OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of rosiglitazone(RH)on body weight,FPG,FFA and other indicators in diabe-tes model rabbit. METHODS:18 rabbits were evenly randomized into control group,model group and dextran group. The latter 2 groups were given alloxan intravenously to induce diabetes model. 3 groups were given RH(0.5 mg/kg)intragastrically,and dex-tran group was additionally given dextran 40 glucose injection(5 ml/kg)intravenously,once a day,for consecutive 3 weeks. Body weight,serum level of FPG,FFA,AngⅡ and NO were determined before and after medication. RESULTS:Compared with be-fore medication,body weight of rabbits in control group were increased after medication,while the levels of FFA and AngⅡ were decreased;the levels of FPG and FFA were decreased in model group;body weight of rabbits were decreased in dextran group af-ter medication,with statistical significance (P<0.01 or P<0.05);other indicators had no statistically significant difference (P>0.05). The level of FFA in dextran group was higher than in model group after medication,with statistical significance(P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS:Rosiglitazone can lead to weight gain by a mechanism which reduce the level of FFA.

Objective To discuss the improvement of surgical techniques and adjustment of immunosuppressive regimen for combined liver and intestinal transplantation.Method A male patient with liver dysfunction and short bowel syndrome underwent the combined liver and intestinal transplantation.Ostomy of graft was performed instead of intestinal anastomosis during the operation.The anastomosis of graft and autologous intestine was performed 8 months after transplantation.Hospital and follow-up data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively.Result The functions of liver and small bowel recovered smoothly after operation.Slight rejection occurred one month after operation with normal function of intestine but dysfunction of liver.In the first month after operation, abdominal infection was controlled by intraperitoneal drainage with open surgery.Immunosuppression protocol was administrated with alemtuzumab for induction plus maintenance treatment with tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil was added because of renal dysfunction 2 years after transplantation.The patient was followed up for nearly 3 years with good quality of life without rejection and infection.Conclusion Combined liver and intestinal transplantation could improve patient's life quality and extend the survival time through the improvement of surgical techniques and individual immunosuppressive regimen.

Genomic DNA of two fungi Thamnidium elegans and Umbelopsis isabellina were extracted with an amended Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) method. This modified method uses repeated freezing in liquid nitrogen and thawing with combination of shocking with glass beads to replace of the tra- ditional method. Quality and concentration of DNA extracted by the modified methodwere tested. Compared with the traditional method, higher yield and purity of genomic DNA were obtained with less amount ofmy- celium. The result indicted that this is a simple and highly efficient method, which is suitable to treat many samples at one time and for basic molecular experiments, such as restriction endonuclease reaction and PCR.

Objective To construct and apply a cell line screening Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)-specific tetramers of CD4+α/β T cell receptor(TCR). Methods The β chains of HLA class Ⅱ (DR) were amplified from tuberculosis patients by PCR. The pMT-HLA-DRB expression vectors that carries the HLA-DR 13 chain and pMT-HLA-DRA-P expression vectors which carries the genes of HLA-DR α chain loaded with Mtb antigen were transfected into S2 cells with the method of calcium phosphate transfection. The expressed Mtb peptide/HLA-DR complexes were primarily identified by the method of cell immunohistochemistry. The cell lines expressing Mtb peptide/HLA-DR complexes were used to screen tetramers of CD4+ TCR by flow cytometry. Results S2 cell lines expressing Mtb peptide/HLA-DR complexes on the cell surface were obtained, two kinds of Mtb specific tetramers of CD4+α/β TCR were screened. Conclusion S2 cell lines expressing Mtb peptide/HLA-DR complexes on the cell surface provide the solid basis of the further research on the TCR tetramers and are helpful for exploring new diagnostic study methods about tuberculosis and developing new vaccines.

Objective To discuss the surgical procedures and treatment after combined liver and intestinal transplantation with portal venous drainage and enterostomy of two ends in one case.Methods A male patient with liver dysfunction and short bowel syndrome underwent the combined liver and intestinal transplantation.With the techniques of en bloc,the liver and intestinal grafts were harvested from cadaveric donor.The intestinal graft,200 cm long,was implanted with portal venous drainage and aortic inflow,and enterostomy of both ends was performed instead of intestinal anastomosis.The liver graft was placed in a piggyback fashion with end to end anastomosis of the bile ducts without T tube. Inmunosuppression protocol was administrated with campath-1H and tacrolimus.Endoscopic biopsy of intestinal graft was performed regularly,and clinical observation was done to monitor the acute rejection.Results In the first month after operation,abdominal infection was controlled by intraperitoneal drainage with open surgery.One suspect acute rejection was treated with methylprednisolone.Until sixth month,the functions of liver and intestine were progressively restored.However,the patient lost weight and could not be free from intravenous nutrition because of diarrhea.Conclusion Combined liver and intestinal transplantation with portal venous drainage and enterostomy of two ends is a simple surgical procedure with lower risk of surgical complications.This method is propitious to monitoring rejection and function improvement of the grafts.Diarrhea and loss of digestive juice are the main reasons of low body weight and malnutrition.

Objective To understand iodine and iron nutritional status of lactating women in Aksu Prefecture of Xinjing Autonomous Region, and to provide proper intervention in control of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) combined with iron deficiency. Methods Four townships as survey points were selected in Baicheng County of Aksu, where severe iodine deficiency was confirmed, 30 to 40 lactating women were investigated for this study in each townships. Samples of urine and drinking water from their family were collected, and then the iodine concentrations were determined. Whole blood was collected by venipuncture for determinations on serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI), total-iron-binding capacity(TIBC), and their thyroid function, including FT3, FT4, TSH. Results Median urinary iodine concentration in 137 lactating women was 134.99 μg/L, however, median urinary iodine in lactating women in Daqiao (99.73 μg/L), Tuokexun(44.17 μg/L) of 4 townships was below 100 μg/L. The proportion of urinary iodine below 50 μg/L was higher than 20% in Chaerqi [21.1% (8/38)], Daqiao [21.4% (6/28)], Tuokexun [47.8% (11/25)]. The medium of iodine concentration in drinking water, that was collected from 78 resident families, was 2.15 μg/L. Lactating women of serum SF, SI, FT4, that lower than the normal value, was accounted for 47.6% (59/124), 16.9%(21/124), 11.8% (15/127)respectively. Lactating women of serum TIBC, TSH, that higher than the normal value, was accounted for 20.2% (25/124),10.2% (13/127). Conclusion There is existence in of the combination severe iodine and iron deficiency in a historical serious IDD endemic area in Aksu Prefecture of Xinjiang Autonomous Region, and iron deficiency may be another important environmental factor for the deterioration of IDD prevalence.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic human pathogen. It encodes many virulence factors and one of them is type III secretion system (TTSS). Effectors proteins can be delivered into host cells directly by this system, causing necrosis or apoptosis. popN gene is the first gene in the popN operon of TTSS gene cluster. To investigate its function, popN gene deletion mutant was generated in this study, and we found this mutant can secrete effectors proteins constitutively under non-inducting condition in DMEM medium containing serum. The results indicated that PopN is a negative regulator of the TTSS expression. However, no secreted effector proteins were detectable when the popN- mutant was grown in LB medium under non-inducting condition. To investigate the possible reasons, effects of growth status and protease (s) inhibitors on the TTSS were investigated. We present evidences that indicate protease mediated degradation of secreted effector proteins played a key role in the phenotypic inconsistency of popN- mutant.
ADP Ribose Transferases ; metabolism ; secretion ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; secretion ; Bacterial Toxins ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Peptide Hydrolases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins ; genetics ; secretion ; Protease Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathogenicity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between different genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the severity of liver diseases.

METHODSThe S nucleotide sequences of HBV strains isolated from plasma samples of 284 patients were detected and compared. Among them, 87 patients were HBV asymptomatic carriers (ASC), 157 chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 22 liver cirrhosis (LC), and 18 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

RESULTSGenotypes B and C were predominant, with a 26.1% proportion and a 63.2% proportion respectively. The percentage of genotypes B and C in patients with ASC, CHB, LC, and HCC were significantly different (x(2)=15.09, P<0.001). Compared with genotype B, genotype C was more common in patients with CHB and HCC (59.6% vs 43.2%, chi(2)=10.87, P<0.001; 7.7% vs 1.4%, x(2)=7.41, P<0.001), but in patients with LC there was no different (7.7% vs 8.1%, chi(2)=1.29, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that genotype B and C are predominant. And genotype C may induce more severe the liver inflammation than genotype B may do.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of cytomorphologic and immunocytochemical approaches in the diagnosis of hematologic neoplasms in serous effusion.

METHODSThe cytospin and Thinprep smears of effusion specimens were prepared from 23 cases of lymphoid malignancies with histological confirmation and 30 cases of benign effusions used as control. Morphological assessment of the cellular components was conducted, including the ratio of mesothelium to lymphocyte, karyomorphism of lymphoid cell and the presence of apoptosis and mitosis. Immunocytochemical study was performed in all the cases, with flow cytometry in one case.

RESULTSAmong the 23 tumor cases, 14 represented disease relapse, and in the remaining nine cases, the serous effusion was the primary manifestation. The proportion of mesothelium was low in the tumor group, being less than 10% in 20 cases (87.0%, 20/23). It was more than 10% in most of benign cases (20/30, 66.7%). Lymphoid cells were prominent (> 80% cells) in 69.6% of the tumor cases, and the cellular component in some control cases (63.3%, 19/30) showed fewer lymphocytes. Nipple-like projection of lymphocytic nuclei could be detected in almost all the tumor cases (91.3%, 21/23), but was occasionally found in the control group (26.7%, 8/30). Apoptosis and mitosis were obvious in lymphomatous effusion, but observed in only 6.7% of the control cases. Significant difference of the previously mentioned cytomorphologic features existed between the tumor and control groups (P < 0.01). The results of immunocytochemical staining in cell block were identical to the corresponding immunohistochemistry, and one case of mantle cell lymphoma was confirmed by flow cytometry. The cytologic findings seen in all the 23 studied cases were in agreement with the corresponding histologic diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONSSome cytomorphologic features, including decreased number of mesothelium, increased number of lymphoid cells, nuclear nipple-like projection, and the presence of apoptosis and mitosis, are very useful for diagnosing lymphoid malignancy in serous effusion. Immunocytochemistry is an important approach to the cytodiagnosis and classification of lymphoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis ; Ascitic Fluid ; pathology ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Cytodiagnosis ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Lymphoma ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitosis ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

Background: The molecular prognostic markers and carcinogenesis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) have not been well documented. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the eyes absent homolog 4 (EYA4) gene in ICC and its biological effects on ICC growth in vitro and in vivo. Methods: One hundred twelve patients with ICC who underwent hepatectomy were enrolled in the study. EYA4 mRNA and EYA4 protein levels in ICC and adjacent non?tumoral tissues were evaluated using real?time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. EYA4 protein levels in ICC cells were determined using western blot analysis. The associations between EYA4 expression and clinicopathologic features of ICC were analyzed. To identify independent prognostic factors, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. The biological effects of EYA4 on ICC cells were evaluated by establishing stable EYA4?overexpressing transfectants in vitro, and EYA4’s effects on tumor growth were evaluated by intra?tumoral injection of EYA4?expressing plasmids in a NOD/SCID murine model of xenograft tumors. Results: ICC tissues had signiifcantly lower EYA4 mRNA and protein levels compared with adjacent non?tumoral tis?sues (both P<0.001). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that EYA4 protein level, tumor number, adjacent organ invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumor differentiation were independent prognostic factors for disease?free survival and overall survival (all P<0.05). In vitro, EYA4 overexpression inhibited tumor cell growth, foci formation, and cell invasiveness. In vivo, intra?tumoral injection of EYA4?expressing plasmids signiifcantly inhibited ICC growth in the murine xenograft model compared with the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: EYA4 gene functioned as a molecular prognostic marker in ICC, and its overexpression inhibited tumor growth in vitro and in vivo.