OBJECTIVEIn order to study the pathogenesis of latex allergy and the significance in the prevention and cure of occupational diseases.

METHODS651 cases in the out-patient department were tested with skin prick test (SPT), and the specific IgE (sIgE) to latex were detected by means of disk ELISA and Western-blot.

RESULTSIt was found that the positive rate of latex SPT (37.5%) and sIgE (31.25%) were rather higher in patients in comparison with those of the normal. The positive rate of latex sIgE was much higher in the high-risk group than that of the low-risk group and the normal. The serum of the patients can react with multi-bands in the latex glove extracts.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of latex allergy is rather high, this disease is mediated by IgE. The people in high-risk should be tested by latex allergy in order to take proper occupational and daily protection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Infant ; Latex Hypersensitivity ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Outpatients ; Skin Tests ; Young Adult

AIM To prepare nanosuspensions of flavonoids from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma and to determine the in vitro dissolution rate.METHODS Precipitation-high pressure homogenization method was adopted in the preparation of nanosuspensions.With mean particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) as evaluation indices,concentrations of flavonoids,povidone K30 (PVP K30) and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) as influencing factors,central composite design-response surface method was applied to optimizing the preparation.For the freedried powder prepared by freeze-drying method,the optimal kind and ratio of lyoprotectant were screened.Then the in vitro dissolution rates of freeze-dried powder and physical mixture were compared.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 10.00 mg/mL for flavonoids' concentration,and 2.30 mg/mL for both PVP K30 and PEG 400 concentrations,the mean particle size and PDI were (172.3 ± 1.2) nm and 0.175 ± 0.004,respectively.The optimal lyoprotectant was 5％ mannitol-lactose (3 ∶ 2),the mean particle size and PDI after redissolution were (239.7 ±2.1) nm and 0.193 ±0.032,respectively.The in vitro dissolution rate of lyoprotectant reached 87.7％ within 60 min,which was much higher than that of physical mixture (less than 30％).CONCLUSION Nanosuspension can effectively improve the in vitro dissolution rate of flavonoids from Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.

Adenovirus vectors are one of the most promising gene transfer systems. They are of great value for gene therapy because these vectors achieve temporal high-level transgene expression and high gene transfer efficiency. To meet increasing needs of adenovirus vectors for gene therapy programs, parallel development of efficient, scalable and reproducible production processes is required. Perfusion cultivation of 293 cells is one of the most commonly used methods to produce adenovirus vectors and it is suitable for industrialized production specially. Experimental studies had been carried out to produce recombinant adenovirus containing the green fluorescent protein gene (Ad-GFP) by perfusion cultivation of HEK-293 N3S cells in a 5L stirring bioreactors. Perfusion rate was 1-2 volume/day. To infect the 293 N3S cells with Ad-GFP at the density of (2-4) x 10(6) cells/ ml. The time of collecting cells was 48 hours post infection. After three rounds of freeze/thaw and centrifugation, the crude viral lysates were stored at--80 degrees C until use. Then to get the Ad-GFP products by 2 x CsCl-gradient purification. The purity of the products was determined by the A260/A280 ratio and a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay. The infective titer was determined by a TCID50 assay. The culture term was 10-12 days. The infectious titer, the number of virus particle and the ratio of infectious titer to virus particle for the product were 1.0 x 10(11) IU/mL, 1.68 x 10(12) VP/mL and 6.0% IU/VP respectively. The A260/A280 ratio was 1.33, and the purity determined by HPLC was 99.2%. The cell specific productivity was around 1000 IU/cell. By perfusion cultivation of 293 N3S cells in a 5L stirring bioreactors, we established the production process for Ad-GFP, which paves a way to produce other recombinant adenovirus for gene therapy.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; growth & development ; isolation & purification ; Bioreactors ; microbiology ; Cell Line ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Kidney ; cytology ; virology ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombination, Genetic ; Virus Cultivation ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo describe the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Jiangsu province, using IDF 2005 and ATP III 2005 definition.

METHODSMultistage cluster sampling method was used and the participants were interviewed by trained health workers under a structured questionnaire. The number of research subjects was 5888. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood lipids, body mass index, blood pressure (BP) of all sample population (5888 subjects) were measured.

RESULTSThe prevalence of MS was 17.48% by IDF 2005 definition and 21.95% by ATP lII 2005 definition. Women had higher prevalence than men (P < 0.01). The prevalence of MS increased with age. Abrupt increase of the prevalence started at age of 50 in women. The prevalence varied by education, marital status, occupation and income. People from the urban and the south had a higher prevalence than from the rural and from the northern part of the country. The most common combination of MS individual components were 1) central obesity, dislipidemia and high BP; 2) central obesity, dislipidemia, high BP and high FPG.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of MS was high in Jiangsu province. Clustering of MS components was common. It is necessary to discuss the cut-off points of central obesity for the waist circumference diagnostic criteria of MS in Chinese population. The importance of prevention of MS should be strengthened both by health professionals and the government.

China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Abdominal ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of mitofusin-2 gene (mfn2) in apoptosis in human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 cells after in vitro transfection.

METHODSpEGFP mfn2 was transfected by sofast in vitro. Expression of GFP was observed by Western blot, and the MCF-7 cell proliferation was measured by MTT and cell counting. Apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was observed in annexin-V/PI and chondrosome transmembrane potential of MCF-7 marked in JC-1 by FCM. The Ultrastructure of cells was observed by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSThe stable expression of GFP in MCF-7 cells was confirmed by Western blot. Mfn2 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, revealed by MTT, and decrease chondrosome transmembrane potential. Exogenous mfn2 gene significantly induced apoptosis. The apoptotic rate was increased from 3.6% to 16.0% (P < 0.05). Mfn2 gene induced break down and loss of mitochondrial cristae, and rarefaction of mitochondrial ground substance. Swollen mitochondria intensely aggregated around the cell nuclei.

CONCLUSIONMfn2 can strongly induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which may be associated with decrease of mitochondrial transmembrane potential.

Apoptosis ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; GTP Phosphohydrolases ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mitochondria ; ultrastructure ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Recombinant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of CK19 in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues in patients with low serum AFP concentration and the relationship between them and the recurrence and prognosis of HCC after R0 radical hepatectomy.

METHODSThe expressions of CK19 and Ki67 in HCC tissues of 235 cases were examined using tissue microarray and two-step methods of PV-6000 immunohistochemistry. The expression of CK19 mRNA in 20 frozen HCC specimens was examined by RT-PCR. The correlation between gene expressions and tumor recurrence and prognosis was analyzed.

RESULTSAmong the 235 HBV-related HCC patients after R0 radical hepatectomy, the median disease-free survival (DFS) was 31.2 months in the patients with serum AFP < 400 µg/L and 13.8 months in the patients with serum AFP ≥ 400 µg/L (P = 0.041), the overall survival (OS) was 84.0 and 58.6 months in the two subgroups (P = 0.125), and the tumor recurrence within one year was in 43 cases (27%) and 37 cases (49.3%), respectively, (P = 0.001). The DFS was 11.6 months in the CK19-positive cases and 27.0 months in the CK19-negative cases (P > 0.05). The OS was significantly lower in the CK19-positive cases than that in the CK19-negative cases (P = 0.023). Both DFS and OS in the CK19-positive cases with AFP < 400 µg/L were significantly lower than those in the CK19-negative cases with AFP < 400 µg/L (both P < 0.05). The CK19 expression was significantly correlated with histological differentiation (P = 0.023), number of tumor foci (P = 0.044), vascular tumor embolism (P = 0.005), regional lymph node metastasis (P = 0.023), and 1-year recurrence (P = 0.006). Among the patients with AFP < 400 µg/L, the 1-year recurrence was 53% in the CK19-positive cases and 23% in the CK19-negative cases (P < 0.001), the median DFS was 11.3 months in CK19-positive cases and 34.0 months in CK19-negative cases (P = 0.010), and the median OS was 19.5 months in the CK19-positive cases, significantly lower than 84.0 months in the CK19-negative cases (P = 0.001). Cox regression analysis showed that CK19-positive expression was an independent factor affecting early HCC recurrence and prognosis.

CONCLUSIONIn HBV-related HCC patients after radical hepatectomy with AFP < 400 µg/L, positive expression of CK19 indicates a higher proliferation and invasiveness of HCC, and is an important factor of early recurrence and poor prognosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; virology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; therapy ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is one of major growth factors in the bone marrow microenvironments with which the proliferation, differentiation and migration of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were closely contacted. However, its roles in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation and migration of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells remain unclear. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of HGF on biological characteristics of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Expression of c-Met, the receptor for HGF was detected by immunohistochemistry assay, cell proliferation was determined by MTT, activity of ALP was quantitatively assayed, cell migration and anoikis-induced MSC apoptosis were analyzed. The results showed that HGF not influenced the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Treatment of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells with recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor resulted in inhibition of anoikis-induced apoptosis. HGF significantly stimulated the migration of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Both PI-3 kinase and MAPK kinase were proved to be involved in HGF-induced migration. It is concluded that HGF/c-Met signal regulates the apoptosis and migration of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
Anoikis ; drug effects ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-met ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo analyze the high risk factors for tumor recurrence in short term after hepatectomy for the patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSFive hundreds and two patients with primary HCC underwent hepatectomy were included from January 1997 to December 2008. Among these patients, males were 419 cases and females were 83 cases. The age was 14 to 82 years (average age 54 years). The results of evaluation on 2 months after resection and tumor recurrence and survival were analyzed.

RESULTSAccording to the operative and pathologic findings and the evaluation on 2 months after hepatectomy, the patients with vascular invasion, palliation resection, cutting edge pathologic residual tumor, lymph notes metastasis, serum AFP level continuing higher after resection or(and) positive TACE (tumor dyeing on TACE within 1 month and a deposit of lipiodol on CT scan) were high risk factors (high-risk group, 106 cases, 21.1%), the recurrence-free survival was 22%, 9% and 3% (1, 2 and 5 year) and overall survival was 52%, 25% and 8%. On the non-high risk group patients, the recurrence-free survival was 84%, 67%, 42% and 31% (1, 2, and 5 year) and overall survival was 97%, 85%, 56% and 35%. The bigger tumor, poor differentiation, tumor invading to liver capsule, satellite focus and TNM III-IV stage in high-risk groups were more significantly than that in non-high-risk groups.

CONCLUSIONThe vascular invasion, palliation resection, cutting edge pathologic residual tumor, lymph notes metastasis, serum AFP level continuing higher or (and) positive TACE within 2 months after resection are high risk factors for HCC patients in short term after hepatectomy, which mean tumor remnant.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; mortality ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of total hip arthroplasty(THA) with the prosthesis of 127° small neck stem angle and 135° large neck stem angle. METHODS: From January 2014 to June 2016, 84 patients with THA were selected, including 44 males and 40 females, aged 45 to 72(53.4±8.1) years old, 68 patients with necrosis of the femoral head(32 on the left and 36 on the right), 16 patients with serious osteoarthritis of the hip caused by other reasons, and the course of disease was 9 to 36 (24.0±5.5) months. Forty-two patients in each group were evaluated by Harris score, visual analog score(VAS), length measurement of lower limbs, biomechanical evaluation of different angles of the neck stem. The complications and quality of life 24 months after operation were compared. RESULTS: Two patients in each group were lost, the rest were followed up for 30 to 36 (33.0±1.6)months. The Harris score and the length of both lower limbs were measured before and 1, 6, 12, 24 months after operation. The difference of Harris score and the length of both lower limbs in the two groups was significantly improved compared with that before operation( CONCLUSION THA with large and small neck stem angle prosthesis can better recover the function of hip joint, but large neck stem angle can reduce the degree of postoperative pain and improve the quality of life of patients.
Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip ; Female ; Hip Joint/surgery* ; Hip Prosthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome