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A novel ubiquitin-like antitumour protein (RBUP) was isolated from fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom Ramaria botrytis. The protein was isolated with a purification protocol involving ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose fast flow and gel filtration on Sephadex G-75. SDS-PAGE, Native-PAGE and ultracentrifugation analysis disclosed that RBUP was a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of 18.5 kDa. ESI–MS/MS demonstrated that it shared 69% amino acid sequence similarity with Coprinellus congregates ubiquitin (gi|136667). The protein exhibiting strong anticancer activity towards A549 cells. Analysis by employing AO/EB staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI detection indicated that the cytotoxic effect of RBUP was mediated through induction of apoptosis. Furthermore, RBUP displayed hemagglutinating and deoxyribonuclease activities. A temperature of 40 °C and pH of 7.0 were required for optimal DNase activity. Therefore, it was estimated that RBUP exerted its antitumour effect by inducing apoptosis, and its hemagglutinating and DNase activities were also thought to participate in this effect. These results demonstrated that RBUP was a multifunctional protein with potential medicinal applications.

OBJECTIVE Mesenchymal hamartoma of the liver (MHL) is a rare disease that makes up about 5%–8% of primitive hepatic tumors in children. The etiology of MHL has been the subject of considerable discussion. The possibility of malignant transformation of MHL is inclusive. To enhance the recognition of MHL in children, we have review the procedures in diagnosis and treatment and present 4 of our own cases. METHODS The clinical characteristics of MHL in 4 children including history, physical examination, lab examination, imaging data and pathology were analyzed and discussed and related to reports from the literature. RESULTS All the cases were diagnosed with B-ultrasonography and CT preoperatively, and were confirmed intra-operatively and histologically. Satisfactory results were reached postoperatively. CONCLUSION MHL is an uncommon benign lesion in children. The main presentation is abdominal painless mass. Diagnosis is aided with B-ultrasonography and CT preoperatively. Complete tumor removal is the best choice for MHL treatment resulting in a good outcome.

Gastrointestinal duplications are rare congenital abnormalities known to occur at any level of the alimentary tract from the mouth to the anus. The cause of intestinal duplication has not been established. Several theories have been put forward to explain different types of duplications. Some of these duplications are large sized and giant, and only 4 cases have been reported.A 4-year-old girl was referred to our hospital with a history of abdominal pain, abdominal distension, and diarrhea mixed with black blood for 20 days. Technetium-99m scintigraphy identified heterotopic gastric mucosa at the middle and lower abdominal region. Enteric duplication was suspected.Operatively, duplication was found to be located at the ileum with abnormal hypertrophy in shape, 50 cm of the ileum was resected, and an ileoileal end-to-end anastomosis was made. Stomach-like mucosa and some ring structures were identified instead of the normal intestinal mucosa when opening this ileal duplication. Microscopically, most of mucosa showed gastric corpusfundic glands.This is an unusual case of enteric duplication. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and technetium-99m scintigraphy are helpful in the diagnosis of duplication.