Estrogen receptor(ER),an important transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily,comprises two subtypes ER?and ER?.Estrogen receptor is expressed in prostate cancer and ladder cancer and has a compacted relationship with them.In this review,we summarized the structure,distri- bution,function of different estrogen receptor subtypes and progress in study on relationship between different estrogen receptor subtypes and prostate or bladder cancer.

Animals ; Extinction, Psychological ; physiology ; Fear ; physiology ; Male ; Mental Recall ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sleep Deprivation ; complications ; physiopathology ; Sleep, REM ; physiology

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Adenocarcinoma, Papillary ; pathology ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; pathology ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; pathology ; Sarcoma ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

In order to breed and spread a new cultivar of Curcuma wenyujin, the C. wenyujin germplasm resources were investigated in authentic regions. Better varieties were chosen by comparing the yield, economic characters and quality differences between different cultivars. The results showed that the character of new selected cultivar was stable, the yield of zedoary, turmeric and curcuma was reached 313.7, 177.9, 91.2 kg per 667 m2, respectively, it increased 11.6%, 10.2%, 14.2% comparing with farmer varieties. The volatile oil contents in zedoary and turmeric was 4.0%, 3.0%, respectively. The target ingredients (germacrone) content was stable. It is demonstrated that the new cultivar "Wenyujin No. 1" has value for extension at authentic regions.
Breeding ; China ; Curcuma ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis

Purpose To study the clinicopathological characteristics in 22 cases of ovarian mature teratoma with malignant transforma-tion. Methods Clinical and pathologic features were collected and analyzed in 22 out of 1 826 cases of ovarian mature teratoma by retrospective studies, together with immunohistochemical staining. Results In our study, 22 cases (1. 2%) of ovarian mature terato-ma with malignant transformation were identified. The median age was 56. 5 (range, 31~79) years. The main clinical manifestations were pelvic masses, including 13 cases in the left ovary, 8 cases in the right, 1 case was bilateral. Gross cystic teratoma were saw in 19 cases, 3 cases of cystic and solid, the bilateral one was solid in the left which the right was cystic. The teratomas size were 5. 0~30 cm with average 12. 4 cm in diameter. The malignant components’ maximum diameter was about 1. 0~10. 0 cm with average 3. 7 cm. Microscopicically, there were poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in 14 cases, carcinoid carcinoma in 4 cases, adeno-carcinoma in 2 cases, papillary thyroid carcinoma in 2 cases, and the last one was sarcomatoid carcinoma. The FIGO stage distribution was as follows:16 were stage IA, 1 was stage IB, 1 was stage IIA, 4 were stage IIB. Follow up showed 6 cases recurrened, 2 patients died, the rest are survival. Conclusions A low incidence of ovarian mature teratoma in somatic cells with malignant transformation, which are common in postmenopausal women and present with pelvic mass. The main malignant components is squamous cell carcino-ma, patients of stage I have better prognosis. Both clinic and pathology should take more attention to the comprehensive examination and diagnosis of teratoma for prevent misdiagnosis.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Humans ; Infarction ; etiology ; Kidney ; blood supply ; Male ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; complications ; Thrombosis ; complications ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic advantage of the ratio of ligamentum flavum(LF) thickness to oblique canal diameter(TODR)measured on CT images in patients with lumbar canal stenosis. Methods Seventy-one patients underwent CT and MRI examinations respectively,and they were divided into two groups,the positive group and negative group,according to the presence or absence of dural sac notch caused by the LF on bilateral parasagittal MR images.Meanwhile,50 volunteers without any symptom in the lumbar region or legs were examined by CT.TODRs were measured at the L3—S1 levels of the inferior margin of the intervertebral disc on transverse CT images,respectively.The results were further analyzed with the positive findings on MR images,clinical symptoms and physical examination,so as to find out the statistical correlation between them.Results LF thickness was(3.01?0.72)mm and TODR was 0.19?0.04 in the negative group,(3.94?0.84)mm and 0.28+0.06 in the positive group,and(3.16? 0.85)mm and 0.19?0.04 in the control group.There was significant difference between positive group and negative group or control group for LF thickness(P0.24, the sensitivity,specificity and positive predictive value were 74.8%,89.6% and 73.6% respectively. Positive correlation existed between LF thickness or TODR and clinical symptom(r=0.72,0.86,P

BACKGROUNDKeloid is an intricate lesion that is probably regulated by many genes. In this study, the authors used the technique of complementary DNA (cDNA) microarray to analyse abnormal gene expression in keloids and normal control skins.

METHODSThe polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of 8400 genes were spotted in an array on chemical-material-coated-glass plates. The DNAs were fixed on the glass plates. The total RNAs were isolated from freshly excised human keloid and normal control skins, and the mRNAs were then purified. The mRNA from both keloid and normal control skins were reversely transcribed to cDNAs, with the incorporation of fluorescent dUTP, for preparing the hybridisation probes. The mixed probes were then hybridised to the cDNA microarray. After thorough washing, the cDNA microarray was scanned for differing fluorescent signals from two types of tissues. Gene expression of tissue growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and of c-myc was detected with both RT-PCR and Northern blot hybridisation to confirm the effectiveness of cDNA microarray.

RESULTSAmong the 8400 human genes, 402 were detected with different expression levels between keloid and normal control skins. Two hundred and fifty genes, including TGF-beta1 and c-myc, were up-regulated and 152 genes were down-regulated. Higher expressions of TGF-beta1 and c-myc in keloid were also revealed using RT-PCR and Northern blot methods.

CONCLUSIONcDNA microarray analysis provides a powerful tool for investigating differential gene expression in keloid and normal control skins. Keloid is a complicated lesion with many genes involved.

DNA, Complementary ; analysis ; Humans ; Keloid ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Skin

To construct the cDNA expression library from human U937 cell, total RNA and purified mRNA in myeloid leukemia cell line U937 were extracted. The first and second strand of cDNA were synthesized through reverse transcription. After blunting the cDNA termini, the cDNA fragments were connected with EcoR I adapters, and the end of EcoR I adapters was phosphorylated. Then the cDNAs were digested by Xho I, and the fragments smaller than 400 bp were removed by Sephacryl-S400 spin column, the fragments longer than 400 bp were ligated with lambdaZAP vector. The recombinants were packaged in vitro, and a small portion of packaged phage was used to infect E coli XL1-Blue-MRF' for titration. The recombinants were examined by color selection. In order to evaluate the size of cDNA inserts and the diversity of library, the pBK-CMV phagemid was excised from the ZAP expression vector by using ExAssist helper phage with XLOLR strain, and then the pBK-CMV phagemid was digested by Xho I and EcoR I. The results showed that the U937 cell line cDNA library consisting of 2.87 x 10(6) recombinant bacteriophages was constructed. The average size of exogenous insert in the recombinants was about 1.7 kb. It is concluded that the constructed cDNA library can be used to screen target clones.
Gene Library ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; U937 Cells ; metabolism

Objective To identify the presence of candidate pathogenicity island 89K DNA sequence of Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) strains isolated from patient in Zhejiang province. Methods Genes and DNA fragments were amplified by PCR, using specific primers, and three amplified fragments of the89K sequence were directly sequenced. The results were analyzed using software related to bioinformaties and epidemiology. Results 8 strains of SS2 all contained 89K sequence, cps2J and mrp virulent genes, and species-specific 16S rDNA. 3 amplified fragments of 89K candidate pathogenicity island of SS2 ZJ0501 were above 99% similar to SS2 strain identified from outbreaks in Jiangsu in 1998, and the gene fragment of coding DNA recombinant protein in the 89K sequence was highly homological with that of S. dysgalactiae and S. agalactiae. Conclusion In recent years SS2 strains isolaed from patients with clinical symptoms in Zhejiang province had been detected to have contained candidate pathogenicy 89K DNA fragment.