Aged ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of AngRem104-mediated regulation of fibronectin gene in human mesangial cells. METHODS: A series of deleted FN promoter sequences was constructed, which fuse to a luciferase reporter gene, and then the potential active regions that respond to AngRem104 in the upstream regulatory sequence of human FN gene was screened by detecting the luciferase activity of promoter-reporter gene. RESULTS: The detection of relative luciferase activity revealed that there was no significant differences when the HMC were transfected with FN122-reporter gene together with sense AngRem104 construct, but the luciferase activity significantly increased when transfection of FN507-reporter gene construct together with sense AngRem104 construct. However, no increase in luciferase activity was observed when transfection of FN1280-reporter gene construct together with sense AngRem104 construct. The potential regulatory region responds to AngRem104 is in the upstream sequence (-122 to -507) of human FN gene. CONCLUSION: Our preliminary study provided the evidence that AngRem104 may mediate the transcription of the FN gene via the activation of its promoter.

Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma ; Thyroid Neoplasms

OBJECTIVETo study the impact of the chloride channel dysfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) on the cytoskeleton of Sertoli cells in the mouse.

METHODSTM4 Sertoli cells were cultured and treated with CFTR(inh)-172 at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L for 48 hours. Then the cytotoxicity of CFT(inh)-172 was assessed by CCK-8 assay, the expressions of F-actin and Ac-tub in the TM4 Sertoli cells detected by immunofluorescence assay, and those of N-cadherin, vimentin and vinculin determined by qPCR.

RESULTSCFTR(inh)-172 produced cytotoxicity to the TM4 Sertoli cells at the concentration of 20 μmol/L. The expressions of F-actin and Ac-tub were decreased gradually in the TM4 Sertoli cells with the prolonging of treatment time and increasing concentration of CFTR(inh)-172 (P < 0.05). The results of qPCR showed that different concentrations of CFTR(inh)-172 worked no significant influence on the mRNA expressions of N-cadherin, vimentin and vinculin in the Sertoli cells.

CONCLUSIONThe CFTR chloride channel plays an important role in maintaining the normal cytoskeleton of Sertoli cells. The reduced function and expression of the CFTR chloride channel may affect the function of Sertoli cells and consequently spermatogenesis of the testis.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Chloride Channels ; physiology ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cytoskeleton ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; Thiazolidines ; pharmacology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of spiral computed tomography in the preoperative assessment of the degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum and circumferential resection margin status of rectal cancer compared with large tissue slice technique.

METHODSFifty-seven patients with rectal cancer diagnosed by fiber colonoscopy and pathology from March 2007 to December 2007 underwent preoperative 64-layers spiral CT examination. The degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum and circumferential resection margin status were evaluated. Large tissue slice technique was applied in the pathologic study after the total mesorectal excision of the rectum to determine the degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum and the circumferential resection margin status. The spiral CT findings were compared with pathologic results. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the CT results were assessed respectively.

RESULTSThe overall spiral CT accuracy was 93.0% (53/57) for the degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum, and it was 94.7%, 94.7% and 96.5% for degree I, II, III infiltration, respectively. Fifty-three cases (93.0%) were accurately predicated with the circumferential resection margin status. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of spiral CT measurement was 80.0%, 97.6%, 92.3% and 93.2%, respectively, and was consistent well with the histopathological diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSSpiral CT provides accurate preoperative assessment for the degree of tumor infiltration in mesorectum and circumferential resection margin status of rectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mesentery ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; diagnostic imaging ; Neoplasm Staging ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Rectal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Rectum ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tomography, Spiral Computed

A cDNA fragment locating at the putative envelop protein 2(E2) region of GBV-C/HGV fused with Schistosoma japonicum, glutathione S-transferase(GST) was amplified with PCR from plasmid pGEX-E2. The amplified DNA fragment was inserted into plasmid pGEX-5X-1, at the downstream of the coding sequences of GST, in the same reading frame with the gene of GST. The fusion gene fragment of GST-E2 was amplified with PCR, using the recombinant plasmid pGEX-5X-1-E2 as the template. The amplified 1324 bp DNA fragment of GST-E2 was inserted into Pichia pastoris expression vector pPIC9K in reading frame with alpha-factor secreting signal peptide. The plasmid pPIC9K-GST-E2 was transformed into Pichia pastoris GS115 with electroporation. The transformants (His+ Muts) were selected and induced to express the 54kD GST-E2 fusion protein, which could be specially recognized by both the antisera directed against E2 and against GST. The GST-E2 fusion protein was purified with Sepharose 4B glutathione affinity chromatography to a purity of 95%. The expression was optimized to achieve the highest expression level of GST-E2 fusion protein which was accumulated up to 50% of total proteins in the culture supernatant. The GST-E2 protein derived from the recombinant Pichia pastoris was proved possessing antigenicity and high specificity by ELISA, probed with sera from the patients infected by GBV-C/HGV.
Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; GB virus C ; genetics ; immunology ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Engineering ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Hepatitis Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Pichia ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Schistosoma japonicum ; enzymology ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification

The experimental SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (Con group),diabetic ulcer model group (DM group) and Celastrol group (Cel group).Except the control group,diabetic ulceration rat models were established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin along with skin scald.And then,each group was treated by spraying the saline solution on the affected skin with (Cel group) or without (Con group and DM group) Cel (q.d.×14 d).Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomic analysis was applied to detect metabolic characteristics,accompanied by healing rate calculation and HE and Masson staining to study therapeutic effect of celastrol on accelerated healing of skin wounds of diabetic ulceration rats,which could be used to elucidate therapeutic effects of celastrol on the rat diabetic ulceration and its mechanism.The results showed that celastrol could induce epithelial regeneration of the rat ulcer wound,regulate the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the distribution of collagen fibers,and promote the healing of the ulcer wound.About 20 endogenous potential differential metabolites were screened and identified by partial least square analysis.Metabolic pathway analysis was carried out to show that celastrol can significantly recovery the level of the tricarboxylic acid cycle,promote its energy supply,accelerate the protein synthesis,improve mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress,and accelerate the self-repair ability of skin tissue.Celastrol can promote the healing of ulcers skins of the diabetic rats,which contribute to experimental basis of the drugs for the treatment of diabetic ulcers.

BACKGROUNDNatural disasters have been frequent in recent years. Effective treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease following natural disasters is an unsolved problem. We aimed to develop a novel miniature mobile cardiac catheterization laboratory (Mini Mobile Cath Lab) to provide emergency interventional services for patients with critical cardiovascular disease following natural disasters. A feasibility study was performed by testing the Mini Mobile Cath Lab on dogs with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) model in a hypothetical natural-disaster-stricken area.

METHODSThe Mini Mobile Cath Lab was transported to the hypothetical natural-disaster-stricken area by truck. Coronary angiography and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were performed on six dogs with STEMI model. The transportation and transformation of the Mini Mobile Cath Lab were monitored and its functioning was evaluated through the results of animal experiments.

RESULTSThe Mini Mobile Cath Lab could be transported by truck at an average speed of 80 km/h on mountain roads during daytime in the winter, under conditions of light snow (-15°C to -20°C/-68°F to -59°F). The average time required to prepare the Mini Mobile Cath Lab after transportation, in a wetland area, was 30 minutes. Coronary angiography, and primary PCI were performed successfully.

CONCLUSIONThis preliminary feasibility study of the use of the Mini Mobile Cath Lab for emergency interventional treatment of dogs with STEMI indicated that it may perform well in the rescue of critical cardiovascular disease following natural disasters.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Animals ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; therapy ; Coronary Angiography ; Disasters ; Dogs ; Electrocardiography ; Feasibility Studies ; Laboratories ; Myocardial Infarction ; therapy

BACKGROUNDAttention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common mental and behavioral disorder in school-aged children. This study evaluated the effect of osmotic-release oral system (OROS) methylphenidate (MPH) on cognitive function and academic performance of Chinese school-aged children with ADHD.

METHODSThis 12-week, prospective, multicenter, open-label, self-controlled study enrolled 153 Chinese school-aged children with ADHD and 41 non-ADHD children. Children with ADHD were treated with once-daily OROS-MPH (18 mg, 36 mg, or 54 mg). The primary endpoints were Inattention/Overactivity (I/O) with Aggression Conners Behavior Rating Scale (IOWA) and Digit Span Test at week 12 compared with baseline. Secondary endpoints included opposition/defiant (O/D) subscale of IOWA, Clinical Global Impression (CGI), Coding Test, Stroop Color-word Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), academic performance on teacher-rated school examinations, and safety at week 12 compared with baseline. Both non-ADHD and ADHD children received the same frequency of cognitive operational test to avoid the possible bias caused by training.

RESULTSA total of 128 patients were evaluated with cognitive assessments. The OROS-MPH treatment significantly improved IOWA Conners I/O subscale scores at week 12 (3.8 ± 2.3) versus baseline (10.0 ± 2.4; P < 0.0001). Digit Span Test scores improved significantly (P < 0.0001) with a high remission rate (81.1%) at week 12 versus baseline. A significant (P < 0.0001) improvement was observed in O/D subscale of IOWA, CGI, Coding Test, Stroop Color-word Test, WCST, and academic performance at week 12 versus baseline. Very few practice-related improvements were noticed in the non-ADHD group at week 12 compared with baseline. No serious adverse events and deaths were reported during the study.

CONCLUSIONSThe OROS-MPH treatment effectively controlled symptoms of ADHD and significantly improved academic performance and cognitive function of Chinese school-aged children with ADHD. The treatment was found to be safe and generally well-tolerated over 12 weeks.

TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01933880; http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01933880?term=CONCERTAATT4099&rank=1.

Administration, Oral ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Child ; Cognition ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylphenidate ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the value of seeking tumor cells through cerebrospinal fluid in the metastasis and prognosis of retinoblastoma.Methods Two hundred and fifty-six cases clinic diagnosed retinoblastoma were collected,154 cases were boys and 102 cases were girls.There were 85 children with bilateral disease and 171 children with unilateral disease.Lumbar puncture was examined before treatment,compare the result and prognosis.Children who were found tumor cells in their cerebrospinal fluid were treated with 6 to 9 cycles of systemic chemotherapy with CTV(carboplatin,teniposide and vincristine)protocol and 8 to 10 intrathecal injections with cytrarabine,methotrexate and dexametha-sone.Follow-up were between 8 to 23 months,the mean time was 14.6 months.Results There were 8 cases found tumor cells in their cerebrospinal fluid in all 256 children,one of them died of wide spread intracranial metastasis;the other patient was given high dose chemotherapy with autologous perip-heral stem cell transplantation(APBSCT) because of intracranial metastasis,follow-up to now the patient′s condition was stable.The rest 6 children were enucleated in follow-up period,there were 4 cases(67%) with the histopathology of the eye indicates spread of tumour cells beyond the lamina cribrosa,and 2 cases with invading the cut end of the optic nerve.Six children were no metabasis evidences at other tissues.Conclusions Intracranial metastasis is the common metastasis style in retinoblastoma,so lumbar puncture to seeking tumor cells was important to evaluate intracranial metastasis,early treatment and prognosis.