SHIV-CN97001 played an important role in assessing the immune effect and strategy of the AIDS vaccine which included genes of the predominant prevalent HIV-1 strain in China. In this study, SHIV-CN97001 was in vivo passaged serially to construct pathogenic SHIV-CN97001/rhesus macaques model. To identify variation in the gp120 region of SHIV-CN97001 during passage, the fragments of gp120 gene were amplified by RT-PCR from the plasma of SHIV-CN97001 infected animals at the peak viral load time point and the gene distances (divergence, diversity) were calculated using DISTANCE. The analysis revealed that the genetic distances of SHIV-CN97001 in the third passage animals were the highest during in vivo passage. It had a relationship between viral divergence from the founder strain and viral replication ability. The nucleic acid sequence of the V3 region was highly conservative. All of the SHIV-CN97001 strains had V3 loop central motif (GPGQ) and were predicted to be using CCR5 co-receptor on the basis of the critical amino acids within V3 loop. These results show that there was no significant increase in the genetic distance during serial passage, and SHIV-CN97001 gp120 gene evolved toward ancestral states upon transmission to a new host. This could partly explain why there was no pathogenic viral strain obtained during in vivo passage.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) manipulation plus horse-riding squat exercise in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and optimize the combining protocol. Methods: Based on a 2×2 factorial design, 120 eligible KOA patients were randomized into a manipulation group (group A1B2), a manipulation plus horse-riding squat group (group A1B1), a sitting knee-adjustment group (group A2B2 group), and a sitting knee-adjustment plus horse-riding squat group (group A2B1), with 30 cases in each group. The intervention was conducted three times a week, lasting for four weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) was taken as the major measure for efficacy evaluation (including three component scores, pain, stiffness, and daily function, and total score). Results: The three component scores (pain, stiffness, and daily function) and the total score of WOMAC showed significant differences after the intervention in the four groups (P<0.05). There were significant inter-group differences in the WOMAC stiffness score amongst the four groups after the intervention (P<0.05). In group A1B1, the step length, stride, walking speed, and knee joint flexion angle changed significantly after treatment (P<0.05). After the intervention, the step length changed significantly in group A1B2 (P<0.05), and the walking speed changed significantly in group A2B1 (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the step length, stride, walking speed, or knee joint flexion angle among the four groups (P>0.05). The extensor peak torque at 180 °/s changed significantly in group A1B2 after treatment (P<0.05). Neither the intra-group nor the inter-group comparisons of the four groups revealed significant differences in the other isokinetic muscle strength parameters (P>0.05). The main effect of manipulation showed significant in affecting the WOMAC pain and total scores (P<0.05). The main effect of horse-riding squat exercise showed significant in affecting the WOMAC pain and stiffness scores (P<0.05). Conclusion: The four treatment protocols all can improve the symptoms of KOA, for instance, relieving pain and stiffness, and enhancing daily function. Group A2B1 produces the most eminent effect in relieving joint stiffness. The main effects of both manipulation and horse-riding squat exercise are significant in reducing pain. Besides, the main effect of horse-riding squat exercise is significant in relieving joint stiffness.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; methods ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control

BACKGROUNDRevision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery can be expected to become more common as the number of primary reconstruction keeps increasing. This study aims to investigate the factors causing instability after primary ACL reconstruction, which may provide an essential scientific base to prevent surgical failure.

METHODSOne hundred and ten revision ACL surgeries were performed at our institute between November 2001 and July 2012. There were 74 men and 36 women, and the mean age at the time of revision was 27.6 years (range 16 - 56 years). The factors leading to instability after primary ACL reconstruction were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSFifty-one knees failed because of bone tunnel malposition, with too anterior femoral tunnels (20 knees), posterior wall blowout (1 knee), vertical femoral tunnels (7 knees), too posterior tibial tunnels (12 knees), and too anterior tibial tunnels (10 knees). There was another knee performed with open surgery, where the femoral tunnel was drilled through the medial condyle and the tibial tunnel was too anterior. Five knees were found with malposition of the fixation. One knee with allograft was suspected of rejection and a second surgery had been made to take out the graft. Three knees met recurrent instability after postoperative infection. The other factors included traumatic (48 knees) and unidentified (12 knees).

CONCLUSIONTechnical errors were the main factors leading to instability after primary ACL reconstructions, while attention should also be paid to the risk factors of re-injury and failure of graft incorporation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Joint Instability ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have showed that photooxidative stress can lead to down-modulation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity causing apoptosis of cultured photoreceptor cells. This study aimed at investigating whether NF-kappaB was involved in photoreceptor cells apoptosis induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in rats.

METHODSA single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg MNU was given to 50-day-old female rats. At different intervals after MNU treatment, the animals were sacrificed. Retinal damage was examined by a light microscope. The apoptotic index of the photoreceptor cells was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL). NF-kappaB was analysed by Western blot and Transcriptin Factor Assay Kits.

RESULTSThe pyknosis of the photoreceptor nuclei and the disorientation of the outer segment of the photoreceptor layer was seen after MNU treatment for 24 hours. The outer nuclear layer and photoreceptor layer were almost completely lost at 7 days. Photoreceptor cells apoptosis reached the peaked value at 24 hours. In apoptotic cascade, the protein levels of NF-kappaB p65 were only detected after MNU treatment for 12 and 24 hours in the nucleus. Conversely, the amounts of IkappaBalpha were markedly increased in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus. The activity of NF-kappaB p65 in the nucleus was down-modulated in the end.

CONCLUSIONSMNU-induced photoreceptor cell destruction was attributed to the apoptotic process by down-regulating the activation of NF-kappaB p65.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Female ; I-kappa B Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Methylnitrosourea ; toxicity ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; NF-kappa B ; analysis ; physiology ; Photoreceptor Cells ; chemistry ; drug effects ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retina ; drug effects ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo observe the changes of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the course of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced apoptosis of rat retinal photoreceptor cells and investigate the mechanism of MNU-induced retinal damage.

METHODSA single intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg MNU was given to 50-day-old female rats, which were sacrificed at different intervals after MNU treatment. The retinal damage was examined with optical microscopy and photoreceptor cell apoptosis detected by TUNEL assay. Western blotting was performed to analyze the changes in NF-kappaB.

RESULTSPyknosis of the photoreceptor cell nuclei and disorientation of the outer segment of the photoreceptor layer was observed 24 h after MNU treatment, and the outer nuclear layer and photoreceptor layer were almost completely lost on day 7. Photoreceptor cell apoptosis peaked at 24 h, and in the apoptotic cascade, NF-kappaB p65 protein was only detected 12 and 24 h after MNU treatment, whereas the amount of I kappa B alpha, in contrast, markedly increased in the cytoplasm as well as in the nuclei.

CONCLUSIONMNU-induced retinal damage might be mediated through the signaling pathway of NF-kappaB/I kappa B alpha.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blotting, Western ; Female ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Methylnitrosourea ; toxicity ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Retinal Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between morphological variation and gentiopicroside content in cultivated Gentiana manshurica roots and to investigate the feasibility of breeding new varieties of high effective constituent content.

METHODGentiopicroside was determined in 5 morphological types of cultivated G. manshurica roots by HPLC, which are normal (or wild) type, white-flowered type, thick-rooted type, broad-leaved type I and broad-leaved type II.

RESULTAmong different types gentiopicroside content is the highest in the roots of thick-rooted type, the contents decrease as following order: normal type, broad-leaved type I white-flowered type and broad-leaved type II, and the gentiopicroside contents in the same type root system are a positive correlation with root ages, as 3-years-age roots > 2-years-age roots > 1-year-age varied with roots.

CONCLUSIONThe contents of effective constituent vary with the morphological variation in cultivated G. manshurica. It is feasible to breed a new variety with high effective constituent with the morphological character as a selecting index.

Genetic Variation ; Gentiana ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Iridoids ; analysis ; Plant Roots ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; classification ; Pyrans ; analysis ; Species Specificity

Objective Hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA in the serum of patients with hepatitis B, peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) and liver tissue distribution. Methods Serum HBV DNA105 copies/ml 50 cases of hepatitis B patients, serum HBV DNA105 copies/hal 30 cases of hepatitis B patients, patients with fatty liver (hepatitis B) 20 cases, using real-time quantitative palymerase chain reaction for detection of serum, and liver tissue in PBMC HBVcccDNA the existence. Results Of 50 serum HBV DNA105 copies/ml cccDNA the serum specimens were 28 cases, 56% detection rate, 29 cases were PBMC HBVcccDNA, 58% detection rate, liver tissue HBVcccDNA were 44 cases, 88% detection rate, serum, the PBMC were detected in liver tissue were significant differences in P＜0.005, compared serum PBMC were no significant differences in P ＞0.005. 30 serum HBV DNA105copies/ml the serum specimens, PBMC cccDNA detected two cases were 6.67% detection rate, liver tissue cccDNA were six cases 20% detection rate, serum, PBMC, were among the liver tissue was not significantly different P＞0.005. 20 in the serum of patients with fatty liver, liver tissue in PBMCwere not detected HBVcccDNA. Conclusion HBVcccDNA mainly in the liver of patients with hepatitis B, hepatitis B patients and also cccDNA PBMC in the presence of liver tissue but a few of many.

Pancreatic cancer is a common malignancy with the worst prognosis.Radical surgery has been the only curative treatment for pancreatic cancer.With the advancement of surgical techniques and the implementation of the concept of comprehensive treatment for cancer in recent years,neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer has received more attention.There are continuing controversies in the hotspots and difficulties,with opportunities and challenges coexisting.Four famous experts and their teams in pancreatic surgery discussed selection strategy of neoadjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer based on clinical experiences.Professor Wang Chunyou proposed that surgery was prior for patients with a higher likelihood of achieving R0 resection for pancreatic cancer to avoid the possibility of tumor progression and loss the opportanity of radical resection during neoadjuvant therapy.For patients with less chance of radical resection for pancreatic cancer and unresectable pancreatic cancer,neoadjuvant therapy is worthy of a positive attempt.Professor Jin Gang and his team believed that neoadjuvant therapy played an important role in improving the survival time of patients with pancreatic head cancer,especially with borderline resectable pancreatic head cancer.After neoadjuvant therapy,pancreatic surgeons should pay attention to improvement of surgery safety and R0 resection rate.Professor Dai Menghua and his team suggested that patients with resectable pancreatic cancer and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer could benefit from neoadjuvant therapy,which required proof from clinical trials.Surgeons should choose the appropriate treatment strategy based on guidelines and individual conditions for patients with pancreatic cancer.Professor Shao Cheghao and his team suggested that surgical treatment after neoadjuvant therapy or translational therapy for locally advanced pancreatic head cancer is safe,effective and feasible,especially for pancreaticoduodenectomy with combined revascularization.For the treatment of patients with pancreatic head cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy,the choice of next treatment options,evaluation indicators,timing of surgery and surgical methods need to be further studied.

OBJECTIVETo prepare polyelectrolyte multilayer film-coated microbubble ultrasound contrast agent (UCA) and evaluate its effects in contrast imaging on normal rabbit's liver parenchyma.

METHODSPerfluorocarbon (PFC) -containing microbubble UCA (ST68-PFC) were prepared by sonication-based on surfactants (Span 60 and Tween 80). Subsequently, the resulting ST68-PFC microbubbles were coated using oppositely charged polylysine (PLL) and alginate (Alg) by microbubble-templated layer-by-layer self-assembly technique via electrostatic interaction. The enhancement effects in contrast imaging on normal rabbit's liver parenchyma were assessed.

RESULTSThe obtained microbubble UCA exhibited a narrow size distribution. The polyelectrolytes were successfully assembled onto the surface of ST68-PFC microbubbles. In vivo experiment showed that polyelectrolyte multilayer film-coated UCA effectively enhanced the imaging of rabbit's liver parenchyma.

CONCLUSIONSThe novel microbubble UCA obtained via layer-by-layer self-assembly, when enabling more functions, has no obvious difference in enhancement effects compared with the premodified microbubbles. The polymers with chemically active groups (such as amino group and carboxyl group) can be used as the outermost layer for the attachment of targeting ligands to microbubbles, which allows the selective targeting of the microbubbles to desired sites.

Alginates ; chemistry ; Animals ; Contrast Media ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Fluorocarbons ; chemistry ; Glucuronic Acid ; chemistry ; Hexuronic Acids ; chemistry ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; Microbubbles ; Polylysine ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Ultrasonography