Background and purpose:Many studies indicate that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) may inhibit cancer growth.However,the molecular mechanisms may involve different pathway and still remain unclear.The aim of this experiment was to investigate the influence of aspisol against breast cancer lines,including MDA-MB-231(estrogen receptor-negative),MCF-7(estrogen receptor-positive),and reveal the potential signaling pathway mechanism of aspisol effect on breast cancer lines.Methods:MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cell lines were treated with aspisol in vitro.Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay and rate of apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry.Extracellular signal regulated kinase(ERK),phosphor-ERK(P-ERK) protein expressed in breast cancer cell lines were analyzed by Western blot.Results:①The results of MTT assay demonstrated that the growth of MDA-MB-231,MCF-7 cells were inhibited by aspisol in a time-and dose-dependent fashion(P0.05).Conclusions:aspisol inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis not only in ER-positive but also in ER-negative breast cancer cells.The mechanism may relate to ERK signal pathway.

Objective:To compare the mental health between the urban mothers and rural mothers of children with cleft lip and pal-ate.Methods:1 68 mothers(including 1 24 rural and 44 urban)of the children with cleft lip and palate were included in the trial group and 82 mothers of normal children were included in the control group.The subjects were tested by the self-assessment symptom lists of SCL-90 for the evaluation and comparison of mental health.Results:The scores of nine dimensions of trial group in somatization, forcing symptoms,depression,anxiety,etc were significantly higher than those of the control group(P <0.05).The scores of nine di-mensions of rural group in somatization,forcing symptoms,depression,anxiety,etc were higher than those of the urban group,the ri-val,psychotic and total scores showed significant differences(P <0.05);Conclusion:The mental health status of mothers of children with cleft lip and palate is poorer than that of those of normal children.That of the rural mothers is poorer than that of the urban ones. Special attention should be paid to the mental health status of the parents of children with cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the curative effect of combined transplantation of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of same sibling in children with β-thalassemia major.METHODS: Eight thalassemia major patients undergoing combined transplantation of bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of same sibling aged from 4.0 to 7.5 years, 5 boys and 3 girls, were recruited at the Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital,Southem Medical University from January 2005 to March 2009. The patients were classified into three classes according to Pesarothalassamia classification, class Ⅰ to class Ⅱ 7 cases and class Ⅲ 1 case. Donors ranged 1-4 years received 10 μg/kg per day of subcutaneous granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for 5 consecutive days. Bone marrow was harvested on the fifth day. Bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of the same sibling then were transfused into the patient.RESULTS: Recovery of hematopoiesis was gained in all patients 4 weeks following transplantation. Seven patients suffered from infection of different degree. Four patients developed mild venous occlusive disease. Two patients developed grade Ⅰ acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and one developed grade Ⅰ chronic GVHD. Seven patients were alive and one died of pulmonary infection and heart failure 32 days following transplantation.CONCLUSION: Combined transplantation of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor primed bone marrow and umbilical cord blood of same sibling in children with β-thalassemia major is safe and effective with promising results. However, complications should be paid high attention following transplantation.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of MSCT in tumors of intra-abdominal cryptorchidism in children.Methods MSCT findings of 8 children with tumors of intra-abdominal cryptorchidism confirmed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Six tumors located in the right,2 (1 tumor of left cryptorchidism turned to the right abdominal) in the left.Eight children showed ovoid soft tissue tumor in abdomen.Three children displayed the long axis of the tumors consistent with regular descending course of embryonic testes.Six teratomas manifested as the cystic and solid mass with fat,calcification (ossification) insidey.Two yolk sac tumors manifested as the large cystic and solid mass with irregular necrosis and abundant tumor vessels.Conclusion The pathologic types of tumors for intra-abdominal cryptorchidism in children are different from adult.Most of them are teratomas or yolk sac tumors,and have some characteristics in MSCT.MSCT is helpful in diagnosis of tumor for intra-abdominal cryptorchidism with medical history.

Objective To construct a large animal model of ischemic heart disease induced by acute myocardial infarction (AMI) . Methods Male Diannan Mini-pigs were selected (n=8), weight 20 ± 4 Kg. After general anesthesia and endotracheal intubation, blood pressure and electrocardiograph were monitored. Parasternal incision was taken and thoracotomyv was performed at 4th-to-5th intercostalgap. Pericardium was opened and left anterior descending artery was ligated. Echocardiography was performed at baseline, postoperative 28 and 60 day. Euthanasia and heart explanted was conducted at 60 day of experimental pig. After gross examination of the heart, the histological examination was used to assess myocardial infarction by using H&E staining. Results All of the pigs were presented with ventricular arrhythmias in varying degrees after ligation of the left anterior descending artery, of whom 2 died of refractory ventricular fibrillation, the mortality was 25%. Echocardiography assessment showed the loss left ventricular function, the thinning of left ventricular apical and the enlargement of left ventricule. Histological examination revealed that myocardial fibrosis and fibrous scar were formed in myocardial infarction area. Conclusion The ligation of left anterior descending artery through thoracotomy under direct vision is a reliable strategy for construction of AMI porcine model and the experimental porcine can develop ischemic cardiac dysfunction progressively.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and its combination with DWI and proton MR spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in differentiating malignancy from benign breast lesions. Methods Fifty-three patients with 38 histopathologically confirmed malignant and 15 benign breast lesions were retrospectively studied. The patients were examined by breast MRI at 3.0 T prior to operation, including conventional T1WI, fat-suppression imaging, DWI, DKI and 1H-MRS. The shape and margin of breast lesions, and their corresponding mean values for ADC, mean kurtosis (MK) and mean diffusivity (MD) were determined by two blinded radiologists in consensus. The presence or absence of choline (Cho) peak was identified using LCModel software. Independent-samples t test or χ2 test was performed for the comparison of clinical characteristics, shape and margin of lesions, and imaging parameters between malignancy and benign lesions. ROC analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of DKI, DWI and 1H-MRS alone or in combination, in comparison with the histopathologic findings. Results The onset age of breast malignancy was higher than that of benign ones, and the difference has statistical significant (P<0.05). Malignant lesions were most often seen in postmenopausal women, with unclear margin. There was no significant differences for body mass index (BMI), fiber type, the size and shape of lesions between benign lesions and malignancy (P>0.05). The mean ADC,MD and MK of benign lesions were(1.464 ± 0.348)× 10-3mm2/s,(1.726 ± 0.268)× 10-3mm2/s and(0.692 ± 0.227), the mean ADC,MD and MK of malignancy were(0.963 ± 0.170)× 10-3mm2/s,(1.158 ± 0.262)× 10-3mm2/s and(1.311 ± 0.218), respectively. Significant differences were obtained between benign and malignant lesions for all parameters (P<0.05).The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of ADC, MD and MK for differentiating malignancy from benign lesions was 0.913, 0.933 and 0.968, respectively. Taken the maximum Youden's index of MK (1.110) as the ROC optimal cut-off point, MK exhibited better diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for distinguishing malignancy from benign lesions [89.5%(34/38),93.3%(14/15) and 90.6%(48/53), respectively], compared with MD and ADC. Multiparametric imaging with combination of DKI, DWI and 1H-MRS improves the diagnostic specificity (with the highest as 100.0%) but decreases the sensitivity (with the highest as 81.6% and lowest as 71.1% ), compare with the single parametric imaging. Conclusions MK generated from DKI enables differentiation of breast lesions with a higher diagnostic sensitivity and specificity than DWI and 1H-MRS. DKI combined with DWI and 1H-MRS increase specificity but decrease sensitivity for breast cancer characterization.

BACKGROUND:Cytokines play an important role in the occurrence and development of graft-versus-host disease, but there is a current lack of reports on the association between cytokines and graft-versus-host disease after al ogeneic hematopoietic stem cel transplantation for treatment ofβ-thalassemia major.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the association between cytokines and graft-versus-host disease after al ogeneic hematopoietic stem cel transplantation forβ-thalassemia major.
METHODS:We observed the dynamic variation of interleukin 6, interleukin 8, interleukin 12, tumor necrosis factor-αand macrophage migration inhibitory factor in 11 children withβ-thalassemia major before onset of graft-versus-host disease, when graft-versus-host disease occurred, at days 4 and 7 after onset of graft-versus-host disease, and when graft-versus-host disease disappeared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There was a significant difference in serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-12, tumor necrosis factor-α, macrophage migration inhibitory factor in different time points, and the highest levels of different cytokines appeared when graft-versus-host disease occurred, fol owed by those at 7 days after
graft-versus-host disease. There was a significant difference in serum levels of interleukin-8 in different time points, and the highest level appeared at 4 days after graft-versus-host disease. The dynamic expression of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-12, tumor necrosis factor-α, macrophage migration inhibitory factor can estimate the immune function ofβ-thalassemia major patients who develops graft-versus-host disease after al ogeneic hematopoietic stem cel transplantation, and can be used as the immunobiology indicators for the early diagnosis of graft-versus-host disease.

Objective To investigate the autophagy and apoptosis in acute myelogenous leukemia U937 cell induced by Sirolimus.Methods U937 cells were subcultured, and blank control group(normal) and Sirolimus treated groups(12 h, 24 h,48 h) were established.The Sirolimus treated groups were treated by 2 μmol/L concentration of Sirolimus for 12 h,24 h and 48 h, respectively.The cell morphology of U937 cells treated by Sirolimus was observed after 12 h,24 h and 48 h.The survival rate of cells was detected by cell counting kit-8 method.Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC/PI double labeled.Real-time PCR was used to detect the level of mRNA expression in autophagy specific protein maker mictotubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-Ⅱ in different treated times by Sirolimus.Sirolimus LC3 protein expression levels after treatment were detected by Western blot method.Results Under inverted microscope, the cell number of Sirolimus treatment group reduced gradually after 12 h ,24 h and 48 h culture, volume of cells became smaller, cells got ruptured, and the nucleus pycnosis and cellular debris increased.With the extension of time, U937 cells survival rate was falling, and there was statistical differences compared with those of the control group(P =0.031).With Sirolimus treatment, U937 cells after 12 h,24 h and 48 h, U937 cell apoptosis rate increased, and there were statistically significances, compared with those of the control group (P =0.027).With Sirolimus treatment U937 cells after 12 h,24 h and 48 h,LC3-Ⅱ mRNA expression and protein expression were down-regulated compared with those of the control group, and there were statistically significances (P =0.029).Conclusions Sirolimus can induce autophagy and apoptosis in U937 cells.Autophagy protein LC3-Ⅱ in gene and protein expression levels were lowered, and LC3-Ⅱ may play an important role in regulating the leukemia cell autophagy.

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging T2* tests in the detection of myocardial and liver iron overload in patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM).

METHODSFrom 2010 to 2011, 28 β-TM patients over 10 years old under blood transfusion therapy and chelation care with serum ferritin (SF)>1000 µg/L underwent myocardial and liver MRI T2* tests on a voluntary basis. The results were analyzed in relation with age, SF, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

RESULTSFourteen out of the 28 cases (50%) were found to have myocardial iron overload, including 7 severe cases, 2 moderate cases, and 5 mild cases. All the 28 cases had liver iron overload, including 2 mild cases, 7 moderate cases, and 19 severe cases. Two out of the 28 cases had lowered LVEF (7.14%), and one of them had severe myocardial iron overload. There was a negative correlation between myocardial MRI T2* and SF (r=-0.479, P=0.01). Myocardial MRI T2* was positively correlated with liver MRI T2* (r=0.378, P=0.047). Age was not significantly correlated with SF, LVEF, or liver MRI T2*.

CONCLUSIONMagnetic resonance imaging (T2*) detection is an effective and non-invasive means for detecting myocardial and liver iron overload in patients with β-thalassemia major receiving blood transfusion. T2* combined with SF is the main diagnostic indicator to assess iron overload in the vital organs.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Ferritins ; blood ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Iron Overload ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Young Adult ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection on T lymphocyte subsets in children with β-thalassemia major (TM) during the initial 6 months after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Allo-HSCT).

METHODSFrom January, 2010 to January, 2011, 35 children with TM underwent Allo-HSCT. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the children 6 month after the transplantation to examine the changes of T lymphocytes subsets in relation to HCMV seropositivity.

RESULTSThirteen children were found seropositive and 22 were seronegative for HCMV. The HCMV-seropositive children had a higher CD8⁺ cell percentage but a lower CD4⁺ cell percentage than those without HCMV infection. Compared with those seronegative for HCMV, the children with HCMV seropositivity showed increased percentages of CD8⁺ cells and CD8⁺CD28⁻ cells with a decreased percentage of CD8⁺CD28⁺ cells. A positive linear correlation was found between the percentages of CD8⁺CD28⁻ cells and CD8⁺ cells.

CONCLUSIONHCMV infection can lead to the accumulation of CD8⁺CD28 cells to cause increased CD8⁺ T cells in the peripheral blood in TM children after Allo-HSCT. The percentages of CD8⁺CD28⁻ cells has a positive linear correlation to that of CD8⁺ cells.

Adolescent ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytomegalovirus ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; immunology ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Period ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; beta-Thalassemia ; immunology ; surgery ; virology