Objective To study the change and the significance of T-lymphocyte immune function in peripheral blood in population living in arsenic-contaminated area. Methods Fifty-three cases of patients with arsenism symptoms were selected into experimental group, inhabitants who had no chronic arsenism symptoms into control group in the endemic area of Shuocheng District, Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province in 2006. Vein blood samples were taken and analyzed with SAP assay to measure the percentage of CD3+ ,CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Results It was found that the percentage of CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+ [(41.89 ± 11.58)%, (25.60 ± 9.05)% and 1.02 ± 0.41] in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group [(68.38 ± 7.23)%, (39.17± 4.28)% ,1.69 ± 0.56, t = 13.61,18.72,14.79, all P < 0.05], while there was no statistical differences of CD8+ [(25.30 ± 6.85)%] compared to the control group[(23.54 ± 8.35)%,t = 3.07,P > 0.05]. The gender-related effect of arsenic on CD4+ and CD8+ was found by multiple linear step regression analysis(t = - 3.05, - 4.30, all P < 0.05). In case group, there were no statistical differences in CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+[(40.65±10.06)%, (24.48 ± 6.29)%, (24.52 ± 8.16)%,0.98 ± 0.25] between males and females [(43.07±12.96)%, (26.77±3.12)%, (26.50 ±9.32)%, 1.07 ±0.41, t = - 0.76,3.05,0.30,2.10, all P > 0.05]. Conclusions The immune function of T-lymphocytes of patients with chronic arsenism has been suppressed. It is of active significance to detect T-lymphocyte subpopulation in peripheral vein in patients with chronic arsenism aiming at estimating the function of cell immune and providing early diagnosis index.

Objective To investigate the effect of interleukin 6 (IL-6) on the growth and proliferation of human pancreatic cancer cell line Capan-2 and the signal transduction pathway. Methods MTr method was used to detect the effect of IL-6 of different concentrations on the growth and proliferation of Capan - 2 cells; cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry; the intracellular localization of phosphorylated STAT3 (P-STAT3) was determined by immunocytochemistry and western blot were used to detect P-STAT3, bcl-xl and Cyclin D1 in Capan-2 cells stimulated by IL-6. Results IL-6 (100 ng/ml) could remarkably promote the growth of Capan-2 cells from 1 to 4. 965 ± 0. 18 (P < 0. 05) ; the percentage of apoptosis decreased significantly from (3.21 ±0.23)% to (1.98 ±0.67)% (P <0.05) ; the expressions of P-STAT3, bcl-xl, Cyelin D1 increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the expressions of bcl-xl was positively correlated with that of P-STAT3 (r =0.985, P =0.015) ; the expressions of Cyclin DI was also positively correlated with that of P-STAT3(r=0.914,P=0.036),Conclusions IL-6 activate JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway,which played an important role in the growth and proliferation of Capan-2 cells in the presence of IL-6.

Objective To understand the impairment and compensation mechanism of brain function in pa-tients with non-fluent aphasia after ischemic stroke. The fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF) method was used to analyze the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data in the resting state between the aphasia patients and the normal controls. Methods The scans of the resting state of fMRI were performed in 17 aphasia patients and 19 age-, education-, and sex-matched healthy control subjects. The scan sequence was single-shot echo planar image,DPARSF software was used to analyze fALFF data of the aphasia patients and the healthy controls. Results Compared to the control group, the value in right superior temporal gurus, inferior parietal lob-ule, frontal lobe cortex, and postcentral gurus were significantly increased in the aphasia group. The fALFF in bilat-eral cerebellum and right thalamus were also decreased in the aphasia group. Conclusions The fALFF values in some brain region in the aphasia group were abnormal in the resting state , indicating a few pathological change of brain function in patients with non-fluent aphasia after ischemic stroke.

Objective: In order to investigate the effects of activating and blocking Stat3 signaling pathway on invasion ability of human pancreatic cancer cells and explore its action mechanism.Methods:Human pancreatic cancer Capan-2 cells were treated with IL-6. SW1990 human pancreatic cancer cells were treated with AG490. Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry were performed to detect expression of phosphorylated Stat3 (p-Stat3) protein. Real-time fluorogentic quantitative PCR (RFQ-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA, respectively. The invasion abilities of SW1990 and Capan-2 cells were determined by cell invasion assay in vitro. Results:IL-6 stimulated the proliferation of Capan-2 cells (P<0.05), elevated the expression of p-Stat3, increased the mRNA and protein expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) (P<0.05), and enhanced the invasion ability of Capan-2 cells. AG490 inhibited the proliferation of SW1990 cells (P<0.05), down-regulated the expression of p-Stat3, markedly decreased the mRNA and protein expression of VEGF and MMP-2 (P<0.05), and weakened the invasion ability of SW1990 cells. Conclusion:Stat 3 signaling pathway plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Stat 3 signaling transduction pathway may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penis ; innervation ; Prostatectomy ; methods ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; surgery

Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial ; radiotherapy ; surgery

This study was aimed to investigate the relation of human leukocyte antigen-A, B, DRB1 genes with the susceptibility of population to leukemia in Anhui province of China. The HLA genotypes were analyzed by PCR-SSP in 140 patients with chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML), 84 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 90 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and 916 healthy unrelated donors of hematopoietic stem cell as normal control admitted to Anhui provincial hospital. The gene frequencies of HLA-A, B, DRB1 between patients and normal controls were compared, chi² test was used for statistical analysis. The results showed that as compared with normal controls, the gene frequencies of A2, A11, B58 and DR9 in CML patients all obviously increased, and gene frequency of DR7 decreased; the gene frequencies of All and B13 in ALL patients were significantly higher than that in normal controls; the gene frequencies of A24, B58 and DR9 in ANLL patients were significantly higher than that in normal controls. It is concluded that HLA-A2, A11, B58 and DR9 are predisposing genes of CML patients, DR7 is an antagonistic gene, HLA-A11 and B13 are predisposing genes of ALL patients, HLA-A24, B58 and DR9 are predisposing genes of ANLL patients.
Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Leukemia ; epidemiology ; genetics

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the fully automated ORTHO AutoVue Innova system, which based on the microcolumn glass sphere technology, is accurate enough to meet immunohematology testing needs at blood banks. 16 IgM anti-C, anti-c, anti-D, anti-E and anti-e dilution series were tested respectively, with corresponding antigen positive red blood cell solutions, by ORTHO AutoVue Innova system and saline medium test. 16 IgG anti-D dilution series were tested respectively with RhD positive red blood cell solutions by ORTHO AutoVue Innova system, polybrene test and antiglobulin test. The accuracies of microcolumn glass sphere technology were analysed, by comparing to the reference assays. The results showed that the sensitivities of the ORTHO AutoVue Innova tests were 1:69.8, 1:33.4, 1:1448.1, 1:139.6 and 1:32.0 for IgM anti-C, anti-c, anti-D, anti-E and anti-e respectively; the corresponding value of saline medium tests were 1:16.7, 1:16.6, 1:430.5, 1:34.9 and 1:9.9. There were statistically significant differences between the groups of each tests (t values were 14.38, 5.48, 10.25, 12.65 and 9.59 for IgM anti-C, anti-c, anti-D, anti-E and anti-e respectively, p < 0.05). For IgG anti-D, the sensitivities of the ORTHO AutoVue Innova test, polybrene test and antiglobulin test were 1:980.6, 1:181.0 and 1:304.4 respectively. There was statistically significant difference among the 3 groups (F = 51.15, p < 0.01). It is concluded the use of ORTHO AutoVue Innova system for blood group compatibility test can obtain more accurate results than traditional tube tests, it is reliable and safe for routine tests performed in immunohematology laboratories.
Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ; methods ; Coombs Test ; methods ; Humans ; Isoantibodies ; blood ; Materials Testing ; Rho(D) Immune Globulin ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUNDFew studies were reported on the comparison of clinical outcomes between intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). This study aimed to determine whether IMRT improves clinical outcomes compared with 3D-CRT in patients with GBM.

METHODSThe records of 54 patients with newly-diagnosed GBM from July 2009 to December 2010 were reviewed. The patients underwent postoperative IMRT or 3D-CRT with concurrent and adjuvant temozolomide. Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test were used to estimate differences of patients' survival.

RESULTSThe median follow-up was 13 months. Of the 54 patients, fifty (92.6%) completed the combined modality treatment. The 1-year overall survival rate (OS) was 79.6%. The pattern of failure was predominantly local. A comparative analysis revealed that no statistical difference was observed between the IMRT group (n = 21) and the 3D-CRT group (n = 33) for 1-year OS (89.6% vs. 75.8%, P = 0.795), or 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) (61.0% vs. 45.5%, P = 0.867). In dosimetric comparison, IMRT seemed to allow better sparing of organs at risk than 3D-CRT did (P = 0.050, P = 0.055). However, there was no significant difference for toxicities of irradiation between the IMRT group and the 3D-CRT group.

CONCLUSIONSOur preliminary results suggested that delivering standard radiation doses by IMRT is unlikely to improve local control or overall survival for GBM compared with 3D-CRT. Given this lack of survival benefit and increased costs of IMRT, the utilization of IMRT treatment for GBM needs to be carefully rationalized.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain Neoplasms ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Glioblastoma ; mortality ; radiotherapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; adverse effects ; Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDBevacizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, has shown promising activity in recurrent malignant gliomas. We reported the treatment response for the combination of bevacizumab and chemotherapy in a series of six patients with recurrent malignant glioma and investigated the molecular alterations in cancer pathways using the surgical biopsies from these patients.

METHODSStandard therapy with primary resection followed by adjuvant chemoradiotherapy had failed in all patients. Bevacizumab was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. Concomitantly, four patients received temozolomide (50 mgxm(-2)xd(-1)), one patient irinotecan (125 mg/m(2) every 2 weeks) and one patient topotecan (1.2 mgxm(-2)xd(-1)). Response to therapy was mainly determined by magnetic resonance imaging. The expression of Ras, phosphorylated mitogen activated protein kinase (p-MAPK), phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) were semiquantitatively assessed by immunohistochemistry using surgical biopsies before the initial treatment.

RESULTSFive of the six patients had a radiographic response. Three were complete response, and two were partial response. Only one patient had progressive disease. The 6-month progession-free survival (PFS) was 33% and the median PFS was 15 weeks, with a range of 6 to more than 60 weeks. Of the three core pathways analyzed in this study, the Ras/MAPK and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mTOR pathways were more likely to be associated with the treatment response to bevacizumab. In two younger patients (ages < 50) with complete response, simultaneous overexpression of p-MAPK, p-AKT and p-mTOR might be the crucial feature.

CONCLUSIONSBevacizumab in combination with chemotherapeutic agents may be an effective strategy for patients with recurrent malignant glioma. Activated MAPK and AKT might be possible biomarkers for selecting suitable patients for this targeted therapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Bevacizumab ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult