Diagnosis, Differential ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Granuloma, Pyogenic ; pathology ; surgery ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; pathology ; Hemangiosarcoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; pathology

Objective To investigate the effects of anticardiolipin antibodies positive serum from patients with recurrent pregnancy loss on the proliferation of BeWo cells as well as the modulation of heparin on the growth of BeWo cell.Methods Thirty patients with recurrent pregnancy loss whose anticardiolipin antibodies were positive and thirty healthy women with a history of term delivery were selected.Their sera were separately added to BeWo cell culture systems which contained either heparin or not.After 24 hours, the PCNA and 490 nm A value were detected by immunofluorescence and methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT),and the proliferation of BeWo cell was evaluated.Results In the culture systems with heparin and normal serum,normal serum,heparin and serum with positive autoantibody,serum with positive autoantibody,the mean fluorescence gray scale values of PCNA were 34.8?3.1,33.8?1.8,33.4?2.2 and 25.1?2.3,the 490 nm A values were 0.0560?0.0033,0.0535?0.0024,0.0524?0.0027 and 0.0350?0.0040,respectively.Conclusions The serum with anticardiolipin antibodies from patients with recurrent pregnancy loss can influence the prospective potency of BeWo cell,inhibit cell proliferation in vitro.Through this direct effect on biological behaviour of the trophoblastic cell,it will lead to recurrent pregnancy loss,whereas heparin can increase the ratio of pregnancy by reversing such effects in those patients.

The authors proposed remedial measures for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products export faced with technical barriers to trade (TBT) according to analyzing the impact of TBT on TCM product export with economic theories, and putting forward countermeasures based on evaluation researches. TBT can be effectively coped with by the joint efforts of government, enterprises and industry association. Not only TBT can be broken through but also TCM product export can be expanded by the coordination and cooperation of our country and the society.
Commerce ; Drug Industry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo determine the molecular basis of late onset ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency in a Chinese family of Han nationality and the exon sequences of OTC gene of this patient.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing were used to identify the mutation type.

RESULTSA missense mutation E122G in the conserved residue of exon 4 was identified which is unreported before.

CONCLUSIONThe E122G mutation in human OTC gene may cause late onset OTC deficiency.

Age of Onset ; Base Sequence ; Child, Preschool ; DNA ; chemistry ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Family Health ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Molecular ; Mutation, Missense ; Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase ; chemistry ; genetics ; Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase Deficiency Disease ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Protein Structure, Secondary

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Shiraia bambusicola.

METHODColumn chromatography with silica gel was employed for the isolation and purification of constituents. The structures were elucidated by means of chemical and spectroscopic data.

RESULTSeven compounds were obtained and identified as hypocrellin A (I), hypocrellin B (II), hypocrellin C (III), hypomycin A (IV), ergosterol (V), ergosterol peroxide (VI) and 1,8-dihydroxy anthraquinone (VII).

CONCLUSIONCompounds (IV) (VII) were separated from Shiraia bambusicola for the first time.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ergosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hypocreales ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of host-derived p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase subunit 38 (p38MAPK) and the hepatitis B virus X antigen (HbxAg) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to study the mechanism underlying hepatocarcinogenesis.

METHODSLiver tissues were biopsied from healthy individuals and patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis, paratumor cirrhosis, and HCC. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect expressions of HBxAg, p38MAPK, cell cycle G2/M phase-related factors (cdc25B, p34cdc2, cyclin B1), and cell proliferation factor ki-67.The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling method (known as TUNEL) was used to detect apoptosis.

RESULTSThe highest rates of HBxAg were detected in CHB (65.0%) and HCC (44.4%) liver samples, and the antigen was mainly expressed in nuclei. Increasingly higher rates of p38MAPK, cdc25B, cyclin B1, and p34cdc2 expression were detected with increases in disease severity: normal liver (40.0%, 20.0%, 20.0%, and 30.0%, respectively), chronic hepatitis B (60.0%, 65.0%, 40.0%, and 50.0%, respectively), liver cirrhosis (65.0%, 75.0%, 70.0%, and 55.0%, respectively), paratumor cirrhosis (66.7%, 75.0%, 75.0%, and 63.9%, respectively), and HCC (77.8%, 80.6%, 80.6%, and 72.2%, respectively). In addition, the intracellular location of p38MAPK expression was different under different disease conditions, showing nuclear expression in CHB and liver cirrhosis samples and cytoplasmic expression in paratumor cirrhosis and HCC samples (x2 = 1.11, P more than 0.05). The proliferation index (PI) and the apoptosis index (AI) were both increased along with disease severity (normal more than CHB more than paratumor cirrhosis more than HCC) (PI: 0.0000+/-0.000, 0.0502+/-0.011, 0.0411+/-0.009, 0.0762+/-0.017; AI: 0.0351+/-0.024, 0.0607+/-0.022, 0.0562+/-0.013, 0.0716+/-0.011), with the notable exception for liver cirrhosis (PI: 0.1810+/-0.036 and AI: 0.1200+/-0.018). PI in poorly-differentiated HCC (0.2285+/-0.062) was significantly higher than in well-differentiated HCC (0.1216+/-0.032, t = 2.082, P = 0.044). AI in well-differentiated HCC (0.152+/-0.026) was significantly higher than in poorly-differentiated HCC (0.081+/-0.022, t = 2.129, P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONSIn the process of hepatocarcinogenesis, HBxAg may cause a series of abnormal changes in cell cycle, proliferation and apoptosis by affecting the expression of p38MAPK.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Division ; Cell Proliferation ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Trans-Activators ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Objective To establish a risk assessing indicator system after the transmission interruption of schistosomiasis in Wuxi City,so as to provide evidences for formulating strategies on schistosomiasis control and prevention. Methods A primary risk assessing indicator system was established based on the literature review. Alternative indicators were scored and screened to establish a final indicator system through two rounds of Delphy method and the related normalized weights and combined weights were also calculated. Results The risk assessing indicator system was established through two rounds of expert consultation in-cluding 3 first grade indicators and 15 second grade indicators. Among the first grade indicators,the normalized weights of natu-ral environment,key populations and social environment were 0.3706,0.2929 and 0.3365,respectively. Among the second grade indicators,the migrant population accounted for the highest combined weight of 0.1252 compared to domestic animal of 0.0371. The authority degree among the first grade indicators was between 0.91 and 0.93,while the authority degree among the second grade indicators was between 0.79 and 0.92. Conclusion The scientific and authoritative risk assessing indicator sys-tem after the transmission interruption of schistosomiasis is established,which provides the evidences for risk assessment on schistosomiasis transmission in Wuxi City.

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibitory effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on c-myc expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2.

METHODSExpression vector of c-myc gene-targeting small interference RNA (siRNA) was constructed (psilencer-c-myc) and transfected into HepG2 cells by lipofectamine, and the unloaded vector was used as control (mock). The expression of c-myc mRNA and protein was identified by quantitive PCR and Western blot. Apoptosis of the transfected cells was examined by flow cytometry and immunofluorescent microscopy.

RESULTSAfter HepG2 cells were transfected with psilencer-c-myc, the expression of c-myc mRNA and protein was suppressed with an inhibition rate of 67% compared with the mock-transfected cells. Apoptosis was identified in the transfected HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of c-myc at transcriptional and translational levels in HepG2 cells transfected with siRNA is markedly inhibited, which may be associated with the induction of apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Genes, myc ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo summarize the experience of surgical treatment for cervical esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSClinical and follow-up data of 82 patients with cervical esophageal carcinoma undergone surgical treatment in Henan Provincial Cancer Hospital from Dec. 1993 to Dec. 2005 were analyzed retrospectively. The difference of the therapeutic regimen and 5-year survival rate of these patients were evaluated.

RESULTSBefore 1997, patients mainly underwent surgical therapy solely (27 cases). After 1997, 50 cases received surgical therapy following neoadjuvant radiotherapy (multimodality group), except 5 early-stage cases received surgical therapy solely. Seventy-three patients underwent esophagectomy without thoracotomy, including 21 cases of invert-stripping of the esophagus, and 52 cases of blunt denudation of esophagus. Nine patients underwent transthoracic esophagectomy. Concurrent monolateral or bilateral cervical lymph node dissection accounted for 14 cases and combined organ resection 12 cases. No serious hemorrhage and tracheal or bronchial tearing occurred. No hospital death occurred. Postoperative complications were found in 14 patients, and the incidence of complication was 19.5%. In sole surgery group, upper incised margins of 5 patients were confirmed to be positive. The laryngeal function of 26 patients in sole surgery group was preserved, while 47 patients in multimodality group preserved. Lymph node metastasis occurred in 14 cases, including 13 cases cervical lymph node metastasis (monolateral 9, bilateral 4) and 1 case of upper mediastinal lymph node metastasis. During follow-up, 3 patients were lost. The total 5-year survival rate was 43%. The patients in multimodality group had higher 5-year survival rate as compared to those in sole surgery group. (50.2% vs 33.9%,chi(2 )=7.17,P=0.007). The 5-year survival rates of patients with transthoracic esophagectomy, esophagectomy plus concurrent monolateral or bilateral cervical lymph nodes dissection or combined organ resection were 36.5%, 45.8% and 33.3% respectively. All the 5-year survival rates of these subgroups were lower as compared to multimodality group.

CONCLUSIONSFor patients with early stage cervical esophageal carcinoma and with proximal end of residual normal esophagus longer than 2 cm, the optimal therapy should be surgery. For most of the patients, surgery combined with neoadjuvant radiotherapy is the ideal therapeutic strategy, which can lower the risk of positive revised margin, improve the possibility of preserving the laryngeal function and result in the improvement of 5-year survival rate. Esophagectomy without thoracotomy should be preferred. Combined organ resection or bilateral lymph node dissection should be chosen carefully because these operating procedures may lead to severe injury and function lose.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo present the treatment results and to identify the most effective therapeutic plan of different therapeutic modalities in patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of hypopharynnx.

METHODSA retrospective review of 464 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx treated between 1958 and 1998 was accomplished. The clinical characteristics, results of different treatments were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 statistic software.

RESULTSOf 464 patients, the age ranged from 20 to 88 years (mean 56.3 years) and the male to female ratio was 5.5:1. The primary lesion of 383 were originated from the pyriform sinus, 40 from posterior pharyngeal wall and 41 from the postcricoid area. According to the UICC 1997 TNM staging system, 75% had T3 or T4 lesion or 92.2% stage III or IV on presentation. 65% had neck metastases. 202 patients were treated with preoperative radiation plus surgery (R + S), 22 with surgery plus postoperative radiation (S + R), 26 surgery alone (S), 40 patients with salvage surgery after radiotherapy failure (RF) and 174 patients with radiotherapy alone. The overall 5-year survival rate was 34.2%. The overall 5-year survival rate of R + S group was 46.3%, S + R group was 49.2%, S alone group 22.8%, RF group was 40.8%, radiotherapy alone group 18.0% (P < 0.01). The overall 5-year survival rate of R + S group was higher than that of S alone group (P = 0.046). The rate of larynx preservation in R + S group was 39.6% in contrast to that of S + R and S alone group of 16.7% (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONThe survival rate of patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx treated with combined therapy (R + S or S + R) is better than the other therapeutic modalities. R + S combined is able to offer an obviously higher rate of larynx preservation (39.6% vs 16.7%).

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate