Objective To study the clinical pathological features,treatment and prognosis of umbilical metastases of intra abdominal malignancies (sister Mary Joseph nodule, SMJN). Methods From January 1980 to July 2003, 17 SMJN cases were admitted. The clinical features were reviewed. Results The diagnosis of SMJN was confirmed by pathology in all cases, including epithelial ovarian carcinoma in 6 cases, gastric adenocarcinoma in 6 cases,colon adenocarcinoma in 2 cases, and endometrial carcinoma, gallbladder carcinoma and undifferentiated adenocarcinoma without identifying primary site in one each. Mean survival、half year、one year and two year survival rate in 10 palliative excision cases was 13 5 months、60%、20% and 10%, which were significantly better than 8 25 months、14 3%、0% and 0% in 7 conservative therapy cases ( P

To investigate the therapeutic effect of artesunate on mouse cytomegalovirus pneumonia, the BALB/c-nu mice were infected with murine cytomegalovirus-green fluorescent protein (MCMV-GFP) by nose dropping method. The experimental protocol was approved by the Medical Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of Guangzhou Medical University. The BALB/c-nu mice were randomly divided into five groups: control group, MCMV pneumonia group, and artesunate (60, 120, and 240 mg·kg^-1) groups. The survival rate, weights, and virus loads in lungs among the groups were observed. The degree of histopathologic changes in lungs was assessed directly by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) assay. MCMV-GFP expression was assessed by immunofluorescence. In addition, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was performed to investigate the content of major immediate early 1 (Mie1) mRNA, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the changes of inflammatory factors, interleukin 10 (IL-10), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Western blot analysis was used to detect the expression of the changes of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways in total proteins. Compared with MCMV group, artesunate (120 mg·kg^-1) significantly increased body weights of MCMV-infected nude mice over 30 days, and decreased the viral titer in lung homogenate, lung inflammation, and histological severity. Moreover, the administration of artesunate (120 mg·kg^-1) could downregulate the expression of phospho-NF-κB (p-NF-κB) p65 in the lungs of mice. The present study suggested that artesunate can protect the immunocompromised mice from MCMV-induced interstitial pneumonia via downregulating NF-κB signaling pathway, thus attenuating inflammation in the lungs.

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

Objectives To investigate the distribution of Schistosoma japonicum infected Oncomelania snails in the marshland of Dangting Lake region,and explore the effects of gradient and vegetation on the distribution of the infected snails.Methods Three marshland areas in upstream and downstream of Dongting Lake were selected.The snail distribution was investigated and the ground elevation was assessed (Wusong's elevation of zero)and the vegetation types were also recorded from 1987-1989 and 2009.Results In the 3 types of snail habitats of the marshland,the average rate of areas with infected snails was 35.5%,and the snails mainly distributed beside the embankment and slope zone.More infected snails were found in the high altitude and steep slope zone,while no infected snails were found in the low altitude and flat slope zone,and reed areas as well.Conclusion The Schistosoma japonicum infected snails in the marshland of Dongting Lake mainly distribute beside the embankment and slope zoon,and are correlated with the water level in flood seasons and the activities of definitive hosts.

OBJECTIVETo construct a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying HBcAg-HSP70 chimeric gene by homologous recombination in bacteria and to detect its expression in vitro.

METHODSHeat shock protein 70 gene from Mycobacterium tuberculosis were amplified by PCR and were cloned to adenoviral shuttle plasmid pAdTrack-CMV-HBsAg. Then the resultant pAdTrack-CMV-HBsAg-HSP70 was cotransfected into BJ5183 bacteria with the plasmid pAdeasy-1. The adenoviral plasmid carrying HBsAg-HSP70 gene (pAd-HBsAg-HSP70) was generated with homologous recombination in bacteria and the adenoviruses were produced in 293 cells. Several kinds of mammal cells (293 cells and Vero cells) were infected with adenoviruses and the expression of HBsAg-HSP70 was detected by RT-PCR and ELISA in vitro.

RESULTSThe adenoviral plasmids pAd-HBsAg-HSP70 were obtained by selection for kanamycin resistance and confirmed by restriction endonuclease Pac analyses. The recombinant adenoviruses Ad-HBsAg-HSP70 were packaged successfully in 293 cells. The titer of Ad-HBsAg-HSP70 was up to 2 x 10(12) pfu/L after the second passage of proliferation in 293 cells. HBsAg and HSP70 were expressed efficiently in mammal cells after infection.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant adenoviruses expressing HBsAg and HSP70 were constructed successfully which can be used further in study of gene therapy for HBV.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Defective Viruses ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Vero Cells ; Virus Replication ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene-modified dendritic cells (DCs) might induce a specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response.

METHODSThe recombinant adenoviruses carrying HBsAg genes were prepared and used to transfect DCs generated from cord blood. The efficacy of transfection was observed through the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in DCs and the expression of HBsAg was detected by ELISA. HBV S gene-modified DCs were co-cultured with T cells from cord blood and T cells stimulating activities were detected using mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). The CTL assay was carried out to assess the ability of CTL lines to lyse target cells of HepG(2)22.1.5 by measuring lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release.

RESULTSThe results showed that HBV S genes were expressed in DCs with high efficacy by recombinant adenoviral vector. DCs had a normal shape after transfection. The result of MLR showed that HBV S gene-modified DCs could effectively stimulate naive T cells to proliferate. The induced specific CTL lines could lyse target cells of HepG(2)22.1.5.

CONCLUSIONSHBV S gene-modified DCs enhanced the function to induce a specific CTL effect, showing its promise for developing anti-viral vaccine in future.

Cell Line ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of the peripheral blood P2X5 receptor at various ambient temperatures, and to explore its relationship with deficiency-cold syndrome and deficiency-heat syndrome.

METHODSSubjects were selected by questionnaire and expert diagnosis, and assigned to the normal control group, the deficiency-cold syndrome group, and the deficiency-heat syndrome group, 20 in each group. 5 mL venous blood was collected at room temperature (25 °C) and cold temperature (-4-5 °C) respectively. Then the expression of P2X5 receptor was relatively quantified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, and compared at room temperature and cold temperature respectively.

RESULTSThe expression of P2X5 receptor in deficiency-cold syndrome and deficiency-heat syndrome groups was lower than that in the normal control group at room temperature (P < 0.05). It decreased more at cold temperature in the deficiency-cold syndrome group than in the normal control group (P < 0.01) as well as in the deficiency-heat syndrome group (P < 0.05). The expression of P2X5 receptor showed no difference in all groups at two different temperatures (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of P2X5 receptor was different in different syndrome groups at various ambient temperatures. Ambient temperatures had insignificant effect on the expression of P2X5 receptor of the population with the same syndrome.

Cold Temperature ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X5 ; metabolism ; Syndrome

Objective To establish a DNA extraction method for DNA barcoding analysis of Chinese medicinal materials.Methods Seven different DNA extraction methods were used to extract DNA from 6 medicinal recalcitrant plants which are rich in secondary metabolites.Results CTAB method 3 was fast,simple,universal and effective,by which a high DNA concentration and qualified ratio were obtained as compared with the other methods.The DNA extracted by this method could provide good results for DNA barcoding analysis.The main improved steps of this methods were as follows:①adoption of 3 %CTAB rather than 2 %CTAB in the exaction;②adding 1 %polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP) and 0.2 %?-mercaptoethnoal in extraction solution to remove secondary metabolites and to prevent DNA degradation;③centrifuge at 10000 r/min for 15 min to remove protein and impurity.Conclusion CTAB method 3 is a proper method of DNA extraction for DNA barcoding analysis of Chinese medicinal materials.

To explore a new method for identification of Mongolian patent medicine (MPM) by PCR amplification of specific alleles. Eight kinds of MPM were used to study the identification of "Digeda" raw materials. The total DNA of Lomatogonium rotatum and Corydalis bungeana samples were extracted through modified CTAB method, psbA-trnH sequence was amplified by PCR and sequenced directionally. Specific primer was designed. The DNA of 8 kinds of MPM also was extracted and purified by the commercial DNA purification kits. The rbcL and two pair of specific primers sequences were amplified. The specific amplified products were sequenced in forward directions. All specific sequences were aligned and were analyzed. The results indicated that L rotatum can be identified by specific primers from Digeda-4 Tang, Digeda-8 San, Digeda-4 San, and C. bungeana medicinal materials can be identified by specific primers from Li Dan Ba Wei San, Yi He Ha Ri-12 and A Ga Ri-35. PCR amplification of specific alleles can stably and accurately distinguish raw medicinal materials in MPM.
Alleles ; DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Medicine, Mongolian Traditional ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study HBV preS2/S gene expression effects in mammalian cells transferred with recombinant adenoviral vector.

METHODSThe replication-deficient recombinant adenoviral vector (Ad-HBs) carrying HBV preS2/S gene were constructed by homologous recombination in bacteria. The 293 cells, Vero cells, HepG2 cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were infected with adenoviruses. The expressions of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were observed with fluorescence microscope and the expressions of HBsAg were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA in vitro.

RESULTSMore than 90% of 293 cells, Vero cells, HepG2 cells or MSCs expressed EGFP after transfection at the MOI of 20 and the titers of HBsAg were more than 3.229 (A value) in culture supernatant.

CONCLUSIONThe HBV preS2/S gene was not only expressed efficiently in immortalized cells, but also expressed efficiently in stem cells with the recombinant adenoviruses vector.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; genetics ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Vero Cells