Monokines produced by macrophages stimulate the growth of osteoblasts

We have previously reported that the J774A.1 macrophage-like tumor cell line produces two potent monokines which stimulate the growth of osteoblasts and chondrocytes. These growth factors, which have an affinity for heparin-agarose, have been termed HEP I (a 30 Kd PDGF-like molecule) and HEP II (an approximately 20 Kd molecule), respectively, based on their elution profile. Unlike HEP I, HEP II does not stimulate the growth of fibroblasts. Extensive biological and chromatographic studies disclosed that HEP II appears to be a unique bone cell mitogen unlike any known growth factor, including the FGFs, IL-1s, and TNFs, EGF, IGF-I and -II, TGF-beta, beta 2 microglobulin, G-CSF, CSF-1 and GM-CSF. To characterize more fully the effects of the macrophage-derived monokines on osteoblast growth and function, clones were derived from calvaria explant cultures. Two clones, SDFRC-2.05 and SDFRC-3, were developed and found to exhibit osteoblastic characteristics, including high levels of alkaline phosphatase, synthesis of type I but not type III collagen, and an increased intracellular cAMP production in response to PTH. The SDFRC-3 cells exhibited a polygonal morphology like that of the explant-derived cells while SDFRC-2.05 cells exhibited a more fibroblastic morphology. When tested on the explant cultures and clones, HEP I and HEP II were found to stimulate DNA synthesis and increase protein per culture, but decreased alkaline phosphatase activity. Clone SDFRC-3 was found to be more responsive to HEP II than clone SDFRC-2.05. Both monokines were found to be more potent mitogens for bone cells than TGF-beta. HEP II, but not HEP I or TGF-beta, induced a transformation of bone cells from a polygonal to a fibroblastic morphology, suggesting the induction of migration prior to proliferation. Thus, macrophages may be responsible not only for bone repair but also for ensuring the linkage of bone formation to resorption during physiological remodeling.     

Fabrication of porous hollow silica nanoparticles and their applications in drug release control.

Preparation and characterization of porous hollow silica nanoparticles (PHSN) for controlled release applications were investigated. Through orthogonally designed experiments, the optimal synthesis conditions for the preparation of PHSN were obtained and the produced PHSN were characterized by BET, SEM, TEM and IR. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy images revealed their hollow shell-core structure and also demonstrated that the size and shape of PHSN are determined by the templating CaCO3 nanoparticles. The produced PHSN were applied as a carrier to study the controlled release behaviors of Brilliant Blue F (BB), which was used as a model drug. Being loaded into the inner core and on the surfaces of the nanoparticles, BB was released slowly into a bulk solution for about 1140 min as compared to only 10 min for the normal SiO2 nanoparticles, thus exhibited a typical sustained release pattern without any burst effect. In addition, higher BET of the carriers, lower pH value and lower temperature prolonged BB release from PHSN, while stirring speed showed little influence on the release behavior. It showed that PHSN have a promising future in controlled drug delivery applications.     

Image features of two rare mediastinal tumors: schwannoma of intrathoracic phrenic nerve and clear cell chondrosarcoma of the rib

The current report focuses on two patients of the same age who presented similar appearances on initial anteroposterior chest images. Follow-up images showed superoanterior and superoposterior mediastinal lesions. The first patient with noninvasive cystic thymoma was suspected before surgery, while the pathologic diagnosis was intrathoracic phrenic nerve schwannoma. The second patient was with an asymmetric, dumbbell-shaped paravertebral tumor over T3 and T4 on the left side. The preoperative…     

体重指数、腰围、腰臀比与血压、血糖、血脂关系的探讨

目的 探讨体重指数(BMI)、腰围(WC)、腰臀比(WHR)与代谢性因素的关系.方法 对镇江市居民基线资料的1108例对象按BMI、WC、WHR分组.在正常体重、超重、肥胖;腰围正常、腰围过大;腰臀比正常、腰臀比过大各组中,比较收缩压(SBP)、舒张压(DBP)、血糖(FBG)、总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)的水平.结果 不论男性女性组,超重肥胖、腰围过大组,血压、血糖、血脂水平与正常组比较均明显升高;腰臀比过大组与正常组比较,男性组TG、FBG明显升高;HDL-C明显降低;女性组TG、FBG、SBP明显升高,HDL-C明显降低.结论 BMI、WC、WHR指标与代谢性因素密切相关;BMI、WC在提示肥胖程度方面优于WHR指标.     

Serial CT findings of Paragonimus infested dogs and the Micro-CT findings of the worm cysts.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serial CT findings of Paragonimus westermani infected dogs and the microscopic structures of the worm cysts using Micro-CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was approved by the committee on animal research at our institution. Fifteen dogs infected with P. westermani underwent serial contrast-enhanced CT scans at pre-infection, after 10 days of infection, and monthly thereafter until six months for determining the radiologic-pathologic correlation. Three dogs (one dog each time) were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 6 months, respectively. After fixation of the lungs, both multi-detector CT and Micro-CT were performed for examining the worm cysts. RESULTS: The initial findings were pleural effusion and/or subpleural ground-glass opacities or linear opacities at day 10. At day 30, subpleural and peribronchial nodules appeared with hydropneumothorax and abdominal or chest wall air bubbles. Cavitary change and bronchial dilatation began to be seen on CT scan at day 30 and this was mostly seen together with mediastinal lymphadenopathy at day 60. Thereafter, subpleural ground-glass opacities and nodules with or without cavitary changes were persistently observed until day 180. After cavitary change of the nodules, the migratory features of the subpleural or peribronchial nodules were seen on all the serial CT scans. Micro-CT showed that the cyst wall contained dilated interconnected tubular structures, which had communications with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus. CONCLUSION: The CT findings of paragonimiasis depend on the migratory stage of the worms. The worm cyst can have numerous interconnected tubular channels within its own wall and these channels have connections with the cavity and the adjacent distal bronchus.     

Disseminating tumor cells and their interactions with leukocytes visualized in the brain.

Brain tumors are increasingly prevalent. Recent advances focus attention on individual, disseminated tumor cells that cannot be imaged or eliminated. Cells of the immune system may be ideally suited to attack individual tumor cells, but more basic understanding is needed. We describe a rat model, using the lacZ reporter gene, that allows identification of individual tumor cells, and tumor-leukocyte interactions in vivo. The model demonstrates how widely tumor can disseminate, without secondary tumorigenesis or recruitment of nonneoplastic cells. It demonstrates that leukocytes have access to disseminating tumor. Among its many applications, this work lays a foundation for developing cell-mediated immunotherapy against individual brain tumor cells.     

The CLDN5 locus may be involved in the vulnerability to schizophrenia.

The present study was designed to detect three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on 22q11 that was thought as being of particularly importance for genetic research into schizophrenia. We recruited a total of 176 Chinese family trios of Han descent, consisting of mothers, fathers and affected offspring with schizophrenia for the genetic analysis. The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) showed that of three SNPs, rs10314 in the 3'-untranslated region of the CLDN5 locus was associated with schizophrenia (chi(2) = 4.75, P = 0.029). The other two SNPs, rs1548359 present in the CDC45L locus centromeric of rs10314 and rs739371 in the 5'-flanking region of the CLDN5 locus, did not show such an association. The global chi-square (chi(2)) test showed that the 3-SNP haplotype system was not associated with schizophrenia although the 1-df test for individual haplotypes showed that the rs1548359(C)-rs10314(G)-rs739371(C) haplotype was excessively non-transmitted (chi(2) = 5.32, P = 0.02). Because the claudin proteins are a major component for barrier-forming tight junctions that could play a crucial role in response to changing natural, physiological and pathological conditions, the CLDN5 association with schizophrenia may be an important clue leading to look into a meeting point of genetic and environmental factors.