The fragmentation pathways of five estrogens (estradiol, estrone, equilin sulfate, 17 a-dihydroequilin sulfate and equilenin sulfate) have been studied with high resolution and high mass accuracy using electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOF/MS) in the negative ion mode. Molecular weights were obtained from [M-H](-) ions in the product ion spectra. The results indicate that the five structurally similar estrogens have similar fragmentation pathways. Using their stable isotope forms as internal reference compounds, the accurate mass and composition of the fragment ions were determined. During collision-induced dissociation (CID), cleavage is initiated by loss of oxygen atoms from carbon-17, after which D and C rings cleave sequentially and rearrange to finally form stable conjugate structures with highly abundant characteristic fragment ions at m/z 183 (accompanied by m/z 181), m/z 169 and m/z 145 (accompanied by m/z 143). Understanding these characteristic fragmentation pathways of estrogens will be helpful in identifying the structures of steroid hormones in general.
Chemical Fractionation ; methods ; Equilenin ; chemistry ; Equilin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Estradiol ; chemistry ; Estrogens ; chemistry ; Estrone ; chemistry ; Ions ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVESTo study the effects of hepatectomized rat serum and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on the transdifferentiation of adult rat bone marrow stem cells (ABMSCs) into hepatic parenchymal cells.

METHODSThe serum was collected from the rats 24 hours after being subjected to subtotal hepatectomy. ABMSCs were collected and cultured in DMEM/F12 (1:1) containing the hepaetectomized rat serum or HGF. The differentiated hepatocyte-like cells were labeled with CM-DiI and administrated by tail vein injection into the isogeneic rats. The cultured and injected cells were both identified by immunocytochemistry and cultured cells were assayed using RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSHepatectomized rat serum and HGF were demonstrated to have the effect of inducing transdifferentiation of ABMSCs into hepatocyte-like cells in vitro. The differentiated cells expressed albumin mRNA and albumin after 7 days++'s co-incubation. Albumin-expressing and CM-DiI positive hepatocyte-like cells were characterized in livers and spleens of the rats injected with the cultivated cells.

CONCLUSIONABMSCs could transdifferentiate into hepatic parenchymal cells by hepatectomized rat serum or HGF.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Hepatectomy ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Liver Regeneration ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; Stem Cells ; cytology

Objective:To investigate the safety of simultaneous resection of patients suffering with synchronous primary esophageal carcinoma and primary lung cancer.Methods:Seven patients meeting the following diagnostic criteria: histologically.All patients underwent radical resection of esophageal carcinoma, and simultaneously underwent radical resection of lung cancer.Surgical effect and sufety were observed.Results:There were 6 male patients and 1 female patient in all the 7 patients.The mean age was (61±7.26) years old.The average preoperative FEV1 was (2.50±0.63) L, the average FEV1 / FVC was (84.18±18.74)%, and the mean LVEF was (64.83±4.02)%.All of the 7 patients successfully underwent radical resection for esophageal carcinoma and pneumonectomy.The upper abdomen and right thoracotomy incision was performed in 5 cases, and the left thoracic incision in 2 cases.The site of surgical incision was determined by the location of lung tumor.The average intraoperative blood loss was (157.14±53.45) mL.All the patients recovered well after operation.There were no serious or deadly operative complications such as tracheoesophageal fistula and bronchopleural fistula.The average postoperative hospital stay was (11.7±1.98) days.Conclusions:Simultaneous surgical resection does not increase the surgical complications and is a safe treatment of patients with synchronous primary esophageal carcinoma and lung cancer.Good preoperative cardiopulmonary function may be a key factor affecting the safety of surgery.

OBJECTIVETo develop an experimental model of composite facial and scalp allograft in canine in order to investigate technical and immunological aspects and functional recovery of facial muscles of this new approach to facial reconstruction.

METHODS(1) Anatomic study: Four mongrel dogs were used for anatomical dissection of the head and neck region and for harvesting flap experiment. (2) Autologous transplantation (group I): Three types composite facial and scalp autologous transplantation were performed in five mongrel dogs. Type I composite tissue flap (group I a n = 2) included bilateral external ear and orbicularis oculi muscle. Type II (group I b n = 1) included single-lateral external ear, orbicularis oculi muscle, external nose upper and lower lip. Type III (group I c n = 2) included single - lateral external ear and orbicularis oculi muscle. (3) Allograft transplantation (group II): In group II a (n = 2), two allograft transplantation were performed with type III composite facial and scalp . In group II b (n = 4), four allograft transplantation were performed with the modified type III composite facial and scalp which included single - lateral external ear, orbicularis oculi muscle and one third of inferior tarsal plate and palpebral conjunctiva. To prevent allograft rejection, Cyclosporin A (CsA) and Methylprednisolone (MP) or Prednisone (PS ) were combined used as immunosuppressive protocol . Dose of CsA was adjusted depending on its blood drug level. Electromyogram (EMG) of orbicularis oculi muscle was carried out at 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months postoperation.

RESULTS(1) The facial anatomic characteristic of dog is similar to that of human being, external carotid artery and external jugular vein afford good blood supply to composite facial and scalp. (2) The dogs in group I c were long-term surviving with leakage of salivary juice. (3) In group II a (n = 2), one dog presented rejection reaction at 28th day postoperation, the reversal of rejection was achieved by increasing the dose of CsA and prednisone and with topical clobetasol for 2 weeks, the dog survived indefinitely( > 309 days). In group II b (n = 4), there were three dogs survived indefinitely ( > 159 days, > 129 days, > 108 days) without complication, EMG showed the function of orbicularis oculi muscle was gradually improving.

CONCLUSIONThe modified type III composite facial and scalp allograft transplantation model is an ideal model for facial allograft transplantation study.

Animals ; Dogs ; surgery ; Face ; Facial Transplantation ; Models, Animal ; Scalp ; transplantation ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Transplantation ; Transplantation, Homologous

Interaction exists in lung cancer and microbiota. Lung microecological homeostasis can improve the immune tolerance, enhance immune suppression, and inhibit inflammatory responses, to reduce the lung cancer; while lung cancer can lead to pulmonary microecological imbalance, change the lung environment, and promote tumor cell proliferation. Therefore, modulating microbial flora and microecological immunotherapy may be a potential and preventive treatment for lung cancer, to restore tumor immunosuppression and improve patient survival. However, the individual differences in the lung microecology, because of different genetics, ethnic characteristics, and dietary habits, increasing the difficulty of precise diagnosis and treatment, which is also the current bottleneck in the application of microecological immunotherapy. Otherwise, the effectiveness of regulatory measures such as probiotics, prebiotics or antimicrobials is questionable. The research on microbial flora is still in its infancy, and further exploration is needed to form a standardized, effective, and precise treatment plan. So, standardized, effective, and precise microbial flora treatment strategies need to be further explored.
Humans ; Probiotics ; Prebiotics ; Microbiota ; Lung Neoplasms