Objective To investigate the impact of experimental stress on serum glucose , insulin, glucagon, cortisol, and ep-inephrine in diabetic rats and its intervention with insulin and fluoxetine .Methods Type 2 diabetic rats model was induced by feeding with high sugar and high fat diet , and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ).The rats were divided into normal group , dia-betic control group , diabetic treated with insulin , and diabetic treated with fluoxetine .All the rats were exposed to multiple stressors (forced swimming, cold stimulation, rotation, restrain, and crowding) for 8 weeks.The rat blood sera collected from each group were analyzed with multiple parameters including glucose , insulin, glucagon, cortisol, and epinephrine at the 4th and 8th week.Results After experimental stress, the levels of glucose [(16.7 ±3.5)mmol/L vs (5.1 ±1.1)mmol/L, t =13.9, P <0.01], glucagon [(158.5 ±50.2)ng/L vs (120.8 ±38.7)ng/L, t =2.5, P <0.05], epinephrine [(203.8 ±48.6)pg/ml vs (158.7 ±42.6)pg/ml, t =2.9, P <0.01], cortisol [(21.3 ±4.8)ng/ml vs (18.2 ±3.8)ng/ml, t =2.1, P <0.05], and HOMA-IR (10.9 ±2.6 vs 3.3 ±0.8 , t =12.3 , P <0.01 ) of diabetic rats were significantly increased .The glucose level [ ( 9.7 ±2.1 ) mmol/L vs ( 16.7 ± 3.5)mmol/L, t =7.0, P <0.01] was significantly improved after treated with insulin .The levels of epinephrine [(158.8 ±37.5 ) pg/ml vs (203.8 ±48.6)pg/ml, t =3.0, P <0.01], and cortisol [(15.7 ±4.2)ng/ml vs (21.3 ±4.8)ng/ml, t =3.5, P <0.01 ] were significantly improved after treated with fluoxetine .Conclusions Experimental stress increased the levels of glucose , en-docrine hormone , and insulin resistance of diabetic rats .Treatment with insulin improved the glucose level and treatment of fluoxetine improved the endocrine hormone level .

BACKGROUND:Umbilical cord as childbirth waste has wide variety of sources and can be easily obtained, without any ethical and legal restrictions. Therefore, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells break al the restrictions originated from other sources of mesenchymal stem cells. OBJECTIVE:To review the application of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in cartilage diseases, neuroglioma, ischemic brain injury, lung disease, liver disease and models of myocardial infarction. METHODS:The PubMed and Wanfang databases were searched by the first author using the keywords of“human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, disease models, celltherapy”in English and Chinese, respectively. Seventy-three articles were searched and final y, 35 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have multilineage differentiation capacity similar to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Compared with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells have lower immunogenicity. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells show certain curative effects on cartilage disease, neuroglioma, ischemic brain injury, lung disease, liver disease and myocardial infarction, indicating that human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells can be used for celltransplantation to treat various diseases.

Objective To develop an effective and broad immune protective H5N1 vaccine.Methods We first developed two recombinant vaccinia ( Tiantan strain) virus ( rTTV ) based H5N1 vaccines, which consisted of bicistron expressing the hemagglutinin(HA) and matrix protein 2(M2), or bicistron expressing the neuraminidase(NA) and matrix protein 1 (M1). The expression of H5N1 protein in rTTVs was confirmed. We immunized the BALB/c mice twice with two kind of dose ( 104 PFU, 107 PFU)using different combination. Subsequently, we assessed the humoral and cellular immune response in vaccinated mice. Results Our data showed that rTTV-based H5N1 vaccine induced rapidly robust HA- and NAspecific antibody level and IFN-γ secreting form cell(SFC) with either single dose of 107 PFU or twice dose of 104 PFU or 107 PFU. We also detected significant neutralizing antibody and matrix-specific immune response. In addition, we found that immunization with two kind of rTTV-based H5N1 vaccines induced much high level of M2-specific antibody than that with single of rTTV-based H5N1 vaccine. Conclusion rTTVbased H5N1 vaccines in this study elicited board array of immunity and our study offers a promising alternative H5N1 vaccine candidates with favorable potential to prevent various H5N1 pandemic.

BACKGROUND:Reprogramming somatic cells to generate pluripotent stem cells has a wide application in biomedical research. OBJECTIVE:To analyze the effect of different molecular weight proteins in chicken egg-white extract to elevate expression of pluripotent genes Oct-3/4 and Nanog in 293T cells. METHODS:The extracts of chicken egg-white were separated into more than 3 ku and less than 3 ku ingredients to be used for co-culture with 293T cells. There were four groups, 1×105 293T cells per wel , total 500μL. In the control group, 500μL culture medium was added;in the other three groups, 500μL chicken egg-white extract, more than 3 ku and less than 3 ku ingredients were respectively added. Quantitative PCR was used to determine the relative expression levels of pluripotent genes Nanog and Oct-3/4 in 293T cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:By using co-culture method, more than 3 ku ingredients have a role to increase the expression of pluripotent genes Oct-3/4 and Nanog, but less than 3 ku ingredients cannot elevate the expression of pluripotent genes. This indicates that the ingredient of chicken egg-white extract to elevate the expression of pluripotent genes is more than 3 ku proteins.

This study was purposed to investigate the change of Th cell subsets in the patients with acute graft-versus host disease (aGVHD) and to explore its role in the pathogenesis of aGVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). 23 patients underwent allo-HSCT were selected for analysis. The aGVHD in patients was diagnosed according to clinical features, and was confirmed by skin biopsy in some patients. The peripheral blood from 23 patients was collected before and after allo-HSCT. The quantitative chenges of Th1 and Th2 cells in peripheral blood samples were detected by using flow cytometry. The results showed that out of 23 patieats the aGVHD occured in 8 patients including 1 case of grade I, 2 case of grade II, 3 cases of grade III; no aGVHD occured in 15 patients. The flow cytometry analysis revealed that the amount of Th1 cells in patients with aGVHD was much higher than that in patients without aGVHD (p < 0.01), the IFN-gamma expression of Th1 cells in patients with aGVHD of grad II - III significantly was higher than that in patients without aGVHD (p < 0.01), meanwhie the IL-4 expression of Th2 cells in patients with aGVHD of grade II - III was significantly lower than that in patients without aGVHD (p < 0.05). Dynamical detection indicated that the Th1 obviously increased before occurrence of aGVHD and before treatment of aGVHD, while the Th1 cells obviously decreased after treatment of aGVHD. The Th1 cells not changed significantly in patients without aGVHD before and after allo-HSCT. It is concluded that Th1 cells obviously increase in patients with aGVHD, this increase is related to aGVHD pathogenesis. Detecting the changes of Th cell subsets in the early stage after allo-HSCT may be contributed to early diagnosis and therapy of aGVHD.
Graft vs Host Disease ; blood ; immunology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; immunology ; therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo construct prokaryotic expression systems of ltB/ctB-ompL1/1 fusion genes and to determine the L.interrogans carrying status in leptospirosis patients with the expression products.

METHODSThe fusion genes ltB-ompL1/1 and ctB-ompL1/1 were constructed using linking primer PCR method. SDS-PAGE was used to examine expression of the target recombinant proteins rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1. Western blot and GM1-ELISA were used to measure the immunogenic and GM(1)-binding activities of rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1, respectively. PCR and MAT were performed to detect the expression of ompL1 gene in 97 wild L.interrogans strains. Antibodies against ompL1 gene products in serum samples of 228 leptospirosis patients were detected with ELISA method.

RESULTSThe homogeneity of nucleotide and putative amino acid sequence of ltB-jompL1/1 and ctB-ompL1/1 fusion genes were 99.7 % - 99.9 % and 99.5 % - 100 %, in comparison with the reported corresponding sequences. Expression outputs of both rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1, mainly present in inclusion body, accounted for 10% of the total bacterial protein. Both rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1 could combine to rabbit anti-rOmpL1/1 serum and bovine GM(1). 89.7 % of L.interrogans wild strains had ompL1 gene. 87.6% of the wild L.interrogans strains presented positive results for MAT (titers :1:4-1:256) with the rabbit anti-rOmpL1/1 or anti-rOmpL1/2 sera. 86.8% and 88.6% of the patients' serum samples were positive for rOmpL1/1 and rOmpL1/2 antibodies, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe fusion proteins, rLTB-rOmpL1/1 and rCTB-rOmpL1/1, showed high immunogenic and GM(1)-binding activities. ompL1 gene is extensively distributed and frequently expressed in different serogroups of L.interrogans and its products expressed by different genotypes exhibit extensive cross-antigenicity.

Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Bacterial Toxins ; genetics ; Bacterial Vaccines ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enterotoxins ; genetics ; Escherichia coli Proteins ; genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; genetics ; Humans ; Leptospira interrogans ; genetics ; immunology ; Prokaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the incidence and risk factors of HIV and syphilis seroconversion among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing.

METHODSA total of 550 MSM were recruited on the basis of community and followed up after 6 and 12 months in Beijing. Each subject was investigated by only one investigator at one time to collect information on demographics and behaviors. Blood samples were collected to test HIV and syphilis seroconversion. ELISA was used for screening test, west blotting (WB) and Particle agglutination were used for confirmatory test.

RESULTSA total of 550 MSM investigated, among which 4.5% (25/550) were HIV-positive and 29.3% (161/550) were syphilis-positive. For 525 HIV-negative MSM, 87.0% (457/525) retained during the 12-month investigation. Seroincidence for HIV and syphilis were 3.37/100 person-years (95%CI = 1.66 - 5.08) and 9.32/100 person-years (95%CI = 5.87 - 12.77) respectively. HIV seroconversions for those who performed and did not perform rectal douching after homosexual anal intercourse in the past 3 months were 7.11/100 and 0.76/100 person-years respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that rectal douching after homosexual anal intercourse in the past 3 months (HR = 9.23, 95%CI = 2.08 - 40.88) was significantly associated with HIV seroconversion. Syphilis seroconversions for those who met male sex partners in parks, public washrooms or bathhouses in the past 3 months were 41.77/100 and 7.97/100 person-years respectively. Syphilis seroconversions for those who performed and did not perform rectal douching after homosexual anal intercourse in the past 3 months were 16.17/100 and 4.92/100 person-years respectively. In the past 3 months, meeting male sex partners in parks, public washrooms or bathhouses (HR = 4.67, 95%CI = 1.77 - 12.34) and performing rectal douching after homosexual anal intercourse (HR = 3.09, 95%CI = 1.40 - 6.83) were significantly associated with syphilis seroconversion.

CONCLUSIONThe seroconversions of HIV and syphilis during the follow-up visits in this MSM cohort study in Beijing were very serious, and that the associated factors for seroconversions were rectal douching after homosexual anal intercourse and meeting male sex partners in parks, public washrooms or bathhouses.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; HIV ; immunology ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; HIV Infections ; blood ; epidemiology ; HIV Seropositivity ; blood ; epidemiology ; Homosexuality, Male ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Sexual Behavior ; Syphilis ; blood ; epidemiology ; Treponema pallidum ; immunology ; Young Adult

This study aims to develop inexpensive and effective experimental vaccines against highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza (HPAI) virus and to optimize their immunization programs. To this end, we first synthesized the codon-optimized hemagglutinin gene (HAop) and neuraminidase gene (NAop), both of which were derived from a H5N1 virus (Anhui strain), and constructed successfully the DNA vaccines containing a single cistronic construct (HAwt, HAop, or NAop) or a bicistronic construct (HAop/M2 or NAop/M1) of H5N1 influenza virus origin. Their expression was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA) and Western blotting. Then twice vaccination of mice with the DNA vaccines by injection intramuscularly or in vivo electroporation (EP) via two different routes was evaluated and analyzed by hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, NA-specific antibody detection, micro-neutralizing antibody test and IFN-gamma ELISpot assay. Our results showed that the DNA vaccines with coden-optimized HAop and NAop constructs could quickly elicit a strong immune response by in vivo EP, especially the cellular immune response against HA and NA; the in vivo EP via intradermal route induced stronger humoral immune responses than those via intramuscular route. Our findings will pave a way for further development of novel DNA-based H5N1 vaccine and for the optimization of the immunization programs of DNA vaccine.
Animals ; Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Codon ; genetics ; Electroporation ; Female ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Vaccination ; methods ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Viral Structural Proteins ; immunology

Objective To investigate the dynamic change and associated risk factors of HIV sero-conversion rate in Beijing.Methods 809 sero-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) were recruited in the cohort from August to December in 2009.HIV sero-antibody,medicinal examination and behavior questionnaire interview were carried out every six months.Results 962 MSM with overall baseline prevalence of HIV infection as 6.34％ (61/962) together with 809 seronegative MSM,were enrolled in the cohort.Of the 809 sero-negative participants,95.1％ (769/809),85.5％ ( 692/809 ) and 71.0％ ( 574/809 ) of them were retained in the 6-month,12-month and 18- month follow-up visits,with 19,29 and 17 of them became HIV sero-conversion at 6-month,12-month,and 18-month follow-up visits and the HIV incidence rates appeared to be 5.47,12.37 and 6.86 per 100 person-years respectively.The HIV incidence was 7.59 per 100 person-years in the 18 months follow-up visit.Factors including:younger than 25-years old (HR =2.32,95％CI:1.39-3.87),having more than 8 MSM partners (HR=2.50,95％CI:1.49-4.20),less than RMB 2000 Yuan every month income (HR=1.76,95％CI:1.06-2.95 ),having more than 4 homosexual partners in the last six months (HR=3.50,95％ CI:2.11 -5.81 ),showing phimosis and redundant prepuce (HR=2.47,95％ CI:1.50-4.07 ) as well as positive syphilis test (HR=2.62,95％CI:1.53-4.49) etc.,were significantly associated with HIV incidence.Conclusion High HIV incidence was shown among MSM in Beijing and had spread fast in this population,calling for more favorable prevention measures to be taken.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the application of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosis of classic fever of unknown origin.

METHODSA total of 27 consecutive patients with classic fever of unknown origin (FUO) (19 men, 8 women; aged 24-82 y) underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans. The images were interpreted by visual inspection and semiquantitative analysis(standardized uptake value, SUV). Final diagnosis was based on histopathology or clinical follow-up.

RESULTSThe cause of FUO was confirmed by followed investigations in 21 of 27 cases after PET/CT scan, including 10 cases of infection, 4 of noninfectious inflammation, 4 of malignancies and 3 of miscellaneous disorders; and remaining 6 cases were still confirmed FUO. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy were 100.0 %, 83.3%, 83.3%, 100.0% and 96.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONFor patients with fever of unknown origin, (18)F-FDG-PET/CT can be a sensitive, reliable imaging modality. It is suggested that (18)F-FDG-PET/CT should be considered earlier in detecting the causes of FUO, which is difficultly diagnosed by conventional modalities.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; methods ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult