OBJECTIVETo induce anti-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cytotoxic T lymphocyte response against immunoglobulin heavy chain frame-derived nonapeptide.

METHODSThe peptide, QLVQSGAEV, containing IgHV1 frame region 3rd-11th amino acids (IgHV1(3-11)), was synthesized. IgHV1(3-11)-T2 binding tests were performed. HLA-A * 0201-positive normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) were stimulated by IgHV1(3-11)-loaded antigen presenting cells three times at weekly intervals. HLA-A * 0201/IgHV1(3-11) tetramers were used to detect the proliferation of IgHV1(3-11)-specific CD8(+) T cells in the culture. Seven IgHV gene families of B-ALL patients were respectively amplified by PCR and the PCR products were sequenced to select IgHV1 and IgHV3 family monoallelic functional rearrangements. Among them, HLA-A * 0201 positive individuals were subsequently identified. Cytotoxicity of IgHV1(3-11)-specific CD8(+) T cells against HLA-A * 0201-positive IgHV1/IgHV3 family B-ALL cells was measured by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe synthesized IgHV1(3-11) up-regulated HLA-A * 0201 expression on T2 cell surface by 1.63-folds. The percentage of IgHV1(3-11)-specific CD8(+) T cells in HLA-A * 0201-positive normal PBMNC was increased from 1.64% after second stimulation to 82.57% after third stimulation. At effector: target ratio of 20:1, the killing rate of IgHV1(3-11)-specific CD8(+) T cells against IgHV1 family B-ALL cells was 18.24%, being 1.8-folds as that against IgHV3 family B-ALL cells (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCytolytic T lymphocytes generated in vitro against immunoglobulin heavy chain frame-derived nonapeptides can kill B-ALL cells expressing these peptides.

Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Leukemia, B-Cell ; immunology ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; drug effects ; immunology

Objective To evaluate the relationship between carotid plaque neovascularization and coronary heart disease using contrast-enhanced ultrasound. Methods We studied carotid plaques in 312 patients with coronary artery disease by contrast-enhanced ultrasound [51 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 261 patients with stable coronary artery disease (sCAD) ]. We analyzed sonographic features of each plaque, including the enhancement intensity of plaque (A value), the ratio of plaque to carotid artery lumen in enhancement intensity (Ratio), plaque thickness and plaque echo (soft plaque, hard plaque, mixed plaque, calcified plaque). Results The average thickness of plaque in patients with ACS and in patients with sCAD had no significant difference in statistics [(2.6±0.4) mm vs (2.9±0.8) mm, t=-1.903, P=0.058) ]. The group with ACS:soft plaque 43 (84.3%, 43/51), mixed plaque 8 (15.7%,8/51), no hard plaque and calcified plaque. And the group with sCAD:soft plaque 174 (66.7%,174/261), hard plaque 19 (7.3%,19/261), mixed plaques 16 (6.1%,16/261), calcified plaque 52 (19.9%,52/261). The percentage of soft plaque in the acute coronary syndrome group was significantly higher than that in stable coronary artery disease group (χ2=6.274,P=0.012). The A value and Ratio in patients with ACS were prominently larger than those in patients with sCAD [ (11.3±3.2) vs (8.9±3.3) dB, t=7.150,P<0.01;0.6±0.2 vs 0.4±0.2, t=7.419,P<0.01].Conclusion Carotid artery plaque neovascularization density was significantly higher in patients with ACS than that in patients with sCAD by using contrast-enhanced ultrasound, revealing that the neovascularization density is closely related to clinical symptoms of patients with coronary heart disease.

The thermostability of the inulinase was studied in this resea rc h. Some alcoholic materials and thickening agent could enhance the thermostabli lity of the inulinase. Using glycerol、xanthic pastern and though orthogonal ex periments of three elements and three levels, a satisfying protective agent, whi ch included glycerin(6%), xanthan gum(0.6%) and CaCl_2 (100mmol/mL) and ha d a significant effect on the enhancement of the inulinase thermostability, was acquired.

Objective To explore the adjustment effects of suckling nutrition on hypothalamus gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons(GnRH) expression level and adolescence sexual development by establishing different nutrition models for suckling female rats.Methods One-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups.Two suckling rats were fed by one lactation rat in overnutrition group,10 suckling rats were fed by one lactation rat in normal control group,20 suckling rats were fed by one lactation rat in malnutrition group.The animals were weaned at day 21 of age in groups of 5 rats per cage with free access to pelleted food and tap water.To comparatively observe vaginal opening,10 rats in each group were randomly sacrificed when the overnutrition rats showed complete vaginal opening and when the normal control rats showed complete vaginal opening.The amount and percentage of the positive GnRH neurons in hypothalamus arcuate nucleus were detected with immunohistochemistry.The influence of suckling nutrition to female rats adolescence sexual development was assessed by statistical analysis.Results 1.When the overnutrition rats showed complete vaginal opening(at 35-day-old),the amount of positive GnRH neuron in hypothalamus arcuate nucleus was respectively 247?111 in overnutrition group,143?73 in normal control group and 74?70 in malnutrition group.It was showed that the amount of the positive GnRH neuron of hypothalamus arcuate nucleus in overnutrition group was more than the other groups(Pa0.05).3.Overnutrition female rats showed complete vaginal opening at a mean age of (29.60?1.96) days,(39.10?1.66) days in normal control female rats and (41.30?3.33) days in malnutrition female rats.It was proposed that the sexual development of overnutrition rats was earlier than the other groups(Pa

OBJECTIVETo investigate the origin of childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and its epitopes recognized by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IgHV).

METHODSSeven IgHV gene families were respectively amplified by PCR and directly sequenced in 108 childhood ALL. The amino acid sequences were deducted from sequenced nucleotides. Bioinformatics was applied to analyses of recombination patterns, somatic mutations and germline gene segments usage, and to prediction of epitopes recognized by CTL.

RESULTSIgHV gene rearrangements were identified in 66% of the cases, including 37 (52.1%) monoallelic rearrangements, 26 (36.6%) biallelic rearrangements and 8 (11.3%) oligoclonal rearrangements. Among the obtained 40 B-ALL IgHV gene sequences, 8 (20.0%) were in frame rearrangements without stop codons. V(H3) (11/40), V(H4) (11/40) and V(H1) (8/40) amounted to 75% rearranged V(H) families. V(H)(4-59) and V(H)(4-34) were the most frequently rearranged V(H)(4) family gene segments. Usage of D2 and D3 families was most prominent (35.9% and 28.2%, respectively). Increased frequency of D7-27 (15.4%) was found as compared to that of normal peripheral B lymphocytes (P = 0.02). J(H)(6) was found in 47.5% rearrangements followed by J(H)(4) (27.5%). 8/40 (20.0%) DJ(H) junctions lacked N nucleotides, which was higher than that reported for normal peripheral B lymphocytes (P = 0.02). 17.5% B-ALL IgHV contained scattered replacement mutations with replacement (R) to silent (S) substitution ratio (R/S ratio)

CONCLUSIONB-ALL originated from progenitor or precursor B lymphocytes. B-ALL IgHV genes are of germline characteristics. Potential T cell epitopes were derived from framework regions 1 and 3 of immunoglobulin heavy chain in B-ALL.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement ; Genes, Immunoglobulin ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; Immunoglobulin Variable Region ; genetics ; Infant ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical outcomes rating scale for heart failure (HF) based on patients' report.

METHODSTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF (TCM-HF-PRO) were evaluated based on 340 HF patients' report from multiple centers. The completion of the investigation was recorded. Cronbach's α coefficient and split-half reliability were used for reliability analysis, and factor analysis was used to assess the construct validity of the rating scale. Pearson correlation analysis was then used for criterion validity analysis. Discriminant analysis was used to assess the responsiveness of the scale. All 340 HF patients having complete TCM-HF-PRO data were assigned to the treatment group and the control group by central randomization. The total TCM-HF-PRO scores of the two groups were compared using paired t-test to reflect the longitude responsiveness of the scale before treatment and at week 2 after treatment.

RESULTS(1) The recycling rate of the scale was 100.0%. One of them was not filled completely, which was rejected thereby. So the completion rate was 99.7%. The completion time for TCM-HF-PRO scale ranged 15 to 25 min. (2) The Cronbach's α coefficient of rating scale was 0.903, split-half reliability was 0.844 and 0.849. (3) Confirmatory factor analysis showed that 7 factors and items formed according to maximum load factor basically coincided with the construct of the rating scale, 7 factors accumulated contribution rate was 43.8%. TCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report was relatively better correlated with the Minnesota living with HF questionnaire (r = 0.726, P < 0.01). (4) Discriminant analysis showed that the rating scale correctly classified more than 78.8% of case studies having confirmed initial differential diagnosis by experts. The total scale of the rating scale decreased more in the two group after treatment, with significant difference as compared with before treatment (P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONTCM clinical outcomes rating scale for HF based on patients' report had good reliability, validity and responsiveness, hence it could be used to assess clinical efficacy for HF patients.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Discriminant Analysis ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; standards ; Reproducibility of Results ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Animals ; Fatigue ; prevention & control ; Female ; Gardenia ; chemistry ; Hypoxia ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Thuja ; chemistry ; Ziziphus ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Bushen Gujin Recipe (BGR) on serum and synovial expression of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) model rabbits.

METHODSTotally 36 8-month-old healthy male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the Western medicine group (Meloxicam, at the daily dose of 6 mg/kg), and the TCM group (BGR, at the daily dose of 53 g/kg), 9 in each group. Modeling was performed in all rabbits except those in the normal control group by using Hulth A method. All medication was performed for 8 consecutive weeks. Contents of IL-1 and TNF-α were detected using ELISA from serum, partial synovial tissue of the front knee joint, cartilage and subchondral bone of the medial femoral condyle.

RESULTSThe joint space became narrowed in the Western medicine group, ranging between the model group and the TCM group. The articular surface was rough with obvious osteophytes. The joint space was slightly narrower in the TCM group; the articular surface was slightly rough with mild osteophytes. Compared with the normal control group, contents of IL-1 and TNF-α in serum and synovial increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, contents of IL-1 and TNF-α in serum and the synovial fluid decreased in the two treatment groups (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in contents of IL-1 and TNF-α between the Western medicine group and the TCM group.

CONCLUSIONBGR promoted the synthesis of cartilage matrix and carti- lage repair through inhibiting the secretion of IL-1 and TNF-α, and prolonging cartilage degeneration.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rabbits ; Synovial Fluid ; Synovial Membrane ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Adult ; Age Factors ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; toxicity ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Police ; Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity ; physiology ; Pulmonary Ventilation ; physiology ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Vehicle Emissions ; toxicity

OBJECTIVE: To realize the automated assessment of the levels of epiphysis of distal radius and ulna by support vector machine (SVM). METHODS: The X-ray films of the left wrist joints were taken from 140 teenagers aged from 11 to 19 years old as training samples. The levels of epiphysis of distal radius and ulna were divided into five developmental levels. Each level contained 28 samples. Another 35 cases were selected as independent verifying samples. SVM classification models of the five developmental levels of epiphysis of distal radius and ulna were established. The internal cross validation was made by leave one out cross validation (LOOCV), while the external validation was made by histogram of oriented gradient (HOG), and then the accuracy (PA) of testing results was calculated, respectively. RESULTS: The PA of SVM, LOOCV and HOG of distal radius epiphyseal level were 100%, 78.6%, and 82.8%, respectively; whereas the PA of SVM, LOOCV and HOG of distal ulna epiphyseal level were 100.0%, 80.0% and 88.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION The SVM-based automatic models of the growth stage of distal ra- dius and ulna appear to have certain feasibility, and may provide a foundation for software development of bone age assessment by forensic medicine.
Adolescent ; Bone Development/physiology* ; Child ; Epiphyses/growth & development* ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted/methods* ; Male ; Radius/growth & development* ; Support Vector Machine ; Ulna/growth & development* ; Wrist/growth & development* ; Wrist Joint/growth & development* ; Young Adult