Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signal is one of the important ways in eukaryotic cell,which adjusts and controls the structure and function of the cell. MAPKs in eukaryotes include p38, ERK, JNK and ERK5, etc. With the deepening research,we found that the activation of p38, ERK, JNK signal pathways were closely related with osteoarthritis (OA) cartilage injury. MAPKs are the key signaling systems involved in the production of matrix metalloproteinases and the regulation of cartilage cell proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Expecially the matrix metalloproteinases can accelerate the degradation of articular cartilage. So it has been the new spot in pathogenesis of osteoarthritis study.
Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; pathology ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Osteoarthritis ; etiology ; pathology

Objective To evaluated the role of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions around the trachea.MethodsThe study was retrospective, between September 2009 to July 2010, 34 consecutive patients with enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes or mediastinal masses of unknown origin underwent EBUS-TBNA.Patients in whom EBUS-TBNA was nondiagnostic subsequently underwent surgical biopsy or a minimum of 6 months clinical and radiologic follow-up.ResultsOf the 34 patients, EBUS-TBNA achieved definitive diagnosis in 28 patients (82.4％), 10 were diagnosed as malignancies, 18 were diagnosed as benign.The sensitivity, specificity,and accuracy of EBUS-TBNA in distinguishing benign from malignant mediastinal lesions were 90.9％, 100％, and 97.1％,respectively.EBUS was well tolerated by all of the patients with no complications.ConclusionEBUS-TBNA of mediastinal lesions around the trachea is a minimally invasive safe diagnostic technique with high yield.

Objective To determine the value of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for staging of lung cancer. Methods The study was retrospective, a total of 52 patients underwent EBUSTBNA for known or suspected lung cancer. All patients were detected enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on CT scan ( ≥ 1.0cm). Results Of the 52 patients, 41 patients were found with N2 or N3 disease on EBUS-TBNA. 11 patients with negative EBUS-TBNA underwent thoracoscopy or thoracotomy for pulmonary resection and mediastinal lymph node dissection, 9 patients were confirmed N0 by pathology, whereas 2 patients had metastatic lymph node. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of EBUS-TBNA for the mediastinal staging of lung cancer were 95.3%, 100%, 96.2%, 100%, and 81.8%, respectively. The procedure was uneventful, and there were no postoperative complications. Conclusion EBUS-TBNA is an effective and safe technique for mediastinal staging in lung cancer patients.

OBJECTIVE: The genetic studies of 13 short tandem repeats(STRs) loci in two multiplex amplification systems were carried out on Chinese Han population in Guangdong. METHODS: DNA samples from 328 unrelated individuals were screened. The 13 loci were D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, TH01, TPOX and CSF1PO. The PCR products were analyzed and genotyped by ABI 377-96 Sequencer. RESULTS: The combined power of discrimination (DP) was 0.999999999999993 and the combined paternity of exclusion(PE) was 99.999%. These 13 loci met the Hardy-Weinberg expectations. CONCLUSION The two multiplex amplification systems were very useful in forensic case investigation.
Asian People/genetics* ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Male ; Paternity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tandem Repeat Sequences

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of IL-18 and IL-18BP balance in aplastic anemia (AA).

METHODSA total of 29 AA patients and 22 controls were recruited in present research. The expressions of IL-18 and IL-18BP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expressions of IL-18 and IL-18BP were measured in all subjects using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe levels of the IL-18 in plasma of AA and normals were (365.5 ± 160.6) pg/ml and (175.9 ± 92.8) pg/ml (P < 0.01); and the expression of IL-18 in severe AA patients (441.3 ± 116.9) pg/ml were higher than that in non-severe AA patients (326.4 ± 167.0) pg/ml (P < 0.05). The level of IL-18BP was increased in plasma of AA (1788.6 ± 523.8) pg/ml than in normals (1083.6 ± 489.6) pg/ml (P < 0.05). But the ratio of IL-18/IL-18BP in AA patients was much higher than that in controls (P < 0.05). RT-PCR revealed the levels of IL-18 and IL-18BP mRNA were up-regulated in AA patients when compared to controls, but the ratio of IL-18/IL-18BP was significantly elevated in AA patients.

CONCLUSIONIL-18/IL-18BP imbalance may play an important role in pathogenesis of AA and regulating the balance of IL-18 and IL-18BP may be a therapeutic approach to AA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Aplastic ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; blood ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluated the role of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) in the diagnosis of thoracic sarcoidosis.Methods The study was retrospective,from September 2009 to June 2011,35 patients with suspected sarcoidosis,with enlarged hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes on computed tomography ( ≥1.0 cm),underwent EBUS-TBNA.Patients in whom EBUS-TBNA was nondiagnostic subsequently underwent surgical biopsy or a minimum of 6 months clinical and radiologic follow-up.Results EBUS-TBNA was performed on a total of 87 lymph node stations in 35 patients.Of the enlarged lymph nodes,64 (73.6％) were located in the mediastinal region and the remaining 23 ( 26.4％ ) around the hilar or interlobar area.A final diagnosis of sarcoidosis was made for 28 (80％) of the patients.In patients with a final diagnosis of sarcoidosis,EBUS-TBNA demonstrated noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas in 25 ( 89.3％ ) of the patients.EBUS was well tolerated by all of the patients with no complications.Conclusion EBUS-TBNA is a safe procedure with a high yield for the diagnoses of thoracic sarcoidosis of stage Ⅰ or Ⅱ.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the excitotoxicity and serum-inducible kinase (SNK) and spine-associated Rap GTPase-activating protein (SPAR) pathway in primary hippocampal neuron injury induced by glutamate and furthermore, to explore the molecular mechanism of neuroprotection of Zibu Piyin Recipe (ZBPYR) and the relationship between ZBPYR and the morphological regulation of dendritic spines.

METHODSThe serum containing ZBPYR was prepared by seropharmacology. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of mRNA for SNK, SPAR, postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits (NR1, NR2A and NR2B) in primary rat hippocampal neuron cultures after pretreatment with 10 micromol/L glutamate and ZBPYR serum.

RESULTSZBPYR serum pretreatment resulted in a significant down-regulation of glutamate-induced SNK mRNA expression (P<0.05). Significant up-regulation was seen on the mRNA expression of SPAR and PSD-95 (P<0.05). All these changes were dose-dependent. The mRNA expression of NR1, NR2A and NR2B was down-regulated to different degrees (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe mechanism of effect of ZBPYR on glutamate-induced excitotoxicity may be related to the regulation of SNK-SPAR signal pathway. ZBPYR may play a role in protecting and maintaining the normal morphology and structure of dendritic spines, which may be achieved by inhibiting the excessive activation of NMDA receptors.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Disks Large Homolog 4 Protein ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Glutamic Acid ; toxicity ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neurons ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serum

This study was aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance of IL-18, IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), IFN-γ and IL-4 secreted from splenocytes of patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in vitro. Spleen mononuclear cells (MNC) were prepared by using routine sterile method, and were cultured in RPMI 1640 complete medium containing 10 µg/ml PHA, 10% fetal calf serum at 37°C and 5% CO2. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-18 and IL-18BP secreted from MNC of ITP patients and normal controls were determined after culture for 48 hours. The results showed that after culture of spleen MNC for 48 hours, the levels of IL-18 and IFN-γ were significantly higher in patients with ITP than that in controls, but the levels of IL-18BP was not significantly elevated in ITP patients. The level of IL-4 was below the detectable limit of the assay used. It is concluded that imbalance between IL-18 and IL-18BP may play an important role in pathogenesis of ITP, and regulation of balance between IL-18 and IL-18BP may be a therapeutic approach against ITP.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; secretion ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Interleukin-18 ; secretion ; Interleukin-4 ; secretion ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; metabolism ; Spleen ; cytology ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mast cells and interleukin-9 (IL-9) in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) development and its clinical significance.

METHODSThe expression level of CD117 in tumor tissues of 32 B-NHL patients was determined by Western blot. The infiltration of CD117⁺ mast cells (MCs) in human B-NHL tumor tissues was observed by immunohistochemistry staining. To evaluate the correlations between the data from CD117⁺ MCs and biological markers of human B-NHL, a Spearman correlation coefficient (rs) was calculated. IL-9 levels in sera of B-NHL patients were measured by ELISA. Effects of IL-9 on expressions of functional genes of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of CD117 was upregulated significantly in human B-cell NHL involved tissues when compared with that of controls (0.0551±0.0064 vs 0.0192±0.0072, P<0.01). Infiltration of more CD117⁺ MCs was found in tissues from B-cell NHL subjects compared with that of controls. IL-9 level in serum samples from patients with B-cell NHL was higher than that from healthy controls. Addition of rIL-9 to the culture gave rise to increase in the purity of mouse BMMCs in the first three weeks. In vitro culture experiments showed that the addition of IL-9 could induce the differentiation of mouse BMMC and the expressions of MC-related genes, including CD117, Fcer1α, Mcpt1 and Mcpt5.

CONCLUSIONOur study showed that IL-9 promoted immune response mediated by MCs, and probably played important roles in B-NHL growth. Pharmacological or targeted inhibition of mast cells or IL-9 activity may provide new strategy for B-cell NHL therapy.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Interleukin-9 ; blood ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; pathology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; immunology ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo observe the effectiveness of conscious sedation with midazolam, propofol and sufentanil for patients in plastic surgery.

METHODS81 patients, scheduled for plastic surgery, were randomly selected to receive conscious sedation with midazolam 0.05 mg x kg(-1) and sufentanil 0.1 microg x kg(-1) intravenously, following by a continuous infusion of midazolam-propofol-sufentanil combination (midazolam 5 mg + propofol 200 mg + sufentanil 10 microg, a total of 23 ml). The initial infusion rate was 0.2 ml x kg(-1) x h(-1), and was adjusted (in 20% of initial infusion rate increment) to maintain OAA/S score as 11 during the operation. The patients' vital signs, discomfort and level of sedation were evaluated at 5 to 10 min intervals until the end of the surgery. The complications (i. e. anoxemia, apnea, restlessness, nausea and vomiting), anesthesia duration and drug consumption were recorded. The drug infusion was discontinued at 5 - 10 min before the end of the surgical procedure. On the first postoperative day, patients were asked to rate their satisfaction with the anesthetic management and whether they would choose to receive the same anesthetic technique if necessary in the future.

RESULTSThe OAA/S score decreased from 20.0 +/- 0 to 11.9 +/- 2.6 after midazolam and sufentanil IV (P < 0.05), and was maintained as 10.5-11.1 during the procedure. At the end of the procedure, the OAA/S score returned to 16.0 +/- 2.2, which was also lower significantly compared with baseline value (P < 0.05). The induction of sedation produced a significant decrease in SBP and DBP (P < 0.05) and no significant changes in heart rate (P > 0.05). At the end of the procedure, SBP, DBP and HR returned to the baseline value. The anoxemia happened in 11 cases, apnea in 5 cases and restlessness in 2. No nausea and vomiting occurred. The anesthesia duration and consumption of midazolam, propofol and sufentanil were (101.1 +/- 42.5) min, (8.4 +/- 3.7) mg, (189.1 +/- 88.7) mg and (18.2 +/- 5.6) microg respectively. In an interview on the first postoperative day, 96% (78/ 81) of the patients were satisfied with their anesthesia and were willing to receive the same anesthetic technique if necessary in the future.

CONCLUSIONConscious sedation with midazolam, propofol and sufentanil is an effective anesthetic technique for patients in plastic surgery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Conscious Sedation ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Midazolam ; administration & dosage ; Middle Aged ; Propofol ; administration & dosage ; Sufentanil ; administration & dosage ; Surgery, Plastic ; Young Adult