Objective To explore the specificity and efficiency of YFP labeled natural killer (NK) cells through Vav-Cre induced YFP reporter system in mice. Methods ROSA26R-YFP and Vav-Cre mice were crossed, and their YFP and Cre gene double positive progeny were screened by genotyping. The specificity of YFP in hematopoietic cells from im-mune organs including lymph nodes, spleen, thymus and bone marrow were analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentages of YFP positive cells in NK cells from lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow were also analyzed by flow cytometry. Results A total of 11 double positive mice (ROSA26R-YFP-(+/-)VavCre) were obtained in 17 mouse offspring by crossing ROSA26R-YFP mice with Vav-Cre mice. The percentages of YFP positive cells in immune organs including lymph nodes, spleen, thy-mus and bone marrow were 73.87%± 1.51%, 56.07%± 1.47%, 86.17%± 1.74%and 53.60%± 3.56%, and there were signifi-cant differences compared with the corresponding negative control cells(0.27%±0.01%, 1.33%±0.91%, 0.11%±0.01%and 0.29%± 0.03%, P<0.01). There were no YFP expressions in non-immune organs in double positive mice and in negative control mice (0.72%±0.43%vs 0.92%±0.27%, P>0.05). The positive rates of YFP were significantly higher in NK cells in lymph nodes, spleen and bone marrow (76.94%±0.84%、81.66%±1.18%and 88.92%±0.77%) compared with those of control (P<0.01). Conclusion YFP marked NK cells through Vav-Cre induced YFP reporter system in mice have high specificity and efficiency.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of blood vessel diameter tracking and X-strain technology in evaluating the carotid elasticity in patients with diabetes.Methods Thirty-eight patients who were confirmed as diabetes without complications were enrolled in this study as the patient group and thirtyseven healthy volunteers matched with the patient group with sex,ages were typed as controls.The parameters reflecting common carotid elasticity:pulse wave velocity ( PWV),compliance coefficient (CC),stiffness index ( β),endovascular circumferential strain,strain rate,strain time ( EN _ CS,EN _ CS_ T,EN_CSR,EN_CSR_T),adventitial circumferential strain,strain rate,strain time (EP_CS,EP_CS_T,EP_CSR,EP_ CSR_ T),radial strain ( RS),radial strain rate (RSR) and radial strain time (RST) were measured using blood vessel diameter tracking technique and X-strain technique.Significant difference between the two groups and correlations among these variables were evaluated.Results In patient group,PWV and β were significantly higher than those of the control group,while variables like CC,EN_CS,EN_CSR,EP_CS,EP_CSR,RS and RSR were lower with P ＜0.05.All strain time prolonged in patient group ( P ＜0.05).No significant differences were observed in longitudinal strain index.Furthermore,CC was inversely related with PWV( r =- 0.872,P ＜0.001 ),and age,systolic pressure,β were positively related with PWV ( r =0.322,P =0.005; r =0.384,P =0.001; r =0.927,P ＜0.001) in patients group.Conclusions The stiffness and compliance indexes measured by blood vessel diameter tracking technique and the circumferential and radial strain index obtained by X-strain technique can reflect vessel elasticity change of patient with diabetes objectively.

Chromosomes, Human, Y ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Humans ; Male

Accidents ; statistics & numerical data ; Causality ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology

This article reports a case of nevus trichilemmocysticus. The patient, a 48-year-old man, presented with multiple filiform keratoses and nodules. Physical examination identified multiple subcutaneous papules and nodules on the scalp, filiform keratoses on the face and bilateral ears, in addition to linear blackheads on trunk and limbs. The patient also exhibited hair loss and hypoplastic tooth. Histopathology revealed trichilemmal cyst. Nevus trichilemmocysticus is a rare organoid nevus. We reviewed literature in order to raise the awareness of the syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of pegylated interferon alpha 2a (PEG-IFN alpha-2a) in treating patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSeventy-two patients with chronic hepatitis B were assigned to a PEG-IFN alpha-2a (experimental) group (n=42) and an interferon alpha (control) group (n=30) randomly. Each patient in the experimental group received 180 microg PEG-IFN alpha-2a every week. Each patient in the control group received 500 MU interferon alpha every day. All the patients were treated for 48 weeks, and then were followed for another 48 weeks with no treatment.

RESULTSAt the end of the 12th week, the rate of HBeAg negative cases was 30% in the PEG-IFN alpha-2a group, which was much higher than in the control group (x2 = 4.162, P < 0.05). The values of HBeAg and the log value of HBV DNA in the PEG-IFN alpha-2a group were much lower than the values before the treatment (t = 2.689, t = 4.080, P <0.01), but there was no difference between before and after treatment in the control group ( t = 1.229, t = 1.009, P > 0.05). At the end of the 24th week, the rate of HBeAg negative cases in the PEG-IFN alpha-2a group was much higher than that in the control group (x2=6.190, P < 0.05). The value of HBeAg and the log value of HBV DNA in the PEG-IFN alpha-2a group were much lower than in the control group (t=2.215, t=2.122, P < 0.05). At the end of the 48th week, besides the reduction mentioned above, the rate of cases with HBeAg/antiHBe seroconversion and normalization of ALT and complete responsiveness in the PEG-IFN alpha-2a group were all much higher than those in the control group (x2=5.771, x2=5.617, x2=5.308, P < 0.05). At the end of 48 weeks with no treatment, all the parameters mentioned above in the PEG-IFN alpha-2a group were much better than those in the control group and they remained so, but they were different in the control group (x2=11.943, t=3.439, t=6.111, x2=9.930, x2=9.522, x2=7.920, P < 0.01). Nine patients in the PEG-IFN alpha-2a group had liver biopsies before their treatment and also at the end of their treatment. The expressions of HBsAg and HBcAg were decreased at the end of the treatment. The rate of expression of HBsAg in the liver tissues before the treatment was 88.9% but only 22.2% at the end of the treatment (x2=8.001, P < 0.01). The rate of expression of HBcAg in the livers before treatment was 66.7% but only 33.3% at the end of the treatment. Before and at the end of the PEG-IFN alpha-2a treatment, there were no significant changes in the degrees of inflammation and fibrosis and the quantity of collagen in the liver tissues. Three patients in the PEG-IFN alpha-2a group (10%) were HbsAg negative. Two of them were found so at the end of 32 weeks with treatment and one patient was found at the end of 24 weeks with no treatment, but there were no HBsAg negative patients in the control group. The adverse reactions that occurred in the PEG-IFN alpha-2a and in the control groups were similar.

CONCLUSIONPEG-IFN alpha-2a was effective in inhibiting HBV replication. The effect of PEG-IFN alpha-2a was lasting. PEG-IFN alpha-2a was well tolerated during our treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the ability of Fuzhenghuayu capsule to improve markers of liver fibrosis when provided as supplemental therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who achieved complete virological response but unsatisfactory resolution of fibrosis markers with nucleos(t)ide analog (NAs) monotherapy.

METHODSOne-hundred-and-ten patients with CHB-related liver fibrosis who had received NA for more than or equal to 2 years and achieved sustained virological response (SVR) but no improvement in liver fibrosis index were randomly divided into two equal groups: experimental group, continued oral NAs (one tablet, 1 time/day) with simultaneous Fuzhenghuayu capsule (1.5 g, 3 times/day) for 48 weeks; control group, continued oral NAs only for 48 weeks. Serum fibrosis markers (hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), amino terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP) and IV collagen (IV-C)), liver fibrosis stages, B ultrasonic wave, and liver function were observed before (baseline) and after treatment and compared by statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe baseline levels of fibrosis markers were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups. After treatment, the levels of all of the fibrosis markers were lower in the experimental group (P less than 0.05 vs. control group; HA t = 19.548, LN t = 2.264, PIIIP t = 2.230, and IV-C t = 6.649) and lower than the baseline levels (P less than 0.01; HA t = 12.458, LN t = 7.402, PIIIP t = 4.620, IV-C t = 8.937). The control group also showed a significant reduction in HA and LN levels after treatment (P less than 0.01 vs. baseline; t = 5.202 and 3.444), but PIIIP and IV-C were unaffected. The baseline liver fibrosis stages were not significantly different between the experimental and control groups. After treatment, only the experimental group showed significant improvement in liver fibrosis stages (P less than 0.01). The rates of excellent therapeutic outcome, effectiveness, and non-effectiveness were significantly different between the experimental group (11.3%, 43.4%, and 45.3%) and the control group (1.0%, 22.2%, and 75.6%) (x2 = 9.408, P less than 0.01). Similar trends were observed for improvements in B ultrasonic wave for liver and spleen and in markers of liver function. Finally, neither treatment group experienced adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONFor CHB patients who achieve SVR by antiviral treatment with NAs, but unsatifactory improvement in liver fibrosis indices, administration of supplemental Fuzhenghuayu capsule with continued NAs therapy may represent a safe and effective treatment.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nucleotides ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the quality of zolmitriptan tablets,establish an HPLC method for the determination of related substances in zolmitriptan tablets,improve the quality standard,and provide technical support for drug regulation.Methods The Superlco Ascentis Express90 Phenol Hexy chromatography column(10 cm×3.0 mm,2.7 μm)was recommended.The mobile phase was phosphate buffer containing sodium hexanesulfonate(pH 2.0)-acetonitrile,with gradient elution.The detection wavelength was 220 nm,the flow rate was 0.8 mL·min-1,the column temperature was 40℃,and the injection amount is 10 μL.The method was used to test 40 batches of zolmitriptan tablet samples and substance taken from all over the country.Results Zomitriptan had a goog linear relationship in the range of 0.840-1.260 μg·mL-1(r=0.999 9),and its detection limit was 1 ng.The detection limits for impurities 1-5 were 0.11,0.52,10.91,1.04 and 2.18 ng,respectively.Conclusion The method is specific,and was used to evaluate the quality of commercially available zolmitriptan tablets.The critical control points and the effect of coating technology on the quality of zolmitriptan tablets were found,and it is suggested that the storage condition of the product should be defined as"cool and dark place".

Objective To observe the effect of uncoupler of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation——Cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenyl-hydrazone (FCCP) on mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity in mature adipocytes.Me-thods 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were differentiated into mature adipocytes and then induced and maintained in medium that contained the chemical uncoupler 7.5 μmol/L FCCP.Glucose uptake was determined in the adipocytes by measu-ring 2-deoxy-D-[3H] glucose uptake.Western blot was used to detect the translocation of insulin-sensitive glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and measure the phosphorylation and total protein contents of insulin signaling proteins such as insulin receptor substrate(IRS)-1,Akt.The mitochondrial morphology was performed by transmission electron microscope.The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number was evaluated by real time PCR.Luciferase-based luminescence assay was used to determine cellular ATP production.The mitochondrial membrane potential(△Ψm) and reactive oxygen species(ROS) were detected by flow cytometry.Results (1) Exposure of mature adipocytes to FCCP basal glucose uptake was similar to mature adipocytes without FCCP(t =-0.07,P ＞ 0.05) ; however,the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was significantly decreased in FCCP group (t =5.87,P ＜ 0.01).(2)FCCP decreased insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation to the plasmalemma and inhibition of insulin-induced phosphorylation of IRS-1 and Akt in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.(3)The size of mitochondria in FCCP-treated adipocytes was smaller than that in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without FCCP,and the morphology was condensed and abnormal.(4) mtDNA copy number in FCCP-treated adipocytes was significantly lower than that in adipocytes without FCCP(t =-1.73,P ＜ 0.001).(5) Exposure of 3T3-L1 adipocytes to FCCP significantly decreased △Ψm (t =4.83,P ＜ 0.01) and total cellular ATP production compared with cells without FCCP (t =6.08,P ＜ 0.0001),as well as the increased intracellular ROS levels (t =-6.82,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions FCCP may impair mitochondrial morphology and mitochondrion dysfunction,and inhibited the activation of insulin-induced phosphorylation of IRS-1 and Akt in 3T3-L1 adipocytes,which suggests that FCCP-induced insulin resistance may be correlated with the FCCP induced generation of ROS in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D and their correlations with lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in gallbladder carcinoma.

METHODSFifty cases of gallbladder carcinoma with complete clinical and pathological data were analyzed. The expression of VEGF-C and -D, D2-40, CD31 was assayed by immunohistochemical staining, with 10 samples of normal gallbladder tissues away from cancer and 19 samples of chronic cholecystitis as controls, and their correlation with clinicopathological findings were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThirty-two (64.0%) of the 50 gallbladder cancers were positive for VEGF-C protein expression by immunohistochemistry and the positive rate of VEGF-D protein expression was 62.0% (31/50). The protein expression of VEGF-C and VEGF-D in tumor tissues was significantly higher than that in normal gallbladder tissues away from the tumor (P < 0.05), but no correlation with that in chronic cholecystitis (P < 0.05). The VEGF-C expression correlated with the patient age and lymph node metastasis (both P < 0.05). The VEGF-D expression only correlated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). In the 50 gallbladder cancers, the MLVD was 6.9 + or - 3.6 and the MVD was 36.1 + or - 12.8. The MLVD in both VEGF-C and -D positive groups was significantly higher than that in the negative groups (P = 0.000), and the lymph node metastasis also increased. MVD in both VEGF-C and -D positive groups was higher than that in the negative groups (P < 0.05), and it was also correlated with tumor differentiation (P < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was also found between VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression (r = 0.498, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONVEGF-C and VEGF-D are involved in the lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in gallbladder carcinoma, promote lymph node metastasis of the tumor, and both are important in the regulation of lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in this cancer. VEGF-C and VEGF-D are of clinical significance in evaluating lymph node metastatic potency and estimation of prognosis in gallbladder carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cholecystitis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymphangiogenesis ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D ; metabolism