Several specific monoclonal antibodies for B, T and natural killer (NK) cell were used to investigate the B cell localization and the expression of their phe- notype in lymphoid nodules on frozen and paraffin sections of human tonsil and lymph node by means of an immunocytochemical ABC technic. The results indi- cate that monoclonal antibodies reactive with germinal centers in tonsil and ly- mph node gave a simlar results and the results indicate that transformation and germination of germinal center cells involve phenotype changs but except T-200. For example, in the lower zone of germinal center, the lymphoblasts are weakly stained for IgM andLN-2 antibodies, but not for OKB-2 and BA-1, while in th upper zone the centrocytes are intense staining for IgM, LN-2, OKB-2 and BA-1 antibodies arelight or moderate staining separately Further charaterization of B cells in upperzone is frenquently observed clcavages on their nuclear memb- rane. In the mantle zone, the lymphocytes are strongly reacted with OKB-2 and BA-1, middle staining for LN-2 and light staining for sIgM. Plasma cell is only reactive with T-200 and IgM antibodies.

Objective To measure the expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase(IDO)in condy-loma acuminatum (CA) lesions, and to evaluate its ability to locally metabolize tryptophan. Methods Immunohistochemical study was performed to observe the protein expression of IDO in skin lesions of patients with CA, and count the number of IDO-positive cells. Immunofluorescence assay was conducted to estimate the relationship between IDO-positive cells and dendritic cells. Epidermal cells and keratinocytes were isolated from warts of 30 patients with CA and prepuces of 11 healthy controls respectively, and both in vitro incubated with tryptophan solution for 4 hours. Then, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)was performed to detect the level of tryptophan metabolite, kynurenine, in the culture supernatant of the above cells, which could reflect the ability of epidermal cells to metabolize tryptophan. Results Rare IDO-positive cells were found in the normal skin, but a lot of IDO-positive cells gathered in the epidermis of the wart tissues. The IDO-positive cell/total cell ratio was significantly higher in the wart tissues than in the normal skin(48.3%± 15.4%vs. 5.2%± 2.4%, P<0.05). The fluorescence signals of IDO-positive cells and CD1a-positive Langerhans cells were not overlapped with each other, suggesting that IDO-positive cells were derived from epidermal cells of the wart tissues. Compared with the keratinocytes from the healthy skin, the epidermal cells from warts had a stronger ability to metabolize tryptophan in vitro. Conclusion A large number of IDO-positive cells exist in CA warts, and may be involved in occurrence of CA.

Objective To find out the potential risk factor of plague in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area, and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control of plague. Methods Rodents were captured by rat traps/cages at night and identified into species in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area from 2001 to 2009. Flea was counted and serum antibodies against plague F1 of rats, cats and dogs were detected by indirect hemagglutination (IHA). Plague surveillances were performed in human beings and rats. Results The rodents captured belonged to 9 species, 2 families, 2 orders and 1 classes. The average indoor rodent density was 1.16% (961/82 558), and was 1.12% (1345/119 671) outdoors. Rattus norvegicus was the dominant species,accounting for 50.37%. The proportion of R. Flavipectus was 3.80% in 2004, 4.50% in 2008 and 10.12% in 2009,showing an increasing trend year by year. There were three kinds of mice infected fleas in Wanzhou, which including Xenopsylla cheopis, Leptopsylla segnis and Ctenocephalides felis. The average rate of flea infected mice was 1.18%(82/6959) and the total flea index was 0.036. No F1 antibody against plague was detected in 6959 dogs and 160 cats serum samples. Conclusions No plague is found in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area. But R.Flavipectus, Xenopsylla cheopis and Leptopsylla segnis are dominant species in Wanzhou section, and the proportion of which shows an increasing trends year by year. There is a potential risk of plague outbreaks in Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir area.

OBJECTIVETo observe the regulatory effects of psoralen, oleanolic acid, and stilbene glucoside, three active components of psoralea fruit, glossy privet fruit and tuber fleeceflower root respectively, on Aβ25-35induced self-renewal and neuron-like differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs).

METHODSEmbryonic NSCs werein vitro isolated and cultured from Kunming mice of 14-day pregnancy, and randomly divided into the control group, the Aβ25-35 group, the Aβ25-35 +psoralen group, the Aβ25-35 +oleanolic acid group, and the Aβ25-35 + stilbene glucoside group. The intervention concentration of Aβ25-35 was 25 µmol/L, and the intervention concentration of three active components of Chinese medicine was 10(-7)mol/L. The effect of three active components of Chinese medicine on the proliferation of NSCs was observed by counting method. The protein expression of Tubulin was observed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The ratio of Tubulin+/DAPI was caculated. Results Compared with the control group, the sperical morphology of NSCs was destroyed in the Aβ25-35 group, the counting of NSCs, the expression of Tubulin protein, and the ratio of Tubulin /DAPI all decreased (P <0.01, P <0.05). Compared with the Aβ25-35 group, the counting of NSCs, the expression of Tubulin protein, and the ratio of Tubulin + /DAPI all increased in the three Chinese medicine treated groups (P <0. 01, P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONS25 µmol/L Aβ25-35 could inhibit self-renewal and neuron-like differentiating of NSCs. But psoralen, oleanolic acid, and stilbene glucoside could promote self-renewal of NSCs and neuron-like differentiation.

Amyloid beta-Peptides ; physiology ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Female ; Mice ; Neural Stem Cells ; Neurogenesis ; drug effects ; Neurons ; cytology ; Peptide Fragments ; physiology ; Pregnancy

Alveolar epithelial type II (AT II) cells are essential for lung development and remodeling, as they are precursors for type I cells and also produce other non-repair cells (fibroblasts). Progenitor cells are believed to possess capability of multi-potent transdifferentiation, which is closely related to the niche, suggesting the importance of establishment of a lung progenitor cell niche model. We hypothesized that pulmonary surfactant-associated protein A (SPA) suicide gene system would cause AT II cell to kill itself through apoptosis and leave its niche. In vitro, the recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors-SPA-thymidine kinase (rAAV-SPA-TK) system was established to get targeted apoptotic AT II cells. The apoptosis of AT II cells was detected by using MTT. The results showed that cloned SPA gene promoter had specific transcriptional activity in SPA high expression cells, and SPA high expression cells (H441) transfected with TK gene had higher sensitivity to ganciclovir (GCV) than SPA low expression cells (A549). In vivo, increased apoptosis of AT II cells induced by GCV in rAAV-SPA-TK system was observed by TUNEL. Finally, the successful packaging and application of rAAV-SPA-TK system provide experimental basis to get specific lung progenitor cell (AT II) niche in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUNDPulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis (PCH) is a rare disease and no Chinese case has been reported yet. The disease is often misdiagnosed and its clinical characteristics are incompletely described. The aim of this study was to describe two Chinese cases and to clarify the clinical and radiographic parameters of patients with PCH.

METHODSTwo PCH cases were presented and other cases were searched from the English literature. All available clinical and radiographic data were collected from 62 literature reported PCH cases. A pooled analysis of total 64 cases was made.

RESULTSDyspnea and hemoptysis were the most common clinical symptoms of PCH. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was found in 78% of the reported cases. PCH typically showed characteristic diffuse or patchy ground-glass opacities (GGOs) and/or multiple ill-defined centrilobular nodules in the computed tomography.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of PCH requires a high clinical suspicion. However, both clinical presentations and radiographic studies often provide clues to the diagnosis, which may prompt early lung biopsy for a definite diagnosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; complications ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo explore the possibility of Schwann cells transplantation to promote the repair of injured brain stem reticular structure in rats.

METHODSSchwann cells originated from sciatic nerves of 1 to 2-day-old rats were expanded and labelled by BrdU in vitro, transplanted into rat brain stem reticular structure that was pre-injured by electric needle stimulus. Immunohistochemistry and myelin-staining were used to investigate the expression of BrdU, GAP-43 and new myelination respectively.

RESULTSBrdU positive cells could be identified for up to 8 months and their number increased by about 23%, which mainly migrated toward injured ipsilateral cortex. The GAP-43 expression reached its peak in 1 month after transplantation and was significantly higher than that in the control group. New myelination could be seen in destructed brain stem areas.

CONCLUSIONThe transplantation of Schwann cells can promote the restoration of injured brain stem reticular structure.

Animals ; Antimetabolites ; Brain Injuries ; therapy ; veterinary ; Brain Stem ; injuries ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Transplantation ; methods ; veterinary ; Electrophysiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Schwann Cells ; transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of rat Schwann cell secretion on the proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cells (NSCs).

METHODSThe samples were divided into three groups. In Group One, NSCs were cultured in DMED/F12 in which Schwann cells had grown for one day. In Group Two, NSCs and Schwann cells were co-cultured. In Group Three, NSCs were cultured in DMEM/F12. The morphology of NSCs was checked and beta-tubulin, GalC, hoechst 33342 and GFAP labellings were detected.

RESULTSIn Group One, all neural spheres were attached to the bottom and differentiated. The majority of them were beta-tubulin positive while a few of cells were GFAP or GalC positive. In Group Two, neural spheres remained undifferentiated and their proliferation was inhibited in places where Schwann cells were robust. In places where there were few Schwann cells, NSCs performed in a similar manner as in Group One. In Group Three, the cell growth state deteriorated day after day. On the 7th day, most NSCs died.

CONCLUSIONThe secretion of rat Schwann cells has a growth supportive and differentiation-inducing effect on human NSCs.

Animals ; Brain ; cytology ; embryology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Coculture Techniques ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Schwann Cells ; secretion ; Sciatic Nerve ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVEThe exercise rehabilitation in patient with chronic heart failure (CHF) is standard clinical practice, but it is rare using CardioPulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) guide to prescribe exercise rehabilitation in China.

METHODSWe performed symptom limited maximal CPET in 10 patients with CHF, randomly divided into two groups: 5 patients as control without exercise and 5 exercise patients used Δ50%W intensity to exercise 30 min/d, 5 d/w, x12 w. Before and after 12 w rehabilitation, we evaluated functions.

RESULTSThere were no significant difference between two groups patients (P > 0.05). The exercise duration was increased from 8 min to 23 min after rehabilitation (P < 0.001); distance 6 minutes walking was increased from 394 m to 470 m (P < 0.05); score of Minnesota quality of life was decreased from 25 to 3 in exercise group (P < 0.01). However, there were nosignificant changes in control group (P>0.05) and their changes were smaller than those in exercise group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe CPET guiding exercise rehabilitation is safe and effective for patients with CHF.

China ; Chronic Disease ; Exercise Test ; Exercise Therapy ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Quality of Life ; Walking

OBJECTIVESyncope is a common problem in children and adolescents. Such an event may have multiple possible causes, ranging from benign conditions to life-threatening diseases. Syncope is a major challenge for the practicing physicians. It is very important to know the etiologic and clinical characteristics of syncope in children. This study aimed to improve diagnostic efficacy of syncope in children by analyzing the etiology and clinical characteristics of syncope.

METHODSThe investigators retrospectively analyzed the causes of syncope and diagnostic workup of 154 consecutive children seen in Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital because of a syncopal event.

RESULTSAutonomic-mediated reflex syncope (AMS) was the most common cause of syncope (65.6%), whereas cardiac disorders were found in 10 cases (6.5%) comprising the second cause of syncope in children. Other causes included psychologic problems and neurological and metabolic disorders. Although many causes were studied, 25 cases (16.2%) were found to have uncertain etiologies yet. The children with AMS were commonly seen in pubertal girls, and they had clear inducement of syncope and prodromes. The children with cardiac syncope often had history of cardiac diseases, and they were often younger than those with AMS. Lack of prodromes of syncope, exercise-related syncope, syncope spells seen in any body position, frequent syncope spells and sudden death in family were clues of cardiac syncope. Neurological disorders should be considered if there are any of the followings: syncope with seizure activity, syncope spells seen in any position, and a postictal phase of disorientation or neurologic abnormal signs. A metabolic cause was entertained when the child had a history of metabolic diseases, prolonged anger, or violent vomiting and diarrhea. Children with psychiatric disorders were adolescent girls with prolonged syncope spells, and had more frequent syncopal episodes. Most children with syncope were evaluated by many of diagnostic tests, but most of those tests were not goal-directed approach. Since persons with cardiac syncope were at increased risk for death from any cause, electrocardiography was recommended in almost all children with syncope. Neurologic testing including electroencephalography, computed tomography, etc. were rarely helpful unless neurologic signs and symptoms are present. Holter electrocardiography and echocardiography were most useful in children with suspected cardiac syncope. There was little benefit of screening cardiac enzyme in children with syncope. Routine blood tests (blood electrolytes and blood glucose, etc) rarely yield diagnostically useful information unless the children had the history of metabolic diseases. Head-up tilt testing was most useful in children with recurrent syncope in whom heart disease was not suspected. The children with frequent syncope, long lasting syncopal episode and clear psychiatric inducement of syncope should be evaluated by psychiatric testing.

CONCLUSIONSyncope in children may result from a wide variety of causes, and clinicians often use a wide range of investigation to try to achieve a diagnosis. But most of investigations have low diagnostic yield. Thorough history taking, physical examination and electrocardiography are the core of the syncope workup.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Syncope ; diagnosis ; etiology