Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is prevalent in Southeast Asia, especially in the area of southern China. It is acknowl-edged that NPC is absolutely related to EBV infection. Nevertheless, there are just a few researches about the relationship between the level of EBV antibodies and the tumor stages and it hasn't come to conclusion. This review makes a summary on present research progress and would be valuable for the better understanding of the contribution of EBV antibodies to the tumor stages in NPC.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a biological factor associated with gastric carcinoma. The prognosis of EBV-associated gastric car-cinoma (EBVaGC) is good because of its distinct clinicopathological features. The pathogenesis mechanism of EBVaGC is extensively in-vestigated at present. The development of molecular techniques has stimulated the research on the expression of EBV genes in EB-VaGC, thereby providing a theoretical foundation on the diagnosis, therapy, and prevention of EBVaGC. This article reviewed present research advances in EBV genes in EBVaGC.

OBJECTIVETo observe the characteristics of sperm single-stranded DNA breaks (SSB) and double-stranded DNA breaks (DSB) in infertile men, explore the association of DSB with male infertility, and provide a new observation index and idea for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

METHODSThis study involved 60 infertile men (infertility group) and 30 normal healthy males with infertile wives (control group). We comparatively analyzed the seminal parameters of the two groups, determined sperm concentration and viability using the computer aided sperm analysis system, measured the sperm survival rate by hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test, examined sperm morphology by Diff-Quick staining, and detected sperm DNA damage by two-tail comet assay.

RESULTSNine two-tail comet models were established for detecting sperm DNA integrity. Comparisons between the fertility and control groups showed that the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was (33.8 ± 13.1) vs (16.3 ± 7.9)% (P < 0.01), the SSB-DFI was (19.2 ± 11.4) vs (14.9 ± 7.6)% (P > 0.05), the SSB-DFI/DFI was (56.8 ± 32.4) vs (91.4 ± 27.8)% (P < 0.01), the DSB-DFI was (23.9 +13.4) vs (6.1 ± 2.7)% (P < 0.01), and the DSB-DFI/DFI was (70.8 ± 19.5) vs (37.4 ± 11.3)% (P < 0.01). The optimal cut-off value of DSB-DFI/DFI in the diagnosis of male infertility was 39.5%, with the AUG, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.969, 98.3%, and 90%; that of DSB-DFI was 15.85%, with the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.912, 86.7%, and 80%; and that of DFI was 18.65%; with the AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.861, 90%, 70%, respectively. In the infertile men, neither SSB-DFI nor SSB-DFI/DFI exhibited any correlation with semen parameters (P > 0.05); DFI was correlated negatively with the percentage of progressively motile sperm, sperm survival rate, and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), but not correlated with sperm concentration (P > 0.05); both DSB-DFI and DSB-DFI/DFI showed a negative correlation with sperm concentration, sperm survival rate, and the percentages of progressively motile sperm and morphologically normal sperm (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONDouble-stranded, rather than single-stranded DNA breaks, may be a factor inducing male infertility. The type of sperm DNA strand damage is of much reference value for the assessment of male fertility.

Case-Control Studies ; Comet Assay ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; DNA Breaks, Single-Stranded ; DNA Fragmentation ; Fertility ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; Staining and Labeling

Aim at the two problems in the field of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) mechanism elucidation, one is the lack of detailed biological processes information, next is the low efficient in constructing network models, we constructed an auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism and realize the automatic establishment of biological network model. This study used the Entity Grammar Systems (EGS) as the theoretical framework, integrated the data of formulae, herbs, chemical components, targets of component, biological reactions, signaling pathways and disease related proteins, established the formal models, wrote the reasoning engine, constructed the auxiliary elucidation system for the TCM mechanism elucidation. The platform provides an automatic modeling method for biological network model of TCM mechanism. It would be benefit to perform the in-depth research on TCM theory of natures and combination and provides the scientific references for R&D of TCM.
Animals ; Automation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Databases, Factual ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gene Regulatory Networks ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

OBJECTIVEHepatic stellate cells (HSC) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) transdifferentiate into extracellular matrix-producing myofibroblasts. Activated HSC can promote invasion and metastasis of HCC. To understand the differences of HSC in normal liver and HCC, we compared the gene expression patterns in HCC cell induction-activated and culture-activated rat HSC.

METHODSHSC were isolated by density centrifugation and exposed to conditioned medium from rat HCC cell line C5F. Expression of 22 012 genes in quiescent HSC, culture-activated HSC and HCC induction-activated HSC was analyzed by cDNA microarray and confirmed by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS1672 genes were differentially expressed in culture-activated HSC, including proinflammatory factors, cell adhesion molecules, cell surface receptors, signaling transduction molecules and immune factors. 711 genes were differentially expressed in HCC induction-activated HSC. Some of them were identical to those in culture-activated HSC. HCC Induction-activated HSC showed specific gene expression patterns, including Raf1, Rac2, Adam17, Wnt6, MMP-9 and TNF, suggesting that HCC cells can specifically induce HSC activation.

CONCLUSIONThe gene expression patterns in HCC induction-activated HSC are different from those in culture-activated HSC. HCC induction-activated HSC may play a major role in the invasion and metastasis of HCC. In vivo activation should be considered as the standard for the study of HSC biology. HCC induction-activated HSC should be considered as the standard for HSC biology studies.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred F344

This study is to explore the possible mechanisms of the antidepressant-like effect of agmatine. By using two traditional "behavior despair" model, tail suspension test and forced swimming test, we examined the effects of some monoamine receptor antagonists (including beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol, beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist/5-HT1A/1B receptor antagonist pindolol, alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonists yohimbine and idazoxan and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist tropisetron) on the antidepressant-like action of agmatine in mice. Activity of adenylate cyclase (AC) in the synapse membrane from rat frontal cortex was determined by radioimmunoassay. Single dose of agmatine (5-40 mg x kg(-1), ig) dose-dependently decrease the immobility time in tail suspension test in mice, indicating an antidepressant-like effect. The effect of agmatine (40 mg x kg(-1), ig) was antagonized by co-administration of beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist/5-HT1A/1B receptor antagonist pindolol (20 mg x kg(-1), ip), alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonists yohimbine (5-10 mg x kg(-1), ip) or idazoxan (4 mg x kg(-1), ip), but not beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol (5-20 mg x kg(-1), ip) and 5-HT3 receptor antagonist tropisetron (5-40 mg x kg(-1), ip). Agmatine (5-40 mg x kg(-1), ig) also dose-dependently decrease the immobility time in forced swimming test in mice. The effect of agmatine (40 mg x kg(-1), ig) was also antagonized by pindolol (20 mg x kg(-1), ip), yohimbine (5-10 mg x kg(-1), ip), or idazoxan (4 mg x kg(-1), ip). Incubation of agmatine (0.1-6.4 micromol x L(-1)) with the synaptic membrane extracted from rat frontal cortex activated the AC in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. While the effect of agmatine (6.4 micromol x L(-1)) was dose-dependently antagonized by pindolol (1 micromol x L(-1)) or yohimbine (0.25-1 micromol x L(-1)). Chronic treatment with agmatine (10 mg x kg(-1), ig, bid, 2 w) or fluoxetine (10 mg x kg(-1), ig, bid, 2 w) increased the basic activity, as well as the Gpp (NH)p (1-100 micromol x L(-1)) stimulated AC activity in rat prefrontal cortex. These results indicate that regulation on 5-HT1A/1B and alpha2 receptors, and activation AC in the frontal cortex is one of the important mechanisms involving in agmatine's antidepressant-like action.
Adenylyl Cyclases ; metabolism ; Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Agmatine ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Depression ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fenclonine ; pharmacology ; Idazoxan ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Pindolol ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Biogenic Amine ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Serotonin 5-HT1 Receptor Antagonists ; Swimming ; Synapses ; enzymology ; Yohimbine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of repeated renal biopsy-proven primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (PFSGS) in 8 children, and to reveal the relationship between clinical features and pathology, between the two times of renal biopsy pathology, and the indications for repeated renal biopsy.

METHODThe records of cases who ever experienced renal biopsy in this hospital were reviewed, of whom 8 cases of repeated renal biopsy-proven PFSGS were enrolled. The clinical manifestations, the reason why they had renal biopsy again, the difference in renal pathological findings, between the two biopsies and their therapeutic response. The classification of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) was based on the new criteria suggested by D'Agati in 2004.

RESULTOf the 8 cases, age of onset ranged from 1 to 12 years, all were diagnosed as nephrotic syndrome (NS), the age of first biopsy ranged from 1.1 to 15.0 years, and the follow-up period was 10 months to 14 years. The reason for repeated biopsy was poor therapeutic response, continuous heavy proteinuria, or the progressive renal dysfunction. Four cases had the both biopsies in this hospital, and the first renal pathology showed minimal change disease (MCD), mesangial proliferation, FSGS CELL type and FSGS GTL type. After the second biopsy, they were additionally treated with immunosuppressive agents or switched to another one, 2 cases with FSGS COLL type presented renal dysfunction or end stage renal disease (ESRD), 1 case who developed the disease at 1.4 years of age, presented renal dysfunction at 10 months follow-up. The remaining 5 cases acquired complete remission.

CONCLUSIONFSGS is a clinicopathological syndrome, NS predominates clinically. It often indicates pathologic transformation when the patients show poor therapeutic response or continuous heavy proteinuria without remission. Mesangial proliferation can convert into FSGS, and the subtype of FSGS can shift. FSGS COLL type and onset at young age may suggest poor prognosis.

Biopsy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo analysis the clinical and pathological characteristics of children with dense deposit disease (DDD).

METHODS12 Children diagnosed as DDD by electron microscope were enrolled in this study. The clinical and pathological data were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 12 cases, 7 were males and 5 females, mean age 9.1 +/- 3.9 (5-13) years at onset, the duration from onset to renal biopsy was 1 month to 5 years and the follow-up period was 1-9 years. All cases had heavy proteinuria >50 mg/(kg x d), and persistent microscopic hematuria with recurrent gross hematuria during the course. Seven cases had hypertension (> or = 140/100 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg =0. 133 kPa), 5 cases had transient or recurrent abnormal renal function, and mild to severe anemia were observed in 8 cases respectively. All the cases had lower serum C3 (0.15-0.55 g/L). Clinically, 10 cases were diagnosed as nephritic syndrome (one case had partial lipodystrophy at the same time), and 2 cases were diagnosed as acute nephritic syndrome. Immunofluorescence study showed intense deposition of C3 along GBM, TBM and the wall of Bowman's capsule in a ribbon-like pattern and in the mesangial regions as coarse granules in all the cases. Under light microscopy, 9 cases showed the feature of membrane proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), 1 case with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), 1 case with endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis (EnPGN) and 1 case with proliferative sclerosis (PSGN). Crescents were seen in 3 cases. Under electron microscopy, ribbon-like or linear electron-dense intramembranous deposits were identified in the lamina dense of GBM, and often along TBM and the wall of Bowman's capsule. All patients showed steroid resistance. After methylprednisone treatment, some patients showed transient remission. During the follow- up stage of 1-9 years, 3 cases showed normal urinalysis, 5 cases showed partial remission, 2 cases progressed to end stage renal disease (ESRD) and 2 cases were lost.

CONCLUSIONDDD is an in dependently rare disease with pathological-clinical varieties. Children with DDD presented with persistently lower C3, heavy proteinuria, recurrent gross hematuria and anemia. The characteristic immunopathologic finding is intense deposition of C3 along the GBM. Under electron microscopy, ribbon-like or linear electron-dense deposits in the lamina dense of the GBM, TBM and the wall of Bowman's capsule. Electron microscopic examination to demonstrate the intramembranous dense deposits is definitive diagnosis, regardless of the finding of light microscopy. All of them showed steroid resistant. Patients with steroid and CTX treatment showed some clinical improvement of their urinalysis.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; pathology ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male

This study was aimed to establish the cell lines of human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) tax gene expression and their biological activity. The eukaryotic vector pCMV-tax and pCMV-neo-Bam were transfected into Jurkat E6-1 by using liposome, following screening with G418, the tax gene expression cell line-TaxP and the negative cell lines-TaxN were selected and enriched. Then, the mRNA expressions of LAT, SLP70, ZAP70 and NF-kappaB (p65) were measured by using RT-PCR; the NF-kappaB bioactivity was tested after transfecting the pNF-kappaB-Luc plasmids into TaxP and TaxN cells; meanwhile CD25, CD69 expressions on surface of the two cell lines were tested by flow cytometry. The results showed that TaxP and TaxN cell lines were established and the tax gene expression was detected; as compared with TaxN, the mRNA expressions of LAT, SLP70 and ZAP70 in TaxP were enhanced (p<0.05), while the NF-kappaB bioactivity in TaxP cells was stronger than that in TaxN cells (p<0.01). The CD25, CD69 on TaxP cells surface was highly expressed. It is concluded that TaxP and TaxN cell lines are established, TAX protein could promote the activation of T cells and activate the NF-kappaB pathway.
Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; Genes, pX ; Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVEAnalyze Naive and Mermory T cell subsets in HIV/AIDS patients and investigate their relationship with disease development.

METHODST cell subsets from 15 normal control subjects, 79 HIV/ AIDS patients were detected by FCM.

RESULTSWith diesase progression, CD4+ Naive cell counts and ratio was both decreased obviously (P < 0.001); CD4+ Tcm cell counts was significantly decreased (P < 0.001), CD4+ Tcm cell ratio was obviously higher (P = 0.002); CD4 TEM cell ratio was obviously increased( P < 0.001); CD8+ T Naive cell counts and ratio was also decreased obviously (P < 0.05); CD8+ T(CM), T(EM), T(EMRA) are not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONSThe peripheral lymphocyte subsets in HIV/AIDS patients changed obviously. The counts of naive T cell decreased, while the proportion of memory T cell increased significantly. It will help to understand pathogenesis of HIV.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; immunology ; virology ; Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; HIV ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology