Humans ; Forensic Medicine ; Poisoning/diagnosis*

Objective To screen differentially expressed genes in placentas with hepatitis B virus (HBV)infection and to discuss the molecular mechanism of HBV intrauterine infection.Methods Thirty placenta tissue specimens from HBsAg and HBV DNA positive pregnant women were used as the study group and 30 placenta tissue specimens from normal pregnant women with HBsAg and HBV DNA negativity were served as the control group.The suppression subtractive hybridization(SSH)technique was used.Total RNAs of placenta tissue of the study group were mixed as the tester,and total RNAs of placenta tissue of the control group were mixed as the driver.A subtractive cDNA library was constructed by PCR-selective cDNA subtraction systems.Amplifications of the library were carried out with E.coil strain DH5? by reverse spot hybridization.RT-PCR confirmed that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)was up-regulated in placenta tissue with HBV infection.Results Colony PCR showed that the clones contained 200-1000 bp inserts. Thirty five clones were confirmed by reverse spot hybridization and analyzed by sequencing and bioinformatics.Thirty three known genes and 2 genes with unknown function were obtained.RT-PCR preliminarily confirmed that PI3K gene was up-regulated in HBV infected placenta.Conclusions The differentially expressed genes in placentas with hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection using SSH technique has been screened out successfully.These differentially expressed genes encoding proteins participating in cell vital metabolism and malformation,and signal conduction-antiapoptosis pathway.This finding brings some new clues for studying the mechanisms of HBV intrauterine infection.

This study was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of bortezomib combined with autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (autoPBSCT) for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). 5 patients underwent autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bortezomib treatment was supplied for patients before autoPBSCT and in the conditioning of transplantation, it was also used in maintaining treatment. Patients with transplantation adopted bortezomib plus melphalan conditioning regimen. The number of infused MNC and number of CD34(+) cells were 4.06×10(8) (4.09×10(8) - 4.37×10(8))/kg and 3.98×10(6) (2.49×10(6) - 8.2×10(6))/kg respectively. The results showed that hematopoiesis was reconstituted in 5 patients, with a neutrophil cell count more than 0.5×10(9)/L at day 14 (13 - 25 days) after transplantation and platelet count more than 50×10(9)/L at day 28 (21 - 41 days) after transplantation. Transplantation-associated death was not observed. 5 patients were disease-free survival. In conclusion, treatment of bortezomib combined with autologous peripheral hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an effective method for patients with multiple myeloma. Use of bortezomib after transplantation might still be favourable to MM patients, for survival prolongation and life quality improvement.
Adult ; Boronic Acids ; therapeutic use ; Bortezomib ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; therapy ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Pyrazines ; therapeutic use ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods

OBJECTIVETo understand the HBV infection rate of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from fetuses of HBsAg positive mothers, associated risk factors and to explore the clinical significance of detecting HBV infected PBMCs.

METHODSSixty eight pregnant women who were delivered at the First Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, China from August 1995 to February 1997, and their newborns were studied. They were divided into two groups according to their status of HBV serological markers. The study group included 50 cases who were serum HBsAg positive and 18 cases without any HBV serum markers served as control group. All these cases had no symptoms of hepatitis, high risk premature labor, premature delivery and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy. Age and gestational age were matched in two groups. Blood samples (5 mL) were taken from the peripheral vein of pregnant women before delivery and from newborns within 24 h after birth, before inoculation of HBV vaccine (HBVac) and injection of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG). PBMCs were isolated. The sera and PBMCs were stored at -80 degrees C. HBV-DNA in serum and PBMCs were detected with nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR). Two pairs of oligonucleotide primers, the outer primer pair for first PCR and inner primer pair for second PCR, designed according to region S of HBV genome were synthesized by Shanghai Cell Biology Institute of Chinese Academy of Science.

RESULTSThe detection rate of HBV-DNA in serum and PBMCs from HBsAg positive pregnant women was 60.0% (30/50) and 40.0% (20/50), respectively. The detection rate of HBV-DNA in serum and PBMCs from newborns of HBsAg positive pregnant women was 46.0% (23/50) and 30.0% (15/50), respectively. Ten newborns were HBV-DNA positive in serum only, 2 were positive in PBMCs only and 13 were positive in both serum and PBMCs. In the control group, HBV-DNA was not detected in PBMC nor in serum. The positive rate of HBV-DNA in PBMCs of newborns was significantly higher in the group of mothers who were HBV-DNA or HBeAg positive in serum (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the positive rate was significantly higher in the group of mothers who were HBV-DNA positive in both serum and PBMC than that in the group of mothers who were serum HBV-DNA positive only (P < 0.01); and it was markedly higher in the group of mothers who were PBMC HBV-DNA positive than that in group of mothers who were HBV-DNA negative in PBMCs (P < 0.01). The positive rate of HBV-DNA in PBMCs of newborns was significantly higher in the group of newborns who were HBV-DNA positive in serum than that in the group of newborns who were HBV-DNA negative in serum (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe positive rate of HBV-DNA in PBMCs from newborns of HBsAg positive pregnant women was 30.0% (15/30). It was related to HBV viremia level and HBV-DNA status in PBMCs of mothers and newborns. Detection of HBV-DNA in PBMCs may be an important supplementary method to determine intrauterine HBV infection, and can predict the response to HBV vaccine.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; administration & dosage ; Infant, Newborn ; blood ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; prevention & control ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; virology ; Male ; Mothers ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; blood ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the induced apoptosis of recombinant adenovirus carrying melittin gene (Ad-rAFP-Mel) for hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (BEL-7402).

METHODSThe morphological observe, DNA electrophoresis, TUNEL and Flow cytometry assay were used to study the apoptosis of BEL-7042 cell line transfected by Ad-rAFP-Mel.

RESULTSThe morphological changes and apoptosis of BEL-7402 transfected by Ad-rAFP-Mel were confirmed with microscopy and DNA electrophoresis, TUNEL, Flow cytometry assay. The DNA ladder could be demonstrated on DNA electrophoresis in Ad-rAFP-Mel group. The apoptosis rates of BEL-7402 cells in Ad-rAFP-Mel, Ad-rAFP, and control groups were (21.5+/-2.4)%, (10.5+/-4.4)% and (3.0+/-1.4)% respectively by TUNEL assay (F = 38.0, P < 0.05) and were (7.3+/-0.5)%, (3.9+/-0.1)% and (0.8+/-0.1)% respectively by flow cytometry assay (F = 415.1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt seems that melittin inducing apoptosis might be one of the antitumor mechanisms.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Gene Silencing ; drug effects ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Melitten ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; drug effects ; Transfection

To explore the clinical features, risk factors an d treatment of retinoic acid syndrome (RAS) in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) treated with retinoic acid, the clinical and laboratory data of 11 APL patients with RAS were retrospectively analysed. The results showed that earlier and more common symptoms of RAS were successively dyspnea (11/11), fever (10/11) and hydrothorax (6/11). Higher WBC count (> or = 15.0 x 10(9)/L) in the course of treatment of all-trans retinoic acid susceptible to develop RAS (9/11). The RAS patients were treated with dexamethasone without discontinuing the treatment of retinoic acid, complete remission was achieved in 10 cases and one patient died from disseminated intravascular coagulation. It is concluded that the identification and dexamethasone treatment of RAS in earlier period are extremely important for obtaining better clinical curative effect, and it does not influence therapeutic effect of continuing application of retinoic acid.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Dyspnea ; etiology ; Female ; Fever ; etiology ; Humans ; Hydrothorax ; etiology ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Syndrome ; Tretinoin ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of human annexin-V (HA-V) in relation to HBV infection in different fetal tissues.

METHODSImmunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression and distribution of HA-V in the liver, kidney, ovary, heart, fallopian tube, spleen, and thymus gland of human fetus.

RESULTSHA-V expression was detected in different tissues including the ovary, liver, intrahepatic bile duct, heart, kidney, lymphocytic cells in the thymus gland, epithelial cells of the fallopian, and cortical and medullary cells of the spleen. HA-V was distributed mainly in the cytoplasm of the cells. The liver tissues exhibited greater gray scale for HA-V expression than in the other tissues (P<0.05) and no significant difference was observed in the other tissues than the liver (P>0.05) in image analysis with Photoshop 7.0.

CONCLUSIONHA-V is an inherent protein in fetal tissues with possible relation to HBV infection of different tissues as a HBV receptor. Greater amount of HA-V in the liver may account for the vulnerability of the liver to HBV infection.

Annexin A5 ; analysis ; Fetus ; chemistry ; virology ; Hepatitis B ; metabolism ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; growth & development ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; chemistry ; virology ; Tissue Distribution

OBJECTIVETo report a case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with the insertion (8;21)(q22;q22.1q22.3). A 33-year-old Chinese woman was referred to our hospital. Hematologic data showed WBC 42.7 x 10(9)/L with monocytosis (monocyte counts 7.296 x 10(9)/L). Bone marrow aspirate was hypercellular with 4.5% monoblasts and 7.5% promonocytes. At first she was diagnosed with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) according to the FAB criteria. Initially the patient received supportive care only, but her general condition rapidly became worse three months later. The monoblasts and promonocytes in the bone marrow rose to 20.5%. After two cycles of combined chemotherapy she obtained complete remission.

METHODSChromosome specimens were prepared by short-term culture of bone marrow cells. Karyotype analysis was carried out by R-banding technique. Three fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses were performed using AML1-ETO dual color, dual fusion probe, whole chromosome painting 8 and 21 probes, and cen-8 and Tel 21qter probes, respectively. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for detecting the AML1-ETO fusion transcript was also performed.

RESULTSConventional cytogenetic analysis showed a karyotype of 46,XX,ins(8;21) (q22;q22.1q22.3)[7]/46,XX[3]. FISH tests confirmed the insertion. RT-PCR analysis detected the AML1-ETO fusion transcript.

CONCLUSIONWe consider that this patient should be rediagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia according to the criteria proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) and that FISH and RT-PCR play an important role in verification of the ins(8;21).

Chromosome Banding ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo compare the bidirectional effect of rhubarb total anthraquinone (TA) and total tannins (TT) on rats' liver.

METHODSOne hundred rats were randomly divided into 10 groups, i.e., the blank group, the model group, the blank + high dose TA group, the blank +low dose TA group, the blank + high dose TT group, the blank + low dose TT group, the model + high dose TA group, the model + low dose TA group, the model +high dose TT group, and the model + low dose TT group, 10 in each group. The carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) was used to prepare the acute liver injury rat model. TA and TT of rhubarb (at 5.40 g crude drugs/kg and 14.69 g crude drugs/kg) were intragastrically administrated to rats in all groups except the blank group and the model group, once daily for 6 successive days.The general state of rats, biochemical indices such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), laminin (LN), hyaluronic acid (HA), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), as well pathological results of rat liver tissues. Finally the protection laws of TA and TT for rats' liver were analyzed using factor analysis.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, all biochemical indices increased in the blank group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). HA also increased in the blank + high dose TA group; AST, ALT, and HA also increased in the blank +high dose TT group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, AST, ALT, ALP, HA, and TGF-beta1 significantly decreased in the model + low dose TA group, the model + high dose TA group, the model + low dose TT group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Serum AST, ALT, and ALP also decreased in the model + high dose TT group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Pathological results showed that mild swollen liver cells in the model + high dose TA group. Fatty degeneration and fragmental necrosis around the central veins occurred in the blank + high dose TA group. The pathological injury was inproved in the model +low dose TA group. Two common factors, liver fibrosis and liver cell injury, were extracted by using factor analysis. TA showed stronger improvement of the two common factors than TT.

CONCLUSIONSRhubarb TA and TT showed protective and harmful effects on rats' liver. At an equivalent dosage, TA had better liver protection than TT. High dose TT played a role in liver injury to some extent.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; toxicity ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rheum ; chemistry ; Tannins ; adverse effects ; pharmacology

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the main angiogenic cytokines and plays an important role in the development of human solid tumors. However, it is not clarified whether VEGF governs the progress of the chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). This study is to estimate VEGF expression in the bone marrow cells from normal and adult CML patients and various leukemic cell lines. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for detection of VEGF mRNA. VEGF concentrations in the cell cultural supernatant and the plasma from normal and CML patient bone marrows were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). VEGF mRNA was positive in 67 of 72 cases of bcr/abl(+) CML patient bone marrow cells (93.1%), in 5 of 10 CML patients post Allo-BMT bone marrow cells (50%), and in 6 of 10 normal bone marrow cells (60%), the expression rate of VEGF mRNA in CML patients bone marrow cells was higher than that in CML patients post Allo-BMT and normal bone marrow cells. VEGF mRNA also expressed in the HL-60, K562, CEM, KG1a, NB4, and Nalm6 cells, but not in the Jurkat cells. The mean VEGF concentration in the plasma (380.6 pg/ml) from 22 untreated CML patients was 9 folds higher than that from 9 CML patients post Allo-BMT (38.0 pg/ml). The mean VEGF concentration in the cultural supernatant (499.8 pg/ml) of 17 newly diagnosed CML bone marrows was 2.5-folds higher than that in 11 normal donors (141.3 pg/ml). The CML marrow cells secrete more VEGF than normal marrow cells do. Our results suggest that the abnormality of VEGF transcription and translation expression may play an important role in the development of CML.