Objective To investigate the relationship between serum tumor markers and the severity of silicosis.Methods Retrospective study.Total of 160 patients with silicosis were included in the study, and 160 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group.Tumor marker levels in both bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)and serum were detected by the immunochemiluminecence methods.The pulmonary function parameters, blood gas analysis and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)were also analyzed.Lung tissue obtained by a patient with silicosis was stained by neuron specific enolase(NSE), carbohydrate antigen125(CA125) and carbohydrate antigen19-9(CA19-9).Results Serum NSE, CA125 and CA19-9 levels were significantly higher in cases than those in controls[(34.47±13.30)μg/L vs(10.24±7.20)μg/L,t=20.27, P<0.000 1;(33.96±17.80)kU/L vs(12.23±15.30)kU/L, t=11.71, P<0.000 1;(4.68±5.67)kU/L vs(2.78±3.45)kU/L,t=3.67,P<0.002].Significant negative correlations were found between values of tumor markers(CA125 and CA19-9) and spirometric parameters,such as forced expiratory volume in one second %(FVE1%), forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity(FVE1/FVC), carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (Dlco) and total lung capacity(TLC) (r=-0.423,P=0.001;r=-0.323,P=0.011;r=-0.479,P=0.001;r=-0.285,P=0.043) and (r=-0.324,P=0.022;r=-0.256,P=0.023;r=-0.354,P=0.013;r=-0.356,P=0.012).Significant positive correlations were also observed between values of these tumor markers and LDH(r=0.378,P=0.001 and r=0.347,P=0.21).Significant negative correlations were found between NSE and Dlco and TLC(r=-0.374,P=0.004 and r=-0.368,P=0.002).Significant positive correlations were also observed between NSE and LDH(r=0.404,P=0.001).The NSE and CA19-9 levels in BALF were significantly higher than those in serum[(39.32±29.30)μg/L vs(25.7±12.12)μg/L,t=2.15,P=0.036;(21.36±12.11)kU/L vs(11.28±10.78)kU/L, t=2.64,P=0.012].Patients experienced a decrease in NSE and CA19-9 concentrations following whole lung lavage[(39.20±10.24)μg/L vs(15.32±8.35)μg/L,t=8.02,P<0.05;(26.24±12.23)kU/L vs(18.84±5.64)kU/L,t=2.46,P<0.05].Immunohistochemical studies showed positive NSE and CA19-9 staining in lung biopsy specimen.Conclusion Elevated serum tumor markers including NSE, CA125 and CA19-9 would provide valuable clinical information to assess disease severity in silicosis.

Objective To explore the influence of homocysteine(Hcy)on liver cystathionine-?-synthase(CBS)and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR)system in apoE-/- mice,and determine the effects of atorvastatin and/or folate/vitamin B12 on liver CBS and MTHFR system.Methods Eighty male 6-week-old apoE-/- mice were randomly divided into two groups:65 mice were fed with a chow diet containing 2%(wt/vol)L-methionine(homomethionine group)and 15 mice were fed with normal saline(control group).Two months later,the 60 mice survived in homomethionine group were subdivided into four groups:group Ⅰ(untreated),Ⅱ(3 mg/kg atorvastatin),Ⅲ(3 mg/kg atorvastatin+2 mg/kg folate+30 ?g/kg vitamin B12)and Ⅳ(2 mg/kg folate+30 ?g/kg vitamin B12).After one month,Western blotting was performed to detect the liver CBS and MTHFR system protein expression in each group.Results The relative expression of liver CBS and MTHFR was significantly lower in group Ⅰ than in control group(P

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the routine clinical laboratory parameters for hepatocellular carcinoma,in an attempt to search for parameters for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods:The pre-operation clinical labo- ratory data,such as tumor makers,and serological biochemical indices,hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection markers,and HBV DNA titers,were collected from 828 patients who were pathologically diagnosed as having HCC;then the correlation between these data with tumor size and the pathological grades of HCC was analyzed.Results:It was found that 97.9% of the 828 pa- tients were infected with HBV and 70.9% of them were accompanied by liver fibrosis.We also found that the tumor size was correlated with albumin(ALB),globulin(GLB),A/G,aspartate aminotransferase(AST),ratio of aspartate to alanine amin- otransferase(AST/ALT),gamma-glutamyl transferase(GGT),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),alpha-L-fucosidase(AFU),al- pha-fetoprotein(AFP)and tumor grades;meanwhile,the pathological grades of tumor was correlated to prealbumin(PALB), GGT and tumor size(all P

0.05); serum HBsAb levels of pregnant mice and neonatal mice in group with CpG-1826 (20 ?g)+hepatitis B vaccine significantly higher than those in group with CpG-1826 (10 ?g, 40 ?g)+ hepatitis B vaccine,hepatitis B vaccine and control respectively(P0.05).Conclusions Combination injection of CpG-1826 20 ?g and hepatitis B vaccine can markedly increase serum antibody levels of pregnant mice and neonatal mice, but don′t affect the survival quantity, the growth and development of neonatal mice.CpG-1826 is an ideal immune adjuvant for neonates with immature immune system during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is one of common complications in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). It is of great value for improvement in the HSCT outcome to describe the clinical characteristics of HC and risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of HC in children after HSCT, and to analyze its clinical characteristics and risk factors.DESIGN: Case analysis SETTING: Center of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.PARTICIPANTS: Experiments were performed at the Center of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics of Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from October 1998 to June 2004. Eighty-eight patients receiving umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) were enrolled; 49 were males and 39 were females. The age ranged from 2 to 18 years with an average of 8.0 years. Guardians of child patients signed informed consents. The experimental procedures were approved by Medical Ethics Committee.METHODS: ①Conditioning regimens included combination of cyclophosphamide (CY, 120-200 mg/kg) with busulphan (BU, 14-20 mg/kg)-based chemotherapy and combination of CY with total body irradiation (TBI, 2-8 Gy) or total lymphoid irradiation (TLI, 2-8 Gy)-based radiotherapy. ②HC was defined according to the criteria proposed by references 7 and 8. The incidence, clinical characteristics, laboratory examination, treatment and outcome for HC were described. The association of various clinical factors including age, gender, human leucocyte antigen (HLA) typing, diseases for transplant, the type of stem cell, the type of transplantation, the occurrence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection with the development of HC were examined.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Incidence of HC, ②HC patient characteristics and laboratory examination, ③HC treatment and outcome, and ④risk factors analysis. RESULTS: All 88 patients were included in the final analysis. ①The incidence of HC: 16 patients (18.2%, 16/88) developed HC post-transplant with the severity graded as mild in 11 cases (68.7%) and severe in 5 cases (31.3%). ②HC patient characteristics and laboratory examination: All had hematuria and 8 cases (50.0%) had typical pollakisuria, urinary urgency, odynuria and gross hematuria; 10 cases (62.5%) had gross hematuria and 11 had proteinuria (+ to +++); Leucocytes were detected in 7 cases. ③Treatment and outcome: All patients recovered at a median of 13.5 days (range 2-53 days). ④Risk factors analysis: The incidence of HC was significantly higher in the group of ≥ 6 years old, presence of aGVHD and development of cytomegalo-virus (CMV) infection (P < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSION: ①HC has its own clinical characteristics following HSCT in children but with good prognosis. ②The risk factors for HC are ≥ 6 years old, presence of aGVHD and CMV infection.

ABO Blood-Group System ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Erythroblastosis, Fetal ; classification ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; prevention & control ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Infant, Newborn ; Phytotherapy ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis

Objective To investigate whether homocysteine(Hcy) induces apoptosis of endothelial cells via a pathway involving caspases3 and whether simvastatin antagonizes the proapoptotic effects of Hcy by regulating c-IAP. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC) were treated with Hcy,with or without simvastatin,for 24 h.Cell apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V staining and flow cytometery,as well as TUNEL.The mRNA and protein levels of caspase3,c-IAP-1 and c-IAP-2 were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot,respectively. Results Treatment with both low(0.5 mmol/L) and high(3.0 mmol/L) concentrations of Hcy-induced HUVEC apoptosis was accompanied by an increased level of caspase3 expression and activation,together with decreased c-IAP-1 and c-IAP-2 level.Simvastatin upregulated c-IAP-1 and c-IAP-2 expression while attenuated Hcy-induced apoptosis and caspase3 activation. Conclusion Hcy may induce HUVEC apoptosis via a pathway involving caspase3,which can be partially antagonized by simvastatin,possibly through upregulated c-IAP-1 and c-IAP-2 expression.

AIM: To explore the characteristic of relaxation of porcine cornea after LASIKMETHODS: Usual LASIK was performed on fresh porcine corneas with stable intraoculer pressure (IOP) maintained through optic nerve irrigation. The ablation depth on stroma is 30%, 50% and 70% respectively. Then the dumbbell-shaped corneal strip specimens were cut and stored in 20% Human Albumin solution for use (4℃).Sip up the Albumin solution on specimens, and fixed them on homemade jig. Stress relaxation tests were erformed on Tytron250 Dynamics Experiment System. the loading speed was 385mm/min,extending ratewas 1.5, and relaxation time was 1 000s. The data werecollected electronically and automatically.RESULTS: In LASIK procedure, though a single flap-cutting can cause a little reduction of corneal stress relaxation (P＜0.05,P=0.49), the cornea may still remain its property of visco-elasticity. When ablation depth was 30% or more, corneal stress relaxation decreased to almost one half (P＜0.01).The change of corneal stress relaxation degree in vertical meridian specimen was lower than that in horizontal specimen, especially when ablation depth was 70%, and it's statistically significant (P＜0.001). In LASIK operation, the more depth the ablation, the more reduce the stress relaxation degree, and it's easy to cause deformation and creep deformation.CONCLUSION: The changes of the stress relaxation in verticai and longitudinal meridian specimens are similar, and slightly obvious in longitudinal specimen, especially in 70%ablation group.

Background The aspheric intraocular lenses(IOLs)can reduce ocular spherical aberration to some degree.However,the clinical effect depends more on the IOL proper alignment.It becomes more important to study the IOL position in eye,Objective This study was to analyze the position alteration of IOL after phacoemulsification combined with implantation of one-piece soft IOLs.Methods In this prospective control study,80 eyes of 40 patients with age-related cataract were enrolled.The phacoemulsification with IOL implantation was performed in all the eyes.Decentration and tilt of IOL in the nasal superior,superior temporal,inferior temporal and nasal inferior quadrants(the intersection point of the system optical axis and the IOL maximum cross plane were regarded as the ordinate origin)were measured by rotating Scheimpflug camera(Pentacam Oculus)in 3 months postoperatively under the mydriasis condition.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to this trial.Results In the right eye group,the IOL decentered toward temporal in 26 eyes(65％)and infratemporal in 16 eyes(40％).IOLs tilted temporally in the horizontal plane in 37 eyes(92.5％)and tilted inferiorly in the vertical plane in 34 eyes(85.0％).In the left eye group,IOLs decentered temporally 33 eyes(82.5％)and 20 IOLs (50％)infratemporally,IOLs tilted temporally in the horizontal plane in 37 eye(92.5％)and 36 IOLs(90％)tilted inferiorly in the vertical plane.There was no statistical difference for the intercomparsion of horizontal/vertical decentration in various quadrant in the right eye(F =0.221,0.792,P＞0.05).The obvious elevated horizontal decentration was found in the supertemporal and infratemporal quadrants compared with supernasal quadrant in the left eyes but there was no significant difference in the vertical decentration among 3 quadrants(F=0.576,P＞0.05).Decentrations were positively correlated with the tilt in both horizontal and vertical plane(right eye horizontal plane:r=0.374,P=0.002;right eye vertical plane:r=0.402,P=0.001 ;left eye horizontal plane:r=0.377,P=0.002；left eye vertical plane:r=0.347,P=0.002).Conclusions The one-piece soft IOLs(Adapt AO)decenter toward temporal mostly in 3 months after surgery,especially infratemporally in the eye.And the optical axis of the IOL tilt toward infratemperol mostly in both right and left eyes.The decentration and tilt are consisted in the corresponding direction between the right and left eyes.The position of the IOLs showed mirror symmetry between right and left eyes.The IOLs decentration show the positively correlation to tilt whatever in horizontal and vertical plane.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), also named as a cancer of cardiovascular disease, is a rare disease and has complicated pathogenesis. Recently, there are more understandings of PAH pathogeneses. According to the pathogenesis and active pathways, the clinically used drugs are classified into several groups incluidng prostacyclin analogues and prostacyclin receptor agonists, endothelin receptor antagonists, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitors, etc. To elevate the efficacy of the drugs, numerous drug delivery systems are developed. This review mainly summarized the pathological mechanism of PAH, drugs and drug delivery approaches in the treatment of PAH.