Nerve conduit filled with GDNF gene-modified Schwann cells enhances regeneration of the peripheral nerve.

A recombinant retrovirus vector containing the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) gene was constructed and transfected into Schwann cells (SCs) to investigate the possibility of GDNF transfection and functional expression of transfected SCs, including GDNF secretion and its mRNA expression. We found that transfection of the GDNF gene into SCs led to significantly enhanced expression of GDNF mRNA. The rate of GDNF secretion by GDNF-SCs was also increased.

Arg-gly-asp-mannose-6-phosphate inhibits activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells in vitro.

Aim: To investigate the effect of arg-gly-asp-mannose-6 phosphate (RGD-M6P) on the activation and proliferation of primary hepatic stellate cells in vitro.

Methods: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated from rats by in situ collagenase perfusion of liver and 18% Nycodenz gradient centrifugation and cultured on uncoated plastic plates for 24 h with DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS/DMEM) before the culture medium was substituted with 2% FBS/DMEM for another 24 h. Then, HSCs were cultured in 2% FBS/DMEM with transforming growth factor beta1, M6P, RGD, or RGD-M6P, respectively.

Correlation between ultrasonographic and pathologic diagnosis of liver fibrosis due to chronic virus hepatitis.

Aim: To evaluate the validity of ultrasonographic and pathologic diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

Methods: The liver fibrosis status in 324 patients was evaluated by both needle biopsy and ultrasonography. Liver fibrosis was divided into S0-S4 stages.

Ambulatory arterial stiffness index: determinants and outcome.

Objectives: We hypothesized that one minus the slope of diastolic on systolic blood pressure in individual 24-h ambulatory blood pressure recordings (ambulatory arterial stiffness index) might reflect arterial stiffness and predict cardiovascular mortality.

Methods: In volunteers and a population recruited in China, we studied concordance between ambulatory arterial stiffness index and established indexes of arterial stiffness. We assessed the predictive value of ambulatory arterial stiffness index in relation to cardiovascular outcome in Irish hypertensive patients.

[Micro-particles of bioceramics could cause cell and tissue damage].

We conducted studies to confirm the hypothesis that the cellular damage occurring around implanted biphasic bioceramics could be related to a micro-particles release because of an insufficient sintering. An in vitro cytotoxicity study was performed on four biphasic ceramic (BCP) samples. Without the treatment of extraction medium, a cytotoxicity was observed, although after centrifugation this cytotoxicity disappeared in all samples.

[Advances of in vivo confocal scanning laser microscopy].

In vivo confocal scanning laser microscopy is being widely established as a time-saving, non-invasive, investigative methods in the study of body surfaces. Skin can be observed in its native state in vivo without the fixing, sectioning and staining that is necessary for routine histology. It is a new technology that can provide detailed images of tissue architecture and cellular morphology of living tissue.

[Cardiac catheterization in neonates: experience in 26 neonates].

Cardiac catheterization is rarely performed in neonates in China. The medical records of 26 neonates who underwent cardiac catheterization in Shanghai Children's Medical Center from June 1994 to June 2004 were reviewed. These infants weighed 2300 to 4500 g (mean 3 400 +/- 500 g).

[Levels of serum interleukin-15 and the expression of T-helper lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To study the changes of serum interleukin-15 (IL-15) levels and the expression of CD4(+)T (T-helper lymphocyte) subsets CD4(+)CD45RA(+) and CD4(+)CD45RO(+) in peripheral blood of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Methods: The serum concentration of IL-15 was detected using ELISA in 39 children with JRA. The expressions of CD4(+)CD45RA(+)T and CD4(+)CD45RO(+)T in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry in 24 out of the 39 patients with JRA.

Venous thromboembolism syndrome in gynecological cancer.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) could be presented as an initial clinical feature in some cancer patients or a complication followed by various cancer treatments, which all indicates a poor outcome. This review focuses on elucidating the relationship of VTE and the main gynecological cancers including ovarian, endometrial, and cervical cancers. First, the general VTE information about gynecological cancer are introduced; second, the risk factors of VTE developing in gynecological cancer were discussed; third, we do a retrospective analysis on a novel treatment targeting coagulation cascade; and last, we analyze VTE as a remarkable complication followed by recombinant human erythropoietin and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment in gynecological cancer patients.

Alteration of cell-cycle regulatory proteins in human oral epithelial cells immortalized by HPV16 E6 and E7.

E6 and E7 oncoproteins from high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) can transform cells in tissue culture and induce tumors in vivo by abrogating the cell-cycle checkpoint. To investigate the impact of HPV16 E6 and E7 on the cell-cycle regulatory machinery in oral epithelial cells, normal human oral epithelial cells were transfected with HPV16 E6 and E7 open reading frames, and alterations in cell-cycle regulatory proteins in cells expressing HPV16 E6 and E7 were analyzed. E6 and E7 expression results in immortalization of oral epithelial cells.

Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors suppress angiogenesis and growth of gastric cancer xenografts.

Many researches have confirmed the tumor-prophylactic effects of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors. We previously observed their anti-cancer effects in vivo in nude mice and found that sulindac, a traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, depressed the growth of SGC7901 xenografts via altering cell kinetics. Then we deeply studied the relationship between the two drugs and angiogenesis in gastric cancer.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression is associated with VEGF-C and lymph node metastases in gastric cancer patients.

Previous studies have suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) over-expression is associated with angiogenesis in gastric cancer. However, the relationship between COX-2 and lymphangiogenesis is still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between COX-2 expression and lymphangiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), in human gastric cancer, as well as to correlate with clinicopathological parameters.

[The effects of tumor antigen gene OVA66 on biological characteristics of tumor cells].

Aim: To explore the effects of tumor antigen gene OVA66 on the biological characteristics of tumor cells.

Methods: The eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-mock and recombined vector pcDNA3.

Serum matrix metalloproteinase 9 as a marker for the assessment of severe acute pancreatitis.

Previous studies have shown that matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) degrades basement membrane components in inflammation, but the change of serum MMP-9 level in the progression of acute pancreatitis remains unclear. The aim of our study was to assess the value of MMP-9 as a prognostic marker in acute pancreatitis. The prospective study included 10 patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and 10 patients with mild acute pancreatitis.

[Clinical analysis of 68 patients with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing in children].

Objective: To explore the clinical features and the diagnosis and the treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep-disordered breathing.

Method: Sixty- disordered breathing.

Method: Sixty eight cases with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing were reviewed including clinical features and cephalometric analysis and endoscopic examination, 46 of all them were study of polysomnography.

Role of prophylactic antibiotic administration in severe acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To carry out a meta-analysis of published studies in order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Material And Methods: MEDLINE, China Biological Medicine, Embase and Cochrane Data Base for Systematic Reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics in patients with SAP from 1966 to 2004. Six studies met our inclusion criteria.

Abdominal cluster transplantation and management of perioperative hemodynamic changes.

Background: Multivisceral transplantation (MTX, or cluster transplantation) is defined as the transplantation of three or more abdominal organs en bloc, namely the liver together with the pancreatoduodenal complex, the stomach as well as the small bowel with/without the right hemicolon. Up to May 1999, only 72 cases were reported to the Intestinal Transplant Registry. Organ cluster transplantation may carry with complex hemodynamic alterations.

[The influence of topical application of insulin on the formation of basement membrane in scalded rats].

Objective: To investigate the influence of topical application of insulin on the formation of basement membrane (BM) in rats with deep partial thickness scald.

Methods: Ninety-six SD rats were inflicted with deep partial thickness scald on the back and were randomized into A group (n = 48, with subcutaneous injection of 2 ml of isotonic saline on the 1 post scald day (PSD)) and B group (n = 48, with subcutaneous injection of 0.1 U of insulin and 2 ml of isotonic saline on the 1 PSD).

Regulation of hMSH2 and hMLH1 expression in the human colon cancer cell line SW1116 by DNA methyltransferase 1.

Aberrant DNA methylation is now recognized as an important epigenetic alteration occurring early in human cancer. To directly study the role of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in the regulation of expression of tumor-related genes in human colon cancer cells, we stably transfected expression constructs containing sense or antisense DNMT1 into the human colon cancer cell line, SW1116. The expression level of mismatch repair genes (MMR), human mut-L homologue 1 (hMLH1) and human Mut S homologue 2 (hMSH2), was monitored by real-time RT-PCR.

[Microsurgical reconstruction of the nasal subunit defects].

Objective: The nose is composed of several delicate subunits, some of which are difficult to reconstruct if they have been injured. The paper presents the microsurgical technique to repair the nasal subunit defects with the free combined preauricular and auricular flap which well match the nasal tissues in texture, contour and color.

Methods: The nasal subunit defects were repaired with the combined preauricular and auricular flap which were vascularized by the superficial temporal vascular system.

[Methylprednisolone pharmacokinetics in perilymph and plasma of guinea pig after topical administration and intracardial injection].

Objective: To determine pharmacokinetics profiles of methylprednisolone (MTH) in perilymph and plasma of guinea pig after topical and systemic administration.

Method: A granule gelfoam soaked with MTH (40 mg/ml) was placed in the niche of round window of guinea pig; otocyst was infused with MTH (40 mg/ml); 4 mg/kg of MTH was injected intracardially. Samples of blood and perilymph of the scala tympani were obtained 1-6 h after administration of two routes, respectively.

Andrographolide inhibits the production of TNF-alpha and interleukin-12 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages: role of mitogen-activated protein kinases.

Andrographolide has been reported to possess a variety of pharmacological activities. In this study, we have investigated the effect of andrographolide on the production of TNF-alpha and IL-12 (Interleukin-12) in murine peritoneal macrophages. Andrographolide decreased TNF-alpha, IL-12a and IL-12b at mRNA level, and reduced the production of TNF-alpha and IL-12p70 proteins in a concentration-dependent manner.