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Antiphospholipid syndrome （APS） is an autoimmune disease characterized by the persistent presence of antiphospholipid antibodies， which are associated with thrombosis and pregnancy-related complications. APS may have adverse effects on female reproductive function by affecting ovarian function， endometrialization， and other mechanisms， and may lead to embryo implantation failure and pregnancy loss during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer （IVF-ET） treatments. The routine screening and management of APS before IVF-ET in infertile populations remains controversial and requires individualized risk assessment and appropriate management measures to improve the success rate of assisted reproductive technologies （ART） and reduce maternal and fetal risks during pregnancy. This review summarizes the effects of APS on female infertility and outcomes of ART， as well as the management of the population affected by APS， providing new insights for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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OBJECTIVE@#To identify traditional Chinese drugs that contain active ingredients for treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) and explore their therapeutic mechanisms using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology.@*METHODS@#The TCMSP database was used for screening the traditional Chinese drugs containing active ingredients for treating MI, and the related targets of MI and the candidate drugs were obtained from Genecards, OMIM, PharmGkb and PharmMapper databases. The common target network of the drug targets and disease targets was established using Venny2.1.0 software. GO and KEGG signal pathway enrichment analysis of the common targets was performed, and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed for the targets. The targets in the PPI network were analyzed to identify the key targets, for which GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed. Molecular docking was performed for the candidate ingredients and the key targets, and a total score ≥6 was used as the criteria for screening the therapeutic ingredients and their docking binding with key targets was verified. A human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) was used to validate the candidate ingredients and the key therapeutic targets for MI by Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#Our analysis identified Salvia miltiorrhiza and Dalbergiae odoriferae as the candidate drugs rich in active ingredients for treatment of MI. These ingredients involved 16 key therapeutic targets for MI, which participated in such biological processes as inflammatory response, angiogenesis, energy metabolism and oxidative stress and the pathways including HIF-1, VEGF, and TNF pathways. Sclareol and PTGS2 in Salvia miltiorrhiza and formononetin and KDR in Dalbergiae odoriferae all had high docking total scores. Western blotting showed that at medium and high doses, sclareol significantly inhibited PTGS2 expression and formononetin promoted KDR expressions in the cell models in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Both Salvia miltiorrhiza and Dalbergiae odoriferae have good therapeutic effects on MI. Sclareol in Salvia miltiorrhiza and formononetin in Dalbergiae odoriferae regulate the expressions of KDR and PTGS2, respectively, to modulate the inflammatory response, angiogenesis, oxidative stress and energy metabolism and thus produce myocardial protective effects.
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Humans , China , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use , Medicine, Chinese Traditional , Molecular Docking Simulation , Myocardial Infarction/drug therapy , Network PharmacologyABSTRACT
Endometriosis(EMs) is a stubborn gynecological disease caused by persistent immune-inflammatory effects, and is known as "benign tumor" because of its similar characteristics to malignant tumors. National physician master Professor BAN Xiu-wen believes that the spread of damp-evil is the pathologic foundation for inflammatory response of ectopic endometrium; accumulation of blood stasis is the pathological product of continuous inflammatory attacks, and the combination of dampness and stasis is the main pathogenesis for refractory EMs. Modern researches have shown that immune-inflammatory effect is the key mechanism for development of EMs, and is closely related to cell autophagy, all of which have made it become the hot spots in research of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of EMs. Therefore, with immune-inflammatory effect as the breakthrough point in this research, and with reference to the related research of autophagy, the correlation between "combination of dampness and stasis" and abnormal autophagy-induced immune inflammatory response in ectopic endometrium was discussed, to provide guidance for the clinical application of traditional Chinese medicine and modern research.
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Female , Humans , Autophagy , Endometriosis , Endometrium , Medicine, Chinese TraditionalABSTRACT
Objective: To discuss the effect of Juantong decoction on phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin(PI3K/Akt/mTOR)signaling pathway proteins in rats with endometriosis (EMS). Method: The EMS Rat model was established by autologous endometrial transplantation. And 48 rats were randomly divided into 6 group, namely the sham operation group, the model group, the low-dose Juantong decoction group, the middle-dose Juantong decoction group, high-dose Juantong decoction group, and the PI3K pathway blocker group (LY294002). Then, the high-dose Juantong decoction group, the middle-dose Juantong decoction group and the low-dose Juantong decoction group were given different doses (42.9,14.3,4.8 g·kg-1). The pathway blocker group (LY294002) was given LY294002 (0.04 g·kg-1) through peritoneal injection weekly. The sham operation group and the model group were given saline irrigation (10 mL·kg-1). The administration lasted for 28 days. At last, the ectopic endometrial tissues in rats were observed by transmission electron microscope, the proteins of PI3K, Akt and mTOR in the tissue were detected by immunohistochemical method, and the p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K) mRNA expression of ectopic endometrial tissue was tested by Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) method. Result: Compared with the normal group, the protein expressions of PI3K, Akt and mTOR and the mRNA expression of p70S6K of ectopic endometrium in the model group increased significantly (PPConclusion: The proteins of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway participate in the occurrence of endometriosis. Juantong decoction can inhibit the activity of epithelial mesenchymal cells and promote apoptosis by reducing the protein expressions of PI3K, Akt and mTOR and the mRNA expression of P70S6K in endometriotic tissues of model rats, thus inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in the treatment of endometriosis.
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Although haze and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) are different, they are not only both closely related to climate, but also take respiratory symptom as their main clinical manifestation when they play pathogenetic roles. Based on the comparative analysis of the pathogenic properties of haze and SARS, this article speculated the conditions and characteristics of the morbidity of "warm haze", a newly serious infectious disease which consists of haze combines abnormally warm climate that potentially occurs, as well as proposes related early warnings and measures in order to provide reference for TCM in preventing newly infectious diseases and inspire a new thinking of TCM in preventing diseases which consist of both climatic and environmental factors.
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AIM:To predict and identify an HLA-A3 supertype-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte(CTL) epitope derived from MAGEC2,which is utility in epitope design for the development of HLA-based vaccines and immuno-therapeutics.METHODS:HLA-A3 epitopes from MAGEC2 protein were predicted by BIMAS, SYFPEITHI and IEDB. The binding affinity of the peptides to HLA-A*03 molecule was evaluated by T2A3 cell binding assay.ELISPOT assay was used to investigate the ability of the peptides inducing specific restricted CTLs to release interferon -γ(IFN-γ).The ability of the peptides to induce T-cell response was investigated by cytotoxicity assay in vitro.RESULTS:The candidate peptides P147,P167, P196, P229 and P251 showed moderate affinity toward HLA-A3 molecule.ELISPOT assay showed that P167,P196 and P251 were able to induce specific CTLs and higher levels of IFN-γwere released.The CTLs induced by P196 and P251 were able to lyse target cells.CONCLUSION:The peptides P196 and P251 have higher binding affinity with HLA-A3 and retain immunogenicity.They are excellent HLA-A3-restricted CTL epitopes from tumor antigen MA-GEC2,which could serve as new candidates towards antitumor peptide vaccines.
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Objective·To investigate the effect of recombinant adiponectin on the pregnancy outcome and the balance of Th 17/regulatory T cell (Treg) in spontaneous abortion murine model.Methods· CBA/J(♀)×DBA/2(♂) mating was used as a spontaneous abortion model,while CBA/J(♀)×BALB/c(♂) mating as a normal pregnancy model.CBA/J female mice were intraperitoneal injected with 10 μg/(kg·d) recombinant adiponectin for 9 d from day 5 of gestation.The control group received equal volumes of PBS each day.On day 14 of gestation,the mice were killed.The embryo resorption rate was calculated.The levels of serum adiponectin,IL-17 and TGF-β were detected by ELISA.Spleen lymphocytes were isolated.The ratios of Thl 7/Treg were counted by flow cytometry(FCM).Results· Recombinant adiponectin administration had no obvious effect on the embryo resorption rate of the normal pregnancy model,while it significantly reduced the embryo resorption rate from 32.2％ to 13.3％ (P=0.039) of the spontaneous abortion model.ELISA showed that recombinant adiponectin increased the serum adiponectin and TGF-β levels,and reduced the IL-17 level of the spontaneous abortion model (P＜ 0.01).FCM showed that adiponectin administraion could reduce the ratio of Th 17/CD4+ T cells,increase the ratio of Treg/CD4+ T cells and reverse the ratio of Th 17/Treg in abortion mice.Conclusion · Intraperitoneal administration of recombinant adiponectin in early gestation can improve pregnancy outcome in a murine model of abortion maybe through regulating the balance of Th 17/Treg.
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Objective: To investigate the effect of recombinant adiponectin on the pregnancy outcome and the balance of Th17/regulatory T cell (Treg) in spontaneous abortion murine model. Methods: CBA/J(I)×DBA/2(III) mating was used as a spontaneous abortion model, while CBA/J(I)×BALB/c(III) mating as a normal pregnancy model. CBA/J female mice were intraperitoneal injected with 10 μg/(kg·d) recombinant adiponectin for 9 d from day 5 of gestation. The control group received equal volumes of PBS each day. On day 14 of gestation, the mice were killed. The embryo resorption rate was calculated. The levels of serum adiponectin, IL-17 and TGF-β were detected by ELISA. Spleen lymphocytes were isolated. The ratios of Th17/Treg were counted by flow cytometry(FCM). Results: Recombinant adiponectin administration had no obvious effect on the embryo resorption rate of the normal pregnancy model, while it significantly reduced the embryo resorption rate from 32.2% to 13.3% (P=0.039) of the spontaneous abortion model. ELISA showed that recombinant adiponectin increased the serum adiponectin and TGF-β levels, and reduced the IL-17 level of the spontaneous abortion model (P<0.01). FCM showed that adiponectin administraion could reduce the ratio of Th17/CD4+ T cells, increase the ratio of Treg/CD4+ T cells and reverse the ratio of Th17/Treg in abortion mice. Conclusion: Intraperitoneal administration of recombinant adiponectin in early gestation can improve pregnancy outcome in a murine model of abortion maybe through regulating the balance of Th17/Treg.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the scientific connotation of the discrepant pharmaceutical activities between the head and tail of Angelica sinensis diels (AS), an important herb extensively utilized in Chinese medicine, by the approach of transcriptome sequencing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten samples of AS were randomly collected in Min County, Gansu Province of China. Transcriptome sequencing of AS was accomplished in a commercial ILLumina HiSeq-2000 platform. The transcriptome of each head and tail of AS were fixed in a gene chip, and detected under the procedure of Illumina HiSeq-2000. Differentially expressed unigenes between the heads and tails of AS were selected by Shanghai Biotechnology Corporation (SBC) online analysis system, based on Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and relevant bioinformatic database.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 63,585 unigenes were obtained from AS by high-throughput sequencing platform. Among which 3359 unigenes were identified as differentially expressed unigenes between the heads and tails of AS by SBC analysis system scanning. Of which 15 differentially expressed unigenes participate in the metabolic regulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis (PB) pathway and ferulic acid metabolites, in response to the distinguished pharmaceutical actions of the heads and tails of AS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Different content of ferulic acid in the heads and tails of AS is related to the differentially expressed genes, particularly involved in the PB pathway.</p>
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze and compare the curriculum and delivery of a Chinese and Australian university-level Chinese medicine program.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A review of PubMed and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure for relevant educational papers was undertaken. Online and paper documents available at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CDUTCM) were read and analyzed. In addition, in-depth interviews with academics from the two universities were conducted during 2014 to 2015.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The two Chinese medicine programs share the common goal of providing health services to the local community, but differ in some aspects when the curricula are compared. Areas such as student profile, curriculum structure, teaching approaches and education quality assurance were found to be different. The UTS program adopts a "flipped learning" approach with the use of educational technology aiming at improving learning outcomes. On the other hand, the CDUTCM has better clinical facilities and specialist physician resources.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A better understanding of the different curricula and approaches to Chinese medicine education will facilitate student learning and educational outcomes.</p>
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the genes playing a functional role in differentiation of human hepatic progenitor cells to hepatocytes by comparing the gene expression and functional profiles of the two cell types.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>mRNA was isolated from human fetal hepatic progenitor cells (hFHPCs) and functional hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) that had differentiated from hFHPCs. Global gene expression profiling was performed on triplicate samples of each cell type. The differential gene expression was analyzed using volcano plot filtering and functional annotation was performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to the hFHPCs, the HLCs had a total of 1878 significantly up-regulated genes and 1441 significantly down-regulated genes. The up-regulated genes included functional groups related to the hexose metabolic process, positive regulation of apoptosis, angiogenesis, regulation of cell motion, and protein amino acid phosphorylation. The down-regulated genes included functional groups related to cell cycle, DNA metabolic process, cytoskeleton organization, regulation cell cycle, and chromosome segregation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Differentiation of HLCs from hFHPCs may involve increased expression of genes related to hepatocyte function and decreased expression of genes related to cell cycle regulation.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Apoptosis , Cell Cycle , Cell Differentiation , Down-Regulation , Fetus , Gene Expression Profiling , Hepatocytes , Cell Biology , Metabolism , RNA, Messenger , Stem Cells , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Transcriptome , Up-RegulationABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore an approach to rapidly and accurately identify the compounds as biomarkers of Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry was applied to investigate the characteristic components of a mice model of Kidney (Shen)-yang deficiency syndrome (KDS), and the remedial effect of a typical CM formula Shenqi Pill (). Thirty-six females and 18 males of Balb/c mice were randomly divided into KDS, Shenqi or control group. The females and males of the same group freely were mated for 96 h, and the males were taken out and only the female mice were raised. Females of the KDS group were threatened by a ferocious cat every other day for 14 d. After delivery, the KDS, or gestational threatened, offspring were raised at standard condition for 11 weeks. Then 10 male offspring were randomly selected, anaesthetized and their representative organs, i.e. testes, kidneys, lungs and feet were collected, for the FT-IR scan. Mice of the Shenqi group were intragastric administered Shenqi Pill; while mice in the KDS and control groups were given the same volume of saline.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The attenuated birth outcomes of the KDS group were displayed. The remarkable FT-IR differences of all organs between KDS mice and healthy control were mainly at 1,735-1,745 cm(-1) (indicating the increased levels of lipids) and at 1,640-1,647 cm(-1) and 1,539-1,544 cm(-1) (displaying the decreased proteins). No statistic FT-IR difference between Shenqi and control mice was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In accordance with major traits of KDS, prenatal stress extensively impaired the building up of proteins and resulting in the excessive lipid storage, and FT-IR could effectively identify the biomarkers of KDS.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Mice , Disease Models, Animal , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Therapeutic Uses , Kidney Diseases , Drug Therapy , Pathology , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared , Methods , Yang Deficiency , Drug Therapy , PathologyABSTRACT
Acupuncture has remarkable effects of pain relieving and functional restoration on injuries of soft tissue and joint due to military training. As more and more attention has been attached to the impact of psychological states and biorhythm disorder on the fighting ability of military staff, acupuncture has found its place in treating chronic fatigue, combat stress reaction, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder as well as regulating circadian rhythms. The therapeutic effect of acupuncture in military training-related physical damage and psychological trauma has already been proved by numerous clinical practices and researches. It is held that using acupuncture as an alternative could not only save medical resources, but also enhance the fighting ability of the army. However, the current clinical studies is facing the problem of limited sample size. Therefore, randomized controlled trials in large scale and multiple centers should be further carried out toward military staff, so as to provide more speaking evidences to the prevention and treatment of physical and psychological diseases.
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Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Acupuncture Therapy , Military Personnel , Psychology , Pain Management , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Therapeutics , Wounds and Injuries , TherapeuticsABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Impaired coronary flow reserve (CFR) in patients with hypertension may be caused by epicardial coronary stenosis or microvascular dysfunction. Antihypertensive treatment has been shown to improve coronary microvascular dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) on diagnostic accuracy of CFR for detecting significant coronary stenosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 98 hypertensive patients scheduled for coronary angiography (CAG) due to chest pain were studied. Of them, 45 patients had uncontrolled BP (defined as the office BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) in general hypertensive patients, or ≥ 130/80 mmHg in hypertensive individuals with diabetes mellitus), and the remaining 53 patients had well-controlled BP. CFR was measured in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) during adenosine triphosphate-induced hyperemia by non-invasive transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) within 48 hours prior to CAG. Significant LAD stenosis was defined as > 70% luminal narrowing. Diagnostic accuracy of CFR for detecting significant coronary stenosis was analyzed with a receiver operating characteristic analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CFR was significantly lower in patients with uncontrolled BP than in those with well-controlled BP (2.1 ± 0.6 vs. 2.6 ± 0.9, P < 0.01). Multivariate linear regression analysis of the study showed that the value of CFR was independently associated with the angiographically determined degree of LAD stenosis (β = -0.445, P < 0.0001) and the presence of uncontrolled BP (β = -0.272, P = 0.014). With a receiver operating characteristic analysis, CFR < 2.2 was the optimal cut-off value for detecting LAD stenosis in all hypertensive patients (AUC 0.83, 95%CI 0.75 - 0.91) with a sensitivity of 75%, a specificity of 78%, and an accuracy of 77%. A significant reduction of diagnostic specificity was observed in patients with uncontrolled BP compared with those with well-controlled BP (67% vs. 93%, P = 0.031).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CFR measurement by TTDE is valuable in the diagnosis of significant coronary stenosis in hypertensive patients. However, the diagnostic specificity is reduced in patients with uncontrolled BP.</p>
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Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Blood Pressure , Physiology , Coronary Circulation , Physiology , Coronary Stenosis , Diagnosis , HypertensionABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between left atrial size and left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) and the value of left atrial size assessment on detecting diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients with preserved LVEF by echocardiography.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Echocardiography was performed in 346 hypertensive patients with preserved LVEF(≥ 50%), left atrial size including left atrial diameter (LAD) and left atrial area (LAA) was measured and indexed to body surface area (LADI, LAAI). The ratio of early diastolic transmitral velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/Em) was determined and LVFP was calculated with the formula: LVFP = 1.24×E/Em + 1.9. Patients were divided into diastolic dysfunction group [DD group, LVFP > 15 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), n = 81] and normal diastolic function group (NDF group, LVFP ≤ 15 mm Hg, n = 265).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>As compared to patients in NDF group, the patients in DD group had larger LA [LADI: (21.4 ± 2.6) mm/m(2) vs. (19.6 ± 2.4) mm/m(2); LAAI: (12.1 ± 2.6) cm(2)/m(2) vs. (10.4 ± 1.7)cm(2)/m(2); all P < 0.01]. LA size parameters were positively correlated with LVFP (r = 0.211-0.450, all P < 0.01), LAAI was best correlated with LVFP (r = 0.450, P < 0.01). ROC analysis showed that LAAI ≥ 11.4 cm(2)/m(2) diagnosed DD with a sensitivity of 63%, specificity of 74% and accuracy of 72%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Left atrium dilation correlates positively with LVFP in hypertensive patients with preserved LVEF. The LAAI is a more accurate parameter for identifying patients with diastolic dysfunction in this cohort.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Heart Atria , Diagnostic Imaging , Ultrasonography , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left , Diagnostic Imaging , Ventricular Function, LeftABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the status of Ehrlichia (E.)chaffeensis and A naplasma (A.) phagocytophilum infection among farming populations and domestic animals in the rural area of Beijing,China.Methods Blood samples from 562 farmers and 163 blood samples including 90 goats,71 ox and 2 dogs,were collected.Specificity of IgG antibodies against E.chaffeensis and A.phagocytophilum were tested by micro-indirect immunofluorescent assay (mIFA).16S rRNA genes of A.phagocytophilum were amplified from the domestic animal blood samples and products were sequenced and analyzed by nested PCR.Results The positive rates of E.chaffeensis and A.phagocytophilum antibody were 16.5％ and 14.0％ respectively for farmers.The total positive rates of A.phagocytophilum were 2.3％ and 0 for both goats and oxen respectively.No antibody was found for the 2 tested dogs.The PCR positive rates were 48.9％ and 23.9％ for goats and oxen respectively.Three dominant varieties of A.phagocytophilum were demonstrated in goats and oxen.Conclusion The prevalence rates of E.chaffeensis and A.phagocytophilum were identified in the rural areas of Beijing.
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OBJECTIVE@#To discuss the effect of prolonged second stage of labor on maternal and neonatal outcomes.@*METHODS@#A total of 101 primiparas with the length of second stage of labor longer than 2 h were selected and pregnant women with the length less than 2 h served as control. The maternal and neonatal outcomes of two groups were observed and compared.@*RESULTS@#A total of 62.1%(18/11) with the length of second stage of labor between 120 min and 180 min, 46.7%(28/32) between 181 min and 240 min and 12 longer than 241 min underwent vaginal delivery. The longer the length of second stage of labor, the lower score of Apgar scale for infants in 1 min, and the higher the incidence of asphyxia. But there was no difference in scale in 5 min. As second stage of labor prolonged, the incidences of cesarean section and of postpartum hemorrhage increased.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Almost half of puerperas with the length of second stage of labor longer than 2 h underwent vaginal delivery. The prolonged second stage of labor can decrease the score of Apgar scale in 1 min, increase the incidence of asphyxia, but has no effect on scale in 5 min. It still need more evidence from evidence medicine to definition of time and treatment of second stage of labor.
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Adult , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Pregnancy , Apgar Score , Asphyxia Neonatorum , Epidemiology , Cesarean Section , Labor Stage, Second , Pregnancy Outcome , Time FactorsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the phenotypic characteristics of human fetal liver cells (FLCs) and to obtain the homogenous hepatic progenitors with cloning.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were used to determine the phenotypes of the FLCs. The proliferating colonies were isolated using clone ring in different culture conditions. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression after further cultivation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cultured FLCs showed a non-typical epithelial morphology. The positive rate for hepatic cell specific markers alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), albumin (Alb), cytokeratin 8 (CK8) and CK19 were approximately 28.1%, 84.7%, 55.1% and 9.1% respectively. Furthermore, the FLCs expressed the hematopoietic stem cell markers CD34 and CD45 with percentages of 0.04% and 0.09%. 71.8% and 75.3% of the FLCs were positive for the mesenchymal cell marker CD105 and CD166. Most of the colonies showed an elongated morphology, some with an unregular spreading-out morphology, only a small number of colonies with an epithelial-like morphology. RT-PCR results showed that among the 19 colonies obtained after further cultivation and the percentages of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), AFP, Alb and CK19 were 52.6%, 21.1%, 52.6% and 84.2%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The clonal culture system is beneficial to obtain the homogenous hepatic progenitor cells from the heterogeneous culture of FLCs.</p>
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Humans , Cell Culture Techniques , Cell Differentiation , Cells, Cultured , Fetus , Cell Biology , Hepatocytes , Cell Biology , Stem Cells , Cell BiologyABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the results of detection on influenza A (H1N1) 2009 virus in Beijing from May 2009 to December 2009 and to understand the epidemiologic characteristics during the pandemic period. Methods The study was conducted from the May 1 to December 27,2009. A total of 101 852 throat swab samples were detected with the real-time RT-PCR assay by the Beijing Network Laboratory. Data was statistically analyzed. Results 9843 samples showed influenza A (H1N1) 2009 positive, with an overall positive rate as 9.66%. In terms of the positive rates, they were 2.85% from May to June, 3.32% from July to August and 8.35% from September to October. The peak month fell in November (29.67%) and December (24.33%). The positive rates among the following subpopulations were: 8.40% among the suspected cases, 4.75% among close contact cases, 11.46% among the influenza-like illness cases and 7.33% among the cluster cases with fever. Positive cases mainly fell in age groups 5-14 and 15-24. The ratio of male to female was 1.5:1.Conclusion During the pandemic period of influenza A (H1N1) 2009, positive cases gradually increased during May to November but slowly decreasing in December.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the immediate analgesic effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture on acute lumbago and the relationship between the analgesic effect and the expectation of patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled trial was designed. Sixty cases of acute lumbago were randomly divided into two groups, 30 cases in each one. In observation group, wrist-ankle acupuncture was adopted to the Lower 5 and Lower 6 bilaterally, no requirement of Deqi (arrival of qi). In control group, sham acupuncture was adopted. The treatment was applied once in either group, with the needles retained for 30 min. The Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and the Modified-Modified Schober (MMS) test were used to assess the motion related pain and the situation of spinal flexion in 3 min before treatment and 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, during treatment and 30 min (needle removed), respectively. The Expectation and Treatment Credibility Scale (ETCS) was applied to analyze the relationship between the expectation of patients and the analgesic effect. The adverse reaction was recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no statistically significant differences in SF-MPQ, MMS and ETCS before treatment between two groups (all P>0.05). In 5 min after needles insertion, the scores of the items in SF-MPQ in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In 10 min after needles insertion, the scores of SF-MPQ in observation group were lower than those in control group and the scores of MMS were higher than those in control group (P<0.05). In 15 min after needles insertion, except the sensory pain rating index, the scores of the rest items in SF-MPQ in observation group were all lower than those in control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In 30 min (needles removed), the scores of affective pain rating index of SF-MPQ and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in observation group were lower than those in control group (P<0.05, P<0.01). The expectation before treatment was negatively correlated with VAS scores in 5 min, 10 min, 15 min and 30 min after needle insertion separately in observation group (P<0.05), while the correlation was not found in control group (P>0.05). No adverse reaction was reported.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Wrist-ankle acupuncture can reduce acute lumbago immediately and significantly. The higher the expectation on the analgesic effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture the patients have, the better the analgesic effect will be. This therapy is highly safe in the treatment.</p>