Objective To study the value of the liver and spleen interventional therapy in primary carcinoma of the liver with hyperspleenism. Methods The treatment was given to 25 patients. Using the method of Seldinger,the 5FRH into artery hepatica propria to infuse 2/3 of the overall dose of chemotherapy medicine and embolism was inserted into the liver segment. Then 1/3 of it was infused into artery lienalis and gelatin sponge was infused into artery lienalis Rr. lienales. Combined regimens were used in chemotherapy: 5-Fu 750mg, EADM 40mg, MMC 10mmg,and 10 of the 25 added DDP 40mg. LUF and gelatin sponge were used for embolisation. Results Of the 25 patients,the WBC and PLT increased in 25 patients 4 weeks after the operation. The difference was significant. The survival rate at 6 and 12 months was 100% and 60% respectively,with 1 case of CR,8 cases of PR and 6 cases of SD. Patients had fever after the treatment but few with abnormal liver function tests. Conclusion Liver and spleen interventional therapy may relieve hyperspleenism and suggests that the treatment of primary carcinoma of the liver is effective.

Most diseases are complex genetic traits caused by multiple genetic and environmental components. It has been proposed that common genetic variations, mainly single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), influence the susceptibility to complex diseases. We have conducted an extensive review on the characters of SNPs, the related website information, and the genotyping methods of SNPs such as direct sequencing, SnaPshot, Taqman, real time quantitative (kinetic) PCR with allele specific amplification, denaturing high performance liquid chromatography, and OLA/PCR.The strategies for studying the relation between SNPs and complex diseases susceptible genes were also reviewed.

Objective: To investigate the structural characteristics and the primary functions of antigen gene cC1. Meth-ods: The primary and the secondary structures were analyzed using bioinformatics programs provided by Internet servers.The predicted 3D structure of cC1 was established by homology protein modeling method. Anticoagulant activity of GST-anx32 was assayed by modified kaolin partial thromboplastin time (KPTT). Results: cC1 had high homology to annexinsgenes both at nucleic acid and at amino acid level. It contained 4 homologous regions, and each region included the typical an-nexin motif "G-X-G-T (38 residues)-D/E". The results of KPTT assay showed that the recombinant protein GST-anx32 hadhigh anticoagulant activity. Conclusion: cC1 has the common structures of annexins but the homology to the extant annexinsis no more than 48%, cC1 is a member of a novel annexin subfamily and designed as annexin32.

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA),a systemic,inflammatory autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation of the lining or synovium of the joints,is a complex polygenic disease with a complicated inheritance mode.Both genetic and environmental factors determine the development and progression of RA.Study on susceptible genes of RA provides a theoretic basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.As a novel high-throughput screening method,genome-wide association study(GWAS) is a powerful approach for mapping susceptible genes of polygenic disease like RA.GWAS can not only verify the well-established susceptible loci,but also identify novel genetic loci candidates.Great improvement has been made in using GWAS to screen for novel genes,which casts new lights on the mechanism and treatment of RA.This review summarizes the progress in using GWAS for screening of RA susceptible genes.

Hepatitis C viral RNA in sera from 10 patients with post-transfusion hepatitis in Shanghai (China) were amplified By the nested PCR with primer sets deduced from the American prototype HCV RNA 5' -untranslated region. Eight of 10 cases (80%) were positive. And manipulations of PCR were simplified by combination of reverse transcription step and the first round PCR reaction. Our results indirectly proved that 5-untranslated region of HCV RNA of Shanghai showed a high degree of comservation and homology compared with isolates from some regions in the world.

Objective To analyse the immunostimulatory activity of CpG sequences in cysticercus cellulosae paramyosin (also named Antigen B,AgB)cDNA. Methods C57BL/6 mice were immunized with pcDNA3 AgB plasmid,pcDNA3 AgB′(CpG sequences were mutated),pcDNA3 or AgB protein and two weeks later,immune response was assayed by ELISA. Results IgG and IgG 2a were detectable at week 2 after immunization and continually increased until week 4.The antibody levels elicited by pcDNA3 AgB were significantly higher( P

BACKGROUND: The association of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene polymorphisms with the onset and development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has been the focus of studies on AS in the field of genetics.OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of the polymophisms of TNF-α promoter gene at positions-308 and -238 with AS susceptibility and clinical pathological changes.DESIGN: A case-control study.SETTING:The Rheumatic Immunology Department of Changhai Hospital of the Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: Totally, 108 AS patients were recruited from Rheumatic Immunology Department of Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from January 1999 to December 2003 ,they had no kinship. The ratio of men to women was 5.3: 1. They aged from 13 to 71 (30-± 12) years old, and AS was divided into Ⅰ- Ⅳ radiographic stages according to the sacro-iliac joint damage. A total of 100 healthy controls were randomly selected from the blood donators(Shanghai Hospital) who were aged from 19 -56 (33 ±9) years old, and the ratio of men to women was 4.9: 1. Informed consent was obtained from all the subjects.ti-coagulated with EDTA. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and purification of the TNF-α promoter region was made and the sequence of polymerase chain reaction products was examined and displayed by Chromas 1.62 softcorresponding radiographic stage of sacro-iliac joint damage was assessed to investigate the influence of gene polymorphisms on AS.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: DNA direct sequencing method was used to detect -238 and -308 allele phenotypes for investigating the association with clinical presentations.G and -238G/A allele was 98.1% (106 cases) and1. 9% (2 cases) respectively in AS group and 95.0% (95 cases) and 5.0% (5 cases) respecquency of TNF-α promoter gene at positions -308. 1.1(G/G) and - 308.1.2(G/A) alleles was 82.4% (89 cases) and 17.6% (192 cases) respectively in AS group, which was not significantly different compared respectively with 85.0% (85 cases) and 14.0% (14 cases) of the control of sacro-iliac joint damage and the frequency of TNF-α promoter gene at the position of - 308 (G/G) and (G/A): AS patients with(G/G) phenotype who were confirmed of radiographic stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ were observed in 3/35/40/11cases,compared with (G/A) phenotype of 1/12/6/0 cases.The difference was statistically significant (χ2GMH = 4.77, P ＜ 0.05 ).CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the polymorphisms of TNF-α promoter gene at positions of - 238 and - 308 allele has no association with AS susceptibility, but the polymorphisms of TNF - α promoter gene at the position of -308 might exert great influence on AS according to the radiographic stage of sacro-iliac joint damage.

Objective To evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine on gastric mucosal injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Thirty-six healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 4-5 months,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =9 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),intestinal I/R group (group I/R),low-dose dexmedetomidine group (group LD),and high-dose dexmedetomidine group (group HD).Intestinal I/R was produced by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery for 1 h followed by 2 h reperfusion in anesthetized rats.Dexmedetomidine 2.5 and 5.0 μg · kg-1 · h-1 were infused via the caudal vein for 1 h starting from 1 h before ischemia in LD and HD groups,respectively.The rats were sacrificed at 2 h of reperfusion,and the gastric mucosa was obtained for examination of the pathological changes (with light microscope) and for determination of the expression of serine/threonine kinase (Akt),phosphorylated Akt (p-Akt),activated caspase-3 and caspase-3 (by Western blot).The ratio of p-Akt to Akt (p-Akt/Akt)was calculated to reflect the phosphorylation of Akt.The ratio of activated caspase-3 to easpase-3 (activated caspase-3/caspase-3) was calculated to reflect the activation of caspase-3.Results Compared with group S,the expression of Akt was significantly up-regulated,the expression of p-Akt was significantly downregulated,the phosphorylation of Akt was significantly decreased,and the activation of caspase-3 was significantly increased in group I/R,and the expression of p-Akt was significantly up-regulated,and the phosphorylation of Akt and activation of caspase-3 were significantly increased in LD and HD groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group I/R,the expression of Akt was significantly down-regulated,the expression of p-Akt was significantly up-regulated,the phosphorylation of Akt was significantly increased,and the activation of caspase-3 was significantly decreased in LD and HD groups (P＜0.05).The degree of gastric mucosal injury was significantly lower in LD and HD groups than in group I/R,and there was no significant difference in the degree of gastric mucosal injury between group LD and group HD.Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can attenuate gastric mucosal injury induced by intestinal I/R,and the mechanism may be related to activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathways and inhibition of cell apoptosis in rats.

Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors of upper digestive tract.Squamous cell carcinoma dominates in China and other parts of Asia,while adenocarcinoma dominates in Europe and the United States.Therefore,there are great differences in the pathogenesis of its biological characteristics and the selection of relevant treatment methods.Currently,surgery is still the preferred method for patients with esophageal cancer.But for patients locally advanced or distant metastases who are inoperable and for patients who are operable but do not want surgery,concurrent chemotherapy with radiotherapy is considered the standard noninvasive treatment.

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts on the life quality and the effect mechanism in the patients of allergic rhinitis (AR) treated with warm acupuncture in winter and summer.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty patients of AR were randomized into a summer and winter acupuncture group, a non-summer and winter acupuncture group and a western medication group, 80 cases in each one. In the two acupuncture groups, Dazhui (GV 14), Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13), Pishu (BL 20) and Shenshu (BL 23) were selected. In the summer and winter acupuncture group, the warm acupuncture started at the first day of the three periods of hot season and the first day of the third nine-day period after the winter solstice. The treatment was given once every two days, continuously for 15 times. Totally, 30 treatments were required a year. In the non-summer and winter acupuncture group, the warm acupuncture was applied out of the three periods of the hot season and the third nine-day period after the winter solstice. The treatment was given once every two days and 30 treatments for a year. In the western medication group, cetirizine was taken orally, continuously for 30 days as one session. In the three groups, the treatment for 1 year was taken as one session. The second session started in the next year. Totally, 2 sessions were required. The score of rhinoconjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire (RQLQ) and the level of serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) were compared in the patients' of each group before treatment and in 1 and 2 sessions of treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the scores of 7 domains, named activities, common complaints, practical problems, sleep, ocular symptoms, nasal symptoms and emotions were all improved as compared with those before treatment, in the patients of the three groups (all P < 0.05). After 2 sessions treatment, the results in the summer and winter acupuncture group were better than those in the other two groups (all P < 0.05), and the results in the non-summer and winter acupuncture group were better than those in the western medication group (all P < 0.05). After treatment, serum IgE level was lower averagely than that before treatment in the three groups (all P < 0.05). After 2 sessions treatment, the result in the summer and winter acupuncture group was lower than that in the other two groups (both P < 0.05), and the result in the non-summer and winter acupuncture group was lower than that in the western medication group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the total effective rate was 92.3% (72/78) in the summer and winter acupuncture group, better than 80.5% (62/77) in the non-summer and winter acupuncture group and 69.7% (53/76) in the western medication group (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe warm acupuncture in both summer and winter achieves the definite efficacy on AR and the effect mechanism is relevant with reducing serum IgE level.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; therapy ; Seasons ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult