Objective To investigate the expression of the interleukin-1 receptor(IL-1R)Ⅰ,IL-1RⅡand IL-1R accessory protein(IL-1RAcP)in osteoarthritis and analyse their biological significance.Methods Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain raction(RT-PCR)were adopted to detect the expression of IL-1RⅠ,IL-1RⅡand IL-1RAcP on the synovium of 107 OA patients.Results Immunohis- tochemistry showed strong positive expression of IL-1RⅠand IL-1RAcP,and positive expression of IL-1RⅡ. The expression was distributed in lining cells,monocyts and vascular endothelial cells of the sublining area, but all of them were negative or weak positive in normal synoviums.RT-PCR showed the expression of IL-1RⅠ,IL-1RⅡand IL-1RAcP in OA synoviums was significantly enhanced than normal synoviums (P＜0.05),and the expression of IL-1RⅠwas significantly enhanced than IL-1RⅡ(P＜0.05),but no sig- nificant difference with IL-1RAcP(P＞0.05).In stageⅡandⅢOA synoviums,the expression of IL-1RⅠand IL-1 RAcP had no significant difference with normal synoviums(P＞0.05).The expression of IL-1RⅡin stageⅢOA synoviums was significantly enhanced than normal(P＜0.05).Conclusion IL-1RⅠ,IL-1RⅡand IL-1RAcP play significant roles in the pathogenesis of OA,especially IL-1RⅠand IL-1RAcP.But their increase is only observed in the early stage of OA.These suggest that they may have no association with the development of OA and have no direct association with the severity of OA.OA can be cured by interrupting the signal transduction path in which IL-1 has played biological roles.

OBJECTIVEPosterolateral intertransverse process fusion was performed in aged and young adult female rabbits lumbar spine using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) and autograft to reveal the function of rhBMP-2 on spinal fusion on aged animals.

METHODSA total of 24 female New Zealand white rabbits included 12 young adult of 6 months and 12 aged of 2-year-old, was divided into 4 groups: (1) young adult autologous iliac crest bone group [ICBG(Y), n=6); (2) young adult rhBMP-2/absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) group [BMP-2(Y), n=6]; (3) aged autologous iliac crest bone group [ICBG(O), n=6]; aged rhBMP-2/ACS group [BMP-2(O), n=6]. All were underwent posterolateral fusion in same day. rhBMP-2 and autologous iliac crest bone was implant bilateral LS-L6 intertransverse processes, respectively. Half of the rabbits were sacrificed at 3.6 weeks following surgery, respectively. The results were assessed by manual palpation, radiographs, computed tomographic scans (3D) and histology.

RESULTSSix weeks after surgery, radiography, computed tomography and histology indicated the different result in healing in the posterolateral fusion using rhBMP-2 compared to ICBG (P < 0.05). Aged BMP-2 group showed significantly higher fusion rates than Aged ICBG group.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated rhBMP-2 can increase the posterolateral fusion rate and new bone quality in aged rabbitss than autograft, it may take the place of ICBG. But its role is effected by age.

Aging ; Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; pharmacology ; Female ; Humans ; Palpation ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; pathology ; surgery ; transplantation ; Spinal Fusion ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplantation, Autologous

OBJECTIVETo determine the mechanism underlying the therapeutic activities of glycogen synthase kinase 3b (GSK3b) against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (H-IR) injury by investigating the inhibitive effects of GSK3b on inflammation mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4).

METHODSC57BL/6 male mice were subjected to 90 min of warm liver cephalad lobe ischemia, followed by reperfusion for various lengths of time. The mice were divided into three groups: the H-IR untreated model (control group), and the H-IR inflammation-induced models that received an intraperitoneal injection of purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin alone (inflammation group) or with pretreatment of the SB216763 GSK3b-specific inhibitor (intervention group). To create a parallel isolated cell system for detailed investigations of macrophages, marrow-derived stem cells were isolated from femurs of the H-IR control group of mice and used to derive primary macrophages. The cells were then divided into the same three groups as the whole mouse system: control, LPS-induced inflammation model, and inflammation model with SB216763 intervention. Differential expressions of inflammation-related proteins and genes were detected by Western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively.

RESULTSThe phosphorylation levels of ERK, JNK and p38 MAPK were induced in liver at 1 h after reperfusion, but then steadily decreased and returned to baseline levels by 4 h after reperfusion. In addition, the phosphorylation levels of ERK and JNK were induced in macrophages at 15 min after LPS stimulation, while the phosphorylation level of p38 MAPK was induced at 1 h; SB216763 pretreatment suppressed the LPS-stimulated ERK, JNK and p38 phosphorylation in macrophages. In the mouse model, GSK3b activity was found to promote the gene expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 (control: 0.21 ± 0.08, inflammation: 0.83 ± 0.21, intervention: 1.76 ± 0.67; F = 3.16, P = 0.027) but to significantly inhibit the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12 (control: 0.11 ± 0.05, inflammation: 0.85 ± 0.11, intervention: 0.43 ± 0.10; F = 2.67, P = 0.038), TNF-a, (control: 0.052 ± 0.012, inflammation: 8.11 ± 0.98, intervention: 3.9 ± 0.82; F = 4.13, P = 0.016), IL-6 (control: 0.22 ± 0.08, inflammation: 6.37 ± 0.81, intervention: 2.11 ± 0.63; F = 3.21, P = 0.024), and IL-1b (control: 0.12 ± 0.07, inflammation: 2.51 ± 0.62, and intervention: 1.28 ± 0.33; F = 2.22, P = 0.030).

CONCLUSIONInhibition of GSK3b selectively regulates the expression of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines in liver Kupffer cells (liver macrophages). This process may be one of the mechanisms underlying the ability of GSK3b to ameliorate hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury, possibly because inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines may indirectly mediate liver cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Inflammation ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Liver ; pathology ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Reperfusion Injury ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDTo study the anti-SARS virus activities of different recombinant human interferons on the cell culture system.

METHODSAnti-SARS virus activities of interferons were determined by using CPE inhibition test in human skeletal muscle sarcoma (Rda) cell culture.

RESULTSThe average minimum amount of interferon alpha 2b, alpha 1b, beta 1b or omega 1b to inhibit 50% CPE in Rda cell culture was (160.5+/-129.5) IU/ml, (149.0+/-71.7) IU/ml, (69.5+/-61.5) IU/ml, (87.3+/-47.1) IU/ml, respectively or (0.6+/-0.5) ng/ml, (10.6+/-5.1) ng/ml, (3.5+/-3.1) ng/ml, (0.9+/-0.5) ng/ml, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAll the tested recombinant interferons showed anti-SARS virus activities on the Rda cell culture with different sensitivities.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Interferon Type I ; pharmacology ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; SARS Virus ; drug effects ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the molecular epideiological and clinical feature of human metapneumovirus in children with acute respiratory tract infection in Nanjing city, China.

METHODNasopharyngeal aspirates and nasopharyngeal swab were taken from 642 outpatients or hospitalized pediatric patients with acute at the Children Hospital of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, between August 2009 and July 2010. Respiratory speciments were tested for the M gene of hMPV by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). All RT-PCR positive products were sequenced and phlogenetic analysis was conducted.

RESULThMPV was detected in 35 (5.5%) of the 642 children. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 51.4% of the hMPV were B1, 31.4% were A2b. The peak of the positive rate was in April. The majority of the hMPV-positive patients(71.4%) were 0-1 years old. Of the 35 hMPV-positive patients, 15 (42.8%) were co-infected with other respiratory viruses, and human rhinovirus (HRV) were the most common additional respiratory virus. The most common clinical diagnosis was pneumonia (48.6%).

CONCLUSIONHuman metapneumovirus is an important pathogen of acute respiratory tract infection in children in Nanjing city. The subtype B1 was the predominating lineage in 2009-2010 in Nanjing city. No significant differences were found for clinical characteristics between genotype A and genotype B human metapneumovirus infection in children in Nanjing.

Acute Disease ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Metapneumovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Phylogeny ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUNDTherapeutic hypothermia has been recommended for the treatment of cardiac arrest patients who remain comatose after the return of spontaneous circulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of mild hypothermia on patients with cardiac arrest by conducting a meta-analysis.

METHODSThe relevant trials were searched in Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI and Wan Fang Data from the date of their establishment to October 2014. Thereafter, the studies retrieved were screened based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were extracted, and the quality of the included studies was evaluated. A meta-analysis was conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration Review Manager 5.2 software.

RESULTSSix randomized controlled trials involving 531 cases were included, among which 273 cases were assigned to the treatment group and the other 258 cases to the control group. The meta-analysis indicated that mild hypothermia therapy after cardiac arrest produced significant differences in survival rate (relative risk [RR] =1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-1.48, P = 0.03) and neurological function (RR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.08-1.65, P = 0.007) after 6 months compared with normothermia therapy. However, no significant differences were observed in the survival to the hospital discharge (RR = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.87-2.10, P = 0.18), favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge (RR = 1.53, 95% CI: 0.95-2.45, P = 0.08) and adverse events.

CONCLUSIONSThe meta-analysis demonstrated that mild hypothermia can improve the survival rate and neurological function of patients with cardiac arrest after 6 months. On the other hand, regarding the survival to hospital discharge, favorable neurological outcome at hospital discharge, and adverse events, our meta-analysis produced nonsignificant results.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Heart Arrest ; therapy ; Humans ; Hypothermia, Induced ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the preventive effect of recombinant human interferon alpha-2b for nasal spray against SARS and other common respiratory viral infections by serum-epidemiological method.

METHODSA randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind field trial study in populations with 14,391 persons from SARS prevalent cities or provinces in China during May-Jun, 2003 and Dec-Apr, 2004. Interferon alpha-2b was given twice per day, once 9 x 10(5) IU by nasal spray for 5 days. Serum samples were taken at 15 days after last administration. Serological tests included SARS IgG antibody and IgM antibodies against influenza B, parainfluenza virus types 1-3, adenovirus type 3, 7 and respiratory syncytial virus by using commercial ELISA kits.

RESULTSNo statistically significant difference in serum SARS IgG antibody positive rate was found between the interferon and control groups among 2,757 serum samples. On the other hand, after using interferon, all four respiratory viruses (parainfluenza virus types 1-3 influenza B, adenovirus types 3, 7 and respiratory syncytial virus) in interferon group had lower IgM antibody positive rates than those in control group. Among them there were statistically significant differences between the interferon and control groups for parainfluenza virus, influenza B and adenovirus. The preventive efficacy of interferon against four respiratory viruses was different, from high to low, the rank was Flu B (66.76%), parainfluenza types 1-3 (66.75%), RSV (39.61%) and adenovirus (32.86%). The average preventive efficacy was 50.27%.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant human interferon alpha-2b for nasal spray could decrease the rates of common respiratory viruses infection in the selected population.

Administration, Intranasal ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; blood ; prevention & control ; virology ; SARS Virus ; drug effects ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish a novel model of lumbar disc degeneration on the early stage in the rhesus monkey using percutaneous needle puncture guided by CT.

METHODS(1) Thirteen rhesus monkeys aged from 4 to 7 years, female 7 and male 6 were selected for establishing a model of the early stage of lumbar disc degeneration. (2)13 monkeys, 91 discs were divided into 3 groups: 64 discs from L1/2 to L5/6 were percutaneous punctured with a needle 20G as experimental group and 1 disc with a needle 15G as puncture control group and 26 discs were not be punctured from L6,7 to L7-S1 as control group. (3) Lumbar disc localization for needle puncture was guided by CT. All discs were examined by MRI, the HE, Masson's trichrome, Safranine-O and immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen before disc puncture and after puncture at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

RESULTSMRI: (1) Experimental group: Pfirmann's Grade I was shown at postoperation 4, 8 and 12 weeks; (2) Puncture control group: Grade III was shown at postoperation 4 weeks and Grade IV at 8 weeks; (3) CONTROL GROUP: Grade I was shown at postoperation 4, 8 and 12 weeks. Histological examination: (1) In experimental group, there was no any change at postoperation 4 weeks, and the cell population of the nucleus was decreased at 8 weeks and more decreased at 12 weeks in HE. (2) There was no any change at postoperation 4 weeks, the clefts among the lamellae of the annulus fibrosus (AF) were shown at 8 weeks and more wider of the clefts of AF at 12 weeks in Masson's trichrome. (3) No any change was shown at postoperation 4 weeks, proteoglycan were progressively decreased at 8 and 12 weeks in Safranine-O. (4) No statistically significant difference in positive rate was observed at 4 and 8 weeks compared with control group in immunohistochemical staining of type II collagen. There was statistical difference at 12 weeks compared with control group (P<0.05). In puncture control group postoperation 8 weeks, the morphology of cell of nucleus pulposus was not clear in HE. The wider clefts of lamellae of the AF were shown in Masson's trichrome. The proteoglycan was obviously decreased in Safranine-O. Immunohistochemical staining collagen II synthesized was decreased. In normal control group, no any change was shown at 4, 8 and 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSThe degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc on the early stage could be induced by the percutaneous needle puncture (20G) to the annulus fibrosus. The assessment of disc degeneration on early stage is not shown on MRI and only confirmed by histological examination.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Intervertebral Disc ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability and application of GeneSearch(TM) breast lymph node assay (Genesearch), a real-time fluorescence quatitative PCR method, in intraoperative assay of metastasis in sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) from breast cancer patients.

METHODSTotally 140 SLNs from 80 patients with breast carcinoma were prospectively studied from May 2010 to August 2010. The 80 patients included 78 women and 2 men who ranged in age from 29 to 85 years, and the median age is 49 years. The expression of CK19 and mammaglobulin in all 140 SLNs were detected by Genesearch, and the results were compared with that of histological evaluation of both frozen and paraffin-embedded sections.

RESULTSAmong SLNs, by histological analyses, there were 121 without metastasis, 17 with macrometastasis, 2 with micrometastasis, and none of isolated tumor cell. By Genesearch, there were 119 without metastasis and 21 with metastasis. Genesearch showed sensitivity of 89.4%, positive predictive value of 81.0%, negative predictive value of 98.3% and specificity of 96.7% by comparing to histological analyses. The concordance between Genesearch and histological analysis was 95.7%. The sensitivity of Genesearch was 15/17 for macrometastasis and 2/2 for micrometastasis.

CONCLUSIONSGenesearch detection presents high sensitivity and specificity in evaluating metastasis of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer, but strict performance technically is necessary to avoid false positive and false negative results. Inability of further subtyping for the positive cases might be the key limitations for wide application of this method.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Breast Neoplasms, Male ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Micrometastasis ; diagnosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) on the apoptosis of annulus fibrosus (AF) cell induced by interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta).

METHODSCultured AF cells were divided into 6 groups and treated with no drug, 10 ng/mL IL-6, 10 ng/mL IL-1beta, 10 ng/mL IL-1beta and Z-VAD-FMK (a caspase-9 inhibitor), 10 ng/mL IL-1beta and 10 ng/mL IL-6, 10 ng/mL IL-1beta and 100 ng/mL IL-6, respectively. After three days of culture, the apoptosis rate, the positive rates of caspase-3, -8, and -9 of AF cells were detected with flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rates of cells in group 1 to 6 were 2.67% +/- 1.08%, 2.71% +/- 0.53%, 20.37% +/- 1.57%, 11.34% +/- 0.67%, 18.17% +/- 0.74%, and 9.42% +/- 1.08%, respectively. There was no significant difference between group 1 and 2, while the apoptosis rates of group 4, 5, and 6 were significantly lower than group 3 (P = 0.001, P = 0.172, and P = 0.001, respectively). Positive rates of caspase-3 in group 5 (12.35% +/- 0.64%) and 6 (9.26% +/- 0.36%) were significantly lower than group 3 (17.14% +/- 0.72%; P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). And positive rates of caspase-9 in group 5 (15.13% +/- 1.45%) and 6 (10.17% +/- 2.50%) were significantly lower than group 3 (19.4% +/- 0.98% ; P = 0.014 and P = 0.004, respectively). But there was not obvious change of caspase-8 activity after IL-6 was added.

CONCLUSIONIL-6 is capable of protecting AF cells from IL-1beta induced apoptosis in vitro. Mechanism of the protection is related with the inhibition of caspase-3 and -9 activities.

Amino Acid Chloromethyl Ketones ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase Inhibitors ; Cells, Cultured ; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Intervertebral Disc ; cytology ; drug effects ; enzymology ; Rabbits