BACKGROUND:Previous studies on immunosuppression and anti-rejection after organ transplantation mainly focused on effects of T lymphocytes-mediated immune response and immunosuppressive agents on T lymphocytes. Effects of dendritic cel s were unclear. The manifestation and mechanism of immunosuppressive agent effects on dendritic cel s are not identical. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of different immunosuppressive agents on expression and function of costimulatory molecules of dendritic cel s, and to explore the mechanism of action of immunosuppressive agents. METHODS:20μg/L rapamycin, 0.04 mg/L mycophenolate, 10μg/L tacrolimus and 1 mg/L cyclosporine A were separately added during bone marrow cel s of C57BL/6 mice were differentiated into dendritic cel s. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Flow cytometry results revealed that CD40 expression in each group:rapamycin0.05). One-way mixed lymphocyte reaction results displayed dendritic cel costimulatory T cel proliferation in each group:rapamycin

OBJECTIVETo assess the early therapeutic and cognitive effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) combined with antidepressant medication in treatment of first-episode patients with major depression.

METHODSSixty first-episode depressed inpatients aged 18-45 y, who met the DSM-IV clinical criteria for major depressive episode were randomly assigned to citalopram treatment (20 mg/d) in combination with a two-week period of either rTMS (study group)or sham procedure (control group) on left dorsal-lateral prefrontal cortex (10 Hz, 90% motor threshold). The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) was used to assess the severity of depression. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Continuous Performance Test (CPT) were used to assess cognitive function of depression.

RESULTThe response rate was significantly greater in the study group compared to the control group after treatment (57% compared with 29%,P<0.05). The HAMD scores significantly declined after treatment in two groups, and the study group showed lower scores compared to the control group after 2 weeks (P<0.01). Neuropsychological assessments showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups except for the significant improvement in the categories on WCST in study group compared to the baseline (P<0.05) and the control group (P<0.05)after 2 weeks treatment. No serious event occurred in the patients during the rTMS study.

CONCLUSION10 Hz rTMS enhances early effects of citalopram and improves cognitive function in first-episode major depressive patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Citalopram ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; therapy ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the depression and anxious status among transferred injured survivors in Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan province.

METHODSA total of 43 transferred injured survivors were investigated by questionnaire exploring their trauma symptoms and mental health status.

RESULTSHigh rates of trauma symptoms were remarkably observed in these survivors. Of all the respondents, 60% had some emotional symptoms and sleeping difficulties. About one third of respondents experienced recurrent and intrusive distressing recollection of event, 16 (37.21%) experienced nightmare, 15 (34.88%) had flashback and 7 (16.28%) of them tried to avoid relative stress.

CONCLUSIONMany mental symptoms were observed in transferred injured survivors. The two major factors of mental stress were emotional symptoms and re-experience of the disaster.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; psychology ; Stress, Psychological ; Survivors ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Wounds and Injuries ; psychology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the genotypes of mutations of an inherited coagulation factor VII(F VII) deficiency pedigree.

METHODSThe diagnosis was validated by coagulant parameters. F VII gene mutations were analysed in the proband and her family members by DNA direct sequencing. The PCR fragments were cleaved by the Msp I restriction enzyme to confirm the mutations detected by sequencing was performed in this study.

RESULTSDouble heterozygous mutations at the same coding site of amino acid were detected in propositus of the pedigree: a C to T mutation at position 11348 resulting in Arg304Trp substitution combined with a G to A mutation at position 11349 resulting in Arg304Gln substitution. Her farther had a G to A mutation at position 11349 and her mother had a C to T mutation at position 11348, respectively. Both were heterozygous mutations. One of her brothers had normal genotype, the other brother and all her three offsprings had heterozygous mutations.

CONCLUSIONDouble heterozygous mutations coding the same amino acid were found in a pedigree with hereditary coagulation factor VII deficiency.

DNA Mutational Analysis ; Factor VII ; genetics ; Factor VII Deficiency ; genetics ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of clinical haemorrhage in an inherited coagulation factor VII (FVII) deficiency and tissue factor abnormality pedigree.

METHODSAll exons, exon-intron boundaries and the 3', 5' untranslated sequences of FVII and tissue factor (TF) genes were amplified by PCR and sequenced directly. Any mutation identified by direct sequencing was confirmed by reverse sequencing. FVII cDNA of the proband was synthesized with random primers and amplified by nest PCR.

RESULTS55C-->T heterozygous mutation located in promoter of FVII gene was identified in the proband. The heterozygous mutation was derived from his mother. Tracing the other pedigree members found that his sister had the same heterozygous mutation and the others had wild-type FVII genes. A 9363 C-->T (Arg131Trp) heterozygous polymorphism in TF gene, which was 2.63% frequency of T allele polymorphism, was found in all of the pedigree members.

CONCLUSIONIt was the first report that the -55C-->T heterozygous mutation in FVII gene and the Arg131Trp heterozygous polymorphism in TF gene explained the clinical symptom of the proband.

Adult ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Factor VII ; genetics ; Factor VII Deficiency ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Thromboplastin ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the molecular mechanism of antithrombin (AT) gene C2759T (Leu99Phe) mutation causing AT deficiency.

METHODSA mutated AT cDNA expression plasmid ATM2759 was constructed by mega-primer method. ATM2759 and wild type AT cDNA expression plasmid ATN were transfected into COS7 cells or CHO cells by using Superfect reagent respectively for in vitro expression study and immunofluorescence assay.

RESULTSThe antigen levels of AT (AT:Ag) in the cell lysate of ATM2759 transfected COS7 cells and the cell culture supernatant were 174.97% and 35.63% of that of ATN transfected COS7 cells respectively, whereas the AT activity in the cell culture supernatant was 47.73% of the control's. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that the fluorescence intensity was significantly higher in ATM2759 transfected CHO cells than in those transfected with ATN.

CONCLUSIONSLeu99Phe substitution may not affect the binding capacity of AT with heparin. Secretion defect and intracellular accumulation of the mutated AT protein might be the mechanisms of this mutation causing AT deficiency.

Animals ; Antithrombin III ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antithrombin III Deficiency ; genetics ; CHO Cells ; COS Cells ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Mutation ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare the clinical effect of Dingweiban and Xieban manipulation, and to compare the change of the deviation of spinous processes between two methods.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-two cases were divided into two groups. Sixty-two cases were treated with Dingweiban manipulation method and 60 cases by Xieban manipulation. The changes of Fairbank scores, the clinical effects and the difference of the deviation of the spinous processes (L3, L4, L5) from the lumbar posterior-anterior X-ray were compared.

RESULTSThe scores before and after treatment and 3 months after treatment were compared. There were significant differences between two groups (P < 0.05) by nonparametric test. The result of Dingweiban manipulation group: 53 cases cured, 5 cases better, 3 cases effective and 1 case no effect. The result of clinical Xieban manipulation group: 43 cases cured, 6 cases better, 7 cases effective and 4 cases no effect. The clinical effects had significant differences after treatment and 3 months after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.0l) by nonparametric test. After the first treating, there was clear difference of the deviations' distance of the L4 spinous process compared with the Xieban manipulation group (P < 0.05). After the last treating, there were clear differences of the deviation distance of the L4 and L5 spinous processes compared with the Xieban manipulation group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDingweiban manipulation is better than Xieban manipulation in effects and has influence on the deviation of spinous processes, especially for the L5 spinous process.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; methods ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenesis of inherited coagulation factor VII (FVII) deficiency.

METHODSThe diagnosis was validated by coagulant parameter assay. FVII gene mutations were analysed in the proband by DNA direct sequencing of PCR products of all exons, exon-intron boundaries and the 3', 5'untranslated sequences. The mutations were confirmed by reverse sequencing. The ectopic transcripts of RT-PCR were used to confirm the characteristics of the mutation in non-canonical splice site (IVS1a + 5g > a).

RESULTSDouble heterozygous mutations in the propositus were identified: a T to G mutation at position 10961, resulting in His348Gln substitution, a non-canonical splice site (IVS1a + 5g > a) mutation, causing the new model of splice and frameshift mutation.

CONCLUSIONDouble heterozygous mutations of His348Gln and IVS1a + 5g > a were identified in a propositus, the splicing pattern of the IVS1a + 5g > a mutation was reported for the first time.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Factor VII ; genetics ; Factor VII Deficiency ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation, Missense ; RNA Splicing

OBJECTIVETo identify the factor XI gene mutation in a Chinese pedigree of congenital factor XI deficiency.

METHODSThe peripheral blood samples were collected from the proband and her family members and the plasma FXI:C and FXI:Ag were assayed. All the exons and their adjacent intron sequences of factor XI were amplified with PCR and sequenced thereafter.

RESULTSTwo novel nonsense mutations TGG-->TGA (Trp228stop) and TGG-->TAG (Trp383stop) were identified in the family.

CONCLUSIONThe compound heterozygous Trp228stop and Trp383stop may attribute to the pathogenesis of the congenital factor deficiency.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Codon, Nonsense ; Factor XI ; genetics ; Factor XI Deficiency ; congenital ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA