Humans ; Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive ; Acupuncture Therapy

A strain Escherichia coli with high production of phytase was screened from pig excreta. Phytase gene appA, with 1,299 bp coding region in full length, was cloned from its genome by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) . The gene appA was then cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a ( + ) . In the host BL21, the phytase appA was overexpressed by shaker-cultivation (up to 692 U/mL) . The enzymatic analysis of the prokaryotic derived appA phytase revealed that its optimal pH and temperature was 4.5 and 60℃, respectively.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; enzymology ; Glutathione ; blood ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in giiomas and brain metastases, and explore the role of VEGF and AQP4 in the histopathology and formation of peritumoral edema of primary and metastatic gliomas. Methods Immunohistocbemical method was used to examine the protein expression of VEGF and AQP4 in 73 paraffin-embeded, pathologically confirmed glioma and 15 metastatic tumor specimens collected between 1999 and 2001. Eight normal brain tissue specimens were used as the control. Results VEGF protein was not detected in normal brain tissues. VEGF expression was detected in gliomas and the expression level increased obviously along with the histological grade of the tumor. Significant differences were found in VEGF expression between malignant and low-grade gliomas, between low-grade gliomas and normal brain tissues, and between intracranial metastatic tumors and normal brain tissues and low-grade gliomas (P<0.05), but not between intracranial metastatic tumors and malignant gliomas (P>0.05). AQP4 protein expression was found in all the collected samples, and its expression differed significantly between normal brain tissues and malignant gliomas or intracranial metastatic tumors, and also between low-grade gliomas and malignant gliomas or intracranial metastatic tumors (P<0.05), but not between normal brain tissues and low-grade gliomas or between intracranialmetastatic tumors and malignant gliomas (P>0.05). VEGF protein expression showed a significant positive correlation to AQP4 protein expression (r=0.516, P<0.05). Conclusion As important molecular biological factors, VEGF and AQP4 participate in the formation peritumoral brain edema of gliomas and exhibit a synergie effect in this process.

Objective:To discuss the clinical efficacy of biliary drainage with single pigtail plastic pancreatic stent after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography(ERCP)treating choledocholithiasis.Methods:Clinical data of 105 patients with common bile duct stones treated by ERCP from October 2014 to October 2016 in Shanghai East Hospital were analyzed retrospeoctively.These patients were divided into stenting group(n=38)and control group(n=67).The stenting group received ERCP+endoscopic sphincterotomy(EST)/endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation(EPBD)+calculus removed+single pigtail plastic pancreatic stent for biliary drainage,while the control group underwent ERCP+EST/EPBD+calculus removed+ENBD.The incidences of post-ERCP acute pancreatitis(PEP)in the two groups were compared.The stent fall and dislodging in stenting group were observed.Objective:The incidence of PEP was 13.1％(5/38)in stenting group and 14.9％(10/67)in control group.In the stenting group,3 patients had stent dislodged on the first day after ERCP.One patient got stent removed from bile duct on the third day due to upper abdomen discomfort.The stents in 8 patients were removed successfully by endoscopy while they failed in self-releasing in 2 weeks.In the other 26 patients,without complications,the stents dislodged successfully and were excreted outside through the digestive tract.Conclusions:After ERCP treating choledocholithiasis,the application of single pigtail plastic pancreatic stent bile duct drainage can prevent the incidence of PEP,reduce the severity degree of PEP,and the stent can successfully dislodged without complications.

BACKGROUNDPancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal human cancers with a very low survival rate of 5 years. Conventional cancer treatments including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or combinations of these show little effect on this disease. Several proteins have been proved critical to the development and the progression of pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells.

METHODSSeveral pancreatic cancer cell lines were screened by resveratrol, and its toxicity was tested by normal pancreatic cells. Western blotting was then performed to analyze the molecular mechanism of resveratrol induced apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cell lines.

RESULTSIn the screened pancreatic cancer cell lines, capan-2 and colo357 showed high sensitivity to resveratrol induced apoptosis. Resveratrol exhibited insignificant toxicity to normal pancreatic cells. In resveratrol sensitive cells, capan-2 and colo357, the activation of caspase-3 was detected and showed significant caspase-3 activation upon resveratrol treatment; p53 and p21 were also detected up-regulated upon resveratrol treatment.

CONCLUSIONResveratrol provides a promising anti-tumor strategy to fight against pancreatic cancer.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Humans ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the histological components and solubility of the bile-cast, and to study the pathological course of bile cast formation.

METHODSHE staining, bilirubin staining (Gmelin reaction), Masson's staining, alcian blue staining and fibrin staining (weigert's) were performed on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded section of the bile cast. Ultrastructure was examined under the scanning electron microscope. Solubility test was also conducted using chymotrypsin, heparin, trypsin solution, HCl and NaOH solution to dissolve the bile-cast.

RESULTSThe major components of the bile-cast were bilirubin crystals and collagen fibers. Between the mass of collagen fibers there was certain blood vessel structure. Necrosis bile duct structure was not found in the cast. Under the scanning electron microscope, four kinds of crystal morphologies were viewed. There were some mucoid mass and necrosis defluvium epithelial cells in the bile cast. Solubility test showed that the bile cast could be partial dissolved in NaOH solution (pH = 12.5). No dissolution was found in HCl solution (pH = 5.0), chymotrypsin solution, heparin and trypsin solution.

CONCLUSIONSCollagen fibers work as framework in the bile cast with bilirubin crystal filling between the framework. The emergence of fibroblast and blood vessels indicated the formation of bile cast might be the course of exudation and organization due to bile duct epithelium damage. Bile cast could be partially dissolved in alkaline solution, but could not be dissolved in acid solution, or in chymotrypsin, heparin and trypsin solutions.

Bile Duct Diseases ; etiology ; pathology ; Bile Ducts ; ultrastructure ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Microscopy ; Postoperative Complications ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of one dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix on deep partial thickness burns.

METHODSFrom January 1997 to January 2004, sixty-seven cases of deep partial thickness total burned surface area (TBSA) from 50% to 90% burn wound were treated by a single dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix (the porcine acellular dermal matrix group). Ten cases of deep partial thickness burned patients with the same TBSA treated by exposure method served as the exposure method group. The healing time of the wound was observed. The patients were followed up for 3 months to 2 years, and the scar proliferation was observed.

RESULTSThe deep partial-thickness wound would be healed without dressing change in the porcine acellular dermal matrix group, and the average healing time was (12.2 +/- 2.6) days. The average healing time of the exposure method group was (27.4 +/- 3.5) days. Follow up of the patients within 3 months to 2 years showed that scar proliferation in the porcine acellular dermal matrix group was much less than that in the exposure method group, even no scar proliferation was observed in some patients.

CONCLUSIONWithout tangential excision, autografting and dressing change, a single dressing of porcine acellular dermal matrix on deep partial thickness burn wound could shorten the healing time and inhibit scar proliferation.

Animals ; Biological Dressings ; Burns ; pathology ; therapy ; Cicatrix ; prevention & control ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Swine ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing

Myxoid adrenocortical neoplasms are rare. Surgical resection of the mass is the first-line therapy. Here we reported a total of four patients, aged 44–66 years, diagnosed with myxoid adrenocortical tumor. The clinical characteristics and immunohistochemical features of the tumor are discussed in the current literature.
Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

To investigate the effect of a new reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) scavenger as immune adjuvant in NK cell-mediated killing effect on K562 cell, IL-2 and PHA were used to activate monocyte to produce ROM, and different concentrations of tiopronin as ROM scavenger was used in the cultivated systems with different ratio of monocytes plus NK cells and K562 cells, while histamine dihydrochloride (DHT) with different concentrations was used as positive control. The reuslts indicated that after IL-2 and PHA were supplemented in the cultivated systems mixing with NK cells and K562 cells as the E/T ratio was 10/1, the ROM production increased from 33.17 +/- 25.02 U/ml to 223.59 +/- 59.41 U/ml (P < 0.05) while K562 cell inhibition rate (KIR) increased from 65.56% to 85.89% (P < 0.05). When the monocytes as the E/MO ratios of 10/2, 10/5 and 10/10 were supplemented respectively, ROM production increased correspondingly (ROM production was 389.79 +/- 43.83 U/ml, 456.74 +/- 42.77 U/ml, 601.42 +/- 21.92 U/ml, respectively), and KIR was on the other round (KIR was 82.36%, 81.36%, 48.09% respectively). Tiopronin, DHT were used in the K562 + NK + MO + IL-2/PHA cultivated systems as the E/MO ratio was 10/2, the ROM production also decreased from 389.79 +/- 43.83 U/ml to -1.20 +/- 60.70 U/ml, 50.21 +/- 22.4 U/ml (P < 0.05), respectively, however KIR increased from 82.53% to 96.09% and 94.64% either (P < 0.05). Higher concentrations of tiopronin and DHT were used, ROM production decreased accordingly. There showed a reverse correlation between ROM production and KIR (r = -0.518). When E/MO ratio was 10/5 or 10/10, tiopronin at any testing concentration and DHT at the higher testing concentration could reduce the ROM production (P < 0.05), but did not improve KIR significantly (P > 0.05). Tiopronin was as good as DHT in ameliorating KIR (P > 0.05) and better than DHT in scavenging ROM (P < 0.05). It is concluded that (1) Monocytes are the major resources of ROM, and the ROM derived from monocytes can disable NK cells in killing neoplasm cells (K562 cells); (2) A new ROM scavenger, tiopronin, can scavenge ROM effectively, and reverse the ROM induced inhibition of NK cell-mediated killing of K562 cell in a certain extent. And tiopronin is better than DHT in scavenging ROM, and as good as DHT in up-regulating KIR. The new ROM scavenger tiopronin with less side effect may take the place of DHT as adjuvant during the adoptive immuno-therapy in leukemia.
Coculture Techniques ; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; drug effects ; immunology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Tiopronin ; pharmacology