AIM: To study the immune regulation of paecilomyces cicadidae total polysaccharides. METHODS: After subcutaneous injection with 200 mg/L paecilomyces cicadidae total polysaccharides in the back of the rats for 17 days, the white blood cell (WBC) counts, and the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the spleen and thymus of rats were detected. The alveolar macrophages (AM?) cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum-RPMI-1640 for 2 h in vitro , then the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and acid phosphatase (ACP) were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer, and the ability devouring neutral red in the AM? were examined. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the WBC, the levels of GSH in the spleen and thymus, and the activities of LDH and ACP were significantly increased and the ability of devouring neutral red was also strengthened( P

AIM: To explore the immunomodulatory effect of paecilomyces cicadidae polysaccharides (PCPS).METHODS: Subcutaneous injection with 50, l00, 200 mg/kg of PCPS were given in the back of the rats everyday for l5 days. The number of white blood cells (WBC) was counted. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and lactase dehydrogenase (LDH)in liver, kidney, spleen and thymus were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer. The ability of devouring neutral red and activity of ACP, LDH, arginase in alveolar macrophages were also detected. The body weight of the rat everyday during experiment and weight of the spleen and thymus after the rats were killed were measured and wet weight index was calculated.RESULTS: The wet weight index of spleen and thymus, the activity of ACP, LDH, arginase and ability of devouring neutral red in alveolar macrophages in the test group treated with PCPS were significantly higher than those in control group. CONCLUSION: PCPS shows a significant immunomodulatory effect with the increasing counts of WBC and activation of alveolar macrophages in a dose-dependent manner.

AIM: To evaluate the different conditions inducing mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) in vitro to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. METHODS: BRL conditioned medium was used to promote the growth of ESC and maintain them in an undifferentiated state. During the inducing process, retinoic acid (RA), DMSO, activin-A and TGF-? 1 were used as inducing reagents, and made up six kinds of differentiating medium. Then a three-step method inducing ESC cultured in hanging drops, in suspension and in plating was used to induce the differentiation of ESC. RESULTS: ESC were induced in vitro to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Of all groups, the highest differentiating rate was observed in the group induced by activin-A (20 ?g/L) and TGF-? 1 (2 ?g/L). CONCLUSION: The inducing conditions including activin-A (20 ?g/L) and TGF-? 1 (2 ?g/L) is very valuable in inducing ESC differentiation into cardiomyocytes. [

Objective: To understand the prevalence of major human parasitic diseases and related factors in Henan province. Methods: This stratified sampling survey was carried out according to the requirement of national survey protocol of major human parasitic diseases, 2014-2015. The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths infection, taeniasis and intestinal protozoiasis were surveyed in 104 sites selected from 35 counties (districts) and the prevalence of clonorchiasis was surveyed in 62 sites selected from 37 townships. In each survey spot, 250 persons were surveyed. A total of 26 866 persons and 15 893 persons were surveyed. Modified Kato-Katz thick smear was used to detect the eggs of intestinal helminthes. Tube fecal culture was used to identify the species of hookworm. The Enterobius eggs were detected in children aged 3 to 6 years by using adhesive tape. The cyst and trophozoite of intestinal protozoa were examined with physiological saline direct smear method and iodine stain method. Results: The overall infestation rate of intestinal parasites was2.02% in Henan, and the worm infection rate was higher than protozoa infection rate. Fourteen kinds of intestinal parasites were found, including nematode (5 species), trematode (2 species), and protozoan (7 species). The infection rate of Enterobius vermicularis was highest, and Qinba Mountain ecological area had the highest infestation rate of intestinal parasites in 4 ecological areas of Henan. There was no significant difference in intestinal parasite infection rate between males and females (χ(2)=3.630, P=0.057), and the differences in intestinal parasite infection rate among different age groups had significance (χ(2)=124.783, P=0.000 1). The infection rate reached the peak in age group ≤9 years and the major parasite was Enterobius vermicularis. Furthermore the overall human infection rate of parasite showed a downward trend with the increase of educational level of the people (χ(2)=70.969, P=0.000 1), the differences had significance (χ(2)=120.118, P=0.000 1). For different populations, the infection rate of intestinal parasites was highest among preschool children. The infection of intestinal helminth was mainly mild, only 2 severe cases were detected. The infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis in urban residents was only 0.006%. Logistic regression analysis showed that being preschool children (χ(2)=15.765, P=0.000 1) and drinking well water (χ(2)=45.589, P=0.000 1) were the risk factors for intestinal parasite infection, and annual income per capita of farmers was the protective factor against intestinal parasite infection. The infection rates of protozoa and intestinal parasites decreased sharply compared with the results of previous two surveys, and the rate of intestinal helminth infection also dropped sharply compared with the second survey. The numbers of protozoa, helminth and intestinal parasites detected in this survey were all less than the numbers found in the previous two surveys. Conclusions: Compared the results of three surveys in Henan, the infection rate of protozoa and intestinal parasites showed a downward trend. The prevention and treatment of Enterobius vermicularis infection in children should be the key point of parasitic disease control in the future.
Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Clonorchiasis/epidemiology* ; Farmers ; Feces/parasitology* ; Female ; Helminthiasis/epidemiology* ; Helminths ; Humans ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/parasitology* ; Male ; Prevalence ; Protective Factors ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Soil Microbiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Taeniasis/epidemiology* ; Trematode Infections/parasitology* ; Urban Population ; Water Wells

*Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/*therapy ; Microspheres ; Polyglactin 910/*therapeutic use ; Rats, Inbred ACI

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of preparing a therapeutic lung cancer vaccine by transfecting dendritic cells (DCs) with adeno-associated virus vector carrying carcino-embryonic antigen gene (rAAV/CEA).

METHODSAdherent cells (monocytes) isolated from the peripheral blood of a healthy donor were infected with rAAV/CEA virus stock or pulsed with CEA peptide (control). The monocytes in both groups were induced into mature DCs with recombinant human GM-CSF, IL-4 and TNF-α. At day 7 of induction, the mature DCs were harvested and mixed with T lymphocytes. T cell proliferation stimulated by the DCs was assessed with (3)H-thymidine uptake, and the expression of IL-4, IFN-γ, CD8, CD4, CD25 and CD69 in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) was analyzed with flow cytometry. The cytotoxicity of the CTL against the target CEA-positive lung cancer A549 cells was tested by (51)Cr releasing assay.

RESULTSThe DCs transfected with rAAV/CEA strongly stimulated the proliferation of the T cell populations, and the induced CTL showed high expressions of CD8, CD69 and IFN-γ. The transfected DCs exhibited a high killing ability of CEA-positive lung cancer cells, and the killing showed a CEA antigen specificity and was limited by MHC I. These results suggested the ability of rAAV/CEA-transfected DCs in generating specific cellular immunity in vitro.

CONCLUSIONIt is feasible to prepare therapeutic lung cancer vaccines by transfecting DCs with rAAV/CEA.

Cancer Vaccines ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; genetics ; Cell Line ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Monocytes ; immunology ; Transfection

Animals ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; therapy ; Male ; Microspheres ; Polyglactin 910 ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred ACI

ObjectiveTo study the early diagnosis and prevention of fungal infection in severe acute pancreatitis(SAP). Method 1.SAP patients from July 1998 to June 2002 were prospectively randomized into 3 groups: garlicin prevention group, fluconazole (low dosage) prevention group and control group, the incidence of fungal infection in SAP was compared between the groups. For fungal infection patients, the fungal clearance and mortality rate were observed. 2.Clinical data of SAP patients with fungal infection and with simple bacterial infection was compared by multivariate logistic regression, and clinical characters and risk factors of fungal infection were evaluated. Results 1.There were lower incidences of fungal infection in garlicin group (16% vs. 30%,P

Ziel: Evaluation der Effektivit?t verschiedener Methodiken der TACE im tierexperimentellen Modell des hepatozellul?ren Karzinoms. Material und Methoden: Bei m?nnlichen ACI-Ratten (n=58) erfolgte die Implantation eines soliden Morris Hepatom 3924A (1 mm3) subkapsul?r in den Leberlappen. 12—14 Tage nach Implantation wurden die Tumorvolumina kernspintomographisch bestimmt. Nach Laparotomie und retrograder Katheterisierung der Arteria gastroduodenalis wurden anschlieend unterschiedliche Therapieprotokolle der TACE angewendet: (A) Mitomycin C (n=4), (B) Degradiere St?rke Mikrosph?ren (DSM) (n=4), (C) Mitomycin C+DSM (n=4), (D) Mitomycin C + Ligatur (n=5), (E) Mitomycin C+Lipiodol (n=5), (F) Mitomycin C+Lipiodol+Ligatur (n=4), (G) Mitomycin C+DSM+Ligatur (n=4), (H) Mitomycin C+Poly-Laktide-co-Glykolide (PLcG) (n=4), (I) DSM + Ligatur (n=4), (J) Lipiodol + Ligatur (n=4), (K) Ligatur (n=4), (L) Lipiodol (n=5), (M) 0,9% NaCl (Kontrollgruppe, n=7). Zur Effektivit?tsbeurteilung der verschiedenen Methodiken erfolgte 12—14 Tage nach Therapie eine erneute kernspintomographische Volumenbestimmung der Tumoren. Ergebnisse: Im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe zeigten Gruppe D, E, F, G, H und J eine statistisch signifikant (P<0.05) geringere Tumorvolumenzunahme, w?hrend Gruppe A, B, C, I, K, L keine statistisch signifikanten Unterschiede hinsichtlich der Tumorvolumenzunahme zeigten. Schlufolgerung: Die Effektivit?t der TACE im tierexperimentellen Modell des hepatozellul?ren Karzinoms wird nur bei kombinierter Applikation von Zytostatikum und Carrier/Ligatur signifikant erhoht. Die alleinige Applikation des Zytostatikums/der Carrier/Ligatur hatte keinen signifikanten Effekt bezuglich der Effektivit?t.

Objective To compare the diagnostic value of renal ultrasound scan (RUS) and 99Tcmdimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scintigraphy in children with acute pyelonephritis (APN). Methods In all, 165 children with initial clinical diagnosis of APN, aged from 1.5 months to 11 yrs ( median 20 months), were included in the study, all of which were examined with RUS and DMSA renal scientigraphy. The diagnosis with DMSA renal scientigraphy results was taken as the standard reference to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of RUS. Results Of 99 out of all 330 kidneys that were found abnormal on DMSA renal scientigraphy, 31 were abnormal on RUS. Of the rest normal kidneys on DMSA scans renal scientigraphy, 4 were abnormal on RUS. Thus diagnostic sensitivity of RUS for APN was 31.3%(31/99) and specificity was 98.3% (227/231). Conclusions Although RUS provides with high diagnostic specificity for children with APN, its low sensitivity may underestimate the clinical evaluation of APN.More often than not, 99Tcm-DMSA renal scientigraphy is a clinical necesscity for the definite RUS diagnosis.