Aplastic anemia (AA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of hematopoietic tissue resulting in hyperfunction of effector T-lymphocytes. Recent studies indicate that Th17 and Treg cells are functionally antagonistic each other, and the increase of Th17 cells and decrease of Treg cells are closely related with AA. In vivo experiments showed that both anti-IL-17 treatment and Treg cell infusion can protect against immune-mediated bone marrow failure in mouse with AA. This review summarizes the recent progress of study on imbalance of Th17/Treg cells in AA, so as to explore the pathogenesis of AA and provide approach to clinical treatment. The main problems that are discussed in this review include biological characteristics of Th17/Treg cells, the regulation of Th17/Treg cell balance and related cytokines, the relationship between Th17/Treg cells and AA.
Anemia, Aplastic ; immunology ; pathology ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology ; Th17 Cells ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo establish a high-sensitivity, high-specificity and low-cost hydrogel chip platform for the clinical screening of Y chromosome microdeletions.

METHODSSite-specific extended primers with a common sequence at the 5' end were used for hybridizing with the target. The Cy5-dUTP was incorporated into the products by primer extension, and the products were labeled with fluorescence. Then the extended products were added to the chip for hybridizing with acrylamide-modified common probes immobilized on the chip. After removal of the free Cy5-dUTP by electrophoresis, the signals were obtained by fluorescence scanning. And the detecting conditions of this method were optimized.

RESULTSSY254 of 9 samples was successfully detected with the hydrogel chip. The results showed that 3 were normal and the other 6 with microdeletions (1 female sample as a negative control), which coincided with the results of conventional multiplex PCR-electrophoresis.

CONCLUSIONThe hydrogel chip platform we established has provided a new technique for the detection of Y chromosome microdeletions, and is beneficial to the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

Carbocyanines ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; genetics ; Deoxyuracil Nucleotides ; Humans ; Hydrogels ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct a recombinant human CD59 gene containing intercellular adhesion molecule-2 promoter for high level endothelial-specific expression in xenotransplantation.

METHODSICAM-2 promotor fragment and CD59-intron 1 fragment were produced by PCR from the human blood genome, and then clone these fragments into a pcDNA3-CD59 eukaryotic expression vector which was followed by digestion with the specific restricted endonuclease (for example: EcoRI, Hind III). The ICAM-2 promoter and CD59-intron 1 fragments were identified by PCR, and sequencing. The recombinant was then transfected into pig aorta endothelial cells with Lipofection, and the expression was measured by flow cytometer.

RESULTSProducts of the sequences measured were in accord with the frames of the gene bank. The expression of the protein of this recombinant was positive.

CONCLUSIONThe CD59 recombinant gene is constructed successfully, providing a basis for transgenic research.

Animals ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; CD59 Antigens ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Eukaryotic Cells ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Swine ; Transfection ; Transplantation, Heterologous

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical effect and safety of the Chinese medicine Longbishu Capsule combined with mesylate doxazosin in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type.

METHODSThis was a randomized, double-blind, double-simulation control study. We equally assigned 60 men diagnosed with BPH of the kidney deficiency and blood stagnation type to an experimental and a control group, the former treated with mesylate doxazosin plus Longbishu Capsule and the latter with mesylate doxazosin plus placebo. We compared the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), Chinese symptom score (CSS), maximal urinary flow rate (Qmax), and prostate volume between the two groups of patients before and after 6 months of medication.

RESULTSAfter treatment, there were 5 cured cases, 13 markedly effective cases, 9 effective cases, 1 ineffective case, and 2 eliminated cases in the experimental group, as compared with 2 cured cases, 8 markedly effective cases, 10 effective cases, 7 ineffective cases, and 3 eliminated cases in the control group. The total effectiveness rate was obviously higher in the former (96.4%) than in the latter (74.1%). IPSS, Qmax, and CSS were improved in both of the groups after medication, even more significantly in the experimental than in the control group (IPSS: 15.22 ± 2.98 vs 18.15 ± 5.88, P <0.05; Qmax: [13.56 ± 2.26] ml/s vs [11.78 ± 2.97] ml/s, P <0.05; CSS: 6.18 ± 2.13 vs 9.52 ± 3.15, P <0.05). Because of the difference in the QOL score between the two groups at the baseline (P = 0.038 <0.05), no more comparison was made in this aspect after treatment.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of Longbishu Capsule with mesylate doxazosin is safe and effective for the treatment of BPH.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; therapeutic use ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Doxazosin ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome ; Urination

The dosage-efficacy/toxicity relationship of the 50% alcohol extracts of Polygonum multiflorum was comparatively investigated on either normal or CCl4-induced chronic liver injury rats, by determining the general condition, serum biochemical indices and liver histopathology, coupled with the factor analysis. The dosages were 10 and 20 g raw materials per kg body weight. Compared with the normal control group, the normal high dose group showed significant increases of the serum alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), as well the frequent incidences of inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatic sinus enlargement and fiber stripes formation in histopathological sections. Compared with the model control group, the model low dose group showed significant declines of serum ALT, aspartate transaminase (AST) and total bile acid (TBA) (P < 0.05), as well the alleviation of vacuoles of hepatocytes, but no amelioration of the inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous tissue hyperplasia; moreover, the model high dose group showed significant degeneration declines of serum HMGB-1, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), as well the evident alleviation of vacuoles degeneration of hepatocytes, inflammatory cells infiltration and fibrosis degree. The factor analysis showed that the low dosage treatment had almost neither injuring effect on the normal rats nor protective effect on the model rats; while the high dosage treatment showed observable injuring effect on the normal rats, expressed by the significant increases of the factor-1 (HMGB-1, TNF-α and IL-1β as the main contributors) and factor-2 (TBIL, ALT and TBA as the main contributors) relative to the normal control group. The liver protective effect of the high dosage treatment could be observed with the significant reduction of the factor-1, indicating the effective alleviation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, it could illustrated the phenomenon of symptom-based prescription theory of Polygonum multiflorum on rat livers: the high dosage of the herb had either an injuring effect on normal rats, or a therapeutic effect on the rats with chronic liver injury.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Bile Acids and Salts ; metabolism ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fallopia multiflora ; chemistry ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEMeasures of ventilation-CO₂output relationship have been shown to be more prognostic than peak O₂uptake in assessing life expectancy in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Because both the ratios (VE/Vco₂) and slopes (VE-vs-Vco₂) of ventilation-co₂ output of differing durations can be used, we aim to ascertain which measurements best predicted CHF life expectancy.

METHODSTwo hundred and seventy-one CHF patients with NYHA class II-IV underwent incremental cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and were followed-up for a median duration of 479 days. Four different linear regression VE-vs- Vco₂ slopes were calculated from warm-up exercise onset to: 180 s, anaerobic threshold (AT), ventilatory compensation point (VCP); and peak exercise. Five VE/Vco₂ ratios were calculated for the following durations: rest (120 s), warm-up (30 s), AT (60 s), lowest value (90 s), and peak exercise (30 s). Death or heart transplant were considered end-points. Multiple statistical analyses were performed.

RESULTSCHF patients had high lowest VE/Vco₂ (41.0 ± 9.2, 141 ± 30%pred), high VE/Vco₂ at AT (42.5 ± 10.4, 145 ± 35%pred), and high VE-vs-Vco₂ slope to VCP (37.6 ± 12.1, 126 ± 41%pred). The best predictor of death was a higher lowest VE/Vco₂ (≥ 42, ≥ 141%pred), whereas the VE-vs-Vco₂slope to VCP was less variable than other slopes. For death prognosis in 6 months, %pred values were superior: for longer times, absolute values were superior.

CONCLUSIONThe increased lowest VE/Vco₂ ratio easily identifiable and simply measured during exercise, is the best measurement to assess the ventilation-co₂output relationship in prognosticating death in CHF patients.

Carbon Dioxide ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Progression ; Exercise Test ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; mortality ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Life Expectancy ; Respiratory Function Tests

Apoptosis ; B-Lymphocytes ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinogenesis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; Curcumin ; Humans ; Immunoprecipitation ; In Situ Hybridization ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; MicroRNAs ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; RNA, Messenger

Objective: The research is to provide the basis for effective protection and wise utilization of the plants resources inTea Mountain National Ecological Demonstration Area of Shandong Province. Methods: The general investigation on plant species inTea Mountain was conducted. The research scope covered plant species, their distribution in wild, community structure and flora.Results: A total of 352 higher plants, belonging to 250 genera and 90 families, were recorded. Four species were listed as nationalsecond-grade protected plants. Regional vegetation is Pinus thunbergii plantation and Secondary forest. The main forest vegetation isPinus thunbergii community. Pantropic types and N. Tem types are dominant types. The latitude and "the islands-effect" should be themajor-effect factor of this pattern. Because of intense artificial active disturbance, primary vegetation types in this region have sufferedserious destruction, especially the rare and precious plants that are at high risk of dying out. Conclusions: This regional communitystructure is simple. The shrub layer and the liana layer are undeveloped. The syngenesis time is short.

king condition before pregnancy were associated with the development of polydactyly and syndactyly.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV, DAIDING) for Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients with lamivudine (LAM) resistance.

METHODSThis study was a multicenter, double-blind clinical trial. 209 chronic hepatitis B patients with LAM resistance were randomly put in an ADV, DAIDING or a LAM group. After 24 and 48-weeks of treatment, serum HBV DNA levels were measured by quantitative PCR and liver function tests; HBV serology and safety assessments were also conducted.

RESULTSThe mean reduction of HBV DNA from baseline at 24 and 48 weeks was significantly greater in the ADV group compared with that in the LAM group (2.40 log10 vs 0.94 log10, P < 0.01; 2.71 log10 vs 1.07 log10, P < 0.01). In the ADV group, the virological response and ALT normalization at 24 and 48 weeks were significantly higher than those in the LAM group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the portion of HBeAg reduction, HBeAg seroconversion and incidence of adverse events. There was no severe adverse event related to the investigational product, DAIDING, in this trial.

CONCLUSIONDAIDING (ADV) is effective and safe for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B patients with LAM resistance.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult