BACKGROUND: Parameters of platelet can reflect functions of coagulation. Granule membrane protein-140 (GMP-140), which is also called P-Selectin, in α-granules of platelets can reflect activities of platelet. Dysfunction of blood sugar and blood lipid in diabetic patients can result in complications such as thrombotic diseases.OBJECTIVE: To analyze the variation regulation of the platelet parameters and GMP-140 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.DESIGN: A case-control study.SETTING:Department of Clinical Laboratory and Department of Endocrinology, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology.PARTICIPANTS: From March to April 2005, forty-five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who were treated at the Department of Endocrinology,Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, were enrolled as diabetic group, and 45 healthy people, who were checked with health examination at the same period,were selected as control group. They all joined the experiment voluntarily. METHODS: Changes of quantity of blood platelet, mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and platelett-large cell ratio (PLCR) were analyzed with blood cell counter. GMP-140 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), meanwhile, compared with those of the healthy people.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Contents of the parameters of platelets and GMP-140 of subjects in the two group s.RESULTS: A total of 90 cases without drop out, 45 cases in the diabetic group and control group, respectively, were involved in the result analysis.①Comparison of the content of GMP-140 in the two groups: It was significantly higher in the diabetic group than that in the control group [(28.8±10.3) ,(9.1±5.6)μg/L(t=2.37,P ＜ 0.01 )]. ②Comparison of parameters of blood platelet of subjects of the two groups: The MPV, PDW and P-LCR in patients of the diabetic group were markedly higher than those in the control group (t=2.02, 2.02, 2.02, P ＜ 0.01 ), while the blood platelets (PLT)was dramatically lower than that in the control group (t=2.15, P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: The MPV, PDW, P-LCR and the content of GMP-140 of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus significantly increase, while the PLT decreases, which indicate that platelet activity enhances and the consumption of platelet increases in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE:To study the application and development of pedicle screws for the internal fixation of thoracolumbar vertebra fracture and to evaluate the biocompatibility. METHODS:A computer-based online search was conducted in Medline database and CNKI with the OBJECTIVE:To study the application and development of pedicle screws for the internal fixation of thoracolumbar vertebra fracture and to evaluate the biocompatibility. METHODS:A computer-based online search was conducted in Medline database and CNKI with theof "pedicle screws,thoracolumbar,fractures,biocompatibility" in both Chinese and English from 1989 to June 2009. A total of 32 out of 57 articles were included according to inclusion and exclusion criteria to summarize the treatment of thoracolumbar vertebra fracture using pedicle screws and the complication prevention and cure of pedicle screws,and to investigate clinical application,biocompatibility,and prevention of interruption of pedicle screws. RESULTS:Internal fixation of posterior pedicle screws was an effective method to treat thoracolumbar vertebra fracture; however,breakage of pedicle screws was easily caused following internal fixation. Pedicle screws combined with implantation of autogenous bone or artificial materials into cavity of injured vertebra could effectively relieve loosening and interruption of implants; however,the price was expensive. Sufficient bone graft for internal fixation and implant dislodgment following bone fracture healing might effectively prevent interruption of internal fixation device. Pedicle screw intension of stainless steel materials was strong,but the biocompatibility was poor. While,the biocompatibility of titanium materials was great,but the intension was weak,thus the pedicle screws were easily broken. CONCLUSION:Internal fixation of pedicle screws is an effective method to treat thoracolumbar vertebra fracture. However,the biocompatibility still needs to be improved. Titanium pedicle screws have a good biocompatibility but poor intension; however,stainless steel pedicle screws have a good intension but poor biocompatibility.

The premature ovarian failure(POF) may be inherited as an X-linked condition.Among genetic causes,X monosomy or X deletions and translocations are known to be responsible for POF.The X chromosome disorders such as mutations of the human bone morphogenetic protein-15 gene,the zinc finger protein gene,the X-inactivation-specific transcript gene,the drosophila melanogaster diaphanous gene,the X 2 linked aminopeptidaseP enzyme gene,the fragile X mental retardation gene are associated with POF.

BackgroundOur previous research and other reports disclosed that the expression of tissue transglutaminase(tTG)in lens epithelial cells(LECs) of patients with cataract is enhanced,indicating tTG is related to formation of posterior capsule opacification(PCO).ObjectivePresent study is to observe the effect of tTG specific inhibitor monodansyl-cadaverineon(MDC) on the expression of fibronectin(FN) and collagen Ⅳ(Col-Ⅳ) induced by TGF-β_2 in human LECs.MethodsHLE-B3 was cultured in vitro in DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum and then were divided into 5 groups.The free-serum culture was used as normal control group.Free-serum culture containing 10μg/L TGF-β_2 was utilized as treatment group.10μg/L TGF-β_2 plused 100μmol/L,200μmol/L and 400μmol/L MDC respectively in different concentrations as MDC-treatment group.Semiquantitative RT-PCR was used to assay the expression of tTG,FN and Col-Ⅳ in HLE-B3.A(tTG/β-actin),A(FN/β-actin) and A(Col-Ⅳ/β-actin) was calculated separately as the detecting indexes.ResultstTG,FN and Col-Ⅳ were positively expressed in cultured HLE-B3.The expression levels of tTG,FN and Col-Ⅳ in HLE-B3 were remarkably increased in the group with 10μg/L TGF-β_2 compared with normal control group(t=33.95,P<0.01;t=38.24,P<0.01;t=13.48,P<0.01).The expression levels of FN and Col-Ⅳ were gradually declined in 100,200 and 400μmol/L MDC groups in comparison with TGF-β_2 treatment(P<0.01).The significant differences were also found in the expressions of FN and Col-Ⅳ in HLE-B3 among 100,200 and 400μmol/L MDC groups(P<0.01).ConclusionMDC inhibits the expression of FN and Col-Ⅳ induced by TGF-β_2 in human LECs at a concentration-dependent manner.tTG may be involved in the formation of posterior capsule opacification through up-regulating the expressions of FN and Col-Ⅳ in human LECs.

The hepatocyte growth factor ( HGF) is a multifunctional growth factor, which produces multiple biological effects by binding to the c-Met acceptor. This article reviews the biological properties of HGF, particularly those correlated with male reproduction, including its abilities to promote testis embryonic development, spermatogenesis, and testosterone synthesis of Leydig cells. HGF may provide a new insight into the treatment of male hypogonadism and infertility.
Embryonic Development ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; physiology ; Humans ; Leydig Cells ; metabolism ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; metabolism ; Reproduction ; physiology ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Testis ; embryology ; Testosterone ; biosynthesis

Objective To investigate the imaging findings of primary bone malignant fibrous histiocytoma (PBMFH) in long bone. Methods MRI and XV ray examinations were performed in 10 patients with PBMFH in long bone confirmed by histology. CT scans were performed in 6 cases. Results Nine cases had single and 1 case had multiple lesions of single bone. Seven cases showed osteolytic bone destruction, and 3 cases showed mixed bone destruction. Only 1 case showed periosteal reaction. Gross bony ridge was seen in 3 cases on CT scan. All the patients demonstrated isointensity or hypointensity on T1WI, and slight hyperintensity signal on T2WI. Necrosis was seen in the lesion of 10 cases. Four cases showed obvious but heterogeneous enhancement after contrast medium injection. Eight cases had soft tissue mass beyond the scope of bone destruction. Conclusions Some imaging features may suggest the diagnosis of PBMFH in long bone.

Objective To investigate the morphological changes of bone marrow megakaryocytes in patients with bacterial and fungal infection.Methods Totally 76 patients with microorganism infection from the Second Affiliated Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 2008 to August 2009 were enrolled,including 56 bacteria infected patients and 20 fungal infected patients.All patients received bone marrow examinations,and were positive in microorganism culture.Thirty subjects without infection,hematological disease and other severe diseases were randomly selected as controls.The number and function of megakaryocytes were examined retrospectively, and the size, nuclear lobulation, and vacuolar degeneration of megakaryocytes were quantitative analyzed and compared among the groups.Results The size,nuclear lobulation,vacuolar degeneration,and Yat nuclear of megakaryocytes in bacterial infected group were 2.20 ±0.21,2.11 ±0.23,0.51 ±0.11 and 0.74 ±0.11 respectively,those in fungal infected group were 2.21 ±0.16,2.10 ±0.19,0.52 ±0.10 and 0.79 ±0.10 respectively;while those in control group were 1.40 ±0.10,1.36 ±0.12,0.28 ±0.06 and 0.54 ±0.09 respectively.The differences between bacterial infected group and control were of statistical significance(t values were 14.52,12.19,9.33 and 6.61 respectively,P ＜ 0.05),and the differences between fungal infected group and control were of statistical significance(t values were 16.27,12.34,7.85 and 6.49 respectively,P ＜ 0.05).The size,nuclear lobulation,and vacuoles of megakaryocytes in gram-negative(G-)bacteria group were 2.29 ±0.20,2.22 ±0.26 and 0.57 ±0.10,while those in the gram-positive(G+)bacteria group were 2.13 ±0.20,2.04 ±0.18 and 0.46 ±0.09,and the differences were also significant(t values were 2.07,3.03and 3.56 respectively,P ＜ 0.05).The production of platelet by megakaryocytes in bacterial infected group,in fungal infected and the control were 31.4 ±7.6,32.4 ±6.4 and 41.3 ±5.5,and the differences between bacterial infected group and control,fungal infected group and control were significant(t values were 4.78and 3.98 respectively,P ＜ 0.05).The production of platelet in G-bacteria group was 28.0 ± 6.7,while that in G + bacteria group was 34.4 ± 7.2,and the difference was also of statistical significance(t = 2.41,P ＜0.05). Conclusion Bacterial infected patients have increased megakaryocytes cell body,nuclear lobulation,obvious vacuolar degeneration,Yat nuclear and decreased platelet production function,which are more significant in G- bacteria infected group.

Circulating cell-free nucleic acids are defined as extracellular DNAs or RNAs in blood with physiological or pathological origins. Previous studies showed that the concentration of cell-free nucleic acids in the blood of cancer patients is significantly higher than in healthy people. Further studies showed that the genetic and epigenetic alterations of circulating cell-free nucleic acids are relevant to cancer development and progression, including mutation, hypermethylation, loss of heterozygosity, change of integrity, and abnormal expression of microRNAs. Detection of circulating cell-free nucleic acids shows promising potential in cancer screening, diagnosis, personalized treatment, and prognosis.

To investigate the effect of proteasome inhibitor MG132 on the apoptosis of bovine lens epithelial cells (BLECs), the cells were treated with MG132 at different concentrations for12, 24 and 36 h. The cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay and the effect of MG132 on the apoptosis of BLECs was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that after treatment for the same period, the inhibitory effect of MG132 on BLECs proliferation was enhanced with the increment of the concentration of MG132 (0, 2, 5, 10, mumol/L) (P<0.05). The 50% inhibiting concentration (IC(50)) was 2.03 mumol/L when the BLECs were treated with MG132 for 36 h. MG132 also induced the apoptosis of BLECs obviously. FCM showed that the apoptosis index of the cells treated by MG132 at 2 mumol/L for 12 h was (20.24+/-1.51)%, and that of the control was (0.98+/-0.20)% respectively (P<0.01, n=3). It was concluded that MG132 could lead to apoptosis of BLECs. The decrease of proteasome activity may play an important role in the formation and development of cataract.

A few of patients with lumbar disk herniation having a separation of clinical symptoms and signs and imaging features, can be found in clinic, but the traditional theory of direct mechanical compression of nerve roots by herniated nucleus pulposus can't be used to explain this abnormal protrusion of lumbar intervertebral disc. The clinical symptoms and signs of the atypical lumbar disk herniation are affected by multiple factors. The indirect mechanical compression and distraction effect of spinal nerve roots may play an important role in the occurrence of the separation, and the appearance of abnormal clinical symptoms and signs is closely related to the migration of herniated nucleus pulposus tissue, transmission of injury information in the nervous system, and the complex interactions among the nucleus pulposus, dural sac and nerve roots. Moreover,the changes of microcirculation and inflammation secondary to the herniated nucleus pulposus tissue, the hyperosteogeny in the corresponding segment of the lumbar vertebrae and the posture changes all results in a diversity of symptoms and signs in patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Besides, there exist congenital variation of lumbosacral nerve roots and vertebral bodies in some patients, and the misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of imaging finding may occur in some cases. However, the appearance of a separation of clinical symptoms and signs and imaging examination in patients may be caused by a variety of reasons in clinic. The exact mechanism involved in the interaction among nucleus pulposus tissue, dural sac and nerve root, secondary changes of pathophysiology and biomechanics around the nucleus pulposus, the determination of lesioned responsible segments, and how to overcome the limitations of imaging all need the further researches.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; complications ; diagnosis ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; etiology