Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be propagated indefinitely, while maintaining the capacity to differentiate into all cell types in the body except for the extra-embryonic tissues. This iPSC technology not only represents a new way to use individual-specific stem cells for regenerative medicine but also constitutes a novel method to obtain large numbers of disease-specific cells for biomedical research. However, the low efficiency of reprogramming and genomic integration of oncogenes and viral vectors limit the potential application of iPSCs. Chemical-induced reprogramming offers a novel approach to generating iPSCs. In this study, a new combination of small-molecule compounds (SMs) (sodium butyrate, A-83-01, CHIR99021, Y-27632) under conditions of transient folate deprivation was used to generate iPSC. It was found that transient folate deprivation combined with SMs was sufficient to permit reprogramming from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) in the presence of transcription factors, Oct4 and Klf4, within 25 days, replacing Sox2 and c-Myc, and accelerated the generation of mouse iPSCs. The resulting cell lines resembled mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells with respect to proliferation rate, morphology, pluripotency-associated markers and gene expressions. Deprivation of folic acid, combined with treating MEFs with SMs, can improve the inducing efficiency of iPSCs and reduce their carcinogenicity and the use of exogenous reprogramming factors.

Objective To study the effect of topiramate(TPM) on serum level of leptin and the expression of neuropeptide Y(NPY) in arcuate nucleus and their relationship with weight changes in pentetruzole-induced epileptic rats,and to explore the mechanism that TPM could reduce the weight.Methods One hundred and fifteen Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:blank control group,TPM contrast group,pentylenetetrazol(PTZ) model group,and TPM group.Weight changes were measured every 3 days.Serum leptin level was detected with rodioimmunity method and hypothalamic arcuate nucleus NPY expression was measured by immunohistochemical ABC technique at the 2~(nd),4~(th),6~(th) weekend,respectively.Results In TPM control group and TPM group weight loss appeared in the 4~(th) week compared with other groups at the 3~(rd) weekend and fell to the lowest at 4~(th) weekend(P

OBJECTIVEParkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, has been reported to be associated with brain neuroinflammation in its pathogenesis. Herein, changes in peripheral immune system were determined to better understand PD pathogenesis and provide possible target for treatment of PD through improvement of immune disorder.

METHODS1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was intraperitoneally injected into mice to prepare PD model. Expression levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and transcription factors of CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes and concentrations of the cytokines in serum were examined on day 7 after MPTP injection. Percentages of CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets were measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSMPTP induced PD-like changes such as motor and behavioral deficits and nigrostriatal impairment. Expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines including interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-17 and IL-22, in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes were upregulated and their concentrations in serum were elevated in PD progression. But, the concentrations of the anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL-4, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β were not altered in the two lymphoid tissues or serum of PD mice. In addition, expression of T-box in T cells (T-bet), the specific transcription factor of helper T (Th) 1 cells, was downregulated, but expression of transcription factor forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), the transcription factor of regulatory T (Treg) cells, was upregulated. In support of the results, the numbers of IFN-γ-producing CD4+ cells (Th1 cells) were reduced but CD4+CD25+ cells (Treg cells) were elevated in both the lymphoid tissues of PD mice.

CONCLUSIONPD has a dysfunction of peripheral immune system. It manifests enhancement of proinflammatory response and CD4+ T cell differentiation bias towards Treg cells away from Th1 cells.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cytokines ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Flow Cytometry ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Lymph Nodes ; cytology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Mice ; Parkinson Disease ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Spleen ; cytology ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th1 Cells ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood

OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term clinical efficacy of endoscopic surgery of primary sinonasal malignant neoplasms and find out the potential postoperative prognostic factors. METHOD: Forty-three clinical cases of primary sinonasal malignant neoplasms treated under endoscopy were analyzed retrospectively. RESULT: Fifteen patients died. The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 83. 7% (36/43), 74. 4% (32/43), 69. 8% (30/43) and 65. 1% (28/43), respectively. Kaplan-Meier single-variable analysis showed that gender, T grade, TNM stage and pathological types of olfactory neuroblastoma were statistically significant prognostic factors (P< 0. 05). COX Pro-Portional hazard models showed that TNM stage was an independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION Endoscopic surgery for primary sinonasal malignant neoplasms is a safe and effective minimally invasive surgical treatment, and it is an important supplement to the traditional surgery. Gender, T grade, TNM stage and pathological types of olfactory neuroblastoma might be significant prognostic factors.
Endoscopy ; Esthesioneuroblastoma, Olfactory ; surgery ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; pathology ; surgery ; Nose Neoplasms ; surgery ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To compare the differences of five diagnostic criteria used for metabolic syndrome (MS),issued by International Diabetes Federation (IDF),the National Cholesterol Education Program (ATPIII),America-Heart-Associatien (AHA),Chinese Medical Association Diabetes Branch (CDS) and The Taiwan Health Bureau (TAIWAN),during a physical check-up program among population aged 35-74 years,in Taiwan.Methods A total number of 28 408 people who had received physical checkup program first time at the MJ centers,were recruited from 2005 to 2007.The prevalence of MS and the degree of agreement were both calculated according to the five definitions and the results of MS components.Distributions and risk factor aggregation of the results were also analyzed.Results According to the five definitions (1)The range of age-adjusted prevalence of MS appeared to be 10.6%(CDS)23.6%(AHA),and were 13.4%(CDS)-27.6%(AliA)and 8.0%(CDS)-20.5%(IDF) for men and women respectively.(2) The range of five MS components were 22.5%(low-HDL-C)-39.7%(high FPG),with 22.3%of the total subjects presented at least 3 risk factors.In addition,0%(AHA),6.7%(TAIWAN),6.9%(ATP III),8.9%(IDF) and 14.9%(CDS) of the subjects diagnosed as MS-free,by the five criterions,also appeared of having≥3 risk factors.(3) Among all the MS subjects,the proportions of clinical symptom complex,having 5,4 and 3 MS components were 8.0%,29.5%and 62.5%respectively.The most common clinical symptoms complex of MS were obesity,hypertension and high FPG.(4) The MS diagnostic criteria of ATPIII,AHA and TAIWAN were in good accordance with Kappa index,showing 0.81-0.98 for the three criteria.CDS and IDF were in relatively weak agreementwhen comparing with other definitions with Kappa index showed as 0.35 and 0.62.Conclusion Our findings revealed big differences in the prevalence and aggregation of risk components on MS,when using the five definitions.We suggested that prospective cohort studies be planned to investigate the impact on cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality so as to verify whies criterion might be suitable to the population in Taiwan,considering the possible bias.

Total 967 patients with diabetes mellitus treated in Morindawa People's Hospital from June 2012 to June 2014 were included in the study,among them 425 (44.0％) were of Daur nationality and 542 (56.0％) were of Han nationality.The clinical data and laboratory tests were analyzed and compared between two groups.Compared with Han nationality,Daur patients presented a younger average age[(55 ± 1 1) y vs.(58 ± 1 0) y,P=0.000],an earlier age of onset[(50±10)y vs.(53 ± 1 1) y,P=0.000],a higher percentage of males (54.8％ vs.46.9％,P =0.008),a higher percentage of rural residents (42.1％ vs.36.2％,P =0.034),a lower level of fasting blood-glucose (FBG) [(9.25 ± 3.37) mmol/L vs.(10.28 ±4.33) mmol/L,P =0.000],higher levels of HbA1c [(7.61 ± 1.71)％ vs.(7.29 ± 1.63)％,P=0.008],triglyceride (TG) [(2.91 ±2.06) mmol/L vs.(2.36 ±2.13) mmol/L,P =0.008],low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) [(3.22 ± 1.06) mmol/L vs.(3.01 ±0.92)mmol/L,P=0.020],systolic blood pressure (SBP) [(139.48 ± 21.58) mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa) vs.(136.37 ± 23.44) mmHg,P =0.002],diastolic blood pressure (DBP) [(87.23 ± 12.59) mmHg vs.(85.32 ± 12.52) mmHg,P =0.019],blood uric acid [(324.97 ± 106.45) μmol/L vs.(285.32 ± 98.69) μmol/L,P =0.000] and the ratio of urine microalbumin to urine creatinine [(2.29 ±5.57) mg/g vs.(0.12 ±0.98) mg/g,P =0.000].The results show that Daur diabetic patients are.younger in age,with more severe disorders in HbA1 c,blood pressure,blood uric acid and lipids levels,which increase the probability of renal damage or cardiovascular diseases in these patients.

Castleman Disease ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Complement 3b ; metabolism ; Thoracic Diseases ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Thoracic Wall ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Adenoids ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Radiographic Image Enhancement ; methods ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

BACKGROUNDStreptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is the prime pathogen of dental caries. There are few reports that studied the relationship between S. mutans, bacteria and dental caries in permanent teeth when compared to those in primary teeth. This study aimed to detect S. mutans and bacteria of dental caries and non-caries groups in permanent teeth from a north China population by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and compare the relationship between the number of these bacteria and the prevalence of dental caries in permanent teeth.

METHODSHuman saliva samples were collected from 142 subjects with permanent teeth. According to their dental tooth (DT), 142 subjects were divided into a dental caries group (DT ≥ 1) and a non-caries group (DT = 0). With specific primers for S. mutans and 16S rRNA, the total number of S. mutans and total bacteria of 142 saliva samples were detected by real-time PCR and statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the detection rates of S. mutans (P = 0.118) and medians of S. mutans (P = 0.115). The ratio of S. mutans to total bacteria in people with dental caries was significantly higher than in those without caries (P < 0.001), but the total number of bacteria in people with dental caries was significantly lower than in those without caries (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSS. mutans had different effects on caries in the permanent teeth of several individuals from a north China population. The ratios of S. mutans to total bacteria in saliva detected by real-time PCR with Sm479F/R and 16S RNA primers were closely associated with the prevalence of dental caries in the same population. These assays may be useful for the assessment of an individual's risk of dental caries.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Dental Caries ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Saliva ; microbiology ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptococcus mutans ; isolation & purification ; Tooth ; microbiology

Objective To understand the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB polymorphism and patients diagnosed as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Methods HLA-DR allele polymorphism was detected by PCR-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP). Hantavirus (HV) typed as Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Seoul virus (SEOV) in patients were detected by RT-heminested PCR. Results The gene frequency of DRB1*0401-0411, *1001 and *1101-1105 in HFRS case group were 3.1%, 2.2% and 15.7% respectively. Compared with control group, it was significant higher in HFRS case group (RR=13.87, 9.72 and 2.00 respectively with Chi-square value as 10.006,6.324 and 6.472 respectively, P<0.05). When compared with HFRS case group, the gene frequency of DRB1*1501-1502, DRB4 and DRB5 in control group were 11.0%, 19.0% and 16.9% respectively, markedly lower than in patients (RR=0.45, 0.58 and 0.23 respectively. Chi-square values were 6.138, 4.583 and 21.076 respectively, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in other HLA-DR gene frequencies. Mixed infection was found in Hubei, with HTNV slightly more than SEOV. Distinct hantaviruses could coexist in either different or the same geographic or ecological zores in Hubei province. Patients with HLA-DRB1*1101-1105 alleles were 81.8%(27/33) infected by HTNV and only 18.2% infected by SEOV, which had significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion DRB1*0401-0411,*1001 and *1101-1105 were possibly associated with increased susceptibility to HV infection. On the other hand there was an inverse correlation among HFRS, DRB1*1501-1502, DRB4 and DRB5.