respectively), BrdU and beta-tubulin were detected by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent methods.

RESULTSBrdU positive cells that were implanted into the brain distributed around the hemorrhagic area. The majority of them were GFAP positive astrocytes while a few of them were beta-tubulin positive neural cells or GalC positive oligodendrocytes. After being co-cultured with Schwann cells in vitro, NSCs are predominately shown beta-tubulin and MAP-2 positive, and only a minority of them were GFAP or GalC positive.

CONCLUSIONSThe hemorrhagic environment in vivo induces NSCs to differentiate mainly into astrocytes while co-culture with Schwann cells in vitro induce the majority of NSCs to differentiate into neural cells.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Caudate Nucleus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Movement ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; pathology ; surgery ; Coculture Techniques ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Galactosylceramides ; metabolism ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Phase-Contrast ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Oligodendroglia ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; cytology ; Sciatic Nerve ; cytology ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Stem Cells ; cytology

The only difference of primary structure between single-chain prourokinase (pro-UK or scu-PA) and two-chain urokinase (UK or tcu-PA) is the cleavage of a single peptide bond (Lys158-Ile159) and transform scu-PA into its active two-chain form. A 13-peptide (Thr-Leu-Arg-Pro-Arg-Phe-Lys-Ile-Ile-Gly-Gly-Glu-Cys), which spans the cleavage peptide bond, was synthesized and linked to KLH (Keyhole limpet hemocyanin). The Balb/c mice were immunized by the conjugated protein with proper adjuvant. According to the Kohler and Milstein's methods, a hybridoma cell line G7 secreting monoclonal antibody specific for scu-PA was obtained. The anti-scu-PA McAb, purified from the supernatant of porous microcarrier hybridoma cell culture, was conjugated to CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B to prepare an immuno-affinity chromatography column. The u-PA was purified only by this affinity column from the supernatant of cultivating the u-PA-producing recombinant CHO cell, the u-PA recovery ratio is 90.4%, the purification factor was about 50, with the specific activity of 1.2 x 10(5) IU/mg, the scu-PA ratio in the u-PA product was 96.3%. Compared to immuno-affinity chromatography, the 3-step process for purifying u-PA (cation-exchange column, gel filtration column and benzamidine affinity column) has a u-PA recovery ratio of about 65%, with a specific activity of 1.0 x 10(5) IU/mg, and an scu-PA ratio of about 90%. These results showed that immuno-affinity chromatography is simple to recover u-PA and effective to separate scu-PA from tcu-PA.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, Affinity ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; immunology ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo summarize and analyze the application of neuroendoscopic techniques in neurosurgery, and to discuss the role and significance of neuroendoscopic techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of neurosurgical diseases.

METHODSWe treated 1300 patients with different neurosurgical diseases by performing endoscopic neurosurgery (EN) and endoscopy-assisted microneurosurgery (EAM). Among 1300 paitents, 522 were treated with pure endoscopic neurosurgery, 260 with endoscopy-assisted microneurosurgery, 79 with endoscope-controlled bur hole trephination neurosurgery, 434 with endoscope transsphenoidial surgery, and 5 with other techniques through which an endoscope was used in conjunction with stereotactic guidance.

RESULTSTotally 362 hydrocephalus patients were treated using EN. Among them, 190 were treated by third ventriculostomy, 30 by V-P shunt, and 142 patients with complicated hydrocephalus and unsymmetry hydrocephalus by endoscopy-controlled pathologic septum fenestration, septum pellucidum fenestration, and treatment of inventricula inflammation. Clinical symptomatic improvement was achieved in 341 of 362 patients (94.2%). Also 160 intracranial cyst patients were treated using EN for resection and partial resection. Eighty-two patients were performed through cyst-ventricula fenestration. Clinical symptomatic improvement was achieved in 76 of 82 patients (92.7%). Seventy patients treated with endoscopy-controlled bur hole neurosurgery and 8 cases with endoscopy-assisted microneurosurgery got better recovery after operation. Among 260 patients with brain tumors, 252 patients were operated with EAM (190 patients with epidermoid cyst), 8 patients with EN (all brain tumors with diameters < 2.5 cm in inventricular). Clinical symptomatic improvement was achieved in 228 of 260 patients (87.7%). Among 49 patients with inventricular and cistern cyst, 40 patients who were treated by EN and 9 patients by endoscopy-controlled bur hole neurosurgery were resected and their clinical symptoms were improved after operation. Among 434 patients with sellar region lesions, 387 patients with pituitary adenomas, 19 patients with repair for CSF leaks, 9 patients with chordoma, and 19 patients with other neurosurgical diseases were performed with endoscopy-controlled transsphenoidial surgery. Clinical symptoms in 88.9% (386/434) of these patients were improved. Another 5 patients were treated with endoscopy combined with navigation and stereotatic guidance with good results. The complications related to operation were found in only 2% of all the patients including hemorrhage, infection, and damage of important structure.

CONCLUSIONSClinical application of neuroendoscopic techniques can decrease the damage caused by pure open surgery operation. It is possible to resect lesions at the utmost and protect normal tissue from lesions for using EN and EAM or endoscopy-controlled microneurosurgery (ECM). It is also helpful to enhance surgical quality and, reduce the complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged, 80 and over ; Brain Diseases ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epidermal Cyst ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; surgery ; Infant ; Male ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Neuroendoscopy ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery

Adult ; Female ; Fractures, Bone ; complications ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Pelvic Bones ; injuries

To study the effect of Siwu decoction on the function and expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in Caco-2 cells. The Real-time quantitative poly-merase chain reaction (Q-PCR) was used to analyze the mRNA expression of MDR1 gene in Caco-2 cells. Flow cytometer was used to study the effect of Siwu decoction on the uptake of Rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells, in order to evaluate the efflux function of P-gp. Western blotting method was used to detect the effect of Siwu decoction on the P-gp protein expression of Caco-2 cells. Compared with the blank control group, after Caco-2 incubation with Siwu decoction at concentrations of 3.3, 5.0, 10.0 g x L(-1) for 24, 48, 72 h, the mRNA expression of MDR1 was up-regulated, suggesting the effect of Siwu decoction in inducing the expression of MDR1. After the administration with Siwu decoction in Caco-2 cells for 48 h, the uptake of Rhodamine 123 in Caco-2 cells decreased by respectively 16.6%, 22.1% (P < 0.05) and 45.4% (P < 0.01), indicating that the long-term administration of Siwu decoction can enhance the P-gp efflux function of Caco-2 cells. After the incubation of Caco-2 cells with Siwu decoction for 48 h, the P-gp protein expression on Caco-2 cell emebranes, demonstrating the effect of Siwu decoction in inducing the protein expression of P-gp.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; genetics ; metabolism ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Caco-2 Cells ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDThis study was designed to investigate the hot spots of microsatellite loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on 9p13-23 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and to find out the correlation between the incidence of microsatellite LOH and the clinicopathological parameters.

METHODSTumor tissues were obtained from paraffin embedded sections with microdissection. Genomic DNA was extracted from tumor tissues and peripheral blood lymphocytes with the phenol-chloroform. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and denaturing gel electrophoresis were carried out in a set of 42 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of larynx and corresponding peripheral blood lymphocytes using 13 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers on 9p13-23. The correlation was analyzed between microsatellite LOH at the high frequency on 9p13-23 and clinicopathological parameters in the patients with squamous cell carcinoma of larynx.

RESULTSOf the 42 laryngeal cancers, 41 (97.6%) showed LOH in at least one of the microsatellite markers tested on 9p13-23. The most frequently deleted marker was D9S162 in 17 of the 19 (89.5%) informative samples. The marker D9S171, which is located on 9p21, had LOH detected in 12 of the 15 informative cases (80.0%). LOH at the D9S1748 marker (closest to the p16 gene locus) was detected in 18 of the 36 informative cases (50.0%). Allelic deletion mapping revealed two minimal regions of LOH encompassing markers D9S161-D9S171 on 9p21 and IFNA-D9S162 on 9p22-23. Multiple LOH (> or = 4) on 9p21-23 was found more frequently in the patients under 60 years, with supraglottic SCC or cervical lymph node metastasis than those over 60 years, with glottic SCC or without cervical lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01 or 0.01, 0.05, respectively). On the contrary, there was no correlation between T stages or pathologic classification and the frequency of LOH on 9p21-23 in 42 SCC of Larynx.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings imply the presence of at least two putative tumor suppressor genes on 9p13-23 in laryngeal SCC. Multiple genetic alterations are probably implicated in supraglottic SCC with cervical lymph node metastasis in younger patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged