Objective To study the relationship between osteopontin (OPN) gene expression and the development and metastasis of esophageal cancer, and explore the effect of growth inhibitory of artesunate (Art) on regulating the expression of OPN in esophageal carcinoma cells.Methods The expressions of OPN gene and protein were detected in normal esophageal tissue (24 cases), esophageal dysplasia (21 cases) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue (45 cases) byin situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, and the relationships between the OPN gene and protein expressions and the pathological features were analyzed with SAS software. After intervention with different concentrations of Art (0, 30, 60, 120mol/L) on ESCC Eca109 cells for 24h, the levels of OPN expression and cell cycle were detected by flow cytometry.Results The expression levels of OPN gene and protein were significantly higher in esophageal cancer tissues than in esophageal dysplasia and normal esophageal tissue (P<0.01), and in esophageal dysplasia than in normal esophageal tissue (P<0.05). The expression levels of OPN gene and protein in esophageal cancer tissues showed no relations with patients' gender, age and the degree of tumor differentiation (P>0.05), but showed a positive correlation with lymph node metastasis and the invasion depth of esophageal cancer (P<0.05). After treatment by Art for 24h, the proliferation index of Eca109 cells and the expression of OPN protein decreased significantly (P<0.01) in a concentration dependent manner.Conclusions The abnormal high expression of OPN gene may participate in the occurrence, invasion and metastasis of esophageal cancer, so can be used as an objective index of metastasis for esophageal cancer. Art inhibits the growth of esophageal carcinoma cells by down-regulating the expression of OPN protein.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of dyspepsia and the relationship between dyspepsia,psychological and social factors among the college students in Naning city,and to improve the prevention and treatment of dyspepsia in this region.Methods Rome Ⅲ diagnostic questionnaire for adult dyspepsia,Chinese college student mental health scale (CCSMHS),Chinese college student psychological stress scale (CCSPSS),Chinese college student adaptation scale (CCSAS) and Chinese college student personality scale (CCSPS) were performed through interview survey in 2 580 Nanning college students.Chi square test and rank sum test were used to compared differences between groups.Correlation analysis was performed by Pearson correlation and Logisitic regression analysis.Results A total of 2 520 qualified Rome m questionnaires were recovered.The prevalence of dyspepsia in Nanning college students was 5.36％(135/2 520).The most common appearance of dyspepsia in college students were dislike of drinking tea (86.96％(100/115) vs 79.10％(1 605/2 029)),dislike of pickled food (85.22％(98/115) vs 76.29％(1 548/2 029)) and missing meals (40.87％(47/115) vs 30.31％(615/2 029)),the differences were statistically significant (x2 =4.122,4.860,5.685;all P＜0.05),while the dyspepsia was not related with drinking,smoking and taking raw,cold or spicy food (all P＞0.05).The results of multifactor regression analysis showed that the prevalence of dyspepsia was not correlated with diet.Among the twelve dimensions of psychological health,the somatization,anxiety,depression,low self-esteem,social withdrawal,sexual psychology,paranoia,force,dependency,psychotic tendencies of dyspepsia group were significantly higher than those with non-dyspepsia group (x2 =16.981,21.805,12.520,13.539,6.998,6.154,15.013,9.457,10.715,4.260,all P＜0.05).Among the seven dimensions of psychological stress,study pressure and development pressure were negative life events,and their of dyspepsia group were significantly higher than those with non-dyspepsia group (x2 =6.216,Fisher exact probability test,both P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference between two groups in the seven personality,such as active,outgoing,tenacity,rigorous,altruism,affectionate and easy-going (all P＞0.05).Among the seven dimensions of adaptation,the adaptation to campus life,emotion and career choice of dyspepsia group were significantly lower than those with non-dyspepsia group (x2 =8.223,8.148,5.713,all P＜0.05).While there was no statistically significant difference between two groups in the other four dimensions of adaption,such as relationships,learning,ego and satisfaction (all P＞0.05).The results of Logistic regression analysis in psychological health,stress and adaption of dyspepsia group and non-dyspepsia group indicated that dyspepsia was associated with somatization (odds ration (OR) =1.610,95％ confidence interval (CI) 1.012-2.559),anxiety (OR=1.955,95％CI 1.216-3.142) and the study pressure (OR=2.159,95％CI 1.106-4.213).The results of Pearson correlation analysis in study pressure,somatization and anxiety of dyspepsia group showed that both somatization and anxiety were correlated with study stress in dyspepsia group (r=0.314,0.323;both P＜0.05).Conclusions Dyspepsia is a common symptom in Nanning college students.Students with dyspepsia have different degrees of psychological problems which are mostly anxiety and somatization.And study stress as a negative event is the major stress factor.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of lycopene against cryopreservation injury of post-thawing human sperm and its mechanism.

