Objective To investigate the changes of serum levels of IL-24, IFN-γand IL-4 in patients with condyloma acuminatum (CA) after treatment. Methods Forty-two patients with CA who experienced no recurrence within 3 months after successful treatment were enrolled in this study. Double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (DAS ELISA) was performed to determine the serum levels of IL-24,IFN-γand IL-4 in these patients before and 3 months after successful treatment as well as in 35 normal human controls. Results The untreated patients showed a lower level of serum IFN-γ (9.65 ± 3.70 vs. 15.49 ± 3.85ng/L, P ＜ 0.01) and a higher level of serum IL-4 and IL-24 (15.91 ± 6.14 vs. 10.48 ± 5.08 ng/L, 141.84 ±44.01 vs. 103.20 ± 41.37 ng/L, both P ＜ 0.01 ) compared with the controls. No significant difference was observed for the above parameters between the serum samples from the controls and patients 3 months after successful treatment. Conclusions Cellular immunity is impaired in patients with CA, which may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of CA.

Objective To evaluate the influence of amphetamine-type stimulants on serum rapid plasma reagent (RPR) tiler and negative conversion rate of RPR in patients with syphilis. Methods Thirty-six patients with syphilis who took amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) were recruited in this study together with 44 patients with syphilis who never took ATS and 30 normal human controls. Benzathine benzylpenicillin was given intramuscularly to all patients at a dose of 2 400 000 unit per week for 3 weeks. RPR and treponema pallidum particle agglutination (TPPA) assay were performed before treatment, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after the therapy. Radioimmune assay and ncphelometry were used to detect the serum level of IgG, lgM and IgA. The capability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to product interferon-T (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) was evaluated with ELISA. Results Before treatment, RPR titcr was significantly lower in the stimulant-taking group than in the non-taking group (χ2 = 14.93, P < 0.05). The negative conversion rates were 5.56%, 16.67% and 52.78% in stimulant-taking group 6, 9 and 12 months after the treatment, respectively, significantly lower than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). As for the serum level of IgG, IgM and IgA, there was no significant difference among the stimulant-taking group, non-taking group and normal control group (all P > 0.05). The capability of PBMCs to product IFN-γ was highest in the stimulant-taking group, followed by the non-taking group and normal control group (all P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the capability of PBMCs to produce IL-4 between the stimulant-taking group and non-taking group, but a significant increment was noted in these patients compared with the normal human controls (all P < 0.01). Conclusion Amphetamine-type stimulants could reduce serum RPR titer and negative conversion rate of RPR in patients with syphilis, likely by impairing cellular immunity of patients.

Objective To study the range of the reference value of static posturography parameters in normal subjects. Methods Six hundred and eleven normal subjects were recruited. Static standing balance test of these subjects was performed by use of a computerized stabilometer with their eyes opened and closed,respectively,when their feet standing close and apart. Ten parameters were obtained. 95% confidence ranges were calculated using normal distribution methods,which were grouped by sex and age. Results Statistically significant differences of the 95% confidence ranges of equilibrium parameters were found among different sex and age groups,feet positions and eyes conditions,respectively. The value of the parameters of the male was higher than that of the female;the value of the equilibrium parameters was the lowest in the age group of 15～19 years,and the highest in 66～79 age group;and there were no significant differences among 20～35,36～50 and 51～65 age groups. The value of various parameters in standing with feet close was higher than that with feet apart. It was higher with eyes closed than that with eyes opened. Conclusion Sex,age,feet position and visual input affect balance function.

To compare the effects of polysaccharide nucleic acid fraction of bacillus calmette guerin (BCG-PSN) and thymopeptides on T-lymphocytes of normal and immunosuppressed mice, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets of single nucleic cell in thymus, spleen and peripheral blood were detected successively by flow cytometry after application of BCG-PSN and thymopeptides. Meanwhile, CD4+/CD8+ ratio was also calculated. The results showed that both BCG-PSN and thymopeptides could decrease the proportion of CD4+ CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets in the thymus, at the same time increase CD4+ T-lymphocyte, CD8+ T-lymphocyte proportion in the three tissues. The fluctuation in amplitude was greater in thymopeptides group than that in BCG-PSN group. It is concluded that acting location of thymopeptides is in thymus, its stimulating action is stronger than that of BCG-PSN, while BCG-PSN not only accelerates the differentiation in thymus, but also has some direct stimulation to peripheral CD4+ T-lymphocytes, and can maintain CD4+/CD8+ ratio within normal range. So, BCG-PSN is safer.
Adjuvants, Immunologic/*pharmacology ; Immunocompromised Host ; Mycobacterium bovis/*chemistry ; Nucleic Acids/pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments/*pharmacology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*pharmacology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets/*drug effects ; Thymus Gland/chemistry

Objective To investigate the association of primary liver cancer(PLC)with the mutations of HBV precore and basic core promoter(BCP)genes.Methods The serum markers of hepatitis B and the quantities of serum HBV DNA were detected in 144 HBsAg-positive PLC patients.The precore and BCP gene mutations in patients with HBeAg-negtive and HBV DNA-positive were detected by real-time PCR.One hundred and twenty chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients were randomly selected to serve as the conol.Results There were 46(3 1.94%)patients with HBeAg-positive and 98(68.06%)patients with HBeAg-negative.In 98 HBeAg-negative patients,56(57.14%)were HBV DNA-positive,in which 43 (76.79%)were with precore 1896 gene mutations,50(89.29%)were with BCP1762/1764 gene mutations.and 38(67.86%)were with both gene mutations.Precore 1896 and BCP1762/1764 gene mutation rates in PLC patients were much higher than those in CHB patients(χ2=9.36 and 5.77,P＜0.05).Conclusion PLC may be associated with the mutations of HBV precore anti BCP genes.

Objective To detect the expression of Livin,an apoptosis-inhibiting protein,and Smac,an apoptosis-promoting protein,in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) lesions.Methods Skin specimens were obtained from the lesions of 80 patients with BCC and normal skin of 30 human controls.Immunohistochemical SP method was used to detect the pmtein expression of Livin and Smac in these specimens.Chi-square test was conducted to compare the expression rate of Livin and Smac protein between the lesional and control specimens.The relationship between the protein expression of Livin and Smac in BCC was analyzed by Spearman correlation coefficients.Results The expression rate of Livin protein was significandy higher (77.50％ vs.3.33％,x2 =49.04,P ＜ 0.001),while that of Smac protein was statistically lower (46.25％ vs.100％,x2 =26.47,P ＜ 0.001),in BCC than in the control specimens.No significant difference was observed in the expression rate of Livin or Smac protein between nodular ulcerative and pigmented BCC specimens (75.41％ vs.80.00％,x2 =0.001,P ＞ 0.05; 47.54％ vs.40.00％,x2 =0.28,P＞ 0.05) or between nodulocystic and pigmented BCC specimens (73.58％ vs.80.00％,x2 =0.03,P ＞ 0.05; 45.28％ vs.40.00％,x2 =0.13,P ＞ 0.05).There was a negative relationship between the protein expression of Livin and Smac in BCC lesions (r =-0.432,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The upregulated expression of Livin and downregulated expression of Smac may be invoved in the occurrence and development of BCC.

Objective To analyze the causes and clinical features of 20 patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in order to improve the prognosis. Methods Twenty patients with HUS hospitalized in our department during July 1998 to December 2004 were enrolled in this study. The etiology, clinical features, individualized therapy and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed. Results These 20 HUS patients (18 HUS patients complicated with ARF) accounted for 2.48% of total patients with acute renal failure (ARF) in our hospital. There were 16 females and 4 males with mean age of (49.11±19.85) years. Five patients were idiopathic HUS and the other 15 were secondary HUS (10 SLE-associated HUS, 2 pregnancy-associated HUS, 1 APS-associated HUS, 1 renal arterioles sclerosis-associated HUS and 1 drug-associated HUS). Eighteen cases had ARF and 15 had nephrotic syndrome. Hypertension was found in 17 patients, among them 4 had malignant hypertension. Twelve patients had gross hematuria and the other 8 had microscopic hematuria. Diarrhea was found only in 1 patient. At onset, mean serum creatinine was (504.40±381.10) μmol/L and 24-h proteinuria was (5.0±2.6) g. Renal biopsy was pedormed in 16 patients. Fourteen patients received hemopurification therapy: 2 patients plasma exchange (PE); 8 patients PE combined with CVVHDF and /or HD; 4 patients CVVHDF and HD. Seven cases were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg). Patients with SLE-associated HUS received the corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Low or middle dosage of corticosteroids( 10-40 mg/d) was administered in patients with idiopathic HUS. For patients with APS, low molecular weight heparin was used. HUS patients were followed-up for average (46.0±32.8) months. During follow-up, 4 patients died, 11 recovered from renal insufficiency, 4 progressed to end stage renal failure of whom 2 depended on dialysis and 1 lost. The survival rates of SLE-associated HUS and none-SLE-associated HUS were 70% and 90%, and renal survival rates were 50% and 60% respectively, which were not significantly different between these two groups. Conclusions Most of the patients are secondary HUS. SLE-associated HUS is the main type of secondary HUS. The prognosis of SLE-associated HUS is poor. PE and IVIg are main therapy. Low dosage of corticosteroids can reduce relapse of HUS. Immunosuppressants can improve the prognosis.

significantly save the time of diagnosis and facilitate the clinical application of large samples.

To compare the effects of polysaccharide nucleic acid fraction of bacillus calmette guerin (BCG-PSN) and thymopeptides on T-lymphocytes of normal and immunosuppressed mice, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets of single nucleic cell in thymus, spleen and peripheral blood were detected successively by flow cytometry after application of BCG-PSN and thymopeptides. Meanwhile, CD4+/CD8+ ratio was also calculated. The results showed that both BCG-PSN and thymopeptides could decrease the proportion of CD4+ CD8+ T-lymphocyte subsets in the thymus, at the same time increase CD4+ T-lymphocyte, CD8+ T-lymphocyte proportion in the three tissues. The fluctuation in amplitude was greater in thymopeptides group than that in BCG-PSN group. It is concluded that acting location of thymopeptides is in thymus, its stimulating action is stronger than that of BCG-PSN, while BCG-PSN not only accelerates the differentiation in thymus, but also has some direct stimulation to peripheral CD4+ T-lymphocytes, and can maintain CD4+/CD8+ ratio within normal range. So, BCG-PSN is safer.
Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Female ; Immunocompromised Host ; Male ; Mice ; Mycobacterium bovis ; chemistry ; Nucleic Acids ; pharmacology ; Peptide Fragments ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; Thymus Gland ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the effect of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) on anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who sex with men (MSM).Methods HIV-infected MSM naive of cART who visited Wuhan Dermatological Hospital from June 2012 to December 2013 were enrolled in a longitudinal study before starting cART,including 81 HIV-positive and 50 HIV-negative cases.HPV infection situations between HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM were compared.And anal HPV infection rate and condyloma acuminate incidence of HIV-positive MSM before and after cART were also compared.HPV genotyping was performed by universal primer PCR and reverse dot hybridization.The statistical analysis was done by t test or x2 test.Results The prevalence rates of HPV infection,high-risk HPV infection and multiple HPV subtypes infection in HIV-positive MSM were all significantly higher than those in HIV-negative MSM (91.4 ％ vs 62.0 ％,75.3 ％ vs 30.0 ％,56.8 ％ vs 20.0 ％,respectively,x2 =16.75,26.05,and 19.10,respectively,all P＜0.05).The prevalence rates of anal HPV infection,high-risk HPV infection and multiple HPV subtypes infection in 77 HIV-positive MSM at month 36 of cART were all significantly decreased than baseline (90.9％ vs 74.0％,75.3％ vs 44.2％ and 57.1％ vs 41.5％,respectively,x2 =7.590,15.551,and 3.741,respectively,all P＜0.05).HPV16 and HPV43 infection rates were reduced from 27.3％ at baseline to 15.6％ and 13.0％,respectively at month 36 of cART (x2 =16.92 and 14.86,respectively,both P＜0.05).Condyloma acuminate incidence also reduced from 16.9％ at baseline to 5.2％ at month 36 (x2 =4.069,P＜0.05).Conclusions The prevalence of anal HPV infection in HIV-positive MSM is higher than HIV-negative MSM.cART could reduce the prevalence of anal HPV infection rate and condyloma acuminate incidence,especially high-risk HPV infection.