Objective To investigate the apoptosis of T lymphocytes,the expression of Bcl-2, Fas on the peripheral blood T lymphocytes in end stage renal disease patients;and to explore the characteristics of Th1 /Th2 profile and the influence of dialysis membranes with different permeability on the apoptosis of T lymphocytes of maintenance hemodialysis patients.Methods The study included 10 non-dialyszed (ND)patients,45 maintenance hemodialysis patients with cellulose acetate (CA) membranes(13),low-flux polusulfone(PS-LF) membranes(16),high-flux polusulfone (PS-HF) membranes (16) and 8 healthy volunteers (C).The apoptosis of T lymphocytes,expression of Bcl-2,Fas on peripheral blood T lymphocytes cultured with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation for 24 hours were measured by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical.ELISA was performed for detecting the levels of IFN-?and IL-4 in culture supematants.Results In ESRD patients,the apoptosis of T lymphocytes was greater than that of group C.Group CA was greater than group PS-HF and group PS-LF (P＜0.05).The expression of Bcl-2 on T lymphocytes in ESRD patients was lower than that of group C (P＜0.05).There was negative correlation between the T lymphocytes apoptosis and Bcl-2. The expression of Fas on T lymphocytes in ESRD patients was greater than that of group C (P＜0.05), and it was positive correlated with T lymphocytes apoptosis.The level of IFN-?of ESRD patients was decreased significantly compared with that in group C (P＜0.05),and there was negative correlation between T lymphocytes apoptosis and IFN-?.IL-4 was increased in ESRD patients (P＜0.05) and it was positive correlated with T lymphocytes apoptosis.Conclusions The accelerated apoptosis of T lymphocytes in ESRD patients may be related to the expression of Bcl-2 and Fas of T lymphocytes.ESRD patients show a suppressed secretion of IFN-?and an increased secretion of IL-4. T lymphocytes apoptosis of maintenance hemodialysis patients is influenced not only by the biocompatibility but also by the permeability of the dialysis membrane.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Shenqi Compound on diabetic angiopathy modeled rats.

METHODSTotally 18 SD rats were randomized into 3 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the diabetic mellitus (DM) group, and Shenqi Compound group, 6 in each group. The DM rat model was established by feeding high-fat diet (to induce hyperlipidemia) +intraperitoneal injection of small dose streptozotocin (STZ). Shenqi Compound was given to rats in the Shenqi Compound group at the daily dose of 2 g/kg. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. All treatment was lasted for 12 weeks. Then 2-D and ultrasonic integrated backscatter technique were used to evaluate structural and functional changes of abdominal aorta in the progression of diabetic macroangiopathy. The fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries were observed by using HE and Masson trichrome staining. The tension of the aortic vascular ring was determined. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA expression was detected by real time PCR (RT-PCR). The protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, collagen III, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and phosphorylation P38 MAPK were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, abdominal aortic systolic inner diameter, diastolic inner diameter, Peterson elastic modulus, stiffness index, and backscatter integral significantly increased; the rangeability of integral backscatter and the extension coefficient of cross section significantly decreased in the DM group (all P < 0.05). After 12 weeks aforesaid indices were obviously improved in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of HE and Masson staining showed that the fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries was obviously alleviated in rats of the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of the aortic vascular ring tension showed that acetylcholine induced vasodilatation and maximum diastolic percent were obviously elevated in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all significantly increased in the DM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the DM group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSShenqi Compound could effectively improve the arterial function in diabetic marcoangiopathy and microvascular dysfunction. The mechanism might be due to the down-regulating the expression of TGF-beta, and further suppressing the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK, reducing the synthesis of collagen I and collagen III, therefore, ameliorating arterial and myocardial interstitial fibrosis.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields (MF) on DNA double-strand breaks in human lens epithelial cells (hLECs).

METHODSThe cultured human lens epithelial cells were exposed to 0.4 mT 50 Hz MF for 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h. Cells exposed to 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, a DNA damage agent, at a final concentration of 0.1 micromol/L for 1 h were used as positive controls.After exposure, cells were fixed with 4 % paraformaldehyde and for H2AX (gamma H2AX) immunofluorescence measurement. gamma H2AX foci were detected at least 200 cells for each sample. Cells were classified as positive when more than three foci per cell were observed. Mean values of foci per cell and percentage of foci positive cells were adopted as indexes of DNA double-strand breaks.

RESULTThe mean value of foci per cell and the percentage of gamma H2AX foci positive cells in 50 Hz MF exposure group for 24 h were (2.93 +/-0.43) and (27.88 +/-2.59)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of sham-exposure group [(1.77 +/-0.37) and (19.38+/-2.70)%, P <0.05], and the mean value of foci per cell and the percentage of gamma H2AX foci positive cells in 50 Hz MF exposure group for 48 h were (3.14 +/-0.35) and (31.00 +/-3.44)%, which were significantly higher than those of sham-exposure group (P <0.01). However there was no significant difference between 50 Hz MF exposure groups for 2 h, 6 h, 12 h and sham-exposure group for above two indexes (P >0.05).

CONCLUSION0.4 mT 50 Hz MF exposure for longer duration might induce DNA double-strand breaks in human lens epithelial cells in vitro.

Cells, Cultured ; DNA ; radiation effects ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; radiation effects ; DNA Damage ; radiation effects ; DNA Repair ; radiation effects ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Humans ; Lens, Crystalline ; cytology

Body Fluids ; Child ; Humans ; Middle Ear Ventilation ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media with Effusion/surgery*

Objective To assess the feasibility, indications and therapeutic effect of repeatgamma knife radiosurgery for treatment of primary trigeminai neuralgia. Methods From January 1995to February 2006, 277 patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia underwent stereotactic radiosurgerytargeting the cistemal trigeminal nerve with a maximal central dose of 70-80 Gy. A second gamma kniferadiosurgery with a maximal central dose of 65-80 Gy was performed in 23 patients with refractory and15 with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia after the primary surgery. The 50% isodose line encompassed thetarget area for radiation. The trigeminal root entry zone was included in a single target area in 33 patients,and in 5 patients, two target areas were chosen. Results All patients were followed up for 12 to 108months (mean 55 months) by telephone. The pain relief lasted for 1 to 180 days (mean 120 days) after thesecond gamma knife radiosurgery. The primary stereotactic radiosurgery resulted in a complete or partialpain relief rate of 91.7%(254/277). In the 23 patients with refractory trigeminal neuralgia, the secondradiosurgery achieved a pain relief rate of 73.9% (17/23), significantly lower than the rate of 100%(15/15) in the 15 patients with recurrent trigeminal neuralgia (P=0.045). Facial numbness or paresthesiaoccurred in 30 patients (10.8%) after the primary radiosurgery, and in another 8 patients (21.1%) after thesecond surgery. Conclusion Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery is safe and effective and causesfew complications for relieving trigeminal neuralgia. A repeat gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery isalso effective for management of recurrent or refractory trigeminal neuralgia, especially in recurrentcases.

Adult ; Female ; Hamartoma ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Kidney Calculi ; complications ; Spleen ; pathology ; surgery ; Splenectomy ; methods ; Splenic Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo elucidate the effects of exogenous basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on biological characteristics of rat osteoblasts cultured in vitro.

METHODSThe osteoblasts isolated from a Sprague-Dawley rat and cultured in vitro were treated with different concentrations of bFGF (5-50 ng/ml) respectively. At 24 hours after treatment, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen was measured with immunocytochemistry, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined and the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta(1)) was detected to observe the effects of bFGF on growth and differentiation of osteoblasts.

RESULTSbFGF (5-50 ng/ml) could obviously promote the growth of osteoblasts. The intracellular expression of TGF-beta(1) mRNA increased significantly, but the intracellular ALP content decreased.

CONCLUSIONSbFGF can obviously stimulate the proliferation of osteoblasts and promote the synthesis of TGF-beta(1), but cannot promote the differentiation of osteoblasts.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

The aim of this study was to investigate the immune regulatory effect of dendritic cells phagocytosing photochemotherapy-treated allogeneic spleen lymphocytes on syngeneic T cells. DA rat spleen lymphocytes were treated with 8-methoxypsoralen plus UVA irradiation (PUVA). LEW rat bone marrow-derived DCs were co-cultured with PUVA-treated DA spleen lymphocytes (PUVA-SP), and the surface markers (MHC-II, CD86 and CD40) of treated DC were detected by flow cytometry. CFSE-labeled PUVA SP were incubated with LEW DCs and the phagocytosis of DCs on PUVA-SP was observed by using fluorescent microscope. The ability of DC phagocytosing allogeneic PUVA-SP (PUVA-SP DC) to stimulate the proliferation of LEW T cells was analyzed by mixed leukocyte reactions (MLR). The production of IL-4, IL-10, IL-2, IFN-gamma in MLR culture supernatant was determined by luminex method. The results indicated that the PUVA treatment effectively induced early apoptosis of DA rat spleen lymphocytes. After co-culture, DC efficiently phagocytosed allogeneic PUVA-SP and still maintained an immature phenotype with low levels of MHC II, CD40 and CD86. PUVA-SP DC induced LEW T cell hyporesponsiveness to DA rat antigen, and led to skewing of T cell cytokine expression toward Th2 (IL-10 and IL-4). It is concluded that the PUVA-SP DC effectively down-regulate T cell response to alloantigen and induce Th2 immune deviation in vitro.
Animals ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Isoantigens ; Phagocytosis ; immunology ; Photochemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CAPN10 gene in Chinese population and their relation with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

METHODSCAPN10 gene was sequenced to detect SNPs in different nationalities of China. Five SNPs were chosen to perform case-control study and haplotype analysis in 156 normal Han people of Northern China and 173 type 2 diabetes. One SNP was also analyzed with transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT) and sib transmission-disequilibrium test (STDT) in 68 type 2 diabetes pedigrees (377 people).

RESULTSA total of 40 SNPs were identified in length of 8,936 bp, with an average of 1 in every 223 bp. The SNPs in CAPN10 gene did not distribute evenly and the SNPs in Chinese were different from those reported in Mexican American. There was no significantly statistical difference in the allele frequency of the 5 SNPs between case and control, and the haplotype frequencies in the two groups were not significantly different. No positive results was found in TDT and STDT analysis.

CONCLUSIONSThe SNP distribution of CAPN10 gene differs in different nationalities. The studied SNPs in CAPN10 gene may not be the major susceptibility ones of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

Calpain ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; ethnology ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo investigate the distribution of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CAPN10 gene in Chinese population and their relation with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

METHODSCAPN10 gene was sequenced to detect SNPs in 27 samples of different nationalities in China. 5 SNPs were genotyped with single-base extension (SBE) method to perform case-control study in 156 normal Han people of Northern China and 173 type 2 diabetes and the 3 positive loci reported in the article were performed haplotype analysis. One positive locus was also analyzed with transmission-disequilibrium test (TDT) and sib transmission-disequilibrium test (STDT) in 68 type 2 diabetes pedigrees (377 cases).

RESULTSA total of 40 SNPs were identified in length of 8,936 bp, with an average of 1 in every 223 bp; The SNPs in CAPN10 gene did not distribute evenly and the SNPs in Chinese was different from that reported in American Mexicans. There was no significantly statistical difference in the allele frequency of the 5 SNPs between case and control (P > 0.05), and the haplotype frequencies in the two groups were not much different (P > 0.05). There was no positive results in TDT and STDT analysis (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe SNP distribution of CAPN10 gene varies with different nationalities. The studied SNPs in CAPN10 gene may not be the major susceptibility ones of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Han people of Northern China.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; genetics ; Ethnic Groups ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genetic Testing ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide