Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hemangiosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leiomyosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nerve Sheath Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pulmonary Blastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; metabolism ; pathology ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective: To study the expression of function-unknown PNMA5 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its relationship with proliferation of HCC. Methods: PNMA5 was over-expressed in HCC analyzed by gene expression profiling. We investigated the expression of PNMA5 through RT-PCR and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RFQ-PCR) in normal liver tissues, HCC, and adjacent non-cancerous liver tissues (non-HCC). PNMA5 gene was silenced in Focus and PLC liver cancer cells by using RNA interference technology. The changes in cell growth curve were quantitatively analyzed by performing CCK-8 experiment after silencing the endogenous PNMA5 gene expression. Results: PNMA5 was mainly expressed in testis, ovary, and brain tissues out of the 14 kinds of normal human tissues. PNMA5 mRNA was significantly up-regulated in 42% (5/12) HCC specimens, which was 2-fold higher than that in non-HCCs (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the growth of Focus and PLC cells was markedly inhibited after silencing PNMA5 gene expression (P < 0.01), and the number of tumor cells progressing through G1 and entering S phase was significantly decreased as compared with the control cells transfected with siRNA-NC (P < 0.01). Conclusion: PNMA5 plays an important role in maintaining the malignant phenotype of HCC. It may be a novel tumor-testis associated gene. Further investigation of its function may help to find the new mechanism for the HCC tumorigenesis. PNMA5 may become a new candidate target in HCC treatment.

Autoimmune Diseases ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatitis ; diagnosis ; immunology ; pathology ; surgery

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Legionnaires' Disease ; classification ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Male

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) of small intestine with lymph node metastasis and evaluate the respond to imatinib mesylate (Glivec) therapy.

METHODSTwo cases of GIST of small intestine associated with lymph node metastasis were collected and investigated by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Mutation in exon 9, 11 and of c-kit gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe cases presented as small intestinal mass of irregular shape. Histologically, the tumors consisted of epithelioid and spindled cells, with areas of coagulative necrosis and hemorrhage. The mitotic count measured about 2 per 50 high-power fields. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells were diffusely distributed and strongly positive for CD117. Mutation analysis revealed that case 1 had an in-frame deletion of 11 amino-acid residues corresponding to 559-569 and carried two missense mutations involving codons 570, 571 in exon 11 of c-kit gene. Case 2 revealed an in-frame deletion involved condons 559-565 in exon 11 of c-kit gene. These two cases were all underwent primary chemotherapy with imatinib mesylate and without new tumor was found during follow-up periods (18, 26 months) after operation.

CONCLUSIONSGIST with nodal metastasis is very rare and needs to be distinguished from other soft tissue sarcomas occurring in this site. The responsiveness to imatinib mesylate therapy correlates with the mutation status of c-kit gene.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Benzamides ; Codon ; Exons ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children with congenital micrognathia using mandibular distraction osteogenesis and to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this approach.

METHODS6 patients (4 males, 2 females) had undergone mandibular distraction osteogenesis, 12 distraction devices were placed through extraoral incision for bilateral distraction. The mean age of treatment was 1 year and 9 months (range 4 months to 9 years). Every patient had been evaluated pre and postoperatively with cephalometry. The period of consolidation was 4 - 11 weeks. The period of follow-up was from 2 to 10 months.

RESULTSThe average distraction distance was 19.2 mm (range 15 to 25 mm). The osteotomy and distraction processes were smooth in all the cases, the osteogenesis was good, without infection and other complications. The posterior airway space was increased from averaged 4.5 mm preoperatively to 10. 1mm after surgery. Five children had normal respiration and sleep restored with naso-pharyngeal airway removal or tracheostomy decannulation. One patient is to receive a planned second stage of distraction with a horizontal vector. The results were stable without relapse during a follow-up period of 2 to 10 months.

CONCLUSIONSApplication of mandibular distraction osteogenesis is an important component and effective in the treatment of OSAS and permits mandibular advancement in the younger child. As more experience is gained with distraction osteogenesis in the treatment of children with OSAS, the role of distraction will become better defined.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Micrognathism ; complications ; surgery ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; methods ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications ; surgery

To study the chemical constituents from the root of Berchemia lineata (L.) DC., nine compounds were isolated from the EtOAc extract by using silica gel, RP-C18 silica gel column chromatography and preparative HPLC. Based on the spectroscopic analysis, their structures were identified as 5-hydroxy-7-(2'-hydroxypropyl)-2-methyl-chromone (1), (-)-(1'R, 2'S)-erythro-5-hydroxy-7-(1', 2'-dihydroxypropyl)-2-methyl-chromone (2), naringenin (3), eriodictyol (4), (+)-aromadendrin (5), (+)-taxifolin (6), (+)-catechin (7), (+)-epigallocatechin (8) and quercetin (9). Among them, compound 2 is a new chromone derivative. Compound 1 is a known chromone derivative and isolated from this genus for the first time. Compounds 3-9 are known flavonoids and isolated from this plant for the first time.
Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quercetin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Rhamnaceae ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo identify the relationship between amino acid mutations in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates and their antibiotic resistance.

METHODSPI gene fragments of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from 17 clinical isolates were obtained with PCR amplification. They were cloned into the PCR cloning vector pBS-T to form pBS-T-PI and sequenced. The sequences of PI genes were analyzed. At the same time, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of penicillin and tetracycline to these 17 isolates were measured and contrasted with the corresponding PI sequence.

RESULTSThe recombinants of PI gene from 17 clinical isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were successfully constructed and sequenced. They were divided into PIA and PIB subtypes according to the results from blastn software by comparing the sequences with the GenBank. Mutations were found at the sites of 120 and 121. There were only some of the sequences having an aspartic acid (D) mutation on 120 and 121 sites, which was not the same as reported. On the other hand,there were two PI sequences,5-9 and 6-1, whose mutations on No. 120 were lysine, similar to those documented.

CONCLUSIONSome relationship between PI amino acids mutations at sites 120 and 121 in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from Chengdu, China and their resistance to penicillin and tetracycline were found. However,further studies need to be done in the future to confirm this hypothesis.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo Construction of P and NP genes eukaryotic expression vectors of Newcastle Disease Virus LaSota strain,study its reverse genetics and functional genome of NDV.

METHODSP, NP genes were amplified and cloned into pGEM-T easy vector and then subcloned into pcDNA3.1 (+) expression vector respectively, the recombinant plasmids were named pcDNA3.1 (+)-P and pcDNA3.1 (+)-NP, Recombinant plasmids were transfected into 293 and BHK-21 cells respectively and were detected using IE and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSExpression of P, NP genes were detected and confirmed by the IE and WB analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant eukaryotic plasmids pcDNA3. 1(+)-P, pcDNA3.1 (+)-NP were expressed in 293 and BHK-21 cells successfully. This research may be helpful for further study of reverse genetics and functional genome of NDV.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cricetinae ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Newcastle disease virus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Nucleoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) on the biological function of SW620 cell.

METHODSMacrophage was induced into M2-type macrophage form with interleukin (IL)-4. CD68, macrophage mannose receptor (MMR), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were analyzed with Western blot. SW620 was co-cultured with TAMs in the Transwell. Cytokines including IL-10, IL-12, IL-23, and tramsforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in SW620 was analyzed with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The proliferation and apoptosis of SW620 cells after co-cultured with TAM were determined with tetrazolium four nitrogen (XTT) assay and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS), respectively. RESULTS IL-4 induced M2 type macrophage expressed CD68 and MMR instead of iNOS. After co-cultured with SW620 for 24 hours and 48 hours, M2 type macrophage secreted higher levels of IL-10 and TGF-β than the pre-culture level (P 0.05). The activity of NF-κB in SW620 decreased by 72% and 75% after 24 hours and 48 hours compared with the pre-culture level, respectively (both P<0.01). The activity of proliferation decreased by 48% and 59% and the apoptotic rates increased by 6.37% and 7.68% and 0.37% after 24 hours and 48 hours (all P<0.01) compared with the pre-culture levels.

CONCLUSIONTAM may inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of SW620 by suppressing the activity of NF-κB.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Interleukins ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; physiology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism