Antibodies, Viral ; isolation & purification ; China ; Humans ; West Nile Fever ; immunology ; West Nile virus ; immunology

Objective To investigate the effect of intraocular injection of mixed crystalline in vivo on survival of retinal ganglion cells(RGCs)after optic nerve cut.Methods Twenty Long-Evens rats were divided into normal control,and 7 day,14 day,and 21 day groups after optic nerve was cut off.There were 5 eyes in each group.Mixed crystallin(1x10~(-4)g/L)and isotonic saline solution were injected into the vitreous of fight eye and left eye respectively.The number of RGCs was counted 7,14 and 21 days after optic nerve cut.Results The density of RGCs declined clearly 7 days after optic nerve cut.In the group with crystallin injection,the density of RGCs declined to 71%,32% and 15% of the control group repec- tively,much higher than that of the controls on days 7,14 and 21 after optic nerve was cut off(P

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of deoxyribonucleotidum in treatment of acute viral myocarditis.

METHODSEighty-eight patients with acute viral myocarditis were randomized equally into therapeutic group and control group. Patients in the control group were treated with routine treatment and those in the therapeutic group were given deoxyribonucleotidum in addition to routine treatment. After 4 weeks, the total efficacy rate and median time of symptom disappearance were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe total efficacy rate in the control and therapeutic groups was 79.54% and 95.45% (P=0.049), and the median time of symptom disappearance was 9.5 days and 6.5 days, respectively (P=0.035). Hypotension and mild dizziness were found in 2 patients in the therapeutic group without other severe side effects.

CONCLUSIONDeoxyribonucleotidum can improve the therapeutic effect for acute viral myocarditis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Deoxyribonucleotides ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Virus Diseases ; drug therapy

Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and whole-cell perforated patch-clamp techniques were combined to study simultaneously the changes of intracellular signal molecules and membrane currents. Intracellular calcium transients and spontaneous transient outward currents (STOCs) were recorded simultaneously in freshly isolated mouse cerebral artery smooth muscle cells. The cells loaded with fluo-4/AM were scanned with the confocal line-scan mode. Triggering voltage pulses derived from an EPC-10 patch clamp amplifier triggered the confocal line scan. The results showed that STOCs and intracellular calcium transients could be simultaneously recorded in the same cell. This technique will be useful in studies of diseases caused by impairments of intracellular Ca(2+) signaling and related ionic channel activities, or vice versa.
Animals ; Calcium Signaling ; Cerebral Arteries ; cytology ; Mice ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; physiology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques

Objective To investigate the clinical method of closing defect and regain the sensory on forefoot injury.Methods Lateral tarsal artery,flap was designed as a reverse flow flap to close forefoot de- fect in dorsal lateral foot while perforating branche of lateral tarsal artery as turning point.Lateral cutaneous nerve was inosculated to lateral plantar fascia.Donor site was covered by skin-grafting.Results seventeen cases survived satisfactorily with good shape and regaining sensory.Conclusion Lateral tarsal artery flap can be used in coveraged of forefoot defect.Lateral tarsal artery flap was thin flap with good shape and to regain the sensory of forefoot.

OBJECTIVETo study the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) in the anti-replication effects of tetracycline (Tet) on hepatitis B virus (HBV).

METHODSThe Tet-dependent regulatory fragment (TO) was PCR amplified from the pcDNA4TM/TO vector, inserted into the pUC118 cloning vector, and verified by sequencing. The counterpart fragment in the pVITRO3 expression vector, which contains two multiple cloning sites (MCSs), was replaced with the confirmed TO to generate a pVITRO3-TO vector. The Tet repressor (TR) gene from the pcDNA6/TR regulatory vector was incorporated into one MCS of pVITRO3-TO and the TNFalpha gene was subsequently incorporated into the other MCS. The resultant vector, pVITRO3-TOTR-TNFalpha, was transiently transfected into HepG2 cells. TNFalpha expression from the vector was induced by exposure to various concentrations of Tet and measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the appropriate Tet concentration for experimentation. To investigate whether Tet inhibits TNFalpha expression as a mechanism of its anti-replication activity against HBV, the HepG2.2.15 cell line stably transfected with pVITRO3-TOTR-TNFalpha was used as an HBV replication model. Levels of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were detected by immunoassay. HBV DNA level was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR.

RESULTSThe TNFalpha expression from the newly constructed pVITRO3-TOTR-TNFalpha vector was Tet-controllable in the eukaryotic cells examined. The optimal concentration of Tet for the experimental system was 1.0 mug/ml. HBsAg and HBeAg expression was down-regulated in the HepG2.2.15 cells stably transfected with the pVITRO3-TO-TR-TNFalpha vector. After incubation with Tet for 1, 3 and 5 days, the inhibition rate of HBsAg was 2%, 1.1% and 0, compared to 14.8%, 11.5% and 28.4% in the non-Tet control group. The corresponding inhibition rates of HBeAg were 50.0%, 26.7% and 47.9%, compared to 0.3%, 1.6% and 0.0%, in the control group. HBV DNA levels in the cells and the cell culture supernatants exposed to Tet were decreased by 70.3% and 79.9%, respectively. TNFalpha inhibited production of HBsAg mRNA.

CONCLUSIONA Tet-dependent regulatory fragment double-expressing TNFalpha single vector system was constructed successfully, achieving controllable TNFalpha expression in both transiently transfected eukaryotic cells and stable cell lines. In this HBV cell model system, Tet-induced overexpression of human TNFalpha inhibited HBV DNA replication and reduced HBsAg and HBeAg expression. Inhibition of HBV transcription may be a key role of TNFalpha against HBV replication.

DNA, Viral ; biosynthesis ; Genetic Vectors ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Tetracycline ; pharmacology ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; Virus Replication

BACKGROUNDThere has been a long debate among scholars surrounding the relationship between language and cognition. The worldwide study of aphasia is actively exploring the function of language from cognitive point of view. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between linguistic functions and cognitive functions in a clinical study of Chinese patients with post-stroke aphasia.

METHODSCognitive functions of 63 Chinese patients with aphasia following a stroke were assessed with the Chinese version of the second edition of Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assessment (LOTCA) battery and their linguistic functions were tested with the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) Scale, respectively. The correlation between the results observed on the LOTCA battery and those on the WAB was analyzed. Aphasia quotient, performance quotient, cortical quotient, and linguistic function of the patients were compared. Then, each language function was analyzed by way of dependent adopt multiple regression analysis.

RESULTSThe total score of 63 patients as shown on the LOTCA battery was significantly correlated with the aphasia quotient, performance quotient, and cortical quotient observed on the WAB Scale (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). However, the correlation between visuomotor organization under LOTCA and repeat under WAB was not significant (P > 0.05). The attention of LOTCA and WAB's spontaneous speech, repeat, naming, and aphasia quotient was not relevant either (P > 0.05). In addition, correlations between the results observed on the LOTCA battery and the WAB were significant (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Among the significant variables finally entered into the standardized canonical discriminant functions, main factors affected the aphasia. Multiple regression analysis showed that orientation, spatial perception, and visual perception had a notable influence on aphasia quotient and naming. Orientation and thinking operation was found to have a notable influence on spontaneous speech. Spatial perception and visual perception was found to have a notable influence on auditory comprehension. Thinking operation and orientation was found to have an obvious influence on reading. Thinking operation, spatial perception, and attention was found to have a notable effect on writing (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThere exists a close relationship between linguistic functions and cognitive orientation, spatial perception, visual perception, and thinking operation in a clinical study of Chinese patients with post-stroke aphasia.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aphasia ; physiopathology ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cognition ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Language ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Space Perception ; physiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of T cell and its subsets in the induction of insulitis and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in BALB/c mice.

METHODSAutoimmune diabetes mellitus was developed by intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) daily for 5 consecutive days in BALB/c mice as sources of donor cells. Spleen cells from diabetic mice were then cultured for 7 days in the stimulation of interleukin-2 (IL-2) to harvest diabetogenic T cells, which were subsequently transferred into normal BALB/c mice recipients. MTT, ELISA, and HE staining were used to analyze the lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine (IL-2, interferon-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10) levels, and pathological changes in pancreatic islets.

RESULTSAs few as 3 x 10(6) diabetogenic T cells successfully induced diabetes mellitus in recipients pretreated with STZ twice, whereas transfer of equal amount of normal splenocytes, T cell-depleted diabetogenic splenocytes, or diabetogenic CD4+ T cells alone in recipients receiving STZ twice pretreatment was proved not to induce diabetes mellitus either. A markedly increased lymphocyte proliferation, high levels of interferon-gamma and IL-2 in the supernatants of diabetogenic T cells were observed. In addition, a markedly enhanced lymphocyte proliferation, a high level of interferon-gamma secretion in serum, and numerous lymphocytes infiltration in pancreatic islets were detected in the diabetic mice induced by diabetogenic T cells transfer.

CONCLUSIONSA novel T1DM murine model is established in STZ-pretreated BALB/c mice by adoptive transfer of diabetogenic T cells. CD4+ T cells with interferon-gamma may promote the onset of diabetes mellitus.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; immunology ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Islets of Langerhans ; cytology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

Objective To analyze serum vitamin D level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),and to provide evidence for the intervention.Methods A total of 270 blood samples from patients with T2DM by multi -stage random sampling in 1 0 streets/towns in Lishui City were collected to test 25 -hydroxyvitamin D level by high performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry.Results The average level of 270 case of T2DM patients '25 -hydroxyvitamin D was (22.97 ±8.07)ng/mL.Gender,household registration,BMI stage and 25 -hydroxyvitamin D level were statistically significant,respectively (Z =4.1 3,P <0.05),(Z =2.44,P <0.05),(F =3.21 ,P <0.05).By multiple linear regression analysis,we found that gender,household registration and length of outdoor exercise time was related to vitamin D level,the B value were -5.1 78,2.369,and 2.026,respectively(P <0.05).Conclusion T2DM patients had lower level vitamin D in their blood.Vitamin D had negative correlation with gender,household registration, and outdoor exercise time.T2DMpatients’vitamin D monitoring and outdoor activities should be strengthened.

BACKGROUNDThe interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Recent studies have suggested that the IRAK1 functional genetic variant could affect the severity of sepsis in Caucasians. In this report, we have investigated whether polymorphisms at the IRAK1 gene are associated with the susceptibility to and severity of sepsis among the Chinese population.

METHODSHaplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (htSNPs) were selected from the HapMap database. They were genotyped in 255 patients with sepsis and 260 control subjects by PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The association between the selected htSNPs and the susceptibility to and severity of sepsis were estimated by Logistic regression with adjustments for age, sex, smoking, drinking, chronic disease status, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score and primary diseases.

RESULTSrs1059702 was selected to represent the six linked htSNPs for IRAK1. Genotype frequencies of the htSNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for females, as were allele frequencies for both sex groups. Associations were observed in females between the htSNPs C/C genotype and increased susceptibility to sepsis (odds ratio (OR), 5.46; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12 - 26.67; P = 0.018), and such associations were also observed between the IRAK1 variant haplotype (CC/C-allele) and increased susceptibility to sepsis (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.05 - 2.70; P = 0.031) when compared with the T/T + T/C genotype and the wild-type haplotype (TC + TT/T-allele). In the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) subgroup, the variant haplotype was also associated with increased severity of sepsis (OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.13 - 4.94; P = 0.02) when compared with the wild haplotype. This association was not significant in male patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe functional polymorphism in exon 5 and the variant haplotype of IRAK1 gene mediate susceptibility to and severity of sepsis. IRAK1 might be a genetic risk factor for the occurrence and development of sepsis in the Chinese population.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Sepsis ; genetics