0.05). After dividing the patients into early-onset and late-onset subgroups, there were significant differences of DRD4 genotype and allele frequency between early-onset patients and controls (P0.05). Conclusion The results suggested that the polymorphism of DRD4 receptor gene may be associated with early-onset OCD. The 3/4 genetype may be the risk factor of early-onset OCD. Early-onset and late-onset OCD may have different etiology.

Objective To determine whether macrophages can behave as antigen presenting cells participating the formation of immunological synapse in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and whether this process can affect the apoptosis. Moreover, this study was aimed to observe the function of cyclophilin A (CypA) in immunological synapse formation and its role in regulating the apoptosis of macrophages. Methods human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) induced macrophages were coated with staphylococcal enterotoxin B(SEB) (100 ng/ml) and co-cultured with activated Jurkat T cells (human acute T-cell leukemia cell line), then incubated in the RPMI-1640 for 16 hours to induce apoptosis. The apoptosis of the macrophages were analyzed by flow cytometry by Annexin V-PI staining. The macrophages cultured in the RPMI-1640 alone were used as control. Meanwhile, CypA (200 ng/ml) were added to or not added in order to observe the apoptosis of macrophages. The function of CypA and the apoptosis of macrophages isolated from RA peripheral blood were also investigated through co-culture with CD4+T cells isolated by immunomagnetic beads. Comparisons between groups were performed by two-sample t-tests. Results In the peripheral blood of healthy people and RA patients, the apoptosis of macrophages which participated immunological synapse was (32.9±2.8)%, (24.7±1.6)%, (14.5±1.2)% respectively, which was significantly lower than the apoptosis of macrophages cultured alone [ respectively for (61.4±2.4)%, (45.5±2.6)%, (22.9±1.5)%, (P<0.05) ]. After CypA was added, the apoptosis of macrophages in cell lines, healthy people and RA patients decreased to (27.2±2.1)%, (20.1±1.1)%, (12.9±1.0)%, lower than the apoptosis of macrophages which participated immunological synapse formation (P<0.05). Conclusion In RA, the macrophages participate in the formation of immunological synapse by interacting with CD4+ T cells. They can significantly reduce the apoptosis on themselves. CypA can enhance this effect. These results provide a new theoretical foundation for prolonged survival of macrophages in RA, which can secrete a variety of cytokines to enhance inflammation and joint destruction.

0.05). If the patients were divided into two subgroups according to SCID-II, there were significant differences of 5-HT2A genotype between patients without obsessive compulsive personality disorder(OCPD) and controls (P0.05). Conclusion The polymorphism of 5-HT2A receptor gene maybe associated with OCD patients who do not have OCPD in the Han nationality. Patients with or without OCPD may have different etiology.

Abstract?AIM: To investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate ( EGCG ) against oxidative stress induced by high glucose in human lens epithelium ( HLE) cells.? METHODS: The HLE cell oxidative damage model induced by high concentration glucose was established, and was intervented with different concentrations of EGCG. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, cell morphology was investigated by convert microscope, cells apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry with Hoechst-PI staining. Moreover, the levels of super oxide dismutase ( SOD) , glutathione peroxidase ( GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde ( MDA) in supernatant were also tested after different treatment either with high concentration glucose or with different concentrations of EGCG.?RESULTS: MTT results showed that HLE cells activity increased to 50. 33%± 3. 52% and 63. 33%± 4. 63% after treated with 10 μmol/L and 100 μmol/L EGCG respectively, the difference was statistically significant compared with oxidative injury group(32. 67%±3. 10%)(P<0. 05 ); HLE cells maintained better morphology intervented with EGCG under high glucose conditions, the number of apoptotic cells reduced, SOD and GSH-Px level within HLE cells increased and MDA levels decreased.?CONCLUSION:EGCG plays its strong antioxidant effect by increasing SOD, GSH-Px content and decreasing MDA content in cells, therefore provides a reliable experimental basis for the search for effective prevention and treatment of cataract drug.

OBJECTIVETo observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on mRNA expression of lung inflammatory cytokines and pulmonary pathological injury of mice infected by influenza virus, in order to discuss the mechanism of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines against pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of infected mice.

METHODIn different time phases after mice were infected with influenza virus FM1, the RT-PCR method was adopted to observe the impact of tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture on five inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ, and the changes in pulmonary pathological injury of mice with viral pneumonia after intervention with tonifying qi traditional Chinese medicines.

RESULT(1) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines significantly reduced the mRNA expression of TNF-α at 1-5 d and IL-1 mRNA expression at 7 d, may increase IL-1 mRNA expression in mouse lung at 3 d, significantly reduced IL-6 mRNA expression in mouse lung and increased IL-10 mRNA expression at 3-7 d, and significantly increased IFN-γ mRNA expression at 1 d. (2) Tonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines could significantly inhibited and repaired pulmonary immune inflammatory injury of mice infected by FM1, which was most remarkable at 3-7 d after the infection with influenza virus FM1.

CONCLUSIONTonifying Qi traditional Chinese medicines contained in Yiqi Qingwen Jiedu mixture could resist pulmonary immune inflammatory injury and repair inflammatory injury by regulating the mRNA expression of imbalance inflammatory cytokines of organisms infected with influenza virus.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; drug effects ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-1 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; immunology ; Lung ; immunology ; virology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

Vibrio cholerae ; classification ; pathogenicity

OBJECTIVETo analyze the outbreak patterns of acute schistosomiasis in Anhui province in 2003.

METHODSThe criteria of emergency event for schistosomiasis issued by the Ministry of Health were applled in this study. Epidemiological data of acute schistosomiasis outbreak in Anhui province in 2003 were collected, checked and analyzed.

RESULTSIn 2003, there were 6 episodes of acute schistosomiasis outbreaks in Anhui which had met the criteria of being emergency events, issued by the Ministry of Health. The preplanning was initiated in 5 outbreaks to respond to the outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis. All of the acute schistosomiasis cases received timing treatment, except those misdiagnosed cases coming from the non-endemic areas. There were no deaths or follow-up cases during the outbreaks. Health education, preventive treatment for people living in high risk villages were conducted in order to timely control the epidemics of schistosomiasis.

CONCLUSIONThe implementation of preplanning has played an important role in early cases-finding, timing report and response to the outbreaks of acute schistosomiasis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Cattle ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Disease Reservoirs ; Female ; Health Education ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Snails ; parasitology

BACKGROUNDHaptoglobin (Hp) is one of the acute-phase proteins. Recent studies have demonstrated that Hp exerts immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory actions and may be one of the inhibitory factors of immune reactions in the skin. In this study we investigated the regulation of Hp expression in a human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT by various cytokines and glucocorticoid.

METHODSHaCaT cells were cultured with IL-6 (50 ng/ml), TNF-alpha (20 ng/ml), IFN-gamma (20 ng/ml) or IL-4 (20 ng/ml) with or without 1 micromol/L dexamethasone in 6-well plates for 12, 24 and 48 hours. Both the cells and the supernatants were collected to detect the changes of Hp expression by reverse-transcription PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe results showed that Hp expression were elevated at both the mRNA and protein level by the combination of IL-6, TNF-alpha or IL-4 with dexamethasone, whereas the three cytokines alone did not upregulate the Hp expression. IFN-gamma showed no effect on the Hp expression in HaCaT cells.

CONCLUSIONSThese findings suggest that different inflammatory cytokines as well as glucocorticoid may be involved in the regulation of Hp expression in keratinocytes, and this may be one of the negative feedback mechanisms in inflammatory skin diseases.

Cell Line ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Glucocorticoids ; pharmacology ; Haptoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-4 ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; pharmacology ; Keratinocytes ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the treatment of periapical diseases with recombinant human netic protein (rhBMP-2) composite in dog models so as to provide basis for its clinical application.

METHODSThe endotoxin-bacteria mixed fluid was injected into each root canal of the experimental teeth of dogs and the animal periapical were built. The rhBMP-2 composite was mixed by rhBMP-2, TCP, collagen and metronidazole and used in the treatment cal diseases in dog models as root apex screen. The imageology and pathology research were went on.

RESULTSThe effective rate of the experimental group was remarkably higher than that of the carrier group and the control group with remarkable ference (P < 0.05). The quality of the repair of tissue was obviously better than the two other groups.

CONCLUSIONThe rhBMP-2 composite is a promising biological root-canal filling material.

Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; Collagen ; Dogs ; Humans ; Periapical Diseases ; Recombinant Proteins ; Root Canal Filling Materials ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; physiology ; Bacteriophages ; chemistry ; Humans ; Receptors, Virus ; chemistry ; Vibrio cholerae ; virology