OBJECTIVETo investigate the activity and expression of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase in irradiated rat masseter muscle.

METHODSThe rats were irradiated locally with a single dose of 20 Gy X-ray. The activities of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase were measured with colorimetric method. The protein expression of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase was determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe activities of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase in masseter muscle decreased by approximately 20% and 40% in irradiated rats on days 3 and 30 postirradiation. There was significant difference in the expression of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase protein between irradiated and nonirradiated rats on day 30 postirradiation. Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase protein was found in the cytoplasm of masseter muscle.

CONCLUSIONSThe decrease of ATPase activity played an important role in the cause of radiation-induced skeletal muscle injury, while there was no significant reduction in the expression of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-ATPase protein in irradiated rat masseter muscle.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase ; metabolism ; Cytoplasm ; enzymology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Masseter Muscle ; enzymology ; radiation effects ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; enzymology ; Rats

BACKGROUNDThe auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) have been used to treat deafness for patients with neurofibromatosis Type 2 and nontumor patients. The lack of an appropriate animal model has limited the study of improving hearing rehabilitation by the device. This study aimed to establish an animal model of ABI in adult rhesus macaque monkey (Macaca mulatta).

METHODSSix adult rhesus macaque monkeys (M. mulatta) were included. Under general anesthesia, a multichannel ABI was implanted into the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle through the modified suboccipital-retrosigmoid (RS) approach. The electrical auditory brainstem response (EABR) waves were tested to ensure the optimal implant site. After the operation, the EABR and computed tomography (CT) were used to test and verify the effectiveness via electrophysiology and anatomy, respectively. The subjects underwent behavioral observation for 6 months, and the postoperative EABR was tested every two weeks from the 1 st month after implant surgery.

RESULTThe implant surgery lasted an average of 5.2 h, and no monkey died or sacrificed. The averaged latencies of peaks I, II and IV were 1.27, 2.34 and 3.98 ms, respectively in the ABR. One-peak EABR wave was elicited in the operation, and one- or two-peak waves were elicited during the postoperative period. The EABR wave latencies appeared to be constant under different stimulus intensities; however, the amplitudes increased as the stimulus increased within a certain scope.

CONCLUSIONSIt is feasible and safe to implant ABIs in rhesus macaque monkeys (M. mulatta) through a modified suboccipital RS approach, and EABR and CT are valid tools for animal model establishment. In addition, this model should be an appropriate animal model for the electrophysiological and behavioral study of rhesus macaque monkey with ABI.

Animals ; Auditory Brain Stem Implants ; Deafness ; surgery ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; physiology ; Female ; Macaca mulatta ; Male

OBJECTIVETo compare the effective radiation dose levels of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with those of multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) when scanning the same maxillofacial regions.

METHODSThe effective doses of 2 CBCT (NewTom 9000 and DCT Pro) and 1 MSCT (bright speed edge select 8 slice) scanners were calculated using thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) that were placed in a head and neck phantom, and expressed according to the International Commission on Radiation Protection (ICRP) 2007 guidelines.

RESULTSEffective dose values ranged from 41.8 to 249.1 µSv for CBCT. The doses of MSCT scanning for maxilla, mandible and maxilla + mandible were 506.7, 829.9 and 1066.1 µSv, respectively. Dose levels of scanning only for maxilla or mandible were significantly lower than those for maxilla + mandible.

CONCLUSIONSWhen scanning the same maxillofacial regions, the dose levels for NewTom 9000 and DCT Pro CBCT images were lower than those for Bright speed edge select 8 slice MSCT images. Dose levels reduction could be obtained when smaller regions were scanned.

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Humans ; Mandible ; diagnostic imaging ; Maxilla ; diagnostic imaging ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Phantoms, Imaging ; Radiation Dosage ; Radiography, Dental ; methods ; Thermoluminescent Dosimetry

OBJECTIVETo explore the diagnosis and surgical treatment of patients with periampullary carcinoma and situs inversus totalis.

METHODSThe data of a patient with periampullary carcinoma and complete situs inversus totalis, a rare disease treated in our hospital on Mar. 2006, was reported, and relative articles were reviewed.

RESULTSThis patient was diagnosed with stage I to II of periampullary carcinoma. Bilirubin was recovered one week postoperatively. Incomplete adhesive ileus at gastroenteral anastomosis appeared 2 weeks after the operation and was healed by nutritional support, acupuncture, endoscopic drainage and enteral nutrition. From 1936 to 2006, 15 malignant tumors with situs viscerum inversus totalis were reported, only 5 periampullary carcinomas with situs viscerum inversus totalis were reported.

CONCLUSIONSSurgical operation should be considered for malignant tumor patients with situs inversus totalis without contraindication. Attention should be paid to the opposite anatomical structure in this kind of situation.

Ampulla of Vater ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; complications ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; complications ; Situs Inversus ; complications

Objective To explore the effect of limited posterior fossa decompression(LPFD)in the treatment of Amold-chiari I malformation.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted among 29 patients undergoing LPFD from 2004 to 2008.The standard surgical procedures included small osseous decompression of the occipital bone above the forarnen magnum,removal of the posterior arch of the atlas,separation of the arachnoid adhesions,and reduction of the inferior cerebellar tonsils,a dural graft for duraplasty.The outcomes of the surgeries were evaluated using the Tator criteria.Results Excellent results were obtained in 23(79.3%)patients according to the Tator scores,and good results were achieved in 6(20.7%)patients.During the follow-up of 15 patients,the syrmgomyelia was found to be further reduced in 9 patients,and 1 patient experienced recurrence.Conclusion Limited posterior fossa decompression is effective for management of Amold-chiari I malformation with minimal invasiveness and complications.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether three biallelic polymorphisms at the position -592, -819 and -1082 in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene were associated with the incidence of autoimmune liver disease.

METHODSThe IL-10 -592 and IL-10-1082 polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms analysis (PCR-RFLP), while polymerase chain reaction- sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) assay was used to detect IL-10 -819 polymorphisms.

RESULTSAmong 54 Chinese patients with AIH or 77 Chinese patients with PBC versus healthy controls, the frequency of AA, GA genotypes at IL-10 gene promoter -1082 position was 87.0% or 83.1% versus 90.0%, 13.0% or 16.9% versus 10.0%, respectively (P > 0.05), the GG genotype in Chinese populations is absent; the frequency of CC, CT, TT genotypes at IL-10 gene promoter -819 position was 11.11% or 9.1% versus 8.1%, 44.4% or 53.3% versus 45.0%, 44.4% or 37.7% versus 46.9%, respectively (P > 0.05); the frequency of CC, CA, AA genotypes at IL-10 gene promoter -592 position was 4.9% or 14.3% versus 10.0%, 51.2% or 53.3% versus 51.9%, 43.9% or 32.5% versus 38.1%, respectively (P > 0.05). No alleles differed significantly in each groups.

CONCLUSIONThere were no association between IL-10 gene polymorphisms and autoimmune liver disease

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

Objective:To evaluate the performance of an artificial intelligent (AI)-based automated digital cell morphology analyzer (hereinafter referred as AI morphology analyzer) in detecting peripheral white blood cells (WBCs).Methods:A multi-center study. 1. A total of 3010 venous blood samples were collected from 11 tertiary hospitals nationwide, and 14 types of WBCs were analyzed with the AI morphology analyzers. The pre-classification results were compared with the post-classification results reviewed by senior morphological experts in evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and agreement of the AI morphology analyzers on the WBC pre-classification. 2. 400 blood samples (no less than 50% of the samples with abnormal WBCs after pre-classification and manual review) were selected from 3 010 samples, and the morphologists conducted manual microscopic examinations to differentiate different types of WBCs. The correlation between the post-classification and the manual microscopic examination results was analyzed. 3. Blood samples of patients diagnosed with lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, or myeloproliferative neoplasms were selected from the 3 010 blood samples. The performance of the AI morphology analyzers in these five hematological malignancies was evaluated by comparing the pre-classification and post-classification results. Cohen′s kappa test was used to analyze the consistency of WBC pre-classification and expert audit results, and Passing-Bablock regression analysis was used for comparison test, and accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and agreement were calculated according to the formula.Results:1. AI morphology analyzers can pre-classify 14 types of WBCs and nucleated red blood cells. Compared with the post-classification results reviewed by senior morphological experts, the pre-classification accuracy of total WBCs reached 97.97%, of which the pre-classification accuracies of normal WBCs and abnormal WBCs were more than 96% and 87%, respectively. 2. The post-classification results reviewed by senior morphological experts correlated well with the manual differential results for all types of WBCs and nucleated red blood cells (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, immature granulocytes, blast cells, nucleated erythrocytes and malignant cells r>0.90 respectively, reactive lymphocytes r=0.85). With reference, the positive smear of abnormal cell types defined by The International Consensus Group for Hematology, the AI morphology analyzer has the similar screening ability for abnormal WBC samples as the manual microscopic examination. 3. For the blood samples with malignant hematologic diseases, the AI morphology analyzers showed accuracies higher than 84% on blast cells pre-classification, and the sensitivities were higher than 94%. In acute myeloid leukemia, the sensitivity of abnormal promyelocytes pre-classification exceeded 95%. Conclusion:The AI morphology analyzer showed high pre-classification accuracies and sensitivities on all types of leukocytes in peripheral blood when comparing with the post-classification results reviewed by experts. The post-classification results also showed a good correlation with the manual differential results. The AI morphology analyzer provides an efficient adjunctive white blood cell detection method for screening malignant hematological diseases.

This study was aimed to explore whether the perforin gene 1 (PRF1) mutation is the basis of genetic susceptibility to pathogenesis of acquired severe aplastic anemia (SAA). DNA exon2 and exon3 of PRF1 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in 31 SAA patients and 15 normal controls were amplified by PCR; the sequencing was performed by using ABI pRISM 373OXL sequencer; the mutation loci were sought through checking sequences with GenBank-reported sequences; after the mutation sequences were found, those were cloned into M13 phage vector, then the corresponding sequences of gained 2 chromosomes were sequenced respectively to determine the distribution of different mutations on chromosomes. The results showed that (1) one homozygous mutation (822 C > T, synonymous mutation) and one heterozygous mutation (907 G > A, methionine 303 valine) were found in PRF1 coding region of 2 SAA patients. These mutations were not detected in normal controls. (2) 1 SNP (rs885822) in the coding region was detected in SAA patients and controls, and the heterozygosity rate between the 2 groups was different (p < 0.05). It is concluded that perforin gene mutation may be one risk factor in the aberrant proliferation and activation of cytotoxic T cells in pathogenesis of a part of patients with aplastic anemia.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Perforin ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo construct a breast cancer gene-drug network model for extracting and predicting the correlations between breast cancer-related genes and drugs.

METHODSWe developed an algorithm based on the ABC principle and the association rules to obtain the correlations between the biological entities. For breast cancer, we constructed 3 different correlations (gene-gene, drug-drug and gene-drug) and used the R language to implement the associated network model. The reliability of the algorithm was verified by ROC curve.

RESULTSWe identified 185 breast cancer-associated genes and 98 associations between them, 97 drugs and 170 associations between them. The breast cancer genes-drugs network contained 127 genes and 77 drugs with 384 associations between them.

CONCLUSIONSWe identified a large number of different correlations between the breast cancer-related genes and drugs and close correlations between some biological entity pairs that have not yet been reported, which may provide a new strategy for experimental design for testing personalized breast cancer treatment.

Algorithms ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Genes, Neoplasm ; Humans ; ROC Curve ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanisms underlying bone marrow damage by iron overload in pancytopenic patients with positive BMMNC-Coombs test (IRP).

METHODSTwenty-one iron overloading, 26 non-iron overloading IRP patients and 10 normal controls were enrolled in this study. The expressions of ROS, Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and apoptosis of BMMNC were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM). Antioxidants were added to iron overloading IRP BMMNC, and then the changes of indices above were detected by FCM. The number and apoptosis of T lymphocytes of IRP patients were also detected.

RESULTSROS and apoptosis of BMMNC, myelocytes, erythrocytes and stem cells of iron overloading IRP patients were significantly higher than that of non-iron overloading IRP ones and normal controls (P < 0.05). The expressions of Bcl-2 on BMMNC, erythrocytes and stem cells of iron overloading IRP patients were significantly lower than those of non-iron overloading IRP ones (P < 0.05). The levels of Caspase-3 on myelocytes, erythrocytes and stem cells of iron overloading IRP patients were significantly higher than those of non-iron overloading IRP ones and normal controls (P < 0.05). After treatment with antioxidants, the expressions of ROS, Caspase-3 and apoptosis of iron overloading IRP BMMNC significantly decreased, but opposite for Bcl-2. The percentages of CD4(+) lymphocytes [ ( 40.86 ± 8.74）%] and CD4(+)/CD8(+) (1.44 ± 0.36) in PB of iron overloading IRP patients were significantly higher than that of non-iron overloading IRP ones [(35.96 ± 7.03)% and 1.14 ± 0.37] and normal controls [(28.00 ± 6.73)% and 0.79 ± 0.21], respectively (P < 0.05), as opposite for CD8(+) lymphocytes (P < 0.05). The apoptosis of CD8(+) lymphocytes [(27.35 ± 10.76)%] and the ratio of CD8(+) apoptosis/CD4(+) apoptosis (2.51 ± 0.81) in BM of iron overloading IRP patients were significantly higher than those of non-iron overloading IRP ones [(15.47 ± 8.99)%] and normal controls (1.39 ± 0.47), respectively (P < 0.05). The apoptosis of erythrocytes and stem cells coated with auto-antibodies in BM of iron overloading IRP patients were significantly higher than those of non-iron overloading IRP and normal controls.

CONCLUSIONMechanisms underlying bone marrow damage by iron overload might be through the follows: ①The increased ROS induced by excessive iron deposition affected the expressions of Caspase-3 and Bcl-2, which caused more BMMNC apoptosis; ②The abnormal number and ratio of T lymphocytes caused by iron overload aggravated the abnormality of immunity of IRP; ③Iron overload may increase the damage to erythrocytes and stem cells coated with auto-antibodies.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Coombs Test ; Female ; Humans ; Iron Overload ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancytopenia ; immunology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Young Adult