Objective To determine the feasibility of human routine blood tests as a surrogate for CD4+ T cell count through studying the correlation of CD4+ T cell count with total lymphocyte count(TLC),hemoglobin(Hb),blood platelet(PLT),and white cell count(WBC)in HIV/AIDS patients.Methods 1 038 person-time blood tests among 778 HIV/AIDS patients were performed and Spearman correlation analysis was used.Predictive power and the cut-off for potential predictors of CD4+ T cell count were assessed through receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Combination test was used to assess the capability of multipie indexes to serve as surrogate markers for CD4+ T cell counL Results Significant correlations with CD4+ T cell count were observed for TLC,Hb,PLT and WBC.The Spearman correlation coefficients were r=0.64,P=0.000;r=0.36,P=0.000;r=0.24,P=0,000;r=0.09,P=0.000,respectively.No correlation between TLC and CD4+ T cell count was found when,TLC was more than 2 000 × 106/L(r=0.12,P=0.15).The areas under ROC curve of TLC and Hb for predicting CD4+ T cell count were between 0.82 to 0.84,and 0.66 to 0.70,respectively.When CD4+ T cell count were less than 50,200,350 cells/μl respectively,the optional cut-off value was TLC＜1 100 × 106/L,1 200 × 106/L and 1 400 × 106/L.When the study combined TLC＜1 200 × 106/L and Hb＜120 g/L for prediction of CD4+ T cell count＜200/μl,the sensitivity was 45.3% and specificity was 82.8%.Conclusion There is no significant application value for combination of TLC＜1 200×106/L and Hb＜120 g/L as a surrogate for prediction of CD4+ T cell count＜200/μl.

ObjectiveTo assess the relationship of filaggrin expression with atopic diathesis and disease severity in patients with alopecia areata (AA).MethodsThirty-seven patients with AA aged (26.3 ± 10.6) years were enrolled in this study.Atopic diseases were noted in 8 of these patients.Clinical data and laboratory test resuhs were reviewed.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to quantify the expression of filaggrin protein in scalp biopsy specimens from all of the 37 patients with AA and from 10 human controls,and fluorescence-based semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR to detect the expression of filaggrin mRNA in scalp biopsy specimens from 22 patients with AA and 13 healthy controls.Data were statistically analyzed by Mann Whitney U test,chi-square test,and Spearman's rank correlation test.ResultsThe expressions of filaggrin protein and mRNA were significantly lower in patients with AA than in the controls(P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ),and the decrease seemed more obvious in patients with large areas of lesions,long duration of disease,and nail abnormalities,but the degree of decrease was unrelated to the complication with atopic diseases.No significant differences were observed in sex ratio,age at onset,disease duration,area of hair loss,the prevalence of family history or incidence of nail abnormalities and increase in serum IgE and eosinophils,between patients with atopic diseases and those without.ConclusionsThe expressions of filaggrin protein and mRNA are decreased in patients with AA,suggesting that filaggrin may participate in the development of AA and is correlated with the severity of AA.

To investigate whether accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon could be induced after repeated injection of mitoxantrone thermosensitive liposomes, LC-MS/MS and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to measure the concentration of mitoxantrone and the anti-polyethylene glycol (PEG) IgM levels in rat plasma, separately. The drug was rapidly cleared away after the second administration. The anti-PEG IgM was detected after the first dose which was neutralized quickly after the second dose. It is proved that repeated administration of mitoxantrone thermosensitive liposomes in rat caused the ABC phenomenon.

Objective To observe the microstructural changes in lesions of alopecia areata (AA) with dermoscopy and to evaluate their correlation with clinicopathological manifestations. Methods The area of alopecia of 62 patients with AA and 44 patients with other types of hair loss were observed by using a noncontact polarized dermoscope (Dermlite, USA). Clinical data on and laboratory findings from these patients were collected. Pathological examination was carried out with scalp biopsy specimens from the alopecia area of 15 AA patients. Results Characteristic dermoscopic signs of AA included yellow dots, black dots, broken hairs, exclamation mark hairs, short vellus hair and newly-grown short hairs. Among these signs, yellow dots showed the highest prevalence (83.9%). Exclamation mark hairs, black dots and broken hairs were rather specific signs for AA, and the prevalence of the three signs was positively correlated with disease activity and positivity rate of hair-pull test. A positive correlation was also noted between the prevalence of elevated thyroid peroxidase antibody levels and positivity rate of hair-pull test (r = 0.269, P ＜ 0.05 ) as well as prevalence of broken hairs (r = 0.445, P ＜ 0.05), and between the prevalence of yellow dots and that of keratinous plug in follicular orifice. There was a negative correlation between the prevalence of newly-grown short hairs and perifollicular mast cell infiltration and between the prevalence of black dots and the anagen/catagen ratio. Conclusions Yellow dots can serve as a preliminary screening marker for AA. Exclamation mark hairs, black dots and broken hairs are highly sensitive for the confirmation of diagnosis of AA, and often predict progressive AA.Dermoscopic signs are well correlated to the histopathology features of AA, and may be useful for the evaluation of disease severity and guidance on the treatment of AA.

To investigate whether accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomenon could be induced after repeated injection of mitoxantrone thermosensitive liposomes, LC-MS/MS and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to measure the concentration of mitoxantrone and the anti-polyethylene glycol (PEG) IgM levels in rat plasma, separately. The drug was rapidly cleared away after the second administration. The anti-PEG IgM was detected after the first dose which was neutralized quickly after the second dose. It is proved that repeated administration of mitoxantrone thermosensitive liposomes in rat caused the ABC phenomenon.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Liposomes ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Mitoxantrone ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Polyethylene Glycols ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Objective To detect the expressions of apoptosis-related factors and inflammatory cytokines in superficial and deep layers of as well as anagen hair follicles in lesions of early alopecia areata (AA).Methods Scalp biopsy samples were collected from 25 patients with early AA and 15 healthy human controls.Fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to detect mRNA expressions of apoptosis-related genes p53,caspase 3,Fas,survivin and bcl-2,as well as those of inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-4,IL-10,IL-12 and interferon (IFN)-γ.An immunohistochemical assay was conducted to measure the expression of p53 protein in anagen hair follicles.Results Compared with control skin samples,anagen hair follicles in AA lesions showed significantly increased mRNA expression levels (expressed as 2-△△Ct) of pro-apoptotic factors caspase 3,p53 and Fas (6.78,8.01,9.74,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05),but decreased mRNA expression levels of antiapoptotic factors bcl-2 and survivin (0.08 and 0.03 respectively,both P ＜ 0.01),and similar mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines.There was a significant increase in mRNA expression levels of Th1 cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12 (2.75 vs.1.00,P ＜ 0.05; 85.67 vs.1.00,P ＜ 0.01),but a significant decrease in the expression level of the Th2 cytokine IL-10 (0.002 vs.1.000,P ＜ 0.01) in superficial layers of AA lesions compared with those of normal control skin.The degree of changes in mRNA expression levels of IL-10 and IL-12 was significantly higher in superficial layers than in deep layers of AA lesions (P＜0.01 and 0.05 respectively).The immunohistochemical assay showed that the number of p53-positive cells per 100 cells in anagen hair follicles of AA lesions was higher than that in those of control skin (t =23.79,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Anagen hair follicles in AA lesions exhibit high expressions of pro-apoptosis factors,but low expressions of antiapoptotic factors,suggesting that apoptotic factors play a role in the occurrence of AA.

This study is to compare the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of liposomal mitoxantrone (Mit-lipo) and free mitoxantrone (Mit-free). The antineoplastic effect of Mit-lipo was evaluated on PC-3 human xenograft tumor model after repeated intravenous injection at dose levels of 1, 2 and 4 mg x kg(-1). The pharmacokinetic study of Mit-lipo and Mit-free was performed on dogs following a single intravenous injection. The tissue distribution of Mit-lipo and Mit-free was observed on S-180 bearing mice after a single intravenous injection. (1) Pharmacodynamics: Mit-lipo dose-dependently inhibited PC-3 tumor growth at a dose ranging from 1 to 4 mg x kg(-1). The antitumor effect studies showed that Mit-lipo significantly improved the therapeutic effect in comparison with free drug. (2) Pharmacokinetics: in comparison with Mit-free, the AUC and t(1/2) values of Mit-lipo at the same dose level were higher than those of Mit-free in Beagle dogs. The results showed that Mit-lipo had long circulation characteristics. (3) Tissue distribution in S-180 bearing mice: compared to Mit-free, Mit-lipo preferentially accumulated into tumor zones instead of normal tissues. Tumor AUC in Mit-lipo treated animals was 8.7 fold higher than that in mice treated with the same dose of Mit-free. The Cmax values of Mit-lipo in heart, kidney, lung, spleen and intestinal tissue in Mit-lipo were 30.2%, 161.6%, 20.2%, 27.9% and 78.3% lower than those of Mit-free, respectively. The pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of Mit-lipo changed obviously, thus increasing therapeutic effect and improving drug therapeutic index.

Adenoviridae ; isolation & purification ; Adenovirus Infections, Human ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumonia, Viral ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of threshold using the multiple auditory steady state responses (MASSR) to bone conduction stimuli in a group of patients with conductive hearing loss. METHOD: Thirty patients with conductive hearing loss were assessed by MASSR and by pure-tone audiometry, and compared the results of these two methods. RESULT: The thresholds of MASSR and those of PTA were significantly correlated, and the accuracy of MASSR were similar to PTA for the patients with conductive hearing loss. CONCLUSION MASSR can be used to assess the hearing thresholds of patients with conductive hearing loss.
Acoustic Stimulation ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Auditory Threshold ; Bone Conduction ; Child ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

To investigate the chemosensitizing effect of pyrroledithiocarbomate (PDTC) on daunorubicin in drug-resistant leukemic cells in vitro, MTT method was used to observe the changes of the proliferation of intractable leukemia MNC treated with daunorubicin (30 microg/ml) combined with PDTC (25, 50 or 100 micromol/L). The results showed that inhibiting rate of daunorubicin combined with PDTC(25, 50 or 100 micromol/L) on drug-resistant leukemic cells was significantly higher than that of daunorubicin alone (P < 0.05). Among the three different doses of PDTC, the concentration of 50 micromol/L of PDTC inhibited the proliferation of drug-resistant leukemic cells significantly. In conclusion, PDTC can sensitize anti-tumor effect of daunorubicin in vitro. The concentration of 50 micromol/L of PDTC has stronger chemosensitizing effect on daunorubicin than that of the other concentrations of PDTC (25 micromol/L or 100 micromol/L) in vitro.
Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Drug Synergism ; Humans ; Leukemia ; blood ; pathology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; drug effects ; pathology ; Proline ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Thiocarbamates ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured