Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been the hot spot of rehabilitation and tissue engineered medicine.Due to their origination from the adult tissues,the multilineage differentiation potential and immune escape characteristics,MSCs become the ideal seed cells for cell transplant treatment.This article summarizes the biological characteristics of MSCs and its application in the treatment of liver disease.

To compare the therapy, manifestations (such as body temperature, chest X-ray image and immunologic indexes, etc.) and prognosis in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients with and without diabetes mellitus. The results suggested that rational use of glucocorticoid is important in curing SARS, and the recovery of cellular immune function and pulmonary lesion is slower in the diabetic SARS patients.

Objective To understand thoroughly the effect of water improvement by investigating fluoride contents of drinking water in Meizhou fluorosis prevalent regions, the prevalence of fluorosis and the problems in water supply improvement projects. Methods In 2004, fluoride contents in drinking water were determined, 5 082 native pupils were examined for dental fluorosis according to Dean's method and the running status of water supply improvement projects was investigated also. Results After water supply improvement, the prevalence rate of the dental fluorosis in the fluorosis region(28.43 %) decreased significantly compared with that(56.99%) before the water supply improvement, the rate of fluoride content in drinking water that was up to standard reached 83.33%, the good running rate of water supply improvement projects was 68.42%. Conclusion The effect of water supply improvement is remarkable and satisfactory. In some regions little attention was paid to the management and daily maintenance of water supply but water source, which may cause water supply improvement projects damaged, in addition, water insufficiency and the alternate consumption of high fluoride water and normal water may be the main factors for fluorosis prevalence in some areas where although the water supply improvement has been finished.

Objective To compare the effects of continuous subcutaneous insulin injection(CSII) and multiple subcutaneous insulin injection(MSII) on hyperglycemia in 60 elderly patients(30 in each group). Methods For the baseline parameters including HbA1c, fasting blood glucose(BG), average BG at the second hour of three postprandial (APBG) and bedtime BGs, only fasting BG level in CSII group was markedly higher than that in MSII group. Results On the third day of post insulin therapy for two groups(CSII vs MSII), the fasting BG 〔(6 6?1 2) vs (8 8?2 1)mmol/L, P

Objective To assess the effect of xiaojin wan plus nimesulide on patients with subacute granu-lomatoas thyroiditis(SAT). Methods 70 SAT cases were divided into nimesulide group(nimesulide 0.1 g,2/d) and combined group(nimesulide 0.1 g,2/d and xiaojin wan 1.2 g,2/d). When the patients' conditions were re-lieved after 3-4 weeks treatment,half doses of the medicines were given in two groups for 8 weeks. The efficacy,safe-ty and relapse rate after withdrawing medicines for 12 weeks were observed. Results The effective rates were 82.90% (29/35) in nimosulide group and 85.7% (30/35)in combined group, but both groups' effective rate was 50.0% (3/6) in patients with high temperature (higher than 39 ℃). The time for fever relieved in two groups were similar (P>0.05), but the thyroid pain smoothing time, normalized rates of blood sedimentation after 1 week therapy, enlarged thyroid or thyroid nodule after 3 week therapy, relapsed rate were significantly more efficacious in combined group than in nimesulide group (P<0.05). There was no severe side effects in the two groups. Conclu-sious There is a synergic effect of xiaojin wan plus nimesulide on patients with SAT, that is an effective and safe therapeutic regimen for SAT patients without high temperature.

In order to discover the steroid biotransformation ability of filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger TCCC41650, we studied the fermentation of 4-androstene-3,17-dione with A. niger TCCC41650. The transformation product was purified, crystallized and determined as 16β-hydroxy-androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by X-ray single crystal diffraction method. The best fermentation condition was found to be pH 6.0, ethanol amount 2% with a substrate concentration of 1 per thousand, the transformation rate is 85.81% after 72 h. Based on the best of our knowledge, 16β-hydroxylation rarely occurs in microbial transformations of steroid. This study laid the foundation for the research of 16β-hydroxylation steroids
Androstenedione ; metabolism ; Aspergillus niger ; metabolism ; Biotransformation ; Fermentation ; Hydroxylation ; Industrial Microbiology

To improve 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase (KSDH) activity and the transformation level for androst-4-ene-3,17-dione,3-ketosteroid-△1 -dehydrogenase gene (ksdD) from Arthrobacter simplex was cloned into plasmid pWB980 and expressed in B. subtilis WB600 under the control of promoter P43. The molecular weight of expressed enzyme was about 55kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. The activitities assayed by spectrophotometrical method of intracellular and extracellular soluble enzyme were 110 ± 0.5mU and 15 ± 0.6mU per milligram of protein respectively. The transformation rate of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was 45.3%. Compared with Arthrobacter simplex, the enzyme activity of KSDH expressed in B. subtilis was improved about 30 fold, and the transformation level of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B.subtilis recombinant cells was improved about 10 fold. The recombinant B. subtilis cells used in biotransformation of steroids provided a new way for steroid medicines production.

Objective To study the correlation of human cytomegalovirus infection with carotid atherosclerosis.Methods A total of 120 patients with carotid atherosclerosis and 140 healthy control patients were recruited for HCMV-PP65 antigen detection and Ultrasound examination.Results In carotid atherosclerosis and healthy patients,58.20％(71 cases)and 6.43％(9 cases)of the subjects were positive for HCMV-PP65 antigen(x2 =32.98,P ＜ 0.05).In carotid atherosclerosis group,69.01％(49 cases)of the patients with positive HCMV-PP65 antigen had instable plaques,while it was 47.06％(24 cases)in the patients with negative HCMV-PP65 antigen.The difference in the positivity of HCMV-PP65 between the two groups were significant(x2 =8.22,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Active infection of HCMV may be associated with Carotid Atherosclerosis and the plaques will be more instable.

Objective To intestate the effect of different doses of atorvastatin on early neurological deterioration and short-term outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods The patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled prospectively.They were randomly assigned to either a standard therapy group (atorvastatin 20 mg/d) or an intensive treatment group (atorvastatin 40 mg/d).The primary outcomes were early neurological deterioration within 1 week of treatment and the good outcome of evaluation at 1 month after treatment (the modified Rankin Scale score 0-2); the secondary outcomes were the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and adverse events at 1 month.Results A total of 125 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled,including 62 in the standard therapy group and 63 in the intensive treatment group.The incidence of early neurological deterioration at 1 week after treatment in the standard therapy group was significantly higher than that in the intensive treatment group (16.13％ vs.4.76％;x2=4.333,P=0.038); the proportion of good outcome in the standard therapy group was significantly lower than that in the intensive treatment group at 1 month after treatment (53.23％ vs.71.43％ ;x2 =4.413,P=0.036).During the treatment,no significant liver damage,muscle toxicity and other adverse events of causing atorvastatin reduction or withdrawal occurred in the patients of both groups.Conclusions Using high-dose atorvastatin in the acute phase of ischemic stroke may decrease the incidence of early neurological deterioration compared with the conventional dose,and improve short-term clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVETo observe the serological features of hepatitis G virus (HGV or GBV) in selected population of Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang Provinces (region).

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine IgG antibody against GBV (anti-GBV IgG) in serum specimens of 1469 individuals from the 3 provinces (region).

RESULTSThe positivity rate of serum GBV-IgG antibody in ethnic minorities (4.11% in Tibetan, 5.36% in Mongolian, 4.55% in Uigur, 4.00% in Hui population) was slightly higher than that in Han population (1.36%-1.73%), but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). The positivity rate of serum GBV-IgG antibody in drug abusers (11.30%, 34/301) was remarkably higher than that of the normal population (2.44%,18/736) (P<0.01). The positivity rate of serum GBV-IgG antibody in blood donors was 1.02%-7.68%.

CONCLUSIONSThe positivity rates of serum GBV-IgG antibody among ethnic groups in the 3 provinces (region) had no significant differences; blood-borne transmission seemed to be an important transmission route of GBV, therefore supervision of blood donors and drug abusers should be intensified.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Blood Donors ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Flaviviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; transmission ; GB virus C ; immunology ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Substance-Related Disorders ; virology