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Purpose: This study aims to explore the association of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) involving tumor suppressor genes on short arm of chromosome 3 (3p) with increased risk of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)., Methods and Materials: In this study, four NSCLC cell lines were cultured, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) specimens from 80 patients with NSCLC and 80 matched controls were collected for 3p-involved CIMP (3pCIMP) analysis. 3pCIMP was referred to as having at least three synchronously methylated genes of 3p per sample. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine the methylation status of each gene. DNA demethylation of NSCLC cell lines was achieved through the treatment with 5-aza-deoxycytidine. Logistic regression was used to assess odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, which were adjusted for gender, age, and smoking status., Results: Demethylation experiment showed that 3pCIMP status could play an important role in NSCLC cell proliferation. A total of 97.5% of PBMC specimens from NSCLC patients presented promoter methylation of any one of six genes (hOGG1, RAR-B, SEMA3B, RASSF1A, BLU, or FHIT) on 3p. Interestingly, 3pCIMP+ was found in 43.8% of NSCLC PBMC specimens and only in 6.3% of normal PBMC samples. The data suggest that 3pCIMP status is significantly associated with NSCLC and normal PBMC samples (p 0.001). More importantly, the results show that 3pCIMP positive carriers have a 12.8-fold increased risk of NSCLC (adjusted odds ratio, 12.8; 95% confidence interval, 4.38 -37.4, p 0.001) in Chinese population., Conclusions: This is the first evidence of an association between PBMC 3pCIMP and risk for NSCLC.

We describe a technique used in a patient for resection of adenoid cystic carcinoma arising from the left main bronchus and extending along the lateral wall of the lower trachea without carinal invasion. A flap was mobilized from the noninvolved lateral wall of the left main bronchus, which was left attached to the carina. This was used to close the defect in the lower trachea with the implantation of the left main bronchus, avoiding a tracheal sleeve pneumonectomy. Clinical course of this case was good. The pedicled autologous bronchial flap provides reliable material to repair and reconstruct a massive central airway defect., (Copyright (c) 2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether left ventricular (LV) pressure changes influence left atrial (LA) function during acute LV ischemia by strain rate imaging. In 11 healthy dogs, the left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded to cause regional acute ischemia. The peak strain rate (PSR) values of the LA walls during the reservoir, conduit, and contractile phases of the LA cycle, as well as the LV pressures, were measured before and after ischemia. All PSR values increased significantly after ischemia (P < 0.001). Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) increased after ischemia (P < 0.0001) and its percent change was positively correlated with the LA contractile phase and conduit phase percent changes of PSR for the anterior and lateral walls of the atrium (r = 0.72, 0.72, 0.83, and 0.73; P = 0.05, 0.05, 0.002, and 0.01, respectively). LA function is influenced by the change of LVEDP during regional LV ischemia. There is a compensatory increase in wall motion after regional acute LV ischemia.

The objective of this study was to examine the association of alcohol drinking and lipid profile with infrarenal aortic dimension. The diameter of the infrarenal aorta was measured using ultrasound in 395 individuals (mean 66.6 +/- 10.3 years) with atherosclerotic diseases or risk factors. The associations between heavy drinking, serum lipoprotein (a) levels, lipid profile and infrarenal aorta diameters were examined. Heavy drinking and lipoprotein (a) were positively related with infrarenal aortic dimension, while low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-C and total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C were negatively associated with infrarenal aortic diameter (p < 0.05). In addition, there were negative associations of LDL-C/HDL-C, TC/HDL-C and positive associations of HDL-C and apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI) with heavy drinking (p < 0.05). In conclusion, there was a positive association between infrarenal aortic diameters and heavy drinking, as well as lipoprotein (a) levels. Furthermore, the novel and unexpected inverse association between LDL-C/HDL-C, LDL-C, TC/HDL-C and abdominal aortic diameter may suggest a possible role for anti-atherogenic lipid profile (characterized by a higher level of HDL-C and lower level of LDL-C) in aortic dilatation processes, which need to be clarified by further studies.

Background: Since the size of ischemic myocardium is closely related with both global and regional function of the myocardium, it is of great significance to measure the size of ischemic myocardium with non-invasive methods., Methods: Eleven mongrel dogs were subjected to occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for acute ischemia. Strain rate imaging had M-mode of strain-rate (CAMM) curve pointed from the basal segment of the anterior wall to the basal segment of the inferior wall to detect the border of ischemia size. The strain rate (SR) defined the cut-off value of ischemic myocardium in a two-chamber apical view, and marked by the anterior and inferior wall on two-dimensional images respectively. Along the endocardium and epicardium, the ischemic size was curved on two-dimensional images by the trackball method and then compared with the pathologically ischemic size. And then longitudinal strain rates were compared in the cut-off value, adjacent non-ischemic and ischemic segments at which the cut-off point was defined by changing the curve M-mode of strain rate after ischemia., Results: Linear correlation existed between pathology and strain rate ischemic size (r = 0.884, P < 0.001). The SR parameters were lower in ischemia and cut-off point than in non-ischemic segments. The peak SRs of systole (S(SR)), early diastole (E(SR)), late diastole (A(SR)), strain during ejection time (epsilon(et)), and the maximum length change during the entire heart cycle (epsilon(max)) in ischemic segments lowered (P < 0.05). Time to onset of regional relaxation (T(R)) was prolonged (P = 0.012)., Conclusion: SR imaging can accurately assess the size of ischemic myocardium.

Objectives: There is evidence of a negative association between diabetes and both abdominal aortic aneurysm and aortic diameter. However, little information is available on the relation between diabetes and aortic root diameter., Methods: We studied 109 patients with type 2 diabetes. Two-dimensional echocardiography was used to measure the aortic root at the aortic annulus, the sinus of Valsalva, the sinotubular junction and the proximal part of the ascending aorta. Measured mean values were compared with 218 age- and sex-matched patients without diabetes. A comparison of the prevalence of aortic regurgitation between the 2 groups was also performed., Results: In patients with diabetes, the mean aortic root dimensions were significantly smaller than in nondiabetic patients (p < 0.05). The prevalence of aortic root dilatation was significantly higher in nondiabetic subjects than in patients with diabetes (9.63 vs. 2.75%; p = 0.025). In the multivariable regression model, diabetes was a significant negative determinant of aortic root size at all measured sites. The prevalence of aortic regurgitation tended to be higher in nondiabetic subjects than in diabetic participants (11 vs. 18.8%); however, the difference did not achieve statistical significance (p = 0.071)., Conclusions: In patients with diabetes, the aortic root dimension is significantly smaller than in patients without diabetes., ((c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Recently, attention has been focused on the effect of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] on tumors because of its possible role in development of tumor angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate Lp(a) serum levels in patients with lung cancer and its association with the stages of disease., Methods: Fasting venous blood samples were collected from 418 untreated male patients with stages I-IV lung carcinoma and were analyzed for Lp(a). The results were compared with the data from 65 healthy male controls., Results: Lp(a) levels were elevated (median 157 mg/L, range 16-1497 mg/L) in patients with lung carcinoma compared to control subjects (median 110 mg/L, range 35-706 mg/L) (p=0.004). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with stages II-IV disease had significantly higher Lp(a) concentrations than did healthy controls (p-0.05). There was an independently positive correlation between tumor stage and Lp(a) levels among patients with stages I-III (r=0.162, p=0.006). However, there was a decrease in Lp(a) in stage IV compared to stage III patients (p=0.03)., Conclusions: There is a significant association between Lp(a) and the presence and stage of lung cancer. Additional investigations with a larger number of lung cancer patients are needed to confirm these findings.

The specific growth of Microcystis aeruginosa was studied under different nutrient levels and different disturbance in laboratory. It is shown that the algae get better growth under disturbance than stationary state in oligotrophic nutrient water, the specific growth rate can increase from 0.1 d(-1) to 0.3 d(-1). The algae can get the maximum specific growth rate under the wind speed of 4.0 m/s, relatively low disturbance doesn't have obvious impact on algae but relatively high disturbance has evident inhibition effect on algae. In eutrophic nutrient, disturbance has little effect on the growth rate and the biomass, the specific growth is 0.27-0.29 d(-1). The results show the effect of disturbance on the distribution of nutrients is more important than other factors when the nutrient conditions are quite different in water body. On the condition of nutrient in Lake Taihu, the disturbance doesn't have evident effect on the growth of algae.

Introduction: Many malignant tumor cells, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, are frequently resistant to transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta)-mediated signal transduction. This refractory response might be due to reduced/loss expression of the TGF-beta receptor 1 (TGF beta R1). However, little was known about connection between inactivation of the TGF beta R1 gene and the presence of CpG methylated promoter in NSCLC., Materials and Methods: To investigate whether, there is an epigenetic mechanism underlying inactivation of TGF beta R1 in NSCLC, we performed the immunohistochemical and DNA methylation analyzes of TGF beta R1 in tumor and the paired normal tissues from 35 resection specimens., Conclusion: As the first report, the present study demonstrated loss or reduction of TGF beta R1 expression in 11 (31.4%) of 35 NSCLC tissues, suggesting that reduced TGF beta R1 expression could contribute to the development of malignant phenotype of NSCLC, even if no aberrant DNA methylated site was found at sites -362 to -142 of TGF beta R1 promoter region under investigation.

Background & Objective: Castleman's disease (CD), also named angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia or giant lymph node hyperplasia, is an uncommon reactive lymphadenopathy with unknown causes. This study was to report clinical features and therapeutic outcomes of 17 cases of local Castleman's disease (LCD), review literatures to improve the diagnosis and management of CD., Methods: Clinical data of 17 LCD patients, treated in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University from Aug. 1995 to Jul. 2006, were reviewed., Results: There were 3 cases with and 14 cases without clinical symptoms. A single lymph node or aggregation of multiple lymph nodes was observed in a single location. The longest diameters of involved lymph nodes ranged from 1.2 to 10.4 cm. The lesions were located in the neck (11 cases), mediastinum (3 cases), lung (1 case), mesentery (1 case), adrenal region (1 case). Fifteen cases were hyaline vascular type, 1 case was plasma cell type and 1 case was mixed type; all were confirmed pathologically. One hyaline vascular type LCD patient had splenomegaly, hypoalbumin (25.6 g/L), hyperglobulin (80.0 g/L) and positive fecal occult blood. One plasma cell type LCD patient had anemia (95.0 g/L), positive urine protein and positive fecal occult blood. The other 15 patients had normal laboratory results. All patients underwent complete surgical resection. The duration of follow-up ranged from 1 to 129 months with a median of 25 months. Fifteen followed-up patients were all alive without recurrence., Conclusions: LCD patients mainly have lymphadenectasis in a single location, no clinical symptoms and normal laboratory results, with a majority of hyaline vascular type. Although CT is helpful for the diagnosis of LCD, the final diagnosis depends on pathologic examination. LCD patients can live long without recurrence after complete surgical resection of the tumor.

Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in the care of dyspnea after cardiac surgery., Methods: Among patients who underwent cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass from December 2004 to December 2006,58 patients developed dyspnea (respiratory rate>25 breaths per minute with "three depressions" sign) and acute respiratory failure after extubation. Among them 30 patients underwent NPPV and 28 patients were treated with face mask oxygen therapy. Intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation were begun when the treatment failed or still hypoxemic [partial pressure of oxygen in artery (PaO(2))<60 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)], ventricle arrhythmia, or other indications for endotracheal intubation., Results: No significant differences were found between two groups in age,acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score,duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp, and New York Heart Association class (all P>0.05). Compared with face mask oxygen therapy group, NPPV was associated with a lower incidence of arrhythmia (P<0.05) at 120 minutes after treatment, a lesser necessity for reintubation (P<0.01), a shorter length of stay in intensive care unit (ICU) (P<0.01), a lower mortality (P<0.05). Arterial pH and arterial CO(2) partial pressure (PaCO(2)) of two groups began to rise significant at 480 minutes (P<0.05 or P<0.01), PaCO(2) began to rise at 120 minutes (P<0.05). At 30 minutes, significant differences in PaO(2), HCO(-)(3), respiratory rate, heart rate and arterial systolic blood pressure in NPPV group began to appear (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The time of significant differences in PaO(2), HCO(-)(3), respiratory rate, heart rate and arterial systolic blood pressure in face mask oxygen therapy group were respectively 120, 60, 120, 480 and 480 minutes (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Lactate concentration showed a significant drop at 60 minutes in NPPV (P<0.05), but at 480 minutes in face mask oxygen therapy group (P<0.05)., Conclusion: These results suggest that NPPV is an effective and safe means for improving dyspnea and tissue perfusion, decreasing arrhythmia and necessity for reintubation, shortening the length of stay in ICU and decreasing mortality in dyspneic patients after cardiac surgery.

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of diffuse myxoid malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of pleura., Methods: The clinical and pathological features of a patient with diffuse myxoid MFH of pleura from this hospital were analyzed, and the reported literature of 7 patients with MFH of pleura were reviewed., Results: The patient was a 65-year-old male. The primary manifestations were cough, chest pain, breathlessness, and a great quantity of bloody pleural effusion. Chest CT scan showed diffuse masses on the visceral and parietal pleura. Exploratory thoracotomy exposed diffuse translucent gray-white masses on the surface of visceral and parietal pleura, with diameters of 1 - 8 cm. Microscopic findings showed that diffuse spindle-shaped and pleomorphic tumour cells were within the myxoid stroma. Tumor cells were positive for vimentin, CD(68), lysozyme, and negative for CK, EMA, and desmin. The patient died of obstruction of superior vena cava, and circulatory failure at 24th postoperative day. Different from cases with single or multiple MFH of pleura reported in the literature, this case of diffuse myxoid MFH had an abrupt onset, and progressed aggressively., Conclusion: Diffuse myxoid MFH of pleura is a very rare high-grade malignant tumor with very poor prognosis.

Background & Objective: Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urologic malignant tumor. Radical nephrectomy is the major treatment for RCC. Approaching route selection, lymphadenectomy selection, and lymphadenectomy extension are debated. This study was to summarize our experience on transabdominal radical nephrectomy for RCC., Methods: A total of 155 RCC patients were treated with radical nephrectomy and regional lymphadenectomy between Oct. 1999 and Dec. 2005 in Cancer Center of Sun Yat-sen University. The duration of operation, the amount of bleeding, the duration of postoperative hospitalization, complications, and survival rates of the patients were reviewed., Results: No patient died during operation. The median duration of operation was 155 min (range, 60-360 min). The median amount of bleeding was 200 ml (range, 50-10,000 ml). Sixteen patients received RBC transfusion with a mean of 11.5 units (1 unit of RBC is extracted from 200 ml whole blood). In 23 (14.8%) patients, the amount of bleeding was more than 500 ml; 5 of the 23 patients underwent inferior vena cava thrombectomy, with median bleeding of 1 100 ml (range, 100-6,000 ml). The median duration of postoperative hospitalization was 15 days (range, 6-46 days). The intraoperative complications, treated intraoperatively without sequelae, included 2 cases of spleen injury, 1 case of inferior vena cava and duodenal injury, and 2 cases of vessel injury. The postoperative complications, cured conservatively, included 1 case of heart failure and 2 cases of incomplete ileus. The patients were followed up for 1-78.6 months, with a median of 20.0 months. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 93.2%, 84.1%, and 74.8%, respectively. The 1-year overall survival rates were 100% for stage I and stage II patients, 88.2% for stage III, and 53.8% for stage IV. The 3-year overall survival rates were 89.7% for stage I, 95.5% stage II, 75.6% for stage III, and 44.9% for stage IV. The 5-year overall survival rates were 89.7% for stage I, 86.8% for stage II, and 0% for stage IV., Conclusions: Radical nephrectomy via transperitoneal route, with benefits of early ligating the renal vessels and easy to perform lymphadenectomy, has certain effect on RCC with less severe complications. It may be a standard surgical procedure for RCC.

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features and differential diagnosis of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP)., Methods: The clinical, radiologic and pathologic features of 11 patients with COP confirmed by open or video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lung biopsy were analyzed. Treatment information and follow-up data were also obtained., Results: COP usually affected female patients over 40 years of age. Clinical presentations included cough, sputum and exertional dyspnea. High-resolution computerized tomography showed scattered speckled, patchy and trabecular shadows over both lung fields. Honeycomb changes were not found. Histologically, polypoid growths of granulation tissue were noted within respiratory bronchioles, small airways and alveolar spaces. These lesions had a patchy and peribronchiolar distribution and were uniform in appearance. The overall response rate to glucocorticoid was 81.8% (P < 0.01). The duration of follow up ranged from 6 to 134 months. Apart from one patient who developed aggravation of symptoms, the disease pursued a relatively stable clinical course., Conclusions: In general, COP responds well to glucocorticoid therapy. Open or VATS lung biopsy is important for arriving at a definitive diagnosis, especially for those cases presenting with atypical clinical and radiographic manifestations. Multiple biopsies with larger samples are preferred in order to avoid misdiagnosis.

Objective: To explore the molecular mechanisms of apoptotic NB4 cells induced by the histone deacetylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate(SB)., Methods: SB was exposed to NB4 cells at a final concentration of 1.0 mmol/L. The untreated and treated cells were analysed with FACS and 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) at 0, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. The changed protein spots were identified with MALDI-TOF-MS and ESI-TOF-MS/MS., Results: SB induced apoptosis of NB4 cells. Twenty-one changed proteins involving apoptotic signal transduction, immunological regulation, transcriptional control, cellular metabolism, molecular transport and so on were identified. Thirteen of them had been reported to be related to apoptosis., Conclusion: SB can induce apoptosis and many functional protein changes in tumor cells. These results pave the way to further explore the anti-tumor mechanism of SB.

Variation characteristics and its mechanism of particulate heavy metals in coastal water over the course of tidal cycle on the eastern coast of Chongming Island in Yangtze Estuary were studied. Concentrations of Cu, Pb, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cr and Al in suspended particles in bottom water were respectively 184%, 99%, 56%, 62%, 147%, 50% and 45% higher than those in surface sediments influenced by particle size. The concentrations of the reducible Cu, Pb, Fe, Mn, Zn and Al in suspended particles of bottom water were also two to three times of those in surface sediments, but percentages of the reducible fraction of the above-mentioned elements in total metal concentrations in suspended particles were similar to those in surface sediments. High concentrations of particulate heavy metals occurred at the beginning of the food-tide, around the slack water and latter of the ebb tide over the course of five tidal cycles, which was mainly caused by the hydrodynamic conditions. When current velocity increased, the particulate heavy metals resuspended from bottom sediments diluted the perpetual suspended particles in water to a large extent. Environmental factors such as salt, dissolved oxygen and pH in water have little influence on the variations of particulate heavy metals over the course of tidal cycle.

Objective: To investigate the association between acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and functional matrix metalloproteinase-9 polymorphism (C-1562-T)., Methods: This study was conducted with a case-control design including 101 patients with angiographically documented ACS and 105 control subjects who were free from coronary artery disease and had normal angiograms. Genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism for the common C-1562-T functional promoter polymorphism of the MMP-9 gene.The relationship between the polymorphism in the MMP-9 gene and the severity of coronary arterial stenosis was analyzed., Results: The results of individual polymorphisms analysis showed that the frequency of C/T and T/T genotypes of the C-1562-T polymorphism (27.2%) in patients with ACS was significantly higher than that in those with a normal angiogram (13.34%).The frequencies of -1562T allele were 14.9% and 7.2% in ACS group and control group respectively (Chi2 = 5.617, P = 0.018). The frequencies of C/T and T/T genotypes of the C-1562-T polymorphism were not statistically different among ACS patients with normal and one,two,three or more significantly diseased vessels (Chi2 = 0.601, P = 0.896)., Conclusion: The present findings suggest that the genetic polymorphism in MMP-9 promoter (C-1562-T) is associated with the susceptibility to ACS in the Han population of China. And the C-1562-T polymorphism may not be useful as a predictor of the severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

Objective: To investigate the capability of the bone regeneration of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate/sol-gel bioactive glass (PHBV/SGBG) composite porous scaffold., Methods: PHBV/ SGBG composite porous scaffold was implanted into the segmental radial bone defect of the New Zealand white rabbits, PHBV/hydroxylapatite (PHBV/HA) as experimental control. The degradability, biocompatibility, and bone regeneration capability of the implants were evaluated through radiological, histological, computerized graphic, and biomechanical analysis., Results: The new bone formation occurred as early as 4 weeks after implantation of PHBV/SGBG composite porous scaffold. The defect was filled with new bone 8 weeks after the implantation, and was completely repaired 12 weeks after operation. The new bone had normal bone structure and the medullar cavity regenerated. The biomechanical study showed that the anti-compression force of radial specimen in PHBV/SGBG groups was significantly higher than in PHBV/ HA groups (P < 0.05), but no significant difference existed between PHBV/SGBG group and autograft bone group (P>0.05). The PHBV/SGBG composite porous scaffold degraded no sooner than 4 weeks after the implantation and most of scaffold was absorbed after 12 weeks. The proportion of the scaffold to new bone decreased from 60% by week 4 to 8% by week 12., Conclusions: PHBV/SGBG composite porous scaffold is a degradable bone substitute. It can achieve early bone generation and complete repair. It can be used as an ideal scaffold for tissue-engineering bone.

Objective: To examine whether the in vivo implantation of autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) can augment postnatal neovascularization in rat model of hind limb ischemia., Methods: Rat BM-MNCs were isolated by centrifugation through a Ficoll-paque density gradient. The rat ischemic hind limb model was made by ligation of the right femoral artery and its branches of imbred Wistar rats. BM-MNCs (MNC group) or phosphate saline buffer (PBS group) were injected into 7 points of the ischemic muscles (20 microl/point). To assess angiogenesis, histologic evaluation was performed on tissue slices from adductor muscles with immunohistochemical staining at the 2nd and 4th weeks after the ligation. Severity of ischemic insult was evaluated by the femoral arteriovenous oxgen difference (AVDO2) at the 2nd and 4th weeks after the ligation., Results: The MNC groups had a higher capillary density and higher capillary/muscle fiber ratios than that of the sham and PBS groups (P < 0.01) at the 2nd and 4th weeks after the ligation. AVDO2 of the MNC group significantly decreased compared with that of the PBS groups (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: The implantation of autologous BM-MNCs induced neovascularization in a rat ischemic hind limb model. The implantation of autologous BM-MNCs augmented the collateral perfusion of ischemic hind limb.

Objective: To investigate diagnostic histopathology and ultrastructure features of primary pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC)., Methods: Clinical data and pathologic findings of 27 cases of PC were retrospectively reviewed, light and electron microscopic evaluations and histochemistry stain studies were performed., Results: The specimens consisted of 2 fine-needle aspiration lung biopsies and 25 cases of open lung biopsies. Cryptococcosis granuloma formation was identifiable by histopathological examination in 25 of 27 cases, with gum-like lesion and fungi in the remaining 2 cases. The detection rates of cryptococcus neoformans (CN) by mucicarmine (MC), periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), alcian blue (AB) and Grocott methenamine-silver (GMS) were 87.0% (20/23), 100% (27/27), 66.7% (18/27), and 100% (23/23) respectively. Under the electron microscope, most CN had a simple structure with a few organelles. The capsule was seen in all organisms. A percentage of the organisms showed nuclei, nucleoli, mitochondria and vacuoles. The detection rate of CN by EM was 91.7% (11/12)., Conclusions: The clinical manifestation and imaging of PC are nonspecific for PC. Lung biopsy is the major diagnostic modality. The detection rate by electron microscopy was quite high. Therefore, a correct diagnosis of pulmonary cyrptococcosis should rely on the combination of histopathological evaluation, histochemistry staining and/or electron microscopic examination.

A nonaqueous capillary electrophoresis (NACE) method was developed for simultaneous assay of three bioactive components (1: cryptotanshinone; 2: tanshinone IIA, and 3: tanshinone I) in Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae and in its herbal preparations for the first time. After optimization of separation conditions, a buffer of 250 mmol L(-1) ammonium acetate containing 30% acetonitrile and 1.0% acetic acid (V:V) in methanol was selected for separating the three analytes, but baseline separation of tanshinon I and tanshinone IIA was not obtained. Therefore second-order derivative electropherograms were applied for resolving overlapping peaks. Regression equations revealed good linear relationships (correlation coefficients 0.9943-0.9991) between peak heights in second-order derivative electropherograms and concentrations of the three analytes. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of the migration times and the peak height of the three constituents were in the range of 0.81 -0.88% and 0.34-1.13% (intra-day), 1.57-1.86% and 3.05-5.52% (inter-day), respectively. The recoveries of three constituents ranged from 90.2 to 108.5%. The results indicated that baseline separation of the analytes was sometimes hard to obtain and second-order derivative electropherograms were applicable for the resolving and analysis of overlapping peaks.

Purpose: Reduced expression of the transforming growth factor beta receptor type II (TGF beta RII), a key inhibitor of epithelial cell growth and tumor suppressor gene, was reported frequently in many types of tumors including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study explored the significance of the TGF beta RII gene in NSCLC carcinogenesis., Experimental Design: With 43 independent pairs of tumor and paracarcinoma tissue samples from patients with primary NSCLC, we carried out PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis screening for DNA variants over the coding sequence of the TGF beta RII gene, immunohistochemical assay of TGF beta RII expression, methylation-specific PCR analysis, and semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR., Results: The PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis did not detect variation in the whole coding sequence of the TGF beta RII gene, but the immunohistochemistry experiment revealed reduced or lost expression of the gene in 44% (19 of 43) of the tumor samples. The methylation analysis on the 19 pairs detected the frequent occurrence of methylated TGF beta RII promoter in tumor tissues, whereas most of the paracarcinoma tissues were free of methylation. The reduced TGF beta RII expression was highly significantly associated with the methylation event (P < 10(-4)). The reverse transcription-PCR analysis demonstrated a clear agreement between reduced TGF beta RII expression and decreased mRNA level of the gene in the tumor tissue samples., Conclusions: TGF beta RII plays an important role as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC carcinogenesis. The defective expression may serve as one of most important molecular mechanisms in explaining progression of the disease. In particular, aberrant 5' CpG methylation of the gene has explained the down-regulation of the gene at a transcriptional level.

Objective: To investigate the causes of acute respiratory distress (ARDS) after thoracotomy and to find out the measures to prevent ARDS., Methods: The characteristics of incidence, pathogenicity and treatment of ARDS after thoracotomy in 31 patients were analysed., Results: The patients who had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, long history of smoking, hypertension were prone to ARDS. Injury to lung in operation, shock and pulmonary infection probably caused ARDS. Clearing away respiratory tract secretion, preserving of a clear airway, controlling pulmonary infection, alleviating pneumonedema by diuresis, early executing tracheotomy or mechanic assistant ventilation by tracheointubation were keys to rescuing patients successfully., Conclusions: It is suggested that multi factors were related to ARDS after thoracotomy. Shock, injury to lung in operation, pulmonary infection, are important factors that lead to post-operative ARDS after thoracotomy. Early treatment can reduce mortality of ARDS.

Objective: To investigate the biologic significance of thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) and surfactant protein A (SP-A) and SP-B expression in pulmonary sclerosing hemangioma (PSH)., Methods: TTF-1, SP-A, SP-B, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), pancytokeratin (AE(1)/AE(3)), vimentin, CK7, CK5/6, calretinin, S-100, neuron specific enolase (NSE), synaptophysin (Syn), chromogranin A (CgA), CD(34), Factor VIII and smooth muscle actin (SMA) in 42 patients with PSH were examined with immunohistochemistry, while samples from 10 patients were also observed by electron microscope., Results: Histopathologically, PSH mainly consisted of both surface lining cuboidal cells and pale polygonal cells. Both of them were stained with TTF-1, EMA and vimentin, whereas SP-A, SP-B, pancytokeratin and CK7 were only positive in surface lining cuboidal cells. Syn, NSE, S-100 and CgA showed scattered positivity in these cells. There was no significant difference in the expressions of TTF-1 and EMA between these two cell types (P > 0.05), whereas the difference was significant in the expression of vimentin (P < 0.01). The ultrastructural features cannot differentiate these two cells by electron microscope., Conclusions: It is suggested that PSH is derived from primitive respiratory epithelium, and both surface lining cuboidal cells and pale polygonal cells were entity cells of the tumor. Examination of different immunohistochemical markers including TTF-1, SP-A, SP-B, pancytokeratin, EMA and vimentin is helpful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of PSH.

Aim: To determine the effects of hypertonic solution on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury in normal and stroke-prone hypertensive rat hearts in vitro., Methods: Hearts were perfused in an isolated-perfused Langendorff apparatus and perfused with normal or hypertonic solution (360 mOsm/L, by addition of NaCl to the normal perfusate of 300 mOsm/L) before subjected to 30 min ischemia followed by 40 min isotonic reperfusion. Heart function, myocardial creatine kinase leakage, norepinephrine release, and ventricular calcium content were determined., Results: Normal rat hearts with hypertonic perfusion showed higher recovery rate of spontaneous beating than control hearts after ischemia. Hypertensive rat hearts perfused with hypertonic solution also had better recovery in diastolic function and less creatine kinase leakage than hypertensive controls. Concomitantly, myocardial release of norepinephrine was also reduced from hypertensive hearts perfused with hypertonic solution. There was no significant difference in myocardial calcium content between normal and hypertonic perfused hypertensive hearts., Conclusion: Hypertonic perfusion may precondition the hearts and protect them from ischemia and reperfusion injury in both normal and hypertensive rats. The modulation of hypertonic perfusion on myocardial norepinephrine release and its role in cardioprotection needs further investigation.