Objective To study the clinical features,pathological characteristics and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma(RCC)in young adults,and to improve the recognition of RCC in young population. Methods The data of 35 young patients with RCC under the age of 35 years from August 1983 to June 2005 were analyzed retrospectively.There were 22 males and 13 females with a mean age of 31 years(age range, 19-35 years).The clinical presentations were as follows:painless hematuria in 12 cases(34%),low back pain in 12(34%),abdominal mass in 2(6%),fever in 3 and Stauffer syndrome in 1.The tumor size was 1.2-13.8 cm in diameter(mean,6.0cm).AJCC staging showed stage I tumor in 8 cases,stageⅡin 4, stageⅢin 18 and stageⅣin 5.Of the 35 cases,28 underwent radical nephrectomy(including simultaneous extraction of the vena cava emboli in 3 cases and extraction with pulmonary lobectomy in 1);5 cases under- went partial nephrectomy;and 2 cases lost the chance of operation(1 of them had biopsy).Results The operations were successful.The postoperative pathologic diagnoses consisted of clear cell carcinoma in 23 ca- ses,mixed cell carcinoma in 5,papillary cell carcinoma in 2,and chromophobe cell carcinoma in 2,low-dif- ferentiated and undifferentiated cell carcinoma each in 1.Of them,26 cases were followed for 12-148 months(mean,56 months).Postoperative 3-and 5-year survival rates were 65% and 50%,respectively. Conclnsions In young population,RCC is difficult to diagnose because of occult symptoms at early stage and lack of tumor specificity,which leads to relatively late clinical staging at diagnosis.RCC is characterized by higher malignancy,easy invasion to surrounding tissues and metastasis,and thus poor prognosis.

ObjectiveTo observe the activities of cultured neurons incubated with Earle's solution, new minimal essential medium (MEM) or former MEM.MethodsActivity changes of cultured neurons were measured by determining the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and metabolic rate of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT).ResultsActivities of neurons incubated with different culture medium for 12 h or 24 h were significantly different (P<0.01).ConclusionDifferent culture medium can influence neuronal activities.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effect of LY367385 on impairment of cultured mouse cerebral cortical neurons induced by sodium glutamate (Glu) or oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).MethodsNeuron damage induced by Glu or OGD, as well as the action of (S)-(+)-a-amino-4-carboxy-2-methylbenzeneacetic acid (LY367385) were measured by determining the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from neurons. Immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescent methods were used to detect the expression of anti-mGluR1α. Morphological observation of primary cortical neurons was performed by phase contrast microscope.ResultsFollowing the exposure to 0.1 mmol/L Glu for 1 h or OGD for 1 h, LDH leakage from neurons obviously increased (P< 0.01 ). 50 mmol/L LY367385, when co-incubated with Glu or OGD, markedly reduced the LDH leakage (P<0.01). The 24-h leakage of LDH was increased from cells exposed to 0.1 mmol/L Glu for 15 min. Pre-and post-treatment with LY367385 (50 mmol/L ) decreased the leakage of LDH. The cultured neurons expressed mGluR1α.ConclusionLY367385 has protective effect on neurons damaged by Glu or OGD. It may be related to antagonizing mGluR1α.

Objective To establish a quality standard for Tibetan medicineRuyi-Zhenbao pill. Methods Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was applied to identify 12 Tibetan medicinal materials, and High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to determine the contents of gallic acid, dehydrodiisoeugenol, piperine, and cinnamaldehyde.Results The identified characteristics of TLC were distinct and the spots were clear. Linearity of gallic acid, dehydrodiisoeugenol, piperine, and cinnamaldehyde were in the range of 0.106-0.901μg, 0.033-0.281μg, 0.007-0.060μg, and 0.021-0.178μg, respectively. Average recovery was in the range of 98.47%-101.65% (RSD<3.0%).Conclusions The method of identification and content determination was good in terms of specificity, accuracy and repeatability, and can be used for quality control ofRuyi-Zhenbaopill.

ObjectiveTo determine whether glutamate induces the alteration of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) expression in cultured rat astrocytes. MethodsThe secondary cultured astrocytes were treated with 1 mmol/L L-glutamate for 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h. The morphologic changes of astrocytes were observed through microscope after GFAP immunostaining and AQP4 mRNA expression were detected with real-time PCR. ResultsThe astrocytes swelled when exposed to glutamate for 1 h and remained with prolonged treatment. Meanwhile, the AQP4 mRNA expression were early down-regulated and subsequently up-regulated, featured with the lowest AQP4 mRNA level at 12 h after treatment (P<0.01) and higher at 48 h (P<0.05). ConclusionAquaporin 4 may be involved in the occurrence and development of astrocyte swelling induced by glutamate.

Objective To reproduce a scratch-wound model in cultured rat astrocytes (AST).Methods The secondary cultured AST prepared from newborn Wistar rat cerebral cortex were scratched with plastic pipette tips. The morphologic change of AST was observed through microscope at 10 min before and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after injury, meanwhile the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakages in the cultured medium were determined.Results Immediately after injury the edge of the scratch was lined with irregularly shaped cell. 6 h after injury the AST processes began extending to cell-free area, and elongated further at 12 and 24 h after injury, with presented of new generated cells in the denuded area. At different times after injury, the LDH leakages of the experiment group were higher than that before injury ( P<0.05), and were higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05).Conclusion According to observed AST morphologic changes and determined LDH leakages in culture medium, the scratch-wound model in cultured rat AST is successfully reproduced.

Objective To examine the sensitivity of human glioblastoma multiforme cell line BT325 to 5 antineoplastic drugs, including cisplatin (DDP), teniposide (VM26), nimustine (ACNU), temozolomide (TMZ) and vincristine (VCR). Methods BT325 cells were incubated in DMEM with 10% or 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or without FBS respectively. The cell numbers were counted at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h,96 h, 120 h, and 144 h, then platting and growth curve were drafted. Cell counting kite-8 was used to detect the influence of 5 drugs with different concentrations on human glioma cell line BT325. Results DDP and VM26 significantly suppressed BT325 cells(>75%) viability in a dose-dependent manner, while VCR inhibited BT325 cells (50%) growth without dose-effect relationship. In contrast, ACNU and TMZwere not effective on the viability of BT325 cells. Conclusion BT325 cells were very sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs DDP amd VM26.

Arthropods of medical importance such as mosquitoes, ticks and sandflies are one of the key drivers of arthropod-borne diseases outbreak, posing a great threat to global public health security. For further understanding the transmission mechanisms of arthropod-borne diseases and establishing the prevention and control measures, a series of experiments of arthropods infection need to be carried out under laboratory conditions. Besides the regular biosafety requirements, some specific considerations need to be taken into account when performing arthropod infection and the infected arthropod rearing. Except for the physical containment composed of biosafety facilities, a comprehensive assessment of the biosafety risks during operations and corresponding preventive measures are also critical to eliminate or mitigate the biosafety risks. In this paper, we introduce our practice in handling mosquito infection with Risk Group 2 pathogens in Arthropod Containment Level-2 (ACL-2) laboratory, with an aim to provide a reference for researchers in related fields.

OBJECTIVETo observe blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading, as well as their correlation in Wilson's disease (WD) patients with different Chinese medical syndrome types.

METHODSTotally 906 WD patients in line with inclusive criteria were assigned to 6 groups, i.e., the heart spirit confused by phlegm group (HSCP, 26 cases), the phlegm-fire disturbing heart group (PFDH, 90 cases), the retention of damp-heat group (RDH, 113 cases), deficiency of qi and blood group (DQB, 168 cases), the deficiency of Gan-yin and Shen-yin group (DGYSY, 327 cases), the deficiency of Gan and Shen group (DGS, 182 cases) due to different Chinese medical syndrome types. Recruited were another 160 healthy subjects having similar ages and diet structures, who came for medical examinations, as the healthy control group. Venous blood was collected from the medial cubital vein of each-patient on an empty stomach in early mornings to detect blood uric acid levels. Results Blood uric acid levels were lower in each syndrome type group than in the healthy control group (146.08 +/- 67.24 micromol/L in the HSCP group; 157.08 +/- 69.77 micromol/L in the PFDH group; 162.58 +/- 97.72 micromol/L in the RDH group; 156.20 +/- 62.63 micromol/L in the DQB group; 161.83 +/- 111.23 micromol/L in the DGYSY group; 194.41 +/- 90.01 micromol/L in the DGS group; 242.39 +/- 87.55 micromol/L in the healthy control group, P < 0.01). Blood uric acid levels were higher in the DGYSY group than in the other 5 syndrome groups (P < 0.01). Correlation analyses between Goldstein grading and blood uric acid showed that, along with increased Goldstein grade (that was aggravating disease conditions), WD patients' blood uric acid levels decreased (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSWD patient's blood uric acid levels decreased more. Blood uric acid levels and Goldstein grading were different in various Chinese medical syndrome types. Blood uric acid levels had certain value in assessing the severity of WD.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Heart ; Hepatolenticular Degeneration ; blood ; classification ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Syndrome ; Uric Acid ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the fundamental pathological anatomy and possible pathogenetic factors of Ménière's disease(MD), we compared the types of mastoid air cells between the MD group and the control group.

METHODSThe MD group had 113 ears and the control group had 100 ears. Temoral bone CT scanning was performed in all the subjects. The types of mastoid air cells were determined by surgical findings and imaging data. All the mastoid air cells were divided into diploetic type, gasified type and sclerosis type. Analysis of the proportion of different types and the statistical analysis were performed between the two groups.

RESULTS51.4% (57/113) in the MD group and 18.0% (18/100) in the control group were diploetic type mastoid, the difference was significant (χ(2) = 24.476, P < 0.001). The gasified type was 43.4% (49/113) in the MD group and 77.0% (77/100) in the control group, the difference was significant (χ(2) = 24.843, P < 0.001). The sclerosis type was 6.2% in the MD group and 5.0% (5/100) in the control group, and there was no statistical significance (χ(2) = 0.142,P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe mastoid air cells are dysplasia in MD patients, and it may be one of the fundamental pathological anatomy. The long-term ventilation and drainage disorder and recurrent inflammation attack may play an important role in occurrence, development and prognosis of MD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Endolymphatic Sac ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mastoid ; pathology ; Meniere Disease ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult