Objective To compare the ability of the fourth and the third generation HIV assay kits available in Chinese market to detect early HIV infection.Methods 8 BBI HIV seroconversion panels (PRB924,930,940,942,943,944,946 and 948) and 2 National AIDS Reference Lab's HIV seroconversion panels (2004XJ727 and 20505217) were respectively detected with one HIV antigen assay kit,2 fourth generation HIV assay kits and 4 third generation HIV assay kits.The ability of these kits to detect early HIV infection was analyzed and compared.Results For every panel,the fourth generation HIV assay kits could detect HIV-1 infection 4 to 8 days earlier than the third generation kits,and 2 to 4 days later than the antigen kit.The detection ability of different brands of kits was different.Conclusions The fourth generation HIV assay kits could reduce the window period to detect HIV infection.It's meaningful for diagnosing early HIV infection,blood safety and etc.

Background Researches showed that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) modulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (MMP/TIMP) in cells,but the association of expression of MMP/TIMP in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and the dose and active time of PDGF is unclear.Objective This study was to observe the effects of PDGF on the expressions of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in cultured RPE cells in vitro.Methods RPE cell line,ARPE-19,was calculated in vitro,and the cells were divided into 5 groups when they reached 70％-80％ confluence.Different concentrations (0,0.1,1,10,50 mg/L) of PDGF was added into the medium respectively for 36 hours,and the expressing levels of mRNA and protein of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were detected by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot assay.In addition,RPE cells in PDGF group were treated with 10 mg/L PDGF for 24,36,48 hours respectively to detect the expressions of mRNA and protein of MMP-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the cells and to compare with the control group without PDGF.Results PDGF stimulated proliferation of RPE cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.As the increase of the PDGF concentrations,the expression values of MMP-2 mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA in RPE cells were gradually elevated,with a statistically significant difference among various groups (MMP-2 mRNA:F=79.304,P=0.000;MMP-9 mRNA:F =8.465,P=0.003),and the expressions of MMP-2 mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA were significantly higher in the 1,10,50 mg/L PDGF groups compared with 0 mg/L PDGF normal control group (all at P＜0.05).Also,the expression values of MMP-2 and MMP-9 proteins in RPE cells were gradually elevated with the increase of PDGF concentrations,showing statistically differences among the groups (MMP-2:F=26.550,P=0.000;MMP-9:F=80.993,P=0.000).Compared with the 0 mg/L PDGF group,MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression levels in the 1,10,50 mg/L PDGF groups were significantly up-regulated (all at P＜ 0.05).However,the expression levels of TIMP-1 mRNA and protein group in the cells were not significantly different among various groups (mRNA:F =0.143,P =0.962 ; protein:F =1.955,P =0.178).The expression levels of M MP-2 mRNA,M MP-9 mRNA in the cells were increased in the PDGF group compared with the control group at different time points (MMP-2 mRNA:Ftime =83.250,P=0.002 ; MMP-9 mRNA:Ftime =6.785,P =0.019).Also,the expression values of MMP-2 and MMP-9proteins in RPE cells were increased in the PDGF group compared with the control group at different time points (MMP-2:Ftime =1 l.185,P =0.041 ; MMP-9:Ftime =968.413,P =0.000).The expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNAs and proteins were significant between the two groups at different time points (all at Pgroup =0.000;all at Ptime＜0.05).While the expression changes of TIMP-1 werc not significant between the two groups and among various time points (all at P＞0.05) Conclusions PDGF up-regulates MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions in RPE cells in a dose-and time-dependent manner.But,PDGF dose not alter the expression of TIMP-1.These results indicate that PDGF disrupt the balance of MMP/TIMP,which may damage the extracellular matrix and therefore facilitate the migration of RPE cells in the pathogenesis of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

Mutation (substitution, deletion, insertion, etc.) in nucleotide acid causes the maximal sequence lengths of exact match (MALE) between paralogous members from a duplicate event to become shorter during evolution. In this work, MALE changes between members of 26 gene families from four representative species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Mus musculus and Homo sapiens) were investigated. Comparative study of paralogous' MALE and amino acid substitution rate (d(A)<0.5) indicated that a close relationship existed between them. The results suggested that MALE could be a sound evolutionary scale for the divergent time for paralogous genes during their early evolution. A reference table between MALE and divergent time for the four species was set up, which would be useful widely, for large-scale genome alignment and comparison. As an example, detection of large-scale duplication events of rice genome based on the table was illustrated.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acid Substitution ; Animals ; Arabidopsis ; genetics ; Chromosome Mapping ; methods ; Conserved Sequence ; genetics ; Evolution, Molecular ; Humans ; Mice ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oryza ; genetics ; Proteome ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; methods ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; methods ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Species Specificity

