Objective: To explore the mechanisms of emodin in protecting intestinal mucosal barrier in rat with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operation group, untreated group, and emodin group. SAP in rats of the untreated group and the emodin group was induced by retrograde pumping of 3.0% sodium cholate to the common bile duct. Specimens were obtained 24 hours after the severe acute pancreatitis was induced. Serum level of leptin, serum activity of amylase and plasma content of endotoxin were measured. Ileum mucosa from ileocecal junction was observed by light microscopy and electron microscopy to measure pathological and ultrastructural changes. Apoptosis of ileum mucosal cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling method, and expression of Bax in ileum mucosal cells was measured by immunohistochemical method. Results: Compared with the sham-operation group, there was significant increase in the levels of leptin, endotoxin, the activity of amylase, apoptosis index and Bax expression in the untreated group (P<0.01). Compared with the untreated group, the level of endotoxin, apoptotic index and Bax expression level in the emodin group were significantly reduced (P<0.01) and the leptin level was increased (P<0.05). More severe pathological changes appeared in the untreated group than in the sham-operation group under the light and electron microscopes; meanwhile less severe damage was observed in the emodin group as compared with the untreated group. Conclusion: Emodin can inhibit the apoptosis of intestinal mucosa cells and up-regulate the serum leptin content to protect the intestina1 barrier function and prevent the translocation of bacteria and endotoxin.

Objective To compare the clinical utility of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-gammacarboxyprothrombin (DCP) in diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with a hepatic mass.Methods From January 2015 to May 2015,141 patients were diagnosed to have a liver tumor after imaging examinations in the Hepatobiliary Surgical General Hospital of PLA,Beijing,China.Preoperative AFP and DCP were measured using commercial assay kits.The reference standard was either pathologic or clinical diagnosis of HCC.The performance of AFP and DCP in diagnosing HCC was determined using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Results Of 141 patients,98 were diagnosed to have HCC and 43 without.The levels of AFP were significantly higher in patients with HCC than those without [80.0(3.9-1 375.0) μg/L vs.2.1 (1.6-3.2) μg/L,Z =6.98,P ＜ 0.01].Similar results were observed in the levels of DCP [141.5 (24.0-978.0) AU/L vs.19.0 (14.0-25.5) AU/L,Z =5.18,P ＜ 0.01].Receiver operating curves (ROC) indicated the cut-off value with the best sensitivity and specificity was 3.6 μg/L for AFP and 35 AU/L for DCP.The difference in the area under ROC between AFP and DCP was not statistically significant (0.87 vs.0.78,Z =1.72,P =0.085).The sensitivity and specificity for detection of HCC in patients with a hepatic mass were 56.1％ and 95.4％ for AFP ＞ or =20 μg/L,69.4％ and 83.7％ for DCP ＞ or =40 AU/L,respectively.The level of AFP was associated with DCP in patients with HCC (x2 =9.12,P ＜ 0.01,r =0.292) and parallel testing of AFP and DCP gave an optimal sensitivity of 79.6％ with a specificity of 81.4％ in diagnosing HCC.Conclusions DCP is a useful biomarker and it gave an equal performance as AFP in diagnosing HCC in patients with a liver mass in this study.Parallel testing of AFP and DCP effectively increased the diagnostic sensitivity.Although the biomarkers only marginally improved the diagnostic results,it could be useful in diagnosing HCC in individuals who had atypical imaging results.

OBJECTIVETo construct a dendritic cell vaccine transduced by murine alpha-fetoprotein (mAFP) gene, and evaluate its immunoprotective effect on C57BL/6J mice during the induction of hepatocellular carcinoma by diethylnitrosamines, carbon tetrachloride and ethanol.

METHODSDendritic cells (DCs) were induced and augmented by murine IL-4 and GM-CSF, and transfected by recombinant adenovirus engineered with mAFP gene. Major MHC class I and II, B7.1 (CD80), B7.2 (CD86), CD18a, and CD54 molecules on DC were analyzed by FACS. 80 C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (20 mice per group): Simple DC inoculated group, pAdBM5-mAFP-DC inoculated group, pAdBM5-mAFP plasmid inoculated group, and PBS control group. They were immunized once with 5 x 10(5) DCs (0.1 ml)/mouse administered s. c. in the left flank or 100 mg pAdBMS-mAFP plasmid/mouse administered i. m. in the left tibialis anterior muscle. Inoculation was conducted once a week for 4 weeks after 3 times consecutive immunization initially. At the same time of immunization, DEN/CCl4/ethanol were given to induce hepatocellular carcinoma. Tumor incidence was assessed after 20 weeks.

RESULTSA transgenic DC vaccine was successfully constructed and the mAFP transgenic DCs expressed high level molecules of major MHC class I and II , B7.1, B7.2, CD18a, and CD54. After the 20-week induction, the incidence of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PLC) was 70.0% in simple DC inoculated group, 25.0% in pAdBMS-mAFP-DC inoculated group, 65.0% in pAdBM5-mAFP plasmid inoculated group, and 75.0% in PBS control group. There was a significant difference between group B and other groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONmAFP transgenic DC tumor vaccine inoculation may induce strong immunoprotection against liver carcinogenesis and tumor development and reduce PLC incidence induced by DEN/CCl4/ethanol.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Cancer Vaccines ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Diethylnitrosamine ; Ethanol ; Genetic Vectors ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; metabolism ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; chemically induced ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Random Allocation ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE To explore the effects of human macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta (hMIP-1beta) modification on the in vivo tumorigenicity and vaccine efficacy of tumor cells.

METHODSMurine colorectal adenocarcinoma CT26 cells were transfected with a recombinant adenovirus carring the hMIP-1beta gene (AdhMIP-1beta). The efficacy of gene transfection was tested by X-gal staining. The hMIP-1beta level in the supernatant of hMIP-1beta gene-modified CT26 cells was assayed by ELISA, and the chemotactic activity for CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells and immature dendritic cells (imDCs) were assayed by a transwell chamber. The changes of growth characteristics and in vivo tumorigenicity of hMIP-1beta gene-modified CT26 cells were also assessed. BALB/c mice were immunized with hMIP-1beta gene-modified CT26 tumor vaccine and the antitumor effect was evaluated.

RESULTShMIP-1beta gene could be transfected into CT26 cells by AdhMIP-1beta with an efficiency over 95%. The level of hMIP-1beta in the culture supernatant of hMIP-1beta gene-modified CT26 cells was 980 pg/ml and the supernatant displayed ramarkable chemotactic activity to CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, NK cells and imDCs compared with LacZ gene-modified CT26 cells and control. When the hMIP-1beta gene-modifited CT26 cells were subcutaneously inoculated in BALB/c mice, the tumorigencity was delayed and suppressed, and overt necrosis and lymphocyte infiltration were observed in the tumor tissue, but not in those inoculated with LacZ gene-modified CT26 cells or parental CT26 cells. The mice immunized with hMIP-1beta gene-modified CT26 tumor vaccine could induce tumor specific CTL activity and nonspecific NK activity, and exhibited resistance to later challenge with wild-type CT26 cells.

CONCLUSIONhMIP-1beta gene-modified CT26 cells exhibit decreased tumorigenicity, and hMIP-1beta gene-modified tumor vaccine may induce a powerful specific and nonspecific antitumor response. The data suggested that hMIP-1beta gene-modified tumor vaccine may play a potent role in prevention of metastasis and recurrence of malignant tumors.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Cancer Vaccines ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chemokine CCL4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte ; Colonic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Random Allocation ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of microalbuminuria (MA) and fibrinogen (Fib) to the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS).

METHODSEighty-five patients with MS undergoing coronary artery angiography were divided, according to the number of vessels involved, into multivessel disease group and non-multivessel disease group, and also according to the modified Gensini score, into severe lesion (Gensini score>20) and non-severe lesion group. The correlations of MA and Fib to the number of involved vessels and the severity of the lesions were analyzed.

RESULTSThe urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) and Fib were significantly different between the multivessel and non-multivessel disease groups (P<0.05), and were found to be positively correlated to the number of coronary artery lesion (r=0.378, P=0.000; r=0.327, P=0.002). ACR, Fib, sex, smoking history and HDL-C differed significantly between severe lesion and non-severe lesion groups (P<0.05), and ACR and Fib showed positive correlations to the Gensini score (r=0.337, P=0.002; r=0.286, P=0.008). Logistic regression analysis identified ACR as an independent predictor of multivessel disease (B=2.655, P=0.000) and Gensini score (B=1.803, P=0.009), independent of sex, age, body mass index, smoking history, diabetes mellitus, LDL-C and HDL-C.

CONCLUSIONMA and Fib are positively correlated to the severity of coronary artery lesion, and MA is an independent predictor of multivessel disease and Gensini score in patients with MS.

Aged ; Albuminuria ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; urine ; Middle Aged

Objective:To describe the epidemiological characteristics of mental disorders in Ximeng Wa Au-tonomous County and explore psychosocial risk factors of mental disorders. Methods:Two thousand three hundred and eighty one residents aged 1 8 years and over were sampled using multistage sampling in Ximeng Wa Autono-mous County in 2013. All respondents were investigated by face-to-face interview. Mental disorders were screened out by using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)and diagnosed according to the International Classification of Diseases Checklist (ICD-10-Checklist)criteria. Results:Life time prevalence of any mental disorder was 19. 86%(419/2110). The lifetime prevalence rates of substance use disorder,anxiety disorder,insomnia,mood disorder, schizophrenia were 12. 99%(274/2110),6. 30%(133/2110),2. 94%(62/2110),2. 32%(49/2110)and 1. 00%(21/2110)respectively. Male (OR=0. 43),older age (35 -49 years,OR=1. 78;50 -64 years,OR=2. 59;≥65 years,OR=3. 5 1 ),unmarried and other marital status (OR=0. 3 1 ),non-Wa and non-Lahu ethnic groups (OR=0. 29)were associated with neurotic,stress-related and somatoform disorders. Male (OR=2. 41),older age (35 -49 years,OR=2. 29;50-64 years,OR=3. 20;≥65 years,OR=4. 58),non-farmer and non-self-employed occupation (OR=0. 41),and non-Wa and non-Lahu ethnic groups (OR=0. 32)were associated with psychoactive substance use disorder. Male (OR =0. 35 ) and order age (≥65 years,OR =3. 05 ) were associated with mood disorders. Conclusion:Lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder,substance use disorders and anxiety disorders are high in Ximeng Wa Autonomous County. Measures should be strengthened against prevalence of mental disorders in ethnic minority areas.

Objective To assess the prognostic factors associated with the sudden idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss,to predict the prognosis of patient with idiopthic sensorneural hearing loss precisely.Methods Eight hundreds and eishty two patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss were retrospectively reviewed during January 2006 to March 2007.Patients whose initial hearing threshold ≤40 dB were excluded.The patients with initial hearing threshold ＞40 dB were recruited,which was divided into six subgroups based on the patterns of audiogram:downgrade audiogram subgroup,upgrade audiogram subgroup,flat audiogram subgroup,concave audiogram subgroup,profound audiogram subgroup and total deafness subgroup.Results Regarding to the relationship between the time point for initiaI intervention and the prognosis,better prognosis was obtained in patients whose initial intervention war within 3 days of the disease,good prognosis was achieved within 1 or 2 weeks of the disease,poor prognosis was noted beyond 2 weeks of this disease.Furthermore,comparison with the initial intervention within 3 week,1 month and 1 month later,the prognosis among them was not statistical different.97.7% hearing recovery was achieved in the concave subgroup with the initial hearing threshold ＞40 dB group.Comparison with the other subgroup (except total deafness subgroup),the cure rate and recovery rate was 23.8% and 57.9% respectively in the profound subgroup.Poor prognosis was demonstrated in the total deafness subgroup and inefficacy rate was 67.4% in the total deafness subgroup.Comparison with patients without companying complications,the prognosis of patients with companying complications such as diabetes or high blood pressure has negative impact in hearing recovery.The age wag correlated with the prognosis,elder had poor prognosis,patients more than 50 years old present with worse hearing than that less than 50 years old(H=7.851,P=0.0051).Conclusions The initial intervention beyond 2 weeks had negative impact on the prognosis.The initial audiogram patterns and hearing threshold were both significant factors on the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.In addition,old patient had poor prognosis.The companying complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes had negative impact on the prognosis of idiopathic sudden hearing sensorineural loss.

Objective To observe the effects of Jianpi Xiaoai Prescription on epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer cell SW620 induced by TGF-β1; To discuss its possible mechanism of action for prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. Methods Colorectal cancer cells SW620 were cultured in vitro. By conducting CCK-8 and Transwell experiments, the proliferation, invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cell (SW620) were detected. qRT-PCR and Western blot experiments were applied to verify the mRNA and protein expression level of E-cadherin and Vimentin. Results Jianpi Xiaoai Prescription showed in vitro inhibitory effect on the proliferation, invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cell SW620. Compared with blank group, the expression of E-cadherin in TGF-β1 induced group was reduced and Vimentin was increased (P<0.05); Meanwhile, the expression of E-cadherin in Jianpi Xiaoai Prescription group was increased and Vimentin was decreased when compared with TGF-β1 induced group (P<0.05). Conclusion Jianpi Xiaoai Prescription can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cell by reverting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer cell induced by TGF-β1, with a purpose to achieve the goal of preventing and treating the recurring and migration of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the mid-term clinical outcome of endoscopic greater saphenous vein harvesting (EVH) in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Method A total of 205 patients receiving off-pump CABG between July, 2012 and April, 2013 at our department were enrolled in this study, including 66 patients (35 male and 31 female patients with a mean age of 60.3±7.92 years) undergoing EVH and 139 patients (109 male and 30 female patients with a mean age of 59.20±8.37 years) undergoing open greater saphenous vein harvesting (OVH).

RESULTSThe surgical procedures were completed smoothly in all the cases. The perioperative mortality rates was 3.03% (2/66) in EVH group, as compared with 3.60% (5/139) in OVH group (P=1.00). Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) occurred during the perioperative period in 3 (2.16%) patients in OVH group and in 1 (1.52%) patient in EVH group. Perioperative low cardiac output syndrome was diagnosed in 4 (2.88%) patients in OVH group and in 2 (3.03%) in EVH group (P>0.05). During the follow-up, 8 (8.80%) patients in OVH group and 5 (8.06%) in EVH group had recurrent angina (P=0.93). No patients experienced AMI during the follow-up. The 2-year patency rate of the venous grafts was 83.59% in OVH group and 82.22% in EVH group (P=0.73).

CONCLUSIONEVH has significant advantage in reducing the complications of the incision in the lower limbs. The mid-term patency rates of venous grafts are similar between OVH and EVH, but the long-term patency rate needs further evaluation.

Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Saphenous Vein ; transplantation ; Tissue and Organ Harvesting ; Vascular Surgical Procedures

OBJECTIVETo study sexual behavioral characteristics, infection status of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STDs) among women who have sex with women (WSW) in Beijing.

METHODSA total of 150 WSWs were recruited by snowball sampling in several main types of activity sites of WSW (including NGOs, salons, bars, etc.) in Beijing during September 2010 to April 2011. Information on demographic factors, sexual behavioral characteristics, infection status of STDs, and use of medical care were collected by questionnaire investigation. Serum samples, vaginal and cervical swabs were taken for each subject to test HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), syphilis, herpes simplex virus (HSV), neisseria gonorrhoeae, chlamydia trachoma, bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas vaginalis and mycotic vaginitis.

RESULTSThe age range of the subjects was from 19 to 46 years old. Approximately 82.67% (124/150) of them aged 20 to 29 years old, and 54.00% (81/150) were unmarried. Approximately 76.67% (115/150) had an education level of college degree or above, and 70.67% (106/150) were migrants. Approximately 66.66% (100/150) of the subjects considered themselves as homosexual, 28.00% (42/150) as bisexual. The age at first homosexual sex ranged from 11 to 30 years old. The median of number of female sex partners in last 1 year was 1, and 33.78% (50/148) of the subjects had 2 or more female sex partners. Approximately 20.27% (30/148) of the subjects applied sex instruments, of which 66.67% (20/30) never or seldom used condoms. Hand-clitoris and hand-vagina contacts were the main types of woman-to-woman sex, accounting for 91.22% (135/148). 12.00% (18/150) of the subjects had sex with men during last year. Among them, 50.00% (9/18) used condoms at last heterosexual sex, and 66.67% (12/18) never or seldom used condoms at last heterosexual sex in past 1 year. One subject provided paid sex service for men, and used condoms every time. In the past one year, 45.33% (68/150) of the subjects had symptoms of STDs, but only 36.76% (25/68) of them sought medical care. The infection rate of STDs was 34.67% (52/150). The infection rates of NG and GV were both 16.11% (24/149), and those of mycotic vaginitis, chlamydia trachoma, and TV were 8.72% (13/149), 4.03% (6/149), and 0.67% (1/150), respectively. The numbers of subjects tested positive for HBV, HCV, and syphilis were all 1. No subjects were found HIV positive or HSV-2 positive.

CONCLUSIONMultiple sexual partners and heterosexual sex behavior were common among WSW in Beijing. More than 1/3 of the subjects were infected with STD.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; Homosexuality, Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexual Partners ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; epidemiology ; Unsafe Sex ; Young Adult