Objective To investigate the level of subpopulations of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in elderly tumor-bearing mice versus elderly tumor-free mice,and to study the difference in immune suppressive functions between different subpopulations and their mechanisms.Methods A total of 20 healthy C57BL/6 elderly mice(aged 18-20 months) were randomly chosen to establish Lewis lung cancer models.The amount of monocytic-MDSCs (MO-MDSCs) and polymorphonuclear granulocytic-MDSCs(PMN-MDSCs) in tumor-free and tumor-bearing elderly mice was evaluated by using flow cytometry.MO-MDSCs and PMN-MDSCs were separated with Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) MicroBeads and their morphological characteristics were observed after May-Grunwald-Giemsa staining.The effects of MO-MDSCs and PMN-MDSCs on the proliferation of T cells were determined by Brdu-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).And the immune suppressive mediators secreted by the subpopulations were detected by Real-time polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Results Compared to the tumor-free group,the proportion of MO-MDSCs in the spleen of tumorbearing group were increased [(12.44± 1.20) ％ vs.(38.42±3.66) ％,t=5.67,P＜0.001],while PMN-MDSCs were not [(10.34±0.68) ％ vs.(12.18±1.27) ％,t=2.21,P=0.09].The result of Brdu-ELISA showed that MO-MDSCs could suppress the proliferation of T cells [(0.30 ± 0.18) vs.(3.38±0.96),t=8.33,P＜0.001],while PMN MDSCs could not [(2.69±0.45)vs.(3.38±0.96),t =1.72,P=0.11].The result of PCR showed that as compared with PMN-MDSCs,Mo-MDSCs had the increased expression levels of arginase-1 (ARG-1),inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS),interleukin-10 (IL-10),interferon-γ(IFN-γ) (t =4.31,8.89,1.70,3.13,respectively,P ＜ 0.01 or 0.05),while the expression levels of interleukin-13 (IL-13),transforming growth factor-β(TGF-β) had no differences (t=4.94 and 2.75,P =0.39 and0.47).Conclusions MO-MDSCs are significantly increased in elderly Lewis lung cancer mice models.MO-MDSCs could mediate lung tumor evasion by suppressing the proliferation of T cells through highly expressing ARG-1,iNOS,IL-10 and IFN-γ.

OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study is to investigate the influence of zirconia content which is 0-30.0% weight percentage of matrix on translucency of zirconia-toughened alumina glass-infiltrated ceramics.

METHODSSeven groups were divided according to different weight percentage of zirconia (0, 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10.0%, 20.0% and 30.0%). After sintering, infiltrating and polishing, spectral transmittance was determined with spectrophotometer under D65 standard source. Contrast ratio was also tested by whiteness colorimeter.

RESULTSWith mass fraction of zirconia increasing from 0 to 30.0%, spectral transmittance reduced from 0.406% to 0.058%, while contrast ratio value increased from 0.849 +/- 0.005 to 1.015 +/- 0.006. When zirconia content was 10.0%, contrast ratio was 0.990 +/- 0.008. When it was more than 10.0%, transmission rate of the downward trend and contrast ratio of the rising trend became flat.

CONCLUSIONZirconia content has a direct impact on translucency of zirconia-toughened alumina glass-infiltrated ceramic, which is essentially opaque when zirconia content is 10.0%. When mass fraction of zirconia is more than 10.0%, the influence of zirconia content is reduced.

Aluminum Oxide ; Ceramics ; Dental Materials ; Dental Porcelain ; Glass ; Zirconium

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility of direct digital radiography (DDR) in the diagnosis of asbestosis, and to analyze the difference and similarity between DDR and film-screen radiography (FSR) in terms of the radiographic features of asbestosis.

METHODSA total of 60 cases of asbestosis underwent FSR and DDR of the chest in the same day. The FSR and DDR findings were compared with respect to shapes and profusion of small opacities, pleural abnormality, and diagnostic stages.

RESULTSThe patients showed "s", "t", and "p" small opacities on chest images, with irregular "s" and "t" ones predominating (FSR: 95.0%; DDR: 91.7%). The small opacities were widely distributed in six lung zones, especially in middle and lower zones. The shapes and distribution of small opacities did not differ significantly between FSR and DDR findings (P > 0.05). For all the 60 cases, the two radiographies demonstrated a concordance rate of 64.2% (231/360) for the profusion of small opacities in lung zones (κ = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.54 ∼ 0.69), and for the 43 cases (258 lung zones) who displayed identical small opacity shapes on the two radiographies, the concordance rate was 81.0% (209/258) (κ = 0.79, 95%CI: 0.72 ∼ 0.87). FSR revealed 10 cases (16.7%) of pleural thickening, compared to 12 cases (20.0%) on DDR (P > 0.05). FSR revealed 53 cases (88.3%) of stage I asbestosis and 7 cases (11.7%) of stage II asbestosis, compared to 51 cases (85.0%) and 9 cases (15.0%) on DDR (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in diagnostic stages between the two radiographies (P > 0.05), demonstrating a concordance rate of 93.3% (56/60) (κ = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.45 ∼ 0.98).

CONCLUSIONDDR is similar to FSR in determining the shapes, distribution, and profusion of small opacities, pleural abnormality, and diagnostic stages.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asbestosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; Radiography, Thoracic ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the influence of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) on serum cytokines, Th1, including interleukin-2 (IL-2) and gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), and Th2, including interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), in patients with herpes simplex keratitis (HSK).

METHODSOne hundred and six HSK patients were randomly divided into the AM treated group and the ribavirin treated group. Levels of serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and gamma-IFN of all the patients and 62 healthy person, selected from donors for control group, were determined by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.

RESULTSLevels of serum IL-4 and IL-10 in HSK patients were significantly higher and those of IL-2 and gamma-IFN were significantly lower than those in the healthy control (all P < 0.01). These parameters were significantly improved in the patients of the AM group after treatment, but with no change in patients of the ribavirin group.

CONCLUSIONAM can modulate the imbalance state of Th1/Th2 in HSK patients, improve their immune function disturbance, that shows important significance in treating HSK.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Astragalus membranaceus ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Keratitis, Herpetic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo construct the virus-like parcel expressing hepatitis B virus (HBV) C gene and identify its immunogenicity.

METHODSHBV C gene was cloned into the shuttle vector pSC11, and the resulted plasmid pSC11-C was transfected into modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA).

RESULTSpSC11-C was correctly constructed as verified by sequence analysis and PCR, and the recombinant virus-like parcel possessed good immunogenicity.

CONCLUSIONThe MVA-C expressing HBV C gene has been successfully constructed to provide important basis for gene therapy research of chronic HBV infection.

Genes, Viral ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Vaccinia virus ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of Penyanqing Capsule (PYQC) in treating pelvic inflammation of Qi-stagnation with blood stasis syndrome.

METHODSThe randomized, single blinded, parallel positive drug controlled method was adopted, with 82 patients assigned into two groups by envelop method. The 42 patients in the treated group received PYQC 3 times a day, 4 capsules each time taken orally; the 40 patients in the control group were given orally Fuyankang tablets (FYKT) 3 times a day, 6 tablets each time. The therapeutic course for both groups was 2 months, and 2 courses of treatment were given successively to observe the comprehensive effect, changes of symptoms and signs before and after treatment. The effects of PYQC on hemorrheological character in part of the patients and on the pathogenetic chlamydia and mycoplasma were also observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treated group was 83.3%, which was insignificantly different from that in the control group (77.5%, P > 0.05). However, PYQC could significantly lower the hemorrheologic indexes in patients and showed definite influence on the pathogenetic chlamydia and mycoplasma.

CONCLUSIONPYQC has good therapeutic effect in treating chronic pelvic inflammation of Qi-stagnation with blood stasis syndrome, and showed definite effect on chlamydia and mycoplasma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Circulation ; Chronic Disease ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ; drug therapy ; Qi ; Single-Blind Method

Objective The role of BMI1 gene in the development of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to explore the expression of BMI1 gene in gastrointestinal stromal tumor,and analyze its relationship with clinical pathological features of GIST. Methods The clinical data of 68 GIST patients treated in The First People's Hospital of Nan-ning from August 2012 to October 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The expression of BMI1 in normal gastrointestinal tissues and GIST tissues were detected with immunohistochemistry method,and analyzed the relationship between various clinicopathological pa-rameters of GIST and BMI1. The expression of BMI1 protein was detected by Western blot. Results The positive rate of BMI1 was much higher in GIST group than in non-GIST (76.47% vs 36.84%,P<0.05). The difference in the expression of BMI1 protein between the different risk groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). The positive expression rate was the highest in the high-risk group (93.75%),but had no statistically significant difference among different genders,age,locations,histological types and whether me-tastasis (P>0.05). Expression of proliferation genes such as PCNA,CyclinD1 mRNA in BMI1 positive group were higher than those in BMI1 negative group,the expression of Pro-apoptotic genes such as Caspase-7,Smac mRNA were lower than those in BMI1 negative group,the expression of anti-apoptosis genes such as Livin,p53,Bcl-2 mRNA were higher than those in BMI1 negative group (P<0.05). Conclusion The expression of BMI1 protein was increased in GIST tissue. It is correlated with the risk classification,and is an important factor affecting the prognosis of patients.

Objective: Endometrial cancer is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract worldwide, and the associated relationship between endometrial cancer formation and various antipsychotics need to be confirmed. Methods: We conducted a case-control study by using data from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to compare individual antipsychotic exposure between females with and without endometrial cancer. Among 14,079,089 females in the 12-year population-based national dataset, 9,502 females with endometrial cancer were identified. Their medical records of exposure to antipsychotics, including quetiapine, haloperidol, risperidone, olanzapine, amisulpride, clozapine, and aripiprazole, for up to 3 years before endometrial cancer diagnosis were reviewed. Daily dosage and cumulative exposure days were analyzed in the risky antipsychotic users. Additionally, the subsequent 5-year mortality rate of endometrial cancer among users of the risky antipsychotic were also analyzed. Results: Among endometrial cancer patients, the proportion of those who have used haloperidol before being diagnosed with endometrial cancer is significantly higher than other antipsychotic users. The significant odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval of 1.75 (1.31−2.34) were noted. Furthermore, haloperidol users were associated with a significantly higher 5-year mortality rate after getting endometrial cancer than non-users. Conclusion There is a high correlation between the use of haloperidol and endometrial cancer formation. However, the underlying pathological biomechanisms require additional investigations.

Objective To explore the existence of natural loci on Marmota himalayana plague in Sichuan province and to provide basis for prevention and control of the disease. Methods Both epidemiological investigation and laboratory tests were used to provide the host animal and fleas of the vectors with Yersinia pestis carriers. Results 30 species of animals were found to belong to 10 orders. Ochotona curzoniae and M.himalayana were the most common ones while 7 species of the fleas belonged to 7 genera and 3 families. M.himalayana was the main reservoirs while Callopsylla dolabris and Oropsylla silantiewi served as vectors. The 13 Y.pestis were identified from 43 Marmota samples. 8 samples were identified under IHA, with the highest titer of herding-dogs serum as 1 : 10 240. 19 samples were F1 antigen positive using RIHA and the highest titer of M.himalayana serum was 1:409 600. The major foci was 4545 km2, distributed at Dege county in Sichuan province. Conclusion We have confirmed the existence of natural foci on M. Himalayana plague in Sichuan province.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of Dangua Recipe (DGR) on glycolipid metabolism, serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) positive expression and its mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta of diabetic rats with atherosclerosis, thus revealing its partial mechanisms for intervening chronic diabetic complications.

METHODSRecruited 40 Goto-Kakisaki (GK) Wistar rats were fed with high fat forage containing metabolic inhibition Propylthiouracil, and peritoneally injected with endothelial NOS inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester to establish a high fat diabetes model with atherosclerosis. The modeled GK rats were stratified by body weight, and then, by blood glucose level from high to low, randomly divided into the DGR group (at the daily dose of 8 mL/kg), the metformin group (MET, at the daily dose of 150 mg/kg), the simvastatin group (SIM, at the daily dose of 2 mg/kg), and the model group (MOD, fed with pure water, at the daily dose of 8 mL/kg) according to the random number table, 10 in each group. Another 10 Wistar rats of the same ages and comparable body weight level were recruited as the normal control group. All the interventions lasted for 24 weeks by gastrogavage. The fasting blood glucose (FBG) and body weight were monitored. The HbA1c, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG, serum ROS were determined. The aortic NF-kappaB level was analyzed with immunohistochemical assay. The expression of NF-kappaB (P65) mRNA in the aorta was detected with Real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe body weight in the normal control group was eventually heavier than others (P < 0.01). There was no difference among the four groups of GK modeled rats (P > 0.05). The FBG in the four GK modeled groups were higher than that in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the blood glucose level at the first visit and at the baseline among the GK modeled groups (P > 0.05). The last FBG level was obviously lower in the MET and DGR groups than in the MOD group (P < 0.01) and the SIM group (P < 0.05). Twenty-four weeks after intervention, the level of FBG, HbA1c, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and NF-kappaB positive expression rate of the thoracic aorta of the four groups of GK modeled rats, and NF-kappaB mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta in the MOD group, the MET group, and the DGR group were significantly higher than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The TG level, serum ROS in the MET, DGR, and SIM groups, and the NF-kappaB mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta in the SIM group were significantly lower than those in the normal control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The levels of FBG, TC, LDL-C, serum ROS, NF-kappaB mRNA expression level in the thoracic aorta in three drug intervention groups, and NF-kappaB positive expression rate in the DGR and MET groups, and the levels of HbA1c, TG in the DGR group were significantly lower than those in the MOD group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The level of FBG in the MET and DGR groups were lower than that in the SIM group (P < 0.05). The level of NF-kappaB mRNA expression in the thoracic aorta of the SIM and DGR groups, and the levels of TC and LDL-C in the DGR group were significantly lower than those in the MET group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDGR played a role in preventing and treating chronic diabetic complications by comprehensively regulating blood glucose and serum lipids, as well as down-regulating oxidative stress.

Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Lipid Metabolism ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; blood