Actins ; analysis ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-19 ; analysis ; Keratin-20 ; analysis ; Muscle, Smooth ; chemistry ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; classification ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; analysis ; Receptors, Estrogen ; analysis ; Receptors, Progesterone ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of procyanidins (PC) on the expressions of Th1 type cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-12) and the transcription factor T-bet mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) in patients with alopecia areata (AA).

METHODSAbove-mentioned expressions were detected using RT-PCR technique in 20 AA patients (8 of mild and 12 of severe degree) and 10 healthy subjects after phytoaemagglutinin (PHA) or PHA + PC stimulation.

RESULTSAfter being stimulated by PHA and PHA + PC, in patients with severe AA, the expression of T-bet mRNA was 0.581 +/- 0.148 and 0.419 +/- 0.113 respectively; that of IFN-gamma mRNA, 0.689 +/- 0.219 and 0.430 +/- 0.162; and that of IL-12 mRNA, 0.198 +/- 0.056 and 0.136 +/- 0.035, respectively. As compared with those before stimulation, the respective difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPC can inhibit the expressions of Th1 type cytokines and transcription factor T-bet in PBMC of severe AA patients, and reverse the Th1 responses. The authors offered that it maybe part of the acting mechanism of pine needle for treatment of AA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alopecia Areata ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; immunology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proanthocyanidins ; administration & dosage ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effects of Niaoluqing, an oral liquid of traditional Chinese medicine, on the growth of urogenital chlamydia trachomatis (Ct).

METHODSNiaoluqing's applying concentration was 1 g/ml and 10 serologically untyped strains of Ct from the STD clinic were used. And the inhibitory effects of Niaoluqing on Ct was evaluated by McCoy cell microculture technique in vitro.

RESULTSNiaoluqing had inhibitory activity for urogenital Ct, and was capable of reducing inclusion numbers notably in the concentrations of 50 to 200 mg/ml. The number and volume of Ct inclusions reduced gradually and disappeared finally with the rising of the medicinal concentration.

CONCLUSIONThe traditional Chinese medicine Niaoluqing has inhibitory effects on the growth of urogenital Ct.

Chlamydia trachomatis ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Urogenital System ; microbiology

To understand genetic patterns of the morphological and physiological traits in flag leaf of barley, a double haploid (DH) population derived from the parents Yerong and Franklin was used to determine quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling length, width, length/width, and chlorophyll content of flag leaves. A total of 9 QTLs showing significantly additive effect were detected in 8 intervals on 5 chromosomes. The variation of individual QTL ranged from 1.9% to 20.2%. For chlorophyll content expressed as SPAD value, 4 QTLs were identified on chromosomes 2H, 3H and 6H; for leaf length and width, 2 QTLs located on chromosomes 5H and 7H, and 2 QTLs located on chromosome 5H were detected; and for length/width, 1 QTL was detected on chromosome 7H. The identification of these QTLs associated with the properties of flag leaf is useful for barley improvement in breeding programs.
Chlorophyll ; analysis ; Chromosome Mapping ; Hordeum ; genetics ; Phenotype ; Plant Leaves ; genetics ; Quantitative Trait Loci

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on cytokines in the cardiac surgical patient and to evaluate the application of combined acupuncture anesthesia to cardiac surgery.

METHODSThirty patients with atrial septal defect were divided into 3 groups, general anesthesia group (A), acupuncture anesthesia group (B) and combined general anesthesia and EA group (C). Peripheral blood samples were collected before anesthesia, before cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), 30 min after CPB and 24 h after operation to determine the levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6 and IL-10.

RESULTSThe levels of IFN-gamma and IL-2 decreased in the 3 groups after CPB and further decreased 24 h after operation, and in the group C were higher than those in the group B. The levels of IL-6 and IL-10 significantly increased 24 h after operation in the 3 groups with no significant difference among the 3 groups.

CONCLUSIONThe general anesthesia combined with EA can not completely improve the decrease of IFN-gamma and IL-2 induced by CPB, indicating that the good response of the general anesthesia combined with EA to stress can partially improve the immunosupression induced by CPB. Acupuncture does not have significant effect on inflammatory cytokine reaction induced by cardiac surgery.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Adult ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVESTo study the antibacterial effect of Niaoluqing Oral Liquid (NOL) on clinical drug-resistant strains and 14 serotype strains Ureaplasma Urealyticum (UU).

METHODSSixty-three clinical strains of UU were detected to determine their serology and antibiotic susceptibilities by the metabolic inhibition test (MIT). Mininum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was used to evaluate the sensitivity of NOL to different serotypes of UU. The sensitivity of NOL, erythromycin and tetracycline to 63 clinical strains of UU was also studied.

RESULTSIn 63 clinical strains of UU, the range of MIC to NOL was from 0.48 mg/ml to 15.63 mg/ml, MIC50 < or = 1.95 mg/ml, MIC90 < or = 3.91 mg/ml. Among them, 31 strains were resistant to tetracycline and 31 were resistant to erythromycin. No obvious correlation between the sensitivity of NOL to UU clinical strains and that of erythromycin and tetracycline to UU clinical strains (P > 0.05). Clinical strains of UU in this experiment contains all of its serotypes, also having a higher sensitivity to NOL (MIC < or = 3.91 mg/ml) except serology 1, 2, 3 and 11 (MIC > or = 7.81 mg/ml).

CONCLUSIONSNOL exerts a strong in vitro antibacterial effect on erythromycin-resistant and tetracycline-resistant clinical strains of UU. All kinds of serotype strains had a higher sensitivity to NOL, too. Chinese medicinal herbs are of momentous significance in the treatment of UU infection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVETo assess the reliability and usefulness of the extended supraclavicular fasciocutaneous island flap (eSIF) for reconstructing soft tissue defects followinng tongue cancer ablation.

METHODSTwenty-two tongue defects in 22 patients with tongue cancer were repaired with eSIF after resection of the tongue malignant tumours. The sizes of the skin paddle ranged from (4 cm × 6 cm) to (8 cm × 14 cm) (average: 5.5 cm × 8.7 cm).

RESULTSThe eSIF survived in twenty cases, including two cases with minimal partial necrosis. The patients were follwed up for 5 - 16 months. Eighteen patients were alive with disease free, two were alive with disease and two died of a lung and liver metastasis.

CONCLUSIONSThe eSIF is reliable for reconstructing oral defects following the ablation of advanced oral malignant tumors.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; surgery ; Fascia ; transplantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Tongue Neoplasms ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical results and influence factors in surgical treatment of the Lisfranc joint injury.

METHODSFrom Jan. 2009 to Nov. 2011 ,13 patients (14 feet) with Lisfranc joiat injury received open reduction and screw or wire or external fixation including 9 males and 4 females with an average age of 42 years old ranging from 18 to 61 years. According to the Myerson classification,there were 1 case of type A, 9 of type B and 4 of type C. All the patients received open reduction and internal (1 with external) fixation with screw or Kirschner wire within 22 days after injury. The postoperative function was estimated by mid-foot scoring scale of AOFAS. X-ray were used in radiography estimation.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 5 to 30 months (averaged 20 months). According to mid-foot scoring scale of AOFAS,there were 8 feet with excellent results,4 with good and 2 with fair results. The anatomical reduction was observed in 12 feet and all the patients obtained bony union according to the results of X-ray.

CONCLUSIONOpen reduction and internal fixation is a good choice for the treatment of Lisfranc joint injury. A preoperative estimate,proper reduction during operation and maintainence after operation may influence the clinical results.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Foot Injuries ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tarsal Joints ; injuries ; surgery

INTRODUCTIONThe role of soluble OX40 ligand (sOX40L) in adult bronchial asthma is unclear. This study aims to determine the serum concentrations of sOX40L in adult patients with bronchial asthma, and discussed its relationship with pulmonary function.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe measured the pulmonary function using the spirometer and detected the serum concentrations of sOX40L by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 19 healthy persons in the control group, 58 acute asthmatic adult patients who were grouped according to their disease severity: 18 mild grade, 24 moderate grade, 16 severe grade, and 24 persons in a stable asthmatic group.

RESULTSThe serum concentrations of sOX40L in asthmatic adult patients (6.80 ± 4.95 ng/L) were distinctly higher than those in the control group (3.98 ± 2.83 ng/L, P <0.05), and they were negatively correlated with pulmonary function indexes (FEV1%, FVC%, FEV1/FVC) (r = -0.754, P <0.01, r = -0.557, P <0.01, r = -0.457, P <0.01, respectively). Moreover, the serum concentrations of sOX40L showed obvious differences among control, mild, moderate, and severe groups (3.98 ± 2.83, 4.87 ± 1.89, 6.97 ± 5.91, 8.71 ± 5.18 ng/L, respectively; P <0.01). The concentrations of sOX40L decreased to the same extent as the control group after therapeutic treatments were provided to the asthmatic adult patients.

CONCLUSIONThe concentrations of sOX40L were found to be high in adult asthmatic patients and were associated with the severity of the disease. Therefore, sOX40L could be a potential inflammatory mediator in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; Asthma ; blood ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; OX40 Ligand ; blood ; Severity of Illness Index ; Spirometry

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of the polymorphic marker closely linked with beta-globin gene for the preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in couples at risk of having child with beta-thalassemia.

METHODSSingle cell multiplex nested PCR which coamplifies the beta-globin gene and the closely linked polymorphic marker, HumTHO1 gene, was applied in six clinical PGD cycles for four couples with beta-thalassemia.

RESULTSIn six clinical PGD cycles, a total of 44 embryos were biopsied and 44 blastomeres were obtained. Forty-one blastomeres were amplified and thirty-five embryos were given definite diagnoses. Fourteen embryos were transferred back to the uterus of the patients and one pregnancy went on well and ended with one live healthy birth, which confirmed the results of PGD. The average amplification efficiency of single blastomere was 89.7% and the average allele drop-out(ADO) rate was 14.4%. The coamplification of HumTHO1 could help to detect the existence of ADO and contamination.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first report on unaffected pregnancy resulting from PGD using multiplex nested PCR in China. The simultaneous amplification of polymorphic marker closely linked to beta-globin gene(HumTHO1) could help to resist the risk of misdiagnosis in PGD caused by ADO and contamination.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Preimplantation Diagnosis ; methods ; beta-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; diagnosis ; genetics