Objective To determine the effects of 1320 nm non-ablative laser on the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts,and the secretion of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF)and transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)in vitro.Methods Human dermal fibroblasts were cultured,and irradiated three times by 1320 nm laser at a dose of 15,20 and 24 J/cm~2,respectively.The levels of bFGF and TGF-?1 were examined by ELISA at 0,24,48 and 72h after the irradiation.The number of fibroblasts before and after irradiation were determined.Results The number of fibroblasts and the secretion of bFGF both in- creased after the irradiation at the doses of 20 J/cm~2 and 24 J/cm~2(P

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenoma, Chromophobe ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenoma, Oxyphilic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Angiomyoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

Cognition Disorders ; chemically induced ; Humans ; Manganese ; toxicity ; Manganese Poisoning ; epidemiology

ObjectiveTo investigate whether small epithelial cells (SEC) exist in human hepa- tocellularcarcinoma (HCC) and if so, whether they exhibit immunolabelling for both albumin and cytokeratin 7 (CK7). MethodsThirty cases of human HCC from operative specimens were investi- gated by immunohistochemistry with antibody against albumin, a marker of hepatocyte differentiation and CK7, a marker of biliary differentiation. Ten cases were investigated by electron microscopy and by immuno- electron microscopy. ResultsThe SEC were found in 20 of 30 cases that located around the edges of the tumors and appeared as proliferative small biliary ductules. Under electron microscopy they were of small size, contained sparse cytoplasm, few free ribosomes, intracellular tonofilarnents, and intercellular junctions. Immunoelectron microscopically the SEC exhibited labelling for both albumin and CK7 in 5 out of 10 cases. ConclusionSEC in human HCC are found that represent the same mor- phology like those seen in hepatoblastoma and biliary atresia, co- expressed markers for hepatocytic and biliary differentiation.

OBJECTIVETo study regular patterns of cone artifact resulted from interpolation algorithm of spiral CT.

METHODSBased on the principle of interpolation algorithm and back-projection reconstruction, a mathematical model of the reconstructed image was established to clarify the relation of the scanning parameters and the characteristics of the scanned object with the cone artifact. Experiments were carried out by a set of acrylic phantoms on siemens plus 4 CT scanners.

RESULTSThe artifact in the image was directly proportional to the table increment per gantry rotation of the scanner, and was positively correlated to the tangent of half cone-angle and inversely to the radii in the reconstruction plane of the phantom. The theoretical analysis was validated by experimental results.

CONCLUSIONThe cone artifact is related to the scanning parameters and the characteristics of the scanned object.

Algorithms ; Artifacts ; Computer Simulation ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; standards ; Models, Theoretical ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the Mechanism of nonablative skin rejuvenation.

METHODThe Kunming mice be used as subjects and divided into three groups (A, B, C). A, B, C groups were irradiated with 1 320 nm cooltouch laser (20 J/cm2) in the skin of left back; B and C groups were irradiated two and three times respectively; the skin of right back of A, B, C groups was adopted as control. The expression of bFGF and TGF-beta1 in the mouse skin was examined by the immunohistochemistry . The fibroblasts were isolated from the foreskin and cultured. One group is a control and other three ones are low, intermediate and high energetic groups respectively. The fibroblasts were irradiated by laser with 15 J/cm2 ,20 J/cm2 and 24 J/cm2 energy for three times. We examined the levels of bFGF and TGF-beta1 by ELISA in 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours.

RESULTSAccording to this research on immunohistochemistry result, there are significant differences in the expression of bFGF and TGF-beta1 between the group irradiated by three times and others (P < 0.01). The number of fibroblasts get increased after being irradiated by laser. The ELISA result indicates that the secretion of bFGF increased in the group of intermediate and high energetic level after laser irradiating and may reach the peak at 24 hours (P < 0.01). The amount of TGF-beta1 secretion, however, seems to get decreased in each group at all energetic levels, and at 24 hours it can reach the top level as well.

CONCLUSIONThe direct influence of laser on the fibroblasts is to promote secretion of bFGF and to inhibit secretion of TGF-beta1, while its influence on the tissue is to promote the secretions of the both. Nonablative skin rejuvenation not only can induce fibroblasts to secrete more bFGF but also induce the blood vessels to release cytokines which stimulate endothelial cell to express more of bFGF and TGF-beta1. Furthermore, fibroblastic proliferation can accelerate by laser's irradiating.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cosmetic Techniques ; Female ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; radiation effects ; secretion ; Laser Therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Rejuvenation ; Skin ; cytology ; radiation effects ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Butylene Glycols ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; Workplace

Objective To investigate the effects of 14-3-3 protein overexpression on the 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) induced pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell death and the potential mechanisms. Methods pcDNA3.1(+)-14-3-3 plasmids, which could be expressed in mammalian cell, were constructed and transfected into PC12 cells with Lipofectamine 2000. The expression of 14-3-3 protein, Bcl-2 protein, and BAD protein were determined by western blot. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, microplate reader, and flow cytometric analysis were used to measure cell viability, the caspase activity, and apoptotic ratio respectively. Results (1) The expression of 14-3-3 protein increased significantly three weeks after pcDNA3.1 (+)-14-3-3 plasmids transfected into PC12 cells. (2) MPP(+) caused a decrease of cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. At 100 mu mol/L MPP(+), cell viability reduced approximately 50%. (3) The caspase activity increased along with the MPP(+) concentrations rising and reached its maximum value (0.34 mu mol/mg protein) at 100 mu mol/L MPP(+). However caspase activity decreased significantly when the MPP(+) concentration exceeded 100 mu mol/L. (4) Overexpression of 14-3-3 protein decreased the apoptosis ratio of PC12 cells treated with 100 mu mol/L MPP(+) from 26.5% to 8.6%. (5) Bcl-2 protein tended to decrease but BAD protein tended to increase after treatment of PC12 cells with 100 mu mol/L MPP(+). Overexpression of 14-3-3 protein significantly increased the cellular level of Bcl-2 protein and decreased that of BAD protein. Conclusion Overexpression of 14-3-3 protein may reduce MPP(+)-induced apoptotic cell death in PC12 cells by up-regulating the Bcl-2 expression and down-regulating the BAD expression. These results may provide a promising target for treatment of Parkinson' s disease.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cell Transplantation ; Child ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Suspensions ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Vitiligo ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate effect of CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Tregs in the treatment of autoimmune myositis (EAM) in mice and explore the possible mechanisms.

METHODSMouse models of EAM were divided randomly into model group and treatment group, and the latter received infusion of CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Tregs separated from normal mouse spleen by magnetic activated cell sorting. The changes of muscle pathology was observed, and the expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in spleen CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Tregs was analyzed using flow cytometry; peripheral blood IL-10 and TGF-β levels were tested using double antibody sandwich ELISA.

RESULTSCompare with the model group, the mice in the treatment group showed significantly reduced muscular inflammatory cell infiltration, increased blood levels of IL-10 and TGF-β (P<0.05), and increased expression of PD-1 and CTLA-4 in spleen CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Tregs (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONCD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Tregs reinfusion produces therapeutic effect in mice with EAM by increasing peripheral blood IL-10 and TGF-β levels and PD-1 and CTLA-4 expressions in spleen CD4(+) CD25(+) Foxp3(+) Tregs.

Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; immunology ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; metabolism ; Cell Separation ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flow Cytometry ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Mice ; Myositis ; immunology ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; metabolism ; Spleen ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood