Objective To investigate the differential expression of monocyte ehemoattraetant protein-1 (MCP-1) in renal biopsy tissues of patients with IgA nephropathy, and to analyse the association between these 2 markers and their effect on various pathologic types of IgA nephropathy. Methods According to pathologic type, 88 renal biopsy tissues of patients with IgA nephropathy were divided into 4 groups: a minimal change group, a mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis group, a focal sclerosing glomerulonephritis group, and a diffused sclerosing glomerulonephritis group. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the in situ expression of MCP-1 and CD68 on renal biopsy tissues. The expression levels were semi-quantified by image analysis and clinical data were collected from the patients. Results The differences in glomerular MCP-1 expressions were not statistically significant among all groups, while the tubulointerstitial MCP-1 expressions were statistically different among the 4 groups, with the average scores of 1.43 ± 0. 60, 5.98 ±0.92, 10. 60 ± 0.76 and 11.65 ±0.39 for minimal change group, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis group, focal sclerotic glomerulonephritis, and diffused sclerotic glomerulonephritis group, respectively. The tubular and interstitial CD68 scores were 0. 75 ± 0. 71, 5. 87 ± 0. 96, 10. 42 ± 0. 61, and 11.40 ±0.49 for the 4 groups, with significant differences in both MCP-1 and CD68 among the 4 groups. Correlation analysis indicated a positive correlation between tubulointerstitial MCP-1 and CD68 (r = 0. 688, P ＜ 0. 01) . MCP-1 in tubulointerstitial was significantly correlated with 24 h urinary protein excretion (r=0.531, P＜0.01). Conclusion MCP-1 plays a critical role in mac-rophage infiltration in the kidney. MCP-1 is associated with the severity of tubulointerstitial damage and clinical prognosis.

AIM: To explore the ex vivo expansion characteristics of the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). METHODS: CD34+ cells were selected from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) by MiniMACS system, expanded at the same conditions as that for total MNC, coincubation of CD34+ and CD34- from the same donation for EPCs. In addition, we tested the effect of vessel endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and passage on cell differentiation, expansion kinetics and apoptosis. EPCs were determined and quantified by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Coculture of CD34+ and CD34-,total MNC led to a significant increase in the expansion of CD34+ cells compared with CD34 enrichment (P0.05). These differentiated EPCs were stained positive for CD34+, von Willebrand factor (vWF), KDR, CD31 and incorporate acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL). CD34+ and AC133+cells accounted for 68.2%?6.3% (n=6) and 57.2%?9.8% (n=6) of attaching (AT) cells at day 7 of culture, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Coculture of CD34+ and CD34- or culture of MNC enhances ex vivo expansion of EPCs. Early passage decreases apoptosis rate, VEGF has no significant effect on ex vivo expansion of EPCs.

Objective To report a new approach of splenic hilar lymph nodes dissection in radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods 193 cases of gastric cancer patient receiving radical resection of gastric cancer between May 2008 and October 2008 were studied. The tail and body of spleen and pancreas were thoroughly freed with retroperitoneal way retrogressively and extruded out of abdominal cavity in 80 cases. The other 113 cases received operation with routine way. Results In 80 cases who received operation with retroperitoneal approach retrogressively, the total splenic hilar lymph nodes were 519, the positive ones were 65, the positive rate was 12.5 %; In the other 113 cases the total splenic hilar lymph nodes were 565, the positive ones were 58, the positive rate was 10.3 %. The positive rate had statistic significance between these two groups. Conclusion Extruded splenic hilar lymph nodes dissection with retroperitoneal approach retrogressively is safe and has the same effect with splenectomy in gastric cancer operation.

ObjectiveTo a nalyze the morphologic features of SMMC-7721 cannibalistic cells that induced by triazole Schiff base derivative(LH-37) in vitro. Methods The SMMC-7721 cells (1×10~4/ml)were cultured in the medium containing of 1×10~(-5) mol/L LH-37 for 24h,48h.The character of cells was detected by Papanicolaou and Wright′s Staining. Immunohistochemical method was used to observe the cleaved Caspase-3 positive cells. The ultrastructure of cannibalism cells was observed by JEM 100CX-II transmission electronic microscope. Results Microscopic analysis demonstrated the complete internalization of one cell within another. We noted that some cannibalistic cells in small aggregates appeared to be inside of large vacuoles, suggesting that they were internalized within a neighboring cell. The proportion of cannibalistic cells were increased after SMMC-7721 cells were cultured in the presence of LH-37 for 48 hours. The proportion of the cannibalistic cells in control and LH-37 group was 0.47% and 5.23% respectively . Many internalized cells were positive for cleaved caspase-3 staining . Ultrastructural analysis of engulfed cells from 24 hours exhibited evidence of live-cell internalization consistent with cannibalism, The most common fate for internalized cells was death after treatment with LH-37 for 48 hours, as evidenced by nuclear degradation and the eventual disappearance of some cells within the enveloping cell . Conclusion The data presented indicate that LH-37 can lead to an increase of cannibalism in human hepatocarcinoma cell in vitro.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the mechanism underlying breast cancer metastasis and to provide theoretical da-ta for studying the pathogenesis of breast cancer onset and development.METHODS: Human breast cancer MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of furin inhibitorα1-PDX for 48 h.Wound healing assay and Transwell assay were applied to detect the migration and invasion abilities of the MCF-7 cells.The expression of cell migration-associated proteins, including membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase ( MT1-MMP) , vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF)-C and VEGF-D, was determined by Western blotting.The protein levels of MMP2 and MMP9 in the supernatant were measured by ELISA. RESULTS:Compared with control group, 200 nmol/L of furin inhibitor exerted significant inhibitory effects on the cell mi-gration (P<0.05).The expression of cell migration-associated proteins MT1-MMP, VEGF-C and VEGF-D was significantly inhibited after treated withα1-PDX ( P<0.05 ) .Significant inhibitory effects of α1-PDX on the expression of MMP9 and MMP2 (P<0.05) in the supernatant were observed.CONCLUSION:Furin inhibitor suppresses the metastasis of MCF-7 cells via down-regulating the expression of MMPs and VEGFs.

The characteristics for the ex vivo expansion of the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were explored. CD34+ cells were selected from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (MNC) by MiniMACS system, expanded under the same conditions as those for total MNC, coincubation of CD34+ and CD34- from the same donor for EPCs. In addition, the effects of vessel endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and passage on cell differentiation, expansion kinetics and apoptosis were examined. EPCs were determined and quantified by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. The results showed that both coculture of CD34+ and CD34- and total MNC led to a significant increase in the expansion of CD34+ cells as compared with CD34 enrichment (P < 0.05). There was a tendency toward decreased apoptosis in cultures when early passage was performed immediately after cord like structures appeared. VEGF had no significant effect on apoptosis (P > 0.05). These differentiated EPCs were positive for CD34+, von Willebrand factor (vWF), KDR, CD31 staining and phagocytized acetylated low-density lipoprotein (LDL). CD34+ cells accounted for (68.2 +/- 6.3)% of attaching (AT) cells at day 7 of culture. It was suggested the most efficient method to ex vivo expansion of EPCs was coculture of CD34+ and CD34- or total MNC. Early passage makes cell apoptosis rate decrease. VEGF had no significant effect on ex vivo expansion of EPCs.

Objective To investigates the feasibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor tracking (DTT) for evaluation of the effect of childbearing history on female pelvic floor muscles. Methods Forty-six healthy females were divided into two groups: nulliparous and primiparous. MR conventional sequences and DTI were acquired. The optimized FA threshold value was obtained by regulating the FA to fiber tracking. The two groups were compared in terms of ADC, FA, VRA and T2-WT. Results (1)The DTT of FA 0.18 got the highest score in fiber tracking . ( 2 ) The ADC of nulliparous subjects and the subjects who had given birth were (1.24 ± 0.11) ×10-3 mm2/s, (1.33 ± 0.11) ×10-3 mm2/s (P = 0.017). There were no statistical differences in FA, VRA and T2-WT between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions The optimized FA threshold of fiber tracking in pelvic floor muscles is 0.18. DTI and DTT may be used to evaluate the effect of childbearing history on female pelvic floor muscles.

Objective To explore the value of enhanced T2 star weighted angiography(ESWAN)in the treatment of uterine fibroids with high intensity focus ultrasound(HIFU) by analyzing the changes of ESWAN. Methods Uterine fibroids were detected through pelvic conventional MRI and ESWAN 1 day before and after HIFU operation. Different indexes of ESWAN were measured ,and differences were compared with the paired t-test. Results The preoperative and postoperative values of magnitude were 1624.59 ± 53.07 and 1750.13 ± 39.81, phase values were 0.0012 ± 0.0081 Hz and 0.0025 ± 0.1063 Hz,R2*value were 27.69 ± 1.27 Hz and 24.19 ± 1.20 Hz,and T2*values were 34.66 ± 2.07 ms and 36.46 ± 2.14 ms. After HIFU operation,magnitude value,phase value and T2*value were higher(P=0.04,P=0.91 and P=0.45),and R2*value was lower(P=0.019). Conclusions ESWAN can provide more information about histopathologic changes of uterine fibroids after HIFU.

Objective To evaluate the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)in the assessment of uterine fibroids by analyzing uterine fibroids and normal myometrium.Methods Forty-four patients with uterine fibroids confirmed by surgery were included in this study.DTI was performed using double gradient GE HDxt 3.0T and HD Cardiac coil.All data were transferred to GE AW4.5 Workstation software for data processing.Apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC),fractional aniso(FA),volume ratio aniso(VRA)and T2-weighted trace of uterine fibroids and normal myometrium were recorded.Diffusion tensor tractography (DTT)of uterine fibroids and normal myometrium were reconstructed and observed.The ADC,FA,VRA and T2-weighted trace of different regions of interest (ROI)were compared between uterine fibroids and normal myometrium.Results The ADC,FA,VRA and T2-weighted trace of uterine fibroids and normal myometrium were (1.65±0.32)×10 -9 mm2/s and (1.21±0.97)×10 -9 mm2/s,0.20±0.08 and 0.28±0.08,0.05 ± 0.05 and 0.09±0.07,344.22±66.1 9 and 318.97±98.48,respectively.The ADC of normal myometrium was higher than that of uterine fibroids (P =0.009).The FA and VRA of normal myometrium were lower than those of uterine fibroids (P =0.000,P =0.005). There was no statistically significant difference of T2-weighted trace between uterine fibroids and normal myometrium (P =0.1 74). There were obvious differences between uterine fibroids and normal myometrium in direction,arrangement and number of fibers. Conclusion DTI can be used to evaluate the structure difference between uterine fibroids and normal myometrium,which has the potential to improve assessment value of MRI for uterine fibroids.