AC133 Antigen ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Glioma ; pathology ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; etiology ; pathology ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Radiation Tolerance

OBJECTIVETo analyze the variation of serum insulin levels in critically ill children and investigate the underlying mechanism and clinical significance to provide the basis for treatment.

METHODTotally 332 critically ill children admitted in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of Hunan Children's Hospital from Nov., 2011 to April, 2012 were studied. The high insulin group (n = 332) was defined as insulin levels within 24 h > 11.1 mU/L and was divided into 2 groups: mildly elevated group (n = 194): 11.10 - 33.30 mU/L, increased three times group (n = 138): > 33.3 mU/L. Insulin, C-peptide and blood glucose were measured within 24 hours after admission, on day 3 and 7. Other results of inflammatory markers, lactate, cardiac enzymes, amylase, pancreatic ultrasound, hepatic and renal function as well as indicators related to severity and prognosis were recorded after admission.

RESULTThe peak of insulin level was seen on day 1, then presented a downward trend and reached the normal level on day 7. The peaks of blood glucose and C-peptide level were seen on day 1 then declined, the levels on day 7 were still slightly higher than normal level. The insulin level on admission (41.47 ± 30.85) mU/L were positively correlated with lactic acid (2.29 ± 1.81) mmol/L and procalcitonin level (5.08 ± 6.70) ng/ml (r = 0.370, P = 0.000; r = 0.168, P = 0.002) (P < 0.01). The insulin level on admission in children with 1 organ failure (41.24 ± 22.60) mU/L or 2 or multiple organ failure (48.98 ± 22.17) mU/L was higher than that in children with non-organ failure (34.11 ± 29.84) mU/L (U = 1621.001, P = 0.000;U = 1300.000, P = 0.000) (P < 0.01). The insulin level on admission in death group (52.99 ± 32.34) mU/L was higher than that in survival group (32.85 ± 24.10) mU/L (U = 1585.000, P = 0.000) (P < 0.01). Ten cases in death group were complicated with pancreatic damage and the average insulin level on admission was (65.29 ± 50.53) mU/L.

CONCLUSIONThe high insulin level was correlated with the degree of inflammatory response, ischemia and hypoxia. The high insulin level in critically ill children was relevant to the pancreatic damage, the severity of the disease, organ dysfunction, and evaluation of prognosis.

Adolescent ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; C-Peptide ; blood ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Insulin ; blood ; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; blood ; mortality ; Pancreas ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Survival

[Objective]To discuss the microsurgical approaches of 30 patients with tentorial meningiomas and conclude their treatment experiences.[Methods]A retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed on 30 patients underwent microsurgical approaches from July 2004 to September 201 1.The pathology of these patients was confirmed after operation.The outcome and follow-up were evaluated.[Results] The meningiomas were totally removed in 19 patients subtotally in 6,and partially in 5.All the patients received 8 months to 5 years of follow-up:no mortality or death were found;no surgical related complications were noted.[Conclusion] Appropriate approaches according to the size and site of the tumors,intraoperative protection of venous sinus,facial and acoustic nerves and brain stem are the key points to improve the therapeutical outcomes and the post-operative quality of patients with infra and supra tentorial menmingiomas.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a member of the TNF superfamily of structurally related cytokines and is known to induce proliferation, migration, differentiation, apoptotic cell death, inflammation, and angiogenesis. These physiological processes are induced by the binding of TWEAK to fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14), a highly inducible cell-surface receptor that is linked to several intracellular signaling pathways, including the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway. This review discusses the role of the TWEAK-Fn14 axis in several rheumatic diseases and the potential therapeutic benefits of modulation of the TWEAK-Fn14 pathway.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; etiology ; Cytokine TWEAK ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; etiology ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; physiology ; Rheumatic Diseases ; etiology ; Scleroderma, Systemic ; etiology ; TWEAK Receptor ; Tumor Necrosis Factors ; physiology

AIMTo indicate the titration end-point of precipitation reaction by measuring the relative intensity of the scattered light in the titrate for use in pharmaceutical analysis.

METHODSA visible light-emitting diode (LED) was used as a light source and a photodiode was used as the optical detector. Light on the detector creates an electric current through the diode. With the addition of the titrant, the titrate became turbid and the intensity of the scattered light in the solution increased gradually. If the precipitation reaction proceeded the completion and the solubility of the precipitate was small enough, the intensity of the scattered light will reach maximum at the stoichiometric point; thus, the titration end-point can be indicated. The accuracy of nephelometric titrimetry was discussed theoretically and the titration of NaCl with AgNO3 was used as a model. To demonstrate the applicability of the new titrimetry in pharmaceutical analysis, phenytoin sodium and procaine hydrochloride were titrated with AgNO3 and NaOH solutions, respectively.

RESULTSWith our new titrator and nephelometric sensor, the accuracy and precision of our new titrimetry can be better than 0.2% under suitable conditions.

CONCLUSIONThis new titrimetry can be used for pharmaceutical analysis.

Phenytoin ; analysis ; Procaine ; analysis ; Titrimetry ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of HPV infection of oral mucosa proliferative lesions in children and determine the associations of HPV types with oral mucosa lesions in children.

METHODSImmunohistochemical method and in situ hybridization techniques were applied to detect human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in biopsies taken from clinical lesions in oral mucosa of 30 children.

RESULTSThe most frequent lesions detected were SCP (66.7%), followed by CA and FEH. The HPV viral antigen was present in 73.3% (22/30) of the oral benign epithelial proliferative lesions in children. A high frequency HPV was found in CA (6/6) and SCP (15/20) by means of IHC. In the ISH positive case, high risk HPV 16/18 was observed in 77.3% (17/22).

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates a high prevalence of HPV infection in children's oral mucosa proliferative lesions, and high-risk HPV16/18 are predominant in children's oral mucosa proliferative lesions.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Condylomata Acuminata ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Focal Epithelial Hyperplasia ; virology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; Mouth Mucosa ; virology ; Papilloma ; virology ; Papillomaviridae ; isolation & purification

Adult ; Arthropathy, Neurogenic ; etiology ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; complications ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between neck lymph node metastasis and matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression at the invasive tumor front of oral squamous cell carcinomas(OSCC).

METHODSImmunohistochemistry LsAB technique was used to observe the expression of MMP-2 at the invasive tumor front and center of OSCC, and the correlation between the expression of MMP-2 in OSCC and neck lymph node metastasis were respectively analyzed by statistics.

RESULTSThe results demonstrated that MMP-2 existed in all 71 cases, which the expression of MMP-2 at the OSCC front was more significant than that of MMP-2 at the OSCC center (P < 0.01), and related to neck lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of MMP-2 at the OSCC front could be considered as an index of judging the present of neck lymph node metastasis of OSCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; enzymology ; secondary ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; biosynthesis ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness

OBJECTIVETo discuss the therapeutic effect and toxicity of second line Hycamtin for lung cancer patients.

METHODSTen of these 21 patients had been treated with operation. All these 21 patients received second line Hycamtin treatment; given at the dose of 1.2 mg/m(2) per day, four consecutive days as one cycle and 21 days as one course. A total of 1 - 4 courses were given according to the patient's tolerance. Four of these 21 patients also received combination of cisplatin.

RESULTSAmong the 13 un-operated patients, two patients showed CR, six showed PR, three SD and two PD, giving an effective rate of 62%. Among the 8 operated patients, seven showed SD but one developed distant metastasis. The 1-year survival rate was 88%.

TOXICITYleukopenia I-II degree 14 (66.7%), leukopenia III-IV degree 5 (23.8%), thrombocytopenia III-IV degree 1 (4.8%) and one patient died of high fever and neutocytopenia. Nausea 8 (38.1%), vomiting 3 (14.3%) and diarrhea 2 (9.5%) alopecia 4 (19.1%). Were the other side-effects.

CONCLUSIONHycamtin is indicated for second line therapy for lung cancer giving tolerable toxicity.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Topotecan ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDThe role of epigenetics in gene expression regulation and development significantly enhances our understanding of carcinogenesis. All the tumor related genes may be the target of epigenetical or genetic regulation. We selected some epigenetically regulated genes for cDNA array analysis and observed variability in the expression of the DICER1 gene in distinct stages of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the expression of DICER1, an epigenetically regulated gene, and gastric cancer.

METHODSTo detect the expression of 506 tumor-associated genes, including DICER1, in the matched cancerous mucosa, pre-malignant lesion (adjacent mucosa), non-cancerous gastric mucosa and distant lymphocyte metastatic lesion in 3 cases of gastric cancers using cDNA array. DICER1 mRNA expression and DICER1 protein expression were further analyzed by Real-time PCR and Western blot in 32 cases of progressive gastric cancer. DICER1 protein expression was also detected in 33 early and 30 progressive gastric cancers by the immunohistochemistry (IHC) method.

RESULTSIn 3 cases of gastric cancer cDNA array showed dramatically decreased expression of DICER1 in pre-malignant lesion, cancerous mucosa and distant lymphocyte metastatic lesions compared with matched noncancerous gastric mucosa, pre-malignant lesion and cancerous mucosa. Real-time PCR results showed that the expression level of DICER1 mRNA in gastric cancer was significantly down-regulated compared to normal gastric tissue (P < 0.05). The IHC assay also showed that the expression of DICER1 was significantly decreased in progressive gastric cancer. Among the 63 cases of gastric cancers, 13/33 early (39.4%) and 19/30 (63.3%) progressive cancers showed negative expression of DICER1 (50.8%). The difference in expression of DICER1 between early and progressive gastric cancers was significant (P < 0.01). The result of Western blotting showed that DICER1 protein was down-regulated significantly in advanced gastric cancer (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDICER1 expression is decreased during the progression of gastric cancer, especially in progressive gastric cancers, which indicating DICER1 may play an important role in the development of cancer and the epigenetical regulation involved.

Blotting, Western ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Endoribonucleases ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ribonuclease III ; Stomach Neoplasms ; chemistry ; etiology ; genetics