Objective To explore the influence of hemodialysis(HD) and henodiafiltation on serum ?_2-microglobulin(?_2-MG) of children with acute renal failure and contrast research on declining rate of serum ?_2-MG before and after(children′s) HD and HDF.(Met-)hods By Branc Dialog HD machine of double-pump,HDF for 18 times and HD for 20 times were given to children with acute renal(fai-)lure.The serum ?_2-MG were observed before and after HD and HDF.Results A great difference was observed in level of serum ?_2-MG between before and after HD and HDF.In HDF group,there was significant difference in level of serum ?_2-MG before and after HDF(P

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to investigate the value of child oral health for Chengdu parents, their intentions, and factors influencing their decision to acquire oral insurance coverage for their childrens.

METHODSA total of 562 Chengdu parents were interviewed using questionnaires by convenient sampling, and the results were analyzed using SPSS 20.0.

RESULTSThe age of children (B = -1.741, P = 0.004), age of parents (B = 2.031, P = 0.003), level of oral discomfort (B = 0.569, P = 0.000), incurring/not incurring oral care expenses in the previous year (B = 1.897, P = 0.014), the last time parents' had teeth cleaned (B = 0.777, P = 0.006), and acquiring/not acquiring commercial insurance coverage (B = 1.632, P = 0.031) significantly influenced the intention of acquiring child oral insurance.

CONCLUSIONChild oral health, health and insurance awareness of parents, and other factors influenced the intention of parents to purchase oral insurance coverage for their children, which were significant to establish pediatric dental insurance.

Child ; China ; Dental Care ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Insurance, Dental ; economics ; Oral Health ; economics ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To detect the levels of cytokine IL-2,IL-12,IFN-?and IL-4 secreted by peripheral CD8~+ T lymphocytes in patients with condyloma acuminatum (CA).Methods Flow cytometry was employed to study the expression of cytokines IL-2,-12,INF-?and IL-4 in CD8~+ T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of 60 patients with CA and 20 healthy controls.Results The percentage of CD8~+ T lym- phocytes producing IL-2,IL-12 and IFN-?were significantly lower in CA patients than that in healthy con- trols (P

Objective To analyze the pathological and clinical characteristics of patients with idiopathic IgA nephropathy accompanied by vasculitic/crescentic lesion (IgA-V/C). Methods Data of 222 patients diagnosed as idiopathic IgA nephropathy by renal biopsy, among them 87 cases with vasculitic/crescenlic (V/C)lesion, from our department in 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical and pathological data from patients with IgA-V/C were compared to those of non-IgA-V/C patients and of lupus nephritis (LN) patients with V/C lesion. Results Vasculitic/crescentic lesion was found in 39.19% (87/222) patients with idiopathic IgA nephropathy.And about( 14.08?12.75)% of the glomeruli was affected. It should be taken into account that there was no significant differences of clinical manifestations including blood pressure, urinary protein excretion between IgA-V/C group and non-IgA-V/C group .except serum creatinine(Scr)level which was significantly higher in IgA-V/C group. In addition, only 37.9% of IgA-V/C patients presented high Scr level,thus the lesion of V/C in idiopathic IgA nephropathy was easily overlooked. Patients with idiopathic IgA nephropathy were found to have higher percentage of glomerular sclerosis (64.86% vs 40.00%) and ratio of sclerostic glomeruli to total glomeruli [ (26.98 ?24.68)% vs (16.10 ?18.80)% ]as compared to LN group, which further predicated the progressing characteristics of IgA nephropathy. Conclusions Vasculitic/crescentic lesion is a quite common finding in idiopathic IgA nephropathy and often associated with no dramatically symptoms. It is possible for vasculitic/crescentic lesion to induce unmarked lose of nephron slowly and continually, so as to accelerate IgA nephropathy progression to end-stage renal failure.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression pattern of caspase-3 and HCLS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1) at different time after cerebral contusion in rat, and explore the new method for estimating the injury interval. METHODS: The cerebral contusion model was established using adult SD male rats. Then the rats were randomly allocated into 8 groups: 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, and 7 d after cerebral contusion, sham-operation and normal control. Expression of caspase-3 and HAX-1 protein after cerebral contusion in rat was detected by Western blotting. Laser scanning confocal microscope was used to observe the number of HAX-1 positive cells and TUNEL-stained cells after cerebral contusion. RESULTS: The expression of caspase-3 increased parallelly with the time after cerebral contusion and reached the peak value on 3 d. The expression of caspase-3 decreased gradually and still maintained a high level expression on 7 d (P < 0.05). The expression of HAX-1 positive cell went up after injury, and reached the peak value at 6 h (P < 0.05), then turned down gradually after 12 h and went out of detection after 3 d. The number of TUNEL-stained cells increased obviously at 2 h and reached the peak value on 3 d. The number of TUNEL-stained apoptotic cells decreased gradually and still maintained a high level expression on 7 d (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The expression of caspase-3 and HAX-1 after cerebral contusion has time sequential regularity, which may provide new evidence for forensic diagnosis of cerebral contusion interval.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain Injuries/pathology* ; Carrier Proteins/metabolism* ; Caspase 3/metabolism* ; Cerebellum/pathology* ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of modified Shengma Biejia Decoction (MSBD) combined with CAG program in treating elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with yin deficiency toxin stasis syndrome (YDTSS).

METHODSTotally 46 elderly AML patients were assigned to the treatment group (24 cases; treated with MSBD + CAG) and the control group (22 cases; treated with CAG + placebos of Chinese medicine) according to random digit table. The therapeutic course of CM placebo or MSBD was 21 days. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were observed. Meanwhile, physical state (ECOG Score), transfusion dependency, and TCM syndrome score were compared before and after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The complete remission rate was 54% (13/24) and the objective response rate (ORR) was 71% (17/24) in the treatment group, obviously higher than those of the control group [36% (8/22); 54% (13/24)], with statistical difference (P = 0.036, 0.042). When comparing the efficacy based on risk level, the moderate and poor ORR was 71% (10/14) and 67% (6/9) in the treatment group, and 57% (8/14) and 33% (2/6) in the control group, with statistical difference between the two groups (P = 0.048; P = 0.010). (2) Compared with before treatment in the same group, the ECOG score significantly decreased, the average infusion time of red cells and platelets were markedly prolonged in the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05). ECOG score, the average infusion time of red cells and platelets were significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with before treatment in the same group, scores of fever, hemorrhage, and bone pain were markedly reduced in the control group (P < 0.05); scores of fever, fatigue, hemorrhage, dry mouth, and bone pain were markedly reduced in the treatment group (P < 0.05). Better effect in relief of fever, fatigue, hemorrhage, dry mouth, and so on was obtained in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). (4) In aspect of hematotoxicity, the incidence of neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia was obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group [29.2% (7/24) vs 54.5% (12/22); 16.7% (4/ 24) vs 45.5% (10/22); 33.3% (8/24) vs 63.6% (14/22); P < 0.05]. The incidence of fatigue and anorexia was obviously lower in the treatment group than in the control group [37.5% (9/24) vs 63.6% (14/22), 37.5% (9/24) vs 81.8% (18/22); P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONMSBD combined with CAG program in treating elderly AML patients with YDTSS, with efficacy enhancing toxicity reducing effect, had distinct advantages in improving physical condition and clinical symptoms, and reducing transfusion dependency.

Aclarubicin ; therapeutic use ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Yin Deficiency ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo develop a screening program for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) carriers, and to assess the carrier frequency and detection rate in Shanghai region.

METHODSQuantitative analysis of the SMN1 gene by real-time PCR was developed using specimens from 15 SMA patients and 76 SMA parents from 38 affected nuclear families. A pilot screening was carried out for 1741 asymptomatic pregnant women. Frequencies of SMN1 alleles were determined with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

RESULTSForty five out of the 1741 women were identified as SMA carriers by the presence of single copy of SMN1. The frequencies of no copy, 1 copy, 2 copy and 3 copy alleles were 1.37 U+00D7 10-2, 9.45 U+00D7 10-1, 2.80 U+00D7 10-2 and 1.27 U+00D7 10-2, respectively. The adjusted SMA carrier frequency was 1:35 with a detection rate of 94.49%. For those with a negative screening result, individuals with 3 copies carried a higher residual risk.

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of SMA carriers in Shanghai region is similar with that in Caucasian populations. Carrier screening has high detection efficiency. An effort should be made to further distinguish SMN1 gene copy numbers for those with more than 2 copies, since accurate determination of 2 and 3 copy allele frequencies is essential for post-screening genetic consulting.

Alleles ; Female ; Gene Dosage ; Gene Frequency ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Pilot Projects ; Pregnancy ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival of Motor Neuron 1 Protein ; genetics