Objective To observe platelet dynamics in a monkey infected with Plasmodium cynomolgi before and after treatments with antibiotics and antimalarial drug. Methods One experimental monkey was examined for parasite density and platelet count 2 days after parasite inoculation. Observation without treatment continued for 24 days after the parasite was detected in the blood sample of the monkey. Then the monkey was treated with Azithromycin (total 1500 mg) for 3 days. Thirty days after parasite detection in the blood, the monkey was treated with Artesunate for 5 days. Parasite density and platelet count were monitored daily during treatments. The result was compared with that from a healthy monkey as control. Results The experimental monkey's platelet count was 240× 109/L before infection. When parasite density was 2/100 white blood cells (WBC),platelet count increased to 540 × 109/L. During the subsequent period of infection, parasite density fluctuated at (1-60)/100 WBC, and the platelet count reduced to a persistent level of (130-150)×109/L. After the infected monkey was treated with Azithromycin, parasite density reduced initially but subsequently fluctuated at (16-64)/100 WBC. Meanwhile, platelet count was restored to 234.5 × 109/L.The infected monkey was treated with Artesunate and parasite clearance time was 64 hours, and the mean platelet count was 247 × 109/L after treatment. Conclusion Azithromycin and Artesunate treatment have direct influence on the recovery of platelet counts during malaria infection in monkeys.

Objective To investigate the expression of multidrug resistance protein such as multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1),lung-resistance related protein (LRP), P-glycoprotein (Pgp),glutathione s-transferase (GST-π) and topoismerase Ⅱ (TOPO Ⅱ ) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which would be supplied for the clinical chemotherapy of HCC. Methods Twenty-six cases of HCC who underwent hepatectomy were enrolled and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was carried out on all specimens for the detection of expression of MRP1,LRP,Pgp,GST-πand TOPO Ⅱ and the data was analyzed by image analysis system. Results The expression of five multidrug resistance protein in HCC tissue were significantly higher than those in adjacent tissue beyond cancer (P ＜0.05). The significant differences were found in the expression of Pgp,TOPO Ⅱ and GST-π between HCC tissue and distant metastasis (P ＜ 0.05 ). The expression of the five multidrug resistance protein in poorly differentiated HCC tissue was higher than that in well-differentiated tissue,while the significant difference was only found in the expression of TOPO Ⅱ (P ＜ 0.05 ). The significant association was not found between the expressions of five multidrug resistance protein in HCC tissue and the size of tumor,AFP, the portal vein tumor thrombus,hepatic cirrhosis and liver function. Conclusions Five multidrug resistance protein overexpression in various degrees in HCC tissue, which relates to some biological behavior of the cancer. Combined detection is of much benefit to the choice of the drug of chemotherapy and to the prediction of prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression profile and immunofluorescence localization of the major egg antigen p40 of Schistosoma japonicum (Sjp40) during granuloma formation in the liver of infected New Zealand white rabbits.

METHODSNew Zealand white rabbits were infected with S. japonicum cercariae, and the livers were harvested at 29 and 45 days post-infection (dpi). The total RNA of the liver tissues was extracted for expression profiling of Sjp40 by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) with GAPDH of S. japonicum as the endogenous reference gene. The expression of Sjp40 in the liver were detected by Western blotting using anti-Sjp40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 9G7 or anti-Toxoplasma gondii tSAG1 mAb Y3A8 (control) as the primary antibody. Paraffin sections of the liver were prepared for observing egg granuloma formation using HE staining and for indirect immunofluorescence assay of Sjp40 location in the trapped eggs and egg granulomas.

RESULTSThe level of Sjp40 mRNA in the eggs trapped in rabbit livers was significantly higher at 45 dpi than that at 29 dpi (P<0.05), and Western blotting confirmed the presence of Sjp40 protein in the rabbit livers at both 29 and 45 dpi. Immunofluorescence assay demonstrated localized expression of Sjp40 in the immature eggs in the rabbit liver at 29 dpi, but at 45 dpi fluorescence was detected in clusters of mature eggs containing miracidium and in the surrounding egg granulomas.

CONCLUSIONSThe transcriptional levels of Sjp40 significantly increased with the maturation of eggs trapped in the rabbit livers. Sjp40 protein spread from the eggs to the surrounding egg granuloma at 45 dpi when acute liver granulomatous lesions occur, suggesting that Sjp40 plays a key role in egg granulomas formation in the livers of infected New Zealand white rabbits.

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigens, Helminth ; metabolism ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Granuloma ; parasitology ; Helminth Proteins ; metabolism ; Liver ; parasitology ; RNA, Messenger ; Rabbits ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis japonica