Objective To search for the changes of T cells subpopulations and immunoglobulin and their relation-ship in children patients with simple nephrotic syndrome. Design Case-control research. Patients aud Participants 39 patients with simple nephrotic syndrome were divided into two groups:the incipient group and relapse group (6 cases were determined at the incipient and relapse time) .Thereare 28 patients in incipient group, 19 males and 9 females, at the age of 2 to 10 years old. There are20 patients in relapse group, 12 males and 8 females, at the age of 3 to 13 years old. There are 35health children in control group, 21 males and 14 females, 2～13 years old. Interventions T cells subpopulations were determined by indirect immunofluorescence of OKT linesmonoclonal antibodies. The serum IgG was determined by routine simple agar immunodiffusion tests. Results and Conclusions The CD_3~+ and CD_4~+ cells are of no change in the children patients withsimple nephrotic syndrome, and the CD_8~+ and CD_(10)~+ cells are obviously increased, the Values of CD_4~+/CD_8~+ are obviously lower than those in the control qroup, there are no difference between the incipientand relapse groups. The levels of serum IgG were decreased in the 85.3% children patients, IgM were inc-reased in 29.4% of that. The values of CD_4~+/CD_8~+ have positive correlation and negative correlationwith the levels of serum IgG and IgM respectively.

Objective To analyze the effects of core material and design on the fracture mechanism of veneered all-ceramic crowns. Methods The fracture process of 6 veneered alumina or zirconia crowns with different core design (well-distributed core, not well distributed core, and core with cervical ring) under load was analyzed by RFPA'2D finite element analysis software. Results All the six tested crowns fractured due to tension failure, and the crack started at the porcelain in the cusp and spread along the interface between core and porcelain. Under the conditions of this test, the break was only related to the porcelain and not the core, and the crack of porcelain took place earlier in zirconia crowns than in alumina crowns. Minimum stress distribution in cervical ring core design crown and maximum stress distribution in not well distributed core design crown could be seen at the neck area. Conclusions Zircania crowns presented greater stress at the interface between core and porcelain than alumina crowns. The not well distributed core design did not increase the rise of break. The neck area was the weak area with tensile stress concentration in the cervical ring core design.

AIMTo investigate the effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells and to explore the receptor mechanisms involved in the effect.

METHODSThe effector cells (i. e. NK cells) from the spleens of rats were collected and cultured with the target cells (Yac-1 cells). The various concentrations of ACh, cholinergic receptor agonists or antagonists were added to the cultures, respectively according to distinct experimental purposes. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay was used to evaluate NK cell cytotoxicity.

RESULTSNK-cell-mediated lysis of Yac-1 lymphoma cells was reduced by 10(-10) - 10(-6) mol/L ACh. The inhibitory effect of ACh on NK cell cytotoxicity was mimicked by pilocarpine, an agonist of muscarinic receptor, and by nicotine, an agonist of nicotinic receptor, at all applied concentrations (10(-10) - 10(-6) mol/L). Muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine blocked the inhibitory effect of ACh on the cytotoxicity of NK cells. Nevertheless, tubocurarine, an antagonist of nicotinic receptor, had no blocking effect on the suppression of NK cell cytotoxicity by ACh.

CONCLUSIONACh results in an inhibition of the cytotoxicity of NK cells, and this inhibition is realized mainly through M and N1 cholinergic receptor.

Acetylcholine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Killer Cells, Natural ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Rats ; Receptors, Natural Killer Cell ; drug effects

Proteomics is an emerging discipline and has been widely used in a variety of fields despite of having very short history in comparison with other disciplines. In Chongqing Medical Univer-sity, the course contents were adjusted to fulfill the most effective integration of proteomics research with postgraduate training program for medical university. Diverse teaching was advocated here and af-ter-school communications were greatly encouraged in teaching. Traditional multimedia teaching plat-form remained the main teaching way and students were organized to visit the research platform as supplementing teaching way. The overall quality and effectiveness of teaching were effectively improved by successful implementation of the above initiatives.

Objective To investigate the genetic etiologies in the 0 -3 years old infants with hearing loss and to analyze the interaction between genetics and environmental factors. Methods Total of 130 infants were performed detailed audiological evaluation as well as the detection of the popular deafness gene mutations in GJB2 gene, SLC26A4 and mtDNAI2SrRNA. Of them, 84 cases were performed the computer tomography or magnetic resonance imaging examinations. Results Of the 130 cases, 54 infants were diagnosed as large vestibular aqueduct syndrome, while seven of 130 were as auditory neuropathy and the others were diagnosed as sensorineural hearing loss. Considering of the risks of etiologies for hearing loss, 85 of them had the experiences of the high risk factors at birth(65.4% ,85/130), while 23 of them had the exposure of aminoglycoside antibiotics, and 13 had the family history background as well as two eases were from the consanguineous families. In the causative genes screening, 42 infants were caused by the mutations of SLC26A4 gene (32.3%), but 14 infants found the mutations in GJB2 gene (4.6%), and no infants carried the mutation in mtDNA 12SrRNA 1555G and 1494T points in our studies. Conclusions In our studies, about 36. 9% infants hearing loss cases can be found the mutations in SLC26A4 and GJB2 genes. It is essential to put the idea into the hearing evaluation combined with genetic testing for the diagnoses of heating loss. It is also helpful for exploring the etiologies of hearing loss and performing the target genetic consulting for decreasing the prevalence of deafness in the future.

2 in some patients with the loss of high and medium sized vWF multimers in plasma.Eight patients with vWD were identified, wherein two were characterized as type 1,4 as type 2A and 2 as type 3 respectively.Conclusion The panel of tests is suitable for diagnosis and classification of vWD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the friction and wear behavior of different human enamels.

METHODS24 enamel samples selected from aged, young permanent and faded deciduous teeth were classified into 3 groups and slid against artificial porcelain teeth in the presence of artificial saliva on an oscillating friction and wear test rig. The wear volume loss, microhardness and toughness of each group of the enamel specimens were measured, the wear scars were observed with a scanning electron microscope, and the elemental compositions of Ca, P, and Si of the wear scar and wear debris were determined with an energy dispersion spectrometer.

RESULTSThe wear volume losses of aged, young permanent and deciduous tooth enamels are (2.40 +/- 1.10) x 10(-12) m(3), (3.50 +/- 1.83) x 10(-12) m(3) and (4.86 +/- 2.49) x 10(-12) m(3). The data of aged tooth enamels are statistically greater than that of deciduous tooth enamels (P < 0.05). There is no significant difference between the wear volume loss of aged and young permanent tooth enamels or between the young permanent and deciduous tooth enamels (P > 0.05). However, the friction and wear behavior of each group of enamel specimens is different from each other.

CONCLUSIONSIn the present testing condition, the wear scars of each kind of enamel specimens is characterized by ploughing and cracking. The different wear resistance of the three kinds of enamels is attributed to the different microstructure of the enamel, while the hardness and toughness of the enamels are not correlated with the wear resistance.

Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dental Enamel ; pathology ; Dentition, Permanent ; Female ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tooth Abrasion ; pathology ; Tooth, Deciduous

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between gene expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and its clinical characteristics in leukemia.

METHODSThe protocol of RT-PCR was used to detect the hTERTmRNA expressing levels in peripheral blood samples from leukemic patients under primary treatment(n=42), in complete remission(n=21), with recurrent leukemia (n=4); and from normal subjects (n=5), respectively.

RESULTSThe positive percentage of hTERTmRNA expression was 73.81% for the primary treatment cases, and 19.05% for the complete remission cases. All of the recurrent cases gave positive results. One of the normal controls presented low level of hTERTmRNA expression. The expressing level of hTERTmRNA in primary treatment cases was 0.64+/-0.21, in complete remission leukemia 0.31+/-0.16, in recurrent cases 0.84+/-0.09, and in normal controls 0.10.

CONCLUSIONThe activation of telomerase may be an essential factor in the development of leukemia and usually be the late event in its progression. As an indicator of leukemia cell, the detection of hTERT mRNA may be used in clinical analysis, disease monitoring and prognosis judgement.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukemia ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Remission Induction ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Telomerase ; genetics

OBJECTIVEHPLC-ESI-MS to establish a method for simultaneous determination of adenosine and cordycepin in Cordyceps sinensis and C. militarris.

METHODHPLC-ESI-MS method. An electrospray ionization (ESI) interface and selective ion monitoring (SIM) mode were used. The analytical column was a 2.0 mm x 150 mm Shimadzu VP - ODS column and the mobile phase was water (94%), methanol (5%) and formic acid (1%). 2-Chloroadenosine was used as internal standard for this assay.

RESULTThe regression equations and coefficient were Y = 0.134 6X + 0.001 29 (r = 0.998 4) for adenosine, Y = 0.216 4X + 0.021 5 (r = 0.999 1) for cordycepin. The liner range was 0.5 approximately 124.5 microg x mL(-1) and 0.5 approximately 136.5 microg x mL(-1) for adenosine and cordycepin, respectively. The average recoveries of adenosine and cordycepin were 95.8% and 98.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis method is highly sensitive, fast and selective, which can be used for the determination of nucleosides in C. sinensis and its substitutes. This method can also be applied for the quality control of above herbs.

Adenosine ; analysis ; Animals ; Bombyx ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; classification ; Deoxyadenosines ; analysis ; Lepidoptera ; Quality Control ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

AIMTo provide further evidence for the synthesis of catecholamines (CAs) in lymphocytes and to investigate the effect of the endogenous CAs synthesized by lymphocytes on function of the lymphocytes themselves and the receptor mechanisms involved in the effect.

METHODSRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of TH mRNA in the lymphocytes from the mesenteric lymph nodes of rats. Different concentrations of pargyline, an inhibitor of monoamine oxydase, and antagonists of alpha1-, alpha2-, beta1-, and beta2-adrenergic receptor (AR) were added to the lymphocyte cultures, and then proliferative response of the lymphocytes to mitogen concanavalin A (Con A) were measured via methyl-thiazole-tetrazolium (MTT) assay.

RESULTSThe lymphocytes could express TH mRNA, and the expression of TH mRNA was significantly higher in the Con A-activated lymphocytes than in the resting ones. The treatment of pargyline of 10(-6) and 10(-5) mol/L (not 10(-7) mol/L) notably attenuated Con A-induced lymphocyte proliferation. Beta2-AR antagonist ICI118551 (10(-7) and 10(-6) mol/L) completely blocked, but alpha1-AR antagonist corynanthine and alpha2-AR antagonist yohimbine (10(-7) and 10(-6) mol/L) partly blocked the suppressive effect of pargyline on the Con A-induced lymphocyte proliferation. Nevertheless, atenolol, an antagonist of beta1-AR, had no blocking effect on pargyline inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation.

CONCLUSIONLymphocytes have the ability to synthesize CAs and the ability is enhanced in the activated lymphocytes. The endogenous CAs synthesized by lymphocytes can inhibit T cell proliferation and the inhibition of T cells by the CAs is mediated predominantly by beta2-AR on the lymphocytes.

Animals ; Catecholamines ; biosynthesis ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Concanavalin A ; pharmacology ; Female ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuroimmunomodulation ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta ; physiology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; genetics ; metabolism