Objective To observe the clinical significance and laboratory diagnostic values of Pre-S1 antigens (Pre-S1)and its relativity to HBeAg and HBV-DNA after using interferon in association with kurarinone.Methods The content of Pre-S1 and HBV-M was detected by ELISA and the levels of HBV-DNA were detected by flores- cence quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR)in 100 serum samples of patients with HBV infection and patients after an antivi- ral treatment.Results Matched control in 50 serum of HBsAg-positive and detectable HBV-DNA cases,both 29 samples in 30 HBeAg-positive cases and 17 samples in 20 HBeAg-negative cases Pre-S1s were positive.Treatment set 50 serum of patients after taking two courses of an antiviral treatment for HBV infection,drawing blood to observe related markers,5 cases of effect set were turned into negative for serologic markers and virologic markers.19 cases of valid set,serologic markers were various and the HBV-DNA copies descended 2-3 orders of magnitude.26 cases of invalid set,serologic markers were not various,and 30 % samples of the HBV-DNA copies descended 1～2 orders of magnitude.Conclusion It was supplementary for Pre-S1 to indicate HBV expression when the HBeAg varied.It also provided detcctable laboratory markers in HBV infectivity,replication and therapeutic efficiency evaluation.

Objective To investigate the usefulness of 99Tcm-MDP whole body bone scintigraphy (WBBS) in patients with synovitis,acne,pustulosis,hyperostosis,osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome.Methods 99Tcm- MDP WBBS was performed in 25 patients (6 males,19 females,mean age =(55.1 ±9.8) years)with SAPHO syndrome.Bone lesions were classified into five categories:anterior chest wall,spine,mandible,sacroiliac joint,and limbs.The typical scintigraphic manifestations of SAPHO syndrome were summarized and compared to other radiological imaging data.Results Among 25 patients,32％ of cases (8/25)were associated with skin lesion; 48％ ( 12/25 ) were pathologically diagnosed with chronic nonspecific bone inflammation by bone biopsy.On 99Tcm-MDP WBBS,abnormal metabolic foci at anterior chest wall were found in all cases,most of which located in the sternocostoclavicular region (96％,24/25 ),including sternoclavicular joints (60％,15/25),first costosternal junctions (48％,12/25),and manubriosternal junctions (44％,11/25 ).Only 20％ of the patients (5/25) demonstrated the typical scintigraphic characteristic:“bull's head” sign.The second most frequent part was spine (44％,11/25).Appendicular skeleton was affected in 16％ (4/25) patients.WBBS also demonstrated additional skeletal lesions in 68％ (17/25 ) of the patients,mainly in first costosternal junctions (7 patients),sternoclavicular joints (6 patients),manubriosternal junctions (5 patients) and spine (4 patients).Conclusions Abnormal metabolic foci in sternocostoclavicular region and other imaging manifestations on 99Tcm- MDP WBBS can be used to diagnose,differentiate,and localize the insidious lesion and evaluate the lesion activity in patients with SAPHO syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the involvement of NF-kappaB (NF-kB) regulation of hepcidin gene transcription in acute phase response and its molecular mechanism.

METHODSFirst, a mouse model of acute phase response was established by intraperitoneal injection of LPS. The relationship between hepcidin expression and dose or time of LPS injection was assessed. Then, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was performed to explore the possibility of the involvement of NF-kB in regulation of hepcidin gene transcription. Next, pAVU6+27-NF-kB, NF-kB p65-specific siRNA expression vector was constructed and transfected into mouse primary hepatocytes using DOTAP liposomal transfection reagents. Hepcidin expression changes after silencing of NF-kB p65 and hepcidin expression after LPS induction were tested.

RESULTSHepcidin expression showed a time and dose-dependent manner with regard to LPS injection. At 10 h after 50 microg LPS injection, hepcidin expression reached its peak. The result of EMSA exhibited an evident lag band at -53 - -64 bp, indicating regulation of hepcidin gene expression by NF-kB. After mouse primary hepatocytes were transiently transfected with NF-kB p65-specific siRNAs, Western blot showed that inhibition rate of NF-kB expression was 50%-67%. Hepcidin expression of transfected hepatocytes dropped down obviously in comparison with that of untransfected hepatocytes, and could not be induced by LPS.

CONCLUSIONTranscription factor NF-kB is likely to be an important molecule in transcription regulation of hepcidin gene. As a key component, p65 subunit binds to hepcidin gene at -53 - -64 bp, and upregulates hepcidin expression.

Acute-Phase Reaction ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hepcidins ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), fibronectin (FN) in liver from diabetic rats.

METHODSTwenty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into two groups: normal control group (n = 10) and type 2 diabetic group (n = 10). After 4 weeks of high-fat feeding, diabetic group rats were injected with low dosage streptozotocin (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally to induce type 2 diabetic rat models. The diabetic rats received high-fat feeding for another 12 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the fibrosis lesion was observed under light microscopy after Masson staining. The mRNA levels of NF-kB, TGFbeta1, FN from rats liver were assayed by semi-quantity RT-PCR, the protein levels of NF-kB, TGFbeta1, FN was detected by IHC.

RESULTSFibrosis was found in diabetic rats. The levels of TGFbeta1, FN mRNA in liver tissues increased in diabetic rats compared with normal control rats (0.91+/-0.19 vs 0.47+/-0.20, t = 5.233, P less than 0.05; 1.85+/-0.70 vs 1.22+/-0.39, t = 2.463, P less than 0.05). And the protein levels of NF-kB P65, TGFbeta1, FN in liver tissues from diabetic rats were significantly higher than those in normal control rats (10978.77+/-8782.59 vs 4206.86+/-1430.56, Z = 1.979, P less than 0.05; 8551.00+/-4768.68 vs 4036.85+/-1051.12, Z = 2.303, P less than 0.05; 16980.30+/-11529.29 vs 5701.95+/-9461.75, t = -2.391, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONUpregulation of NF-kB, TGFbeta1, FN in liver tissues may play a role in the hepatic fibrogenesis in diabetic rats.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Rickets ; diagnosis ; etiology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; complications

Objective To explore the replantation methods of the amputated tisue mass of fingers. Methods Fifteen cases were replanted using the physiological blood circulation replantation and the no physi- ological blood circulation replantation.Results All eleven cases survived with the physiological blood circu- lation replantation,one case failure with no physiological blood circulation replantation.Postoperative follow up ranged from six months to two years,with an average of fifteen months,the function and appearance were satis- factory.According to Hand Surgery of Chinese Medical Association' s functional evaluation in digital replanta- tion,eleven cases were excellent and two cases were good,the excellent and good rates were up to 86.7%. Conclusion For the amputated tissue mass of fingers,the physiological blood circulation replantation is the best choose.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the development of social skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related influencing factors. METHODS: A total of 889 children with ASD in 10 cities of China were enrolled as subjects. The Autism Social Skills Scale was used to assess their social skills. RESULTS: The children with ASD had a lower score of each factor than the theoretical median, with the lowest score for social communication and the highest score for self-regulation. There were significant differences in the total score of social skills and the scores of social cognition and social participation between the children with ASD in different age groups (P<0.05). There were also significant differences in the total score of social skills and the scores of social orientation, social communication, social participation, and self-regulation between the ASD children with different language levels (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Children with ASD have low social skills, and their social skills are associated with age and language level.
Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Child ; Humans ; Social Skills

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the renal function in treatment-naive patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) related cirrhosis and to identify the risk factors for renal impairment.

METHODSWe collected the data of 860 HBV-related cirrhosis patients hospitalized in our unit between Jan 1, 2011 and Dec 31, 2011. Liver function of the patients was assessed with Child-Pugh score system, and the renal function with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation recommended by Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI). We investigated the prevalence of renal impairment (eGFR>60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) among these patients and explored the risk factors for renal impairment.

RESULTSOf the 860 patients, 296 had complete clinical data and were included in our analysis. The overall incidence of renal impairment among the enrolled patients was 8.45% (25/296). Patients with Child-Pugh stage C showed a significantly higher incidence of renal impairment than those with stages B and A (17.17% [17/99] vs 6.67%[7/105] vs 1.09% [1/92], P<0.001). Age, history of hyperuricemia, and Child-Pugh score were identified as the risk factors for renal impairment in these patients.

CONCLUSIONIn patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis, the incidence of renal impairment increases significantly with deterioration of the liver function, and renal function should be regularly monitored in these patients for appropriate antiviral treatment.

Adult ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; physiopathology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo understand the prevalence of HBV core promoter mutant (T1762 A1764 mutant) isolated from asymptomatic carriers from areas with higher and lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Guangxi.

METHODSA nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used for amplification of HBV DNA core promoter in sera, and then HBV DNA nPCR products were sequenced by direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe results show that 50.6% (39/77) of all HBV asymptomatic carriers were positive for HBV DNA HBV DNA positive rates of the samples from HCC higher incidence area, Longan County, and from lower incidence area, Guilin city were 55.6% (20/36) and 46.3% (19/41), respectively. HBV core promoter mutants could be seen in 35% in Longan positive samples and 47.4% in Guilin. The common mutations in both regions were all double mutations (nt 1,762 A-->T; nt 1,764 G-->A), accounting for 25% and 21%, respectively. The difference of the double mutant between Longan County and Guilin city was not significant (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThese data implicated that the prevalence of HBV core promoter mutant isolated from asymptomatic carriers may not be correlated with the incidence of HCC in Guangxi.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; virology ; Carrier State ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; virology ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

BACKGROUNDThis study transferred a recombinant gene encoding human insulin like growth factor-1 (hIGF-1) into modified primary skeletal myoblasts with a retroviral vector (pLgXSN) and determined whether the hIGF-1 promoted growth of skeletal muscle in rat.

METHODShIGF-1cDNA was amplified in vitro from normal human liver cells by using RT-PCR and cloned into plasmid vector pLgXSN. The recombinant vector pLghIGF-1SN and control vector pLgGFPSN were transfected into packaging cell PT67 and G418 was used to select positive colony. Myoblasts were infected with a high titre viral supernatant and transduction efficiency was evaluated as GFP expression. The expression of hIGF-1 mRNA in myoblasts was investigated by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. MTT assays detected the growth of myoblasts in vitro. Myoblasts transduced with pLghIGF-1SN were injected into hind limb muscles of 10 - 12 week male SD rats. Formed tissues were harvested 4 weeks later. Myocyte diameter, mean weight of hind limb and body were measured to evaluate the skeletal muscle growth.

RESULTSRecombinant retroviral plasmid vector pLghIGF-1SN was constructed successfully. The titre of the packaged recombinant retrovirus was 1 x 10(6) cfu/ml. The transfection rate of PT67 cells reached 100% after G418 screening. hIGF-1 expression was positive in myoblast-IGF-1. The proliferation rate of myoblast-IGF-1 in vitro was higher than GFP-myoblast or myoblast (P < 0.05). The mean weights of hind limb and body of rats injected myoblast-IGF-1 were higher than those of the rats injected with myoblast-GFP or myoblast (P < 0.05). Myocyte diameter had a significant increase in IGF-1 group compared to GFP group and myoblast group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe transfection of the human IGF-1 gene mediated by a retroviral vector can promote the growth of skeletal muscle in rats. Genetically modified primary skeletal myoblasts provide a possibly effective approach to treat some skeletal muscle diseases.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; DNA, Recombinant ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; genetics ; physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal ; growth & development ; Myoblasts ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Transfection