OBJECTIVETo explore the values of tissue factor (TF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions on peripheral CD14+ monocytes in disease assessment, prognosis, and short-term efficacy evaluation of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients.

METHODSTF and VEGF expressions on CD14+monocytes in 47 NHL patients (disease group) before chemotherapy and after 4 chemotherapy cycles and in 30 healthy subjects (control group) were detected by flow cytometry, and the potential relationship among TF, VEGF, International Prognostic Index (IPI), and short-term efficacy were analyzed.

RESULTSTF and VEGF expressions on CD14 + monocytes in disease group were significantly higher than those in control group ( all P <0. 01) and positive correlation was showed between them (r = 0. 708, P = 0.00). TF and VEGF expressions in Ann Arbor stage III and IV (n = 22 and 19) , symptomatic (n = 22) , lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) increased (n = 21) , Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score 2-4 (n = 12) and extranodal lesions >1 (n = 16) groups were significantly higher than those in Ann Arbor stage II (an = 6) , asymptomatic (an =25) , LDH normal (n = 26) , ECOG score 0-1 ( n = 35) and extranodal lesions ~1 ( na = 31) groups, respectively (all P <0.05). The expressions of TF and VEGF on CD14 + monocytes in high-risk (n = 7) or high-middle-risk (n = 11) groups were significantly increased compared with low-risk (n = 15) or low-middle-risk(n = 14) groups, respectively (all P <0. 01). TF and VEGF expressions in non-remission group before chemotherapy (n = 11) were both obviously higher than those in remission group (an = 36, all P <0. 01) , and after chemotherapy their expressions in remission group were significantly lower than those before chemotherapy (all P <0. 01) , while such significant changes were not observed in the non-remission group ( all P > 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe high expressions of TF and VEGF on peripheral CD14 + monocytes can be useful markers in dis-ease assessment, prognosis evaluation and short-term efficacy observation of NHL patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Thromboplastin ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological manifestations of early renal amyloidosis (AL) and its diagnostic criteria.

METHODSFifteen cases with early renal amyloidosis admitted from 1994 to 2001 were collected from the hospital, and their clinical and pathological features were reviewed. Of them, the initial diagnoses were not made by depending findings from the light microscopy (LM) and immunofluorescense (IF), but confirmed by electron microscopy (EM) afterwards. Immuno-electron microscopy (IEM) were applied for amyloidosis typing.

RESULTSMost patients of early renal AL were in the middle to old age. Nephrotic syndrome was the most prominent symptoms and signs accompanying with rare microscopic hematuria and hypertension. Most of them had a normal renal function. Pathological examinations of renal biopsies using LM and IF showed mild mesangial proliferation and mild thickening of glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Immunoglobulins and complements were negative or only scanty in certain cases, but in all cases there was a light chain protein deposition homogeously. There were 4 cases of minimal change glomerulopathy, 5 cases of mild mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, 5 cases of stage I membranous nephropathy, and 1 case of cast nephropathy diagnosed with LM. The amyloid fibrils (diameter 8 - 10 nm) were randomly distributed in the mesangium, along GBM and at the arteriolar wall under EM. Additionally, Congo red staining was positive. IEM demonstrated that amyloid fibrils labeled with colloid gold was combined with a kind of light chain protein which was confirmed as the light chain type of AL.

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of early renal AL was occasionally neglected by depending only findings of LM and LF. However, special amyloid fibrils can be detected using EM. EM observation is an indispensable technique for the diagnosis of early renal AL and the typing of AL may further be determined by using IEM.

Adult ; Aged ; Amyloidosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Basement Membrane ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; metabolism ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the effects and immunoregulation mechanism of the traditional Mongolian medicine Wuweifengshi capsule on adjuvant arthritis (AA).

METHODWister rats were divided into several groups: normal group, AA model group, Wuweifengshi capsule groups (with low, moderate, high dose of 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) respectively), and Zhonglun-5 group (original dose of 1.68 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)). The edema degree, the level of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, PGE2, NO and MDA and the activity of SOD in serum were detected. Through cell culture, the effects of the medicine on AA rat's splenic cell's multiplication capacity were studied. The influence of celiac macrophage cell culture fluid of AA rats' on C57BL/6J mice thymic cell multiplication capacity under the medicine was evaluated.

RESULTWuweifengshi capsule showed an inhibiting function on the level of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, PGE2, NO and increased the activity of SOD in serum, but showed no significant influence on MDA. It also inhibited the AA rat's splenic cell's multiplication capacity and the influence of celiac macrophage cell culture fluid of AA rat's on C57BL/6J mice thymic cell multiplication capacity.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-AA effect of Wuweifengshi capsule is possibly due to its inhibition of relevant cytokines and its adjustment of corresponding enzyme's activity and immunization organ's cell multiplication capacity.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Capsules ; Dehydroascorbic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Edema ; drug therapy ; Female ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Spleen ; cytology ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathologic features and diagnostic algorithm of light chain nephropathy (LCN).

METHODSSeven cases of LCN were studied by light microscopy, electron microscopy and immunolabeling of light chains (kappa, lambda) by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy.

RESULTSThe histopathology of 7 cases by light microscopy was variable, with 3 cases showing nodular glomerulosclerosis, 1 case showing mild to moderate mesangial proliferation, and 3 cases showing cast nephropathy with minimal glomerular change. Immunofluorescence study revealed positive staining of a single type of light chain in mesangium (nodular pattern) or along glomerular basement membrane (linear), along tubular basement membrane and around arteriolar walls in all the 7 cases. Ultrastructurally, electron-dense granular deposits were identified in mesangium, subendothelial aspect of glomerular basement membrane, outer aspect of tubular basement membrane and arteriolar walls. Immunogold labeling of light chains showed distinct labeling of a single type light chain in the granular electron-dense materials (5 cases being kappa-positive and 2 being lambda-positive).

CONCLUSIONSLCN typically shows nodular glomerulosclerosis. The ultrastructural change is characteristic and important for diagnosis. Immunolabeling of light chains by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy carries further diagnostic value, especially in cases with minimal light microscopic change.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Light Chains ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains ; immunology ; Immunoglobulin lambda-Chains ; immunology ; Kidney Diseases ; immunology ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; immunology ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Microscopy, Immunoelectron ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVEProspective research demonstrated that Chinese regimen granules of Shenyang could prolong survival time and improve survival rate of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). But the mechanism was not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate Shenyang's effect on peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets of SD rats with SCC of tongue and explore immunological mechanism.

METHODSAmong 80 SD rats fed by 0.002% 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) drinking water for 36 weeks, 61 rats with SCC of tongue had been found and were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely Shenyang A, Shenyang B, positive and blank control groups. Before and after high and normal dosage of Shenyang, acanthopanax senticoside and water had been given for 15 days respectively, peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were detected with flow cytometry. The data were statistically analyzed with paired t Test.

RESULTSPercentage of CD3+ CD4+ T cell and CD3-CD161a+ NK cell, ratio of CD4+/CD8+ were increased. Percentage of CD3+CD8+ T cell was decreased, and the effect was better than that of acanthopanax senticoside in improving the percentage of CD3-CD161a+ NK cell.

CONCLUSIONAmong anti-tumor mechanisms of Shenyang it is that corrects disorder of lymphocyte subsets and increases percentage of CD3-CD161a+ NK cell.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; immunology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tongue Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology

This study was purposed to explore the expressions of platelet-activated markers PAC-1 and CD62p in peripheral blood of malignant lymphoma patients and the influence of dipyridamole on their expression. 32 lymphoma patients were divided into simple chemotherapy group (simple group) and chemotherapy plus dipyridamole group (combined group) randomly, and 15 healthy peoples were selected as control group. The dipyridamole of 100 mg/day was given to the patients in combined group. The expression levels of PAC-1, CD62p and fibrinogen (Fib) were detected by flow cytometry and magnetic bead method on day 0, 3, 7 and 14 of chemotherapy respectively. The results showed that the levels of PAC-1, CD62p and Fib in lymphoma patients were significantly higher than those in control group (p < 0.01, 0.05), moreover there was positive correlation between levels of PAC-1 and Fib (r = 0.549, p < 0.01). PAC-1 expression on day 0 and 3 of chemotherapy in simple group was higher than that on day 14 (p < 0.05, 0.01) and CD62p expression on day 3 of chemotherapy was higher than that on day 0, 7 and 14 (p < 0.05, 0.01). PAC-1 expression in combined group on day 14 of chemotherapy was lower than than on day 0 and 3 (p < 0.05, 0.01), and CD62p on day 14 was lower than that on day 3 of chemotherapy (p < 0.05); PAC-1 and CD62p expressions in combined group on day 3, 7 and 14 of chemotherapy were decreased than those in simple group, but Fib level was not changed significantly. It is concluded that the patients with malignant lymphoma usually accompany with platelet activation and hyperfibrinogenemia in peripheral blood. Applying dipyridamole routine dosage in chemotherapy can efficiently restrain platelet activation.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Dipyridamole ; therapeutic use ; Dual Specificity Phosphatase 2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; blood ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; P-Selectin ; metabolism ; Platelet Activation ; Young Adult

To develop and optimize a simultaneous detection method of RotavirusA, Norovirus GI, GII, Sapovirus, human astrovirus, enteric adenoviruses and HBoV2 with GenomeLab GeXP analysis system. The sensitivity was verified to be 10(4) copies/microL with plasmids containing the viral targets in triplicate on different days, and no cross-reaction with enterovirus71, human Parechovirus and PicobirnavirusII was observed. Finally, we successfully developed a high throughout, rapid and maneuverable multiplex RT-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of seven viruses related with viral gastroenteritis, which provide a novel method for the molecular diagnosis of diarrhea-associated virus.
Gastroenteritis ; virology ; Humans ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Viruses ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVELyme disease and Human granulocytic anaplasmosis are tick-borne diseases caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum respectively. We have investigated infection and co-infection of the two diseases in the population of forest areas of eight provinces in China by measuring seroprevalence of antibodies against B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum.

METHODSForest areas in 8 provinces were chosen for investigation using whole sampling and questionnaire survey methods. 3 669 serum samples from people in the forest areas were tested for the presence of antibodies by indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA).

RESULTSSeroprevalence against B. burgdorferi was 3% to 15% and against A. phagocytophilum was 2% to 18% in the study sites in the 8 provinces in China. We also found co-infection of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum in 7 of the 8 provinces (the exception being the Miyun area in Beijing). The seroprevalence for both B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum was significantly higher among people exposed to ticks than among people who were not exposed to ticks.

CONCLUSIONWe conclude that both pathogens are endemic in the forest areas in the eight provinces, but the prevalence of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum differs between the provinces.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Anaplasma phagocytophilum ; pathogenicity ; Anaplasmosis ; blood ; epidemiology ; Animals ; Borrelia burgdorferi ; pathogenicity ; Child ; China ; Coinfection ; Female ; Humans ; Lyme Disease ; blood ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; blood ; epidemiology ; Trees ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the correlation of wavefront aberration and myopic development in school-age children.Methods Together 150 school-age children (300 eyes) in Beijing city were collected and underwent cycloplegic refractometry for detect the refraction status and Allegretto wavefront aberrometry for the measurement of wavefront aberration for 1-year follow up.Results Totally 132 children were successfully followed up and only 120 children were included in this study.The average increased diopter was (0.74 ± 0.55) D.It was found that the development of myopia was correlated with age,myopic duration and the baseline diopter (all P ＜ 0.01),and the wavefront aberration was correlated with age (P ＜ 0.05).There were significant difference in the third order RMS value and C7 (coma) between the myopic children with rapid progress and slow progress.C12 (spherical aberration) was significantly correlated with the change of diopter (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Both third order RMS and C7 (coma) may be the major contributors for myopia progress in school-age children,and the increased diopter may polarize the spherical aberration toward minus values.

OBJECTIVETo study the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) like virus in animals at a live animal market of Guanzhou in 2004 before and after culling of wild animal action taken by the local authority, in order to predict the re-emerging of SARS from animal originals in this region.

METHODSAnimals at live animal market were sampled for rectal and throat swabs in triplicate. A single step realtime reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) diagnostic kit was performed for screening SARS-CoV like virus, the manual nested RT- PCR and DNA sequencing were performed for confirmation. Only specimens which tested positive for both of the N and P genes by nested RT-PCR were scored as positive.

RESULTSIn 31 animals sampled in January 5 2004 before culling of wild animals at Guangdong Province, including 20 cats (Felis catus), 5 red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and 6 Lesser rice field rats (Rattus losea), 8 (25.8%) animals were tested positive for SARS-CoV like virus by RT-PCR methods, of which 4 cats, 3 red fox and one Lesser rice field rats were included. However, two weeks after culling of animals and disinfection of the market were implemented, in 119 animals sampled in January 20 2004, including 6 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), 13 cats, 46 red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus), 13 spotbill duck (Anas platyrhynchos), 10 greylag goose (Anser anser), 31 Chinese francolin (Franclinus pintadeanus), only rectal swab from one greylag goose was tested positive for SARS-CoV like virus. Furthermore, in 102 animals that including 14 greylag gooses, 3 cats, 5 rabbits, 9 spotbill duck (Anaspoecilorhyncha), 2 Chinese francolin (Franclinus pintadeanus), 8 common pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), 6 pigeons, 9 Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi), 19 wild boar (Sus scrofa), 16 Lesser rice field rats, 5 dogs, 1 mink (Mustela vison), 3 goats, 2 green peafowl (Pavo muticus) sampled in April, May, June, July, August and November, only rectal swab from one pig was tested positive. However, of 12 and 10 palm civets sampled in November and December including five of which had been at the live animals market for 2 days, none of them was tested positive.

CONCLUSIONThis findings revealed that animals being sampled in April, May, June, July, August and November of 2004, only one rectal swab from a pig was tested positive as SARS-CoV like virus, much lower than the results from the previous year, suggesting that the possibility of re-emerging of human infection from animal origins is low for the winter of 2004-2005.

Animals ; Animals, Wild ; virology ; China ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Felidae ; virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; isolation & purification