Background and purpose:Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) has both the advantages of T lympho-cytes’ powerful anti-tumor activity and NK cells’ tumor killing capacity without MHC restriction. It could directly kill tumor cells, regulate and enhance immune function, without damaging the structure and functions of the immune sys-tem. Its effects on the treatment of malignant solid tumors has been widely recognized. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-proliferation effects of CIK cells obtained and cultivated from lung cancer patients’ lymph nodes. Meanwhile, the safety of clinical transfusion was observed.Methods:The peripheral blood and lymph nodes of 6 surgery patients with lung cancer from Shanghai Chest Hospital were used to cultivate CIK cells for 14 days. The phenotypes of CIK cells were detected by lfow cytometry. The anti-proliferation activities of CIK cells on A549 lung cancer cells were detected by CCK8 assay. The morphological changes of CIK cells were observed by invert microscope. The expression of CEA level and adverse events were evaluated after CIK transfusion.Results:The proportion of CD3+CD56+T lymphocyte in two groups were both more than 30%. The CCK8 assay showed that the suppression rate of lymph nodes group was higher than that of peripheral blood group at each effect/target ratio(P<0.05). The adverse effect of CIK transfusion was mild and tolerable. The expression of CEA level decreased in patients.Conclusion:Lymph nodes of surgery patients with lung cancer can be used for cultivation of CIK cells. The anti-tumor activity of CIK isolated from lymph nodes is better than that of CIK cells cultivated from peripheral blood. Preclinical experiments showed high safety.

Objective To know the influence of gastrointestinal decontamination (including gastric lavage and activated charcoal treatment) on prognosis of asymptomatic presentation poisoning patients.Method six hundred and twenty seven asymptomatic presentation poisoning cases through January 1999 to December 2006 were reviewed retrospectively.Duration of ED stay and intubation requiring rate were compared between the intervention group and control group (patients treated only with supportive care),as well as complications associated with gastrointestinal decontamination intervention.Results Statistic analysis reveals no difference between the intervention group and the control group in rate of intubation (6.5 % vs 5.3 %,P=0.51) and emergency care unit admission (28.1% vs 26.6%,P=0.68).Meanwhile duration of ED stay is prolonged profoundly in prevention group [ (11.2?4.7) vs (8.9?5.0),P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of immune response mediated by antigen (oxidized low density lipoprotein, oxLDL)-specific T cells on plaque stability in coronary heart disease.

METHODSTwenty patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), 34 with unstable angina pectoris (UAP), 27 with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and 22 control subjects were enrolled in this study. MTS/PMS colorimetric assay was used to measure the proliferative response of the T cells to stimulation to 5 microg/ml oxLDL and detect IFN-gamma concentration produced in the proliferative response. The effect of C-reactive protein (CRP) on the proliferative response of the T cells to oxLDL and IFN-gamma concentration produced was examined in AMI group and UAP group.

RESULTSThe proliferative response of T cells to stimulation to 5 microg/ml oxLDL was significantly higher in AMI group and UAP group than in SAP group and the control group (P<0.05). IFN-gamma concentration produced in the proliferative response of the T cells was also significantly higher in AMI group and UAP group than in the other two groups (P<0.05). CRP at 10 microg/ml significantly increased the proliferative response of the T cells to oxLDL and IFN-gamma production in ACS group (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONThe immune response mediated by the antigen-specific T cells, especially that mediated by type 1 T helper cells secreting IFN-gamma, may play an important role in the instability of plaques, and CRP may promote the inflammation of atherosclerosis through the effects on the specific immune response to oxLDL.

Aged ; Angina Pectoris ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Angina, Unstable ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Coronary Disease ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: Altered mental status (AMS) is a very common emergency case, but the exact etiology of many AMS patients is unknown. Patients often manifest vague symptoms, thus, AMS diagnosis and treatment are highly challenging for emergency physicians. The aim of this study is to provide a framework for the assessment of AMS patients. This assessment should allow providers to better understand the etiology of mental status changes and therefore improve diagnostic skills and management. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort observational study. We recruited all adult patients with undifferentiated AMS at a single center tertiary care academic emergency department over 24 months (June 2009 to June 2011). Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, assessment approaches, causative factors, emergency treatments and outcomes were collected prospectively. RESULTS: In 1934 patients with AMS recruited, accounting for 0.93％ of all emergency department (ED) patients, 1026 (53.1％) were male, and 908 (46.9％) female. Their average age was 51.95±15.71 years. Etiologic factors were neurological (n=641; 35.0％), pharmacological and toxicological (n=421; 23.0％), systemic and organic (n=266; 14.5％), infectious (n=167; 9.1％), endocrine/metabolic (n=145; 7.9％), psychiatric (n=71; 3.9％), traumatic (n=38; 2.1％), and gynecologic and obstetric (n=35; 1.9％). Total mortality rate was 8.1％ (n=156). The death rate was higher in elderly patients (≥60) than in younger patients (10.8％ vs. 6.9％,P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AMS pose a challenge for ED physicians. The most frequently encountered diagnostic categories causing AMS were primary CNS disorders, intoxication, organ system dysfunction, and endocrine/metabolic diseases. AMS has a high fatality rate in the ED. AMS is an important warning signal for ED patients because of its potentially fatal and reversible effects. Prompt evaluation and treatment are essential to decreasing morbidity and mortality associated with AMS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of VEGF mRNA and secretion of VEGF protein in NB4 and HL-60 cells affected by all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and daunorubincin (DNR) respectively.

METHODSSemi-quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA were used to study the expression of VEGF mRNA and secretion of VEGF protein in NB4 and HL-60 cell lines treated by ATRA and DNR respectively.

RESULTSVEGF was expressed in both NB4 and HL-60 cells. The expression of VEGF mRNA and secretion of VEGF protein could be down-regulated by ATRA and DNR respectively in a time and dose dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONBesides inducing apoptosis and restraining proliferation of leukemic cells, ATRA and DNR exerted their anti-leukemia effects by reducing angiogenesis via reduction of angiogenic reaction stimulating signals.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

A lot of experimental findings have confirmed that: Animal cells acquire a spherical shape just before the division; Under biochemical stimulus of mitotic apparatus aster the cells form a contractile ring in equator plane, and the mother cell divides into two daughter cells; meanwhile the total volume keeps constant. In Zinemanas and Nir's model the reorientation of microfilament and the visco-elasticity of cortex have been took into consideration. In our present work, the effective coefficient m due to biochemical stimulus was incorporated into the model, and the local distribution C was modified to diffuse with the plasma membrane motion. The numerical results showed that the formation of a contractile ring and parameters such as the surface tension in the furrow and internal pressure can be predicted successfully. Compared with Zinemanas and Nir's model, the results of our model are more correspondent with the experimental results. It can be concluded that the effective coefficient m has limited effects on the process control of cytokinesis.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cytokinesis ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Surface Tension

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibition effect of leukemic bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on daunorubicin (DNR) induced apoptosis of human Jurkat cell line, and analyze the differentially expressed genes between Jurkat cells cocultured with leukemic BMSCs or without.

METHODSSuppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was employed to establish subtracted cDNA library of differentially expressed genes in Jurkat cells cocultured with leukemic BMSCs and DNR. The cDNA fragments were sequenced and analyzed.

RESULTSThe differentially expressed gene cDNA library was successfully developed. Primary screening was done by reverse Northern hybridization. Thirty up-regulated and 22 down-regulated cDNA fragments were isolated and sequenced. Analysis and comparison were performed in GenBank using BLAST. These genes are related to cell cycle regulation, cell apoptosis and energy metabolism.

CONCLUSIONLeukemic BMSCs influence gene expression of Jurkat cells. The resulting differentially expressed genes might be associated with the protection of leukemic cells by BMSCs from injury.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Daunorubicin ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; drug effects ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Jurkat Cells ; Stromal Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo construct tree models for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)and explore the oncogenesis process of NPC.

METHODSBased on the software which Desper et al developed, tree models were constructed for colorectal carcinoma (CC) from the comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) data of 118 CC patients and for NPC from the CGH data of 140 southern Chinese patients, respectively.

RESULTSTree models for CC suggested that changes in -18q and +20q were important early events in colorectal carcinogenesis. As changes in -18q occurred prior to those in -17p, there might be some cause-effect relationship. Tree models for NPC suggested that change in -3p was an important early event in nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis, and those in -11q, -14q, -16q, -9p were also non-random genetic events in carcinogenesis, suggesting that there might be tumor-associated genes existing on these chromosome arms. The tree model also suggested the existence of oncogene on the short arm of chromosome 12.

CONCLUSIONConstructing tree models based on the CGH data to demonstrate the initiation and progression of NPC might help elucidate its multigene, multistep and multipathway development. It may provide valuable clues to explore the mechanism of tumorigenesis.

Chromosome Aberrations ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; etiology ; genetics ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization

s: The onset of Crohn’s disease (CD) is the interaction of environment, heredity, infection, immune and other factors. It is also closely related to abnormal immune functions. Without special treatment, CD is identified as a modern refractory disease. By syndrome differentiation and treatment, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can effectively relieve disease conditions, improve the quality of life and reduce side effects of modern medication. The core compatibility ofBai-Zhu andFu-Ling can reinforce spleen-qi and dispel dampness, which met the common pathogenesis of CD. Therefore, the combination is comprehensively used in the compound prescription. Our previous study found thatBai-Zhu Fu-Ling decoctioncan reduce the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) of animal model of spleen-qi deficiency, downregulate VIP receptors, decrease the affinity of VIP receptors and improve animal model’s sIgA. To further clarify the effects about neurotransmitters and their correlation with the immune system in the pathogenesis of CD and the intervention mechanism treated by different proportional compatibility ofBai-Zhu Fu-Ling decoction, we studied influences of the decoction on related transmitters of nerve- immune network and functions of receptors, as well as cytokine secretion and signal transduction of TLR4-NF-κB. Our studies can provide references and foundations to further explore TCM treatment of CD.

BACKGROUNDStudy on the promotive effects of N-nitrosopiperidine on carcinogenesis process was performed, based on the immortalization of human fetal esophageal epithelium induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) 18E6E7 genes.

METHODSThe immortalized esophageal epithelium SHEE was induced by HPV18E6E7. The cells at 17th passages were cultured in 50 ml flasks. The N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) 0, 2, 4, 8 mmol/L added to the cultured medium of SHEE cells for 3 weeks. The morphology, proliferation and apoptosis of the cells were studied by phase contrast microscopy and flow cytometry. Modal number of chromosomes was analyzed by standard method. Tumorigenicity of the cells was assessed by soft agar colony formation and by transplantation of cells into nude mice. Expression of HPV was detected by Western blot.

RESULTSWhen cells were exposed to high concentration (8 mmol/L) of NPIP, cell death was increased, leaving a few live cells. In normal cultural medium instead of NPIP proliferative status of the cells restored after 4 weeks and the cells progressed to the proliferation stage with continuous replication and atypical hyperplasia. At the end of the 8th week, the cells appeared with large colonies in soft-agar and tumor formation in transplanted nude mice. When the cells were cultured in 2, 4 mmol/L NPIP the doubling passage was delayed and without tumor formation in transplanted nude mice. Modal number of chromosomes was 61-65, in 8 mmol/L NPIP group and control group, 56-61. Expression of HPV18 appeared in experimental and control groups.

CONCLUSIONNPIP promotes malignant change of the immortalized esophageal epithelial cells induced by HPV18E6E7. HPV18E6E7 synergy with NPIP will accelerate malignant transformation in esophageal epithelium.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Cell Transformation, Viral ; drug effects ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; virology ; Esophagus ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; physiology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasms, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Nitrosamines ; toxicity ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; metabolism