OBJECTIVETo study the expression of β-integrin family members in children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and their significance.

METHODSQuantitative real-time PCR analyses were performed to assess the expression levels of β-integrin family members in bone marrow samples from 22 children with newly-diagnosed T-ALL and 21 controls (16 children with non-malignant hematologic disease and 5 healthy donors with bone marrow transplantation). Jurkat cells were treated with integrin inhibitor arginine-glycine-aspartate (Arg-Gly-Asp, RGD) peptide. The cell viability and apoptosis rate were determined by CCK8 assay and flow cytometry respectively.

RESULTSThe mRNA levels of integrins β, β, and βwere significantly lower in children with T-ALL than in controls (P<0.05). In T-ALL patients, high integrin βexpression was associated with lower white blood cell counts (<100×10/L), minimal residual disease (MRD) positivity, and day 33 bone marrow negative remission (P<0.05). In T-ALL patients, higher integrin βexpression was associated with relapse of T-ALL (P<0.05). Based on survival curve analysis, higher integrin βexpression was related to lower event-free survival and overall survival rates. RGD peptide treatment inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells and increased their apoptosis rate (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSβ-Integrin may play a role in the occurrence and development of T-ALL by affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. The expression of integrin β5 is closely related to the risk of relapse of T-ALL. The expression of integrin β3 is closely related the treatment response and prognosis of T-ALL.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Integrin beta Chains ; genetics ; physiology ; Jurkat Cells ; Male ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; etiology ; metabolism ; mortality ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of β₃adrenoceptors (β₃-AR) activation on rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle contractility and the possible related mechanism.

METHODSThe endothelium removed thoracic aorta was pre-contracted with 30 mmol/L KCl physiological saline solution (PSS). Then the tension of the thoracic aorta was recorded in presence of BRL37344 (BRL) to determine the action of β₃-AR. The tension of the thoracic aorta was also recorded in the presence of Propranolol (PRA), SR59230A (SR), L-NNA, H-89 and Iberiotoxin (IBTX) respectively to reveal the underling mechanism of β₃-AR activation on rat vascular smooth muscle. Immunohistochemistry was adopted to confirm the existence and the distribution of β₃-AR in rat thoracic aorta.

RESULTSThe results showed that: (1) The thoracic aorta was relaxed by β₃-AR activation, with a relaxation percentage of (10.59 ± 0.79). (2) β₃-AR was expressed in both endothelial and smooth muscle layer in thoracic aorta sections of rats. (3) PRA did not block the effect of BRL on the thoracic aorta. The relaxation actions of BRL could be antagonized by pre-incubating the thoracic aorta with SR. (4) L-NNA (a NOS inhibitor) and H-89 (a PKA inhibitor) reversed the relaxation effect of BRL on vascular smooth muscle. (5) The effect of BRL was decreased after application of Ibriotoxin (IBTX), a large conductance calcium dependent potassium channel blocker.

CONCLUSIONThe results confirmed that activation of β₃-AR led to relaxation of thoracic aorta smooth muscle. The relaxation action of β₃-AR on smooth muscle of rat thoracic aorta was related to activation of NOS and PKA signaling pathway. Large conductance Ca²⁺-K⁺ channels were involved in the relaxation action of β₃-AR activation on rat thoracic aorta smooth muscle.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; physiology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Isoquinolines ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; physiology ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle Relaxation ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; physiology ; Nitroarginine ; Peptides ; Propanolamines ; Propranolol ; Rats ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Sulfonamides

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of Moluodan () in treating dysplasia in chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients.

METHODSThis was a multi-centered, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. The total of 196 subjects were assigned to receive either Moluodan or folic acid in a 2:1 ratio by blocked randomization. Mucosa marking targeting biopsy (MTB) was used to insure the accuracy and consistency between baseline and after 6-month treatment. Primary outcomes were histological score, response rate of pathological lesions and dysplasia disappearance rate. Secondary endpoints included gastroscopic findings, clinical symptom and patient reported outcome (PRO) instrument.

RESULTSDysplasia score decreased in Moluodan group (P =0.002), significance was found between groups (P =0.045). Dysplasia disappearance rates were 24.6% and 15.2% in Moluodan and folic acid groups respectively, no significant differences were found (P =0.127). The response rate of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia were 34.6% and 23.0% in Moluodan group, 24.3% and 13.6% in folic acid group. Moluodan could improve erythema (P =0.044), and bile reflux (P =0.059), no significance between groups. Moluodan was better than folic acid in improving epigastric pain, epigastric suffocation, belching and decreased appetite (P <0.05), with symptom disappearance rates of 37% to 83%.

CONCLUSIONSMoluodan improved dysplasia score in histopathology, and erythema and bile reflux score in endoscopy, and superior to folic acid in improving epigastric pain, epigastric suffocation, belching and decreased appetite. [ChiCTR-TRC-00000169].

Chronic Disease ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gastritis, Atrophic ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; pathology ; Gastroscopy ; Helicobacter pylori ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDAdenoid hypertrophy (AH) is associated with pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis (pCRS), but its role in the inflammatory process of pCRS is unclear. It is thought that innate immunity gene expression is disrupted in the epithelium of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), including antimicrobial peptides and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). The aim of this preliminary study was to detect the expression of innate immunity genes in epithelial cells of hypertrophic adenoids with and without pCRS to better understand their role in pCRS.

METHODSNine pCRS patients and nine simple AH patients undergoing adenoidectomy were recruited for the study. Adenoidal epithelium was isolated, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was employed to measure relative expression levels of the following messenger RNAs in hypertrophic adenoid epithelial cells of pediatric patients with and without CRS: Human β-defensin (HBD) 2 and 3, surfactant protein (SP)-A and D, toll-like receptors 1-10, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors NOD 1, NOD 2, and NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3, retinoic acid-induced gene 1, melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). RT-qPCR data from two groups were analyzed by independent sample t-tests and Mann-Whitney U-tests.

RESULTSThe relative expression of SP-D in adenoidal epithelium of pCRS group was significantly lower than that in AH group (pCRS 0.73 ± 0.10 vs. AH 1.21 ± 0.15; P = 0.0173, t = 2.654). The relative expression levels of all tested PRRs and NF-κB, as well as HBD-2, HBD-3, and SP-A, showed no statistically significant differences in isolated adenoidal epithelium between pCRS group and AH group.

CONCLUSIONSDown-regulated SP-D levels in adenoidal epithelium may contribute to the development of pCRS. PRRs, however, are unlikely to play a significant role in the inflammatory process of pCRS.

Adenoids ; cytology ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; metabolism ; Child ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Receptors, Pattern Recognition ; metabolism ; Sinusitis ; metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptors ; metabolism

The research aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Opuntia dillenii Haw polysaccharide (OPS) on atherosclerosis of rats. First atherosclerotic rat models were established by high-fat and high-calcium diet. Thirty days later, the rats were treated with low dosage of OPS (0.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) or high dosage of OPS (0.4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) by intraperitoneal injection for 60 days continuously. At the end of treatment, thoracic aorta rings were prepared and vasorelaxation of rat thoracic aorta in different experiment groups were determined by using 620M multi wire myograph system in vitro. Blood and livers of rats were collected. Then plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of rats were separately determined using whole automatic biochemical analyzer; protein level of hepatic apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and that of hepatic diglyceride acyltransferase (Dgat1) were measured by Western Blot technique. Results showed that the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax decreased markedly in the model group compared with that in the normal group, and significant differences existed in vasorelaxation ratios induced by different concentrations of carbamylcholine chloride (Carb) between these two groups (P < 0.01). After OPS treatment, the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax improved markedly, the vasorelaxation ratios induced by Carb at 5 and 10 μmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.34 ± 0.08 and 0.62 ± 0.15 in the group treated with low dosage of OPS, while the ratios induced by Carb at 1 and 5 μmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.54 ± 0.08 and 0.98 ± 0.02 in the group treated with high dosage of OPS, which were all significantly different with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Plasma contents of TC, TG and LDL reduced significantly by the treatments both with low and high dosages of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Protein level of hepatic ApoB and that of hepatic Dgat1 decreased significantly after the treatment with high dosage of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). These results indicate that OPS can markedly improve the vasorelaxation of thoracic aorta of atherosclerotic rats and has significant anti-atherosclerotic effect; inhibiting the expression of ApoB and Dgat1 and thus decreasing the amounts of TC, LDL and TG serving as one of the molecular mechanisms of its antiatherosclerosis effect.
Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; drug effects ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Opuntia ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare post-operative long-term complications and quality of life of two digestive reconstruction procedures after total gastrectomy.

METHODSA total of 109 gastric cancer patients in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital from March 2012 to February 2013 were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into functional jejunal interposition (FJI) group (52 cases) and Roux-en-Y (R-Y) group (57 cases). The post-operative complications, nutritional status, and the quality of life were compared between two groups.

RESULTSOne, 3 and 6 months after operation, the incidence of R-S syndrome in FJI group was lower as compared to R-Y group[13% (6/45) vs. 37% (18/49), 3% (1/30) vs. 42% (14/33), 5% (1/21) vs. 48% (11/23), all P<0.01], while 3 months after operation, the incidence of reflux and heartburn in FJI group was higher[53% (16/30) vs. 21% (7/33), P<0.01; 37% (11/30) vs. 12% (4/33), P<0.05]. There were no significant differences in quality of life questionnaire QLQ-C30 between R-Y and FJI groups. QLQ-STO22 stomach module revealed in FJI group, the eating score was better, but reflux score was worse as compared to R-Y group 3 months after operation (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFunctional jejunal interposition keeps intestinal continuity preserving and food duodenal passing, which is a reasonable digestive reconstruction procedure.

Anastomosis, Roux-en-Y ; Female ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Atrazine ; analysis ; immunology ; Chromatography, Gas ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; Herbicides ; analysis ; immunology ; Mass Spectrometry

BACKGROUNDRecombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34) (rhPTH (1-34)) is the first agent in a unique class of anabolic therapies acting on the skeleton. The efficacy and safety of long-term administration of rhPTH (1-34) in Chinese postmenopausal women had not been evaluated. This study compared the clinical efficacy and safety of rhPTH (1-34) with elcatonin for treating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis in 11 urban areas of China.

METHODSA total of 453 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were enrolled in an 18-month, multi-center, randomized, controlled study. They were randomized to receive either rhPTH (1-34) 20 µg (200 U) daily for 18 months, or elcatonin 20 U weekly for 12 months. Lumbar spine (L1-4) and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), fracture rate, back pain as well as biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured. Adverse events were recorded.

RESULTSrhPTH (1-34) increased lumbar BMD significantly more than did elcatonin after 6, 12, and 18 months of treatment (4.3% vs. 1.9%, 6.8% vs. 2.7%, 9.5% vs. 2.9%, P < 0.01). There was only a small but significant increase of femoral neck BMD after 18 months (2.6%, P < 0.01) in rhPTH groups. There were larger increases in bone turnover markers in the rhPTH (1-34) group than those in the elcatonin group after 6, 12, and 18 months (serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) 93.7% vs. -3.6%; 117.8% vs. -4.1%; 49.2% vs. -5.8%, P < 0.01; urinary C-telopeptide/creatinine (CTX/Cr) 250.0% vs. -29.5%; 330.0% vs. -41.4%, 273.0% vs. -10.6%, P < 0.01). rhPTH (1-34) showed similar effect of pain relief as elcatonin. The incidence of clinical fractures was 5.36% (6/112) in elcatonin group and 3.2% (11/341) in rhPTH (1-34) group (P = 0.303). Both treatments were well tolerated. Hypercaluria (9.4%) and hypercalcemia (7.0%) in rhPTH (1-34) group were transient and caused no clinical symptoms. Pruritus (8.2% vs. 2.7%, P = 0.044) and redness of injection site (4.4% vs. 0, P = 0.024) were more frequent in rhPTH (1-34). Nausea/vomiting (16.1% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.001) and hot flushes (7.1% vs. 0.6%, P < 0.001) were more common in elcatonin group.

CONCLUSIONSrhPTH (1-34) was associated with greater increases in lumbar spine BMD and bone formation markers. It could increase femoral BMD after 18 months of treatment. rhPTH could improve back pain effectively. The results of the present study indicate that rhPTH (1-34) is an effective, safe agent in treating Chinese postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Aged ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Calcitonin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; Parathyroid Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts cultured in the plane on appropriate electrical stimulation, to specify whether it promote the proliferation, and observe expression of BMP-2 on electrical stimulation.

METHODSOsteoblasts were extracted from the skull of rabbit offspring and cultured. Cells after the 2nd generations were cultured. In experimental group, cells had electrical stimulation, and same stimulation time and intensity were given. In control group cells had not electrical stimulation. The proliferation and differentiation were detected at different time, and BMP-2 protein expression was analyzed.

RESULTSThe cell morphology of experimental group in 8 days under the light microscope was observed and showed a lot of proliferation of osteoblasts, pleomorphic changes, in 6 to 8 days a small amount of Calcified spots was also observed; while in the control group, proliferation was slower. Differentiation of the experimental group was significantly, alkaline phosphatase staining and calcium nodules were positive, quantitative analysis of alkaline phosphatase increaseed significantly. Experimental group showed that BMP-2 was gradually increased by immunohistochemistry analysis.

CONCLUSIONElectrical stimulation can promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and achieved the increasement the number of cells in short-term, intracellular staining by immunohistochemistry showed the increasement in expression of BMP-2.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Electric Stimulation ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of MRI navigation in identifing the safe surgical margin of the maxillofacial malignancy.

METHODSThe pathology results of the surgical margin identified by the technique of MRI navigation form 20 patients with maxillofacial malignancy were compared with those of 45 patients with maxillofacial malignancy who underwent the routine operation without MRI navigation.

RESULTSThere was no difference between the two groups of patients in age, sex, size of tumor, tumor stages, pathologic diagnosis (P > 0.05). The negative rate of the surgical margin of the lesions treated by surgery with the technique of MRI navigation was significantly lower than that of the lesions treated without MRI navigation (P = 0.007) and highly correspondent with the pathology results.

CONCLUSIONSMRI navigation was helpful in identifying the safe surgical margin of the maxillofacial malignancy.

Aged ; Carcinoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Facial Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Interventional ; Male ; Maxillary Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Monitoring, Intraoperative ; methods ; Sarcoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tumor Burden