Volume 118  ·   Issue 08  ·  2005

Two years ago, an editorial regarding basic or clinical studies of several parasitosis in China was published.1　As is known to all, some parasitic diseases, especially schistosomiasis and echino-coccosis, are still prevalent in the south and west of China, respectively. Therefore, it is significant to review a few research papers in the field of medical parasitology and write another editorial。

Abstract：Backgroud Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) can inhibit the growth of most epithelial and endothelial cells. The growth regulative role of TGF-β on soft tissue sarcoma was seldom reported. Here we examined TGF-β1 effects on the growth of human rhabdomyosarcoma cell RD and searched the relative molecular mechanism.Methods The viability of RD was examined by ［3H］-thymidine incorporation and ［3-（4,5-dimethylthiazol-z-yl）-2,5-diphenyltetraz olium bromide］ (MTT) assay. RD cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry. The protein and mRNA of cell cycle regulative factors in RD were detected by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reation (RT-PCR), respectively. The kinase activity of cdk2 or cdk4 was examined by immunoprecipitation and kinase assay. Immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the location of cell cycle regulative factors in RD by laser scanning confocal microscope.Results TGF-β1 inhibits RD proliferation by G1-arrest in cell cycle progression. TGF-β1 can prominently up-regulate P27 of RD, then augment P27 to bind cyclinE-cdk2 complexes, which effectively suppress cdk2 kinase activity. P21 increased and c-myc decreased in RD due to TGF-β1. Both P15 and cdk4 have not been involved in the growth inhibitory event. TGF-β1 treatment induced P27 to congregate around nucleus. P21 pervaded from nucleus to both nucleus and cytoplasm by TGF-β1 treatment.Conclusion TGF-β1 inhibits the proliferation of human rhabdomyosarcoma cell line RD and induces RD G1-arrest. This course is accomplished by TGF-β1 up-regulating P27 to suppress cdk2 kinase activity. The induction of P21 and down-regulation of C-myc might participate in the growth-arrest event。

Abstract：Background The role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) in shikonin-induced HeLa cells apoptosis remains vague. This study was to investigate the activation of caspase pathways and the role of ERK1/2 in human cervical cancer cells, HeLa, by shikonin.Methods The inhibitory effect of shikonin on the growth of HeLa cells was measured by MTT assay. Fluorescent microscopic analysis of apoptotic cells stained with 4’,6’-oliiamiclino-2-phenylindole C (DAPI) and Hoechst 33258 was carried out. Caspase-3 and -8 activities were detected using caspase-3 substrate and caspase-8 substrate as substrates, respectively. The protein levels of ERK, p53 and p-ERK were determined by Western blot analysis.Results Shikonin inhibited cell growth in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Caspase-3 and caspase-8 were activated in the apoptotic process and caspase inhibitors effectively reversed shikonin-induced apoptosis. Phosphorylation of ERK resulted in up-regulation of p53 expression, which was blocked by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), inhibitor PD 98059.Conclusion Shikonin induces HeLa cell apoptosis through the ERK, p53 and caspase pathways。

Abstract：Background CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3), expressed on some inflammatory cells, is a member of the chemokine receptor family. Its ligand is eotaxin/CCL11. In this research, we studied the expression and function of CCR3 induced by interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) on human germinal centre (GC) B cells.Methods Cells isolated from human tonsils were stimulated with IL-2 or/and IL-4 followed by bonding with eotaxin/CCL11. Flow cytometry was used to detect expression of CCR3 on GC B cells and apoptosis of GC B cells. Real time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Northern blot assays were used to analyse the CCR3 mRNA expressed in the GC B cells. Chemotaxis and adhesion assays were used to determine the effect of eotaxin/CCL11 ligand bonded to CCR3 on GC B cells.Results There was no CCR3 expression on human freshly isolated GC B cells. The combination IL-2 and IL-4 could upregulate CCR3 mRNA and protein expression on GC B cells. Eotaxin could not induce GC B cell chemotaxis and adhesion but triggered apoptosis of GC B cells.Conclusion IL-2 and IL-4 together induced expression of CCR3 on GC B cells, and the receptor acted as a death receptor。

Abstract：Background Alzheimer's disease(AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by overproduction of β-amyloid (Aβ), with the subsequent pathologic deposition of Aβ which is important for memory and cognition. Recent studies showed murine models of AD and AD patients inoculated with Aβ1-42 peptide vaccine had a halted or delayed pathological progression of AD. Unfortunately, the clinical phase Ⅱa trial of Aβ1-42 peptide vaccine (AN1792) was halted prematurely because of episodes of menigoencephalitis in 18 of the vaccinated patients. The vaccination of BALB/c or Tg2576 transgenic mouse with Aβ1-15 peptide vaccine is safe and the immune effects are satisfactory. This study further characterizes the specific humoral immune responses in adult rhesus monkeys induced by Aβ1-15 peptide vaccine.Methods Five male adult rhesus monkeys were injected intramuscularly with Aβ1-15 peptide vaccine at baseline and at weeks 2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22. The titers and IgG isotypes of the antibody against Aβ1-42 in serum was measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The specificity of the antibody against Aβ1-42 was determined by Western blot. The Aβ plaques in Tg2576 transgenic mouse brain were stained with the antiserum using immunohistochemistry method.Results At the eighth week after the vaccination, antibody against Aβ1-42 began to develop significantly in serum. The titers of the antibody increased following vaccine boosted and reached 1∶3840 at the twenty-fourth week, then decreased after the termination of inoculation. The IgG1 was accounted for the highest level in the antiserum pool. The antibody against Aβ1-42 showed high specificity. The Aβ plaques in Tg2576 transgenic mouse brain were labeled with the antiserum.Conclusion Aβ1-15 vaccine can induce vigorously specific humoral immune responses in adult rhesus monkey。

Abstract：Background Selection of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) remains controversial. Since there is a trend to expand the transplant criteria for HCC patients, we reviewed the data of patients with HCC who had received OLT at our institute to determine their survival and prognostic factors.Methods A total of 67 patients with HCC who had undergone OLT from April 2001 through December 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Selection OLT candidates with HCC was dependent on the anatomical characteristics and/or the severity of underlying liver cirrhosis. The 67 patients were followed up for more than 6 months after transplantation. Their survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards regression model were performed to reveal the factors affecting the survival rate.Results No perioperative death occurred in this series. The 1- and 2-year cumulative survival rates were 90.0% and 65.6%, and the disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 77.5% and 62.5% respectively. Univariate analysis revealed the tumor size, portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT), serum alpha-fetoprotein level, bilobular distribution of tumors, pTNM stage and histological differentiation were statistically significant factors affecting the DFS (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed tumor size and PVTT were independent and statistically significant factors affecting the DFS (P=0.005 and 0.010, respectively). In this series, all but 2 received systemic chemotherapy, among them 13 had tumor recurrence within 8 months after OLT.Conclusions OLT is indicated for patients with HCC, even for some patients with end-stage liver disease who may survive longer without tumor recurrence. Adjuvant chemotherapy may decrease the recurrence of HCC after OLT。

Abstract：Background Several million subclavian-vein catheters are placed in patients each year to enable caregivers to administer chemotherapy, total parenteral nutrition, or long-term antibiotics or to manage preoperative fluids. Subclavian venipuncture requires the position of a deep vein to be identified with only surface landmarks. But the traditional right subclavian vein (RSV) catheterization (primitive procedures) is not the answer for all patients. The precise location of the vein is not known, and it is important to select the most appropriate method to achieve central venous access safely in any given patient. To modify the primitive procedures of the RSV catheterization for greater success and reduce the complications, anatomic studies and ultrasonography were conducted and clinical applications were validated.Methods Anatomical observation and measurement of the RSV and its adjacent structures were performed on 20 adult cadavers according to modified procedures. The RSV catheterization of 2900 cases was carried out by the modified procedure, 500 of these cases were observed by ultrasonography after the operation.Results The anatomical studies and clinical application showed that the insertion point differs from the bodily form of fatness or leptosome. The clinical data revealed that in the 2900 cases which were performed with the modified approach, the success rate was 98.90% (2868 cases), the failure rate was 1.10% (32 cases), and the complication rate is 0.79% (23 cases), and the catheterization time is (31.2±10.5) minutes. Five hundred and sixty cases of the RSV catheterization were carried out by the recommended insertion procedure; the results were compared with the modified approach and the traditional approach. The successful rate of the traditional approach was 73.0%, of which the complication rate was 6.1%; the two approaches were significantly different (successful rate: χ2=626.642, P<0.01; complication rate: χ2=80.708, P<0.01).Conclusions The modified RSV catheterization is characterized with a higher success rate and less complications, and the insertion procedure differs from the bodily form of fatness or leptosome。

Abstract：Background The diagnosis of diffuse hepatic lesions in early stage is a tough task at any time for clinical conventional imaging Magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (MR DWI) can detect the changes of tissue structure at molecular level This study was designed to determine the value of DWI in the diagnosis of diffuse liver lesions in early stage.Methods Diffuse liver lesions were induced by diethylnitrosamine in 42 rats of test group. Fourteen rats in control group were fed with pure water. Dynamic changes of MR DWI were observed every week in both groups during the early stage of diffuse liver lesions (1 to 12 weeks after drug administration in the test group). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of liver parenchyma in different stages and pathologic changes were analyzed.Results The process of diffuse hepatic lesions in the test group was classified into three stages according to pathological changes, namely hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. No obvious morphological changes were shown by conventional imaging in both groups during this stage. But MR DWI demonstrated heterogeneous signal changes in early stage of hepatic cirrhosis in the test group. No significant change of ADC values was found in the control group between different weeks (P>0.05). The ADC values of the test group declined from the fifth week, and after the tenth week the ADC values were significantly different between the test and control groups at gradient factor (b) value 300 sec/mm2 (P<0.05). At b value 600 and 1000 sec/mm2, significant difference was seen between the two groups from the sixth week onward. The range of ADC value of the groups was (1.7-0.9)±(0.40-0.04) mm2/sec (b=600) and (1.38-0.75)±(0.07-0.35) mm2/sec (b=1000), respectively. Dominant pathological changes included swelled hepatocytes within 1 to 4 weeks after the administration of diethylnitrosamine in the test group, hyperplasia of fibrous tissues in 5-8 weeks and formation of cirrhotic nodules in 9-12 weeks.Conclusions MR functional DWI could detect diffuse liver lesions earlier than conventional morphological imaging. ADC value as a marker for early diagnosis of diffuse liver lesions could also be used to inspect changes of the lesions。

Abstract：Background Asymmetry of bilateral cerebral function, i.e. laterality, is an important phenomenon in many brain actions: arithmetic calculation may be one of these phenomena. In this study, first, laterality of brain areas associated with arithmetic calculations was revealed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Second, the relationship among laterality, handedness, and types of arithmetic task was assessed. Third, we postulate possible reasons for laterality.Methods Using a block-designed experiment, twenty-five right-handed and seven left-handed healthy volunteers carried out simple calculations, complex calculations and proximity judgments. T1WI and GRE-EPI fMRI were performed with a GE 1.5T whole body MRI scanner. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM99) was used to process data and localize functional areas. Numbers of activated voxels were recorded to calculate laterality index for evaluating the laterality of functional brain areas.Results For both groups, the activation of functional areas in the frontal lobe showed a tendency towards the nonpredominant hand side, but the functional areas in the inferior parietal lobule had left laterality. During simple and complex calculations, the laterality indices of the prefrontal cortex and premotor area were higher in the right-handed group than that in the left-handed group, whereas the laterality of the inferior parietal lobule had no such significant difference. In both groups, when the difficulty of the task increased, the laterality of the prefrontal cortex, premotor area, and inferior parietal lobule decreased, but the laterality of posterior part of the inferior frontal gyrus increased.Conclusions The laterality of the functional brain areas associated with arithmetic calculations can be detected with fMRI. The laterality of the functional areas was related to handedness and task difficulty。

Abstract：Background Human urate anion exchanger (hURAT1) as a major urate transporter expressed on renal tubular epithelial cells regulates blood urate level by reabsorbing uric acid. Antibody is an important tool to study hURAT1. This study aimed, by genetic immunization, to produce mouse anti-hURAT1 polyclonal antibody with high throughput and high specificity and to detect the location of hURAT1 in human kidney.Methods Human renal total RNA was isolated and the entire cDNA of hURAT1 was amplified by RT-PCR. The sequence of intracellular high antigenicity fragment （A280 to R349） was chosen by prediction software of protein antigenicity, and its cDNA was amplified from cDNA of hURAT1, and then cloned into pBQAP-TT vector to construct recombinant plasmid pBQAP-TT-hURAT1-210 for genetic immunization. Mice were inoculated with this recombinant plasmid and two other adjuvant plasmids, pCMVi-GMCSF and pCMVi-Flt3L, which helped to enhance the antibody’s generation. After four weeks, the mice were sacrificed to obtain the anti-hURAT1 antibody from serum. The antibody was identified by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. At the same time, rabbit anti-hURAT1 antibody was produced by protein immunization. The specificity and efficiency between the rabbit and mouse anti-hURAT1 antibody were compared by western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry.Results The entire cDNA of hURAT1 and cDNA of its intracellular high immunogenic fragment were amplified successfully. Recombinant plasmid pBQAP-TT-hURAT1-210 for genetic immunization was confirmed by restriction digestion and sequencing. Both the mouse anti-hURAT1 antibody and rabbit anti-hURAT1 antibody recognized 58kD hURAT1 and 64kD glycosylated hURAT1 protein bands in western blot. Immunohistochemically, hURAT1 was located at the brush border membrane of renal proximal tubular cells. In addition, the throughput and specificity of the mouse anti-hURAT1 antibody were higher than those of the rabbit anti-hURAT1 antibody.Conclusion Genetic immunization can generate anti-hURAT1 polyclonal antibody of high throughput and specificity。

Abstract：Background Lipid abnormalities are often complicated by renal dysfunction. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) are the first-line choice for lowering cholesterol levels. The present study was designed to investigate whether statins could prevent and invert the development of renal injury in cholesterol-fed rabbits and to find the possible mechanism of their effects by detecting gene and protein expression of lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) in the renal artery.Methods Twenty-four male New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups: (1) control group, regular granules chow; (2) HC-diet group, granules chow with 1% cholesterol and 5% lard oil; and (3) fluvastatin group, 1% cholesterol and 5% lard oil diet plus fluvastatin (10 mg·kg-1·d-1) . After 16 weeks, serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein(LDL) and creatinine (Cr) levels were measured. Renal hemodynamics and function, mainly including glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in vivo were quantified using 99mTc-DTPA single photon emission computed tomograph (99mTc-DTPA SPECT). The thickness of the renal artery intima was quantitated in HE-stained segments by histomorphometry. Gene expression of LOX-1 in the renal artery was examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and its protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.Results High cholesterol diet induced hypercholesterolemia (HC) complicated by renal dysfunction with increased levels of serum lipid and Cr, decreased GFR and delayed excretion and extensively thickened renal arterial intima in the HC-diet group. Rabbits in the control group showed a minimal LOX-1 expression (mRNA and protein) in the endothelium and neointima of the renal artery. Intimal proliferation of the renal artery in the HC-diet group was associated with a marked increase of LOX-1 expression (protein and mRNA). Treatment with fluvastatin improved renal function, attenuated intimal proliferation of the renal artery and markedly decreased the enhanced LOX-1 expression in the endothelium and neointima of the renal artery in rabbits.Conclusions Fuvastatin treatment could prevent the development of renal injury in patients with HC and early atherosclerosis (AS). This beneficial effect might be mediated by its pleiotropic effects including a decrease in total cholesterol exposure level and prevention of LOX-1 expression in atherosclerotic arteries。

The most frequent cause of death of patients with osteosarcoma is the metastasis of tumour cells. In spite of successful control of the primary tumour, the mortality of the patients due to metastatic spread is more than 30% within 5 years.1 Recent studies about osteosarcoma metastatic mechanism are based on osteosarcoma matrilineal cell lines.2 For further studies of metastatic mechanism of osteosarcoma the establishment of a better metastatic experimental model of osteosarcoma is needed. We isolated and established two cell sublines, with high and low metastatic potentials, respectively, derived from human osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line by cloning in vitro and transplantation in vivo, then analysed and identified their biological characteristics。

The first description of a syndrome including stroke-like episodes, lactic acidaemia, and ragged red fibres, was reported by Shapira et al in 1975.1 Pavlakis et al2 described further cases, introduced the acronym MELAS (mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes), and suggested that this represented a distinct mitochondrial disease phenotype. In 1990, Goto et al3 identified A3243G mutation in the transfer RNA (tRNA) leucine (UUR) gene in some patients with MELAS. Although this mutation has now been established to be the commonest mtDNA defect it is often misdiagnosed. Here we report a kindred of MELAS including a mother and a son. Clinical, pathological and genetic studies are proceeding。

It was reported that more than 95% arrhythmias complicated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurred within the first 24 hours of AMI onset, and emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been worldwide applied to realize reperfusion.1 But how to deal with tachyarrhythmia induced by ischemia and reperfusion around emergency PCI procedure, has become one of the focus during peri-PCI stage. It has been reported that anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) termination of post AMI tachyarrhythmia by implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or other model of pacemaker had ideal result.2,3 But the studies on the effect of ATP therapy for tachyarrhythmia during emergency PCI procedure were rarely reported. In this study, the effect and the safety of ATP therapy for 115 patients with tachyarrhythmia during emergency PCI procedure by implantation of temporary pacing catheter were reported。

Most patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) present with peripheral lymph node enlargement, with or without systemic symptoms. NHL -05-also involve mediastinal, intra-abdominal and pelvic lymph nodes with resulting symptoms. They -05-involve only an extranodal site, such as part of the gastrointestinal tract, lung, brain or testis. Extranodal presentation is more common in NHL than in Hodgkin's disease. Primary endotracheobronchial involvement in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a rare presentation. From 1989 to the present, only 3 cases of primary tracheal NHL were reported in Medline.

The management of patients with coexisting diseases who undergo cardiac surgery is a subject to controversial discussions as the operative mortality is thought to be increased by simultaneous procedures. Traditionally, the surgical procedures have been staged with the cardiac surgery performed first followed by the visceral operation at a later date. However, especially in cases of malignant disease (e. g. pulmonary or abdominal) the curative treatment is delayed and the additional costs of two settings have to be considered.1 Although encouraging results have been reported concerning simultaneous pulmonary tumor resection, carotid endarterectomy or abdominal aneurysm repair,2-5 detailed knowledge concerning further coexisting non-cardiac diseases requiring surgical therapy is still lacking. In some extremely rare cases patients suffer from more than just one coexisting disease of different origins: the current report focuses on a 61-year-old female patient suffering from ischemic heart disease, occlusion of the innominate artery and a retrosternal goiter as an incidental finding. She was treated in a simultaneous procedure with three operations in only one setting. The perioperative features of this special case are reflected in the following course.