CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) have potent immunostimulatory effects and can enhance the anti-cancer activity of cancer treatments. CpG ODN directly induced the activation and maturation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, stimulated the secretion of Th1-type cytokines, and enhanced the differentiation of B cells into antibody-secreting plasma cells. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides as vaccine adjuvants can enhance both the humoral and cellular responses to antigens in some clinical trails. CpG ODN was applied in several clinical trials as an adjuvant of tumor vaccine. CpG ODN alone had anti-tumor activity and had synergistic effects with other anti-tumor therapies including monoclonal antibodies, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, cytokines, etc. Compared with standard regimen, in the phase Ⅲ clinical trial CpG ODN did not prolong the median survival time and induced severe adverse reaction in the treatment of ⅢB-Ⅳ stage non-small cell lung cancer. But CpG ODN had definite anti-cancer activity in other clinical trials. The safety and efficacy of CpG ODN in anti-tumor therapy needs to be further verified in clinic.

Objective To investigate the effects of two different doses of fentanyl given by target-controlled infusion (TCI) on stress responses during operation under general anesthesia and evaluate the accuracy of TCI of fentanyl.Methods Thirty ASA Ⅰ-Ⅱ patients (14 males, 16 females) aged 24-69 yr, weighing 48-77 kg scheduled for elective abdominal surgery under general anesthesia were randomly divided into three groups with 10 patients in each group : group Ⅰ and Ⅱ received fentanyl by TCI with the target effect-site concentration set at 2 ng Ⅲ ml 1 (Ⅰ) and 4 ng ? ml-1 ( Ⅱ ) during induction and maintenance of anesthesia, while group Ⅲ received a bolus of fentanyl 3 ?g?kg-1 during induction of anesthesia. In addition to fentanyl, anesthesia was induced with propofol 2mg?kg-1 and vecuromum 0.1 mg?kg-1 and maintained with propofol infusion at 6 mg?kg-1?h-1 and intermittent i. v. doses of vecuronium BP (SBP, DBP, MAP ) , HR, SpO2 and PET CO2 were recorded before induction of anesthesia (T0 ,baseline), at the loss of consciousness (T1), immediately after tracheal intubation (T2), 5 and 10 rnin after intubation (T3 , T4), during skin incision (T5) and exploration of abdominal cavity (T6). Blood samples were obtained for determination of plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) concentrations and blood glucose ( BG) and fentanyl concentrations at T0, T2, T4 and T5 by HPLC. Results There were no significant differences in sex, age and body weight among the three groups. There were no significant changes in plasma NE, E and BG concentrations, which were all within normal range in the three groups. The SBP and MAP in group Ⅲ were significantly lower than those in group Ⅰ and Ⅱ at T1 ( P

Objective To study the protective effect of Astragalus membrance on mice infected with tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii. Methods ICR mice were infected intraperitoneally with 10 5, 10 3, 10 2 tachyzoites of virulent RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii, and the mice were orally treated with Astragalus membrance 0 075 g/d per mouse or Azithromycin [150 mg/(d?kg)] each day starting from day 1 post-infection for 10 days. The survival rate and period were investigated. The parasite loads of livers and lungs of the mice infected with 10 2 tachyzoites were determined by fluorescence PCR methods at 4 day-post-infection (dpi) and 8 dpi. Results When infected with 10 5, 10 3 tachyzoites, treated with Astragalus membrance, the average survived days of the mice were 5 57 days and 6 23 days, and treated with azithromycin were 6 96 days and 8 12 days respectively. The azithromycin group but not the astragli group survived significantly longer than the control(P

Background and purpose: The proportion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT) is high. PHT may increase the risk of hemorrhage and liver failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efifcacy of liver resection (LR) for patients with HCC and PHT. Methods:From 2006 to 2010, a total of 564 HCC patients with Child-Pugh A liver function and with (78) or without PHT (486) were retrospective analyzed. Complications after surgry, 30 and 90-day mortality, overall survival (OS), and recurrence rates were compared between the two groups. Propensity score analysis was also conducted to reduce confounding bias between the groups. Moreover, subgroup analysis based on tumor stage and the range of resection was carried out. Results:The complications after surgry, 30 and 90-day mortality of patients with PHT were signiifcantly higher than those without PHT, before and after propensity analysis (P<0.05). After an average follow-up of 32.1 months, the 1-, 3-, 5-year OS of patients with PHT (75%, 45%and 32%) were signiifcantly worse than those without PHT (90%, 66%and 48%;P<0.001). However, the 1-, 3-, and 5-year recurrence rates were similar between PHT group (31%, 57%, and 73%) and without PHT group (26%, 53%, and 67%;P=0.53). Moreover, the OS of the two groups were similar after propensity analysis, and for patients with early stage HCC and those who underwent minor hepatectomy (all P>0.05). Conclusion: PHT is not the contraindication of LR for patients with HCC. Those with early stage HCC and who underwent minor hepatectomy are the best candidates to LR therapy.

Objective To determine the prevalent herpes simplex virus (HSV) strain in patients with genital herpes (GH),and to evaluate the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of anti-herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) IgG and IgM antibodies in the diagnosis of genital herpes (GH) before in vitro fertilization (IVF).Methods Totally,193 HSV2 clinical strains isolated in cell culture from the lesions of patients with GH in the Department of Dermatology,First Affiliated Hospital,Sun Yat-sen University between 2009 and 2011 were typed by using type-specific fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled anti-HSV monoclonal antibodies.Serum samples were obtained from 57 anti-HSV2 IgM/IgG antibody-positive females with suspected GH as well as their husbands (clinical observation group),68 HSV culture-positive patients diagnosed with GH (positive control group),and 120 children aged 8-12 years (negative control group).Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect anti-HSV1/HSV2 IgG/IgM antibodies in these serum samples.Statistical analysis was carried out using chi-square test.Results There was a significant difference between the positive control group and negative control group in the positivity rate of anti-HSV1 IgG (89.71％ (61/68) vs.40.80％ (49/120),P ＜ 0.01) and anti-HSV2 IgG (91.18％ (62/68) vs.0,P ＜ 0.01),but not in that of anti-HSV1 IgM (20.59％ (14/68) vs.21.70％ (26/120),P ＞ 0.05) or anti-HSV2 lgM (13.24％ (9/68)vs.13.30％ (16/120),P ＞ 0.05).In the clinical observation group,the positivity rate of anti-HSV1 and anti-HSV2 IgM antibodies,anti-HSV1 and anti-HSV2 IgG antibodies was 80.70％ (46/57),91.23％ (52/57),84.21％ (48/57) and 14.04％ (8/57) respectively in the females,19.30％ (11/57),8.77％ (5/57),87.71％ (50/57),12.28％ (7/57)respectively in the males,with significant differences in the positivity rate of anti-HSV1 and-HSV2 IgM antibodies (both P ＜ 0.01),but not in that of anti-HSV 1 or-HSV2 IgG antibodies (both P ＞ 0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,PPV and NPV were 13.24％ (9/68),86.67％ (104/120),36.00％ (9/25) and 63.80％ (104/163) respectively for anti-HSV2 IgM antibody in the diagnosis of GH,91.18％ (62/68),100.00％ (120/120),100.00％ (62/62),and 95.24％ (120/126) respectively for anti-HSV2 IgG antibody.Conclusions HSV2 prevails in the patients with GH in this region,while HSV1 only amounts to 5.18％.The type-specific anti-HSV2 IgG antibody shows a higher specificity,sensitivity,PPV and NPV in the diagnosis of GH than anti-HSV2 IgM antibody,hence,the type-specific anti-HSV2 IgG antibody is superior to anti-HSV2 IgM antibody in diagnosing GH before assisted reproduction.

M2 protein of influenza A virus is encoded by a spliced mRNA derived from RNA segment 7 and plays an important role in influenza virus replication. It is also a target molecule of anti-virus drugs. We extracted the viral genome RNAs from MDCK cells infected with swine influenza A virus (SIV) H3N2 subtype and amplified the SIV M2 gene by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using the isloated viral genome RNAs as template. The amplified cDNA was cloned into a prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a(+) (designated pET-28a(+)-M2) and a eukaryotic expression vector p3xFLAG-CMV-7.1 (designated p3xFLAG-CMV-7.1-M2), respectively. The resulted constructs were confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing analysis. We then transformed the plasmid pET-28a(+)-M2 into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) strain and expressed it by adding 1 mmol/L of IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside). The recombinant M2 protein was purified from the induced bacterial cells using Ni(2+) affinity chromatography. Wistar rats were immunized with the purified M2 protein for producing polyclonal antibodies specific for it. Western blotting analysis and immunofluorescence analysis showed that the produced antibodies were capable of reacting with M2 protein expressed in p3xFLAG-CMV-7.1-M2-transfected cells as well as that synthesized in SIV-infected cells. We also transfected plasmid p3xFLAG-CMV-7.1-M2 into Vero cells and analyzed its subcellular localization by immunofluorescence. The M2 protein expressed in the Vero cells was 20 kDa in size and dominantly localized in the cytoplasm, showing a similar distribution to that in SIV-infected cells. Western blotting analysis of SIV-infected cells suggested that M2 was a late phase protein, which was detectable 12 h post-infection, later than NS1, NP and M1 proteins. It would be a potential molecular indicator of late phases replication of virus. Our results would be useful for studying the biological function of M2 protein in SIV replication.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype ; genetics ; RNA ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Swine ; Transfection ; Vero Cells ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Virus Replication ; genetics

To meet the needs of management of medical case information and biospecimen simultaneously, we developed a novel medical case information system integrating with biospecimen management. The database established by MS SQL Server 2000 covered, basic information, clinical diagnosis, imaging diagnosis, pathological diagnosis and clinical treatment of patient; physicochemical property, inventory management and laboratory analysis of biospecimen; users log and data maintenance. The client application developed by Visual C++ 6.0 was used to implement medical case and biospecimen management, which was based on Client/Server model. This system can perform input, browse, inquest, summary of case and related biospecimen information, and can automatically synthesize case-records based on the database. Management of not only a long-term follow-up on individual, but also of grouped cases organized according to the aim of research can be achieved by the system. This system can improve the efficiency and quality of clinical researches while biospecimens are used coordinately. It realizes synthesized and dynamic management of medical case and biospecimen, which may be considered as a new management platform.
Biological Specimen Banks ; Database Management Systems ; Humans ; Medical Records Systems, Computerized ; Medical Records, Problem-Oriented

Objective To explore the value of multimodal magnetic resonance myocardial perfusion imaging (MR-MPI)in detecting myocardial viability of coronary heart disease.Methods 52 patients suspected or diagnosed coronary heart disease confirmed with SPECT myocardial perfusion and had MR-MPI examination were collected.MR-MPI protocol included double inversion T2WI fat suppressed imaging,diffusion weighted imaging(DWI),resting perfusion and dipyridamole myocardial perfusion.Results In 52 patients,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value and negative predictive value of MR-MPI were 89.13%,66.67%,95.35% and 44.44% respectively.Conclusion MR-MPI can effectively detect myocardial viability in coronary heart disease.MR-MPI exhibits high clinical value for qualitative evaluation of degree of the myocardial ischemic coronary heart disease.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disease. The diagnosis of schizophrenia so far relies heavily on subjective evidence, including self-reported experiences by patients, manifestations described by relatives, and abnormal behaviors assessed by psychiatrists. The diagnosis, monitoring of the disease progression and therapy efficacy assessment are challenging due to the lack of established laboratory biomarkers. Based on the current literature, clinical consensus, guidelines, and expert recommendations, this review highlighted evidence-based potential laboratory biomarkers for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, including genetic biomarkers, neurotransmitters, neurodevelopmental-related proteins, and intestinal flora, and discussed the potential future directions for the application of these biomarkers in this field, aiming to provide an objective basis for the use of these biomarkers in the early and accurate diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis and rehabilitation assessment of schizophrenia.

Objective:To assess the efficacy and safety of 100 units of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) intradetrusor injection in patients with overactive bladder.Methods:From April 2016 to December 2018, 17 tertiary hospitals were selected to participate in this prospective, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Two phases of study were conducted: the primary phase and the extended phase. This study enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years who had been inadequately managed by anticholinergic therapy (insufficient efficacy or intolerable side effects) and had spontaneous voiding with overactive bladder. Exclusion criteria included patients with severe cardiac, renal and hepatic disorders, patients with previous botulinum toxin treatment for 6 months or allergic to BTX-A, patients with urinary tract infections, patients with urinary stones, urinary tract tumors, diabetes mellitus, and bleeding tendency. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to BTX-A group and placebo control group in a ratio of 2∶1. Two groups of patients received 20 intradetrusor injections of BTX-A 100U or placebo at the depth of the submucosal muscle layer respectively under cystoscope, including 5 injections at the base of the bladder, 3 injections to the bladder triangle, 5 injections each to the left and right walls and 2 injections to the top, sparing the bladder neck. As a placebo control group, patients received same volume of placebo containing no BTX-A and only adjuvant freeze-dried preparations for injection with the same method. A combination of gelatin, sucrose, and dextran served as adjuvants. Average micturition times per 24 hours, urinary incontinence (UI) episodes per day, average micturition volume per day, OAB symptom score(OABSS), and quality of life (QOL) score were recorded at baseline and the 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week after treatment. The secondary efficacy endpoints included the change from baseline in the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week, as well as the change from baseline in the OABSS, QOL score, average frequency of urgency and UI episodes per day, urgency score, average micturition volume per day at 2nd, 6th and 12th week after treatment. Patients were followed for 12 weeks to assess adverse events (AEs). After assessed at week 12, if the micturition times has decreased less than 50% compared to baseline and the patient is willing to receive retreatment, then patients could enter the extended trial phase. In that phase, patients in both groups were injected with 100 units BTX-A from 12th week onwards and then followed up the same indicators for 12 weeks.Results:216 patients were enrolled in this trial (144 cases in the BTX-A group and 72 cases in the placebo control group). Baseline characteristics such as age (47.75±14.20 in the BTX-A group and 46.39±15.55 in the control group), sex (25 male/117 female in the BTX-A group and 10/61 in the control group), and disease duration (0.51 years in the BTX-A group and 0.60 years in the control group) were balanced between the two groups( P>0.05). A marked reduction from baseline in average micturition times per 24 hours was observed in all treatment groups at the 6th week and the reduction of the two groups was statistically different ( P<0.001 and P=0.008 respectively). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at the 6th week decreased from baseline by 2.40(0.70, 4.60)times for the BTX-A group and 0.70(-1.00, 3.30) times for the placebo control group respectively, and the difference between the two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.003). The change rates of average micturition times per 24 hours from baseline at the 6th week of the two groups were (16±22)% and (8±25)% respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.014). Compared with the baseline, the average micturition times per 24 hours at 2nd and 12th week decreased by 2.00(0.00, 4.00)and 3.30(0.60, 5.03)for the BTX-A group, 1.00(-1.00, 3.00)and 1.70(-1.45, 3.85)for the placebo control group respectively. The difference between two groups was considered to be statistically significant ( P=0.038 and P=0.012); the changes of average urgency times per day for the BTX-A group and the control group at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week were 2.00(0.00, 4.30)and 2.40(0.30, 5.00), 3.00(0.30, 5.70)and 0.70(-1.30, 2.70), 0.70(-1.30, 3.00) and 1.35(-1.15, 3.50), respectively. There were significant differences between two groups at the 2nd, 6th and 12th week, ( P=0.010, P=0.003 and P=0.025, respectively). The OABSS of the BTX-A group and the control group at the 6th week decreased by 1.00(0.00, 4.00)and 0.50(-1.00, 2.00) compared with the baseline, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( P=0.003). 47 cases of BTX-A group and 34 cases of placebo control group entered the extended trial phase, and 40 and 28 cases completed the extended trial phase, respectively. The average micturition volume per 24 hours changed by -16.60(-41.60, -0.60)ml and -6.40(-22.40, 13.30)ml, (-35.67±54.41)ml and(-1.76±48.69)ml, (-36.14±41.51)ml and (-9.28±44.59)ml, (-35.85±43.35)ml and(-10.41±40.29)ml for two groups at the 12th, 14th, 18th and 24th week, and the difference between two groups was statistically significant at each follow-up time ( P=0.01, 0.006, 0.012 and 0.016, respectively). There was no significant difference in other parameters( P>0.05). However, adverse reactions after intradetrusor injection included increased residual urine volume (27 in the BTX-A group and 3 in the control group), dysuria (21 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), urinary infection (19 in the BTX-A group and 6 in the control group), bladder neck obstruction (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), hematuria (3 in the BTX-A group and 1 in the control group), elevated alanine aminotransferase (3 in the BTX-A group and 0 in the control group), etc. During the follow-up period, there was no significant difference in the other adverse events between two groups except the increase of residual urine volume( P<0.05). In the primary trial phase, among the 27 cases with increased residual urine volume in BTA group, only 1 case (3.70%) with PVR more than 300 ml; the PVR of 3 patients in the placebo group was less than 100 ml. The increase of residual urine volume caused by the injection could be improved or disappeared with the passage of time. Conclusions:Intradetrusor injection of Chinese BTX-A improved the average micturition times per 24 hours, the average daily urgent micturition times, OABSS, and average micturition volume per time, and reduced the adverse effects in patients with overactive bladder.Chinese BTX-A at dose of 100U demonstrated durable efficacy and safety in the management of overactive bladder.