ABSTRACT
AIM: To compare the changes of optic disc parameters, peripapillary retinal nerve fibers layer(pRNFL)thickness and macular ganglion cell layer(mGCL)thickness among patients with early diabetes retinopathy and healthy controls by Cirrus HD-optical coherence tomography(OCT).METHODS: In this cross-sectional comparative study, 45 non-diabetic retinopathy(NDR), 52 mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR), 55 moderate NPDR with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and 64 age-matched healthy controls were included. The fasting blood glucose(FBG), duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)and past history of the patients were collected in detail. Optic disc parameters(i.e., binocular RNFL thickness symmetry percentage, rim area, optic disc area, cup-to-disc ratio, cup volume), pRNFL thickness and mGCL thickness were measured by Cirrus HD-OCT. The comparison of different groups was performed by one-way analysis of variance.RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the binocular RNFL thickness symmetry percentage and rim area were significantly decreased, while the average C/D and vertical C/D were significantly increased in the NDR group, mild NPDR group and moderate NPDR group(all P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the peripapillary RNFL thicknesses(superior, temporal, inferior, nasal)and macular GCL thickness(average, minimum, superior, supero-temporal, infero-temporal, inferior, supero-nasal, and infero-nasal)became thinner in the NDR group, mild NPDR group, and moderate NPDR group(all P<0.05).CONCLUSION: Patients with early DR have significantly decreased binocular RNFL thickness asymmetry, rim area, pRNFL and mGCL thickness, while they have significantly increased cup-to-disc ratio when compared to healthy controls. The results support the statement that DM causes inner retinal neurodegenerative changes even in T2DM patients without overt microangiopathy.
ABSTRACT
Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy(TAO)is an autoimmune inflammatory disease involving multiple orbital tissues with a variety of clinical manifestations, which has serious effects on the life quality of patients.Interventions of TAO mainly include medical treatment to stabilize thyroid function, reduce inflammation and regulate immune function, as well as surgical treatment to relieve ocular symptoms. Botulinum toxin type A can paralyze muscles by blocking nerve impulse conduction at the neuromuscular junction, which is of certain therapeutic value for restrictive strabismus due to extraocular muscle involvement and upper eyelid retraction due to involvements of levator palpebrae superioris and Müller's muscle in TAO patients, especially when they have surgical contraindications, lack surgical opportunity, or refuse surgery. This paper reviews the application of botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of TAO, focusing on its pharmacological mechanism, dosage, effectiveness, and possible complications when treating restrictive strabismus and upper eyelid retraction, and discussing potential therapeutic values of botulinum toxin type A for intraocular pressure elevation, glabellar frown lines and dry eye caused by extraocular muscle compression in TAO patients, in order to provide a reference for clinical intervention.
ABSTRACT
Alkaloids, widespread in plants, have a series of pharmacological activities and have been widely used to treat various diseases. Because alkaloids are usually presented in multicomponent mixtures and are deeply low in content, they are very difficult to extract and separate by traditional methods. High-speed counter current chromatography(HSCCC) is a kind of liquid-liquid chromatography without solid support phase, which has the advantages of large injection volume, low cost, and no irreversible adsorption. Compared with the traditional methods of extraction and separation of alkaloids, HSCCC can ensure the separation of many different alkaloids at one time, with a high recovery and large amount. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of HSCCC compared with traditional separation methods were discussed and the solvent system and elution mode of HSCCC used to separate alkaloids in recent years were summarized by referring to the relevant literature to provide some references for the separation of alkaloids by HSCCC.
Subject(s)
Biological Products , Countercurrent Distribution/methods , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Alkaloids/analysis , Solvents/chemistryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical efficacy of low-dose decitabine combined with CAG regimen in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome-refractory anemia with excess blasts (MDS-RAEB) through retrospective analysis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six patients with MDS-RAEB who ever received low-dose decitabine combined with CAG regimen were enrolled into decitabine + CAG group and 40 patients with MDS-RAEB treated by decitabine alone in our center were enolled into the control group. The clinical characteristics, efficacy and adverse reactions (AE) were compared between the 2 groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the overall response rate (ORR) [complete remission (CR)+partial remission (PR) + hematologic improvement (HI) rate] of the decitabine+CAG group was higher (83.3% vs 62.5%)(P=0.043), and the AEs were not significantly increased. Cytopenia grade ≥3 and infection after treatment were the most prevalent AEs, which occurred in the early stage (within the first 2 cycles) and gradually decreased later. Other non-hematologic AEs were infrequent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Low-dose decitabine combined with CAG regimen has better clinical efficacy for patients with MDS-RAEB than that of decitabine alone. It is worthy to be applied in clinic, especially for these patients who are not ineligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.</p>
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the value ofspatio-temporal image correlation (STIC) technique in diagnosis of fetal ductus arteriosus aneurysm (DAA).Methods A total of 67 pregnant women,diagnosed with fetal ductus arteriosus aneurysm,were selected from the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University,between September 2014 and September 2016.2DE and STIC techniques were used to observe the form of fetal ductus arteriosus aneurysm.STIC technique was used to measure the maximum diameter,minimum diameter,systolic peak velocity,and diastolic velocity of ductus arteriosus aneurysm in 40 cases caused by ductus arteriosus stenosis.Pearson linear correlation analysis was applied to analyze the correlation between the maximum diameter and the minimum diameter,systolic peak velocity and diastolic velocity.The maximum diameters of 67 ductus arteriosus aneurysm were measured by 2DE and STIC techniques,and the above measurements were repeated one week later.ICC was used to analyze the consistency between 2DE and STIC technique,and internal consistency of 2DE and STIC technique,respectively.Results Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that the maximum diameter of the DAA was negatively correlated with the minimum diameter (r=-0.755,P ＜ 0.001) significantly,and positively correlated with the systolic peak velocity (r=0.779,P ＜ 0.001) significantly.The internal consistency of STIC technique was the best of the three,followed by the consistency between 2DE and STIC techniques,with the 2DE,illustrating the lowest consistency.Conclusions STIC technique provides with more comprehensive and accurate volume data than 2DE in the diagnosis of fetal ductus arteriosus aneurysm.Thus,this technique is conducive to the early detection of ductus arterious stenosis,observation of hemodynamic changes,closely monitoring of relevant indicators to guide clinical timely intervention,and to improve the quality of life of children.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects from loads with different angles on morphological and biomechanical properties of trabecular bones in femoral head, so as to provide theoretical basis for studying biomechanical mechanism of necrosis and collapse of femoral head. Methods Ninety-four specimens of 12-month-old ovine trabecular bones in femoral head and forty-three specimens of human cadaver trabecular bones in femoral head were prepared. According to different angles between loading direction and principle compression direction, all the trabecular bones were divided into five groups by 10° interval (i.e. varus 10° and 0°, valgus 10°, 20° and 30°) to simulate the reduction condition under different Garden index after internal fixation of femoral neck fractures. Micro-CT scanning and calculation, compression failure test on ovine trabecular bones in femoral head and cyclic compression test on human cadaver trabecular bones in femoral head were performed to investigate morphological and mechanical indices, including BV/TV (bone volume vs. total volume), BS/BV (bone surface vs. bone volume), Tb.Th (thickness of trabecular bone), Tb.N (number of trabecular bone), Tb.Sp (trabecular separation), elastic modulus, ultimate strength, yield strength, initial secant modulus and number of cycles. Results When the angle between loading direction and principle compression direction of trabecular bones was 0°, BV/TV, Tb.Th, elastic modulus, ultimate strength, yield strength, initial secant modulus and number of cycles for trabecular bones were the maximum while BS/BV and Tb.N were the minimum, and all the formers presented decreasing tendency while BS/BV and Tb.N showed increasing tendency along with the angle increasing. ConclusionsAlong with the angle changes, the tendency of BV/TV and ultimate strength for 12-month-old ovine trabecular bones in femoral head displayed as the same as human trabecular bones in femoral head. Both the morphological and biomechanical properties of trabecular bones in femoral head will decrease when the angle between loading direction and principle compression direction of trabecular bones increases. The more the Garden index deviating from 160°, the more likely trabecular bones in femoral head to be damaged.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the selective dilatation effects of iptakalim (Ipt), a novel ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, on pulmonary arterioles in hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive rat.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SD male rats were divided into 3 groups, control group, the rest were fed in hypoxic and normobaric environment (O2 10% +/- 0.5%, 8 h/d and 6 d/week) and divided into hypoxia group and hypoxia plus acetazolamide (Acz) group (hypoxic rats were treated with ig acetazolamide (Acz) 80 mg x kg(-1) d(-1)) . After 12 weeks, pulmonary arteriole rings about (197 +/- 4) microm were isolated and the tension of hypoxic pulmonary arterioles pre-contracted by 6 nmol/L endothelin-1 (FT-1) was observed with wire myograph system model (DMT 610 m). The relaxing response of hypoxic pulmonary arterioles induced by different concentration of Ipt were detected and endothelial activity was also tested by acetylcholine.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>10(-5) mol/L acetylcholine (ACh)-mediated vasodilatation was greatly reduced in the hypoxic group than those in control group (P < 0.01) and there was no significant difference between Acz treatment group and control group (P > 0.05). Ipt at the concentration ranging from 10(-11) mol/L to 10(-4) mol/L, caused dose dependent vasodilation on both hypoxic pulmonary arterioles and Acz treatment group (P > 0.05), but not on normal group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The endothelial function of pulmonary arterioles was damaged under hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive state, and Ipt showed selective dilatation effects on hypoxic pulmonary arterioles. Acz could improve the dysfunction of endothelial cells induced by hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive state, which didn't affect the selective dilatation effects of Ipt on hypoxic pulmonary arterioles.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Acetazolamide , Arterioles , Hypertension, Pulmonary , Hypoxia , Propylamines , Pharmacology , Pulmonary Artery , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Vasodilator Agents , PharmacologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the application of traditional cytomorphology, telomerase activity analysis and immunocytochemistry in cytopathologic diagnosis of pleural effusion and bronchoalveolar lavage samples.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 123 agar-paraffin double-embedded pleural effusion and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples were enrolled into study. The cytomorphologic features were reviewed and correlated with immunocytochemical findings and telomerase activity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Telomerase activity was detected in 53 specimens using the real-time telomeric repeat amplification protocol. Amongst the cases studied, 39 samples (31.7%) contained overtly malignant cells while 20 cases (16.0%) were equivocal by conventional cytology. After verification by immunocytochemistry and clinical follow-up data, the diagnostic accuracy of telomerase activity and cytology was 87.0% and 82.1%, respectively. The sensitivity (97.6%) and specificity (100.0%) of cytology examination, when combined with telomerase activity analysis, were greater than those of cytology examination or telomerase activity analysis alone.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Telomerase activity analysis can be used as an adjunctive investigative tool in cytology assessment of pleural effusion and bronchoalveolar lavage samples. The diagnostic accuracy can be further improved with the application of immunocytochemistry on agar-paraffin double-embedded cell block tissues.</p>
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Breast Neoplasms , Diagnosis , Pathology , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid , Chemistry , Follow-Up Studies , Immunohistochemistry , Lung Neoplasms , Diagnosis , Pathology , Pleural Effusion , Diagnosis , Pathology , Pleural Effusion, Malignant , Diagnosis , Pathology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Telomerase , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of formaldehyde inhalation on the morphological damage, and Glu, GABA and NOS contents in olfactory bulb and hippocampus of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty SD rats were equally divided into two groups: rats in the control group inhaled fresh air, while the animals in experimental group were exposed to the air containing formaldehyde (12.5 mg/m(3), 4 h/d) for 7 days. Then rats were sacrificed and frozen sections of olfactory bulb and hippocampus were prepared. The morphological changes were examined and the Glu, GABA and NOS contents were detected using Nissl-staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the control group, there was a significant confusion and shrink of neuron morphology in experimental group, the number and staining intensity of Glu and NOS positive cells and protein contents were reduced. The protein expression of GABA was also decreased in the formaldehyde group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Formaldehyde inhalation can cause a severe morphological damage of olfactory bulb and hippocampus in SD rats,which may further impair memory and learning ability through the reduction of Glu, GABA and NOS expression.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Formaldehyde , Toxicity , Glutamic Acid , Metabolism , Hippocampus , Metabolism , Pathology , Inhalation Exposure , Learning , Neurons , Metabolism , Pathology , Nitric Oxide Synthase , Metabolism , Olfactory Bulb , Metabolism , Pathology , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , gamma-Aminobutyric Acid , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Estrogen is involved in suppression of colon cancer development and exerts its function via estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERalpha, ERbeta). The recently identified ERalpha46 resulted from exon 1-deletion from the 66-kDa full length form of ERalpha66 is devoid of the transactivation domain AF-1, whose function remains largely unknown.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this study, we compared the expression of ERalpha46 mRNA in 32 normal colorectal tissues and their matched colorectal cancer tissues by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Human colon adenocarcinoma cell HT-29, that has low endogenous expression of ERalpha46, was transfected with ERalpha46-expression vector; methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation and TUNEL staining were used to evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis status of the cells in the presence of 17beta-oestradiol.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Higher ERalpha46 mRNA levels were observed in normal colorectal tissues than in the corresponding cancer tissues. ERalpha46-transfected cells showed a significantly decreased growth rate than control cells and an accumulation of cells in the G(0/1) phase and a reduced proportion of cells in G(2)/M phase after exposed to 10(-8) mol/L 17beta-oestradiol. There were also more positive TUNEL stained cells in ERalpha46-transfected cells than the control cells in the presence of 17beta-oestradiol (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>These data suggest that ERalpha46 may be involved in the development and/or progression of colorectal cancer via mediating growth inhibition and apoptosis of cancer cells in the presence of 17beta-oestradiol.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Apoptosis , Colorectal Neoplasms , Genetics , Pathology , Estradiol , Pharmacology , Estrogen Receptor alpha , Genetics , G1 Phase , HT29 Cells , MutationABSTRACT
Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women today. Some of the patients are hereditary, with a large proportion characterized by mutation in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2 genes. In this review, we provide an overview of these two genes, focusing on their relationship with hereditary breast cancers. BRCA1/2 associated hereditary breast cancers have unique features that differ from the general breast cancers, including alterations in cellular molecules, pathological bases, biological behavior, and a different prevention strategy. But the outcome of BRCA1/2 associated hereditary breast cancers still remains controversial; further studies are needed to elucidate the nature of BRCA1/2 associated hereditary breast cancers.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins , BRCA1 Protein , Genetics , Physiology , BRCA2 Protein , Genetics , Physiology , Breast Neoplasms , Genetics , Metabolism , Disease Progression , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic , Genetic Diseases, Inborn , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Mutation , PrognosisABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes of plasma cytokines in patients with severe hepatitis treated with a probiotic preparation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred twelve patients with severe hepatitis treated with a basic regimen were randomly divided into a probiotic preparation treatment group and a control group. Their plasma cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-2, interleukin-6, interleukin-10, were determined by conventional techniques.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinical symptoms of 84.5% of the treatment group were obviously improved. The treatment effectiveness in this group was better than that in the control group (X2=8.888). It showed that liver functions were significantly improved compared to those of the control group . After the probiotic preparation therapy, there were significant decreases in the concentrations of TNFa and IL-6. TNFa and IL-6 in the treatment group and in the control group were (109.4+/-14.7) pg/ml vs (128.7+/-18.8) pg/ml and (84.3+/-20.1) pg/ml vs (109.1+/-18.7) pg/ml respectively. However, the concentrations of IL-10 and IL-2 in the treatment group increased obviously: IL-2 was (59.8+/-12.2) pg/ml vs (47.1+/-6.7) pg/ml and IL-10 was (30.6+/-6.6) pg/ml vs (22.5+/-6.1) pg/ml.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The probiotic preparation treatment effectively reduces the TNFa and IL-6 and increases the concentrations of IL-10 and IL-2 in the blood of the patients with severe hepatitis.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Cytokines , Blood , Hepatitis , Blood , Therapeutics , Interleukin-10 , Blood , Interleukin-2 , Blood , Interleukin-6 , Blood , Probiotics , Therapeutic Uses , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , BloodABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 and 21 in non-small cell lung carcinoma and to explore their clinicopathological correlations.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>DNA was extracted from the excised tumor specimens of 66 non-small cell lung carcinoma patients by traditional phenol-chloroform and ethanol precipitation. Exons 19 and 21 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by direct sequencing in both sense and antisense directions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>EGFR somatic mutations were present in 11 of 66 patients (16.7%), including 7 cases of in-frame deletion involving exon 19 and 4 cases of amino acid substitution involving exon 21. Mutations were more frequently observed in women (9/34, 26.5%) than in men (2/32, 6.3%), in adenocarcinomas (10/43, 23.3%) than squamous (0/13) and adenosquamous carcinomas (1/10). There was no difference in the mutation rates between smokers and non-smokers. Those with adenocarcinoma with bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma (BAC) components had higher frequency of EGFR mutation (6/11) than those without non-BAC element (4/32, 12.5%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The mutations appear to occur in highly selected subgroups of lung cancer patients: adenocarcinomas with BAC components and patients of the female gender. The results may offer practical approach to the rapid identification of lung cancer patients who likely respond to EGFR inhibitor therapy.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Adenocarcinoma , Genetics , Pathology , Amino Acid Substitution , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung , Genetics , Pathology , DNA Mutational Analysis , DNA, Neoplasm , Genetics , Exons , Gene Deletion , Lung Neoplasms , Genetics , Pathology , Mutation , ErbB Receptors , Genetics , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate P2Y purinergic receptor activated PI-3K/Akt signaling pathway in the regulation of growth and invasion of prostate cancer in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Western blot was used to detect phosphorylation of Akt (a downstream target molecule of PI-3K) by P2Y receptor agonist in 1E8 cells (a highly metastatic subclone derived from PC-3 prostatic cancer cell line). Cell counts, flow cytometry, Matrigel invasion assay, wound healing assay and gelatin zymography were used to detect changes of biological behaviors of 1E8 cells after P2Y receptor activation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>AMP-PNP, one non-hydrolysis ATP analogue and P2Y receptor agonist, induced significant phosphorylation of Akt in a time- and dose-dependent manner in IE8 cells. LY294002, a specific inhibitor of PI-3K, effectively blocked Akt phosphorylation induced by AMP-PNP. Continuous exposure to AMP-PNP induced significant growth inhibition of 1E8 cells (inhibition rate at 50.2% at the 8th day), and this inhibition was mainly due to an arrest at S phase of the cell cycle (the S phase fraction of AMP-PNP treated cells was 22.3% higher than that of the control). Application of LY294002 did not reverse the growth inhibition effect of AMP-PNP. Matrigel invasion assay showed that AMP-PNP stimulation increased invasive ability of 1E8 cells, and this effect was effectively blocked by LY294002. No significant changes in the activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were detected by gelatin zymography, although wound healing assay showed 21.2% increase in cell migration after AMP-PNP treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PI-3K/Akt signaling pathway participates in P2Y receptor-stimulated prostate cancer invasion by enhancing cell motility, rather than up-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities. PI-3K signaling pathway plays an important role in prostate cancer proliferation, but is not involved in P2Y receptor mediated growth inhibition.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Mice , Adenylyl Imidodiphosphate , Pharmacology , Apoptosis , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , Chromones , Pharmacology , Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 , Metabolism , Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 , Metabolism , Mice, Nude , Morpholines , Pharmacology , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases , Metabolism , Phosphorylation , Prostatic Neoplasms , Metabolism , Pathology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt , Metabolism , Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists , S Phase , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the status of c-kit and PDGFRA mutations of GIST in a the large sample of Chinese patients.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>One hundred and sixty-five cases were evaluated for the presence of c-kit and PDGFRA mutations. Exon 9, 11, 13, 17 of c-kit and exon 12, 18 of PDGFRA were analyzed by PCR amplification and direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemical demonstrations of KIT (CD117) were seen in 94% of the cases (155/165). Overall, c-kit mutations were identified in 76.1% (118/155) of CD117 positive cases: 67.1% (104/155) involving exon 11, 7.1% (11/155) involving exon 9, 1.3% (2/155) involving exon 13 and 0.6% (1/155) involving exon 17. The c-kit exon 11 mutations were mostly heterogeneous and clustered in the classic "hot spot" at the 5' end of the exon, including in-frame deletion and point mutation. The second "hot spots" were internal tandem duplications (ITD) at the 3' end of the exon, which were associated with female patient, older age, stomach location and low mitotic counts. The exon 9 mutations correlated with a distinct subset of GISTs involving the small bowel of young male patients. A new point mutation of L641P was identified in exon 13. PDGFRA mutations were present in 50% (5/10) of CD117-negative GISTs, all involving exon 18 with the majority of mutations being D842V. One novel in-frame deletion of IMHD mutation at codon 843 - 846 with S847T was identified. GISTs with PDGFRA mutations were often larger tumors arising from the omentum/mesentery of young male patients with high risk of aggressive behavior.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The vast majority of GISTs in this study harbored c-kit and PDGFRA mutations, there were non-random relations between the gene mutation patterns and the locations of GISTs. It appears that Chinese GIST patients have some unique mutation patterns. It is necessary to evaluate the gene mutations status of GISTs to guide target therapy.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Amino Acid Sequence , Base Sequence , DNA Mutational Analysis , DNA, Neoplasm , Chemistry , Genetics , Exons , Genetics , Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors , Genetics , Metabolism , Pathology , Immunohistochemistry , Molecular Sequence Data , Mutation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit , Genetics , Metabolism , Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha , Genetics , Metabolism , Sequence Homology, Amino AcidABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the frequency, type and distribution of PTCH mutations in odontogenic keratocysts (OKC) and to analyze the molecular pathological relationship between sporadic OKC and OKC associated with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA was extracted from 8 cases of OKC lesions (4 sporadic OKCs and 4 NBCCS-related OKCs). PTCH gene mutations were detected by PCR-direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Six novel PTCH mutations were identified in 6 out of 8 cases (2 sporadic and 4 NBCCS-related OKCs). Two of these were missense mutations leading to substitution of an amino acid residue respectively. The other 4 mutations were identified as insertion or deletion ranging from one single base to 7 bases, three of which caused frame-shift leading to premature truncation of PTCH protein and one resulted in an insertion of 2 amino acid residues. All these identified mutations were novel and have not been previously described.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>PTCH gene mutation is a common event in NBCCS-related OKCs and could also be detected in some sporadic OKCs. Abnormalities of PTCH gene may be involved in the pathogenesis of OKC.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome , Genetics , DNA Mutational Analysis , Mutation , Odontogenic Cysts , Genetics , Patched Receptors , Patched-1 Receptor , Receptors, Cell Surface , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the role of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Archival material of 22 patients with a histologic diagnosis of sarcoidosis were retrieved. Real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect DNA fragments of the complex-specific insertion sequence IS6110 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded biopsy samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 22 samples studied, Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA was detected in 11 cases. The sequence of PCR amplified IS6110 DNA fragments completely matched with the related sequence in Mycobacterium tuberculosis gene.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA is identified in a certain proportion of patients with a clinicopathologic diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis may be an important etiologic agent, at least in some of these patients.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , DNA, Bacterial , Fluorescence , Follow-Up Studies , Lymph Nodes , Microbiology , Pathology , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Genetics , Paraffin Embedding , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Methods , Sarcoidosis , Microbiology , PathologyABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To search for flavonoids which possess stronger vasorelaxation action.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four quercetin glycosides (1a - d) were synthesized from quercetin in three steps i. e. selective protection of quercetin, condensation with corresponding acetyiglycosyl bromide, and then removal of the protecting group; Six flavone compounds (2a - f) were prepared from phloroglucinol according to the conventional methods; The structures of synthetic compounds were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and MS. Vasorelaxation action of ten synthetic quercetin derivatives (or analogues) and four natural flavonoids compounds were examined on the isolated rat thoracic aorta rings; Comparative octanol-water partition coefficients (logP) were measured using a reversed-phase HPLC method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Most of the tested flavonoids showed concentration dependent relaxation effects against PE-induced contractions of rat aortic rings. These compounds had stronger action with the augment of logP values.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compound 3-bromo-5 ,7-dihydroxyflavone (2d) was identified to have the most potent vasodilating action. These compounds exert vasodilating effects that are related to the logP values. A structure-activity relationship of flavonoids was suggested.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Aorta, Thoracic , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Flavonoids , Chemistry , Pharmacology , Molecular Conformation , Molecular Structure , Quercetin , Pharmacology , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Structure-Activity Relationship , Vasodilation , Vasodilator Agents , PharmacologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to rationally allocate resources and to improve the quality of life of people with dementia, it is necessary to assess their current health services status.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A population-based door-to-door caregiver survey was conducted in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Chengdu in 1998. Totally 1 141 individuals with dementia were found among 34 807 residents aged 55 years and over on the basis of national prevalence study of dementia. Then 428 families with demented patients were randomly selected for questionare interview. Interviews were completed in 405 but refused by 23 families. Measurements included demographic characteristics of patients and their caregivers, perspective of the victim of the disease, current awareness of the disease and medical and welfare services provided.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 405 cases of dementia (including 298 cases of AD and 81 cases of VaD), mean MMSE scores were 16.3 +/- 5.3 for 157 mild cases, 12.7 +/- 5.4 for 135 moderate cases, and 6.2 +/- 5.8 for 110 severe cases. Most patients (96%) were cared for at home by family members. Among caregivers, 189 (48.8%) considered the impairment of cognition, behavior and daily living activity in demented persons as a result of normal aging. Half of the caregivers spend over 8 hours each day looking after the patient. Whether the caregivers brought their relatives with dementia to a doctor was determined by disease severity, i.e. 8.3% for mild, 13.5% for moderate, and 19.4% for severe in 1996 to approximately 1997 and 14.4%, 25.6% and 33.6%, respectively in 1998-1999. Of those, only 26.9% reported receiving a dementia diagnosis, and only 21.3% received a recommedation to take medication. However, there was no established standard treatment and only 2% patient's used Ache-I.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>General education is needed to increase the public awareness of dementia. For patients with dementia, early diagnosis, early treatment and optimal care are important to improve their quality of life.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Activities of Daily Living , Caregivers , Psychology , China , Cost of Illness , Dementia , Diagnosis , Drug Therapy , Nursing , Health Services for the Aged , Home Nursing , Interviews as Topic , Sampling Studies , Severity of Illness Index , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a newly real-time RT-polymerase chain reaction assay for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) related coronavirus in human whole blood.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A pair of primers and a probe (molecular beacon) had been designed that were specific for the recognition of a highly conservative region between 15 301 and 15 480 of the SARS-related coronavirus polymerase gene sequences obtained from GenBank (G130027616).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the real-time RT-PCR assay, the extent of SARS related coronavirus amplification was measured in terms of the increase in fluorescence during the amplification process. The 145 bp fragment of PCR product was further confirmed by conventional PCR assay and proved by DNA sequencing to be identical to the target sequence to which the probe was hybridized.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This assay has a broad application for clinical diagnosis and surveillance investigation.</p>