Objective To explore the information on the clinical features of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) prevalent recently. Methods We collected and analyzed clinical date from the 85 inpatients suffered from SARS in Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou. Results The patients ranged from 4 to 87 years old (mean age 38.2?16.7 years). The incubation period ranged form 2 to 16 days (mean periods 7.4? 3.8 days). The most common symptoms included fever (in 97.8 percent of the patients), cough (81.2%), malaise (74.1%), headache (63.5%), myalgia (41.2%). Peripheral vein blood test showed normal leukocytes and leukopenia in 82.4 percent of the patients. Other common findings were lymphopenia (in 27.1 percent of the patients), elevated alanine aminotransferase (44.7%), elevated aspartate aminotransferase (57.6%), elevated lactase dehydrogenase (49.4%) and elevated creatinine kinase (20.0%). Chest radiographs predominately showed air-space shadowing, such as ground-glass opacities, focal consolidation or patchy consolidation. The air-space shadowing was mostly in the lower lung zones (in 88.3 percent of the patients, bilateral and unilateral for 51.8% and 36.5% respectively). The mean period of complete resolution of the air-space shadowing was 20.3?8.4 days and 13.1?6.9 days after onset of illness and absent fever respectively. Empirical therapy most commonly included ribavirin, antibiotics. Conclusions SARS appears to be infectious. Fever followed by rapidly progressive respiratory compromise is the key complex of signs and symptoms from which the syndrome derives its name.

Objective To investigate the proportion and the clinical significance of status of different hepatitis B virus(HBV) serological markers in HBV related chronic liver disease(CLD),including chronic hepatitis B(CHB),liver cirrhosis(LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The related clinical data of 2 482 inpatients during the period of January 2006 to December 2007 were collected and analyzed statistically.Results In 1 226 patients with CHB,64.4% of them were hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)-positive,and 35.6% of them were HBeAg-negative.In 362 patients with LC,27.1% of them HBeAg-positive,66.0% HBeAg-negative,6.9% HBsAg-negative,and in 894 patients with HCC,16.4% were HBeAg-positive,75.1% HBeAg-negative and 8.5% HBsAg-negative.In every disease entity of CLD,the sex ratio for serological markers was similar,though the ratio of male-to-female in the patients with HCC(8.8∶1) was significantly higher than that of LC(4.5∶1) and CHB(4.4∶1),respectively.The age of HBeAg-negative patients with CHB was significantly older than that of HBeAg-positive patients with CHB.The average age of patients with different status of serological markers in LC or HCC was similar.No statistical difference was found in ALT levels between the HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative patients with CHB.However,the proportion of low ALT levels became higher in the patients with LC or with HCC when HBeAg positive turned to be HBeAg-negative then to HBsAg-negative.Conclusions The proportion and the clinical significance of changes in serological markers are different in three different entities of CLD.

Objective To investigate whether porcine endothelial cells transfected with SP1 de-coy ODNs could resist complement-mediated cytotoxicity during the model of SV-40-PED with human serum in vitro. Methods Immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cells of the line PED were divided in-to three groups. The transfected group was SV-40-PED with SP1 decoy ODNs. The mismatched group was SV-40-PED with scrambled SP1 decoy ODNs. The negative group was cells with oligo-fectamine only. The expression of α1,3-GT mRNA and αGal was detected after 26 h by using fluores-cence microscope, Western blot, RT-PCR and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assay. Results Fluorescence microscopy observed the decreased fluorescence of αGal after SP1 decoy ODNs transfec-tion. Dotted fluorescent decrease could be observed on some membrane while the mismatched group and negative group with bright green fluorescence. Western blot showed that the average absorbance of the PED cells transfected with decoy ODNs was decreased to 52.6% of the negative group (P<0.05). The expression of α1,3-GT mRNA in the PED cells transfected with decoy ODNs was 0.42±0.20 (isoform 1) and 0.27±0.12 (isoform 2) respectively, significantly lower than in the negative group (isoform 1, 0.72±0.17; isoform 2, 0.50±0.19; both P<0.05). The expression of α1, 3-G Tin the mismatch group was not different from that in the negative group (P>0.05). 20% normal hu-man serum (NHS) and 40 % NHS had cytotoxic effect on both mismatch and negative groups, but de-coy ODNs could confer SV-40-PED protection from the cytolysis effect (P<0.05), which made a re-markable reduction of complement-mediated cytotoxicity towards SV-40--PED. Conclusions SP1 decoy ODNs could confer porcine endothelial cells protection from complement-mediated cytotoxicity effect in vitro.

Objective: To compare the effects of pericardium patch aortoplasty and pulmonary patch aortoplasty for treating the infants with aorticcoarctation (AC) combining hypoplastic aortic arch in order to provide a better surgical choice in clinical practice.
Methods: A total of 57 patients with AC combining hypoplastic aortic arch treated in our hospital from 2009-01 to 2014-12 were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Pericardium patch aortoplasty group,n=26 and Pulmonary patch aortoplasty group,n=31. The changes of the pressure gradient at post-operation and follow-up period were compared.
Results: There were 2/57 (3.5%) patients died, 1 in Pericardium patch aortoplasty group by pulmonary hypertension crisis, the other 1 in Pulmonary patch aortoplasty group by respiratory distress syndrome. No renal failure or neurological complication occurred in neither groups. The cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic clamping time, ventilator time and ICU stay time were similar between 2 groups,P>0.05. Selective cerebral perfusion time in Pericardium patch aortoplasty group was shorter than Pulmonary patch aortoplasty group (30.5 ± 8.6) s vs (35.6 ± 10.3) s,P<0.05. By ultrasound estimation, the post-operative AC pressure gradients were decreased than they were before, as in Pericardium patch aortoplasty group (9.5 ± 7.5) mmHg vs (39.9 ± 15.5) mmHg and in Pulmonary patch aortoplasty group (11.8 ± 11.3) mmHgvs (39.2 ± 14.5) mmHg, bothP<0.05; while post-operative pressure gradients were similar between 2 groups,P>0.05. Follow-up study was conducted in 51 patients for (17.6 ± 16.6) months, Pericardium patch aortoplasty group had 6 patients with re-stenosis, 3 of them would receive balloon angioplasty and 3 would be continuously followed-up; Pulmonary patch aortoplasty group had 6 patients with re-stenosis, 2 of them ifnished balloon angioplasty and their pressure gradients were obviously decreased, 4 would be continuously followed-up. Kaplan-Meier curves presented that Pulmonary patch aortoplasty group was superior to Pericardium patch aortoplasty group in re-stenosis occurrence during follow-up period.
Conclusion: Both pericardium patch aortoplasty and pulmonary patch aortoplasty were effective for treating the patients with AC combining hypoplastic aortic arch, the early post-operative efifcacy was similar, while the mid-term follow-up result was better in pulmonary patch aortoplasty.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of sodium morrhuate versus lauromacrogol in the treatment of hepatic cyst. MethodsSeventy-four patients with hepatic cyst who were admitted to our hospital from January 2009 to May 2013 were enrolled as subjects and divided into two groups. After the cystic fluid was drained by percutaneous liver biopsy, sodium morrhuate solution was injected into the cystic cavity for adhesion and sclerosis in 46 patients in group A, and lauromacrogol solution was injected in 28 patients in group B. The incidence rates of pain in patients during and after surgery were compared between the two groups. The follow-up comparison of hepatic cyst recurrence rates within one year after surgery was performed between the two groups. Between-group comparison was performed by χ2 test. ResultsFive patients (10.87%) in group A and two patients (7.14%) in group B had recurrence within one year after treatment. There was no significant difference in recurrence rate between the two groups (χ2=0.283, P＞0.05). The incidence of pain in group A was significantly higher than that in group B (χ2=5.258, P＜0.05). ConclusionWith the same efficacy as sodium morrhuate in the treatment of hepatic cyst, lauromacrogol can be routinely used as a sclerosing agent due to its mild side effects.

Objective:To investigate the role of transcription factor SP1 decoy oligodeoxynucleotides(ODN) on expression of ? Gal in SV-40-PED cells.Methods:Immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cells of the PED line were cultured and transfected with ?1,3galactosyltransferase(?1,3GT) specific decoy ODN.Cells transfected with mismatch ODN was used as negative controls.Twenty-six hours later the cells were collected.The expression of ? Gal was determined with fluorescence microscope and Western blot.The expression of ?1,3GT mRNA was examined by RT-PCR.Results:Fluorescence microscopy observed the decreased fluorescence of ? Gal after decoy ODN transfection.Western blot showed that the average absorbance of the PED cells transfected with decoy ODNs was(48.2?0.9).It is 52.6% of the mock group(P0.05).Conclusion:?1,3GT gene reduce actually occurs following transfection of decoy ODN.Porcine endothelial cells can be the targets of decoy ODN.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of individualized interferon (IFN)-alpha therapy in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients. Methods Seventy- six Chinese HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients proven by liver biopsy were treated with 5 MU recombinant IFN-alpha 1b subcutaneously thrice every week. All the patients were followed up for at least 24 months the combined responses were defined as normalization of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and HBV DNA＜3 log10 copy/mL. An intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis was used in this paper in which all 76 patients were included. Results Six patients were lost. Treatment duration was in the range 2-24 months with a median of 8.5 months, and combined responses were achieved at a median of 6.0 months (range 2-19 months) of treatment duration.Seventy-five-percentile of treatment duration to endpoints was 10.0 months. The combined response rate was 46.1% (35/76) at the end of treatment, 43.3% (33/76) at 12-month follow-up and 40.8% (31/76) at 24-month follow-up. The relapse rate was 20. 0% (7/35) and 25. 7% (9/35) at 12-month and 24-month follow-up, respectively. Higher necroinflammatory activity in liver biopsy predicted a good response, while gender, age, liver fibrosis, baseline ALT, aspartate aminotransferase levels and baseline HBV DNA levels were not impact factors of therapeutic effects by binary Logistic regression analysis.Conclusion Individualized prolonged IFN-alpha regimen lead to considerable sustained disease suppression in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Genetic Variation ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

With the development of organ transplantation in clinical practice, allograft pathology has been constantly developing and advancing. The convening of Banff conference on allograft pathology and the establishment of Banff classification on allograft pathology (Banff classification) are pivotal milestones in the development of international allograft pathology. Since then, Banff classification on pathological diagnosis of various transplant organs have been continually updated and improved. Ultrastructural pathological observation by electron microscope plays an irreplaceable role in the early diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection, recurrent disease and de novo disease of renal allograft. Early detection and rational treatment help to maintain the long-term survival of renal allograft and reduce the failure of renal allograft. In this article, the basic definition of electron microscope and the ultrastructural pathological diagnosis, the research history and main progress on electron microscope diagnosis on Banff classification for renal allograft pathology were introduced, and typical pathological changes, specific terminology and diagnostic criteria of electron microscope diagnosis on renal allograft biopsy were summarized, aiming to provide reference for clinical and basic research of organ transplantation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the compositions of Th1/Th2/Th3 cells in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected individuals by determining the expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4), inetrferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and transform growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in single CD4(+) T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the role of polarized Th cell populations in chronic HBV-infection was discussed.

METHODSPBMCs from chronically infected HBV individuals were isolated, stimulated by PMA/Ionomycin/Monensin, and IL-4, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta production by CD4(+) T cells was determined by using fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of IFN-gamma-producing T cells, IL-4-producing T cells and TGF-beta-producing T cells ranged from 2.3% - 18.6%, 1.1% - 8.7% and 0.7% - 7.1% respectively in CD4(+) T cells from non-infected individuals. Most of CD4(+) T cells from PBMCs in chronically infected HBV individuals were Th0 cells. The proportion of Th1 cells increased significantly with hepatic inflammatory activity, and in the active period of chronic hepatitis B infection were higher than those in the non-active period (P < 0.05). Th2 cell percentage in CD4(+) T cells from HBV-infected individuals did not differ significantly (P > 0.05), but were higher than that from controls (P < 0.05). Th3 cell percentage in CD4(+) T cells from asymptomatic carrier (AsC) group was higher than that in the chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and control groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTh1 phenotype cytokines were positively correlated with hepatic inflammatory activity in chronic hepatitis B and Th2 cells may be associated with the persistence of HBV infection. Th3 cells cooperating with Th2 cells can negatively regulate immune responses and may be associated with the immune tolerant state of chronic HBV infection.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Interleukin-4 ; biosynthesis ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis