OBJECTIVEIn order to investigate whether the presence of distant metastases is associated with serum lipid abnormalities.

METHODSThe fasting serum lipid profile and various clinicopathological data of 324 breast cancer patients with and without synchronous distant metastases were collected and analyzed. The serum lipid profile, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was determined. The nutritional status, the serum albumin was measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were carried out to investigate the association of serum lipid profile with distant metastases.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that the distant metastasis rate was significantly higher in the breast cancer patients with an higher level of serum TC, TG, LDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (P < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that higher serum levels of TC, LDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio were independent risk factors for distant metastasis in breast cancer (OR = 2.324, 2.648 and 4.862, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSHyperlipidemia is significantly associated with the distant metastasis in breast cancer patients. Monitoring of serum lipid profile may be helpful to predict the occurrence of distant metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nutritional Status ; Risk Factors ; Serum Albumin ; Triglycerides ; blood

Chemical constituents of Leonurus japonicus were isolated and purified by a combination of various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI, and Rp C18. Structures of the isolates were determined by spectroscopic analysis as 10 coumarins: bergapten (1), xanthotoxin (2), isopimpinellin (3), isogosferal (4), imperatorin (5), meransin hydrate(6), isomeranzin(7), murrayone(8) , auraptenol(9), and osthol(10). In addition to compound 9, the others were isolated from the genus Leonurus for the first time. In the in vitro assay, compounds 4 and 8 significantly inhibited the abnormal increase of platelet aggregation induced by ADP.
Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Coumarins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Leonurus ; chemistry ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; chemistry ; pharmacology

Objective To identify the gene mutation of G protein?-subunit (Gsct) in multiple affected tissues of a patient with McCune-Albright syndrome.Methods The peripheral blood,bone tissue,lesion skin and pleura samples of the patient were collected.Genomic DNA was isolated from these samples,and PCR and direct sequencing were performed.Results The peripheral blood and bone tissue of the patient showed a mutation R201C in Gs?gene.No mutation was detected in the skin and pleura samples of the patient.Conclusion The gene diagnosis confirms that the patient has a classical R201C mutation in Gs?gene and multiple tissues are affected.The mutation occurs early in embryogenesis and clinical features can be polymorphic.

OBJECTIVETo prepare monoclonal antibody (mAb) against prM epitope.

METHODSThe gene encoding prM was isolated using RT-PCR from brain of JEV infected mouse and cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET-32a. Recombinant plasmid was transformed into E.coli BL21/DE3/LysS, then the transformed cells were expressed with the induction of IPTG. The expression and purification of the prM protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The BALB/c mice were immunized with purified prM protein. Hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies against prM were established after cell fusion of mouse splenic cell and P3-X63-Ag8.653 cells. The specificity of mAb was identified by ELISA, Western Blot and Immunohistochemistry assay.

RESULTSmAb against prM epitope of JEV was prepared successfully.

CONCLUSIONThe obtained prM specific mAb was valuable for the prevention and dignosis of Japanese encephalitis.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; analysis ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Antibody Specificity ; BALB 3T3 Cells ; Cell Line ; Cloning, Molecular ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; genetics ; immunology ; Epitopes ; immunology ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Mice ; Plasmids ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prokaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Viral Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification

BACKGROUNDMüller cells in the mammalian retina normally express low levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); however, its expression is upregulated in response to the loss of retinal neurons. The change in expression of GFAP is one of the earliest indicators of retinal damage and is correlated with the time course of disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the time course of degeneration and the expression of GFAP in the retina of mer knockout mice.

METHODSA total of 30 mer knockout mice, aged from 15 - 20 days to 1 year and 32 age-matched wild type mice as controls were tested. Immunohistochemistry was used to show the expression of GFAP in the central and peripheral retina of mer knockout and control mice at postnatal age of 15 days (P15d), 20 days (P20d), 4 weeks (P4w), 6 weeks (P6w), 8 weeks (P8w), 3 months (P3m), 6 months (P6m) and 1 years (P1y).

RESULTSThe expression of GFAP in the central and peripheral retina of wild type mice was limited to the retinal ganglion cell and nerve fiber layers. In the central retina of mer knockout mice, GFAP expression was upregulated at P4w and GFAP immunolabelling penetrates across the entire thickness of the retina at P8w; whereas in the peripheral retina, the GFAP expression was upregulated at P20d and GFAP immunolabelling penetrates the entire retina after P4w.

CONCLUSIONSIncreased expression of GFAP in Müller cells of mer knockout mice occur at P20d in the peripheral retina and P4w in the central retina. GFAP expression in Müller cells appears to be a secondary response to the loss of retinal neurons. Increased expression of GFAP may occur prior to any detectable morphological changes in the retina. This study suggests that the loss of retinal neurons may begin in the early stages of retinitis pigmentosa, prior to the discovery of any morphological changes in the retina.

Animals ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Knockout ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; Retina ; metabolism ; pathology ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; genetics ; metabolism ; c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase

Adult ; Denervation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Provocation Tests ; Nose ; innervation ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the utility of P504S immunohistochemistry in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

METHODSLight microscopy and immunohistochemistry examinations (EnVision staining) were performed in 117 cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma, PIN, AAH, ASAP, BPH and normal prostatic tissue to correlate the morphology and protein expression of P504S, 34betaE12, and P63.

RESULTSSeventy-one of the 78 (91%) cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma stained positive for P504S, with strong cytoplasmic granular staining in most cases, and a weak or intense granular staining along the circumferential luminal and apical cell border membrane in a few cases. Negative P504S immunostaining was observed in 7 of 78 (9%) cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma, all of which were clear cell type prostatic adenocarcinoma. Cases of PIN (9 cases), AAH (6 cases) and ASAP (2 cases) showed various expression levels of P504S. Sixty-five of 68 (96%) cases of normal prostates and BPH were negative for P504S and basal cell hyperplasia cases were also negative.

CONCLUSIONSP504S is a useful marker for microscopic diagnosis of prostatic adenocarcinoma, and immunohistochemistry study using a combination of P504S and 34betaE12/p63 may be of greater benefit in aiding the differential diagnoses.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; analysis ; Male ; Phosphoproteins ; analysis ; Precancerous Conditions ; diagnosis ; Prostate ; enzymology ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; diagnosis ; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; diagnosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Racemases and Epimerases ; analysis ; Trans-Activators ; analysis ; Transcription Factors ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myxoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Vulvar Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To investigate the inhibitory effects of chitosan nano-particles loaded tetrandrine (Tet) on proliferation of cultured pterygium fibroblasts.Methods The deoxycholic acid-modified chitosan (DAMC) derivative was synthesized through amidation reaction,and their properties were investigated.The viability of human pterygium fibroblasts (HPF) was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay after cells were interacted with Tet/DAMC nano-particles on day 1,3 and 5.Results The synthesized chitosan derivative and Tet formed drug-loaded nano-particles,and the agent-loading capacity was approximately 76％,and the sizes of agent-loaded nano-particles were 50-500 nm,with Zeta potential values being positive.The result of in vitro drug release experiment indicated that the nano-particles constantly released Tet in a controlled manner within 48 h.The viability of HPF in Tet group was (60.70 ± 2.30) ％,(50.22 ± 2.35) ％,(21.99 ± 2.07) ％ on day 1,3,5,respectively,but the corresponding data in Tet/DAMC group was (79.77 ±2.09)％,(63.24 ±2.83)％,(40.28 ± 1.19)％,respectively.The CCK-8 assay demonstrated that the Tet/DAMC nano-particles could inhibit HPF proliferation,and presented lower toxicity than Tet alone.Conclusion Chitosan nano-particles loaded tetrandrine exhibits a sustained agent-release behavior,which has obvious inhibitory effects on the proliferation of human pterygium fibroblasts,but its cytotoxicity is significantly lower than the original drug's,thereby possessing a great promise for improving the outcome of Tet for the prevention of pterygium recurrence.

0.05).Conclusion The distribution of G990R CASR genotype in PHPT patients is different from healthy women,and R allele is higher in PHPT group.Among PHPT patients,A986S and G990R polymorphisms are associated with serum calcium and ICa levels.Patients with S or G allele have lower levels of serum calcium and ICa.A986S genotype is also associated with serum PTH level and patients with S allele have relatively lower level of PTH.