Objective:To lay background for studying rejection mechanisms in xenotransplantation, class II DQA genes of swine leukocyte antigens (SLA) of three Chinese pig strains GXP, GZP and YNP were cloned and sequenced.Methods:RT-PCR was performed to proliferate SLA-DQA genes (GXPDQA, GZPDQA and YNPDQA),which were cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector for sequencing and analysis.Results:All three allelic sequences examined, are not identical to those reported, which allows the sequences receiving their accession numbers from GenBank as AY102473, AY102474 and AY102475, which encompass an open reading frame of 765, 768 and 768 nucleotides respectively.Conclusion:Three new alleles of SLA-DQA genes were obtained. Analysis of the amino acid sequences of swine, human and mouse DQA (or equivalent) also indicated that GXPDQA, GZPDQA and YNPDQA were more similar to human DQA than mouse H-2-A?, which might provide an understanding of how the immune system evolved.

Objective To investigate the effect of different concentrations of rapamycin on the proliferation and apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells(GMCs)and to investigate the mechanism. Methods GMCs were treated with different concentrations of rapamycin(1 μg/L,2 μg/L,4 μg/L,8 μg/L,16 μg/L).After treatment for 24 h,48 h and 72 h,cell proliferation was assessed bv MTT colorimetric assay and the growth curve was traced.After treatment for 72 h,the cell cycle distribution and the apoptotic rate of GMCs in different concentrations of rapamycin were analyzed bv flow cytometry.The effects of different concentrations of rapamycin on the mRNA and protein expression of p27 and p53 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot respectivelyResult The low dose of rapamycin(1 μ/L)could signiticanfly inhibit the proliferation of GMCs and showed no effect on apoptosis.The high dose of rapamycin (8-16 μg/L)could significantly increase the apoptotic rate of GMCs.Rapamycin could increase the mRNA and protein expression of p27 and p53. Conclusion Rapamycin can inhibit GMCs proliferation and promote GMCs apoptosis by increasing the expression of p27 and p53.

Objective To explore the genetic mechanism of Yang-deficiency constitution by detecting genomic copy number variations (CNVs). Methods Thirty cases of Yang-deficiency constitution and 30 cases of balanced constitution were included according to the standards of Classification and Determination of Constitution in Traditional Chinese Medicine. DNA was extracted from white blood cells in peripheral blood. A genome-wide association study was conducted by using Affymetrix SNP 6.0 platform. CNVs of each sample were analyzed using PennyCNV software. The Yang-deficiency constitution-specific copy number variation regions (CNVRs) of each autosome were identified. CNVR-related genes and their annotations were searched at online Human Genome Browser. Results The mean number of CNVs in balanced constitution group was 12.63±3.39, ranging from 8 to 20. After stepwise elimination of two Yang-deficiency constitution subjects, the mean number of CNVs in Yang-deficiency constitution group was 15.04±8.95, ranging from 2 to 38. A total of 26 CNVRs were identified from 28 Yang-deficiency constitution subjects, including 19 duplicated CNVRs, 6 deleted CNVRs, and 1 mixed type CNVR. Most CNVRs were shared by a few Yang-deficiency constitution subjects, and only 7 CNVRs were shared by more than 5 Yang-deficiency constitution subjects. The functions of representative genes in Yang-deficiency constitution-specific CNVRs were related with extracellular and intracellular signal transduction, metabolic regulation, and immune response, etc. Conclusion Yang-deficiency constitution subjects have some specific genomic CNVs, which might result in Yang-deficiency constitution phenotypes by influencing the expression of genes associated with extracellular and intracellular signal transduction, material metabolism (energy metabolism), and immune response, etc.

Objective To investigate the effects of propofol on the proliferation and apoptosis of lung cancer cells as well as the related molecular mechanisms.Methods HCC827 cells were seeded in well plates with a density of 1×106 and then randomly divided into 5 groups:control group (group C),intralipid group (group E),low-dose propofol group (1.5μL/mL,group P1),medium-dose propofol group (2.2μL/mL,group P2),and high-dose propofol group (3.2μL/mL,group P3).At 6 h,24 h and 48 h after propofol treatment,the cells were collected to detect their proliferation and apoptosis.At 6h after treatment,the cells were collected for the measurement of Nrf2 mRNA and protein by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Cell inhibition rate (IR)and apoptosis as well as Nrf2 mRNA and protein expressions in group E did not differ significantly from those in group C (P>0 .0 5 ).Compared with those in groups C and E,IR and apoptosis and Nrf2 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly increased in groups P1,P2 and P3 (P<0.05).Conclusion Propofol can inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells and promote cell apoptosis,thereby inhibiting the reoccurrence and metastasis of cancer cells probably via regulating the activation of Nrf2 expression.

Objective To explore the clinicopathological features of IgA nephrolpathy associated with malignant hypertension (IgAN-MHT) and to analyze their correlation with renal vascular lesions. Methods Twenty-nine patients of IgAN-MHT were screened from 2000 biopsy-proven eases with primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in our department from April 1997 to May 2007. Data of clinicopathology and follow-up of these 29 patients were collected. Semi- quantitative analysis was performed to evaluate the pathological changes. Inner lumen, outer lumen, intimal thickness, tunica media-to-internal lumen ratio of 436 arterioles, 124 interlobular arteries and 5 arcuate arteries were measured. The primary endpeint was the composite of a doubling of serum creatinine level and ESRD. Correlations of renal vascular lesions with clinical manifestation, pathological change and prognosis were examined by Spearman and Cox methods. Results 1.5% of all the IgAN patients presented malignant hypertension. The common clinical features were renal failure (100%), hyperurieacidemia (62.7%) and hypertriglyceridemia (51.7%). The average amount of urine protein excretion was 2.8 g/d. The common pathological changes were moderate mesangial proliferation, severe global sclerosis, severe interstitial inflammation and severe interstitial- tubular fibrosis. The small arteries (arcuate arteries and interlobular arteries) and arterioles (afferent arterioles) were both involved in IgAN-MHT. The characteristic lesions of intrarenal arteries included vascular occlusion, media thickening, proliferative endarteritis (onionskin lesion, musculomucoid intimal hyperplasia), hyaline arteriosclerosis, but mainly vascular occlusion (86.2%). The arteriole lesion was negatively correlated with age and total protein level; vascular occlusion was positively correlated with uric acid level. The average foUow-up period was 21.1 months. Forteen patients reached the endpoint. The arteriole lesion was the main independent risk factor for the progression of IgAN-MHT (RR=10.21, 95%CI=1.16～89.67). Conclusions The main clinical feature of IgAN-MHT is renal failure. The main histological feature of intrarenal vascular lesions is occludes arterioles. Arteriole lesion is the main independent risk factor for the progression of IgAN-MHT.

Objective:To investigate the possible role of NKT cells in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion by measuring the NKT cell numbers,maturity and cytokine secretion of the placenta of mice with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.Methods:Normal pregnancy model in hybrid by feeding CBA / J and BABL/C in a cage,and the model of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion was established by feeding CBA / J and DBA2/J in a cage.The number of NKT and CD3~+T cells was determined by flow-cytometry;Th1/Th2-relative cytokines were assayed by ELISA and T-bet expression was determinded by fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results:There was not significant change of CD3~+ T cells when compared between normal pregnancy and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion group (P＞0.05).In the course of normal pregnancy,the IFN-γ secreted by placenta lymphocytes decreased gradually,accompanied by the decline of NKT cell number and the proportion of mature cells;whereas in the course of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion,it was on the opposite.There was significant difference of T-bet mRNA expression between the two groups.T-bet mRNA expression was related to the proportion of mature NKT cells or placenta IFN-γ secretion by lymphocytes.Conclusion:Unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion may be related to NKT cells disorders,NKT cells are of low-mature proportion and inadequate secretion of IFN-γ during early pregnancy,whereas are shown high-mature proportion and excessive secretion of IFN-γ during latter pregnancy;the anomaly of T-bet mRNA expression may be one of the factors leading to NKT cells disorder.

To explore the analysis methods for composite traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) constitutions.

Objective: To explore the effect of persistent atrial ifbrillation (AF) on circadian rhythm of blood pressure (BP) in patients with essential hypertension (EH).
Methods: A total of 173 EH patients treated in Gansu Provincial Hospital from 2013-02 to 2014-01were studied. The patients were divided into 2 groups: EH group,n=88 and Persistent AF combining EH group,n=85. The baseline information was studied and the risk factors of persistent AF combining EH were investigated by multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results: Compared with EH group, the Persistent AF combining EH group showed decreased average daytime DBP, minimum daytime SBP, minimum daytime DBP and the average 24-hour DBP, while increased maximum nighttime SBP and the percentage of reverse dipper in DBP, allP<0.05. There were no significant differences for the average of daytime SBP, maximum daytime SBP, maximum daytime DBP, the average 24-hour SBP, average nighttime SBP, average nighttime DBP, maximum nighttime DBP, minimum nighttime SBP, minimum nighttime DBP and the percentage of reverse dipper in SBP between 2 groups, allP>0.05. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the maximum nighttime SBP was obviously related to persistent AF combining EH (OR=1.038, 95 CI 1.014-1.062,P=0.001).
Conclusion: Persistent AF may incur daytime BP dropping, such change was not obviously observed for nighttime BP in EH patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of endoscopy-assisted sialolithectomy for the calculus in the Stensen's duct.

METHODSFrom August 2005 to July 2013, 67 consecutive patients with calculus (or foreign bodies) in the Stensen's duct underwent explorative and interventional endoscopy in our hospital. The stones (or foreign bodies) were removed by endoscopy-assisted technique. After operation, the patients were followed-up periodically, and treatment effects were analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 67 patients, the stones (or foreign bodies) were completely removed in 58 cases, and almost completely removed in 3 cases, with a success rate of 87% (58/67). Among the 61 stone-removed cases, treatment options included direct removal with aid of basket or forceps (24 cases), basket entrapment and opening-up of the ostium (21 cases), basket entrapment and mucosal incision near the ostium (8 cases), open removal via buccal incision (2 cases) and open removal via pre-auricular flap (6 cases). During the 6-90 months' follow-up of the 61 cases, 48 cases were asymptomatic, 7 had mild symptoms, 3 developed ductal obturation, 1 had numbness in the parotid region, and the remaining 2 were missed.

CONCLUSIONSEndoscopy-assisted sialolithectomy is a safe and effective gland-preservation technique for the patients with parotid gland calculus.

Dental Care ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Parotid Gland ; pathology ; surgery ; Salivary Duct Calculi ; surgery ; Salivary Ducts ; Surgical Flaps

BACKGROUNDIn China, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease has increased significantly. Many studies shows that the spectrum of kidney disease had changed in recent years. We retrospectively analyzed the pathological types of renal biopsy and its spectrum change at the General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army from December 1987 to December 2012, in order to offer new supporting evidences for further specifying the distribution of renal pathological types in China.

METHODSAccording to the "Revised Protocol for the Histological Typing of Glomerulopathy" (WHO, 1995), pathological diagnosis of renal biopsy was classified, detection rate of each pathological type was summarized (i.e., percentage of total renal biopsy cases), study period was divided at an interval of 5 years, and age-stratified distribution change of main pathological types was analyzed.

RESULTSThe proportion of pathological types in 11 618 cases of renal biopsy was as follows: primary glomerulonephritis (PGN, 70.7%), secondary glomerulonephritis (SGN, 20.7%), tubular-interstitial nephropathy (4.0%), hereditary/rare nephropathy (0.3%), end-stage renal disease (0.9%), and unclassified renal disease (3.3%). Among PGN, there was IgA nephropathy (IgAN, 37.0%), membranous nephropathy (MN, 11.8%), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN, 8.9%), minimal change disease (MCD, 6.6%), and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (3.9%). Among SGN there was lupus nephritis (LN, 5.5%), Henoch-Schönlein purpura glomerulonephritis (5.3%), hepatitis B virus-associated nephritis (HBVAN, 3.03%), diabetic nephropathy (2.2%), and hypertension/malignant hypertension-associated renal damage (1.9%). Pathological data were analyzed from 1987-1992 to 2008-2012 (after age adjustment). Detection rate of IgAN tended to rise (P < 0.001). Detection rates of MN and MCD rose significantly (P < 0.001), but detection rate of MsPGN dropped significantly (P < 0.001). Among SGN, detection rate of HBVAN tended to drop (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONIn China, PGN was the most common glomerulopathy (mostly IgAN), LN was the most common SGN, and detection rate of MN and MCD rose significantly.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biopsy ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult