Two fragments G1 and G2 of the glycoprotein G gene of bovine respiratory syncytial virus(BRSV) were selected for expression in Escherichia coli based on the analysis of glycoprotein G by DNA Star software.Then the two fragments of glycoprotein G were amplified by PCR with synthesized G gene of BRSV as the template.The amplified fragments G1 and G2 are 570bp and 308bp in length,respectively.The PCR products were cloned into pET30a vector and expressed in soluble form in E.coli after induction of cultured E.coli with IPTG.Both of the recombinant proteins G1 and G2 were purified by immobilized Ni ion affinity chromatography under native conditions.Then the purified proteins were analysed by Western blotting.The results showed that the purified recombinant protein G1 retained good antigenicity and specificity.But the purified recombinant protein G2 didn't possess biological activity.Antibodies against BRSV were detected in suspected bovine serum samples in China by using indirect ELISA and Western blotting with the purified recombinant protein G1.The purified recombinant protein G1 might be used as antigen for establishing serological methods for diagnosis of BRSV infection.And the purified recombinant protein G1 might also be used for preparing polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies for research on biological functions of glycoprotein G of BRSV.

Hyponatremia is relatively common in patients with neurologic disorders, while its diagnosis and treatment remain controversial. Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) has shown to be closely associated with hyponatremia. ODS patients often present as central pontine myelinolysis, extrapontine myelinolysis, or both. This article reviews the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and risk factors of ODS in patients with hyponatremia caused by neurologic disorders.
Demyelinating Diseases ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; complications ; etiology ; Nervous System Diseases ; complications

OBJECTIVETo discuss whether vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the peripheral blood can reflect the biological activities of pituitary adenomas.

METHODSThe concentrations of VEGF in peripheral blood were measured with ELISA in 203 patients with pituitary adenomas, 22 patients with pituitary hyperplasia, 7 patients with pituitary Rathke' pouch and 3 patients with pituitary abscess.

RESULTSThe serum VEGF levels were (366.8 +/- 211.1) pg/ml and (286.8 +/- 107.6) pg/ml in patients with pituitary adenomas and pituitary hyperhasia, respectively, which were higher than those in patients with pituitary Rathke' pouch [(180.5 +/- 61.7) pg/ml], patients with pituitary abscess [(147.5 +/- 46.3) pg/ml] and the health control [(180.8 +/- 56.2) pg/ml] (P < 0.05). In patients with pituitary adenomas, the VEGF levels were (380.0 +/- 234.5) pg/ml in macroadenomas and (380.1 +/- 2870.3) pg/ml in giant adenomas, higher than those in microadenomas [(294.6 +/- 111.6) pg/ml] and in pituitary hyperhasia respectively (P < 0.05). The serum VEGF levels were not significantly different in pituitary adenoma in terms of invasive growth, apoplexy, cyst and hormone secretory functions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe upregulation of serum VEGF expression may reflect the biological activities of pituitary adenoma. However, it may not be associated with pituitary Rathke' pouch, pituitary abscess, adenoma with invasiveness, apoplexy, cyst and hormone secretory function. The serum VEGF levels could be helpful in differentiating pituitary adenoma from pituitary Rathke' pouch and pituitary abscess.

Adenoma ; blood ; diagnosis ; Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; blood ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate effect of the serum concentration of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the pre- and postoperative peripheral blood in patients with meningiomas.

METHODSUsing ELISA, the EGFR concentration were measured in the pre- and postoperative serum in 53 patients with meningiomas. In this study, the patients were divided into preoperative group, postoperative group (including 42 total resection, 11 subtotal resection), and 28 healthy control.

RESULTSIn 53 patients with meningiomas, concentration of preoperative serum EGFR was (352.93 +/- 66.18) fmol/ml, to show higher than control group (159.11 +/- 40.50) fmol/ml (P < 0.0001); Concentration of postoperative serum EGFR was (220.74 +/- 70.63) fmol/ml, to show lower than preoperative group (P < 0.001). Including in 42 patients with meningomas by total resection, serum EGFRs of the 38 patients were decreased (191.20 +/- 32.13) fmol/ml, the 4 patients with peritumoral edema were decreased (248.75 +/- 10.31) fmol/ml, to show lower than preoperative group (P < 0.001); the 11 patients with subtotal resection were decreased (322.14 +/- 89.53) fmol/ml, not to show different than preoperative group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIn 92.16% patients with meningiomas, the more poison of the tumor is resected, the less the serum EGFR concentration is detected postoperatively, while the total resection of mangionmas resulted in a lowest level of EGFR. These results support the concept that human meningiomas may be autocrine EGFRs. The measurement of serum EGFR can be useful to patients with meningiomas for follow-up after surgery.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; blood ; Meningioma ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; blood

OBJECTIVETo clarify the frequency and presentation associated factors, pathogenetic mechanism, treatment and outcome of hyponatremia after surgery of pituitary adenoma.

METHODSRetrospectively reviewed the data of 186 patients who underwent pituitary surgery between January 1999 and June 2000 in the department.

RESULTS72 (38.7%, 72/186) patients had suffered post-operative hyponatremia. Among them, 43 (59.7%, 43/72) cases the hyponatremia appeared at 4 to 7 days postoperatively. 43 (59.7%, 43/72) cases presented with nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, confusion and weakness. The symptoms of hyponatremia was related to the age, tumor size and adenoma cell type, but not to the sex, surgical approach and degree of removal. Treatment consisted of salt replacement and mild fluid restriction in 4 patients and salt and fluid replacement in 68 patients. Hyponatremia had been resolved within 7 days in 63 patients.

CONCLUSIONSHyponatremia often appeared about 7 days after surgery of pituitary adenoma, especially in elderly and in patients with macroadenomas. The principle of treatment was salt and fluid replacement.

Adenoma ; surgery ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hyponatremia ; etiology ; Hypophysectomy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies

That eleven patients with sellar germinomas were confirmed by pathological examinations were retrospectively reviewed. In the 11 patients, 2 were males and 9 were females. Mean age was 16.8 years old and mean history was 2.6 years. Among them, 11 patients had diabetes insipidus, 6 patients had visual disturbances, 5 patients had retarded growth, and 5 patients had hypopituitary function. The diameter of tumor was 1-3 cm in 8 cases and greater than 3 cm in 3 cases. MRI showed hypointensity or homogeneous on T1-weighted images in 8 cases. The tumors were fibrous, purple grey or reddish in color with rich blood supply. Germinomas were confirmed by postoperative pathological examinations. All patients received postoperative irradiation. Postoperative follow-up was from 3 months to 6 years. Diabetes insipidus was improved in 9 cases. Visual function were improved in 4 cases, but hypopituitarism and retarded growth were unchanged. In conclusion, when MRI shows sellar parenchyma tumor with unclear boundary in young patients with diabetes insipidus and hypopituitarism, sellar germinoma should be highly suspected. Otherwise, radiation therapy may profitably aid to confirm the diagnosis since irradiation is the main treatment of sellar germinomas.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Germinoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Pineal Gland ; Pinealoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sella Turcica

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between invasive pituitary adenomas and cavernus sinus and cariod artery and to predict their surgical outcomes.

METHODSTotally 270 patients with pituitary tumors were investigated in this retrospective study, including 113 men and 157 women, with a mean age of 40.8 years. The mean disease history was 3.6 years. Pituitary microadenomas were diagnosed in 56 cases, macroadenomas in 118 cases, and hugeadenomas in 96 cases. Adrenocorticotropic hormone-releasing adenomas (Cushing's diseases) were diagnosed in 40 cases, growth hormone-releasing adenomas in 58 cases, prolactinomas in 57 cases, and non-functional pituitary adenomas in 115 cases. Transsphenoidal microsurgery were performed on 260 patients, while transcranial microsurgery on 6 patients.

RESULTSThe percentage of invasive pituitary adenomas was about 3.6% in microadenomas, 20.4% in macroadenomas, and 61.4% in hugeadenomas. Rate of total removal was 94.1% in non-invasive pituitary adenomas, and was 58.8% in invasive pituitary adenomas.

CONCLUSIONSIt is important to analyze the grade of invasive pituitary adenomas to improve the removal of pituitary adenomas, avoid injuring cariod artery, and increase the rate of total removal.

Adenoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; surgery ; Cavernous Sinus ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypophysectomy ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion ; pathology ; surgery ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential of gene therapy of rat prolactinomas mediated by adenoviral vectors with a gene encoding rat tyrosine hydroxylase.

METHODSRecombinant replication-deficient adenovirus named Ad-GFP-TH with rat TH-cDNA and control adenovirus named Ad-GFP were constructed by homologous recombination in bacterial cells. The rat pituitary prolactinoma cell line MMQ are chosen as the target cells to study the effect of gene therapy on their growth and prolactin secretion mediated by Ad-GFP-TH.

RESULTSRecombinant Ad-GFP-TH and Ad-GFP were successfully reconstructed. Transfection of MMQ cells with Ad-GFP-TH not only restrained their growth but also decreased their PRL secretion.

CONCLUSIONGene therapy may serve for a potential treatment for prolactinomas, especially invasive prolactinomas.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; therapy ; Prolactinoma ; therapy ; Rats ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; biosynthesis ; genetics

AIM:To investigate the synergistic effect of imperatorin on enhancing the anti -tumor effect of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand(TRAIL)on breast cancer and the mechanisms.METHODS:T-47D and MCF-7 breast cancer cells were divided into control group ,imperatorin group,TRAIL group,imperatorin+TRAIL group and imperatorin+TRAIL+death receptor 5(DR5)siRNA group.The viability of T-47D and MCF-7 cells was measured by MTT assay. The apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential in T-47D cells were analyzed by flow cytometry.Western blot and flow cytometry analysis were performed to evaluate the expression of DR 5 on T-47D cell surface and the activation of caspase-8 and caspase-3.RESULTS:Imperatorin significantly enhanced the inhibition of cell viability induced by TRAIL of T -47D and MCF-7 cells,and significantly increased the apoptosis of T-47D cells induced by TRAIL.Imperatorin treatment ob-viously induced upregulation of DR5 expression and production of reactive oxygen species in the T-47D cells.In addition,imperatorin enhanced the TRAIL-induced damage of mitochondrial membrane potential and activation of caspase -8 and caspase-3.CONCLUSION:Imperatorin enhances the anti-tumor effect of TRAIL on breast cancer via upregulating the ex-pression of DR5.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the transsphenoidal microsurgical results of non-invasive prolactinomas, in order to provide reference for their treatment choice.

METHODSTo review the transsphenoidal microsurgical results of 234 non-invasive prolactinomas treated in our department in recent 10 years, and to analyze the prognostic factors. There were 18 males and 216 females, aged between 13 and 58 years, averaged (31.1 +/- 8.5) years. The course ranged from half a month to 20 years, averaged (47.3 +/- 44.9) months. The preoperative serum PRL level ranged between 41 and 8406 ng/ml, averaged (400.5 +/- 888.0) ng/ml, with a median of 164.1 ng/ml. The primary symptoms were amenorrhea, galactorrhea and/or infertility in 211 cases. The tumor size was small (< 1 cm) in 100, large (> or = 1 cm) in 116 and giant (> or = 3 cm) in 18 cases. All the patients received transsphenoidal microsurgery and were followed-up for 12 to 132 months, averaged (43.8 +/- 35.0) months.

RESULTSThere was no mortality. One hundred and twenty-seven (54.3%) cases had transient postoperative imbalance of water and electrolytes. One hundred and eighty-eight cases (80.3%) were cured, 12 (5.1%) experienced clinical remission, 20 (8.5%) were improved, and 14 (6.0%) were ineffective. The male patient, the giant prolactinomas and those with higher preoperative serum PRL level had a relative poor postoperative prognosis. While the other factors had no influence on prognosis, including the course, preoperative bromocriptine intake, tumor texture, tumor apoplexy and intraoperative descending extent of the diaphragm of sella. The overall operative expense for transsphenoidal microsurgery ranged from 8323.8 to 22898.5 yuan, averaged (12912.0 +/- 2361.2) yuan.

CONCLUSIONSTranssphenoidal microsurgery may be chosen as the primary therapy for non-invasive prolactinomas, with the purposes of therapeutical efficacy, facilitating the patients, re-establishing the patients' self-confidence and reducing the overall expense.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypophysectomy ; methods ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Prolactinoma ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphenoid Sinus ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome