Objective To research the applications of resting-state functional MRI in conjunction with voxel-based morphometry on cerebral functions and structures in patients with schizophrenia. Methods Thirty-two patients with schizophrenia and 32 healthy people underwent resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (Rs-fMRI)and sagittal scanning T1WI with 3D FFE Pulse Sequence. Rest1.8 software was applied to calculate the differences of amplitude of standardized low-frequency fluctuation(ALFF)between the two groups,then the voxel-based morphometry(VBM)data of abnormal brain regions were evaluated to compare the differences of grey matter intensity. Finally,combining with ALEF and VBM,we explored the changes of cerebral functions and structures. Results As compared to the control group ,the ALFF-elevated regions were the right putamen ,the left orbital frontal cortex extending to the left putamen and left dorsal-lateral superior frontal gyrus;the ALFF-decreased regions were the right inferior tempotalgyrus,the left posterior cingulated gyrus and the left angular gyrus(P<0.05). No elevated regions of grey matter intensity were found in the patient group. Conclusions Extensive abnormal active regions of the brain under resting state could be found in patients with schizophrenia ,the grey matter intensity of abnormal regions also decreased generally. They are in accordance with the glutamate-hypothesis of schizophrenia ,which involves extensive impairments of neurons ,disorders of neurotransmitter′s circulations and balances.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanisms for the development of cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension,the present study provided the differential protein expression analysis of hypertrophied heart at differ- ent stages in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).Methods The profiles of protein expression of left ventricu lar myocardium in SHR and its normotensive control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats at the age of 4 and 20 weeks were analyzed with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with matrix assisted laser desorption ioniza- tion-time of flight (MALDI-TOF-TOF) mass spectrometry.Results Although the blood pressure of SHR was normal at 4 weeks age,hypertrophy of the left ventricle had already developed.The expression pattern in the hy- pertrophic myocardium was found 27 modulated proteins,20 of which were identified.These proteins are involved in reactions of energy metabolism,mitoehondrial oxidative phosphorylation and oxidative stress,etc.The expres- sion of 13 proteins was significantly changed in SHR rats at early stage prior to the development of sustained hyper- tension,while the expression changes of other 7 proteins occurred only at late stage in SHR rats when the blood pressure was significantly elevated.Conclusions lncrease in glycolysis and decrease in oxidation of fatty acid and glucose was shown in the hypertrophied myocardium from early stage in SHR prior to the development of hyperten sion.The significant changes in protein expression of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and antioxidative molecules support the hypothesis that oxidative stress promotes and accelerates the development of hypertensive car- diac hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical application value of Provider-Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling (PITC) by analyzing the positive rate of HIV tests for people in need of PITC and that of routine HIV tests.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the demographic and epidemiologic data about the patients seeking PITC services or undergoing routine HIV tests in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January and December 2013.

RESULTSThe positive rate of initial HIV screening was 1.98% in the PITC group and 0.24% in the routine test group, while that of confirmed HIV was 0. 40% in the former and 0.07% in the latter, both with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01). The positive rate of HIV was markedly higher in males than in females, particularly in the PITC group.

CONCLUSIONPITC has a high clinical value in HIV detection for targeted subjects and therefore deserves general application in dermatology.

Counseling ; Dermatology ; Female ; HIV Seropositivity ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors

Human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) causes facial,ocular,and encephalitic disease and is associated with latent infection and cancer.Here,we developed a means of studying the pathogenesis of HSV-1 infection at the protein level by using the SELDI Protein Chip to detect changes of protein expression in Vero cells cultured in vitro.After infection with HSV-1 and culture for 12,24 or 48 h,cells were harvested and lysed.IMAC3 arrays were applied to SELDI-TOF-MS to detect proteomic differences before and after infection.The chip detected a series of differentially expressed protein peaks.Interestingly,both peaks at 16 912 Da and 17 581 Da corresponded precisely with the molecular mass of ISG 15,which may participate in antiviral activity during the process of infection.Thus,the results we obtained can serve as a basis to study the pathogenesis of HSV-1 and the interaction between the virus and its host.In addition,they can help in the discovery of new therapeutic targets for treatment of HSV-1 infection.

Toxicology ; Translational Medical Research

OBJECTIVETo improve the anti-tumor effect of dendritic cytoma vaccine (DCV) for finding an effective anti-tumor biotherapy.

METHODSDC vaccine prepared by transfection of adenovirus mediated melanoma-associated antigen gene (gp100) into bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (DC) was used to study the immuno-therapeutic effect and the mechanism of lentinan (LNT) in different dosages, used alone or combined with gp100-DC for treatment of B16 melanoma bearing mice.

RESULTSAfter being treated with LNT combining gp100-DC, the growth of malignant melanoma was inhibited with the tumor-free survival in the experimental animals being 66.7%. The treatment could also significantly enhance the activity of cytotoxicity T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells, elevate the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in splenocytes, and histological examination showed that a large amount of inflammatory cells infiltrated inside and around the tumor, and obvious necrosis of tumor cells was found.

CONCLUSIONBy combined use with LNT the anti-tumor immuno-reaction of DCV vaccine could be enhanced effectively.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cancer Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Lentinan ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Melanoma, Experimental ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Random Allocation ; Shiitake Mushrooms ; chemistry ; Survival Analysis ; Transfection ; gp100 Melanoma Antigen

The present study aims to predict the action targets of antidepressant active ingredients of Xiaoyaosan to understand the "multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways" mechanism. Using network pharmacology, the reported antidepressant active ingredients in Xiaoyaosan (saikosaponin A, saikosaponin C, saikosaponin D, ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, atractylenolide I, atractylenolide II, atractylenolide III, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid and pachymic acid), were used to predict the targets of main active ingredients of Xiaoyaosan according to reversed pharmacophore matching method. The prediction was made via screening of the antidepressive drug targets approved by FDA in the DrugBank database and annotating the information of targets with the aid of MAS 3.0 biological molecular function software. The Cytoscape software was used to construct the Xiaoyaosan ingredients-targets-pathways network. The network analysis indicates that the active ingredients in Xiaoyaosan involve 25 targets in the energy metabolism-immune-signal transmutation relevant biological processes. The antidepressant effect of Xiaoyaosan reflects the features of traditional Chinese medicine in multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways. This research provides a scientific basis for elucidation of the antidepressant pharmacological mechanism of Xiaoyaosan.
Antidepressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzoates ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; Coumaric Acids ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavanones ; Glucosides ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; Lactones ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Monoterpenes ; Sesquiterpenes ; Software

Objective To explore the gene expression of interleukin-13 receptor (IL-13R)?2 and its relationship to proliferation activity of human gliomas.Methods The gene expression of IL-13R?in 50 hu- man gliomas,2 malignant human glioma cell lines and 6 normal brain tissues were studied by RT-PCR.Ki-67 labeling index (Ki267 LI) of all sample were detecteded by immunohistochemical staining.Results Only one normal brain tissues expressed very low IL-13R?2 mRNA,whereas 35 (70%) of 50 human brain tumors expressed 1L-13R?2 mRNA.The positive rate and expression level of IL-13R?2 mRNA were increased with the ascending of WHO tumor grade.(former:rs=0.87;letter:rs=0.69,P＜0.01).The difference of posi- tive rate and expression level of IL-13R 2?mRNA between the low grade and high grade tumors was statistical- ly significant,the proliferation activity of gliomas evaluated by Ki-67LI (Ki-67 Labeling Index,Ki-67LI) was positively correlated with IL-13R?2 gene expression and the tumor grade.Conclusion In human cerebral gliomas,IL-13R?2 genes may play an role in the malignant progression.The expression level of malignancy in molecular level and selecting the target of gene therapy.

Objective To investigate the characters of the COL3A1 gene polymorphisms in Chinese population of Hunan region and the relationship between the COL3A1 gene polymorphisms and ischemie stroke.Methods Objects examined were composed of 70 healthy controls,110 patients with acute cerebral infarction.The frequencies of the genotypes were detected by using PCR-SSLP techniques and correlated PCR segements were analyzed by directly sequence to detect the COL3A1 gene polymorphisms.Result There were significant differences in the distribution of VNTR with COL3A1 genotype polymorphism between the patients of acute cerebral infarction and healthy controls,the former being 0.93,the latter 0.43,with a significant difference(P

Objective To establish the radiolabeling method for peptide K237 with 131I and investigate the biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy of 131I-K237 on nude mice bearing human lung cancer.Methods Iodogen method was used for labeling K237. The bioactivity of 131I-K237 was tested by human umbilical vein endothelial cell ( HUVEC ) proliferation inhibitory assay and the affinity of 131I-K237 was examined by competition binding studies. Twenty-five mice were divided into five groups randomly, including physiologic saline (group 1), K237 (40 μg) (group 2), 131I ( 11. 1 MBq) (group 3), 131I-K237 (K237 40 μg, 11. 1 MBq) intravenously ( group 4), and 131I-K237 ( K237 40 μg, 11.1 MBq) intratumorally (group 5). Injections were repeated at 15 d after the first injection. The tumor growth inhibition rate was calculated. Student's t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for testing significant differences of data. Results The inhibition rate of HUVEC proliferation had no significant difference between radiolabeled K237 and unlabeled K237 ( (73.69 ± 5.36) % vs ( 62.68 ± 3.83 ) %, t = 1.67, P ＞ 0.05 ). The growth of transplanted lung cancer was inhibited by 75. 01 % in group 4, 78.99% in group 5, 31.15% in group 2 and 12.61% in group 3, respectively. The average tumor volume of groups 4 and 5 were significantly smaller than that of groups 1,2, and 3 ( F = 15. 233 and 13.611, respectively, P ＜0. 01 ). Conclusion 131I-K237 can be readily radiolabeled and it can effectively inhibit the growth of tumor in nude mice bearing human lung cancer.