Neuroimaging in Pineal Tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The authors report radiological findings in 11 tumors in the pineal region, which were histologically diagnosed as germinomas, pineocytomas pineoblastomas, ependymomas, teratomas, and astrocytomas. METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) was performed in seven patients and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all patients. RESULTS: CT showed a solid or solid/cystic mass with variable contrast enhancement. MRI showed a heterogeneous mass, with hypointense signal on T1 and iso/hyperintense signal on T2-weighted images (WI) and gadolinium enhancement. Extension to adjacent structures occurred in five patients and spread through the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) in two. CONCLUSIONS: Pineal region tumors have no pathognomonic imaging pattern. MRI and CT are complementary in diagnosis and are important to determine localization, extension, and meningeal spread.     

中药材龟板和鳖甲中DNA的提取与扩增

中药材龟板和鳖甲中ＤＮＡ的提取与扩增王亚明，周开亚，吴平，徐珞珊（南京师范大学生物系，南京２１００９７；中国药科大学生药学研究室，南京２１０００９）龟鳖类药材在我国使用历史悠久，具补阴益气的功效。《中国药典》（１９９０年版）规定龟甲（龟板）的原动物为...     

The clinical and pathological characteristics of Chinese patients with pauci-immune crescent golmerulonephritis

Objective　To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of pauci-immune crescent glomerulo～nephritis (PICGN) in Chinese patients. Methods　During 13 years (1985-1998), 6400 patients underwent non-transplanting renal biopsy. Twenty-four patients were diagnosed as PICGN. All clinical and laboratory data of these patients were collected from the patients’ records and used for detailed analysis. The diagnosis is based on clinico-pathologic findings. Results　Of the 24 patients, 16 were females and 8 were males, with median age of 33 years (ranged 10-76 years). Microscopic polyarteritis (MPA) (33.3%) and systemic vasculitis (8.3%) were the secondary diseases. The incidence of PICGN was 0.38% in renal biopsies and 22.9% in crescentic glomerulonephritis. Clinically, most patients (75.0%) showed rapidly progressive nephritis with enlarged kidneys. At onset, gross hematuria was noted in 58.3% of patients, hypertension in 45.8%, nephrotic syndrome in 41.7%, and oliguria in 25.0%. However, systemic symptoms were rare except for anemia. Pathologically, necrosis of glomerular capillaries (62.5%), infiltration of monocytes and neutrophil cells in glomeruli (66.7%), and vasculitis in the interstitium (53.3%) were observed. In addition, glomerulosclerosis was noted in 45.8%, severe tubular atrophy in 83.3% and interstitial fibrosis in 75.0%. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) were positive in 52.2%. All patients except two received intensively immunosuppressive therapy. Sixteen patients were available for long-term follow up (median 29.8 months, range 8-92 months). Twelve of them had life-sustaining renal function, four had normal serum creatinine (<124?μmol/L) and only 4 patients were dialysis-dependent. Conclusion　PICGN is not rare in China. Early diagnosis and administration of immunosuppressive therapy, particularly in patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), are important for good prognosis.     

Expression and characterization of Gag protein of HIV-1（CN） in Pichia pastoris

To express the core protein of HIV-1 of Chinese prevalent strain （HIV-1 （CN）） in Pichia pastoris, the fulllength gag gene was inserted into the secretory expression vector pHILS1. Linearized recombinant plasmid pHILGAG by Sail was electrotransformed into the yeast strain GS115, and the yeast transformants were identified by PCR. To induce the interest protein to be expressed, the PCR positive transformants were inoculated in the medium of BMGY and BMMY, mRNA of the strain was detected by RT-PCR, and the expressed protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, Western blotting and thin layer scanning. mRNA （1.3 kb） was amplified by RT-PCR. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis showed that the molecular mass of the expressed protein was 55 kD, which was similar to the expected value, and the expressed protein could react with McAb to HIV-1 p24. Thin layer scanning analysis demonstrated that the whole amount of the expressed protein was approximately 13 % of the soluble protein in the supernatant. The recombinant yeast had good genetic stability. The optimal expression conditions of the engineering yeast were as follows： BMMY medium, 80-90% of dissolved oxygen, 1% methanol, and 3-day-cultivation course. Gag proteins were expressed under the optimal expression condition and purified via gel filtration chromatography. The purity of the interest protein was up to 85 %. After the purified proteins were inoculated into BALB/c mice, the anti-HIV-1 antibodies in the immunized mice could be detected by Western blotting.     

Cigarette smoke-induced airway hyperresponsiveness is not dependent on elevated immunoglobulin and eosinophilic inflammation in a mouse model of allergic airway disease

Epidemiologic studies suggest that children raised in homes of cigarette smokers have a higher incidence of asthma than children who are raised in homes of nonsmokers. We sought to develop an experimental model to understand the mechanisms involved. Female BALB/c mice were paired with male DO11.10 ovalbumin (OVA)-T cell receptor hemizygous (+/-) mice such that the offspring were either transgene positive (+/-) or negative (-/-). Mice were exposed to either air or mainstream cigarette smoke (100 mg/m(3) total particulate matter, 6 hours/day, 7 days/week) during pregnancy. Immediately after birth, newborn mice were exposed for 4 weeks to either air or sidestream cigarette smoke (SS; 5 mg/m(3) total particulate matter, 6 hours/day, 5 days/week) and then exposed for the following 6 weeks to either air, SS, OVA (5 mg/m(3), 6 hours/day, 5 days/week) or a combination of OVA-SS. DO11.10 +/- offspring exposed to OVA had increased airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine challenge, total IgE, OVA-specific IgE and IgG(1), lymphocytes, and neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage and perivascular and peribronchiolar inflammation. Exposure to SS alone caused a significant increase in AHR in both +/- and -/- mice. Transgene -/- mice did not exhibit AHR after OVA exposure unless it was delivered in combination with SS. When compared with OVA-only exposure, OVA-SS exposure decreased total IgE, OVA-specific IgE, and IgG(1) amounts in +/- mice. These results indicate that exposure to SS after birth enhanced AHR in offspring that are both predisposed (+/-) and nonpredisposed (-/-) to develop an allergic response to OVA, but this AHR was not associated with elevated lung eosinophilia or OVA-specific Ig amounts.     

The impact of periodontitis on oral health‐related quality of life: a review of the evidence from observational studies

Modern population based oral health management requires a complete understanding of the impact of disease in order to provide efficient and effective oral health care and guidance. Periodontitis is an important cause of tooth loss and has been shown to be associated with a number of systemic conditions. The impact of oral conditions and disorders on quality of life has been extensively studied. However, the impact of periodontitis on quality of life has received less attention. This review summarizes the literature on the impact of periodontitis on oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL). Relevant publications were identified after searching the MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases. Screening of titles and abstracts and data extraction was conducted. Only observational studies were included in this review. Most of the reviewed studies reported a negative impact of periodontitis on OHRQoL. However, the reporting standards varied across studies. Moreover, most of the studies were conducted in developed countries.