OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSTotally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONQD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

AIM: To identify the novel nuclear export signal by analyzing the DNA sequences and detecting the cell localization of different adenovirus ElA - associated protein BS69 isoforms. METHODS:BS69 DNA sequences in Emsebl database were blasted and the sequence of amino acids was aligned with the typical nuclear export signal. Different BS69 isoform fragments were cloned into pcDNA3.1 vector and transfected into Cos7 cells. The BS69 localization was observed by immunostaining and the function was verified by Western blotting. RESULTS: A novel nuclear export signal was found in BS69 isoform 2 but not in isoform 1.The isoform 2 was localized in cytoplasm and isoform 1 in nucleus, which was also consistent with the DNA sequence. The isoform 2 was involved in LMP1 - activated JNK phosphorylation whereas the isoform 1 was not. CONCLUSION: Different BS69 isoforms have different cellular localization. BS69 isoform 2 is localized in cytoplasm, interacting with Epstein - Barr virus latent membrane protein 1 and may be involved in nasopharyngeal carcinoma development.However, the isoform 1 is localized in nucleus and plays important roles in transcription.

Objective To probe into the clinical curative effect of laparoscopic high ligation of spermatic vein in the treatment of critical varicocele.Methods The clinical data of the 26 eases of laparoscopic high ligation of apermatic vein in the treatment of critical varicocde were reviewed and analyzed in the last two years in this hospi- tal.Results All the 26 cases had been conducted smoothly with the operation time 25～50min,an average of(28?3)min.After 3～24 months being followed-up,all the symptoms and signs disappeared with no relapse and testicle a- trophy.Eight wives of the patients who had been operated on got pregnant.Conclusion With soon recovery and small wound,it was safe to adopt laparoscopic high ligation of spermatic vein in the treatment of critical varicocele, especially for critical two-sided varicocde.

Objective To investigate the effect of green light laser in complex posterior urethral stricture after surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods Green light laser was applied in treating 20 cases of complex iatrogenic posterior urethral stricture.Of these cases,12 had false passages,5 had more than 2 strictures and 5 had concurrently urethratresia.The scar tissues were transure- thrally vaporized and resected.The in-dwelling urethral catheter time was 1-2 months after operation. Results All the patients were initially cured without serious complications.The mean operative time was 39 rain (range,30-65 min).During the follow-up of 2-10 months,1 case had mild incontinence:another case (Q_(max)＜9ml/s 2 weeks after surgery) got satisfactory results(Q_(max)＞15ml/s)after the scheduled urethral dilatation.The other 18 cases were treated successfully and voided fluently with postoperative Q_(max)＞15ml/s in all.Conclusions It is suggested that transurethral green light laser procedure is not only safe and ef- fective,but also simple and minimally iuvasive for complex posterior urethral stricture following surgical treat- ment of BPH.

ObjectiveTo make a comparison between microsurgical lumbar discectomy(MSLD) and microendoscopic discectomy(MED) in terms of methods,feathers,and effectiveness for lumbar disc herniation (LDH).MethodsA prospective clinical review was conducted.From January 2006 to December 2009,900patients with single segment lumber disc herniation were randomly divided into the MSLD group and the MED group.There were 450 patients in each group.Comparison would be made in terms of the length of skin incision,the operative time,amount of bleeding,incidence of complication,duration of hospitalization,the time of recovery to ordinary work or life,pre- and post-operative assessment based on the criteria of visual analogue scales (VAS),and the Oswestry disability index(ODI).ResultsThe mean lengths of skin incision were (3.8±1.1) cm and (2.4±0.7) cm for MSLD and MED respectively; the operative time were (51.0±14.2) min and (62.0±16.3) min; and the blood loss were (60±35) ml and (106±43) ml,which showed a significant difference(P＜0.05).There was no significant differences in terms of the hospitalization time and the time of recovery to ordinary work or life between the two groups (P＞0.05).The results of VAS and ODI of two groups also showed no significant difference at final follow-up (P＞0.05).As for the complications,the incidence of dural tear,acute hematomas of sacrospinalis,nerve roots and cauda equina injury and recurrence in MSLD group were much lower than that of MED group (P＜0.01).There was no incidence of wrong segment,greater artery injury,or postoperative infection in each group.ConclusionThe clinical effects of both minimal invasive methods are satisfactory.However,MSLD has advantages of simpler maneuvering,shorter learning curve,and less complication than MED.

OBJECTIVETo apply the functionally generated path (FGP) technique for modeling the occlusal surface of a computer-aided-design (CAD) posterior full crown to obtain anatomic morphology.

METHODSA patient with defected left mandibular first molar was employed. After tooth preparation and impression making, the gypsum working cast and die were scanned with a digitized mechanical scanner and the surface data was acquired. The interocclusal records at intercuspal position (ICP) and FGP were made in the patient's mouth. These records were placed on the working cast and their surfaces were scanned. In the process of the computer-aided designing full crown, the cusps and fossae of the occlusal surfaces were accurately modified according to the digitized information of ICP and FGP interocclusal records.

RESULTSA full crown was designed and the occlusal morphology of the restoration was adapted to dynamic occlusion as well as static occlusion.

CONCLUSIONSThe FGP technique was practical for the CAD of full crown and could avoid potential occlusal interferences with opposing teeth during function.

Adult ; Bite Force ; Computer-Aided Design ; Crowns ; Dental Occlusion ; Dental Prosthesis Design ; methods ; Humans ; Male

To analyze the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of Hand-Foot-and-Mouth disease (HFMD) in Shanghai in 2009, epidemiological data was retrieved from the National Notifiable Disease Report System (NNDRS). Nucleic acid of enterovirus (EV) was detected by real-time RT-PCR from 799 HFMD cases from 15 districts/counties in Shanghai; the complete sequences of VP1 encoding region of several identified EV71 strains and sequences of VP4 encoding region of several untyped EV were determined and analyzed. Analysis and summary of the epidemiological data was conducted with Microsoft Excel, and sequence analyses were conducted with both BioEdit and MEGA software. Untyped EV was identified through comparing the VP4 sequence to sequence database using BLAST online service. It was showed that all the 18 districts/counties had reported HFMD cases; children less than 6 years old were the most susceptible population group; the peak of epidemics of HFMD was from April to July; EV71 and Coxsackievirus A16 (CA16) were the major pathogens for this epidemic, but the constituent ratio of EV71 and CA16 was different in different months and regions; CA16 infection was mainly responsible for the mild HFMD, but EV71 for most of the severe cases; EV71 strains of Shanghai were clustered with representatives of subgenotype C4a and showed the highest identity to them, based on the sequence analyses of VP1 encoding region; 2 of the untyped EV were identified as CA2 and CA10 respectively. All the results indicated that EV71 and CA16 were the major pathogens for the epidemic of HFMD in Shanghai, 2009; the circulating EV71 belonged to subgenotype C4a. Besides, other types of EV (for example: CA2 and CA10) were also responsible for a few of the HFMD cases.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Enterovirus A, Human ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Epidemics ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny

A novel practical binary vector to get marker-free transgenic plant was constructed. The estrogen-inducible Cre/loxP DNA recombination system was adopted in this system. All non-target genes located between two identical orientation loxP sites could be excised from the transgenic genome by the Cre expression. In order to analyze this system, the target gene, GUS expression box (CaMV35s: :GUS), was inserted in the MCS outside the region franked by two loxP sites. Then it was introduced into the tobaccos. Results showed that the high-efficiency DNA recombination had take place and the target gene was working order after DNA excitation.
Base Sequence ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Integrases ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Tobacco ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) eradication therapy on prognosis in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP).

METHODSA total of 153 children with HSP were divided into Hp infection treatment group (n=22), Hp infection control group (n=21), and Hp infection-negative group (n=110). The Hp infection treatment group received one-week triple therapy for Hp eradication in addition to conventional treatment, while the Hp infection control group and Hp infection-negative group received conventional treatment. All patients were followed up for prognostic evaluation.

RESULTSThe response rates of the Hp infection treatment, control, and negative groups were 86% (19/22), 90% (19/21) and 85% (94/110), respectively (P>0.05). The recurrence rates of HSP in the Hp infection treatment, control, and negative groups were 14% (3/22), 24% (5/21) and 31% (34/110), respectively (P>0.05). The incidence of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in the Hp infection-negative group (36%, 40/110) and control group (33%, 7/21) was significantly higher than that in the Hp infection treatment group (5%, 1/22) (P<0.05 for both), but no significant difference in the incidence of HSPN was found between the control and negative groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOne-week triple therapy for Hp eradication may be useful to reduce the incidence of HSPN in children with HSP infected with Hp.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Helicobacter Infections ; complications ; drug therapy ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Prognosis ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Recurrence