Objective:To investigate the characteristics of serum immunoglobulin and complement levels in centenarians in Hainan.Methods:Fasting venous blood samples from 969 centenarians in Hainan province were collected and from 364 seniors serving as the control group.Levels of serum immunoglobulin A, G, M and E, immunoglobulin light chain κ and λ, and complement C3 and C4 were measured.Serum immunoglobulin and complement levels were analyzed in subjects based on age, sex, ethnicity, diet and smoking.Results:Serum levels of immunoglobulin G and E, and immunoglobulin light chain κ were higher in the centenarian group than in the control group[15.9(13.8, 18.3)g/L vs.14.9(13.1, 16.9)g/L; 270.0(85.5, 851.0) vs.180.5 kU/L(58.0, 556.2)kU/L, 4.1(3.5, 4.9)g/L vs.4.0(3.1, 4.6)g/L, P<0.05]. Serum levels of immunoglobulin M, and complement C3 and C4 were lower in the centenarian group than in the control group[1.0(0.7, 1.4)g/L vs.1.1(0.8, 1.5)g/L, 1.0(0.9, 1.2) vs.1.1(1.0, 1.3), 0.2(0.2, 0.3) vs.0.3(0.2, 0.3), P<0.05]. Serum levels of immunoglobulin M and complement C3 were higher in female centenarians than in male centenarians[1.1(0.7, 1.4) vs.1.0(0.7, 1.3), 1.0(0.9, 1.1) vs.1.0(0.8, 1.1), P<0.05]. There were significant differences in immunoglobulin A, G and E, and immunoglobulin light chain κ and λ between centenarians of different ethnicities( P<0.01). Serum immunoglobulin M levels were higher in centenarians with a long history of milk-drinking than in those without the history[1.2(0.8, 1.5) vs.1.0(0.7, 1.4), P<0.01]. Conclusions:Serum levels of immunoglobulins and complements are different among centenarians of different ages, genders, ethnicities and diet habits.Factors such as advanced age, female gender, ethnic minority and milk drinking tend to promote the expression of immunoglobulins and complements.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of bevacizumab in combination of irinotecan,fluorouracil and leucovorin for metastatic colorectal cancer treated by failed prior oxaliplatin -based regiment.

METHODSSixty-two patients were randomly divided into two groups, group A of 30 patients received bevacizumab plus irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin, group B of 32 patients received irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin. The response rate,change of tumor markers,one year survival rate and safety were observed.

RESULTSTumor response rate was 30% in group A, 21.8% in group B respectively. Disease control rate(CR+PR+SD) was 80% in group A, 50% in group B. The obvious change of concentration of tumor markers was observed between pre-treatment and post-treatment, which was significantly different in group A(P<0.05). One year survival rate, median of time to progression and median duration of survival between group A and group B were 26.7% vs 18.8%, 5.9 months vs 3.9 months, 10.9 months vs 8.9 months(P<0.05). The adverse effect in group A was the same as group B. Bevacizumab was associated with hypertension and bradycardia.

CONCLUSIONSThe chemotherapy of bevacizumab combined with irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin results in better efficacy in patients with progressive metastatic colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Bevacizumab ; Camptothecin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Leucovorin ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; drug therapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change of the subfractions in existence (big and small polymers) of pulmonary surfactant (PS) and their influence on the decrease in PS activity during early postburn stage.

METHODSForty rabbits were employed in the study and were randomly divided into pre-burn, 0.5 postburn hour (PBH), 2 PBH, 6 PBH and 12 PBH groups with 8 in each group. The BALF (bronchial alveolar lavage fluid) was harvested from each rabbit. The BALF samples were centrifuged, and the supernatant (small polymer) and precipitation (big polymer) were harvested for the determination of the contents of the total phospholipids, lecithin, total protein, and albumin in both polymers.

RESULTSCompared with those in pre-burn group, the above chemical contents of PS in big polymer exhibited no change after burn (P > 0.05), but the contents of albumin and total protein increased obviously in small polymer (P < 0.01). In addition, all the contents in the small polymer increased with the elapse of time. The percentage of lecithin in total phospholipids in small polymers decreased along with the passage of time. The pre-burn contents of total phospholipids, lecithin, TP, albumin, and the percentage of lecithin in total phospholipid in small polymer were (2.23 +/- 0.40),(1.54 +/- 0.11), (16.67 +/- 1.34), (3.65 +/- 0.15) mg/ml and (77.2 +/- 3.7)%, respectively. The above indices in small polymer were (3.15 +/- 0.30), (1.77 +/- 0.08), (106.59 +/- 5.50), (11.21 +/- 0.92) mg/ml and (57.2 +/- 3.5)% respectively at 6PBH.

CONCLUSIONThe ratio of small to big polymers increased obviously, which might be an important factor in inducing the decrease in PS activity during early postburn stage leading finally to pulmonary injury.

Albumins ; analysis ; Animals ; Female ; Male ; Phosphatidylcholines ; analysis ; Phospholipids ; analysis ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Smoke Inhalation Injury ; metabolism

Sepsis is caused by maladjustment of host response to infection, resulting in life-threatening organ dysfunction, which is equivalent to infection + sequential organ failure score (SOFA) > 2 scores, and it is the out of control of the host's responses to infection leading to an imbalance of the pro-inflammatory-anti-inflammatory responses. In recent years, besides the antibiotics, etiological treatment, fluid resuscitation and organ functional support, there has been no single adjuvant therapy for sepsis. The focus of previous treatments has been on immunosuppression, however immune paralysis induced by sepsis was playing an increasingly important role in the processes of patient's disease onset and death, leading to a shift in the field of research to enhancing immune responses. Therefore, it is crucial to identify a septic patient with a severely suppressed or hyperactive immune system, and accurately monitor both immune and therapeutic responses. This review outlines the advances and challenges of precision immunotherapy in patients with sepsis.

The active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine have been reported to possess significant pharmacological activity and played an important role in clinical treatments. However, lots of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine suffer from disadvantages such as low solubility, high melting point and low stability that results in low bioavailability and limit its clinical application. Crystal structure plays an important role in improving physicochemical properties and efficacy of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. This review concludes the research advances of several crystal forms used in the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine in terms of polymorph, cocrystal, amorphous/coamorphous and nanocrystal. And the effects of crystal forms on the physicochemical properties and efficacy of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine were reviewed. This research may be useful for the formulation preparation and development of the active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of experimental varicocele (EV) on the ipsilateral testis in rats.

METHODSEV was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in male SD rats, the control rats subjected to sham operation, and the testes of the EV models and controls were extirpated 6, 12, and 18 weeks later. Johnson's score, ultrastructure of seminiferous tubules, intratesticular testosterone concentration (ITC) and germ cell apoptotic index (AI) of each left testis were evaluated.

RESULTSJohnson's scores were (6.92 +/- 0.52), (4.83 +/- 0.41) and (2.95 +/- 0.26), ITCswere (6.32 +/- 0.85), (5.17 +/- 0.76) and (4.11 +/- 0.69) and AIs were (5.32 +/- 1.23), (15.21 +/- 0.97) and (21.13 +/- 1.12) respectively in the 6 w , 12 w and 18 w EV groups, significantly lower than in the corresponding control groups, (9.56 +/- 0.35, 9.63 +/- 0.31, 9.39 +/- 0.46), (9.64 +/- 1.23, 9.38 +/- 0.69, 9.73 +/- 0.49) and (3.21 +/- 1.15, 3.43 +/- 1.21, 3.61 +/- 1. 15) (P < 0.05), the former two showing a gradual decline while the latter a significant elevation with the increasing duration of varicocele. The damage to the ultrastructure of seminiferous tubules was aggravated with the prolonging of varicocele.

CONCLUSIONEV can cause a progressive decline of ITC, dyszoospermia and increased AI of germ cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Testis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder resulting from alpha-synuclein lesions, which affects about eight million patients over the world. PD is manifested in progressive motor and non-motor symptoms. With understanding of PD gradually deepened, motor symptoms mainly manifested in resting tremor are not the only manifestations of PD. Clinically many non-motor symptoms such as autonomic nervous symptoms, mental symptoms and paresthesia are also the important manifestations of PD and can appear earlier than motor symptoms. The effect of the non-motor symptoms on the patients' life is often not less than that of the motor symptoms. Clinically the changeable non-motor symptoms are far more complex and more difficult to treat than the motor symptoms. Conventional anti-PD drugs such as levodopa have little effect on the non-motor symptoms. Present clinical studies have showed that acupuncture has a certain therapeutic effect on the non-motor symptoms of PD. This provides important help for expanding the way to treat PD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the immunological mechanism of allergic dermatitis induced by trichloroethylene (TCE).

METHODSThe guinea pig model of TCE-induced allergic dermatitis was established by Guinea pig Maximization Test. The effects of TCE and its metabolites on splenic lymphocytes of TCE-sensitized and non-sensitized guinea pig were detected by MTT assay.

RESULTSFor TCE-sensitized guinea pig, the survival rate of lymphocytes cultured with TCE (+S9) was significantly higher than that cultured with TCE (-S9) (83.0% +/- 3.4% vs 75.9% +/- 7.9%, P < 0.01), while, for normal animals, the survival rate of lymphocytes cultured with TCE (+S9) was significantly lower than that cultured with TCE (-S9) (63.4% +/- 8.4% vs 77.0% +/- 7.2%, P < 0.01). The survival rate of lymphocytes cultured with TCE (+S9) in TCE-sensitized animals was higher than that in normal animals (83.0% +/- 3.4% vs 63.4% +/- 8.4%, P < 0.05), but no statistically significant difference was found for TCE (-S9) (75.9% +/- 7.9% vs 77.0% +/- 7.2%, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCytotoxicity of TCE to normal lymphocytes and proliferation of sensitized lymphocytes were enhanced by metabolic activation. The metabolites of TCE may act as effective immune hapten to stimulate the proliferation of hapten-specific lymphocytes in TCE-sensitized animals.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; etiology ; immunology ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Male ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; immunology ; Trichloroethylene ; toxicity

OBJECTIVETo assess the experimental and clinical data regarding the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on fracture non-union.

DATA SOURCESThe English language literature regarding EMFs on fracture non-union were searched using MEDLINE, Web of Science and Embase, for the period January 2006 to June 2011. The search terms were electromagnetic fields and non-union/bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs)/bone.

STUDY SELECTIONArticles were included in the review if they were related to the use of EMFs on BMSCs or bone tissue. Papers without full manuscripts available were excluded.

RESULTSThe basic and clinical research in this field, while somewhat limited, supports the insightful application of EMFs to ameliorate disability due to fracture non-union.

CONCLUSIONSFurther basic and clinical research to validate the use of EMFs in facilitating function and bone reparative processes in fracture non-union is required.

Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; physiology ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of combined androgen block therapy on hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit value (Ht) in patients with prostate cancer.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-six patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated with combined androgen block (orchiectomy and flutamide 250 mg, Tid). Complete blood counts were detected before initiation and after 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of therapy.

RESULTSHb level declined significantly in all patients from a mean baseline of (136 +/- 14) g/L to (126 +/- 16) g/L, (121 +/- 14) g/L, (120 +/- 15) g/L, (113 +/- 12) g/L, (121 +/- 13) g/L and (123 +/- 15) g/L at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Ht decreased from a mean baseline of 0.424 +/- 0.041 to 0.390 +/- 0.038, 0.381 +/- 0.042, 0.378 +/- 0.038, 0.366 +/- 0.041, 0.384 +/- 0.039 and 0.387 +/- 0.040. The differences between Hb, Ht before and after treatment were significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPatients with prostate cancer being treated with combined androgen block would develop a significant degree of anemia. Hemoglobin and hematocrit level should be monitored periodically. This kind of anemia can be treated by recombinant human erythropoietin.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Androgen Antagonists ; adverse effects ; Anemia ; chemically induced ; Hematocrit ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy