Anal Canal/surgery* ; Anorectal Malformations ; Constriction ; Fecal Incontinence ; Humans ; Rectal Prolapse

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSTotally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONQD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology

Copolyesters consisting of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) (PHBHHx), a new type of biodegradable material, are receiving considerable attentions recently. The material properties are strongly related to the 3HHx fraction of PHBHHx. As the 3HHx fraction increase, crystallinity and melting point of PHBHHx decrease, flexibility and tractility increase. PHBHHx of different 3HHx fraction can meet different demands of commercial application and research. Aeromonas are the best studied PHBHHx-producing strains. Recent studies have been focused on optimizations of fermentative culture media and culture conditions for low-cost and efficient fermentative production. Aliphatic substrates such as long-chain fatty acid and soybean oil were used in the PHBHHx fermentation as the sole carbon source and energy source. Two-stage fermentation method was also developed for more efficient PHBHHx production. While studies on Aeromonas hydrophila revealed that the monomer composition of PHBHHx could not easily be regulated by fermentative process engineering methods such as changing substrates and fermentative conditions because precursors involved in the PHBHHx synthesis were all from the beta-oxidation pathway. In this study, phbA gene encoding beta-ketothiolase and phbB gene encoding acetoacetyl-CoA reductase were introduced into a PHBHHx-producing strain Aeromonas hydrophila 4AK4 so as to provide a new 3HB precursors synthesis way. phbA gene encodes beta-ketothiolase which can catalyze two acetyl-CoA to form acetoacetyl-CoA; phbB gene encodes acetoacetyl-CoA reductase catalyzing acetoacetly-CoA into 3HB-CoA which is the precursor of 3HB. The introduced novel 3-hydroxybutyrate precursor synthesis pathway allowed the recombinant strain to use unrelated carbon source such as gluconate to provide 3HB precursors for PHBHHx synthesis. Shake-flask experiments were carried out to produce PHBHHx of controllable monomer composition and fermentations in 5 L fermentor were also proceeded for confirmation of these result in large-scale culture. In flask culture, it was possible to reduce the 3HHx mol fraction in PHBHHx from 15 % in the wild type to 3% - 12% in the recombinant by simply changing the ratio of gluconate to lauric acid in the culture media. When lauric acid was used as the sole carbon source, 51.5 g/L Cell Dry Weight (CDW) containing 62 % PHBHHx with 9.7 % 3HHx mol fraction was obtained in 56 hours of fermentation in a 5 liter fermentor. When co-substrates of sodium gluconate and lauric acid (1:1) were used as carbon sources, 32.8 g/L CDW containing 52 % PHBHHx with 6.7% 3HHx mol fraction was obtained in 48 hours of fermentation. These results showed the possibility for fermentative production of PHBHHx with controllable monomer composition.
3-Hydroxybutyric Acid ; metabolism ; Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Aeromonas hydrophila ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; Alcohol Oxidoreductases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biotechnology ; methods ; Caproates ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; genetics ; physiology ; Lauric Acids ; metabolism

Objective To demonstrate the diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)characteristics of multiple sclerosis(MS)plaques,periplaque white matter regions and normal appearing white matter (NAWM)regions in patients with MS,and to evaluate the clinical values of DTI and three-dimensional brain fiber tracking for the diagnosis of MS.Methods Conventional MRI and DTI were performed in 32 patients with MS and 32 age-matched control subjects.Fractional anisotropy(FA)and apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)maps were generated and coregistered with T_2-weighted MR images,FA and ADC values were calculated in regions of interest in plaques,periplaque white matter regions,NAWM regions and white matter regions in control subjects.And three-dimensional brain fiber tracking maps were generated by using the DTI.Results TheADCwas(1.233?0.119)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in MS plaques,(0.973?0.098)?10~(-3) mm~2/s in periplaque white matter regions,(0.748?0.089)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in NAWM,and(0.620? 0.094)?10~(-3)mm~2/s in control subjects.The FA was 0.225?0.052 in MS plaques,0.311?0.050 in perip]aque white matter regions,0.421?0.070 in NAWM,and 0.476?0.069 in control subjects. Significant differences in FA and ADC values were observed among all white matter regions(P

Objective To investigate the method and value of adjustable interatrial fistulization in the operation of congenital heart disease(CHD) accompany with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension(PH).Methods Twenty-seven patients(19 male,8 females) accompany with severe PH were entered the study,age ranged from 4 to 14 years old,weight from 13.7 to 42.0 kilogram.The enrolled diseases included 11 cases of atrial septal defect(ASD),10 cases of ventricular septal defect(VSD),4 cases of patent ductus arteriosus(PDA),and 2 cases of Ebstein syndrome accompany with severe tricuspid insufficiency.All patients were diagnosed as CHD accompany with severe PH(bidirectional shunt)which was the contraindications for routine operation before operation through chest X-ray,electrocardiography,ultrasonic cardiography,cardiac catheteri-zation and cardiac angiography.Results With adjustable interatrial fistulization and treatment to the abnormalities,14 fistulaes were closed immediately after operation,7 fistulaes were closed 2 days after operation,3 fistulaes were closed 3 days and 1 fistulae was closed 4 days after operation and accompanied with empyema discharged initiatively.One fistula was never closed,1 case died from low cardiac output symptom.The effective rate was 92.6%,closed to that of routine operations.Conclusion Adjustable interatrial fistulization is an easy procedure,and it can decrease the danger of PH post-operation effectively and provide operation opportunity for those patients with CHD approaching terminal stage.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVEEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been detected in about 10% of gastric carcinomas. However, the pathogenetic role of EBV in gastric carcinoma is uncertain. This study was to explore the correlation of Fas/FasL expression to the apoptosis of tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC).

METHODSFas/FasL expression in 49 specimens of EBVaGC, 20 specimens of EBV-negative gastric carcinoma (EBVnGC) and 12 specimens of normal gastric mucosa was detected by immunohistochemistry. The apoptotic index (AI) of cells was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL).

RESULTSThe positive rates of Fas were 91.7% in normal gastric mucosa and 76.8% in gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05); those of FasL were 16.7% in normal gastric mucosa and 58% in gastric carcinoma (P < 0.05). The positive rate of Fas was significantly lower in EBVaGC than in EBVnGC (71.4% vs. 90.0%, P < 0.05). The positive rate of FasL in EBVaGC was significantly higher than that in EBVnGC (63.2% vs. 45%, P < 0.05). The AI of EBVaGC cells was significantly lower than that of EBVnGC cells (P = 0.002). The number and AI of TIL in EBVaGC were higher than those in EBVnGC (P < 0.05). The AI of TIL was positively correlated with the level of FasL expression in tumor cells (r=0.237, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONUp-regulation of FasL expression and decrease of TIL apoptosis in EBVaGC may facilitate the escape of tumor cells from the host immunosurveillance, and it might contribute to the development and progression of carcinoma.

Adult ; Apoptosis ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Fas Ligand Protein ; metabolism ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Immunologic Surveillance ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Tumor Escape ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phlebography ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy

Uvaria kweichowensis is a folk nongovernmental herb used to treat cure inflammation and tumour in the Southwest area of China. During the course of our investigation for antitumour agents from the stems of Uvaria kweichowensis, six amides were obtained by means of solvent extraction, chromatography on silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 repeatedly. And their structures were identified as uvariadiamide (1), cepharanone (2), aristololactam A II (3), enterocarpam II (4), aristololactam A Ia (5), and 4,5-dioxodehydroasimilobine (6) on the basis of chemical methods and spectral analyses (EI-MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR). Among them, compound 1 is a new compound; the other compounds were obtained from this plant for the first time.
Amides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Aristolochic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Uvaria ; chemistry

AIMTo synthesize the selenophosphocholine analogues containing tegafur and test their antitumor activities.

METHODSThe cyclic glyceroselenophospholopid conjugate of tegafur was synthesized by the reaction of hexaethylphosphorous triamide with N1-(2-furanidyl)-N3-(hydroxyalkyl)-5-fluyorouracil and 1-O-hexadecyl glycerol as well as selenium in one-pot. Cyclic glyceroselenophospholopid conjugate of tegafur reacted with triethylamine to give title compounds.

RESULTSSix new compounds have been synthesized. Their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13P NMR and elemental analysis. Antitumor activity of the title compounds against PGA1 was tested.

CONCLUSIONThe reaction of triethylamine with cyclic glyceroselenophospholopid conjugate of tegafur very readily occurred, which was finished within 2 h at room temperature. The opening-ring products of trans isomers showed antimutor activity against human uriaryl bladder cancer cell more effective than that of the tegafur.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Organoselenium Compounds ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Phosphorylcholine ; analogs & derivatives ; Tegafur ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology