OBJECTIVETo explore the in vitro anti-tumor effect and mechanism of dendritic cell (DC) tumor vaccine induced by astragalus polysacharin (APS).

METHODSPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from human peripheral blood. DCs obtained from human peripheral blood were cultivated and added with culture solution for in vitro inducing them to immature DCs. On the 5th day of culture, 100 microg/mL (as the final concentration) APS was added to cells in the APS group. DCs were induced to mature in the cytokine groups by adding 20 ng/mL rhTNF-alpha (as the final concentration). Changes of morphology and phenotype of DCs were observed. Mature DCs were sensitized with tumor antigen SGC-7901 and co-cultured with allogeneic T cells. The proliferative function of T lymphocytes was detected by MTT assay. Levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in co-cultured supernatant were detected by ELISA. Cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTL) activated by DC were co-cultured with tumor cell SGC-7901. The specific killing capacity of CTL to target cells was detected by LDH release assay.

RESULTSThe morphological observation and phenotypic identification of APS induced DCs were in accordance with the characteristics of mature DCs. APS induced mature DCs could stimulate the proliferation of allogeneic T lymphocytes. The proliferation index of T cells increased with increased ratio of stimulator cells to effector cells (P < 0.05). Levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in co-culture supernatant significantly increased in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). CTL cells activated by sensitization of DCs could significantly kill tumor cells, and the killing effect increased along with increased effector-to-target ratio.

CONCLUSIONAPS could in vitro induce DCs to mature, promote its antigen-presenting capacity, effectively activate CTLs, and enhance anti-tumor function of the organism.

Antigen-Presenting Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Coculture Techniques ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-12 ; immunology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology ; drug effects

Objective To establish a time resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) method for detecting Glypican 3 (GPC3) and to explore the diagnostic value of serum GPC3 for hepatic carcinoma (HCC). Methods Microplate coated with anti-GPC3 monoclonal antibody 7C8 and GP9 labeled with Eu3+ were used to establish TRFIA kit. The serum concentrations of GPC3 in 41 HCC patients and 44 chronic hepatitis (CH) patients were quantitatively analyzed. AFP was detected by with lowest limit of 2.06 μg/L. The CV of inter and intra assay were 12.25% and 12.91%, respectively. The average serum concentration of GPC3 in HCC patients was (86.68±110.39) μg/L (median: 56.98 μg/L). But in CH patients it was only (14.77±29.48) μg/L, which was significantly lower than that in HCC (Wilcoxon W=1335.00, Z=-4.99, P<0.001). With diagnostic cut-off value set at 42.94 μg/L, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of TRFIA GPC3 for HCC were 58.5% (24/41) and 95.5%(42/44) respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity of AFP was 46.3% (19/41) in 41 HCC patients, and was raised to 78.0% (32/41) when combined with GPC3. Conclusions Serum GPC3 assay by TRFIA is established and it could increase the diagnostic sensitivity for HCC when combined with AFP.

Objective To develop a BP neural network to differentiate between ventricular fibrillation( VF) and non-VF rhythms.Methods Eighteen metrics were extracted from the ECG signals.Each of these metrics respectively characterized each aspect of the signals, such as morphology, gaussianity, spectra, variability, and complexity.These metrics were regarded as the input vector of the BP neural network.After training, a classifier used for VF and non-VF rhythm classification was obtained.Results and Conclusion The constructed BP neural network was tested with the databases of VFDB and CUDB, and the accuracy was 98.61%and 95.37%, respectively.

Some studies have shown that the glycocalyx barrier formed by highly glycosylated mucin and galectin-3 in the epithelial cells of the eyeball is important for the maintenance of moisturization and lubrication of the surface of the eye. The decrease in the wettability of the eye surface and the shortening of the tear film breakup time in dry eye patients are closely related to the damage of the glycocalyx barrier. This article outlines the composition of the glycocalyx barrier on ocular surface and its changes in the dry eye patients. It will also introduce a new method for assessing the damage of the glycocalyx barrier in dry eye patients. Finally, two ophthalmological drugs, which target regulating the abnoemality of transmembrane mucins in dry eye disease will be mentioned.

A series of cycloberberine derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-cancer activities in vitro. Among these analogs, compounds 6c, 6e and 6g showed strong inhibition on human HepG2 cells. They afforded a potent effect against DOX-resistant MCF-7 breast cells as well. The primary mechanism showed that cell cycle was blocked at G2/M phase of HepG2 cells treated with 6g using flow cytometry assay. It significantly inhibited the activity of DNA Top I at the concentration of 0.1 mg mL-1. Our results provided a basis for the development of this kind of compounds as novel anti-cancer agents.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type I ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Molecular Structure ; Structure-Activity Relationship

Objective To investigate the clinical features of recurrent epileptic seizures and perioperative management principles and methods of neurosurgical patients with recurrent epileptic seizures.Methods The clinical data,reasons for aggravated seizures,seizure characteristics,and treatment methods and results of 9 patients with recurrent epileptic seizures were analyzed retrospectively.Results Of all the 9 patients,3 were combined with glioma,1 with arachnoid cyst,1 with cavernous hemangioma and 1 with encephalomalacia; epilepsy history was noted in 7 patients; frontal lobe epilepsy was noted in 7,and temporal lobe epilepsy in 2.The reasons for seizure aggravation included drug-decrement(n=3),recent-diagnosed brain tumor(n=2)and surgical operation during intracranial electrode implantation(n=1); and unknown reason was noted in the other 3.Epileptic seizure types included partial seizure and secondary generalized seizure; the frequency of seizure ranged from 3 minutes of interval to several hours of interval.Patients given multiple antiepileptic drugs,including oral and parenteral administration,received good seizure-control; and levetiracetam showed good curative effect during the treatment.Conclusion Recurrent seizures show drug refractory,and is hard to control.The AEDs having good curative effect in partial seizure should be combined used in these patients with higher dosage than conventional initial dose; intravenous and intramuscular administration can be used; the seizures should be controlled as soon as posible.Levetiracetam has good curative effect on patients with recurrent seizures for its fast oral-absorption,rapid onset of action and good antiepileptic effect.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect and mechanism of Dendrobium candidum polysaccharides (DCP) in promoting hair growth, in order to lay a foundation for the development and utilization of D. candidum.

METHODThe water-extraction and alcohol-precipitation method was adopted to extract DCP, and the phenol-sulphuric acid method was used to determine its content. Thirty C57BL6J mice were collected to establish the hair loss model with hair removal cream. They were randomly divided into the control group, the positive control group and the DCP group, and given 0.2 mL of ultra-pure water, minoxidil tincture and DCP (5.0 g x L(-1)) 21 days. The mice hair growth scoring standard was adopted to evaluate the hair growth of C57BL/6J mice at 7, 14 d. The hairs in unit hair-losing areas of treated C57BL/6J mice at 21 d were weighed to evaluate the effect of DCP on the promotion of hair growth. MTT assay and RT-PCR method were used to evaluate the effect of DCP on the proliferatin of HaCaT cells and the mRNA expression of VEGF in HaCaT cells.

RESULTThe extraction percent of DCP was 29.87%, and its content was 79.65%. The average scores for the hair growth and weight of C57BL/6J mice of DCP group were much higher than the control group. The survival rate and mRNA expression of VEGF of HaCaT cells were much higher than the control group.

CONCLUSIONDCP has the effect in promoting hair growth. Its mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of the mRNA expression of VEGF.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dendrobium ; chemistry ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Hair ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo confirm the close relationship of high co-infection rate between HIV and hepatitis virus in intravenous drug users (i.v.DUs).

METHODSAnti-HIV, HBV and HCV were detected by ELISA in the serum from 35 scattered and 15 massed i.v.DUs. PCR and RT-PCR were performed to confirm the infection of HIV, HBV, HCV, HGV and TTV among the 15 massed intravenous drug abusers.

RESULTSAmong the 50 i.v.DUs, the positive rates of anti-HCV1 HBsAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc were 92% (46/50), 12% (6/50), 10% (5/50) and 66% (33/50), respectively. In the samples of HBsAg positive, their HBeAg was also positive. Although the positive rate of serum markers was different in the massed i.v.DUs compared to the scattered i.v.DUs, no significant difference was shown. In the cases of massed i.v.DUs, the positive rates of HIV DNA, HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA, HGV-RNA, and TTV-DNA were 100% (15/15), 26.6% (4/15), 53.3% (8/15), 33.3% (5/15) and 26.6% (4/15), respectively. Among the 15 massed intravenous drug users, one was infected with HIV, HBV, HCV, HGV and TTV; two were infected with HIV, HBV, HCV and HGV; three were infected only with HIV; and the remaining had other forms of co-infection.

CONCLUSIONThe co-infection rate of HIV, HBV, HCV, HGV and TTV in intravenous drug users is very high.

HIV Infections ; complications ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; complications ; Humans ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; complications

OBJECTIVETo observe the protective effect of diammonium glycyrrhizinate on hepatic function in burn patients.

METHODSTwenty burn patients with hepatic dysfunction were enrolled in the study and were randomly divided into 2 groups, i. e. treatment (T, n = 10, with conventional treatment and intravenous infusion of 150 mg diammonium glycyrrhizinate per day for 14 days), and control (C, n = 10, with conventional treatment) groups. The blood samples in both groups were collected before and 7 and 15 days after the treatment. The serum contents of ALT, AST, GGT, ALP and PA in the blood samples were determined and analyzed comparatively.

RESULTSThere was obvious difference in the serum contents of ALT, AST, GGT, ALP and PA in the T group before treatment (168 +/- 46 U/L, 104 +/- 29 U/L, 162 +/- 37 U/L, 149 +/- 17 U/L, 310 +/- 35 mg/L, respectively) and 15 days after treatment (51 +/- 9 U/L, 31 +/- 3 U/L, 56 +/- 10 U/L, 103 +/- 9 U/L, 372 +/- 44 mg/L, respectively, P < 0.05). There was no difference in these indices in the C group before and after treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDiammonium glycyrrhizinate seemed to be beneficial to the management of postburn hepatic dysfunction with obvious rapid depression of hepatic enzymes.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Burns ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Diseases ; drug therapy ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study was to assess the imaging characteristics of abdominal pheochromocytoma in multiphasic spiral CT scanning, and to determine whether these image characteristics can aid in differentiating pheochromocytoma from other types of tumors or not.

METHODSThe image data of dynamic enhanced CT of 79 pathologically confirmed pheochromocytomas in 70 patients were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSAmong the 70 patients, there were 41 patients with endocrine symptoms related to pheochromocytoma, 15 had a latent pheochromocytoma and the remaining 14 cases presented with a non-functioning pheochromocytoma. There were totally 79 tumors in 70 patients, with a single lesion in 63 cases, while multiple lesions in the other 7. Sixty cases had a tumor located in the adrenal gland, while 8 in retroperitoneal space, and 2 cases had both intraadrenal and ectopic lesions simultaneously. Sixty patients had a benign pheochromocytoma, the other 10 had a malignant one or relapse after operation. The average size of the tumor was 5.8 cm (range, 2 approximately 15 cm in the longest diameter). Seventy-seven pheochromocytomas had a well defined boundary except two big ones with a unclear margin, which were finally proven to be malignant. Homogeneous enhancement was found in 6 lesions with a diameter

CONCLUSIONApproximately half of the abdominal pheochromocytomas are lack of endocrine symptoms related with their tumors. However, they may display some typical CT characteristics, such as that a small lesion is often homogeneous but hypervascular, a larger tumor may present hemorrhage, necrosis, and cystic change with rich or moderate blood supply. However, when a small tumor has moderate blood supply, it should be differentiated with an adrenal adenoma; when a big one has moderate blood supply, it should be differentiated with other malignant tumors. Furthermore, a part of malignant pheochromocytomas is really difficult to be differentiated from some benign lesions by spiral CT images alone.

Adenoma ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Pheochromocytoma ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Retroperitoneal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Young Adult