Objective To evaluate the effect of ginsenoside-Rg3 on cellular immune function of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with radiotherapy. Methods 50 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with radiotherapy were ran-domly divided into Rg3 group ( n=25 ) and control group ( n=25 ) . After the radiotherapy, the peripheral blood lymphocy of each group were collected. MTT method was used to detect lymphocyte proliferation. Lymphocyte sub-group was detected by Flow Cytometry/financal capacity model. IgG,IgM and Th1/Th2 cytokines was detected by ELISA. Results Ginsenoside Rg3 could promote the proliferation of lymphocytes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma radiotherapy,upregulation of CD4 +,CD4 +/CD8 +,IgG,IgM,IL-2,downregulation of CD8 +,IL-6,and showed dose dependent. Conclusion Rg3 ginsenosides can significantly enhance the peripheral blood lymphocyte immune function of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with radiotherapy. Rg3 ginsenosides may be a potential im-mune immunosuppression caused by nasopharyngeal carcinoma radiotherapy enhancer antagonism.

Objective To investigate the the multi-directional differentiation potential between pluripotent of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) and human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs). Methods HPDLCs and HGFs were obtained from the primary culture. HPDLCs and HGFs at 3rd-4th passage were cultured in osteogenic, adipogenic or chondrogenic me-dium. Cells without differentiation were taken as control. Alizarin red, Alcian blue and oil red O staining were performed to detect osteogenic differentiation, chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation in vitro, respectively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied to examine the expression of osteocalcin (OCN), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and collagen 1 (Col 1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARγ2) and collagen 10 (Col 10). Results HPDLCs and HGFs cultured in osteogenic medium showed massive calicium nodulus at day 28, but HP-DLCs formed more calicium nodulus than those of HGFs. The expressions of OCN, RUNX2 and Col 1 were significantly high-er in HPDLCs than those in HGFs (P<0.05). In chondrogenic medium both cells were found blue deposit at day 14, and the expression of Col 10 was significantly higher in HGFs than that of HPDLCs (P<0.01). Furthermore, in adipogenic medium HGFs showed more lipid-filled droplets stained with oil red O than HPDLCs at day 21. The expression of PPARγ2 was sig-nificantly higher in HGFs than that of HPDLCs (P<0.01). Conclusion HPDLCs has the better potency of osteogenic differ-etiation than HGFs, however, HGFs has the better potency of adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Simple drug therapy can not acquire satisfactory effects in treatment of fungal keretitis. At present, penetrating keratoplasy (PKP) has been considered a primary means to cure the fungal keratitis to save eyeball and vision.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of PKP in the treatment of high-risk fungal keratitis.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A retrospective case analysis was performed at the Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical University between January 2000 and January 2007.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 51 patients (51 eyes) with high-risk fungal keratitis who underwent PKP in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical College were recruited into this study. Of these patients, 12 suffered from perfored, 35 from hypopyon, 8 from complicated cataract prior to surgery, and 5 from complicated glaucoma.METHODS: All patients received antifungal and antibacterial treatments prior to surgery and underwent PKP within 4 days following admission. After surgery, antifungal and antibacterial treatments were performed locally and systemically. All patients were followed-up for 6--24 months.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative visual acuity, recurred fungal infection, rejection of implants, secondary glaucoma, and ulceration of implant.RESULTS: ① Of 51 patients, 18 were followed-up for 6-12 months, 2 for 13-18 months, and 8 for 19-24 months. ② A total of 49 (96.1%) out of 51 patients preserved the eyeballs and the visual acuity improved to different degrees in 48 (94.1%) patients. ③ After surgery, fungal infection recurred in 6 eyes (11.6%), 4 of which were controlled by antifungal medication and 2 was enucleated because of uncontrolled endophthalmitis. Graft rejection was found in 18 (35.3%) eyes, 13 of which recovered transparent by medication and 5 received secondary PKP. Graft ulceration was present in 4 (7.84%) eyes, 3 of which were cured and the remaining one was re-grafted because of severe endothelial cell loss. Secondary glaucoma appeared in 7(13.7%) eyes, and the intraocular pressure was controlled medically and surgically. Complicated cataract occurred in 6 (11.8%) eyes, 3 of which underwent cataract extraction. Most complications were successfully controlled. In the final follow-up period, 45 (88.2%) grafts were transparent.CONCLUSION: PKP is an effective approach to preservation of eyeballs and restoration of visual function in patients with high-risk fungal keratitis, which can not be treated by conservative therapy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mel itus is one of the most common systemic diseases, which often leads to the changes of the jaw and other bone structure, as wel as the abnormal changes of mineral metabolism. OBJECTIVE: To observe the three-dimensional structure and histopathological changes of the mandible in type 1 diabetes mel itus mice. METHODS: The mice were randomly divided into control group and diabetes mel itus group. The diabetes mel itus group received intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg streptozotocin for 5 days to establish a type 1 diabetes mel itus model, and the control group received intraperitoneal injection of citrate buffer. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 3 weeks after modeling, the micro-CT technique was used to observe the three-dimensional structure of the mandibles in the two groups. The quantitative analysis on the microstructure of cancel ous bone and cortical bone showed that the bone mineral density, bone volume fraction, trabecular number and trabecular thickness of cancel ous bone in the interest region in the mandible of type 1 diabetes mel itus mice were significantly decreased when compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), while the structure model index was increased significantly (P < 0.05); the mineral density and area of cortical bone were decreased in the diabetes mel itus group (P < 0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the number and volume of mandibular trabeculae of type 1 diabetes mel itus mice were decreased. The results suggest that the three-dimensional structure of the cancel ous bone and cortical bone in the streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mel itus mice are changed significantly, and the microstructure change of the cancel ous bone is more obvious.

BACKGROUND:Insulin-like growth factor 1 is the key factor during cartilage development, which is involved in the growth and reconstruction of condylar cartilage.
OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 on cel apoptosis and the apopotosis-associated factors of Bcl-2, Bax mRNA and protein expressions of rat condylar chondrocytes.
METHODS:The 1-day-old and 28-day-old rat condylar chondrocytes were cultured and identified in vitro. The condylar chondrocytes with different ages were divided into experimental group and control group. After being starved for 24 hours, chondrocytes in the experimental group were incubated with 100μg/L recombined rat insulin-like growth factor 1 for 48 hours, while the chondrocytes in the control group were incubated normal y. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, after being incubated with recombined
insulin-like growth factor 1, the number of condylar chondrocytes was increased with high speed proliferation (P<0.05). Real-time RCR and western blot analysis revealed that the expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein were increased after added with recombined rat insulin-like growth factor 1, while the expression levels of Bax and protein were decreased (P<0.05). The results indicate that insulin-like growth factor 1 can promote the
proliferation and reduce cel apoptosis of newborn and adolescent rat condylar chondrocytes, which may be mediated by Bcl-2 and Bax.

Objective To examine the distribution and expression of dentin matrix protein1 ( DMP1 ) in the condylar cartilage and subchondral bone of osteoporosis rats. Methods Female Sprague-Dawley rats aged 6 months (n=30)wererandomlydividedinto3groups. TheShamgroupunderwentshamoperationonly(n=10),theOVX group ( n = 10 ) received a bilateral ovariectomy first and then saline solution treatment subcutaneously for 3 months. The RIS group ( n=10 ) also received a bilateral ovariectomy and then with risedronate treatment ( 2. 4μg/kg) subcutaneously for 3 months. Three months after the operation, the animals were sacrificed. Toluidine blue staining showed the structure changes of rat condylar cartilage region. The changes of osteoclasts in the bony subcondylar region were evaluated by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase ( TRAP) staining. The expression of DMP1 was analyzed immunohistochemically and then performed by semi-quantitative imaging analyses. Results Toluidine blue staining showed a thickened hypertrophic layers of condylar cartilage in RIS group. The results of TRAP staining indicated that the number of osteoclasts was significantly greater in OVX group than RIS group (P<0. 05). Immunohistochemistry showed that DMP1 localized mainly in the chondrogenic layers and osteocytes, bony subcondylar region in three groups. The expression levels of DMP1 proteins statistically decreased in OVX group than the other two groups(both P<0. 05). Conclusion Bisphophonates may reduce the the number of osteoclasts in the condyle from osteoporosis rats, with increasing of the expression of DMP1, which may influences condylar cartilage biomineralization.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The number of apoptotic cels in rat condylar cartilage and subcondylar region: the sham operation group < the treatment group < the model group (alP< 0.05). (2)Expression of Bcl-2: The trend of the model group was lower than that in the sham operation group, although there was no statisticaly significant difference between the two groups; Bcl-2 expression in the treatment group was statisticaly higher compared to the model group (P< 0.05).(3)Expression of Bax and Caspase-3: The expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3 were higher in the model group than in the sham operation group (alP< 0.05), while Bax and Caspase-3 expression was lower in the treatment group than that in the model group (alP< 0.05). The results suggested that bisphophonates can regulate apoptosis in condylar cartilage from osteoporosis rats by changing the expression of Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3.

Objective To observe the effect of small-interfering RNA(siRNA) targeting c-Met,the receptor of hepatocyte growth factor(HGF),on the proliferation of human lens epithelial cells(LECs).Methods siRNA was transferred into LECs cultured in vitro by HiperFect Transfection Reagent.Real-Time PCR was applied to observe the expression of c-Met mRNA in LECs after gene transfer,and MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of LECs induced by HGF.Results The expression of c-Met mRNA in LECs was significantly decreased in the experimental group,compared to that in the controls(P<0.01).Proliferation of LECs induced by HGF was inhibited,compared with the single HGF stimulated group(P<0.01).Conclusion The RNA interference targeting c-Met can effectively inhibit the expression of c-Met mRNA,and the proliferation of LECs induced by HGF.

Alemtuzumab (Campath) was successfully injected in 21 kidney transplant patients,7 islet transplant patients and 1 simultaneous kidney and islet transplant patient for either prevention or treatment of graft rejection.Prophylactic administration was successfully completed in all patients without discontinuation.Adverse events were not observed in 11 patients (38%),but hypertension in 18 patients (62%),shivering in 3 patients (10.3%),high fever in 3 patients (10.3%),and bronchospasm in 1 patient (3%),respectively.All complications alleviated after proper therapy.During the prophylactic administration of alemtuzumab,strict,timely and proper ward-management was needed.Care for lung,perineum,skin,diet and psychological nursing were necessary.Neither graft acute rejection nor graft chronic rejection episode occurred in all patients during 6 months to 2 years follow-up.Therefore,long term effects of Alamtuzumab and consequences of lymphocytopenia need further observation.

Objective To investigate the pluripotency of human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs), and provide a novel cell source for tissue engineering. Methods With informed consent from volunteers, fresh and healthy gingiva were collected. The hGFs were obtained from the gingiva by tissue culture. The third passage of hGFs was cultured in osteogenic medium, chondrogenic medium and adipogenic medium. Cells without differentiation were taken as control. Cells were examined by al?kaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, Alizarin red staining, Alcian blue staining and oil red O staining for detecting of the abili?ty of differentiation pluripotency. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was applied to examine the expression of osteogenic marker genes ALP, runt-related transcript factor 2 (Runx2), chondrogenic marker aggrecan (AGR) and adipogenic marker peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARγ2). Results The hGFs cultured in osteogenic medium showed massive violet deposit at day 7 and calcium nodulus at day 28, meanwhile, the expressions of ALP and Runx2 were higher than those of control (P<0.01). In chondrogenic group cells were found blue deposit at day 14. In adipogenic group lipid-filled droplets stained with oil red O were found in cells at day 14. However, hGFs in control group had no any positive stain?ing. Furthermore, expressions of AGR and PPARγ2 were significantly higher than those of control (P<0.01). Conclusion Human gingival fibroblasts have the pluripotency of osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation.