The recombinant fusion protein staphylokinase-hirudin(rSFH) was purified from the high density-fermented engineered E.coli by means of ion-exchange chromatography (IEC) and gel filtration (GF). The purity of rSFH reached to more than 98% determined by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE, and the yield was up to 0.7g per liter of fermentation broth. The analysis of homologous dimmer of rSFH appeared during the purification and calculation of the surface hydrophobic area had been carried out by means of hydrophobic chromatography and MALD-TOF. The influence of sodium chloride and temperature on the behavior of rSFH reversible dimerization was analyzed by high performance sized- exclusive chromatography(HPSEC). It is concluded that the hydrophobic interaction played an important role in the reversible dimerization of rSFH.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of human swine streptococcosis occurred in some areas of Jiangsu Province from late summer to autumn since 1998.Methods The epidemiologic and clinical features of 42 cases were collected and analyzed.The bio- chemical features of strains isolated from patient's blood or cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) were tested,and the homogeneity were compared among 15 Streptococcus suisⅡ.Results All patients had acute infection toxe- mic symptoms such as chill,fever,headache and malaise etc.Toxic shock syndrome or meningitis syndrome were the major clinical manifestations.Forty two cases of human swine streptococosis were classified into 3 types:the rates of general,shock and meningitis type were 7.1% (3/42),38.1% (16/42) and 54.7%(23/42),respectively.Ten patients were died of shock type,32 were cured.Strain isolated from patients was identified as Streptococcus suisⅡby API-Strep,the biochemical reactional code was 0641473,and appraised result was 99.9%.There was highly homogeneity in the strains of Streptococcus suisⅡisolated from patients and sick pigs identified by genomic fingerprinting.Com- bined therapy of large doses of penicillin G and ceftriaxone was effective in these patients.Conclusions Human swine streptococosis is zoonosis caused by Streptococcus suisⅡand the clinical manifesta- tions are variable.In the cases of shock type,the onset of disease is stormy and the fatality rate is very high.While the prognosis of general and meningitis type is good and the majority of the cases are cured by effective antibiotic therapy.

Objective To investigate the value of the imaging findings of soft tissue abnormality in the differential diagnosis between osteomyelitis and malignant bone tumor.Methods The CT and MRI findings of soft tissue changes in 57 cases of osteomyelitis and 70 cases of malignant bone tumor were retrospectively defined,observed,recorded and statistically analyzed.Results In 57 cases of osteomyelitis, 54 cases were examined with CT,and soft tissue swelling was presented in 52 cases (degree Ⅰin 19 cases, degreeⅡin 16 cases,degree Ⅲin 17 cases).Abscess-like cysts in soft tissue occurred in 6 cases,masses in 5,air in 1,fat-fluid level in 1 and sinus tract in 1.Among 14 cases examined with MR imaging,soft tissue swelling was presented in all cases (degreeⅠin 2 cases,degree Ⅱin 6 cases and degree Ⅲin 6 cases). Abscess-like cysts appeared in 3 cases and showed high signal in diffusion weighted imaging, mass in Ⅰand fat-fluid level in 1.Among 54 cases examined with CT in 70 cases of malignant bone tumor, soft tissue swelling was presented in 44 cases (degreeⅠin 29 cases,degreeⅡin 12 cases,degreeⅢin 3 cases).Soft tissue masses appeared in 49 cases,bone shell and shell-like calcification in 16 cases and neoplastic bone and neoplastic calcified cartilage within soft tissue mass in 25 cases.Among 49 cases examined with MR imaging,soft tissue swelling was presented in 46 cases (degree Ⅰin 21 cases,degreeⅡin 17 cases and degree Ⅲin 8 cases),and soft tissue masses appeared in 43 cases.The degree of soft tissue swelling and the occurrence of abscess-like cyst,mass,bone shell or shell-liked calcification in the rim of mass,neoplastic bone or neoplastic calcified cartilage in masses showed significant difference(P

Objective To investigate the effects of high spermatic vessel dissection on testicular morphological alteration of SD rats in prepuberty,puberty and sexual maturity phases.Methods Thirty-day-old SD rats were divided into 2 groups underwent sham operation and left high spermatic vessel dissection as a simulation of Palomo′s maneuver.Detailed morphological investigations were made at 3 different postoperative intervals among the 3rd day,30th day and 56th day.Results High spermatic vessel dissection in prepubertal rats induced acute testicular ischemia in the operated testes on the 3rd day.Most of the operated testes on the 30th day showed testicular atrophy.And all the operated testes showed testicular atrophy and sperm disappearance in epididymis on the 56th day.Conclusion High dissection of spermatic vessel in prepubertal rats induced testicular ischemia in prepuberty and testicular growth failure in puberty,testicular atrophy completely and sperm production losing in sexual maturity phase.

The distribution information of Lomatogonium rotatum. was collected by interview investigation and field survey, and 55 related environmental factors were collected, the habitat suitability study was conducted based on geographic information system (GIS) and maximum entropy model. The AUCs of ROC curve were both above 0.99, indicating that the predictive results with the maximum model were highly precise. The results showed that 13 major environmental factors have obvious influence on ecology suitability distributions of L. rotatum, including month average temperature of February et al., the suitable distribution areas are mainly concentrated in the east-central of Inner Mongolia, including Hexigten banner, Duolun county, Zhenglan banner et al., The zoning results basically coincide with the genuine producing areas, and further afford new suitable distribution areas, which can provide reference for L. rotatum's wild nursery and the siting of introduction and cultivation.
China ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Gentianaceae ; growth & development ; Geographic Information Systems ; Rain ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of the cytokines following stereotactic irradiation for hepatocarcinoma with cirrhosis in rabbits.

METHODSSixteen rabbits with liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma (experimental group) were randomized into two equal groups to receive stereotactic irradiation at single dose of 20 and 30 Gy, respectively. Eight rabbits with hepatocarcinoma (control group) were divided into two equal groups and treated in identical manner. All the rabbits were killed 3 weeks after irradiation, and EV two-step method was used to observe the cytokine changes of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and glutathione S-transferase pi (GST-pi) after irradiation.

RESULTSAfter irradiation, PCNA and GST-pi expression showed significant difference in the adjacent liver tissue between the experimental and control rabbits with irradiation at 20 Gy (P=0.010), but not with the irradiation dose of 30 Gy (P=1.000). Irradiation at different doses resulted in significant difference in the cytokine expression in the experimental rabbits (P=0.010). In the liver tissue exposed to irradiation, different irradiation doses resulted in significant difference in PCNA and GST-pi protein expression (P=0.010).

CONCLUSIONSFor hepatocarcinoma with cirrhosis in rabbits, radiation at the single dose of 30 Gy produces better response than 20 Gy, and PCNA and GST-pi may serve as good indexes for evaluating the therapeutic effect.

Animals ; Glutathione S-Transferase pi ; biosynthesis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; radiotherapy ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; metabolism ; radiotherapy ; Male ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; biosynthesis ; Rabbits ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo study MRI changes of vertebral metastasis and their value in differential diagnosis.

METHODSMR films of 103 patients with vertebral metastasis confirmed clinically or pathologically were reviewed with all features recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS338 vertebrae were involved in 103 patients, including 82 in vertebral body only, 3 in appendix only and 253 in both. According to the shape of vertebral body and the characteristic abnormality, 335 vertebrae with body involved were divided into 4 types: Type I (97) with one single focus in the vertebral body, type II (102) with multiple foci with clear margin in the vertebral body, type III (16) with abnormal signal in the whole vertebral body and type IV (120) with abnormal signal in the whole or most part of vertebral body complicated with compression fracture. Among all these lesions, 114 showed concave superior and/or inferior edges and 116 protruding posterior and/or anterior borders. In 256 vertebrae with abnormal appendix, 238 showed abnormal pedicle of vertebral arch involving neighbouring part of vertebral body and 235 showed enlarged pedicle and other parts of the appendix. Soft tissue mass was showed around 133 vertebrae, with the center at the involved vertebrae on sagittal image. 130 pieces of these masses extended cranio-caudally within or a little beyond the width of a vertebral body.

CONCLUSIONVertebral metastasis is characterized by involving multiple vertebrae. Its diagnosis and differential diagnosis can be made definite in most patients according to the lesions distribution, change in vertebral shape and the characteristics of the soft tissue mass.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; secondary

OBJECTIVEOur previous cDNA array data have shown that expression level of CDK1 increased along with the malignant progression of ganglioglioma, and decreased with the differentiation process of neural stem cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the CDK1 expression levels in gliomas and the effects of CDK1 knockdown on phenotype of glioma cells.

METHODSGlioma tissue array was constructed, which was composed of surgical specimens of gliomas with different malignancy grades, glioma xenografts in nude mice, cellular spheroids of brain tumor stem cells, normal neural stem cells and glioma cell line. CDK1 expression was detected in glioma tissue array with immunohistochemical techniques. CDK1 expression in human brain glioma cell line and relevant xenogeneic graft tumor was inhibited by retroviral vectors expressing short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs). Both in vitro and in vivo changes of biological characteristics were further observed.

RESULTSThe expression level of CDK1 increased along with the malignancy progression of glioma in clinical specimens. The positive expression rates of CDK1 in human brain glioma tissues were 22.2% (grade I), 40.0% (grade II), 69.6% (grade III) and 78.6% (grade IV), P = 0.01, respectively. The positive expression rate of CDK1 in glioma cell line and implanted xenografts was similar as the clinical tumors with high malignancy, and higher than those in neural stem cells and brain tumor stem cells (P = 0.0014). Expression of CDK1 was high in human fetal brain tissues and bone marrows of nude mice, but low in normal adult human brain tissues. Downregulation of CDK1 inhibited the proliferation activities notably both in SHG-44 cells in vitro and relevant xenogeneic graft tumors, and induced apoptosis of tumor cells prominantly as well.

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of CDK1 may promote oncogenesis and progression of human gliomas. Downregulation of CDK1 expression can inhibit the proliferation activities of human malignant gliomas.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Astrocytoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Stem Neoplasms ; metabolism ; CDC2 Protein Kinase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Ganglioglioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Gene Silencing ; Glioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects on patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B by Baihua Xianglian Detoxification Recipe (BXDR) combined adefovir dipivoxil (AD), and to assess its clinical efficacy.

METHODSA multi-center randomized clinical trial was performed, and 240 patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. Patients in the experimental group were given AD 10 mg, once daily, while BXDR was additionally given those in the control group, twice daily. The treatment course was 48 weeks. The virologic, serologic, biochemical, chronic liver disease questionnaire (CLDQ) score, and adverse event were observed for 12, 24, and 48 weeks.

RESULTS(1) In aspect of virology: From the 12th week, statistical difference existed in the HBVDNA logarithm value between the experimental group and the control group (P < 0.05). The virologic response rate was 62.71% and 77.97% in the experimental group at the 12th and 24th week, while it was 49. 57% and 67. 52% in the control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the virological response rate at the 48th week (P > 0.05). The HBVDNA negative rate in the experimental group was 22.03% at the 12th week, 41.52% at the 24th week, and 55.08% at the 48th week. It was 11.11%, 21.37%, and 30.77% in the control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). (2) In aspect of HBeAg/anti-HBe serology: The serum HBeAg response rate was 26.27% at the 24th week and 39.83% at the 48th week in the experimental group, while it was 13.68% at the 24th week and 29.06% at the 48th week in the control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The HBeAg negative conversion rate at the 48th week of treatment was 22.03% in the experimental group and 11.96% in the control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). (3) In aspect of biochemistry: The biochemical response rate at the 24th week and the 48th week was 74.58% and 87.29% respectively in the experimental group, while it was 60.68% and 79.49% in the control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). (4) In aspect of CLDQ score: After treatment the CLDQ scores in the two groups were higher compared with before treatment with statistical difference (P < 0.05). The CLDQ scores at the 24th week and the 48th week in the experimental group were superior to those in the control group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). (5) In aspect of adverse reactions: The main adverse reactions were headache, abdominal pain, nausea. During the study period, the total creatine kinase (CK) increased in 9 cases with the occurrence rate of 3.83%.

CONCLUSIONSIn treating patients with HBeAg positive CHB, BXDR combined AD could significantly improve the inhibition of HBVDNA, increase the HBeAg seroconversion rates, accelerate the recovery of the liver function, improve the quality of life with higher safety.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDDNA analysis has shown a lack of significant compatibility between couples affected by unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) compared with normal fertile couples, [8] although one study that made use of a PCR-sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) method did observe evidence of significant compatibility in the HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 alleles between patients and aborted fetuses. [9] This study was designed to investigate whether URSA were associated with particular DQ alleles or promoter alleles.

METHODSThirty-two patients with URSA and 54 women who had had at least one successful pregnancy were included in this study. HLA-DQ genotyping was performed by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The HLA-DQB1 promoter was detected by the SSO and sequence-specific primer (SSP) methods. The DQA1, DQB1, and DQB1 promoter (QBP) gene frequencies in the patients were compared with the gene frequencies in normal controls. The data were analyzed statistically with the chi(2) and Fisher's exact tests.

RESULTSThe results showed that the frequency of DQB1 * 0604/0605 was significantly higher and the frequency of DQB1 * 0501/0502 was significantly lower in the patient group as compared with the normal controls. In addition, the frequencies of the DQA1 * 01-DQB1 * 0604/0605 and QBP6.2-DQB1 * 0604/0605 haplotypes were overrepresented in the patients relative to the controls. Our results did not show any differences between URSA patients and the controls with regard to DQA1 and QBP allele frequencies.

CONCLUSIONSOur data suggest that URSA is associated with the HLA-DQB1 coding region, and is not associated with its upstream regulatory region. The DQB1 * 0604/0605, DQA1 * 01-DQB1 * 0604/0605, and QBP6.2-DQB1 * 0604/0605 haplotypes may confer susceptibility to URSA, while the DQB1 * 0501/0502 allele may protect women from URSA.

Abortion, Habitual ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HLA-DQ Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ beta-Chains ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Open Reading Frames ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy