Objective To investigate the effect of prebiotics supplement on intestinal epithelial tight junctions and barrier function of the rats with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods The AP model in Wistar rat was established by intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine. The rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, AP group, GOS group. GOS was given 4g·kg-1·d-1at 7d before ANP induced. Twelve hours after modeling, the AP rats in each group were sacrificed. 2 ml of blood sample was taken from heart for the analysis of plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) activity. Jejunum was taken for histological examination. The transmembrane binding proteins (occludin) were measured with immunohistochemistry. Results The plasma DAO level in AP group was (7.29±0.68) U/L, and significantly higher than (2.01±0.34) U/L of control group (P＜0.01). The DAO level in GOS group was (3.44±0.59) U/L, and significantly lower than that of AP group. The occludin protein level in AP group was 95.1±9.2, and significantly lower than 44.7±8.2 of control group and 59.7±7.8 of GOS group (P＜0.01). The occludin protein level in COS group was significantly higher than that of control group (P＜0.05). Conclusions The prebiotics may increase the expression of occludin protein, enhance the intestinal epithelial tight junction, maintain the intestinal permeability, and protect the intestinal barrier function.

Objective To explore the clinical significance of micro-metastasis ( mM ) in the nipple-areola complex (NAC) and the regional skin of breast cancer. Methods Samples from the skin projection of the lump and the midline-transection of the nipple-areola complex were collected from 60 breast cancer patients for both routine pathological examination ( RP) and cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) monoclonal antibody immuneohistochemical examination (IHC). Results NAC invasion was identified by RP in 3 cases (5. 0% ) , and by IHC in 7 cases (11.7%) ( x2 = 2. 25, P

Objective To explore the mechanisms and effects of adoptive immunotherapy with ovarian cancer vaccine modified by GM-CSF gene which was used after immunologic reconstitution during lymphopenia induced by chemotherapy.Methods Lymphopenia was induced by chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide.The immune reconstituted model was built in rats.The tumor vaccine draining lymph nodes were harvested after the ovarian cancer cells NUTU-19 modified by GM-CSF gene were injected.The effector T cells (T_E) were got after being stimulated and amplified.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the level of interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 secreted by T_E.Intracellular cytokine staining was used to determine frequency of tumor-specific T_E.Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to detect the special cytotoxicity ofT_E killing target cells.The survival period of rats bearing pre-established abdominal ovariam carcinoma after being adoptively transferred byT_E.was observed.Results Compared with those in control group,the significant higher levels IL-2[(65.7±4.0) pg/ml]and lower levels IL-4 [(277±49) pg/ml]were observed in chemotherapy-immune recunstitution-vaccine immunization group.The amount of CD_4~+ T cells secreting interferon-γ (13.0±2.1)% were also significantly increased.The rate of the special cytotoxicity of killing T cells (86.5±1.1) % was markedly improved.The survival period of rats (110±16) days was increased in chemotherapy-immune reconstitution-vaccine immunization group.Conclusions The combined immunotherapy of chemotherapy-immune reconstitution-tumor vaccine immunotherapy may increase the frequency and function of specific tumor T_E.The specific cytotoxicity is increased and the weak reaction of T_E to tumor is improved,which showed that this therapy can enhance immune reaction.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the causes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level elevation in HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with low HBV DNA loads.

METHODSOne hundred nineteen HBsAg positive CHB patients with both serum HBV DNA loads less than 1000 copies/ml and ALT more than 1.25 upper limits of normal (ULN) lasting for at least 6 months were enrolled in this study. Patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus or HIV or suffering from other liver diseases were not included. HBV DNA loads were assayed by PCR. Serological biochemistry and liver biopsy histopathological changes and clinical characteristics of the patients were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 119 patients 102 were males and 17 were females. The mean age of the patients was (33.9+/-9.7) years and their body mass index (BMI) was (23.4+/-3.7) kg/m2. Mean ALT levels were (150.0+/-166.6) U/L and AST levels were (102.4+/-193.2) U/L. Liver biopsies showed hepatic steatosis in 26.9 % (32/119) of the cases, chronic hepatitis in 53.8% (64/119), non-specific changes in 12.6% (15/119), and 1 without any change. However, hepatic steatosis was more frequently seen in patients taking nucleoside analogs (56.7%), x2=10.394, Probability value less than 0.01. BMI, apolipoprotein B (APO-B), triglyceride, cholesterol and uric acid were all significantly higher in patients with hepatic steatosis than those without (t values were 5.369, 4.276, 3.216, 4.223 and 2.438 respectively, all P less than 0.05) while ALT, AST and apolipoprotein A were much lower in those with steatosis than those without (t values were -2.234, -3.877 and -2.956 respectively, all P less than 0.05). Obesity, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia were more frequently seen in patients with steatosis than in patients without it (x2 value 3.829, 7.659, 13.389, 0.549, all P less than 0.05). The severity of inflammation and fibrosis were also more significant in patients with steatosis (x2 value 20.978, 17.550, all P less than 0.05). As compared to those patients without specific changes, serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT in patients with chronic hepatitis were obviously higher, all P less than 0.05. In contrast, there were no significant differences in mean age, BMI, male preference, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia or hyperuricemia, and the levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONOur data indicate that hepatic steatosis might be a factor associated with elevated ALT levels in HBsAg-positive CHB patients with low HBV DNA loads, especially in patients treated with nucleoside analogs.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Carrier State ; Fatty Liver ; physiopathology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; virology ; Hepatocytes ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of endotoxin in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

METHODSRat models of NASH were established by giving a fat-riched diet. These rats were sacrificed at the 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th and 24th weeks during the study. The other rats fed with normal diet were taken as normal controls at the same stage during the study. The blood of abdominal aorta was obtained and the levels of serum endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 b) were measured. The expression of CD(14) and lysozyme in rats' livers were detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSRat models of NASH with liver fibrosis were established successfully. The levels of endotoxin in aorta blood of NASH rats increased significantly at the 24th week (0.23 EU/L 0.06 EU/L vs 0.15 EU/L 0.03 EU/L, t>2.179, p <0.05) while the expression of CD(14) increased from the 4th week, and the Kupffer cells expressing lysozyme were activated, then kept increasing activation through the study. In NASH rats, the levels of serum TNF-a increased from the 8th week (26.39 pg/ml 24.21 pg/ml vs 9.82 pg/ml 9.29 pg/ml, t>2.145, p < 0.05) and serum IL-1beta increased from the 16th week (23.76 pg/ml 21.81 pg/ml vs 6.25 pg/ml 2.98 pg/ml, t>2.145, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONLiver injury results from endotoxin existing in NASH rats which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of NASH by activating Kupffer cells and inducing the production of cytokines, such as TNF-a.

Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Disease Progression ; Endotoxins ; blood ; Fatty Liver ; blood ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; analysis ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVESTo assess the clinic efficacy of treating chronic prostatitis by Neisseria gonorrhoeae with azithromycin aspartic-acid injection.

METHODSNineteen cases were treated with monotherapy and once-daily intravenous dosing of azithromycin injection. The effects and side-effects after treatment were observed.

RESULTSTwelve of nineteen cases were cured.

CONCLUSIONSA short term therapy with azithromycin injection for chronic prostatitis caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae is very effective and easy to used and thus eliminate any problem of compliance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Azithromycin ; therapeutic use ; Gonorrhea ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDVon Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL), a heritable autosomal dominant disease characterized by neoplasia in multiple organ systems, has rarely been reported in Asia. We genetically investigated a unique Chinese family with VHL disease and performed an analysis of the VHL protein stability.

METHODSGenomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from peripheral blood was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to three exons of the VHL gene in 9 members of the Chinese family with VHL disease. PCR products were directly sequenced. We estimated the effects of VHL gene mutation on the stability of pVHL, which is indicated by the free energy difference between the wild-type and the mutant protein (ΔΔG).

RESULTSThe Chinese family was classified as VHL type 1. Three family members, including two patients and a carrier, had a T to G heterozygotic missense mutation at nucleotide 515 of the VHL gene exon 1. This missense mutation resulted in the transition from leucine to arginine in amino acid 101 of the VHL protein. There was low stability of the VHL protein (the ΔΔG was 12.71 kcal/mol) caused by this missense mutation.

CONCLUSIONSWe first reported a family with this VHL gene mutation in Asia. This missense mutation is predicted to significantly reduce the stability of the VHL protein and contribute to the development of the renal cell carcinoma (RCC) phenotype displayed by this family. The genetic characterization and protein stability analysis of families with VHL disease are important for early diagnosis and prevention of the disease being passed on to their offspring.

Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation, Missense ; Protein Stability ; Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein ; chemistry ; genetics ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease ; genetics