Objective To investigate the influences of mutation at precore and basic core promoter(BCP) region in hepatitis B virus(HBV) on the immune response of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTL) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods The number of specific CTL in peripheral blood mononuclear(PBMC) of CHB patients were tested by cytokine flow cytome- try(CFC) and HBV core18-27 peptide.HBV precore and BCP fragments were directly sequenced. Results Twenty-one(38.9%) samples were HBV precore G1896A mutation.Twenty-six(48.1%) samples were BCP region 1762/1764 combined mutation.Thirteen(24.1%) stains were three sites mutated simultaneously.Stimulated with HBV core 18-27 in vitro,the specific CTL level was signifi- cantly higher in the patients with G1896A mutation and BCP region mutation [(0.41?0.09)%, (0.36?0.08)%,(0.48?0.08)%,respectively]than those without mutation[(0.11?0.06)%, P

The clinical efficacy and safety of auricular acupuncture (AA) for treatment of primary insomnia was evaluated. After a comprehensive retrieval in domestic and foreign databases, literatures were strictly screened and Revman 5.2 software was applied to perform a Meta-analysis on eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The evidence quality was assessed with GRADE profiler 3.6 software. As a result, 8 articles were included involving 894 patients. Compared among AA and sham AA, placebo AA, blank control, there was significant difference in Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) [WMD = -3.48, 95% CI (-3.96, -3.00)], sleep latency LWMD = -10.14, 95% CI (-17.16, -3.12)] and sleep awakening times [WMD = -9.98, 95% CI (-1.10,-0.48)]. Compared between AA and western medication, there was significant difference in PSQI [WMD = -3.62, 95% CI (-4.59, -2.65)]. The evidence quality was moderate in AA vs. sham AA, placebo AA or blank control, while that of the rest was extremely low. No reports of adverse events were described in all studies. In conclusion, for the treatment of primary insomnia, AA could effectively improve sleep quality, but due to the low evidence quality, cautious attitude should be taken on this conclusion, and clinical trials with large sample and high quality were needed in the further.
Acupuncture, Ear ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Sleep ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; physiopathology ; therapy

Objective Because of the major trauma from thoracotomy , postoperative pain may arouse patients'psychological and physiological stress response and hence affected the treatment outcome and functional recovery seriously .We retrospectively studied the correlation between the staging of pain and nursing interference to investigate the effect of nursing interference on the pain intensity after thoracic surgery . Methods Five hundred and eighty cases of patients surviving thoracotomy between December 2013 and March 2014 in Nanjing Jingling Hospital were reviewed .Correlations between comfortable nursing measures such as effective analgesia , postural care , catheter care , environmental interventions , psychological intervention and the standard assessment of pain were analysed according to postoperative pain stage . Results With comprehensive nursing interference , the highest pain score occurred in the first 24 hour (2.89 ±0.39).The score was reduced gradually to 2.25 ±0.90 in stage Ⅱ, 1.58 ±0.57 in stage Ⅲ and 1.06 ±0.24 in stage Ⅳrespectively . Conclusion Comprehensive nursing interference according to pain staging may relieve pain effectively after thoracotomy .

Objective To prepare a conjugate vaccine by linking Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)polysaccharide to PsaA protein carrier and evaluate the immunogenicity and efficacy of the conjugate vaccine. Methods A recombinant protein rPsaA,expressed by using the genetic engineering technology, was used as a protein carrier to prepare conjugate vaccine together with Hib polysaccharide. Ten mice at age of 3 weeks were immunized with the conjugate vaccine,while another 10 age-matched mice were immunized with Hib-tetanus toxoid(Hib-TT)vaccine which was produced formerly as a control. The mice treated with equal volume of PBS were set up as the negative control. The IgG antibodies in serum samples against PsaA and Hib polysaccharide were detected in two weeks after the final immunization. A suspension of Pneumococ-cus was injected into the middle ears of mice from experiment and control group. Histopathological analysis was performed to measure the clearance of bacteria in the middle ears and the severity of infection on days 3 and 7 after bacterial challenge. Results The rPsaA protein was prepared by the genetic engineering tech-nology and purified successfully with anion-exchange column. The Hib polysaccharide-PsaA protein conju-gate vaccine was prepared through a series of amide condensation reactions. The detection of IgG antibodies against PsaA protein and Hib polysaccharide in the immunized mice demonstrated that there was no signifi-cant difference with the titer of IgG against Hib polysaccharide between the mice immunized with the Hib-PsaA conjugate vaccine and those immunized with the Hib-TT vaccine. Less Pneumococcus strains were de-tected in the middle ears of mice immunized with the conjugate vaccine than those mice immunized with the Hib-TT vaccine three days after challenge. The mice from control group showed severe inflammation in the middle ears than those from experiment group. The Hib polysaccharide-PsaA protein conjugate vaccine im-proved protection against Pneumococcus infections as compared with the Hib-TT vaccine. Conclusion The rPsaA protein could be produced by genetic engineering technology and purified by anion-exchange column. The Hib polysaccharide was successfully conjugated with the rPsaA protein through amide condensation reac-tion. Both anti-PsaA and anti-Hib immune responses were induced in young mice by the injection of Hib pol-ysaccharide-PsaA protein conjugate vaccine. Apart from providing protection against Hib infection,the con-jugate vaccine might also be used for the prevention of acute otitis media caused by Pneumococcus infection.

Objective To study the pre-transplant serum level of anti-endothelial cell antibody(AECA)in kidney allograft recipients and its impact on the episode of acute rejection (AR) within 6 months after transplantation. Methods A total of 495 kidney allograft recipients with pre-transplant serum between December 1998 and August 2003 in our center and 40 healthy controls(negative controls)were enrolled in the study.Clinical data including AR within 6 months after transplantation were analyzed retrospectively.The serum AECA level was measured by cyto-ELISA using EA.hy926 cells as substrate,which was shown as the ratio of P (patient)/N (negative control)=(A_(petient)-A_(blank contrnal)/(A_(negative contral)-A_(blank contral).AECA was considered positive when P/N value Was greater than the average A_(negative control)value plus two times the standard deviation.Results Positive rate of AECA was 18.8%(93/495).AECA level in hemodialysis patients who had been on hemodialysis more than 12 months was 1.43±0.37,greater than those less than 12 months(1.27± 0.32,P=0.013)and those of non-dialyzed patients(1.31±0.32,P=0.029).Correlation coeffieient between AECA level and hemodialysis duration was 0.218 (P=0.018).AR incidence in AECA positive recipients was 38.7%,greater than that in AECA negative recipients (23.4%,P=0.002). Incidence of acute T cell-mediated rejection and acute antibody-mediated rejction increased significantly (P=0.035,P=0.002 respectively).Multifactor logistic regression analysis indicated that AECA positive,PRA greater than 1 0%and high CDC level were risk factors of AR with odds ratio of 2.056,1.751 and 1.764 respectively(P=0.004,0.029,0.050). Conclusions The AECA positive in pre-transplant serum indicates the elevated risk of acute allograft rejection.The AECA level increases with prolonged hemodialysis duration.

Objective To study the effect of different concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1,25(OH)2D3] on cell proliferation,differentiation and the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mouse MC3T3E1 osteoblast.Methods Osteoblast were cultured in medium with different concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3.Incubated for 48 h,cell proliferation of osteoblast were examined by MTT reduction assay (mono-nuclear cell direc cytotoxicity assay),the osteocalcin (OC) levels in cell medium were detected by ELISA,and the expression of VDR mRNA and protein were examined by using SYBR Green real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results 1.After incubation with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48 h,the number of MC3T3E1 osteoblast was significantly less than that in control group(P0.05).3.SYBR Green real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that the expression of VDR mRNA as well as VDR protein of osteoblast in 10-8,10-9 mol/L experimental groups were significantly higher than those in control group (Pa0.05).Conclusions Cell proliferation of mouse osteoblast can be inhibited,while the cell differentiation was promoted by 1,25(OH)2D3.1,25(OH)2D3 up-regulated the expression of VDR in mouse osteoblast,which suggested that the VDR signal pathway may play some role in proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on mouse sperm in vivo.

METHODSA total of 64 six-week-old male Kuming mice were randomly divided into eight groups of equal number to be treated with normal saline (negative control), Cyclophosphamide (CP) at 30 mg/kg (positive control), and CP followed by EGCG (experimental) at 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg, respectively, given every other day for 10 days. At 4 and 5 weeks after treatment, the bilateral testes of the mice were harvested for examination of sperm abnormality.

RESULTSEGCG did not increase the rate of CP-induced sperm abnormality in the mice, but reduced it instead with the prolonged time of treatment.

CONCLUSIONEGCG protects mouse sperm in vivo.

Animals ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cyclophosphamide ; toxicity ; Male ; Mice ; Mutagens ; toxicity ; Random Allocation ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHI) on the drug-resistance to imatinib in K562/G01 cell line and to elucidate its possible mechanisms.

METHODSMTT assay was employed to access K562/G01 cell growth inhibition after exposure to PHI and/or imatinib at different concentrations. Apoptotic rate of K562/G01 cells was measured by flow cytometry. The levels of P-gp, P210(bcr-abl) and p-P210(bcr-abl) protein were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSPHI inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of K562/G01 cells after treated with PHI alone for 24 h. PHI concentration increased from 0 to 40 µmol/L, the inhibitory rate of cell proliferation from 0 to (51.22 ± 1.41)%, and the apoptosis rate from (3.76 ± 1.46)% to (35.35 ± 3.70)%. Combination of 10, 20, 40 µmol/L PHI and various concentrations of imatinib, IC50 s of imatinib were (10.49 ± 1.24), (6.33 ± 1.42), and (0.85 ± 0.17) µmol/L, respectively. When K562/G01 cells treated with 20 µmol/L PHI combined with 10 and 20µmol/L imatinib for 24 hours, apoptosis rate were (43.62 ± 4.23)% and (55.41 ± 4.35)%, respectively, being significantly higher than that with imatinib or PHI alone. PHI concentrations increased from 0 to 40 µmol/L for 7 hours, the P210(bcr-abl)/β-actin decreased from (0.944 ± 0.034) to (0.392 ± 0.025), and the p-P210(bcr-abl)/β-actin decreased from (0.906 ± 0.019) to (0.361 ± 0.021), while the alteration of P-gp was not seen.

CONCLUSIONSPHI inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of K562/G01 cell line. PHI has synergistic effect with imatinib. It partially reverses the drug-resistance to imatinib. The mechanism of reversal of drug resistance in K562/G01 cells might be by inhibiting P210(bcr-abl) and p-P210(bcr-abl).

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzamides ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; metabolism ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Isothiocyanates ; pharmacology ; K562 Cells ; Piperazines ; pharmacology ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and action mechanism of petroleum ether extracts from Saussurea involucrate on brain tissues of hypoxia rats under constant pressure and closed conditions.

METHODThe PESI dosage-dependent experiment for hypoxia rats was conducted under constant pressure and closed conditions by intraperitoneally injecting 125, 250, 500 mg x kg(-1) to finalize that the optimum dosage is the high dose of PESI. Afterwards, 90 Wistar rats were randomly divided into the hypoxic model group, the acetazolamide 250 mg x kg(-1) group and the PESI high dose group. Each group was further divided into three subgroups according to different hypoxia times, with 10 rats in each subgroup. Under the same hypoxia and administration conditions, the rats were sacrificed after 0, 3, 6 h respectively. Their brain samples were collected for common pathological observation and immunohistochemical staining of HIF-1alpha. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect HIF-1alpha, EPO, HO-1 and Caspase-3 gene expressions. And the Western blot assay was adopted to detect HIF-1alpha protein expression.

RESULTThe brain tissues of the hypoxia model group were severely damaged with the increase in the hypoxia time. The acetazolamide group and the PESI high does group were damaged in a much lower degree. According to the gene expression and the Western blot assay, high dose of PESI could inhibit HIF-1alpha expression. According to the pure gene expression test, high dose of PESI could increase EPO and HO-1 mRNA expressions, but inhibit Caspase-3 mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONPESI's protective mechanism for brain tissues of hypoxia rats under constant pressure and closed conditions may be related to its effects in inhibiting HIF-1alpha expression, increasing EPO expression and resisting cell apoptosis.

Alkanes ; chemistry ; Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; Cell Hypoxia ; drug effects ; Cytoprotection ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Erythropoietin ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Saussurea ; chemistry

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) has a low morbidity and high mortality in neonates. We recently diagnosed and treated a case of neonatal streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. This paper reviewed the diagnosis and treatment of the patient and reviewed the relevant literature of the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment.