Objective To investigate the influences of mutation at precore and basic core promoter(BCP) region in hepatitis B virus(HBV) on the immune response of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTL) in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods The number of specific CTL in peripheral blood mononuclear(PBMC) of CHB patients were tested by cytokine flow cytome- try(CFC) and HBV core18-27 peptide.HBV precore and BCP fragments were directly sequenced. Results Twenty-one(38.9%) samples were HBV precore G1896A mutation.Twenty-six(48.1%) samples were BCP region 1762/1764 combined mutation.Thirteen(24.1%) stains were three sites mutated simultaneously.Stimulated with HBV core 18-27 in vitro,the specific CTL level was signifi- cantly higher in the patients with G1896A mutation and BCP region mutation [(0.41?0.09)%, (0.36?0.08)%,(0.48?0.08)%,respectively]than those without mutation[(0.11?0.06)%, P

Objective To examine expression of PTEN gene in ovarian cancer cisplatin-sensitive cell line OV2008 cells and cisplatin-resistant cell line C13K cells,and evaluate the effect of wild-type PTEN gene on reversing cisplatin-resistance of C13K cells and underlying mechanisms.Methods The expression of PTEN mRNA and protein in OV2008 and C13K cells were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and western blot.Recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid containing human wild-type PTEN gene was transfected into C13K cells by lipofectamine 2000.The expression of PTEN mRNA was monitored by RT- PCR and the expression of PTEN,protein kinase B(AKT),phospho-AKT(p-AKT)protein were analyzed by western blot in PTEN transfected and untransfected C13K cells.Proliferation and chemosensitivity of cells to cisplatin were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT),and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry after treatment with cisplatin.Results(1)The expression of PTEN mRNA and protein(1.02 ?0.05,1.02?0.07)in OV2008 cells were significantly higher than those in C13K cells,which were 0.45 ?0.03 and 0.55?0.03 respectively(P

Objective To compare early-stage clinical features and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis neuroendocrine function in first-episode and untreated major depressive disorders with suicide and without suicide. Methods Untreated patients who had a diagnosis as major depression according to ICD-10 were allocated to suicide with major depressive disorder group or non-suicide with major depressive disorder group according to whether the pa?tients had suicidal ideation or behaviours. Patients were assessed before treatment using the 17-item Hamilton Depres?sion Scale (HAMD-17), the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) and the suicide assessment scale. The cortisol (CORT) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels in serum were measured using a chemiluminescence immunoassay. Results There was no significant difference in demographic data be?tween the two groups (P>0.05). In early-stage clinical features, there were significant differences in changes of sexual ac? tivity and feeling of despair (P<0.05). HAMD total scores were significantly higher in the suicide group (P<0.01), whereas HAMA total scores and Y-BOCS total scores were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in CORT or ACTH levels between two groups (P>0.05). There were no significant correlation of suicidal scores with early-stage clinical features, symptom scales scores, CORT or ACTH levels (P>0.05). Conclusion De?creased sexual desire and feeling of despair are more severe in depressed patients with suicide than those without. There is no correlation of early-stage clinical features or HPA axis functions with suicide in patients with depression.

This paper reviewed the reports, published in recent years in China, concerning the mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicines in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), trying to find out its preponderant targets and links, for elevating the level of TCM for prevention and treatment of COPD.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; drug therapy

Objective To explore the clinical value of Doppler flow spectrums of umbilical artery and ductus venosus in fetus with arrhythmia by Doppler ultrasound in evaluating the fetal prognosis.Methods Umbilical artery and ductus venosus flow spectrums were obtained in a total of 796 pregnancies with gestation age between 16-41 weeks who were found abnormal heart rhythm by maternity auscultation,fetal electronic monitoring or ultrasound.All these fetuses were followed up by electrocardiography and echocardiography examination until the end of pregnancy and the pregnancy outcomes were recorded.Results Among 796 fetuses,136 cases of fetal arrhythmia were detected.There were 18 cases appeared with umbilical artery absent or reversed end-diastolic flow,and 9 cases with absent or reversed wave A.Among 18 fetuses with arrhythmia whose blood flow spectrums of umbilical artery were abnormal,twelve were compared with congenital heart disease.The proportion of fetal bradycardia associated with abnormal flow spectrums and congenital heart disease were higher than other types of arrhythmias.Conclusions Pregnancy outcome of the fetus with arrhythmias who appeared with normal umbilical artery and ductus venosus will be good,and conversely is poor.So Doppler flow spectrums of the fetal umbilical artery and ductus venosus is one of the important indicators in early intervention.

Objective To evaluate the blood supply features and effectiveness of arterial chemoembolization for pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Angiography and chemoembolization via supplying blood arteries of tumor were performed in five patients with pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Interventional procedure was carried out with tumor vascular infusion of 350 mg hot elemene emulsion and tumor embolization by cisplantin-lipidol emulsion(cisplantin 60-80 mg+lipidol 8-15 ml)and glutin.Results Ten interventional procedures(TACE)were undertaken in 5 patients.Angiography showed that tumor blood supply mainly coming from collateral circulation adjacent to the tumors,but partially from hepatic artery.Tumor sizes decreased from 30% to 50% in 5 cases,and AFP declined in 4 cases after the treatment. Conclusion Pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma possessing different blood supply features from intrahepatocellular carcinomas.But transarterial ehemoembolization is still an effective method of choice for this treatment.

Objective To discuss the short-term clinical effect including functional change of lipiodol- arsenic trioxide emulsion on the primary hepatic carcinoma.Methods Fifty-two patients undergone arterial chemoemblization were selected and then randomly divided into two groups:treatment group(n=27)and control group(n=25).Patients in treatment group were treated with lipiodol-arsenic trioxide,while those in control group treated with mitomycin,epirubicin,cisplatin or lipiodol.Clinical symptoms and six liver function parameters were observed and analized.Results The clinical symptoms of patients in treatment group improved much better than those in control group,and the liver function impairment of patients in treatment group also decreased more than those in control group.Conclusions Lipiodol-arsenic trioxide is an effective and safe intervention-therapeutic embolization material for primary hepatic carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the effects of radix salviae militiorrhizae (RSM) on acute lung injury induced by"two hits"and to study its probable mechanism.Method Thirty Wister rats were randomly divided into three groups:namely normal control group,model group and RSM treatment group.The model was created by"two-hits"in which 0.2 ml/kg oleic acid was injected into tail vein first,and then 2 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide was administered four hours later.After model rats sacrificed,the pathological changes of lung were observed,and lung wet/dry weight ratio,protein content,and the ratio of neutrophiles in brochoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were calculated.In addition,the expression of Fas,FasL protein and apoptosis were evaluated by immunohistochemical studies and TUNEL technique.Results The acute lung injury rat model was successfully induced by"two hits".The gross and micrographic injury of lung was milder in RSM treatment rats than in model rats.The W/D ratio,protein contents and the ratio of neutrophiles in BALF were also markedly reduced in comparison with model rats,while the expression of Fas and Fasl,and the apoptosis index in model rats were significantly increased compared with other two groups.Furthermore,it showed a positive correlation between the expression of Fas,FasL,and the number of cell with apoptosis.Conclusions RSM shows a protective effect on ALT rats caused by"two hits"likely reaulted from inhibiting the expressions of Fas and Fasl,which are associated with the cell apoptosis of lung tissue.

Objective To explore the clinical value of two dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography in diagnosis of infants with coarctation of the aorta(CoA),and to analyse the cause of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.Methods The echocardiographic characteristics of 87 infants with CoA were analyzed retrospectively,and the results were compared with surgical findings.Results Seventy-five patients were correctly diagnosed,while 9 patients were missed and 3 patients were misdiagnosed.Discrete coarctation was found in 67 cases,whereas tubular coarctation was detected in 8 cases of CoA.Conclusions Mastering the echocardiographic characteristics of infants with CoA and carefully scanning the sternum nest section,combined with two dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography,could avoid missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

Objective To investigate the association of body mass index(BMI)with metabolic status and chronic complications in newly-diagnosed Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.Methods A total of 515 newly- diagnosed adults type 2 diabetic patients were categorized into underweight(BMI