China ; epidemiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Listeria monocytogenes ; physiology ; Listeriosis ; epidemiology ; Serotyping

Objective To explore the correlation between induced abortion and reproductive tract infections (RTIs). Methods On the basis of keeping the representation of cities under study,53 652 fertile women aged 15-49 were surveyed by using a stratified-cluster-random sampling.Investigation and gynecological examination were conducted by two steps - firstly converging at the clinics, and then visiting those households for someone who did not show up at the clinics. Results Among all the 32.0% (n=16 800) women ever having experienced the history of induced abortion,21.1%(n= 11 090) of them had one, 7.6%(n=3976) women had two, and 4.1%(n=1734) women had at least three events. 59.0%(n=30 959) women among our studied samples had ever had RTI,with 30.9% ( n = 16 215 ) of them had only one 20.0% (n = 10 494 ) women had two and 8.1% (n =4250) had three or more RTIs. Data from x2 text and ordinal regression analysis revealed that the rural married women who underwent more induced abortions were more likely to suffer from RTIs,especially cervical infection and PID. Conclusion Our study showed that the rates of induced abortion and reproductive tract infections among married women in Anhui province were both high.Women who underwent induced abortions had a higher prevalence rate of reproductive tract infections.

0507JS60 virus was isolated from a pool of Culex sp. collected in Kashi, Xinjiang, which could be propagated stably on C6/36 cells and caused cytopathic effects continuously. Viral particles had no envelope and appeared round with diameter of about 55nm (n = 10). Capsomeres on the surface of capsid were clearly visible. Electrophoresis of viral genome showed a profile of 12 double stranded RNA (dsRNA) segments. Sequencing of the twelfth segment revealed the length of 760bp (GenBank ID: FJ157354). A single open reading frame (ORF) was found and encoded a protein of 174 amino acids with a molecular mass of 18.9kD. The nucleotide sequence had similarity over 89% with that of LNV, but the deduced amino acid sequence had similarity over 91% with that of LNV. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to compare the corresponding genetic sequences in Seadornavirus. The tree demonstrated that 0507JS60 virus lied in the same branch with LNV and more closely related to LNV-NE9712. 0507JS60 virus was identified as LNV, which was firstly isolated outside the Northeast of China.
Animals ; Cell Line ; China ; Culex ; virology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Reoviridae ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; ultrastructure

0507BS3 virus was isolated from a mixed pool of Culex sp. and Anopheles sp. collected in Kashi, Xinjiang, China. 0507BS3 virus could cause cytopathic effects on C6/36 cells but not on Vero and BHK-21 cells. Viral particles had no envelope and appeared round with diameter of about 60 nm (n = 20). Viral capsid was composed of a single layer and a central core. Capsomeres on the surface of capsid were clearly visible. Electrophoresis of viral genome showed a profile of 10 double stranded RNA (dsRNA) segments. Sequencing of the tenth segment revealed the length of 964bp (GenBank ID: FJ150869). A single open reading frame (ORF) was found and encoded a protein of 275 amino acids with a molecular mass of 30.8kDa. The nucleotide sequence had no similarity with any other viral genomic sequences, but the deduced amino acid sequence significantly matched the polyhedrin genes of cytoplasmic polyhedrosis virus (CPV) in some sections. A phylogenetic tree was constructed to compare the polyhedrin gene sequences of all CPV types in GenBank. The tree demonstrated that 0507BS3 virus was only distantly related to the other CPV types and belonged to a new CPV type.
Animals ; Cell Line ; China ; Culicidae ; virology ; Phylogeny ; Reoviridae ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo analyze risk factors of marginal donors in living donor liver transplantation.

METHODS98 living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) patients over the 7-year period from 2001 to 2007 in our transplantation center were retrospected. Potential risk factors, including donor age, gender-mismatch, steatotic donors and graft-recipient weight ratio (GRWR), and their relationship with 6-month patient survival rate were analyzed.

RESULTSThe 4 patients received livers with more than 30% steatosis died within 6 months, and 6-month survival rate was 91.7% in patients received livers with less than 30% steatosis. The 6-month survival rate was 86.9% and 87.8% in patients with grafts of GRWR more than 0.8% and in patients with graft of GRWR less than 0.8%, respectvely (x2=0.022, P more than 0.05), however, middle hepatic vein reconstruction significantly affected the survival rate of small-size-liver recipients (x2=10.612, P less than 0.01). Donor age and gender-mismatch were not associated with the survival rate of recipients (P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSteatosis is an important risk factor in living donor liver transplantation. Lower GRWR is not a limitation but we must reconsider its importance in liver transplantation. The donor age and gender-mismatch are not associated with the survival rate of recipients.

Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; Living Donors ; Organ Size ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and investigate the related molecular mechanism.

METHODSAfter incubating cultured HSCs for 24 h with different concentrations of NGF (100, 200 or 400 ng/mL), the cell proliferation was observed by XTT colorimetric assay and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Morphological changes in response to a 24 h exposure to 100 ng/mL NGF were observed by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSNGF significantly inhibited HSC proliferation (P less than 0.05) in a dose-independent manner. The optical densities of the XTT colorimetric assay were 0.66+/-0.03 for 100 ng/mL NGF, 0.69+/-0.03 for 200 ng/mL NGF, and 0.66+/-0.03 for 400 ng/mL NGF, all of which were significantly lower than that of the control group (0.73+/-0.01; P less than 0.05). All concentrations of NGF led to significantly higher numbers of HSCs in the G2 phase (100 ng/mL: 14.83+/-5.41%, 200 ng/mL: 14.73+/-2.50%, and 400 ng/mL: 14.87+/-2.06%), compared to that detected in the control group (7.47+/-4.39%; P less than 0.05). Twenty-four hours of exposure to 100 ng/mL NGF caused morphological changes indicative of apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONNGF inhibits the proliferation of HSCs, possibly by arresting the cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. NGF-inhibited cells may also undergo apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Nerve Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in aging of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of rats.

METHODSSerum samples were collected from young (8 ≈ 12 w) and aged (64 ≈ 72 w) SD rat. Four experiment groups were assigned: young rat serum (YRS), YRS+Wnt 3a, old rat serum (ORS) and ORS+DKK1 groups. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of intracellular β-catenin. The senescence-associated changes were examined with SA-β-galactosidase staining. The proliferation ability was tested by MTT assays. The survived and apoptotic cells were determined by AO/EB staining. The expressions of γ-H2A. X and p53 protein were detected by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of p53 and p21 mRNA.

RESULTSCompared with the YRS group, the intracellular expression of β-catenin in the ORS group was significantly increased,especially in the nuclei of MSCs. After treatment of DKK1 in ORS, the γ-catenin expression was reduced. The number of SA-β-galactosidase positive MSCs was significantly higher in the YRS+Wnt 3a group than that in the YRS group (P<0.01), and the proliferative and survival ability of MSCs was significantly decreased in the YRS+Wnt 3a group. The number of SA-β-galactosidase positive MSCs in the ORS+DKK1 group was significantly decreased compared with that in ORS group (P <0.01), and the proliferative and survival ability of MSCs was significantly increased in the ORS+DKK1 group. The expression of γ-H2A.X, p53 and p21 was markedly increased in the ORS group than that in YRS group, however, after treatment with Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor DKK1, the expression of γ-H2A.X, p53 and p21 was significantly decreased compared with that in the ORS group.

CONCLUSIONResults suggest that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling is activated in the MSCs cultured with ORS and excessive activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling can promote MSCs aging. The DNA damage response and p53/p21 pathway may be main mediators of MSC aging induced by excessive activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Cell Survival ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cellular Senescence ; physiology ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the ratio of regulatory and effector T cells with recurrence and chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).

METHODSThirty patients with hematological malignancies who underwent allo-HSCT were classified as recurrence with cGVHD (n=4), non-recurrence with cGVHD (n=14), recurrence without cGVHD (n=5) and non-recurrence without cGVHD (n=7). The different percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁻CD69⁺ regulatory T cells in bone marrow and CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells, Th1 cells and Th17 cells in peripheral blood were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in all these T-cell subsets among different groups (P>0.05). While the ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁻CD69⁺ regulatory T cells and Th1 cells (0.211±0.177) in 9 recurrence patients was significant higher than that (0.133±0.160) in 21 non-recurrence patients (P=0.033). The ratio were also significance between recurrence without cGVHD and non-recurrence without cGVHD patients (0.167±0.073 vs 0.073±0.057, P=0.048), and between recurrence with cGVHD and non-recurrence without cGVHD patients (0.218±0.113 vs 0.073±0.057, P=0.024). Furthermore, the ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells and Th17 cells was significant lower (1.975±2.045) in 18 cGVHD patients than that of 12 without cGVHD patients (3.198±1.132, P=0.010), and the ratio was also significant lower in non-recurrence patients with cGVHD (1.695±1.178) than that of without cGVHD (3.446±1.376, P=0.028).

CONCLUSIONOur results show that the ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁻CD69⁺ regulatory T cells and Th1 cells raise in recurrence patients, and the ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺ regulatory T cells and Th17 decrease in cGVHD patients, which suggest that the ratio of regulatory and effector T cells had association with recurrence and cGVHD in patients with allo-HSCT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Graft vs Host Disease ; immunology ; pathology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; immunology ; therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; immunology ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of activator protein-1 (AP-1) decoy-oligodeoxynucleotides (Decoy-ODNs) on the expression of fibroblast alpha2 type I collagen, so as to explore the gene therapy of pathologic scar.

METHODSDecoy-ODNs targeting AP-1 were designed and synthesized. NIH3T3 cells were transfected by cationic liposomes. The distribution of Decoy-ODNs in the cells was investigated. The inhibiting effects of Decoy-ODNs on AP-1 were determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). And the effects of Decoy-ODNs on the collagen synthesis in the cells were analyzed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSAP-1 Decoy-ODNs could competitively inhibit the AP-1 in vitro activity. Cationic liposomes could play roles by effectively transfecting Decoy-ODNs into the plasma and nucleus. The mRNA expression of fibroblast alpha2 type I collagen decreased evidently after 24 hours of Decoy-ODNs action.

CONCLUSIONDecoy-ODNs could inhibit the mRNA expression of fibroblast alpha2 type I collagen by antagonizing AP-1.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mice ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides ; genetics ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the properties of screw-bone interface of expansive pedicle screw (EPS) in osteoporotic sheep by micro-CT and histological observation.

METHODSSix female sheep with bilateral ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis were employed in this experiment. After EPS insertion in each femoral condyle, the sheep were randomly divided into two groups: 3 sheep were bred for 3 months (Group A), while the other 3 were bred for 6 months (Group B). After the animals being killed, the femoral condyles with EPS were obtained, which were three-dimensionally-imaged and reconstructed by micro-CT. Histological evaluation was made thereafter.

RESULTSThe trabecular microstructure was denser at the screw-bone interface than in the distant parts in expansive section, especially within the spiral marking. In the non-expansive section, however, there was no significant difference between the interface and the distant parts. The regions of interest (ROI) adjacent to EPS were reconstructed and analyzed by micro-CT with the same thresholds. The three-dimensional (3-D) parameters, including tissue mineral density (TMD), bone volume fraction (BVF, BV/TV), bone surface/bone volume (BS/BV) ratio, trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp), were significantly better in expansive sections than non-expansive sections (P less than 0.05). Histologically, newly-formed bony trabeculae crawled along the expansive fissures and into the center of EPS. The newly-formed bones, as well as the bones at the bone-screw interface, closely contacted with the EPS and constructed four compartments.

CONCLUSIONSThe findings of the current study, based on micro-CT and histological evaluation, suggest that EPS can significantly provide stabilization in osteoporotic cancellous bones.

Animals ; Bone Screws ; Bone and Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Osteoporosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Sheep ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed