Objective The levels of Thl cytokines(IL-10 and IL-13)and Th2 cytokines(INF-? and TNF-?)were determined in the sera of patients with Schistosomiasis japonica in order to find the relationship between cytokines and severe hepatic fibrosis(HF)in schistosomiasis.Methods A total of 358 patients with advanced Schistosomiasis japonica were examined by ultrasound.68 HBsAg negative patients were chosen randomly as experimental control.Among them,39 patients were found to have mild HF and 29 were severe HF.The sera levels of Thl and Th2 cytokines were determined with ELISA.Results Among these 358 patients,83(23.2%)were HBsAg positive.Neither earlier nor severer hepatic fibrosis was noted in the patients who had been simultaneously infected with HBV than those only infected with schistosomiasis. There was a significant difference between mild[ 1.60(1.30-12.14)ng/L]and severe[ 4.20(1.43- 52.07)ng/L]HF patients in the level of IL-10(Z=-3.907,P0.05)was found in level of IFN-?,between severe[3.12(1.38-66.14)ng/L]and mild[5.87(1.33-216.33)ng/ L]HF subjects.Our observation did not reveal any obvious difference of TNF-? between severe[ 2.48(0.79 -19.86)ng/L]and mild[ 2.28(0.67-15.72)ng/L]HF groups.Conclusions Patients infected with advanced shistosomiasis may become more susceptible to HBV.The results of the present investigation showed that a high level production of IL-13 was associated with severe HF.

Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant adenovirus mediatied human endostatin (rAD-GFP-ES)on rats with collagen typeⅡinduced arthritis(CIA),and explore the mechanism of inflamma- tion and cytokines inhibition on rats CIA.Methods The rAD-GFP-ES was amplified and purified.The model of rat CIA was induced by intradermal injection of typeⅡcollagen combined with complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA). On the second day after the injection,the therapeutic administration of rAD-GFP-ES(1?10~(11)pfu?kg~(-1)?week~(-1)?4 weeks)were performed to the rats.The mean arthritis index(AI)was scored every week since then.The relative concentrations of ES,IL-I?,TNF-?in sera collected at the fourth week were evaluated by western blotting. Results①The titer of the purified rAD-GFP-ES and rAD-GFP was 6.6?10~(12)pfu/ml and 4.8?10~(12)pfu/ml,re- spectively(A_(260nm)/A_(280nm)＞1.3).②The concentration of ES in sera of the group treated with rAD-GFP-ES was 2.4-lold higher compared to the normal group.③The mean arthritis index of the group treated with rAD-GFP- ES was much lower than that of the model group.The administration of rAD-GFP-ES could significantly de- creas the production of IL-1?and TNF-?in sera.Conclusions①The rAD-GFP-ES is efficiently expressed in vivo.②The rAD-GFP-ES has an inhibitory effect on the arthritis index of rat CIA.③IL-1?and TNF-?are involved in the pathogenesis of RA.The rAD-GFP-ES has an inhibitory effect on the expression of IL-1?and TNF-?in rat CIA.

Background Haze formation is a key factor of vision reduce following corneal refractive surgery.Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) are documented to participate in haze formation.Laboratory study showed that bevacizumab can not only inhibit corneal neovascularization,but also promote the healing of corneal epithelial basement membrane.However,the impact of bevacizumab on corneal healing after Off-flap epipolis laser in situkeratomileusis (Off-flap Epi-LASIK) is unclear.Objective The present study was to investigate the inhibition effect of bevacizumab on corneal haze after off-flap Epi-LASIK and its active mechanism.Methods Off-flap Epi-LASIK was performed in 24 adult pigmented rabbits and these rabbits were randomized into three groups.Bevacizumab of 0.1 ml (2.5 mg) was subconjunctivally injected 10 minutes after surgery in 16 rabbits and the same amount of bevacizumab was repeatedly injected 4 days after the initial injection in 8 eyes of 16 eyes.In addition,equivalent amount of normal saline solution was used in the same way in the other 8 rabbits.Another 2 health rabbits were used as the blank controls.Operative eyes were examined by slit lamp biomicroscope daily after surgery and haze was scored based on SundarRayde criteria.Corneas were obtained 4 weeks after operation for hematoxylin & eosin and periodic acid Schiff staining.Expressions of TGF-β1 and α-SMA in corneal tissue were detected by immunochemistry.Results Corneal epithelium healed completely in all eyes 4-5 days after operation.The haze scores were lower in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group than those in the normal saline solution group (P＜0.05) in 1 week and 4 weeks after operation.However,no significant difference was seen in the haze scores between the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group (P ＞ 0.05).The hostopathological examination showed that the fibrosis response of cornea tissue was slight in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group comparison with the normal saline solution group.At 1 week after operation,the expression levels of TGF-β1 were (49.8 ± 2.1) PU and (38.6 ±4.4) PU in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group,and those of 4 weeks were (37.7 ±4.8) PU and (28.3 ± 3.5) PU,indicating significant decrease in the TGF-β1 expression compared with (65.1 ±5.3) PU and (51.6±2.2) PU of the normal saline solution group in both 1 week and 4 weeks (P＜0.01).The expression levels of α-SMA in corneas were (67.2±10.0) PU and (32.7±3.1) PU at 1 week,and (34.2±5.7) PU and (22.8±3.0) PU at4 weeks after operation in the bevacizumab single injection group and repeat injection group,which were significantly lower than (87.8±7.7) PU and (59.4±5.6) PU in the normal saline solution group in both 1 week and 4 weeks (P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the expression levels of TGF-β1 and α-SMA were declined in the bevacizumab repeat injection group compared with single injection group (P＜0.01).Periodic acid Schiff staining exhibited that the basement membrane of cornea was intact and continued in bevacizumab injection group.But corneal basement membrane was discontinuous in the normal saline solution group.Conclusions Subconjunctival injection of bevacizumab downregulates the expressions of TGF-β1and α-SMA in cornea after Off-flap Epi-LASIK and thus prevents haze formation.

Objective To investigate the mRNA and protein expression levels of interferon(IFN)-?in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),to analyze the relationship between IFN-?and disease activity,and to evaluate the role of IFN-?in the pathogenesis of lupus.Methods SYBR green dyeⅠbased real-time quantatives PCR method was used to compare the mRNA expression levels of IFN-?in the peripheral blood leucocyte of SLE patients and healthy controls.Surum levels of IFN-?were measured with ELISA method.Results IFNA1 mRNA expression level in SLE patients(2.8?3.5)was signifi- cantly lower than that of normal controls(12.7?10.7,P=0.000).There was no significant difference between patients treated with glucocorticoid and those without in the expression level of IFNA1(P=0.549).Serum levels of IFN-?in SLE patients was significantly higher than that of normal controls(P=0.003).The SLEDAI score and anti-dsDNA antibody correlated positively,and complement components C3,C4 and leukocytes correlated negatively with serum concentration of IFN-?.IFN-?level correlated with the presence of fever and rash. Conclusion The close relationship between IFN-?serum level and disease activity in SLE patients suggests that IFN-?might be of importance in the disease process.

Objective To improve the conventional method of quantitative assessment of regional cerebral blood flows(rCBF)by a perfusion CT study based on maximal slope model at the general infusion rate(

OBJECTIVETo investigate the personality traits and intensity dependence of auditory evoked potentials (AEPs) in chronic primary insomnia.

METHODSThirty-seven patients with chronic primary insomnia (insomnia group) and 44 healthy subjects (control group) were enrolled in the study. The AEPs were examined in insomnia and control groups; the personality traits were studied by Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scales (SSS) and Zuckerman-Kuhlman's Personality Questionnaire (ZKPQ); and the mood states by Plutchik-van Praag's Depression Inventory (PVP).

RESULTThe scores of neuroticism-anxiety and depression in insomnia group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01); and the scores of impulsivity and aggression-hostility were also higher than those in control group (P<0.05); N1-P2 amplitude of AEP increased with stimulus intensity, which were significantly different in 70, 80, 90,100 dB (P<0.01). There were significant correlations between activity and N1 latency at 80 dB, activity and P2 latency at 100 dB (r=0.270, r=0.276, P<0.05); and between total scores of sensation seeking scale and N1-P2 amplitude (r=0.3746, r=0.35329, P<0.01) at 70 and 90 dB stimulus intensity in insomnia group. There were significant correlations among experience seeking and N1-P2 amplitude, experience seeking and slope rate (P<0.01) at 70, 80, 90, 100 dB stimulus intensity in insomnia group (r=0.539, r=0.3439, r=0.439, r=0.3278). There were significant correlations between sensation seeking of boredom susceptibility and slope rate (r=-0.282998, P<0.05) in insomnia group. There were significant correlations between thrill and adventure seeking and N1-P2 amplitude(r=0.2789, P<0.05) at 90 dB stimulus intensity in insomnia group; there were significant correlations between PVP and N1-P2 amplitude (r=-0.3434, r=-0.3158, P<0.05) at 70 dB and N1 latency at 80 dB in insomnia group.

CONCLUSIONChronic primary insomnia sufferers have higher levels of neuroticism-anxiety, depression, aggression-hostility and impulsivity, and some are correlated with stimulus intensity dependence in AEP.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; complications ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Personality ; physiology ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; complications ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Prawn white spot syndrome is caused by the pathogen prawn white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). VP19 is a vesicle membrane protein of WSSV. HyNPV (Hybrid of AcNPV and BmNPV) constructed by the recombination of BmNPV and AcNPV is a new hybrid virus having both of their advantages. The recombinant transfer vector pBlueBicHisC-vp19 and recombinant baculovirus HyNPV-VP19 were constructed on the basis of the successful cloning of VP19. Newly-molted silkworms Bombyx mori of fifth instar were inoculated by the recombinant virus. SDS-PAGE and Western blotting analysis showed a specific band, about 21kD, which was consistent with the expectation suggesting that the WSSV-VP19 gene was successfully expressed in silkworm bodies.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Bombyx ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Genetic Vectors ; Penaeidae ; virology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Virus Replication ; White spot syndrome virus 1 ; genetics

According to the reported sequence of Buthus martensii Karsch scorpion toxin gene (BmK IT3), we synthesized two primers, which were complementary in a region. By the means of PCR, we got the gene. The gene was fused in expression vector pET-28a, which gave rise to a recombinant plasmid pET(IT3R). Then it was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). With IPTG induction, the gene was efficiently expressed. And the fusion product was soluble.
Animals ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Isopropyl Thiogalactoside ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Scorpion Venoms ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; genetics ; Scorpions ; chemistry ; genetics

Objective To investigate the expressions of human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) mRNA and protein in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma and their significance as diagnostic markers in predicting the biological behaviour of these tumours.Methods Expression of hTERT mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization in 45 pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas(31 benign,7 suspected malignant and 7 malignant) and 9 normal adrenal medulla samples,hTERT protein was determined by immunohistoebemistry.Results hTERT mRNA was expressed in 5/7 malignant turnouts and 5/7 suspected malignant tumours as compared with 3/31 benign tumours(P

Objective To compare the effects of gastric gavage and intramuscular injection of prednisone on the bone mineral density, skeletal biomechanical properties and bone metabolism in rats.Methods A total of 45 SPF rats were randomly divided into three groups:normal group, intragastric administration group, and intramuscular injection group.The normal group, as a control group, was administrated with normal saline 2 mL per day, both the intragastric administration group and i.m.injec-tion group received prednisone 0.5 mg/(kg.d) for 12 weeks.All rats were examined for bone mineral density (BMD) and the level of serum β-CTX and PINP.The femoral cortical biomechanical properties ( elastic load, maximal load, rupturing load) were measured by three point bending test.Results After 12 weeks, compared with the normal group, BMD and elastic load, maximal load, and rupturing load of the femur were significantly decreased.Compared with the intragastric gavage group, BMD was significantly decreased, while the elastic load, maximal load, and rupturing load of the femur were not significantly changed in the i.m.injection group (P＜0.05 for all).Compared with the normal group, the level of serum β-CTX was significantly raised (P＜0.05) and the level of serum PINP was significantly decreased (P＜0.05).Compared with the intragastric gavage group, the level of serumβ-CTX was also significantly raised (P＜0.05), the level of serum PINP was significantly decreased (P＜0.05), the bone trabecula and hemopoietic tissue were obviously decreased, while the adipose tissue increased obviously. Conclusions Both intragastric gavage and intramuscular injection of prednisone affect the level of BMD, skeletal biomechanical properties and bone metabolism.However, i.m.injection of prednisone decreases the BMD and bone strength more significantly, leading to a higher bone turnover with increased bone resorption, and leads to osteoporosis earlier.Our results may suggest that oral administration of prednisone is more safe in clinical treatment.