Objective To investigate the correlation between specific features on contrast-enhanced CT and its clinical findings of adrenal tuberculosis so as to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the disease. Methods Contrast-enhanced CT features in 30 patients with documented adrenal tuberculosis were retrospectively evaluated blindly for the features of location,size,morphology,attenuation and enhancement patterns on CT images,and compared with clinical and pathological materials.Results The common CT manifestations were as follows:enlargement of the adrenal glands in all 30 cases(bilateral 90%,mfilateral 10%)including mass-like enlargement in 13 cases and enlargement but the contours preserved in 17 cases, heterogeneity(28 cases,93.3%),calcification(17 cases,56.7%),and low attenuation in the center with peripheral enhancement(16 cases,53.3%)of the lesions.After antituberculosis chemotherapy, 5 cases of enlarged adrenal glands decreased in size or returned to normal size and configuration,with disappearance of the central low attenuation and new appearance of dot-like calcification in 2 cases.Cochran Armitage trend test showed there was an increasing tendency of calcification rate with clinical duration(X~2= 7.47,P

We report here on a 64-year-old woman with extramedullary plasmacytoma involving the bilateral adrenal glands. Primary adrenal extramedullary plasmacytoma is extremely rare and only three cases of extramedullary plasmacytoma in the unilateral adrenal gland have currently been reported on. This case is of interest in that the bilateral adrenals were involved. In this article, we present the MRI findings and we briefly review the relevant literature.
Adrenal Gland Neoplasms/*diagnosis/surgery ; Back Pain/etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney/pathology ; *Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Plasmacytoma/*diagnosis/surgery ; Vena Cava, Inferior/pathology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and feasibility of steroid or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) withdrawal from tacrolimus-based immunosuppressant regimen in renal allograft recipients.

METHODSA cohort of 45 patients following cadaveric renal allograft transplantation were randomly divided into 3 groups based on the regimen of combination of tacrolimus, steroid, and MMF: triple therapy group, steroid withdrawal group, and MMF withdrawal group. During 2 years, survival of patients and allografts, clinical acute rejection, adverse events, hepatic and renal allograft function, and blood lipids were monitored to evaluate the safety and feasibility of steroid or MMF withdrawal after renal transplantation.

RESULTSDuring two-year observation, steroid or MMF was successfully withdrawn from immunosuppressant regimen based on tacrolimus without any clinical acute rejection. Patient and graft survival rates were 100% and all the renal allografts kept excellent function. Some adverse events occurred and there were no significant differences among groups.

CONCLUSIONWithdrawal of steroid or MMF in low-immunological-risk renal allografts treated with tacrolimus-based immunosuppressant regimen can be achieved with no increased risk of acute rejection.

Adult ; Aged ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Graft Rejection ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Lipids ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Mycophenolic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Steroids ; therapeutic use ; Tacrolimus ; therapeutic use ; Transplantation, Homologous ; immunology

BACKGROUNDHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common primary cancer frequently associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, whether these identified genes are particularly associated with HBV-related HCC remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential gene expression between HBV-related HCC tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues.

METHODScDNA microarray was used to detect the differential gene expression profile in the HBV-related HCC tissues and adjacent noncancerous tissues, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to verify the differential expression of candidate genes obtained from cDNA microarray experiment.

RESULTSIn this study, 1369 genes or expressed sequence tags (ESTs) including 121 genes or ESTs with at least two-fold expression alterations between cancerous and noncancerous tissues were identified. Special AT-rich sequence binding protein 1 (SATB-1) expression was positive in 73% (16/22) of cancerous tissues and negative (0/22) in all noncancerous tissues of HBV-related HCC patients. Transmembrane 4 superfamily member 1 (TM4SF-1) expression was positive in 86% (19/22) of cancerous tissues and negative (0/22) in all noncancerous tissues. Suppression of tumorigenicity 14 (ST-14) expression was positive in 73% (16/22) of noncancerous tissues in patients with HBV-related HCC and negative in all HCC tissues (0/22).

CONCLUSIONThis study provided the gene expression profile of HBV-related HCC and presented differential expression patterns of SATB-1, TM4SF-1 and ST-14 between cancerous and noncancerous tissues in patients with HBV-related HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Surface ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; virology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hepatitis B virus ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effects of unilateral pedicle screw fixation (uni-PS) assisted by Quadrant system and bilateral pedicle screw fixation (bi-PS) for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases.

METHODSFrom October 2008 to October 2010,102 patients with lower back pain, unilateral lower limb radiating pain or paraesthesia were treated with pedicle screw fixation and lumbar interbody fusion. There were 67 males and 35 females with an average age of 51.5 years ranging from 34 to 69 years. The patients were randomly divided into two groups (group A and group B) according to the internal fixation type. The patients of group A (n=50) underwent with minimally transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and unilateral pedicle screw fixation with one single cage placement assisted by Quadrant system;and the patients of group B (n = 52) underwent with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) and bilateral pedicle screw fixation with one single cage placement. There were no significant differences between two groups in general information (P > 0.05). VAS score and ODI score system were used to evaluate the preoperative and postoperative pain and function recovery. Operative time, volume of blood loss, fusion rate and complication rate were compared and analyzed by statistical test.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 12 to 21 months with an average of 18.2 months. In the group A,operative time and volume of blood loss were (87.6 +/- 25.5) min and (105.7 +/- 27.2) ml, respectively; VAS score of low back pain and leg pain, ODI score decreased respectively from preoperative 7.2 +/- 1.4, 7.9 +/- 1.1, 42.2 +/- 11.8 to 3.2 +/- 0.6, 3.0 +/- 0.7,15.6 +/- 2.3 at one month after operation; the fusion rate was 96.0% (48/50) and the complication rate was 4.00% (2/50). In the group B,operative time and volume of blood loss were (160.3 +/- 20.5) min and (220.6 +/- 25.5) ml, respectively; VAS score of low back pain and leg pain, ODI score decreased respectively from preoperative 7.3 +/- 1.1, 8.1 +/- 0.9, 43.1 +/- 12.0 to 3.3 +/- 0.4, 3.2 +/- 0.3, 14.9 +/- 2.6; the fusion rate was 96.2% (50/52) and the compli- cation rate was 5.77% (3/52). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in fusion rate, complication rate, VAS pain and ODI score. Whereas the operative time and blood loss in group A were significantly lower than that of group B.

CONCLUSIONMinimally invasive unilateral pedicle screw fixation is a safe and feasible method for the treatment of lumbar degenerative diseases. It is as effective as the bilateral fixation in lumbar spinal fusion. In addition, it has the advantages of short operative time, less volume of blood loss, high fusion rate, etc.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; surgery ; Low Back Pain ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Spinal Fusion ; methods

Apoptosis is a physiologically essential mechanism of cell and plays an important role in reducing the development and progression of tumors. The appealing strategy for cancer therapy is to target the lesions that induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Survivin, the smallest member of the mammalian inhibitors of the apoptosis protein family, is upregulated in various malignancies to protect cells from apoptosis. Survivin knockdown could induce cancer cell apoptosis and inhibit tumor-angiogenesis. Survivin expression would be silenced by microRNA (miRNA)-mediated RNA interference. However, noninvasive and tissue-specific gene delivery techniques remain absent recently and the utilizations of miRNA expression vectors have been limited by inefficient delivery technique, especially in vivo. On the other hand, safe and promising technologies of gene transfection would be valuable in clinical gene therapy. Successful treatment of gene transfer method would lead to a new and readily available approach in the anticancer research. Sonoporation is an alternative technique of gene delivery that uses ultrasound targeted microbubble destruction to create pores in the cell membrane. Based on our previous studies, in this article, we postulated that the transfection of miRNA could be mediated by the combination of sonoporation and polyethylenimine (PEI) which was one of the most effective poly-cationic gene vectors and enhance the endocytosis of plasmids DNA and hypothesized that the gene silencing and apoptosis induction with miRNA targeting human Survivin would be improved by this novel technique. In our opinion, this novel combination of sonoporation and PEI could enhance targeted gene delivery effectively and might be a feasible, novel candidate for gene therapy.
Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Polyethyleneimine ; chemistry ; Transfection ; methods

A phytochemical investigation on the stems of Garcinia bracteata collected from Xishuangbanna resulted in the isolation of a new flavone. By analysis of the HRESIMS, IR, UV, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, the structure of the new compound was determined as 7-methoxy-4',6-dihydroxy-8-isobutyryl-flavone(1). Compound 1 was also tested for its anti-tobacco mosaic virus(TMV) activity. Results suggested the 1 possessed remarkable anti-TMV activity, with an inhibition rate of 28.2%.
Antiviral Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Garcinia ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Tobacco Mosaic Virus ; drug effects ; growth & development

Animals ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Catenins ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; pharmacology ; Estrogen Receptor Modulators ; pharmacology ; Female ; Ovariectomy ; Rats ; Uterus ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo prepare and characterize monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against the recombinant nucleocapsid (N) protein of 3 human coronaviruses SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 and study the antigenic relationship between the 3 N proteins.

METHODSBALB/c mice were immunized with the recombinant N proteins of SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 to obtain the mAbs by means of hybridoma. Screening and identification of the mAbs were performed using indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay. Cross-reactivity between the N proteins of the 3 coronaviruses was analyzed with the prepared mAbs.

RESULTSThe mAbs against the recombinant N proteins of SARS-CoV, 229E and OC43 were obtained, which reacted specifically with the corresponding viral N protein as shown by indirect ELISA, Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay. No cross-reactivity was found between the 3 N proteins.

CONCLUSIONThe prepared mAbs against the recombinant N proteins may provide valuable assistance in studying antigenic relationships of N proteins between the 3 human coronaviruses.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Coronavirus 229E, Human ; genetics ; immunology ; Coronavirus OC43, Human ; genetics ; immunology ; Cross Reactions ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo screen low molecular weight protein biomarkers relevant to portal vein tumor thrombi (PVTT) in serum of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients.

METHODSSerum samples were obtained from 12 healthy volunteers, 12 HCC patients without PVTT and 12 HCC patients with PVTT. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in which the second dimension was 16% SDS-PAGE, serum protein images of the 3 groups were analyzed by ImageMaster software. The differential protein spots were further identified by MALDI-TOF MS/MS.

RESULTSComparing the results using 12.5% SDS-PAGE gel, there were more protein bands (between 3 x 10(3) and 20 x 10(3)) and low molecular weight (MW) protein spots (less than 20 x 10(3)) were clearly shown in the 16% SDS-PAGE gel. Fifteen differential protein spots representing 5 proteins were found in the 3 groups by inter-class comparison and they were then identified. Compared with those in the healthy group, apolipoprotein A-I, lipoprotein CIII, transthyretin and DNA topoisomerase II were all down regulated in HCC groups and haptoglobin-2 was over expressed. All 5 proteins decreased more in the PVTT group than in the non-PVTT group.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of low MW serum protein obviously changes in the beginning and in the progressive stage of HCC, and differentially expressed low MW proteins might be potential biomarkers in an early prognostic prediction and surveillance in the treatment for HCC and PVTT.

Adult ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Cells, Circulating ; pathology ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Proteome ; analysis