Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fistula ; surgery ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone ; surgery ; Infection ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thyroglossal Cyst ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the level of the serum IL-23 and its correlation with serum biochemical indices of liver function tests and HBV DNA load in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B.

METHODSFifty patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (severe hepatitis group) and 18 healthy controls (control group) were enrolled in the study. The serum IL-23 expression level was detected by ELISA method. The correlation between IL-23 and ALT, AST, TBil, HBV DNA load was analyzed using Pearson's correlation analysis, respectively.

RESULTSSerum IL-23 expression level in severe hepatitis group was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). Serum IL-23 level was positively correlated with serum ALT, AST, respectively (P < 0.05), but was not correlated with TBil and HBV DNA load, respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSerum IL-23 expression level was increased in patients with chronic severe hepatitis B and was associated with the severe of inflammation. We, therefore, believe that IL-23 might be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic severe hepatitis B.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-23 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the work-related musculoskeletal disorders among automobile assembly workers, to discusses the related risk factors and their relationship.

METHODThe selected 1508 automobile assembly workers from a north car manufacturing company were regarded as the study object. The hazard zone jobs checklist, Nordic musculoskeletal symptom questionnaire (NMQ) and pain questionnaire were used to perform the epidemiological cross-sectional and retrospective survey and study for the General status, awkward ergonomics factors and related influencing factors, and musculoskeletal disorders of workers.

RESULTSThe predominant body sites of occurring WMSDs among automobile assembly workers were mainly low back, wrist, neck and shoulders, the predominant workshop section of occurring WMSDs were mostly concentrated in engine compartment, interior ornament, door cover, chassis and debugging section. The predominant body site of WMSDs among engine compartment and chassis section workers was low back, interior ornament workers were low back and wrist, door cover workers was wrist, chassis workers was low back, debugging workers were neck and low back. Neck musculoskeletal disorders had the trend with the increase of a body height; Smoking may increase the occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders.

CONCLUSIONThe WMSDs appears to be a serious ergonomic proble assem among automobile assembly workers, predominant occurring site of WMSDs is with different workshop section, its characteristics is quite obvious, probably related to its existing awkward work position or activities. The worker height and smoking habits may be important factors which affect musculoskeletal disorders happen.

Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cumulative Trauma Disorders ; epidemiology ; Ergonomics ; Humans ; Male ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; epidemiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the levels of HBsAg in predicting the efficacy of peglated interferon-alpha 2a combined with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODSThis trial enrolled 62 HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with detectable HBsAg for at least 6 months prior to screening, serum HBV DNA levels of at least 100 000 IU/ml. The efficacy assessment: viral suppression below 100 IU/ml. The patients with HBV DNA < or = 100 IU/ml after 24 weeks therapy were divided into group A, in which monotherapy continued; While the rest were divided into group B, in which ADV was combined until week 48. In group B, at the end-of-treatment, the patients with HBV DNA < or = 100 IU/ml were divided into group B1, the rest were divided into group B2.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference on the baseline characteristics of patients between B1 and B2. There was significant difference on the levels of HBsAg at 12-week and 24-week between B1 and B2; while there was no significant difference on the levels of HBeAg.

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of HBsAg at 12-week and 24-week would be predictors to evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Adenine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; adverse effects ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Organophosphonates ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To establish a method for the simultaneous determination of ursolic acid(UA)and oleanolic acid(OA) in Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam.,and the quantitative determination the UA and OA contents in the different Z. clinopodioides plant samples collected with various parts of the plant at different times,from different regions of Xinjiang,China. Methods Dual wave?length scanning method was used for the quantification of UA and OA spots on a silica gel G plate in the TLC analysis. The samples loaded on the silica gel G plate were in situ treated with the 1%iodine solution in dichloromethane,and then the plate was developed using cyclohexane,cyclohexane-chloroform-ethyl acetate-formic acid(20:5:8:0.1)as the developing solvent. In the dual wavelength scanning,the measurement wavelength was 530 nm and the reference wavelength was 700 nm. Results The UA and OA spots in samples were well separated on the TLC plate and could be simultaneously quantified by the present method. The average contents of UA and OA in Z. clinopodioides plant samples from 18 different areas were(1.84 ± 0.41)and(2.82 ± 0.89)mg/g,respectively. The contents of UA and OA in the plant increased from late spring to early summer and then decreased thereafter. As to the different parts of the plant,the contents of UA and OA were highest in leaves and lowest in stems. Conclusion The method is simple,fast and accu?rate. The present results provided basic data for further evaluation of the quality of Z. clinopodioides resources.

This study was aimed to clone the gene coding mouse fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (fgfr1), to construct the recombinant lentiviral vector of truncated form fgfr-1 (Δfgfr1) carrying enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and to investigate its expression in eukaryotic cells (293FT cells). The full length fgfr1 gene was cloned by RT-PCR using brain tissue of BALB/c fetal mouse as template and inserted into PCR-Blunt vector, a truncated fgfr1 fragment was produced by site-directed mutagenesis for deleting intracellular phosphorylated domain, then was subcloned into a lentiviral vector and cotransfected into 293FT packaging cells together with envelope plasmid and packaging plasmid by lipofectamine 2000. Viruses were gathered and concentrated using ultracentrifuge, and then transfected into 293FT cells. Expression of EGFP was detected by fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry (FCM), and the truncated FGFR1 protein was detected by Western blot. The results demonstrated that mouse fgfr1 gene was cloned and the lentiviral expression vector LV-IRES-EGFP-Δfgfr1 and control vector LV-IRES-EGFP were successfully constructed. The lentiviral particles were correctly packaged, and the virus titers were above 10(8) TU/ml in the supernatant after concentration. Expression of EGFP was detected by fluorescent microscopy in 293FT cells post transfection, and the transfection efficacy was > 95% determined by FCM. Expression of FGFR1 protein detected by Western blot was significantly higher than that in control group. It is concluded that the truncated gene fgfr1 along with the gene coding EGFP is successfully inserted into a lentiviral vector to construct a recombinant lentiviral vector, which can be expressed in eukaryotic cells.
Animals ; Cell Line ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plasmids ; Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVE: To verify the rationality, reliabilit y and practicability of selective transfer of ipsilateral C(7) nerve root for tr eatment of upper trunk avulsion. METHODS: Selective transfer of ipsilateral C(7) nerve root was ca rried out in 8 patients (7 with upper trunk avulsion, and 1 with left upper trun k avulsion combined with partial injury of the middle trunk) from June 1996 to F ebruary 1997. Selective transfer of the anterior division or the anteriolateral fascicles of the anterior division of ipsilateral C(7) to the anterior division of the upper trunk was performed under general anesthesia. Only 5 cases were fol lowed up. RESULTS: Among these 5 cases, effective recovery was observed o n 4 cases of the transfer of the anteriolateral fascicles of ipsilateral C(7) to the anterior division of the upper trunk. Electromyographic examination showed nerve regeneration could be observed in the 2nd month postoperatively. And detec table elbow flexion by biceps contraction was found in the 4th month postoperati vely. The function of the C(7) innervating muscles was not jeopardized, and the case with combined partial C(7) root injury had a poor result. CONCLUSIONS: Selective transfer of ipsilateral C(7) nerve root leads to a restoration of reinnervating muscle functions without affecting the f unction of the muscles innervated by C(7). It is therefore a practicable new sur gical procedure for treating upper trunk avulsions.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) are a kind of pluripotent stem cells capable of relieving inflammation and edema in injured areas, promoting microvascular regeneration and improving wound healing. OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effects of UC-MSCs transplantation on acute traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats and the effect on microvessel density of the rat brain tissue. METHODS: Thirty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, control group, TBI model group and UC-MSCs treatment group (n=10 per group). TBI models were made in the rats by free fall method. US-MSCs (1.5×106) were infused through the cerebral ventricle in the rats. Neurological severity scores were assessed at 24 hours after cell transplantation. The microvessel density in the injured brain tissue was detected using immunohistochemistry method at 14 days after cell transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the TBI model group, the microvessel density value was significantly increased after UC-MSCs transplantation (P < 0.05), and the neurological severity score also became better in the UC-MSCs treatment group (P < 0.05). In summary, UC-MSCs transplantation can effectively improve became vascular remodeling and have a good neuroprotection in acute TBI rats.

OBJECTIVETo establish a high efficient human coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) eukaryotic stable expression system using lentiviral vector, and determine its biosafety.

METHODSLentiviral transfer plasmid carrying human B-domain-deleted FVIII(BDDhFVIII)-IRES-GFP(BDDhFVIII/pXZ9)or IRES-GFP(pXZ9) was constructed. Lentivirus particles were produced by transiently co-transfected 3-plasmids into 293FT cells and further concentrated via ultracentrifugation. CHO cells were infected, 72h later, the FVIII antigen (FVIII:Ag) concentration in the medium was examined by ELISA, the activity was detected via one stage coagulation,and the transcription of FVIII in the infected CHO cells was determined by RT-PCR.Virus infection ability in the medium and the gag gene in CHO cells were determined to evaluate the model's biosafety.

RESULTSLentiviral transfer plasmid BDDhFVIII-IRES-GFP(BDDhFVIII/pXZ9)carrying human B-domain-deleted FVIII or IRES-GFP (pXZ9) was successfully constructed, and high titer lentiviruses has been prepared. The lentivirus could infect CHO cells efficiently, after an additional 72 h, the FVIII:Ag concentration had up to (1724.9±283.7) mU/ml, the FVIII:C level increased to (10.58±1.55)%, and transcripts of BDDhFVIII mRNA could be measured by RT-PCR. Neither the gag gene nor the virus in the supernatant was detected.

CONCLUSIONLentivirus-mediated human coagulation factor VIII could be expressed efficiently in CHO cells. The system couldn't produce offspring virus, proving a good biosafety.

Animals ; CHO Cells ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Factor VIII ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Plasmids ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo estimate the size of female sex workers and clients in Taizhou city.

METHODSA household survey using network scale-up method (NSUM) was conducted among the 3000 community residents in Taizhou city from August to October in 2011, which aimed to estimate the social network size (c value) of Taizhou residents, and the c value was adjusted by demographic characteristics, back estimation and outlier elimination. Using the adjusted c value, the number of acquaintance of female sex workers or clients and the respect level toward female sex workers or clients were used to estimate the size of female sex workers and clients.

RESULTSA total of 2783 valid questionnaires were collected, among which 1380 (49.6%) were collected from Taixing city, 1403 (50.4%) were collected from Jingjiang city. 1334 respondents were male (47.9%) and 1449 (47.9%) respondents were female. The mean age was (39.4 ± 10.7) years. The average personal social network size using original data for Taizhou residents was 525, which differed from place, sex, age, educational level and marriage status. Using the remaining known populations through back estimation, the social network size was 419 and became 424 after the elimination of outliers. The estimated population size for female sex worker was 6370 (95%CI: 5886 - 6853), which accounted for 0.52% (6370/1 229 980) of the total number of female aged from 15 to 49. The estimated population size for clients was 15 202 (95%CI: 14 560 - 15 847), which accounted for 1.28% (15 202/1 190 340) of the total number of males aged from 15 to 49 and the ration of clients to female sex worker was 2.39:1.

CONCLUSIONNSUM is an easy and quick way to estimate the size of female sex workers or clients, but the estimated sizes are subject to bias and error due to estimate effect and sample representativeness.

Adolescent ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Work ; statistics & numerical data ; Sex Workers ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult