Gastrointestinal stromal tumor in ileal neobladder

Abstract  Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a recently described mesenchymal tumor that can develop in any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The occurrence of a GIST in the urinary tract is rare, but GIST can present as tumor of the urinary tract or invade the urinary tract. This is the first reported case of GIST in the ileal neobladder, which presented as a submucosal tumor. The patient underwent an open exploration and partial resection of the neobladder pouch.     

Immunogenicity study of low-dose administration of hepatitis B virus vaccine in newborn infants: A cost reduction trial

Different doses of hepatitis B virus vaccine—prepared by Korea Green Cross Corporation, were given to healthy infants born to HBsAg-negative mothers at birth, 1 and 6 months of age. A dose of 2 μg was administered intradermally in Group A and, in the three other groups, the vaccine was given intramuscularly (i.m.). An adequate follow-up observation was possible for 9 months after birth in 22, 25, 23 and 21 infants in Groups A, B, C and D, respecvely.
Group C (5 μg, i.m.) produced seroconversion most rapidly, showing the highest rate (96%) at 9 months of age. The lowest seroconversion rate (5%) was found at the age of 1 month in Group A subjects, but the rate increased to 91% after a booster dose was given at 6 months of age.
While it can be concluded that a 5 μg i.m. dose of vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months of age is optimum for the immunization of infants in efficacy and economy, a 2 μg intradermal dose can also be considered as an immunogenic and economical regimen, though the immune response is slower and a special technique is required for immunization.     

γ-Pyrone Compounds as Potential Anti-cancer Drugs

Abstract— The γ-pyrones, artomunoxanthotrione epoxide, cyclocommunol, cyclomulberrin, and cyclocommunin exhibited potent inhibition of human PLC/PRF/5 and KB cells in-vitro. Dihydroisocycloartomunin showed significant and potent inhibition of human PLC/PRF/5 and KB cells in-vitro, respectively. Cyclomorusin, dihydrocycloartomunin and artomunoxanthone showed significant inhibition of KB cells in-vitro. Based on the above finding and the reported antileukaemic activity of xanthone psorospermin, a series of natural γ-pyrones was prepared and the inhibition of human PLC/PRF/5 and KB cells in-vitro was measured. Structure-activity analysis indicated the epoxide group substituted at 3-hydroxyl and 2,6-; 3,6-; and 3,5-dihydroxyl xanthone enhanced the anti-tumour activity. The epoxide group substituted at the 6-hydroxyl group of 1,6-dihydroxyxanthone did not show anti-tumour activity.     

Methylprednisolone Inhibits the Expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans in Reactivated Astrocytes

创伤后的神经胶质增生导致硫酸软骨素蛋白聚糖(CSPG)的显著表达,从而抑制轴突生长和再生。甲基强地松龙(MP),一种合成的糖皮质激素,在急性脊髓损伤(SCI)的治疗中有神经保护作用和抗炎效应。但是,MP对于CSPG在活性胶质细胞中的表达的作用尚不清楚。本文用a-氨基-3-羟基-5-甲基-4-异恶唑丙酸酯(AM-PA)诱导星形胶质细胞再活化,用环噻嗪模拟SCI的兴奋性中毒刺激。AMPA治疗后,星形胶质细胞再活化的标志物-胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)、CSPG神经聚糖和磷酸盐的表达都显著上调。AMPA治疗星形胶质细胞的条件培养液强烈抑制大鼠背根神经节中神经元的轴突生长,但这种作用能被MP的预处理所逆转。此外,MP下调成年SCI大鼠中GFAP和CSPG的表达,对抗RU486的糖皮质激素受体(GR)和GR si RNA能逆转MP对GFAP和神经聚糖表达的抑制作用。这些结果提示,MP能在兴奋性中毒损伤后通过GR介导的星形胶质细胞再活化下调和GSPG表达抑制来改善神经修复,促进轴突生长。     

基于反转恢复实时快速小角度激发成像的心肌T1值量化方法

目的验证反转恢复实时快速小角度激发(IR-rttfl)成像的心肌T1量化方法。方法对仿体、健康志愿者和心肌坏死患者分别进行成像,在3.0T磁场中使用IR-rttfl的扫描方法量化心肌T1值,与MOLLI方法的结果进行对比,并将T1量化的结果用于分析心肌的异常区域。结果 IR-rttfl方法将扫描时间缩短到6s以内,T1量化结果比MOLLI方法更准确,并且能够有效区分患者心肌的异常区域。结论这种方法能够有效抑制心律不齐造成的影响,提高心肌T1量化结果的准确性,对心肌坏死的诊断具有重要意义。     

Rosmarinic Acid Induces Apoptosis of Activated T Cells from Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients via Mitochondrial Pathway

T cells play an important role in the initiation and the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and depletion of potentially pathogenic T cells was suggested as an important therapeutic protocol. We determined if rosmarinic acid (RosA), known as a secondary metabolite from herbal plants, had apoptotic activity toward T cells from RA patients and further verified target T-cell subsets. CD3(+)CD25(+) activated T-cell subsets from most of the RA patients displayed significantly higher apoptosis rates than did the PBMCs and total CD3(+) T cells. Furthermore, activated and effector CD4(+) T cells, including CD4(+)CD25(+) and CD4(+)CD45RO(+) T cells, had a tendency of being more susceptible to RosA-induced apoptosis than that of resting and na?ve T-cell subsets. RosA induced the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and the blockage of mitochondrial depolarization inhibited apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that RosA induces apoptosis of activated T-cell subsets from RA patients via a mitochondrial pathway.     

Pacemaker Mediated Tachycardias In Single Chamber Rate Responsive Pacing

LAU, C.-P., ET AL.: Pacemaker Mediated Tachycardias In Single Chamber Rate Responsive Pacing. Although pacemaker mediated tachycardias are classically associated with dual chamber pacemakers, single chamber rate responsive pacemakers are also susceptible to such tachycardias under special circumstances. A unipolar activity sensing rate responsive pacemaker (Activitrax 8403) was implanted in an 83-year-old man with complete atrioventricular block. The pacemaker was programmed at an output of 5 V, activity threshold medium, rate response 5, and lower and upper rates of 70 and 125 beats/min, respectively. He presented with palpitations at rest and muscle twitching of the pacemaker pocket 4 months after implantation. Examination confirmed that the pacemaker had flipped over, resulting in pocket pacing which in turn activated the activity sensor, resulting in a rate response. The increase in pacing rate lead to a higher frequency of pocket pacing, thus leading to positive feedback increase in rate. With the patient at rest, pacemaker mediated rates were 106, 91, and 74 beats/min at low, medium and high thresholds, respectively. Decreasing the output to 2.5 V eliminated pocket pacing and the tachycardia. As a result of the reversal of the pacemaker, a similar rate response during exercise could only be achieved at a more sensitive rate responsive setting. Thus, pacemaker mediated tachycardia can complicate pacemaker "flipping" in single chamber activity sensing rate responsive pacemakers. Methods for the avoidance and treatment of pacemaker flipping are discussed. A review of other sensor mediated tachycardias is also presented.     

Nitric oxide expression in airway epithelial cells in response to tubercle bacilli stimulation

Abstract In order to investigate the role of airway epithelial cells in pulmonary tuberculosis, inducible nitric oxide synthetase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production were studied in A549 cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal volunteers were separated and cultured for 24h with LPS or tubercle bacilli (H37Rv, H37Ra). Thereafter, A549 cells were stimulated for another 24h with culture supernatant fluids of PBMC. iNOS messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was measured with Northern blot analysis and NO production was measured with the Griess reaction, which can measure nitrite concentration. iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were minimal in the control cells. iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were significantly increased with LPS ( P < 0.05) or tubercle bacilli ( P < 0.01) stimulation. However, there was no difference in iNOS mRNA expression and NO production between H37Rv and H37Ra stimulations. Interestingly, iNOS mRNA expression and NO production were greater in A549 cells stimulated with tubercle bacilli-conditioned media than in the cells stimulated with LPS-conditioned media. IL-1β, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interferon gamma concentrations were increased in culture supernatant fluids of PBMC stimulated with tubercle bacilli. These findings suggest that airway epithelial cells may play a certain role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis by producing NO. However, the role of airway epithelial cells, regarding the virulence of tubercle bacilli, was not clear in this study.