Objective To investigate the expressions of interleukin-8 (IL-8) mRNA and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein in astrocytic tumors and their correlation with the tumor cell apoptosis. Methods The expressions of IL-8 mRNA in 64 cases of astrocytic tumor and 10 normal brain tissues were detected using RT-PCR. The expression of PCNA protein in the tumors was assayed with immunohistochemistry, and the apoptosis index (AI) of the tumor cells determined using TUNEL assay. Results The expression ofIL-8 mRNA in the astrocytic tumors was strongly correlated to the malignancy of the tumors, and both the PCNA expression and the apoptosis index increased in tumors of greater malignancies. IL-8 mRNA expression was positively correlated to the expression of PCNA (r=0.938, P<0.01) and AI (r=0.907, P<0.01) in these tumors. Conclusion IL-8 mRNA expression is positively correlated to the histological grade of the astrocytic tumors, whose proliferation is mediated by inhibition of cell apoptosis and upregulation of IL-8 transcription.

Systematical studies are lacking on the influencing factors and mechanisms of the heparin enhanced sperm capacitation, although many studies have shown that heparin enhanced sperm capacitation. The effect of heparin concentration and exposure time, incubation temperature and co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells or cumulus cells on goat sperm capacitation were investigated in this study. The motility, membrane and acrosome integrity and capacitated percentage of goat spermatozoa were assessed after different heparin treatments, and rates of fertilization and embryo cleavage were compared after in vitro insemination of oocytes with spermatozoa capacitated by different heparin treatments. The major results are summarized as follows: 1) When spermatozoa were capacitated with heparin at 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 microg/mL for 45 min, 50 and 100 microg/mL heparin treatments produced the highest capacitated percentages of 55% and 56%, respectively, but the percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in the 100 microg/mL heparin treatment decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in comparison with that in the control group, indicating that the optimal heparin concentration for goat sperm capacitation would be 50 microg/mL. 2) Capacitated percentage of spermatozoa increased with extension of treatment time when goat sperm were treated with 50 microg/mL heparin for 0, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60 or 120 min. Although heparin treatments for 45 to 120 min did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) in capacitated sperm percentages, sperm motility and membrane integrity decreased significantly when treated with heparin for 120 min. This suggested that the optimal exposure time of heparin at 50 microg/mL for goat sperm capacitation would be 45 to 60 min. 3) Significantly higher capacitated percentages of spermatozoa were obtained when goat sperm were treated at 42 and 38.5 degrees C than at 15 and 37 degrees C, but sperm motility and acrosome integrity were significantly lower when spermatozoa were treated at 42 degrees C than they were treated at other temperatures. Temperature of 38.5 degrees C would, therefore, be the optimal temperature for goat sperm capacitation. 4) The capacitated percentage of spermatozoa was significantly higher when goat sperm were co-cultured with oviductal epithelial cells than when treated with heparin alone or co-cultured with cumulus cells, but sperm motility and membrane and acrosome integrity did not differ significantly among the three treatments. Rates of fertilization (91.3%) and cleavage (72.2%) were significantly higher in the oviductal epithelial cell co-culture group than those in the heparin alone group. This indicated that co-culture with oviductal epithelial cells significantly enhanced goat sperm capacitation by heparin treatment.
Acrosome Reaction ; drug effects ; physiology ; Animals ; Coculture Techniques ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Fallopian Tubes ; cytology ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Goats ; Heparin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Sperm Capacitation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; physiology

OBJECTIVEAdhesive or too highly located folds upper eyelid and even blepharoptosis are common complications of double eyelid operation. To correct such deformities.

METHODWe shifted down the double eyelid line, removed adhesion thoroughly, relieved orbital fat and restarted the volume with infraorbicularis oculi fat flap.

RESULTWe had treated 32 case in past two years. The results were satisfying.

CONCLUSIONThe method are acted easy and gained fine result, so behaving to extend application.

Adipose Tissue ; transplantation ; Adult ; Blepharoplasty ; methods ; Eye Abnormalities ; etiology ; surgery ; Eyelids ; abnormalities ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Oculomotor Muscles ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; surgery ; Tissue Adhesions ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the histopathological features in livers of chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) patients.

METHODSHistology of 42 livers was studied. HE, Masson, Sweet and D-PAS staining and cytokeratin 7, CD68 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen immuno-histochemical staining were used in the study.

RESULTSIn CSHB, the livers showed massive or submassive necrosis in a background of other histological changes of chronic hepatitis B. The characteristic pictures of these livers were necrosis of all the hepatocytes in some nodules, while in other nodules there were only patchy necroses of the parenchyma. In some other nodules the necrotic hepatocytes were all removed and only the scaffolding stroma remained. Meanwhile, regeneration of hepatocytes and bile ductules were also seen.

CONCLUSIONSThe liver histopathological changes in CSHB are identical, but not of the same degree as those of acute severe and subacute severe hepatitis B. In making differential diagnoses for liver aspiration biopsies of these patients, this fact should be kept in mind.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Staining and Labeling ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEIn China, liver failure is also termed as severe hepatitis in whom chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) is most common. The aim of this study was to assess whether CSHB based on different liver injury extent can meet the international definition of acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF)criteria, according by their clinical and pathological feature.

METHODSA total of 91 patients with CSHB were involved in the study. The clinical findings, laboratory data and liver pathology features were retrospectively analyzed and grouped by hepatitis virus B carrier state (HBC), chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or liver cirrhosis (LC) before they started liver failure.

RESULTS74 out of the 91 patients were male and 17 were female, the mean age was 40.6+/-11.2 years. 9.9%, 7.7% and 82.4% of the patients were based on HBC, CHB and LC respectively. The ages of HBC group were youngest. The mean age of HBC group (years) (25.8+/-6.6) was significantly lower than that of CHB group (36.9+/-9.0) and LC group (42.0+/-10.5)with P values of 0.032 and 0.001 respectively. Most cases presented with sub-acute liver failure characterized by high icterus and ascites. Predisposing factors included exertion, superinfection, virus variation, drugs or alcoholic injury. No difference found between PTA (F = 0.906, P = 0.408) and TBil (F = 0.839, P = 0.436) among the above three groups. The Alb and CHE levels in LC group were (30.3+/-5.1) g/L and (2926.8+/-1471.1) U/L respectively, which were lower than both HBC group [Alb (35.6+/-5.1) g/L, CHE (4363.5+/-2063.2) U/L] and CHB group [Alb (37.4+/-5.0) g/L, CHE (5167.1+/-1522.1) U/L] (F = 9.450; F = 9.297; P value less than 0.01).The level of CHO (1.8+/-1.0) mmol/L in LC group was lower than that of HBC group (2.9+/-1.0mmol/L, P = 0.034), while serum HBV DNA level of HBC group [(6.8+/-1.7) log10copies/ml] was higher than that of LC group [(4.2+/-2.6) log10copies/ml]. The liver tissue in HBC and CHB group showed massive or submassive necrosis which distribute evenly in different parts of liver and similarly in slides, most like acute/subacute severe hepatitis. The chronic lesion was easily covered by extensive necrosis in CSHB based on CHB, with portal fibrosis can be seen by masson stain. Characteristic picture of LC group were massive or submassive necrosis with some nodules were intact or only patchy necrosis of the parenchyma, disparity of extent and stage of necrosis existed in slides, which were the major difference in histopathological change in HBC and CHB group.

CONCLUSIONMost of CSHB cases were based on liver cirrhosis, which match with the international definition of ACLF, while small part of CSHB cases based on HBC and CHB are identical to acute/subacute liver failure.

Adult ; Carrier State ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; virology ; Liver Failure ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the aesthetic outcome after application of rectangle periosteous flap to cover corrugator.

METHODSOn the basis of regular rhytidectomy, a inter-eyebrow periosteous flap is applied to cover the fascia flap of corrugator by means of turnover. This manipulation helps to separate the skin from the muscle and prevent the re-adherence between the skin and muscle.

RESULTSThe approach was applied on 15 cases. The follow-up ranged from 6 months to 1 year. The results were satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSThe method is effective in elimination of inter-eyebrow crease.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; transplantation ; Periosteum ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Rhytidoplasty ; methods ; Skull ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEScrub typhus is an infectious disease due to Orientia tsutsugamushi transmitted by infected chigger mites. Scrub typhus has long been recognized to occur in southern areas of China, but has recently been increasingly often reported from the north since the first case was reported in Mengyin County, Shandong Province in 1986. The key objectives of the present study were to investigate the clinical manifestations and epidemic factors of scrub typhus in children from the northern new natural foci.

METHODSThe case records of 56 children with scrub typhus who were admitted to the 5 hospitals of Fei County from September 1993 to January 2004 were reviewed. Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot) was isolated from the cases. Based on ecological observations on the composition, seasonal fluctuation of animal hosts and chigger mites, Ot was isolated from rodents and chiggers. IgG antibodies to Ot was detected by IFA. Genotypes of the Ot isolates were also identified by nested PCR.

RESULTSAmong 56 children scrub typhus cases, 46 were male, 10 were female; 96% exhibited typical eschars or ulcers, 100% cases had high fever, skin rashes were observed in 55 cases (98%), and regional lymphadenopathy occurred in 48 cases (86%). All cases came from countryside, and all had histories of exposure to the crop field. fifty-one serum samples of suspected patients with scrub typhus were collected, 48 were positive for antibodies to Ot. The serotypes were Gilliam types. The cases only appeared in September to December with the peak at mid and late October. Leptotrombidium (L.) scutellare was the most important vector causing scrub typhus in the foci. Apodemus (A.) agrarius was the main host animals of Ot in the crop field. Totally 26 strains were isolated from patients, rodents, and chigger mites. The serotypes of 24 out of the 26 isolates were Gilliam types, while the genotypes of these isolates were Kawasaki types. The serotypes of the other 2 isolates were identical and both were Karp types.

CONCLUSIONChildren scrub typhus patients were frequently seen in the new natural foci of Shandong province. Exposure history, typical eschars or ulcers, and presence of IgG antibody were the important indexes to diagnose the disease.

Adolescent ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Mice ; parasitology ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; isolation & purification ; Scrub Typhus ; epidemiology ; Seasons ; Trombiculidae ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical usefulness of noninvasive diagnostic methods in evaluating liver fibrosis in hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients.

METHODS102 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were enrolled from Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital University of Medical Sciences. Noninvasive diagnostic methods including ultrasonography, CT, serum markers of liver function and fibrosis, and HBV DNA were performed and compared with histological fibrotic changes in order to establish a noninvasive method for detecting the degree of liver fibrosis.

RESULTSThe total score of liver surface, edge, parenchyma echogenicity, intrahepatic vessels, and the size of spleen had a coefficient of 0.822 with fibrotic stage. By receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis, the sensitivity to distinguish cirrhosis from CHB was 86.1% and the specificity was 95.5% if the total ultrasonic score was more than 10. The CT imaging diagnosed liver cirrhosis with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 48.5%. The change of CT values in cirrhotic patients was lower than that in controls and no cirrhotic patients (F=5.805, P<0.01), when the voltage was increased from 100 KV to 140 KV. Except normal controls and S1 group, S2 and S3 group, the level of HA and collagen IV between the other groups were statistically different. The cut-off value of HA to diagnose cirrhosis was 108 (microg/L) with a sensitivity of 72.2% and a specificity of 80.3%. The cut-off value of collagen IV to diagnose cirrhosis was 188 (microg/L) with a sensitivity of 72.2% and a specificity of 78.8%. When ultrasonography was combined with serum markers, the sensitivity was 72.2% and the specificity was 80.3%.

CONCLUSIONBoth ultrasonography and serum markers are useful to diagnose cirrhosis. The combination of the two examinations is more valuable than any one alone. The characteristic CT imaging has high specificity but low sensitivity in diagnosing early cirrhosis. HA and collagen IV are correlated more closely with the stage of fibrosis, and can reflect the severity of fibrosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Collagen Type IV ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyaluronic Acid ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Ultrasonography

Objective To optimize the conditions for the synthetic process of iron sucrose complex (ISC), via the investigation of the effects of reaction temperature (X1), reaction time (X2), amount of alkali (X3), and amount of sucrose (X4) on the relative molecular mass of the ISC product. Methods According to the experimental results for the single factor, the conditions dealing with the X1, X2, X3, and X4 parameters for the preparation of ISC were optimized by the Box-Behnker design combined with the response surface methodology using the weight average relative molecular mass of ISC as an indicator, and analyzed with gel permeation chromatography. Results The reaction temperature and the amount of alkali had a significant effect on the weight average relative molecular mass of ISC. The influence of the four factors in the descending order was as follows:X3＞X1＞X2＞X4. In the designed experimental conditions, theresponsevaluedecreasedwiththeincreaseofbothreactiontemperaturesandalkaliamounts. Conclusion Theresponse surface methodology could provide the relationship between the response values and variables via the minimum number experiments to obtain the optimized conditions for the preparation of ISCs.

Saponin frsom Cortex Albiziae (SCA) are extensively used in the clinical treatment of tumor and depression. However, SCA may cause several adverse effects, including reproductive toxicity. The present study was designed to assess the mechanism by which SCA cause reproductive toxicity in female mice. The general reproductive toxicity testing was accomplished in female Kunming mice. The animals were divided into four groups: three groups that were treated by oral gavage with 135, 270, and 540 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1) of SCA prepared in physiological saline, respectively, and one vehicle control group that was treated with physiological saline only. The gestational toxicity tests were conducted at 540 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1). The general reproductive toxicity results showed that the pregnancy rate of the SCA-treated group decreased with the pregnancy rate being decreased by 70% at 540 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1). SCA elicited maternal toxicity in the ovary and the uterus, but no fetal toxicity or teratogenicity was observed. The rates of implantation in the early, middle, and late pregnancy were all decreased, with stillbirths and maternal deaths being observed. Histopathological changes showed that SCA adversely affected the ovary and the uterus. In conclusion, SCA-induced reproductive toxicity in female mice is most likely caused by its damage to the ovary and the uterus.
Albizzia ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Animals ; Embryo Implantation ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Mice ; Ovary ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Pregnancy ; Reproduction ; drug effects ; Saponins ; administration & dosage ; toxicity ; Uterus ; drug effects