AIM:To construct adenovirus vector expressing mice B7-H1 gene, transfect dendritic cells ( DCs ) , and to study the therapeutic effect of modified DC on thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy ( TAO) in mice.
METHODS: We designed and constructed B7-H1 gene adenovirus expression vector, and transfected DCs from mouse bone marrow, tested the phenotype and function of modified DCs, identificated its negative regulation to immune responses. The modified DCs were infected the sicked mice. And then the immunotherapeutic effect of modified DCs to TAO were tested.
RESULTS: B7 - H1 gene adenovirus vector was constructed and transfected DCs from bone marrow. The titer of the recombinant adenovirus was 1. 8í109 PFU/mL. B7-H1 gene modified DCs characteristics of regulatory DCs, could inhibit positive immune responses. The inhibition proceeding of TAO into mice infected modified DCs, was obviously prior to the control mice. The gene modified DCs, maybe become the new immunotherapy biological agent to thy TAO.
CONCLUSION: We constructed the expression of mouse B7 - H1 gene adenovirus expressed vector successfully, transfected DCs, by vector have properties of regulatory DCs, inhibiting positive immune response and the occurrence and development of thyroid eye disease. Gene modified DCs, reveal potent to the treatment of thyroid eye disease.

OBJECTIVE: To make a distinction between myocarditis and the reaction to some pathological state of myocardium. METHODS: Myocardium of 26 cases with sudden cardiac death were stained and LM light microscopies with immunohistochemical method 10 cases with normal myocardium were contrasted. RESULTS: A great deal of stained positive monocyte of immunohistochemistry emerged in the parasetions of myocarditis patients with various farms and stacking(> 15). CONCLUSION The stain of immunohistochemistry can be used as one of the indications for diagnosing non-typical myocarditis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac/pathology* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry/methods* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocarditis/pathology* ; Myocardium/pathology*

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Yanggan Yishui Granule (YGYSG) on collagen protein I, III, and IV, as well as fibronection (EN) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and to explore its possible renal protective mechanisms.

METHODSFourty SHR were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the model group, the Benazepril group, the low dose YGYSG group, and the high dose YGYSG group, 10 in each group. A normal control group was set up with recruited Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. After 6 weeks of treatment, the expression of collagen protein I, III, and IV, as well as FN in the 5.1 image analysis system.

RESULTSIn the WKY-control group, there was only a small amount of brown particles in the mesenchymal region, the glomerular basement membrane, or the mesangial region. The expression of collagen I, Ill, and IV, as well as EN significantly increased more in the model group than in the normal control group (P < 0.01). After treatment, the expression of collagen I, III, and IV, as well as FN significantly decreased in each treated group, showing statistical difference when compared with the model group (P < 0.01). Besides, decresed expression of collagen I, III, and IV was shown in the low dose YGYSG group and the Benazepril group (P > 0.05). The expression of collagen I, III, and IV could be further reduced in the high dose YGYSG group, showing statistical difference when compared with the Benazepril group and the low dose YGYSG group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONYGYSG might play an important role in the renal protective effect through reducing the synthesis of renal collagen I, III, and IV, as well as FN, increasing the degradation of renal collagen I, III, and IV, as well as FN, thereby reducing excessive deposition of renal extracellular matrix (ECM).

Animals ; Collagen ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Hypertension ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY

OBJECTIVETo detect the level of fasting plasma homocysteine (Hcy) in patients with oligospermia and/or asthenospermia and to investigate its clinical significance.

METHODSSemen quality analyses and fasting plasma Hcy determination were performed for 86 infertility patients (21 with oligospermia, 32 with asthenospermia and 33 with oligo-asthenospermia) and 19 normal fertile volunteers. The results were compared.

RESULTSThe level of plasma Hcy was significantly higher in the infertility patients than in the normal controls (P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with sperm concentration (r = -0.433, P < 0.01), the percentage of grade a sperm (r = -0.303, P < 0.05) and the percentage of grade a+b sperm (r = -0.339, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe increased level of human plasma Hcy directly or indirectly affects spermatogenesis and correlates negatively with oligospermia and/or asthenospermia.

Adult ; Asthenozoospermia ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Oligospermia ; blood ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors regarding the recovery of postoperative blood pressure of aldosterone producing adenoma (APA) patients.

METHODSSixty-eight patients with APA were recruited and their data including retinal blood vessel by Doppler sonography, urinary trace albumin, pathological changes of renal biopsy and the adrenal tissues around the adenoma were analyzed in order to determine the correlation between these data and postoperative durative hypertension.

RESULTSPostoperative durative hypertension occurred in 14 cases (41.2%) with increased resistance of unilateral or bilateral central artery of retina, in 16 cases (66.7%) with increased level of urinary trace albumin. Fifteen cases underwent renal biopsy and all of them showed different pathological alterations, 11 cases (73.3%) of which presented with postoperative durative hypertension. The pathological changes of the adrenal tissues around the adenoma is either atrophy or non-atrophy (normal or hyperplasia), 8 cases (40%) and 10 cases (22.2%) of which showed postoperative durative hypertension, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe renal pathological changes and increased resistance of retinal blood vessel are the main reasons leading to postoperative hypertension in patients with APA.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adrenal Glands ; pathology ; Adrenocortical Adenoma ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; etiology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retinal Artery ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Resistance ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antibacterial effects of zirconium phosphate gauze loaded with silver on rat burn wounds seeded with commonly seen bacteria.

METHODSWistar rats were employed in the study and were scalded and infected. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of zirconium phosphate loaded with silver were determined by double dilution in tubes. The effect on wound healing and the subeschar bacterial count of the rat burn wounds were observed after the wounds had been covered by gauze loaded with zirconium phosphate and silver, and also with the gauze which has been rinsed for 20 times.

RESULTSThe MIC of silver loaded zirconium phosphate on Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli were 8, 8 and 16 mg/L, respectively, while the MBC were 16, 8 and 32 mg/L, respectively. The subeschar bacterial count in the burn wounds with the gauze with silver loaded zirconium phosphate was ten times lower than that in those which were treated with gauze with SD-Ag and 100 times lower than that with ordinary gauze. But there was no difference in the bacterial count between the wounds which were treated with fresh gauze with silver loaded zirconium phosphate and that with the gauze which has been rinsed for 20 times (P > 0.05). Furthermore, wound healing seemed to be better with the gauze with silver loaded zirconium phosphate when compared with those by the other two kinds of gauze.

CONCLUSIONThe silver loaded zirconium phosphate was found to be bacteriocidal against bacteria commonly seen in the burn wounds.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Bandages ; Burns ; microbiology ; therapy ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Female ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Silver ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Wound Healing ; drug effects ; Wound Infection ; microbiology ; therapy ; Zirconium ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology

Background: and Purpose The relationships among interleukin (IL)-10 levels, anxiety, and cognitive status after stroke remain controversial. We aimed to determine the associations of serum IL-10 levels with poststroke anxiety (PSA) and poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Methods: We recruited 350 patients with stroke, of whom only 151 completed a 1-month follow-up assessment. The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to assess the cognitive status and anxiety, respectively. Serum IL-10 levels were measured within 24 hours of admission. Results: IL-10 levels were significantly lower in the PSA group than in the non-PSA group, and they were negatively associated with HAMA scores (r=-0.371, p<0.001). After adjusting for all potential confounders, IL-10 levels remained an independent predictor of PSA (odds ratio=0.471, 95% confidence interval=0.237–0.936, p=0.032). IL-10 levels were strongly correlated with behavior during interviews, psychic anxiety, and somatic anxiety. Patients without PSCI had higher IL-10 levels were higher in non-PSCI patients than in PSCI patients, and they were positively associated with MMSE scores in the bivariate correlation analysis (r=0.169, p=0.038), and also with memory capacity, naming ability, and copying capacity.However, IL-10 did not predict PSCI in the univariable or multivariable logistic regression. Conclusions Low IL-10 levels were associated with increased risks of PSA and PSCI at a 1-month follow-up after stroke. Serum IL-10 levels may therefore be helpful in predicting PSA.

OBJECTIVETo compare the long-term effect and safety of tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporine (CsA) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients carrying hepatitis B Virus(HBV).

METHODSA total of 109 patients with HBV were randomized into FK506 group (52 cases) and CsA group (57 cases) after KT, and a 2-year-long follow-up of the patients was conducted to record the patient and graft survival, incidence of acute graft rejection and postoperative liver function.

RESULTSThe 2-year patient/graft survival was 86.0%/73.7% and 94.2%/90.3% in CsA and FK506 groups, respectively (P<0.05), with incidence of acute rejection of 10.5% and 9.6% (P>0.05), and rate of abnormal liver function of 26.3% and 15.4% (P<0.05), respectively. Eight patients (14.4%) in CsA group required a drug conversion but none in FK506 group. The drug conversion resulted in significant reduction of ALT/AST level from 255.13+/-31.38/201.88+/-21.25 U/L to 31.25+/-11.50/25.13+/-9.68 U/L (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONFor HBV-carrying renal transplant recipients, FK506 as the primary choice of immunosuppressant can be more effective and safer than CsA.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carrier State ; physiopathology ; Cyclosporine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tacrolimus ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and safety of the treatment for thoracolumbar fractures with pedicle screw at the fracture level and vertebroplasty via paraspinal approach.

METHODSFrom August 2007 to August 2010, 22 old patients with thoracolumbar fractures were treated with pedicle screw at the fracture level and vertebroplasty via paraspinal approach. There were 14 males and 8 females, ranging in age from 60 to 71 years (mean, 64.6 years). The time from injury to surgery varied from 1 to 4 d (mean,2.7 d). All the patients suffered from single thoracolumbar fractures and located at T11 in 2 cases, at T12 in 5 cases, at L1 in 11 cases and at L2 in 4 cases. According to the Denis fracture classification, there were 6 compression fractures and 16 burst fractures. The mean preoperative load-sharing classification of spine fractures was 5.4 score. The mean preoperative thoracolumbar injury classification and scoring was 5.2. Based on the ASIA neurologic grading system, preoperative neurological function was grade B in 2 cases,grade C in 3 cases, grade D in 7 cases and grade E in 10 cases. The neurological function, vertebral central and anterior height, kyphotic angle of the vertebral fractures by radiographs and visual analog scale were calculated pre-operatively, post-operatively and at the last follow-up.

RESULTSMedian operating time was 60.8 min (ranged from 50 to 95 min) and median blood loss was 84 ml (ranged from 50 to 130 ml). The operative incisions were healed well. The duration of follow-up averaged 21.6 months (ranged from 12 to 48 months). The anterior vertebral body height was corrected from preoperative (52.3 +/- 10.3) % to postoperative (6.1 +/- 4.2) % and (6.8 +/- 5.4) % at the last follow-up. The central vertebral body height was corrected from preoperative (38.9 +/- 11.2) % to postoperative (8.3 +/- 4.7) % and (9.4 +/- 4.5)% at the last follow-up. The Cobbs angle of the injured vertebral segment was corrected from preoperative (19.5 +/- 9.5) degrees to postoperative (4.3 +/- 4.1) degrees and (6.2 +/- 4.7) degrees at the last follow-up. The VAS scores reduced from preoperative 8.56 +/- 0.88 to post-operative 3.48 +/- 0.91 and 3.20 +/- 0.92 at the last follow-up. The postoperative neurologic function of all 22 patients improved 1 to 2 degrees except 10 patients of grade E. There were no instances of instrumentation failure and no patient had persistent postoperative back pain.

CONCLUSIONThe pedicle screw at the fracture level and vertebroplasty via paraspinal approach has the advantages of less invasive and blood loss, and could prevent the development of kyphosis and offers improvement of the spinal cord function. Furthermore, it could decrease the risks of postoperative back pain and the failure of instrumentation.

Aged ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recovery of Function ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; physiopathology ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vertebroplasty ; instrumentation

Aged ; Base Sequence ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vasospasm ; genetics ; physiopathology ; DNA Primers ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 ; genetics