Volume 120  ·   Issue 19  ·  2007

Multiple myeloma (MM), a malignancy of clonal plasma cells, is characterized by proliferation and accumulation of abnormal plasmacytes in bone marrow,monoclonal immunoglobulin or its fragment secretions (M-protein) in serum or urine and concomitant extensive osteolytic lesions and/or osteoporosis, anemia, infection or renal dysfunction。

Abstract：Background Retina is important in converting light into neural signals, but little is known about the regulatory genes essential for the retinal morphological formation, development and functional differentiation. This study aimed to investigate the mRNA expression patterns and cellular or subcellular distribution of 33 differentially expressed genes in the retina belonging to the early and middle-late embryogenesis stages as well as the early adult stage during human development.Methods In situ hybridization and real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR) were used to assay 33 differentially expressed genes which were screened out using microarray analysis and were not present in the retinal cDNA or the Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) database of the National Eye Institute (NEI) Genebank.Results Nine of the 33 genes belonged to EST or the unknown cDNA fragments, and the remaining belonged to the novel genes in the retina. During the human retinal development 17 genes were down-regulated, 6 were up-regulated and the remaining 10 were relatively unchanged. Most of the genes expressed in all layers of the retina at the gestation stage, and in the fully developed retina some genes examined did show higher expression level in certain specific cells and structures such as retinal ganglion cells or the outer segment of photoreceptor cells.Conclusion The gene expression profile during retinal development possesses temporal and spatial distribution features, which can provide experimental evidence for further research of the functions of those genes。

Abstract：Background The treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is based on chemotherapy. However, the treatment is limited by the development of drug resistance. Emodin has been shown to exhibit an anti-cancer effect. But the molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of emodin on the gene expression profile changes in SCLC NCI-H446 cells.Methods NCI-H446 cells were treated with emodin and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was determined by both flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity assay. The effect of emodin on the gene expression profile of NCI-H446 cells was analyzed using cDNA microarray. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to validate the microarray results.Results Emodin suppressed viability, induced apoptosis and changed cell cycle of NCI-H446 cells. Among the 1262 genes, 10 genes were up-regulated and 8 genes were down-regulated more than 2 folds in NCI-H446 cells when compared with the control cells after treatment with emodin for 12 hours, while 12 genes were up-regulated and 24 genes were down-regulated after treatment with emodin for 24 hours. These genes were involved in metabolism, signal transduction, transcription regulation, cytoskeleton organization, immune response, transport, protein synthesis, cell cycle control, cell adhesion and RNA processing. The RT-PCR results were consistent with those obtained by the microarray.Conclusions Emodin affects the expression of genes involved in various cellular functions and plays important roles in cell apoptosis, tumor metastasis and chemotherapy-resistance, which suggests emodin might become an effective chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agent for SCLC。

Abstract：Background The delivery of glucose from the blood to the brain involves its passage across the endothelial cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is mediated by the facilitative glucose transporter protein 1 (GLUT1), and then across the neural cell membranes, which is mediated by GLUT3. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamic influence of hyperglycemia on the expression of these GLUTs by measuring their expression in the brain at different blood glucose levels in a rat model of diabetes. This might help to determine the proper blood glucose threshold level in the treatment of diabetic apoplexy.Methods Diabetes mellitus was induced with streptozotocin (STZ) in 30 rats. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: diabetic group without blood glucose control (group DM1), diabetic rats treated with low dose insulin (group DM2),and diabetic rats treated with high dose insulin (group DM3). The mRNA and protein levels of GLUT1 and GLUT3 were assayed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively.Results Compared with normal control rats, the GLUT1 mRNA was reduced by 46.08%, 29.80%, 19.22% (P＜0.01) in DM1, DM2, and DM3 group, respectively; and the GLUT3 mRNA was reduced by 75.00%, 46.75%, and 17.89% (P＜0.01)in DM1, DM2, and DM3 group, respectively. The abundance of GLUT1 and GLUT3 proteins had negative correlation with the blood glucose level (P＜0.01). The density of microvessels in the brain of diabetic rats did not change significantly compared with normal rats.Conclusions Chronic hyperglycemia downregulates GLUT1 and GLUT3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in the rat brain, which is not due to the decrease of the density of microvessels. The downregulation of GLUT1 and GLUT3 expression might be the adaptive reaction of the body to prevent excessive glucose entering the cell that may lead to cell damage。

Abstract：Background Subcutaneous absorption is accelerated by the monomeric conformation of insulin Aspart, which provides good glycemic control with a lower risk of hypoglycemia and less body weight increase. In the present study we investigated the efficacy and safety of a rapid-acting human insulin analogue (insulin Aspart) delivered with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) into Chinese diabetic patients.Methods Atotal of 21 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes were recruited for the 2-way cross-over, open-labeled trial,and then randomized to Group A (n=10, treated with insulin Aspart) or Group B (n=11, treated with Novolin R). Insulin Aspart and Novolin R were administered by CSII. Capillary glucose concentrations were measured at 8 time points,pre-prandial and postprandial, bedtime (10 pm), midnight (2 am) every day during the treatment.Results The average capillary glucose profiles for the day were much better controlled in Group A than in Group B (P＜0.01). The blood glucose levels were particularly better controlled in Group A than in Group B at pre-breakfast ((6.72±1.24) mmol/L vs (7.84±1.58) mmol/L, P=0.014), post-breakfast ((8.96±2.41) mmol/L vs (11.70±3.11) mmol/L,P=0.0028), post-supper ((8.15±2.10) mmol/L vs (10.07±2.36) mmol/L, P=0.008), bed time ((7.73±1.72) mmol/L vs (9.39±2.05) mmol/L, P=0.007) and midnight ((6.32±1.16) mmol/L vs (7.48±1.36) mmol/L, P=0.0049). There was no significant difference in the frequency of hypoglycemic episodes between the two groups.Conclusion Insulin Aspart results in better control of blood glucose levels than regular human insulin (Novolin R) in diabetic patients during delivery by CSII。

Abstract：Background Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a type of dominant autosomal disease that causes high levels of plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In the past years, molecular data related to FH were limited in China.Now, to gain more information about FH, we analyzed one proband with a severe FH phenotype as well as his relatives.Methods After the entire coding sequence and the intron-exon junctions of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)gene were amplified using PCR, we sequenced the LDLR gene of a Chinese FH family. RT-PCR was used to detect changes in the mRNA.Results Two novel mutations were identified in the LDLR gene of this family. One, W165X, was a G＞A substitution at the third nucleotide of codon 165. The other, IVS5-1G＞A, was also a G＞A substitution at the acceptor splice site of intron 5. The most striking discovery is that the proband was heterozygous for W165X but homozygous for IVS5-1G＞A. The cDNA sequencing showed that the IVS5-1G＞A mutation caused the insertion of 10 nucleotides, namely GCTCTCACAA,between exon 5 and exon 6.Conclusions The two nucleotide variations are thought to be the FH-causing mutations because the co-segregation of the mutant allele with the phenotype of FH has been shown in this Chinese family. These data show an increase in the mutational spectrum of FH in China and verify a scarce mutational form in the LDLR gene。

Abstract：Background Myocardial bridging (MB) is usually considered a benign condition but may result in myocardial ischemia,myocardial infarction (MI), exercise-induced tachycardia, atrioventricular conduction block or even sudden cardiac death.This retrospective study summarizes our operative methods and outcomes for treatment of 31 cases of MB.Methods From January 1997 to December 2006, 31 consecutive patients (24 men and 7 women; aged 35-67 years;mean 52.3 years) with MB underwent surgical treatment. Thirteen patients had MB only and 18 patients had MB associated with other heart diseases. In preoperative cardiac function grading, 5 patients were in NYHA class Ⅰ and 18 in NYHA class Ⅱ and 8 in NYHA class Ⅲ. Among them, 15 underwent myotomy and 16 underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Results All patients survived and recovered uneventfully. Neither hospital or late death nor major complications occurred. Postoperative exercise testing in all patients failed to reveal any persistent ischemia. Follow-up time was 3-115 months (mean 31 months). Follow-up angiographic studies in 21 patients (68%) demonstrated restoration of coronary blood flow and myocardial perfusion without significant residual compression of the artery. All patients were symptom-free and currently in NYHA class Ⅰ-Ⅱ.Conclusion The patients who are refractory to medication should actively undergo the surgical procedures such as myotomy and CABG. Myotomy should be advocated as the first choice because of its safety and satisfactory results。

Abstract：Background The coordinated change of haematopoietic supporting microenvironment in bone marrow (BM) is crucial for innate immunity and inflammation. As the precursors of marrow stroma, BM derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)promote haematopoietic function, but their roles in innate immunity or inflammation have not been investigated. Here we investigated the expression of Toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4) and the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on its expression in BM MSCs in vitro.Methods MSCs were harvested from adult rat's BM cells by density gradient centrifugation and adhesive culture. The purity of MSCs were identified with the cell morphological feature and osteogenic capacity, the phenotypes were tested by flow cytometry. Cultured MSCs were treated by LPS (1 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml or 100 μg/ml) for 24 hours. The relative expression levels of TLR-4 mRNA were detected by semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and costimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86 and MHC-Ⅱ) expressed on MSCs were analyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in supernatants were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Results After incubation with LPS, MSCs expressed the higher levels of TLR-4 mRNA, costimulatory molecules and TNF-α than the untreated group: LPS 10 μg/ml was the most effective (P＜0.01); the levels of TLR-4 mRNA, costimulatory molecules and TNF-α decreased when MSCs were exposed to 100 μg/ml LPS. Except for MHC-Ⅱ and TNF-α (P＞0.05),the levels of CD80, CD86 and TLR-4 mRNA were significantly lower than that in the treated group of 10 μg/ml (P＜0.01).Conclusion MSCs expressed TLR-4 mRNA. LPS activated the functional expression levels of TLR-4 in MSCs although the activity may depend on the concentration of LPS。

Abstract：Background Immunotherapy is emerging as a promising cure for cancer. However, a severe problem in this area is the immune tolerance to tumor cells and tumor-associated antigens, as evidenced by the ability of cancer to escape immune surveillance. To overcome this problem this work examined the potential of improving the antigenicity of myeloma by metabolic engineering of its cell surface carbohydrate antigens (i.e., glycoengineering) and presentation of the modified tumor antigens by dendritic cells (DCs) to generate cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs).Methods CD138+ myeloma cells were isolated from 11 multipe myeloma (MM) patients by the immunomagnetic bead method. The MM cells were treated with N-propionyl-D-mannosamine (ManNPr), a synthetic analog of N-acetyl-D-mannosamine (ManNAc), the natural biosynthetic precursor of N-acetyl sialic acid (NeuNAc), to express unnatural N-propionylated sialoglycans. The giycoengineered cells were then induced to apoptosis, and the apoptotic products were added to cultured functional DCs that could present the unnatural carbohydrate antigens to autologous T-lymphocytes.Results It was found that the resultant DCs could activate CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, resulting in increased expression of T cell surface markers, including CD8CD28 and CD4CD29. Moreover, upon stimulation by glycoengineered MM cells, these DC-activated T-lymphocytes could release significantly higher levels of IFN-γ (P＜0.05).Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays further showed that the stimulated T-lymphocytes were cytotoxic to glycoengineered MM cells.Conclusions This work demonstrated that glycoengineered myeloma cells were highly antigenic and the CTLs induced by the DCs loaded with the unnatural myeloma antigens were specifically cytotoxic to the glycoengineered myeloma.This may provide a new strategy for overcoming the problem of immune tolerance for the development of effective immunotherapies for MM。

Abstract：Background In multiple myeloma (MM), bone marrow angiogenesis parallels tumour progression and correlates with disease activity. Recent studies have proved resveratrol possesses antiangiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we examined the effects of resveratrol on myeloma cell dependent angiogenesis and the effects of resveratrol on some important angiogenic factors of RPMI 8226 cells.Methods RPMI 8226 cells were cocultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to evaluate the effects of myeloma cells on angiogenesis. The RPMI 8226 cells were treated with various concentrations of resveratrol (6.25-50.00 μmol/L) for different times (12-72 hours). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assay vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 mRNA. Gelatin zymography was used to analyze MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. VEGF and bFGF proteins secreted by the cells in the medium were quantified by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results Cell proliferation, migration and differentiation of HUVECs markedly increased by coculture with RPMI 8226 cells. Resveratrol inhibited proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs cocultured with myeloma cells in a dose dependent manner. Treatment of RPMI 8226 cells with resveratrol caused a decrease in MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity.Resveratrol inhibited VEGF and bFGF protein expression in a dose and time dependent manner. Furthermore,decreased levels of VEGF, bFGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA from cells treated with various concentrations of resveratrol confirmed its antiangiogenic action at the level of gene expression.Conclusions Resveratrol inhibits multiple myeloma angiogenesis by regulating expression and secretion of VEGF,bFGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Resveratrol may be a potential candidate for the treatment of multiple myeloma。

Abstract：Background The definite pathogenesis of hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) has not been well elucidated. The role of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in the development of HC remains obscure. This study determined the incidence and risk factors for HC after allo-HSCT and analyzed its association with CMV reactivation and GVHD. Methods We retrospectively studied 250 patients at high risk for CMV disease who underwent allo-HSCT all based on busulfan/cyclophosphamide (BU/CY) myloablative regimens. The incidence, etiology, risk factors and clinical management of HC were investigated.Results HC developed within 180 days of transplant in 72 patients, with an overall incidence of 28.8% and an incidence of 12.6% in patients with HLA-matched related donors (MRD), 34.38% in those with HLA-matched unrelated donors (MUD), 49.45% in those with mismatched related donors (MMRD). CMV-viremia significantly increased the incidence of later onset HC (LOHC); however, only 9 out of 15 patients with CMV viruria actually developed LOHC. Multiple regression analysis identified grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute GVHD (RR=2.75; 95% CI 1.63-4.66; P＜0.01) and grafts from MUD or MMRD (RR=2.60; 95% CI 1.52-5.20; P＜0.01) as independent risk factors for HC. Event sequence analysis indicated a majority of HC episodes began around GVHD initiation.Conclusions CMV-viremia is a high risk factor for LOHC. Our data also showed a correlation between acute GVHD and HC, which suggested that alloimmunity may be involved in the pathogenesis of HC。

The manuscript by Xu et al1 addresses an important question in the field of allogeneic hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT): how to identify those patients at risk for hemmoraghic cystitis. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of 250 patients undergoing allogeneic HPCT following myeloablative conditioning with busulfan and cyclophosphamide using a standard post-transplant immunoprophylaxis with cyclosporine, short-course methotrexate and mycophenylate。

The asterion is the point viewed in the norma lateralis of the skull, where the parietomastoid, occipitomastoid and the lambdoid sutures meet. In the infants, it is the site of the posterolateral or mastoid fontanelle,which closes by the second year. Interestingly, the name "asterion" is derived from Latin and it stands for "edible root", or "starry". The asterion was a river God of Argos,in the Peloponnesos, southern Greece. The standard textbooks do not emphasize much on the asterion. As per standard textbooks, the parietomastoid and the occipitomastoid sutures meet the lateral end of the lambdoid suture at the asterion.1,2

β-blockers have been recommended as a standard treatment for patients with mild to moderate systolic chronic heart failure (CHF) because they not only relieve patients' symptoms but also decrease mortality. However,β-blockers have a variety of effects on different CHF patients. Among them, β1- adrenergic receptor (AR) gene polymorphism is probably a significant one. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of metoprolol on cardiac function, cardiac geometrical size and density of β1-AR of CHF patients as well as the association between two common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of β1-AR(Gly389Arg and Ser49Gly) and the effects of metoprolol。

Multiple myeloma (MM), a common malignant plasma-cell proliferative disease, accounts for more than 10% of hematologic malignancies. There have been many studies conducted to analyze the clinical and laboratory features of patients with MM.1,2 The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical and laboratory features of patients with newly diagnosed MM in a large cohort of consecutive patients seen at the Blood Disease Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Swence during a 13-year period。

Bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion is one of the most prevalent malocclusion in Asian population,1 Traditionally, orthodontic treatment often involves the extraction of four first premolars2 and demands the least amount of anchorage loss, therefore headgear used to be an unavoid- able fate of these patients。

Tuberculosis (TB) differs from many other infectious maladies in having particular social and geographic distributions. The disease was under control in developed nations and being brought under control in developing countries, as in China。