Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, acting as a regulator of inflammation and immunity. TNFalpha plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Blocking of TNFa activity suppressed inflammatory tissue damage. In present study, the chimeric gene of soluble TNF receptor and IgG Fc fragment (sTNFR-IgG FC) was cloned into the mammalian cell expression vector pStar. When the plamid pStar/sTNFR-IgGFc-GFP was transfected into endothelial cells, a considerable expression of the sTNFR-IgG Fc fusion protein was detected. Moreover, the product in 100microL expression supernatant could completely antagonize the cytolytic effect of 1ng TNFa on L929 cells, even at 1/64 dilution. Then the plasmid was delivered into CIA-induced rheumatoid arthritis mice by tail vein injection. The expression of sTNFR-IgG Fc was detected in liver by RT-PCR. Animals in treatment group showed reduced symptoms of arthritis and more active. This treatment induced decrease of synovial incrassation and prevented the cartilage destruction of the mice RA model. These results show that tail vein injection is an effective way for gene therapy and sTNFR-IgGFc expression plasmid is potential for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Collagen Type II ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Etanercept ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; therapeutic use ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

A fluorescence enhancement probe (ZY8) for the detection of N2H4was designed and synthesized by employing 3-hydroxyflavone as a fluorophore,and its spectral properties had been investigated. The results showed that ZY8 had relatively good selectivity and specificity to N2H4in Tris-HCl-ethanol solution (9:1, V/V, pH 7.40). The fluorescent intensity of ZY8 exhibited good linear relationship with concentration of N2H4in the concentration range of 1.6×10-7mol/L-6.2×10-5mol/L,and its detection limit was estimated to be 1. 6×10-7mol/L. ZY8 itself had weak fluorescence, upon addition of N2H4, an approximate 9-fold fluorescence enhancement was observed, and the color of the solution changed from light grayish green to bright grass-green at UV light of 365 nm. So ZY8 might be used to the visual recognition of N2H4. ZY8 could detect N2H4in near-physiological pH range, and it had fast response and strong anti-interference ability. Moreover,ZY8 could be loaded as test paper for naked-eye detection of N2H4at mmol/L level in water solution,and it was also applied in the determination of N2H4in various water samples by the standard addition recovery experiments, with the recovery ratio ranged from 96.0% to 104.2% %, and RSD of all< 4%. The results of this study demonstrated that ZY8 had potential application to the detection of N2H4in the monitoring of environmental pollution.

Objectives: To investigate the prognostic value of elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) at admission in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A total of 5 826 consecutive ACS patients undergoing PCI were included. Patients were divided into normal admission SBP (100-139 mmHg, n=4 323) and elevated admission SBP ( ≥ 140 mmHg, n=1 503) groups. All-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE, including all-cause death, myocardial infarction (MI), revascularization, in-stent thrombosis and stroke) during 2-year follow-up were compared between the two groups. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to identify the independent risk factors of outcomes. The influence of admission SBP on the outcomes of subgroup patients with unstable angina (n=4 261) was also evaluated. Results: Patients were older (61 vs 57 years, P<0.001), proportions of females (29.3% vs 21.6%, P<0.001), concomitant morbidities (such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia, previous MI and cerebral vascular disease) and multi-vessel lesions (77.5% vs 71.0%, P<0.001) were significantly higher in elevated admission SBP group than in normal admission SBP group. During two-years follow-up, all-cause mortality, MACCE, MI and revascularization rates were comparable between two groups (all P>0.05). However, incidence of in-stent thrombosis (1.3% vs 0.7%, P=0.048) and stroke (1.9% vs 1.2%, P=0.038) were significantly higher in elevated admission SBP group than in normal admission SBP group. Subgroup analysis on patients with unstable angina showed that, incidence of in-stent thrombosis and MI were also significantly higher in elevated admission SBP group than in normal admission SBP group (both P<0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that elevated admission SBP was no longer an independent predictor of either in-stent thrombosis or stroke, and age and history of cerebrovascular disease were the independent risk factors of stroke. Conclusions: ACS patients with elevated admission SBP have more cardiovascular risk factors, but elevated admission SBP is not an independent risk factor of long-term outcomes in this patient cohort.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficiency of the dobutamine stress echocardiography in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and estimate the difference between provokable obstruction and resting obstruction in these patients.

METHODSEchocardiography was performed in 22 patients with HCM (LVOTPG < 50 mm Hg at rest, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) at rest and at the end point of dobutamine stress. Dobutamine was administered via an infusion pump, starting at a dose of 5 microg x min(-1) x kg(-1) and increasing every 5 minutes by 5 microg x min(-1) x kg(-1) till the maximum dose of 20 microg x min(-1) x kg(-1). Fifty-seven patients with HCM (LVOTPG > 50 mm Hg at rest) were also studied at rest.

RESULTSIn these 22 patients, the mean maximum velocity of LVOT was 5.39 +/- 1.60 m/s, the mean maximum LVOTPG was 125.7 +/- 62.4 mm Hg at the end point of dobutamine stress and the mean dose of dobutamine was 13.90 +/- 6.85 microg x min(-1)xkg(-1). Sixteen patients evidenced positive stress results at the end point of dobutamine stress. The main difference between the provokable obstruction and resting obstruction was that in provokable obstruction patients, the SAM positive patients were fewer and the proportion of Maron II patients was higher (50%).

CONCLUSIONSDobutamine stress echocardiography was a safe and sensitive way for detecting patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Provokable obstruction patients had fewer SAM and higher proportion of Maron II.

Adult ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Dobutamine ; administration & dosage ; Echocardiography, Stress ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Based on the first isolated human H5N1 influenza virus strain A/Anhui/1/2005 in China, HA and HA1 genes were amplified and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pStar. The recombinant plasmids pStar-HA and pStar-HA1 were transfected into COS7 cells. Western blot and IFA showed that the two recombinant DNA plasmids were successfully expressed in eukaryotic cells. BALB/c mice were immunized with the plasmids DNA by intramuscular injection. Anti-HA specific antibody in peripheral blood of immunized mice was tested by ELISA. The results showed that the recombinant plasmids successfully induced the anti-HA humoral immune response, and there was no significant difference between HA and HA1 as immunogen. This work provides basis for future development of novel avian flu vaccine.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Female ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the risk factors for the development of congenital anal atresia in neonates.

METHODSA total of 70 neonates who were admitted to 17 hospitals in Foshan, China from January 2011 to December 2014 were enrolled as case group, and another 70 neonates who were hospitalized during the same period and had no anal atresia or other severe deformities were enrolled as control group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the risk factors for the development of congenital anal atresia.

RESULTSThe univariate analysis revealed that the age of mothers, presence of oral administration of folic acid, infection during early pregnancy, and polyhydramnios, and sex of neonates showed significant differences between the case and control groups (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that infection during early pregnancy (OR=18.776) and male neonates (OR=9.304) were risk factors for congenital anal atresia, and oral administration of folic acid during early pregnancy was the protective factor (OR=0.086).

CONCLUSIONSInfection during early pregnancy is the risk factor for congenital anal atresia, and male neonates are more likely to develop congenital anal atresia than female neonates. Supplementation of folic acid during early pregnancy can reduce the risk of congenital anal atresia.

Anus, Imperforate ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes in young (< / = 45 years) female and male coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSAngiographic and clinical data from 124 premenopausal female patients who underwent elective PCI from April 2004 to February 2008 were compared to age-matched 430 male patients who underwent elective PCI between 2006 and 2007 in our department. All patients were treated according to guidelines and coronary angiography was repeated after 6 months. One year clinical follow-up were performed in all patients.

RESULTSIncidences of dyslipidemia, the history of myocardial infarction and smoking were significantly lower in female patients than in male patients (all P < 0.01). Left main, left anterior descending and bifurcation lesions were more common while type C lesion and right coronary lesion were less common in young female CAD group compared to young male CAD group (P < 0.01-0.05). The average lesion length in female patients was significantly longer than that in male patients [(20.36 +/- 13.37) mm vs. (23.04 +/- 13.86) mm, P < 0.05]. The in-hospital and follow-up incidences of major adverse cardiac events, stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis were similar between young female and male CAD patients.

CONCLUSIONSCAD risk factors were less and vessel lesions were more likely to be found at left main, left anterior descending and bifurcation in young female CAD patients compared to young male CAD patients. The clinical outcomes were similar between young female and male CAD patients.

Adult ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the in-hospital clinical outcome of patients with coronary artery disease who underwent transradial intervention (TRI) and analyze the predictors of clinical outcome.

METHODSFrom May 2004 to May 2009, there were 16 281 patients who underwent transradial intervention, as well as 5388 patients who underwent transfemoral intervention (TFI) at our institution. The clinical characteristics, procedural characteristics, and in-hospital clinical adverse events were compared between TRI and TFI groups. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine predictors of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (composite of death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization) of TRI.

RESULTSThe annulations time was significantly longer for TRI than TFI (P < 0.01), fluoroscopy time, amount of contrast agent and procedural success rate (95.5% for TRI and 96.2% for TFI) were similar between the two groups. However, the rates of vascular complications (0.1% for TRI group and 1.3% for TFI group, P < 0.01), incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (1.6% vs. 3.8%, P < 0.01) and in-hospital death (0.2% vs. 0.4%, P < 0.01) were all significantly lower in TRI group compared with TFI group. The following characteristics were identified as independent multivariate predictors of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events of TRI: age ≥ 65 (OR: 1.98, 95%CI: 1.50 - 2.61, P < 0.01), prior myocardial infarction (OR: 2.14, 95%CI: 1.63 - 2.82, P < 0.01), use of drug-eluting stent (DES) (OR: 0.68, 95%CI: 0.47 - 0.98, P = 0.04), dissection during procedure (OR: 4.08, 95%CI: 2.28 - 7.33, P < 0.01), left main lesion (OR: 2.12, 95%CI: 1.09 - 4.13, P = 0.03), number of implanted stents (OR: 1.25, 95%CI: 1.09 - 1.43, P < 0.01), and total stented length (OR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00 - 1.02, P = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONSIn this large single-centre patient cohort, the transradial intervention is superior to transfemoral intervention in terms of in-hospital safety and efficacy. Age ≥ 65, prior myocardial infarction, use of DES, dissection during procedure, left main lesion, number of implanted stents and total stented length were identified as independent multivariate predictors of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events of TRI.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; therapy ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radial Artery ; Treatment Outcome

The population is commonly susceptible to the 2019 novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV), especially the elderly with comorbidities.Elderly patients infected with 2019-nCoV tend to have higher rates of severe illnesses and mortality.Immunoaging is an important cause of severe novel coronavirus pneumonia(NCP)in the elderly.Due to the combination of underlying diseases, elderly patients may exhibit a typical manifestations in clinical symptoms, supplementary examinations and pulmonary imaging, deserving particular attention.The general condition of the elderly should be considered during diagnosis and treatment.In addition to routine care and measures such as oxygen therapy, antiviral therapy and respiratory support, treatment of underlying disease, nutritional support, sputum expectoration, complication prevention and psychological support should also be considered for elderly patients.Based on literature review and expert panel discussion, we drafted the Key Points for the Prevention and Treatment of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in the elderly, aiming to provide help with the prevention and treatment of NCP and the reduction of harm to the elderly population.

Objective:To investigate the clinical effect of Chaihu Shugansan combined with abdominal acupuncture on depression caused by chronic pain，and to explore its mechanism. Method:A total of 97 patients with depression caused by chronic pain were randomly divided into control group （49 cases） and observation group （48 cases）. Patients in both groups received routine western medicine treatment，including necessary psychological intervention and taking paroxetine. Control groupobservation groupcontrol group Patients in control group were treated with Xiaoyaowan，and patients in observation group were treated with Chaihu Shugansan combined with abdominal acupuncture. Both groups were treated for 6 weeks. The levels of serum neurotransmitters，cytokines and Hamilton depression rating scale（HAMD） before and after treatment were compared between two groups. Result:There was no significant difference in HAMD scores of the two groups before treatment and the HAMD scores of two groups after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment （P<0.05），and the HAMD scores in observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in the levels of serum 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT），norepinephrine （NE），and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） between two groups before treatment. After treatment，the levels of serum 5-HT，NE，and BDNF in two groups were significantly higher than those before treatment （P<0.05），and the levels in observation group were significantly higher than those in control group （P<0.05）. There was no significant difference in the levels of serum interleukin-6 （IL-6），interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） before treatment. After treatment，the levels of serum IL-6，IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly lower than those before treatment （P<0.05），and the levels in observation group were significantly lower than those in control group （P<0.05）. Conclusion:On the basis of psychological intervention and paroxetine administration，the combination of Chaihu Shugansan and abdominal acupuncture exerts their respective advantages. It treats both symptoms and root causes of depression，relieves the degree of depression，reduces the classification of depression，and regulates the levels of neurotransmitter and cellular inflammatory factors，and inhibits inflammatory response. The clinical effect is significant.