Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Humans ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

Circulating cell-free nucleic acids are defined as extracellular DNAs or RNAs in blood with physiological or pathological origins. Previous studies showed that the concentration of cell-free nucleic acids in the blood of cancer patients is significantly higher than in healthy people. Further studies showed that the genetic and epigenetic alterations of circulating cell-free nucleic acids are relevant to cancer development and progression, including mutation, hypermethylation, loss of heterozygosity, change of integrity, and abnormal expression of microRNAs. Detection of circulating cell-free nucleic acids shows promising potential in cancer screening, diagnosis, personalized treatment, and prognosis.

Objective The CYP19 gene product enzyme aromatase mediates the conversion of the androgen testosterone to es -tradiol.The aim of this study is to investigate whether the CYP19A1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with the susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and serum hormone levels. Methods We conducted a case-controlled study, which included 373 PCOS patients and 313 healthy controls.We genotyped SNP rs2899470 in the subjects using the polymerase chain re-action-restriction fragment length polymorphism ( PCR-RFLP) method and analyzed the frequencies of genotypes and alleles as well as the association of different genotypes with age , menarchal age, body mass index (BMI), and serum levels of hormones. Results The gen-otypic distributions of rs2899470 GG, TG, and TT in the PCOS women were 44.5%, 49.6%, and 5.9%, respectively, significantly dif-ferent from 39.3%, 48.6%, and 12.1%in the healthy controls (P=0.013).The frequency of the G allele was 69.3%in the former, remarkably higher than 63.6%in the latter (P=0.025).The rs2899470 genotypic frequencies were associated with the serum E 2/T lev-els in the PCOS patients. Conclusion SNP rs2899470 in the CYP19A1 gene is associated with the susceptibility to PCOS , and so is the genotype of rs2899470 with serum E2/T levels, which may be attributed mainly to the reduced activity of aromatase .

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing attention in the study of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (ALS)and bone metabolism, which is accompanied by osteopenia and osteoporosis. Interleukin(IL) -6, a cytokine that strongly promotes bone resorption, participates in the regulation of bone metablism.OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between changes of bone mineral density(BMD) and serum IL-6 content in AIS.DESIGN: A controlled non-randomized concurrent study involving patients with AIS and and healthy volunteers.SETTING: The clinic and wards of the department of spinal surgery of a university-affiliated hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six patients with AIS(6 males and 30 females aged 12 to 18 years) were treated in the Department of Spinal Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical College of Nanjing University from July to October 2003, who had a Cobb angle ranging from 34° - 109° and curvature of the thoracic spine. Thirty-six healthy adolescent volunteers(7 males and 29 females within the range of 13 - 18 years old) served as the control group.METHODS: The BMD was measured at L2- L4 and the proximal femur;(including the femoral neck, greater trochanter and Ward' s triangle) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and serum IL-6 determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① BMD of the lumbar spine and femur ② Comparison of serum IL-6 content of all the subjects.RESULTS: The BMD of AIS patients at L2- L4, femoral neck, greater trochanter and Ward' s triangle was 0.79±0. 12, 0.78±0. 12, 0.65± 0. 10, and 0. 69 ± 0. 13 g/cm2, respectively, all significantly lower than the corresponding measurements of the control group(1.09 ± 0. 11, 0.95 ± 0. 11,0. 78 ± 0. 10, and 0. 88 ± 0. 11 g/cm2, respectively, P ＜ 0. 001), whereas the serum IL-6 content in the patients was significantly higher than that in the control subjects ( P ＜ 0. 005). The changes of BMD at the lumbar spine and the three sites of femur were negatively correlated with serum IL-6 in AIS patients( P ＜ 0. 001 ), but not so in the control group( P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The BMD is decreased and serum IL-6 elevated in patients with AIS, and excessive secretion of IL-6 might be one of the important factors of osteopenia in AIS.

Objective To observe whether sodium arsenite(NaAsO2)can activate the expressions of hemeoxygenase-1(HO-1)of normal human liver cell line named Chang liver.Methods Chang liver cells were exposed to NaAsO2 at 10 μmoL/L,0(contml),2,6,12,24 h and at 0(control),5,10,25,50 μmol/L in 12 h, followed by the measuring of the expressions of HO-1 protein in ceUs with western blot.Results In 10 μmol/L groups Chang liver cells exposed for 6,12,24 h cultured in vitro,the expressions of HO-l protein(3.97±0.72, 12.92±2.98,23.29±3.82)was significantly higher than that of control(1.00±0.00),and compared with the control, the difference being statistically significant(F=85.83,P＜0.01;t=-9.42,-8.95,-13.83,respectively,P＜ 0.05 or＜0.01).In 12 h,5,10,25 and 50 μmol/L groups cultured in vitro,the expressions of HO-1(16.34±0.25, 7.75±0.39,7.93±0.14,12.48±0.35)was significantly higher than that of control(1.00±0.00).and compared with the control,the difference being statistically significant(F=85.83,P＜0.01;t=-36.25,-30.19,-86.40, -56.40,respectively,all P＜0.01).Conclusion Inorganic arsenic call induce the activation of HO-1,promote the expression of protein in a time-and dose-dependent manner.

Adult ; Fever ; etiology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Polyps ; complications ; Stomach Diseases ; complications

BackgroundRetinal astrocytes are the main glial cells of retina,their origin and evolution progress are always the hot and difficult points in domestic and foreign researches. ObjectiveThis study was to explore the origin and development of retinal astrocytes in human fetal retina.Methods Thirty-three human embryonic eyes were collected from the abortion with the embryonic ages of 8-12 gestation weeks (20 eyes),15-17 gestation weeks ( 2 eyes),19-23 gestation weeks ( 4 eyes ),25 - 28 gestation weeks ( 4 eyes ),30 - 32 gestation weeks (3 eyes).The section of eyeball wall was prepared to observe the morphology and structure of different embryonic ages of retinas by regular histopathology examination.The origin of human embryonic retinal astrocytes was assessed by evaluating the change of GFAP expression in different embryonic ages of retinas using immunochemistry and immunofluorescence under the light and laser scanning confocal microscope.Theresearch was approved by the the Ethics Committee.Results The optic cup in embryonic 6- 7 weeks was in the retinal layering phase.Some immature short or round spindle-like cells appeared in primitive non-cell layer in the inner layer of the optic cup in embryonic 9 weeks of eyes.There were no positive GFAP-immunoactive cell was detected until embryonic 15 weeks of eyes.Some spindle-like cells migrated from a single layer primitive neuroepithelium next to optic disc expressing GFAP in the eyes with embryonic 19 weeks,and positive immunostaing for GFAP were detected in stellate cells surround blood vessels,and some seem to form the vessel wall in the ganglion cell layer and nerve fiber layer of the fetal central retina from 25 weeks through 26 weeks.Some positive response cells for GFAP presented in inner layer of the retina closed to ora serrata with the connection to nonpigmented epithelium (NPE) of the ciliary body during this period.Human retinal astrocytes showed typical stellate-like in shape,and the cellular processes crossed into inner plexiform layer in embryonic 28-week eyes.Conclusions Human retinal astrocytes mainly seem to have three kinds of origin in human embryonic eyes,and they are vascular precursor cell/pericytes,primitive neuroepithelium and nonpigmented epithelium of the ciliary body.

Objective To explore the application value of ultra -high frequency ultrasound in detection of femoral artery stenosis in rabbits.Methods Twenty-four healthy male New Zealand white rabbits (body weight 2.5 -3.0 kg) were randomly divided into three groups , 8 rabbits in each group.Preparation of femoral atherosclerosis model : the rabbits were fed with high fat diet for 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks after femoral artery balloon injury , respectively.The changes of cholesterol level were observed .We used ultra-high frequency ultrasonic probe to observe the femoral artery , to assess the diameter stenosis rate and peak systolic velocity (SPV) at the symptomatic side, and the histological areal stenosis was evaluated.Results 1.The blood cholesterol levels were increased after fed high cholesterol diet , with a significant difference among the groups (P <0.001); 2.There was a stenosis to a different degree in the modeling artery after fed high cholesterol diet for 4 wks, 8 wks, and 12 wks, and the stenosis degree was increased gradually .At 12 w, the degree of stenosis was higher than that at 4 w and 8 w, respectively, showing statistical significance ( P <0.001).At the symptomatic side, the peak systolic flow velocity was increased , and it was higher at 12 w than that at 4w and 8 w, respectively.3.With the extension of time, the arterial stenosis rate was increased along with the time course (P <0.05). Conclusions 1.High fat diet combined with balloon injury can cause varying degrees of rabbit femoral artery stenosis ; 2. Ultrahigh frequency ultrasound can clearly show different degrees of rabbit femoral artery stenosis , and can be used for detecting the lesions in animal models of peripheral vascular diseases .

Objective To study the main pharmacodynamics effect of compound lavender ointment on the scald, anti-inflammation and analgesia.Methods Sixty guinea pigs were divided into normal groups,model groups( superficialⅡ°scalding models) ,compound lavender ointment high,median,low dose groups,and jing wan hong ointment groups,then observation of the wounds and healing was made and recorded.Histopathological examination was made to examine the wounds,and ELISA to analyze serum TNF-α、IL-6、IL-8.Xylene ear swelling model and writhing test were used to observe the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the compound lavender ointment.Results Compound lavender ointment can relieve the wounds swelling and exudation,which may be related to the decrease of proinflammatory cytokines(P <0.01), and promote the wound healing significantly( P <0.01) ,that the side-effects were not observed.High dose of compound lavender ointment can inhibit ear swelling and have certain analgesia with the writhing tests.Conclusion Compound lavender ointment have the promoting wound healing,anti-infectious and antalgic effects on the scald.

AIM: To examine the effect of acrylic ester and thermosol respectively as pressure sensitive adhesive matrix of zhitong huoxue extract ( Rhizoma Corydalis,Radix aconiti,Radix Paeoniae alba,Radix et notoginseng ginseng,etc) on the dissolution of effective constituent from zhitong huoxue extract.METHODS: The in vitro release experiment was carried out on Permcell diffusion cell,HPLC method was applied to determining the cumulative elease rate of tetrahydropalmatine,aconitine,paeoniflorin and ginsenoside Rg_1 from zhitong huoxue pressure sensitive adhensive.RESULTS: The acrylic ester matrix had sound controlled release profile in vitro of alkaloid components.In KT-A thermosol matrix,the in vitro release rate proved to be inversely proportional to the molecular weight (R = 0.91 ) of the effective constituents,while the 2501 s matrix presented a steadily cumulative release rate over 12 h (30% -43% ).CONCLUSION: Good release rates are observed with effective constituent with small molecular weight,adhesive composition of matrix has an obvious effect on the in vitro release behavior of zhitong huoxue extract.