OBJECTIVETo evaluate the expression of microRNAs and reveal the regulatory mechanism of miRNA-708 in pediatric common acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (common-ALL).

METHODSThe expressions of microRNAs in common-ALL patients were detected by microarrays in 3 pediatric common-ALL samples, and then verified by stem-loop quantitative RT-PCR in 34 common-ALL samples. The target genes of miR-708 were found by bioinformatics software, and verified by dual-luciferases reporter assay, RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared to normal bone marrow samples, of all the 2006 detected miRNAs, the expression of miR-708, miR-181b and miR-210 were 16.886 ± 16.854, 5.710 ± 4.652, and 9.789 ± 1.178, retrospectively, being significantly up-regulated expressed than those in normal control (1.872 ± 0.339, 1.276 ± 0.531 and 1.005 ± 0.080, retrospectively) (P < 0.05), while miR-27b and miR-345 were the two most down-regulated ones (0.524 ± 0.085 and 0.675 ± 0.086, retrospectively) (normal control: 1.123 ± 0.066 and 1.204 ± 0.140, retrospectively) (P < 0.05). And the expression of miR-708 and miR-181b were significantly correlated with the clinical types in common-ALL. In high risk common-ALL, miR-708 and miR-181b were much higher than in standard and middle risk common-ALL (P < 0.05). The further verification research in 293 cell line showed that miR-708 decreased the expression level of its target genes CNTFR, NNAT and GNG12 by combining with 3'-UTR of the 3 genes, moreover, miR-708 combined with CNTFR 3'-UTR in 394 ∼ 400 bp sequence region.

CONCLUSIONMicroRNAs plays an important regulatory role during the occurrence and development of the pediatric common-ALL and miR-708 is an important factor for high risk common-ALL.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Microarray Analysis ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in synovium of rats with adjuvant arthritis and the relationship between the histopathologic score and the expression of VEGF.Methods Adjuvant arthritis was established in Wistar rats by inoculating complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA). We calculated the arthropathologic score and the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein at different stages after CFA inoculation.Results In model group the arthropathologic score and expression of VEGF protein in synovium increased significantly all the time (P

Objective To explore the influence of the social support on psycho-healthy and therapeutic effect of patients with extremities bone fracture; to provide theory guidance for formulating psycho-healthy education. Methods A total of 90 patients with extremity bone fracture were divided into control group and observation group equally. Carring out routine healthy eduction on control group, while mental intervention and routine healthy education on observation group, undertaking psychological assessment with social support rating scale(SSRS) and state anxiety scale(SAI) one week after hospital admission and one week prior to discharge.Results Comparing the score of social support and anxiety, there was difference between two groups prior to discharge( P ＜0. 05 ). The difference of short-term effect of fracture assess between two groups were statistically significant( P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusions The selectivity mental nursing could improve the social support, psychohealth level and bone fracture therapeutic effect of patients with extremities bone fracture.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of ankle bath by traditional Chinese medicine associated with chiropractic technique on the patients with ankle fractures in later period so as to explore the nursing and its influencing factors.Methods From June 2009 to December 2011,a total of 76 cases with ankle fractures were selected and radomly divided into control group and observation group.Control group took medicine that could activate blood circulation to dissipated blood stasis,bathed ankle in warm water and took functional exercise,while the observation group received Chinese medicine bath and massage followed by functional exercise.Results After 10 days,the difference between observation group and control group in the degree of pain and activity of ankle and joint function appeared ( 14.86 ±7.21vs 8.68 ± 8.98,7.18 ± 1.91vs 4.34 ± 1.66,2.84 ± 1.46 vs 1.97 ± 1.17 ) and the difference was statistically significant ( t =3.31,6.90,2.85 ;P＜0.05).And 20 days later,the improvement rate of observation group was 92.1％ and 71.06％ of control group,and the difference was statistically significant ( u =2.07,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Bath foot by traditional Chinese medicine associated with chiropractic technique can make qi and blood be unobstructed,activate blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis,promote ankle joint swelling and analgetic,and finally enhance joint function to recover.

BACKGROUNDMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the major regulators of collagen degradation involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases of the heart. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dynamic changes in myocardial MMP activity in mice with viral myocarditis (VM), the relationship between MMP activity and both cardiac function and the quantity of myocardial collagen, and the role MMPs playing in the pathological lesions of VM.

METHODSSixty-five six-week-old male DBA/2 mice were divided into two groups. Mice in the infected group (n = 50) were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.14 ml of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3, Nancy strain). Control mice (n = 15) were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.14 ml of Eagle's medium. Eight infected mice and three control mice were sacrificed on each of days 3, 7, 10, 21 and 30 after inoculation. MMP activity was measured on an SDS-PAGE substrate gel embedded with type I gelatin (zymography). Echocardiographic studies were performed under anesthesia with 3% chloralhydrate administered intraperitoneally (0.01 ml/g - 0.015 ml/g). Cardiac systolic function indices, such as peak velocity of the aorta (Vp), flow velocity integral of the aorta (Vi), ejection fraction (EF), and fractional shortening (FS) were determined by echocardiography. Histological cross sections of the hearts were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and myocardial histopathological scores were determined under an optical microscope. The amount of myocardial collagen was measured by means of hydroxyproline quantification.

RESULTSIn virus-infected mice, both MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities were significantly higher than in control mice, reaching a peak on day 10 (P < 0.01). On day 10, cardiac systolic function indices (EF, FS, Vp, and Vi) were all significantly lower compared both to other stages following viral inoculation and to the control group (P < 0.05). In the acute stage, the amount of myocardial collagen in mice with VM was not significantly different from normal control mice (P > 0.05). However, the amount of myocardial collagen in infected mice at the recovery stage (on days 21 and 30) was significantly greater than those of the control mice. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities positively correlated with myocardial histopathological scores (r = 0.801, 0.821, P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with Vp (r = -0.649, -0.683, P < 0.01) and Vi (r = -0.711, -0.755, P < 0.01). However, Vp negatively correlated with myocardial histopathological scores (r = -0.756, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn mice with VM, the activities of myocardial MMP-2 and MMP-9 increase significantly during the acute stage, and the total quantity of myocardial collagen increases by the time of recovery. These changes are associated with myocardial interstition remodeling and cardiac dysfunction. MMP activity is an important reference marker for myocardial pathological lesions and can be used to evaluate the severity of myocardial interstitial damage and cardiac dysfunction.

Animals ; Collagen ; analysis ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; enzymology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Myocarditis ; enzymology ; pathology ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between expression of A-kinase anchoring protein 95 (AKAP95) and protein expression of cyclin E1 and cyclin D1 in lung cancer tissue.

METHODSFifty-one cases of lung cancer were included in the study. The protein expression of AKAP95, cyclin E1, and cyclin D1 were measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe protein expression of cyclin E1 in lung cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in para-cancerous tissues (positive rate: 75.56%vs 20%, P < 0.01); its expression showed no relationship with histopathological type, lymph node metastasis, and cellular differentiation (P > 0.05). The protein expression of cyclin D1 in lung cancer tissues was higher than that in para-cancerous tissues (positive rate: 69.39% vs 14.29%); its expression showed a significant relationship with histopathological type (P < 0.05). The expression of AKAP95 was correlated with the protein expression of cyclin E1 and cyclin D1 in lung cancer tissues (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCyclin E1 and cyclin D1 are highly expressed in lung cancer tissue, suggesting that they play an important role in the development and progression of lung cancer. The protein expression of cyclin E1 has no relationship with cellular differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and histopathological type of lung cancer, and the protein expression of cyclin D1 has a significant relationship with histopathological type. The expression of AKAP95 is correlated with the protein expression of cyclin E1 and cyclin D1 in lung cancer tissue.

A Kinase Anchor Proteins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cyclin E ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDAlthough endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) plays a crucial role in the final diagnosis in patients with heart failure of unknown etiology, the invasive nature of this technique limits its clinical application in China. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical application of EMB in diagnosing cardiomyopathy with unexplained etiologies in China.

METHODSFifty-three consecutive patients (38 males, age 14 - 67 years, median 43 years) were included in the study who were initially diagnosed as unexplained cardiomyopathy and under EMB biopsy in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2006 to 2009. The patients were clinically divided into four groups: dilated, hypertrophic, restrictive and unclassified cardiomyopathy. Biopsies were performed via right internal jugular vein with the use of the bioptome under fluoroscopic guidance. Three to five endomyocardial samples were taken from each patient for light microscopy examination and one sample for electron microscopy was taken if necessary. For each patient, an initial clinical diagnosis, an EMB diagnosis and a final diagnosis prior to discharge were established. All the data were compared and analyzed for the evaluation of clinical utility of EMB in China.

RESULTSIn 26 patients initially diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), the etiology of the condition was finally diagnosed using EMB in 15; including 13 amyloidosis and two eosinophilic myocarditis. We employed EMB in 19 patients clinically diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy and detected viral myocarditis in one patient, cardiac involvement due to polymyositis in four and doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in one. In five patients with severe left ventricle hypertrophy undergoing EMB, one patient was diagnosed as autophagic vacuolar cardiomyopathy and one as mitochondrial disease. In the remaining three patients with unclassified cardiomyopathy, EMB revealed infiltration of eosinophils as the cause of atrial ventricular block in one patient. Final diagnoses were made in 24 of the total 53 patients (45%) based on the combination of EMB and clinical data. Transient atrial ventricular block in a patient with prior complete left bundle branch block was the only complication occurred during the procedures.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical application of EMB is safe. The combination of EMB and clinical data produced a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the clinically diagnosed cardiomyopathy in China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; methods ; Cardiomyopathies ; classification ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDHemodynamic evaluation is crucial for the management of patients with pulmonary hypertention. Clinicians often prefer a rapid and non-invasive method. This study aimed to examine the feasibility of transthoracic echocardiography for the measurements of hemodynamic parameters in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

METHODSA prospective single-center study was conducted among 42 patients with pulmonary hypertension caused by different diseases. Transthoracic echocardiography and right-heart catheterization were performed within 24 hours. Pulmonary artery systolic, diastolic and mean pressure (PASP, PADP and PAMP), cardiac output (CO), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) were measured by both methods. A linear correlation and a Bland-Altman analysis were performed to compare the two groups of hemodynamic parameters.

RESULTSA good correlation was found between invasive and non-invasive measurements for PASP (r = 0.96), PADP (r = 0.85), PAMP (r = 0.88), CO (r = 0.82), and PCWP (r = 0.81). Further agreement analysis done by the Bland-Altman method showed that bias and a 95% confidence interval for PASP, PADP, and CO were clinically acceptable while great discrepancies existed for PAMP and PCWP.

CONCLUSIONSThe non-invasive measurements by PASP, PADP, and CO in patients with pulmonary hypertension correlate well with the invasive determinations. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was inappropriate for estimating PCWP and PAMP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiac Output ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure

Objective To observe the clinical features and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) characteristics of patients with endomyocardial biopsy (EMB)-proven cardiac amyloidosis (CA).Methods EMB proven CA patients underwent CMR examination from September 2006 to December 2010 were included.The findings of clinical manifestation,electrocardiogram,echocardiography and CMR were analyzed.Results Among the 18 patients with EMB verified CA,5 patients underwent CMR.All 5 patients had heart failure symptoms and electrocardiogram was abnormal.Echocardiogram showed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy,granular appearance of the myocardium,left atrial enlargement and moderate to severe left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.CMR revealed increased thickness of the left ventricular wall (especially at the inter-ventricular septum),enlarged bilateral auricle,restricted left ventricular filling with normal or mild to moderate reduced systolic function.Pleural and pericardial effusions were observed in 2 patients.Abnormal late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was detected in all 5 patients.CMR revealed different patterns of LGE.Left ventricular global subendocardial delayed gadolinium enhancement or transmural delayed gadolinium enhancement were found,and patients also showed line-,granular- or patchylike enhancement.The degree and range of LGE paralleled the disease course and were consistent with electrocardiogram changes.Conclusions As a noninvasive diagnostic tool,CMR is valuable in the diagnosis of CA.For patients with clinical suspicion of CA,CMR could be a helpful diagnostic tool,especially in the hospitals where EMB is not available.

Objective To study the clinical significance of the method of three perpendicular planes plus special planes in diagnosing fetal cleft lip /palate by prenatal ultrasound .Methods The approach of three perpendicular planes and special planes were used in diagnosing 110 cases of cleft lip/palate.The sonogram features in each section were analyzed and the outcomes were recorded during follow-up.Results On prenatal ultrsound ,110 cases were examined with three perpendicular planes method .The coronary section could be displayed at 100%cases (110 cases), sagittal section 76.4%cases (84 cases),transverse section 96.4%cases (106 cases) and parasagittal section 25.5%cases (28 cases).With special planes method,74 cases were examined .The section through pyriform aperture could be displayed in 47 cases,in 45 cases on the section through the lower lip/lower jaw/submandibular triangle ,and in 16 cases on the section through the cheek.Combining the three perpendicular planes and special planes methods ,94.5%(104/110) cases could be diagnosed definitely.Six cases (5.5%,6/110) were missed because of fetal position or oligoamnios . Conclusions The method of three perpendicular planes plus special planes is effective in prenatal ultrasound diagnosing cleft lip/palate,which is of great help in improving prenatal diagnostic accuracy of fetal cleft lip/palate.