[Effect of Herceptin combined with Taxol on patients with Her-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of recombinant humanized anti-Her-2/neu antibody (Herceptin) and Taxol for patients with Her-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Sixty patients with Her-2/neu overexpressing metastatic breast cancer were investigated. Of the 60 cases, 22 were treated with Herceptin and Taxol and 38 with Taxol and doxorubicin.

Investigation of T-cell receptor-gamma gene rearrangement in gastrointestinal lymphomas by PCR-SSCP analysis.

Aim: To analyze the characterization of T-cell receptor-gamma (TCR-gamma) gene rearrangement in the gastrointestinal lymphomas and evaluate the value of PCR-SSCP analysis in gastrointestinal lymphomas investigation.

Methods: TCR-gamma gene rearrangement segments of gastrointestinal lymphomas were cloned and sequenced. Single clone plasmid and mixed clone plasmids were subsequently submitted to PCR-SSCP analysis to investigate the relationship between the number of amplified clones and band patterns of the amplified products.

[Association of TGFalpha and cyclin E expression in gastric carcinoma and precancerous lesions].

Background & Objective: Previous studies have indicated that increased expression of TGFalpha and cyclin E are correlated with the oncogenesis and progress of cancer; however, their expression patterns in gastric precancerous lesions have been not clear yet. In addition, the association between expression of TGFalpha and cyclin E has not been reported. This study was designed to investigate the expression of TGFalpha and cyclin E in chronic superficial gastritis (CSG), gastric precancerous lesions, and gastric carcinoma (GCA), and analyze the association of TGFalpha and cyclin E expression, and the relationship between their expression and different development stages of oncogenesis of GCA.

Suppression of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded latent membrane protein-1 by RNA interference inhibits the metastatic potential of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly metastatic tumor characterized by close association with EBV. Of the EBV-encoded products, latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) is thought to be the only oncoprotein playing an essential role in cell transformation as well as tumor metastasis. In this study, we tested the effect of suppressing LMP-1 by RNA interference (RNAi) on the proliferative and metastatic potentials of an EBV-positive NPC cell line, C666.

DNA microarrays detect the expression of apoptosis-related genes in preeclamptic placentas.

Aims: To investigate the expression of apoptosis-related genes in preeclamptic placentas and the possible mechanism of the regulation process.

Methods: Complementary DNA microarrays were employed to compare gene expression profiles of five preeclamptic and five normal placentas.

Results: Among the 368 genes detected over 35% showed an over 2-fold difference of expression between preeclamptic placentas and normal placentas.

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.

Lung, spleen, and kidney are the major places for inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in endotoxic shock: role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in signal transduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression.

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is known to induce endotoxic shock with inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) expression and NO production. However, the major place for NO production in shock remains unclear. Although there is some literature about p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in regulating LPS-induced iNOS expression, the results are contradictory.

[Effect of hyperthermia combined with trauma on serum nitric oxide and mean arterial pressure in rabbits].

Objective: To study the early change of serum nitric oxide (NO) after acute heat exposure with trauma and the effect of NO on mean arterial pressure (MAP), thus to provide theoretical basis for studying the mechanism of NO effect in acute stress.

Methods: The rabbit model of acute heat exposure combined with trauma was established. The animals were divided into four groups, including control, trauma, hyperthermia and hyperthermia combined with trauma.

Benefits of external qigong therapy on morphine-abstinent mice and rats.

Objective: To exclude possible psychological effects of qigong therapy in the treatment of addiction effectively, morphine-dependence models need to be established in mice and rats.

Method: The effects of external qi on withdrawal syndrome were examined in naloxone-precipitated mice and rats in three randomized control experiments: naloxone-precipitated test in morphine-dependent mice (n = 100 in 5 groups, 20 mice each group); conditioned position preference test in morphine-abstinent mice (n = 30 for 3 groups, 10 each); and naloxone-precipitated test with paired box in morphine-dependent rats (n = 40 for 4 groups, 10 each).

Results: These experiments showed that morphine-dependent mice, after external qigong (EQ) therapy, had decreased incidence of jumping and lower jumping frequencies, and attenuated loss of body weight.

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.

[Observation on gene polymorphism of Rh blood group in Chinese Han nationality].

To observe the gene polymorphism of Rh blood group in unrelated random individuals and families for Chinese Han nationality, polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) was used to amplify the Rh C/E gene, RhD gene, exons, intron 2 and 10, insert and Rh Box in 160 blood samples of RhD positive unrelated individuals and 71 samples of RhD negative unrelated individuals and 7 samples of families whose probands were RhD-negative. The results showed that RhD genes of RhD-negative individuals with C antigens were polymorphism, three forms were found for D exon including intact, partial deletion and complete deletion exons. Insert fragments and Rh Box were found in most cases of families whose probands were RhD-negative and its inheritance accorded with the Mendel's Law, and it did not affect the expression of RhD gene.

[Camouflage of HLA-I antigen in lymphocyte surface].

The objective of this study was to investigate the method and effect of blocking the specific reaction between lymphocyte HLA-I antigen and its antibody. The lymphocytes were disposed with 12 mmol/L methoxypolyethelene glycol benzotriazol carbonate (mPEG-BTC) in concentration gradient in PBS (pH 7.4) at 22 degrees C.

Peroxynitrite induces arteriolar smooth muscle cells membrane hyperpolarization with arteriolar hyporeactivity in rats.

Peroxynitrite (ONOO-) has been recently known to act as a potent cytotoxin during pathogenesis of various diseases. This study aimed to investigate the possible effect of ONOO- on the cremaster muscle arteriolar reactivity in response to noradrenaline and subsequently determined whether membrane hyperpolarization and potassium channel activation were involved in ONOO(-)-induced alteration of arteriolar reactivity. The results demonstrated that 1) ONOO- could decrease arteriolar reactivity in a time- and concentration-dependent manner with no significant alteration of arteriolar diameter; 2) Superfusion with 20 microM ONOO- over 40 minutes showed slight but not significant influence on the resting potential (Em) of arteriolar smooth muscle cells (ASMCs).

Acute diarrhea during army field exercise in southern China.

Aim: During emergency period, infectious diseases can be a major threat to military forces. During field training in southern China, diarrhea is the main cause of nonbattle injury. To evaluate the causes of and risk factors for diarrhea in emergency period, we collected clinical and epidemiological data from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) during field training in southern China.

[Induction of aGVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for refractory or relapsed acute leukemia].

Background & Objective: Patients with refractory or relapsed acute leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation had a poor prognosis with high death rate due to relapse or transplant-related mortality (TRM). The purpose of this paper was to clarify the role of inducing acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) during transplantation in preventing relapse.

Methods: Thirty adult patients with refractory or relapsed leukemia were acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=16), acute myelogenous leukemia (n=10), and acute mixed leukemia (n=4).

[Role of activation of renin angiotensin system in cyclosporine A nephropathy].

Objective: To investigate the role of renin angiotensin system (RAS) activation in cyclosporine A nephropathy.

Methods: Rats were fed with low salt diet. After seven days, they were randomly divided into four groups: vehicle (n=7), CsA treated (n=7), CsA+verapamil (n=7), CsA+enalapril (n=7).

Comparative profiling of metabolism-related gene expression in pre-eclamptic and normal pregnancies.

Extensive endothelial dysfunction has been regarded as the central hallmark in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia, but the mechanisms leading to this dysfunction remain unclear. The levels of many metabolism substances, such as lipid peroxides, are changed in plasma of patients with pre-eclampsia. Some of those might be associated with the occurrence of pre-eclampsia.

Microencapsulation and culture in vitro of rat pinealocytes.

Background: Melatonin is a powerful anti-aging reagent for scavenging free radicals. However, the effect of exogenous melatonin on age-dependent diseases is uncertain. Immune rejection has limited xenotransplantation or allotransplantation of the pineal gland.

Investigation of Epstein-Barr virus in Chinese colorectal tumors.

Aim: To elucidate the association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with colorectal tumors and to demonstrate whether infection of EBV existed in different stages of colorectal tumors involves in the carcinogenesis.

Methods: One hundred and thirty paraffin-embedded tissues of colorectal tumors were classified into 5 groups: 26 adenomas, 23 adenomas complicated with dysplasia, 22 adenomas complicated with carcinomatous, 36 colon carcinoma and 23 HNPCC, were examined by PCR, IHC and ISH, respectively.

Results: EBV DNA was detected by PCR in 26 cases out of the 130 specimens, including 5 cases of adenomas, 5 adenomas complicated with dysplasia, 5 adenomas complicated with carcinomatous, 7 colorectal carcinoma and 4 HNPCC.

Anatomical study on the morphology and blood supply of the falciform ligament and its clinical significance.

The purpose of this study was to understand the clinical significance of the morphology and blood supply of the falciform ligament in laparoscopic surgery. The structure, blood vessel distribution and anastomoses of the falciform ligament were observed in 20 cases of living laparoscopy, 30 cadaveric specimens injected with latex and five cadaveric specimens with Indian ink and hyaline. The falciform ligament was formed by two sides of peritoneum and its length, largest and smallest width were 8.