Objective To investigate the changes of Th1/Th2 cells and related cytokine levels in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) fibrosis.Methods Forty-six patients with CHB fibrosis underwent liver biopsy during March and October,2011.According to the stage of fibrosis,the patients were divided into S0-1 group (n =15),S2-3 group (n =20) and S4 group (n =11).Ten healthy subjects served as controls.The frequencies of circulating Th1,Th2 cells were detected by flow cytometry.The expressions of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR.The serum IFN-γand IL-4 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.Intrahepatic expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 were detected by immunohistochemical staining.Differences between groups were analyzed using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis H test,followed by Mann-Whitney U test for multiple comparisons.Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis.Results With the degree of liver fibrosis exacerbations,the peripheral Th1/Th2 cells frequencies ratio,IFN-γ/IL-4 mRNA ratio in PBMCs,serum IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio and intrahepatic IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio were declined (x2 =36.259,40.822,26.321 and 31.852,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Serum and intrahepatic IFNγ/IL-4 ratio were negatively associated with the stage of liver fibrosis (r =-0.616 and-0.531,P ＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that AST,PT and the serum IFNγ/IL-4 ratio were the risk factors for significant liver fibrosis (S2-4) (OR =5.933,95％ CI:1.324-26.586,P =0.02; OR =12.866,95％CI:1.746-94.788,P =0.01; OR=4.755,95％CI:1.034-21.862,P =0.04).Conclusions The CHB patients has imbalanced Th1/Th2 ratio.With the degree of liver fibrosis exacerbations,Th1/Th2 cytokines drift into Th2 lymphocyte sub-cluster,which suggests that Th1/Th2 imbalance may be involved in the pathogenesis of CHB fibrosis.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux ; diagnosis ; therapy

Since late 2010, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has been re-emerging in central China. To explore the possible reason of the PEDV outbreaks, twelve PEDV field strains were isolated from different swine breeding farms in central China during 2010-2012, and molecular diversity, phylogenetic relationships of these strains with other PEDV reference strains were investigated. Sequence analysis of S, M and ORE3 genes revealed that the central China PEDV isolates had several specific nucleotides and amino acids which were different from PEDV reference strains. In addition, the entire S genes of eleven central China PEDV isolates were found to be nine nucleotides longer in length than CV777 and large number of amino acid variations was accumulated in the N-terminal region of S gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the central China PEDV isolates had close relationship with Korea strains (2007-2009), Thailand strains (2007-2008), Vietnam strains (2009-2010), Japan strains (2010), and other prevailing strains from other parts of China (2010-2012). However, they differed genetically from European strains (CV777, Brl/87), China strains (2003-2007) and the vaccine strains (CV777) used in China. These results imply that a rapid variation and evolution of central China PEDV strains has occurred in recent years, and a more efficient vaccine strain should be selected to prevent and control outbreaks of PEDV in China.
Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Feces ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Open Reading Frames ; Phylogeny ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; epidemiology ; virology ; Viral Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVEThe Jiangu decoction is used in the treatment of steroid-induced femoral head necrosis in clinical experiences, which has functions of tonifying kidney and activating blood, and invigorating spleen to remove phlegm. The decoction is mainly composed of Radix Polygoni Multiflori, Rhizoma alismatis Rhizoma Drynariae, haw, medlar, Radix Astragali, radix rehmanniae, angelica, Radix Codonopsis, radix salviae miltiorrhizae, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, licorice, pharmaceutical composition. This study was designed to investigate the influence of Jiangu decoction on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) in the femoral head of rabbits with steroid-induced femoral head necrosis.

METHODSEighteen adult SPF healthy New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups: control group, model group, Jiangu decoction group. The rabbits of Jiangu decoction group orally received Jiangu decoction suspension with a dose of 10 ml/kg each day and the drug content was 0.719 g/ml. The rabbits in control and model groups were given saline with a dose of 10 ml/kg. The methylprednisolone sodium succinate was injected intramuscularly into left leg with a dose of 40 mg/kg. Then the rabbits were fed continuously for 3 weeks. The glucocorticoid levels, PPARgamma and plasma glucocorticoid levels in the femoral head were measured before and after modeling.

RESULTSBefore model established, the plasma glucocorticoid levels had no significant difference among three groups (P=0.301). At 3 weeks after model established,the plasma glucocorticoid level of rabbits in model group increased compared to the control group (P=0.001); and the plasma glucocorticoid level of rabbits in Jiangu decoction group decreased compared with model group (P=0.001). The glucocorticoid level in the local femoral head of rabbits in model group increased compared to the control group (P=0.001); and the glucocorticoid level in the local femoral head of rabbits in Jiangu decoction group decreased compared with model group (P=0.001). The PPARgamma level in the local femoral head of rabbits in model group increased compared to the control group (P=0.018);and the PPARgamma level in the local femoral head of rabbits in Jiangu decoction group decreased compared with model group (P=0.033).

CONCLUSIONThe Jiangu decoction is effective to inhibit the femoral head adipogenic differentiation by decrease the PPAR content, so as to prevent and treat steroid-induced femoral head necrosis.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Femur Head Necrosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Glucocorticoids ; blood ; toxicity ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; PPAR gamma ; analysis ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the polymorphism of serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region(5-HTTLPR) and slow transit constipation(STC).

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction was used to assess 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of SERT gene in 54 patients with STC and 100 healthy controls.

RESULTSThe frequencies of serotonin transporter short/short(S/S) and allele S genotypes were significantly higher in STC patients than those in controls(72.2% vs 50.0%; 83.3% vs 72.5%; both P< 0.05). There were no significant differences in 5-HTTLPR polymorphism respectively between the two groups according to gender and age(less than 45 and more than 45 years old). The frequency of S/S genotype was higher in the patients with less than 40% of the ingested markers evacuated within 72 h than those with more than 40% evacuated(71.7% vs 42.6%, P< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe presence of 5-HTTLPR allele S may contribute to the pathogenesis of STC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Chronic Disease ; Constipation ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThis study aims to investigate relationship between daily concentration of PM(10), SO(2), NO(2) and daily mortality due to circulatory system diseases in Chaoyang district, Beijing.

METHODSThe time-series data of daily mortality from circulatory system diseases of registered residents in Chaoyang were obtained from Chaoyang District Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The daily concentration of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), and particulate matter (PM(10)) were collected from Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center. And the routine monitoring meteorological data were collected from Beijing Meteorological Bureau, including daily mean temperature and daily mean relative humidity. The time-series analysis was then conducted to determine the relationship of mortality from circulatory system diseases with daily concentrations of SO(2), NO(2) and PM(10) by using Poisson regression with generalized additive model (GAM).

RESULTSDuring January 2004 to September 2008, the cumulative death number from circulatory system diseases of registered residents in Chaoyang district of Beijing was 19 241, the daily average concentration of SO(2), NO(2), PM(10) was 48.7, 63.9, 146.1 µg/m(3), respectively. The single pollutant model showed an increase of daily concentration of PM(10), SO(2) and NO(2) by 10 µg/m(3) will augment the mortality from circulatory system diseases by 0.20% (95%CI: 0.01% - 0.39%), 0.36% (95%CI: -0.13% - 0.85%) and 0.30% (95%CI: -0.34% - 0.94%), respectively. In the multiple air pollutants models, combinatorial effects of PM(10) and SO(2) still positively correlated with increased mortality from circulatory system diseases (P < 0.05), whereas changes of the concentration of NO(2) had no significant effect on mortality from circulatory system diseases (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOur findings in this study elucidated that changes of the concentration of PM(10) and SO(2) had a positive correlation with daily mortality from circulatory system diseases among the local residents in Chaoyang District, whereas the daily concentration of NO(2) was irrelevant with that.

Aged ; Air Pollutants ; analysis ; Air Pollution ; analysis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; epidemiology ; mortality ; China ; epidemiology ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Models, Theoretical ; Nitrogen Dioxide ; analysis ; Particulate Matter ; analysis ; Sulfur Dioxide ; analysis ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the FDG uptake characteristics, the factors affecting 18F-FDG uptake and the extra CT diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT scan in the malignant tumor with false negative 18F-FDG PET image.

METHODSThe data of PET/CT image in 17 patients with various kinds of cancers were reviewed and analyzed by visual observation and semi-quantity analysis ( SUV). The results were compared with the CT and histopathological diagnosis, respectively.

RESULTSOf 6 well-differentiated HCC patients confirmed by histopathological diagnosis, one had two lesions in the right lobe of the liver. One of these two lesions showed low FDG uptake on 18F-FDG PET scan and low density on CT scan. The other one was not shown on either 18F-FDG PET or plain CT scan. But on enhanced CT scan, these two lesions were found to be inhomogeneous with high density at arterial phase. The false negative 18F-FDG PET images of one gastric signet ring cell carcinoma in the gastric fundus with right adnexa metastasis, 3 renal cell carcinoma, one greater omentum and peritoneal metastatic adenocarcinoma and one well-differentiated prostate cancer were caused by normal physical uptake in the digestive tract or FDG retention in the urinary system due to normal excretion. The size of three metastases was smaller than or equal to 1 cm in diameter, however, two primary lesions of these metastases showed high FDG uptake and only one was negative on either 18F-FDG PET or CT scan. In this series, 68.8% of the primary tumors and 66.7% of metastases were found to show abnormal density on CT scan, and 31. 2% of the primary tumors and 33. 3% of metastases were not detectable on either PET or CT images.

CONCLUSIONFalse negative 18F-FDG PET in malignant tumor may be correlated with the pathologic type, differentiation degree and the lesion size. Combining CT information with PET or paying attention to the scan methods during 8 F-FDG PET examination may reduce the rate of false negative 18F-FDG PET diagnosis in various kinds of malignant tumors.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; False Negative Reactions ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Omentum ; diagnostic imaging ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; secondary ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between serum level of homocysteine and the development of collaterals in patients with severe coronary artery stenosis (SCAS). METHODS: Eighty patients with at least one vessel stenosis over 90% among the 3 main vessels of coronary artery were consecutively enrolled into the study according to angiographic estimation. The development of collaterals was classified by Rentrop's method. RESULTS: The serum levels of homocysteine among the single-vessel, bi-vessel and tri-vessel coronary artery disease groups had no significant difference; there was no linear correlation between the serum level of homocysteine and Gensini's score. The level of homocysteine in the poorly developed collaterals was significantly higher than that in the well-developed collaterals in the SCAS patients (P<0.001). Multiple stepwise logistic analysis revealed that homocysteine negatively correlated with the development of collaterals (P<0.001, odds ratio=0.353; 95% confidence interval=0.201 - 0.620), whereas it positively correlated with the number of stenosis vessels. CONCLUSION The serum level of homocysteine is independently and negatively associated with the development of collateral circulation in severe SCAs patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Collateral Circulation ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Stenosis ; blood ; physiopathology ; Female ; Homocystine ; blood ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in transcatheter closure of atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) combined with secoundum-type atrial septal defect (ASD). METHODS: Fourteen patients (3 males and 11 females) who had ASA combined with secoundum-type ASD were diagnosed by TTE or transesophageal echocardiography. The ASA projected to the right atrium in all patients. The width of basilar part was 13 approximately 24 (18.5+/-3.9) mm, and the vertical extent was 7 approximately 11(9.7+/-1.8) mm. Ten patients combined with single hole ASD and 4 patients with multiple hole ASD. Blood shifting from the left atrium to the right atrium was displayed in color Doppler in all patients. All patients were treated by transcatheter closure under the guiding of X fluoroscopy and TTE, and examined with TTE during the follow-up. RESULTS: Transcatheter closure was successfully performed by 14 occluders in all patients. No residual shunt was detected immediately by TTE after the procedure in all patients. During the 6 approximately 12 month follow-up, no residual shunt or occluder shifting was found, the dimensions of the heart became normal in 11 patients (79%) and were significantly decreased in 4. CONCLUSION Transcatheter closure is feasible in patients with ASA combined with secoundum-type ASD, and extra attention must be paid to the specialty. TTE is very important in case selection before transcatheter closure, and it may be used to monitor and guide the procedure during transcatheter closure.
Adult ; Atrial Septum ; Balloon Occlusion ; methods ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Aneurysm ; complications ; therapy ; Heart Septal Defects, Atrial ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEDiscussing the natural history and the influencing factors of HIV infection among former commercial blood and plasma donors engaged in unsafe blood donation practices in China.

METHODSUsing ambispective cohort study, with data obtained from ten counties (districts) from six provinces in the National AIDS Control Demonstration Area. HIV/AIDS cases were found and confirmed prior to July 24, 2006 being former commercial blood. Plasma donors were selected and data regarding infection, incidence, death, and influencing factors was collected. Analysis was performed using SPSS 12.0 statistical analysis software.

RESULTS(1) In 7551 cases of HIV infection, there were 6533 typical progressors (86.52%, 4757 cases of AIDS), 108 rapid progressors (1.43%), 910 long-term non-progressors (12.05%) with 4865 cases progressed to AIDS (64.43%). The median incubation period for HIV progression to AIDS was nine years (95% CI:8.96-9.04). (2) According to data, from a total of 1157 AIDS cases without ARV therapy (23.78% of total AIDS cases), there were 283 confirmed AIDS-related deaths, of which the median survival time was 6 months (95% CI:4-7) and the two and three year fatality rates were 95% and 99%, respectively. (3) The duration of HIV incubation period was irrespective to gender and age at the time of HIV infection (P > 0.05). Length of survival for untreated AIDS showed correlation to gender (P < 0.05) but no correlation with culture, marital status or age at the time of diagnosis of AIDS (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with the UNAIDS theory regarding slow disease progressors among adults, our study showed a longer AIDS incubation period and shorter outlook for untreated survival, but a similar incubation period for other routes of HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Donors ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Incubation Period ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult