To explore the effect of bone marrow camouflaged with methoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG) on allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, 60 BALB/c(H-2d) mice were randomly divided into 3 groups after irradiation by 8.0 Gy of (60)Co gamma ray. A group was given RPMI 1640 0.5 ml in tail vein. B group was infused with the bone marrow cells (1 x 10(7)) mixed with the spleen cells (1 x 10(7)) of donor 615(H-2k) mice. C group was transplanted with same dose cells, which were camouflaged with mPEG before infusion. Severity GVHD was determined by total manifestation of mice, survival rate, survival time and histo-pathological microscopy, and engraftment of allogeneic bone marrow was evaluated by chromosome examination. The results showed that 75% mice in B group had severe adverse manifestations, such as hunched posture, diarrhea and loss of hair. Occurrence of the same adverse manifestations in C group was 35% and significantly lower than that in B group (P Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; etiology ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Random Allocation ; Survival Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Whole-Body Irradiation

OBJECTIVETo study if methoxy polyethylene glycol modification (mPEG) affects grafts versus leukemia (GVL) when donor bone marrow mononuclear cells are camouflaged with mPEG in murine bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

METHODSSixty (BALB/c(H-2d) x 615(H-2k))F(1) mice were divided into four groups randomly. Mice in group A were only irradiated with 8.0 Gy (60)Cogamma, and mice in the other groups were inoculated intraperitoneally with 1 x 10(6) L615 cells 3 days before irradiation with the same dose (60)Cogamma. BALB/c(H-2d) mice were sacrificed and bone marrow cells and spleen cells were collected. The bone marrow cells (1 x 10(7)) were mixed with the spleen cells (1 x 10(7)), which were camouflaged or not camouflaged with mPEG, were transplanted into irradiated leukemia mice in C and D groups. GVL effects were assessed by L615 cells proportion in peripheral blood, histopathological changes and survival time.

RESULTSSevere GVHD was observed in group C (without mPEG modification), and the mice rapidly died, the mean survival time was 6.9 days. The mice in irradiated group (group B) with leukemia cell died of leukemia. The average survival time of group D (with mPEG modification) was 24.2 days, which was longer than that of the other groups (P < 0.05), and the survival rate of group D (27%) was significantly higher than that of the others (P < 0.05), 11 mice (11/15) died of leukemia and the others were still alive.

CONCLUSIONThe camouflage with mPEG modification is capable of preserving GVL effect and preventing GVHD in mice BMT.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Graft vs Leukemia Effect ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Polyethylene Glycols ; pharmacology

Objective: To investigate the effects of oxLDL and HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin on PKC activity, and level of cytosol ic free Ca 2+ in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Methods: Th e activity of PKC was determined by its ability to transfer phosphate from 32P-ATP to lysine-rich histone and level of cytosolic free calcium［Ca2+ ］i was measured by flow cytometric analysis loading with the Ca2+ dye F luo-3/Am. Results: oxLDL increased PKC total activity in a dose-de pendent manner and peaked after 12 min, then decreased slowly and maintained for at least 30 min, while oxLDL induced biphasic ［Ca2+］i responses includ ing the rapid initial transient phase and the sustained phase. Removal of extrac ellular Ca2+ did not inhibit the rapid transient phase, but abolished the sustained phase. When simvastatin was added, the activity of PKC wasmarkedly dec reased with no impairment to the initial peak response, but significantly reduce d the sustained phase. Conclusion: oxLDL can induced dynamic changes of signal transduction of PKC and level of cytosolic free Ca2+ in HUVEC, these 2 events are closely linked. The change of rapid initial transient phase i s the result of mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular pool and the chang e of sustained phase is from the influx of extracellular Ca2+. The inhibit ion of PKC activity induced by simvastatin may contribute to the changes of ［Ca 2+］i.

OBJECTIVETo study the antifungal treatment and intensive chemotherapy in children with acute leukemia and invasive aspergillosis.

METHODSThe diagnosis and treatment of 4 cases of childhood acute leukemia complicated by invasive aspergillosis between July 2007 and July 2008 were studied retrospectively.

RESULTSThree children who underwent remission induction chemotherapy for ALL and one who underwent consolidation chemotherapy for AML developed invasive aspergillosis. One child with proven aspergillosis and 3 with possible aspergillosis all had halo sign on CT at diagnosis. Voriconazole or amphotericin B was given as primary therapy. Improvements of fungal lesions were shown by CT after two to four weeks of antifungal therapy. Complete radiologic remissions were achieved between 4 months and one year. The intensive chemotherapy schedule was continued in all of 4 cases. The median time from fungal infection to the continuation of chemotherapy was 35 days. None showed recurrence of fungal infection.

CONCLUSIONSThe halo sign on CT may be a reliable indicator for the early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. The preemptive antifungal therapy on the basis of the identification of a halo sign and the reversal of immunosuppression may improve the outcome of invasive aspergillosis. Prolonged antifungal treatment during subsequent cycles of chemotherapy permits completion of scheduled intensive chemotherapy without fungal recurrence.

Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspergillosis ; drug therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; complications ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; complications

A new method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of Rhodobryum giganteum by using the nonlinear oscillating chemical was established for improving the quality control standard of R. giganteum. Its potential(E)/time(t) curve was recorded by electrochemical workstation in the oscillation reaction system of BrO~-_3-Ce(SO_4)_2-H_2SO_4-malonic acid/tartaric acid. The nonlinear oscillating chemical fingerprints were investigated for repeatability, and it was found that the RSD values of the four characteristic parameters of R. giganteum were less than 4.1%, indicating a good repeatability and high precision of this experiment. After optimizing the experimental parameters such as particle size, rotation speed and temperature, a new method based on nonlinear oscillating chemical was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of R. giganteum. The results showed that there was a good linear relationship between the induction time/the period of oscillation and the dosage of herbs(0.1-1.1 g), with the relative coefficients of 0.978 and 0.975, respectively. Besides, the highest potential showed a nonlinear relationship with the dosage of herbs, with the relative coefficient of 0.999. This method was also used to discriminate the R. giganteum and R. roseum. They were similar in appearance, but their fingerprints were quite different. Independent sample t test results showed that there were significant differences in the oscillation time, the maximum amplitude and the induction time, providing a basis for the identification of the basic sources of Herba Rhodobryi Rasei.
Quality Control