OBJECTIVE:To objectively evaluate the immunosuppressive effect and safety of tacrolimus(FK 506) in renal transplant recipients METHODS:932 recipients receiving FK 506,reported in literature,were retrospectively analyzed RESU_LTS:The incidence of acute rejection was low in 547 recipients who received FK 506 immediately after transplantation Most of the recipients who received CsA and FK 506 successively showed alleviation of rejection and improvement of liver function The ARDs of FK 506 were rise of blood sugar(18 10%) and toxicity to nervous system(12 25%) CONCLUSION:FK 506 is a po_wer immunosuppressant and can be used to treat CsA-resistant rejection

ObjectiveTo compare the recovery rates calculated according to different criteriain patients with urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infection after treatment with azithromycin. Methods Clinical data on outpatients who were diagnosed with urogenital Ct infection and treated with azithromycin in the sexually transmitted disease(STD) outpatient clinic of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. Recovery rates were calculated according to the improvement of symptom and (or) reexamination results of Ct at 1,5 and 9 weeks after the end of treatment.ResultsSignificant differences were observed between the recovery rates calculated according to symptom improvement and those according to laboratory reexamination results.No obvious correlation existed between the presence of symptom and positive reexamination results.The recovery rates calculated according to the second reexamination result differed significantly from those according to the first reexamination result,but were similar to those according to the third reexamination result. ConclusionsThe cure of Ct infection should be determined according to laboratory test results,and two times of reexamination at 1 and 5 weeks after the final treatment are recommended.

Objective To compare the measured IOP values by non-contact tonometer and indentation tonometer in order to evaluate the non-contact tonometer in clinical application. Methods 320 eyes of 160 patients for screening of IOP in the clinic were included in the observation, by self-control study, the IOP value of the non-contact tonometer(abbreviated NCT) and the indentation tonometer was compared. Results IOP values measured by NCT was lower than that mesgured by indentation tonometer. Conclusions IOP values measured by NCT was lower than that measured by indentation tonometer, for IOP value around 2.67 kPa measured by NCT, it is best to use indentation tonometer to retest or coming again for subsequent visit.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of antidepressants plus cognitive-behavioral education and self-management preventing the recurrent or deterioration of depression.Methods Outpatients with non-episode depression,Hamilton Rating Scales of Depression 17 items (HAMD17 ≥3),entered openly intervention group (n =30) and control group (n =30),and were followed up one year.Patients in intervention group received intervention,including treatment as usual,group education of cognitive behavior,self-help group attendance and self-management of depressive mood.Patients in control group only received treatment as usual.The primary outcome was time to recurrent or deterioration of depression.Kaplan-Meier methodology was used to evaluate differences of survival curves between two different groups.Results There were significant differences for risk of recurrent or deterioration (x2 =5.70,P ＜ 0.05) and one-year rate of recurrent or deterioration (intervention group 27％ (8/30),control group 53％ (16/30),x2 =4.44,P ＜ 0.05) between two groups,but not for average time of recurrent or deterioration (intervention group (4.75 ± 2.49) months,control group (6.63 ± 3.10) months,t =-1.48,P ＞0.05).There were no significant differences for risk of drop-out (x2 =1.66,P ＞ 0.05),one-year rate of drop-out (intervention group 13％ (4/30),control group 23％ (7/30),x2 =1.00,P ＞ 0.05) and average time of drop-out (intervention group (7.25 ± 3.78) months,control group (4.00 ± 2.58) months,t =1.71,P ＞ 0.05) between two groups.Conclusion Antidepressants plus cognitive-behavioral education and self-management can effectively prevent the recurrent or deterioration of depression.

Objective To compare the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of venlafaxine and mirtazapine in patients with treatment-resistant major depression (TRD).Methods One hundred and five patients with TRD were enrolled in this study and grouped into venlafaxine treatment (n=50) and mirtazapine treatment (n=55) based on the double-blind randomization scheme generated by computer.The treatment costs of antidepressants during 8 weeks were calculated,the rates of clinical response and remission were taken as treatment effectiveness,and the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) as treatment utility.The descriptive analysis and nonparametric test were used to compare the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of different groups.Results During 8 weeks,the treatment cost of antidepressant was ￥ 1 396.44 for venlafaxine and ￥ 1 206.90 mirtazapine,and the difference between two groups was ￥ 189.54.The cost-effectiveness ratios between venlafaxine and mirtazapine were very close (differed ￥ 0.06 for remission rate and ￥ 1.08 for response rate respectively).There was no significant difference for cost-utility ratios between two groups (physical functioning Z=-0.15,P＞0.05 ; mental health Z=-0.54,P＞0.05).Conclusion Both cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of venlafaxine in patients with TRD are close between venlafaxine and mirtazapine.

Objective To compare the characterization and myocardial differentiation capacity of amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AF MSCs) and umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (WJ MSCs). Methods The human AF MSCs were cultured from amniotic fluid samples obtained by amniocentesis. The umbilical cord WJ MSCs were obtained from Wharton's Jelly of umbilical cords of infants delivered full-term by normal labor. The morphology, growth curves, and analyses by flow cytometry of cell surface markers were compared between the two types of cells. Myocardial genes (GATA-4, c-TnT, α-actin, and Cx43) were detected by real-time PCR and the corresponding protein expressions were detected by Western blot analysis after myocardial induced in AF MSCs and WJ MSCs. Results Our findings revealed AF MSCs and WJ MSCs shared similar morphological characteristics of the fibroblastoid shape. The AF MSCs were easily obtained than the WJ MSCs and had a shorter time to reach adherence of 2.7 ± 1.6 days to WJ MSCs of 6.5 ± 1.8 days. The growth curves by MTT cytotoxic assay showed the AF MSCs had a similar proliferative capacity at passage 5 and passage 10. However, the proliferative capacities of WJ MSCs were decreased at 5 passage relative to 10 passage. Both AF stem cells and WJ stem cells had the characteristics of mesenchymal stromal cells with some characteristics of embryonic stem cells. They express CD29 and CD105, but not CD34. They were positive for Class I major histocompatibility (MHC I) antigens (HLA-ABC), and were negative, or mildly positive, for MHC Class II (HLA-DR) antigen. Oct-4 was positive in all the two cells types. Both AF MSCs and WJ MSCs could differentiate along myocardium. The differentiation capacities were detected by the expression of GATA-4, c-TnT, α-actin, Cx43 after myocardial induction. Conclusions Both AF MSCs and WJ MSCs have the potential clinical application for myogenesis in cardiac regenerative therapy.

BACKGROUND: Cerebrovascular disease often causes dysfunction of the brain nerve, and nerve cel apoptosis is the important factor of cerebral nerve dysfunction. The excessive expression of c-fos can block the transduction of intracelular signal so that producing some apoptosis-promoting factors, which involve in nerve cel apoptosis process after ischemia injury of brain. Bcl-2 is an inhibited factor. It might to be the key to treat ischemic cerebrovascular disease by inhibiting or reducing the apoptosis of nerve cels after ischemia injury. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of the Total Flavone of Hawthorn Leaf on chronic cerebral ischemia rats. METHODS: A total of 72 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham surgery group, model group, Total Flavone of Hawthorn Leaf group and ginkgo leaf group. Permanent bilateral carotid artery ligation was used to prepare chronic cerebral ischemia model in the model group, Total Flavone of Hawthorn Leaf group and ginkgo leaf group. Total Flavone of Hawthorn Leaf group and ginkgo leaf group respectively received 140 mg/kg Total Flavone of Hawthorn Leaf and 12.3 mg/kg ginkgo leaf intragastricaly for 36 days from 36 days after model induction. Model group and sham surgery group received 3.5 mL/kg physiological saline intragastricaly. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the model group, the expression of c-fos protein significantly deceased in the Total Flavone of Hawthorn Leaf group (P < 0.01), Bcl-2 expression levels significantly increased (P < 0.01), and Ca2+ content decreased (P < 0.05). Moreover, no significant difference in above indexes was detected between Total Flavone of Hawthorn Leaf group and ginkgo leaf group (P> 0.05). These data indicated that the protective effect of Total Flavone of Hawthorn Leaf on chronic cerebral ischemia was associated with its inhibition of neuronal apoptosis. Its mechanism of anti-apoptosis might be associated with up-regulating expression of Bcl-2, down-regulating expression of c-fos and decreasing Ca2+ content in brain.

Objective To explore the relationship between ERG4 gene overexpression and azole resistance in clinical Candida albicans strains. Methods The National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)M27-A2 broth microdilution method was conducted to evaluate antifungal susceptibility of 34 clinical Candida albicans isolates in vitro. Total RNA was extracted from these Candida albicans strains and transcribed into cDNA. Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of ERG4 gene. Statistical analysis was carried out by a two-sample t-test. Results The expression level of ERG4 mRNA was significantly higher in fluconazole-resistant than in -sensitive Candida albicans strains (4.20 ± 2.56 vs. 1.72 ± 1.33, t = 3.99, P < 0.05), higher in itraconazole-resistant than in -sensitive Candida albicans strains (3.60 ± 2.47 vs. 1.66 ± 1.61, t = 3.71, P < 0.05), and higher in voriconazole-resistant than in -sensitive Candida albicans strains (3.99 ± 2.72 vs. 2.07 ± 1.58, t = 2.91, P <0.05). Further more, increased ERG4 mRNA expression was also observed in isolates cross-resistant to all the three azole antifungal agents compared with those susceptible to all of them (4.49 ± 2.73 vs. 1.69 ± 1.82, t = 3.81, P < 0.05). Conclusions The overexpression of ERG4 gene may be associated with cross resistance to fluconazole, itraconazole and voriconazole in clinical Candida albicans strains, but its exact role is expected to be investigated through downregulation of the ERG4 gene.

Objective To better understand the role of CREB signaling pathway in chronic mild stress (CMS), we investigated the alteration of CREB and p-CREB in CMS rats with and without fluoxetine hydrochloride. Methods Fifty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups:CMS group (26), fluoxtine group (12) and con-trol group (12). The rats in CMS group and fluoxtine group received 8 weeks of chronic mild stress. Rats in fluoxtine group were administered daily injections of fluoxetine 10mg/kg I.P. Sucrose preference tests and open-field test were car-ried out after the 8th week. Based on endpoint sucrose-intake, animals were further divided into 4 groups:CMS sensitive group, CMS resilient group, fluoxtine group and control group. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of CREB and p-CREB in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Results The sucrose consumption was significantly de-creased in CMS resilience group compared to sensitive group, control group and fluoxetine-intervention group (all P<0.05). Similarly, the numbers in total arm entries, percentage of entries into open arms and time spent in open arms was significantly lower in CMS resilience group compared to control group(all P<0.05), but not different compared to CMS sensitive group(all P<0.05). The p-CREB in the hippocampus was significantly lower in CMS sensitive rat compared to CMS resilience group, control group and fluoxetine-intervention group(all P<0.05), but CREB was not dfferent among the four groups(all P<0.05). Conclusions The elevated phosphorylation of CREB in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of resilience CMS rats may contribute to the mood alteration induced by stress.

Objective To investigate effects of α-crystallin on proliferation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated retinal microglia and bioactivity of iNOS.Methods The retinal microglial cells cultured in vitro were analyzed and their purity was identified by cell immunofluorescence and flow cytometry.After microglia cells being intervened using LPS and α-crystallin at various concentrations,influence of α-crystallin on activity of LPS-activated retinal microglia was detected by MTT method and level of NO was measured by RT-PCR to observe changes of iNOS expression in microglia.Results Purity of primary cultured microglial cells was 94.15％ by GSA-IB4 immunohistochemical identification and 93.34％ by CD11b flow cytometry.α-crystallin of 10-4g/L awakened activity of microglia induced by 10-6g/L LPS (P ＜ 0.01).Expressions of iNOS protein and mRNA showed significant decrease in combined treatment group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion In clinical condition,α-crystallin decreases the harm of microglial cells on retinal ganglial cells (RGCs) after optical nerve injury by inhibiting the microglia cells to produce NO and iNOS.