Objective To investigate the role of CD4+CD25+Foxp3 regulatory T cells in chronicity of hepatitis B and viral clearance of hepatitis B virus(HBV).Methods Nineteen patients with chronic active hepatitis B(CAH).21 HBV carriers(AsC)and 12 patients with resolved HBV infection and 1 5 healthy controls were enrolled.The frequency and phenotype of peripheral CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells were detected by flow cytometry.CD4+CD25+T cells were sorted by magnetic-activated cell sorting(MACS)assay.Level of Foxp3 mRNA in CD4+CD25+T cells was examined by real time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)assay.The data were analyzed by one-way ANoVA or nonparametric statistics.Results Both frequencies of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells and levels of Foxp3 mRNA in CD4+CD25+T ceils in patients with CAH or AsC were significantly higher than those in healthy controls Or resolved HBV infection(F=6.8,F=3.72,respectively;both P<0.05).Accumulation of Foxp3+T cells in liver tissue of CAH patients was higher than that of healthy controls,while that in AsC was lower than CAH.The frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells of hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)positive patients(including CAH and AsC)was significantly higher than that of HBeAg negative patients(t=2.3,P<0.05),and that of antFHBe negative patients were significantly higher than anti-HBe positive patients(t=2.4,P<0.05).Furthermore,the frequency of CD4+CD25+Foxp3 regulatory T cells was positively correlated with serum HBV DNA level of patients with chronic hepatitis B(r=0.56,P<0.01).Conclusion The findings have important implication in the understanding of the role of CD4'CD25'regulatory T cells in chronicity and viral clearance in HBV infection.

Objective To investigate insulin resistance and the effect of physical training on it in the pa- tients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods One hundred and twenty NYHAⅡ-ⅢCHF patients were ran- domly divided into a training group( n = 65 ) and a routine therapy group (n = 55 ). Another 35 healthy subjects were recruited as control group. All the patients were treated with routine anti-CHF drugs, and the training group patients had received physical training twice a day in addition. The HOMA-IR, insulin sensitivity index (ISI) , left ventricu- lar ejection fraction (LEVF), left ventricular fractional shortening( LVFS), 6-minute walking distance, heart rate and mean blood pressure were compared between the training and routine therapy groups before and after physical ex- ercise in both groups, and a comparison was made between the patients and the controls before the intervention with regard to HOMA-IR and ISI. Results Comparing with control group, ISI was reduced while the HOMA-IR in- creased (P

OBJECTIVETo probe into the best parameter of electroacupuncture (EA) for treatment of inflammatory pain in the rat.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 12 groups, normal control group, model group and 10 EA groups including A1 B1 C1, A1 B1 C2, A1 B2 C1, A1 B2 C2, A2 B1 C1, A2 B1 C2, A2 B2 C1, A2 B2 C2 (A1 : 2 Hz, A2: 100 Hz; B1 : successive wave; B2: intermittent wave; C1: 0.1 mA, C2: 0.2 mA), A3 B3 C1 (4/20 Hz, disperse-dense wave, 0.1 mA) and A3 B3 C2 (4/20 Hz, disperse-dense wave, 0.2 mA). The rats of adjuvant-induced arthritis in all of the EA groups were treated by EA with selected different parameters once every day for 6 days. Pain thresholds and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) content in the local tissue of inflammation were used as indexes to compare analgesic effects of EA of different frequencies, waveforms and currents by orthogonal experiment design and other methods.

RESULTSThe optimized parameters of raising the pain threshold was: 100 Hz, 0.1 mA, intermittent wave. EA at 100 Hz was better than 2 Hz for increasing the content of beta-EP in local tissue of inflammation. The analgesic effect of EA at 4/20 Hz, 0.1 mA, disperse-dense wave on the inflammatory pain in the rat was not significant different with that at 100 Hz, 0.1 mA, intermittent wave (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe best parameters are 100 Hz, 0.1 mA and intermittent wave for EA treatment of inflammatory pain in the rat.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Animals ; Arthritis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Pain ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Pain Management ; Pain Threshold ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; beta-Endorphin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between STXBP1 gene mutations and refractory seizures with unknown causes in newborns.

METHODSThe coding region of STXBP1 gene was detected using direct Sanger sequencing in 11 newborns with refractory seizures of unknown causes.

RESULTSSTXBP1 gene mutation was found in 1 out of 11 patients. It was a missense mutation: c.1439C>T (p.P480L).

CONCLUSIONSSTXBP1 gene mutation can be found in neonatal refractory seizures of unknown causes, suggesting a new approach of further research of this disease.

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Munc18 Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Seizures ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study into the genetic polymorphism of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR's exon 4 in Chinese hepatitis C patients and its relationship with HCV infection susceptibility.

METHODSPatients with hepatitis C (n=300, group A) and healthy subjects (n=520, group B) were genotyped and analysed for the repeat sequence of polymorphism of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR's exon 4 using PCR and DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe distribution of genotypes and alleles in DC-SIGN's exon 4 in the two groups did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). The difference of allele frequency in DC-SIGNR's exon 4 between the two groups was also not significant (P > 0.05). However, 9/5 genotype distribution frequency of DC-SIGNR's exon 4 in patients with hepatitis C was significantly higher than that in the healthy subjects (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere is no significant correlation between the genetic polymorphism of DC-SIGN's exon 4 and HCV infection susceptibility. 9/5 genotype distribution frequency of DC-SIGNR's exon 4 in patients with hepatitis C is significantly higher and may be associated with HCV infection susceptibility.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Blood Donors ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; Child ; Exons ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; ethnology ; genetics ; Humans ; Lectins, C-Type ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of ApoE gene polymorphism on anti-inflammatory action of Xuezhikang Capsule.

METHODSOne hundred and two patients with hyperlipidemia (as the treated group) and one hundred healthy volunteers (as the control group) were enrolled in the case-control study. Total DNA of the peripheral blood was extracted and ApoE genotypes were determined by PCR sequence analysis. The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP)were measured in all subjects. The changes of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and hs-CRP were detected before and after 6-week Xuezhikang Capsule treatment, thus analyzing the correlation between ApoE gene polymorphism and changes of each inflammatory factor.

RESULTSThe frequency of E3/3 genotype was 86% (86/100 cases)in the control group, significantly higher than that of the treated group (62.7%, 64/102 cases). The frequency of E3/4 genotype was 6% (6/100 cases) in the control group, significantly lower than that of the treated group (21.6%, 22/102 cases; both P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and hs-CPR were higher in the treated group before treatment (P < 0.05). In hyperlipidemia patients with E3/4 + E4/4 genotype, the serum level of TNF-alpha was higher than that of E3/3 genotype (P < 0.05); the serum level of IL-6 was higher than that of E2/E2 + E2/E3 genotype (P < 0.05); the serum level of hs-CRP was higher than that of E2/E2 + E2/E3 and E3/E3 genotype (P < 0.05). But there was no statistical difference in the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, or hs-CPR between E3/3 and E2/E2 + E2/E3 genotype. After 6-week intervention of Xuezhikang Capsule, the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, and hs-CRP were lower in the treated group (P < 0.05), but the serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were still higher than those of the control group (P < 0.05). But there was no statistical difference in the decrement of TNF-alpha, IL-6, or hsCRP among E2/E2 + E2/E3, E3/E3, or E3/4 + E4/4 genotypes (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe distribution of ApoE gene polymorphism is different between the hyperlipidemia patients and the healthy people. Chronic inflammatory reactions exist in hyperlipidemia patients, especially in those with e4 allele. Xuezhikang Capsule showed anti-inflammatory effects, but ApoE gene polymorphism did not affect its effects.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective: To explore associated factors of mobile phone dependence and its relation with psychological resilience among college students. Methods: College students from 5 universities in Hefei were randomly selected through multi-stage sampling (stratified clustering) and investigated with questionnaires. A total of 2 502 college students were included in the analysis. Results: Mobile phone dependence among college students differed by gender (χ2=18.25, P<0.01), residence (χ2=17.71, P<0.01), whether in a relationship(χ2=8.09, P<0.01), grade(χ2=19.58, P<0.01), only child(χ2=7.48, P<0.01), family economic status (χ2=17.43, P<0.01) and time spent in mobile phone (χ2=73.46，P<0.01) while no similar differences were found by family structure and length of mobile phone ownership. Spearman correlation showed negative correlation (P<0.01) between mobile phone dependence and psychological resilience. Logistic regression model results showed that female, not in a relationship, lower grade, less time spent in mobile phone and high psychological resilience were negatively correlated with mobile phone dependence. Compared with students from rural areas, urban area was positively associated with mobile phone dependence. Emotional control, family support, and interpersonal assistance associated with lower risk for mobile phone dependence. Conclusion Mobile phone dependence is affected by gender, relationship status, grade, usage duration, and residence. High psychological resilience associated negatively with risk for mobile phone dependence.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of utilizing octreotide during perioperative period on pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

METHODSThree hundreds and six patients admitted from January 2010 to October 2014, who prepared to undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) were randomly divided into octreotide group (147 cases) and control group (159 cases). In octreotide group, octreotide was used in subcutaneous injection instantly after PD, each 8 hours until postoperative 10(th) day, and patients in control group were injected with the same volume of saline. Differences of pancreatic fistula (Grade A, Grade B, Grade C), hospitalization days and treatment cost were compared. χ(2) test, t-test and Fisher exact test were used to analyzed to the data, respectively.

RESULTSNo statistical significance (P>0.05) between two groups in the incidence of pancreatic fistula after PD (Grade A: 8.8% vs. 10.2%, Grade B: 2.7% vs. 4.4%, Grade C: 0.7% vs. 1.3%; χ(2)=0.197, 0.700, 0.288; P=0.657, 0.403, 0.591), the length of hospitalization((12.1±1.2)days vs. (13.0±1.2)days)(t=1.711, P=0.104) and treatment cost (79 700±6 700 vs. 77 600±5 200)(t=1.378, P=0.185). When accompanied with high risk factors, such as soft texture of pancreas, pancreatic duct size less than 3 mm, BMI≥25 kg/m(2) and diabetes, compared with control group, octreotide group had the lower incidence rate of pancreatic fistula and clinical correlative pancreatic fistula(all P<0.05) after PD.

CONCLUSIONSGenerally, octreotide makes no contribution to reduce the incidence of pancreatic fistula after PD. However, for patients who is accompanied with high risk factors, such as soft texture of pancreas, pancreatic duct size less than 3 mm, BMI≥25 kg/m(2) and diabetes, octreotide can effectively prevent pancreatic fistula after PD.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Humans ; Incidence ; Octreotide ; therapeutic use ; Pancreas ; pathology ; Pancreatectomy ; Pancreatic Ducts ; pathology ; Pancreatic Fistula ; drug therapy ; Pancreaticoduodenectomy ; adverse effects ; Perioperative Period ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the application of tissue expander in ear reconstruction and to deal with the complications.

METHODS50 ml kidney-shape tissue expanders were implanted subcutaneously in the mastoid area. The drainage tube was removed 3 days after operation. The suture was removed 10 days later. Since 7 days after operation, 5 ml NS was injected into the expander every time, three times a week. The total injection volume was about 60 ml. After that, the expander was maintained for one month.

RESULTSFrom January 1992 to December 2006, 5,248 patients of microtia were treated with 6,252 expander. After the maintaining period, the expanded skin was thin and well-vascularized. The complication rate was 7.79%, including hematoma, malunion and infection.

CONCLUSIONSThe quantitative tissue expansion is easily manipulated with few complications. It can provide hairless, thin skin with reliable blood supply for ear reconstruction.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Expansion ; methods ; Tissue Expansion Devices ; Young Adult