Polysaccharides are a class of natural macromolecules with biological activities which could regulate the immune system by activating immune cells and promoting the secretion of cytokines to exert the anti-tumor and anti-oxidation activities.The article reviews the mechanism of polysaccharides acting on the immune system and its anti-tumor immunotherapy applications.

The Union Youth Science & Research Fund was set up by the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) using the Fundamental Research Funds for the central universities.Education Ministry's National College Special Fund for Basic Science& and Research drafted and implemented its own management rules.The rules standardize the fund's various aspects including its system construction,project classification,implementation terms,outlay management,and project management.In consequence,the rules promoted the young teachers' research on funded-subjects and improved the management level on scientific research projects.

OBJECTIVE:To study the preventive effect and mechanism of butylphthalide on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. METHODS:SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group,model group,butylphthalide low-dose,me-dium-dose,high-dose groups (50,75,100 mg/lg),10 in each group. All rats were intragastrically administrated related drugs once a day,sham operation group and model group were intragastrically administrated equal amount of normal saline,for 3 d. Af-ter last administration,except for sham operation group,120 min of repertusion was conducted. Ratio of myocardial infarction ar-ea, apoptosis rate of myocardial cells, expressions of apoptosis-related protein [proapoptotic proteins (Caspase-3, Fas, Cas-pase-9),apoptotic protein (Bcl-2)],left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),and content of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)in serum of rats in other groups were detected. RESULTS:Compared with sham operation group,myocardial infarction ar-ea and apoptosis rate of myocardial cells in model group were obviously increased;expressions of Caspase-3,Fas,Caspase-9 pro-tein in myocardial cells were obviously enhanced,Bcl-2 protein expression was obviously weakened;LVEF and serum VEGF con-tent were obviously reduced (P<0.01). Compared with model group,except that LVEF in butylphthalide low-dose group didn't changed obviously (P>0.05),above indexes in other administration groups improved obviously (P<0.05). Compared with bu-tylphthalide low-dose group,myocardial infarction area and apoptosis rate of myocardial cells in butylphthalide high-dose group were obviously decreased(P<0.05);expressions of Caspase-3,Fas,Caspase-9 protein in myocardial cells in butylphthalide medi-um-dose,high-dose groups were obviously weakened,and Bcl-2 protein expression was obviously enhanced(P<0.05). CONCLU-SIONS:Butylphthalide can effectively reduce myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats,protect cardiac functions,and its mechanism may be related with up-regulating VEGF.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of loosening manipulation on neck tenderness points for cervicogenic tinnitus . Methods Forty cervicogenic tinnitus patients were treated with loosening manipulation on neck tenderness points. Tinnitus grading was carried out before and after treatment by following Tinnitus Severity Grading Criteria for the evaluation of therapeutic effect. Results ( 1) Tinnitus was relieved after treatment for one week and 2 weeks, and at the end of treatment course (P<0.05 compared with that before treatment). (2) After treatment for 3 continuous weeks, the cure rate was 25.0% ( 10/40) , the markedly effective rate was 37.5% ( 15/40) , the effective rate was 27.5% ( 11/40) , the ineffective rate was 10.0% ( 4/40) , and the total effective rate was 90.0%. Conclusion Loosening manipulation on neck tenderness points is effective on relieving cervicogenic tinnitus.

Objective To investigate the retinal pigment epithelium cells(RPE) and makeit the base of clinical application for transplantation.Methods The cultured RPE cells labeled by BrdU was injected into the host's subretinal space by external transcleral.The structure and ultrastructure of the transplanted RPE cells were observed by microscope and transmission electron microscope.Results The transplanted cells had the normal structure as the host's cells.They attached to Bruch's membrane with basal infoldings and forming microvill on the surface of the cells.Conclusion The external transcleral is a practical method for RPE transplatation.The transplanted cells can vitalize and form some normal ultrastrcture.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy differences between acupoint catgut embedding at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) points combined with electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints near ear and simple EA for the treatment of nervous tinnitus.

METHODSSixty-three patients were randomly divided into an observation group (31 cases) and a control group (32 cases). The observation group was treated with acupoint catgut embedding at C4-C7 Jiaji (EXB 2) points on the affected side combined with EA at acupoints near ears, including Ermen (TE 21). Tinggong (SI 19), Tinghui (GB 2), etc.; the control group was treated with EA at regular acupoints near ears alone. The EA treatment was given five times per week, and the acupoint catgut embedding was given once every two weeks. All the treatment was given for 6 weeks. The Tinnitus severity score (TSS)was applied to assess the severity of tinnitus before the treatment, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 6 weeks into treatment and one month after treat ment. Also the efficacy of two groups was compared.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the severity of tinnitus was both improved in two groups at each time point (all P<0.05). which was more significant in the observation group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The cured and markedly effective rate was 77.4% (24/31) in the observation group, which was superior to 50.0% (16/32) in the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe short-term and long-term efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding at cervical Jiaji (EX-B 2) points combined with electroacupuncture are both superior to those of simple electroacupuncture for treatment of nervous tinnitus.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture, Ear ; Adult ; Catgut ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tinnitus ; therapy

AIM:To explore the effect of Toll-like receptor ( TLR) 2 and TLR4 in Mycobacterium bovis Bacil-lus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-induced human proximal renal tubule epithelial cell (HK-2) injury.METHODS:HK-2 cells were stimulated by BCG, and the expression of TLR2, TLR4, chemokine (C-X3-C motif) ligand 1 (CX3CL1) and trans-forming growth factor beta 1 ( TGF-β1 ) was detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting .TLR2 monoclonal antibody and TLR4 inhibitor were used to treat the HK-2 cells 1 h before BCG stimulation.The expression of CX3CL1 and TGF-β1 was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting .RESULTS: BCG increased the expression of TLR2, TLR4, CX3CL1 and TGF-β1 in the HK-2 cells.Additionally, the expression of CX3CL1 and TGF-β1 was inhibited partly by TLR2 monoclonal antibody or TLR4 inhibitor.CONCLUSION:BCG is able to increase the production of TLR 2, TLR4, CX3CL1 and TGF-β1 in the HK-2 cells.TLR2 and TLR4 signaling pathways play important roles in tubule epitheli-al cell injury induced by BCG .

Objective:To determine the clinicopathological significance of the DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B)overexpression in endometrial carcinomas and to evaluate its correlation with hormone re-ceptor status.Methods:Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expression of DNMT3B and hormone receptors in 104 endometrial carcinomas.Results:DNMT3B overexpression occurred frequently in endometrioid carcinoma (EC,54.8%)more than in nonendometrioid carcinoma (NEC,30.0%) with statistical significance (P =0.028).Furthermore,there was a trend that EC with worse clinico-pathological variables and shorter survival had a higher DNMT3B expression,and the correlation between DNMT3B and tumor grade reached statistical significance (P =0.019).A negative correlation between DNMT3B and estrogen receptor (ER)or progesterone receptor (PR)expression was found in EC. NMT3B overexpression occurred frequently in the ER or PR negative subgroups (78.9%,86.7%)more than in the positive subgroups (47.7%,47.8%)with statistical significance (P =0.016,P =0.006). In addition,the DNMT3B overexpression increased in tumors with both ER and PR negative expression (92.9%,P =0.002).However,no such correlation was found in NEC (P >0.05).Sequence analyses demonstrated multiple ER and PR binding sites in the promoter regions of DNMT3B gene.Conclusion:This study showed that the expression of DNMT3B in EC and NEC was different.DNMT3B overexpres-sion in EC was associated with the worse clinicopathological variables and might have predictive value. The methylation status of EC and NEC maybe different.In addition,in EC,DNMT3B overexpression negatively correlated with ER or PR expression.In NEC,the correlation between DNMT3B and ER or PR status was not present.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between surface hydrogen form and the bioactivity of titanium.Methods:Sandblast titanium was etched with the combination of sulfuric and hydrochloric acids(SLA group,n=3 ).Then etched titanium was heat at 450 ℃in air(SLA+HT group,n=3).Surface topography,roughness,hydrophility,surface chemical texture were observed. Finally,the titanium samples were soaked in body simulate fluid for 3 days,the mineral deposition properties were observed by X-ray diffraction.Results:Titanium hydride was formed on the titanium surface after etching.After heat treatment,surface texture and roughness were not changed,titanium hydride decomposed and hydrophility increased.More hydroxyapatite was found on the surface of the samples treated by SLA+HT and followed by SBF.Conclusion:Titanium hydride can not improve the bioactivity of titanium, heat treatment may increase the mineralization.