This study was aimed to study the potential effects of alloreactive NK cells (allo-NKs) in therapy of relapsed lung cancer after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI). The F1 donors derived-NK cells were purified with MACS magnetic separation system, in which the proportion of the alloreactive Ly49A(+) cells was detected by flowcytometry and alloreactivity was measured by LDH method. The relapse model of lung cancer after haploidentical-HSCT was established. The distribution kinetic of infused donor lymphocytes in vivo was analyzed. The inhibition of relapse tumor, infiltration of lymphocytes in situ and fluctuation of 22 kinds of cytokines in serum after DLI were compared among different groups. The results showed that the infused donor cells of allo-NK group were accumulated mostly in lung, spleen and kidney for more than 48 hours with considerable higher levels according to the distribution kinetic curve. The sizes of relapse tumors between chemotherapy + PBS group and chemotherapy + DLI group showed no difference. However, the relapsed tumors in allo-NK + DLI group were significantly smaller than that in chemotherapy + DLI group or allo-NK + PBS group, in which increased infiltration of lymphocytes were defined in situ. The levels of cytokines such as MCP-1, IL-17, IL-12 and MCP-5 in serum of allo-NK + DLI group ascended compared with control group, though the level of IL-10 declined simultaneously. It is concluded that allo-NKs prolong the survival time of infused donor lymphocytes in vivo, promote the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and Th1-type of cytokines, and further improve the antitumor effects of DLI against relapse after transplantation.
Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; Lung Neoplasms ; therapy ; Lymphocyte Transfusion ; methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; therapy ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods

This study was aimed to investigate the feasibility of low dose of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide combined with donor derived alloreactive NK cells as a new nonmyeloablative conditioning regimen in the haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haploidentical HSCT). F1 derived-NK cells were enriched with MACS magnetic separation system, in which the proportions of the Ly49C+ and Ly49A+ cells were detected by flow cytometry and the alloreactivity was measured by LDH method. The haploidentical HSCT models were constructed, and the myeloablativity in vivo, donor engraftment and the intensity of GVHD were compared between different myeloablative and nonmyeloablative conditioning regimens, including 9 Gy TBI, 6.5 Gy TBI, flu + cy, and flu + cy + allo-NK. The results showed that the flu + cy + allo-NK conditioning was nonmyeloablative, but the rate of donor chimerism after haploidentical HSCT was significantly higher as compared with other nonmyeloablative methods, which were (28.70 +/- 5.90)% in bone marrow and (46.40 +/- 5.00)% in spleen at day 21 post-transplantation. When compared with the flu + cy conditioning, the intensity of GVHD was slight in the flu + cy + allo-NK group, in which only a half of C57BL/6 recipients experienced weight loss, and no distinct pathological damages observed in the liver, intestine, kidney and skin samples. It is concluded donor derived-alloreactive NK cells can facilitate engraftment of the haploidentical hematopoietic stem cells and mitigate GVHD. The flu + cy + allo-NK conditioning provides a new method for those elder patients with high-risk solid tumor undergoing haploidentical-HSCT.
Animals ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Haplotypes ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Killer Cells, Natural ; transplantation ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Models, Animal ; Transplantation Chimera ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Vidarabine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Whole-Body Irradiation

OBJECTIVESTo explore the diagnostic value of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) in monitoring portal vein complications (PVC) following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

METHODSFive hundred and four patients received OLT and had CDFI examinations before and after their transplantations. CDFI monitoring parameters before the operation included portal vein diameter, blood flow velocity and the presence of thrombi within the portal vein. Monitoring parameters after the operation included portal vein diameters of donor and receiver sides, and the diameter of the mouth of anastomosis, inner side of blood vessel echo, the direction of blood flow and its speed.

RESULTSOf the 504 patients examined, the median velocity of the portal blood flow was 46.27 cm/s (range: 15.8 to 110.8) on the day of the operation. The blood flow speed of 358 cases (71.03%) was higher than 40 cm/s. Of the 358 patients, 347 (68.85%) had a blood flow speed lower than 40 cm/s one month after the operation. Sixty-four patients (12.70%) showed hepatofugal blood flow once, and only one case had a total hepatofugal blood flow. Thirteen patients (2.58%) had portal vein complications, including 4 cases with portal vein thrombosis and 9 with portal vein stenosis.

CONCLUSIONNot all abnormal portal vein blood flow signals will lead to complications. It is worthwhile to monitor the portal blood flows. CDFI plays an important role in the diagnosis of portal vein complications after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Flow Velocity ; physiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Cirrhosis ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex ; methods ; Ultrasonography, Interventional ; Venous Thrombosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of primary tumor excision on osteosarcoma angiogenesis and pulmonary metastasis, and explore its possible mechanism and clinical significance.

METHODSThe tumor-bearing nude mice were constructed by injection of human osteosarcoma cell suspension, and divided into primary tumor resection, amputation and normal groups. The level of VEGF and endostatin was examined by ELISA assay. The hemoglobin content in Matrigel pellets was measured with HiCN method. Pulmonary metastasis was detected with dilated-squash technique and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSThe serum VEGF and endostatin level was significantly decreased in the primary tumor excision group compared with that in the normal and control groups after operation, but endostatin decreased more prominently [VEGF: (71.43 +/- 9.15) pg/ml vs. (115.81 +/- 4.38) pg/ml, (111.68 +/- 12.26) pg/ml, P < 0.01; ES: (40.77 +/- 5.41) ng/ml vs. (123.18 +/- 5.94) ng/ml, (128.06 +/- 4.52) ng/ml, P < 0.01]. The HB contents in Matrigel pellets increased in the primary tumor excision group compared with that in normal and control groups [(36.55 +/- 2.35) g/L vs. (16.84 +/- 1.15) g/L, (16.29 +/- 1.10) g/L, P < 0.01]. The rate of pulmonary metastasis in tumor excision group was much higher than that in the un-excised groups (80.0% vs. 40.0% and 35.0%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe excision of primary tumor can promote osteosarcoma angiogenesis and pulmonary metastasis, so anti-angiogenic treatment after operation has instructive clinical significance in preventing tumor metastasis.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors ; blood ; Animals ; Bone Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endostatins ; blood ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; blood ; pathology ; surgery ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors ; blood

OBJECTIVETo immunopurify human endometrial endothelial cells (HEEC) from fresh surgical specimens of endometrial cancers and normal endometrial tissues, and investigate their biological characteristics.

METHODSEndothelial cells of endometrial cancers and normal endometrial tissues were isolated using anti-CD31 conjugated magnetic microbeads. The isolated endothelial cells were cultured in vitro and their origins were identified. Their angiogenic characteristics were observed by MTT, wound healing, Transwell cell invasion and tube formation assays.

RESULTSFlow cytometry revealed that the immunopurification technique yielded endothelial cell purity of > 95% in all samples. All purified HEEC were characterized as endothelial cells on the basis of expression of the classical endothelial markers vWF and CD31 as shown by immunofluorescence examination. Although the tumor-associated HEEC didn't show more rapid proliferation than normal HEEC, they exhibited enhanced migration ability (P = 0.006), potent invasiveness (P = 0.033), and elevated tube formation in vitro (P = 0.029).

CONCLUSIONSHuman endometrial endothelial cells can be efficiently isolated from endometrial cancer and normal endometrial tissues by immunomagnetic methods. Tumor-associated HEEC exhibit enhanced migratory ability, potent invasiveness, and elevated tube formation in vitro.

Adult ; Aged ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endometrium ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; von Willebrand Factor ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEHuman growth hormone (hGH) is an essential therapeutic drug for the treatment of growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD). However, the process of dissolving hGH of the powder form is complicated and potentially hazardous. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of preparation in the replacement therapy for children with GH deficiency.

METHODSA 12-month randomized, open-label, multicenter trial was conducted in 31 previously untreated children with growth failure secondary to GH deficiency [20 boys and 11 girls, mean age (10.5 +/- 4.1) years]. An recombined human growth hormone (rhGH) solution (Iintropin AQ) was given via subcutaneous injection daily in every evening at a weekly dose of 0.25 mg/kg. The patients were followed up at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of the treatment, and the course of treatment was 12 months. Body height was measured 3-monthly and height velocity (HV) and mean height standard deviation score (HT SDS) were calculated. Serum Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1), Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), GH antibodies and safety parameters were assessed at the baseline and at 3-month intervals. Bone age (BA) was assessed at the baseline and the rate of skeletal maturation (DeltaBA/DeltaCA) was calculated after 6 and 12 months of rhGH treatment by a central bone age reader. Moreover, the safety of rhGH solution treatment was assessed.

RESULTSAfter 12 months of liquid rhGH therapy, growth parameters were significantly increased over baseline. (1) The mean (+/- SD) height increment DeltaHT (cm) was 4.0 +/- 1.3, 7.0 +/- 2.0, 10.3 +/- 2.6 and 12.9 +/- 3.3 after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of treatment, respectively (P < 0.01), which indicated linear growth after treatment. The GV (cm/years) was 2.7 +/- 0.9 before treatment and increased to 16.0 +/- 5.1, 14.1 +/- 4.0, 13.7 +/- 3.5, and 12.9 +/- 3.3 after treatment, suggesting that catch-up growth was significant after treatment as compared to the pre-treatment status (P < 0.01). Accordingly, post-treatment catch-up growth was obvious, significant differences were observed in HT SDS, which was -4.62 +/- 1.46 at the onset of therapy and increased significantly after the treatment to -3.80 +/- 1.53, -3.28 +/- 1.60, -2.86 +/- 1.75 and -2.47 +/- 1.86, respectively (P < 0.01). The height difference between GH deficient children and unimpaired children of the same age and gender gradually decreased after treatment, which was significantly different from that seen before treatment (P < 0.01). (2) The levels of serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were increased comparably for the treatment. IGF-1 level (microg/L) was 41 +/- 64 at baseline and increased to 179 +/- 155, 202 +/- 141, 156 +/- 155 and 159 +/- 167 after 3, 6, 9, 12 months of treatment. IGFBP-3 level (mg/L) was 1540 +/- 1325 at baseline, and increased to 3891 +/- 1815, 4051 +/- 1308, 3408 +/- 1435 and 3533 +/- 1413, respectively, suggesting that with the increases in height, IGF-1, and IGFBP-3 were significantly activated to relatively high levels by the medication and reached peak values between 3 and 6 months of treatment. The levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 were significantly different before and after treatment (P < 0.01). The IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio significantly increased during GH therapy (0.143 +/- 0.013 pre-therapy up to 0.240 +/- 0.055 post-therapy, P < 0.01). The IGF-1/IGFBP-3 molar ratio tended to stabilize after 3-month GH therapy. (3) The bone age assessment carried out 6 and 12 months after treatment showed that the bone maturity (DeltaBA/DeltaCA) was 1.01 +/- 0.57 and 1.07 +/- 0.75, respectively, suggesting that there was no speed-up development in the bone age. No severe adverse events were observed during the trial and the most frequent accompanying event was mild hypothyroidism.

CONCLUSIONSrhGH solution (Iintropin AQ) is a safe and effective preparation in the replacement therapy for children with GH deficiency.

Child ; China ; Dwarfism, Pituitary ; blood ; drug therapy ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; blood ; drug therapy ; Human Growth Hormone ; deficiency ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use

Shock is the one of the most serious complications during the early stage of burn injury. Early effective fluid resuscitation, enabling the burn patient to pass through the shock stage smoothly and uneventfully, plays a necessary and essential role in the prevention of the subsequent organ complications, reduction of mortality and morbidity, and improvement in life quality. Rapid restoration of blood volume is the fundamental measure to prevent burn shock. In this review, the history and the current status of several important issues related to burn shock resuscitation, including the fluid replacement formula, quality of fluids, and monitoring of physiological parameters, were over viewed. The authors also proposed that a new therapeutic strategy to prevent microvascular permeability should be emphasized and developed in future, which may hopefully act as the most basic approach to prevent burn shock and its related complications.
Burns ; therapy ; Fluid Therapy ; Humans ; Resuscitation ; Shock ; therapy

Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Male