Shp2 is dispensable in the formation and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction.

SHP2, a protein tyrosine phosphatase with two SH2 domains, has been implicated in regulating acetylcholine receptor (AChR) gene expression and cluster formation in cultured muscle cells. To understand the role of SHP2 in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation in vivo, we generated mus cle-specific deficient mice by using a loxP/Cre strategy since Shp2 null mutation causes embryonic lethality. Shp2(floxed/floxed) mice were crossed with mice expressing the Cre gene under the control of the human skeletal alpha-actin (HSA) promoter.

[Clinicopathological significance of aberrant methylation of the fragile histidine triad gene in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the aberrant methylation of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene and to explore possible relationship between the aberrant methylation of FHIT and clinicopathological features in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The hypermethylation of FHIT was detected by the methylation specific PCR (MSP) method in 45 patients with HCC (tumoral and nontumoral tissue), 14 cases of normal livers and 4 HCC cell lines (SK-Hep-1, Hep-G2, Hep-3B and Huh7). The correlation of FHIT methylation and clinicopathological features was analyzed.

[Effects of hypoxia on the expression of heparanase and invasiveness of Hep-2 laryngeal carcinoma cell].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of hypoxia on the expression of heparanase and the invasiveness of Hep-2 laryngeal carcinoma cell line.

Methods: Hep-2 cells were incubated at either normoxia (37 degrees C, 5% CO2, 20% O2) or hypoxia (37 degrees C, 5% CO2, 2% O2) condition for 6 h,12 h,24 h,36 h. Flow cytometry was used to detect the protein expression of heparanase under different hypoxia conditions.

[Efficacy of radical neck dissection for advanced cervical nodal metastases].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of radical neck dissection (RND) to control advanced cervical nodal metastases and analyze the risk factors related with cervical recurrence in head and neck cancer.

Methods: One hundred and twelve patients with N2, N3 head and neck cancer were treated by RND were retrospectively reviewed and the pathological specimen were restudied.

Results: Five-year cervical recurrence rate of patients with advanced nodal metastases after RND is 27.

[Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of cyanidin from cherries on rat adjuvant-induced arthritis].

Objective: To assess the possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of cyanidin from cherries on adjuvant induced arthritis (AA) in SD rats.

Method: Arthritis was induced by the complete Freud's adjuvant in male Sprague Dauley rats and assessed based on paw swelling. Rats were randomly divided into normal group (NM), adjuvant arthritis group (AA) and three cyanidin-treated groups in high dosage (HA), middle dosage (MA), and low dosage (LA).

[Role of clonality analysis by X-chromosome inactivation in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node occult micrometastasis from squamous carcinoma of the head and neck].

Objective: To investigate the role of clonality analysis by X-chromosome inactivation in the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis from squamous carcinoma of the head and neck.

Methods: Twenty cases of clinical NOM0 squamous carcinoma of the head and neck with either pathologically confirmed or suspected occult micrometastasis in the cervical lymph node were recruited. Interested DNA samples were procured through tissue microdissection and one-step proteinase K digestion, and the clonality analysis was carried out by means of restriction enzyme digestion and amplification of human androgen receptor markers (HUMURA) to check out the status of X-chromosome inactivation.

Dual-color-coded imaging of viable circulating prostate carcinoma cells reveals genetic exchange between tumor cells in vivo, contributing to highly metastatic phenotypes.

Color-coded imaging analysis revealed yellow fluorescent metastasis precursor cells that were readily recognized in the blood of tumor-bearing mice after mixtures of red fluorescent protein (RFP)- and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells were implanted in the nude mouse prostate and metastasized. The yellow fluorescent cells were purified from the blood of nude mice to 99% homogeneity by FACS, expanded in culture, and reimplanted in the prostate of nude mice. The yellow fluorescent phenotype was heritable and stably maintained by tumor cells for many generations in vitro and in vivo.

Model-based evaluation on the conversion ratio of ammonium to nitrite in a nitritation process for ammonium-rich wastewater treatment.

Modeling for nitritation process was discussed and analyzed quantitatively for the factors that influence nitrite accumulation. The results indicated that pH, inorganic carbon source and Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) as well as biomass concentration are the main factors that influenced the conversion ratio of ammonium to nitrite. A constant high pH can lead to a high nitritation rate and results in high conversion ratio on condition that free ammonia inhibition do not happen.

[Clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma].

Background & Objective: The cervical lymphatic meta-static rate of oral squamous carcinoma is 50%-59%. The management of cervical lymphatic metastasis relates with prognosis of patients with oral squamous carcinoma. This study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features and prognosis factors of cervical lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Tumor-targeting bacterial therapy with amino acid auxotrophs of GFP-expressing Salmonella typhimurium.

Here we report a genetically modified bacteria strain, Salmonella typhimurium A1, selected for anticancer activity in vivo. The strain grows in tumor xenografts. In sharp contrast, normal tissue is cleared of these bacteria even in immunodeficient athymic mice.

[Comparative study of dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid before and after supermicro-pulverization of Radix Glycyrrhizae].

Objective: To investigate various activities of dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid of Radix Glycyrrhizae and the powder by supermicro-pulverization.

Method: The contents of glycyrrhizic acid in different samples were tested.

Result: The dissolved matter of glycyrrhizic acid was greatly increased by supermicro-pulverization.

[Two-dimensional electrophoretic separation of subproteomes in adult rat hippocampal subregions after membrane protein enrichment with sequential extraction].

Objective: To establish a method for analysis of the subproteomes following membrane protein enrichment, so as to investigate the differences in cytosolic and membrane protein/peptide contents among different hippocampal subregions (CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus) of rats.

Methods: The hippocampal subregions were isolated by microdissection, and after membrane protein enrichment with protein solubility-based sequential sample extraction, subproteome profiling was accomplished using modified two-dimensional electrophoresis and silver staining method compatible with high-performance mass spectrometry, which displayed cytosolic or membrane proteins/peptides separately. The efficacy of the electrophoresis was evaluated by image analyzing software.

[Analysis of risk factors in the prediction of distant metastases of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas].

Objective: To investigate the risk factors related with distant metastases (DM) from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

Methods: A retrospective study was carried out to review the histopathological data from 532 HNSCC patients treated in Bethune International Peace Hospital from February 1978 to February 1998. The incidence and the risk factor for DM were evaluated in a model that included the following factors: sex, age, clinical staging, T and N staging, site of primary tumor, depth of primary tumor infiltration, histological grade of primary tumor, presence of cervical lymph node metastasis, number of positive neck nodes and levels involved, and presence of extracapsular nodal spread.

[Clinical analysis of 71 cases of multiple primary cancers in head and neck squamous carcinomas].

Objective: To study the location, treatment, life status of multiple primary cancers (MPCs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Methods: The clinical data of 71 head and neck squamous carcinoma patients with MPCs were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: MPCs were seen in head and neck regions in 27 cases and in remote organs in 42 cases, two of which were triplicate primary cancers.

An improved method for acute isolation of neurons from the hippocampus of adult rats suitable for patch-clamping study.

An improved method is described for fast and reliable isolation of neurons from hippocampus of adult rats by a combination of mechanical and enzymatic means. The procedure allows the isolation of neurons from 500-600-d-old rats (over 300 g), preserving the proximal dendritic structure without impairing the electrical characteristics of the cells. Morphologically distinct neurons can be recognized.

Hybrid event based control architecture for tele-robotic systems controlled through Internet.

A new hybrid event based control architecture for tele-robotic systems controlled through the Internet is proposed in this paper. Different from the traditional event based control method, the new framework does not require every part of the system to be strictly event synchronized. Instead, it allows time referenced control components to be integrated into this framework, which makes it more convenient to develop Internet based control systems.

Oxidative stress inhibits osteoblastic differentiation of bone cells by ERK and NF-kappaB.

Signaling pathways involved in oxidative stress-induced inhibition of osteoblast differentiation are not known. We showed in this report that H(2)O(2) (0.1-0.

Capecitabine inhibits postoperative recurrence and metastasis after liver cancer resection in nude mice with relation to the expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor.

Purpose: This study was to investigate the effect of capecitabine on recurrent tumor and metastasis after curative resection of liver cancer, xenograft of a highly metastatic human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor (LCI-D20), with special reference to the expression of platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF).

Experimental Design: LCI-D20 and LCI-D35 (a low metastatic human HCC model) liver tumors were orthotopically implanted in 96 nude mice and divided into a treatment group (24 LCI-D20 mice and 24 LCI-D35 mice) and a prevention group (48 LCI-D20 mice). In the prevention group, curative resection of liver tumors was done 10 days after the orthotopic implantation of LCI-D20 tumor.

[Superior mediastinum exposure in the removal of the advanced cancers in the lower neck regions].

Objective: In order to achieve the radical removal of advanced cancers involving the lower neck regions.

Methods: Upon the thorough evaluation of tumors with different imaging methods, several kinds of superior mediastinum exposure were carried out in a series of 18 patients with advanced neck cancer of various kinds. There were 10 cases of stomal recurrence, 2 cases of recurrent thyroid carcinomas, 2 cases of advanced carcinomas in the cervical trachea, and 4 cases of metastatic carcinomas in the supraclavicular region.