Objective To investigate the significance of the serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10),IL-13,IL-15 of patients with chronic hepatic failure and the correlation between those inter- leukin levels and nosocomial infections.Methods The serum levels of IL-10,IL-13,IL-15 of 58 patients with chronic hepatic failure were measured by double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immu- nosorbent assay at the time of admission and 2 weeks after admission.Results The serum levels of IL-15 and the propotion of IL-15/IL-10 and IL-15/IL-13 in patients with chronic hepatic failure group at the time of admission were significantly higher than those in healthy control group[(358.16?290.91) ng/L vs (38.55?21.49) ng/L,12.93?14.26 vs 1.10?0.55,98.55?97.5.5 vs 9.70?5.03,respectively,all P=0.000].Those in death group were significantly higher than those in improving group[(479.93v205.52) ng/L vs (244.51?236.29) ng/L,17.65?17.78 vs 8.53?7.98,130.69?115.50 vs 68.55?65.99,respectively,all P

BACKGROUNDThe CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing family (CMTM) is a novel family of proteins linking chemokines and TM4SF. Different members exhibit diverse biological functions. In this study, the effect of intracellular CMTM2 on regulating human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) transcription was evaluated.

METHODSThe effects of CMTM2 on regulating full-length HIV-1 provirus and the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-directed transcription were assessed by luciferase assay. Transcription factor assays, using the luciferase reporter plasmids of AP-1, CRE, and NF-κB were conducted to explore the signaling pathway(s) that may be regulated by CMTM2. The potential relationship between CMTM2 and the transcription factor AP-1 was further analyzed by Western blotting analyses to investigate the effect of CMTM2 on PMA-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation.

RESULTSThe results from the current study revealed that CMTM2 acts as a negative regulator of HIV-1 transcription. CMTM2 exerted a suppressive action on both full-length HIV-1 provirus and HIV-1 LTR-directed transcription. Transcription factor assays showed that CMTM2 selectively inhibited basal AP-1 and CREB activity. Co-expression of HIV-1 Tat, a potent AP-1 and CREB activator, can not reverse CMTM2-mediated AP-1 and CREB inhibition, suggesting a potent and specific effect of CMTM2 on negatively regulating these two signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONIntracellular CMTM2 can negatively regulate HIV-1 transcription, at least in part, by targeting the AP-1 and CREB pathways. Exploring the mechanisms further may lead to new ways to control HIV-1 replication.

Chemokines ; physiology ; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein ; antagonists & inhibitors ; HIV Long Terminal Repeat ; HIV-1 ; genetics ; Humans ; Intracellular Space ; metabolism ; Jurkat Cells ; MARVEL Domain-Containing Proteins ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Transcription, Genetic ; U937 Cells

Cardiac Catheterization ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; therapy ; Humans ; Prosthesis Implantation ; instrumentation ; Septal Occluder Device

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; DNA, Circular ; blood ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo study on the dynamics of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulations in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

METHODSUsing flow cytometry, the absolute numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulations in 240 SARS patients (696 specimens) and 51 individuals as controls, were counted and compared.

RESULTSThe absolute numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulations (CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8) were 1298 +/- 785, 897 +/- 606, 510 +/- 372, 362 +/- 263/mm(3), respectively, significantly lower in SARS patients as compared to the normal controls (2024 +/- 423, 1391 +/- 289, 795 +/- 129, 551 +/- 183/mm(3)). Of SARS patients, severe group (1095 +/- 740, 740 +/- 562, 419 +/- 346, 304 +/- 244/mm(3)) had lower counts than that of mild group (1404 +/- 788, 991 +/- 612, 564 +/- 378, 396 +/- 267/mm(3)), and in group with deaths (587 +/- 493, 369 +/- 371, 204 +/- 191, 150 +/- 130/mm(3)) was lower than that of recovery group (1355 +/- 776, 948 +/- 603, 539 +/- 375, 382 +/- 263/mm(3)). There were significant differences (P < 0.01) for CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8, but with no significant difference (P > 0.05) for CD4/CD8 ratio between severe and mild, recovery and death groups. The lymphocytes and their subpopulations (CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8) declined in the 1st week and to the lowest level (977 +/- 579, 641 +/- 466, 360 +/- 275, 270 +/- 216/mm(3)) in the 2nd week. Then the lymphocytes and their subpopulations gradually increased during the recovery of the disease.

CONCLUSIONThe absolute numbers of peripheral blood lymphocytes and their subpopulations in SARS patients might be used as one of the methods for diagnosis on the severity and prognosis of the disease.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antigens, CD ; blood ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; classification ; immunology ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the invasiveness of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(PTMC)with BRAF mutation.

METHODSTotally 99 patients with PTMC with BRAF mutation were enrolled in this study, meanwhile another 97 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (tumor size>1 cm)with BRAF mutation were included as controls. The clinicopathologic factors including extrathyroidal invasion, multifocality, and distant metastasis were analyzed.

RESULTSThe rates of extrathyroidal invasion and nodal metastasis in PTMC group were as high as 16.10% and 71.74%, respectively. In the PTMC group and PTC group,the extrathyroidal invasion rate was 16.10% and 39.18%, cervical lymph node metastasis rate was 71.74% and 91.75%, and distant metastasis rate was 1.01% and 9.28%, respectively. In the PTMC subgroups with tumor sizes ≤0.3 cm, 0.3-0.6 cm, and 0.6-1.0 cm, the cervical lymph node invasion rate was 60.00%, 72.50%, and 73.81%, the extrathyroidal invasion rate was 10.00%, 9.09%, and 24.44%, and the multifocality rate was 60.00%, 38.64%, and 57.78%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the tumor size was not significantly correlated with multifocality (Χ (2)=3.752, P=0.153), cervical lymph node metastasis (Χ (2) = 0.780,P = 0.677), extrathyroidal invasion (Χ (2) = 4.182, P = 0.124), and distant metastasis (Χ (2)=1.212, P = 0.545). While the BRAF group and PTC group were not significantly different in multifocality (Χ (2) = 1.742, P=0.187), they were significantly different in terms of extrathyroidal invasion (Χ (2) = 13.000, P = 0.000), nodal involvement (Χ (2) = 12.819, P = 0.000), and distant metastasis (Χ (2) = 5.316, P = 0.021). Multivariate analysis showed that nodal metastasis was independently associated with size>1 cm (P=0.001) and extrathyroidal invasion (P=0.003).

CONCLUSIONSBRAF mutant PTMC manifests relative high extrathyroidal involvement and nodal metastasis, and the similar multifocality as BRAF mutant PTC. Radioactive iodine should be considered in PTMC with the presence of BRAF mutation combined with extrathyroidal invasion or nodal metastasis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; genetics ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Logistic Models ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf ; genetics ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Young Adult

Objective To analyze the choice of implant materials,key points of operative proce- dures,prevention and management of postoperative complications in patients treated with cranioplasty. Methods Two hundred and twenty six patients with craniocerebral trauma underwent cranioplasty with different implant materials.Attention should be paid for the purpose of not tearing or injuring the dura ma- ter during operation.To take the dura mater up to the implant material and the edge of the bone flap,and put drainage under the scalp flap before closure of the incision.Results The clinical symptoms and neural function were improved in 146(64.6%)patients postoperatively.Postoperative complications mainly were infection,fluid collection and hematoma in the operative region.Follow-up showed the occur- rence of displacement or collapse of the implant materials in some patients.Conclusion Timely cra- nioplasty can not only resolve cosmetic problems but also improve clinical symptoms and neural function. The causes of postoperative complications are mainly related with the operative procedures and the materi- als used.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity of vinorelbine (N) and epirubicin (E) as the neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).

METHODSFrom September 2001 to December 2004, 158 patients with LABC were treated with NE chemotherapy before operation. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy containing vinorelbine (N), 25 mg/m(2) (days 1 and 8) and epirubicin (E), 60 mg/m(2) (days 1) was administered every 3 weeks for three cycles before local treatment.

RESULTSResponse in the breast: the clinical objective response was 81.6% [23.4% (37/158) cCR and 58.2% (92/158) PR], 16.5% (26/158) SD and 1.9% (3/158) PD. Pathological complete response was found in 29 cases (18.3%). Eighteen cases (26.5%) who have positive FNA result in the axillary lymphnode before chemotherapy showed negative result in the surgery specimen. The most common toxicities were neutropenia, alopecia and nausea/vomiting. Neutropenia grade 3 - 4 was reported in 111 patients (70.3%) and there was no toxic deaths.

CONCLUSIONSThe combination of vinorelbine and epirubicin is a very active and well-tolerated regimen as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for the LABC.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Treatment Outcome ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

To study on the molecular evolution of Coxsackie virus A16 (CVA16)isolated from clinical speci-mens of Hand, foot and mouth Disease( HFMD) patients in Inner Mongolia in 2010. A total of 921 clinical specimens including stools, throat swabs and vesicle fluids were collected from 888 HFMD patients in out-patient service in Inner Mongolia and viral isolation was then performed, the positive viral isolates were identified by using the real-time PCR method detecting CVA16. A total of 50 CVA16 isolates were selected from the patients presenting mild symptoms, severe symptoms and the death patients randomly, and the VP1 coding regions of representative CVA16 isolates were amplified and sequenced. Finally the phylogenetic tree was constructed among the VP1 coding regions of the different genotypes and subgenotypes of CVA16 strains. Eighty two viruses were isolated form 921 clinical specimens, the positive rate was 8. 90%, of which 3 viruses were isolated from severe cases and 1 viruses was from death cases. The nucleotide acid of 50 representative CVA16 strains in Inner Mongolia were closed to CVA16 strains isolated from mainland China since 1998, especially from Beijing in 2009 and from Henan in 2010, the identity were 96. 18% approximately 98. 88% and 94. 94a approximately 98. 76%, respectively. There was a little difference in the nucleotide acid between the CVA16 strains from Inner Mongolia in 2010 and in 2007, the identity were 91. 68% approximately 96. 52% The phylogenetic tree showed that all CVA16 strains clustered within Bla and B1b evolution branch of B1 genotype. There was slight difference in the nucleotide and the amino acid in VP1 region among the 50 Inner Mongolia CVA16 strains, the identity were 89. 99% approximately 100% and 98. 31% approximately 100%, respectively, indicating that these strains belonged to many different viral transmission chains. The CVA16 strains circulated in Inner Mongolia in 2010 were all belong to B1a and B1b evolution branch of B1 genotype, and the two evolutionary branchs of Coxsackie virus A16 were co-evolved and co-prevailed in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; epidemiology ; mortality ; virology ; Enterovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Evolution, Molecular ; Feces ; virology ; Female ; Genotype ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; epidemiology ; mortality ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Vero Cells ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamics of peripheral blood B lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSThe absolute numbers of peripheral blood B lymphocytes and NK cells in 602 serial samples from 240 patients with SARS were counted, using flow cytometry, and compared with that of normal population.

RESULTSThe absolute numbers of peripheral blood B lymphocytes and NK cells in SARS patients were significantly lower than that of the normal population (P < 0.001) and were much lower in SARS patients with severe or extremely severe types, as compared with that of moderate or mild type cases (P < 0.001). The amount of B lymphocytes in recovery SARS patients increased at the 2nd week after onset, and gradually becoming normal at the 5th week of the disease onset. The number of NK cells was in the low level at onset, and keep decreasing at the 2nd week. However, it was increasing with the recovery of the disease, but did not reach to normal level at the 5th week after onset.

CONCLUSIONThe absolute numbers of peripheral blood B lymphocytes and NK cells were associated with the severity of the disease, and detection of these two kinds of cells was useful for predicting the prognosis of SARS.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; B-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; B-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood ; immunology ; Severity of Illness Index