To investigate the dynamics of interleukin-21 (IL-21) cytokine in the Chinese HIV patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAAPT).Methods A total of 25 adults with chronic HIV infections,responding to combined highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) guideline criteria were enrolled for a 1-year follow-up.After signing an informed consent,20 mL blood was collected from each patient at the base line,6 month and 12 month,respectively.CD4 and CD8 cell count was quantified by flux cytometry,serum HIV RNA quantified by real time PCR and IL-21 concentrations by ELISA.Results IL-21 levels increased gradually during the follow-up but did not reach the healthy levels.IL-21 correlated positively with the CD4 cells but not with CD8 T cells.HIV RNA correlated negatively with CD4 cell count but did not show any relationship with the CD8 cells.Conclusion IL-21 has potential role in the immunopathogenesis of HIV,and might be an important factor in immune construction during HAART.

Objective To investigate the 5-and 10-year survival and complications of patients with stage Ⅱb cervical carcinoma treated by pre-operative photon radiotherapy (POPRT) plus brachytherapy (192Ir) and selective lymphadenectomy hysterectomy (SLH) plus intra-operative electron radiotherapy (IOERT). Methods From February 1997 to May 2007, 160 patients with stage Ⅱb cervical carcinoma were treated by POPRT of 20 Gy in 10 fractions to the whole pelvis, 192Ir brachytherapy of 14 Gy in 2fractions, followed by IOERT of 18 -20 Gy to the whole pelvis during SLH one week after. Results The follow-up rate was 98.1%. The number of patients followed-up for 5 and 10 years was 143 and 135,respectively. The 5-year overall survival rate, disease-free survival rate and local control rate of all patients were 89.4%, 86. 3% and 96. 3%, with the corresponding 10-year rates of 84.4%, 81.0% and 95.0%,respectively. The radiation-induced rectitis and cystitis were 5.0% and 0. 6%, respectivly. The rate of hydronephrosis and lower extremity edema was 6. 3% and 1.3%, respectively. Conclusions Combination of EBRT plus 192Ir brachytherapy and SLH plus IOERT could improve the survival and local control of patiens with cervical carcinoma, with only a few side effects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of MSCT and post-processing images to fractures of nasal bone in forensic identification. METHODS: 134 cases were examined by thin slice scanning with MSCT and all of the data were sent to workstation for MPR and SSD. The result of MSCT was compared with that of X-ray. RESULTS: There are 55 (41.04%) cases of linear fracture, 46 (34.33%) cases of comminuted fracture, 27 (20.15%) cases of depressed fracture and 6 (4.48%) cases of no fracture in this sample. With X-ray or CR, 48 (35.82%) cases were misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed. 133 (99.25%) cases were confirmed by MSCT. Significance difference was found between X-ray and MSCT (chi2= 45.0816, P<0.001). CONCLUSION MSCT and post-processing images might be the chief evidence for nasal fractures in forensic identification.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Female ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Fractures, Comminuted/diagnostic imaging* ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Bone/injuries* ; Skull Fractures/diagnostic imaging* ; Tomography, Spiral Computed/methods* ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the Th17, IL-17 and Tr cells equilibrium state as well as their changes of HIV infected or AIDS suffered patients in one-year HAART treatment. Methods Select 33 HIV/AIDS patients received HAART treatment while 33 healthy volunteers as controls. Flow cytometry was used to analyze Th17 and Tr cells in venous blood at the time of pre-therapy, 6th, 12th month when IL-17 levels in serum are tested by ELISA. Results The ratio of Th17 cells in CD4 cells in HIV/AIDS patients and volunteers were (1.20±0.37)%, (2.50±1.03)%, (3.70±1.56)%, (4.70±1.43)%, respectively; The ratio of Tr cells were (9.16±3.33)%, (7.19±2.91)%, (5.53±1.88)%, (4.43±0.97)%, respectively; The levels of IL-17 in serum were (5.3±2.5) pg/ml, (7.7±2.4) pg/ml, (10.4±3.1) pg/ml, (17.7±6.6) pg/ml respectively. The Th17 cells' level was positively correlative with the amount of CD4 cells, negatively correlate with the count of viral load. However, the Tr cells level is positively correlative with the count of viral load, negatively relate to the quantity of CD4 cells. Conclusion HIV could make IL-17, Th17 cells and Tr cells lost their balance, but the immune equilibrium state may gradually recover after HAART treatment. Which indicates the IL-17, Th17 cells and Treg cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of AIDS, and they are likely to be the effective indexes to observe the progress of AIDS and the treatment effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy(HAART).

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the course of certain common gamma cytokines ( IL-2 and IL-7 ) and their role on the control of the viral infection in a short term antiviral therapy.Methods A total of 35 adults with chronic HIV infection,responding to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) guideline criteria were enrolled in this one year follow-up study.After signing an informed consent,20 ml blood were collected from each patient at base line,week 0,week 24 and week 48.1 ml serum collected from each patient was kept at -80 * C until use.Serum concentration of IL-2 and IL-7 was determined using ELISA kit from ebioscience Beijing.CD4 and CD8 cells were counted and quantified using flux cytometry,and serum HIV RNA was quantified using real time PCR.Results All patients had a mean baseline IL-2 level [ (9.67 ± 2.6 ) pg/ml ]lower than the controls [ ( 27.36 ± 5.05 ) pg/ml ].After treatment for 48 weeks,IL-2 increased[ ( 19.8 ± 3.3 ) pg/ml ].However,the mean baseline 1L-7 [ ( 81.74± 20.47 ) pg/ml ]in patients was higher than controls [ ( 2.06 ± 1.52 ) pg/ml ].After treatment for 48 weeks,IL-7 decreased [ (8.36 ± 2.16)pg/ml ].IL-2 showed a significant increase and positive correlation with CD4 cells after HAART initiation (0week:R =0.21,P =0.063,24week:R =0.24,P =0.033,48week:R =0.19,P =0.103; IL-7 showed a significant decrease after HAART initiation but it did not show correlation with CD4 cells.We noted there was a negative correlation between IL-2 and CD4 count in HAART baseline (R =0.28,P =0.012 ),but no correlation between IL-7 and CD4 count from 6 month after HAART.IL-2 showed negative correlation with HIV RNA ( R =- 0.17,P =0.032),but IL-7 showed a relationship with the HIV RNA Conclusions The increase of IL-2 coupled with the decrease of IL-7 revealed a partial restoration of immune response during HAART.However,the absence of relationship with HIV RNA suggested that these cytokines might not be directly involved in the reduction of viral load.

OBJECTIVETo study the association between fluid overload and acute kidney injury (AKI) after congenital heart disease surgery in infants.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was performed on 88 infants aged less than 6 months who underwent a radical surgery for congenital heart disease. The treatment outcomes were compared between the infants with AKI after surgery and those without. The effect of cumulative fluid overload on treatment outcomes 2 days after surgery was analyzed. The risk factors for the development of AKI after surgery were assessed by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSCompared with those without AKI after surgery, the patients with AKI had younger age, lower body weights, higher serum creatinine levels and higher vasoactive-inotropic score, as well as longer durations of intraoperative extracorporeal circulation and aortic occlusion (P<0.05). Compared with those without AKI after surgery, the patients with AKI had a higher transfusion volume, a higher incidence rate of low cardiac output syndrome, a longer duration of mechanical ventilation, a longer length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), a longer length of hospital stay, a higher application rate of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a higher 30-day mortality rate, and higher levels of cumulative fluid overload 2 and 3 days after surgery (P<0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that fluid overload and low cardiac output syndrome were major risk factors for the development of AKI after surgery. The children with cumulative fluid overload >5% at 2 days after surgery had a higher incidence rate of low cardiac output syndrome, a longer duration of mechanical ventilation, a longer length of stay in the ICU, a longer length of hospital stay, and a higher mortality rate (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInfants with fluid overload after surgery for congenital heart disease tend to develop AKI, and fluid overload may be associated with poor outcomes after surgery.

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Body Fluids ; metabolism ; Cardiac Output, Low ; etiology ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of astragalus membranacaus injection on the activity of the intestinal mucosal mast cells (IMMC) and inflammatory response after hemorrahagic shock-reperfusion in rats.

METHODThirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group, low dosage group, (treated with astragalus membranacaus 10 g kg(-1)) and high dosage group (treated with astragalus membranacaus 20 g kg(-1)). Models of hemorrhage shock for 60 minutes and reperfusion for 90 minutes were created. The animals were administrated 3 mL therapeutic solution before reperfusion. At the end of study, intestinal pathology, ultrastructure of IMMC, and expression of tryptase were observed. The levels of MDA, TNF-a, histamine, and SOD activity of intestinal were detected, and the number of IMMC was counted.

RESULTThe degranulation of IMMC was seen in model group and was attenuated by astragalus membranacaus treatment. Chiu's score of model group was higher than that of the other groups. Astragalus membranacaus could attenuate the up-regulation of the Chiu' s score, the levels of MDA and TNF-alpha, expression of tryptase, and the down-regulation of SOD activity and histamine concentration. The Chiu's score and MDA content were negatively, while SOD activity was positively correlated to the histamine concentration respectively in the four groups.

CONCLUSIONAstragalus membranacaus can reduce small intestine mucosal damage by inhibiting the activity of IMMC after hemorrhage shock reperfusion.

Animals ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Injections, Intravenous ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Intestine, Small ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; Shock, Hemorrhagic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tryptases ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

In order to investigate the application of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector containing Tet regulation system and HSVtk gene in cancer gene therapy, pAAV/TRE/HSVtk/Tet-On was constructed and identified with PCR and restriction enzyme digestion. Packaging cells HEK293 were cotransfected with plasmids pAAV/TRE/HSVtk/Tet-On, pAAV-RC and pAAV-helper to produce infectious rAAV, and CsCl2 densitygradient centrifugation method was performed for purification and concentration of rAAV. The viruses were then transduced into MCF-7 cells. The results of dot blot hybridization indicate that the rAAV can transfer the target gene into MCF-7 cells. MTT assay showed that GCV could kill AAV-infected MCF-7 cells under the induction of Dox. The data demonstrated that rAAV containing Tet regulation system and HSVtk gene was successfully obtained, and could be used for further investigation of in vivo and in vitro experiments.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Dependovirus ; genetics ; metabolism ; Doxycycline ; pharmacology ; Ganciclovir ; pharmacology ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Humans ; Simplexvirus ; enzymology ; genetics ; Thymidine Kinase ; genetics ; Transfection

To prepare anti-mouse uteroglobin binding protein (mUGBP) polyclonal antibody, two polypeptides were synthesized based on the bioinformatics analysis of mUGBP, and New Zealand white rabbits were immunized separately with each peptide coupled with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The data indicate that a 13-amino acid polypeptide (positions 221st-233rd) was able to generate anti-peptide antibodies. The titer of the antisera detected with ELISA was 1:10(8). The antisera were then purified with immuno-affinity chromatography to obtain antibodies. Western blot analysis of mUGBP expressed as a fusion protein with a green fluorescent protein (GFP) was performed on the cell lysates of COS-1 cells with the purified antisera, suggesting that the antisera specifically recognized UGBP. By immunohistochemistry and indirect immunofluorescence analysis, we examined the expression of UGBP in the lung tissues from a patient undergoing surgical lung resection for a tumor and from normal mouse lung tissue, and found for the first time that UGBP protein was widely expressed in both mouse and human lung tissue with the most abundant expression in bronchial epithelial cells. These results suggest that the antigen epitopes of mUGBP are well predicted by using bioinformatics analysis. We have obtained anti-mUGBP polyclonal antibody, which will be useful for further investigation.
Animals ; Antibodies ; chemistry ; COS Cells ; Carrier Proteins ; chemistry ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Computational Biology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Hemocyanins ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry ; Uteroglobin

OBJECTIVEThe efficacy of pulmonary surfactant (PS) replacement therapy for meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of PS therapy in neonates with MAS by a meta-analysis.

METHODSRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the treatment of MAS with PS were searched electronically in medical debases including PubMed, Science Citation Index, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid, EBSCOhost, BIOSIS previews, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, Wanfang Database and VIP Chinese Sci-Tech Periodical Database. The Cochrane Handbook 5.0.2 was employed to evaluate methodological quality. RevMan 5.0.25 software was used for the meta-analysis.

RESULTSEight RCTs including 512 MAS neonates (257 cases in the PS treatment group and 255 cases in the control group) were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that PS treatment reduced oxygenation index (MD=-2.59; 95%CI: -4.33, -0.86; P=0.003), increased arterial oxygen/alveolar oxygen ratio (MD=0.05; 95%CI: 0.05, 0.06; P<0.00001), shortened hospitalization days (MD=-4.94; 95%CI: -7.44, -2.44; P=0.0001) and decreased mortality rate (OR=0.47; 95%CI: 0.24, 0.93; P=0.03) significantly. There were no statistical differences in the durations of mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy, and the incidences of air leak, pulmonary hemorrhage and intracranial hemorrhage between the PS treatment and control groups.

CONCLUSIONSCurrently published evidence from RCTs suggests that PS replacement therapy is effective for MAS, however because of the limited quantity and quality of trials enrolled in the study, further evidence from RCTs is needed to prove the efficacy.

Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Meconium Aspiration Syndrome ; drug therapy ; mortality ; physiopathology ; Pulmonary Surfactants ; therapeutic use ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic