By using ~3H—TdR incorporation and CTLL—2 cell line,we observed effects of RU486,anantagonist of type Ⅱ glucocorticoid receptor,on dexamethasone inhibition of lymphocyte prolifer-ation and interleukin—2(IL—2)production in rat spleen.It was shown that RU486 obviouslyantagonized the inhibitory actions of dexamethasone on lymphocyte proliferation and IL—2 pro-duction.By means of dot hybridization and Northern blot analysis,effects of dexamethasone andRU486 on IL—2 gene expression were investigated in lymphocytes of rat spleen.The datademonstrated that dexamethasone markedly decreased IL—2 mRNA production,RU486 alonedidn't affect IL-2 mRNA levels,but obviously reversed dexamethasone-mediated downregala-tion of IL—2 mRNA production in ConA—activated lymphocytes.These results suggest thatthe above effects of dexamethasone may be mediated by glucocorticoid receptor in lymphocytesof rat spleen.

The ideal treatment and recovery of osteoarticular injury remain to be resolved. Small intestinal submucosa (SIS), a naturally-occurring decellularized extracellular matrix, has been recognized as an ideal scaffold for tissue engineering and widely used in repairing various tissues and organs. Nowadays its application has also been gradually increased in the field of orthopedics. We reviewed laboratorial studies and clinical trails about the application of SIS in bone and joint repair, aiming to evaluate its effects on the repair of bone, cartilage, meniscus, ligament and tendon. SIS has showed promising results in repairing bone, meniscus, ligament or tendon. However, additional studies will be required to further evaluate its effects on articular cartilage and tendon-bone healing. How to optimize SIS material,is also a focused problem concerned with making SIS a potential therapeutic option with high value for orthopedic tissue repair.
Animals ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; cytology ; Intestine, Small ; cytology ; Joint Diseases ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Tissue Engineering ; instrumentation ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry

Objective To develop a murine model of chromomycosis by using Cladosporium carrioni and explore the pathogenicity of Cladosporium carrio nii in mice. Methods The suspension of Cladosporium carrioni was inoculated to two groups of mice, the immunocompetent mice and the immunosuppressed mice, b y intraperitoneal route using 1 ml inoculum containing 108 conidia/mL. All mice were sacrificed 30 days after inoculation, and then macroscopic examination, his topathology and fungal culture were performed. Results The morbidity in both g roups was 100% according to the dark brown hyphae and sclerotic bodies found in histopathologic examination and fungal culture. Macroscopic examination found th at the adhesion among the internal organs in immunocompetent mice was more sever e than that in immunosuppressed mice. Histopathologic sections showed that necro sis and inflammatory infiltration in immunocompetent mice were more obvious than those in immunosuppressed mice. Conclusions The virulence of Cladosporium car rionii strains is strong enough to construct experimental murine model of chromo mycosis, and animal passage of the strains is unnecessary. This murine model cou ld be used to study the pathogenesis of chromomycosis.

AIMTo investigate the effect of selective H3 receptor agonist(R)-alpha-methylhistamine and antagonist thioperamide on the respiratory response in asthmatic guinea pigs respectively.

METHODSAnesthesized guinea pigs were prepared with a implanted intracerebroventricular (icv) cannula and instrumented for the measurement of respiratory rate (RR) and diaphragmatic electric activity (DA). Substance P-like immunoreactive (SP-LI) substances in lower respiratory tract were detected by immunohistochemical method. Brain histamine contents were measured by fluorometric determination.

RESULTS(1) Intravenous injection of ovalbumin caused tachypnea and significant decrease in DA magnitude. At the same time, SP-LI substances increased in trachea, bronchus and lung. (2) Administration of selective H3 receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (5 microg) icv immediately after i.v. ovalbumin could significantly ameliorate the changes in RR and DA induced by ovalbumin. In accordance, SP-LI substances in lower respiratory tract markedly decreased at 5 min and 10 min after (R)-alpha-methylhistamine microinjection. (3) Icv thioperamide (20 microg) caused a significant increase in RR and a decrease in DA. (4) Brain histamine contents increased in hypothalamus and cortex during asthma. After microinjection of thioperamide (20 microg) icv significant increase of histamine contents in hypothalamus and cortex was observed.

CONCLUSIONBrain histamine H3 receptors may be related to asthmatic respiratory responses.

Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Histamine Agonists ; pharmacology ; Histamine H3 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Methylhistamines ; pharmacology ; Muscle Contraction ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Receptors, Histamine H3 ; metabolism ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Trachea ; physiopathology

To character a novel chimera(1b/2a) hepatitis C virus cell culture (HCVcc) system carrying envelope E1E2 coding gene from Hebei strain of China, chimera HCVcc (cHCVcc) was developed from Huh7.5-CD81 cells after transfection with in vitro transcribed full-length 1b/2a chimera RNA, which carrying envelope E1E2 coding gene from Hebei strain of China. Then the replication, expression and infectious titer of serial passage HCVcc were assessed by Real Time RT-PCR, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and Western blotting (WB). In addition, chimeric envelope gene from HCVcc was sequenced after serial passage. We found that the number of HCV positive focus increased gradually in cell post-transfection with chimera HCVcc (1b/2a) RNA and reach a peak platform (80% to 90%) at 41 days post-transfection; the expression of HCV protein was also confirmed by WAB during serial passage. At meantime, HCV RNA copy number in the supernatant peaked at 10(4)-10(7) copies/mL and the highest infectious titer of this 1b/2a cHCVcc reinfection were tested as 10(4) ffu/mL. Sequence analysis indicated 6 of adaptive amino acid substitutes occur among chimeric envelope E1E2 during serial passages. We con:luded that a novel 1b/2a chimera HCVcc carrying envelope E1E2 coding gene from Hebei strain of China was developed and its infectious titer increased after serial passage of HCVcc. This novel cHCVcc will be an effective tool for further evaluation of anti-virus drugs and immune effects against the major genotype from Chinese.
Cell Line ; China ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Hepatitis C ; virology ; Humans ; Serial Passage ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To explore the pathogenic genes relevant to Behcet's disease (BD) by building the differentail gene expression profiles of peripheral blood leukocytes in BD. Methods Oligonucleotide gene array from Affymetrix Company was applied to study the differed expression levels of whole genome between three age and sex matched BD patients and normal controls. Four genes, BCL6, LRAP, ICOSLG and MME, were selected to be tested for gene expression levels by real-time PCR in the groups of BD, normol controls (NC), Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) peticnts. Results ① Differential gene expression profile of BD compared to that of normal controls was built up. It contained 89 up-regulated and 57 down-regulated genes. ② Four genes mentioned above had significantly higher expression levels in active BD patients than those in NC but had lower exoression levels in stable BD patients. The expression levels of BCL6 and MME were also proved to be increased significantly in BD than in RA and SLE patients. Conclusion ① Our work shed some light on further research of the etiopathogenesis of BD. ② The expression levels of the four genes are proved to be relevant to BD the first time by us. Further analysis showes that TNF-α and IFN-γ can up-regulate the expression levels of BCL6, LRAP and ICOSLG which may be novel to BD. The MME gene is expressed on the surface of cells, which is convenient for test and may potentially be a marker for the diagnosis of BD.

ObjectiveRetrospectively investigate the characteristics of neoplasma of health checkup participants to find ways to improve cancer detection rate.Methods A total of 186 confirmed cancer patients were enrolled in this study.Personal information,including age,gender,andlocation were collected.The contribution of clinical symptoms,physical examination and laboratory test to cancer detection was investigated.ResultsBiopsy confirmed cancers accounted for 0.133％( 186/140 127 ).Lung (0.036％ ),liver ( 0.017％ ),kidney ( 0.014％ ),colorectal ( 0.013％ ) and gastric cancer ( 0.011％ )were the most commonly found neoplasma.Detection rate of liver cancer in male was significantly higher than that in female (x2 =6.181,P＜0.05 ).Asymptomatic cancer was found in 158 adults (84.9％ ).Ultrasound showed a significantly higher sensitivity to liver,kidney and thyroid cancer than tumor biomarkers.The detection of lung cancer was improved with the combination of X ray,tumor marker( TM ),clinical symptom and low-dose chest CT scan.In 2008,the detection rate for digest system carcinoma (0.083％ ) and lung cancer (x2 =8.538,P＜0.05) was significantly increased (x2 =11.792,P＜0.05).ConclusionsHealth check-up plays an important role in early detection of cancer.The combined use of physical examination,chest X ray,ultrasound test,TM and CT may improve the detection of cancer.

OBJECTIVETo explore the preventive effect of Yougui drink on femoral head necrosis in rats under micro CT.

METHODSTwenty-five SD rats were divided into steroid hormone group (group A, 10 rats ), Yougui drink group (group B,10 rats) and normal group (group C,5 rats)with random number table. Endotoxin were injected into abdominal cavity of rats in group A and B for 2 days, methylprednisolone sodium succinate were injected by gluteus for twice a week continued for 6 weeks; group B were gavaged by Yougui drink (veryday for 8 weeks; group C did not do any processing. All rats were killed on the 10th weeks,m icro CT were used to scan femoral head in vitro and preventive effect of Yougui drink (n femoral head necrosis in rats.

RESULTSThere was statistical significance in BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb, Th, Thb, Sp, BS/TV and DA but no significance in SMI between group A and B. Comparison between A and C, there was significant meaning in BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb, Th, Tb, Sp, BS/TV, DA and SMI.

CONCLUSIONYougui drink on femoral head necrosis in rats under micro CT has preventive effect from BMD BV/TV, Tb.N, Tb, Th, Tb, Sp, BS/TV and DA.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Bone Density ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Femur Head Necrosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; X-Ray Microtomography ; methods

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological characteristics and causes of an outbreak of respiratory infection in schools. Methods: Epidemiological investigation was carried out on respiratory infection cases in schools. Pharyngeal swab samples of children were collected for respiratory tract virus nucleic acid detection, and hexon genes were amplified. Positive PCR result were sequenced. Results: All cases were in school, involving 2 classes, 12 cases in class 2 (3) and 13 cases in class 3 (4), all on the west side of the 2nd and 3rd floors of teaching building 2. From September 3 to September 12, a total of 25 cases were involved, with the onset peak on the 10th and 11th. The clinical features were fever, cough, sore throat and aching limbs, etc. The onset was aggregated, the course of the disease was about 5 d, the prognosis was good, and there were no deaths. There are 13 males and 12 females. The males to females ratio is 1.08∶1. The age distribution is 7-9 years, with an average of 8.6 years. The result of fluorescence quantitative PCR were negative for influenza A/B virus and positive for adenovirus. The products of positive samples after PCR amplification were sequenced as AdV-3 and AdV-4. Conclusions The combined result of epidemiological investigation and laboratory tests demonstrated that this epidemic of school respiratory tract infection is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by adenovirus B3 and E4 mixed infection.

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and laboratorial characteristics of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) with an abnormal complete blood count (CBC). Data of 19 newly diagnosed SMZL patients with abnormal CBC were analyzed retrospectively. Seven patients were diagnosed by using splenic histology, 12 patients who did not undergo splenectomy were diagnosed on the basis of typical clinical presentation and cytologic, immunophenotypic and histologic characteristics of peripheral blood and bone marrow, according to SBLG guidelines. The results showed that leukocytosis (≥ 10.0×10(9)/L) was seen in 5 cases (26.3%); leukocytopenia (< 4.0×10(9)/L) was found in 6 cases (31.6%), hemoglobin concentration less than 120 g/L was found in 14 cases (73.7%) and thrombocytopenia was found in 11 (57.9%) patients. Fourteen (73.7%) patients had cytopenia in one or more lineage. As a specific morphologic character, villous lymphocytes were found in 10 (52.6%) patients. Similar immunophenotype was determined by histology in both bone marrow and spleen. Various histological infiltration patterns including intrasinusoidal pattern were found in bone marrow. Nine out of 16 (56.3%) patients displayed an increase of serum monoclonal immunoglobin. Autoimmune phenomena was found in 12 out of 15 (80.0%) patients. Splenectomy, as the only treatment could not achieve a ≥ 50% improvement of CBC in 4 patients, and then was judged as no response. Splenectomy followed by chemotherapy achieved partial response (PR) in 1 patient. Overall response rate of the therapeutic strategies with Rituximab was 100.0% (11/11). Furthermore, complete response was achieved in 9 out of 11 (81.8%) patients. It is concluded that SMZL with abnormal CBC has a higher incidence of cytopenia, bone marrow involvement and autoimmune phenomena. Therapeutic strategies consisting of Rituximab show a better efficacy.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Cell Count ; Bone Marrow ; pathology ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenic Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology