Primary hepatic paraganglioma mimicking hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report.

Background: Primary hepatic paraganglioma (HPGL) originates from sympathetic nervous tissue in the liver. It is one of an exceedingly rare kind of sympathetic paragangliomas. The radiological features and clinical characters of HPGL can be easily confused with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid inhibits TGF-β1-induced renal fibrosis markers in cultured renal mesangial cells by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a worldwide prevalence of higher than 10% with an increasing mortality rate. As it involves the deterioration of renal function, it represents a serious risk to human health and, if left untreated, significantly lowers the quality of the patient's life. CKD is characterized by renal fibrosis.

Effects of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene on end stage renal disease progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Aim: To investigate whether endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene associate with the progression of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

Methods: Databases of EMBASE, Pubmed, ISI, Ovid Database, Cochrane library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were all searched. Associated studies about eNOS polymorphisms and ADPKD were analyzed by meta-analysis.

Detection of Haemophilus parasuis isolates from South China by loop-mediated isothermal amplification and isolate characterisation.

Haemophilus parasuis is the etiological agent of Glässer's disease, which is characterised by fibrinous polyserositis, meningitis and polyarthritis, causing severe economic losses to the swine industry. In this study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test was developed to improve the specificity, facility and speed of diagnosis of H. parasuis isolates.

Scientific publications in nephrology and urology journals from Chinese authors in East Asia: a 10-year survey of the literature.

Background: Diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary tract are common health problems that affect people of all ages and demographic backgrounds. In this study, we compared the quantity and quality of nephrological and urological articles published in international journals from the three major regions of China: the mainland (ML), Hong Kong (HK), and Taiwan (TW).

Methods: Nephrological and urological articles originating from ML, TW, and HK that were published in 61 journals from 1999-2008 were retrieved from the PubMed database.

Meta-analysis of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F in the immunosuppressive treatment of IgA nephropathy.

Objective: Numerous Chinese patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) have benefited from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TwHF) from two decades ago. However, to date there is no systematic evaluation of this remedy for IgAN.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of all eligible randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to assess the effect of TwHF on IgAN for the first time.

Prevention of Biliary Duct Injury in Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Using Optical Fiber Illumination in Common Bile Duct.

Background: Biliary duct injury (BDI) is one of the most common complications in laparoscopic cholectecystomy (LC), in this study, we have tried to place an illuminating optical fiber via endoscopy in the CBD during LC, the biliary duct anatomy can be clearly delineated, thus CBD injury is avoided.

Methods: Sixteen patients with chronic cholecystitis or/and cholelithiasis from February 2007 to June 2008 were performed LC with placement of optical fiber in CBD, the fiber with cold light illuminates the whole extrahepatic biliary system. Three 6-mm titanium clips were applied to the soft tissue surrounding the hepatic duct, CBD and the cystic duct confluence with CBD, respectively; one titanium clip was applied to the surface of cystic duct near the infundibulum of gallbladder.

[Molecular analysis of an avian influenza virus isolate of H5N2 subtype from parrot].

In 2005, an avian influenza virus stain was isolated from Parrot in Guangdong, which was then genotyped as H5N2 subtype and designated as A/Parrot/Guangdong/268/2005. According to the current OIE definition on the low-pathogenicity of avian influenza virus, the strain was recognized as a low pathogenic avian influenza virus due to the presence of one basic amino acid residue at the HA cleavage site. Some molecular characteristics of the virus, such as potential glycosylation sites in HA and NA, receptor binding sites of HA, and drug resistance site of NA, showed no variations.

Effect of location of the His-tag on the production of soluble and functional Buthus martensii Karsch insect toxin.

The low yield and poor folding efficiency in vivo of soluble and active recombinant cysteine-rich proteins expressed in Escherichia coli are a major challenge for large-scale protein production and purification. Expression vectors containing Buthus martensii Karsch insect toxin (BmK IT) fused to the C terminus of the intein Ssp DnaB were constructed in an attempt to overcome this problem. Following purification and intein self-cleavage, the fusion protein His(6)-intein-IT produced insoluble BmK IT, while intein-IT-His(6) generated soluble and properly folded BmK IT.

[Soluble expression, purification and characterization of Bm K IT in Escherichia coli by intein-mediated system].

To produce recombinant Buthus martensii Karsch insect toxin (BmK IT), BmK IT cDNA which fused a hexahistidine sequence at the C-terminus by PCR was inserted into pTWIN1 expression vector fused in frame with an upstream Ssp DnaB intein gene. The expression plasmid was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) strain and protein expression was induced by IPTG.

Potential biochemical therapy of glioma cancer.

Glioma is a highly invasive, rapidly spreading form of brain cancer that is resistant to surgical and medical treatment. The recent progresses made in intracellular and ion channels of glioma cells provide a potential new approach for biochemical therapy of brain tumor. In this paper, we reviewed clinical data on chemotherapy by temozolomide and results from new studies on voltage-gated potassium channels, large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels, volume-activated chloride channels, glioma-specific chloride channel and their modulators.

[Expression of PKD1 and PKD2 transcripts and proteins and its significance in different types of kidney tissues and kidney lines].

Objective: To investigate the expression and function of PKD1 and PKD2 in different kidney tissues and cell lines.

Methods: Immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, In situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining methods were used to observe the expression of PKD1 mRNA and PKD2 mRNA and their protein abundance in different kidney tissues and cell lines.

Results: Coordinate expressions of PKD1 and PKD2 were found in all kidney tissues and cell lines.

Expression of an insect excitatory toxin, BmK IT, from the scorpion, Buthus martensii Karsch, and its biological activity.

An insect excitatory toxin from Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK IT) was cloned into the expression vector, pTWIN1, and expressed into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) host cells. The soluble fusion expression of CBD-intein-BmK IT was obtained. The recombinant BmK IT was purified by two anion-exchange chromatography columns and one gel chromatography column.

A new method of preventing bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Aim: Of all the complications of laparoscopic cholectecystomy, bile duct injury (BDI) is the most serious complication. The prevention of injury to the common bile duct (CBD) remains a significant concern in laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Different kinds of methods have been advanced to avoid this injury but no single method has gained wide acceptance.