In this study, five rhesus macaques were inoculated intravenously with SIVmac251 to establish a model of simian autoimmune deficiency syndrome (SAIDS). Peripheral blood samples were collected at different time points to monitor changes in the total T cell number and T lymphocyte subset. Plasma viral loads, cytokine expression levels and anti-SIV antibody levels were also assayed to acquire certain basic indexes to evaluate disease progression in the rhesus macaque SAIDS model. During the acute stage of infection, plasma viral loads reached a peak at week 1 post-inoculation and lasted for approximately 3 to 44 weeks. The CD3+ CD4+ T lymphocyte count in peripheral blood also transitorily decreased. During the same period, the level of interferon-gamma show an increasing trend, whereas IL-12 levels decreased; IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TNF-alpha were maintained at normal levels or could not be detected. During the asymptomatic and ARC phases, plasma viral loads persisted above 10(4) RNA copies/mL and either increased or declined during the later stages of disease; CD3+ CD4+ counts showed a steadily declining trend and the ratio of CD4 to CD8 decreased during late-stage disease. Moreover, antibodies against viral proteins were detected in the plasma and showed a significant increasing trend, while there were no apparently changes in the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TNF-alpha. In conclusion, the characteristics of the SIV animal models in our study are similar to those of patients with AIDS. Therefore, the rhesus macaque SIVmac251 infection models can be applied for further studies into AIDS.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; virology ; Cytokines ; genetics ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; HIV Infections ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; HIV-1 ; physiology ; Humans ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus ; physiology ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo introduce a novel digital surgery technique based on partial reconstruction of skull and its application in tumor resection and on-sport reconstruction surgery.

METHODSThe partial 3d reconstruction according to CT scanning data was obtained to get 3d model of both tumor and normal skull, then to define the resection area on tumor data through people-computer interaction process, do reconstruction the simulation on the remained model, pre-fabricate the cutting template and custom the implant. The resection template to confirm the message in surgery simulation can be transferred to real surgery accurately.

RESULTSAll the four cases by using this method showed great consistency of the real and simulated surgery and got a good appearance of reconstruction.

CONCLUSIONSThe surgery simulation technique based on partial 3d reconstruction has great assistance to tumor resection and one-stage reconstruction surgery.

Adult ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgery, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate genetic polymorphisms of 10 short tandem repeats loci (D6S1043, D7S3048, D9S925, D10S2325, D11S2368, D14S608, D15S659, D17S1290, D20S470 and GATA198B05) in Tibetans from Lhasa, China.

METHODSFollowing extraction, DNA from 208 unrelated Tibetan individuals was amplified with a self-designed multiplex PCR system. The amplified fragments were separated by electrophoresis on an ABI 3130 Genetic Analyzer and analyzed with GeneMapper®3.2 software.

RESULTSThe distributions of genotype for the 10 STR loci in the population were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The polymorphism information component for the 10 loci was 0.750-0.860, the degree of heterozygosity was 0.726-0.865, the discrimination power was 0.919-0.968, and the probability of exclusion was 0.470-0.725. The combined probability of exclusion and combined discrimination power was 0.9998 and 0.999 999 999 997, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAbove STR loci have high probability of exclusion and discrimination power, which can be used as candidate markers for population genetic research and forensic practice for Tibetans from Lhasa, China.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Genetic

A new phenolic amide glycoside, cimicifugamide A (1) along with four known compounds, trans-feruloyl tyramine 4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), (+)-isolariciresinol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), cimidahurine (4), and 24-epi-7, 8-didehydrocimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranoside (5) were isolated from the rhizomes of Cimicifuga dahurica. Compound 3 was identified as a lignan and has been obtained from Cimicifuga genus for the first time. The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by IR, UV, HR-MS and NMR spectroscopic methods.
Amides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEThis study was to construct a geometric skull model with 3-dimension scanning and rapid-prototyping (RP) technology and also to evaluate the significance and further application of surgery simulation in the treatment of complex craniomaxillofacial malformation.

METHODSTwelve patients with complex craniomaxillofacial malformation were involved. The data obtained with CT scanning were transferred to a personal computer for surface rendering 3-dimension reconstruction. A geometric model was manufactured by selective laser sintering using rapid-prototyping device. Surgery simulation was performed both on the model and in the computer. Accordingly, a custom implant and an implant template, when needed, were constructed with the computer-aided design (CAD) and prefabricated with computer-aided manufacture (CAM) process.

RESULTSSurgery simulation made the operation shorter, the complications lower and the outcome better.

CONCLUSIONSSkull model provides great convenience in the treatment of cranio-maxillofacial malformation.

Adult ; Computer-Aided Design ; Craniofacial Abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Models, Anatomic ; Skull ; anatomy & histology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo measurement the vertebra morphology using multi-planar reformations method of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in AIS girls, and To compare with age and gender-matched controls in order to affirm the morphology results of abnormal development of the anterior and posterior elements in AIS.

METHODSThoracic and lumbar spine multi-slice spiral CT was undertaken on 52 girls with AIS between the age of 10 and 18 years from June 2004 to May 2008 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing Shijitan Hospital, and 54 age and gender-matched non-IS controls. Multiple measurements (including the anterior column and posterior column) of each thoracic and lumbar vertebra were obtained using the 3D-MPR technique. The patients and control were divided into 10-14 years old group and 15-18 years old group. The corresponding vertebral anterior height, vertebral posterior height, transverse distance, vertebra central width, vertebra anterior-posterior distance, area of pedicle, pedicle height, pedicle width, and upper-lower facet distance were compared.

RESULTSCompared with the controls, the 10-14 years old group girls' spine had longer anterior column height, relative shorter posterior column (there are difference from thoracic 2-11 and lumbar 1-3, P < 0.05), relative longer anterior-posterior vertebral distance, vertebral wedging changes in vertebral, distinct vertebral and pedicle asymmetry on the concave and convex side, and upper-lower facet distance asymmetry on the concave and convex side. The difference between the anterior and the posterior column ratio was significantly different from that in the controls (P < 0.01). But there hadn't the same difference in 15 - 18 years old group.

CONCLUSIONSThere are differences in coronal plane vertebra wedging changes in AIS patient. There are high vertebra height, relative shorter posterior column, relative longer anterior-posterior vertebral distance, and relative slender vertebra in 10 - 14 years old AIS patients. This may lead to the initial and progression of scoliosis.

Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Scoliosis ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

To investigate the inhibition of cyclosporin A (CsA) on neutrophil adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs, ECV-304) induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation and further explore its mechanism, a 1 h hypoxia/4 h reoxygenation model was reproduced using ECV-304. The adhesion rate of neutrophils to ECV-304 was determined by measuring the activity of endogenous hexosaminidase. The expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules of E-selectin and ICAM-1 was measured by flow cytometry. The expression of cyclophilin A (CyPA) and the activation of ERK1/2 was compared among experimental groups by Western blot. The content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured by Fenton reaction. After being stimulated with 1 h hypoxia/4 h reoxygenation, ECV-304 showed an enhanced neutrophil adhensiveness in association with an increased surface expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1. In parallel, the content of ROS was also increased. These effects were significantly suppressed by the addition of CsA. Most importantly, the expression of CyPA was significantly increased following 1 h hypoxia/4 h reoxygenation, which was accompanied with an increased activation of ERK1/2. Treatment with CyPA inhibitor CsA and CyPA antisense oligonucleotides significantly inhibited the activation of ERK1/2 and decreased the adhesion of neutrophils to ECV-304. The specific ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 caused an inhibition of neutrophil adhesion to hypoxia/reoxygenation-stimulated ECV-304. Our data confirm that CsA inhibits neutrophil adhesion to hypoxia/reoxygenation stimulated ECV-304 by a mechanism involving inhibition of the signal transduction of ROS, CyPA and ERK1/2.
Cell Adhesion ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclophilins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; cytology ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Signal Transduction ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

[Objective] To improve the understanding of CT and MRI features of giant cell reparative granuloma of temporal bone and reduce misdiagnosis.[Methods] The CT and MR images of 4 cases of GCRG of temporal bone were analyzed,compared with their operation and pathology results.[Results] All the lesions of the 4 cases were located in the anterior and lower parts of the temporal bone with widely destruction.The CT images showed expansive destruction of bone with disruption of osseous shell,strip and punctate calcification and ossification in and around the lesion,and osteosclerosis of the adjacent bone,which consistent with the scope of the operation.The MR images showed a large patchy of low signal intensity on both T1-weighted and T2-weighted images,which showed heterogeneous enhancement after injection of contrast.Fibrous proliferation with multiple multinuclear giant cells and hemosiderin deposition were showed under microscope.[Conclusion] The morphological and pathological characteristics of recurrent intraosseous hemorrhage and parcels of granulation tissue in GCRG of the temporal bone could be reflected by CT and MR images,which has certain characteristics and is of important significance to the diagnosis of the tumor.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into epidermal-like stem cells.

METHODS(1) Human strain of iPSCs were plated on-to trophoblast of inactivated Fb strain of mouse embryos and cultured in complete medium of embryonic stem cells, iPSCs were subcultured by collagenase IV digestion method. The morphology and growth of iPSCs were observed under inverted phase contrast microscope, and the cells were stained with alkaline phosphatase (AKP). iPSCs were cultured in incomplete medium of embryonic stem cells to observe the ability of embryoid body formation. (2) Human iPSCs were inoculated onto 6-well plate covered with human amniotic membrane to culture as induction group. Other iPSCs were cultured on 6-well plate without human amniotic membrane as control group. Morphological changes in iPSCs in two groups were observed. Expressions of integrin beta1 and CK19 of iPSCs in two groups were determined by immunocytochemical staining.

RESULTSHuman iPSCs showed a typical stem cell clone-like growth with a clear boundary, and they proliferated vigorously in complete medium of embryonic stem cells. These cells were AKP-positive. iPSCs formed embryoid body in trophoblast-free and suspension culture conditions. After 4 days of co-culture, stem cell clones were formed on the surface of amniotic membrane in induction group, and part of the cells were integrin beta1 and CK19 positive. Most of the cells died, and no integrin beta1 and CK19 positive cells were found in control group.

CONCLUSIONSHuman iPSCs can be differentiated into epidermal-like stem cells by amniotic membrane induction, and it lays an experimental basis for providing new source of seed cells of skin tissue engineering.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Humans ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; Mice

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemic situation and dominant strain of influenza in children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) during Flu season from Oct. 2005 to Mar. 2006 in Taiyuan.

METHODSMadin-darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell culture and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay were used to isolate and identify type A influenza viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and B influenza viruses from clinical samples collected from outpatients who visited the Department of Pediatric because of ARI from Oct. 2005 to Mar. 2006. Oct. 2005 and Mar. 2006, we collected 415 blood samples from children and adults to detect the influenza virus antibody titers by HI test to exclude respiratory diseases.

RESULTS7 strains of H1N1 were isolated from 87 clinical specimens, with a positive rate of H1N1 as 8.04%. Out of 415 blood samples being collected, the positive rates and the geometric mean titer of H1N1 antibody Mar. 2006 were significantly higher in 0-3, 3-7 and 7-18 year-olds than Oct.2005.

CONCLUSIONH1N1 epidemic influenza did occur among children in winter and spring of 2005--2006 in Taiyuan city.

Adolescent ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Cell Line ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Dogs ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Humans ; Infant ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; isolation & purification ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; isolation & purification ; Influenza B virus ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; Population Surveillance