Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Humans ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

Circulating cell-free nucleic acids are defined as extracellular DNAs or RNAs in blood with physiological or pathological origins. Previous studies showed that the concentration of cell-free nucleic acids in the blood of cancer patients is significantly higher than in healthy people. Further studies showed that the genetic and epigenetic alterations of circulating cell-free nucleic acids are relevant to cancer development and progression, including mutation, hypermethylation, loss of heterozygosity, change of integrity, and abnormal expression of microRNAs. Detection of circulating cell-free nucleic acids shows promising potential in cancer screening, diagnosis, personalized treatment, and prognosis.

Objective The CYP19 gene product enzyme aromatase mediates the conversion of the androgen testosterone to es -tradiol.The aim of this study is to investigate whether the CYP19A1 gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with the susceptibility to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and serum hormone levels. Methods We conducted a case-controlled study, which included 373 PCOS patients and 313 healthy controls.We genotyped SNP rs2899470 in the subjects using the polymerase chain re-action-restriction fragment length polymorphism ( PCR-RFLP) method and analyzed the frequencies of genotypes and alleles as well as the association of different genotypes with age , menarchal age, body mass index (BMI), and serum levels of hormones. Results The gen-otypic distributions of rs2899470 GG, TG, and TT in the PCOS women were 44.5%, 49.6%, and 5.9%, respectively, significantly dif-ferent from 39.3%, 48.6%, and 12.1%in the healthy controls (P=0.013).The frequency of the G allele was 69.3%in the former, remarkably higher than 63.6%in the latter (P=0.025).The rs2899470 genotypic frequencies were associated with the serum E 2/T lev-els in the PCOS patients. Conclusion SNP rs2899470 in the CYP19A1 gene is associated with the susceptibility to PCOS , and so is the genotype of rs2899470 with serum E2/T levels, which may be attributed mainly to the reduced activity of aromatase .

BACKGROUND: There has been increasing attention in the study of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (ALS)and bone metabolism, which is accompanied by osteopenia and osteoporosis. Interleukin(IL) -6, a cytokine that strongly promotes bone resorption, participates in the regulation of bone metablism.OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between changes of bone mineral density(BMD) and serum IL-6 content in AIS.DESIGN: A controlled non-randomized concurrent study involving patients with AIS and and healthy volunteers.SETTING: The clinic and wards of the department of spinal surgery of a university-affiliated hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six patients with AIS(6 males and 30 females aged 12 to 18 years) were treated in the Department of Spinal Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical College of Nanjing University from July to October 2003, who had a Cobb angle ranging from 34° - 109° and curvature of the thoracic spine. Thirty-six healthy adolescent volunteers(7 males and 29 females within the range of 13 - 18 years old) served as the control group.METHODS: The BMD was measured at L2- L4 and the proximal femur;(including the femoral neck, greater trochanter and Ward' s triangle) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and serum IL-6 determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① BMD of the lumbar spine and femur ② Comparison of serum IL-6 content of all the subjects.RESULTS: The BMD of AIS patients at L2- L4, femoral neck, greater trochanter and Ward' s triangle was 0.79±0. 12, 0.78±0. 12, 0.65± 0. 10, and 0. 69 ± 0. 13 g/cm2, respectively, all significantly lower than the corresponding measurements of the control group(1.09 ± 0. 11, 0.95 ± 0. 11,0. 78 ± 0. 10, and 0. 88 ± 0. 11 g/cm2, respectively, P ＜ 0. 001), whereas the serum IL-6 content in the patients was significantly higher than that in the control subjects ( P ＜ 0. 005). The changes of BMD at the lumbar spine and the three sites of femur were negatively correlated with serum IL-6 in AIS patients( P ＜ 0. 001 ), but not so in the control group( P ＞ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The BMD is decreased and serum IL-6 elevated in patients with AIS, and excessive secretion of IL-6 might be one of the important factors of osteopenia in AIS.

Objective To observe whether sodium arsenite(NaAsO2)can activate the expressions of hemeoxygenase-1(HO-1)of normal human liver cell line named Chang liver.Methods Chang liver cells were exposed to NaAsO2 at 10 μmoL/L,0(contml),2,6,12,24 h and at 0(control),5,10,25,50 μmol/L in 12 h, followed by the measuring of the expressions of HO-1 protein in ceUs with western blot.Results In 10 μmol/L groups Chang liver cells exposed for 6,12,24 h cultured in vitro,the expressions of HO-l protein(3.97±0.72, 12.92±2.98,23.29±3.82)was significantly higher than that of control(1.00±0.00),and compared with the control, the difference being statistically significant(F=85.83,P＜0.01;t=-9.42,-8.95,-13.83,respectively,P＜ 0.05 or＜0.01).In 12 h,5,10,25 and 50 μmol/L groups cultured in vitro,the expressions of HO-1(16.34±0.25, 7.75±0.39,7.93±0.14,12.48±0.35)was significantly higher than that of control(1.00±0.00).and compared with the control,the difference being statistically significant(F=85.83,P＜0.01;t=-36.25,-30.19,-86.40, -56.40,respectively,all P＜0.01).Conclusion Inorganic arsenic call induce the activation of HO-1,promote the expression of protein in a time-and dose-dependent manner.

Adult ; Fever ; etiology ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Polyps ; complications ; Stomach Diseases ; complications

Objective To improve the knowledge about controlling plague in cadres, masses, and the medical staff in plague affected area in Dinghian county of Shaanxi province and to assess the efforts of health education activities. Methods In 2008, the education activities carded out by the government-related departments were investigated. The awareness of plague control and assessment was obtained through a written survey, questionnaire and interviews on clinic. Results Some education activities were carried out in plague area of Dingbian county, such as training, issuing educational materials, broadcasting plague scientific educational films and arranging knowledge grand prix. The rates of knowing plague clinic, epidemiology, prevention and the "three prohibitions and three alerts to report" were as follows: the cadres were 50.50%(101/200),63.69%(414/650),78.67%(118/150), the masses were 64.71% (66/102),87.91% (269/306),76.47% (78/102) and the medical staff were 64.18% (543/846) ,68.51%(322/470),67.02%(63/94). The passing rates of the cadres, the masses and the medical staff were 70.00% (35/50),92.16% (47/51),74.47% (35/47). Conclusions Health education can strengthen health consciousness of cadres and masses and improve the ability of the medical stalf on controlling sudden epidemic situation. Reinforcing plague control knowledge and training of medical staff are still important for health education in the future.

ObjectiveTo explore the value of conventional echocardiography and transthoracic real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) in diagnosis of Ebstein anomaly.MethodsWe investigated the morphology and function of right ventricle (RV) as well as the structure, morphology and regurgitation of tricuspid valve in 61 adult patients with Ebstein anomaly before surgery by using conventional echocardiography and transthoracic RT3DE. Twenty normal adults were enrolled as control group. ResultsThe surface of the tricuspid leaflets, the morphology of the tricuspid annulus as well as the three-dimensional structure of the tricuspid valve were displayed stereoscopically by RT3DE. Complete RV volume data could be acquired in 32 patients of Ebstein anomaly. The apex or part of RV could not be contained in the remaining 29 patients. Thirty-four (55.7%) patients with Ebstein anomaly had severe tricuspid regurgitation,
16 (26.2%) patients had moderate to severe regurgitation, and 11 (18.1%) patients had moderate regurgitation. Compared with the normal adults, patients of Ebstein anomaly showed higher RV end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), end-diastolic volume index (EDVI), end-systolic volume index (ESVI), stroke volume (SV), RV anterior-posterior diameter (RV), tricuspid valve annular transverse diameter (TV-R), and lower RV ejection fraction(EF) [(273.5±77.7) mlvs (74.3±15.9) ml, (187.1±96.8) mlvs (31.1±9.2) ml, (177.4±53.6) ml/m2vs (43.4±8.2) ml/m2, (121.7±65.5) ml/m2vs (18.4±5.1) ml/m2, (95.9±20.2) ml vs (43.6±8.8) ml, (48.1±13.3) ml/m2vs (19.0±1.9) ml/m2, (56.4±8.9) ml/m2vs (28.5±4.3) ml/m2, (38.3±12.8) %vs (59.3±5.1) %, allP<0.05). The tricuspid regurgitant orifice flow cross-sectional area (EROA) were correlated positively with RV anterior-posterior diameter (r=0.691), ratio of RV and LV anterior-posterior diameter (RV/LV) (r=0.6471).ConclusionTransthoracic RT3DE is a feasible method in addition to conventional two-dimensional echocardiography in evaluation of tricuspid valve mophology and function, as well as RV volume and EF in adult patients with Ebstein anomaly.

Objective To evaluate the effects of bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP-2)gene modified tissue engineering bone combined with vascular bundle implantation in repairing segmental bone defect.Methods The isolated rabbit hone marrow stromal cells(MSCs),after being transfected by adenovirus carrying BMP-2 gene(Ad-BMP-2),were seeded on bovine cancellous bone scaffolds(BCB) to construct gone modified tissue engineering hone.The rabbit models with radial defects(2.0 cm long) were made and repaired with four methods including gene modified tissue engineering bone with vascular bundle implantation(Group A),gene modified tissue engineering bone(Group B),nongene modified tissue engineering bone with vascular bundle implantation(Group C),and only BCB scaffolds(Group D).After 4,8,and 12 weeks of operation,X-ray,histological examination,biomechanics analysis and capillary vessel ink infusion were conducted to observe angiopoiesis and osteogenesis.Results Group A gained better effect in the volume and activity of new bones than other groups,with vascular bundle sending out new branches into the transplanted bones and productive regeneration of capillary vessel.The defect in Group A was repaired satisfactorily.Group B showed better effect in speed and quality of bone formation than Group C under induction of BMP-2 gent.Mainly fibrous tissues but not new bones were observed in Group D.Conclusion BMP-2 gene therapy with vascular bundle implantation has very strong osteoinduction ability and quite good vascularization effect and is of great value to the treatment of bone nonunion and bone defects.

BackgroundRetinal astrocytes are the main glial cells of retina,their origin and evolution progress are always the hot and difficult points in domestic and foreign researches. ObjectiveThis study was to explore the origin and development of retinal astrocytes in human fetal retina.Methods Thirty-three human embryonic eyes were collected from the abortion with the embryonic ages of 8-12 gestation weeks (20 eyes),15-17 gestation weeks ( 2 eyes),19-23 gestation weeks ( 4 eyes ),25 - 28 gestation weeks ( 4 eyes ),30 - 32 gestation weeks (3 eyes).The section of eyeball wall was prepared to observe the morphology and structure of different embryonic ages of retinas by regular histopathology examination.The origin of human embryonic retinal astrocytes was assessed by evaluating the change of GFAP expression in different embryonic ages of retinas using immunochemistry and immunofluorescence under the light and laser scanning confocal microscope.Theresearch was approved by the the Ethics Committee.Results The optic cup in embryonic 6- 7 weeks was in the retinal layering phase.Some immature short or round spindle-like cells appeared in primitive non-cell layer in the inner layer of the optic cup in embryonic 9 weeks of eyes.There were no positive GFAP-immunoactive cell was detected until embryonic 15 weeks of eyes.Some spindle-like cells migrated from a single layer primitive neuroepithelium next to optic disc expressing GFAP in the eyes with embryonic 19 weeks,and positive immunostaing for GFAP were detected in stellate cells surround blood vessels,and some seem to form the vessel wall in the ganglion cell layer and nerve fiber layer of the fetal central retina from 25 weeks through 26 weeks.Some positive response cells for GFAP presented in inner layer of the retina closed to ora serrata with the connection to nonpigmented epithelium (NPE) of the ciliary body during this period.Human retinal astrocytes showed typical stellate-like in shape,and the cellular processes crossed into inner plexiform layer in embryonic 28-week eyes.Conclusions Human retinal astrocytes mainly seem to have three kinds of origin in human embryonic eyes,and they are vascular precursor cell/pericytes,primitive neuroepithelium and nonpigmented epithelium of the ciliary body.