Objective To explore the association among viral load,CD4 count and neutralizing ac-tivity of plasma from chronic HIV-1 infected former blood donors in Anhui province, China. Methods 294 chronically HIV-1 B' infected individuals from former blood donors in Anhni province were enrolled, whose plasma and peripheral blood mononuelnar cells (PBMC) were isolated. The viral load and CD4 were detec-ted, and the neutralization activity of plasma against primary virus (1597) and lab-adapted strain (SF33) was detected by Luciferase Assay System based on TZM cell line, and 50% neutralizing level was calculated by the Reed-Mueneh method. Results Neutralizing activity responding against SF33 strain was higher than 1597 (P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between neutralizing concentration of plasma against SF33 and viral load (1g) (r = 0.191, P = 0.001), but there was no correlation between neutralizing concen-tration of plasma against 1597 and viral load(lg) (r = 0.097, P = 0.096). Conchtsion In chronic HIV-1 infectious people, neutralizing level against SF33 increases with viral replication, however, there is no asso-ciation of plasma neutralizing against 1597 replication with viral load.

Objective To study the proliferation inhibition effect by silencing PLCε gene expression with RNA interference in BIU-87 cells. Methods The specific short hairpin RNA recombinant plasmids were constructed by gene clone technology.The expression level of PLCε protein and mRNA were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR respectively after transfected recombinant plasmids into BIU-87 cells.The influence on proliferation was check by MTT.The changes of proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)were analyzed by immunocytochemical method,and the distribution of cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry. Results After transfected with the specific recombinant plasmids,PCNA expression was decreased 33.08%,and the analysis of cell cycle indicated that cells of G0/G1 phase were increased comparision with(40.75±2.30)%and(40.00±1.76)0A,and its G2/M phase cells(8.16±0.51)%were decreased strikingly compared with group control(31.20±1.76)%and group NP(35.94±1.58)%.Cells were blocked at G0/G1 phase,the cell proliferation was inhibited obviously. Conclusion PLCε may play an important role in proliferation of bladder cancer cells,which could be a potential target of biological treatment on bladder cancer in the future.

OBJECTIVETo generate a comprehensive clinical profile of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) by systematically reviewing ICP cases managed in our hospital.

METHODSThe recorded clinical data, including diagnosis, complications, management, and maternal and infant outcomes, of nine ICP cases were collected retrospectively and reviewed systematically.

RESULTSSeven of the nine total ICP patients presented with pruritus. All nine of the ICP patients showed bile acid level beyond the normal range. ICP complications included gestational hypertension (n = 3), diabetes mellitus (DM, n = 1) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, n = 1), and pre-eclampsia (n = 1). The infant of one patient with severe ICP showed meconium-stained liquor. All nine of the ICP patients underwent surgical delivery, of which three were delivered preterm (between the 35th and 36th week of gestation). All mothers' total bile acids declined to normal levels after delivery, and all infants survived without complication.

CONCLUSIONICP does not increase the puerpera mortality rate and does not represent a poor prognosis for infants. Bile acid levels in the ICP patients, however, may be related to the extent of premature delivery time. While the standard drug treatment of ursodeoxycholic acid is suitable for most ICP cases, those with insufficient gestational age may benefit from adjuvant corticosteroid therapy to promote fetal lung maturation prior to preterm delivery. Severe ICP cases should be managed by inducing artificial labor or performing Caesarean section.

Bile Acids and Salts ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pruritus ; Retrospective Studies ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use

Objective To evaluate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) of candidate genes and radiation-induced esophagitis (RIE) in patients with lung cancer. Methods Between Jan. 2004 and Aug. 2006,170 patients with pathologically diagnosed lung cancer were enrolled in this study. The total target dose was 45-70 Gy( median 60 Gy). One hundred and thirty-two patients were treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy(3DCRT) and 38 with two-dimensional radiotherapy(2DRT).Forty-one patients received radiotherapy alone, 78 received sequential chemoradiotherapy and 51 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Thirty-seven SNPs in 20 DNA repair genes were analyzed by using PCR-based restrieted fragment length polymorphism(RFLP). These genes were apoptosis and inflammatory cytoking genes including ATM, ERCC1, XRCC3, XRCC1, XPD, XPC, XPG, NBS1, STK15, ZNF350, ADPRT,TP53, FAS, FASL, CYP2D6 * 4, CASPASE8, COX2,TGF-β, CD14 and ACE. The endpoint was grade ≥2 R I E. Results Forty of the 170 patients developed grade ≥2 R I E, including 36 in grade 2 and 4 in grade 3. Univariate analysis revealed that radiation technique and concurrent chemoradiotherapy were statistically significant relatives to the incidence of R I E (P = 0. 032,0.049) , and both of them had the trend associating with the esophagitis( P = 0.072,0. 094 ). An increased incidence of esophagitis was observed associating with the TGF-β1-509T and XPD 751 Lys/Lys genotypes ( χ2 = 5.65, P = 0.017 ;χ2 = 3.84, P = 0. 048 )in multivariate analysis. Conclusions Genetic polymorphisms in TGF-β1 gene and XPD gene have a significant association with radiation-induced esophagitis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and possible roles of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (Wif-1) and β-catenin in the Wnt pathway in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODSThe clinical data of 35 children who had newly-diagnosed ALL and achieved complete remission on day 33 of remission induction therapy were retrospectively reviewed. The children before treatment were considered as the incipient group, and those who achieved complete remission on day 33 were considered as the remission group. Fifteen children with non-malignant hematologic diseases were enrolled as the control group. RT-PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of Wif-1 and β-catenin. ELISA was used to measure the protein expression of Wif-1.

RESULTSCompared with the control and remission groups, the incipient group had significantly lower mRNA and protein expression of Wif-1 and significantly higher mRNA expression of β-catenin (P<0.05). In the incipient and remission groups, high-risk children showed significantly higher mRNA expression of β-catenin and significantly lower mRNA and protein expression of Wif-1 than the medium- and low-risk children (P<0.05). In the incipient and remission group, the children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia showed significantly higher mRNA expression of β-catenin and significantly lower mRNA and protein expression of Wif-1 compared with those with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P<0.05). In each group, there was a negative correlation between the mRNA expression of Wif-1 and β-catenin (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSReduced expression of Wif-1 and increased expression of β-catenin may be involved in the pathogenesis of childhood ALL, and the degree of reduction in Wif-1 and/or increase in β-catenin may be related to prognosis.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; genetics ; physiology ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; etiology ; physiopathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; physiology ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of extracts of root of kudzu vine on mammary gland and uterus development in rats.

METHOD40 Wistar rats weighting 65-85 g were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, estrogen group, extracts of root of kudzu vine group of high dose, extracts of root of kudzu vine group of low dose. (10 rats in each group). After having been treated for 7 days, the rats were killed; mammary glands and uterus were removed and weighed. Serum was isolated and kept at 4 degrees C for determination of hormones.

RESULT1. Administration of the root of kudzu vine significantly increased the weigh of mammary gland and uterus in rats. 2. Administration of the root of kudzu vine increased serum FSH, LH, E2 and decreased PRL.

CONCLUSIONExtracts of root of kudzu vine could enhance the weight of mammary gland and uterus growth in rats, which may provide experimental evidence for the development of new drug used for promoting mammary gland and uterus.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Prolactin ; blood ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Uterus ; anatomy & histology ; growth & development

OBJECTIVETo elucidate clinical and pathological features of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in order to improve clinician's awareness of this rare disease.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data and follow-up information of 27 PSC patients who were admitted to Beijing Friendship Hospital from January 1990 to November 2009. The patients were classified into classic PSC and small-duct PSC according to biochemistry and imaging results. After 3 to 6 months of therapy, those patients with serum ALT < or = 1.5, TBil < or = 2 and ALP < or = 2.5 ULN were determined as good responders. The treatment results between the two groups were compared.

RESULTS9 out of 27 cases of PSC were small duct PSC and 18 cases were large bile duct or classic PSC. Male patients (7) were less than females (20) and the average age was 47.6 years. Main clinical symptoms included jaundice (85.2%), pruritis (48.1%),fatigue (68.4 %), abdominal pain (40.7%) and fever (14.8%), main physical sign included hepatomegaly (44.4%), splenomegaly (48.1 %) and ascites (14.8%). Laboratory features included elevated IgG (81.8%), positive ANA (69.6%) and pANCA (52.9%). 22% of these PSC patients had ulcerative colitis or Sjogren's syndrome. A small percentage of patients were responsive to standard therapy, of which small duct PSC had a better response than classic PSC (66.7 % vs 33.3%, P = 0.041).

CONCLUSIONSUlcerative colitis (22.2%) is not as common as reported by western countries. Small duct PSC has a better treatment response. Searching of effective treatment regimen for large bile duct PSC is warranted in future studies.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects and the molecular mechanism of puerariae radix flavones (PRF) on acute myeloid leukemia cell line Kasumi-1 cells in vitro.

METHODSKasumi-1 cells treated by PRF for 48 hours were observed with Wright's and Hoechst 33258 dying. The apoptotic cells were analyzed by flow cytometry with AnnexinV/PI staining. The expression levels of bcl-2, Bim and Caspase-3/-8/-9 protein were assayed by Western blot and the AML1-ETO fusion gene was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSPRF could induce Kasumi-1 cells to apoptosis effectively. The proportion of apoptotic cells in 50, 200 and 500 µg/ml PRF treatment groups were (14.1 ± 0.8)%, (17.7 ± 1.3)% and (32.4 ± 1.4)%, respectively, and significantly higher than that of control \[(7.8 ± 0.7)%\]. The relative expression levels of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein were 0.85 ± 0.05, 0.62 ± 0.07 and 0.43 ± 0.05; the apoptotic Bim protein were 0.21 ± 0.06, 0.39 ± 0.04 and 0.75 ± 0.05; the caspase-3 and caspase-9 were 0.92 ± 0.04, 1.21 ± 0.07, 1.33 ± 0.04 and 0.35 ± 0.05, 0.53 ± 0.03, 0.69 ± 0.07, respectively. Compared to the blank control group, all these changes were significant (P < 0.01). Nevertheless, nearly no changes could be observed on the expression level of AML1-ETO fusion gene and caspase-8 protein.

CONCLUSIONApoptosis of Kasumi-1 cells induced by PRF might correlate to the down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression and the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 protein in the cells. It seemed that all these effects had no relationship with the AML1-ETO fusion gene.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flavones ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Pueraria ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and investigate the influencing factors of the interferon (IFN) retreatment for patients with chronic hepatitis C relapsed after a previous IFN treatment.

METHODSA retrospective study was designed to analyze the retreatment with IFN of 60 relapsed chronic hepatitis C patients. All patients were from a randomized, opened and multi-center clinical trial about the efficacy and security of PEG-IFNalpha-2a compared to CIFNalpha-2a in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in China. There were 35 patients treated with PEG-IFNalpha-2a and 25 with CIFNalpha-2a. The main parameter to evaluate the efficacy was sustained viral response (SVR) rate. The influence of viral concentration in serum, genotype and drug categories on the responses to IFN were analyzed.

RESULTSFor all the patients, the end of treatment virus response (ETVR) and SVR rates were 55.00% and 35.00% respectively. ETVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was significantly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (74.29% and 28.00% respectively, P < 0.01). SVR rate of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was also markedly higher than that of CIFNalpha-2a (45.71% and 20.00% respectively, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the high and low viral load groups. Among the patients with genotype 1, ETVR and SVR rates of PEG-IFNalpha-2a (75.00%, 45.83%) were significantly higher than those of CIFNalpha-2a (22.22%, 11.11%), (P < 0.01, P < 0.05 respectively), but in patients with genotype non-1, there were no such differences between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONSome relapsed patients were not responsive to the IFN retreatment. The efficacy of PEG-IFNalpha-2a was superior to CIFNalpha-2a. The conventional IFN was not suggested to be used in the relapsed cases with genotype 1. The viral load was not associated with the efficacy of IFN retreatment.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Interferon-beta ; Interferons ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

To observe the characteristics of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) with a suboptimal biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid. A total of 38 Chinse PBC patients (5 male patients, 33 female patients, average age 55 years old) with treatment of ursodeoxycholic acid in our hospital from January 1999 to January 2009 were erolled and studied retrospectively. 17 suboptimal biochemical responders mainly presented with liver diseases related symptoms including jaundice (41.1%), fatigue, anorexia (23.5%), edema and abdominal distension (11.7%). 21 good biochemical responders mainly presented with abnormal liver function tests without symptoms. The suboptimal biochemical responders had significantly higher baseline levels of total serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, immunoglobulin G and globulin as compared to the good biochemical responsers. There were no differences in gender, age and the dose of UDCA. PBC patients with liver diseases related symptoms, marked abnormal liver tests and characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis may have a suboptimal biochemical response to ursodeoxycholic acid treatment.