Objective　To study the effects of recombinant BCG-Sj26GST vaccine of schistosoma japonicum of TNF-α and IL-1 produced by spleen cells of mice.Methods　In experiment 1,BALB/C mice were immnized subcutaneously by 106 and 108 CFU vaccine respectively,challenged with Sj cercariae on 8 w of immunization and killed on 6 w of infection to separate spleens,PBS served as control;in experiment 2,after immunized subcutaneously and intravenously by 106 CFU vaccine respectively,4 mice were killed to separate sleens on 0,4,8,10,14 and 16 w of immunization,spleen cells were stimulated by Sj26 or mitogens,the level of TNF-α in supernatant of spleen cells were detected by ELISA,that of IL-1 by fibroblast proliferative response.Results　Levels of TNF-α and IL-1 increased obviously by immunization with the vaccine against challenge with Sj cercariae;dynamic observation showed that TNF-α and IL-1 in the subcutaneous group reached the highest level on 4～8 w;that in the intravenous group on 16 w and 4～8 w respectively.Conclusions　Recombinant BCG-Sj26GST vaccine of schistosoma japonicum may promote spleen cell of mice to secrete TNF-α and IL-1 early,these cytokines may play an important role in protective immunity against schistosomiasis.

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare the effects of natural colloid and artificial colloid on pulmonary edema of swine during shock stage of severe burn injury.

METHODSTwelve Guangxi Bama miniature swine were inflicted with 40% TBSA full-thickness burn on the back, and then they were divided into natural colloid group (N) and artificial colloid group (A) according to the random number table, with six swine in each group. At post injury hour (PIH) 2, fluid resuscitation was begun. The main part of electrolyte was lactic acid Ringer's solution. The colloids included swine plasma and hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4. Before injury and at every hour within PIH 48, heart rate, blood pressure, urine volume, central venous pressure (CVP), and pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) were recorded. The mean heart rate, blood pressure, urine volume per hour per kg of body weight, CVP, PAWP, resuscitation liquid volume, and the ratio of fluid intake to output during the first and second PIH 24 were calculated. At PIH 48, lung tissue was harvested for histopathological observation and calculation of lung water ratio. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance, analysis of variance of repeated measurement, LSD test and independent sample t test.

RESULTS(1) There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in heart rate, blood pressure, and urine volume before injury and during the first and second PIH 24 (P values all above 0.05); during the first PIH 24, the CVP and PAWP of group A were significantly higher than those of group N (P values all below 0.05). Compared with those before injury, the heart rate, CVP and PAWP of two groups during the first and second PIH 24 were significantly higher (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01); the urine volume of group N was decreased during the first PIH 24 (P < 0.05), while there was no significant change in group A (P > 0.05); the urine volumes of two groups during the second PIH 24 were increased, while no statistically significant differences were observed (P values all above 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in blood pressure of two groups between the first, second PIH 24 and before injury (P values all above 0.05). (2) There were no statistically significant differences in the resuscitation liquid volume and fluid intake to output ratio between two groups during the first and second PIH 24 (P values all above 0.05). (3) The alveolar septum was found widened in varying degrees, and there were edema fluid accumulating and inflammatory cell infiltrating within the pulmonary interstitial of lung tissue sections in both two groups. (4) The lung water ratio of group N [(71 ± 10)%] was not statistically significant different from that of group A [(79 ± 4)%, t = -1.753, P > 0.05].

CONCLUSIONSThe natural colloid or artificial colloid (hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4) applied during shock stage had similar effects on pulmonary edema in swine with severe burn.

Animals ; Burns ; complications ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fluid Therapy ; methods ; Pulmonary Edema ; etiology ; Shock ; complications ; therapy ; Swine

BACKGROUNDThe vaccination of mice with DNA encoding single candidate antigens has failed to induce significant protection against Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) challenge infections. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of using a multivalent DNA vaccine which co-expressed S. japonicum integral membrane protein Sj23 and murine cytokine IL-12 to induce protective immune responses.

METHODSThe plasmid pVIVO2-IL12-Sj23, a eukaryotic expression vector expressing Sj23 and murine IL-12 simultaneously, was constructed, identified, and tested for expression in vitro. Its ability to protect against S. japonicum challenge infections was analyzed according to worm reduction rate and egg reduction rate after vaccination of BALB/c mice. The serum levels of specific IgG antibody were determined by enzyme-linked-immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis. Using cultured spleen cells, IFN-gamma and IL-4 post-stimulation were quantified by ELISA. The phenotypes of splenocyte populations were analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSThe plasmid DNA pVIVO2-IL12-Sj23 was proven to express well in vitro by transient transfection of HEK-293 cells. Immunization resulted in a worm reduction rate of 45.53% and egg reduction rate of 58.35%. ELISA and Western blot analysis indicated that immunized mice generated specific IgG against Sj23. Spleen cells showed significant increases in IFN-gamma but decreases in IL-4. No significant differences in CD4+ and CD8+ subgroup ratios were observed after the challenges.

CONCLUSIONSThe multivalent DNA vaccine pVIVO2-IL12-Sj23 is sufficient to elicit moderate but highly significant levels of protective immunity against challenge infections. Cytokine IL-12, as a gene adjuvant, was able to enhance the Th1 responses and, hence, the protective immunity.

Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; blood ; Antigens, Helminth ; genetics ; immunology ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Cytokines ; biosynthesis ; Helminth Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Interleukin-12 ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Schistosoma japonicum ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology

BACKGROUNDRecently congenital infection with Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) has been demonstrated in pigs, rabbits, mice and dogs. We explored the rabbit as an animal model for the congenital infection of schistosomiasis japonica and assessed the effect of a congenital S. japonicum infection on the resistance of rabbit kittens to a postnatal challenge infection.

METHODSSixteen pregnant New Zealand white rabbits were infected with a single dose of S. japonicum cercariae. The exposed animals were divided into three groups according to the gestation age at the time of infection. Diagnosis of prenatally acquired S. japonicum infection in the rabbit kittens was primarily based on serological tests in combination with parasitological and histopathological findings. Congenitally infected kittens were challenged percutaneously with 100 S. japonicum cercariae to assess the effect of a congenital S. japonicum infection on kitten resistance to a postnatal challenge infection.

RESULTSThe overall prevalence of congenital infection in offspring of infected mothers was 20% (12/60). The congenital infection rate in group L (late gestation) was much higher than in group E (early gestation) and group M (mid-gestation) (P <0.05). After a postnatal challenge infection, prenatally infected kittens had a 54.66% worm reduction rate, 41.45% egg reduction rate, and 51.76% granuloma size reduction rate compared to naïve kittens.

CONCLUSIONSThis study demonstrates the possibility of congenital infection of S. japonicum in rabbits and the resistance of congenitally infected kittens to a postnatal challenge infection. These results have important implications not only for epidemiological investigations, but also in designing government control programs for schistosomiasis.

Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; blood ; Female ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Rabbits ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; congenital ; immunology ; parasitology

The purpose of this study was to develop docetaxel-poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) loaded nanoparticles by using nanoprecipitation method and optimize the relative parameters to obtain nanoparticles with higher encapsulation efficiency and smaller size. The physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles were studied. The optimized parameters were as follows: the oil phase was mixture of acetone and ethanol, concentration of tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) was 0.2%, the ratio of oil phase to water phase was 1:5, and the theoretical drug concentration was 5%. The optimized nanoparticles were spherical with size between 130 and 150 nm. The encapsulation efficiency was (40.83±2.1)%. The in vitro release exhibited biphasic pattern. The results indicate that docetaxel-PLGA nanoparticles were successfully fabricated and may be used as the novel vehicles for docetaxel, which would replace Taxotere® and play great roles in future.
Acetone ; chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Fractional Precipitation ; methods ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; ultrastructure ; Nanotechnology ; methods ; Particle Size ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Polyglycolic Acid ; chemistry ; Succinates ; chemistry ; Surface Properties ; Taxoids ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics

Selective dorsal neurotomy (SDN) is a surgical treatment for primary premature ejaculation (PE), but there is still no standard surgical procedure for selecting the branches of the dorsal penile nerves to be removed. We performed this study to explore the value of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) of the penile sensory-evoked potential (PSEP) for standard surgical procedures in SDN. One hundred and twenty primary PE patients undergoing SDN were selected as the PE group and 120 non-PE patients were selected as the normal group. The PSEP was monitored and compared between the two groups under both natural and general anesthesia (GA) states. In addition, patients in the PE group were randomly divided into the IONM group and the non-IONM group. During SDN surgery, PSEP parameters of the IONM group were recorded and analyzed. The differences in PE-related outcome measurements between the perioperative period and 3 months' postoperation were compared for the PE patients, and the differences in effectiveness and complications between the IONM group and the non-IONM group were compared. The results showed that the average latency of the PSEP in the PE group was shorter than that in the normal group under both natural and GA states (P < 0.001). Three months after surgery, the significant effective rates in the IONM and non-IONM groups were 63.6% and 34.0%, respectively (P < 0.01), and the difference in complications between the two groups was significant (P < 0.05). IONM might be useful in improving the short-term therapeutic effectiveness and reducing the complications of SDN.
Male ; Humans ; Premature Ejaculation/surgery* ; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring/methods* ; Prospective Studies ; Neurosurgical Procedures/methods* ; Penis/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies