Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Aged ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Cardia ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; ultrastructure ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

Objective To explore the imaging characteristics of intrathoracic extramedullary hematopoiesis(EMH).Methods Clinical and imaging findings of 6 cases with EMH were retrospectively analyzed,and the imaging characteristics,diagnosis and differential diagnosis were discussed.Results Among 6 the cases of EMH,3 lesions were located in mediastinum,and the other 3 lesions in mediastinum and adjacent chest wall.Five cases appeared as globular shadows which protruded toward the lung fields on X-ray films,on plain CT scan,all the 6 lesions appeared of smooth margin and homogeneous soft-tissue density,and the CT values ranged from 38 to 45 HU.Two lesions showed slight homogeneous enhancement on postcontrast CT scan using the common CT scanner,and the CT values ranged from 61 to 65 HU.Four lesions showed significant homogeneous enhancement on postcontrast CT images using the 16-slices CT,and the CT values ranged from 72 to 83 HU.On MRI images,4 lesions showed the same signal intensity as compared to adjacent muscles on T_1WI and T_2WI,and there was slight enhancement of the lesions after intravenous contrast administration.Conclusion EMH has specific imaging findings,and accurate diagnosis can be made by combining X-ray,CT and MR imaging findings with clinical history.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the advantages of combination therapy with interferon-alpha plus nucleoside analogue-lamivudine or HBV vaccine in children with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSA total of 120 patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B were divided into three groups, 40 patients per group. Each group was treated with one of the following therapies respectively: Group A IFN-alpha 1b 10 MU/m2 three times per week (Tiw); Group B IFN-alpha 1b 10MU/m2 three times per week (Tiw) plus lamivudine 3 mg/kg for 6 months. Group C IFN-alpha 1b 10 MU/m2 three times per week (Tiw) plus HBV vaccine 30 microg one a month.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in normalizing rate of ALT among the three groups at end of treatment. There was more significant difference in negative rate (seroconversion) of serum HBV DNA and HBeAg in group B than group A and group C (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combination therapy of IFN-alpha 1b plus lamivudine seemed to be more effective than the therapy with IFN-alpha alone and the combination of IFN-alpha and HBV vaccine.

Anti-HIV Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To investigate the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related protein activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4, also known as CAMP-response element protein 2) in rat brain after rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation. Methods Using a modified multiple platform method, REM sleep deprivation for different time lengths was induced in 4 groups of rats (n=10, for 6, 12, 24, and 72 h, respectively), with 10 normal rats as the cage control and another 10 as the tank control groups. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed to detect ATF4 protein expression in the hippocampus and frontal lobe of the rats. Results No ATF4 was detected in the cage control group. ATF4 expression was detected in the brain tissues of the rats in the tank control group, and the expression peaked after REM sleep deprivation for 12 h, followed by gradual declination as the sleep deprivation was prolonged to 24 and 72 h. Conclusion REM sleep deprivation can induce endoplasmic reticulum stress. The timing of endoplasmic reticulum stress onset and the course of its development following sleep deprivation are almost identical in the frontal lobe and hippocampus of rats.

The triterpenoids of Dichrocephala benthamii were investigated by means of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Nine triterpenoids were isolated from D. benthamii. By analysis of the EI-MS, NMR spectra and comparison to the data reported in literatures, the structures of these compounds were determined as β-amyrin formiate (1), β-amyrin acetate (2), β-amyrenol (3), β-amyrone (4), 3β-hydroxy-olean-11, 13 (18)-diene (5) , Δ12-oleanene (6) , friedelin (7), dammaradienyl acetate (8), epi-friedeband (9), respectively. Compounds 1-8 were isolated for the first time form this genus, compound 9 was isolated for the first time from this plant, whereas β-amyrin formiate (1) was a new natural product.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo compare the properties and clinical outcomes of arthroscopic reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with preservation of remnant through outside-in and transtibial tunel.

METHODSFrom June 2005 to January 2012, 145 patients were treated with arthroscopic reconstruction of ACL with preservation of remnant. Among the patients, 88 patients were treated with outside-in techniques (outside-in group), including 55 males and 33 females, ranging in age from 18 to 52 years, with a mean of (29.22 +/- 7.31) years; 57 patients were treated with transtibial technique (transtibial group), including 35 males and 22 females, ranging in age from 18 to 51 years, with a mean of (29.28 +/- 8.07) years. The Lysholm, VAS and IKDC scores were compared between two groups before operation, after operation and at the latest follow-up time.

RESULTSThe average operation time was (76.94 +/- 10.83) min in the outside-in group, and (70.35 +/- 10.11) min in the transbibial group, there was a significant difference between two groups. There was no significant difference of hydrops articuli scores at the early stage between the two groups (P = 0.065). At follow-up from 18 to 60 months, there were great improvements in the knee stabilities in each group compared with the preoperative data respectively. The Lysholm score improved from 54.75 +/- 10.58 preoperatively to 95.80 +/- 5.16 at the follow-up in the outside-in group; and improved from 52.51 +/- 11.38 preoperatively to 94.86 +/- 5.50 at follow-up in the transtibial group. Additionally, IKDC grades also improved in both groups. However, no significant differences were seen in stabilities shown by pivot shift test, Lachman test and anterior drawer test. And there also no significant differences of Lysholm scores and IKDC grades between two groups after operation.

CONCLUSIONThe outside-in technique has advantages to create an anatomical femoral tunnel easily with minimal intra-articular interference, and disadvantages of complicated manipulation. The transtibial technique is easy to operate and gain time. Using either of responding technique according to the actual situation, satisfactory outcome could be archived.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; surgery ; Arthroscopy ; methods ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Injuries ; surgery ; Knee Joint ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVESpinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease. It is characterized by selective loss of spinal cord motor neurons leading to muscle atrophy and is the result of mutation or deletion of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene. Currently, there are no effective therapies for this disease. Stem cell therapy is a new prospect for SMA patients. This study aimed to investigate whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be differentiated into neuron-like cells (NLCs) in SMA patients in order to provide a basis for stem cell therapy for SMA.

METHODSSMA was definitively diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymerphhism (PCR-RFLP). Two children without SMN1 gene deletion were used as controls. MSCs were isolated and purified from SMA patients and controls, and induced into NLCs by bFGF and baicalin. The NLCs were identified by immunofluourescence staining with NSE and NF monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTSSMA patients showed the deletion of SMN1 exon 7. The morphous and proliferative speed of MSCs between SMA patients and controls were similar. After 6-day induction, MSCs of the two groups displayed similar morphology to that of neurons, with long processes forming extensive networks. NSE and NF, the neuronal markers, were detected in the differentiated NLCs of the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSSMN1 deletion appears not to affect the proliferation and differentiation of MSCs. MSCs of SMA patients can be differentiated into NLCs.

Adolescent ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; pathology ; Neurons ; cytology

Animals ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Protein Precursors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology

To explore the effect of a tyrosine-kinase inhibitor STI571 and P21(WAF) gene clone on the proliferation, cycle, apoptosis of leukemia cell line K562, P21(WAF) gene was obtained by RT-PCR, and its sequence was approved to be correct, then P21-pcDNA3.1 vector was constructed and transfected into K562 cell line. After selected with G418, P21-pcDNA3.1-K562 cell clone that stably expression P21(WAF) was isolated. P21(WAF) protein was identified by Western blot. The survival rate were tested by MTT. Cell cycle and apoptosis were tested by flow cytometry. The results showed that the expression of P21(WAF) protein could be detected by Western blot in P21-pcDNa3.1-K562 cells. A strong inhibition of cell proliferation was observed in P21-pcDNA3.1-K562 cells as compared with that of the control. The cells cycle were arrested in G(0)/G(1) phase. The percentage of apoptosis was declined slightly after P21-pcDNA3.1-K562 cells were combined with STI571, meanwhile its survival rate declined more slowly than that of K562 cell with STI571. In conclusion, P21(WAF) inhibits the proliferation of K562 cell, meanwhile slightly inhibits its apoptosis induced by STI571and decrease its sensitivity to STI571.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Benzamides ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cloning, Molecular ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Shenkangwan on the expressions of angiotensin II (AngII) and its type I receptor (AT(1)R) and the renalprotection mechanism of Shenkangwan in rats with early diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODSThe rat models of DN established by a single injection of streptozotocin were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely the model group, Shenkangwan treatment group, irbesartan treatment group, and Shenkangwan and irbesartan treatment group, with normal rats as the control. All the rats received daily gavage for 8 weeks. The urinary protein quality in 24 h and plasma and renal contents of AngII were measured. The expressions of AT1R at the protein and mRNA levels in the kidney tissues were measured by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The pathological changes of the kidney were observed microscopically.

RESULTSIn DN rats, Shenkangwan reduced the urinary protein quantity in 24 h and the contents of AngII in the plasma and kidney tissues, decreased the renal expressions of AT(1)R protein and mRNA, and alleviated the morphological damage of the kidney.

CONCLUSIONSShenkangwan offers renalprotection against DN probably by reducing the contents of AngII in the plasma and kidney tissues and inhibiting renal AT(1)R expressions.

Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; genetics ; metabolism