This study was aimed to investigate the immunological effect of modified dendritic cells (DC) which inducing cytotoxic T cells (CTL) against lymphoma cells. The DC were isolated from the lymph node and peripheral blood of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). DC were transfected with recombinant adenovirus vector carrying human p53 gene (rAd-p53-DC). The expression of p53 gene was detected by flow cytometry. Western-blot was used to detect the expression of P53. ELISA was used to detect IL-12 level in supernatant. The mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was used to detect the proliferative ability of auto-lymphocyte stimulated by DC. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release test was used to determine the cytotoxicity of CTL. The results indicates that the expressions of DC surface molecule (except for CD1a) such as CD83, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR were significantly higher in experiment group than that in control group and blank control group. The secretion of IL-12 in supernatant was higher in experiment group than that in control group. The autologous T lymphocyte proliferation and cytotoxic activity against the same kind of DLBL-cells increased in experiment group as compared with control group and blank control group (P < 0.05). The ability to stimulate T lymphocyte proliferation increased with the rising of the ratio of DC and T lymphocyte. However, there was statistically significant difference between rAd-p53-DC derived from Lymph node and peripheral blood (P < 0.05). It is concluded that rAd-p53-transfected DC can induce CTL response in vitro against lymphoma cells.
Adenoviridae ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Genes, p53 ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; blood ; immunology ; Transfection

Low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PB) are associated with newborn mortality and diseases in adulthood.We explored factors related to LBW and PB by conducting a population-based case-control study from January 2011 to December 2013 in Wuhan,China.A total of 337 LBW newborn babies,472 PB babies,and 708 babies with normal birth weights and born from term pregnancies were included in this study.Information of newborns and their parents was collected by trained investigators using questionnaires and referring to medical records.Univariate and logistic regression analyses with the stepwise selection method were used to determine the associations of related factors with LBW and PB.Results showed that maternal hypertension (OR=6.78,95％ CI:2.27-20.29,P=0.001),maternal high-risk pregnancy (OR=1.53,95％ CI:1.06-2.21,P=0.022),and maternal fruit intake ≥300 g per day during the first trimester (OR=1.70,95％ CI:1.17-2.45,P=0.005) were associated with LBW.BMI ≥24 kg/m2 of mother prior to delivery (OR=0.48,95％ CI:0.32-0.74,P=0.001) and gestation ≥37 weeks (OR=0.01,95％ CI:0.00-0.02,P＜0.034) were protective factors for LBW.Maternal hypertension (OR=3.36,95％ CI:1.26-8.98,P=0.016),maternal high-risk pregnancy (OR=4.38,95％ CI:3.26-5.88,P＜0.001),maternal meal intake of only twice per day (OR=1.88,95％ CI:1.10-3.20,P=0.021),and mother liking food with lots of aginomoto and salt (OR=1.60,95％ CI:1.02-2.51,P=0.040) were risk factors for PB.BMI ≥24 kg/m2 of mother prior to delivery (OR=0.66,95％ CI:0.47-0.93,P=0.018),distance of house from road ≥36 meters (OR=0.72,95％ CI:0.53-0.97,P=0.028),and living in rural area (OR=0.60,95％ CI:0.37-0.99,P=0.047) were protective factors for PB.Our study demonstrated some risk factors and protective factors for LBW and PB,and provided valuable information for the prevention of the conditions among newborns.

BACKGROUNDSurgical treatment of thoracic myelopathy caused by ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) and ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is technically demanding, and the results tend to be unfavorable. Various operative approaches and treatment strategies have been attempted, and posterior decompression with transforaminal thoracic interbody fusion (PTTIF) may be the optimal method with which the anterior-posterior compression was removed in one step. It is comparatively less traumatic with fewer serious complications.

METHODSSixteen patients with thoracic myelopathy due to concurrent OLF and OPLL at the same level underwent PTTIF. We investigated clinical outcomes and neurological improvements. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on all patients preoperatively and postoperatively, and intramedullary signal changes were evaluated.

RESULTSThe mean operating time was 275 minutes, and the mean operative bleeding amount was 1031 ml. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurred in three patients and healed well after repair. Neurological symptom deterioration occurred in one patient, but the patient recovered to nearly the preoperative level after methylprednisolone treatment. The follow-up period ranged from 28 to 47 months. The mean score on the Japanese Orthopedic Association scale improved from 4.3±1.2 preoperatively to 7.3±1.7 at 3 months postoperatively to 8.5±1.5 at the final follow-up (P < 0.01), with a recovery rate of (63.6±20.0)%. Postoperative images showed a significant improvement in local kyphosis (P < 0.01). Eleven patients (68.8%) showed increased signal intensity (ISI) on preoperative T2-weighted MRI. At the final follow-up, the intramedullary ISI totally recovered in five patients. Neurological improvement was worse in patients with persistent ISI than in the other patients (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPTTIF is an effective therapeutic option for combined OPLL and OLF and provides satisfactory neurological recovery and stabilized thoracic fusion through a single posterior approach. Intramedullary signal changes do not always indicate a poor prognosis; only irreversible ISI is correlated with a poor clinical result.

Adult ; Aged ; Decompression, Surgical ; Female ; Humans ; Ligamentum Flavum ; pathology ; surgery ; Longitudinal Ligaments ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament ; pathology ; surgery ; Spinal Cord Diseases ; pathology ; surgery

Objective:To assess the midterm clinical and radiological outcomes of internal fixation and fusion for the treatment of Hirayama disease and to evaluate the clinical significance and value of this procedure.Methods:In the study,36 patients were treated with anterior cervical internal fixation and fusion.The clinical outcomes including muscle strength and atrophy were recorded.The radiological outcomes including range of motion of cervical spine and the cross-sectional area of spinal cord at each level on MRI scan were measured before and at 3 month,1 year and 2 years follow-up time points after surgery.Results:(1) Clinical outcomes:all the patients showed no further progression of symptoms except one patient with mild progression of muscular weakness and atrophy.As the time passed by,the ratio of the patients with muscle strength and atrophy improvement increased.There were 26.5 ％ of patients in 3 months,36.0％ in 1 year and 85.7％ in 2 years who experienced muscle strength improvement.8.8％ of patients in 3 months,24.0％ in 1 year and 35.8％ in 2 years felt muscle atrophy improvement.And 12 of the 14 patients showed improved muscle strength and atrophy at the end of 2 years period follow-up.(2) Radiological outcomes:the range of motion (ROM) of C2-C7 was significantly decreased after the operation.The ROM of preoperation was 62.25° ±2.10° and that of 2 years postoperation was 13.67° ± 7.51°(P ＜ 0.01).The spinal cord was of no compression on flexion MRI.The cross-section area of spinal cord on MRI was significantly increased only at C6 level (P ＜0.05) at the end of three months follow-up.The level of increased cross-section area rose to C4-C5-C6 levels (P ＜0.01) in 1 year and to C4-C5-C6-C7 levels at the end of 2 years follow-up P ＜ 0.05).The cross-section area increased 15.60％ at C4,19.08％ at C5,21.60％ at C6 and 23.91％ at C7 with significant difference (P ＜0.05) 2 years after the operation.Conclusion:Anterior cervical internal fixation and fusion is an effective surgical treatment for Hirayama disease and may provide preferable midterm clinical and radiological outcomes.This procedure has clinical significance and value in terms of control of the progression and outcome of this disease.

Aim of this study was to develop the detection method of soluble human leukocyte antigens I (sHLA-I) and to explore sHLA-I level alteration in storage blood and its significance. sHLA-I level in sera of 60 Guangdong normal individuals and sHLA-I concentration in blood components from 20 donors quantitatively were detected by sandwich ELISA. The results showed that sensitivity of this assay was 2.84 ng/ml. Coefficients of variation were 5.80% within assays and 9.00% between assays respectively. The recovery rate was >/= 98.57%. The sHLA-I level of normal individuals in Guangdong was (699.54 +/- 360.10) ng/ml. sHLA-I in red blood cells stored for 28 days and in random-donor platelets were significantly higher than that in other blood components and their amount was proportionate to the number of residual donor leukocytes and to the length of storage. In conclusion, sandwich ELISA assay for detection of sHLA-I is a sensitive, specific and stable technique. Blood components with different concentration of sHLA-I may be chosen for clinical transfusion.
Apoptosis ; Blood Preservation ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; blood ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of intracoronary administration of anisodamine on myocardial blush grade (MBG) and left ventricular regional and global systolic function and synchrony in the acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with no-reflow phenomenon post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSForty-seven AMI patients who underwent PCI within 12 hours of onset and MBG was 0 - 1 were randomized to receive standard therapy [group B, n = 23, 18 males, mean age (62.72 +/- 11.48) years] or standard therapy plus intracoronary administration of anisodamine [200 microg/ml, group A, n = 24, 18 males, mean age (64.23 +/- 12.27) years]. The left ventriculography (LVG) was performed immediately and 6 months after PCI to measure the ventricular volume, LVEDP and wall motion score (WMS). Equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA) was performed 1 week and 6 months after PCI to determine the parameters of left ventricular regional, global systolic function and systolic synchrony. Incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) during the follow-up was analyzed.

RESULTSAnisodamine [(2530 +/- 340) microg/person)] was well tolerated by patients. The MBG remained unchanged in group B and significantly increased from grade 0.74 +/- 0.32 to grade 2.33 +/- 0.28 10 min after anisodamine injection in group B. Six months post PCI, LVESVI [(40.53 +/- 8.12) ml/m(2) vs. (50.32 +/- 8.26) ml/m(2)], LVEDVI [(80.13 +/- 9.74) ml/m(2) vs. (87.17 +/- 10.25) ml/m(2)], WMS [(8.24 +/- 1.31) vs. (10.23 +/- 1.82)] and LVEDP [(13.36 +/- 4.21) vs. (16.38 +/- 3.21) mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa] were significantly lower in group A compared with that in group B (all P < 0.05) while LVEF [(44.02 +/- 5.86)% vs. (38.52 +/- 5.18)%], PER [(1.86 +/- 0.09) EDV/s vs. (1.61 +/- 0.09) EDV/s] and PFR [(2.19 +/- 0.32) EDV/s vs. (1.78 +/- 0.17) EDV/s] measured by ERNA were significantly increased in group A compared with that in group B (all P < 0.05). (2) LrEF(2)-LrEF(8) in group A were higher by 13.96%, 25.02%, 30.36%, 22.86%, 27.67%, 22.07% and 18.71% respectively compared with that in group B. (3) Phase analysis showed that the left ventricular systolic synchrony parameters PS [(46.04 +/- 8.93) degrees vs. (53.19 +/- 162) degrees ], FWHM [(23.02 +/- 6.27) degrees vs. (25.02 +/- 5.31) degrees ] and PSD [(7.92 +/- 4.12) degrees vs. (11.76 +/- 4.11) degrees ] were also significantly lower in group A than that in group B (all P < 0.05). (4) During the 6 months of follow-up, the incidence of MACE in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntracoronary administration of anisodamine is safe and could partly attenuate the no-reflow phenomenon, improve the left ventricular systolic function and synchrony and reduce the incidence of MACE in patients with no-reflow phenomenon post AMI-PCI.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Myocardial Reperfusion ; Solanaceous Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Ventricular Function

AIM To explore the effect of Heidihuang Pills on renal fibrosis in a rat model of chronic renal failure(CRF)and its mechanism.METHODS Wistar rats were randomly divided into the blank group for normal feeding and the model group for the establishment of CRF rat models by 5/6 nephrectomy.Subsequently,the successfully established rat models were randomly divided into the model group,the Heidihuang Pills group(10.43 g/kg),and the Heidihuang Pills+IGF-1R blocker(JB1)group for a regimen of 7-day subcutaneous injection of 18 μg/kg JB1 followed by gavage of 10.43 g/kg Heidihuang Pills.Eight weeks after the administration,the rats had their serum levels of Scr and BUN detected;their pathological changes of renal tissue observed by HE and Masson staining;their renal protein expressions of TGF-β,HIF-1α and α-SMA detected by immunohistochemistry;their renal protein expressions of IGF-1R and TGF-β detected by Western blot;and their renal mRNA expressions of IGF-1R and TGF-β detected by RT-qPCR.RESULTS Compared with the blank group,the model group displayed increased serum levels of Scr and BUN(P＜0.05);increased,degree of renal fibrosis,and renal fibrosis area(P＜0.05);increased renal expressions of TGF-β,HIF-1α,α-SMA proteins and TGF-β mRNA(P＜0.05);and decreased expressions of IGF-1R mRNA and protein(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the Heidihuang Pills group displayed decreased serum Scr and BUN levels(P＜0.05);decreased inflammatory cells in renal interstitium and the fibrosis degree(P＜0.05);decreased renal expressions of TGF-β,HIF-1α,α-SMA proteins and TGF-β mRNA(P＜0.05);and increased expressions of IGF-1R mRNA and protein(P＜0.05).However,the administration of JB1 could weaken the improvement effect of Heidihuang Pills on renal fibrosis in CRF rats(P＜0.05).CONCLUSION Heidihuang Pills can inhibit the renal fibrosis in CRF rats,and the inhibition process is related to up-regulated IGF-1 expression and promoted combination of IGF-1 and IGF-1R.

Epigenetic abnormalities not only associated with carcinogenesis, they may also influence the curative effect and prognosis of anticancer drugs through modifying pharmacokinetic genes related to drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and pharmacodynamic genes related to signaling pathways and targets. That drugs through regulating epigenetic factors pocessing anti-cancer effect is becoming a research hot spot. We summarized and analyzed the realtionship of DNA methylation, miRNA, and histone modification with antitumor drug effect, aiming at promoting rational use of antitumor drugs and providing new ideas on developing epi-drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Histones ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics

Multidrug resistance (MDR) in human cancer is one of greatest challenges in cancer therapy. Natural products, especially the alkaloids, exert reversed effects on MDR with low toxicity, by interacting with various targets. In this review article, we summarize the recent progress made in the research of the main alkaloids, including classification, function, mechanism, research status, and application in reversing MDR.
Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Animals ; Biological Products ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Drug Antagonism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy

BACKGROUNDS: Cervical posterior decompression surgery is used to relieve ventral compression indirectly by incorporating a backward shift of the spinal cord, and this indirect decompression is bound to be limited. This study aimed to determine the decompression limit of posterior surgery and the effect of the decompression range. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 129 patients who underwent cervical open-door laminoplasty through 2008 to 2012 and were grouped as follows: C4-C7 (n = 11), C3-C6 (n = 61), C3-C7 (n = 32), and C2-C7 (n = 25). According to the relative location of spinal levels within a decompression range, the type of decompression at a given level was categorized as external decompression (ED; achieved at the levels located immediately external to the decompression range margin), internal decompression (ID; achieved at the levels located immediately internal to the decompression range margin), and central decompression (CD; achieved at the levels located in the center, far from the decompression range margin). The vertebral-cord distance (VCD) was used to evaluate the decompression limit. The C2-C7 angle and VCD on post-operative magnetic resonance images were analyzed and compared between groups. The relationship between VCD and decompression type was analyzed. Moreover, the relationship between the magnitude of the ventral compressive factor and the probability of post-operative residual compression at each level for different decompression ranges was studied. RESULTS: There was no significant kyphosis in cervical curvature (> -5°), and there was no significant difference among the groups (F = 2.091, P = 0.105). The VCD of a specific level depended on the decompression type of the level and followed this pattern: ED < ID < CD (P < 0.05). The decompression type of a level was sometimes affected by the decompression range. For a given magnitude of the ventral compressive factor, the probability of residual compression was lower for the group with the larger VCD at this level. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that the decompression range affected the decompression limit by changing the decompression type of a particular level. For a given cervical spinal level, the decompression limit significantly varied with decompression type as follows: ED < ID < CD. CD provided maximal decompression limit for a given level. A reasonable range of decompression could be determined based on the relationship between the magnitude of the ventral compressive factor and the decompression limits achieved by different decompression ranges.