AIMThe clinical manifestation of chronic mountain sickness (CMS) is polycythemia, pulmonary hypertension and mionectic blood. However, the pathogenesis of it is not identified now. So it is necessary to investigate the effects of the angiogenic growth factors on the pathophysiologic development of CMS.

METHODSThe serum levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in 13 healthy Tibetan natives (Native), 17 healthy people in Xining (control group) and 35 CMS patients were determined by quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Meanwhile, the levels of Hb, Hct and SaO2 were determined.

RESULTSThe serum levels of bFGF (107.26 +/- 7.86) ng/L, PDGF (630.18 +/- 9.89) ng/L and VEGF (543.74 +/- 6.76) ng/L in CMS were significantly higher than those in Natives (37.01 +/- 9.16; 292.16 +/- 6.88; 125.51 +/- 7.26) ng/L, and in control group (40.58 +/- 5.34; 287.68 +/- 8.33; 76.26 +/- 4.60) ng/L, respectively (P < 0.01). There was no difference between the natives and the control group in bFGF and PDGF (P > 0.05), while there was predominant difference between the Natives and the control group in VEGF (P < 0.01). There was a predominant positive correlation between the serum levels of bFGF, PDGF or VEGF and hemoglobin concentrations in CMS respectively (P < 0.01). And there were positive relations between angiogenic growth factors each other.

CONCLUSIONThe serum levels of bFGF, PDGF and VEGF in patients with CMS significantly increase, these angiogenic growth factors may play important role on the pathophysiologic development of CMS; the VEGF level likely contributes to the adaptation to plateau hypoxia in healthy Tibetan natives; the elevated bFGF, PDGF and VEGF levels are likely associated with excessive erythropoiesis in CMS.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo screen effectual fungicides for field control because of the seriousness of opium poppy mildew and importance of chemical control on plant diseases.

METHODSeven fungicides were screened in Lab experiment and field test during 1996-1997.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONAll of them and their different dosages were effective to control conidia of Peronospora arborescens. Among them, 72.2% propamocarb of 1203 and 902.5 ppm were the most effective both in Lab experiment and field test with efficacy 79.91% and 79.33% respectively in field test, and the efficacy of other fungicides was over 50%. Seven fungicides tested can be used to control nonsystematic symptom of opium poppy mildew.

Carbamates ; pharmacology ; Fungicides, Industrial ; pharmacology ; Oomycetes ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; Papaver ; microbiology ; Plant Diseases ; microbiology ; Plants, Medicinal ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the expressions of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA, and explore the changes of apoptosis of bone marrow hematopoietic cells in patients with chronic mountain sickness (CMS).

METHODSOf 18 CMS patients and 16 controls were enrolled in this study. The apoptotic index (AI) of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) was measured by TUNEL technique, the levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA in BMMNC of CMS patients and controls were determined by RT-PCR. Results (1)The AI of BMMNC in patients with CMS (8.51 ± 3.35)% was lower than that in controls (16.00 ± 4.28)% (P < 0.01); (2) The values of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA were (0.28 ± 0.07) and (0.23 ± 0.08) respectively, in CMS patients, which were significantly lower than those of (0.45 ± 0.09) and (0.41 ± 0.09) respectively, in the controls (both P < 0.01); (3) Hemoglobin (Hb) value was negatively correlated with levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA (r values were -0.52 and -0.61 respectively, both P < 0.05) in CMS patients. There was a negative correlation between AI and Hb (r value was -0.89, P < 0.01) in CMS patients. However, the significant relationship was not found between AI and level of caspase-8 or caspase-9 mRNA (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe results showed a decrease apoptosis of BMMNCs and reduced levels of caspase-8 and caspase-9 mRNA in CMS patients, the latter might be involved in the change of BMMNCs apoptosis.

Adult ; Altitude Sickness ; metabolism ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Protozoan ciliates are a group of unicellular eukaryotes. The special characteristics of stop codons usage in termination of protein biosynthesis in ciliates cells makes them an ideal model to study the mechanism of stop codon recognition of polypeptides release factors. To localize the functional positions of biomolecules in ciliates cell, we constructed a macronuclear artificial chromosome containing a gene encoding red fluorescence protein (EoMAC_R) based on the structural characteristics of ciliates chromosome. Three factors, L11, eRF1a, and eRF3 that are involved in termination process of protein synthesis were colocalized in Euplotes octocarinatus cells by using novel EoMAC_R and the previously constructed EoMAC_G. The results indicated that protein synthesis mainly occurred inside the "C" shape macronucleus, suggesting that EoMAC could be a useful tool for localizing biomolecules in ciliates cell.
Chromosomes, Artificial ; Codon, Terminator ; metabolism ; Euplotes ; chemistry ; Peptide Termination Factors ; analysis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Protein Biosynthesis ; genetics ; Protozoan Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Ribosomal Proteins ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the characteristics on molecular epidemiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from hospitals in Tianjin area.

METHODSOne hundred M. tuberculosis isolated strains were collected in succession from August 16th-December 25th, 2005 in Tianjin Haihe Hospital and genotyped by spoligotyping and multiple locus variable number-tandem repeat(VNTR). Data was analyzed by cluster software. Based on the concept of Beijing lineage, it was determinate two sub-groups: atypical Beijing strains and W strain/typical family strains by multiplex and real-time PCR. The associations of subgroups with drug resistance and age were assessed by the chi2 test.

RESULTS96 M. tuberculosis strains were genotyped in which 91.7% (88/96) strains belonged to Beijing genotype (including 3 Beijing-like strains) by spoligtyping. VNTR typing could differentiate 60 genotypes among the 88 Beijing genotype strains. 93.2% of the Beijing lineage M. tuberculosis strains of this study belonged to W strain/typical Beijing family strains (82/88). No statistically significant differences were observed in the proportions of the two sub-groups in patients of different age, or drug resistance (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe M. tuberculosis Beijing genotype strains were dominated on tuberculosis hospital patients of Tianjin area. The discriminatory power of VNTR typing was higher than that of spoligtyping. The two sub-groups of Beijing lineage had been prevalent in Tianjin, however W strain/typical Beijing family strains were of preponderance.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Genotype ; Humans ; Minisatellite Repeats ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of the fusion genes resulting from chromosome abnormalities in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) and its conformity to WHO classification.

METHODSSixty-two children with ALL were investigated. The expression of fusion genes was determined by multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), karyotyping (R band) and immunophenotyping (by flow cytometry) were also performed.

RESULTSOf the 62 patients, 23(37.1%) were found to carry 13 different fusion genes. The patients with immunophenotype of Pre-B-ALL were found to carry: TEL/AML1(3 cases); E2A/PBX1, E2A/HLF, TLS/ERG, MLL/AF4, MLL/AF9, MLL/AF10, MLL/AFX-MLL/AF6-MLL/ELL, MLL/AF6-MLL/ELL, dupMLL (one case for each); and HOX11 (6 cases). The patients with immunophenotype of Pre-T-ALL were found to carry: TAL1D (4 cases, one is also found to have HOX11 expression); and HOX11 (2 cases). The multiplex RT-PCR in combination with chromosome analysis revealed genetic abnormalities in 69.4%(43/62) of childhood ALL.

CONCLUSIONMultiplex RT-PCR combined with chromosome analysis and immunophenotyping can provide reliable and helpful information for the diagnosis, therapy evaluation and prognosis prediction in childhood ALL, which may also serve as a basis on which to implement the criteria of WHO classification.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; metabolism ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA-Binding Protein FUS ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore an appropriate measure to repair tissue defects and deformities in mandibulo-cervical region.

METHODSEighteen cases with severe tissue defects and deformity in jaw and neck were repaired with thoracic skin flap with multiple blood supply system in our unit from Jan. 2006 to Nov. 2008. Anterior cutaneous branch of transverse cervical artery, intercostal branch of internal thoracic artery and lateral thoracic artery were included in the pedicles.

RESULTSAll skin flaps survived, except in one patient in whom a small belb appeared at the distal end of the island flap with anterior cutaneous branch of transverse cervical artery, and it was healed after a few dressing changes. The functions and appearances were satisfactory after 6-month to 2-year follow-up, without showing secondary deformity.

CONCLUSIONSThe blood supply of thoracic skin flap is abundant and constant, which is an ideal method for repair of tissue defects and deformities in jaw and neck after taking into account some factors, such as the demand of the patient, general physical condition, and the size of the defect.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin ; blood supply ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Thoracic Wall ; surgery ; Wound Healing ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the value of combination assay of multiplex RT-PCR and karyotypic analysis in the diagnosis and classification of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

METHODSFifty cases of childhood ALL patients were studied by multiplex RT-PCR in combination with R or G banding karyotype analysis.

RESULTSOf the 50 childhood ALL patients, 18 (36.0%) carried 11 types of fusion genes including E2A/PBX1, TEL/AML1, TLS/ERG, MLL/AF4, MLL/AF9, MLL/AF10, MLL/AFX, MLL/AF6, MLL/ELL, TAL1D, and HOX11, revealed by multiplex RT-PCR, and in 48 cases, 24 (57.1%) had chromosome abnormalities. Among the latter, numeral chromosome abnormalities and chromosome deletions accounted for 75.0% (18/24), while translocations 25.0% (6/24). The multiplex RT-PCR in combination with chromosome analysis could detect genetic abnormalities in 70% (35/50) of childhood ALL.

CONCLUSIONSMultiplex RT-PCR combined with chromosome analysis can enhance the detection rate of genetic abnormalities in childhood ALL. It provides reliable evidence for the diagnosis, classification and prognosis.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; classification ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interrelations among morphology, immunology, cytogenetics and clinical outcome in childhood acute leukemia with 11q23 abnormalities.

METHODSEighteen patients with 11q23 abnormalities, from 320 childhood acute leukemia patients, were retrospectively analysed for cell morphology, flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, R-banding karyotype as well as clinical features and prognosis. Twenty cases of childhood AL with normal karyotype during the same period were used as control.

RESULTSThe incidence of 11q23 abnormalities in our childhood acute leukemia patients was 5.63% including 14 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 4 acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Of 16 cases immunophenotypically tested, 13 expressed lymphoid antigens and 3 CD(34) and other myeloid antigens. Karyotype analysis disclosed the following abnormalities: t(4; 11)(q21; q23) in 6 cases, t(10; 11)(p13; q23) in 3, t(11; 19)(q23; p13) in one and del(11)(q23) in 6. The complete remission rate for these patients with 11q23 abnormalities was comparable to that of the control (72.2% vs 80.0%, P > 0.05), while the mortality rate in the former was significantly higher than that in the latter (61.1% vs 25.0%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS11q23 abnormalities were mainly seen in childhood ALL and acute monocytic leukemia with unique prognostic features.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; genetics ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Infant ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the change in T cell-mediated immunity and its relationship with plasma high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) levels in severely burned patients.

METHODSThirty-five extensively burned patients (> 30% total body surface area) were included in this study, and were divided into MODS group (n = 13) and non-MODS group (n = 22). The blood samples were collected on post burn days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28. The plasma levels of HMGB1 were measured by using ELISA, and T lymphocyte proliferation response and its IL-2 production ability in peripheral blood were determined too. In addition, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells were detected by using flow cytometry.

RESULTSPlasma HMGB1 levels were markedly elevated on post burn day 1 in severely burned patients, and HMGB1 level was significantly higher in MODS group than in non-MODS group (P < 0.05). Lymph proliferation response and IL-2 production of T cells in peripheral blood, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells in MODS group were markedly lower than those in non-MODS group on post burn days 1, 14, 21 and 28 (all P < 0.05). It indicated that plasma HMGB1 levels were negatively correlated to T cellular immune function parameters, including lymphocyte proliferation response, IL-2 production, and the ratio of CD4+/ CD8+ T cells in extensively burned patients (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExtensive burns could lead to T cellular immune dysfunction, which appears to be associated with the development of MODS. HMGB1, as an important late mediators of inflammation, might be involved in the pathogenesis of suppression of T cell-mediated immunity in these patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; blood ; complications ; immunology ; Female ; HMGB1 Protein ; blood ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Organ Failure ; etiology ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology