0.05],but significant difference existed in children with HSPN compared with HSP and control group[(3.01?1.52) g/d vs (0.05?0.02) g/d or (0.04?0.02) g/d Pa

Objective To explore the effect of endothelin-1(ET-1) and C-reactive protein(CPR) on vascular endothelial cell dysfunction in simple obese children.Methods Thirty-nine simple obese children in the First Hospital of Huangshi City were chosen from Jan.2006 to Jun.2008 as experimental group (obese group) and 21 healthy children as healthy control group with the same age and gender were enrolled in the study.The levels of plasma ET-1 and serum CRP were tested by radioimmunoassay.Data were analyzed with t test and linear correlation analysis.Results Compared with plasma ET-1 level in healthy control group[(43.5?10.2) ng?L-1],the level in obese group[(57.8?19.7) ng?L-1] had significant difference(t=3.704,P

Objective To analyze the relationship between categories,sum and seasonal distribution of airborne fungi and childhood bronchial asthma in Huangshi region.Methods Airborne fungi was investigated through gravitational precipitating method by placing the sample cutter at the 5th floor platform of the surgery department of the First People′s Hospital of Huangshi.Slides were exposed to the air in 24 hours with each day a new slide to be placed.This explosion of slides stayed a whole year from Feb.2007 to Feb.2008.Thus the collected data of fungi were filed,verified and then classified so as to find out the dominant allergic fungi.Multivalent allergen skin tests of fungi were performed on 247 children with bronchial asthma in Huangshi region at the same period and the pattern was explored during invasion season.Results Altogether 365 slides were exposed and 12 667 fungi were collected,which falled to the 22 genres of the 4 sub-categories.And these fungi could be arranged by sum to be alternaria,smut,cladosporium cladosporioides,uredinales,leptosphaeriamaculans and many others including those even without a name.The peak period of fungi distribution in Huangshi city was from Apr to Oct,and it was affected by temperature,wind and rainfall and sunshine.Forty-two point nine one percent were positive reaction to multivalent fungi allergens,of which the hig-hest positive rate to multivalent fungi allergensⅠwas 23.48%.The result showed asthma usually happened during Apr to Aug.Conclusions There were airborne fungi in Huangshi region yearly,and the sensitive season was spring and summer.Dominant fungi were alternaria,ustilaginales and ciadosporium.Forty percent asthma had a close connection to fungi allergens.The attack of children bronchial asthma was corresponded with fungi peak duration.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of Ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic-acid (5F), a compound isolated from Pteris semipinnata L (PsL), on human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and explore its mechanism.

METHODSThe inhibitory effect of 5F on SGC7901 cells was observed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, and the changes of the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in SGC7901 cells following 5F exposure were evaluated by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS5F inhibited the proliferation of SGC7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the cell apoptosis induced by 5F was confirmed by Annexin V-EGFP staining and caspase-3 activation assay. The cell apoptosis induced by 5F was associated with decreased Bcl-2 and increased Bax expressions.

CONCLUSION5F exposure induces apoptosis in SGC7901 cells by activating mitochondrial apoptotic pathways.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Pteris ; chemistry ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the immunoregulatory effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) e antigen (HBeAg) on peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs).

METHODSPBMCs were isolated from patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB; both HBeAg- and HBeAg+) and healthy controls, and cultured with recombinant HBeAg. The HBeAg-induced changes in expression of PD-1/PD-L1 were measured by flow cytometry of the cells and in secreted cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the supernatants. Comparisons between two groups were made by the independent-samples t-test; the relationship between PD-1/B7-H1 level and HBV DNA copy number was evaluated by Spearman's correlation analysis.

RESULTSExposure to HBeAg led to a significant decrease in CD3+CD4+ T lymphocyte-specific expression of IFNa for both the CHB patients' and healthy controls' samples (t = 2.382 and -4.190 respectively, P less than 0.01). For the HBeAg- CHB patients' and healthy controls' samples, the HBeAg exposure led to increased levels of secreted cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and TNFa (t = 2.504, 3.583 and 4.324, P less than 0.01 and t = 3.542, 6.246 and 5.273, P less than 0.01 respectively) and of CD14+ PBMC-specific expression of PD-L1 (t = 4.815 and 3.454, P less than 0.05 respectively). Compared to the HBeAg-negative CHB patients' and healthy controls' samples, the HBeAg+ CHB patients' samples had significantly lower CD3+CD4+ T cell-specific expression of IFNa (t = -3.177 and -4.541, P less than 0.01 respectively), but significantly higher levels of secreted IL-4 (t = 3.382 and 4.393, P less than 0.01 respectively), of CD3+ T cells-specific expression of PD-1/PD-L1 (t = 4.755, 2.942 and 4.518, 4.595, P less than 0.01 respectively), and of CD14+ T cells-specific expression of PD-L1 (t = 5.092 and 5.473, P less than 0.01 respectively). The CD3+ T cells-specific expression of PD-L1 was significantly higher in the samples from HBeAg- CHB patients than from the healthy controls (t = 3.214, P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHBeAg was able to down-regulate the production of Th1-type cytokines (IFNgamma), and up-regulate the secretion of Th2-type cytokines (IL-6, IL-10) and the expression of PD-1/PD-L1on monocytes. These changes are conducive to the formation of immune tolerance to HBV. Therefore, HBeAg may play an important role in immune tolerance to chronic HBV infection.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-10 ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; immunology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th1-Th2 Balance ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

Objective To evaluate the effects of small interfering RNA(siRNA)against Ki67 gene on the proliferation and apoptosis of human renal carcinoma cell line 786-0 cells.Methods The human renal carcinoma 786-0 cells were treated with Ki67-siRNA(100 nmol/L).The mRNA expression of Ki67 was detected by RT-PCR.The protein expression of Ki67 was detected by Western blot and immunohisto- chemical technique,respectively.The proliferation of 786-0 cells was detected by MTT assay.The apoptosis of 786-0 cells was detected by TUNEL assay.Results RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed that the Ki67 mRNA and Ki67 protein expression levels of the 786-0 cells treated with Ki67-siRNA were(37.6?1.9)% and(46.4?0.9)% ,respectively,which were significantly lower than those of controls [(97.3?0.9)% and(95.3?0.9)%,P＜0.01],The Ki67 positive expression rate of 786-0 cells treated with Ki67-siRNA by immunohistochemical technique was 52.5?2.3,which was significantly lower than that of controls(114.5?4.9 ,P＜0.01).The proliferation-inhibiting rate and apoptosis rate of the 786-0 cells trea- ted with Ki67-siRNA were( 63.6?1.6)% and(41.7?0.6)% ,respectively,which were significantly higher than those of controls [(2.8?0.2)% and(10.3?1.4)%,P＜0.01].Conclusions siRNA against Ki67 gene can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis by blocking Ki67 expression of hu- man renal carcinoma 786-0 cells.The inhibition of Ki67 expression by siRNA may be a promising approach in gene therapy for renal cancer.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical outcome of 934 primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with conventional external beam radiotherapy alone.

METHODS34 patients were treated from Jan. 1, 1999 to Dec. 31, 1999. The radiation fields were delineated according to the CT/MRI imaging findings on disease extent. Two lateral opposing isocentric portals with customized blockings were used for the nasopharynx and upper neck. The dose delivered to tumor in the nasopharynx was 68-70 Gy/2 Gy fraction/7 weeks. The doses delivered to the neck was 60-70 Gy/6-7 weeks for patients with positive lymph nodes and 50 Gy/5 weeks for the patients with negative lymph node.

RESULTSThe 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year overall survival rate (OS) was 89.5%, 81.9%, 78.1% and 75.7%, and metastasis-free survival rate (MFS) was 84.0%, 77.2%, 74.4% and 72.0%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-year disease-free survival rate (DFS) was 80.8%, 73.1%, 68.5% and 65.1%, and the relapse-free survival rate (RFS) was 95.5%, 92.7%, 90.3% and 87.3%, respectively. The overall failure rate was 30.9% (289/934). At the end of the radiotherapeutic course, the percentage of residual disease was 14.6%. The 4-year loco-regional recurrence and distant metastasis rates after radiotherapy were 7.2% and 9.2% with a median time of 19.3 months and 12.8 months.

CONCLUSIONIt may be helpful to improve radiotherapy curative effect when the target is individually designed through improving irradiation technique according to CT/MRI findings and by shortening the overall course time, enhancing irradiation dose and strictly implementing QA/QC measures.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects on allografts and the possible mechanism of adeno-associated heme-oxygenase-1 (AdHO-1) gene therapy against chronic rejection injury.

METHODSEx vivo AdHO-1 gene therapy was performed in vascular and renal transplantation models. The structure and function, the expression of therapeutic genes and proteins, and the immune modulation were analyzed.

RESULTSAdHO-1 gene therapy protected renal transplant against chronic rejection, but the effect was not as remarkable as that in vascular transplant. The transfected empty vehicle aggravated chronic rejection damage in renal transplantation. AdHO-1 decreased the infiltration of macrophages and CD4(+) T cells.

CONCLUSIONSAdHO-1 gene therapy can lessen damage of chronic rejection in allografts. It plays roles by protecting transplants, down-regulating immune response and inducing immune deviation.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Blood Vessels ; transplantation ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Chronic Disease ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Genetic Vectors ; Graft Rejection ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Graft Survival ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Macrophages ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Homologous

The pathological processes of Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus have been demonstrated to be linked together. Both PDE9 inhibitors and PPAR agonists such as rosiglitazone exhibited remarkable preclinical and clinical treatment effects for these two diseases. In this study, a series of PDE9 inhibitors combining the pharmacophore of rosiglitazone were discovered. All the compounds possessed remarkable affinities towards PDE9 and four of them have the IC values <5 nmol/L. In addition, these four compounds showed low cell toxicity in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Compound , the most effective one, gave the IC of 1.1 nmol/L towards PDE9, which is significantly better than the reference compounds PF-04447943 and BAY 73-6691. The analysis of putative binding patterns and binding free energy of the designed compounds with PDE9 may explain the structure-activity relationships and provide evidence for further structural modifications.