Aneurysm, Dissecting ; genetics ; Aortic Aneurysm ; genetics ; Diseases in Twins ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Objective The 4-and 16-hydroxylated metabolites of estrogens have been implicated in carcinogenesis,whereas its 2-hydroxylated metabolites have been shown to have antiangiogenic effects.We aimed to examine whether the polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)involved in the estrogen metabolism are associated with endometrial cancer risk.Methods Polymerase chain reaction- restrictive fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP)analysis was used to study the variant allele frequency distributions of COMT Val158Met genetic polymorphism in a population based case-control study with 132 endometrial cancer cases and 110 controls.Odds ratios(OR)and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression after adjustment for known or suspected risk factors for endometrial cancer.Results The most frequent genotype was COMT~(Val/Val)(47.2%,52/110)in control group and COMT~(Mal/Met)(58.3%,77/132)in endometrial cancer group.The difference between the two groups was of statistical significance(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rhein on the development of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSThe animal models were made with carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) mixed with vegetable oil (3/2, v/v), which was injected subcutaneously twice a week for 6 weeks, and with 5% ethanol for free drinking water. At the same time, Rhein was administrated at the dose of 25 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg once a day for 6 weeks. The changes of both biochemical markers, such as the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hyaluronic acid (HA), procollagen type III (PCIII) in serum and SOD, malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, and related histopathological parametres were determined.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, there were three kinds of changes in the larger quantity of rhein treated group. (1) The levels of ALT, HA, PCIII in serum and MDA in liver homogenate were decreased significantly (from 150 U/L +/- 16 U/L to 78 U/L +/- 18 U/L, 321 microg/L +/- 97 microg/L to 217 microg/L +/- 75 microg/L, 31 microg/L +/- 14 microg/L to 16 microg/L +/- 6 microg/L and 3.67 nmol/mg +/- 0.68 nmol/mg to 1.88 nmol/mg +/- 0.34 nmol/mg, respectively, t > or 2.977, P<0.01). However the level of SOD in liver was increased (from 62.45 NU/mg +/- 8.74 NU/mg to 91.26 NU/mg +/- 14.04 NU/mg, t=4.453, P<0.01). (2) The expressions of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in liver were markedly reduced (P<0.05 and P<0.01). (3) The collagen staining positive area was decreased and the grade of fibrosis was reduced significantly in liver (P<0.05 and P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONRhein can protect hepatocyte from injury and prevent the progress of hepatic fibrosis in rats, which may associate with that rhein plays a role in antioxidation, anti-inflammation, inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 and suppressing the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Collagen ; analysis ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of the effect of low-frequency rotary constant magnetic field on high-fat and high-protein diet-induced fatty liver in rats.

METHODSFatty liver model was established in SD rats by feeding on a high-fat and high-protein diet daily. The enzyme activity changes in the serum and liver homogenate were detected at 10, 14, and 18 weeks, and the pathological changes of the liver were observed with optical and electron microscopy.

RESULTSIn magnetic field intervention group, the concentration of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase were significantly decreased, and the activity of lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, superoxide dismutase and the concentration of malondialdehyde in the liver homogenate were significantly increased. Under optical microscope and electron microscope, the rats in the model group showed diffusive adipose degeneration in the hepatic cells with large lipid droplets, which became large vacuoles after fat extraction, indicating fatty necrosis. In magnetic field intervention group, remarkably smaller lipid droplets and lessened hepatic cell adipose degeneration were observed.

CONCLUSIONLow-frequency rotary constant magnetic field has beneficial effect on fat metabolism, leading to reduced lipid peroxidation and structural recovery of the degenerated hepatic cells.

Animals ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Dietary Proteins ; administration & dosage ; Fatty Liver ; etiology ; pathology ; therapy ; Magnetic Field Therapy ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the hematopoietic pathophysiology of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) at stem/progenitor cell level by analyzing the gene expression profiles associated with hematopoiesis.

METHODSThe differentially expressed genes which were involved in the hematopoiesis were screened by microarray using CD34(+) cells from MDS patients firstly. RQ-PCR was then applied to validate the screened genes using CD34(+) cells from MDS-RA patients who had normal karyotype. The linkages with hematopoiesis among these validated genes were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the differentially expressed genes in CD34(+) cells of MDS-RA patients, Rap1GAP was up-regulated significantly (P < 0.01). Cadherins, which can interplay with Rap1, including N-cadherin and E-cadherin, were down-regulated significantly (P < 0.01). β-catenin, a downstream effector of cadherins, was highly expressed in MDS-RA patients (P < 0.01). c-myc binding protein was down-regulated (P < 0.01), and c-myc promoter binding protein was up-regulated (P < 0.01). Rac1, Rac2 and Cdc42, which belong to RhoGTPases family and are associated with the cell morphology and hematopoiesis, were all expressed highly in MDS-RA patients (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal expression of cadherin, β-catenin and c-myc associated genes were closely related to the dysplastic hematopoiesis of MDS. The down regulation of cadherin was associated with the positive feedback mechanism between Rap1 and cadherin. The aberrant expression of Rac1, Rac2 and Cdc42 may contribute to the morphological dysplasia of MDS.

Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Diagnosis, Differential ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Parasomnias ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Remission, Spontaneous ; Seizures ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Sleep Stages ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF)-A, -C and -D and their prognostic significance and relation to angio- and lymphangiogenesis in gastric cancer.

METHODSThe expression of VEGF-A, -C and -D in 123 primary gastric cancers was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The lymphatic vessel density (LVD) and microvessel density (MVD) were assessed after immunohistochemical double-staining with D2-40 and CD34, respectively. The correlation between the expression of those VEGF factors and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed by univariate method. The overall survival was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was carried out using Cox proportion hazard model.

RESULTSThe positive expression rate of VEGF-A, -C and -D in primary gastric cancer samples were 64.2%, 65.9% and 41.5%, respectively. High expression of VEGF-A, or -C or -D, or any two of them was correlated with high LVD (P < 0.05). High expression of both VEGF-A and -C was associated with high MVD, lymph node metastasis, LVI and MVI (P < 0.05). Both VEGF-C and -D high expression was correlated with LVI and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The patients with high expression of these factors had a statistically shorter overall survival (P < 0.05). The patients with both VEGF-A and -C expression had the shortest survival (56 months). Multivariate analysis showed that VEGF-A high expression, MVD, lymph node metastasis and depth of tumor invasion were independent survival predictors (P = 0.033, 0.002, 0.019 and P < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONHigh expression of both VEGF-A and -C imply high potential of lymphangiogenesis, metastasis and poorer survival in gastric cancer patients. High expression of VEGF-C and -D may induce lymphangiogenesis and promote lymph node metastasis, but only VEGF-A is an independent predictor of survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Lymphatic Vessels ; pathology ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D ; metabolism

To detect chromosome translocation t(11;18) (q21;q21) and the nuclear expression of bcl-10 in gastrointestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in Chinese, a possible API2-MALT fusion transcript specific to t(11; 18) (q21; q21) in tumors from 42 cases of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma (29 cases of low grade MALT lymphoma, 13 cases of transformed MALT lymphoma) and 40 cases of diffuse large B cell lymphoma was examined by means of RT-PCR and proved by DNA-sequencing. Bcl-10 expression was examined by immunohistochemical method. The results showed that t(11;18) (q21;q21) was 14% positive in cases of low grade MALT lymphomas and 46% positive in transformed MALT lymphomas, but none in cases of DLBCL. Bcl-10 nuclear expression was seen 61% in low grade MALT and 69% in transformed MALT lymphoma. It was suggested that t(11;18) (q21;q21) was related to the prognosis and development of highly advanced MALT lymphoma but not relevant to DLBCL. Bcl-10 nuclear expressions were not significantly different between these two groups, which remains to be explained.
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; B-Cell CLL-Lymphoma 10 Protein ; Carrier Proteins ; analysis ; Cell Nucleus ; chemistry ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; chemistry ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the features of histopathologic and ultrastructural pathologic changes of liver biopsy in patients with infantile cholestatic disease, and to investigate its diagnostic significance combining with the clinical data.

METHODSThirty-six children diagnosed as infantile cholestatic disease and received liver biopsy in Chongqing Medical University Children's Hospital from Jun 2007 to Oct 2008 were enrolled and the pathologic and ultrastructural pathologic changes of liver were analyzed.

RESULTSMorphologic changes under light microscope in liver tissues included hepatocyte swelling, hepatocyte denaturation, hepatocyte necrosis, multinucleated giant cell formation, bile duct proliferation, fiber tissues proliferation and inflammatory cells infiltration in liver lobules and portal regions. The characteristics of cholestasis including intralobular cholestasis, acinus formation, feather-like cytoplasmic filaments and bile stasis in bile canaliculi were observed. The morphologic changes of biliary atresia were observed in 7 cases whose image investigations showed no obstruction of biliary tract. Nuclear changes, resolution of cytoplasm, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen fiber proliferation and increased number of lysosomes were observed under electromicroscope. Two cases of glycogen storage disease, 1 case of Niemann-Pick disease and 1 case of lipid storage disease with unknown cause were confirmed by the combination of histological changes and clinical manifestations.

CONCLUSIONCommon pathologic changes of liver tissues existed under light microscope or electroscope. The diagnosis of hereditary metabolic disorders could be made increasingly by application of these two technologies in clinical practice. It is difficult to diagnose biliary atresia in early childhood by image investigations and the pathological changes of liver tissues are helpful.

Cholestasis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo research the effect of total saponins of Yinfenglun on uterine.

METHODModels of uterine inflammation were established to observe the effect of total saponins of Yinfenglun. Uterine contractive effects were studied on rats in vitro and on rabbit in vivo. Weight of uterus and levels of estrogen and progestogen were determined.

RESULTTotal Saponins of Yinfenglun had the ameliorated tendency to metritis of model rats, and increased the contractive range and motorricity of uterine of rats in vitro and of rabbit in vivo. The effect to uterus in vivo maintained longer. Total saponins of Yinfenglun could increase the weight of uterus and have an increased tendency on the content of estrogen, but not the level of progestogen.

CONCLUSIONThere are obvious effects on uterine of total saponins of Yinfenglun, which are related to its clinical use.

Animals ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Lamiaceae ; chemistry ; Mice ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Progestins ; blood ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Uterine Contraction ; drug effects ; Uterine Diseases ; pathology ; Uterus ; anatomy & histology