A case of 76-years-old male patient with nasal bleeding as the first symptom in our hospital, who was finally diagnosed as tsutsugamushi disease. This old man was bited by insect in farmland 2 days before the symptom occurred. PE: Left thigh and right buttock have eschar, with splenomegaly. Routine blood test: WBC (decrease) 3.9 x 10(9)/L, RBC (decrease) 3.86 x 10(9)/L, PLT (decrease) 41 x 10(9)/L, HGB (decrease) 117 g/L; Chest CT: lung interstitial pneumonia, a small amount of bilateral pleural effusion. Oxk-ag 1:320. The patient was discharged after treatment with chloramphenicol for 8 days.
Aged ; Epistaxis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Scrub Typhus ; complications ; diagnosis

AIM: To investigate therapeutic efficiency of amniotic extraction on dry eye in rabbit model induced by topical benzalkonium chloride (BAC).
METHODS: Totally 26 rabbits (26 right eyes) with dry eye model were studied and divided into two groups:group A (control group with PBS eye drops, n = 13) and group B ( amniotic extraction group, n = 13). Another two rabbits were chosen as normal control. The SchirmerⅠ tests ( S Ⅰ t) and corneal fluorescein staining ( FL) were made, and the tear total protein content, amylase activity, lactoferrin, lysozyme contents, goblet cell density were performed in two groups before treatment and 1, 2, 4 and 8 wk after treatment.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in SIT, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density among different groups at different time points (P<0. 05). But, there was no significant differences in SⅠt, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups before treatment (P>0. 05). After 8wks' treatment with PBS, the mean differences of the group A showed great changes in SⅠt, lysozyme and goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P < 0. 05); but there was no significant differences in FL scores compared with those before treatment (P>0. 05). As for group B, 8wks after treatment, there were statistical changes in SⅠt, FL, lysozyme (P<0. 05); but there was no significant differences in goblet cell density compared with those before treatment ( P > 0. 05). It was evident that statistical differences were observed in S Ⅰ t, FL scores, lysozyme activity and goblet cell density between two groups at each time point (P<0. 05). However, there were no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity at different time points (P>0. 05). Meanwhile there was no significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups before treatment ( P > 0. 05 ). But there were significant differences in total protein, lactoferrin, amylase activity between two groups after 4 and 8 wks'treatment (P<0. 05).
CONCLUSION: Amniotic extraction has significant therapeutic effect on the dry eye in rabbit model.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of MTS1 gene beta promoter transcriptional activation in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines and identify the fragment with transcriptional activation.

METHODSSeven pGL3 recombinant plasmids with the same 3'-end transcriptional start site but the different 5'sequences were constructed by gene recombinant technique and transfected into Jurkat cell line which is biallelic deletion of MTS1 gene by transient transfection. Luciferase report gene was detected to observe beta promoter transcriptional activation.

RESULTSSeven pGL3 recombinant plasmids containing different fragments of beta promoter were obtained, all of them showed transcriptional activation in Jurkat cell line. Among them, the 0.38 kb fragment cut by SacII-SacI is fundamental in transcription.

CONCLUSIONMTS1 gene beta promoter can be activated in Jurkat cell line.

Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection

OBJECTIVESTo investigate targeted blockage of BCR/ABL oncoprotein mediated cell transformation by STAT5 decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), its effect on the growth and proliferation inhibition of K562 cells and the related molecular mechanisms.

METHODSSTAT5 decoy ODN, designed and synthesized in vitro, was transfected into K562 cells by cationic lipid. The cell growth curve and colony formation assay were used to reflect the growth and proliferation capacity of K562 cells, RT-PCR to detect the expression of three genes downstream STAT5.

RESULTSConfocal microscopy demonstrated that STAT5 decoy ODN was successfully transfected into K562 cells (95.2% positive cells). STAT5 decoy ODN inhibited the growth of K562 cells (inhibition rate 77.7%) and their colony formation capacity (Decoy ODN treated group 8.3% vs control group 35.7%, P < 0.05) after the treatment with STAT5 decoy ODN, the expressions of c-myc, bcl-X(L), cyclin D1 mRNA were down-regulated by 15.4%, 30.8%, 29.1%, respectively in the K562 cells.

CONCLUSIONSSTAT5 decoy ODN inhibits the growth and proliferation of K562 cells. The mechanisms may be that decoy ODN blocks the transcriptional activation potent of STAT5 and down-regulates the expression of these tumor related genes downstream STAT5.

Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D1 ; genetics ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Liposomes ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; physiology ; Transfection ; bcl-X Protein ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antisense phosphorothioated oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) on the expression of VEGF in human leukemic cell lines (HL-60 and K562 cells).

METHODSThe levels of VEGF mRNA and protein in leukemic cells incubated with VEGF AS-ODN were measured by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry assay and ELISA. MTT test was used to examine the influence of the culture supernatant (CS) of VEGF AS-ODN treated leukemic cells on the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECV304).

RESULTSAfter leukemic cells were treated with different concentrations (2.5 approximately 15.0 micro mol/L) of VEGF AS-ODN for 24 h, VEGF mRNA level in the cells decreased remarkably in a concentration dependent manner, no change was found in the VEGF missense ODN treated cells (MS-ODN). When the leukemic cells were treated with 5 micro mol/L VEGF AS-ODN for 24 h, VEGF protein level decreased greatly both in the cells and in the CS; and the proliferation stimulating effect of the treated CS on the ECV304 cells reduced. Meanwhile, there was no obvious change in VEGF protein and its effect in the VEGF MS-ODN treated group.

CONCLUSIONVEGF AS-ODN could inhibit VEGF expression in human leukemic cell lines in vitro.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; K562 Cells ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the quantitative and functional changes of peripheral blood dendritic cells (DCs) and their subsets in the leukocyte population in patients with coronary artery disease (CHD) with different coronary artery plaques and explore the relation between DCs and coronary plaque development.

METHODSThirty CHD patients were divided into SAP (10 cases), UAP (10 cases) and ACS (10 cases) groups, with another 10 patients having negative result in coronary angiography as the control group. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was performed to identify the nature of the plaques. The percentage and absolute number of peripheral blood DCs and DC subsets were measured by flow cytometry. The functional status of the DCs was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry.

RESULTSIn the SAP group, IVUS found stable plaques in 8 cases and unstable plaques in 2 cases; in UAP group, 7 patients had unstable plaques, 2 had stable plaques, and 1 had plaque rupture. Plaque rupture, unstable plaques and stable plaques were found in 6, 3 and 1 patients in ACS group, respectively. In comparison with patients with stable plaques, those with unstable plaques had significantly increased percentages and number of DCs, mDCs and mDC1 (P<0.05), while the mDC2s and pDCs showed no obvious difference between them (P>0.05). The percentages and number of DCs, mDCs, mDC1s and pDCs were significantly decreased in patients with ruptured plaques (P<0.05). In peripheral blood monouclear cells cultured for 7 days, the CD83 expression was significantly higher in unstable and rupture plaque groups than in stable plaque group, and no significant difference was found between stable plaque group and the control group (P>0.05). In unstable and rupture plaque groups, co-culture with 2x10(5)/ml DCs evoked strong proliferation of the T cells in comparison with the stable plaque group, but no difference was found between the stable plaque and the control groups (P>0.05). Significantly higher levels of interleukin-2 and interferon-alpha were detected in the supernatant of the mixed lymphocyte reaction in unstable and ruptured plaque groups than in stable plaque and control groups, without obvious difference between the latter two groups.

CONCLUSIONThe percentage and absolute number of peripheral blood DCs and their functional status suggest the alterations of the coronary artery plaques in CHD patients.

Case-Control Studies ; Cells, Cultured ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; immunology ; pathology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Dendritic Cells ; classification ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effects of acupotomy-injection with FENG Tian-you spinal manipulation (FSM) for treating cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR).

METHODSSeventy-two patients with CSR were randomly divided into two groups (n = 36 respectively): treatment and control group. The patients in treatment group were treated with acupotomy-injection combined with FSM, and patients in control group were treated with traction. All the patients were followed up for 3 months after treatment and the therapeutic effects were evaluated.

RESULTSTotally there were 72 patients and 69 completed the treatment and the other 3 patients withdraw from treatment. In treatment group, 24 patients were cured, 6 patients had remarkable effects, 4 effective and 2 ineffective; as well in control group, above data were 15, 3, 10 and 8 respectively. The comprehensive effects and the cured patients in the treatment group were obviously better than those of control group (P < 0.05). The comparison of scales for assessment of symptoms and short-form McGill Pain Questionaire before and after treatment in two groups had significant differences (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe method of acupotomy-injection combined with FSM for treating CSR is better than conventional traction method.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Manipulation, Spinal ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Radiculopathy ; therapy ; Spondylosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of the determination of the levels of serum argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) in diagnosing various liver diseases.

METHODSTwo hundred and ninety-one patients with various liver diseases, 257 patients with non-liver disease, and 32 healthy controls were recruited for this study and their serum ASL, ALT, AST, GGT, LDH, ALP, and total bilirubin (TBil) levels were determined. Liver biopsies were performed on 31 patients with hepatopathy.

RESULTSReceiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of ASL in assessing liver diseases were 100% and 91.1% (at cut-off values of 8 U/L), those of ALT were 97.6% and 24.7% and those of AST were 83.8% and 28.3% (both at cut-off values = 40.0 U/L), respectively. The levels of ASL in various liver disease patients were: in liver cancer - acute hepatitis - liver cirrhosis - chronic hepatitis. A positive correlation (r = 0.417) was observed between serum ASL levels (86.9+/-26.5) and scores of histopathological inflammation grading (9.83+/-3.36).

CONCLUSIONASL is of higher sensitivity and specificity than those of ALT and AST for diagnosing liver diseases. ASL may be used as a useful marker in estimating hepatopathy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Argininosuccinate Lyase ; blood ; Automation ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serum ; chemistry ; Young Adult

A comprehensively comparison of the chemical profiles between sun-drying BJ (NBJ) and sulfur-fumigated BJ (SBJ) was conducted by HPLC analysis and the discrepant peaks were identified or tentatively assigned by HPLC-ESI-MSn. A total of 32 chemical components were used for qualitative comparison. Meanwhile, a quantitative comparison of BJwere conducted by HPLC analysis and determining seven compounds from 3 NBJ and 3 SBJ samples dramatic chemical changes were found. After sulfur fumigation, the contents of flavonoids glycosides and phenolic acids were remarkably reduced, but the contents of flavonoids aglycones were significantly increased. Multivariate statistics, including principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) were used to investigate the potential damaging effect of sulfur-fumigating process. The PCA score plots showed six samples were clearly classified into the sun-drying and sulfur-fumigating groups. And according to VIP >1, the most important chemical markers were apigenin, luteolin and 3,5-dicaffeoylquninic acid which could be used to distinguish NBJ and SBJ samples. Combining the results of qualitative and quantitative analysis, it showed that the sulfur fumigation has a significant effect on BJ.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chrysanthemum ; chemistry ; Fumigation ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Principal Component Analysis ; Sulfur

OBJECTIVETo establish 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) images and seek differentially expressed serum proteins for understanding the pathogenesis of silicosis.

METHODS2-DE and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS/MS) were used to screen differentially expressed serum proteins among silica-exposed population, suspect of silicosis (0+), phase one (I) group with silicosis and control group(non silica exposure).

RESULTSComplement C4, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein and alpha-1-antitrypsin were significantly highly expressed in suspect of silicosis (0+) group(P < 0.01), but lowly in other groups. Inversely, serotransferrin was significantly down-regulated only in suspect of silicosis (0+) group(P < 0.01). Plasma glutathione peroxidase, tetranectin, apolipoprotein A-I and transthyretin were equally expressed in the serum of control group and silica-exposed population group, but decreased in the suspect of silicosis (0+) and phase (I) group.

CONCLUSIONComplement C4, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, serotransferrin, plasma glutathione peroxidase, tetranectin, apolipoprotein A-I and transthyretin are differentially expressed in the silica-exposed group and phase (I) group with silicosis, and the result should be validated by other biochemical technologies.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Proteomics ; methods ; Silicosis ; blood ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization