The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) include a diverse groups of clonal and potentially malignant bone marrow disorders. Evidences exist that microenvironment cells from MDS marrow show functional abnormalities, which may be relevant to the incidence of such a disease. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a very important component of hematopoietic microenvironment. This study was supposed to investigate the biological characteristics and functions of MSC derived from patients with MDS in low-risk. MSCs from bone marrow samples of 11 low-risk MDS patients were isolated, cultured and expanded. Morphology, immunophenotype and osteoblasts differentiation were analyzed. Their capacity of proliferation and hematopoietic supporting in vitro were measured. A real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method (RQ RT-PCR) was used for detecting the expression levels of relative cytokines and chemokines in MSC. MSCs from healthy donors were used as controls. The results showed that the culture-expanded cells from MDS patients displayed a typical fibroblast-like morphology. Cells were positive for SH2 (CD105), SH3 (CD73), Thy-1 (CD90), while negative for CD34 and CD45. After induction, these cells could differentiate into osteoblasts. The proliferative ability of MSCs in MDS patients were not different from those of MSC isolated from normal bone marrow (p > 0.05), however, their capacity of hematopoietic supporting in vitro were significantly weaker (p < 0.05). RQ RT-PCR detection indicated that the SDF-1 gene expression level in MSCs of low-risk MDS patients was significantly higher than that in MSC derived from healthy donors (p < 0.01). It is concluded that the abnormal function of MSC influences the regulation of hemotopoiesis in the bone marrow microenvironment of MDS patients. It is worthy to further investigate the new clue in etiological mechanism and therapeutic strategies for MDS.
Bone Marrow Cells ; pathology ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; pathology ; physiology ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Risk Factors

Objective To explore the effect of Internet addiction on adolescent's attention.Methods Neuropsychological evaluations of attention function were done separately in 18 adolescents who met the diagnostic criterion for Internet addiction and in other 18 ones without Intemet addition tendency as a control group. With auditory and visual oddball paradigms, and stimulated by standard,target and novel stimuli, EEG was recorded and analyzed to get the event-related potential P300 and compare the latency and amplitude of P3a and P3b between the 2 groups. Results Compared with the controls, the attention of Internet addiction group was decreased significantly in neuropsychological evaluations. The latency of P3a potentials induced by novel stimulus was much shorter and the amplitude of it was higher in addiction group than in control group, but the latency of P3b potentials generated by target stimulus was prolonged and the amplitude decreased obviously. Conclusions Intemet addiction can cause damage to adolescent's attention function. There is a correlation between the attention impairment and the change of P300 potentials.

Objective To evaluate the effect of surgical excision of the anterior temporal lobe and hippocampus on the cognitive function of patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy. Methods Nineteen patients with refractory temporal epilepsy received surgical excision of the anterior temporal lobe and hippocampus, and cognitive neuropsychologieal assessments were conducted, 3 and 6 months after the surgery, to evaluate the changes in the patinets' cognitive functions. Results Satisfactory effects were achieved in these patients after the operations. One patient showed temporary speech disorder, and two exhibited temporary euphoria. Patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy had severe cognitive dysfunctions involving especially in the intelligence, attention and memory, which were not aggravated after the operation, Conversely, the operation resulted in gradual improvement of some of the cognitive functions in these patients. Conclusion Patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy have cognitive dysfunction, and surgical excision of the anterior temporal lobe and hippocampus can cure or reduce seizure of temporal lobe epilepsy and improve the cognitive dysfunctions to some extent.

OBJECTIVETo further understand the clinical features of non-gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and investigate its suitable treatment.

METHODSA retrospective survey of 57 non-gastric MATL lymphoma patients pathologically confirmed in our hospital from 1999 to 2011.

RESULTSThe median age was 58 years (range 14-86 years). Common presenting sites of non-gastric MALT lymphoma included lungs and upper respiratory tract (17 patients, 29.8%), intestinal tracts (16 patients,28.1%), orbital and ocular adnexal (7 patients, 12.3%), and salivary glands (8 patients, 14.0%). Stage Ⅰ-Ⅱdisease presented in 35 patients (61.4%), stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ disease in 22 patients (38.6%). A total of 26 patients had nodal involvement and 7 patients multiple organ involvement. Regimens included surgery alone, chemotherapy alone, surgery followed by chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. The complete response (CR) rate was 66.0% and the overall response rate 85.7%. At a median follow-up of 52 months, the 5-year overall survival (OS) and the 5-year progression free survival (PFS) were 91.6% and 77.7%, respectively. The 5-year survival rate of surgery, chemotherapy, surgery+chemotherapy, surgery + chemotherapy + radiotherapy groups were 87.5%, 100.0%, 90.2% and 100.0%, respectively, without significant differences. The 5-year PFS of the four groups were 62.3%, 80.0%, 90.2% and 75.0% respectively.

CONCLUSIONNon-gastric MALT lymphoma is characterized by disseminated onset, favorable response to treatments and good outcomes. There is no statistically significant difference in the overall survival of the various treatments. But the recurrence rate of surgery alone is relatively high (22.3%).

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Animals ; COS Cells ; Female ; Genetic Therapy ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; immunology ; therapy ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

BACKGROUNDMinimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) has received increasing attention for malignant thyroid diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of MIVAT with conventional open thyroidectomy (CT) for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).

METHODSThirty-one patients were treated with MIVAT and 37 with CT. Their pathological characteristics, surgical complications, 5-year postoperative thyroglobulin (TG) and ultrasonic results were followed up.

RESULTSAll the patients took levothyroxine for suppressing thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) after surgery, and were followed up with measurement of serum TG and neck ultrasonography at intervals of 6 or 12 months. There was no statistically significant difference between the CT and MIVAT groups for sex ratio, operation time, positive lymph nodes, complications and prognosis, but the MIVAT group had better cosmetic results.

CONCLUSIONSMIVAT did not differ significantly from CT for PTMC after 5 years follow-up, but it did have better cosmetic results. MIVAT is a safe and valid surgical technique for selected cases.

Adult ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; surgery ; Thyroidectomy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Treatment Outcome ; Video-Assisted Surgery ; methods

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To study the potential interaction between PrP protein.

METHODSThe supernatant of health and scrapie-infected hamsters' brain homogenate was prepared, while various recombinant 14-3-3beta or PrP proteins were purified. The possible molecular interaction between 14-3-3beta proteins and PrP was tested by pull-down and immunoprecipitation assays.

RESULTSBoth native PrP(c) and its protease-resistant isoform (PrP(Sc)) formed complexes with 14-3-3beta. The full-length recombinant 14-3-3beta proteins interacted with PrP. The domain responsible for interacting 14-3-3beta was located at N-terminal of 14-3-3beta (residues 1 to 38).

CONCLUSIONThe studies of the association of PrP with 14-3-3beta may further provide insight into a potential role of 14-3-3beta in the biological function of PrP and the pathogenesis of prion disease.

14-3-3 Proteins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Brain Chemistry ; Cricetinae ; Endopeptidases ; metabolism ; PrPSc Proteins ; metabolism ; Prion Diseases ; pathology ; Prions ; metabolism ; Scrapie ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the incidence, pathogenesis, risk factors and effective treatment of pulmonary complications after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT).

METHODSPulmonary complications in 70 patients received allo-PBSCT were analyzed.

RESULTSThirty one episodes were observed in 26 patients. Among them episodes were infectious complications, including bacteria pneumonia, pulmonary fungus disease, CMV interstitial pneumonia and tuberculosis, some cases were caused by two pathogens, and 11 episodes were noninfectious complications, including late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications (LONIPCs) (n=9), pulmonary edema (n=1) and interstitial pneumonia (n=1). The overall mortality was 12.9%. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis without MTX, severe acute GVHD and extensive chronic GVHD were high risk factors for pulmonary complications and advanced disease at transplantation, extensive chronic GVHD were significantly associated with the incidence of LONIPCs.

CONCLUSIONPulmonary disease is the main complication occurred in patients undergoing allo-PBSCT. It is of greatly importance to treat pathogens specifically and diagnose LONIPCs in its early stage.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematologic Diseases ; surgery ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects

The aim of study was to explore the incidence, risk factors, outcome and efficacious treatment of late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications (LNIPC) after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (allo-PBSCT). Seventy patients received allo-PBSCT were analyzed retrospectively. The results showed that 9 out of 63 patients surviving more than 3 months occurred late-onset noninfectious pulmonary complications (14.3%). Five out of the 9 patients developed secondary pulmonary infections. In 4 patients, LNIPC caused death directly. Advanced stage of disease at transplantation and extensive chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) happened in association with LNIPC. However, other transplantation-related factors including age at transplantation, gender of patient, conditioning regimen, HLA matching and GVHD prophylaxis were not significantly correlated with the incidence of LNIPC. It is concluded that performing pulmonary function test (PFT) and thoracic computer tomography should be taken routinely after transplantation. Most patients who get correct and early diagnosis for LNIPC will show a positive response to prednisone with or without CsA.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Cyclosporine ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; classification ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Transplantation, Homologous

Background/Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. While existing studies have examined cardiac remodeling in NAFLD, there has been less emphasis on the development of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke. We sought to conduct a meta-analysis to quantify the prevalence, risk factors, and degree of risk increment of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke in NAFLD. Methods: Embase and Medline were searched for articles relating to NAFLD, carotid atherosclerosis, and stroke. Proportional data was analysed using a generalized linear mixed model. Pairwise meta-analysis was conducted to obtain odds ratio or weighted mean difference for comparison between patients with and without NAFLD. Results: From pooled analysis of 30 studies involving 7,951 patients with NAFLD, 35.02% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.36–43.53%) had carotid atherosclerosis with an odds ratio of 3.20 (95% CI, 2.37–4.32; P<0.0001). Pooled analysis of 25,839 patients with NAFLD found the prevalence of stroke to be 5.04% (95% CI, 2.74–9.09%) with an odds ratio of 1.88 (95% CI, 1.23–2.88; P=0.02) compared to non-NAFLD. The degree of steatosis assessed by ultrasonography in NAFLD was closely associated with risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke. Older age significantly increased the risk of developing carotid atherosclerosis, but not stroke in NAFLD. Conclusions This meta-analysis shows that a stepwise increment of steatosis of NAFLD can significantly increase the risk of carotid atherosclerosis and stroke development in NAFLD. Patients more than a third sufferred from carotid atherosclerosis and routine assessment of carotid atherosclerosis is quintessential in NAFLD.