[Construction and expression of eukaryotic coexpression plasmid containing human MUC1 gene and GM-CSF gene].

Aim: To construct an eukaryotic coexpression plasmid containing the coding region of human MUC1 tandem repeats gene and GM-CSF gene and to identify its expression in COS-7 cell.

Methods: MUC1 tandem repeats gene was obtained by synthesizing the segments. After identified by restriction endonuclease digestion analysis and DNA sequencing, MUC1 tandem repeats gene and GM-CSF gene were cloned into eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.

Changes in the use of postnatal steroids for bronchopulmonary dysplasia in 3 large neonatal networks.

Background: Postnatal corticosteroids were widely used in the 1990s in an attempt to reduce the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, high rates of short-term adverse effects and impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes were seen. In early 2002, a joint statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics and Canadian Paediatric Society called for limitation in the use of postnatal corticosteroids.

Treatment of hepatoma with liposome-encapsulated adriamycin administered into hepatic artery of rats.

Aim: To observe the therapeutic effects of liposome-encapsulated adriamycin (LADM) on hepatoma in comparison with adriamycin solution (FADM) and adriamycin plus blank liposome (ADM + BL) administered into the hepatic artery of rats.

Methods: LADM was prepared by pH gradient-driven method. Normal saline, FADM (2 mg/kg), ADM+BL (2 mg/kg), and LADM (2 mg/kg) were injected via the hepatic artery in rats bearing liver W256 carcinosarcoma, which were divided into four groups randomly.

[Capacity evaluation of different media for isolating bacteria populations from the rhizosphere of tomato plants with DGGE].

Bacteria from the rhizosphere of tomato plants were cultured on nutrient broth, YG, soil extract and root exudate media. The capabilities of these 4 media for recovering the bacterium communities were evaluated with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) technique. Results showed that there were certain differences in the obtained bacterial communities when different media and culture tempitures were applied.

[Promotor hypermethylation of E-cadherin, p16 and estrogen receptor in prostate carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate promotor hypermethylation of the CpG islands of E-Cadherin, p16 and estrogen receptor (ER) in prostate carcinoma and explore whether such methylation might play a role in the tumorigenesis and malignant progression of prostate carcinoma and their significance in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

Methods: Thirteen specimens of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), 10 specimens of high grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and 20 specimens of prostate carcinoma (with follow-up records) were collected from the patients who underwent radical prostatectomy or transurethral resection. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect the promoter hypermethylation of E-Cadherin, p16 and ER genes.

[Preparation, characterization and three way catalytic performance for Pd/CZ/Al2O3 catalyst].

Pd/CZ/Al2O3 catalyst was prepared by impregnating a noble metal solution to the support CZ/Al2O3 which was prefabricated by co-impregnation. The investigation results show that Pd/CZ/Al2O3 has a superior three-way catalytic performance, which is comparable to Pd/CZ for the fresh sample and a better one after thermal ageing. Based on the XRD, BET and TPR characterizations, the internal relationship between catalytic performance, composition and structure was discussed.

[Treatment of rabbits bearing advanced VX2 tumors in the mammary gland with nano-sized liposomal adriamycin administered by various routes].

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effect of nano-sized liposomal adriamycin (NLADR) administered by various routes on rabbits bearing advanced breast tumors.

Methods: NLADR with a mean diameter of 120 nm was prepared by pH gradient-driven drug encapsulation method. VX(2) tumor mass suspension was injected into the breast tissues of 50 female New Zealand White rabbits.

Oxygen delivery through nasal cannulae to preterm infants: can practice be improved?

Objective: Oxygen delivery through nasal cannulae to convalescent preterm infants is a common but largely unstudied practice. To learn more about current nasal cannula oxygen delivery practices, we examined the variations in oxygen delivery through nasal cannulae among the centers of the Neonatal Research Network, the frequency of prescription of low levels of oxygen, and the success of weaning to room air. We hypothesized that some infants treated with oxygen through nasal cannulae were receiving oxygen levels equivalent to those of room air.

Lymphatic chemotherapy induces apoptosis in lymph node metastases in a rabbit breast carcinoma model.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the potential of lymphatic chemotherapy in inducing apoptosis in axillary lymph node metastases in a rabbit breast cancer model. A total of 30 female New Zealand rabbits with mammary implantation of VX2 carcinomas were divided into three groups randomly, with ten in each. Treatment was carried out once axillary lymph node reached 5 mm in the maximum diameter.

[Drug concentration in axillary lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer after lymphatic chemotherapy].

Background & Objective: Lymph node status is one of the decisive prognostic factors of breast cancer. Chemotherapy targeting regional lymphatic tissues has emerged as a promising therapy for malignancies with high tendency to disseminate lymphatically. This study was to detect drug concentration in axillary lymph nodes of patients with breast cancer after lymphatic chemotherapy (LC), and to investigate effect of LC on accumulation of antitumor drugs in regional lymph nodes through comparing with the effect of intravenous chemotherapy (VC).

Caveolin-1 interacts directly with dynamin-2.

Caveolin is the principal component of caveolae in vivo. In addition to a structural role, it is believed to play a scaffolding function to organize and inactivate signaling molecules that are concentrated on the cytoplasmic surface of caveolar membranes. The large GTPase dynamin has been shown to mediate the scission of caveolae from the plasma membrane, although it is unclear if dynamin interacts directly with caveolin or via accessory proteins.

Body distribution of nanoparticle-containing adriamycin injected into the hepatic artery of hepatoma-bearing rats.

The aim of the study was to investigate the body distribution of nanoparticle-containing adriamycin (NADR) injected into the hepatic artery of hepatoma-bearing rats. Thirty Walker-256 hepatoma-bearing rats were divided into two groups at random, with 15 rats in each. NADR and free adriamycin (FADR) were injected into the hepatic artery of animals on the seventh day after tumor implantation.

Enhanced antitumor efficacy on hepatoma-bearing rats with adriamycin-loaded nanoparticles administered into hepatic artery.

Aim: To investigate the antitumor activity of adriamycin (ADR) encapsulated in nanoparticles (NADR) and injected into the hepatic artery of hepatoma-bearing rats.

Methods: NADR was prepared by the interfacial polymerization method. Walker-256 carcinosarcomas were surgically implanted into the left liver lobes of 60 male Wistar rats, which were divided into 4 groups at random (15 rats per group).

Drug concentrations in axillary lymph nodes after lymphatic chemotherapy on patients with breast cancer.

Background: Lymph node status is one of the decisive prognostic factors in breast cancer. Chemotherapy targeting regional lymphatic tissues has emerged as a promising therapy for the treatment of malignancies with a high tendency to disseminate lymphatically. The present study determined the drug concentrations in axillary lymph nodes after lymphatic chemotherapy (LC) in patients with breast cancer and compared the results with those receiving intravenous chemotherapy (VC) to investigate whether LC could improve the accumulation of anticancer drug in regional lymph nodes.

[Expression and activation of MAPK pathway signaling molecules in human breast cancer cell lines].

Aim: To detect the expression and status of extracellular regulatory kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and its upstream kinase MEK1/2 proteins in four breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, Bcap-37, SK-BR-3 and T47D and study the effects of cyclophosphamide and epirubicin on the growth of the cell lines and on the expression and status of the signaling molecules.

Methods: Western blot was used to examine the expression and status of MEK1/2 and ERK1/2 proteins in these cells and the effects of these two drugs on them. The effects of the two drugs on the proliferation of these breast cancer cell lines were detected by MTT colorimetry.

Hoxa9 influences the phenotype but not the incidence of Mll-AF9 fusion gene leukemia.

Identification of the targets of mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) fusion genes will assist in understanding the biology of MLL fusion gene leukemias and in development of better therapies. Numerous studies have implicated HOXA9 as one of the possible targets of MLL fusion proteins. To determine if HOXA9 was required for leukemia development by MLL fusion genes, we compared the effects of the Mll-AF9 knock-in mutation in mice in the presence or absence of Hoxa9.

FLT3 expressing leukemias are selectively sensitive to inhibitors of the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 through destabilization of signal transduction-associated kinases.

Purpose: We conducted studies to evaluate the hypothesis that FLT3 is a client of heat shock protein (Hsp) 90 and inhibitors of Hsp90 may be useful for therapy of leukemia.

Experimental Design: The effects of the Hsp90-inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) on cell growth, expression of signal transduction kinases, apoptosis, FLT3 phosphorylation and interaction with Hsp90 was determined in FLT3(+) human leukemias.

Results: We found that FLT3 is included in a multiprotein complex that includes Hsp90 and p23.

Prenatal and postnatal myeloid cells demonstrate stepwise progression in the pathogenesis of MLL fusion gene leukemia.

The steps to leukemia following an in utero fusion of MLL (HRX, ALL-1) to a partner gene in humans are not known. Introduction of the Mll-AF9 fusion gene into embryonic stem cells results in leukemia in mice with cell-type specificity similar to humans. In this study we used myeloid colony assays, immunophenotyping, and transplantation to evaluate myelopoiesis in Mll-AF9 mice.

Comparable levels of Ca-ATPase inhibition by phospholamban in slow-twitch skeletal and cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Alterations in expression levels of phospholamban (PLB) relative to the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-ATPase have been suggested to underlie defects of calcium regulation in the failing heart and other cardiac pathologies. To understand how variation in PLB expression relative to that of the Ca-ATPase can modulate calcium transport, we have investigated the inhibition of the Ca-ATPase by PLB in native SR membranes from slow-twitch skeletal and cardiac muscle and in reconstituted proteoliposomes. Quantitative immunoblotting in combination with affinity-purified protein standards was used to measure protein concentrations of PLB and of the Ca-ATPase.

Quality of life in the antiarrhythmics versus implantable defibrillators trial: impact of therapy and influence of adverse symptoms and defibrillator shocks.

Background: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) use reduces mortality in patients with serious ventricular arrhythmias compared with antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) use. However, the relative impact of these therapies on self-perceived quality of life (QoL) is unknown.

Methods And Results: Three self-administered instruments were used to measure generic and disease-specific QoL in Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators trial participants.