AIM: To study the expression of cytokines and their receptors in leukemia cell lines and normal blood cells. METHODS: RT-PCR was used to detect expression of mRNA for cytokines in leukemia cell lines(HL-60,U937,K562,HEL,DAMI,MEG-01,HUT78 and CA) and normal blood cells, including CD34 + cells, megakaryocytes,platelets, peripheral mononucleates cells and granulocytes. RESULTS: ①CD34 + cells simultaneously expressed mRNA for IL-1(?,?),IL-3, IL-6 , G-CSF, GM-CSF and their receptors and SCFR,MPL as well. The granulocytes only expressed IL-6,IL-6R,G-CSFR,GM-CSF. Megakaryocytes and platelets only expressed IL-3R,IL-6,IL-6R,MPL.Interestingly, TGF? 1 ,TNF? and their receptors sustained to express in normal cells.②Most leukemia cell lines were found to simultaneously express at least two or more stimulating cytokines and receptors ,while TGF? 1 , TNF? and their receptors were expressed in all the leukemia cell lines we observed. CONCLUSIONS: ①Multi-autocrine loops exist in leukemia cells;②Imbalance of autocrine loops of positive and negative cytokines may be related to leukemia.

Objective To establish a TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR to detect Vibrio vulnificus based on hemolysin gene(vvhA)that coding cytolysin.Method By using software Primer Express, the PCR primers and TaqMan probe,which located in the conserved region of vvhA gene sequence,were designed for establishment of a TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR to detect 100 bp amplicon from V.vulnificus DNA.A recombinant plasmid pMD19-vvhA100 as a positive control during detection was constructed using gene cloning technique.Minimal amplification cycles(Ct value)and fluorescence intensity enhancement (△Rn value)were used as observing index to optimize the reaction conditions of the TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.The DNAs with different concentrations from V.vulnificus and other eight bacteria and pMD19- vvhA100 were applied as templates to determine the specificity,sensitivity and reappearance of the TaqMan real- time fluorescent quantitative PCR.ICR mice were intraperitoneally,subcutaneously and orally infected with V. vulnificus,respectively.The detection effect of the TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was measured using the specimens of peripheral blood,subcutaneous tissue and intestinal content collected from the infected mice.Results The established TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR showed positive results only for V. vulnificus DNA and pMD19-vvhA100.The detection effectiveness of the TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was as high as 0.01 ng of V.vulnificus DNA or 103 copies of pMD19-vvhA100.The SD values of the detection results repeated for three times using pMD19-vvhA100 with different concentrations were lease than 0.79. The detection results of TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR were positive for all the specimens of peripheral blood and subcutaneous tissue.Conclusions The TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR established in this study for V.vulnificus vvhA gene detection has advantages such as quickness,stability, sensitivity and specificity,indicating this method can be used for clinical laboratory diagnosis of septicemia and wound infection caused by V.vulnificus.

Objective To assess alternations in left ventricular volume and systolic synchrony in patients with frequent premature ventricular complexes(PVCs) from the right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT).Methods Twenty-nine patients with frequent isolated PVCs from RVOT were included and 30 healthy subjects as control.Instantaneous full-volume imaging(IFI) was performed to evaluate left ventricle volumetric parameters,including end-systolic volume (ESV),end-diastolic volume (EDV),stroke volume (SV),ejection fraction (EF),and systolic synchrony parameters,including systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI),dispersion end-systole (DISPES),mean end-systolic time (MES),pre-contraction time volume (PreContr) and post-contraction time volume (PostContr).Contraction front mapping was performed to visualize volumetric contraction sequence.All values of patients with PVCs were recorded during sinus beats (PVC-S) and premature ventricular beats (PVC-V) respectively.Results Significant differences were observed in left ventricular systolic volumetric and synchrony parameters between PVC-V and control subjects (P＜0.01),as well as in MES and PreContr between PVC-S and control subjects (P＜0.01).Conclusions Left ventricular systolic dysynchrony was demonstrated in patients with PVCs from RVOT.IFI was a novel tool to analyze left ventricular global and regional volumetric alternations.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) in the prepuce of hypospadias children and its relationship to the incidence of hypospadias.

METHODSPrepuce tissues were collected from 37 children aged 6-15 months undergoing hypospadias repair and 11 age-matched controls receiving circumcision. Based on the position of the urethral meatus, the hypospadias cases were classified as severe (n = 13) and mild-moderate (n = 24). The mRNA and protein expressions of ZEB1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of the ZEB1 protein was remarkably higher in the severe (100% [13/13]) and mild-moderate hypospadias patients (75.0% [18/24]) than in the controls (9.1% [1/11]), with statistically significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed the integrated density value (IDV) of the ZEB1 mRNA expression to be (0.67 ± 0.21), (0.81 ± 0.24), and (1.55 ± 0.29) in the control, mild-moderate, and severe hypospadias patients, respectively, significantly higher in the severe hypospadias than in the control and mild-moderate hypospadias groups (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the latter two (P = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ZEB1 is significantly increased in hypospadias patients, and its upregulation is positively correlated with the severity of hypospadias, which suggests that the overexpression of ZEB1 may contribute to the development of hypospadias.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Circumcision, Male ; Foreskin ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; classification ; etiology ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Urethra ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

Objective: To investigate the incidence of CMV infection(CMV-I) and CMV related diseases (CMV-D) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation in 70 consecutive allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation(allo-HSCT) patients and to search for the optimal prophylactic strategy.Methods: Blood samples were monitored using the CMV pp65 antigenemia assay.Of the 70 patients observed,30 patients with chronic myeloid leukemia［CML:CP(27),AP(2),BC(1)］,12 with acute myeloblastic leukemia(AML),10 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL)and other cases were NHL(3), AA(5), MDS(7), SCLC with pancytopenia (1),CLL(1), and MF (1). Sixty six patients received HLA - identical siblings transplantation and four received tranplants from their HLA- haploidentical donors. Seventy cases included allo-PBPCT (64 cases) , allo-BMT (4 cases) and allo-PB+BMT (2). Before transplantation, all patients and donors received CMV serological examination except 4 pairs of donors/recepients. All 66 patients (3 cases were CMV IgM positive) and 64/66 donors were CMV IgG positive. Results：After transplantation, 64/70 patients developed CMV viremia during monitoring period. Forty three of 70 patients developed CMV-D.Thirty five of them suffered from CMV-associated interstitial pneumonia(CMV-IP). The high peak levels of CMV antigenemia were associated with development of CMV disease　. Close correlation was found between acute graft vs host disease(GVHD) and CMV disease. The patients were followed up for 2 to 24 months. The patients who received preemptive therapy(group A)had significantly better outcome than CMV disease group(group B, P=0.0001). Conclusions: The results suggest that CMV antigenemia has high predictive value for subsequent CMV disease and CMV pp65 antigenemia -guided early therapy has particular advantage for avoiding morbidity and mortality caused by CMV disease.

BACKGROUND: Blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption can clean larger molecules that exceed the molecular weight cutoff of combined continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH). Hence blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption combined CVVH (HP+CVVH) has higher ability of mediator clearance, and can improve clinical outcomes in theory. This study aimed to investigate the effect of blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption combined continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (HP+CVVH) on plasm cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, cellular immunity and prognosis in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS). METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized clinical trial. A total of 30 patients who had been diagnosed with MODS were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly allocated to routine treatment+HP+CVVH group (treatment group) and routine treatment+only CVVH group (control group). In the treatment group, patients received blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption for 2 hours, and then received CVVH for 10 hours every day. In the control group, patients received CVVH for 12 hours only every day. The patients in the two groups received blood purification therapy for three days. The plasma of patients in the treatment group was obtained at 0, 2, 12, 24, 26, 36, 48, 50, 60 hours, 5th day, 7th day and 10th day, respectively. The plasma of patients in the control group was obtained at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 hours, 5th day, 7th day and 10th day, respectively. APACHE II score, T-lymphocytes subpopulations, blood lactate acid concentration, heart rate, breathing rate, and oxygenation index were observed. RESULTS: Plasma cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 decreased markedly after HP (P<0.01);T-lymphocytes subpopulations CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ increased after HP+CVVH or only CVVH. The plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the two groups were not markedly different at 12, 36, and 50 hours. But on the 5th day, the plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in the treatment group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). On the 28th day, 5 patients died in the treatment group, and 6 patients in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Both HP+CVVH and CVVH can clean plasma cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and improve cellular immunity and clinical symptoms and signs of patients. Compared with only CVVH, the plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were lower on the 5th day, and patients have an increased survival rate on the 28 day in the HP+CVVH group.

Objective To explore the hierarchical chain management model in blood glucose control and its influence factors in patients with diabetes mellitus.Methods Health management database of diabetic patients was established in 2007 and managed by hierarchical chain management.The number of the patients reached to 1010 till 2011.The blood glucose control of diabetic patients was analyzed and its influence factors were analyzed by multivariate unconditional Logistic regression method.Results The concentration of glycosylated hemoglobin( HbA1c ) of 1010 patients with type 2 diabetes was (8.21 ±:2.70)％.Four hundred and eighty-seven cases (48.22％) reached the blood glucose standard,303 cases (30.00％)reached the blood pressure standard,245 cases (24.26％) reached the blood lipids standard,and 76 cases (7.52％) reached all three standards.Multivariate analysis showed that occupation (OR =2.521,95％ CI:1.871 - 3.397),education level (OR =1.890,95％ CI:1.642 - 2.174),disease course (OR =1.035,95％CI:1.016 -1.055),systolic pressure (OR =1.016,95％ CI:1.007 -1.025) and triglyceride (OR =1.204,95％CI:1.063 - 1.365) were the risk factors of blood glucose control (P ＜0.01).Conclusions Hierarchical chain management model is helpful for the blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes.The comprehensive control and treatment of type 2 diabetes should be taken combined with related risk factors,such as blood pressure,blood lipids and diabetes disease course.

AIM:To investigate the effect of cyclopamine on Hedgehog (HH) signaling, phenotypic transfor-mation and matrix accumulation induced by aristolochic acid (AA) in renal tubular epithelial cell NRK-52E.METHODS:NRK-52E cells were randomly divided into control group (treated with solvent only), AA group (treated with AA at con-centrations of 1, 5, 10 mg/L) and cyclopamine group (treated with AA at concentration of 10 mg/L plus cyclopamine at concentrations of 1, 5, 10μmol/L).After cultured for 24 h, the mRNA expression of Ptch1, Smo,α-SMA, E-cadherin, ZO-1, BMP-7, type I collagen and type III collagen was quantified by real-time PCR.The protein levels of Shh and TGF-β1 were detected by ELISA .Immunofluorescence staining was used to evaluate the expression of Ptch 1, Smo,α-SMA, E-cadherin and type III collagen in the NRK-52E cells.RESULTS: AA increased the expression of TGF-β1, α-SMA and type III collagen, decreased the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1 protein, and down-regulated the expression of Ptch1, Shh and Smo mRNA in the NRK-52E cells, indicating that AA activated HH signaling , and phenotypic transformation and matrix accumulation occurred in AA-treated NRK-52E cells.Treatment with cyclopamine inhibited HH signaling by decrea-sing Smo expression and increasing Ptch 1 expression.Moreover, cyclopamine also down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1,α-SMA, type I collagen and III collagen , and up-regulated the expression of BMP-7, ZO-1 and E-cadherin.CON-CLUSION:AA induces phenotypic transformation and matrix accumulation in renal tubular epithelial cells , which can be inhibited by cyclopamine treatment .The possible mechanism is that cyclopamine suppresses the activation of HH signaling , resulting in the reduction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and matrix deposition .

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the embryotoxicity of alkaloids in Senecionis Scandentis Hebra on in vitro cultured mouse embryos. Mouse whole embryo culture (WEC) was applied in this study. Post-implantation (8.5 d) mouse embryos were isolated from their mothers, and cultured in medium of immediately centrifuged serum (ICS) with different concentrations of seneciphylline (target concentrations were 100, 50, 25 and 12.5 μg x mL(-1)) or senkirkine (target concentrations were 50, 25 and 12.5 μg x mL(-1)) for 48 h. After culturing completed, the development and organic morphodifferentiation of the cultured embryos were evaluated microscopically. Treatment with seneciphylline and senkirkine had adverse effects on the development and organic morphodifferentiation of embryos. The effect also had clear dose-response. Alkaloidals in Senecionis Scandentis Hebra had embryotoxicity on cultured embryos, which indicated that pregnant people exposed to Senecionis Scandentis Hebra may get potential risk on fetus.

Introduced in the paper is a success story of the Singapore National Eye Center (SNEC) and Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) in medical care,research and education.Especially noteworthy are their initiatives in talent development,research and international cooperation,which are expected to be learnt by large eye care and research institutions in China in their discipline development,translational research and interdisciplinary talents development.