Dendritic cells (DCs), a type of antigen-presenting cells (APC), are recognized as an important regulator of immune response and immune tolerance, and play a critical role in the host innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Previous studies have shown that the long-term parasization of Echinococcus in the host is strongly associated with the host immune tolerance induced by DCs. This review summarizes the research progress of the role of DCs in host immune tolerance caused Echinococcus infection, aiming to provide the theoretical basis and insights into the management and immunotherapy of Echinococcus infections.

Humans ; Female ; Tibet ; Kashin-Beck Disease/epidemiology* ; China ; Metabolomics

Objective: To investigate reciprocal regulation between Fur and two RyhB homologs in Methods: Regulatory relationships were assessed by a combination of colony morphology assay, primer extension, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and DNase I footprinting. Results: Fur bound to the promoter-proximal DNA regions of Conclusion Fur and the two RyhB homologs exert negative reciprocal regulation, and RyhB homologs have a positive regulatory effect on biofilm formation in
Bacterial Proteins/metabolism* ; Biofilms ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial/physiology* ; Yersinia pestis/physiology*

Objective To investigate the relationship of fasting serum FFA composition with central obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, levels of serum zinc and age, gender-related differences. Methods Serum FFA were determined by high performance liquid chromatogram in 232 commuity|based subjects aged between 35 and 55 years: 109 hypertensives, 123 normotensives. Results Multivariate stepwise linear regression models and correlation analysis showed that serum FFA composition (including levels of n3PUFA, P/S ratio, C20:5/C18:3, C22:6/C20:5 and C20:4/C18:2 ratio) were linearly correlated with waist/ hip ratio, insulin sensitivity index, levels of serum zinc and related to the habit of diet (all P

AIMThe clinical manifestation of chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is polycythemia, pulmonary hypertension and mionectic blood. However, the pathogenesis of it is not identified now. So it is necessary to investigate the effects of the angiogenic growth factors on the pathophysiologic development of CMS.

METHODSThe serum levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 13 healthy Tibetan natives (Native), 17 healthy people in Xining (control group) and 35 CMS patients were determined by quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Meanwhile, the levels of Hb, Hct and SaO2 were determined.

RESULTSThe serum levels of bFGF (107.26 +/- 7.86) ng/L, PDGF (630.18 +/- 9.89) ng/L and VEGF (543.74 +/- 6.76) ng/L in CMS were significantly higher than those in Natives (37.01 +/- 9.16; 292.16 +/- 6.88; 125.51 +/- 7.26) ng/L, and in control group (40.58 +/- 5.34; 287.68 +/- 8.33; 76.26 +/- 4.60) ng/L, respectively (P < 0.01). There was no difference between the natives and the control group in bFGF and PDGF (P > 0.05), while there was predominant difference between the Natives and the control group in VEGF (P < 0.01). There was a predominant positive correlation between the serum levels of bFGF, PDGF or VEGF and hemoglobin concentrations in CMS respectively (P < 0.01). And there were positive relations between angiogenic growth factors each other.

CONCLUSIONThe serum levels of bFGF, PDGF and VEGF in patients with CMS significantly increase, these angiogenic growth factors may play important role on the pathophysiologic development of CMS; the VEGF level likely contributes to the adaptation to plateau hypoxia in healthy Tibetan natives; the elevated bFGF, PDGF and VEGF levels are likely associated with excessive erythropoiesis in CMS.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

Hepatic cystic echinococcosis is a chronic parasitic disease caused by the infection with the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus in human or animal liver tissues. As a chronic active infectious disease, tuberculous empyema mainly invades the pleural space and then causes visceral and parietal pleura thickening. It is rare to present comorbidity for hepatic cystic echinococcosis and tuberculous empyema. This case report presents a case of hepatic cystic echinococcosis complicated with tuberculous empyema misdiagnosed as hepatic and pulmonary cystic echinococcosis, aiming to improve clinicians’ ability to distinguish this disorder.

To observe the effect of miR-34a on the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in rats induced by hypoxia and explore its possible mechanism.【Methods】Rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were primarily isolated from pulmonary arteriole and cultured. After 3% O2 treatment，the expression of miR- 34a and Notch1 mRNA in rat PASMC were detected by real time PCR. The cell proliferation was detected by EDU after over-expression and inhibition of miR-34a and silencing Notch1 by cell transfection under hypoxia，and the expression of PCNA was detected by real time PCR and western blot method.【Results】We successfully isolated and cultured rat PASMC. And after 3% O2 treatment，the expression of miR-34a in rat PASMC was significantly decreased after 48 h compared with 24 h（P < 0.05）. However，the expression of Notch1 mRNA increased significantly after 48 h compared with 24 h（P < 0.05）. In addition， over-expression of miR-34a and silencing Notch1 significantly inhibited hypoxia-induced cell proliferation ，while inhibition of miR-34a significantly promoted the PASMC proliferation（P < 0.05）.【Conclusion】miR-34a participates in the proliferation of PASMC induced by hypoxia，and it may be through up-regulation of Notch1 to induce cell proliferation.

Aim To explore the mechanism of Tibetan medicine Siwei Huangqi powder(SW)in reducing hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Methods A total of 110 Wistar rats were randomly divided into normoxia control group,hypoxic control group and hypoxic drug group. The two hypoxic groups were divided into 1,3,7,15 and 30 day group according to the exposure time of hypoxic,10 groups in total. The normoxia control group was placed in the atmospheric environment at an altitude of 2 260 meters without intervention; 10 hypoxic groups were placed in a hypobaric hypoxic chamber with a simulated altitude of 5 000 meters. The hypoxic drug group was given SW suspension(0.42 g/100 g)by gavage,and the hypoxic control group was given normal saline by gavage,once a day. The Ppa and RV/(LV+S)were measured at the corresponding time points in each group; the levels of p-AMPK,ULK-1 and LC3 /LC3 Ⅱ protein in lung tissues were measured by WB method. Results Compared with normoxia control group,the ratio of PA and RV/(LV + s)in hypoxic control group increased gradually with the extension of hypoxic exposure time,which was consistent with the thickness of pulmonary artery smooth muscle layer and the changes of pulmonary tissue subcellular organelles. The expression level of p-AMPK protein in lung tissues was also slightly up-regulated(P<0.05),and ULK-1 and LC3 Ⅱ were significantly up-regulated(P<0.01),especially in acute hypoxic. Compared with the hypoxic control group,the increase of Ppa and the thickening of pulmonary artery smooth muscle layer in the hypoxic drug group were significantly reduced(P<0.050.01),while the expression levels of p-AMPK,ULK-1 and LC3 Ⅱ proteins in lung tissues increased with the extension of hypoxic exposure time(P<0.050.001),especially in chronic hypoxic. Conclusion SW can inhibit hypoxic pulmonary hypertension by up-regulating AMPK autophagy signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo observe the expressions of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA, and explore the changes of apoptosis of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in patients with chronic mountain sickness (CMS).

METHODSOf 18 CMS patients and 16 controls were enrolled in this study. The apoptotic index (AI) of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) was measured by TUNEL technique, the levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA in BMMNC of CMS patients and controls were determined by RT-PCR. Results (1)The AI of BMMNC in patients with CMS (8.51 ± 3.35)% was lower than that in controls (16.00 ± 4.28)% (P < 0.01); (2) The values of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA were (0.28 ± 0.07) and (0.23 ± 0.08) respectively, in CMS patients, which were significantly lower than those of (0.45 ± 0.09) and (0.41 ± 0.09) respectively, in the controls (both P < 0.01); (3) Hemoglobin (Hb) value was negatively correlated with levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA (r values were -0.52 and -0.61 respectively, both P < 0.05) in CMS patients. There was a negative correlation between AI and Hb (r value was -0.89, P < 0.01) in CMS patients. However, the significant relationship was not found between AI and level of caspase-8 or caspase-9 mRNA (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe results showed a decrease apoptosis of BMMNCs and reduced levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA in CMS patients, the latter might be involved in the change of BMMNCs apoptosis.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; metabolism ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo find out how GATA-1 and GATA-2 behave in the bone marrow of patients with Monge's disease.

METHODSThe levels of mRNA in mononuclear cells (MNC) and proteins of GATA-1 and GATA-2 in the bone marrow of patients with Monge's disease and controls were determined by RT-PCR and immune cytolysis chemical method.

RESULTS(1) All patients and controls expressed GATA-1 mRNA (Monge's disease 1.033 +/- 0.146, Control 0.458 +/- 0.076) and GATA-2 mRNA (Monge's disease 0.451 +/- 0.073, Control 0.185 +/- 0.074). All patients expressed both GATA-1 (positive cell counts 77.3 +/- 33.3, positive score 135.4 +/- 75.4) and GATA-2 ( positive cell counts 29.4 +/- 11.4, positive score 48.4 +/- 19.7). All the controls expressed GATA-1 (positive cell counts 18.1 +/- 11.3, positive score 24.2 +/- 13.4) while 12 of 20 controls expressed GATA-2 ( positive cell counts 5.4 +/- 3.0, positive score 7.3 +/- 4.2). The expression of mRNA and proteins of GATA-1 and GATA-2 in Monge's disease were higher than in controls (P < 0.01). (2) There was a positive correlation between GATA-1 and Hb (P < 0.01), as did between mRNA and proteins of GATA-1 and GATA-2. (3) Both the proteins of GATA-1 and GATA-2 located only in the cytoplasm but not the nucleus.

CONCLUSIONSTwo of inherent genes, GATA-1 and GATA-2 which were expressed at higher levels in patients with Monge's disease than in controls might play significant roles in the pathogenesis of Monge's disease.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; metabolism ; GATA1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; GATA2 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Polycythemia ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism