To investigate the effects of human anti-BAFF scFv-Fc against the hsBAFF, ICR mice were randomly divided into six groups: control, hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + Ab (1 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + Ab (2 mg x kg(-1)), hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + human IgG (1 mg x kg(-1)) and hsBAFF (1 mg x kg(-1)) + human IgG (2 mg x kg(-1)) groups. The effects of scFv-Fc administration on the proliferation of B lymphocytes were evaluated using an MTT assay. The titres of antibody in the serum and B lymphocytes differentiation were assessed by ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that administration of scFv-Fc to mice injected with hsBAFF significantly prevented human BAFF-induced increases in splenic B cell numbers and serum immunoglobulin levels. Furthermore, this fully human antibody would avoid inducing the human anti-mouse antibody (HAMA) response when used in humans. These findings suggest that the compact antibody may be useful in therapeutic or diagnostic application of the BAFF-associated autoimmune diseases in human.
Animals ; B-Cell Activating Factor ; immunology ; metabolism ; B-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; Body Weight ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments ; immunology ; metabolism ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Random Allocation ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; metabolism ; Single-Chain Antibodies ; immunology ; metabolism ; Spleen ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanisms of intestine absorption of astragaloside IV in rat.

METHODThe K(a) and P(app) of astragaloside IV was investigated using single-pass intestinal perfusion technique in rats. HPLC was used to determine the concentration of astragaloside IV. The effect of absorption site, drug concentration and the inhibitors of P-glycoproteon on the absorption had been studied.

RESULTBy the testing of the statistics, the K(a) and the P(app) values of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colonic had significant differences (P < 0.05). The concentration from 20-80 mg x L(-1) had no distinctive effect on the K(a) and P(app) of small intestine. The inhibitors of P-glycoproteon had no distinctive effect on the absorption of small intestine.

CONCLUSIONAstragaloside IV is absorbed by typical passive diffusion mechanism.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Male ; Perfusion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saponins ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Triterpenes ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the application of dinucleotide STR locus in paternity testing. METHODS: Dinucleotide STR locus D6S261 was selected and the paternity testing blood samples were amplified using 200 random blood samples, 16 family samples and 193 paternity test samples. Data of the PCR products were collected by 3130XL Genetic Analyzer and the genetic parameters of population were calculated by PowerStats v12. RESULTS: Fifteen alleles and 50 genotypes were found and H, DP, PE and PIC were 0.850, 0.953, 0.695, and 0.820, respectively. The typing results of both family samples and paternity test samples were accord with the law of inheritance, which no mutation was discovered. CONCLUSION The genetic polymorphisms of D6S261 show good characteristics with low mutation rate and high stability. It can be an effective method to solve the indetermination caused by mutation in paternity testing if the stutter bands can be decreased.
Asian People/genetics* ; Base Sequence ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics* ; Nucleotides/genetics* ; Paternity ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo explore the antifertility effect and safety of 30% ethanol retro-injection into the vas deferens of the rat.

METHODSThirty Sprague-Dawley male rats, 3 m of age and (200 +/- 20) g in weight, were equally randomized into an experimental group and a control group. The former received 30% ethanol (0.5 ml) and the latter 0.9% sodium chloride (0.5 ml), both retro-injected into the vas deferens. Pregnancy rates were obtained through pregnancy tests with 60 Sprague-Dawley female adult rats 1.5 m and 3 m after the injection. All the male rats were sacrificed three months later, and tests were done for the rates of sperm motility and deformity as well as for the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells with TUNEL.

RESULTSThe 1.5 m pregnancy rate was 0 and the 3 m sperm motility and pregnancy rates were (0.32 +/- 1.12)% and (0.58 +/- 1.27)%, significantly decreased (P < 0.05) as compared with those of the control group, which were (80.62 +/- 2.68)%, (70.68 +/- 1.62)% and (86.62 +/- 1.68)%, respectively. While the 3 m sperm deformity rate in the experimental group was (78.26 +/- 1.08)%, increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the apoptosis index (AI) of spermatogenic cells was (7.63 +/- 1.16)% as compared with (5.62 +/- 1.32)% of the control group, with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRetro-injection of 30% ethanol into the vas deferens of the rat produces significant antifertility effect on rats, but has no significant influence on their spermatogenic cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Female ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatids ; drug effects ; Testis ; cytology ; Vas Deferens ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the reduction of sperm motility in rats induced by vas-to-epididymis antidromic injection of 30% ethanol and its mechanism.

METHODSForty male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 3 groups: bilateral vas injection (n = 15) , sham operation control (n = 15) and normal (n = 10). An aliquot of 0.5 ml of 30% ethanol was injected from vas to epididymis bilaterally. After 1 month, all the rats'vasa and epididymides were ablated for studies of the sperm motility, construction changes of the vas and contents of IL-6, IFN-gamma and carnitine of the epididymis.

RESULTSThere was markedly significant difference in sperm motility in the injection group (P < 0.01). The number of sperms in the bilateral vas injection group was 31, while in the sham operation control and normal groups was 64 and 68, respectively. The contents of IL-6 and IFN-gamma increased, and the carnitine reduced significantly (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were noted between the control and the normal groups (P > 0.05). The contents of IL-6, IFN-gamma and carnitine in the bilateral vas injection group were 772.7 pg/ml, 350.7 pg/ml and 491.1 mol/L. But the same indexes in the sham operation and normal groups were 308.5 pg/ml, 172. 2 pg/ml and 664. 6 mol/L and 287. 8 pg/ml, 163. 8 pg/ml and 605.5 mol/L.

CONCLUSIONThe antidromic injection of ethanol from vas to epididymis can not only interfere the environment for sperm maturation but also activate the immunologic cells that secrete many cytokines (CK) in the genital system. All the factors can induce the reduction of sperm motility.

Animals ; Carnitine ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Ethanol ; administration & dosage ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Vas Deferens

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/PKB or PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway inhibitor on benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and its mechanism.

METHODSForty-eight SD male adult rats aged 12 weeks were equally randomized to 4 groups: sham operation control, BPH model, 50 mg LY294002 and 100 mg LY294002. The BPH models were made by muscular injection of testosterone propionate at 10 mg/kg/d for 30 days following castration. The LY294002 groups were treated with the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibitor LY294002 at 50 and 100 mg/kg every other day for 30 days. The prostates of the rats were weighed and the structural changes of the prostatic histiocytes observed under the light microscope. The expressions of Ki-67, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and apoptotic Bax were detected by immunohistochemistry, and the apoptosis of prostatic cells determined by terminal de-oxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling.

RESULTSThe prostate wet weight and prostatic index were (551 +/- 10.8) mg and 1.61 +/- 0.05 in the sham operation group, (687 +/- 13.8) mg and 2.15 +/- 0.12 in the BPH model group, (623 +/- 23.5) mg and 1.95 +/- 0.11 in the LY294002 50 mg group (P < 0.05 versus the BPH models) and (561 +/- 12.6) mg and 1.71 +/- 0.18 in the LY294002 100 mg group (P < 0.01 versus the BPH models). The expressions of apoptotic Bax and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 were 16.7% and 16.7% in the sham operation group, 16.7% and 58.3% in the BPH model group, 33.3% and 33.3% in the LY294002 50 mg group (P < 0.05 versus the BPH models), and 50.0% and 25.0% in the LY294002 100 mg group (P < 0.01 versus the BPH models). The proliferative and apoptotic indexes were 14.2 +/- 6.4 and 6.5 +/- 1.8 in the epithelial and 7.6 +/- 2.6 and 2.5 +/- 0.3 in the interstitial tissue of the sham operation group, 50.9 +/- 12.8 and 2.7 +/- 1.4 in the epithelial and 16.5 +/- 5.7 and 1.3 +/- 0.8 in the interstitial tissue of the BPH models, 32.0 +/- 13.8 and 6.2 +/- 2.5 in the epithelial and 12.1 +/- 3.8 and 1.6 +/- 1.1 in the interstitial tissue of the LY294002 50 mg group (P < 0.05 versus the BPH models), and 17.8 +/- 14.7 and 7.4 +/- 3.6 in the epithelial and 9.5 +/- 3.4 and 2.2 +/- 1.3 in the interstitial tissue of the LY294002 100 mg group (P < 0.01 versus the BPH models).

CONCLUSIONThe increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis of prostatic cells in the BPH animal models might be involved in the development and progression of BPH. The PI3K/AKT signaling pathway plays an important role in the development of BPH, which could be inhibited by blocking the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromones ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Morpholines ; pharmacology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of phloroglucinol in preventing bladder spasm after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

METHODSUsing the random sampling method, we assigned 74 cases of TURP into a treatment group (n = 39), given 80 mg phloroglucinol every day for 3 days, and a control group (n = 35), left untreated. Then we observed the frequency, duration and pain of bladder spasm within the 3 days and compared them between the two groups.

RESULTSThe mean frequency, duration and pain visual analogue score of bladder spasm were (4.3 +/- 1.2) times, (7.2 +/- 2.1) min and 3.2 +/- 1.6 respectively in the treatment group, as compared with (7.5 +/- 2.4) times, (15.6 +/- 6.8) min and 4.7 +/- 2.3 in the control, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). And no obvious adverse reactions were found in the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONPhloroglucinol is safe and effective for the prevention and treatment of bladder spasm following TURP.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phloroglucinol ; therapeutic use ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate ; adverse effects ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; etiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Compound Salvia injection (CSI) on the number and activity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

METHODMononuclear fraction of human umbilical cord blood was obtained by density gradient centrifugation and plated on fibronectin coated culture dishes. Cells were divided in to five groups: group control, group VEGF, group CSI 50, group CSI 10 and group CSI 2 (supplemented with none cytokine, VEGF 10 ng x mL(-1), CSI 50, 10, 2 microg x mL(-1), respectively). After six days in culture, cell clusters were viewed with an inverted microscope, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis of PE-CD34 and FITC-VE-Cadherin was performed to detect number of EPCs, adhesion assay was performed by replating cells on fibronectin coated dishes, and then counting adherent cells.

RESULTNumbers of EPCs of group VEGF, group CSI 10 and group CSI 2 were significantly increased as compared with those of group control ( P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively), and numbers of EPCs of group CSI 2 were more than those of group CSI 10 and group V (P < 0.01). Compared with group control, number of EPCs of group CSI 50 was significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Compared with group control, numbers of clusters and adhesive EPCs of group CSI 10 and group CSI 2 were significantly increased, while those of group CSI 50 were significantly decreased.

CONCLUSIONLow concentration CSI can significantly promote EPCs augmentation and enhance its functional activity, while high concentration CSI significantly restrains it.

Blood Cell Count ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Injections ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the main pathogens of infection after the liver transplantation and their antibiotic resistant patterns. METHODS: The main pathogens of infection after the liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. Using 3-dimensional tests, ESBLs (extended-spectrum beta-lactamase), and AmpC were detected among the Gram negative bacilli. beta-Lactamase and Van gene in Enterococcus were determined by the standard agar dilution susceptibility tests and Nitrocefin respectively. RESULTS: The main infected strains were Enterococcus faecalis (15.0%), Enterobacter cloacae (13.9%), fungus (13.3%), and Escherichia coli (10.7%) after the liver transplantation. Among them, 32.4% of Enterobacter cloacae and 36.8% of Escherichia coli produced ESBLs; 33.8% of Enterobacter cloacae and 10.5% of Escherichia coli. produced AmpC beta-lactamases. The detectable rate of VanA gene in Enterococcusfaecalis and Enterococcus faecium was 7.5% and 11.1%; VanB was 3.8% and 7.4%; VanC was 1.3% and 0, respectively. CONCLUSION The infection mainly occurs in the intestinal tract after the liver transplantation. The production of ESBLs and AmpC beta-lactamases is the main mechanism of antibiotic resistance. The increased detectable rate of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus should be paid attention to.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; genetics ; Enterobacteriaceae ; drug effects ; enzymology ; isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae Infections ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Cirrhosis ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; microbiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vancomycin Resistance ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between the alleles of HLA-DRB1*04 and outcome of HBV infection.

METHODSThe alleles of HLA-DRB1*04 were detected by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP). The frequency of allele of HLA-DRB1*04 in four groups[106 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers (group ASC), 93 chronic hepatitis B patients (group CHB), 77 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and 102 cases of spontaneous recovery after HBV infection (control group)] were studied, and the frequency of that in different replication of HBV was also studied.

RESULTSThe frequency of allele of HLA-RB1*04 in groups ASC, CHB and hepatitis B cirrhosis was markedly higher than that of control group (25.94%, 26.34%, 27.92% respectively versus 14.22%, P< 0.01); the frequency of HLA-DRB1*0401 in groups ASC, CHB and hepatitis B cirrhosis was also higher than that of control group (20.91%, 24.49%, 22.09% respectively versus 8.62%, P< 0.05, P< 0.01,P< 0.05 respectively); the frequency of HLA-DRB1*0405 in groups ASC, CHB and hepatitis B cirrhosis was lower than that of control group (3.64%, 2.04%, 3.49% respectively versus 15.52%, P< 0.01, P< 0.01, P< 0.05 respectively ). There was no statistical significance in the allele frequency of HLA-DRB1*04 among groups ASC, CHB and hepatitis B cirrhosis (P> 0.05), and the same result was observed in different replication of HBV (P> 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHLA-DRB1*04 gene is one of the factors which determine the outcomes of HBV infection, while it has no influence on HBV replication.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Alleles ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Prognosis ; Young Adult