Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; methods ; Fractures, Bone ; surgery ; Humans ; Humerus ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between the structure and functional activity of hTNF alpha.

METHODSFour hTNF alpha mutants were constructed, different binding structures and gene responses related with these mutants were studied by the methods of immunoprecipitation and mRNA differential display.

RESULTSThe specific activities and LD50 of the different hTNF alpha mutants indicated their different bioactivities. It was shown that the hTNF alpha mutants had the relative binding affinities to the wild types. The mRNA differential display assay proved that the hTNF alpha mutants stimulated different gene responses.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the specific anti-tumor activities of hTNF alpha mutants are accomplished by inducing different or same gene response at different quantities after its binding to specific receptor.

Amino Acid Motifs ; Apoptosis ; Binding Sites ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Mutation ; Structure-Activity Relationship ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of lung fibroblast activation in radiation-induced lung injury.

METHODSThirty-five male Wistar rats were exposed to a single-dose 30 Gy irradiation of the right hemithorax or sham right lung irradiation. At 1, 7, 14, 28, 56 or 84 days after the irradiation, the rats were sacrificed for examination of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) expression in the bilateral lung tissues using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSalpha-SMA expression in fibroblast increased significantly in the out-field and in-field lung tissues within 24 h after irradiation after the irradiation (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONActivation of the lung fibroblasts occurred within 24 h after irradiation and found in ont-field and in-field lung tissues, suggesting that radiation-induced lung injury may not have an obvious latency.

Actins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung ; cytology ; pathology ; Male ; Radiation Injuries ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The proteins encoded by the Herpesviridae β-gene play a critical role in the replication stage of the virus. In this paper, phylogenetic analyses provided evidence that someβ-gene products, such as UL2 and UL23 from HSV1, have their homologous genes in its family, and also exist in prokaryotic organisms, indicating that these viruses appear to have been assembled over evolutionary time by numerous independent events of horizontal gene transfer.

Objects To explore the association of ulcerative colitis (UC) with the imbalance between Th1,Th 2 and Th17 cells in the colonic tissues.Methods A total of 41 UC patients and 52 controls was recruited in the present study.The real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was applied for detecting the mRNA levels of Thl,Th2 and Th 17 cells-associated transcription factors T-bet,GATA-3 and RORγt and cytokines IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-17A in the colonic tissues.Simultaneously,the expressions of IFN-γ,IL-4 and IL-17A in the colonic tissues were also examined by an immunohistochemical staining method.Results Compared with the controls,the mRNA expressions of GATA-3,RORγt and IL-17A were more significantly enhanced in UC patients (0.84 ± 0.24 vs.0.69 ± 0.22,P=0.002;0.99 ± 0.29 vs.0.83 ± 0.23,P=0.004;1.59 ± 0.65 vs.1.35 ± 0.43,P=0.035).According to the ＂Truelove and Witts Severity Index＂,those patients were divided into different subgroups.The mRNA expressions of GATA-3,RORγt,and IL-17A were shown to be higher in patients with moderate and severe UC than in those with mild UC (0.90 ± 0.18 vs.0.78 ± 0.16,P=0.030;1.11 ± 0.31 vs.0.87 ± 0.26,P=0.011;1.83 ± 0.64 vs.1.34 ± 0.66,P=0.020).Moreover,the immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that the IL-17A positive cells were positioned mainly in the intestinal epithelial layer and lamina propria.Compared to the controls,the mean integral optic density of IL-17A was significantly increased in the colonic tissues of UC patients (0.25 ± 0.07 vs.0.13 ± 0.03,P＜0.001).The similar results were obtained for IL-17A in patients with moderate and severe UC when compared to those with mild UC (0.31 ± 0.07 vs.0.19 ± 0.06,P＜0.001).In contrast to the controls,the mRNA ratios ofGATA-3/T-bet,RORγt/ T-bet and RORγt/GATA-3 were significantly higher in the tissues of colonic UC patients (1.12 ± 0.30 vs.0.96 ± 0.31,P=0.014;1.33 ± 0.37 vs.1.15 ± 0.33,P=0.015;1.44 ± 0.45 vs.1.20 ± 0.42,P=0.009),and in the patients,the mRNA ratios for GATA-3/T-bet,RORγt/T-bet and RORγt/GATA-3 were significantly higher in the patients with moderate and severe UC than in those with mild UC (1.27 ± 0.35 vs.1.00 ± 0.32,P＜0.001;1.45 ± 0.37 vs.1.19 ± 0.36,P=0.028;1.59 ± 0.43 vs.1.28 ± 0.46,P=0.031).Conclusions These findings suggest that the imbalance between Thl,Th2 and Th17 cells in the colonic tissues may be implicated in UC.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of three-dimensional anal and endorectal ultrasound in identifying the internal opening and tracing the tract of the anorectal fistula.

METHODSFrom November 2008 to January 2010, 127 patients suffering anorectal fistula were managed with three-dimensional endoanal and endorectal ultrasound. The internal opening, the tract of the fistula and fistula trace were identified by the ultrasonography with three-dimensional imaging. All results were confirmed and compared with findings from the operation.

RESULTSThe internal opening of the fistula was specified in 116 patients, the accuracy rate was 91.3% (116/127). The internal opening of the fistula was located above the dentate line in 112 patients, and located in rectal ampulla in 4 patients. The main fistula tract was identified in all the patients, the accuracy rate was 100%. In this group, the fistula tunneled as follows: trans-sphincteric in 47 patients, intersphincteric in 75 cases, supra sphincteric in 2 cases, extra sphincteric in 3 patients. Secondary extension was found in 37 patients, the accuracy rate was 100% (37/37).

CONCLUSIONSThree-dimensional anal and endorectal ultrasound is an effective way for localizing the internal opening and the tract of anorectal fistula. It can provide valuable information for curative operation.

Adult ; Aged ; Endosonography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Fistula ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the health safety of copper, steel and plastic water pipes by field water quality investigations.

METHODSFour consumers were randomly selected for each type of water pipes. Two consumers of every type of the water pipes had used the water pipes for more than 1 year and the other 2 consumers had used the water pipes for less than 3 months. The terminal volume of tap water in copper and steel water pipes should be not less than 0.1 liter, whereas that in plastic water pipes should be not less than 1 liter.

RESULTSThe mean values of the experimental results in the second field water quality investigation of the copper and steel water pipes met the Sanitary Standards for Drinking Water Quality. The items of water sample of the plastic water pipes met the requirements of the Sanitary Standards for Drinking Water Quality.

CONCLUSIONCopper, steel, and plastic pipes can be used as drinking water pipes.

China ; Copper ; analysis ; Humans ; Manufactured Materials ; standards ; Materials Testing ; Plastics ; analysis ; Public Health ; Quality Control ; Steel ; analysis ; Water ; chemistry ; Water Pollutants ; analysis ; Water Supply ; standards

Objective To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of modified Los Angeles prehospital stroke screen (MLAPSS) in the diagnosis of acute stroke. Methods Prehospital personnel and physicians in the Emergency Department of 3 hospitals were trained for appropriate use of MLAPSS. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, likelihood ratios, and Youden's index of MLAPSS for diagnosis of acute stroke were evaluated in patients with ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack and intracerebral hemorrhage. Results Of a total of 2016 patients, 531 met the screening criteria of MLAPSS, among whom 157 had a final diagnosis of acute symptomatic cerebrovascular disease, including 82 with ischemic stroke, 17 with transient ischemic attack and 58 with intracerebral hemorrhages. The sensitivity, specificity and Youden index of MLAPSS for acute stroke diagnosis were 89% (95%CI: 85, 95), 95% (95%CI: 93, 97) and 0.85 (95%CI: 0.76, 0.94), with positive and negative predicted values of 89% (95%CI: 82, 95) and 96% (95%CI: 90, 100), and positive and negative likelihood ratios of 18 and 0.11, respectively. In the 531 patients, the missed diagnosis rate was 10% and the misdiagnosis rate was 5%. The average time to complete MLAPSS screening was 4 mitt 17 s. Conclusions MLAPSS has a relatively high sensitivity in the diagnosis of acute stroke with reduced misdiagnosis rate and high levels of specificity and predictive value. With easy operation, MLAPSS allows efficient screening of patients with acute stroke.

This study was purposed to investigate the reversal effect of gambogic acid (GA) on multidrug resistance of K562/A02 cells and its mechanism. The IC(50) (half maximal inhibitory concentration) of adriamycin (ADM) was evaluated by MTT. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Morphological changes of K562/A02 cells were observed by fluorescent microscopy with DAPI staining. The expressions of Survivin and P-gp were determined by Western blot. The results showed that the IC(50) of ADM on K562 and K562/A02 cell proliferation were (1.42 ± 0.07) µg/ml and (28.42 ± 1.40) µg/ml respectively. GA ≤ 0.0625 µmol/L had no inhibitory effect on proliferation of K562 and K562/A02. 0.0625 µmol/L GA could enhance the sensitivity of K562/A02 cells to ADM (P < 0.05) and the reversal multiples was 1.53. The apoptotic rate was raised after treating with ADM combined with 0.0625 µmol/L GA for 48 h (P < 0.05). Morphological differences were typical and obvious between cells of control and treated groups under fluorescence microscopy using DAPI staining. After treating K562/A02 cells with ADM combined with 0.0625 µmol/L GA for 48 h, the expressions of Survivin and P-gp were down-regulated at protein levels. It is concluded that GA can enhance the sensitivity of K562/A02 cells to ADM, which may be related to increasing cell apoptosis and down-regulating expressions of Survivin and P-gp.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; metabolism ; K562 Cells ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Xanthones ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDBivalirudin was widely used as an anticoagulant during coronary interventional procedure in western countries. However, it was not available in China before this clinical trial was designed. This randomized, single-blind and multicenter clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of domestic bivalirudin during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSA randomized, single-blind, multicenter trial was designed. Elective PCI candidates in five centers were randomized into a bivalirudin group and a heparin group, which were treated with domestic bivalirudin and non-fractional heparin during the PCI procedure. The efficacy was evaluated by comparing the activated coagulation time (ACT), the procedural success rate (residual stenosis < 20% in target lesions without any coronary artery related adverse events within 24 hours after PCI), and the survival rate without major adverse cardiac events at 30 days after PCI between the two groups. Safety was evaluated by the major/minor bleeding rate.

RESULTSA total of 218 elective PCI patients were randomized into a bivalirudin group (n = 110) and heparin group (n = 108). Except for two patients needing additional dosing in the heparin group, the ACT values of all other patients in both groups were longer than 225 seconds at 5 minutes after the first intravenous bolus. Procedural success rates were respectively 100.0% and 98.2% in the bivalirudin group and heparin group (P > 0.05). Survival rates without major adverse cardiac events at 30 days after PCI were 100.0% in the bivalirudin group and 98.2% in the heparin group (P > 0.05). Mild bleeding rates were 0.9% and 6.9% (P < 0.05) at 24 hours, and 1.9% and 8.8% (P < 0.05) at 30 days after PCI in the bivalirudin group and heparin group respectively. There was one severe gastrointestinal bleeding case in the heparin group.

CONCLUSIONSDomestic bivalirudin is an effective and safe anticoagulant during elective PCI procedures. The efficacy is not inferior to heparin, but the safety is superior to heparin.

Aged ; Antithrombins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heparin ; therapeutic use ; Hirudins ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Fragments ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Recombinant Proteins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Single-Blind Method ; Survival Rate ; Whole Blood Coagulation Time