OBJECTIVETo study the proliferation and collagen production of tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes; and the effects of chitosan on cell proliferation and collagen production in the 3 cell types of rabbit flexor tendon.

METHODSThree cell lines of tendon sheath, epitenon, and endotenon were isolated from rabbit flexor tendon and cultured. Cell culture media was added with chitosan. The cell number and production of collagens I, II, and III were measured and compared with those cultured without chitosan. The expression of type I collagen in tendon sheath fibroblasts was determined by quantitative analysis of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSAll 3 cell lines produced collagens I, II, and III. Adding chitosan to cell media resulted in a significant decrease in cell number in all 3 cell lines. In addition, there was a significant decrease in collagens I, II, and III production in all 3 cell lines as well as the expression levels of type I collagen in tendon sheath fibroblasts (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSChitosan can inhibit cell proliferation and collagen production of the tendon sheath, epitenon, and endotenon, and may provide a promising approach to obviating tendon adhesion formation clinically.

OBJECTIVETo isolate and cultivate human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) and to investigate the feasibility of PDLSC in vitro differentiation into chondrogenic phenotype.

METHODSPeriodontal tissue was obtained from healthy young human teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes. PDLSCs were isolated by single-colony selection and cultivated. PDLSC of passage 3 was plated at density of 1 x 10(7) cells/cm3 and induced with chondrogenic induction medium of DMEM containing TGF-beta1 (10 microg/L), IGF-1 (50 microg/L), dexamethasone (40 microg/L) and 10% FBS. In control group, the constructs were maintained in DMEM medium + 10% FBS. After 21 days induction, the results were evaluated by histology, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe constructs in experimental group were smooth and relatively firm in texture after 3 weeks of culture. Toluidine blue staining showed the formation of distinct lacuna structure. Positive staining of type II collagen was also detected by immunohistochemistry and it was confirmed by RT-PCR. In contrast, in the control group, the constructs collapsed gradually, lacuna was barely detected in histology and type II collagen expression negative.

CONCLUSIONSPeriodontal ligament contain stem cells can be isolated and cultivated. PDLSC have the potential of chondrogenic differentiation.

Adolescent ; Adult Stem Cells ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Child ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Periodontal Ligament ; cytology

OBJECTIVEThrough studying the difference between the hypertensive patients and those with normal blood pressure who all from the same hypertensive pedigree, we tried to find the factors which would decrease the risk of hypertension.

METHODSHypertensive patients, when coming to the cardiovascular clinic of Xuan Wu Hospital from 2003 to 2004, were defined as the members of the hypertensive pedigrees through inquiry. 84 families including 368 persons, with 192 syblings were involved. Metabolic syndrome could be defined by the criterion of adult treatment panel III.

RESULTSWhen compared with normal blood pressure persons, clinical examinations of the hypertensive patients had an higher levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, glucose and body mass index (BMI). The hypertensive group showed higher ratios among male patients, smokers, alcohol drinkers, having irritable personality and high-salt-intake. Through logistic regression, overweight, smoking and irritable temperament showed positive relations with hypertension. The rate of metabolic syndrome was higher in hypertension group.

CONCLUSIONIt is important that either persons with normal blood pressure or hypertension should control their body weights (BMI) since the rate of metabolic syndrome in hypertension group was high.

Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; complications ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo find out the vector ability and function of Nosopsyllus wualis leizhouensis in the transmitting plague.

METHODSIn T: 19 degrees C +/- 1 degrees C, RH: 85% +/- 5%, data regarding the vector ability as cluster spreading, single flea spreading, single flea transmitting plague to single animal, formative bacterial embolus and infection fleas life-span through experiments was gathered.

RESULTSThe rate of infection on fleas was 94.64%, with 100% transmission rate of colony to spread, and 30% from single flea spreading to single animal. In the experiment of single flea transmission, all of the 388 rattus loseas were bitten by the fleas with bacterial, but only 9 animals were characteristically infected with the transmission potential, vector efficiency, survival potential of embolus, vector index as 0.360, 0.257, 0.868 and 0.223 respectively. The mean survive days of infected flea feed with blood were 17.58 (1 - 58), and the mean survive days of hunger infected flea were 7.25 (1 - 16). Formative bacterial embolus days were 8.80 (2 - 16) and the rate of embolus flea was 78.12%.

CONCLUSIONNosopsyllus wualis leizhouensis could serve as vector and important in the mode of plague transmittion.

Animals ; Female ; Insect Vectors ; microbiology ; Male ; Plague ; transmission ; Rats ; Siphonaptera ; microbiology

OBJECTIVEDue to their lower risk for induction of resistance, antimicrobial peptides with selective anticancer effect could be developed into a new generation of anticancer drugs. We conjugated an antimicrobial peptide with tumor-targeting peptides (TMTP1) to explore whether it has inhibiting effect on the progression and metastasis of transplanted prostate cancer and gastric cancer in nude mice.

METHODSSubcutaneously transplanted human prostate cancer and orthotopically transplanted human gastric cancer in nude mice were prepared. 50 µmol/L PBS (control group), 50 µmol/L TMTP1 (TMTP1 group) or 50 µmol/L TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) (treatment group) were injected i.p. to the three groups of nude mice, respectively. The binding ability of the novel fusion polypeptide TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) to the tumors and its antitumor effect were assessed by measurement of tumor volume, histopathological examination of the tumor tissues, testing apoptosis index of tumor cells with TUNEL staining, and survival curve plotting of the mice.

RESULTSThe median survival time of subcutaneous prostate cancer-bearing mice was 50 days in the control group, 55 days in the TMTP1 group, and 70 days in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.05). The median survival time of the subcutaneous gastric cancer-bearing mice was 25 days in the control group, 30 days in the TMTP1 group, and 45 days in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.01). The tumor volume in the subcutaneous prostate cancer-bearing mice was (2.5 ± 0.3)cm(3) in the control group, (1.8 ± 0.2) cm(3) in the TMTP1 group, and (0.3 ± 0.1)cm(3) in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.01). The tumor volume of the subcutaneous gastric cancer-bearing mice was (3.8 ± 0.4) cm(3) in the control group, (3.2 ± 0.2)cm(3) in the TMTP1 group, and (0.4 ± 0.1) cm(3) in the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (P < 0.01). Large tumors were observed in the stomach of the orthotopic gastric cancer-bearing mice of the control and TMTP1 groups. The tumor volume of the TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group was obviously reduced. White metastases in the liver, spleen and abdominal wall were observed in the control and TMTP1 groups (P < 0.01). TUNEL staining revealed that the apoptosis index of the control group was (31.9 ± 1.5)%, TMTP1 group (37.2 ± 2.3)% and TMTP1-GG-D(KLAKLAK)(2) group (69.7 ± 2.1)% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe results of our study demonstrate that the novel fusion peptide of antimicriobial peptide conjugated with TMTP1 can effectively inhibit tumor progression and metastasis, therefore, is promising to be a novel effective anticancer drug.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Oligopeptides ; pharmacology ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Splenic Neoplasms ; secondary ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in breast cancer with brain metastasis (BCBM).

METHODSThe clinical data of 137 BCBM from June 2002 to June 2008 was reviewed and analyzed. Their molecular subtypes were categorized based on detection of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression. The focal area included 35 cases of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), 38 cases of HR (ER and PR) (-)/HER-2(+), 40 cases of HR(+)/HER-2(-), 24 cases of HR(+)/HER-2(+). The clinical characteristics and the outcome in patients with influence were analyzed.

RESULTSIn 137 BCBM, the median overal survival after brain metastasis was 6.5 month. The median survivals of TNBC, HR(-)/HER-2(+), HR(+)/HER-2(-) and HR(+)/HER-2(+) were 5.0, 5.5, 10.0 and 9.5 months, respectively. The median survivals after brain metastasis of the breast cancer patients who received the combination therapy of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) and neurosurgery and/or stereotactic radiosurgery, received WBRT but not combination therapy and didn't receive WBRT were 15.0, 9.5 and 4.0 months, respectively. In univariate survival analysis, substyle, number of brain metastasis, brain metastasis as initial recurrence or not, brain-only metastases or not, the combination therapy status after brain metastasis were obviously correlated with the prognosis (χ(2) = 6.891 to 29.414, P < 0.05). Substyle (RR = 1.234, 95%CI: 1.057 to 1.440) and the combination therapy status after brain metastasis (RR = 1.838, 95%CI: 1.389 to 2.431) were independent prognostic factor in multivariable analysis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTNBC confers a high risk of death after brain metastases. Systemic treatment via combined modalities are helpful for breast cancer patients, even after the detection of brain metastases.

Adult ; Aged ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Neoplasms ; secondary ; therapy ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVEIn order to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of group A + C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, a controlled field trial was performed among children at 6-24 months and 5-13 years old in Longsheng county, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

METHODSMore than 600 children were selected in this trial. 428 children, aged 6-24 month-old and 5-13 year-old were involved in two experimental groups and were inoculated 100 microg of group A + C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine. 103 children in positive control group were inoculated 50 microg of group A meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine while 94 children in negative control group were inoculated 30 microg of Typhoid Vi polysaccharide vaccine. Both systemic and local reactions were observed in each group at 6 h,24 h,48 h and 72 h after inoculation. Blood samples were collected in all children before and at 1 month after inoculation. Additionally, at least 50 blood samples were taken in each experimental group at 6 and 12 months after inoculation. Serum bactericidal antibody was tested by micro bactericidal test.

RESULTSBoth systemic and local reactions were mild in two experimental groups with only 3 children (0.7%) had > or = 37. 6 degrees C fever, 4 children (0.9%) appeared mild areola but all adverse reaction disappeared within 48 hours. In 5-13 year-old experimental group, the rates for four-fold increase of bactericidal antibody were 96.59% and 92.15% to group A and group C meningococcus respectively at 1 month after inoculation, and remained 90.91% and 90.08% at 12 months after inoculation.

CONCLUSIONGroup A + C meningococal polysaccharide vaccine was safe and having good immunogenicity among Chinese children.

Adolescent ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; adverse effects ; immunology ; Typhoid-Paratyphoid Vaccines ; adverse effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo clone the recombinant human islet neogenesis-associated protein (rhINGAP) gene for its secretory expression in Pichia pastoris.

METHODSINGAP gene was amplified with PCR and inserted between Xho I and EcoR I downstream sites of the alpha factor of the recombinant plasmid alpha/pUC18. The fusion gene of alpha factor and INGAP was subsequently inserted between BamH I and EcoR I sites of the plasmid pPIC9K of P. pastoris. After confirmation with restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing, the positive recombinant plasmid that integrated INGAP gene was linearized with Sal I digestion and transformed into the yeast host strain GS115 through electroporation. The yeast transformants that harbored the INGAP gene with high copies were selected with the auxotroph medium and G418, followed then by PCR verification of the positive transformants, from which the expression of recombinant human INGAP was induced with methanol as the only carbone source. The antigenic activity of the desired protein was then detected using Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe recombinant expression plasmid INGAP/pPIC9K was successfully constructed, and 3 positive transformants were obtained. The expressed protein showed good antigenic activity as confirmed by Western blotting and ELISA.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Islets of Langerhans ; metabolism ; Lectins, C-Type ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To explore whether the expression level of heparanase (HPA) and its coagulation proteins on leukemic blast membrane could determine the hemostatic balance on the surface of leukemia cells.Methods Forty patients of leukemia were studied,and 20 patients with iron dificient anemia as the control group.Expression of tissue factor (TF),heparanase (HPA),tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI),and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (UPAR) on leukemic blast surfaces were analyzed by flowcytometry.Results The expression of TF,UPAR,and HPA in AML,ALL,CML,CLL and CRAL groups were significantly higher compared with the control group (t =.3.289,3.507,2.701,P ＜0.05; t =2.498,0.802,3.090,P ＜0.05; t =2.642,3.308,2.696,P ＜0.05; t =3.417,3.434,2.382,P ＜0.05; t =2.193,2.272,2.263,P ＜0.05).There were no significantly differences between the leukemic cell expression of TFPI and the control group (P ＞0.05).Expression of TF,UPAR,HPA in AML patients were significantly higher than ALL,CML and CLL groups (t =2.463,2.179,2.276,P ＜0.05; t =2.637,2.402,2.095,P ＜0.05; t =2.548,2.425,2.412,P ＜0.05).The levels of TF,UPAR and HPA in M3,M4 and M5 patients were higher than that of M1,M2 groups (P ＜0.05).There were no significantly differences among M3,M4 and M5 (P ＞0.05).Conclusions These results suggest that TF,UPAR and HPA are predominately expressed on leukemic blast surface,particularly in M3and M4,5 subtypes.The expression of coagulation proteins on blast membrane might determine the hemostatic balance on the surface of leukemia cells.

Objective To explore the most suitable scheme of auscultation training for ICU nurses.Methods Eight ICU of municipal hospitals in Xi' an between October 2010 and October 2011 were contacted and the auscultation training on ICU nurses more than one year in 5 ways distinctively at the same time were developed.Results The plan of mentoring for nurse in auscultation training management was optimization,which help the nurse auscultative successfully,continually and steady.It had a high knowledge accuracy,left precious material for department which facilitated to academic communication.The nurses had more learning enthusiasm and high initiative.It was a comprehensive training system for nurses that had equality practice opportunities and understandable. Trainers from the department which reduced the department cost and shortened the training cycle and had no delayed in the training process.Examination content set and regularly took examination.Group discussions were adopted by nurses for checking the leak,and they recorded nursing documents,and the related nursing diagnosis as the reference for doctors.The auscultation training practice guidelines for departments were assembled.Conclusions The method of project training teaching on the nurses for master the auscultation skill is practical,and it also can promote the ability of nurse in finding out the condition changes at an early date during managing patients.