Interaction between PSF and cytokeratin 18 mediates PSF relocation to cell membrane and maintains chemosensitivity of myeloid leukemia / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To identify the chaperone of polypyrimidine tractor-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) in myeloid leukemia cells, and to explore the mechanism and redistributive pattern to cell surface of PSF in chemo-sensitive HL60 cells and resistant HL60/DOX cells.@*METHODS@#The eukaryotic expression vector of PSF was transfected with liposomes transiently, then flow cytometry was used to detect the expression level of PSF on the cell surface 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after vector transfections. We constructed a chimeric expression vector, streptavidin binding peptide (SBP)-PSF, meanwhile this vector was transfected and made SBP-PSF fusion protein overexpress. In addition, we used streptavidin magnetic beads to precipitate the cellular chaperonin of PSF and then identified its chaperonin by mass spectrometry (MS). Lentiviral vectors containing cytokeratin18 (K18) interference sequences were transfected into 293T cells to prepare lentivirus. HL60 and HL60/DOX cells were infected with lentivirus to obtain stable interfering K18 cell lines. Next, flow cytometry was used to test the membrane relocation level of PSF. Together, these methods confirmed the similar or different mechanisms of the PSF redistributing to membrane synergistically mediated by K18 in HL60 and HL60/DOX cells.@*RESULTS@#The expression of membrane relocated PSF was detected every day for three days (at the end of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h) after transient overexpression. The expressing rate of PSF on the cell surface was 22.4%±3.5%, 37.9%±6.0%, 58.3%±8.8%, respectively in sensitive HL60 cells, while that was 4.7%±0.5%, 3.9%±0.6%, 2.9%±0.6% , respectively in resistant HL60/DOX cells. The difference of expressing rate on each day was significant, P<0.01. We identified K18 detected by co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrum assay which was the cellular chaperone of PSF. We found that K18 knockdown decreased the PSF expression level which redistributed on cell surface from 48.9%±5.4% to 6.2%±1.0% in sensitive HL60 cells, and from 9.11%±1.2% to 2.21%±0.51% in resistant HL60/DOX cells, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#K18 is the intracellular chaperonin of PSF. The interaction of PSF and K18 mediates its redistribution to cell membrane in sensitive cells. While in resistant cells, PSF failed to relocate at the cell surface and accumulated in cells, which mediated resistance to chemotherapeutics.

Vitrectomy combined with scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To investigate and analyze the safety and clinical efficacy vitrectomy combined with scleral buckling in treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment.<p>METHODS: Totally 19 patients(19 eyes)of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment treated by vitrectomy combined with scleral buckling in our hospital from January 2014 to September 2017 were retrospective analyzed. Silicone oil was removed from the vitreous cavity 3 to 12mo after operation. Retinal reattachment rate, intraocular pressure(IOP), visual acuity recovery and complications were observed.<p>RESULTS:The IOP in vitreous cavity filled with silicone oil at 3mo after operation(16.09±3.58mmHg)and 6mo after silicone oil removal(14.69±3.10mmHg)were higher than those before operation(6.78±1.90mmHg)(all <i>P</i><0.05). Six months after silicone oil removal, the visual acuity of 15 eyes was improved. No complications of low IOP and atrophy occurred after operation.<p>CONCLUSION: Vitrectomy combined with scleral buckling is relatively safe and effective in treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal detachment, with high retinal reattachment rate, fewer complications and low reoperation rate.

Clinical observation of Descemet's membrane detachment after cataract surgery / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To investigate the causes and effective diagnosis and treatment of Descemet's membrane detachment in the patients received phacoemulsification combined with intraocular lens implantation and extracapsular cataract extraction combined with intraocular lens implantation. <p>METHODS: A retrospective analysis was applied for 2 069 eyes in 2006 patients which had received one of above-mentioned surgeries from January 2015 to December 2017. The treatment and prognosis of 26 patients(26 eyes)who had the complication of Descemet's membrane detachment during or after the surgery were observed. <p>RESULTS:After the appropriate treatment, no corneal endothelial decompensation happened in the 26 patients, and the visual acuity was improved to different extent. UBM confirmed that the Descemet's membrane was reset. <p>CONCLUSION: Early detection and appropriate treatment of Descemet's membrane detachment is important for the visual acuity recovery.

Change of MicroRNA-134, CREB and p-CREB expression in epileptic rat

Objective: To To investigate the changes of MicroRNA-134, CREB and p-CREB expression in epileptic rat brains in order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of epilepsy, providing new ideas for clinical treatment. Methods: Sixty-four Spraque-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into groups randomly, including control group, six hours after seizure group, 24-hour group, three-day group, one-week group, two-week group, four-week group, and eight-week group. All groups were placed under a pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model except the control group, and all rats were decapitated in different points of time. Brain specimens were taken for quantitative PCR experiments, immunohistochemistry and Western blot experiments. The results of the epilepsy model groups and the control group were compared. Results: There were no significant differences between the six hours after seizure group, the 24-hour group and the control group about the MicroRNA-134 levels. MicroRNA-134 in the hippocampus tissue of the three-day group significantly reduced compared with the control group; same result was observed with the one-week, two-week, four-week and eight-week groups. The CREB and p-CREB levels in the three-day group's rat hippocampus significantly increased compared with the control group; and the high levels of CREB and p-CREB were constantly maintained in the one-week, two-week, four-week and eight-week groups. Conclusions: The MicroRNA-134 level of the epileptic rat hippocampus is significantly lower than normal after three days, and continues to maintain a low level; while CREB and p-CREB levels are rsignificantly increased after three days, and continue to remain at a high level. MicroRNA-134 plays a role in inhibiting synaptic plasticity by inhibiting CREB and p-CREB expressions.

Change of MicroRNA-134, CREB and p-CREB expression in epileptic rat

OBJECTIVE@#To To investigate the changes of MicroRNA-134, CREB and p-CREB expression in epileptic rat brains in order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of epilepsy, providing new ideas for clinical treatment.@*METHODS@#Sixty-four Spraque-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into groups randomly, including control group, six hours after seizure group, 24-hour group, three-day group, one-week group, two-week group, four-week group, and eight-week group. All groups were placed under a pilocarpine-induced epilepsy model except the control group, and all rats were decapitated in different points of time. Brain specimens were taken for quantitative PCR experiments, immunohistochemistry and Western blot experiments. The results of the epilepsy model groups and the control group were compared.@*RESULTS@#There were no significant differences between the six hours after seizure group, the 24-hour group and the control group about the MicroRNA-134 levels. MicroRNA-134 in the hippocampus tissue of the three-day group significantly reduced compared with the control group; same result was observed with the one-week, two-week, four-week and eight-week groups. The CREB and p-CREB levels in the three-day group's rat hippocampus significantly increased compared with the control group; and the high levels of CREB and p-CREB were constantly maintained in the one-week, two-week, four-week and eight-week groups.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The MicroRNA-134 level of the epileptic rat hippocampus is significantly lower than normal after three days, and continues to maintain a low level; while CREB and p-CREB levels are rsignificantly increased after three days, and continue to remain at a high level. MicroRNA-134 plays a role in inhibiting synaptic plasticity by inhibiting CREB and p-CREB expressions.

In vitro effects of mesenchymal stem cells on secreting function of T lymphocytes and CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells from patients with immune thrombocytopenia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze in vitro the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on secreting cytokines by T lymphocytes and ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells from patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human bone marrow-derived MSCs were isolated by Ficoll Hypaque and cultured for proliferating to passage cells. Allogeneic T lymphocytes of health adults and ITP patients were isolated from peripheral blood by Ficoll Hypaque and nylon cotton column, and the ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells was detected by flow cytometry. Then the different amounts of 1 × 10⁴, 5 × 10⁴, 2 × 10⁵ MSCs per well treated with mitomycin as stromal feeder layers were co-cultured with above-mentioned T lymphocytes, 5 days after cocultivation, the ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells was detected by flow cytometry and the levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 were measured by enzyme- linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After co-cultured with 2 × 10⁵ MSCs for 5 days, the ratio of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells and CD4⁺CD25⁺/CD4⁺ were significantly higher than of separate T lymphocytes in ITP patients [(4.56 ± 0.70)% vs (2.24 ± 0.81)%, (9.91 ± 1.18)% vs (4.08 ± 1.17)%, respectively] (P<0.05). To compare with separate T lymphocytes in ITP patients, the cytokine concentrations of IL-2 and IFN-γ from the culture supernatants significantly reduced from (280.47 ± 17.33) pg/ml to (97.21 ± 12.07) pg/ml and from (129.33 ± 16.34) pg/ml to (72.75 ± 7.81) pg/ml, respectively. In contrast, the cytokine concentrations of IL-4 and IL-10 increased from (16.34 ± 2.60) pg/ml to (37.98 ± 4.05) pg/ml and from (54.78 ± 5.62) pg/ml to (113.77 ± 5.68) pg/ml, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MSCs significantly inhibited the cytokine levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ secreted by Th1 cells and promoted the releases of IL-4 and IL-10 by Th2 cells in ITP , thereby regulating the balance between Th1 and Th2 reaction, as well as up-regulating the expression of CD4⁺CD25⁺ T cells in vitro,then induced the immunologic tolerance of ITP.</p>

Differential responses to UVB irradiation in human keratinocytes and epidermoid carcinoma cells / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine UVB-induced responses in normal human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and epidermoid carcinoma cells (A431) at the cellular and molecular level, and investigated the protective effect of salidroside.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cells irradiated by UVB at various dosage and their viability was assessed by MTT assays, cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry. The expression of NF-κB, BCL-2, and CDK6 after 50 J/m(2) UVB irradiation were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Our results confirmed greater tolerance of A341 cells to UVB-induced damage such as cell viability and cell cycle arrest, which was accompanied by differential expression changes in NF-κB, BCL-2, and CDK6. UVB exposure resulted in HaCaT cells undergoing G(1)-S phase arrest. When treated with salidroside, HaCaT survival was significantly enhanced following exposure to UVB, suggesting great therapeutic potential for this compound.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Taken together, our study suggests that A431 respond differently to UVB than normal HaCaT cells, and supports a role for NF-κB, CDK6, and BCL-2 in UVB-induced cell G(1)-S phase arrest. Furthermore, salidroside can effectively protect HaCaT from UVB irradiation.</p>

Expression of CXCR3 and CCR5 chemokine receptor in spleens of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study CXCR3 and CCR5 chemokine receptor expression in spleens of patients with primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The splenectomy specimens from 10 ITP patients (ITP group) and 8 patients with traumatic splenic rupture (normal control group) were studied. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to study the positive rate of CXCR3 and CCR5. Western blot was performed to detect CXCR3 and CCR5 protein expression, while real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted to analyze their mRNA expression.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of CXCR3 and CCR5 were both higher in ITP group (90% and 100%, respectively) than those in control group (75% and 87.5%, respectively)(P < 0.05). The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Protein and mRNA level of CXCR3 in ITP group were 3.0 and 3.5 times as high as those in control group, respectively. Those of CCR5 in ITP group were 1.2 and 1.7 times as high as those in control group, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High expression of CXCR3 and CCR5 may play a part in the splenic immune disorders in patients with ITP.</p>

Preparation of biomimetic multilayered scaffolds using collagen/chitosan for cartilage tissue engineering / 医用生物力学

Objective Prepare biomimetic muitilayered scaffold which has similar structure of natural cartilage.Method By lyophilizing the scaffolds which were prefrozen at-20℃ and in liquid nitrogen successively,we prepared double-layered spongy scaffolds.By partially thawing the prefrozen samples and refreezing them in liquid nitrogen before the final liyophilization,we prepared biomimetic multilayered scaffolds with about 2mm thickness.XRD and FT-IR were used to confirm the interaction between collagen and chitosan.SEM was used to observe the morphologies of the scaffolds.The mechanical properties of pure chitosan scaffolds,pure collagen scaffolds,composite single-layered scaffolds and biomimetic multilayered scaffolds were compared both in dry and wet conditions.Results There was chemical interaction between collagen and chitosan.Composite materials will form better pore structure.The biomimetic multilayered scaffolds have upright pores,round pores and a dense layer from bottom to top of the scaffolds.The scaffolds have quite different mechanical properties between dry and wet state.Under wet state,the different layers of the biomimetic muitilayered scaffold have different mechanical properties.Results The biomimetic structure of the multilayered scaffold is very close to that of the natural articular cartilage,and the different layers of the biomimetic muitilayered scaffold had different mechanical properties under wet state.These are hopefully beneficial to help maintain the phenotypes of chondrocytes and promote the repairing effect of cartilage defects.

Preparation of biomimetic multilayered scaffolds using collagen/chitosan for cartilage tissue engineering / 医用生物力学

Objective Prepare biomimetic muitilayered scaffold which has similar structure of natural cartilage.Method By lyophilizing the scaffolds which were prefrozen at-20℃ and in liquid nitrogen successively,we prepared double-layered spongy scaffolds.By partially thawing the prefrozen samples and refreezing them in liquid nitrogen before the final liyophilization,we prepared biomimetic multilayered scaffolds with about 2mm thickness.XRD and FT-IR were used to confirm the interaction between collagen and chitosan.SEM was used to observe the morphologies of the scaffolds.The mechanical properties of pure chitosan scaffolds,pure collagen scaffolds,composite single-layered scaffolds and biomimetic multilayered scaffolds were compared both in dry and wet conditions.Results There was chemical interaction between collagen and chitosan.Composite materials will form better pore structure.The biomimetic multilayered scaffolds have upright pores,round pores and a dense layer from bottom to top of the scaffolds.The scaffolds have quite different mechanical properties between dry and wet state.Under wet state,the different layers of the biomimetic muitilayered scaffold have different mechanical properties.Results The biomimetic structure of the multilayered scaffold is very close to that of the natural articular cartilage,and the different layers of the biomimetic muitilayered scaffold had different mechanical properties under wet state.These are hopefully beneficial to help maintain the phenotypes of chondrocytes and promote the repairing effect of cartilage defects.

Preparation of biomimetic multilayered scaffolds using collagen/chitosan for cartilage tissue engineering / 医用生物力学

Objective Prepare biomimetic multilayered scaffold which has similar structure of natural cartilage. Methods By lyophilizing the scaffolds which were prefrozen at -20℃ and in liquid nitrogen successively, we prepared double-layered spongy scaffolds. By partially thawing the prefrozen samples and refreezing them in liquid nitrogen before the final liyophilization, we prepared biomimetic multilayered scaffolds. XRD and FT-IR were used to confirm the interaction between collagen and chitosan. SEM was used to observe the morphologies of the scaffolds. The mechanical properties of pure chitosan scaffolds, pure collagen scaffolds, composite single-layered scaffolds and biomimetic multilayered scaffolds were compared. Results There is chemical interaction between collagen and chitosan. Composite materials eill form better pore structure. The biomimetic multilayered scaffolds had upright pores, round pores and a dense layer from bottom to top of the scaffolds. The scaffolds had quite different mechanical properties between dry and wet state. Under wet state, the different layers of the biomimetic multilayered scaffolds have different mechanical properties. Conclusions The biomimetic structure of the multilayered scaffold is very close to that of the natural articular cartilage, and the different layers of the biomimetic multilayered scaffolds had different mechanical properties under wet state. These are hopefully beneficial to help maintain the phenotypes of chondrocytes and promote the repairing effect of cartilage defects .

In vitro activation of bone marrow natural killer T cells of aplastic anemia patients / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the quantitative and qualitative changes of TCRVα24(+)Vβ11(+) natural killer T (NKT) cells from bone marrow (BM) of aplastic anemia (AA) after in vitro stimulation of α-galactosylceramide (α-Galcer).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>NKT cells in the bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) from either AA patients or healthy controls were enumerated with flow cytometry. BMMNCs were cultured in RPMI1640 medium supplemented with either α-Galcer and rhIL-2 or α-Galcer, rhIL-2 and rhG-CSF. The proliferative capacity of NKT cells was determined by NKT cell numbers before and after in vitro culture. Expression of intracellular IFNγ and IL-4 in activated NKT cells was analyzed with flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In AA group, the percentage of NKT cells in BMMNCs was (0.19 ± 0.09)%. Addition of rhG-CSF into the α-Galcer/rhIL-2 culture medium resulted in significantly reduced expansion of NKT cells (67.45 ± 29.42-fold vs 79.91 ± 40.56 fold, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, addition of rhG-CSF reduced IFNγ positive NKT cells \[(37.45 ± 7.89)% vs (62.31 ± 14.67)%, P < 0.01\] and increased IL-4 positive NKT cells \[(55.11 ± 12.13)% vs (27.03 ± 9.88)%, P < 0.01\]. In healthy control group, the percentage of NKT cells in BMMNCs was (0.25 ± 0.12)%. Addition of rhG-CSF into the α-Galcer/rhIL-2 culture medium also significantly reduced expansion of NKT cells (97.91 ± 53.22-fold vs 119.58 ± 60.49-fold, P < 0.05), reduced IFNγ positive NKT cells \[(28.65 ± 10.63)% vs (50.87 ± 12.66)%, P < 0.01\], and increased IL-4 positive NKT cells \[(66.53 ± 14.96)% vs (31.11 ± 10.07)%, P < 0.01\].</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compared to those from healthy controls, BMMNCs from AA patiants have a reduced fraction of NKT cells, which possesses a decreased potential to expand in vitro in response to α-Galcer stimulation, and produce more IFNγ(+) NKT1 cells. rhG-CSF, in combination with α-Galcer, confers polarization of NKT cells towards IL-4(+) NKT2 subpopulation.</p>

Extracorpreal shockwave lithotripsy in treatment of bilateral ureteral calculi with renal colic during emergency / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) for bilateral ureteral stones with renal colic in emergency.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 86 patients suffered with sudden renal colic due to bilateral ureteral stones and treated with ESWL between January 2005 and January 2009.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The success rate was 74.4% after a single ESWL session, and the overall success rate was 82.6%. Significant difference in stone length was observed between successful group and failed group (P<0.01). The stone position did not produce significant impact on the outcome of the treatment (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ESWL is an effective treatment modality in emergency for small-length and short-term obstruction bilateral ureteral stones with remal colic.</p>

Expression and localization of annexin A7 in the rat lithium-pilocarpine model of acquired epilepsy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Annexin A7 (synexin, ANXA7) is a member of annexins, which plays an essential role in the regulation of calcium homeostasis. Considerable evidence shows that the pathogenetic mechanism of acquired epilepsy (AE) has been related to the imbalance of calcium homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate ANXA7 expression and cellular localization in the cortex and hippocampus in the rat lithium-pilocarpine model of AE.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 81 adult healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 9) and experimental group (n = 72), the experimental group contained eight subgroups according to sacrifice time (n = 9) (6-hour, 24-hour, 48-hour, 72-hour, 7-day, 15-day, 1-month, and 2-month). In the experimental group, rats were intraperitoneally injected by lithium-pilocarpine to induce AE model. We examined the expression and localization of ANXA7 via immunohistochemistry, double-label immunofluorescence with the use of neuron specific enolase (NSE) antibody, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody and propidium iodide (PI), respectively. The data of optical density value were analyzed by analysis of variance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>ANXA7 expression increased significantly in the experimental groups especially in the acute period (6 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after the onset of seizure) using immunohistochemistry. Double-label immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy disclosed that ANXA7 localized in the neurons but not in astrocytes and did not localize in the nucleus, which were performed with anti-NSE, anti-GFAP and PI respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ANXA7 may play a potential role in the pathogenetic mechanisms of the rat lithium-pilocarpine model of AE.</p>

Preparation of biomimetic multilayered scaffolds using collagen/chitosan for cartilage tissue engineering / 医用生物力学

Objective Prepare biomimetic muitilayered scaffold which has similar structure of natural cartilage.Method By lyophilizing the scaffolds which were prefrozen at-20℃ and in liquid nitrogen successively,we prepared double-layered spongy scaffolds.By partially thawing the prefrozen samples and refreezing them in liquid nitrogen before the final liyophilization,we prepared biomimetic multilayered scaffolds with about 2mm thickness.XRD and FT-IR were used to confirm the interaction between collagen and chitosan.SEM was used to observe the morphologies of the scaffolds.The mechanical properties of pure chitosan scaffolds,pure collagen scaffolds,composite single-layered scaffolds and biomimetic multilayered scaffolds were compared both in dry and wet conditions.Results There was chemical interaction between collagen and chitosan.Composite materials will form better pore structure.The biomimetic multilayered scaffolds have upright pores,round pores and a dense layer from bottom to top of the scaffolds.The scaffolds have quite different mechanical properties between dry and wet state.Under wet state,the different layers of the biomimetic muitilayered scaffold have different mechanical properties.Results The biomimetic structure of the multilayered scaffold is very close to that of the natural articular cartilage,and the different layers of the biomimetic muitilayered scaffold had different mechanical properties under wet state.These are hopefully beneficial to help maintain the phenotypes of chondrocytes and promote the repairing effect of cartilage defects.

Effects of radiation injury on peripheral blood and liver NO concentration in mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of radiation injury on nitric oxide (NO) concentration in mouse peripheral blood and liver.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>NIH mice were subjected to gamma-ray exposure at 9.0 Gy and transferred immediately in room temperature condition. NO concentrations in the liver and peripheral blood were examined before and at different time points after the exposure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to that before exposure, NO concentration in the peripheral blood and liver significantly increased after gamma-ray exposure. NO concentration in the peripheral blood began to increase 3 h after the exposure, but that in the liver increased till 6 h after the exposure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Radiation can cause the increase of NO concentration in the peripheral blood and liver, but different tissues may exhibit different response intensities to radiation.</p>

Factors affecting the outcome of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the factors affecting the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) for upper urinary tract stones.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January 2003 and January 2006, 366 patients with upper urinary tract stone underwent ESWL, and the results were identified by regular KUB/IVU or ultrasonography and evaluated 3 months after the treatment. The treatment success was defined as complete clearance of the stones without residual fragments. The stone-free rate was analyzed in relation to the stone features and the patients' clinical characteristics, and the factors identified to significant affect the results were further analyzed using multivariate regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three months after the treatment, the overall stone-free (success) rate was 63.4% (232/366) in these patients. Chi square test and t test identified the disease course, stone length and width as the factors with significant impact on the stone-free rate. Multivariate analysis excluded the disease course and stone width from the logistic regression model, and identified the stone length as the independent factor affecting the outcome of ESWL.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The stone length is an independent factor influencing the efficacy of ESWL for upper urinary tract stones.</p>

Analysis of the outcome of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for renal calculia / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the factors affecting the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) for renal calculi.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between January, 2004 and January, 2007, 316 patients (212 men and 104 women) with renal stone underwent ESWL. The correlations of the patients' age, gender, body mass index (BMI), disease course, pain, hematuria, stone size, location, side, number and hydronephrosis to the outcome of the treatment was analyzed. The treatment success was defined as complete clearance of the stones or residual stone fragments <0.4 cm, and ESWL was considered unsuccessful with residual stones>0.4 cm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall success rate was 75.3% (238/316) in these patients. Significant difference in stone clearance rates was observed in patients with stone size of 0.5-1.0 cm (90.3%, 167/185), 1.0-2.0 cma(69.6%, 55/79), and >2.0 cm (30.8%, 16/52) (P<0.05). The success rates differed significantly between cases of pelvic stones (83.1%, 118/142) and those of caliceal stones (69.0%, 120/174) (P<0.05). But in cases of caliceal stones, the success rates were comparable between cases with stones at the upper calyx (71.7%, 43/60), middle calyx (68.9%, 31/45), and lower calix (66.7%, 46/69) (P>0.05). Patients with single stones had significantly higher success rate (82.9%,170/205) than those with multiple stones (61.3%, 68/111) (P<0.05). The patients' gender, age, disease course, pain, hematuria, stone side and hydronephrosis did not produce significant impact on the outcome of the treatment (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Stone size, location and quantity are significant independent factors affecting the outcome of ESWL for renal stones.</p>

Functional changes of dendritic cells after infection by recombinant retrovirus carrying human telomerase reverse transcriptase gene fragment / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the functional changes of dendritic cells (DCs) after infection by recombinant retrovirus carrying human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene fragment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Interleukin-12 (IL-12) levels in DC culture supernatant was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The abilities of DCs infected with recombinant retrovirus carrying hTERT gene (hTERT-DCs) and non-infected DCs (N-DCs) to stimulate allogeneic lymphocyte proliferation were evaluated with mixed leukocytes reaction (MLR), and the surface markers of DCs including CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR were detected by flow cytometry. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay was performed with CytoTox 96 non-radioactive cytoxicity assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with N-DCs, hTERT-DCs showed no significant changes in IL-12 secretion and capacity to stimulate allogeneic lymphocytes reaction, but had significantly lower CD83 expression. Specific CTLs induced by hTERT-DCs resulted in higher cytotoxicity against telomerase-positive target cells than that against the negative target cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Infection with the recombinant retrovirus carrying hTERT fragment may jeopardize the maturation of DCs, which, however, still retain their capacity to activate and stimulate lymphocyte proliferation and to prime autologous T lymphocytes to generate specific CTL against hTERT.</p>

Study of the effect of the low dosage endotoxin damage on the expression of the organic cation transporter (OCT1) mRNA in hepatocytes / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To elucidate the effect of the low dosage endotoxin damage on the expression of the organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1) mRNA in hepatocytes and make an approach to the probable effect of dexamethasone on the expression of the OCT1 mRNA after endotoxin damage.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>(1) The endotoxin damage model was established in rats; (2) The change of the expression of OCT1 mRNA in hepatocytes after endotoxin damage was observed by in situ hybridization method; (3) The change of the ultra structure of hepatocytes after endotoxin damage was observed with the electron microscope; (4) Dexamethasone was injected intraperitoneally before endotoxin damage in order to determine the influence of dexamethasone on the expression of OCT1 mRNA after endotoxin treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of OCT1 mRNA decreased until 16 hours (0.5745+/-0.012, P<0.01) after endotoxin treatment and then increased after this time point, which was still lower than the normal control; The expression of OCT1 mRNA in rat hepatocytes increased at each time point after endotoxin damage with dexamethasone treatment. It was highest at 16 hours (0.6327+/-0.007, P<0.01) after endotoxin damage, but it was still lower than that of the normal control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endotoxin could repress the expression of OCT1 mRNA even before the low dosage endotoxin inducing serious damage to the structure of hepatocytes; Dexamethasone could not induce the expression of OCT1 mRNA in normal hepatocytes, but could lighten the repression of endotoxin on the expression of OCT1 mRNA. And then the expression of OCT1 mRNA could increase at some extent after endotoxin damage with dexamethasone treatment.</p>