Objective To investigate the relationship between apoptosis of bone marrow cells and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?),Fas/FasL expression in children with aplastic anemia.Methods The concentration of TNF-? in supernatant of cultured bone marrow mononuclear cell(BMMC) was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.The expression of Fas/FasL,apoptosis ratio of bone marrow CD34+ cell were evaluated by flow cytometry.Results The concentration of TNF-? in supernatant of cultured BMMC in AA group[SAA (27.9?8.20) ng/L;CAA (23.6?6.78) ng/L] increased significantly compared with control group(t=3.432 P0.05).Apoptosis ratio of CD34+ cell in SAA group[(24.6?9.56)%] and CAA group[(20.9?7.32)%] significantly increased compared with control group(t=3.492,3.458 Pa0.05).The concentration of TNF-? was positively correlated with the expression of CD34+ Fas+ in all types AA children(r=0.542 P0.05).Conclusions TNF-? and Fas/FasL system can be involved in inducing CD34+ cell apoptosis.This may contribute to understanding the decreased number of stem cells and bone marrow failure.

Traditional Chinese medicine is a treasure of Chinese culture, absorbing the wisdom of the Chinese people. Continuous application of new technologies makes traditional Chinese medicine research advance with the times. After several years of development, high-throughput transcriptome study has become a mature research tool in biology. This paper reviewed the advances in medicine transcriptome study, and compared two sequencing platforms, Roche's GS FLX platform and Illumina's HiSeq 2000 platform. Moreover, this paper introduced medicine transcriptome analysis process, with Panax quinquefolius and Lonicera japonica for examples, showing the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine transcriptome studies. High-throughput transcriptome studies facilitate traditional Chinese medicine research with overall understand of functional genes, give clear elucidation of metabolic pathways, lay molecular foundation for the traditional Chinese medicine research and offer modern interpretation for traditional Chinese medicine theory. However, the current study faces several difficulties, including weak molecular basis, high sequencing cost and staff shortages in data anaysis. In the future, with the development in sequencing technology, the combination of transcriptome and other genomics, such as proteome and metabolome, will lay a solid foundation for the new high-throughput screening and developing model for the traditional Chinese medicine industry.
Biomedical Research ; methods ; trends ; Forecasting ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Humans ; Lonicera ; genetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Panax ; genetics ; Phytotherapy ; methods ; trends ; Transcriptome ; genetics

Background Hyperuricemia is frequently present in patients with heart failure. Many pathological conditions, such as tissue ischemia, renal function impairment, cardiac function impairment, metabolic syndrome, and inflammatory status, may impact uric acid (UA) metabolism. This study was to assess their potential relations to UA metabolism in heart failure. Methods We retrospectively assessed clinical characteristics, echocardiological, renal, metabolic and inflammatory variables selected on the basis of previous evidence of their involvement in cardiovascular diseases and UA metabolism in a large cohort of randomly selected adults with congestive heart failure (n = 553). By clustering of indices, those variables were explored using factor analysis. Results In factor analysis, serum uric acid (SUA) formed part of a principal cluster of renal functional variables which included serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Univariate correlation coefficients between variables of patients with congestive heart failure showed that the strongest correlations for SUA were with BUN (r = 0.48, P < 0.001) and SCr (r = 0.47, P < 0.001). Conclusions There was an inverse relationship between SUA levels and measures of renal function in patients with congestive heart failure. The strong correlation between SUA and SCr and BUN levels suggests that elevated SUA concentrations reflect an impairment of renal function in heart failure.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the peptidylarginine deiminase IV (PADI4) and HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) in a Chinese population.

METHODSFour exonic SNPs of the PADI4 gene (PADI 4_89*A/G, PADI 4_90*C/T, PADI 4_92*C/G and PADI 4_104*C/T) were genotyped in 67 unrelated patients with RA and 81 healthy controls, using cDNA sequencing and T vector cloning. HLA-DRB 1*01, *04 and *10 subtypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP).

RESULTSThe distributions of the 4 SNPs were different in the two groups, and increased RA susceptibility was significantly associated with the minor alleles of PADI 4_89*G (P was 0.023), PADI 4_90*T (P was 0.004), PADI 4_104*T (P was 0.003), and the haplotypes carrying the 4 minor alleles (P was 0.008). HLA-DRB1 SE alleles are composed of HLA-DRB 1*0101, *0102, *0401, *0404, *0405, *0408, *0409, *0410 and *1001. Individuals carrying the SE alleles were associated with increased RA susceptibility (P was 0.002). Individuals carrying both the SE alleles and minor alleles of the 4 SNPs were more susceptible to RA than individuals carrying neither the minor SNP alleles nor the SE alleles.

CONCLUSIONThe PADI4 SNPs and haplotypes are associated with RA susceptibility in Chinese. HLA-DRB1 shared epitope is also an important risky factor for RA. There may exist certain synergistic effect between the PADI4 minor alleles and the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Epitopes ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Hydrolases ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Protein-Arginine Deiminases

OBJECTIVETo study the role of different lymphadenectomy in the treatment of selected clinical-stage IA non-small cell lung cancer.

METHODSAll 115 postoperative patients admitted from January 1997 to May 2002 with pathologic-stage T1 who had been preoperatively diagnosed as clinical-stage I A non-small cell lung cancer were divided into a radical systematic mediastinal lymphadenectomy (LA) group and a mediastinal lymph node sampling (LS) group. Impacts on morbidity, N staging, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated in each group respectively. Associations between clinical-pathological parameters (age, sex, tumor location, tumor size, pathological type and lymph node metastases) and OS, DFS were analyzed. The cumulative OS and DFS was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the Log-rank test.

RESULTSThe mean number of dissected lymph nodes was (15.98 +/- 3.05) in LA group and (6.48 +/- 2.16) in LS group with a significant difference (P < 0.01). No statistically significant difference existed in modification of N staging, OS and DFS between LA group and LS group. However, for patients with lesions of a diameter more than 2 cm, 5-year OS in LA group was significantly higher than that in LS groups (LA vs. LS = 78.2% vs. 54.5% ,P < 0.05), also 5-year DFS was significantly higher (LA vs. LS = 75.1% vs. 51.3%, P < 0.05). For patients with lesions of 2 cm or less, 5-year OS and 5-year DFS were similar in both groups. The early surgery-related parameters (duration of surgery, drain secretion and morbidity) indicated a slighter invasion in LS group. In addition, patients with large cell carcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma were associated with significantly poor 5-year OS (P < 0.05) , and patients with lymph node metastases were associated with poor 5-year OS as well as 5-year DFS (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAfter being intraoperatively identified as T1 stage, patients with lesions of more than 2 cm in clinical-stage IA non-small cell lung cancer should be performed with LA to get a better survival, and patients with lesions of 2 cm or less should be performed with LS to decrease invasion.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Mediastinum ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the exploratory development of bone graft by titanium mesh with bone allograft in treatment of cervical spinal tuberculosis.

METHODSThirty two cases of cervical spinal tuberculosis treated with anterior radical debridement, decompression and inter fixation from January 2002 to January 2007 were included (at least two years follow-up). 18 male and 14 female, age from 18 to 72, mean 41.3 years old. 0.5 - 15.0 months before visit, mean 6.9 months. There were 13 cases in initial treatment group and 19 cases in retreatment group. All cases were divided into two groups (group A and group B) by resource of bone graft. Group A, titanium mesh with bone allograft, 17 cases. Group B, autograft with ilium, 15 cases. Operation time, blood loss, curing conditions, cervical curvature (absolute rotation angle, ARA), function of spinal cord and the rate for bone graft fusions in two groups were compared. The mean follow-up was 3.5 years (range 2 - 5 years).

RESULTSThe primary healing rate of incisions was 93.8% (30/32), and total healing rate was 96.9% (31/32). There were no significant differences in operation time or in blood loss between two groups (P > 0.05). Operation time and blood loss, 72 min/121 ml in group A and 90 min/198 ml in group B, there were significant differences between two groups (P < 0.05). In each group, there were significant differences in the function of spinal cord between preoperative and immediately post operative, between preoperative and follow-up, and between immediately post operative and follow-up (P < 0.05), and there were significant differences in ARA between preoperative and immediately post operative, and between preoperative and follow-up (P < 0.05), and there were no significant differences between immediately post operative and follow-up (P > 0.05). On preoperative, immediately post operative and follow-up, there were no significant differences in the function of spinal cord or in ARA between two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor cervical spinal tuberculosis followed by effective individual chemotherapy, a good effect can be obtained by treated with radical debridement and bone allograft with titanium mesh.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Mesh ; Titanium ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis, Spinal ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the role of interleukin (IL) 21 alone, IL12 alone, and IL21 plus IL12 for inducing the antitumor activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with endometrial cancer.

METHODSPBMCs were isolated from peripheral blood in patients with endometrial cancer in vitro, and kept the culture with low-level IL2. IL2-stimulated PBMCs were cocultured under different conditions (with anti-IL21 antibody, IL21 alone, IL12 alone, or IL21 plus IL12) for 72 h. The cytotoxicity of PBMCs was then examined by lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) released assay. CD4(+) CD25(+) FOXP3(+) regulatory (Treg) cell and CD4(+) IL17A(+) T-helper (Th17) cell proportion were determined with flow cytometry. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

RESULTSIn comparison to control group, both IL21 and IL12 significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of PBMCs. The IL21 plus IL12 group had superior effect to IL21 alone and IL12 alone. IL21 and IL12 significantly decreased the percentages of Treg cells and the rate of PBMCs apoptosis. IL21 or IL12 had no significant effect on the differentiation of Th17 cells and the proliferation of PBMCs.

CONCLUSIONSIL21 and IL12 can enhance the cytotoxicity of PBMCs in patients with endometrial cancer, which can be further strengthened with treatment of IL21 plus IL12. Such effects may be achieved by inhibiting the differentiation of Treg cells and the apoptosis of PBMCs, but not by the differentiation of Th17 cell.

Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; pharmacology ; Interleukins ; pharmacology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; immunology ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

Objective: To investigate the levels of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium in the blood, urine, and hair samples from residents in the rare earth mining area of a city in China, and to provide a scientific basis for the control of rare earth pollution and the protection of population health. Methods: A total of 147 residents who had lived in the rare earth mining area of a city for a long time were selected as the exposure group, and 108 residents in Guyang County of this city who lived 91 km away from the rare earth mining area were selected as the control group. Blood, urine, and hair samples were collected from the residents in both groups. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine the content of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium in blood, urine, and hair samples. Results: In the exposure group, the median levels of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium were 0.854, 1.724, 0.132, and 0.839 μg/L, respectively, in blood samples, 0.420, 0.920, 0.055, and 0.337 μg/L, respectively, in urine samples, and 0.052, 0.106, 0.012, and 0.045 μg/g, respectively, in hair samples. The exposure group had significantly higher levels of the four rare earth elements in blood, urine, and hair samples than the control group (P<0.01) . Conclusion The residents in the rare earth mining area of this city have higher content of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, and neodymium in blood, urine, and hair than those in the non-mining area; the content of cerium is highest, followed by lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium.

Objective To introduce the method and evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic repair of nasal septal perforation with acellular dermal matrix and pedicled mucoperichondrial flap. Methods Twelve patients with perforation of nasal septum were encountered since February 2006 to October 2010. The most common symptoms and sings were nasal obstruction and crusting at the margin of the perforation. Eight of 12 patients were iatrogenic following surgery. The perforation typically located at anterior medial part of the nasal septum, with their sizes ranged approximately 1. 0 -2. 3 cm in diameter. The incision was made at the anterior edge of the perforation from the left nasal cavity and continued to the nasal floor horizontally. It ended at the lateral nasal cavity. Then, another incision was made parallel to the first one, which was 1.5 cm from the posterior of the perforation. The two incisions was connected. The mucoperichondrium was stripped along with the incisions and the pedicle of mucoperichondrial flap kept on the nasal septum. Then,the flap was turned up to cover the perforation and fixed with apposition suture. Put the acellular dermal matrix graft on the perforation from the right nasal cavity and fixed it with apposition suture. Results The healing of the acellular dermal matrix and mucoperichondrium was good in the first week postoperatively and there was no rejective reaction and contracture. The epithelization of the nasal septal perforation finished 4 weeks after surgery. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 4 years. Eleven patients had successful outcomes with complete closure of their perforations. One patient failed the operation. All of them had no complications. Conclusions Using acellular dermal matrix graft and mucoperichondrial flap to repair the septal perforation is a simple method and the success rate is high. Therefore, it is an effective way to repair the perforation of nasal septum.

To make clear of the absorbed components of Tianzhusan (TZS) and its possible mechanism in preventing vascular dementia (VD), the rats' models of VD were prepared by a permanent ligation of the bilateral common carotid arteries. After 60 days, rats were administrated with TZS for 0.1 g x kg(-1), and the volume is 0.02 mL x g(-1). After 3 days, the medicated serum was prepared and detected by UPLC, and then we predicted the possible chemical structure of the absorbed components of TZS. According to the absorbed components, the potential targets of TZS were found by ligand profiling of Discovery Studio 3.5. All of these target genes were submitted to DAVID onine for gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The 5 absorbed components of TZS have been predicted, and four of them have been identified as parishin B, parishin C, parishin, pennogenin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosy-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucoside. Through reverse finding targets, we got 861 pharmacophore models and 9 pathways from KEGG, BIOCARTA after document verification. These results showed that the efficacy mechanism of TZS on VD perhaps were be related with these absorbed components and pathways. If the traditional herbs could be proved effective by efficacy tests, the serum pharmacochemistry, computer-aided drug design, system biology and other technologies can be used in the next experiments, which will be beneficial to fast discovery of material basis and mechanisms of traditional medicine coming form ethnic minorities.
Animals ; Dementia, Vascular ; prevention & control ; Drug Discovery ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gastrodia ; chemistry ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Trillium ; chemistry