Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucocele ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myxoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Toes ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTry to induce liver-derived dendritic cells proliferation by plasmid-IL-3 and CD40L genes in mice in vivo.

METHODSRapid tail-vein injection of large amounts of plasmid-carrying genes was performed to transfect genes in mice livers. Liver nonparenchymal cells were isolated by Percoll gradient centrifugation. Dendritic cell markers were detected and dendritic cells were sorted out by flow cytometry. Morphology of dendritic cells was studied microscopically (with Giemsa staining) and under scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTSLiver nonparenchymal cells dramatically increased in the liver lobules, portal and periportal areas in the treated group, but not in the control group. B220+/DEC205+ dendritic cells were detected and sorted by flow cytometry. There were more B220+/DEC205+ dendritic cells (16.0%) in the experiment group than those in the control group (1.1%). Morphologically, the sorted B220+/DEC205+ cells showed irregular shaped nuclei, paucity of cytoplasmic granules and extensive cytoplasmic processes.

CONCLUSIONB220+/DEC205+ dendritic cells were expanded in vivo in mice livers by rapid tail-vein injection of plasmid-carrying genes encoding IL-3 and CD40L in a large amount. Inducing liver dendritic cell proliferation in vivo provides a more convenient way for studying the biology of these cells.

Animals ; CD40 Ligand ; genetics ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Interleukin-3 ; genetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Transfection

Objective To survey and analyze characteristics of brucellosis epidemic in Weinan city of Shaanxi province for the purpose of setting up prevention and control measures for the disease. Methods According to "The Executing Plan for the Work of Surveying Brucellosis Disease in Shaanxi Province", 35 villages(towns) of designated monitoring locations and 24 villages (towns) of randomized monitoring locations in five countries of Weinan were chosen to survey brucellosis disease. The five countries were Chengcheng, Dali, Heyang, Tongguan and Hancheng. High risk populations with a history of contacting livestock and livestock products aged between 7 and 60 underwent clinical and serology examination[rose bengal plate agglutination test(RBPT) and standard tube agglutination test(SAT)]. All manipulation methods and judging standards were in accord with the "Diagnostic Standard for Brucellosis" (WS 269-2007). Results In the designated monitoring location, a total of 8664 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 1407 people were tested by RBPT test and 27 people were positive,the positive rate was 1.92%(27/1407); 27 people were tested by SAT test and 27 people were positive, the positive rate was 100% (27/27); 25 people were diagnosed and the diagnosis rate was 92.59%(25/27). In the randomized monitoring location, a total of 3464 people at high risk were investigated, among whom 411 people were tested by RBPT test and 3 people were positive, the positive rate was 0.73%(3/411 ), 3 people were tested by SAT test which were all positive and made a definite diagnosis. Twenty-eight new cases were made a definite diagnosis and its incidence was 2.06 in a hundred thousand(28/1 361 618). Conclusions The infection of human brucellosis in Weinan city stays at higher level. The governments should increase input for the monitoring,investigating and disinfecting to prevent the disease from increasing and outspreading.

Objectives To investigate the clinical features,prognosis and risk factors of patients with cryptococcal meningitis.Methods Totally 146 patients with cryptococcal meningitis who were hospitalized in Huashan Hospital from January 2000 to December 2006 were enrolled in this study.The clinical data including diagnosis and misdiagnosis,experimental and etiology tests,treat- ments and prognosis from all the patients were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among the 146 patients enrolled in the study,78 patients(53.4%)had concomitant diseases.The misdiagnosis rate of all patients was 72.6%(106/146).The positive rate of cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)India ink smear was 59.6%(87/106),while 43.2%(63/146)cases of cryptococcus neoformans culture in CSF was positive.The positive rate of Latex agglutination test(LAT)was 91.7%(134/146)in CSF among all patients.The treatments were as follows:combination of Amphotericin B(AmpB)or its lipid formula- tions with flucytosine(5-FC)(98 cases),including combination with Fluconazole initally(62 cases), single therapy of Fluconazole(13 cases).Ommaya implanted for lateral cerebral ventricle drainage(53 cases)and AmpB intrathecal injection(53 cases).The average dose of AmpB is 3.06 g.The course of treatment lasted from 12 weeks to 20 months.There were 104 patients(71.2%)cured,27(18.5%) improved,15(10.3%)died and 34(23.3%)relapsed.Conclusions High misdiagnosis rate is common in patients with cryptococcal meningitis.Immunodeficiency is the major risk factor for cryp- tococcal meningitis.CSF LAT is the most sensitive diagnostic test.Early diagnosis,combination of AmpB with 5-FC antifungal therapy and control of acute intracranial hypertension are the keys to im- prove prognosis of cryptococcal meningitis.

Objective To investigate the expression of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) on dendritic cells(DCs) derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) of chronic hepatitis B(CHB) patients and to explore the mechanism of sustained infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Methods Twenty CHB patients were randomly screened in the study,and ten healthy persons were recruited as controls.The monocytes isolated from peripheral blood of candidates were incubated with recombinant human granuloeyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) and rhIL-4 to induce the DCs generation and proliferation.Then the phenotype of DCs was identified by micro- scope.The expressions of the phenotypes[histocompatibility leukocyte antigen(HLA)-DR,CD80, CD86,CD83]of immature and mature DCs were measured by flow cytometer.Furthermore,the ex- pression of TLR3 on mature DCs(mDC) and immature DCs(imDC) was determined by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis respectively.Results As for healthy volunteers,the expressions of CD80, CD86,HLA-DR and CD83 on DCs at the 7th day,which were(82.35?8.67)%,(79.61?10.08)%, (92.79?8.48)% and (83.76?5.47)% respectively,were significantly higher than those at the 5th day which were(28.31?8.79) %,(31.17?11.23)%,(27.61?10.28)% and (23.46?11.53)% respec- tively(P0.05).The expression of TLR3 on imDC was significantly higher than that on mDC at control group (P0.05).And the expression of TLR3 on imDC in CHB patients group was significantly lower than that of control group(P

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of acupuncture on Chinese medicine syndromes of vascular dementia (VaD).

METHODSSixty-three VaD patients were divided into three groups. Those willing to be randomized were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture (random acupuncture group, 24 cases) or rehabilitation training (guided rehabilitation group, 24 cases) for 6 weeks. Those unwilling to be randomized also received acupuncture for 6 weeks (non-random acupuncture group, 19 cases). Patient syndromes and their severity were evaluated before treatment (baseline), at the end of treatment, and at 4-week follow-up after the completion of treatment using a CM scoring system (scale of differentiation of syndromes of vascular dementia, SDSVD). The SDSVD scores of the random and non-random acupuncture groups, and of all patients who received acupuncture (combined acupuncture group, 43 cases), were compared with those in the guided rehabilitation group.

RESULTSIn the random, non-random, and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment and at follow-up than at baseline. In the guided rehabilitation group, SDSVD scores were similar to baseline scores at the end of treatment and at follow-up. However, there were no significant differences in SDSVD scores among the three groups or between the combined acupuncture group and the guided rehabilitation group at any time points. In the non-random and combined acupuncture groups, SDSVD scores were significantly reduced at the end of treatment than at baseline in patients with hyperactivity of Liver (Gan)-yang or phlegm obstruction of the orifices.

CONCLUSIONSAcupuncture reduced the severity of VaD. The improvement was the greatest in patients undergoing their treatment of choice. Treatments in this study were more effective for excess syndromes, such as Liver-yang hyperactivity or phlegm obstruction of the orifices than deficiency syndromes, such as Kidney (Shen)-essence deficiency.

Acupuncture ; Dementia, Vascular ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo investigate the phenotypes and functions of peripheral blood monocyte derived dendritic cells (DC) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with different HBV DNA loads.

METHODSTwenty-eight CHB patients were included in this study. All patients were treated with nucleoside analogues (lamivudine or LdT or adefovir) for 24 weeks. Peripheral blood HBV DNA loads and liver biopsies were assessed before and after the treatment. The patients were divided into two groups according to their peripheral blood HBV DNA loads: a high-load group with HBV DNA loads higher than 10(5) copies/ml, and a low-load group with HBV DNA loads lower than 10(3) copies/ml. Ten healthy people were included as controls. Peripheral blood DC of each subject was enriched. The phenotypes of DC were subjected to flow cytometric analysis. The lymphocyte allo-stimulatory capacity of DC was evaluated through MTT assay. IL-10 and IL-12 production were quantified by ELISA.

RESULTSDC proliferated successfully when stimulated by cytokines in vitro; however, DC of the CHB patients proliferated much slower than those of the healthy controls. The expression of DC surface molecules such as HLA-DR, CD86, CD80 and CD83 had a positive rate of over 80% in the normal population. However in our CHB patients they showed lower than normal expressions, especially the HLA-DR, CD86, CD80 and CD83, but the differences were not significant between the two groups with different virus loads. The stimulatory capacity of the DC in mixed lymphocyte reaction showed no difference between the two groups of patients, but both were lower than that of the healthy controls. The production of IL-12 and IL-10 also decreased significantly in the patients.

CONCLUSIONSPeripheral DC of CHB patients have some defects in their phenotypes and their stimulatory capacity. The changes in phenotypes and down-regulation of the functions are not relevant to peripheral HBV DNA loads of the patients.

Adult ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; metabolism ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe in vitro and in vivo effects of triptolide on growth inhibition and apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells, and to further explore its correlated molecular mechanisms.

METHODSThe growth inhibition effects of triptolide on osteosarcoma cells were detected using MTT assay. The apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry.The protein expressions of associated signals were detected using Western blot. The in vivo anti-osteosarcoma effects of triptolide were verified in osteosarcoma nude mice. The in vivo associated protein expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTSTriptolide could significantly inhibit the proliferation of various osteosarcoma cells. Besides, it could induce their apoptosis. Triptolide triggered the mitochondrial dependent apoptotic pathway, significantly inhibited the in vivo growth of osteosarcoma cells, and caused in vivo apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONSTriptolide induced apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells partially through activating mitochondria associated apoptosis signal pathway. Triptolide also induced apoptosis of osteosarcoma cells and inhibited their in vivo growth in nude mice.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Osteosarcoma ; pathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo report novel mutations SEC23B gene in congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA).

METHODSBy direct sequencing method, we sequenced CDAN1 and SEC23B genes in a Chinese CDA II patient, presented with chronic fatigue and dark urine, as well as his family members. Serum hepcidin was assayed by mass spectrometry.

RESULTSWe found a c.71G>A mutation and a c.74C> A mutation in the patient. In addition, a heterozygous c.55A>G mutation of HFE2 gene was found in some family members. The level of serum hepcidin of the patient was below the detection limit (<1 nmol/L).

CONCLUSIONContrary with what have been reported previously in the Europe, especially in the Italy, the gene mutations identified in this case was different and novel. The two novel mutations contribute to the diagnosis of CDAII and are the first report in East Asian CDAII patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; genetics ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; Hepcidins ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Vesicular Transport Proteins ; genetics