Rare primary squamous cell carcinoma of the intrahepatic bile duct: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is the most common malignancy of the biliary tree and has a poor prognosis. Adenocarcinoma is the most common pathological type of cholangiocarcinomas, but rare squamous, adenosquamous, and mucinous variants have been reported without adequate clinical data.

Case Summary: This report describes a rare case of primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the intrahepatic bile duct.

Effect of sevoflurane and halothane anesthesia on cognitive function and immune function in young rats.

In the current study, we scrutinized the effect of sevoflurane and halothane on cognitive and immune function in young rats. The rats were divided into following groups: sevoflurane, halothane and sevoflurane + halothane groups, respectively. The rats were regularly treated with the pre-determined treatment.

Differential proteomic profiling of chordomas and analysis of prognostic factors.

Background: The recurrence rate of chordoma is high, and the prognosis is poor.

Methods: Differential proteomic analysis was performed on chordomas and adjacent normal tissues, with verification by Western blot. Protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry of 37 chordomas.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis with multiple spinal involvement.

To stress the clinical and radiologic presentation and treatment outcome of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) with multiple spinal involvements. A total of 42 cases with spinal LCH were reviewed in our hospital and 5 had multifocal spinal lesions. Multiple spinal LCH has been reported in 50 cases in the literature.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the cervical spine: a single Chinese institution experience with thirty cases.

Study Design: A retrospective study of cervical Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH).

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficiency of the present diagnosis and treatment strategy.

Summary Of Background Data: The diagnosis and treatment protocols are still controversial for the rarity of cervical LCH.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis of the atlas in an adult.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), formerly known as histiocytosis X, is a rare disorder (approximately 1:1,500,000 inhabitants) characterized by clonal proliferation and excess accumulation of pathologic Langerhans cells causing local or systemic effects. The exact etiology of LCH is still unknown. LCH could affect patients of any age, although most present when they are children.

[Study on interaction between SARS-CoV N and MAP19].

Aim: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the etiological agent of SARS, an emerging disease characterized by atypical pneumonia. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen with the nucleocapsid (N)protein of SARS-CoV as a bait, the N protein was found to interact with MAP19, a non-enzymatic protein of MASP(mannan-associated serine protease). The interaction between SARS-CoV N and MAP19 would be further tested in cells in this article.

Results of surgical treatment of cervical dumbbell tumors: surgical approach and development of an anatomic classification system.

Study Design: A retrospective study of a new classification and surgical approach of cervical dumbbell tumors.

Objective: To evaluate PUTH classification.

Summary Of Background Data: The high recurrence rate and postoperative deformity are unsolved problems.

Upper cervical spine chordoma of C2-C3.

Chordoma is a rare low-grade malignant neoplasm derived from the remnants of the embryonic notochord. This locally invasive neoplasm is subject to recurrence after treatment. The median survival time is estimated to be 6.

Ataxia telangiectasia-mutated-Rad3-related DNA damage checkpoint signaling pathway triggered by hepatitis B virus infection.

Aim: To explore whether acute cellular DNA damage response is induced upon hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and the effects of the HBV infection.

Methods: We incubated HL7702 hepatocytes with HBV-positive serum, mimicking a natural HBV infection process. We used immunoblotting to evaluate protein expression levels in HBV-infected cells or in non-infected cells; immunofluorescence to show ATR foci ands Chk1 phosphorylation foci formation; flow cytometry to analyze the cell cycle and apoptosis; ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ionizing radiation (IR)-treated cells to mimic DNA damage; and Trypan blue staining to count the viable cells.

Cellular DNA repair cofactors affecting hepatitis B virus infection and replication.

Aim: To investigate whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection activates DNA damage response and DNA repair cofactors inhibit HBV infection and replication.

Methods: Human hepatocyte cell line HL7702 was studied. Immunoblotting was performed to test the expression of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM)-Rad3-related protein (ATR), p21 and the level of phosphorylation of Chk1, p53, H2AX, ATM in HBV-infected or non-infected-cells.

Icariine stimulates proliferation and differentiation of human osteoblasts by increasing production of bone morphogenetic protein 2.

Background: Icariine is a flavonoid isolated from a traditional Chinese medicine Epimedium pubescens and is the main active compound of it. Recently, Epimedium pubescens was found to have a therapeutic effect on osteoporosis. But the mechanism is unclear.

[Single-stage combined anterior-posterior instrumentation for multiple level cervical spine fractures].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of single-stage combined anterior-posterior instrumentation for treatment of multiple level cervical spine fractures.

Methods: Nine patients with multiple-level fractures of the cervical spine, 8 males and 1 female aged 24 - 63, underwent ingle-stage combined anterior-posterior instrumentation. Seven patients with multiple contiguous fractures of the cervical spine were treated with anterior decompression and plating combined with posterior cervical lateral mass screw fixation; and 2 patients with non-contiguous cervical fractures, both with type II odontoid fracture and lower cervical fracture, were treated with both anterior odontoid screw and posterior cervical lateral mass screw fixation.

[SCT-OGP fusion protein expression and its potential role as osteoporosis therapy].

Osteoporosis is a disease of bone metabolic disorder, the incidence of which increases sharply in old people. Calcitonin (CT) is a peptide hormone containing 32 amino acid that can inhibit osteoclasts activity. Osteogenic Growth Peptide (OGP) is a peptide hormone with 14 amino acid.

[The effect of early diagnosis of recurrence and revision after resection of primary spine tumors].

Objective: To explore the effect of early diagnosis of recurrence and early revision after resection of primary spine tumors.

Methods: From March 1989 to September 2005, the relate clinic data of 55 patients with giant cell tumors, osteoblastomas, chondrosarcomas and chordomas in spine in big piecemeal and current fashion was analysed.

Results: In 55 cases, 43 patients were followed up and had complete materials.

[Clinical characteristics and treatment of flexion-distraction stage I injuries in subaxial cervical spine].

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics and treatment of flexion-distraction stage I injuries in subaxial cervical spine.

Methods: Twelve cases of flexion-distraction stage I injuries with delayed symptoms, admitted in our hospital between January 1995 and December 2004, were studied retrospectively. In acute phase, all of 12 cases had neck pain and limited neck movements, neurological deficits were found in 6 of 12 cases.

[Expression in Pichia pastoris and properties of human serum albumin-interferon alpha2b chimera].

To reduce the serum clearance of interferon alpha2b, a chimeric gene encoding an human serum albumin(HSA)--human interferon alpha2b(IFNalpha2b) fusion protein was overexpressed in Pichia pastoris. After fermentation in a 5L bioreactor, the fusion protein, capable of cross-reacting with anti-IFN alpha and anti-HSA antibody, was purified from the culture of the recombinant yeast by ultrafiltration, blue Sepharose affinity, phenyl hydrophobic interaction and Q ion exchange chromatography. Its IFNa2b moiety exhibits antiviral activity similar to that of recombinant human IFNa2b.

[Enhancement of immune responses to hepatitis B DNA vaccine by superantigen SEA in mice].

To investigate the adjuvant effect of plasmid DNA encoding superantigen SEA (D227A) (pmSEA) on immune responses induced by HBV DNA vaccine containing HBV preS2 and S antigen in BABL/c (H-2d). BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscular injection with HBV DNA vaccine (pHBVS2S) mixed with or without pmSEA plasmid. Antibodies againat HBV PreS2 and S antigen in the sera were accessed by Anti-HBs ELISA, and the HBsAg specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) activity was determined by 5 Chromium Release Assay.

Adeno-associated virus-mediated bone morphogenetic protein-7 gene transfer induces C2C12 cell differentiation into osteoblast lineage cells.

Aim: To investigate the effects of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP7)-expressing recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector on the differentiation of C2C12 cells.

Methods: AAV-BMP7 was packaged by infecting the stable cell clone BHK-21 (integrated with recombinant AAV vector plasmid pSNAV-BMP7) with recombinant herpes simplex virus type 1, which expresses AAV-2 Rep and Cap and possesses AAV packaging functions. Following infection with AAV-BMP7 at multiplicities of infection of 1 x 10(5) vector genomes per cell and subsequent culture, C2C12 cells were assessed qualitatively for BMP7 production, alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin production and Cbfal and MyoD expression.

[Functional expression of DNA binding domain of Zif268 in Escherichia coli].

As the ubiquitous nucleic acids recognizing motif, Zinc finger protein play important role in regulation of gene expression. The study of recognization specific will greatly facilitate understanding the delicate interaction of Zinc finger protein and DNA. By the choice of expression vector, the induction and culture conditions, the DNA binding domain of Zif268 was expressed in Escherichia coli partly solubly.

[Study of recombinant stem cell factor].

Stem cell factor is an important hematopoietic growth factor. In this study, the human stem cell factor was produced by recombinant E. coli, and the structure and biological activity of the recombinant stem cell factor(rhSCF) was studied.

[Prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines against Alzheimer's disease].

Beta-amyloid(Abeta) immunization as vaccines has now become a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD)after its debut in 1999. Transgenic mouse models of AD that develop age-dependent Abeta deposition, damage to the neuropil, and behavioral deficits have enabled researchers to test if the approach can influence these AD-like pathologic changes in their brains. Active immunization with different forms of A beta and protocols have been shown to decrease brain Abeta deposition and improve cognitive performance in these mice models in the following studies.

[Expression plasmid-host strain using chromosome-plasmid balanced lethal system based on the Escherichia coli thyA].

To construct a vector for DNA vaccine and protein expression by using chromosome-plasmid balanced lethal system which was based on the thyA+ gene/deltathyA Escherichia coli. The thyA genes from Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and cloned into pCDNA3 by replacing ampilicilin resistant gene. Multiple cloning sites, the prokaryotic replicon, CMV promoter and the boving growth hormone polyA signal were also included in the vectors.

[Gene cloning, soluble expression and activity analysis of rSEA].

The superantigen,such as staphylococcal enterotoxins, had been identified as possible anti-cancer molecules in many reports. In this paper, we cloned the entA gene encoding Staphylococcal enterotoxin A from the genomic DNA of Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC13565) by PCR, the sequence cloned was accordance with that reported in Genebank. The entA gene could be expressed effectively after inserted into plasmid pET-22b( + ), The rSEA was expressed as inclusion bodies when induced by IPTG at 37 degrees C and became soluble after induced at low temperature, the soluble part is about 55% of total rSEA products.