Objective　To investigate the role of cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated molecule-4Ig(CTLA-4Ig) in the prevention of C57BL/6 mice autoimmune hepatitis. Methods　The C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally immunized with C57BL/6 mice liver-specific protein in complete Freund's adjuvant. At the same time CTLA-4Ig were given to observe the pathologic alteration of C57BL/6 mice liver. Results　With the increase of time of immunization, the results in the treatment group were similar to those of the control group; but inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatic cell swelling, focal necrosis and severe hepatocyte damage were found in the pathologic model group. There was a significant difference between the pathologic model group and control one. Conclusion　Autoimmune hepatitis of C57BL/6 mice can be effectively prevented by CTLA-4Ig.

Objective To study the survival and melanogenic potential of human melanocytes reversibly immortalized via SV40T antigen gene and Cre/loxP system in Guinea pigs. Methods The supernatants of retrovirus vector Cre-ERT2 were used to infect melanocytes which had been successfully transfected by SV40TAg gene (MCT), then the expression of Cre recombinase was induced with tamoxifen in infected cells; subsequently, the surviving cells, which were named as MCTC, were subjected to expansion culture. Guinea pigs were utilized to establish animal models of vitiligo, then MCTC and primary melanocytes were transplanted respectively into the animal models. The repigmentation at the transplanted area was observed with naked eyes successively until 3 months after the transplantation when tissue samples were obtained from implanted area and nonimplanted area of guinea pigs and subjected to Masson-Fontana silver stain and Hematoxylin-eosin stain for the analysis of melanocyte distribution and melanin deposition in epidermis. Results Repigmentation started 4 weeks after the transplantation, and dark or brown patches, which ranged in size from 0.5 to 1 cm, were observed in the implanted area 3 months after the transplantation. The repigmentation rate was of no significant difference between pigs transplanted with MCTC and those with primary melanocytes (82.5% vs 76.7%, P > 0.05). Pathological examination revealed melanin deposition in the basal layer of epidermis and some hair follicles in transplanted area. Conclusions SV40T antigen gene combined with Cre/loxP site-specific recombinase system can induce the reversible immortalization of human melanocytes, and the immortalized melanocytes have a favorable profile of biological safety and similarity in survival rate and melanogenic potential to primary melanocytes.

Objective To investigate the biological activities of a conditioned medium for human dermal papilla. Methods Culture medium of the lower passage human dermal papilla cells was collected as the conditioned medium. The growth pattern and the growth curve of the higher passage human dermal papilla cells cultured with conditioned medium were observed in vitro. And the morphology of the co-culture of the higher passage human dermal papilla cells and the lower passage human dermal papilla cells was observed. Results The higher passage human dermal papilla cells, which was cultured with conditioned medium from the lower passage human dermal papilla cells, showed aggregative growth pattern. And the growth curve of the higher passage human dermal papilla cells was much better than that in the control groups (P

Objectives To construct a cDNA subtractive library of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in anagen with suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) and clone differentially expressed genes related to DPCs in anagen. Methods Total RNA was isolated from DPC of anagen and telogen follicles. Then ds cDNAs were synthesized in turn using SMART cDNA synthesis technique. After cDNAs from anagen and telogen follicle DPCs were hybridized with each other twice and underwent two rounds of nested PCR, PCR products were ligated with arms of T/A plasmid vectors to set up the subtractive library. Selected clones were verified by reverse Nothern blot and DNA sequencing, and the acquired sequences were analyzed for homology based on Genbank nucleotide database. Results cDNA subtractive library of DPCs in anagen follicle was set up successfully with high subtractive efficiency. Thirty-five genes were identified with 22 known functional genes and 13 unknown functional genes. Conclusions These results demonstrate the effectiveness and sensitivity of SSH in detecting differentially expressed genes from a small amount of clinical samples. Information about such alterations in gene expression might be useful for elucidating the genetic events in hair follicle growth regulation.

Objective To screen and analyze genes differentially expressed within dermal papillae cells(DPC)with aggregative behavior.Methods Total RNA was extracted from DPC with and without ag-gregative behavior,and double-stranded cDNA were synthesized by using SMART cDNA synthesis.The cD-NA fragments of differentially expressed genes in dermal papillae cells with aggregative behavior were isolat-ed by suppression subtractive hybridization,sequencing,and then subtracted library was set up.Positive clones were screened by PCR method and verified by cDNA dot blot and then analyzed through homologous retrieving.Results A subtractive cDNA library of DPC with aggregative behavior was successfully construct-ed.The results of screening and cloning of the library showed that DPC with aggregative behavior could ex-press genes related to homologous aggregation,regnlation of growth,differentiation and development,and sig-nal transduction proliferation and cycle control,which included known genes(capping protein,paladin,vas-cular endothelial growth factor),hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells(HSPC)related genes(HSPC011and HSPC016)and a new gene.Conclusions The construction of subtractive library of DPC lays solid founda-tion for screening and cloning new and specific genes related to aggregative behavior of DPC.Several genes may cooperatively involve in homologous aggregation,and regnlation of growth of DPC.Among these genes,capping protein and palladin may be closely related to aggregative behavior of DPC,and VEGF and HSPC re-lated clones may be responsible for the status of higher proliferation of DPC.

OBJECTIVE To supervise the environmental fungal load and species distribution in transplantation department and intensive care unit of the Southwest Hospital,and to analyze the relationship with season,temperature,humidity,ventilation and personnel activities.METHODS Data from Dec 2005 to Jan 2006 were collected from liver transplantation department(LTD),cerebral surgery intensive care unit(CSICU) and central intensive care unit(CICU).Air,surfaces and tap water were sampled twice a month at each department.RESULTS The air fungal load was 123.63 CFU/m3,139.90 CFU/m3,7 CFU/m3 and 217.71 CFU/m3 at LTD,CSICU,CICU and outdoor,respectively.The five most prevalent fungi collected from air and surface were Penicillium spp,Cladosporium spp,Alternaria spp,Aspergillus spp and Saccharomyces spp in turn.The five most prevalent fungi collected from water were Saccharomyces spp,Candida spp,Aspergillus spp,Penicillium spp and Rhodotorula spp in turn.The fungal load in LTD was positively correlated with the average temperature and the average humidity;the fungal load in CSICU was correlated with the average temperature and the average humidity,but the correlation between air fungal load and personnel activities wasn′t observed.CONCLUSIONS It demonstrated the fungi are found in the environment of the hospital including air,surface and water.The air fungal load varies throughout the year.The crest-time is May to June and September to October.Air fungal load is lower in winter and higher in summer and autumn.The correlation between air fungal load and temperature and humidity is observed.

The purpose of this article was to explore the hotspots in the field of international classification of diseases in China.The methods adopted were Factor Analysis,Cluster Analysis,Multidimensional Scaling Analysis and Social Network Analysis by building the high-frequency keywords co-occurrence matrix in this field.The themes are clustered into ten classes based on the results of Factor Analysis with ten common factors extracted.The results of Social Network Analysis showed that the research of medical payment methods using medical records information is the core theme in this field,which will continue in the future.

Objective To investigate the immortalization of human melanocytes by transfection with SV40 T antigen ( SV40T ). Methods By using SofastTM,a gene transfection reagent, the reconstructed eukaryotic expression vector SV40T-pEGFP was stably transfected into cultured primary human melanocytes, then the positive cells were selected with G418. After the positive cells were expanded in culture, the expression of SV40T gene was detected by RT-PCR and PCR, and the protein expression of SV40T by Western blotting. Results The genome DNA and total RNA were isolated from the positive cell clones, and a 288 bp fragment, which was specific for the SV40T antigen gene, was amplified. The results of immunohis-tochemistry and Western blotting confirmed the expression of SV40T protein in transfected cells. Conclusion SV40T antigen gene can successfully induce the immortalization of human melanocytes.

Objective:To develop a framework for a national system of elderly health standards in response to population aging in China and to meet the need for health service standards for elderly care, thus providing a roadmap for the development of elderly health standards.Methods:Preliminary indicators for a framework of a Chinese elderly health standards system were established by literature review and expert consultations.Using the Delphi method, we invited 23 experts to form a consultation panel.After two rounds of expert consultations, the preliminary framework was updated and the weight of each indicator was calculated by using the analytic hierarchy process.Results:A framework of the Chinese elderly health standards system was established after two rounds of expert consultations.The expert authority coefficient was 0.847.The framework proposed four primary indicators, including basic health standards, medical service standards, public health standards and social support standards, for the elderly, with a weight of 0.204, 0.346, 0.260 and 0.189 for each indicator.There were 22 secondary indicators, including standardized terminologies, medical services, health education, geriatrics personnel training, etc., for elderly care.Conclusions:Our research has generated a preliminary framework of an elderly health standards system that incorporates China's specific issues, takes into consideration of the needs of various parties and covers many relevant aspects.It will provide the basis for decision-making in the elderly health standardization process in China and safeguard the implementation of the Healthy China strategy.

This study examined the incidence, neuropsychological characteristics and risk factors of cognitive impairment 3 months after stroke in China. Five regions that differed in geography and economy in China were selected. Patients from the hospitals located in the five regions were prescreened at admission, and the demographic data, vascular risk factors and clinical characteristics of stroke were obtained. A battery of cognitive-specific domain tests was performed in the patients who failed to pass cognitive screening 3 months post stroke. Patients were diagnosed as having post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) or no cognitive impairment (NCI) based on the results of the neuropsychological tests. Univariate analysis was performed for suspect risk factors, and significant variables were entered in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Our results showed that a total of 633 patients were recruited 3 months after stroke; complete cognitive tests were performed in 577 of the stroke patients. The incidence of PSCI in these Chinese patients was 30.7%. There were 129 (22.4%) patients with visuospatial impairment, 67 (11.6%) with executive impairment, 60 (10.4%) with memory impairment and 18 (3.1%) with attention impairment. The risk factors associated with PSCI were older age (odds ratio [OR] 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-2.58), low education level (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.65-3.64), depressive symptom (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.09-2.61), obesity (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.41-4.71), stroke severity 3 months post stroke (OR 1.62, 95%CI 1.10-2.37) and cortex lesion (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.04-2.31). It was concluded that PSCI occurs commonly 3 months after first-ever stroke in Chinese patients. Visuospatial ability may be the most frequently impaired cognitive domain for the patients with stroke. The critical risk factors of PSCI are older age, low education level, depressive symptom, obesity, stroke severity 3 months post stroke and cortex lesion.