Objective To study the roles of regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted(RANTES) and monocyte cbemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human immunodeficien- cy virus-1(HIV 1) infected patients.Methods RANTES and MCP-1 in HIV-1 infected patients, including treated and untreated groups,and healthy control group were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The recombinant plasmids,hMCP-pcDNA3.1,bRANTES- peDNA3.1 and hMCP/bRANTES-pcDNA3.1,were constructed and transfected into CHO cells to overexpress the corresponding recombinant proteins,whose chemoattract function was then studied. Results The level of RANTES was (164.3?21.3) pg/mL in healthy control group,(1 224.1?62.0) pg/mL in untreated group and (475.3?36.2) pg/mL in treated group.The level of MCP-1 was (90.6?28.5) pg/mL in healthy control group,(335.0?30.3) pg/mL in untreated group and (807.2?62.6) pg/mL in treated group.In HIV-1 infected patients,the levels of RANTES and MCP-1 were significantly increased.After highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART),the level of RANTES declined,but MCP-1 increased further.Western blot assay revealed that the three recombinant proteins could be recognized by monoclonal antibodies respectively.All of them could chemoattract human peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).And the chemoattractant potency of MCP/RANTES fusion protein was stronger.When the recombinant proteins were used with con- centrations as 50,200,400 and 800 pg/mL,respectively,the number of PBMCs chemoattracted by MCP/RANTES fusion protein was 52?10~4/mL,102?10~4/mL,132?10~4/mL and 184?10~4/mL; the number of PBMCs chemoattracted by RANTES was 27?10~4/mL,51?10~4/mL,65?10~4/mL and 96?10~4/mL;the number of PBMCs chemoattracted by MCP-1 was 18?10~4/mL,44?10~4/mL, 54?10~4/mL and 74?10~4/mL.Conclusion RANTES and MCP-1 may both be involved in the HIV infection process and host immunological reaction against HIV.

Objective To evaluate the clinical and radiographic characteristics and function of erosive hand osteoarthritis (EOA) patients. Methods Data were obtained from 19 patients with EOA, including their social conditions, clinical conditions, radiographic scores and hand function evaluation. The number of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) patients was 312. The control group consisted of non-EOA patients with hand osteoarthritis with a ratio of 4:1 to EOA patients. A non-parameter test analysis was performed. All data were analyzed by SPSS 23.0 statistical analysis, t test, χ2 test, Fisher exact probility and Spearman's correlations analysis were used for statistical analysis. Results Totally data of 19 patients were collected. Eighteen were female. Onset age was (56±8). Average duration was 56 (12~120) months. FIHOA scores of all the EOA patients were at least 5. All the erosions of 39 joints were characteristically central and erosive changes in 7 joints (18%) showed up as gull-wing. Among 39 erosive joints, including 12 (31%) E and 27 (69%) R, 34 (87%) distal interphalangeal joints were involved. Data analysis found out that EOA patients had longer disease duration (Z=2.610, P=0.009), more severe K-L level (44 ±11 vs 26 ±7, t=7.134, P<0.01), higher AUSCAN total score (28±6 vs 21±7, t=3.781, P<0.01) and higher AUSCAN function score (18±6 vs 12±6, t=4.042, P<0.01). The differences of ESR and CRP were not significant between EOA and non-EOA patients. Conclusion Erosions seen in EOA patients are centrally located gull-wing in the DIP joints. EOA patients have longer duration, more severe radiographic damage and worse joint function.

Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) can bind to and specifically neutralize lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. In order to evaluate potent LPS-neutralizing activity of bovine BPI, the full-length coding sequence (1 449bp) or 714 bp N-terminal coding sequence (BPI714) of bovine BPI was transfected into mHEK293 cells and the expression of LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines was studied. First, we constructed the lentiviral expression vectors and generated mHEK293 cells stably expressing recombinant bovine BPI or BPI714. Then, we detected the expression of IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α, NF-κB-1 and NF-κB-2 genes by real-time PCR at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h post of LPS induction in cells with or without recombinant bovine BPI or BPI714 ectopic expression, respectively. In response to LPS, the robust abundance of inflammatory cytokines including IL-8, IL-1β, TNF-α and NF-κB-2 was observed in wild type mHEK293 cells at eachtime point. On the contrary, mRNA abundance of IL-8, TNF-α and NF-κB-2 in transfected mHEK293 cells showed no significant changes at each indicated time point. Our results demonstrated that recombinant bovine full length BPI or BPI714 down-regulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines and revealed that either of bovine BPI or BPI714 was able to inhibit the immune respond stimulated by LPS. This study provides evidence for further investigating the mechanisms and application of BPI/LPS-neutralizing activity and also documents a reliable approach for analysis of the efficacy of antibacterial proteins.
Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; chemistry ; Blood Proteins ; chemistry ; Cattle ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Interleukins ; biosynthesis ; Lipopolysaccharides ; chemistry ; NF-kappa B ; biosynthesis ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis

Objective To analyze the outcomes of preoperative intracavitary brachytherapy plus sur-gery in patients with stage ⅠB2 and ⅡA bulky cervical cancer. Methods From January 2001 to January 2007, 77 patients with stage ⅠB2 and ⅡA bulky cervical cancer were included. The diameter of primary tumor was greater than 4 cm. Preoperative intracavitary brachytherapy with the total dose of 20-30 Gy (0.5 cm below the vaginal mucosa) was delivered by 2-3 fractions, one fraction per week. After an interval of 10-14 days, the efficacies of radiotherapy were evaluated and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphade-nectomy was performed. Then the treatment complications, clinicopathological characteristics, survival and recurrence were analyzed. Results The tumor shrinkage was observed in all the patients after intracavitary brachytherapy. The CR, PR and SD were 5% (4/77), 36% (28/77) and 58% (45/77), respectively. Radical hysterectomy was successfully performed in all patients. The complications of the combined therapy were mild and only 5 patients had grade Ⅱ or less hematological or gastrointestinal toxicities. The 5-year o-verall survival rate and pelvic recurrence rate were 83% and 12%, respectively. Conclusions Preoperative intracavitary brachytherapy of 20-30 Gy plus surgery is effective in the treatment of stage ⅠB2 and ⅡA bulky cervical cancer without increasing the treatment complications.

Based on the theory of TCM and acupuncture and moxibustion, the importance of acupuncture-moxibustion, the difference and correlation between TCM and acupuncture-moxibustion, and classification of therapeutic method of acup-mox are discussed. The six methods of acupuncture-moxibustion are proposed as warming method, emmenagogue, reinforcing method, reducing method, adjusting method and ascending method to enrich the therapeutic theory of acupuncture and moxibustion.
Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Moxibustion ; methods

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ; analysis ; Workplace

Objective To explore the genetic mechanism of Yang-deficiency constitution by detecting genomic copy number variations (CNVs). Methods Thirty cases of Yang-deficiency constitution and 30 cases of balanced constitution were included according to the standards of Classification and Determination of Constitution in Traditional Chinese Medicine. DNA was extracted from white blood cells in peripheral blood. A genome-wide association study was conducted by using Affymetrix SNP 6.0 platform. CNVs of each sample were analyzed using PennyCNV software. The Yang-deficiency constitution-specific copy number variation regions (CNVRs) of each autosome were identified. CNVR-related genes and their annotations were searched at online Human Genome Browser. Results The mean number of CNVs in balanced constitution group was 12.63±3.39, ranging from 8 to 20. After stepwise elimination of two Yang-deficiency constitution subjects, the mean number of CNVs in Yang-deficiency constitution group was 15.04±8.95, ranging from 2 to 38. A total of 26 CNVRs were identified from 28 Yang-deficiency constitution subjects, including 19 duplicated CNVRs, 6 deleted CNVRs, and 1 mixed type CNVR. Most CNVRs were shared by a few Yang-deficiency constitution subjects, and only 7 CNVRs were shared by more than 5 Yang-deficiency constitution subjects. The functions of representative genes in Yang-deficiency constitution-specific CNVRs were related with extracellular and intracellular signal transduction, metabolic regulation, and immune response, etc. Conclusion Yang-deficiency constitution subjects have some specific genomic CNVs, which might result in Yang-deficiency constitution phenotypes by influencing the expression of genes associated with extracellular and intracellular signal transduction, material metabolism (energy metabolism), and immune response, etc.

Objective To investigate the cognitive function and psychological mental state of patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), and the related risk factors. Methods From September, 2011 to Febrary, 2014, 21 patients with JME and 18 healthy controls matched with age, sex and educational level were assessed with Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Revised Chinese Wechsler Adult Intel-ligence Scale (WAIS-RC) and Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). The risk factors were analyzed with Logistic regression analysis. Results There was no significant difference in the score of MoCA between two groups (t=―1.544, P=0.131). The scores of verbal intelligence quo-tient (VIQ), performance intelligence quotient (PIQ) and full intelligence quotient (FIQ) in WAIS-RC were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (t>4.119, P<0.001). The scores of interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, par-anoid ideation and psychoticism in SCL-90 were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (t>2.480, P<0.05). Logis-tic regression analysis showed that VIQ significantly decreased in patients taking valproic acid (B=―3.064, OR=0.047, 95% CI=0.002~0.920, P=0.044). Conclusion VIQ, PIQ and FIQ decreased in patients with JME. Furthermore, different levels of dysfunction were found in interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation and psychoticism. Taking valproic acid was the risk factor of cognitive decline.

Objective: To examine expression patterns of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its activated form, phosphorylated FAK (pFAK),in human osteosarcoma and to investigate the correlation of FAK expression with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis. Functional consequence of manipulating FAK protein levels was also investigated in human osteosarcoma cell lines. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect FAK and pFAK levels in pathologically archived materials from 113 patients with primary osteosarcoma. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate prognoses. The role of FAK in cytological behavior of MG63 and 143B human osteosarcoma cell lines was studied via the FAK protein knockdown with siRNA. Cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, and apoptosis were assessed using cell counting kit-8, Transwell, and Annexin V/PI staining methods. Results: Both FAK and pFAK were overexpressed in osteosarcoma patients. Tumor cells exhibited cytoplasmicity and occasional membranous immunoreactivity for FAK. A total of 42 cases (37.17%) mainly showed expressed pFAK in cytoplasm of osteosarcoma cells. No overexpression staining of anti-FAK and anti-pFAK antibodies was observed in normal cancellous bone tissues or negative controls. Significant differences were observed in overall survival between FAK-/pFAK- and FAK+/pFAK- groups (P=0.016), FAK+/pFAK- and FAK+/pFAK+ groups (P=0.012), and FAK-/pFAK- and FAK+/pFAK+ groups (P<0.001). All groups showed similar metastasis-free survival. Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that FAK expression profile is an independent indicator of both overall andmetastasis-free survival. siRNA-based knockdown of FAK significantly reducedmigration and invasion of MG63 and 143B cells and affected proliferation and apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. Conclusion: Osteosarcoma malignancies in vitro and in vivo were correlated with overexpression and phosphorylation of FAK. These findings suggest that FAK plays an important biological role in osteosarcoma carcinogenesis. This study provides a better understanding of diagnostic and prognostic relevance of FAK overexpression and phosphorylation in osteosarcoma patients. Therefore, FAK and pFAK can be used as independent predictors of overall and metastasis-free survival in osteosarcoma patients.

Objective To summarize the clinical characteristics of adrenal tumors combined with renal carcinoma and to extend the clinical understanding of the situation.Methods To analyze the data of 1 100 patients with adrenal tumors hospitalized in Peking University First Hospital from Jan.1994 to Mar.2012 retrospectively,in the series there were 42 combined with renal carcinoma.Results There were 27 males,15 females,aged 29 to 83 years,mean 60.5 years old.In 42 renal carcinomas,there were 29 (69.0％) clear cell carcinomas,5 (11.9 ％) cystic renal carcinomas,2 (4.8％)clear cell with granulosa cell hybrid carcinomas,1 renal lymphoma,1 (2.4％) spindle cell tumor,1 acidophilic cell adenoma,and 1 undifferentiated type of renal cell carcinoma and pathologically not clear in 2 cases (4.8％).Clinical manifestations were not specific.In 42 adrenal tumors,20 situated in the left,and 17 right,and 5 were bilateral.35 cases were considered primary adrenal tumors,in which 3 were diagnosed primary hyperaldosteronism,32 were non-functional tumors.Other 7 were non-functional matastatic carcinomas.25 patients underwent resection of adrenal tumors,and pathology revealed 22 (88.0％) were primary,in which 12 (54.6％) were cortical adenomas,7 (31.9％) hyperplasia,1 (4.5 ％) pheochromocytoma,1 (4.5 ％) ganglioneuroma,1 (4.5 ％)adenoma with hyperplasia;2 (8.0％)metastatic tumors,and 1 (4.0％) non-Hodgkin' s lymphoma.The mean diameter of primary adrenal tumors was 1.9 cm,while that of metastatic carcinoma was 3.84 cm.25 underwent abdominal ultrasonography,40 underwent computed tomography (CT) scan,6 underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan,positive rate was 72.0％,97.5％,and 100.0％ respectively.25 patients who underwent surgery were followed up,17 survived for 8 months-6 years,4 died,in which 1 metastatic carcinoma died of intraoperative bleeding,1 died of adrenal lymphoma,2 died because of other disease,4 were lost to follow-up.Conclusions The most common type of renal carcinoma combined with adrenal tumors was clear cell carcinoma,while majority of the adrenal tumors were primary with non-specific clinical manifestations and function.The adrenal tumors might be located in the same or the opposite side of renal carcinoma,also might be bilateral which were more common in metastatic carcinomas and always bigger than primary ones.CT/MRI scans were important in judging the nature of the tumors and pathology was the gold standard.The non-functioning primary adrenal tumors could be safely followed up,and the isolated metastatic carcinoma should be resected.Prognosis depends mainly on that of renal carcinoma.