OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of tazarotene against active psoriasis vulgaris.

METHODSA randomized, controlled trial was conducted in 43 patients with active psoriasis vulgaris, who were divided into tazarotene and control groups. Promyelocytic leukemia (PML) mRNA in active psoriatic lesions before and 14 days after tazarotene treatment was detected by in situ hybridization.

RESULTSPML mRNA expression was detected not only in the basal layer (86.96%), but also in the suprabasal layers of the epidermis in the manner of focal expression (78.26%). After tazarotene treatment, virtually no PML mRNA expression could be detected in the psoriatic lesions (8.69% in the basal layer and 4.35% in the suprabasal layers). PML mRNA expression in the control group underwent no obvious changes during the observation.

CONCLUSIONSTazarotene may inhibit abnormal proliferation of keratinocytes through down-regulating PML gene expression in active psoriatic epidermis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Double-Blind Method ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; genetics ; Epidermis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Keratolytic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Nicotinic Acids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Promyelocytic Leukemia Protein ; Psoriasis ; drug therapy ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

Objective To investigate the clinical diagnostic value of magnetic resonance tomographic angiography (MRTA) on cranial neurovascular compression syndrome,and evaluate the ability of 3D-FIESTA and 3D-TOF-SPGR sequences in demonstrating the relation of three-dimensional space between cranial nerves and blood vessels.Methods The data of 41 patients with cranial neurovascular compression syndrome,admitted to our hospital from May 2007 to May 2009,were analyzed.These patients were planed to perform micro vasular decompression (MVD).Before the operation,MRTA,3D-FIESTA and 3D-TOF-SPGR sequence scanning were performed to observe the relation of three-dimensional space between cranial nerves and blood vessels;these results were compared with the intraoperative results to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of 3D-FIESTA and 3D-TOF-SPGR sequence scanning.Results MRTA could demonstrate such cranial nerves as trigeminal nerve,facial nerve and glossopharyngeal nerve,and responsible blood vessels clearly and simultaneously.The 3D-FIESTA imaging showed high signal in the cerebrospinal fluid and moderate signal in the nerves and blood vessels.The 3D-TOF-SPGR imaging showed low signal in the cerebrospinai fluid,moderate signal in the nerves and brain parenchyma,and high signal in the blood vessels.Closed relation between the nerves and the blood vessels in the lesion side were found in 34 patients (82.9%) by 3D-FIESTA sequence scanning,and that was found in 35 patients by 3D-TOF-SPGR sequence scanning; no significant difference between 3D-FIESTA and 3D-TOF-SPGR sequence scanning was found in displaying the relation of nerves and blood vessels (P>0.05).Conclusion MRTA technology may clearly show the relation of cranial nerves and responsible blood vessels;combined application of 3D-FIESTA and 3D-TOF-SPGR sequence scanning can help making the preoperative diagnosis and determining the surgical indications in patients with cranial neurovaseular compression syndrome.

Based on the electric field shielding and insulation technology, the single electrode dielectric barrier discharge ion source ( DBDI ) has the characteristics of uniform discharging, stability, and high ionization energy, and thus can be used to detect various samples with a large range of polarity. However, the ionization energy is too high to reduce the background signal noise, and thus affects the detection effectiveness to low polarity and low boiling point samples. To enhance the detection effectiveness to these samples, a method of eliminating electrons of single electrode DBDI by using external metal electrodes was developed in this study. Then, the single electrode DBDI was improved by an external needle electrode and an external metal net, respectively. The mechanism of those external metal electrodes was discussed, and the experimental studies were carried out. The results showed that the external metal net technology had an advantage in improving signal to noise ratio ( SNR ) , and the enhancement of SNR for the detection of isoprocarb, perfluorooctanoic acid and SudanⅢwas about 5-6 times. Based on the technology, a method for determination of Sudan Ⅲ in chili powder was developed. The recoveries, RSD and LOD were 83. 7%-94. 6% , 5. 6%-9. 0% and 23 mg/kg, respectively. The external metal electrode technique has broadened the detection range of single electrode DBDI to the field of low polarity, low boiling point and complex samples.

BACKGROUNDTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in children and young adults worldwide. Therefore, we investigated the role of AG490 in regulating brain oedema, expression of CD40 and neurological function after TBI.

METHODSSprague Dawley rats (n = 240) were randomly divided into a sham operation group, TBI+saline group and TBI+AG490 (JAK/STAT inhibitor) group. Members of each group were euthanized at 6, 12, 24 or 72 hours after injury. Neurological severity score (NSS) was used to evaluate the severity of neurological damage. Brain water was quantitated by wet/dry weight method. The expression of CD40 was assessed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSIn both the TBI+saline group and the TBI+AG490 group, the brain water content was elevated after TBI, reached a peak at 24-hour and remained high for the rest of the period investigated; the expression of CD40 reached a peak 24 hours after TBI; the NSS was elevated after TBI and then decreased after 6 hours. Elevations in the level of CD40, degree of brain edema and NSS after TBI were significantly reduced in TBI+AG490 group.

CONCLUSIONInhibition of the JAK/STAT signalling pathway reduces brain oedema, decreases the expression of CD40 and exerts neuroprotective effects after TBI.

Animals ; Brain Edema ; metabolism ; Brain Injuries ; drug therapy ; CD40 Antigens ; analysis ; Flow Cytometry ; Janus Kinases ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; STAT Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Tyrphostins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility and the clinical practicality of the design about the hollowed titanium stick supporting the femoral head and preventing it from collapsing.

METHODSFrom Jan.2003 to Jun.2007, 36 patients (46 hips) diagnosed as cystis degeneration of the femoral head were treated by surgical operation, including 20 males and 16 females with an average age of 40 years ranging from 18 to 56 years old, and the course of the disease was from 10 to 24 months (16 months on average). According to ARCO staging,there were 24 patients (34 hips) in NFH II, of which 11 hips were II a stage, 13 hips were II b stage and 10 hips were II c stage; there were 6 patients diagnosed as osteofibrous,4 patients as simple bone cyst and 2 patients as chondromyxoid fibroma. Under X-ray the percutaneous narrow core decompression and focus infection elimination were performed and supported the sclerotin under the cartilage with titanium stick. The patients were followed-up at the first, third, sixth, twelfth, twenty-fourth and thirty-sixth month after the operation. The clinical evaluation was done by X-ray and the indexes included stable, unstable and abortive. The data was analyzed by Fisher exact probility and the suviaval rate was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier suviaval curve using statistical soft ware SPSS13.5.

RESULTSThere were no unstable or failure cases on each period from the 1st month to the 12th month after the operation, indicating that the supporting effect of the titanium stick was exact during 12 months after the operation. There were unstable and failure cases from the 12th month to the 24th month after the operation, which were mainly in stage NFH II c but the comparision of the stable rate in this period and 12 months after the operation had no obvious statistical differences (P>0.05) indicating that the supporting effect of the titanium stick was feasible during the stage. One of the unstable cases deteriorated and failed but there were no new unstable cases, both the stable rate and the unstable rate had no change and the failure rate rose on the 36th month after the operation. The compar- ision of the stable rate on each period after the operation had no obvious difference (P=0.197>0.05), which indicated that the supporting effect of the titanium stick was persistent. By the difference of the etiology the three-year survival rate of the relevant NFH II c pathological changes was the lowest-70% and the survival rate of the pathological changes induced by other etiological factors was 90.2%.

CONCLUSIONThe design about the hollowed titanium stick supporting the collapsed femoral head is feasible. Using the hollowed titanium stick to support the femoral head and prevent it from collapsing is pragmatic in the clinical and the effect is positive, however, when it comes to the NFH II c pathological changes, the choice should be made discreetly.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Femur Head ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prosthesis Design ; methods ; Titanium ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

The immunological parameters were analyzed during pregnancy of Lewis rats by the methods of flow cytometry, thymidine incorporation and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT). MHC II of spleen mononuclear cells (MNCs) and CD11c of periphery blood MNCs was apparently downregulated in late pregnancy, while the costimulatory molecules B7-1 and B7-2 showed no difference. Increased expression of Th2 cytokines (IL-10, IL-4) and TGFbeta was detected in the spleen and peripheral blood MNCs in the third trimester by flow cytometry. No suppression of Th1 cytokine represented by IFNgamma was found. Furthermore, antigen specific proliferation of spleen and peripheral blood MNCs was unchanged, but higher proliferation of MNCs from mesenteric lymph nodes was shown in late pregnancy. There was an inhibition of antigen specific antibody production in pregnancy examined by ELISPOT. These data indicate the immunomodulatory effects of sex-hormones in pregnancy, which may be related to the remission of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases during pregnancy.
Animals ; B7-1 Antigen ; immunology ; CD11c Antigen ; immunology ; Female ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; immunology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Animal ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the clinicopathologic characteristics and the relationship between related gene expression and pathobiologic behavior of pancreatic mucinous noncystic adenocarcinoma.

METHODSAmong the 249 pancreatic carcinoma cases from the department files, 6 tumors were identified to meet the pathologic criteria of colloid carcinoma. Envision immunohistochemical staining technique was used to detect expression of p21(ras), p21(WAF1), p16, p33(ING1), p53, ATM, MDM2, PCNA, Cyclins (D1, D3, A, B and E). Intra- and extra- cellular mucin production were determined by AB-PAS staining. Clinically, all of 6 cases were followed to June, 2003.

RESULTSIn all 6 cases, the tumors were located in the head of the pancreas and all displayed similar microscopic findings. Duodenal invasion was seen in 4 cases and perineural invasion was seen in 1 case. Tumor metastasis in the liver was seen in 2 cases and in the regional lymph nodes in 2 cases. Positive immunostaining was seen in 5 cases with p21(ras), 3 cases with p21(WAF1), 1 case with p16, 4 cases with p33(ING1), 2 cases with p53, 3 cases with ATM, 3 cases with MDM2, 6 cases with PCNA, 3 cases with cyclinA, 3 cases with cyclinD1, 4 cases with cyclinD3, 4 cases with cyclinB and 6 cases with cyclinE. Both extracellular and intracellular mucin was strongly positive for AB-PAS staining. Clinical follow-up found that 2 patients died of their tumors at 14 and 20 months. Three patients were alive after 28, 49 and 87 months of follow-up. One case were lost contact.

CONCLUSIONSPancreatic mucinous noncystic adenocarcinoma has distinct morphologic features and biologic behavior. Multiple gene products including many cyclins may be involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic colloid carcinoma. The tumor has an aggressive behavior with a high frequency of invasion and metastases, though the prognosis could be better than that of ordinary ductal adenocarcinoma of pancreas.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Aged ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To explore the surgical treatment and effect of intracranial anterior circulation aneurysms. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with intracranial anterior circulation aneurysms were enrolled, 9 were treated with endovascular embolization,and 29 with pterion approach micro-euthyphoria operation. RESULTS: One patient was postoperative death. Thirty-four patients were followed up. Among them, 26 were recovery, 1 was botan animation, 2 were meta-palsy, 3 oculomotor palsy, and 2 epilepsy. CONCLUSION Surgical treatment of intracranial anterior circulation aneurysms is the first choice to help blood tumor cleaning-up and intracranial pressure degrading. Embolotherapy can be applied for patients unfit for operation, but we do not recommend wide use of it due to preoperative cranial nerve injury.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Microsurgery ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the direct, indirect and intangible costs due to hepatitis B-related diseases and to explore main factors associated with the costs in Shenzhen. Methods Cluster sampling for cases collected consecutively during the study period was administrated. Subjects were selected fiom eligible hepatitis B-related patients. By pre-trained professional investigators,health economics-related information was collected, using a structured questionnaire. Hospitalization expenses were obtained through hospital records after the patients were discharged from hospital.Total economic burden of hepatitis B-related patients would involve direct, indirect and intangible costs. Direct costs were further divided into direct medical costs and direct nonmedical costs. Human Capital Approach was employed to measure the indirect costs both on patients and the caregivers in 1-year time span. Willing to pay method was used to estimate the intangible costs. Multiple linear stepwise regression models were conducted to determine the factors linked to the economic burden.Results On average, the total annual cost of per patient with hepatitis B-related diseases was 81 590.23 RMB Yuan. Among which, direct, indirect and intangible costs were 30 914.79 Yuan (account for 37.9% ), 15 258.01 Yuan (18.7% ), 35 417.43 Yuan (43.4%), respectively. The total annual costs per patient for hepatocellular carcinoma, severe hepatitis B, decompensated cirrhosis,compensated cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B and acute hepatitis B were 194 858.40 Yuan, 144 549.20 Yuan, 120 333.60 Yuan, 79 528.81 Yuan, 66 282.46 Yuan and 39 286.81 Yuan, respectively. The ratio of direct to indirect costs based on the base-case estimation foot add to 2.0∶1, increased from hepato-eellular carcinoma (0.7∶1)to compensated cirrhosis (3.5∶ 1 ), followed by acute hepatitis B (3.3∶1 ), severe hepatitis B (2.8∶1 ), decompensate cirrhosis (2.3:1)and chronic hepatitis B(2.2∶1 ).Direct medical costs were more than direct nonmedical. Ratio between the sum total was 16∶1. The proportions of total annual cost per patient with hepatitis B-related diseases accounted for annual patient income were 285.3%, and 75.4% for annual household income. Furthermore, proportions of direct costs accounted for annual patient income and annual household income were 108.1% and 28.6%. The total annual indirect cost per person was 8123.38 Yuan for patients of all hepatitis B-related diseases, while 7134.63 Yuan for caregivers. Corresponding work-loss days were 55.74 days for patients and 19.83 days for caregivers. Based on multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, age of patients was a common influencing factor to all kinds of costs. Other factors were as follows:complicated with other diseases, antiviral medication, monthly household income and selfmedications. Conclusion The economic burden of hepatitis B-related diseases was substantial for patients and their families. All costs tended to increase with the severity of disease. The direct costs were larger than the indirect costs. And the direct medical costs were more than the direct ones.Indirect costs based on patients were larger than the ones of caregivers.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of Cx26, Cx32 and Cx43 in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and their roles in the development and progression of PCa in order to provide some novel evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of PCa.

METHODSWe determined the expressions of Cx26, Cx32 and Cx43 in the paraffin samples from 31 cases of PCa and 23 cases of BPH by SABC immunohistochemical staining, and analyzed the relationship of their expressions with the clinical and pathological parameters of PCa and BPH using the semiquantitative method.

RESULTSThe positive expressions of Cx26 in BPH and PCa were 82.6% and 74.2%, respectively (chi2 = 0.541, P > 0.05), those of Cx32 were 78.3% and 61.3% (chi2 = 1.763, P > 0.05), and those of Cx43 were 87.0% and 38.7% (chi2 = 12.730, P < 0.01). The staining intensities of Cx26 and Cx43 were negatively correlated with the malignant phenotype of PCa (rCx26 = -0.476, P < 0.01; rCx43 = -0.484, P < 0.01), but not the expression of Cx32 (r = -0.242, P > 0.05). The three Cxs exhibited no correlation with the age and serum PSA level of the patients (P > 0.05), nor among their expressions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCx26, Cx32 and Cx43 are expressed in different degrees in BPH and PCa tissues. Cx43 plays a role in the occurrence and progression of PCa, and may serve as a new marker of PCa besides PSA as well as a new target in the biotherapy of PCa. Cx26 may be partially involved in the progression of PCa, but its mechanisms need to be further studied.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Connexin 26 ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Connexins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism