Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; blood ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; Young Adult

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Neural Stem Cells ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; Olfactory Mucosa ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Qingdao, and the relationship of HBV genotypes with the serum HBV-DNA levels and HBV YMDD spontaneous mutation of patients, then to discuss the clinical significance.

METHODSHepatitis B virus genotypes and YMDD spontaneous mutation of 144 patients were detected by real time PCR (Taqman probe), then the results were analyzed by statistical method.

RESULTSOf the 144 patients, 130 (90.3%) were genotype C, 12 (8.3%) were genotype B, and 2 (1.4%) were neither genotype B nor genotype C; 33 (22.9%) were detected to have YMDD mutation, and 25 (75.5%) were YVDD positive, 3 (9.1%) were YIDD positive, 5 (15.2%) were YVDD and YIDD positive. There were no significant differences between clinical diagnosis, serum HBV-DNA levels, YMDD spontaneous mutation and HBV genotypes (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONGenotype C is the dominant position for HBV genotype in Qingdao. Untreated patients with chronic hepatitis B have YMDD spontaneous mutation. HBV genotypes have no association with YMDD spontaneous mutation and the development of diseases.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; enzymology ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Viral Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

One of the mechanisms of endometriosis-dysmenorrhea is closely related to the changes of pelvic anatomy and hemodynamics. TCM holds that cold-coagulation and blood-stasis that alternate and resist the cell palace is one of the main pathogenesis of dysmenorrheas.Dunhuang Liao Fengxu Shouruo Formula(P.3930),a precise and appropriate formulating prescription, plays an important role in activating blood, dispelling cold, tonifying qi and nourishing blood, which can warm the maridians and disperse cold, nourish blood and dissolve stasis and it achieves significant results. And in this prescription, the method of decocting herbs in mutton soup embodies the local characteristic of foodtherapy combined with medication of ancient Dunhuang medical prescriptions.

Objective To explore the role of apoptosis of neutrophils and vascular endothelial cells and changes of relative cytokines and thrombotic factors in the pathogenesis of traumatic sepsis at the advanced stage.Methods The venous blood was collected from the patients with traumatic sepsis at advanced stage and traumatic patients without sepsis and healthy subjects.The peripheral hlood mononu- clear cells(PBMC)and neutrophils were isolated and cultured.The apoptosis of neutrophils and vascular endothelial cells was assayed,and the level of IL-4,IL-10 in PBMC culture supernatants were deter- mined,and the tissue factor(TF)and vW factor(vWF)of peripheral plasma were measured.Results The percentages of apoptosis of neutrophils and numbers of apoptotic circulating vascular endothelial cells were higher than that of traumatic patients without sepsis and healthy controls significantly.And the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4,IL-10 and thrombotic factors TF,vWF in traumatic sepsis were elevated than that of traumatic patients without sepsis and controls too.Conclusion Immune suppres- sion and abnormal thrombotic state may be one characteristic of traumatic sepsis at advanced stage,which perhaps involveds in the pathogenesis of traumatic sepsis at the advanced stage and multiple organ dys- function syndrome.

Objective To investigate the protective mechanism of protein kinase C(PKC)and calcium sensing receptor(CaR)in ischemia preconditioned rat hearts.Methods Using cell culture method,in vitro cultured inhibitor(IPC+CaRI).Apoptosis was detected using TUNEL and Hoechst33342 cell viability was detected by MTT,the protein expression of easpase-12,calpain and CaR in endochylema were detected using Wedtetm blot.ResultsIn I/R group nucleus was shrank,big blue,chromatin concentrated,apoptotle body appeared.Other groups haddifferent fluorescence intensity varying degree,IPC+PKCI+CaRS group had more big blue nucleus.Myocardialcell viability and apoptotic rate,I/R group[(62.99±0.65)%,(19.13±0.87)%],IPC group[(78.67±0.37)%,(14.21±0.74)%],IPC+PKCI group[(71.09±0.52)%,(20.46±0.81)%],IPC+PKCI+CaRS group(66.10±0.75)%,(24.89±1.43)%],IPC+CaRS group[(69.56±0.44)%,(21.64±0.77)%],IPC+CaRI group(85.81±0.60)%,(13.12±0.69)%],all had a difference(P＜0.05 or＜0.01)compared with C group[(100.00)%,(6.02±0. 31)%].Western blot identified that CaR expression in IPC+PKCI and IPC+CaRS,IPC+PKCI+CaRS groupswas more than that in IPC and IPC+CaRI groups;easpase-12 had more active fragment(60×103)in I/R,IPC+CaRS,IPC+PKCI+CaRS groups;ealpain expressions in I/R,IPC,IPC+PKCI,IPC+PKCI+CaRS,IPC+CaRSgroups were higher than those in C and IPC+CaRI,I/R group was the highest one,C group the second,IPC+CaRI the third.Conclusion The interaction of PKC and CaR can reduce the intracellular Ca2+ from sarcoplasmicreticulum thus provide a protection.

OBJECTIVETo explore the morphometric abnormalities of brain gray matter (GM) in patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

METHODSThirty patients with CLBP and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled and examined with a 3.0 T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner. High-resolution T1 structural MR data were acquired and data analysis was performed using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in FMRIB Software Library. The morphological differences were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSs Compared with the healthy control subjects, patients with CLBP showed decreased GM volumes in several brain cortical areas including the bilateral superior frontal gyrus, right frontal pole, left insular cortex, left middle and left inferior temporal gyrus (P<0.05, after TFCE correction). Increased GM volumes were found in the patients in the subcortical structures including the left thalamus, bilateral putamen, bilateral nucleus accumben and right caudate nucleus (P<0.05, after TFCE correction).

CONCLUSIONPatients with CLBP have different patterns of GM abnormalities in different brain regions, characterized by reduced GM volume in cerebral cortical regions and increased GM volume in the subcortical nuclei. Such changes might be associated with the maladaptation of the brain in chronic pain state.

Cerebral Cortex ; Frontal Lobe ; Gray Matter ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; physiopathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Temporal Lobe ; Thalamus

Trichomonas vaginalis induces proinflammation in cervicovaginal mucosal epithelium. To investigate the signaling pathways in TNF-alpha production in cervical mucosal epithelium after T. vaginalis infection, the phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways were evaluated in T. vaginalis-infected SiHa cells in the presence and absence of specific inhibitors. T. vaginalis increased TNF-alpha production in SiHa cells, in a parasite burden-dependent and incubation time-dependent manner. In T. vaginalis-infected SiHa cells, AKT, ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, and JNK were phosphorylated from 1 hr after infection; however, the phosphorylation patterns were different from each other. After pretreatment with inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways, TNF-alpha production was significantly decreased compared to the control; however, TNF-alpha reduction patterns were different depending on the type of PI3K/MAPK inhibitors. TNF-alpha production was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by treatment with wortmannin and PD98059, whereas it was increased by SP600125. These data suggested that PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways are important in regulation of TNF-alpha production in cervical mucosal epithelial SiHa cells. However, activation patterns of each pathway were different from the types of PI3K/MAPK pathways.
Cell Line ; Cervix Uteri/enzymology/metabolism/*parasitology ; Epithelial Cells/*enzymology/metabolism/parasitology ; Female ; Humans ; *MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mucous Membrane/*enzymology/metabolism/parasitology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics/*metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics/*metabolism ; Trichomonas Vaginitis/*enzymology/genetics/metabolism/parasitology ; Trichomonas vaginalis/*physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics/*metabolism

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that stimulates production of high levels of proinflammatory cytokines, which are important for innate immunity. NLRs, i.e., nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors, play a crucial role as innate immune sensors and form multiprotein complexes called inflammasomes, which mediate caspase-1-dependent processing of pro-IL-1β. To elucidate the role of inflammasome components in T. gondii-infected THP-1 macrophages, we examined inflammasome-related gene expression and mechanisms of inflammasome-regulated cytokine IL-1β secretion. The results revealed a significant upregulation of IL-1β after T. gondii infection. T. gondii infection also upregulated the expression of inflammasome sensors, including NLRP1, NLRP3, NLRC4, NLRP6, NLRP8, NLRP13, AIM2, and NAIP, in a time-dependent manner. The infection also upregulated inflammasome adaptor protein ASC and caspase-1 mRNA levels. From this study, we newly found that T. gondii infection regulates NLRC4, NLRP6, NLRP8, NLRP13, AIM2, and neuronal apoptosis inhibitor protein (NAIP) gene expressions in THP-1 macrophages and that the role of the inflammasome-related genes may be critical for mediating the innate immune responses to T. gondii infection.
Apoptosis ; Cytokines ; Gene Expression ; Immunity, Innate ; Inflammasomes* ; Macrophages* ; Multiprotein Complexes ; Negotiating ; Neurons ; Parasites ; RNA, Messenger ; Toxoplasma* ; Up-Regulation

Fasciola hepatica is a trematode that causes zoonosis mainly in cattle and sheep and occasionally in humans. Fascioliasis has been reported in Korea; however, determining F. hepatica infection in snails has not been done recently. Thus, using PCR, we evaluated the prevalence of F. hepatica infection in snails at 4 large water-dropwort fields. Among 349 examined snails, F. hepatica-specific internal transcribed space 1 (ITS-1) and/or ITS-2 markers were detected in 12 snails and confirmed using sequence analysis. Morphologically, 213 of 349 collected snails were dextral shelled, which is the same aperture as the lymnaeid snail, the vectorial host for F. hepatica. Among the 12 F. hepatica-infected snails, 6 were known first intermediate hosts in Korea (Lymnaea viridis and L. ollula) and the remaining 6 (Lymnaea sp.) were potentially a new first intermediate host in Korea. It has been shown that the overall prevalence of the snails contaminated with F. hepatica in water-dropwort fields was 3.4%; however, the prevalence varied among the fields. This is the first study to estimate the prevalence of F. hepatica infection using the vectorial capacity of the snails in Korea.
Animals ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Helminth/chemistry/genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry/genetics ; Fasciola hepatica/anatomy & histology/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oenanthe/growth & development ; *Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Snails/growth & development/*parasitology