Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is characterized by a progressive depletion of CD4 T lymphocytes, which leads to dysfunction of the immune system. Although a variety of mechanisms may contribute to the gradual T cell decline that occurs in HIV-infected patients, abnormal apoptosis of infected or bystander T lymphocytes is an important event leading to immunodeficiency. The HIV envelope glycoprotein plays a crucial role in HIV associated apoptosis through both death receptor-mediated and mitochondria-dependent pathways. This review summarizes current knowledge of Env-mediated T lymphocyte apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Property of artificial liver reactor is generally evaluated by using an enclosed experimental device, which is constructed through simulating bioartificial liver supporting system. Moreover, the enclosed experimental device is also comprehensively evaluated biological function of hepatocytes and biological response efficiency. In addition, it is significance for primarily evaluating the properties of polysulfone membrane hollow fiber reactor to optimize bioartificial liver supporting system. OBJECTIVE: To construct polysulfone membrane bioreactor experimental system, understand the effects on plasma of patients with severe hepatitis, and observe the feasibility of hollow fiber reactor regarded as bioartificial liver reactor. DESIGN: Repeated measurement.SETTING: General Infectious Disease Institute, Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA. MATERIALS: Seven Chinese mini-pigs with 1-7 days old and of either gender were provided by Experimental Animal Center, the Third Military Medical University (certification: F99017). The animal disposal accorded to the ethical standard. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) kits were purchased from Jingmei Bioengineering Company, China; polysulfone membrane hollow fiber reactor by Shanghai Dehong Biomaterial Institute, China; Cellco culture-circular artificial capillary culture system by Spectrum Company, USA; seven plasma exponents were taken from admission patients with chronic severe hepatitis during plasma exchange. All patients provided the informed consent, and the animal experiment was conducted with confirmed consent by the local ethics committee.METHODS: This study was performed at the General Infectious Disease Institute, Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from January 2004 to July 2005. ① Experimental procedure: The experimental pigs underwent ablactation at 12 hours before experiment, and then hepatocytes were separated after cleaning their fur. An enclosed system was composed of polysulfone membrane hollow fiber reactor and Cellco culture-circular artificial capillary culture system, which were connected with oxygen-carbon dioxide diffusion tube and media holding pond. Interface of external cavity was blocked with clean rubber tampon. The separated hepatocytes underwent spheroid culture by using magnetic stirring method, and then they were inoculated in the external cavity of polysulfone membrane hollow fiber reactor. Next, 200 mL plasma from severe hepatitis patients was added in media holding pond and circled from internal cavity of reactor to media holding pond at the speed of 80 mL/min. ② Experimental evaluation: 2 mL liquid circulation separately collected from internal cavity of reactor at 0, 2, 4 and 6 hours after circulation was used to measure level of ammonia in supernatant by using glutamic dehydrogenase-violet method. In addition, content of total bilirubin was detected by using automatic biochemistry analyzer, prothrombin time by using automatic blood coagulometer, and TNF-α and TGF-β1 were detected according to the kits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effects of polysulfone membrane bioreactor on ammonia, bilirubin, prothrombin time, TNF-α and TGF-β1 in plasma of patients with severe hepatitis.RESULTS: ① Measurement of ammonia, total bilirubin and prothrombin time in patients with severe hepatitis: Level of ammonia decreased persistently, in particularly, the decrease was obvious from 0 to 2 hours, and then, it was decreased slowly. While, level of total bilirubin was also decreased persistently, and it was significantly lower at 6 hours than that at 0 hour (P < 0.05). Moreover, prothrombin time was decreased persistently, and it was significantly lower at 6 hours than that at 0 hour (P < 0.05). ② Measurement of TNF-α and TGF-β1 in patients with severe hepatitis: Contents of both TNF-α and TGF-β1 decreased persistently, and they were significantly lower at 6 hours than those at 0 hour (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Polysulfone membrane bioreactor experimental system can clear noxious substance of small molecules in plasma of patients with severe hepatitis, supply beneficial components, and decrease levels of cytokines. Therefore, it can be regarded as the bioartificial liver reactor.

Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; surgery ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; surgery

Endocardial Cushion Defects ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Lung ; abnormalities ; Lung Diseases ; complications ; congenital

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the feasibility and safety of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), and to compare surgical results of VATS with standard median sternotomy (MS) and other minimal invasive approaches through various small incisions (SI).

METHODSTotally 111 patients underwent surgery for thymic disorders (maximun diameter ≤ 5 cm, clinical stage I-II for thymic tumors) during March 2010 to June 2012 was retrospectively reviewed. There were 46 male and 65 female patients with a mean age of (51 ± 15) years.Resection via VATS was carried out in 47 patients, via SI in 26 patients, and via MS in 38 patients. Demographic characteristics, operation time, number and cause of conversion, blood loss during operation, duration and amount of chest tube drainage, transfusion, morbidity, and length of hospital stay (LHS) were compared between the three groups.

RESULTSOf the 111 patients, 79 patients had thymic epithelia tumors (stage I 32 patients, stage II 39 patients, stage III 8 patients), 31 patients had benign cysts and 1 patient had tuberculosis.In the VATS group, there were 3 conversions among 38 patients through right-side approach, and 4 conversions among 9 patients through left-side approach. The causes for conversion included dense pleura adhesion, invasion of tumor into adjacent structures (pericardium, lung, or great vessels), and injury of the left inominate vein. There was no significant difference in operative time, blood loss or transfusion during operation, duration or amount of postoperative chest tube drainage among the 3 groups (P > 0.05). Average LHS was significantly shorter in the VATS group (5.7 ± 1.7) days than in the SI group (7.5 ± 2.2) days and the MS group (8.2 ± 1.9) days (F = 3.759, P = 0.002). Total thymectomy was performed in 74 patients, 25 patients (53.2%, 25/47) in VATS group, 11 patients (42.3%, 11/26) in SI group, and 38 patients (100%, 38/38) in MS group. The reset of the patients received tumor resection and partial thymectomy. Among all the subgroups, LHS was the shortest in VATS total thymectomy patients (5.0 ± 1.4) days (F = 5.844, P = 0.001). There was no perioperative mortality. The only major morbidity was a postoperative bleeding necessitating reintervention in SI group.

CONCLUSIONSVATS for benign thymic lesions and early-stage thymic tumors is safe and feasible.It is associated with shorter hospital stay compared with other minimal invasive approaches or standard sternotomy.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Thymectomy ; methods ; Thymoma ; surgery ; Thymus Neoplasms ; surgery

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab ( avastin ) injection in patients with exudative age related macular degeneration ( AMD) .
METHODS: The records of patients treated with intravitreal injection of 1. 75mg bevacizumab for AMD were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated by complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein and/or indocyanine green angiography. Observation was made on the best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA) , intraocular pressure, and the changes of lens, vitreous, central retinal thickness (CFT) and total macular volume (TMV), at 1d, 3d, 7d, 1mo and 6mo after the treatment and then compared with those of pre - operation. Repeated treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab occurred if there were signs of persistent or recurrent exudation. And all cases were followed up at least 6mo. An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1. 75mg) was given once every 6wk.
RESULTS:All 50 eyes of 48 patients with the average of 58±20. 46 years old were included. The mean baseline of BCVA and CFT were 0. 82±0. 53, and 364. 97±151. 83μm respectively. Although there was no significant decrease in mean CFT and TMV one week after the injection, the mean BCVA had significant improvement. At the last visit of 9. 7mo follow - up, BCVA, CRT and TMV showed significant improvements over baseline values. BCVA was improved by at least two lines in 32 eyes (64%),remained stabilization in 18 eyes (36%) at the last visit. A total of 98 injections were performed and the average number of injections was 1. 98 for each eye in the group. About 50%of re - injections gained at least two lines of vision improvement one week postoperatively. There were no serious adverse events during the treatment.
CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab ( avastin ) injection for managing CNV due to age-related macular degeneration is safe and few side effects. Intravitreal avastin associated with improvement in visual acuity ( VA ) , which can reduce macular edema and choroidal neovascularization leakage. But a prolonged treatment effect needs further observation.

OBJECTIVEAn accurate and reliable analytical method for-simultaneous determination of six active components (scopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C) in plants of Erycibe was developed.

METHODScopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C in the samples were well separated in analytical HPLC by gradual elution with methanol-0.1% formic acid solution. The chromatographic condictions: Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column, flowing rate being 1 mL x min(-1), detecting wavelength at 345 nm.

RESULTGood linearities of scopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C were in the range of 0.026 8-2.68, 0.027 0-2.70, 0.008 1-0.81, 0.018 8-1.88, 0.017 6-1.76, 0.019 6-1.96 μg, respectively (r > 0.999 6). The average recoveries of the six components were 98.1%, 98.7%, 100.8%, 100.4%, 99.7%, 101.1%; the relative standard deviations were 2.67%, 2.86%, 2.62%, 1.98%, 2.76%, 2.19%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, feasible and reproducible and can be used for the quality control of plants of Erycibe.

China ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Convolvulaceae ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Scopoletin ; analysis

The study aims to characterize and compare interferon reference standards from 5 manufacturers. By testing molecular mass and trypsin-digested peptide mass mapping, the amino acid sequence was verified and post-translational modifications such as disulfide bond were identified. Results show that the molecular mass and amino acid sequence were consistent with theory; the disulfide bonds of 4 lots of interferon were Cys1-Cys98/Cys29-Cys138, 1 lot was Cys29-Cys139/Cys86-Cys99; N-terminal "+Met", acetyl N-terminal and Met oxidation were identified in part of the sample. UPLC-MS can be used to characterize and compare interferon reference standards from different manufacturers.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Interferons ; standards ; Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Molecular Weight ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Peptide Mapping ; Protein Processing, Post-Translational ; Reference Standards

OBJECTIVETo explore the procedures of dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC) and their application in the diagnosis and classification of venous erectile dysfunction (VED).

METHODSThis study included 103 ED patients, aged 20 to 43 years, highly suspected of VED, with disease courses of 4 months to 6 years. DICC was performed and analyses were made on the results, especially the parameters of flow-to-maintain (FTM) and pressure decay (PD) in the corpus cavernosum.

RESULTSBased on the parameters of FTM and PD, 21 of the patients were normal, 5 were suspected of VED, 39 had mild VED, 25 had moderate VED, and 13 had severe VED. Penile subcutaneous hematoma was found in 4 of the patients, all recovered after 3 to 5 days, with no other complications.

CONCLUSIONDICC is a reliable, safe and minimally invasive method for the diagnosis and classification of VED.

Diagnostic Techniques, Urological ; adverse effects ; Hematoma ; etiology ; Humans ; Impotence, Vasculogenic ; classification ; diagnosis ; Male ; Penile Diseases ; etiology ; Penis ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiography ; Veins

Child ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Paraganglioma ; surgery ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; surgery