OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of trichloroethylene (TCE) on cardiac developmental differentiation in human embryonic stem cells.

METHODSIn this study, based on the human embryonic stem cells in vitro cardiac differentiation assay, we investigated the potential effect of TCE exposure on the cardiac toxicity in embryo development. Human embryonic stem cells were treated with TCE at different concentrations of 100 ppb, 1 ppm, and 10 ppm and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) treated as control. The MTT assay was performed to examine the cytoplasmic toxicity of TCE exposure. The beating percentages were recorded and the expression of cardiac specific gene was evaluated by PCR or flow cytometry. Also, real time PCR was performed to verify the micro array analysis on the expression level changes of genes which were involved in the Ca2+ signal pathways.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, there was no significant difference in cell viability when cells were treated with TCE at the concentrations of 100 ppb, 1 ppm, and 10 ppm. However, TCE could inhibit the expression of cTnT protein in a concentration-dependant manner. And the most interestingly, TCE significantly inhibited the cardiac differentiation characterized by the decrease beating percentages. Genes involved in Ca2+ signaling pathway were severely disrupted by TCE.

CONCLUSIONTCE inhibited the cardiac specific differentiation of human embryonic stem cell and at the meanwhile the genes responsible for Ca2+ signaling pathway were severely disrupted, which could contribute the severe effects of TCE cardiotoxicity.

Calcium Signaling ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Heart ; embryology ; Humans ; Trichloroethylene ; toxicity

Objective To observe the effects of functional electrical stimulation (FES) based on a normal walking pattern on the lower extremity function of subjects early after cerebral infarction.Methods Twenty patients with cerebral infarction aged (59.7 ± 10.1) years (range 45-80) who were hospitalized and within 3 months (31.1 ± 19.3 days) after the onset were randomly assigned to an FES group (n =11) or a placebo stimulation group (n =9).All subjects in both groups received standard medical and rehabilitation treatment.In addition,the FES group received FES and the placebo group received sham-FES without current output.The daily stimulation and shamstimulation sessions lasted for 30 min,5 d/week for 3 weeks.All of the subjects in the two groups were assessed using the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA),postural assessment for stroke patients (PASS),the Berg balance scale (BBS),functional ambulation categories (FACs) and the modified Barthel index (MBI).Results After 3 weeks of treatment,FMA,PASS,BBS and MBI scores had all improved significantly compared with before treatment in both groups,but the FES group showed significantly better improvement.After treatment the average FAC results of both groups had improved,and there was no significant difference between the two groups.At the same time,the research revealed the expected significant correlations among the FMA,PASS,BBS and MBI results.Conclusion FES based on a normal walking pattern can improve lower extremity motor function early after cerebral infarction,improve balance,and improve ability in the activities of daily living.

Objective Soft and hard channel minimally invasive interventions for patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage have been used for many years. A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the superiority of these two methods. Methods 122 patients with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage were included in this retrospective study, 64 cases in soft channel group and 58 cases in hard channel group. The clinical effects were compared; catheter retention time and complications of the minimally invasive surgery were also observed in these two groups. Results In soft channel group, NIHSS before the treatment was 18.05±7.77, and NIHSS after the treatment was 7.57±4.68. The mortality was 17.19%. The catheter retention time in hematoma puncture was (4.35±1.56)days, and the catheter retention time in ventricle puncture was (7.67±2.37)days. There were 4 cases of rebleeding and 3 cases of intracranial infection. In hard channel group, NIHSS before the treatment was 18.38±9.02, and NIHSS after the treatment was 8.02±4.84. The mortality was 20.69%. The catheter retention time in hematoma puncture was (4.07±1.49)days, and the catheter retention time in ventricle puncture was (8.17±2.55)days. There were 9 cases of rebleeding and 2 cases of intracranial infection. The differences were not statistically significant (P＞0.05). Conclusions Soft and hard channel minimally invasive interventions of hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage have the same clinical value.

Objective To observe the influence of trunk control training on motor function and the ability of cerebral palsy (CP) patients in the activities of daily living (ADL).Methods Forty patients with CP were randomly divided into a treatment group (n =20) and a control group (n =20).Both groups were treated with routine rehabilitation,while the treatment group also received trunk control training.All patients were assessed with function ambulation category (FAC) classification,time to walk 10 m,the Berg balance scale (BBS),and the modified Barthel index (MBI) at the beginning and eight weeks later.Results Before the intervention there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of any of the assessments.Eight weeks later,all the assessment scores were significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group.Conclusion Trunk control training can significantly improve motor function and the ADL ability of patients with CP.

Objective To explore the differentiated diagnostic value of the morphological changes of follicular dendritic cell (FDC)meshwork between different subtype of lymphoma.Methods CD21 was stained by immunohistochemistry (IHC) method,FDC meshwork pattern was studied in 5 6 cases of various lymphomas(including 8 cases of diffuse large B cell lym-phoma,2 cases of burkitts lymphoma,6 cases of small lymphocytic lymphoma,6 cases of plasmacytoma,3 cases of MALT lymphoma,6 cases of peripheral T cell lymphoma,3 cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma,8 cases of NK/T cell lympho-ma,4 cases of follicular lymphoma,3 cases of mantle cell lymphoma,3 cases of AITL,2 cases of FDC sarcoma).Results FDC meshwork in the morphological changes of various subtypes of lymphoma could be classified into four patterns:①FDC form a disappeared and disintegrated meshwork,most of the lymphoma FDC meshwork fully or partially destroyed,including diffuse large B cell lymphoma,burkitt lymphoma,small lymphocytic lymphoma,plasmacytoma,peripheral T cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma,NK/T cell lymphoma;②FDC meshtwork existence,even hyperplasia,including follicular lymphoma,mantle cell lymphoma,MALT lymphoma;③FDC meshtwork proliferation,disorder and deformation,such as AI-TL;④Full expression subtype:such as FDC sarcoma.Conclusion The morphologic pattern of the FDC meshwork in lym-phomas of follicular origin was differs according to the lymphoma subtypes,and it has important clinical value in lymphoma differential diagnostic.

Objective To investigate the quality of life and its influencing factors of families primary caregivers of dementia patients .Methods The typically self made questionnaire ,WHO quality of life measurement profile (WHOQOL‐BREF) ,zarit bur‐den of care scale(ZBI) ,social support rating scale (SSRS) et al were adopted to investigate 64 caregivers of AD patients .Results (1) The overall quality of life of family caregivers of total subjective feelings were significantly lower than the general health status of subjective feeling score (t= -2 .217 ,P=0 .030) .The field of physiological and psychology points have no statistically significant difference in comparison with Chinese norm (t= -0 .252 ,-1 .994 ,P=0 .801 ,0 .050);the field of social and environment points have statistically significant difference compared with norm(t= -3 .830 ,3 .658 ,P=0 .000 ,0 .001) .(2) caregiver who have spouse , poor parent child relationship and patients with somatic diseases and mental behavior symptoms have lower quality of life(P<0 .05) .(3)Total score of Quality of life was negatively associated with total score of care burden (r= -0 .433 ,P=0 .000) ,while was significant positive associated with total score of the social support (r=0 .346 ,P=0 .005) .(4)Marital status ,parent‐child rela‐tionship ,physical illness and social support were the main factors affecting the quality of life(r2 =0 .409) .Conclusion Strengthen the social support and psychological intervention of dementia caregivers who has a spouse ,poor parent-child relationship and poor physical condition may help to improve the quality of life .

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of epithelioid sarcoma (ES).

METHODSThe clinical data of 13 cases with epithelioid sarcoma in the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from March 1995 to December 2009 were collected and analyzed. There were 10 males and 3 females in the group, with an average age of 41.5 years (range: 13 to 68 years). Nine patients had classic ES and 4 had proximal-type ES. Surgery was the mainstay of treatment. After the operation, four patients received radiotherapy, five received chemotherapy, and one received chemoradiotherapy.

RESULTSOf the 13 cases, only 1 had multi-locus lesion. The average tumor size was (6.07 ± 1.34) cm. The lymph node involvement was found in 46.2% of the patients. Local and distant failure occurred in 50% and 30% patients, respectively. The most common site for dissemination was the lung. Four cases died within 3 years after initial operation. The 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-year overall survival rates of the 11 cases were 72.7%, 54.5%, 27.3% and 9.1%, respectively, with a median survival time of 27 months.

CONCLUSIONSEpithelioid sarcoma is a rare disease. The prognosis for patients with epithelioid sarcoma is poor because of a high propensity for local recurrence, lymph node metastases, and/or distant metastases. The definite diagnosis depends mainly on the pathologic examination. Wide surgical excision is the mainstay treatment, and radiation and chemotherapy have been used occasionally as adjuvant therapy but have had limited success.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Extremities ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Survival Rate ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Interactions between microbes and epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract are closely associated with regulation of intestinal mucosal immune responses. Recent studies have highlighted the modulation of mucosal immunity by microbe-derived molecules such as ATP and short-chain fatty acids. In this study, we undertook to characterize the expression of the ATP-gated P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) on M cells and its role in gastrointestinal mucosal immune regulation because it was poorly characterized in Peyer's patches, although purinergic signaling via P2X7R and luminal ATP have been considered to play an important role in the gastrointestinal tract. Here, we present the first report on the expression of P2X7R on M cells and characterize the role of P2X7R in immune enhancement by ATP or LL-37.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; Epithelial Cells ; Fatty Acids, Volatile ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Immunity, Mucosal ; Peyer's Patches ; Phenobarbital ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X7*

Lipocortin 1 has been proposed as a putative mediator of anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids. We investigated the role of lipocortin 1 in the effect of dexamethasone using rat splenic leukocytes. Concanavalin A(ConA; 1-microgram/ml) increased the leukocyte proliferation and nitric oxide(NO) generation, which were measured as (3H)-thymidine uptake by the cells and nitrite accumulation in the culture media, respectively. Dexamethasone suppressed CoNinduced cell proliferation, in a concentration-dependent manner with EC-50 around 50nM. The addition of anti-lipocortin 1 (Anti-LC1) reversed dexamethasone effects: 0.24, 1.2, 6 microgram/ml of Anti-LC1 reversed dexamethasone(50nM)-induced suppression of thymidine uptake by 9+/-3%, 16+/-3%, 36+/-5%, respectively; 0.24, 1.2, and 6-microgram/ml of Anti-LC1 reversed dexamethasone-induced decrease of nitrite concentration by 49 +/- 16%, 61 +/- 20%, 77 +/- 19 %, respectively. The present data indicate that lipocortin 1 mediates, at least in part, glucocorticoids-induced suppression of leukocyte proliferation and blockade of NO generation.
Animals ; Annexin A1* ; Annexins* ; Cell Proliferation ; Culture Media ; Dexamethasone* ; Glucocorticoids ; Leukocytes* ; Nitric Oxide* ; Rats* ; Thymidine

OBJECTIVETo study the expressions of survivin, PTEN and their relationships with tissue grade and pathology stage in prostatic carcinoma (PCa).

METHODSThe immunohistological staining was used to evaluated the expressions of survivin protein and PTEN in 43 case of prostatic carcinoma (PCa) and 5 cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

RESULTSThe positive rate of survivin protein was 81.40%. Expression of survivin protein in 5 case of BPH was negative. The positive rate of PTEN was 30.23%, and the higher the grade and the clinical stage of tumors were, the lower the expression of PTEN was, PTEN of 5 case of BPH was positive.

CONCLUSIONThe positively correlation was found between the abnormal expressions of survivin protein, PTEN and the biological behavior of prostatic carcinoma (PCa). Detection of survivin combined with PTEN is valuable for diagnosing PCa, and evaluating malignancy extent and prognosis.

Aged ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; biosynthesis ; Prognosis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology