Objective To find the relationship between mutation of gamma 2 subunit of the gamma-aminobatyric acid type A receptor(GABRG2) and generalized epilepsy with febrile seizure plus(GEFS+).Methods Probands of 10 families with GEFS+ were selected,the GABRG2 gene were sequenced.Results We found a single nucleotide polymorphism site,and did not find the reported mutations.Conclusion GABRG2 mutation is not common in Hans of northern China.

OBJECTIVETo research the effects of Guizhi Fuling capsule on sex hormones levels in blood serum and breast issue morphology of hyperplasia of mammary glands model rats.

METHODThe unpregnancy SD rat models of hyperplasia of mammary glands were established by injecting 0.5 mg x kg(-1) benzoate estradiol. After five weeks doses,the effects of Guizhi Fuling capsule 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 g x kg(-1) and Rupixiao tablet 0.5 g x kg(-1) on the changes of papilla diameter, height and breast issue morphology of the naimal models were explored, and sex hormones levels in blood serum were measured.

RESULTGuizhi Fuling capsule can inhibitnipple swell, improve breast tissue morphology pathological profiles of the animal models, and decrease oestradiol (E2) level and increase progesterone (P) level in blood serum.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that Guizhi Fuling capsule could, improve mammary gland pathological profiles. Regulating sex hormone levels may be its important mechanism for treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands.

Animals ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; blood ; Hyperplasia ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo explore the specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) induced by dendritic cells (DC), which were transfected by the plasmid pC53-SN3 encoding p53 gene.

METHODSDC derived from HLA-A2(+) mononuclear cells of the 24-lung cancer patients was transfected with the plasmid pC53-SN3 by lipofectamine and then co-cultured with auto-unpurified T cells to induce potent CTL (T-pC53-SN3). The cytolysis of specific CTL against Calu-6, a HLA-A2(+) human lung cancer cell line, was measured by using lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) releasing assay.

RESULTSThe expression of CD(1a) and CD(83), the correlative markers of DC, increased apparently after transfected with plasmid pC53-SN3, the expression rate was (5.45 +/- 0.89)% and (3.26 +/- 0.47)% versus (52.15 +/- 11.56)% and (25.78 +/- 12.35)%. CD(14) decreased apparently, but other DC correlative markers of CD(1a), CD(40), CD(86), and HLA-DR remained almost the same as that before transfection. Compared with T-IL-2, the CTL derived from PBMNC stimulated by IL-2 (100 U/ml), the cytolytic activity of T-pC53-SN3 against Calu-6 cell line showed a significant increase, but cytolytic activity was 56.79 +/- 15.67 and 39.33 +/- 9.88, respectively, when effect cells: target cells was 10:1. The expression of the CD(8), CD(69), and CD(45)RO/CD(8) of T-pC53-SN3 cells increased significantly, but that of CD(3), CD(4), CD(86), ect, was not significantly different from those of T-pCMV-neo.

CONCLUSIONSIt showed that DC transfected by p53 gene could induce potent HLA-A(2) restrictive CTL to kill tumor cell efficiently.

Antigens, CD ; analysis ; B7-2 Antigen ; CD40 Antigens ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; immunology ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on the proliferation and activation of dendritic cells (DC) in vivo. METHODS: Balb/c mice were randomly assigned into the control and GM-CSF treatment group. After the lethal dosage of irridiation, green fluorescence protein labelled hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) were injected into the tail veins of the mice. The dosage of 0.1 micorg GM-CSF was administer subcutaneously every 2 days after the HSC infusion. The numbers and activation status of splenic DC were observed by flow cytometry 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after the HSC transplantation. RESULTS: The numbers of splenic DC in the GM-CSF treatment group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The expressions of surface marker CD40, CD80, and CD86 in the GM-CSF treatment group were also higher than those of the control group. CONCLUSION GM-CSF can enhance the proliferation and activation of DC in vivo.
Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Random Allocation ; Spleen ; cytology ; Whole-Body Irradiation

Background Keratoconus is a bilateral,noninflammatory,gradually progressive corneal disorder characterized by progressive thinning and steepening of the central cornea.It is significant to investigate keratoconusrelated pathogenic gene for elaborating the pathogenesis and establishing early diagnosis standard and taking clinical measurement.Objective The aim of the study was to explore the relationship of visual system homeobox gene (VSX1) polymorphism and the risk of sporadic keratoconus.Methods This study was approved by Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Xi' an.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to enrollment.A case-controlled study was conducted.One hundred and one Han nationality patients with sporadic keratoconus were included in this study.These keratoconus patients were clinically diagnosed by slit lamp examination and corneal tomography.Single nucleolide polymorphism (SNP) of VSX1 gene was assayed and classified using the MassARRAY SNP technique.Demography and relevant risk factors were collected from each subject by questionnaire.Eighty healthy volunteers served as controls.Chi-square test and Binary logistic regression were used to evaluate the difference in the distribution of allele frequency and genotype frequency and to analyze the association with keratoconus risks.Results SNP of two genes was found in the Chinese Han population (rs743018 (c.843+140 C＞T) and rs6138482(R217H C＞T)).There were no significant differences in the genotype frequency and allele frequency of the SNP of two genes in the keratoconus group in comparison with the normal control group (P＞0.05).After adjustment by age and sex,SNP of two genes was not significantly associated with the risk of keratoconus (regression model:rs743018 (C＞T) adjusted:P=0.35,OR=0.72,95％ CI:0.37-1.43 ;rs6138482 (C＞T) adjusted:P =0.48,OR=0.76,95％ CI:0.35-1.64).Conclusions Gene polymorphisms of rs743018(c.843+140 C＞T) and rs6138482(R217H C＞T) in the Chinese Han population is not associated with the risk of keratoconus.Due to the racial difference in genotype and allele frequency,the role of the VSX1 gene in the pathogenesis of keratoconus still remains controversial,and further study needs to be developed.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of 3-dimensional (3D) CT virtual anatomy imaging (VAI) in the complex foreign body (FB) retrieval of the soft tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four hundred and seventy-five patients with radiopaque FB(s) diagnosed by radiograph underwent contrast-enhanced 3D CT examination. VAI was reconstructed by volume-rendering opacity software, by sliding down the lowest threshold from -600 to 100 HU. The imaging was grouped into three groups: A (axial and multi-planar reformation [MPR] images), B (standard 3D imaging with axial and MPR images), and C (VAI with axial and MPR images). They were analyzed to reveal the type, size, number, location, complications, and the interventional removability of the object, with the comparisons in the management and clinical outcomes on the patient follow-up studies. The data were subjected to chi-square tests, with p value < 0.05 indicating significant statistical difference. RESULTS: The FB shape, size, number, site distribution and vessels around FB, as well as the FB-associated vascular complications and the FB interventional removability were assessed more accurately in Group C than in Group B or Group A (p < 0.005). There was no significant difference in disclosing the type and depth of the FB among the three groups (p > 0.75). On the basis of the 3D CT, especially the enhanced 3D CT VAI, the followings were processed: the recommendation of interventional removal in 286 (60.47%) and non-intervention in 187 (39.53%) of the 473 patients with soft-tissue FB(s); in 352 (56.50%) of the 623 radiopaque FBs patients, 258 (54.55%) patients accurately detected on 3D CT and the successful removal by intervention (343 FBs) or surgery (9 FBs) without any sequela; and 215 (45.45%) patients with 271 FBs lost in the follow-up, with their departure from the hospital. CONCLUSION: The 3D CT, especially 3D enhanced CT VAI, has great incremental value in further diagnosis and management of complex FB extraction from soft tissues.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media/diagnostic use ; Female ; Foreign Bodies/*radiography/surgery ; Humans ; *Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Iohexol/diagnostic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Treatment Outcome ; User-Computer Interface

Through researches of channels and collaterals and clinical practice of many years, the authors understand that Chinese medicine, which considers the human body as an interrelated, mutual constraints, whole, dynamic living system, has gradually become an important part of modern medicine. Channels and collaterals are a closed loop system which is communicated and linked by energy and information in the form of electromagnetic oscillation, reflecting many characteristics similar to quantum. Channels and collaterals are not a fixed organizational structure. Studies on channel and collaterals find that the track of the propagated sensation along channels (PSC) have the phenomenon drifting about. This exactly reflects the law of channels dynamically running. By information triggering and living resonance, channels and collaterals bring into play entirely regulative action. The innovative treatment of channels and collaterals followed by characteristics and laws of quantum can get a better curative effect. Theory of channels in the position of quantum information medical science provides an important breach for modernization of Chinese medicine.
Medical Informatics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; trends ; Meridians

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of dendritic cells (DCs) infected with adenovirus vector encoding xenogeneic alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on breaking the immune tolerance and induction of immunity against hepatocellular carcinomas.

METHODSHuman and mouse alpha-fetoprotein full-length cDNA were cloned from human HepG2 and mouse Hepa 1 - 6 hepatoma cell lines, respectively, using RT-PCR, and then inserted into adenoviral shuttle vectors to construct Ad hAFP and Ad mAFP. Mice were immunized with Ad hAFP-infected DC and in vitro CTL activity against Hepa 1 - 6 cells was examined by standard (51)Cr release assay. Survival was studied of the immunized mice, with or without depletion of CD8+ or CD4+ T cells, inoculated with Hepa 1 - 6 mouse hepatoma cells.

RESULTSThe lytic activity of CTL elicited by the Ad hAFP-infected DCs were much stronger than that by Ad mAFP-infected DCs. 80% of the Ad hAFP/DCs-immunized mice of the inoculated with 5 x 10(6) Hepa 1 - 6 hepatoma cells were still alive two months after inoculation. However, the Ad mAFP/DCs-immunized mice inoculated with 1 x 10(6) Hepa 1 - 6 cells were just 20% surviving two months later. Depletion of CD8+ or CD4+ T cells abolished such an antigen-specific immunity elicited by the DCs infected with Ad hAFP.

CONCLUSIONAdenovirus vector-mediated xenogeneic AFP-infected DCs can effectively break the immune tolerance to hepatocellular carcinomas in an animal model and induce strong antigen-specific T cell response, which are dependent on CD8+ and CD4+ T cells.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; immunology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Immunization ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect and mechanism of Naohuandan (NHD) in treating senile dementia (SD).

METHODSClinical study: Fifty-eight patients with SD, whose diagnosis conforms to the Diagnostic Standard of DSM-IV issued by American Association of Psychiatry, were enrolled and randomly assigned into two groups. The 30 patients in the treated group were treated with NHD, 4 capsules each time, 3 times daily. The 28 patients in the control group were treated with Piracetam, 1.6 g each time, 3 times daily. The therapeutic course for both groups was 3 months. The therapeutic efficacy was estimated and compared by comprehensive scores of memory and cognition, scores of Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Experimental study: Rats were divided into the control group, the model group and the high-dosage and low-dosage NHD treated groups. The protective effect of NHD on the per-oxidative damage of hippocampal neurons in beta-amyloid protein induced SD model was observed and the related criteria were determined.

RESULTSClinical study showed that both NHD and Piracetam could improve the clinical symptoms of patients, the two medicines showing insignificant difference in total effective rate. But NHD was better in elevating MMSE score and lowering ADL score in patients than Piracetam (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Experimental study showed that (1) 24 and 72 hrs after modeling, the activity of SOD and GSH were lower and the level of MDA higher in the model group than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the model group at the corresponding time points, in the high-dosage NHD group, SOD and GSH were higher, MDA was lower (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); but in the low-dosage NHD group, SOD at the 72nd hr was higher (P < 0.05) and MDA at 24th and 72nd hrs was lower (P < 0.01). And most of the criteria in the high-dosage NHD group was improved better than that in the low-dosage NHD group. (2) The survival rates of neurons in various groups were not different significantly (P > 0.05) 24 hrs after modeling, but that in the high-dosage NHD group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P < 0.01) and in the low-dosage NHD group 72 hrs after modeling (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNHD is an effective Chinese herbal preparation for treatment of SD, and its mechanism is related with its inhibition on peroxidative injury and protection on neurons.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuropsychological Tests ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the regulatory effect of arginine on the secretion of hepatic insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I), and the mechanism of enhancing the immune function by arginine.

METHODSWistar rats were randomly divided into normal control (NC), wound control (WC), and wound with arginine (Arg) groups, with 8 rats in each group. The rats in WC and Arg groups were inflicted with soft tissue trauma on the back. The rats in Arg group were fed a diet supplemented with 5% arginine for one week, while those in NC and WC groups were fed with glycine. The serum contents of arginine, ornithine, growth factor (GH), NO and IGF-I were determined 7 days after feeding. T cell proliferation and IGF-I mRNA expression in hepatic tissue were also measured. Meanwhile, the rat hepatocytes were cultured in serum-free medium containing different concentrations of arginine. The supernatant was collected for the determination of IGF-I level.

RESULTS1). There was no obvious difference of the serum level of arginine and ornithine between NC and WC groups (P > 0.05), but the contents of them were obviously higher in the Arg group compared with other two groups (P < 0.01). 2). No difference in the serum GH level was found among all the groups (P > 0.05), but the serum NO content in WC and Arg groups was significantly lower than that in NC group (P < 0.01), and the serum IGF-I content in WC group decreased obviously compared with that in NC group (P < 0.01). 3). The thymocyte proliferation rate in WC group was also markedly lower than that in NC group (P < 0.01), but that in Arg group was improved compared with WC group (P < 0.01). 4). The expression of hepatic IGF-I mRNA: The relative value of IGF-I mRNA was 1.19 +/- 0.06, 1.08 +/- 0.06 and 1.29 +/- 0.06 in NC, WC and Arg, respectively, while the value in WC was lower than that in NC (P < 0.05) group, and that in Arg group was much higher than that in WC group (P < 0.01). 5). The IGF-I level in the supernatant of cultured hepatocytes: When Arg concentration was 0.0750, 0.7500, 7.5000 mmol/L in the culture medium, the IGF-I level in the supernatant of hepatic cell medi-um was obviously higher than that in the medium without arginine (P < 0.01). Although IGF-I level decreased in the culture medium with arginine in the dose of 37.5000 mmol/L, it was still obviously higher than that in the medium without arginine (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONArginine could also produce the immune enhancing effect by stimulating hepatic IGF-I secretion.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Enteral Nutrition ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; secretion ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; metabolism ; therapy