ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and significance of Thl7 cells in peripheral blood of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).MethodsThirty-three active RA and 27 stable RA patients and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study.Intracellular flow cytometry detection of TH17 cells in peripheral blood was established.The correlations between Th17 cells and RA disease activity (DAS28 scale) as well as bone erosion were analyzed.ResultsThe expressions of Th17 cells in the patients with RA were significantly higher than those of healthy controls [ ( 1.60 ± 0.51 ) ％ vs (0.81 ± 0.21 ) ％,t =10.30,P ＜ 0.001 ].The Th17 levels in active RA patients were also higher than that of stable RA patients and healthy subjects [ ( 1.94 ±0.38 ) ％ vs ( 1.19 ± 0.27) ％,t =8.85,14.60,P ＜ 0.01 ].And the Th1 7 levels in stable RA patients were also higher than that of healthy subjects (t =5.88,P ＜0.01 ).Active RA patients with bone erosion ( 19 cases) also had higher levels of Th17 cells than those without bone erosion ( 14 cases) [ ( 2.09 ± 0.39 ) ％ vs.( 1.74 ±0.29 ) ％,t =2.83,P ＜ 0.01 ].The expression of Th17 cells was positively correlated with the DAS28 score ( r =0.86,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionThere is a high expression of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of RA patients,which is related to disease activity and bone erosion.Th17 cells might play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the current situation and trend of Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT) in the old city area of Guangzhou and to provide information for diagnosis, treatment and policy on tuberculosis (TB) control in the city.

METHODSRelevant data regarding Mycobacteria culture, species identification and drug-resistance from out-patients under suspicion of having pulmonary tuberculosis seen at our TB and Pulmonary Tumor Control Institute, was analyzed retrospectively during 1994-2003.

RESULTSA total number of 12,634 strains of Mycobacteria were isolated and 794 strains were identified as MOTT which accounted for 6.28% of the isolated strains during the ten years. The annual isolation rates of MOTT were between 3.51% and 10.06%. When compared with 1994, the rates of isolation on MOTT had increased 73.15% in 2003, i.e. from 5.81% in 1994 to 10.06% in 2003. 512 strains were not susceptible at least to rifampin and isoniazid out of 613 MOTT strains tested for drug susceptibility to isoniazid, rifampin, streptomycin sulfate and ethambutol. The average rate of multi-drugs resistance of these strains was 83.5%, and the annual rates were between 71.4% and 93.9%. Based on the results of species identification on 136 strains of MOTT in 2003, most of them belonged to pathogenic/opportunistic species of Mycobacteria. All together, 30 strains of M. abscessus, 26 of M. intracellulare, 17 of M. smegmatis, 14 of M. scrofulaceum, 11 of M. avium, 5 of M. kansasii and M. chelonae and M. fortuitum respectively, 4 of M. nonchromogenicum, 2 of M. triviale and 1 of M. aurum were identified. People at 45 years of age or older, with 55-65 the most, were more susceptible to MOTT than other age groups. Sex ratio was 3.36 to 1.

CONCLUSIONBased on information from the Third National Tuberculosis Epidemiology Survey in 1990 and the Fourth one in 2000, the current situation and trend of MOTT were nearly the same in the old city area of Guangzhou during 1994-2003. However, the rising tendency of rate of isolation, mainly consisted of opportunistic pathogens and the surprisingly high rate of multi-drugs resistance to MOTT all call for special attention. Studies regarding the epidemiology of MOTT should be posed and implemented in the National TB Control Program.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous ; epidemiology ; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection ; epidemiology

Objective To study the effects of nitric oxide on Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa) channels in the hypothalamus neurons of newborn SD rats. Methods The data were recorded using inside-out or cell-attached configuration of patch-clamp technique and the kinetic changes of KCa channels are compared before and after 100 μmol/L sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was added into the bathing solution. Results When 100 μmol/L SNP was added to the bathing solution in cell-attached configuration, the open probability of the KCa channels increased from (7.3±1.5)% to (40.2±6.5)%, open time from (7.12±1.41) ms to (15.34±3.45) ms, frequency from (11.3±3.5) Hz to (26.6±4.2) Hz. Conclusion NO-cGMP signal pathway could greatly increase the open probability of the channels as a result of both the prolongation of open period and increase of open frequency, but the pathological or physiological roles it may play require further study.

Objective To study the effects of nitric oxide on Ca2+-activated K+ (KCa) channels in the hypothalamus neurons of newborn SD rats. Methods The data were recorded using inside-out or cell-attached configuration of patch-clamp technique and the kinetic changes of KCa channels are compared before and after 100 μmol/L sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was added into the bathing solution. Results When 100 μmol/L SNP was added to the bathing solution in cell-attached configuration, the open probability of the KCa channels increased from (7.3±1.5)% to (40.2±6.5)%, open time from (7.12±1.41) ms to (15.34±3.45) ms, frequency from (11.3±3.5) Hz to (26.6±4.2) Hz. Conclusion NO-cGMP signal pathway could greatly increase the open probability of the channels as a result of both the prolongation of open period and increase of open frequency, but the pathological or physiological roles it may play require further study.

Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; complications ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Mental Disorders ; complications ; Middle Aged

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated that patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a higher prevalence of substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity compared with controls. Our aim was to explore the neuroimaging characteristics of transcranial sonography (TCS) of patients with PD and those with PD with dementia (PDD). The correlation between the echogenicity of the SN and clinical symptoms in Chinese patients with PDD was also assessed. Methods: The ratios of SN hyperechogenicity (SN+), maximum sizes of SN+, and widths of third ventricle (TV) were measured using TCS for all the recruited patients. Data were analyzed using one?way analysis of variance, rank?sum test, Chi?square test, and receiver?operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The final statistical analysis included 46 PDD patients, 52 PD patients, and 40 controls. There were no significant differences in ratios of SN+ and maximum sizes of SN+ between PDD and PD groups (P > 0.05). TV widths were significantly larger in PDD group (7.1 ± 1.9 mm) than in PD group (6.0 ± 2.0 mm) and controls (5.9 ± 1.5 mm, P < 0.05); however, the ratios of enlarged TV did not differ among the three groups (P = 0.059). When cutoff value was set at 6.8 mm, the TV width had a relatively high sensitivity and specificity in discriminating between PDD and PD groups (P = 0.030) and between PDD group and controls (P = 0.003), based on ROC curve analysis. In PDD patients, SN+ was more frequently detected in akinetic?rigid subgroup, and patients with SN+ showed significantly higher Hoehn and Yahr stage and Nonmotor Symptoms Questionnaire scores (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Compared to Chinese patients with PD, patients with PDD had a wider TV, altered SN sonographic features, and more severe clinical symptoms. Our findings suggest that TCS can be used to assess brain atrophy in PD and may be useful in discriminating between PD with and without dementia.

Adolescent ; Biopsy ; Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of Lung, Congenital ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diagnostic Errors ; adverse effects ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung Diseases ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Lobe Syndrome ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the function and clinicopathological significance of RNA-29c (miR-29c) in the carcinogenesis and development of gastric cancer.

METHODSMicroRNA microarray was applied to assess the miRNAs expression profile of gastric cancer. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-29c in 64 cases of gastric cancer tissues and corresponding normal gastric epithelium, as well as cell lines GES-1, BGC-823 and SGC-7901 cells. MTT assay and flow cytometry were applied to detect the effects of forced expression of miR-29c in gastric cancer BGC-823 cells including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and drug sensitivity. Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot and luciferase reporter assay were used to explore the targeted relationship between miR-29c and myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1).

RESULTSCompared with normal gastric epithelium, seven microRNAs (miR-374b*, miRPlus-E1212, miR-338-5p, miR-297, miR-21, miR-135b, miR-18a) were significantly up-regulated more than 2-folds, and nine microRNAs (miR-29b-2*, miR-1260, miRPlus-E1241, miR-S1-5p, miR-148a, miR-29c, miR-647, miR-196b*, ebv-miR-BART5) were significantly down-reguated in gastric cancer tissues. The average expression level of miR-29c in gastric cancer tissues was 0.70 ± 0.34 and in corresponding normal epithelium was 1.00 ± 0.06 (P < 0.05). miR-29c expression was related to tumor size, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, Laurén classification, Borrmann classification and Ming classification (P < 0.05). The poorer differentiation degree of gastric cell lines, the lower was miR-29c expression level (P < 0.05). Overexpression of miR-29c in gastric cancer BGC-823 cells suppressed cell proliferation, stimulated cell apoptosis, induced cell cycle arrest in S phase and increased the chemotherapy sensitivity to drug docetaxel (all were P < 0.05). The average expression level of Mcl-1 mRNA in gastric cancer tissues was 3.47 ± 1.34 and corresponding epithelialium was 1.00 ± 0.20 (P < 0.05). The expression level of miR-29c was negatively related with that of Mcl-1 mRNA in gastric cancer tissues. miR-29c directly targeted to regulation of Mcl-1 expression.

CONCLUSIONSThere are special miRNA expression profile in gastric cancer. The expression of miR-29c is closely related to biological behavior of human gastric cancer. miR-29c is involved in targeted regulation of Mcl-1, and may be one of mechanisms of the carcinogenesis of gastric cancer.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Microarray Analysis ; Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use ; Transcriptome ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the alterations of bcl-2 gene family in the area of CA-3 in rats and the molecular mechanism of neuronal apoptosis following traumatic brain injury. METHODS: To investigate the alterations of bcl-2 gene family in the area of CA-3 in rats and the molecular mechanism of neuronal apoptosis following traumatic brain injury. RESULTS: The immunoreactivity of bcl-2 and bcl-x proteins decreased in the hippocampus ipsilateral impact site at 6 hours after injury, and this was the main cause of down-regulation of the value of (bcl-2+bcl-x)/ bax. During the period of 1-3 days after injury, bax protein expression increased significantly, while bcl-2 and bcl-x protein expressions decreased relatively slowly. The decreased value of (bcl-2+bcl-x)/ bax was mainly due to the bax up-regulation. CONCLUSIONS: The bcl-2 gene family is involved in neuronal apoptosis after traumatic brain injury, and the protein-expression alterations of the bcl-2 gene family members lead to apoptosis of the neuronal cells.

Objective To investigate the mechanical prosperity and degradation rate of the scaffolds with compounding collagen and the nano sol-gel derived bioactive glass were studied,and provide the theoretical basis for the further application of collagen based scaffolds.Method The scaffold with compounding collagen and the nano sol-gel derived bioactive glass(58S)were prepared using the freeze-drying techniques with the bioactive glass as phase addition.By affecting the aggregation state of the collagen fibers with adjusting the supplementation of bioactive glass to change the microstructures of the compound scaffolds and finatly the compound scaffolds with different mechanical properties were prepared.Results (1)As the aggregation state of the collagen fibers changes,the scaffolds with the coarser collagen fibers is prepared with the diameters 400-600 nm approximately.The coarser collagen fibers will play an important role in improving the mechanical property and slowing down the degradation rate of the collagen based scaffolds.(2)The interactions between bioactive glass and collagen are studied by FTIR and Raman technologies.When the quality of content of collagen in the compound scaffolds is lower than 20%,the secondary structure of collagen is damaged severely.Conclusion The composite scaffolds with the mass ratio of collagen to bioactive glass 40:60 has the best performance in mechanical property and degradation,which will be helpful for further applications.