OBJECTIVETo study the human myxovirus resistant protein A (MxA), a specifically induced peptide by interferon I, and to use its level as a diagnostic criterion for viral infections.

METHODSAnti-MxA antisera from immunized mice were prepared with the expressed MxA protein of pET32a-MxA in E. coli BL-21(DE3). To confirm the antiserum activity and specificity, the expression product of BL21, wild type MxA pEGFP-C1-wMxA and site-directed mutant MxA pEGFP-C1-mMxA(N589S) stably transfected 3T3 cells and induced A549 cells were detected by Western blot with the antisera using non-MxA transfected or non-IFN-beta induced cells, intact A549, NIH 3T3 cells transfected with pEGFP-C1 and pET32a (+)-transformed BL-21 as controls.

RESULTSThe antisera had specific positive immunoreactivity to the NIH3T3 cells transformed with pEGFP-C1-wMxA and pEGFP-C1-mMxA, INF-beta induced A549 cells and BL21 proteins expressed with pET32a (+)-MxA. The hybridization signals from IFN-beta induced A549 cells depended on the IFN-beta inducing concentrations. Meanwhile, immunohistochemical assay showed that NIH 3T3 cells with pEGFP-C1-wMxA and pEGFP-C1-mMxA had > 98% of positive cells at 1:50 dilution of the serum and A549 cells induced by 20 ng/mL IFN-beta for 48 h showed 95% positive cells. pEGFP-C1-transfected NIH 3T3 cells were all negative.

CONCLUSIONAnti-sera are highly specific to diversified MxAs. The antibody is detectable by Western blot, immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence assay.

Animals ; Antibody Specificity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Mice ; Myxovirus Resistance Proteins ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Species Specificity

Objective To investigate the levels and significance of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood of children with allergic rhinitis during pollen and non-pollen seasons.Methods Thirteen children with hay fever, 10 children with house dust mite(HDM)-allergic asthma and 10 healthy children were recruited into this study.Percentages of Th17 and Treg cells were detected by flow cytometry.Levels of IL-17, IL-10 and TGF-β in cell culture supernatants were measured by ELISA.Results (1) The percentages of Th17 cells in children with allergic rhinitis [(3.4±2.4)%] were significantly higher than those in HDM-allergic asthmatics [(2.1±1.6)%] and those in healthy children [(0.5±0.3)%] during pollen season (both P<0.05).The levels of Treg cells in allergic rhinitis group [(2.1±1.3)%] and in HDM-allergic asthma group [(3.6±1.9)%] were significantly lower than those in healthy control group [(5.5±2.8)%] (both P<0.05).The levels of Th17 cells [(3.0±1.9)% vs (3.4±2.4)%, P<0.05] and ratios of Th17/Treg cells [(1.4±1.0)% vs (1.7±1.5)%, P<0.05] in children with allergic rhinitis were significantly decreased during non-pollen season as compared with those during pollen season, but the levels of Treg cells were up-regulated [(2.4±1.6)% vs (2.1±1.3)%, P<0.05].(2) Correlation analysis revealed that the ratios of Th17/Treg cells were positively correlated with the concentrations of FeNO (fractional concentration of exhaled NO) (r=0.321, P<0.05) and the counts of circulating eosinophils (r=0.198, P<0.05) in children with allergic rhinitis during pollen season.Conclusion The imbalanced Th17 and Treg cells in children with allergic rhinitis during pollen season might play a vital role in the regulation of allergic airway inflammation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of pentoxifylline on rats and mice with learning and memory dysfunctions.

METHODSMorris water maze test was used to observe the effects of pentoxifylline on learning and memory of naturally aging rats, and jumping stand test was performed to examine its effects in promoting the learning and memory functions in mice with scopolamine- and ethanol-induced memory dysfunctions.

RESULTSIn aging rats, pentoxifylline at high, moderate and low doses all significantly reduced the latency of platform finding in the place navigation test (P<0.01 or P<0.05 ), and increased the quadrant searching frequency in the spatial probe test (P<0.05). Pentoxifylline at the 3 doses significantly increased the latency of electrification (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and decreased the times of error (P<0.05) of the mice as compared with scopolamine- treated group. Pentoxifylline also improved ethanol-induced memory dysfunction in the mice, but the changes in the performance of the mice were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONPentoxifylline can improve the learning and memory abilities of rats and mice.

Aging ; Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; Maze Learning ; drug effects ; Memory ; drug effects ; Memory Disorders ; chemically induced ; Mice ; Pentoxifylline ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide

OBJECTIVETo explore the association of spermatogenic arrest with the expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) in human testes.

METHODSWe examined the testicular biopsy specimens of 120 infertile men by HE staining, detected the expression of ERalpha in the specimens of those with spermatogenic arrest by the two-step immunohistochemical method, and compared the results with those of 10 healthy men.

RESULTSOf the 120 specimens from the infertile men, 31 (25.8%) met the diagnostic criteria of spermatogenic arrest. In the testis tissue of normal men, ERalpha expressed in Sertoli, myoid and Leydig cells, but not in spermatogenic cells, while in the testis tissues of those with spermatogenic arrest, ERalpha expressed lowly in Sertoli, myoid and Leydig cells, with statistically significant differences in immunostaining intensity between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAndrogen receptor (AR) and ERalpha may play a coordinating role in facilitating spermatogenesis. Spermatogenic arrest may be related to a complex series of disorders in cell signal transduction involving AR, ERalpha and HSP90.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Spermatogenesis ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThis investigation was undertaken to obtain differentially expressed genes related to human glioma using cDNA microarray and the characterization of one novel full-length gene.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from human glioma tissues and normal brain tissues, and mRNA was used to make probes. After hybridization and washing, the results were scanned using a computer system. The gene named 681F05 clone was an expressed gene to human glioma through four-time hybridization and scanning. Subsequently northern blot analysis was performed by northern blot, 5'RACE and bioinformatics.

RESULTSFifteen differentially expressed genes to human glioma were obtained through four-time hybridization and scanning. Northern blot analysis confirmed that 681F05 clone was low-expressed in human brain tissues and over-expressed in human glioma tissues. The analysis of BLASTn and BLASTx showed that 681F05 clone is two cDNA clones encoding two novel proteins that are highly identified to the cyclophilin isoform 10 of C. Elgans, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed the two cDNA clones are two different splicing variants of a novel cycophilin-like gene (PPIL3a and PPIL3b).

CONCLUSIONScDNA microarray technology can be successfully used to identify differentially expressed genes. The novel full-length gene of human PPIL3 may be correlated with the formation of human glioma.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; Cyclophilins ; genetics ; Cyclosporine ; pharmacology ; Glioma ; genetics ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis

BACKGROUNDAcute kidney injury (AKI) has been recognized as a major healthcare problem affecting millions of patients worldwide. However, epidemiologic data concerning AKI in China are still lacking. The objectives of this study were to characterize AKI defined by RIFLE criteria, assess the association with hospital mortality, and evaluate the impact of AKI in the context of other risk factors.

METHODSThis prospective multicenter observational study enrolled 3,063 consecutive patients from 1 July 2009 to 31 August 2009 in 22 ICUs across mainland China. We excluded patients who were admitted for less than 24 hours (n = 1623), younger than 18 years (n = 127), receiving chronic hemodialysis (n = 29), receiving renal transplantation (n = 1) and unknown reasons (n = 28). There were 1255 patients in the final analysis. AKI was diagnosed and classified according to RIFLE criteria.

RESULTSThere were 396 patients (31.6%) who had AKI, with RIFLE maximum class R, I, and F in 126 (10.0%), 91 (7.3%), and 179 (14.3%) patients, respectively. Renal function deteriorated in 206 patients (16.4%). In comparison with non AKI patients, patients in the risk class on ICU admission were more likely to progress to the injury class (odds ratio (OR) 3.564, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.706 - 7.443, P = 0.001], while patients in the risk class (OR 5.215, 95% CI 2.798-9.719, P < 0.001) and injury class (OR 13.316, 95% CI 7.507-23.622, P < 0.001) had a significantly higher probability of deteriorating into failure class. The adjusted hazard ratios for 90-day mortality were 1.884 for the risk group, 3.401 for the injury group, and 5.306 for the failure group.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of AKI was high among critically ill patients in Chinese ICUs. In comparison with non-AKI patients, patients with RIFLE class R or class I on ICU admission were more susceptibility to progression to class I or class F. The RIFLE criteria were robust and correlated well with clinical deterioration and mortality.

Acute Kidney Injury ; epidemiology ; etiology ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; statistics & numerical data ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo observe the management results of hemangioma in infants and children.

METHODSForty-nine cases of hemangioma in infants and children managed from 1986 to 2004 were reviewed. During the management period, the incidence and first visit age and sex were recorded. The location and volume of the lesions were photographed and followed up at an interval of 3 to 12 months until the complete involution of the tumor. The treatment modalities used included local injection of prednisone in 16 cases, surgery in 6 cases, and the remaining 33 cases were observed without treatment.

RESULTSThirty-three cases receiving no treatment involuted naturally. The complete involution age was found from 9 months to 10 years with average age of 5.4 years. The cosmetic results after involution were good.

CONCLUSIONSMost hemangiomas do not need treatment and can involute naturally. However, in cases with severe complications such as expansion, destruction and obstructive or congestive heart failure, treatment is indicated.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Facial Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemangioma ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Lip Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Male ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous ; physiopathology ; Parotid Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical experience on the arterial switch operation for complex congenital heart disease in recent 3 years in our hospital.

METHODSSixty-one patients with complex congenital heart disease received by arterial switch operation from Jan 2000 to May 2003. There were 26 patients with transposition of the great arteries and intact ventricular septum (TGA-IVS), 19 patients with transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect (TGA-VSD) and 16 patients with double outlet of right ventricle with subpulmonary ventricular septum defect (Taussig-Bing).

RESULTSThere were 2 death among TGA-IVS cases, 4 deaths among TGA-VSD cases and 4 deaths among Taussig-Bing cases. The total operative mortality was 16%. All patients were followed up 3 months to 3 years. In all patients, the cyanosis disappeared and the physical activities increased obviously. One patients with Taussig-Bing keep moderate mitral valve reflux unchanged, 2 patients with TGA had pulmonary and aortic supra-valve stenosis with 40 mmHg pressure gradient. One patient with subpulmonary stenosis and residual VSD was re-operated 3 months later. All survivor had good heart function.

CONCLUSIONSThe effect of arterial switch operation on the treatment of TGA was well accepted in this study. The procedure used in treatment on Taussig-Bing can prevent pulmonary obstruction and avoid the complication of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction caused by intraventricular repair.

Aorta ; surgery ; Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Double Outlet Right Ventricle ; complications ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; complications ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Pulmonary Artery ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Transposition of Great Vessels ; complications ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore multi-drug resistance (MDR) of bladder cancer for the intravesical instillation.

METHODSUsing immunohistochemical staining, in 44-case human bladder cancer cells, the expressions of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), glutathione S-transferase (GST-pi) and topoisomerase (TOPO-II), were detected to find out the resistance to drugs.

RESULTSP-gp had a higher expression in 54.5% cases. GST-pi had no or a lower expression in 65.9% cases. TOPO-II had a higher expression in 29.5% but a lower expression in 65.9% cases.

CONCLUSIONDetecting the factors of MDR in bladder cancer cells could help to choose drugs for intravesical chemotherapy.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; analysis ; Administration, Intravesical ; Adult ; Aged ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II ; analysis ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Glutathione Transferase ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo define and evaluate the malaria transmission potential in the Yangtze River, following construction of the Three Gorges Reservoir.

METHODSSix villages, namely, Kaixian, Fengjie, Wanzhou, Fuling, Yubei, and Zigui were selected for investigating the malaria transmission potential in the reservoir. Transmission potential was estimated by mathematical modeling and evaluation of the local malaria situation. Factors that influenced the transmission potential were analyzed using Poisson regression analysis in combination with Grey Systematic Theory (based on evaluation by the Delphi method).

RESULTSIndirect fluorescent antibody data and the incidence of malaria in the local population were consistent with the malaria transmission potential calculated for the area. Multivariate Poisson regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between the riparian zone and the man-biting rate.

CONCLUSIONThe risk of a malaria epidemic can be forecasted using the malaria transmission potential parameters investigated here which was closely correlated with the riparian zone.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Culicidae ; physiology ; Epidemics ; prevention & control ; Housing ; Humans ; Insect Bites and Stings ; Malaria ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Rivers ; Water Resources