Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system(LNG-IUS)for the treatment of dysmenorrhea associated with adenomyosis.Methods We recruited 48 women with moderate or severe dysmenorrhea associated with adenomyosis.All women were inserted of LNG-IUS into their uterine cavity from days 5-7 of their periods and maintained for 12 months.We compared the visual analogue scale(VAS)scores and verbal rating scale(VRS)scores of their dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia at baseline and 12 monthes follow-up.Results Forty-four women completed the study. There were significant differences between mean VAS and VRS scores changes of dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia at baseline and 12 monthes follow-up,those of dysmenorrhea dropping from 75?13 to 11?11 and 2.3?0.4 to 0.4?0.3,those of dyspareunia dropping from 54?19 to 4?4 and from 1.6?0.8 to 0.2?0.2 respectively.Overall 29 women(66%)were very satisfied or satisfied with the one-year treatment. Conclusion Insertion of LNG-IUS alleviates moderate or severe dysmenorrhea associated with adenomyosis remarkably.

Objective To investigate new type cytokine induced killer cells expansion using advanced breast cancer′s peripheral blood .Methods peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 8 advanced breast cancer volunteers and co -cultured with Cytokine induced killer cells .These cells were placed in plastic flasks containing CIK-MediumTM supplemented with 10% auto-plasma in the presence of IL -2 ( 1 000 IU/mL) .The cultures were fed with CIK-MediumTM supplemented with IL -2 following the proliferation capacity . Cell proliferation was measured by cell counting during the cultivation .Fourteen days after cultivation ,cell mark-ers CD3/CD16/CD56 were examined by flow cytometry .51Cr and MTT assays were employed in cytotoxicity as-says.Cytokines were assayed by ELISA method .Results CD16+,CD16+CD56+,CD56+CIK cells were 5.8~11.6%in 2 ×107 fresh PBMCs and 95.2~97.6%in co-cultured cells after 18 days cultivation .The in vitro ex-pansion rate of new type cytokine induced killer cells was up to more than 8.2 ×108 in total,the cytotoxicity are ef-fective killing cells against MCF 7 and BT20 breast cancer cell lines .New type cytokine induced killer cells expand-ed from all PBMCs and secreted cytokines IFN -and TNF-.Conclusion The present culture could be useful to clarify the mechanisms of CIK cells expansion in vitro and feasible for breast cancer immmuno cell therapy .

OBJECTIVEPrader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is an example of a human genetic disorder that involves imprinting genes on the proximal long arm of chromosome 15 and SNRPN gene as a candidate gene for this syndrome. The purpose of this study was to show the molecular genetic defects and genomic imprinting basis in Chinese PWS patients and to evaluate the clinical applications of a differential diagnostic test for PWS.

METHODSFluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and methylation-specific PCR (MSPCR) techniques were applied for 4 clinically suspected PWS patients. Using three probes, including SNRPN probe for identification of the critical locus in PWS region, D15Z1 and PML control probes for identification of the 15p arm and 15q arm, the authors detected the deletions 15q in PWS. MSPCR was based on sodium bisulfite treatment of DNA and PCR primers specific for the maternal and paternal allele.

RESULTSWhen hybridized with mixed probes, it was found in 2 patients that the central specific signal was absent, but both the flanking control signals were retained, indicating SNRPN gene deletion of chromosome 15q11-13. Bisulfite-modified DNA from all PWS children amplified with methylated allele-specific primer pair showed only maternal 131bp PCR product, indicating the maternal uniparental disomy (UPD15).

CONCLUSIONGenomic imprinting plays an important role in the molecular pathogenesis of PWS that caused by paternal microdeletions of 15q11-q13 or maternal UPD of chromosome 15. The basic defect seemed to be an absence of function of PWS genes that are normally expressed only from the paternal chromosome 15. MSPCR is a rapid and simple PCR-based assay compared with other cyto-molecular tests and its results were consistent with the clinical diagnosis of PWS, so it seems to be a reliable diagnostic method for PWS patients who show abnormal methylation at SNRPN. The genetic differential tests for PWS are important in determining familial recurrence risk.

Adolescent ; Autoantigens ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; genetics ; Gene Deletion ; Genomic Imprinting ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Prader-Willi Syndrome ; genetics ; Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nuclear ; genetics ; snRNP Core Proteins

The transgenic mice that express Cre recombinase in a tissue specific manner is a powerful tool in generating the conditional gene knockout mice. The rat insulin promoter was cloned target the expression of Cre in pancreatic tissue. The Cre gene was modified by adding the nuclear localization signal and the sequence for initiation by eukaryotic ribosomes at 5' terminal of the Cre gene. Cre gene was linked to the intron of human growth factor gene. This construct was introduced into the mouse eggs using microinjection. Seven mice were identified as founders carrying the Cre gene by PCR. The results of RT-PCR showed that the transgenic mouse from one founder could transcribe the foreign gene in pancreas. The Southern blot analysis indicated that the Cre recombinase expressed in pancreas of the transgenic mouse was functional.
Animals ; Blotting, Southern ; Female ; Insulin ; genetics ; Integrases ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Pancreas ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) recurrence in adult patients and establish a prognosis index (PI) calculation model in order to improve the prevention strategy of ALL in adults.

METHODS104 adult ALL patients from Blood Diseases Hospital & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between August 2008 and November 2011 were enrolled. COX proportional hazards regression stratified by Dummy variable was used to set up the prediction model; Kaplan-Meier method and Log-rank test were used to estimate and compare the survival. After calculated individual PI value, patients' expected survival should be estimated by groups.

RESULTSThe overall median survival of adult ALL patients was 22.00 months (95% CI 17.00-27.00). COX regression analysis showed that chemotherapy group patients had a higher risk of recurrence than of ASCT group while setting treatment as the dummy variable (RR=2.052, 95%CI 0.877-4.799, P=0.007). Stratified Analysis showed that the risk factors of B-ALL recurrence in adult patients included HGB <100 g/L (RR=0.186, 95% CI 0.068-0.512, P=0.001), CNSL (RR=7.767,95% CI 2.951- 20.433, P=0.001), number of consolidation chemotherapy<3 (RR=0.445, 95% CI 0.211-0.940, P=0.034) and Ph chromosome positive (RR=2.771, 95% CI 1.353-5.674, P=0.005). Grouped by the PI value, the expected survival of each individual patient could be estimated as PI=0.58 base.

CONCLUSIONHGB, CNSL, number of consolidation chemotherapy and Ph chromosome were independent risk factors of B-ALL recurrence in adult patients. PI value could predict the survival of adult ALL patients and provide reference for individual therapy and prognostic evaluation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; epidemiology ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of PDGF receptor-beta and its correlation with extracellular matrix in hepatic tissue during hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSThe model of hepatic fibrosis in rats was induced by carbon tetrachloride. PDGF receptor-beta subunit, collagen I, collagen III and a-SMA in hepatic tissues of these rats were examined using immunohistochemistry. The correlation between PDGF receptor-beta subunit and collagen I, III was analyzed using SAS software after the results of immunohistochemistry were semi-quantified.

RESULTSPDGF receptor-beta subunit and a-SMA were not detected in normal controls. Collagen I and III were distributed in the portal tracts and beneath the endothelia of the central veins and of the Disse spaces. Two weeks after CCl4 injection, the PDGF receptor-beta and a-SMA were detected, and the expression of collagen I and III increased. At the end of 4 and 6 weeks, the above four proteins were further increased. Two weeks after CCl4 injection, PDGF receptor-beta had no apparent correlation with collagen I and III. However, PDGF receptor-beta had a significant correlation with collagen I and III 2 weeks later, and the correlation coefficient was 0.74 and 0.60 respectively at 4 weeks, and 0.83 and 0.67 respectively at 6 weeks. PDGF receptor-beta had a significant correlation with a-SMA during the whole process of hepatic fibrosis and the correlation coefficient was 0.62, 0.69 and 0.81, respectively at the time of 2, 4 and 6 weeks after CCl4 injection.

CONCLUSIONThe PDGF receptor-beta was overexpressed during the process of hepatic fibrosis development, and it significantly correlated with collagen I and collagen III.

Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Collagen Type III ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine whether patients infected with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) show a differential distribution profile of IL-28B polymorphisms according to the presence of concomitant cryoglobulinemia.

METHODSSixty-two consecutive CHC patients were enrolled in the study between December 2008 and December 2010. All patients received combination therapy of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (weekly, 180 g, subcutaneous injection) plus ribavirin (daily, 10to15 mg/kg body weight, oral) for 48 weeks, with individualized dosage adjustments according to the patient's clinical situation. Cryoglobulins were detected visibly by separation of cryoprecipitates in patient serum samples. Three IL-28B SNPs (rs8099917, rs12979860, and rs12980275) were detected by sequencing. Response to treatment was assessed by measuring serum levels of HCV RNA by quantitative PCR at baseline (prior to treatment initiation), during treatment (4 and 12 weeks after treatment initiation), end of therapy (48 weeks after treatment initiation), and post-treatment (24 weeks after end of therapy). The significance of between-group differences were assessed by the Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTSCryoglobulinemia was detected in 43.5% (27/62) of the CHC patients and showed a female bias (59.3% vs. males: 34.3%, P = 0.05). Compared to CHC patients without cryoglobulinemia, the CHC patients with cryoglobulinemia showed significantly higher levels of HCV RNA at baseline (5.64+/-1.20 vs. 6.37+/-0.67, P less than 0.05) but lower frequencies of the IL28B rs8099917 TT genotype (94.3% vs. 63.0%, P = 0.002), rs8099917 T allele (97.1% vs. 81.5%, P = 0.003), and rs12979860 C allele (94.3% vs. 83.3%, P = 0.048). CHC patients with cryoglobulinemia and having the rs8099917 TT, rs12979860 CC, or rs12980275 AA genotype achieved a higher rate of sustained virological response.

CONCLUSIONCryoglobulinemia in CHC patients is associated with a differential distribution of IL-28B polymorphisms, and certain polymorphisms may be related to anti-viral treatment response.

Adult ; Alleles ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cryoglobulinemia ; blood ; complications ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukins ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; RNA, Viral ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the features of HBx protein distributed in liver cells and its expression in E. coli.

METHODSThe expression vectors encoding the full length HBx and its mutants were constructed by the routine molecular cloning method. HBx protein expression was detected using Western blotting. The distribution feature of HBx protein in liver cells was examined using the fluorescence confocal microscopy. A series of purified HBx fusion proteins were obtained by glutathione-sepharose 4B affinity chromatography.

RESULTSThe expression vectors were successfully constructed for the full length HBx and its mutants. HBx was found distributed uniformly in the nuclei but granularly in the cytoplasm of the liver cells. Under optimal conditions, the mutant GST-HBx (72-120aa) was easily degraded.

CONCLUSIONThis study may provide a basis for further study on the biological function of HBx at the protein level.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; Glutathione Transferase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Mutation ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo improve the biological properties of decellularized aortic valves by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated covalent incorporation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

METHODSPEG crosslinking of decellularized aortic valves were completed via a Michael-type addition reaction, followed by covalent incorporation of VEGF through another Michael-type addition reaction between the unsaturated propylene acyl of PEG and the thiol groups on cysteine residues of VEGF. The effect of VEGF incorporation was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immune fluorescence assay. The endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were seeded on decellularized aortic valves with or without these modifications, and after 10 days of culture, the valves were examined for DNA content and by hematoxylin-eosin staining and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTSImmune fluorescence and ELISA showed that the maximal VEGF incorporation on the decellularized aortic valve reached 908.94∓0.27 pg. Compared with the unmodified valves and the valves with PEG crosslinking, decellularized aortic valves with covalent incorporation of VEGF significantly promoted the adhesion and proliferation of EPCs, which formed a confluent cell monolayer on the valve surface.

CONCLUSIONSPEG-mediated covalent incorporation of VEGF in the decellularized aortic valves improves the adhesion and proliferation of the seeded EPCs to facilitate the construction of tissue-engineered heart valves.

Animals ; Aortic Valve ; drug effects ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Swine ; Tissue Engineering ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDActivation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is essentially involved in the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis. The most potent growth factor for HSC is platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGF) and PDGF receptor beta subunit (PDGFR-beta) is the predominant signal transduction pathway of PDGF which is overexpressed in activated HSC. This study investigated the cleavage activity of hammerhead ribozyme targeting PDGFR-beta mRNA in HSC and the effect on biological characteristics of HSC.

METHODSExpression vector of anti-PDGFR-beta ribozyme was constructed and transfected into rat activated HSC with lipofectamin. The positive cell clones were gained by G418 selection. The expression of PDGFR-beta, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and typeI and type III collagen were detected by using Northern blot, Western blot and immunocytochemical staining, respectively. The cell proliferation was determined with MTT colorimetric assay. The cell apoptosis was analyzed by using flow cytometry, acridine orange fluorescence vital staining and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe expression of PDGFR-beta at mRNA and protein level was markedly reduced in ribozyme-transfected HSC by 49% - 57% (P < 0.05 - 0.01). The proliferation and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression of ribozyme-transfected HSC were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 - 0.01), and the type I and type III collagen synthesis were also reduced (P < 0.01). In addition, the proliferative response of ribozyme-transfected HSC to PDGF BB was significantly inhibited. Otherwise, the apoptotic cells were significantly increased in ribozyme-transfected HSC (P < 0.01), and typical apoptotic cells could be found under transmission electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONSThe anti-PDGFR-beta ribozyme effectively cleaved the target RNA and significantly inhibited its expression, which blocked the signal transduction of PDGF at receptor level, inhibited HSC proliferation and collagen synthesis, and induced HSC apoptosis. These results suggest that inhibiting PDGFR-beta expression of HSC may be a new target for the therapy of liver fibrogenesis, and ribozyme may be a useful tool for inhibiting PDGFR-beta expression.

Actins ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Liver ; cytology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; RNA, Catalytic ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; genetics