Objective By using ProtEx~(TM) technology to decorate target cells with an exogenous protein and observe its function for immunomodulation.Methods Donor splenocytes were decorated with chimeric SA-FasL protein.The expression of FasL and its impact on other molecules on the surface of splenocytes was detected.Heterotopic rat heart transplantation was performed from inbred WF rat to ACI rat.According to the different donor splenocytes perioperatively injected into recipients,the recipients were divided into 3 groups:SA-FasL group (n=23),SA group (n=20) and control group(n=10).Heart beating was examined by palpation on daily basis,the cessation was regarded as reiection,while surival over 100 days was considered as graft long-term survival.Diabetes models in C57BL/6 mice were induced by intravenous injection of STZ.Islets from BALB/C mice were decorated by SA-FasL protein,islets transplant was performed from BABL/c to C57BL/6 mice.Based on the different treatments of donor islets,recipients were divided into three groups:islet-FasL group (n=21),islet-SA group (n=21) and islet-untreated group(n=14).Rejection was identified while urine glucose was positive and blood glucose value was over 250 mg/ml for consecutive two days.Urine glucose negative over 100 days was regarded as graft long-term survival.Results The mean exDression rate of FasL in splenocytes was 94.49%±4.27% tested by flow cytometry and FasL showed red color 0n the surface of splenocytes by fluorescent stammg.FasL deeoration did not disturb the expression of CD3,CD4,D8,MHC I and CD80.The long-term survival rate o,f heart transplant showed significant difference between tWO groups(SA-FasL:70% vs SA:25%,P<0.05).67% FasL-decorated islets had normal function 30 days post transplant,and 29%FasL-decorated islets achieved long-term survival,which was significantly differed from the other groups(P<0.05).Conclusion ProtEx~(TM) is a simple,fast,safe and efficient approach for exogenous protein modmcation.Decoration of target cells with Chimeric FasL by this technique plays an umportant role in immunomodulatiorn.

BACKGROUND: Immune function of chemotaxis signal has been a key focus in medical research. However, the immune activation and related action mechanism of chemotatic factor RANTES are unclear.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immune activation and related action mechanism of chemotatic factor RANTES stimulation on peripheral mononuclear cells.DESIGN: Control Experiment.SETTING: Department of Urologic Surgery, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed at the Laboratory of Department of Immunology, University of Louisville from December 2004 to August 2005. Main reagent and equipments included RPMI 1640 complete medium, recombinant human RANTES, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC),CTLA4Ig, LS500 liquid scintillation counter and FACS Epics XL flow cytometry.METHODS: Peripheral mononuclear cells were collected and stimulated by different concentrations of recombinant human RANTES and/or anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. Cells with significantly proliferative response were intervened by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) or CTLA4lg. 3H-thymidine incorporation was used to detect the proliferation of mononuclear cells. Flow cytometry was applied to measure the phenotypes of lymphocytes.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incorporation efficiency of 3H-thymidine, the ratio of CD4 to CD8, expression of CD25,CCR5 and CD28.RESULTS: Proliferative reaction of mononuclear cells reached two peaks with recombinant human RANTES concentrations of 100 μg/L and 5000 μg/L respectively. The proliferation of peripheral mononuclear cells stimulated by 100 μg/L recombinant human RNATES was significantly higher than that in the presence of 50 μg/L anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (P<0.05).There were no rivalry or synergistic effect between them.The immune active effects of recombinant human RANTES could be inhibited by PDTC or CTLA,Ig in a dose dependent manner.After RANTES treatment,the level of cell surface CD25 increased (P<0.05) and the CCR5 expression decreased (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences in CD28 expression and the ratio of CD4/CD8 of lymphocytes(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: RANTES has a specific function of inducing the immune activation of mononuclear cells. This special signal works depending on the activation of interleukin-2 signal pathway, CD28 co-stimulatory pathway and nuclear factor-κB,but independent of CD3 activation.

Objective: To explore the characteristics of acupoint selection in the treatment of apoplexy. Method:This paper reviews and analyzes the ancient and current medical literature, and then summarizes the characteris -tics of acupoint selection in treating apoplexy. Results:Four characteristics are presented: the acupoints on the head are mostly used; the acupoints are principally selected according to the course of nerves; the acupoints of the yang meridians are usually selected; the special acupoints and empirical acupoints are often combined.Conclusion: Above principles may be adopted in the selection of acupoints to treat apoplexy.

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Calcium Carbonate ; adverse effects ; analysis ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Lung ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Sampling Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To explore the early diagnosis of Alport′s syndrome(AS).Methods Renal and skin biopsy was carried out in 5 patients who manifested with isolated hematuria and nephritic syndrome(NS).By using indirect immunofluorescence method,the expression of type Ⅳ collagen ? chains was detected on epidermal basement membrane(EBM) and glomerular basement membrane(GBM).Results ?_1 chains on EBM and GBM were expression in all patients,but ?_5 chains on EBM and ?_3,?_5 chains on GBM form 2 female patients were segmental expression.Thus the goal for early diagnosis was achieved.Conclusions ? chains for EBM type Ⅳ collagen and GBM type Ⅳ collegan should be investigated if condition permits for those patients with isolated hematuria,NS(steroid-resistant) and thinned GBM in electron microscopy.It can be useful for diagnosis and differenial diagnosis of AS.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of CT angiography(CTA)in the diagnosis of arterioportal shunts(APS)associated with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods One hundred and twenty-seven consecutive HCC patients accepted both dynamic enhancement CT and DSA examinations.The interval between CT and DSA exam was from 3 to 15 days.Based on transverse CT images in hepatic artery phase,CTA was performed for all the patients.By contrast with DSA results,the capabilities of transverse CT and transverse images combined with CTA in APS diagnosis were analyzed. Results In all 127 HCC cases,52 cases with APS were confirmed by DSA(40.94%),33 with central type of APS and 19 with peripheral type.Diagnostic sensitivity of APS based on transverse CT and combined CTA with transverse CT images were both 94.23%(49/52).However,specificity was 84.00%(63/75) and 97.33%(73/75),respectively,accuracy was 88.19%(112/127)and 96.06%(122/127),the predictive value of positive cases was 80.33%(49/61)and 96.08%(49/51),and the predictive value of negative cases was 95.45%(63/66)and 96.05%(73/76).Combined with CTA,false positive cases of 4 central type of APS and 6 peripheral type of APS were excluded which were demonstrated by transverse CT images.By contrast with DSA,the coincidence rate of the type of APS diagnosed by transverse images combined with CTA was 88.46%(46/52),including 90.91%(30/33)of central type of APS and 84.21%(16/19)of peripheral type.The supplying arteries of central type of APS were intuitively displayed by CTA in 23 cases,19 from proper hepatic artery and 4 from gastro-duodenal artery.Conclusion CTA techniques based on the dynamic enhancement CT exams could effectively promote the specificity and the accuracy of APS diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of calcium antagonist verapamil on the function of rat?- cells and tolbutamide (D860)-induced insulin release.Methods Insulin released from isolated islets were measured in control,verapamil,D860,and verapamil+D860 groups.Furthermore,intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was conducted in acute experiments treated with verapamil and D860 respectively to assess?-cell function in rats with the same allocation as in vitro.Another IVGTT was performed in the end of 4 weeks' treatment.The insulin contents in pancreas were assayed and pancreas islets morphology were observed with immunohistochemistry.Results Verapamil could inhibit insulin release from isolated islets.Verapamil group was [(1.244?0.082)ng?ml~(-1)?islet~(-1)]and control group (2.623?0.226) ng?ml~(-1)?islet~(-1)(P0.05).Also,similar results were obtained in normal rats during acute experiments and verapamil reduce the hypoglycemic effect promoted by D860. However,above results were not observed in the end of 4 weeks experiments,and no difference for insulin content and morphological change in islets was found among four groups.Conclusion Treatment of verapamil chronically does not impair islet function and interfere with the hypoglycemic effect of D860 in rats .

0.05),higher rate of maternal mortality and perinatal mortality(P

Objective To evaluate diagnostic value of diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)in ringlike- enhanced lesions.Methods Nine abscesses,12 glioblastomas,10 metastases confirmed clinically or pathologically underwent conventional MRI and DTI.Average diffusion coefficient(ADC)value,fractional anisotropy(FA)value and maps were calculated in the central portion and peripheral edema of the lesions. Results On DTI,the abscesses displayed as hyperintense signal with hypointense or isointense signal of edema;but glioblastomas and metastases all showed as hypointense signal with isointense or hypointense signal of edema.On ADC map,the abscesses showed as hypointense signal,the mean ADC value was (0.66?0.07)x10~(-3)mm~2/s,The mean ADC value were(2.50?0.11)x10~(-3)mm~2/s and(2.37?0.52)x10~(-3)mm~2/s for the glioblastomas and metastases,respectively,all demonstrated as hyperintense signal with slightly hyperintense signal of edema.The difference between abscess and necrotic tumors was statistically significant(F=108.80,P

Objective To identify histopathologic correlates for the various MRI appearances of breast fibroadenomas.Methods Thirty-eight fibroadenomas in 33 patients(aged 24—57 years)examined with gadolonium-enhanced MR imaging were observed for signal intensity on T_2-weighted images,contrast enhancement,shape,and internal septation,and these findings were correlated with histopathologic findings.All cases underwent surgery and were proved by pathology.Results(1)The lesion shape was lobular,or round in 34 of 38 fibroadenomas(89.5%).(2)The signal intensity on T_1-weighted images was less than or equal to that of fibroglandular tissue in all cases.The signal intensity on T_2-weighted images was highly varible:high T_2 signal intensity was associated with more myxomatous stromal(mean myxoid-sclerotic index value of 1.9),higher stromal cellularity(mean stromal cellularity index value of 2.2); Fibroadenomas with low T_2 signal intensity had stromal that was nearly uniformly sclerotic(mean myxoid- sclerotic index values of 2.8)and low stromal cellularity(mean stromal-cellularity index value of 1.2). Significant differences were found between these two groups,x~2=11.267 and x~2=10.415(P0.05).The degree of contrast enhancement was proved to be related to ages of patients.The enhancement was more intensely in younger patients.(5)Internal septations were identified within nine of 33 enhancing fibroadenomas (27.3%)and appeared to correlated with collagenous bands at histopatholigic analysis.Conclusions Fibroadenomas demonstrate marked histopathologic variability.The resultant variability in the MR appearance correlated with the degree of myxomatous or sclerotic and stromal cellularity.Lobulation and internal septation,which appear to reflect intrinsic growth patterns of fibroadenomas,may provide more reliable information for distinction.Familiarity with the diagnostic features would facilitate to make the differential diagnosis correctly.