Objective To study the types of autoantibodies in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.Methods There were 60 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis from January 1995 to December 2004 in People's Hospital. We analyzed those patients' autoantibodies results and clinical data.Results There were 75% patients with anti-mitochondrial antibody(45/60),and antinuclear antibodies were detected in 60%(36/60)PBC patients,with the following hierarchy of specificities:23%(14/60)speckled,20%(12/60)multiple nuclear dots,16%(10/60)nuclear membranous,6%(6/60)anti-centromere,1.6%(1/60)homogeneous,20%(12/60)anti-SSA,10%(6/60)anti-SSB and 1.6%(1/60)anti-RNP. Several patients showed multiple specificities. Comparing PBC patients with or without AMA,no statistically significant difference was found on ages,biochemical and immunological parameters.Conclusion AMA-negative PBC patients share the same clinical features with AMA-passive PBC. Except for AMA,other antibodies may present in PBC patients. Multiple nuclear dots and nuclear member antinuclear antibodies may be helpful for diagnosing PBC patients without AMA.

Objective To investigate whether the left ventricular delayed contraction site determined by tissue Doppler imaging might be an optimal left ventricular lead position for improved outcomes of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Methods Thirty-three patients subjected to CRT were selected, and all were performed conventional ultrasound cardiography and tissue Doppler examinations before operation. The left ventricular delayed contraction site was determined according to the interval between the onset of QRS and the peak systolic velocity. Retrograde coronary venography was performed during operation, and the left ventricular lead site was selected according to the left ventricular delayed contraction site determined by tissue Doppler examination before operation. The coronary sinus lead site was determined under the guidance of X ray of dorsaventral, lateral, right anterior oblique and left anterior oblique positions. Patients were divided into group A(n=20, the left ventricular lead site was in line with the delayed contraction site) and group B (n=13, the left ventricular lead site was not in line with the delayed contraction site). Results There was no significant difference in age, NYHA grading, left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, QRS width and Ts-SD between the two groups before operation(P> 0.05). Six months after CRT, there was no significant difference in NYHA grading, LVESV and mitral regurgitation(MR) grading between the two groups(P>0.05), while the increase in LVEF and decrease in LVESV of group A were more significant than those of group B (P<0.01). Conclusion In patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, CRT significantly improves left ventricular performance, and the more favourable outcomes are achieved in those pace at the delayed contraction site. Tissue Doppler imaging may help to guide the implant of left ventricular lead.

Objective To explore the mechanism of protecting cells from hypoxia/ reoxygenation (H/R) injury by constructing specific small interference RNA (siRNA) to inhibit NALP3 expression in rat renal tubular epithelial cells (NRK-52E).Methods (1) To establish the H/R injury model of NRK-52E by regulating the pressure of N2 in incubator to hypoxia condition,the cells were cultured with hypoxia for 1 h and then with reoxygenation for 1 h,2 h,4 h,8 h,16 h and 24 h.The activity of lactae dehydrogenase (LDH) in the culture medium,cell count and cell viability,the expression of NALP3 were determined by biochemical method,trypan blue exclusion and Western blotting.(2) The siRNA was transfected into NRK-52E.The irrespective siRNA transfected group wasused as control.NALP3 expression was examined by Western blotting.(3) The cells were divided into 4 groups:control group,H/R group,irrespective siRNA transfected group and NALP3-siRNA transfected group.To establish the H/R injury model of NRK-52E by regulating the pressure of N2 in incubator to hypoxia condition,the cells were cultured with hypoxia for 1 h and then with reoxygenation for 4 h.And the expression of NALP3 was determined by Western blotting.(4)Cellular apoptosis was examined by Annexin V/PI staining and flow cytometry.NF-κB DNA binding activity,IκB-α,Bcl-2 and Bax expression were examined by EMSA and Western blotting.Results (1)Compared with the control group,the activity of LDH significantly increased,cell count and cell viability significantly decreased (all P＜0.05).The expression of NALP3 significantly increased and peaked at 4 h after H/R.(2)The specific siRNA could efficiently inhibit NALP3 expression in NRK-52E.Compared with the irrespective siRNA transfected group,the protein expression of NALP3 was significantly down-regulated in NALP3 siRNA transfected group (P＜0.05).(3)After hypoxia 1 h and reoxygenation 4 h,the activity of LDH and the expression of NALP3 increased.Compared with the irrespective siRNA transfected group,LDH concentration in media and the expression of NALP3 significantly decreased in NALP3-siRNA transfected group.(4)After hypoxia 1 h and reoxygenation 4 h,NF-κB DNA binding activity was increased,IκB-α phosphorylation and degradation,Bcl-2 and Bax were significantly up-regulated.However,compared with the irrespective siRNA transfected group,NF -κB DNA binding activity,IκB-α degradation and Bax/Bcl-2 were significantly decreased (P＜0.05) in NALP3-siRNA transfected group.At the same time,the ratio of apoptosis was significantly increased in three groups than that in control.Compared with the irrespective siRNA transfected group,the ratio of apoptosis in NALP3-siRNA transfected group was significantly decreased (P＜0.05).Conclusions H/R induces the expression of NALP3 in NRK-52E.The synthesized siRNA can inhibit the expression of NALP3 and protect NRK-52E from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury.The mechanism may be via inhibiting the activation of NF-κB,modulating expression of Bcl-2 and Bax,as well as decreasing cell apoptosis.

Alcoholism ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, CCR2 ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the accuracy of three-dimensional reconstruction coronary angiography with CardiOp-B system in the evaluation of coronary artery stenosis, and make comparison with conventional quantitative coronary angiography(QCA). Methods The imaging data of 33 patients (39 vessel segments) who underwent coronary angiography and received interventional therapy were collected. The vessel diameter, vessel area, diameter of reference vessel rate of stenosed area and lesion length detected by three-dimensional reconstruction coronary angiography and QCA were compared. Results There was no significant difference in the detected minimal vessel diameter, minimal vessel area, diameter of reference vessel, rate of stenosed area and lesion length between three-dimensional reconstruction coronary angiography and QCA in these 39 vessel segments (P > 0.05), while the lesion length detected by three-dimensional reconstruction coronary angiography was significantly longer than that detected by QCA(P < 0.05). Conclusion Three-dimentional reconstruction of coronary angiography with CardiOp-B system demonstrates higher accuracy in the quantitative analysis of coronary artery stenosis compared with conventional QCA.

BACKGROUND: Three kinds of donor meniscus are commonly used at present, namely cryopreserved, fresh and deep-frozen meniscus, which,however, almost invariably give rise to degenerative changes of various degrees after transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of transplantation of allograft deep-frozen meniscus and meniscal acellular matrix to determine the most preferable means of allograft meniscus preservation.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment with rabbits.SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Second Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University.MATERIALS: Sixty-four male Japanese white rabbits with body mass of 3.0 - 3.5 kg.METHODS: This experiment was carried out in the Animal Experimental Center, Second Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University between September 2002 and September 2003. Totally 64 adult rabbits were assigned into 32 pairs according to the body weight to served as the donor and the recipient animals, respectively. The medial menisci was obtained from the bilateral knees of the donor animals with the right one cryopreserved at -80 ℃ and the left prepared into acellular matrix for deep-frozen preservation. The donor menisci were respectively transplanted into the corresponding knee joints of the recipient animal's hindlimbs, with the left side taken as the experimental side and right as control. Gross observation,X-ray examination, and histological examination of the tissues were carried out at postoperative 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Findings in X-ray, gross observation and histological observation of the grafted meniscus with meniscal measurement and findings in abdominal aorta perfusion.RFSULTS: All the 64 rabbits were observed for result analysis. X-ray examination of the grafted meniscus revealed no obvious changes in either the experimental and control side at 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, but mild changes occurred on the control side at 12 weeks, which became obvious at 16 weeks, presented by joint space narrowing, hyperostosis and osteosclerosis below the cartilage of varied severities (with scores of 1.3 and 0.6, respectively, P ＜ 0.05). By gross observation, meniscal atrophy on the experimental side was milder and slower than the control side, with al so lower atrophy rate [(15.14±4.62) % vs (20.97±4.72) % at week 4, P ＜ 0.001, and (19.23±11.27) % vs (32.74±10.43) % at week 16, P ＜ 0.05].Perfusion of the abdominal aorta revealed no revascularization in the surrounding tissues of the meniscus by gross observation in either groups, but histologically, the experimental side showed more favorable structure than the control side at postoperative weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16.CONCLUSION: Meniscal acellular matrix may produce better outcome than deep-frozen meniscus after transplantation and can be a more practical means for preservation of the meniscus.

Objective To measure histidine triad nucleotide?binding protein 1(HINT1)protein expression and gene promoter methylation, and to analyze the relationship between HINT1 gene promoter methylation and clinical pathological features of melanoma. Methods Fifty?six patients with melanoma and 51 patients with nevus were enrolled as subjects and controls, respectively. Methylation?specific PCR (MSP) was performed to measure the methylation of HINT1 gene promoter in lesional and paratumoral tissue specimens from the patients with melanoma, as well as in lesional specimens from the patients with nevus. Immunohistochemistry was carried out to quantify the expression of HINT1 protein in these tissue specimens. Results MSP showed that the methylation rate of HINT1 gene promoter was significantly higher in melanoma tissues than in paratumoral and nevus tissues(76.8%[43/56]vs. 33.9%[19/56]and 35.3%[18/51], χ2 = 20.810 and 18.749, respectively, both P < 0.05), but was insignificantly different between paratumoral and nevus tissues(χ2=0.022, P>0.05). Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression rate of HINT1 was 21.4%(12/56)in melanoma tissues, compared to 82.4%(42/51)in nevus tissues(χ2 = 39.633, P <0.01). There was a significant difference in the methylation rate of HINT1 promoter between HINT1?positive and ?negative melanoma tissues(6/12 vs. 37/44[84.1%], P<0.05), and between Clark levelⅠ-ⅡandⅢ-Ⅴmelanoma tissues(59.1%[13/22]vs. 88.2%[30/34],χ2=6.365,P=0.012). Conclusions HINT1 protein is lowly expressed in melanoma, which may be associated with high methylation of its gene promoter. Moreover, the high methylation ofHINT1 gene promoter may be involved in the initiation and progression of melanoma.

Background More efforts have been made in the functional protection of the glaucoma ganglion cells (RGCs) nowadays.As main ingredient,astragalus polysaccharides (APS) enhances neuron regeneration protein expression and promotes peripheral nerve recovery.But whether APS has a protecting effect on RGCs is incompletely clear.Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect of APS on the RGCs in a rat model of experimental glaucoma.Methods Forty-four SPF SD rats were divided into 4 groups randomly as follows:normal control group,negative control group,low dose APS group and high dose APS group,with 10 rats for each group.APS of 500 mg/kg or 2000 mg/kg (2.5 ml) was administered by gavage feeding once daily for 2 weeks in low dose or high dose of APS group,respectively,and the same volume of normal saline solution was applied instead of APS in the model control group.Two weeks later,aspirate 0.2 ml aqueous followed by methylcellulose injected into the anterior chamber to create the acute ocular hypertension model in the three groups above.No any intervention was performed in the normal control group.The rats were sacrificed on the fifth day after model established to take a retinal section.Ocular hypertension-induced damage was evaluated by regular retina histopathologic examination.Immunolhistochemistry for caspase-3 and TUNEL kits were used to determine the expression of caspase-3 protein in retina and apoptosis rate of RGCs.Retinal cross-sections were analyzed by Image Pro Plus 5.1 software to determine the thickness of various retinal layers and the positive staining cell density in the retinal ganglion cell layer (RGCL).Results On the fifth day after establishment of models,intraocular pressure (IOP) was significantly elevated in the model control group,low dose APS group and high dose APS group in comparison with the normal control group (t=-8.900,-10.700,-11.300,P＜0.01).Retinal morphology was normal in the rats of the normal control group,but in the model control group,rat retina was significantly thickened from severe retinal edema and cell arrangement disorder.Mild retinal abnormality was seen in the low dose APS group;while obvious retina edema was in high dose APS group.The entire retinal thickness,outer nuclear layer thickness and retinal nerve fiber thickness values were lower in the low dose APS group than those of model control group (t =-23.700,-14.770,-11.640,P＜0.01).However,no difference was found in outer nuclear layer thickness and retinal nerve fiber thickness values between high dose APS group and normal control group (t =-0.780,-0.460,P ＞ 0.05).Percentage of positive RGCs for caspase-3 protein and rate of apoptotic RGCs were significantly reduced in low dose APS group compared with model control group (caspase-3:F=87.710,P=0.001;RGCs apoptosis:F=272.840,P＜0.01).Conclusions 500 mg/kg APS can protect retina and RGCs against ocular hypertension-induced damage.The protection of APS is non-dosedependent.

Adult ; Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Military Medicine ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects

Objective To explore the influence of coinfection with other pathogens on human metapneumovirus (hMPV) infection in children.Methods A total of 11 299 children admitted to the Department of Respiratory Disease,Children's Hospital of Soochow University between June 2010 and May 2015 were enrolled in this study.Sputum specimens were collected and multiple pathogenic joint detection was done,including peripheral blood,and blood routine,C reactive protein (CRP),hepatic function and cellular immunity.Patients' clinical data were collected.Results Among 11 299 hospitalized children,hMPV was positive found in 222 children (1.96％).One hundred and fourteen children (51.4％) had hMPV simple infection and 108 cases of them (48.6％) were coinfected with other pathogens.The hMPV coinfected with bacteria (63 cases,28.4％)was most common.The average age of multiple coinfected children was older than that of simple hMPV infection in children [(2.43 ± 2.47) years old vs.(1.27 ± 1.30) years old],and the difference was significant (Z =-2.360,P ＜ 0.05).Fever seemed to be more common in children coinfected with bacteria or multiple coinfection (63.5％ and 70.0％) compared with those with simple hMPV infection (43.0％),and the differences were significant (x2 =6.827,4.986,all P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in other clinical features among 5 groups (all P ＞ 0.05).Multiple coinfection children had a higher percentage of neutrophils (0.50 ± 0.18) than that in simple hMPV infection children (0.37 ± 0.19),children coinfected with bacteria (0.39 ±0.19) or other virus (0.35 ±0.19),and the differences were significant (all P ＜0.05).CRP was elevated in 30.2％ (19/63 cases) of children coinfected with bacteria,which was significantly higher than that of simple hPMV infection children (16.7 ％,19/114 cases),and the difference was significant (x2 =4.381,P ＜ 0.05).CD3 + CD4 + was significantly lower in multiple coinfection children (0.31 ± 0.07),but there were no significant difference compared with other groups (all P ＞ 0.05).CD19 + CD23 + was significantly higher in children coinfected with other virus com pared with that of simple hMPV infection group,hMPV coinfected with bacteria,hMPV coinfected with Mycoplasma pneumonia and multiple coinfect group (0.37 ± 0.10 vs.0.30 ± 0.09,0.30 ± 0.08,0.29 ± 0.07,0.29 ± 0.09),and the differences were significant (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions It is suggested that hMPV seems easily coinfected with other pathogens,especially with bacteria.It should be on high alert that bacteria coinfection is accompanied with high percentage of neutrophils and high level of CRP.Coinfection does not significantly exacerbate the clinical symptoms of hMPV infection,but may exacerbate the cellular immune disorders to a certain extent.