Objective To explore the effect of chlamydia pneumoniae(CP)infection on T lymphocyte subsets in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).Methods A total of 176 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD who were admitted to hospital from Jan.2001 to Jan.2005,and 46 healthy subjects were selected.Chlamydia pneumoniae-specific serum IgG,IgA,IgM antibodies were measured by microimmunofluorescence(MIF)test;the flow cytometer was used to analyze the frequency of CD+_3,CD+_4 and CD+_8 lymphocytes in patients with COPD and controls.Results The rate of acute chlamydia pneumoniae infection in COPD patients with acute exacerbations was 27.3% and that of chronic CP infection was 19.3%.They were all significantly higher than that in healthy subjects(P﹤0.01).The frequency of the CD+_3 and CD+_4 lymphocytes showed no difference in each group.The frequency of CD+_8 lymphocyte in COPD patients of chronic CP infection rose and the CD+_4/CD+_8 ratio was decreased in comparison with controls.On the other hand,the CD+_8 lymphocytes and the CD+_4/CD+_8 ratio showed no difference between chronic CP infection group,no CP infection group and controls.Conclusion The chlamydia pneumoniae infection is a rather frequent event in acute exacerbations of COPD,and it is an important reason to cause the disorder of cell-mediated immunity in COPD patients.The disorder of cell-mediated immunity may be involved in pathogenesis of COPD.

Objective To study the radiographic findings of anomalies of thoracic skeletion in patients with congenital heart disease.Methods Frontal and lateral chest films of 252 cases with congenital heart disease proved by operation were reviewed.Results The skeletal anomalies in 8 cases including generalized sternal prominence,sternal bowing,pouter pigeon breast,hemivertebrae and butterfly vertebrae of thoracic spine,and deformities of ribs were discovered.Conclusion The skeleton anomalies which are divided into primary and secondary types often occur in patients with congenital heart disease.

AIM: To identify the key factors responsible for drug resistance in different ovarian cancer cell lines using protein microarray system. METHODS: Six ovarian cancer cell lines were employed. The sensitivity of ovarian cancer cell line to common chemotherapeutic drugs was determined by using MTT assays. The expression of 78 cytokines and other factors was examined by using cytokine antibody array technology. RESULTS: Different ovarian cancer cell line responded to chemotherapeutic agents differently. The drug resistance was correlated with certain cytokine expression. Cell line SKOV3 was less sensitive to first line chemotherapeutic drug (ADM, CBPDA) and accumulated high amounts of GRO and TIMP-2 compared with other 5 cell lines. OVCAR4 cells were more resistant to second line chemotherapeutic drug (TAXOL, VP16) and had higher levers of IL-6 and IL-8 than IGROV1, OVCAR3 and OVCAR5. CONCLUSIONS: Among the most common excretive cytokines, increasing of GRO, IL-6, IL-8 and TIMP-2 might be related to drug-resistance of ADM and CBPDA in ovarian cancer cell, while IL-6 and IL-8 might also be related with drug resistance of TAXOL and VP16. The different types of ovarian cancer cell might have roughly similar excretive cytokines-induced mechanism of drug resistance.

Variants of gene loci on susceptibility genes are the major individual susceptibility factors of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in China.Some of the gene loci participate in the DNA damage and repair,and some are related with cancer suppressor genes,metabolism enzymes,trace elements and smoking.The single nucleotide polymorphisms of these susceptibility genes are closely correlated with the genesis of ESCC.

Scutellarin (SCU), the main bioactive component of , has been shown to offer beneficial effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular functions. SCU effects on angiogenesis and cancer cells and endothelial cells, and it also shows the effect on oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis. SCU inhibits the translocation of PKC in vivo and in vitro,and may have value as a drug in the treatment of diabetic complications. We reviewed SCU pharmacological research progress in the present paper.

Objective To construct the eukaryotic expression vector containing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the inhibition of Smad3 gene segment in keloid fibroblasts (KFBs) and to investigate the effects on the expression of Smad7 in KFBs. Methods A couple of the most effective siRNA screened from former experiments were used to recombine the plasmids of Smad3 shRNA, and then Smad3 shRNA was transfected into KFBs by LyoVec TM. The expressions of Smad3 and Smad7 at different time points (0～9 d) were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results ① The recombinant Smad3 shRNA vectors were identified by RT-PCR and Western blotting. ② The expressions of mRNA and protein of Smad3 in KFBs decreased significantly in a time-dependent manner after transfection of Smad3 shRNA and reached the lowest point at 72 hours in the experimental group. Optical density analysis revealed a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group (P

Objective To investigate the effects of Cilazapril and Valsartan on atrial structural and functional remodeling and its mechanism in atrial fibrillation(AF)dogs induced by chronic rapid atrial pacing.Methods Twenty-seven AF dog models were built by the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from Mar.2006 to Oct.2006.The experimental dogs were randomly divided into sham-operated group(n=6),control group(n=7),Cilazapril group(n=7)and Valsartan group(n=7).The dogs in control group,Cilazapril group and Valsartan group were paced at 400 bpm for 6 weeks.The dogs in Cilazapril and Valsartan group received Cilazapril(1 mg?kg-1?d-1)and Valsartan(30 mg?kg-1?d-1)1 week before rapid atrial pacing until pacing stop respectively.Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiographic examinations were performed to detect changes in structure and function of left atrium and left atrial appendage,before and after 6-week rapid atrial pacing.Atrial collagen volume fraction(CVF)was analyzed by Masson staining.The expression of ERK1 and ERK2 in the atrial tissue were tested by immunohistochemistry.TUNEL technique was used to detect the atrial cell apoptosis.Results (1)Compared with the control group,the LA and LAA volumes were significantly smaller,LAEF,LAAEF,V-LAA+ and V-LAA-were dramaticaly higher in the Cilazapril group and the Valsartan group after 6-week rapid atrial pacing.(2)Compared with the control group,the incidence of apoptosis,CVF and the expression of atrial ERK1 and ERK2 decreased dramatically in the Cilazapril group and the Valsartan group.Conclusion Cilazapril and Valsartan could prevent atrial fibrosis and cell apoptosis in the atrial fibrillation dogs induced by chronic rapid atrial pacing.

Objective To study the clinical features and therapeutic effects of pituitary adenomas in elderly patients. Methods The clinical materials including main clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods and outcome of treatments of 49 elderly patients with the pituitary adenomas from 1987 to1998 were analyzed retrospectively. Results It was showed from the data that the average duration of illness was 4 4 years; and 46(93 8%) cases were with visual deterioration, 20 (40 8%) with headache, and 16(32 7%) with endocrine abnormality. The diameter of tumors was more than 3 cm in 25 (51 0%), and the non functioning adenomas were found in 27 (55 1%). Operation was undergone through trans sphenoidal (61 2%), subfrontal (32 7%) and extensive subfrontal extradural approaches(6 1%), respectively. Among the 49 cases, tumor was totally or subtotally removed in 38 cases (77 6%), large partially or partially removed in 11 cases (22 4%). The results of operation through the trans sphenoidal approach were superior to other routes All patients were long term followed up for an average of 50 5 months. Visual disturbances were improved in 27 of 46(58 7%). A total of 43 patients could live by themselves Tumor disappearance was observed in 30 cases and recurrence in five cases. Five cases showed no changes in tumor size. 28 cases underwent radiotherapy after surgery and the occurrence rate of hypopituitarism after radiotherapy turned to be 50%. Total tumor control rate was calculated as 93%. Conclusions Macroadenomas and non functional pituitary adenomas happened most frequently in elderly patients and the main clinical symptoms was visual deterioration. Trans sphenoidal route for microsurgery was believed to be the first choice of operation. Tumor recurrence can be controlled or delayed by postoperative radiotherapy, but severe complication of the visual injury and pituitary dysfunction should be paid much attention.

Objective To evaluate different operative procedures for renal cell carcinoma. Methods 81 cases of renal cell carcinoma operated were reviewed.Radical nephrectomy was carried out for 73 case of which renal artery embolism was conducted for 38 before operation.Simple nephrectomy was carried out for 6 cases and enucleation of the tumor for 2. Results The pathological stu dies showed that 52 cases were clear cell carcinoma,19 cases of granular cell carcinoma,6 cases being a combination of the above two varieties,4 cases being cystic renal cell carcinoma.65 of 81 cases have been successfully followed up for 12～110 months.The 5 year survival rate for stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ tumors were 83.9%,78.9%,33.3% and 16.7% respectively. Conclusions Renal artery embolism before radial nephrectomy is essential for a successful operation to achieve a long term survival.Nephron sparing surgery for a small,localized low stage renal tumor is safe and effective.

Objective To study the role of interleukin-6(IL-6)in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer and its clinical significance. Methods Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of IL-6 protein and mRNA in frozen prostatic adenocarcinoma,adjacent benign prostatic tissue,and prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and LNCaP. The serum levels of IL-6 in patients with prostate cancer and healthy controls,and the supernatants of prostate cancer cell cultures were measured by using ELISA. Results The IL-6 protein levels in prostate cancer tissue and PC-3 cells were significantly higher than those in adjacent benign prostatic tissue and LNCaP cells. The serum IL-6 levels in the patients with prostate cancer were markedly higher than those in the healthy controls. The IL-6 levels in supernatants in PC-3 cells were notably higher than those in the LNCaP cells. Conclusion The IL-6 gene may act as an important regulator in prostate cancer progression and may be one of the causes of prostate cancer conversion from an initially androgen-dependent state into an androgen-independent state.