Objective To study the changes of insulin- like growth factor- 1(IGF-1)in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in children with viral encephalitis (VE).Methods The IGF-1 levels in blood and CSF were determined before treatment by ELISA in 25 children who admitted with VE, including 15 cases with severe VE and another 10 cases with mild VE, 10 children served as con-trols. Results Before treatment, the blood IGF-1 levels in VE group were significantly lower than those of controls, but the CSF IGF-1 levels were significantly higher than those of controls(P0.05), but the blood IGF-1 levels in serve VE group were significanfly lower than those of mild VE group and controls(P

Objective To set up a system in vitro to rapidly recover plasma proteins lost during artificial-liver treatment.Methods The polyprotein precipitation was obtained by all proteins whose isoelectric point pH value were between 7.3 and 5.1,which collided with each other and aggregated using gradient pH co-precipitation(adding 1 mol/L citric acid slowly in the plasma solution to change the pH values gradually from 7.3 to 5.1 in 5 h)combined with salting out(degree of saturation of NaCl is 33%,reacted for 5.5 h at 4℃)or low-temperature ethanol precipitation(40% ethanol, reacted for 5.5 h at -7℃)so that to get rid of toxicants by discarding the supernatant.Results In the range of pH 5.1-7.3,50%(29g/57g)of the total plasma proteins had been recovered by the gradient pH salting out and 41%(25 g/61g)by the gradient pH low-temperature ethanol co-precipi- tation.The protein remained in the supernatant was mostly albumin and its combined bilirubin.The levels of total bilirubin decreased to 0.07% and 0.06% of the original levels by these two methods respectively and the serum HBV DNA level decreased to be undetected(quantitative PCR).Conclu- sions The proteins with close isoelectric point can co-precipitated with the presence of high concen- tration of NaCl or low-temperature ethanol and by changing the pH value gradually.The total protein in the discarded plasma during artificial-liver treatment can be recovered rapidly using the gradient pH coprecipitation.

OBJECTIVETo study the anti-endotoxin of different concentration baicalin.

METHODS6.250 microg/mL, 3.125 microLg/mL, 1.562 microg/mL and 0.781 microg/mL baicalin solutions were mixed with I EU/mL endotoxin, respectively. The mixtures were put into water of (37+/-1) degrees C for 15 min, 30 min and 60 min. The degrading effects were determined by using limulus amebocyte lysate test (LAL test).

RESULTS1) The degrading effect of 6.250 microg/mL, 3.125 microg/mL and 1.562 microg/mL baicalin solution on I EU/mL endotoxin was degraded completely in 15 min, 30 min and 60 min, respectively. 2)The degrading effect of 3.125 microg/mL, 1.562 microg/mL and 0.781 microg/mL baicalin solution on 1 EU/mL endotoxin after these mixtures had been incubated for 15 min. Endotoxin values were (0.155 5 +/- 0.002 8) EU/mL, (0.212 1+/-0.004 9) EU/mL, (0.355 9+/-0.013 9) EU/mL, respectively. These differences among them were statistically significant (P<0.01). 3) The degrading effect of 1.562 microg/mL and 0.781 microg/mL baicalin solution on 1 EU/mL endotoxin after these mixtures had been incubated for 30 min. Endotoxin values were (0.1640+/-0.0025) EU/mL and (0.2094+/-0.004 4) EU/mL, respectively. These differences between them were statistically significant (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe action of anti-endotoxin of baicalin is dose-dependent and time-dependent. The results show that baicalin has the stronger anti-endotoxin effect.

Endotoxins ; Flavonoids ; Limulus Test

OBJECTIVETo investigate the rate of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) among patients treated by intramedullary nail (IMN) for femoral shaft fracture right after the operation, the effect of femoral nailing on SIRS and sought to differentiate any differences between reamed and unreamed IMN.

METHODSThree hundred and twenty-four patients presenting with acute femoral fractured from April 1997 to April 2005, divided into 2 group depending on ISS. Group 1 had 179 patients (ISS < 16, AIS < 2) including 64 reamed cases and 115 unreamed cases; group 2 had 145 patients (ISS >or= 16, AIS >or= 2) including 51 reamed patients and 94 unreamed. All patients were treated by close reduction and intramedullary nail for fixation. The heart rate, breath rate, temperatures were recorded every 6 h before and after operation. If any of the life sign was above normal, then venous blood samples were taken at once to make sure whether SIRS occurred or not. All data were crosstabs analysis by SPSS 10.0.

RESULTSOne hundred and twenty-four patients suffered from SIRS postoperation. In group 1, 24 reamed and 37 unreamed, in group 2, 27 reamed and 36 unreamed. Among those SIRS, 119 cases healed evenly and 5 patients developed further complication. Between reamed and unreamed patients both in group 1 and group 2, there was no significant difference found. The Chi-Square value were 0.159 and 2.885 respectively, total value was 3.467, which P was 0.325, 0.089 and 0.471, all greater than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONSAlthough SIRS will result from IMN, there is no significant different effect on the rate of SIRS found between reamed and unreamed nail in both group.

Adult ; Bone Nails ; adverse effects ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; adverse effects ; methods ; Fractures, Closed ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; etiology ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the renal protective effects of sulodexide and its anti-oxidative stress mechanism in diabetic rats.

METHODThirty male SD rats were randomized into 3 equal groups, namely the control group, diabetic group, and sulodexide treatment group. Twelve weeks after establishment of rat diabetic models and administration of sulodexide, the rats were sacrificed for measurement of the urine volume, body mass, kidney mass/body weight ratio, plasma glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) activities in the renal tissue or serum were tested. Electron microscopy was performed to observe the pathological changes in the kidneys.

RESULTSThe urine volume, renal mass/body mass ratio, serum glucose, HbA1C, and serum and renal MDA levels all significantly increased in the diabetic rats in comparison with the normal controls (P<0.05). But the body weight and activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-PX in the renal tissue in the normal control group were significantly higher than those in the diabetic and sulodexide group. After 12 weeks of sulodexide treatment, SOD, CAT, and GSH-PX activities in the renal tissue of rats were significantly increased in comparison with those in the diabetic rats (P<0.05). Electron microscopy showed obvious irregular thickening of the glomerular capillary basement membrane in the diabetic group with vacuolization in the mitochondria in the epithelial cells, and such pathological changes were significantly alleviated in the sulodexide treatment group.

CONCLUSIONSSulodexide can effectively lower the urinary albumin excretion rate, improve the ultrastructural renal pathologies and prevent glomerular basement membrane thickening in diabetic rats, probably in association with the reduction of the MDA levels and enhancement of SOD, CAT, and GSH-PX activities.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Glycosaminoglycans ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of the strains of Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) serovar Senftenberg lacking Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 (SPI-1).

METHODSA total of 10 strains of S. enterica serovar Senftenberg were isolated from 10 cases of diarrhea patients. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), PCR, sequencing techniques and cell invasion test were adapted to study the molecular types and invasiveness of the genes and cells; and made a comparison between the 10 strains and the strains (C02013) isolated in Shenzhen in 2002.

RESULTSThe 10 Senftenberg isolated (S09007-S09012, S09014-S09017) in Shanghai showed three PFGE patterns, which were significantly different from the strains isolated in Shenzhen. PCR-amplified results indicated the invasion gene (invA), secreted effector protein gene (sipA) and gene fragments as fhlA-hilA, hilA-spaP and spaP-invH in the 10 strains of SPI-1 were all negative. The sequencing results revealed that the 10 strains isolated in Shanghai lacked most parts of SPI-1 genes, as fragments from orgA to invH and parts of orgA gene itself; however, compared with strains isolated in Shenzhen, the sprB-orgC gene existed. The missing parts of genes were replaced by a simple insertion sequence (IS) of 1000 bp in the strains isolated both in Shenzhen in 2002 and in Shanghai in 2006. The invasiveness rates of the 10 strains (S09007-S09012, S09014-S09017) towards Hela cells were (0.0053 ± 0.0024)%, (0.0046 ± 0.0006)%, (0.0047 ± 0.0003)%, (0.0064 ± 0.0012)%, (0.0065 ± 0.0011)%, (0.0070 ± 0.0020)%, (0.0115 ± 0.0030)%, (0.0099 ± 0.0039)%, (0.0180 ± 0.0135)% and (0.0031 ± 0.0012)%, respectively; which were all significantly lower than the rate of invA-positive control strain STM1344 ((5.0800 ± 0.6333)%); lower or close to the rate of invA-lacked artificial-mutated strain STMinvA-((0.0193 ± 0.0045)%).

CONCLUSIONSPI-1 genes are not essential for the diarrhea caused by S. enterica serovar Senftenberg.

Adult ; Aged ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Diarrhea ; microbiology ; Feces ; microbiology ; Female ; Genes, Bacterial ; Genomic Islands ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Salmonella enterica ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity

This study was aimed to compare the immunoregulatory effects of mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord amnion (AMSC) and adult bone marrow (BMMSC) in vitro, so as to provide the experimental basis for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in clinic. The AMSC were isolated from human umbilical cord amnion by using digestion with collagenase. They were identified by morphology, growth characteristics, immunophenotyping and differentiation ability. Furthermore, the immunoregulatory effects of AMSC and BMMSC were tested by lymphocyte transformation and mixed lymphocyte reaction. The results showed that AMSC and BMMSC possessed similar biological characteristics such as exhibition of fibroblastic morphology and strong proliferation ability in vitro. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the AMSC highly expressed CD73, CD90, CD105, but negative for CD34, CD45, HLA-DR, and CD86 of BMMSC. Functionally, they all could differentiate into adipocyte, osteocytes and chondrocytes. Moreover, AMSC could inhibit cellular or nonspecific mitogenic stimuli-induced T cell proliferation with a dose-dependent manner. Reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction also demonstrated expression of the similar immune cytokines in AMSC and BMNSC. It is concluded that the MSC derived from human umbilical cord amnion may be an excellent alternative source for experimental and clinical application.
Amnion ; cytology ; immunology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Umbilical Cord ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the process and mechanism of neointimal formation, the level of angiotensin II and angiotensin (1-7), the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2(ACE2), angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)R), extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and the effects of valsartan on them after aortic balloon injury in rats.

METHODSAortic endothelial denudation of rats was induced by 2F balloon catheter. Thirty-six rats were randomly allocated into three groups: Group 1 (n = 12): controls; Group 2 (n = 12): aortic balloon injury; Group 3 (n = 12): valsartan (20 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)) given from 1 day before injury to 14 and 28 days after aortic injury. The expression of ACE2 and AT1, the level of P-ERK, AngII, Ang(1-7) and intimal thickening were investigated by RT-PCR technique, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, radioimmunological method, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and HE stain, respectively.

RESULTS(1) The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and the intimal thickening were evidenced at day 14 and 28 after aortic balloon injury. (2) The mRNA and protein expressions of ACE2 decreased significantly, but AT(1)R mRNA and protein expression increased significantly at day 14 and 28 after balloon injury. (3) The level of AngII and p-ERK increased and Ang(1-7) reduced after balloon injury. (4) Valsartan not only attenuated the proliferation of VSMC and the intimal thickening but also upregulated the expression of ACE2 and the level of Ang(1-7) and downregulated the expression of AT(1)R and the level of AngII, p-ERK in this model.

CONCLUSIONIntimal thickening after balloon injury is linked with reduced expression of ACE2.Valsartan can inhibit the intimal thickening possibly by upregulating ACE2 and Ang(1-7) and downregulating AT(1) in this model.

Angiotensin I ; metabolism ; Animals ; Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 ; metabolism ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVETo analyze the genetic relations of Shigella isolated from Shenzhen in 2001-2006 and develop primary molecular subtyping surveillance network of Shigella.

METHODSChromosomal DNAs from 55 isolated in agarose were digested with the restriction enzyme Xba I, and then were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were clustered using BioNumerics software.

RESULTSAll 41 distinctive PFGE patterns were identified among 55 strains. 32 strains belonged to one cluster. Differences were observed in other strains.

CONCLUSIONBoth genetic-related clones and non-related clones of Shigella existed in Shenzhen. The development of PFGE molecular subtyping surveillance network would contribute to the active surveillance, outbreak investigation and source tracking for Shigellosis.

Bacterial Typing Techniques ; China ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; methods ; Feces ; microbiology ; Humans ; Shigella ; classification ; isolation & purification

Semen-derived enhancer of viral infection(SEVI) is a peptide fragment (PAP248-286) from prostatic acid phosphatase(PAP), which can enhance human immunodeficiency virus infection. The mechanisms of SEVI include: (1) SEVI with several cationic amino acid residues reduced electrostatic repulsion between HIV virus and the target cells; (2) The disorder state of SEVI in the human body fluids was helpful to the interaction between virus and the target cell membranes; (3) SEVI could capture HIV particles directly and speed the velocity of virus on the surface of the target cells and improve adsorption and fusion. Currently, the substances of inhibiting SEVI activity include: EGCG from green tea, small molecule compound of aminoquinoline Surfen, ThT analogs BTA-EG6. Those compounds might block the combination of HIV and SEVI or prevent the formation of amyloid fibers, and then reduce the enhancement of SEVI. The studies on the biological characteristics and mechanisms of SEVI have a big benefit for the prevention and treatment of HIV infection.
HIV Infections ; etiology ; transmission ; Humans ; Male ; Semen ; physiology ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral ; etiology ; Static Electricity