METHODSSemen samples were collected from 25 volunteers, each sample equally divided into four parts to be cryopreserved with cryoprotectant only (Ly0 control) or cryoprotectant + lycopene at the concentrations of 2 (Ly2), 5 (Ly5), and 10 µmol/L (Ly10), respectively. Before and after thawing, the semen samples were subjected to computer-assisted semen analysis ( CASA) for sperm kinematics, flow cytometry for sperm apoptosis, thiobarbituric acid assay for malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and JC-1 fluorescent staining for the sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP).

RESULTSAfter cryopreservation, sperm motility was markedly decreased in all the groups (P < 0.01). The rate of sperm apoptosis was significantly lower in the Ly5 group than in the Ly0 control ([25.68 ± 4.36]% vs [33.26 ± 4.78]%, P < 0.05), while sperm MMP remarkably higher in the former than in the latter ([66.18 ± 14.23]% vs [55.24 ± 12.31]%, P < 0.05). The Ly2, Ly5 and Ly10 groups showed no statistically significance differences in the MDA level from the Ly0 control (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAddition of lycopene at a proper concentration to cryoprotectant may reduce oxidative damage to sperm mitochondria in the freezing-thawing process, attenuate oxidative stress injury induced by reactive oxygen species to sperm plasma membrane, and improve the anti-apoptosis ability of sperm.

Apoptosis ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Cryopreservation ; Cryoprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Semen Analysis ; Semen Preservation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo assess the level of language understanding and expression of healthy children aged from 8 to 16 months in urban Beijing and to investigate the children's physical and psychological development conditions and social and economic status of children's family as to identifying the related factors to children's language development and providing a basis for instructing parents child-rearing and promoting early children language development.

METHODSA quantitative Cross-sectional Study was made. The parents or care givers of 636 healthy young children, randomly stratified and selected in two districts in Beijing were interviewed. T-test was used to compare the scores of language understanding and expression between boys and girls in the same age. Single and multiple factors analysis were used so as to find out the related factors.

RESULTSFor boys, the average scores of language were respectively 115.0 for 8 months, 243.0 for 12 months and 410.6 for 16 months; for girls the average scores were respectively 109.9 for 8 months, 286.4 for 12 months and 456.2 for 16 months. The average score of language understanding of boys was higher than that of girls only in the 11 month group. The average scores of language expression of girls were higher than those of boys in 11, 12, 14, 15 month groups. Multiple factors analysis showed that parent-child book reading, parent-child tape listening, higher education level of grandmothers, children' extroversion personality, child being able to speak one word and children's age were positively related to the children' language score.

CONCLUSIONProviding rich language environment should be helpful to early children's language development.

China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Language Development ; Male ; Reading ; Speech ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Urban Population ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of the muscular fiber phynotype at different condition of nerve injury.

METHODSRabbits were used as an animal model in this study. The trigeminus and facial nerves of the animal were simultaneously severed (group 1) or only the latter was severed (group 2). The morphologic change of the muscular fibers was observed with histochemical methods; the tension of contraction and the threshold value of electrical stimulation were observed with electrical physiological methods.

RESULTSTrigeminus nerve play an important role in delaying muscular atrophy after facial nerve was severed. The atrophy degree of type II a and II b muscular fibers was less in group 2 than that in group 1. The change of type 1 muscular fibers was not affected by trigeminus nerve. New muscular fibers emerged in group 2. The tension of contraction and the threshold value of electrical stimulation were better in group 2 than that of in group 1.

CONCLUSIONSSensory nerve could delay muscle atrophy after denervation. Sensory nerve should be repaired simultaneously when the motor nerve was sutured. The results of this study would facilitate clinical treatment for facial palsy.

Animals ; Denervation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Facial Nerve ; Facial Nerve Diseases ; pathology ; Female ; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal ; pathology ; Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch ; pathology ; Rabbits

Objective To investigate the relationship between expressions of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and pathological grading of meningiomas. Methods Seventy-six specimens of meningiomas, performed resection in our hospital from January 1995 to August 2010, were chosen, in which, 40 were of WHO grade Ⅰ, 24 of WHO grade Ⅱ, and 12 of WHO grade Ⅲ. The expressions of mTOR and VEGF were immunohistochemically studied with SABC method. Results The protein expressions of mTOR and VEGF mainly located in cytoplasm of meningioma cells, and these proteins were granular materials colored from pale yellow to dark yellow. The expressions of mTOR and VEGF were significantly different among meningiomas of grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P<0.05);the expressions of mTOR and VEGF had a positive correlation (r=0.440, P=0.000). Conclusion The expressions of mTOR and VEGF are positively correlated with the tumor grades.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of creating a 3D-CAD model of craniofacial prostheses through mirror technique to repair the unilateral craniofacial defects and restore craniofacial symmetry.

METHODSPatients with unilateral craniofacial defects underwent spiral CT scanning. CAD3-D image was reconstructed ad 3-D CAD model of craniofacial prosthesis was created with mirror technique, Boolean operation and rapid prototyping technique. Then the prosthesis made of bioactive artificial bone was made through plaster cavity block.

RESULTS15 cases were treated with no complications. Good symmetry was achieved after operation.

CONCLUSIONSDesigning the craniofacial prosthesis with mirror technique guarantees excellent functional and cosmetic results for repairing the unilateral craniofacial defects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Computer-Aided Design ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prosthesis Design ; methods ; Skull ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Young Adult

Phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB, Akt) pathway plays a major role in proliferation and survival of many types of cells. The inhibitory effect of LY294002, widely applied as an inhibitor of PI3K, in combination with gemcitabine on proliferation of PANC-1 cells was investigated. The expression of PI3K, phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt) and multidrug-resistance like protein (MRP) in normal pancreas tissues, chronic pancreatitis tissues and pancreatic carcinoma tissues was detected. The effects of LY294002 combined with gemcitabine on proliferation of PANC-1 cells and protein levels of p-Akt and MRP were detected. The results showed that the positive expression rate of PI3K, p-Akt and MRP in pancreatic carcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in normal pancreas tissues and chronic pancreatitis tissues (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). LY294002 could effectively enhance the inhibitory effect of gemcitabine on proliferation of PANC-1 cells. Furthermore, Western blotting revealed that LY294002 combined with gemcitabine reduced the protein levels of p-Akt and MRP, which contributed to the inhibition of proliferation. It is concluded that LY294002 in combination with gemcitabine may represent an alternative therapy for pancreatic carcinoma.
Adult ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromones ; administration & dosage ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Morpholines ; administration & dosage ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differentially expressed genes of proliferating and involuting hemangiomas by cDNA microarray analysis of gene-expression profiles in an effort to identify the key disease-related genes.

METHODSSamples were processed from total RNA and purified to mRNA, which was reverse-transcripted and hybridized onto Biodoor Genechip expression microarrays. Analyses were performed to determine the consensus pattern of gene expression in the proliferating and involuting stages of the same hemangioma and the changes in the expression level.

RESULTSIn proliferating hemangioma, 79 genes were overexpressed, and 115 genes were underexpressed in comparison with the involuting hemangioma. Some cytokines and growth factors such as neurotensin, Nov, CYR6, keratinocyte growth factor, interleukin-10 were overexpressed in proliferative hemangioma. In involuting hemangioma, apoptotic factors such as bcl-2 binding component, cytochrome C were overexpressed. The overexpression of Nov, CYR6, c-myc implied that angiogenesis and oncogenes might participate in the pathogenesis of hemangiomas. Mitochondria activated apoptotic passage (cytokines, bcl-2, cytochrome C) and Wnt/beta-catenin passage(Frizzled, beta-catenin, c-myc) were involved.

CONCLUSIONThe development of hemangiomas may be the results of imbalance of cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; Cell Division ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Hemangioma ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression of activin A (ACT A) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) during mandibular lengthening and elucidate the difference between the role of ACT A and TGF-beta 1 during mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

METHODSkeletally mature white new zealand rabbits were established right mandibular distraction osteogenesis model. The regenerating tissue of animals' lengthened mandibes were harvested at different time points to have immunohistochemistric research of ACT A, TGF-beta 1 protein and analysis ACT A, TGF-beta 1 mRNA by using RT-PCR semiquantitative mean.

RESULTSAT the end of latency period day, positive stain of ACT A were found in the osteoblasts while positive stain of TGF-beta 1 was found in mesenchymal cells. At the end of distraction phase, fibrosis tissue had no stain of ACT A, but had strong stain of TGF-beta 1. At the period of fixation days of 20 days, both cytoplasm of osteoblasts and extracellular matrix in primary mineralization front were strongly stained of ACT A. The osteoblasts, osteoid and osteocytes in peripheral new bone zone were moderately stained of ACT A. TGF-beta 1 had strongly positive stained in fibrosis zone and weekly positive stained in primary mineralization front and peripheral new bone zone. There were also broad activin A stains in cytoplasm of osteoblasts, osteoid and cytoplasm of ACT A, TGF-beta 1 in osteocytes after distraction for 30 days. Activin A mRNA began to express at the end of latency period. Expression for activin A mRNA increased gradually along with the beginning of distraction and at the peak in distraction of 10 days and 20 days, while TGF beta 1 mRNA increased at the peak at the end of latency period.

CONCLUSIONACT A and TGF beta 1 have different role during rabbit mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

Activins ; analysis ; physiology ; Animals ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibin-beta Subunits ; analysis ; physiology ; Mandible ; surgery ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Rabbits ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1