SCID mouse-human leukemia model is an important and useful tool for study on proliferation, differentiation and modulation of leukemic cells. In this article, the establishment of the model, advances in research and application in studies of pathogenesis, cell biology, clinical diagnosis, therapy and assessment of prognosis of leukemia patients are reviewed. The limitations of the model are also commented.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; Research Design

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) captopril on Calpain-mediated cardiomyocytes apoptosis and cardiac function in diabetic rats.

METHODSThirty adult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 10), normal control group (NC group), diabetes mellitus group (DM group)and captopril treated group (Cap group). Streptozocin (STZ) were used to make the model of diabetes mellitus, captopril was administrated by gavage at the dose of 50 mg/kg every day, while in NC group and DM group the same volume of normal saline was administrated. Twelve weeks later, left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVDEP), maximal rise rate of left ventricular pressure (+ dp/dtmax) and maximal fall rate of left ventricular pressure (- dp/dtmax) were detected; Western blot was used to detect the expression of Calpain-1 Calpain-2, Bcl-2, Bax and total Caspase3 protein; apoptosis index (AI) were assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL).

RESULTSCompared with NC group, LVDEP was significantly higher; LVSP, + dp/dtmax and - dp/dtmax were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); Bcl-2 protein expression was decreased; the expression of Calpain-1, Calpain-2, Bax and total Caspase3 protein were increased; the value of AI was significantly increased. Compared with DM group, LVDEP was significantly lower; LVSP, + dp/dtmax and - dp/dtmax were significantly increased (P < 0.05); Bcl-2 protein expression was increased, the expression of Calpain-1, Calpain-2, Bax and total Caspase3 protein were decreased; the value of AI was significantly decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCaptopril can protect diabetic myocardial structure through inhibiting activation of Calpain-1 and Calpain-2, up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2, down-regulating the expression of Bax to inhibit Caspase3 dependent apoptosis, thereby improving the ventricular function and myocardial structure.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calpain ; metabolism ; Cardiomyopathies ; pathology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence and distribution of cervical node metastases in squamous cell carcinoma of hypopharynx and evaluate the efficacy of selective neck dissection (SND) on the treatment of the neck metastases.

METHODSA retrospective review was performed for 63 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of hypopharynx from January 1990 to December 2004. Lymph nodes were clinically negative in 17 patients and positive in 46 patients. There were 15 unilateral SND, 22 bilateral SND and 16 modified radical neck dissections (MRND). Ipsilateral MRND or radical neck dissections (RND) and contralateral SNDs were performed in 10 cases. Forty-eight patients were followed up and the follow-up interval ranged from 24 to 143 months and the median was 41 months.

RESULTSLymph nodes were pathologically negative (pN0) in 22 and positive (pN +) in 41 patients. A total of 106 positive nodes were found in 95 neck dissections. The distribution of the positive nodes were as follows: Level II 47.2% (50/106), Level III33.0% (35/106), Level IV11.3% (12/106), Level V2.8% (3/106), Level VI 5.7% (6/106). Contralateral nodal metastases and recurrence were observed in both cN0 and cN + cases. There were 18 neck recurrent cases. High incidence of neck recurrence after SND was found in level II and III. The 3-year estimated survival rate analysis were 58.1% for the pN0 and 44.9% for pN1 and 41.1% for pN2 patients. Cox regression analysis suggested N stage was the most important prognostic factor. The risk ratio was 1.7 in pN1 and 2.2 in pN2.

CONCLUSIONSLymphatic metastases was the most significant prognostic factor of hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Bilateral selective neck dissection, when carefully indicated, offers functional advantages without oncologic compromise.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck Dissection ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To describe the CT and MRI features of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS) caused by herbal medicine Gynura segetum. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The CT and MRI features of 16 consecutive Gynura segetum induced HSOS cases (12 men, 4 women) were analyzed. Eight patients had CT; three patients had MRI, and the remaining five patients had both CT and MRI examinations. Based on their clinical presentations and outcomes, the patients were classified into three categories: mild, moderate, and severe. The severity of the disease was also evaluated radiologically based on the abnormal hepatic patchy enhancement in post-contrast CT or MRI images. RESULTS: Ascites, patchy liver enhancement, and main right hepatic vein narrowing or occlusion were present in all 16 cases. Hepatomegaly and gallbladder wall thickening were present in 14 cases (87.5%, 14/16). Periportal high intensity on T2-weighted images was present in 6 cases (75%, 6/8). Normal liver parenchymal enhancement surrounding the main hepatic vein forming a clover-like sign was observed in 4 cases (25%, 4/16). The extent of patchy liver enhancement was statistically associated with clinical severity classification (kappa = 0.565). CONCLUSION: Ascites, patchy liver enhancement, and the main hepatic veins narrowing were the most frequent signs of herbal medicine induced HSOS. The grade of abnormal patchy liver enhancement was associated with the clinical severity.
Adult ; Aged ; Ascites/diagnosis ; Asteraceae/chemistry ; Cholecystography ; Female ; Gallbladder/pathology ; Hepatic Veins/pathology/radiography ; Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease/chemically induced/*diagnosis ; Hepatomegaly/diagnosis ; Humans ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy/*adverse effects ; Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids/adverse effects ; Severity of Illness Index ; *Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

Exocytosis is a vital function of many cell types including neuron, endocrine cell and immunocyte. Secretion in immunocytes involves a complex process of signal transduction, in which many factors still remain unknown. In the last 10 years, this area has become an international hot spot of investigation, resulting in many break-through progresses. This progress was made possible by combined efforts in molecular biology, cell biology and biophysics. This review focuses on notable new knowledge and some new techniques in functional study of secretion in immunocytes.
Exocytosis ; physiology ; Humans ; Ion Channels ; physiology ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; secretion ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; secretion ; Membrane Proteins ; physiology ; Neutrophils ; immunology ; secretion ; SNARE Proteins ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Vesicular Transport Proteins

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to investigate whether low-dose spiral chest CT scan can replace standard-dose CT scan in detecting pulmonary metastases for patients with gestational trophoblastic tumor (GTT).

METHODSTotally, 34 GTT patients underwent 56 chest CT scans for the assessment of pulmonary metastasis. All patients received CT examination both at standard-dose (120 KV, 150 mAs, pitch 1, and a standard reconstruction algorithm) and low-dose CT (120 KV, 40 mAs, pitch 2, and a bone reconstruction algorithm) simultaneously each time. The images were interpreted by two radiologists independently. A metastasis by CT image was defined as a nodule within lung parenchyma that could not be attributed to a pulmonary vessel. The number of lesions detected at each dose protocol was recorded. The size of each lesion was measured and categorized as < 5 mm, 5 - 10 mm or > or = 10 mm. The differences in detection of the lesions between the standard- and low-dose CT protocols were compared using Wilconxon signed rank test.

RESULTS1417 lesions were detected at the standard-dose, whereas 1214 lesions were found by low-dose CT. Lesions < 5 mm detected by low-dose CT were fewer than that detected by standard-dose CT (Z = -3.368, P = 0.000), though there was no statistically significant difference between the standard- and low-dose CT in detecting lesion > or = 5 mm (Z = -0.055, P = 0.957). Moreover, the risk score of the patients was not affected either. The sensitivity of low-dose CT was 69.16% for all size of lesions, 58.50% for < 5 mm, 87.07% for 5 - 10 mm, and 97.01% for > or = 10 mm. The positive predictive value for different sizes of lesion was 80.71% (all sizes), 73.82% (5 mm), 88.86% (5 - 10 mm), and 98.48% (> or = 10 mm), respectively.

CONCLUSIONLow-dose chest CT can replace the standard-dose chest CT as a screening and follow-up examination to assess the change in pulmonary metastasis for patients with gestational trophoblastic tumor.

Adult ; Female ; Gestational Trophoblastic Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Radiation Dosage ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Uterine Neoplasms ; pathology

Fluorescence intraoperative cholangiography (IOC) is a potential alternative for identifying anatomical variation and preventing iatrogenic bile duct injuries by using the near-infrared probe indocyanine green (ICG).However,the dynamic process and mechanism of fluorescenceIOC have not been elucidated in previous publications.Herein,the optical properties of the complex of ICG and bile,dynamic fluorescence cholangiography and iatrogenic bile duct injuries were investigated.The emission spectrum of ICG in bile peaked at 844 nm and ICG had higher tissue penetration.Extrahepatic bile ducts could fluoresce 2 min after intravenous injection,and the fluorescence intensity reached a peak at 8 min.Inaddition,biliary dynamics were observed owing to ICG excretion from the bile ducts into the duodenum.Quantitative analysis indicated that ICG-guided fluorescence IOC possessed a high signal to noise ratio compared to the surrounding peripheral tissue and the portal vein.Fluorescence IOC was based on rapid uptake of circulating ICG in plasma by hepatic cells,excretion of ICG into the bile and then its interaction with protein molecules in the bile.Moreover,fluorescence IOC was sensitive to detect bile duct ligation and acute bile duct perforation using ICG in rat models.All of the results indicated that fluorescence IOC using ICG is a valid alternative for the cholangiography of extrahepatic bile ducts and has potential for measurement of biliary dynamics.

Objective To compare urodynamic studies (UDS) and perineal sonography for assessing mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) in women. Methods A total of 118 adult females with MUI and 30 controls were enrolled from September, 2010 to December, 2017. Their baseline clinical characteristics were recorded. The MUI patients were divided into stress-predomi-nant (S-MUI, n=51), urge-predominant (U-MUI, n=34) and equal predominance (E-MUI, n=33) according to King's Health Questionnaire. Both UDS and perineal sonography were performed in all the subjects. Tolerability of the two methods was compared. Results For sonography parameters, compared with the controls, S-MUI patients had greater dynamic posterior urethral angle, dynamic angle of urethral inclination, dynamic pubo-urethral distance and descent of bladder neck (P<0.001), U-MUI patients had greater detrusor thickness (P<0.05), and E-MUI patients had greater descent of blad- der neck (P<0.05). For UDS parameters, compared with the controls, S-MUI patients had lower Pure.clos.max and functional urethral length; U-MUI patients had lower Qmax, smaller bladder volume, higher Pdet.open, high-er Pdet.Qmax and higher incidence of detrusor overactivity; and E-MUI patients had higher Pdet.Qmax and low-er Pure.clos.max (P<0.05). All UDS and sonography parameters differed significantly between S-MUI and U-MUI patients. The descent of the bladder neck, dynamic angle of urethral inclination, and dynamic puboure-thral distance were negatively correlated with detrusor pressure at maximal flow and functional urethral length, while detrusor wall thickness was positively correlated with detrusor pressure at maximal flow and functional urethral length. Perineal ultrasound was better tolerated than UDS in 82.3% patients. Conclusion Perineal sonography parameters show good correlation with UDS parameters. Ultrasonography is better tol-erated than UDS and provides additional morphologic data. Perineal sonography could facilitate to diagnose U-MUI.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular mechanisms of the expression regulation of retinoic acidinduced gene G (RIG-G) by interferon alpha (IFNalpha).

METHODSRIG-G promoter region was analyzed by bioinformatics. The functional activities of RIG-G promoter with or without IFNalpha were detected by luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).

RESULTSRIG-G promoter region contained two well-conserved IFN-stimulated response elements (ISREs). Both ISRE I and ISRE II showed their effective binding abilities with signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). In HT1080 cells, in contrast with the empty plasmid pXP2, pXP2-A reporter construct containing intact ISRE I and ISRE II showed a significant higher baseline expression (1741.2 +/- 517.5) which could be further enhanced up to three-four folds by IFNalpha (5338.7 +/- 1226.9, P < 0.05). However, the luciferase activity of pXP2-A as well as its IFNalpha inducibility could be abrogated in STAT1-deficient U3A cells (from 1741.2 +/- 517.5 to 406.1 +/- 103.2, P < 0.05), indicating that the STAT1 protein was a prerequisite for the activities of ISRE I and ISRE II.

CONCLUSIONISREs present in RIG-G promoter region are molecular basis of IFNalpha induced RIG-G expression. RIG-G is a target gene directly regulated by STAT1 protein and should play a key role in IFNalpha signaling pathways.

Base Sequence ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; physiology ; Interferons ; physiology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism

To explore the possibility of leukemia cell line of both bcr-abl and mdr-1 positive were cross-resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 and its reversal way, the inhibitory effect of STI571 on K562-n/VCR cells was detected with MTT method and reverse effects of CsA, TAM, IFN-alpha and CsA cominated with IFN-alpha were observed. The results showed that K562-n/VCR cell line expressing bcr-abl and mdr1 positive was resistant to STI571, and could be reversed by 5.18, 1.82 and 1.67-fold respectively, when treated with CsA, TAM, and IFN-alpha. It could be reversed by 34.87-fold with combination of half-dose CsA and IFN-alpha. In conclusion, amplification of mdr1 gene may contribute to drug-resistance of bcr-abl positive leukemic cells against STI571. The reversal agents, CsA, TAM and IFN-alpha show obviously reverse effects on drug-resistance. The combination of half-dose of both CsA and IFN-alpha display stronger effect than the full dose of either.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzamides ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Genes, MDR ; Genes, abl ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology