Albendazole ; adverse effects ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Eruptions ; etiology ; Humans ; Tablets

BACKGROUNDAdrenocorticotrophin (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenomas account for approximately 7% - 14% of all pituitary adenomas, but its pathogenesis is still enigmatic. This study aimed to explore mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas.

METHODSWe used fiber-optic beadarray to examine gene expression in three ACTH-secreting adenomas compared with three normal pituitaries. Four differentially expressed genes from the three ACTH-secreting adenomas and three normal pituitaries were chosen randomly for validation by reverse transcriptase-real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). We then analyzed the differentially expressed gene profile with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway.

RESULTSFiber-optic beadarray analysis showed that the expression of 28 genes and 8 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were significantly increased and the expression of 412 genes and 31 ESTs were significantly decreased. Bioinformatic and pathway analysis showed that the genes HIGD1B, EPS8, HPGD, DAPK2, and IGFBP3 and the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway and extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction pathway may play important roles in tumorigenesis and progression of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas.

CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that numerous aberrantly expressed genes and several pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas. Fiber-optic beadarray combined with pathway analysis of differential gene expression appears to be a valid method of investigating tumour pathogenesis.

ACTH-Secreting Pituitary Adenoma ; etiology ; genetics ; Adenoma ; etiology ; genetics ; Adult ; Disease Progression ; Expressed Sequence Tags ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; physiology ; Female ; Fiber Optic Technology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor alpha ; physiology

Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Skin Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary

Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; chemistry ; pathology ; surgery ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nephrectomy

Pestalotiopsis photiniae is one of the predominant pathogens of strawberry root rot disease. Based on preliminary research, it was proved that crude toxins were main pathogenic substances of the pathogen. For further investigation and utilization of toxins produced by this fungus, conditions of producing toxins were analyzed with the leaf disk method in this experiment. The result showed that pH values, cultural time, vibration, and tested temperatures obviously affected the production of toxins, except for light treatment. The most suitable culture conditions for the toxin production were pH 6.2, 25?C, darkness and stillness, for 5 d～7 d. Besides, it was discovered that crude toxins could significantly inhibit seed germination and elongation growth of roots or shoots for maize, rye and mung bean.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism and its relation to serum total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG) levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver.Methods Serum levels of TC,TG, TSH,TT_3 and TT_4 were determined in 1 602 subjects which were divided into groups by sex and age (20-39,40- 59 and≥60 years).Fatty liver was diagnosed by type B ultrasonography.Restults ( 1 ) Prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was 6.6% in this population.(2) The mean levels of serum TC and TG in subclinical hypothyroidism group and normal group showed no significant difference ( both P＞0.05 ).(3) On the whole,the prevalences of subclinical hypothyroidism in hypercholesterolemia group and normal cholesterolemia group showed significant difference (P＜0.01 ).(4) In the three age groups of male and few.ale examinees,the prevalences of subclinical hypothyroidism in hypercholesterulemla group and normal cholesterolemia group showed no significant difference ( all P＞0.05 ).In the multiple regression analysis,TSH level was not related with raised TC level.(5) In the three age groups of male,there was no significant difference between the prevalences of subclinical hypothyroidism in hypertriglyceridemla group and normal triglyceridemia group ( all P＞0.05 ).In female,expect for the elderly group (＞60 years old ),the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism was higher in hypertriglyceridemia group than that in normal triglyceridemia.However,in the multiple regression analysis, increased TSH level was positively associated with increased serum TG level ( OR = 1.072,P=0.013 and OR = 1.102,P = 0.03 ).(6) The prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism in non-alcobolic fatty liver group and normal group showed no significant difference ( P＞0.05 ).In the multiple regression analysis,TSH level was not the independent risk factor of non-alcoholic fatty liver (P＞0.05 ).Conclusion Subclinical hypothyroidism is not asseciated with serum TC level but positively associated with serum TG level.Subclinical hypothyroidism does not apparently increase the prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver.

Objective To observe the influence of coal burning fluorosis on learning and memory ability in rats and reveal its possible mechanisms. Methods Healthy 48 SD rats were divided into control, low-fluoride and high-fluoride group. All rats in fluoride exposed groups were fed with the eom polluted by drying processes with burning coal containing high level of fluoride obtained from the endemic fluorosis area to produce the animal model of fluorosis. The experiment period were 3,6 mouths, respectively. The ability of leaning and memory was measured by Morris test and cholinesterase activity detected by photometric method at 3 or 6 month after experiment, respectively. Results Fluoride contents signifieantlly influenced the escape latency, the numbers of crossing the platforms and the time of staying the platforms(the value of F was 29.29,6.47,6.50, respectively, P<0.01).In addition, the numbers of crossing the platforms and the time of staying the platforms were influenced by the exposed time(the value of F was 16.11,45.59, P<0.01). Furthermore, the fluoride contents and the exposed time had an interaction between the numbers of crossing the platforms and the time of staying the platforms (the value of F was 4.67,5.68, P<0.05 or<0.01). Three months after the experiment, the mean values of escape latency [(14.71± 4.85)s] of rats in highly fluoride exposed group were significantly prolonged as compared with controls [(9.28±4.22)s]; 6 month after the experiment, the mean values of escape latency[(12.42±8.03)s, (17.48± 8.05)s] of rats in both groups exposed to fluoride were significantly prolonged as compared to controls [(7.04± 3.29)s, P<0.05]. The decreased numbers of crossing the platforms[(1.62±0.87)number] and the declined time of staying the platforms[(16.70±5.02)s] were found in the rats exposed to high fluoride as compared to controls [(3.53±1.67 )number, (23.33±5.35)s, P<0.05]. The fluoride contents obviously influenced the activities of acetylcholinesterase and butylcolinesterase (the value of F was 12.83,13.27, P<0.01). On the other hand, the times of breeding also influnced the activities of butylcolinesterase (the value of F was 16.26, P<0.01). In 3 months of the experiment, the activities of butylcolinesterase [(0.55±0.12)kU/g] in low fluoride exposed group were significantly decreased in comparison with controls[(0.73±0.10)kU/g, P<0.05]. The activities of acetylcholinesterase[(0.62±0.42)kU/g] and butylcolioesterase[(0.58±0.10)kU/g] in high fluoride group were significantly decreased as compared to eontrois[(1.41±0.52), (0.73±0.10)kU/g, P<0.05]. The correlation analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the cholinesterase and the escape latency(r=-0.68, P< 0.01), and a positive correlation between the cholinesterase and the time of staying the platforms(r=0.57, P< 0.01). Conclusions The ability of learning and memory in rats with coal buring fluorosis was decreased, which might be connected to the decreased activity of cholinesterase in a dose-effect correlation.

OBJECTIVETo identify the expression characteristics of the 1700001022RIK (RIKEN cDNA 1700001022) gene in mice and explore its function by bioinformatic analysis.

METHODSUsing the expression profile of gene microarray, we detected the expression of a new testis-specific gene, 1700001022RIK, in mice. We analyzed its expression characteristics in the testis tissue and their changes in different developmental stages of the testis by RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. We performed bioinformatic analysis using a bioinformatic software.

RESULTSThe 1700001022RIK gene was specifically expressed in the mouse testis in an age-dependent manner, most highly in the adult mice. The 1700001022RIK protein was mainly expressed in the spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids of the adult mice. Bioinformatic analysis showed that the 1700001022RIK protein amino acid sequence had a high similarity in human and mice, which indicated that this gene was highly conserved in mammals.

CONCLUSION1700001022RIK is a testis-specific gene mainly expressed in the spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and round spermatids of seminiferous tubules, which might be involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis.

Age Factors ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Complementary ; Gene Expression ; Genomics ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Chaperones ; genetics ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Spermatids ; Spermatocytes ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics ; Spermatogonia ; Testis

Objective To detect the mutations of ATP2C1 gene in patients with Hailey-Hailey dis- ease (HHD).Methods PCR and direct sequencing were performed in 17 patients and 120 healthy controls to screen the mutations in the exons of ATP2C1 gene.Results Eight mutations were identified in nine probands, including three deletion mutations (nt1464-1487 del/nt1462-1485del,1523delAT,2375delTTGT),three splice site mutations (360—2A→G,1415—2A→T,2243+2T→C) and two missence mutations (C920T and G1942T).None of the above mutations was found in the controls.Conclusion Eight specific novel mutations were identified in nine probands of HHD,which could be causative factors of the disease.

Background Precise evaluation of the live donor's liver is the most important factor for the donor's safety and the recipient's prognosis in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT).Our study assessed the clinical value of computer-assisted three-dimensional quantitative assessment and a surgical planning tool for donor evaluation in LDLT.Methods Computer-assisted three-dimensional (3D) quantitative assessment was used to prospectively provide quantitative assessment of the graft volume for 123 consecutive donors of LDLT and its accuracy and efficiency were compared with that of the standard manual-traced method.A case of reduced monosegmental LDLT was also assessed and a surgical planning tool displayed the precise surgical plan to avoid large-for-size syndrome.Results There was no statistically significant difference between the detected graft volumes with computer-assisted 3D quantitative assessment and manual-traced approaches ((856.76±162.18) cm3 vs.(870.64±172.54) cm3,P=0.796).Estimated volumes by either method had good correlation with the actual graft weight (r-manual-traced method:0.921,r-3D quantitative assessment method:0.896,both P ＜0.001).However,the computer-assisted 3D quantitative assessment approach was significantly more efficient taking half the time of the manual-traced method ((16.91±1.375) minutes vs.(39.27±2.102) minutes,P ＜0.01) to estimate graft volume.We performed the reduced monosegmental LDLT,a pediatric case,with the surgical planning tool (188 g graft in the operation,which was estimated at 208 cm3 pre-operation).The recipient recovered without large-for-size syndrome.Conclusions Computer-assisted 3D quantitative assessment provided precise evaluation of the graft volume.It also assisted surgeons with a better understanding of the hepatic 3D anatomy and was useful for the individual surgical planning tool.