Dendritic cells (DCs) are uniquely well-equipped antigen (Ag)-presenting cells. This function of DCs, coupled with their remarkable plasticity, renders them attractive therapeutic targets for immune modulation. Recent data have demonstrated a promising role for pharmacologic treatment as a means of generating potent regulatory DCs. Herein, the evidence that the potential of regulatory DC the-rapy is considerable and that there are compelling reasons to evaluate it in the setting of organ transplantation in the near future are discussed in this paper.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; drug effects ; physiology ; Epilepsy ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Female ; Flunarizine ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Penicillins ; adverse effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To evaluate the effects of small dose of antithymocyte globulin(ATG)and zenapax in the induction therapy for kidney transplant recipients.Methods A series of 150 cadaver-donor kidney transplant recipients were randomly divided to 3 groups,ie,small dose of ATG group(total dose,2.1 -3.0 mg/kg;n=72),zenapax group(50mg,on the first and 14th d after operation;n=15)and controls without induction therapy(n=63).Follow-up was 6 months.The rates of acute rejection,delayed graft func- tion(DGF)and pulmonary infection were statistically compared among the 3 groups.Results During a 6-month period,in ATG,zenapax and control groups,acute rejection episodes occurred in 4 cases(5.5%), 1(6.7%)and 10(15.9%),respectively;DGF occurred in 3(4.2%),0 and 8(12.7%),respectively;pul- monary infection occurred in 4(5.1%),1(6.7%)and 3(4.8%),respectively;leucocytopenia occurred in 3(4.2%),1(6.7%)and 5(7.9%),respectively;thrombocytopenia occurred in 2(2.8%),1(6.7%)and 5(7.9%),respectively.Conclusions In the early stage of kidney transplantation,small dose of ATG and zenapax can be the optimal choice for induction therapy.

20% increase in serum creatinine over the last 6 months or progression to the range of 176-308?mol/L.Patients underwent abrupt cessation of cyelosporine and sirolimus maintenance at 1-2 rag/day after administration of 4-6 mg as first loading dose.Concomitant immunosuppression remained unchanged during conversion.Results Targeted sirolimus level was 4-8 ng/mL.Serum creatinine was dropped from pre-conversion level of(242.15?73.04)?mol/L to(188.32?58.96)?mol/L and (173.36?58.08)?mol/L at 3rd and 6th month respectively(P

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with a high mortality. This study was undertaken to detect the factors associated with the prognosis of AKI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 98 patients with AKI treated from March 2008 to August 2009 at this hospital. In these patients, 60 were male and 38 female. Their age ranged from 19 to 89 years (mean 52.4±16.1 years). The excluded patients were those who died within 24 hours after admission to ICU or those who had a history of chronic kidney disease or incomplete data. After 60 days of treatment, the patients were divided into a survival group and a death group. Clinical data including gender, age, history of chronic diseases, the worst laboratory values within 24 hours after diagnosis (values of routine blood tests, blood gas analysis, liver and renal function, levels of serum cystatin C, and blood electrolytes) were analyzed. Acute physiology, chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores and 60-day mortality were calculated. Univariate analysis was performed to find variables relevant to prognosis, odds ratio (OR) and 95％ confidence interval (CI). Multiple-factor analysis with logistic regression analysis was made to analyze the correlation between risk factors and mortality. RESULTS: The 60-day mortality was 34.7％ (34/98). The APACHE II score of the death group was higher than that of the survival group (17.4±4.3 vs. 14.2±4.8, P<0.05). The mortality of the patients with a high level of cystatin C>1.3 mg/L was higher than that of the patients with a low level of cystatin C (<1.3 mg/L) (50％ vs. 20％, P<0.05). The univariate analysis indicated that organ failures≥2, oliguria, APACHE II>15 scores, cystatin C>1.3 mg/L, cystatin C>1.3 mg/L+APACHE II>15 scores were the risk factors of AKI. Logistic regression analysis, however, showed that organ failures≥2, oliguria, cystatin C>1.3 mg/L +APACHE II>15 scores were the independent risk factors of AKI. CONCLUSION: Cystatin C>1.3 mg/L+APACHE II>15 scores is useful in predicting adverse clinical outcomes in patients with AKI.

Objective To evaluate the dose distribution in clinical target volume (CTV) and organs-at-risk (OARs) in three dimension therapy plans in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue receiving postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or conventional radiotherapy (CRT) by dosimetric study. Methods Thirty-five patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue were divided into CRT group(n=17) and IMRT group(n=18). All patients underwent head-and-neck immobilization with a thermoplastic mask and planning CT scan, and target volume and OARs were contoured. Dose calculation and plan optimization were performed. All three dimension plans passed quality assurance before treatment. The dosimetry of therapy plans with IMRT or CRT in target volume and OARs dose distribution was compared by dose-volume histogram (DVH), conformity index (CI) and homogeneous index (HI). Results There were significant differences in D95 (isodose line to cover 95 percent target volume), CI, HI, minimum dose and maximum dose in CTV of therapy plans between patients with IMRT and CRT(P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference in mean dose of CTV(P > 0.05). The radiation dose on salivary glands (both parotid glands and contralateral submandibular gland) in patients with IMRT was significantly lower than that in patients with CRT(P < 0.01). Conclusion Compared with dose distribution of CRT plans, there are more advantages in improving dose distribution at the target volume and sparing salivary glands in IMRT therapy plans in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of tongue.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Transfusion ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To study the inhibitory effects of TPP,a desmosdumotin-C B ring para-fluoro modified derivative,on human breast cancer MCF-7 cell proliferation,and investigate the possible mechanisms.Methods MTT assay was used to measure the proliferation suppression of MCF-7 cells after treated with 1.0,2.5,5.0,10.0,and 20.0 μg/mL TPP for 48 h,and then the cell apoptosis rate and expression rate of NF-κB P65 positive cells were tested by flow cytometry after 20.0 μg/mL TPP treatment for 0,24,and 48 h.Results MTT assay showed that,after treatment for 48 h,1.0,2.5,5.0,10.0,and 20.0 μg/mL TPP all exhibited the inhibitory effects and showed a dose-dependent relationship.Flow cytometry results showed that 20.0 μg/mL TPP induced cell apoptosis after treatment for 24 and 48 h.TPP (20.0 μg/mL) significantly reduced the rate ofNF-κB P65-positive cells in MCF-7 cells after treatment for 48 h.Conclusion TPP could inhibit the proliferation of MCF-7 cells,which may be induced by cell apoptosis.Down-regulation of NF-κB is possible to be related with apoptosis.

Objective　To explore the significance of the dynamic changes of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the onset and development of acute panreatitis (AP). Methods　Pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-1ra in the plasma of 48 patients with AP and 20 healthy individuals were determined with ELISA. Results　The levels of all pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in plasma was significantly higher in AP patients than in control group (P<0.05) in early stage of the disease, and then all levels were decreased gradually, consistent with the alterations of clinical symptoms of the AP patients. Conclusion　The dynamic changes of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines might play important role in the onset and development of AP.