Objectives To analyze the deployment of medical equipment and its impacts on medical services of hospitals.Methods Existing data collection,a survey of public hospitals and a chart review of acute myocardial infarction(AMI)inpatients were used to collect related data.Gini coefficients,Chi-square and multivariate model were used to analyze deployment of medical equipment and its impacts on medical services.Results The number of CTs and that of CTs per million population in Pudong new area were higher than those of MRIs and DSAs,and the distribution of CTs among districts in Shanghai was relatively equal(Gini coefficient was 0.20).But lack of DSAs in some public general hospitals had affected the AMI inpatient care.Conclusions Public hospitals and governments in China should keep at a balance the demand of medical services,deployment level of medical equipment,and financial affordability for the society,governments and hospitals.

Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a common disease in men, and its pathogenesis remains to be clarified. The precise regulation of cytokines is involved in all types and all stages of CP. The interaction of inflammation, inflammatory cells and cytokines leads to the development and progression of CP. With further understanding of the immunological and molecular biological mechanisms of the disease and more inflammatory cytokines used in its detection, it is of special significance to apply cytokines in the classification and treatment of CP. This review outlines the roles of cytokines in the pathogenesis of CP, particularly chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), their relationship with CP, and their significance in the classification and diagnosis of CP/CPPS.
Chronic Disease ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatitis ; etiology ; metabolism

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s have attracted widespread attention for the capabilities of self-renewal and muti-differentiation, which have been used in treatment of various diseases.
OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of three-dimensional spheroid culture system on the stemness and senescence of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s.
METHODS:Mesechyaml stem cel s were isolated from the bone marrow of C57/B6 mice, 3 weeks old, and cultured onto the culture plates coated with or without chitosan. After 5 days of culture, the cel phenotype and expression of stemness related markers CD44 and Sca-1 were analyzed by flow cytometry. PI and Annexin-V staining were used to detect cel apoptosis. Also,β-Gal staining was applied for identification of aging.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The mouse mesenchymal stem cel s began to form spheroids on day 3. The stemness-related markers, including CD44 and Sca-1, expressed higher in spheroid mesenchymal stem cel s than the cel s under normal culturing. Compared with the normal culture group, the apoptosis and senescence of cel s from spheroid culture were lower. The results indicate that the formation of spheroids on chitosan films can increase the stemness, decrease the apoptosis and slow the senescence of mesenchymal stem cel s.

The study investigated the effects of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) on the proliferation and apoptosis of a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (SMMC-7721 cells) in vitro. HSP70 oligonucleotide was transfected into SMMC-7721 cells by the mediation of Sofast transfection reagent. Inhibition rate of SMMC-7721 cells was determined by using MTT method. Apoptosis rate and cell cycle distribution were measured by flow cytometry. Immunocytochemistry staining was used to observe the expression of HSP70, Bcl-2 and Bax. The results showed that HSP70 ASODN at various concentrations could significantly inhibit the growth of SMMC-7721 cells, and the inhibition effect peaked 48 h after transfection with 400-nmol/L HSP70 ASODN. Cytometric analysis showed the apoptotic rate was increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner in the HSP70 ASODN-treated cells. The percentage of cells in the G(2)/M and S phases was significantly decreased and that in the G(0)/G(1) phase increased as the HSP70 ASODN concentration was elevated and the exposure time prolonged. Immunocytochemistry showed that treatment of SMMC-7721 cells with HSP70 ASODN resulted in decreased expressions of HSP70 and Bcl-2 proteins, and an increased expression of Bax protein. It was concluded that the HSP70 ASODN can inhibit the growth of the SMMC-7721 cells and increase cell apoptosis by down-regulating the expression of HSP70. HSP70 ASODN holds promise for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristic and prognosis of Serratia infections in newborn infants and increase awareness of Serratia infections.Methods The clinical manifestations,diagnosis,complications,treatment and prognosis of Serratia infections were analyzed in 4 hospitalized newborn infants in neonatology center from Jul.2008 to Feb.2009.Results Among the 4 cases,blood culture revealed Serratia marcescens in 3 cases(1 case was preterm infant),cerebral spinal fluid culture revealed Serratia liquefacien in the fourth case.The main clinical manifestations were fever,convulsion and poor response,WBC and CRP were much higher,while obvious thrombocytopenia was only found in the preterm infant.Two cases of septicemia infection alone recovered after the treatment of the third-generation cephalosporin for at least 2 weeks,while the other 2 cases of septicemia infection combined with purulent meningitis,included 1 case of preterm infant and 1 case of Serratia liquefacien infection,developed meningoencephalitis and brain abscess confirmed by serial imaging,both of which had poor neurological sequelaes.Conclusions As a opportunistic pathogen,Serratia can cause severe infection in newborns.The patients complicated with meningitis should be followed up and pay more attention to the high incidence of neurological sequelaes.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) in diffuse brain injury (DBI) of rats and to explore the corresponding effect of AQP4 for brain edema. METHODS: The rat model of DBI was established using Marmarou's impact-compression trauma model. Brain water content was measured by dry-wet weight method. Blood-brain barrier permeability was evaluated by Evans blue (EB) staining. Immunohistochemical method was used to observe the expression of AQP4. RESULTS: Brain water content increased after 3 h and peaked at 24 h after DBI. Brain EB content significantly increased and peaked at 12 h after DBI. The expression of AQP4 significantly increased after 3 h and peaked at 24 h after DBI, and the number of AQP4 positive astrocytes increased. CONCLUSION The increment of the permeability of blood-brain barrier and the expression of AQP4 may contribute to the development of brain edema in rat DBI. The change of AQP4 expression in astrocytes may also contribute to determine DBI.
Animals ; Aquaporin 4/metabolism* ; Astrocytes ; Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism* ; Brain ; Brain Edema/metabolism* ; Brain Injuries/metabolism* ; Cell Membrane Permeability/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Permeability ; Rats ; Water

Objective To evaluate effects of chronic arsenic exposure and arsenic exposure time on oxidative DNA lesions in humans. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 108 subjects exposed to high concentrations of arsenic in drinking water and 75 control subjects. A cohort study was conducted in 64 subjects exposed to high levels of arsenic in drinking water for 7 or 9 years. Urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydredeoxygnanine(8-OHdG) levels were analyzed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit(ELISA). Urinary arsenic concentration was detected with hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results In the cross-sectional study, the median of urinary arsenic concentration was 484.17 mg/kg Cr for the arsenic-exposed group, and 13.80 mg/kg Cr for the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=32.57, P<0.01). The median of urinary 8-OHdG levels was 16.60 and 21.88 mg/kg Cr for arsenic-exposed children and adults respectively, much higher than control children(10.50 mg/kg Cr) and adults (9.11 mg/kg Cr), and the difference was statistically significant (t=5.049, 6913, all P<0.01). Urinary 8-OHdG levels were signifieandy lower for children than adults in the exposed group(t=-1.997, P<0.05). In the cohort study, the median of urinary arsenic concentration was 461.3 mg/kg Cr for the 7-year-exposed subjects and 422.90 mg/kg Cr for the 9-year-expesed subjects, and no significant difference was observed(t=-0.250, P 0.05). The median of urinary 8- OHdG levels for 9-year-exposed children and adults were 23.46 and 24.30 mg/kg Cr respectively, significantly increased compared with those of 7-year-exposed(14.29 and 18.38 mg/kg Cr), and the difference had statical signhqcanees (t= -2.949,-3.055, all P<0.01). Conclusions Chronic arsenic exposure can lead to oxidative DNA lesions in humans. The arsenic-induced DNA lesions may aggravate with the exposure time in a certain period.

Objective To express,purify and identify recombinant hepatitis E virus(HEV) pb166-GST fusion protein using GST gene fusion system and investigate its potential role in researching Hepatitis E diagnostic antigen field.Methods The recombinant E.coli BL21 performed by our own laboratory was used to induce the HEV pb166-GST expression with IPTG.The products were purified by BD Biosience GST purifying system.The specific expression was identified by SDS-PAGE and Western blot.The experiment conditions and results were described and analysed.Results The resolved HEV pb166-GST fusion protein on SDS-PAGE showed a major band at position of 43 kD.The expressed proteins had a single expected band after purify and the protein was recognized by anti-GST antibody on PVDF membrane.Conclusion The recombinant HEV pb166-GST fusion protein is expressed in recombinant E.coli BL21 efficiently in this way,and might be used as a candidate for diagnostic antigen of HEV.

BACKGROUNDRepair of large bone defects remains a challenge for clinicians. The present study investigated the ability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and/or periosteum-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to promote new bone formation within rabbit ulnar segmental bone defects.

METHODSRabbit bone marrow-derived MSCs (passage 3) were seeded onto porous PLGA scaffolds. Forty segmental bone defects, each 15 mm in length, were created in the rabbit ulna, from which periosteum was obtained. Bone defects were treated with either PLGA alone (group A), PLGA + MSCs (group B), periosteum-wrapped PLGA (group C) or periosteum-wrapped PLGA/MSCs (group D). At 6 and 12 weeks post-surgery, samples were detected by gross observation, radiological examination (X-ray and micro-CT) and histological analyses.

RESULTSGroup D, comprising both periosteum and MSCs, showed better bone quality, higher X-ray scores and a greater amount of bone volume compared with the other three groups at each time point (P < 0.05). No significant differences in radiological scores and amount of bone volume were found between groups B and C (P > 0.05), both of which were significantly higher than group A (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSImplanted MSCs combined with periosteum have a synergistic effect on segmental bone regeneration and that periosteum plays a critical role in the process. Fabrication of angiogenic and osteogenic cellular constructs or tissue-engineered periosteum will have broad applications in bone tissue engineering.

Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Periosteum ; cytology ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and efficiency of immunotherapy with dendritic cell (DC) in leukemic mice model after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT).

METHODSMature DC were expanded from mice bone marrow mononuclear cells (MNC) by adding mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (mGM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (mIL-4). Three days later they were pulsed with frozen thawing L7212 leukemia-related antigen. Mice bearing leukemia received allo-BMT at d 0, and then were divided into control group (A), T cells group (B) and DC + T cells group (C) to receive respective immune therapy at d 14. The survival rate, survival time, occurrence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), cytotoxicity of spleen cells and serum cytokine level were observed. The survivors in each group were rechallenged with L7212 cells to observe the immune response to the leukemia.

RESULTSMature DC were successfully induced from bone marrow MNC. In groups B and C, the relapse rates were 30% and 0%, while the long term survival rates after BMT was 30% and 70% respectively. Both of the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). However, the incidence of GVHD in these two groups were similar. The mean survival times were (32.95 +/- 13.29) days and (41.15 +/- 13.88) days, respectively (P < 0.01). MTT assay indicated that spleen cells from group C had specific killing activity to L7212 cells. Enzyme-labeled immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that the serum IL-2 level in group C was (419.75 +/- 26.66) pg/ml, being significantly higher than that in the other two groups (P < 0.01). When the survivors were rechallenged with L7212 cells, there was difference between the survival rates of groups C and B (85.7% vs 33.3%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONImmunotherapy with leukemia related antigen-pulsed DC in combination with donor lymphocyte infusions is an effective approach to reinforce GVL effect and decrease relapse after allo-BMT.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Female ; Graft vs Leukemia Effect ; Immunotherapy ; Leukemia, Experimental ; immunology ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Survival Rate ; Transplantation, Homologous