Purpose To investigate the clinicopathological significance of Tiam1 overexpression in ovarian carcinoma.Methods Tiam1 protein was detected in 98 serous carcinomas,64 ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinomas and 27 benign ovarian tumors using immunohistochemical of SP two-step staining.Correlations between Tiam1 overexpression and clinicopathological features of ovarian carcinoma were evaluated.Overall survival and disease-free survival rates of ovarian carcinoma patients were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method.Results Tiam1 protein showed a cytoplasmic and nuclear staining pattern in ovarian carcinoma.The positive rate and strongly positive rate of Tiam1 protein were 84.7％ (83/98)and 70.4％ (69/98)in serous carcinoma,the positive rate and strongly positive rate of Tiam1 protein were 87.5％ (56/64) and 73.4％ (47/64) in ovarian mucinous cystadenocarcinoma,both of which were significantly higher than those in benign ovarian tumor (both P ＜ 0.01).High-level expression of Tiam1 was positively correlated with the histological grade,FIGO stage,and metastasis in ovarian carcinoma (both P ＜ 0.05),while independent of age and menopausal status (both P ＞ 0.05).Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that overall survival and disease-free survival of ovarian cancer patients with high expression of Tiam1 protein were significantly lower than those of patients with lower expression of Tiam1 protein (P ＜ 0.05),overall survival in metastatic ovarian cancer patients with high expression of Tiam1 protein was significantly lower than those in patients with low Tiam1 protein expression (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Tiam1 expression is significantly high in ovarian carcinoma.Tiam1 protein is closely associated with ovarian carcinoma progression,which may be a new potential prognostic biomarker and a therapeutic target for ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo culture interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta)-activated Schwann cells (SCs) with human hair keratins (HHKs) for artificial nerve bridge construction.

METHODSSCs purified by primary culture with or without IL-1beta activation were cultured with HHKs decorated by extracellular matrix (ECM), and the artificial nerve bridge was implanted into the defect of rat sciatic nerve. The morphology of the SCs cultured with HHKs was monitored by inverted microscope, scanning electron microscope and evaluated by immunocytochemical staining, and the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the sciatic nerve was observed by in situ hybridization.

RESULTSActivated SCs showed better ability to adhere to the HHKs and grew well. The HHKs component in the artificial nerve bridge underwent degradation in the sciatic nerve defect after 3 to 4 weeks, and IL-1beta activation resulted in enhanced NGF expression in the SCs.

CONCLUSIONThe constructed artificial nerve bridge by three-dimensional culture of IL-1beta-activiated SCs with HHKs decorated by ECM promotes the repair of sciatic nerve defects and accelerates sciatic nerve regeneration.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Axons ; physiology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Movement ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Hair ; chemistry ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Keratins ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nerve Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; Nerve Regeneration ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics and potential mechanisms relevant to pathological proteins in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who experience fatigue. METHODS: PD patients (n=102) were evaluated using a fatigue severity scale and scales for motor and nonmotor symptoms. The levels of three pathological proteins-α-synuclein oligomer, β-amyloid (Aβ)(1-42), and tau-were measured in 102 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from these PD patients. Linear regression analyses were performed between fatigue score and the CSF levels of the above-listed pathological proteins in PD patients. RESULTS: The frequency of fatigue in the PD patients was 62.75%. The fatigue group had worse motor symptoms and anxiety, depression, and autonomic dysfunction. The CSF level of α-synuclein oligomer was higher and that of Aβ1-42 was lower in the fatigue group than in the non-fatigue group. In multiple linear regression analyses, fatigue severity was significantly and positively correlated with the α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF of PD patients, after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: PD patients experience a high frequency of fatigue. PD patients with fatigue have worse motor and part nonmotor symptoms. Fatigue in PD patients is associated with an increased α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF.
Anxiety ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Depression ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Parkinson Disease* ; Weights and Measures

Purpose: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) on prostatitis and explore the mechanism of alleviating pain. Materials and Methods: For in vitro testing, RWPE-1 cells were randomly divided into 5 groups: (1) RWPE-1 group (normal control), (2) LPS group (lipopolysaccharide inducing inflammation), (3) 0.1ESWT group (treated by 0.1 mJ/mm2 energy level), (4) 0.2ESWT group (treated by 0.2 mJ/mm2 energy level), and (5) 0.3ESWT group (treated by 0.3 mJ/mm2 energy level). After ESWT was administered, cells and supernatant were collected for ELISA and western blot. For in vivo testing, Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: (1) normal group, (2) prostatitis group, and (3) ESWT group (n=12 for each). Prostatitis was induced by 17 beta-estradiol and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) administration. Four weeks after ESWT, the pain index was assessed for all groups and prostate tissues were collected for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, apoptosis analysis and, western blot. Results: Our in vitro studies showed that the optimal energy flux density of ESWT was 0.2 mJ/mm2. In vivo, ESWT ameliorated discomfort in rats with prostatitis and inflammation symptoms were improved. Compared to normal rats, overexpressed NLRP3 inflammasomes triggered apoptosis in rats with prostatitis and this was improved by ESWT. TLR4-NFκB pathway was overactive after experimental prostatitis, compared to normal and ESWT groups, and prostatitis induced alterations in BAX/BAK pathway were inhibited by ESWT. Conclusions ESWT improved CP/CPPS by reducing NLRP3 inflammasome and ameliorated apoptosis via inhibiting BAX/BAK pathway in a rat model. TLR4 may play a key role in bonding NLRP3 inflammasome and BAX/BAK pathways. ESWT might be a promising approach for the treatment of CP/CPPS.

Background/Aims: Cigarette smoking is an important modifiable risk factor in kidney disease progression. However, the underlying mechanisms for this are lacking. This study aimed to assess whether nicotine (NIC), a major toxic component of cigarette smoking, would exacerbates tacrolimus (TAC)-induced renal injury. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were treated daily with NIC, TAC, or both drugs for 4 weeks. The influence of NIC on TAC-caused renal injury was examined via renal function, histopathology, oxidative stress, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and programmed cell death (apoptosis and autophagy). Results: Both NIC and TAC significantly impaired renal function and histopathology, while combined NIC and TAC treatment aggravated these parameters beyond the effects of either alone. Increased oxidative stress, ER stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, proinf lammatory and profibrotic cytokine expressions, and programmed cell death from either NIC or TAC were also aggravated by the two combined. Conclusions Our observations suggest that NIC exacerbates chronic TAC nephrotoxicity, implying that smoking cessation may be beneficial for transplant smokers taking TAC.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of chronic hippocampus electrical stimulation in treatment of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.Methods The patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who were not suitable for anterior temporal lobectomy were selected.The patients had a 6-month-seizure count as baseline frequency.Medtronic electrodes were implanted directed into the amygdalohippocampal foci.After electroencephalography recording and interval stimulation for one week,implantable pulse generators were implanted and began to stimulate chronically.Seizure frequency was counted in the follow up.The efficacy and side-effect were also detected.Results Two patients were selected according to the criteria.There was no obvious side effect except for transient dizziness in one patient.One patient had a seizure reduction of＞80％ in a 22-month follow-up (decreasing from 3-4 times/month to 2-3 times/month); the seizure time was shorten and severity was alleviated than before treatment The other patient had a seizure reduction of＞50％ in a 10-month follow-up (decreasing from 6-10 times/month to 3-6 times/month); the seizure time was shorten than before treatment with few secondary generalized tonic-clonic seizures.Conclusion Chronic hippocampus electrical stimulation is a safe treatment for some patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who are not suitable for anterior temporal lobectomy; it may be helpful in controlling the seizures.

Objective: To analyze the rate of erythrocyte iron incorporation and provided guidance for the iron nutrition for prepubertal children. Methods: Fifty-seven prepubertal children of Beijing were involved in this study and each subject was orally administered 3 mg of Fe twice daily to obtain a total of 30 mg Fe after a 5-d period. The stable isotope ratios in RBCs were determined in 14th day, 28th day, 60th day, and 90th day. The erythrocyte incorporation rate in children was calculated using the stable isotope ratios, blood volume and body iron mass. Results: The percentage of erythrocyte Fe incorporation increased starting 14 th day, reached a peak at 60 d (boys: 19.67% ± 0.56%, girls: 21.33% ± 0.59%) and then decreased. The erythrocyte incorporation rates of Fe obtained for girls in 60th day was significantly higher than those obtained for boys ( < 0.0001). Conclusions The oral administration of Fe to children can be used to obtain erythrocyte iron incorporation within 90 d. Prepubertal girls should begin to increase the intake of iron and further studies should pay more attention to the iron status in prepubertal children.
Beijing ; Child ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; metabolism ; Iron Isotopes ; analysis ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To prepare and develop a GDH-2 air sampling tube for detecting 12 kinds of chlorobenzenes(CBs) in workplace air and to establish a matching detecting method. METHODS: The self-developed GDH-2 air sampling tube was filled with ion exchange resin and activated carbon, and the mass ratio was 10 ∶1. The GDH-2 air sampling tube was used to collect 12 kinds of CBs with coexistence of gaseous and aerosol in the air. After elution with toluene, they were separated on a chromatographic column and determined by microcell electron capture detector. RESULTS: The quantitative detecting range of the method was 0.51×10~(-3)-6 000.00 mg/L, with the correlation coefficients greater than 0.999 4. The minimum detection concentration was 0.02-61.99 μg/m~3, and the minimum quantitative concentration was 0.05-206.62 μg/m~3. The average desorption efficiency was 90.8%-104.0%. The within-run relative standard deviation(RSD) was 1.0%-5.7%, and the between-run RSD was 3.0%-7.3%. The samples can be stored at room temperature for at least 26 days. CONCLUSION: The self-developed GDH-2 air sampling tube and its matching measuring method can be used for the collection and determination of the 12 kinds of CBs in the air of workplace.

OBJECTIVE: This study is to obtain precise data on iron physiological requirements in Chinese children using single stable isotope tracer technique. METHODS: Thirty boys (10.6 ± 0.2 years) and 27 girls (10.4 ± 0.2 years) were received oral 6 mg ⁵⁷Fe each day for 5 consecutive days. Venous blood samples were subsequently drawn to examine the change of total iron concentration and ⁵⁷Fe abundance at day 0, 14, 28, 60, 90, 180, 360, 450, 540, 630, 720. The iron physiological requirement was calculated by iron loss combined with iron circulation rate once ⁵⁷Fe abundance stabilized in human body. RESULTS: The iron physiological requirement was significantly lower in boys than those values in girls (16.88 ± 7.12 vs. 18.40 ± 8.81 μg/kg per day, P < 0.05). Correspondingly, the values were calculated as 722.46 ± 8.43 μg/day for boys and 708.40 ± 7.55 μg/day for girls, respectively. Considering nearly 10% iron absorption rate, the estimated average iron physiological requirement was 6.0 mg/day in boys and 6.2 mg/day in girls. CONCLUSION This study indicate that iron physiological requirement could require more daily iron intake in girls as compare with the values in boys having the same body weight. These findings would be facilitate to the new revised dietary reference intakes.
Body Weight ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Iron ; Isotopes ; Male ; Nutritional Status