Two recombinant plasmids pVAX/Sj23 and pVAX/mIL-18 containing Schistosoma japonicum 23 000 membrane protein (Sj23) and murine IL-18 were evaluated for their ability to induce immune responses and to protect against S. japonicum challenge in mice. All animals vaccinated with pVAX/Sj23 alone or plus pVAX/mIL-18 developed specific anti-SWAP (soluble worm antigen preparation) ELISA antibody and splenocyte proliferation response,and co-injection of pVAX/mIL-18 significantly increased the production of IFN-γ and IL-2 compared with pVAX/Sj23 alone, indicating that IL-18 enhances the Th1-dominant immune response. The challenge experiment showed that worm reduction rates in pVAX/Sj23 group compared with control group (pVAX1) was 26.5% and in the pVAX/Sj23 plus pVAX/mIL-18 group was 41.9% ,and the hepatic egg reduction rates were 42.7 and 49.6%,respectively. These results indicated that co-injection of an IL-18 plasmid with Sj23 DNA vaccine efficiently improves the protective effect against S. japonicum infection.

AIMTo investigate the protective effects and mechanism of IPC on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODSEffects of IPC on arrhythmia and coronary blood flow and the release of AST, CPK, LDH, SOD and LFO at different time after ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat Langendorff hearts were studied.

RESULTSIPC decreased the release of AST, CPK and LDH and increased myocardial SOD activity and decreased LPO level. IPC also inhibited ischemia/reperfusion arrhythmias and increased coronary blood flow.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that IPC had well protective effects on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Animals ; Female ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; methods ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determining o-tolidine in workplace air by gas chromatography.

METHODSo-tolidine in workplace air was collected with a glass fiber filter, desorbed with methanol, and determined by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector.

RESULTSThe concentration of o-tolidine showed a linear relationship with peak area within 0.04∼9.00 µg/ml; the detection limit was 0.04 µg/ml; the minimum detectable concentration was 0.0002 mg/m(3) (calculated by 375 L air sample); the sampling efficiency was 93%∼100%; the elution efficiency was 94%∼96%; the relative standard deviation was 0.8-2.5%. Sample could be stored at 4 °C for at least 8 days and at room temperature for as long as 6 days.

CONCLUSIONThis determination method meets the requirements of Guide for establishing occupational heath standards-Part 4 Determination methods of air chemicals in workplace (GBZ/T 210.4-2008) and is suitable for determination of o-tolidine in workplace air.

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Benzidines ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2) in endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC) of patients under 50 years and to explore the relationship between MMR expression and clinicopathological features including body mass index (BMI), histological grade and pathological stage of EC.

METHODSMMR gene expression was investigated by immunohistochemical S-P method in endometrial adenocarcinomas of patients under age of 50. The control groups included complexity atypical hyperplasia endometrium (CAHE), simple hyperplasia endometrium (SHE), normal endometrium (NE) of patients under age of 50 and EC of patients older than 65 years.

RESULTSTwenty seven of 40 EC (67.5%) lost at least one MMR protein expression. Loss of at least one MMR protein expression was seen in 5/15 cases of CAHE, 1/13 SHE and 1/11 NE, respectively (P < 0.01). The rates of loss of expression of MLH1, MSH2, MSH and PMS2 proteins in EC were 52.5%, 12.5%, 35.0%, and 30.0%, respectively. The difference between MLH1 and MSH6 expression among the four groups were significant (P < 0.05), but the expression of MSH2 showed no significant difference among the groups (P = 0.295). The expression of MMR protein had no relationship with histological grade and pathological stage, although loss of MSH6 was more frequently seen in patients of higher BMI.

CONCLUSIONSAbnormal expression of MMR proteins is correlated with the development of EC from complex atypical hyperplasia. With the exception of the correlation of MSH6 expression with higher BMI, the expression of MMR proteins in EC has no significant relationship with histological grade and pathological stage.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenosine Triphosphatases ; metabolism ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Mismatch Repair Endonuclease PMS2 ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To report the prenatal molecular diagnosis for two gravida in a family with spondylepiphyseal dysplasia congenita(SEDC)caused by G504S mutation of COL2A1 gene.Methods DNA of the two fetuses was extracted from amniotic fluid at the 19+3 and 18+6 weeks of gestation respectively.Direct sequencing of two samples were performed after amplifying exon 23 of COL2A1 containing the potential mutation.The femur length and biparietal diameter of the first fetus were measured by sonographic scans every two weeks from 17+3 weeks to 27+3 weeks of gestation,and for the second fetus these parameters were measured from 16+1 to 19+1 weeks of gestation.Results Sequncing analysis revealed the first fetus and his mother presented the same mutation which is specifically associated with SEDC,but the second fetus did not show the mutation of COL2A1 gene.Biparietal diameters of the both fetuses were appropriate for gestational age.Femur length of the second fetus was normal for gestational age but that of the first fetus was shortened evidently after the 23 week of gestation.The parents of the first fetus determined to terminate the pregnancy.A medical termination was carried out at 27+5 weeks of gestation and a male fetus with a relatively large head and short limbs was delivered.The radiological findings of the fetus were consistent with SEDC including generalized platy spondesand shortened long bones.Conclusions Prenatal molecular diagnosis is important for the fetus with risk of SEDC and useful for genetic counseling.Genotype of fetus with risk of SEDC can be identified before sonographic scan.Molecular genetic analysis in conjunction with sonographic monitoring was helpful in prenatal diagnosis of SEDC.

This study was aimed to observe and analyze the effectiveness of platelet transfusion. The platelet count of 1786 patients before transfusion and on 20-24 hours after transfusion was determined by using Auto-Hematology Analyzer, the percent platelet recovery (PPR) was calculated, the platelet transfusion efficiency (PTE) was evaluated by PPR and hemorrhage presentation after platelet transfusion, and the PTE was statistically analyzed according to disease cause, transfusion frequency, platelet type and once transfusion amount. The results showed that the total PTE of 1786 patients was 52.5%. The comparison of PTE among groups of disease cause showed that PTE in leukemia and aplastic anemia (AA) was lowest, as compared with that of other diseases (P < 0.05), while PTE in operation group was highest. The comparison of PTE among groups of transfusion frequency revealed also statistical difference (P < 0.01), meanwhile PTE decreased with increasing of transfusion frequency. The comparison of PTE among groups of platelet type (platelet phoresis or platelet concentrate) showed statistical difference (P < 0.01). The comparison of PTE among groups of platelet concentrate of once transfusion amount showed no statistical difference (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the PTE closely relates with disease cause of patients, moreover transfusion frequency also associates with PTE, the more frequency of transfusion, the higher possibility of transfusion refractoriness. The PTE of platelet pheresis is obviously superior to that of platelet concentrate, while PTE of platelet concentrate not significantly relates with once adequate or not.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anemia, Aplastic ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Count ; Platelet Transfusion ; adverse effects ; methods ; Treatment Failure ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of C21 steroidal glycoside (CSG) from the root of Cynanchum auriculatum from Jiangsu on D-galactose (D-gal) induced aging model mice.

METHODD-gal aging mouse model was established by cervicodorsal region subcutaneous injection with D-gal once a day for eight successive weeks. The mice in the normal control group (NCG, non-modeled) and the model control group (MCG, modeled but untreated) were treated with 1% CMC-Na. The model mice in the low, middle and high-dose CSG and Vitamin E treated groups were treated with a dose of (10, 20, 40, 100 mg x kg(-1) per day, respectively. The SOD activity, MDA content and telomerase activity in serum, heart, liver and brain tissues of mice were measured.

RESULTCSG could obviously increase the SOD activity and decrease the MDA level in serum, heart, liver and brain tissues in D-gal aging mice (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between three CSG treated groups and Vitamin E treated groups. In comparison of telomerase activity between MCG and the treated groups, it was shown that there was a significant increase in serum in middle and high dose group, and in heart tissues in CSG and Vit E treated groups, but was not in liver and brain tissue.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates that CSG can antagonize free radical injury, increase the SOD activity and decrease the MDA content of serum, heart, liver and brain in D-gal aging mice, and increase the telomerase activity in serum and heart tissues but not in liver and brain tissue.

Aging ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cynanchum ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Galactose ; toxicity ; Glycosides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Steroids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; metabolism ; Telomerase ; metabolism

Objective To establish an accurate big data platform to solve the problems due to the fusion of clinical data and genomics data.Methods The contents and technology roadmap were analyzed for establishing the accurate big data platform.The platform had its technology architecture designed with distributed memory,Hadoop technology,image fusion analysis,gene mutation point comparison and etc,and the difficulties in key technologies were discussed.Results A solution of accurate big data platform was put forward for information acquisition,storage,processing and analysis as well as infrastructure,application and etc.Conclusion The platform is of practical values for fulfilling big data network of precision medicine and research on clinical diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study evaluated the clinical value of detachable-balloon embolization for traumatic carotid-cavernous fistula (TCCF), focusing on the frequency, risk factors, and retreatment of recurrence. METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with TCCF underwent transarterial detachable-balloon embolization between October 2004 and March 2011. The clinical follow-up was performed every 3 months until up to 3 years postprocedure. Each patient was placed in either the recurrence group or the nonrecurrence group according to whether a recurrence developed after the first procedure. The relevant factors including gender, fistula location, interval between trauma and the interventional procedure, blood flow in the carotid-cavernous fistula, number of balloons, and whether the internal carotid artery (ICA) was sacrificed were evaluated. RESULTS: All 58 TCCFs were successfully treated with transarterial balloon embolization, including 7 patients with ICA sacrifice. Recurrent fistulas occurred in seven patients during the follow-up period. Univariate analysis indicated that the interval between trauma and the interventional procedure (p=0.006) might be the main factor related to the recurrence of TCCF. The second treatments involved ICA sacrifice in two patients, fistula embolization with balloons in four patients, and placement of a covered stent in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Detachable balloons can still serve as the first-line treatment for TCCFs and recurrent TCCFs despite having a nonnegligible recurrence rate. Shortening the interval between trauma and the interventional procedure may reduce the risk of recurrence.
Balloon Occlusion ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retreatment ; Risk Factors ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo map the disease-causing gene in a Chinese family with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

METHODSTwenty-seven micro-satellite markers were randomly selected from the region around the known loci of causative genes, and haplotypes were determined by ABI3100 genetic analyzer. Two-point linkage analysis was performed using MLINK.

RESULTSThe Lod score of each marker vs adRP was below 1.

CONCLUSIONThe phenotype of this family may not be caused by mutation of the known disease-causing genes.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Genes, Dominant ; Genetic Linkage ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology