One-stage repair of cardiac and arch anomalies without circumlatory arrest

Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery -     

腺病毒载体介导的PML生长抑制因子对前列腺癌细胞生长和致瘤能力的抑制效果

为探讨用腺病毒载体携带ＰＭＬ（ＰｒｏｍｙｅｌｏｃｙｔｉｃＬｅｕｋｅｍｉａ）基因作为前列腺癌基因治疗的可能性，应用重组人携带ＰＭＬ基因腺病毒（ＡｄＰＭＬ）感染培养的前列腺癌细胞，观察表达ＰＭＬ蛋白的癌细胞与对照组癌细胞的体外生长和裸鼠体内致瘤能力变化，对荷瘤裸鼠瘤体周围注射ＡｄＰＭＬ，观察治疗组和对照组肿瘤生长的变化。结果显示，感染ＡｄＰＭＬ的前列腺癌细胞体外生长和裸鼠体内致瘤能力明显下降，荷瘤裸鼠瘤体周围注射ＡｄＰＭＬ后肿瘤生长速度明显减慢。证实了ＰＭＬ是一种生长抑制因子，提示其可能被应用于前列腺癌的基因治疗研究     

Involvement of TSC genes and differential expression of other members of the mTOR signaling pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background  

Despite extensive research, the five-year survival rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients has not improved. Effective treatment of OSCC requires the identification of molecular targets and signaling pathways to design appropriate therapeutic strategies. Several genes from the mTOR signaling pathway are known to be dysregulated in a wide spectrum of cancers. However, not much is known about the involvement of this pathway in tumorigenesis of OSCC. We therefore investigated the role of the tumor suppressor genes, TSC1 and TSC2, and other members of this pathway in tumorigenesis of OSCC.     

Effects of positive and negative pressure ventilation on cerebral blood volume of newborn infants

The effects of intermittent positive airway and continuous negative extrathoracic pressure ventilation on cerebral blood volume in preterm infants were studied using near infrared spectroscopy. In 12 infants continuous negative extrathoracic pressure caused a median decrease in cerebral blood volume of 0.14ml/100ml brain (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.035–0.280) compared with no respiratory support. Oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin also decreased, implying increased venous drainage as the main effect. In 17 infants intermittent positive pressure ventilation also caused a median reduction in cerebral blood volume of 0.06 ml/100 ml brain (95% CI 0.010–0.115) compared with endotracheal positive airway pressure. Deoxygenated haemoglobin increased by 0.07 ml/100 ml brain (95% CI 0.010–0.100) while oxygenated haemoglobin decreased by O.lOml/lOOml brain (95% CI 0.005–0.175). The increase in deoxygenated haemoglobin implies decreased venous drainage and the decrease in oxygenated haemoglobin implies that other factors may also be significant. Heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation were monitored continuously and remained stable.     

Radiological imaging of a massive dermoid in the male pelvis

A dermold cyst, arising from the posterior aspects of the prostate and seminal vesicles, and extending into the pelvis to masquerade as a full bladder, must be exceedingly rare. Ultrasound, computed tomography and especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proved to be invaluable in making the diagnosis, and MRI in particular was very useful in providing an anatomical road map for surgery.     

Sensitivity of Escherichia coli (MutT) and human (MTH1) 8-oxo-dGTPases to in vitro inhibition by the carcinogenic metals, nickel(II), copper(II), cobalt(II) and cadmium(II)

The toxicity of Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) in animals, and that of Cd(II) in cultured cells, has been associated with generation of the promutagenic lesion 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoguanine) in DNA, among other effects. One possible source of this base may be 8-oxo-7,8- dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-triphosphate (8-oxo-dGTP), a product of oxidative damage to the nucleotide pool, from which it is incorporated into DNA. To promote such incorporation, the metals would have to inhibit specific cellular 8-oxo-dGTPases that eliminate 8-oxo-dGTP from the nucleotide pool. The present study was designed to test such inhibition in vitro on 8-oxo-dGTPases from two different species, the human MTH1 protein and Escherichia coli MutT protein. In the presence of Mg(II), the natural activator of 8-oxo-dGTPases, all four metals were found to inhibit both enzymes. For MTH1, the IC50 values (+/- SE; n = 3-4) were 17 +/- 2 microM for Cu(II), 30 +/- 8 microM for Cd(II), 376 +/- 71 microM for Co(II) and 801 +/- 97 microM for Ni(II). For MutT, they were 60 +/- 6 microM for Cd(II), 102 +/- 8 microM for Cu(II), 1461 +/- 96 microM for Ni(II) and 8788 +/- 1003 microM for Co(II). Thus, Cu(II) and Cd(II) emerged as much stronger inhibitors than Ni(II) and Co(II), and MTH1 appeared to be generally more sensitive to metal inhibition than MutT. Interestingly, in the absence of Mg(II), the activity of the enzymes could be restored by Co(II) to 73% of that with Mg(II) alone for MutT, and 34% for MTH1, the other metals being much less or non-effective. The difference in sensitivity to metal inhibition between the two enzymes may reflect the differences in the amino acid ligands, especially the cysteine ligand, outside their evolutionarily conserved Mg(II)-binding active sites, which might indicate predominantly non-competitive or uncompetitive mechanism of the inhibition. The overall results suggest that inhibition of 8-oxo- dGTPases may be involved in the mechanisms of induction of the 8- oxoguanine lesion in DNA by the metal ions studied, especially the non- redox-active Cd(II) cation.      

Localized muscular mucormycosis in a child with acute leukemia

Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection of childhood, occurring mainly in patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and malignancies. The fungus seldom grows in culture and confirmation of the diagnosis depends on histologic examination of infected tissues. To date, the reported natural history of the disease has been rapid progression and a fatal outcome. Therefore, the importance of early diagnosis by tissue biopsy and early treatment with surgical debridement and systemic antifungal therapy cannot be overemphasized. The pulmonary system is the most common site for mucormycosis in patients with leukemia. We report what we believe to be the first successfully treated case of isolated muscular mucormycosis occurring in a child with biphenotypic acute leukemia. The diagnosis was made promptly by tissue examination at the time of surgical debridement. The patient was also given systemic amphotericin-B therapy.