Potential hepatic and renal toxicity induced by the biflavonoids from Ginkgo biloba / 中国天然药物

Evidence continues to grow on potential health risks associated with Ginkgo biloba and its constituents. While biflavonoid is a subclass of the flavonoid family in Ginkgo biloba with a plenty of pharmacological properties, the potential toxicological effects of biflavonoids remains largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo toxicological effects of the biflavonoids from Ginkgo biloba (i.e., amentoflavone, sciadopitysin, ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, and bilobetin). In the in vitro cytotoxicity test, the five biflavonoids all reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) and human normal hepatocytes (L-02), indicating they might have potential liver and kidney toxicity. In the in vivo experiments, after intragastrical administration of these biflavonoids at 20 mg·kg·d for 7 days, serum biochemical analysis and histopathological examinations were performed. The activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly increased after all the biflavonoid administrations and widespread hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes was observed in ginkgetin or bilobetin-treated mice. Moreover, the five biflavonoids all induced acute kidney injury in treated mice and the main pathological lesions were confirmed to the tubule, glomeruli, and interstitium injuries. As the in vitro and in vivo results suggested that these biflavonoids may be more toxic to the kidney than the liver, we further detected the mechanism of biflavonoids-induced nephrotoxicity. The increased TUNEL-positive cells were detected in kidney tissues of biflavonoids-treated mice, accompanied by elevated expression of proapoptotic protein BAX and unchanged levels of antiapoptotic protein BCL-2, indicating apoptosis was involved in biflavonoids-induced nephrotoxicity. Taken together, our results suggested that the five biflavonoids from Ginkgo biloba may have potential hepatic and renal toxicity and more attentions should be paid to ensure Ginkgo biloba preparations safety.

The clinical value of cartilaginous surface and corresponding osseous contour of patellofemoral joint / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>to investigate if the cartilaginous surface and corresponding osseous contour of the patellofemoral joint match in the axial plane for providing theoretical basis with evaluating alignment of patellofemoral joint and designing the part of patellofemoral joint in knee prosthesis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>from January 2009 to March 2010, 9 human cadaver knees were prepared, which chandra of patellofemoral joint didn't degenerate. Each specimen was sectioned in the axial plane at 20° to 30° knee flax. The cross-sections revealed characteristics in the bony anatomy and corresponding articular surface geometry of the patellofemoral joint in the axial plane. Evaluating parameters included osseous patella congruence angle (OPCA), chondral patella congruence angle (CPCA), patella chondral convex point parameter (PCCPP), patella subchondral osseous convex point parameter (PSOCPP), the parameters of the deepest (chondral or osseous) point of the intercondylar sulcus. After that, the osseous and cartilaginous contours and subchondral osseous contours of the patella in the axial plane were analyzed through MRI data of 11 patients who didn't degenerate in patellofemoral joint cartilage. Parameters as same as cadaver knees were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>data from specimens of OPCA was (-4.5 ± 1.1)°, CPCA was (0.5 ± 0.8)°, PCCPP was 1.13 ± 0.11, PSOCPP was 1.67 ± 0.14, PCDPIS was 1.35 ± 0.28, PODPIS was 1.38 ± 0.33. Date from MRI of OPCA was (-3.8 ± 1.4)°, CPCA was (0.7 ± 1.0)°, PCCPP was 1.05 ± 0.21, PSOCPP was 1.73 ± 0.18, PCDPIS was 1.41 ± 0.21, PODPIS was 1.37 ± 0.27. The patella exhibited significant differences in the bony vs. chondral anatomy (P < 0.05), but the intercondylar sulcus nearly match in the bony vs. chondral anatomy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>the cartilaginous surface and corresponding osseous contour of the patella don't match in the patellofemoral joint axial plane, but that of the trochlea nearly matches. This is very important for accurately evaluating alignment of patellofemoral joint because the normal osseous alignment of patellofemoral joint don't represent the normal alignment and helpful for designing the part of patellofemoral joint in knee prosthesis.</p>

The anatomical study of safe zones of the screw fixations in acetabular revision surgery / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the safe zones of screw fixations of Jumbo cup and reinforcement rings in acetabular revision surgery.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From December 2006 to January 2008, 11 fresh frozen human cadaver pelvises were prepared by removing all soft tissues except the medial neurovascular structures, each specimen was held in supine position with clamps. The anteroposterior radiographs were taken after the Jumbo cups or reinforcement rings were fixed in places. Left sides of acetabulum were used to create the models to evaluate the safe zones of the high hip center and Jumbo cups. Right sides were used to evaluate the safe zones of 3 different designs of acetabular reinforcement rings (Müller, Ganz, Burch-Schneider cage).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Jumbo cups: screws in the superoanterior and anteroinferior quadrants could cause neurovascular injuries. High hip center: neurovascular injuries could be expected in all quadrants except the inferoposterior and posterior half of superoposterior quadrant. Müller ring: screws placed in the intra-acetabular and extra-acetabular areas of the superoanterior quadrant could cause neurovascular injuries. Ganz ring:the screws placed in superoanterior quadrant and apex area were dangerous. The insults were confirmed in all of the specimens. Burch-Schneider cage: the medial nervous and vasculature structures were injured in all of the specimens if the screws placed in the superoanterior (intra-acetabular and extra-acetabular) quadrant. Screws for ischial fixation could cause sciatic nerve injury.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In revision acetabular surgery, the superoanterior quadrant, the anterior half of the superoposterior quadrant and the implant's central area are unsafe for screw fixation, especially when the exposed thread is longer than 15 mm.</p>

Development of a pathological information network and image analysis system / 中国医疗器械杂志

This paper introduces a pathological information network and image analysis system designed by ourselves. The system offers an efficient means for modern medical diagnosis and treatment, teaching, research and management in the department of pathology.

The WHO (1997) classification of 370 cases of malignant lymphomas / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To reclassify retrospectively 370 cases of malignant lymphomas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to the WHO new classification, the clinical features and pathology as well as immunophenotype of 370 lymphomas were analysed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the 370 lymphomas, there were 359 non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) (97.03%) and 11 Hodgkin's lymphomas (HL) (2.97%). Of the 359 NHL, 246 were B-cell lymphomas (68.52%), 108 T-cell lymphomas (30.08%), 1 each histiocytic lymphoma and follicular dendritic cell sarcoma, and 3 NK cell lymphomas. The extranodal lymphomas were 196 cases (54.6%) and the nodal lymphomas 163 cases (45.4%). The incidence of NHL categories were in proper order as follows: diffuse large B cell lymphoma (173 cases, 48.2%) > peripheral T cell lymphoma (54 cases, 15.0%) > mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (31 cases, 8.6%) > NK/T cell lymphoma (25 cases, 7.0%) > follicular lymphoma (21 cases, 5.8%) > anaplastic large cell lymphoma (12 cases, 3.3%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggested that the study of malignant lymphomas with WHO new classification have important clinical significance.</p>

Overexpression of c-erbB-2 and hypoexpression of nm23 relating to poor prognosis of colorectal carcinoma / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between expression of c-erbB-2, CD44v6 and nm23 gene proteins and the clinicopathological features of colorectal carcinomas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical technique was adopted to detect the protein expression of c-erbB-2, CD44v6 and nm23 genes in 92 cases of colorectal carcinomas. Of the 92 cases, 28 cases were followed up for more than 10 years, in which the prognosis was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Expression of c-erbB-2 and CD44v6 was correlating with UICC staging (P < 0.05), and c-erbB-2 was associated with prominent peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration (P < 0.05). In the 28 cases with followed-up data, univariant analysis revealed that the survival rate was correlated with histological grading, UICC staging, tumor growth pattern, peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration, and expression of c-erbB-2, CD44v6 and nm23. However, Cox stepwise proportional hazards analysis showed that only UICC staging, c-erbB-2 and nm23 status retained significant independently in prospecting prognosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Besides UICC III and IV stage, overexpression of c-erbB-2 and decreased expression of nm23 are considered acceptable as the parameters in predicting of poor prognosis in colorectal carcinoma.</p>