Carotid Body Tumor ; genetics ; Humans ; Paraganglioma ; genetics

Objective: To observe the pathological changes of nucleus pulposus (NP) in cervical spondylosis patients and the expression of phosphorylated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase(p-p38 MAPK) in NP with the progression of cervical disc degeneration, in an attempt to explore the mechanism behind cervical disc degeneration. Methods NP specimens were collected from 35 patients with cervical spondylosis, who received surgical treatment during October 2008 to May 2009 in our hospital. The preoperative MRI (T2-weighted midsagittal images) information of all patients was obtained. The 35 cases included 25 males and 10 females, with an age range of 27-82 years. Five specimens were from a single space, 18 from two spaces, and 12 from three spaces; 4 specimens were from C3/4, 12 from C4/5,14 from C5/6, and 5 from C6/7. Nineteen specimens were used for pathology and immunohistochemistry study and 16 for Western blotting analysis. The degrees of disc degeneration were assessed by MRI grading system for cervical intervertebral disc degeneration. The pathological changes of NP of different degeneration grades and the location of p-p38 MAPK in NP were observed, and the relationship between the p-p38 MAPK and the degrees of MRI degeneration was analyzed. Results: With the aggravation of discs degeneration, the collagen fibers within NP were increased, thickened, and degraded, forming clusters, and the NP gradually became fibrotic. Phosphorylated p38 MAPK located in the cell nucleus of NP tissues. The positive rate of p-p38 MAPK increased gradually with the aggravation of degeneration, and the expression degrees of p-p38 MAPK (negative, weakly positive, strongly positive) were significantly different between groups of different degeneration degrees(P<0.05). A linear relationship was found between p-p38 MAPK expression and the degeneration degrees of cervical disc; Y = 0.423X-0.675 (P<0.05). Conclusion: Normal tissues are gradually replaced by fibrotic tissues in degenerated NP. Phosphorylated p38 MAPK is located in the cell nucleus of NP cells; the p-p38 MAPK plays important roles in the cervical intervertebral discs degeneration. Expression of phosphorylated p38 MAPK in NP increases with the aggravation of degeneration, suggesting that activation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway may be one of the mechanisms for cervical disc degeneration.

Congresses as Topic ; Otolaryngology

Objective To explore the operation timing and technique selection of floating knee injury in children.Methods According to Letts types,36 cases were divided into 5 types.The function outcome in every group was compared by Karlstrorm criterion according operation timing or technique selection respectively.Results Thirty-six cases were followed up for an average of 25 months(19 to 84 months).The rate of excellent and good results accounted for 94.12%(16/17) in one stage operation,78.95%(15/19)in stages,60%(6/10)in 2 stages,respectively.Conclusions It may be recommended to treat children with floating knee injury with open reduction intenal fixation or external fixation.The best operation time shall be urgent treatment of both femur and tibia fracture.

Adult ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; Humans ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; poisoning ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Poisoning ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Humans ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose Diseases ; Syndrome

Objective To analyze the value of color Doppler ultrasound in the diagnosis of lower extremity arterial disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods A total of 800 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus underwent color Doppler ultrasonography to examine anterior tibial artery (ATA),dorsalis pedis artery (DPA) and posterior tibial artery (PTA).Ultrasonic findings including vascular diameter,stenosis ratio and hemodynamics of lower extremity arterial disease were analyzed retrospectively.Results ATA and DPA had more plaques and stenosis than PTA.There was no statistical difference of vascular diameter,stenosis ratio and hemodynamics between left and right lower extremity artery in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus including diabetic foot.Conclusion Color Doppler ultrasound is a useful method in the diagnosis of lower extremity arterial disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,providing information of stenosis ratio and hemodynamics of lower extremity artery,so as contributing to the clinical therapy of this disease.

Adolescent ; Humans ; Male ; Neurofibromatosis 1 ; Neurofibromatosis 2

Objective To discover the reciprocal regulation and its molecular mechanism of estro-gen, IL-6 and IL-8 in ovarian cancer cells. Methods Based on our previous studies, the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2) on the expression levels of IL-6, IL-8 and their respective receptors was investigated. Mean-while, the effect of IL-6/IL-8 on estrogen receptor (ER) expression and estrogen-dependent transcriptional activation was analyzed. Gene expression profile analysis revealed that CAOV-3 and OVCAR-3 cells, which express ER, IL-6 and IL-8 receptors, were suitable models for this study. Results We found that E2 not only enhanced IL-6/IL-8 secretion via NF-κB signaling pathway, but also modulated IL-6 and IL-8 receptors expression. Tamoxifen (Txf), an ER antagonist, completely abolished E2-stimulated IL-6/IL-8 expression. On the other hand, in the absence of estrogen, both cytokines increased ERα expression, decreased ERβ ex-pression, and activated estrogen-dependent transcriptional activation, which was completely blocked by Txf. Pretreatment of OVCAR-3 with p38 MAPK, MEK1/2 or ErbB2 MAPK inhihitors, respectively, IL-6-media-ted ER activation was blocked, while IL-8-indueed ER activation was blocked by Src inhibitor. Conclusion These data suggest that estrogen, IL-6 and IL-8 may form a mutual amplifying signaling which contributes to the growth and development of ovarian carcinoma.

Arterio-Arterial Fistula ; complications ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; Coronary Stenosis ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged