In order to study the distribution of virulence genes of Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Hebei Province,29 virulence genes of Lm,including Listeria monocytogenes pathogenicity islands Ⅰ (LIPI-Ⅰ:prfA,plcA,plcB,hlyA,mpl and actA),10 internalins genes (inlA,inlB,inlC,inlD,inlE,inlF,inlG,inlH /C2,inlI and inlJ) and the other 13 virulence-associated genes (bsh,srtA,iap,sigB,virR,mprF,dltA,dltB,dltC,dltD,srtB,fbpA and hpt) were detected by PCR.Results showed that in the 91 Lm strains,the detection rate of 23 virulence genes were 100％.The 29 virulence genes of 26 Lm strains were all detected,and 65 Lm strains had different deletion of 6 virulence genes inlD,inlF,inlG,inlH /C2,inlJ and mpl.The deletion rate of inlG and inlF were 60.44％ and 54.95％,respectively,following by mpl gene,with a deletion rate of 19.78％.According to the absence of virulence genes,91 strains could be divided into 10 subtypes,and the dominant virulence subtypes was type Ⅰ with all 23 virulence genes.The deletion rate of virulent genes in Shijiazhuang was higher than that in northern Hebei.It is suggested that the rate of virulence gene of food-borne Lm in Hebei Province is high,and the virulence gene deletion patterns has diversity and regional differences.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of imageology of giant cell tumour of tendon sheath (GCTS) including X-ray, CT and MRI.

METHODSThirty-five patients with GCTTS confirmed by operation and pathology were retrospectively analyzed. There were 16 males and 19 females. The average age was 39.4 years, ranged from 7 to 66 years. All the patients underwent X-ray examination, 8 patients underwent CT examination, and 16 patients underwent MRI examination.

RESULTSThere were 2 patients in knee joint, 6 patients in ankle joint, 1 patient in capitulum radius, 2 patients in wrist joint, 14 patients in hand and 10 patients in foot. Ten cases were the diffuse form, and 25 cases were the focal form. The X-ray results: the slightly high density soft tissue mass surrounding the bone were shown in 32 cases, 3 cases were normal. The bone erosion were shown in 9 cases, the obvious destruction of bone were shown in 5 cases. CT results: The soft tissue mass and the destruction of bone were shown clearly. MRI results: On T1WI, the signal intensity of GCTTS almost was similar to those of skeletal muscle in 9 cases and was slightly lower than those of skeletal muscle in 7 cases. On T2WI, the signal intensity presented mainly hypointensity with patchy isointensity or hyperintensity signal. A little of fluid was shown in 6 cases.

CONCLUSIONX-ray can demonstrate the lesion and erosion of bone, destruction of bone can clearly be shown on CT. The low intensity signal on MRI T1WI and T2WI is the characteristic appearance of GCTTS. And it can clearly show the lesion range and type of GCTTS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Giant Cell Tumors ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Tendons ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting survivin on adhesion and invasion of human colon carcinoma cell line SW480 in vitro.

METHODSAccording to the sequence of the coding region of survivin gene, two strings of 19 nucleotides of inverted sequence flanking the loop sequence of two complementary 9-base oligonucleotides were designed and synthesized to prepare the hairpin construct as the DNA templates for the target shRNA. The shRNA templates were cloned into shRNA expression vector pRNAT-U6.1/Neo, and the resulted vector pRNAT-U6.1/Neo-survivin was transfected into SW480 cells using Lipofectamine 2000. Western blotting was performed to evaluate survivin gene silencing induced by shRNA transfection at the protein level, and the biological behaviors of the SW480 cells were investigated by cell-matrix adhesion, invasion and gelatin-zymography assays.

RESULTSWestern blotting revealed significantly lowered survivin protein expression in transfected SW480 cells, and survivin gene silencing induced by shRNA significantly suppressed the metastatic potential of SW480 cells in association with suppressed MMPs activity.

CONCLUSIONSSurvivin may play an important role in modulating human colorectal carcinoma cell invasion and metastasis, and survivin gene silencing can inhibit human colorectal cancer cell invasion and the production of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Survivin may affect invasion and metastasis of human colorectal carcinoma cells via regulating the production of MMPs.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Gene Silencing ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Inverted Repeat Sequences ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; secretion ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; deficiency ; genetics ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; genetics ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

This study is to investigate the protective effect of quercetin against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity and its mechanism. The cardiotoxicity was induced by intraperitoneal injection of adriamycin (ADR) at a single dose of 20 mg x kg(-1). Mice were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=20): normal control group, ADR 20 mg x kg(-1) group, quercetin (50, 100, and 200 mg x kg(-1) groups, intragastric administration, once a day, for 7 days before ADR administration). The health conditions, electrocardiogram, activity of iNOS, SOD and LDH, levels of NO and MDA in serum or tissue homogenate, the ultrastructure and the expression of p53 protein in cardiac tissue of mice were observed. Compared with the normal control group, ADR decreased the amplitude of ECG's R wave (P < 0.001), increased the incidence of arrhythmia (to 60%), injured myocardial ultrastructure, increased the activity of LDH and iNOS, and levels of NO and MDA, decreased the activity of SOD, and increased the expression of p53 (P < 0.001). Compared with ADR 20 mg x kg(-1) group, the quercetin decreased the levels of LDH, iNOS, NO and MDA, increased the activity of SOD, restored the amplitude of R wave, decreased the incidence of arrhythmia and p53 expression (P < 0.001 , P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), and markedly reduced the myocardial ultrastructure injury. Quercetin had protective effect against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity. The mechanism may be related to its enhancing myocardial SOD activity, decreasing iNOS activity and inhibiting myocardial apoptosis.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; blood ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Doxorubicin ; Female ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; blood ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Quercetin ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and prognosis of patients with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS).

METHODSA retrospective study was carried out to analyze the underlying disease, clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and outcomes of 46 patients with HPS.

RESULTSThis cohort included 19 cases of HPS secondary to cancer, 11 cases of HPS secondary to infection, 10 cases of suspected malignant lymphoma based on PET-CT findings (without biopsy), and 6 cases of unknown etiology. The coincidence rate of the clinical characteristics of the patients with the indices listed in HPS-2004 criteria were: fever (100%), elevated serum ferritin (100%), cytopenias (93.48%), splenomegaly (91.30%), hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow, spleen or lymph nodes (84.78%), hypofibrinogenemia (67.39%), and hypertriglyceridemia (54.05%). The cases of cancer, infections and unknown etiology showed significant differences in serum levels of ferritin and β2MG (P<0.05), and significant differences were found in triglycerides, LDH, and fibrinogenemia between the nonfatal and fatal cases (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHPS can be secondary to various underlying diseases, many associated with Epstein-Barr virus infection. Cancer, especially NK/T-cell lymphoma, is the main cause of HPS. Persistent fever, elevated serum ferritin level and cytopenias are the most sensitive indicators for diagnosis of HPS, and early diagnosis and treatment are critical to lower the mortality rate of this disease.

OBJECTIVETo compare the biological characteristics and immunosuppressive activity between human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSC) and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSC).

METHODSMSC from human amnion and bone marrow were isolated using enzymatic digestion and Ficoll-Hypaque density gradients, respectively. Their biological characteristics were compared by morphology, cell growth curves, cell cycle profile analysis, immunophenotype and immunofluorescence assay. Their immunosuppressive activities were studied on total activated T-cells with phytohemagglutinin (PHA-PBMSC). An in vitro co-culture was performed to compared the lymphocyte proliferation and the supernatant level of IFN-γ were measured by CCK-8 method and ELISA, respectively.

RESULTSBoth hAMSC and hBMMSC demonstrated fibroblast-like morphology. The hAMSC were able to be amplified for at least 15 passages, while the hBMMSC only for 6-7 passages. There was no significant difference in the proportion of G2/M phase cells of the 2 cells types (P>0.05). By FACS analysis for immunophenotype, both MSC were shown to be positive for CD105, CD90, CD73 and negative for CD34, CD45, CD11b, CD19, HLA-DR, but hAMSC were positive for Oct-3/4, which was in contrast to hBMMSC. Both of them expressed vimentin. Both the cells exhibited a inhibitory role on the lymphocyte proliferation induced by PHA in co-culture conditions, that was increased with the increase MSC proportion and both the suppressing effecs were enhanced. The supernatant IFN-γ levels of hAMSC co-cultured with lymphocyte at a ratio of 1:1 after 72 hours were measured by ELISA, and the level of IFN-γ was significantly lower than that in the same co-culture system of hBMMSC. In contrast to the IFN-γ in the PHA-stimulated group, the IFN-γ level in both co-culture groups was significantly lower.

CONCLUSIONMSC from amnion displayed a higher proliferative capacity and stem cell properties, compared with hBMMSC. Both MSC can inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and suppress IFN-γ secretion induced by PHA in vitro.

Amnion ; cytology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Immunosuppression ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology

Objective To trace and provide HIV-testing among those having contacts with HIV-infected individuals at various levels in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province and to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of such investigation as a supplemental strategy for HIV testing and control. Methods Newly reported HIV infections from August throughout October in Dehong prefecture, in 2008 were asked to provide contact information of persons whom they had high risk contacts with. Persons having had risk contacts with HIV-infected cases were hereof interviewed and their blood tested on the sero-status of HIV. Results A total of 335 HIV cases were newly reported during this three-month period. A total of 309 cases of them and 148 HIV infections identified thereafter from their risk contacts were under informed consent, to participate in this study. A total number of 3395 risk contacts were reported, of whom only 20.7% (704/3395) had 'contact information' and 51.3% (361/704) were successfully located and interviewed, including 117 previously confirmed HIV infections and 244 people with unknown HIV status. The majority of them (203 or 83.2% of 244) were then tested for HIV and 56(27.6% of 203) were tested positive for HIV. The proportion of having detailed contact information and the proportion of being traced or followed among reported risk contacts of HIV infections were 68.8% and 68.2% for spouses of HIV patients, respectively, which were much higher than those among commercial sex partners (1.2% and 16.7%), casual sex partners (37.3% and 22.3% ) and peers who sharing needles (34.1% and 56.4% ). Conclusion Newly reported HIV infections reported a large number of risk contacts and new HIV infections were identified among them. It was extremely difficult to trace commercial sex partners or casual sex partners on their HIV infection status. Nevertheless, tracing the risk contacts of newly reported HIV infections seemed to be helpful in identifying new HIV infections and in understanding the nature of transmission towards controlling the HIV epidemics.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the combined anti-inflammatory effect of activating blood circulation and detoxifying Chinese medicines in unstable angina (UA) patients. METHODS: This study was an open-labeled, randomized controlled trial conducted in 5 centers in Beijing. A total of 154 patients were randomized into two groups at a 1:1 ratio by random numbers. Based on the conventional treatment, patients in the activating blood circulation (ABC) group were treated with Guanxin Danshen Droping Pill (, 0.4 g, thrice daily), and patients in the activating blood circulation and detoxifying (ABCD) group were treated with Guanxin Danshen Droping Pill (0.4 g, thrice daily) and Andrographis tablet (0.2 g, thrice daily) for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the serum level of high sensitive C reaction protein (hs-CRP), and the secondary outcome index included the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), thrombomodulin (TM), the score of angina pectoris, the score of blood stasis syndrome, and the score of Chinese medicine symptoms, observed at week 0 and week 4. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients completed the trial (ABC group, n=70; ABCD group, n=74). There were no significant differences in the clinical baseline characteristics between the two groups. When compared with the ABC group, ABCD group showed better performance in reducing the level of inflammatory factors, especially hs-CRP (P<0.05), IL-6 (P<0.01) and TNF-α (P<0.01). In term of clinical symptoms, ABCD group played a better role in improving the scores of angina pectoris and blood stasis syndrome than ABC group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The combination of Guanxin Danshen Dropping Pill and Andrographis tablet exert significant anti-inflammatory effect on UA patients, which is superior to single Guanxin Danshen Dropping Pill. (Registration No. ChiCTR-TRC-13004072).
Angina Pectoris/drug therapy* ; Angina, Unstable/drug therapy* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use* ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention