The IgG binding domain of Streptococcal Protein G which can selectively immobilizes the Fc regions of immunoglobulin G(IgG) is a kind of good material for oriented immobilization of antibodies in antibody microarrays.Here,genetically engineered three glutathione S-transferase(GST) fused proteins,bearing one,two and three B-Domains respectively(GST-GBx).The IgG-bindding ability of GST-GBx was investigated by ELISA.The data revealed that when the B-domain's quantity of GST-GBx is identical,the GST-GB3 is the most efficient protein among three GST-GBx protein both the capacity and sensibility of binding IgG.The GST-GB2 is the next one and GST-GB1 is the least one.Thus,the GST-GB3 has significantly predominance in comparison to GST-GB2 and GST-GB1.

OBJECTIVETo compare the accuracy of preoperative T staging of gastric cancer by oral and intravenous contrast-enhanced gastric ultrasonography.

METHODSOne hundred and forty three patients who had been diagnosed as gastric cancer by endoscopic biopsy and confirmed by pathology after operation were examined by oral and intravenous contrast-enhanced gastric ultrasonography, and they were divided into satisfied group and non-satisfied group according to the 2-D image quality of lesion. The results were compared with postoperative pathologic findings.

RESULTSAll the patients with gastric cancer presented regional gastric wall thickening. Among them, 117 cases were clearly presented with good image quality. The remaining 26 cases were presented with vague profile, the ulcerative surface of lesion was filled with hyperechogenicity combined with rear shadow. The accuracy of oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in determining the T stage of gastric cancer was 74.1%. The accuracy in satisfied group and non-satisfied group was 78.6% and 53.8%, respectively. The enhancement pattern of 143 cases was showed as hyperenhancement during the arterial phase and hypoenhancement during the portal phase in DCUS. The accuracy of double contrast-enhanced ultrasongraphy in determining the T stage of gastric cancer was 86.7%, but the accuracy in satisfied group and non-satisfied group was 88.9% and 76.9%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two methods (χ(2) = 9.031, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDCUS is more accurate than oral contrast-enhanced ultrasonography as a useful diagnostic method for preoperative T staging of gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Contrast Media ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; methods ; Preoperative Period ; Stomach Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Ultrasonography ; methods

[Objective]To discuss the CT diagnosis and differential diagnosis of solid pseudopapillary tumor of the pancreas (SPTP).[Methods]The CT findings of 20 patients with SPTP proved by surgically pathology were retrospectively analyzed and summa?rized.[Results]SPTP were composed of solid and cystic components with surrounding capsule resulting to clear demarcation between tumor and normal pancreas without dilation of pancreatic duct. The tumor parenchyma was slightly hyperenhancement on arterial phase and showed gradual enhancement on venous and delayed phase.[Conclusions]The CT findings of SPTP have relative specifici?ty and can contribute to early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SPTP.

OBJECTIVETo summarize lessons learned from an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China during the spring of 2004.

METHODSData of SARS cases were officially reported by Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention (BCDC) and Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (APCDC) and results of epidemiological investigations were collected and analyzed.

RESULTSThree generations of 11 cases of SARS were identified during the outbreak. Initial two cases were most likely to be infected in Diarrhea Virus Laboratory of National Institute of Virology, China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and main mode of transmission was direct contact with SARS patients. Delay in detecting initial case resulted in spread of the illness at hospitals and communities with two generations of secondary cases.

CONCLUSIONSSARS outbreak in 2004 has yielded following lessons for public health globally. (1) Lab bio-safety programs should be made and should be strictly abided by. Studies in highly pathogenic viruses such as SARS coronavirus should be utmost cautious. (2) Management systems of occupational exposure to virus and disease surveillance need to be strengthened to take all risk factors into account so as to detect potential patients with infectious disease as early as possible.

China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; transmission

OBJECTIVEDrug-induced liver damage is a potential complication from using many drugs. The aim of our study was to analyze the etiology and clinical features of drug-induced liver damage, in order to draw more attention to this problem.

METHODSTwo hundred and seventy-six cases over a 5-year period in Jiangsu Province Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSA variety of drugs, including traditional Chinese medicines (26.1% of our total cases) and anticancer drugs (17%) caused liver damage. The main clinical manifestations of it were fatigue, nausea, vomiting and jaundice. In 88% of our cases the symptoms were relieved or completely disappeared, but there was still a 5.1% mortality rate.

CONCLUSIONSThe clinical features of drug-induced liver damage are of no specificity, and the mortality of it is not low. Liver function should be monitored when suspected drugs are prescribed.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic ; classification ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate cell apoptosis induced by survivin ASODN and clarify the precise mechanism of anti-apoptotic action of survivin.

METHODSCells of lung cancer cell line NCI-H446 were treated with survivin ASODN at different concentrations. The changes of survivin mRNA and protein expression were assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot assay. The apoptosis index (AI) and proliferation index (PI) were determined by flow cytometry (FCM). After 500 mmol/L survivin ASODN treatment, cells were stained with Rh123 to detect changes of mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsim) by FCM. The concentration of cytoplasmic cytochrome c (cyt-c) was continuously determined by ELISA. Relative activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were assessed by colorimetric assay. The expression of caspase-8 protein was measured by Western blot assay. The apoptotic rates of lung cancer cells induced by survivin ASODN with or without mitochondrial permeability transition pole (MPTP) inhibitor CsA treatment were assessed by FCM.

RESULTSDown-regulated survivin mRNA was shown to be in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners. Its maximal effect was achieved at a concentration of 500 nmol/L for 72 h, at which mRNA was down-regulated by 62.7%, the expression of survivin protein in NCI-H446 cells was also obviously decreased. After treatment with survivin ASODN at concentration of 500 mmol/L for 72 h, AI was 48.35%, higher than that of control, lipofectin, NSODN, survivin ASODN 100 mmol/L and 300 mmol/L groups (3.75%, 3.41%, 4.69%, 19.85% and 34.39%, respectively). PI was 24.38%, lower than that of control, lipofectin, NSODN, survivin ASODN100 and 300 mmol/L groups (75.74%, 73.12%, 71.76%, 51.03% and 38.94%, respectively). Deltapsim was decreased in 9.54% of NCI-H446 cells treated with survivin ASODN for 3 h and 97.06% for 24 h. Following it, release of cyt-c from mitochondria to cytosol and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 increased significantly. The above mentioned indicators changed with a time-dependent and time diversity relationship. In the presence of CsA, the apoptotic rate of lung cancer cells induced by survivin ASODN was decreased significantly. No up-regrulation and activation in caspase-8 protein was observed.

CONCLUSIONSurvivin inhibits apoptosis via regulation of mitochondrial-dependent pathway. survivin ASODN can not only induce apoptosis but also inhibit cell proliferation through blocking the expression of survivin mRNA and protein.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Cytosol ; drug effects ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical effect and side-effect of peg-interferon alfa-2a (PEG-IFN alfa-2a) and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

METHODSTwenty-two patients with HCV/HIV co-infection received highly active antiretroviral therapy initially; after their CD4 lymphocyte counts rose to over 0.20x10(9)/L, they were separated into two groups: one group with CD4 lymphocytes over 0.35x10(9)/L (high group) and one group with CD4 lymphocytes below 0.35x10(9)/L (low group). Both groups were given 180 microg of PEG-IFN alfa-2a every week intramuscularly. HCV RNA and HIV RNA loads, blood cell and CD4 lymphocyte counts, and liver functions were routinely examined.

RESULTSAfter 12, 24 and 48 weeks of PEG-IFN alfa-2a therapy, mean HCV RNA loads reduced 2.0650 log10 copies/ml (t=3.8733), 2.9146 log10 copies/ml (t=7.6741) and 2.4315 log10 copies/ml (t=5.8202) from the baseline at week 0 in the 13 patients in the high group, and reduced 1.1522 log10 copies/ml (t = 2.8937), 1.4189 log10 copies/ml (t=2.4422) and 1.1167 log10 (t=1.1261) in the 8 patients of the low group. However, there was no significant difference between the early viral response rate (EVR) and the end of treatment viral response rate (ETVR) of the two groups. In the high group, the white blood cell count was lower at 24 weeks than the base line (t=2.4700), and the blood platelet count was lower both at 24 and 48 weeks than the base line (t=2.3273 and t=3.6149).

CONCLUSIONSPEG-IFN alfa-2a can effectively reduce HCV RNA loads in patients with HCV-/HIV co-infection, and the inhibition rate in patients with higher CD4 lymphocyte counts is better. The EVR and ETVR of the two groups of patients show similar results after the treatment. PEG-IFN alfa-2a can reduce the white blood cell counts and the blood platelet counts in the peripheral blood.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; virology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; HIV-1 ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral ; Recombinant Proteins ; Superinfection ; drug therapy ; virology ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

Objective:To explore the effects and mechanism of Bushen Tongluo Prescription in mechanical injury of rat endometrium.Method:A total of 60 female SD rats were divided into the blank group, model group, estradiol valerate group, and Bushen Tongluo Prescription group according to the random number table method, with 15 rats in each group. Except for the blank group, the other three groups were used to establish a rat model of endometrial injury using mechanical injury method. After modeling, Bushen Tongluo Prescription group was orally administered with Bushen Tongluo Prescription decoction at a dosage of 2.1 g/kg, the estradiol group was orally administered with estradiol valerate at a dosage of 0.4 mg/kg, and the blank group and model group were orally administered with 0.5% CMC at an equal dosage, once a day, for a total of 8 days. Samples were taken on the 1st, 4th, and 8th day after gastric lavage. The thickness of the endometrium and glands were observed using HE staining, the degree of uterine tissue fibrosis was observed using Masson staining, and VEGF and TGF-β protein and mRNA expressions in uterine tissue were detected using Western blot and fluorescence quantitative PCR.Results:Compared with the Bushen Tongluo Prescription on the first day, the thickness of the endometrium and the number of glands increased on the eighth day ( P<0.05); compared with the model group, the number of glands in the Bushen Tongluo Prescription group increased on the 4th day of administration ( P<0.05), while the fibrotic area of the endometrium decreased on the 8th day of administration ( P<0.05); compared with the model group, on the 8th day of administration, the expression of VEGF protein and TGF-β1 in the Bushen Tongluo Prescription group increased ( P<0.05), and protein expression decreased ( P<0.05); compared with the model group, the group treated with Bushen Tongluo Prescription had TGFβ1 mRNA level on the first day increased ( P<0.05), while the level of TGF-β1mRNA decreased on the 8th day ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Bushen Tongluo Prescription can increase endometrial thickness and receptivity, effectively improve damaged endometrium, anti fibrotic and prevent endometrial adhesion by up-regulating VEGF protein expression and down-regulating TGF-β1 protein and mRNA expression.

BACKGROUNDThe perioperative aortic dissection (AD) rupture is a severe event after endovascular stent graft placement for treatment of type B AD. However, this life-threatening complication has not undergone systematic investigation. The aim of the study is to discuss the reasons of AD rupture after the procedure.

METHODSThe medical record data of 563 Stanford type B AD patients who received thoracic endovascular repair from 2004 to December 2011 at our institution were collected and analyzed. Double entry and consistency checking were performed with Epidata software.

RESULTSTwelve patients died during the perioperation after thoracic endovascular repair, with an incidence of 2.1%, 66.6% were caused by aortic rupture and half of the aortic rupture deaths were caused by retrograde type A AD. In our study, 74% of the non-rupture surviving patients had the free-flow bare spring proximal stent implanted, compared with 100% of the aortic rupture patients (74% vs. 100%, P = 0.213). The aortic rupture patients are more likely to have ascending aortic diameters = 4 cm (62.5% vs. 9.0%, P = 0.032), involvement the aortic arch concavity (62% vs. 27%, P = 0.041) and have had multiple stents placed (P = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONSThoracic AD endovascular repair is a safe and effective treatment option for AD with relative low in-hospital mortality. AD rupture may be more common in arch stent-graft patients with an ascending aortic diameter = 4 cm and with severe dissection that needs multi-stent placement. Attention should be paid to a proximal bare spring stent that has a higher probability of inducing an AD rupture. Post balloon dilation should be performed with serious caution, particularly for the migration during dilation.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; surgery ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; surgery ; Aortic Rupture ; etiology ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo detect sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of varicocele patients and investigate its clinical significance.

METHODSSixty-seven varicocele patients were divided into a VC1 (grade 1, n = 26), a VC2 (grade 2, n = 21) and a VC3 group (grade 3, n = 20). And 29 normal fertile volunteers were included in a control group ( m = 29). Conventional semen analyses were performed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Semen samples were washed, followed by JC-1 staining to evaluate the sperm MMP (JC-1+ %) by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe sperm MMPs of the VC1, VC2 and VC3 groups were siginificantly lower ([56.29 +/- 16.32]%, P < 0.05; [45.04 +/- 13.21]%, P < 0.01; [31.63 +/- 12.91]%, P < 0.01) than that of the control ([76.21 +/- 13. 96]%). There was a significant positive correlation between the percentage of JC-1+ and that of grade (a + b) sperm (r =0.693, P=0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe decreased MMP in the sperm of varicocele men might be one of the important causes of male infertility.

Adult ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; physiology ; Varicocele ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Young Adult