Objective To investigate the gene expression profiles of peri-implantation endometrium of high responders during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Methods High responders with cancelled embryo-transfer during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (high responder group, n=4) and healthy fertile volunteers (control group, n=3) were performed endometrial biopsies during peri-implantation. Histologic changes of endometrium were observed by HE staining, genes of differential expression were screened with microarrays Affymetrix U133A 2.0 and identified by Real-time PCR. The biological process analysis was performed by online biological information analysis tool PANTHER. Results The ehdometrium was in mid-secretory phase in control group, while development delay was found in some glandular organs in endometrium of high responder group. Three hundred and sixty-four genes of differential expression were screened, among which 233 were up-regulated genes and 131 were down-regulated genes. OPN, PLA2G2, DPPIV, IGFBP5 and SSAT were identified as endometrial function-related genes, whose Real-time PCR findings were positively correlated to gene signal values detected by microarray(r=0.44, P<0.01). PANTHER analysis indicated that genes of differential expression participated in the biological processes of cytokine signal transduction and immunological regulation. Conclusion Ovarian high response affects the gene expression profiles of peri-implantation endometrium, which may be one of the causes of sub-optimal endometrial receptivity.

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression of MICA/B in human esophageal cancer, and to analyze its correlation with clinicopathological features.

METHODSThe expression of MICA/B in 40 cases of esophagus carcinoma and corresponding normal esophageal mucosa tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe positive rate of expression of MICA/B protein in the esophageal carcinoma was 75.0% (30/40), and that in the corresponding normal esophageal mucosa was 0 (0/40). Up-regulation of MICA/B expression was found in the esophageal carcinomas. The expression of MICA/B was related with histological grade of the esophageal carcinoma (P = 0.012).

CONCLUSIONMICA/B protein plays an important role in the esophageal carcinogenesis, and my become a useful molecular marker for the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on plasma levels of MSP and MCP-1 in AIDS patients.

METHODSForty Chinese AIDS patients were treated with HAART for 3 months and 84 German AIDS patients with HAART for 3 to 6 years. The pre-treatment and post-treatment plasma levels of MSP and MCP-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and their correlations with CD4+ cell counts and viral loads were analyzed.

RESULTThe mean levels of MCP-1 were significantly higher and MSP were significantly lower in HIV-infected patients compared with the HIV-negative controls (P <0.01). After HAART for three months, there were no significant changes in the levels of these cytokines. But after long-term HAART (for 3 to 6 y), the level of MCP-1 was increased and that of MSP decreased significantly (P<0.01). There was a negative correlation between MSP and MCP-1 levels, and the same for MSP level and CD4+ cell counts; while there was a positive correlation between MCP-1 levels and CD4+ cell counts.

CONCLUSIONThe changed plasma levels of MSP and MCP-1 are associated with HIV-1 infection and HAART may reverse the levels of these two cytokines.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Adult ; Anti-HIV Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Macrophage-Activating Factors ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) mRNA in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) of children with hyperplastic anemia (HA), to analyze the correlation of TfR2 mRNA expression level with Hb level, bone marrow erythroid hyperplasia, iron status in body and underlying diseases, and to evaluate the role of TfR2 in erythroid hemopoiesis and the useful value in diagnosis of HA. The experiment was divided into 2 groups: test group, in which 40 patients with HA were enrolled, and control group in which 10 patients without erythroid disorders and hematological malignancies confirmed by bone marrow examination were enrolled. The bone marrow samples of patients in mentioned above 2 groups were collected, the TfR2 mRNA expression in BMMNC of patients with HA was detected by fluorescence-quantitative PCR, the correlation of HA with bone marrow erythroid hyperplasia, iron status of body and underlying diseases was analyzed. The results showed that the relative level of TfR2 mRNA expression in HA patients was significantly higher than that in control patients. The TfR2 mRNA expression level negatively correlated with Hb level in peripheral blood (r = -0.715), while it positively correlated with ratio of bone marrow erythroblasts (r = 0.533). It is concluded that TfR2 mRNA expression in HA patients increases and closely correlates with hyperplasia status of bone marrow and anemia level in peripheral blood.
Adolescent ; Anemia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Erythroid Precursor Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, Transferrin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between mTOR signaling pathway and ALK-positive lymphoid cell lines.

METHODSThe expression of the downstream effector proteins of mTOR were analyzed by Western blot before and after Karpas299, BaF3/NPM-ALK and BaF3 cell lines treated with rapamycin. Effect of rapamycin on cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. FACS was used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycles.

RESULTSmTOR signaling phosphoproteins, p-p70S6K and p-4E-BP1 were highly expressed in ALK(+) Karpas299, BaF3/NPM-ALK and parental BaF3 cell lines, and they were dephosphorylated after 1 h withdrawal of IL-3 in BaF3 cells. After 48 h exposure to 10 nmol/L rapamycin, p-p70S6K and p-4E-BP1 proteins expression were decreased, and mainly for the former. The relative inhibitory rate to its control cells was 24.4% in Karpas299, 37.8% in BaF3/NPM-ALK and 61.6% in BaF3. The apoptotic ratio was increased from (11.97 +/- 0.11)% to (15.87 +/- 0.62)% in Karpas299 (P < 0.05), from (3.23 +/- 0.11)% to (7.67 +/- 0.49)% in BaF3 (P < 0.05) and from (1.90 +/- 0.47)% to (2.80 +/- 0.27)% in BaF3/NPM-ALK (P > 0.05). The fraction of G(1) phase cells increased from (37.63 +/- 1.91)% to (69.77 +/- 5.44)% in BaF3/NPM-ALK, from (31.13 +/- 2.51)% to (40.70 +/- 1.47)% in Karpas299 and (53.57 +/- 2.22)% to (63.70 +/- 1.20)% in BaF3 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNPM-ALK kinase can activate mTOR signaling pathway. Rapamycin can inhibit the proliferation of ALK(+) lymphoid cells by blocking mTOR signaling pathway and inducing cell cycling arrest at G(1) phase.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

OBJECTIVETo assess the depressive status and its influence on Chinese HIV-1(+) population, and how it was influenced by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and the CD4(+) T cell count.

METHODSAnti-HIV-1(+) patients (age between 18 and 65 years old) who had met the criteria to commence the anti-HIV treatment but had not yet started, were selected from the Beijing Ditan Hospital between March 2011 and June 2012. BDI-II (Beck Depression Inventory) and a self-designed questionnaire were used to evaluate the baseline and the status of 48 weeks post the HAART treatment. Statistically, t test and the Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to compare the BDI scores under different conditions and before/after the HAART.

RESULTS(1) Of 100 subjects: male to female ratio was 99:1; the average age was 31.37 ± 5.58 years; the average education background was of 13.13 ± 3.51 years; the unemployed percentage was 4%; time before being identified as anti-HIV-1(+) was 5.0 (1.0 - 21.0) months; the percentage being infected through homosexual contact was 83%. The baseline BDI score was 6.0 (3 - 10.25). (2) There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in BDI score between those subjects having had education less or more than 12 years; the BDI score of patients whose anti-HIV-1(+) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) among those discovered within the past 6 months than those more than 6 months. The BDI score of patients whose baseline CD4(+) T cell count below 200 cells/µl was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those with baseline CD4(+) T cell count greater than 200 cells/µl. The CD4(+) T cell count was significantly high (P < 0.001) after 48 weeks of anti-viral treatment, but the BDI score was not significantly different (P > 0.05). There was no significant change (P > 0.05) in the proportion of patients with different degrees of BDI score before and after 48 weeks of antiviral treatment.

CONCLUSIONDepression in HIV patients was most overt in the first six months when they were aware of the infection. The degree of depression was more severe in patients with baseline CD4(+) T cell count less than 200 cells/µl with improvement of immunity after the HAART did not alleviate the level of depression.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Depression ; Emotions ; Female ; HIV-1 ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of glucocorticoid (GC) receptor (GR) in rapamycin's reversion of GC resistance in human GC-resistant T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) CEM-C1 cells.

METHODSCEM-C1 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with rapamycin at different concentrations with or without 1 μmol/L dexamethasone (Dex). 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was performed to assess cell proliferation. The cell cycle and cell apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of GRα mRNA was determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. The expression of GR, p-70S6K, Mcl-1, and Bim proteins was detected by Western blot.

RESULTSWhen incubated with rapamycin at different concentrations, CEM-C1 cells showed significant growth inhibition in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The growth inhibition was synergistically increased when CEM-C1 cells were treated with rapamycin plus 1 μmol/L Dex. CEM-C1 cells treated with rapamycin alone showed no apparent apoptosis, and were arrested at G0/G1 phase. After the treatment with Dex plus rapamycin, CEM-C1 cells demonstrated apparent apoptosis and increased the cell cycle arrested at G0/G1 phase. Rapamycin combined with Dex up-regulated GRα, phosphorylated GR(p-GR), and pro-apoptotic protein Bim-EL in CEM-C1 cells, but inhibited the expression of p-p70S6K, a downstream target protein of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin).

CONCLUSIONAfter the treatment with rapamycin plus Dex, Dex resistant CEM-C1 cells induce growth inhibition and apoptosis. The underlying mechanism may involve inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway and also be associated with up-regulation of GR expression and activation of GC-GR signaling pathway.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; DNA Primers ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Glucocorticoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Glucocorticoid ; metabolism ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects

BACKGROUNDSterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP)-2 plays a key role in lipid homeostasis by stimulating gene expression of cholesterol biosynthetic pathways. The insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP) family regulates growth and metabolism, especially bone cell metabolism, and correlates with osteonecrosis. However, association of their gene polymorphisms with risk of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) has rarely been reported. We determined whether SREBP-2 and IGFBP-3 gene polymorphisms were associated with increased ANFH risk in the Chinese population.

METHODSTwo single nucleotide polymorphisms of SREBP2 gene, rs2267439 and rs2267443, and one of IGFBP-3 gene, rs2453839, were selected and genotyped in 49 ANFH patients and 42 control individuals by direct sequencing assay.

RESULTSThe frequencies of rs2267439 TT and rs2267443 GA of SREBP2 and rs2453839 TT and CT of IGFBP-3 in the ANFH group showed increased and decreased tendencies (against normal control group), respectively. Interaction analysis of genes revealed that the frequency of carrying rs2267439 TT and rs2267443 GA genotypes of SREBF-2 in ANFH patients was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Association analysis between polymorphisms and clinical phenotype demonstrated that the disease course in ANFH patients with the rs2453839 TT genotype of IGFBP-3 was significantly shorter than that of CT + CC carriers (P < 0.01). CT + CC genotype frequency in patients with stage III/IV bilateral hip lesions was significantly higher than in those with stage III/IV unilateral lesions and stage II/III bilateral lesions (P < 0.05 - 0.02).

CONCLUSIONSOur results suggested that interaction of SREBP-2 gene polymorphisms and the relationship between the polymorphisms and clinical phenotype of IGFBP-3 were closely related to increased ANFH risk in the Chinese population. The most significant finding was that the CT + CC genotype carriers of IGFBP-3 rs2453839 were highly associated with the development of ANFH.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein 2 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the indications of arthroscope for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis and investigate the correlation between knee osteoarthritis imaging and effects of arthroscope.

METHODSFrom 2005.8 to 2008.4, 86 patients with knee osteoarthritis underwent arthroscope examination and treatment. Among the patients, 44 patients were male, and 42 patients were female, ranging in age from 46 to 67 years, averaged 56.3 years. Arthrodial cartilage of knee was graded by ICRS MR, and by Kellgern Laqrence X-ray. All the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 30 months. The Lysholm score was evaluated at the follow-up time.

RESULTSAmong 86 knees in 86 cases, cartilage injury degree of knees was graded as follows: grade 4 in 30 cases, grade 3 in 22 cases, grade 2 in 20 cases, grade 1 in 12 cases, grade 0 in 2 cases, mean grade (2.77 +/- 1.138). Postoperative Lysholm score ranged from 59 to 100, averaged (95.17 +/- 7.556), Kendall's correlation coefficient was -0.089, P = 0.317. There was no correlations between cartilage injury degree and Lysholm score. X-ray of knees was graded as follows: grade 4 in 0 cases, grade 3 in 24 cases, grade 2 in 38 cases, grade 1 in 17 cases, grade 0 in 7 cases, mean grade was (2.13 +/- 0.67), the Kendall's correlation coefficient was -0.851 with negative correlations (P = 0.036) between postoperative Lysholm score and K/L grade.

CONCLUSIONThere is no correlation between the grade of knee cartilage injury confirmed by MRI (1.5T) and effects of arthroscopy, and the grade is not a gold standard as an operation indication in arthroscope procedure. The K/L grade in X-ray had important effects.

Aged ; Arthroscopes ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of Canada split influenza virus vaccine.

METHODSCluster samples were by randomly chosen and divided into split vaccination group and homoimported influenza vaccination group.

RESULTSAfter injection, fever-reaction and local reaction rates of 'trial' group were found as 3.69% and 1.75% respectively, but no statistical significance was found when compared with 'control' group. However the antibody positive rates of 'trail' and 'control' groupsappeared statistically significant (H1N1: 96.8% vs. 92.3%, H3N2: 95.8% vs. 90.2%, B: 52.3% vs. 62.3%). For geometric mean titer (GMT) of type H1N1, H3H2 and B antibody, 'trial' group and 'control' group increased 22.4, 16.8, 8.2 and 21.2, 12.5 and 7.4 times respectively. The antibody protective rates of type H1N1, H3N2 and B were 99%, 99% and 53.9% for 'trial' group, and 96.2%, 98.4% and 62.3% for 'control' but with no statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSIONInfluenza split vaccine made in Shire company in Canada was safe and with good immunogenicity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Antibody Formation ; immunology ; Canada ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthomyxoviridae ; immunology ; Time Factors ; Viral Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Young Adult