Association of vitamin D receptor FokI and ApaI polymorphisms with human cytomegalovirus disease in the first three months following kidney transplantation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Untreated human cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease (CMVD) is an identified risk factor for reduced rates of patient (and graft) survival, death or retransplantation in kidney transplant recipients due to increased immunological tolerance after transplant. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms have an obvious relationship with autoimmune diseases but the relationship between VDR gene polymorphisms and CMVD are not well understood. This study investigated the relationship between VDR FokI and ApaI gene polymorphisms and CMVD, and their value for predicting risk of CMVD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-eight kidney transplantation recipients were randomly chosen for which peripheral blood samples and case histories for the first three months after kidney transplantation were obtained. Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms, 30 recipients were found to be homozygous for the FokI gene (FF), 47 heterozygous (Ff), and 21 were homozygous (ff). Likewise, similar analyses determined that 12 recipients were homozygous for the ApaI gene (AA), 36 heterozygous (Aa), and 50 homozygous (aa). Factors affecting the prognosis of the kidney transplantation were compared for all genotypes by statistical analysis before operation. Infection by CMV for all recipients was detected by immunofluorescence assay to diagnose CMVD.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No statistical significance was observed for the factors affecting the prognosis of the kidney transplantation between both genotypes; however, statistical differences in CMVD among the FokI genotypes were identified. It was determined that the risk of CMVD was significantly increased for recipients of the ff genotype than for other genotypes. There was no statistical significance observed for CMVD among ApaI genotypes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The recessive f allelic gene of VDR can be regarded as a risk factor of CMVD while FF recipients have lower incidence of CMVD after kidney transplantation. ApaI genotypes showed no relationship with predisposition to CMVD.</p>

Xiaoyin recipe ( ) for psoriasis induces a Th1/Th2 balance drift toward Th2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis rats / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the regulatory mechanism of Xiaoyin Recipe () on the T helper 1/T helper 2 (Th1/Th2) immune balance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six experimental animals were divided into three groups, 12 rats in each group: blank control group (B group), negative control group (N group), and Xiaoyin Recipe treatment group (T group). The latter two groups received immunization of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT), and T group were treated with Xiaoyin Recipe for a month. Then, the expression of Th1-Th2-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were screened with Oligo GEArray Rat Th1-Th2-Th3 Microarray. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), T-box expressed in T-cells (T-bet), and GATA-binding protein-3 (GATA-3) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Gene array screening showed that compared to N group, in T group after Xiaoyin Recipe treatment, 3 genes were upregulated in EAT rats, including interleukin-27 receptor alpha (IL-27rα), glomulin (Glmn), and GATA-3, while 38 genes were downregulated, such as CD28, IL-18, signal transducer, and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), T-bet, TNF receptor superfamily member 4 (TNFRSF4), TNF ligand superfamily member 5 (TNFSF5), and TNF receptor superfamily member 5 (TNFRSF5). While RT-PCR showed that there was an increased level of TNF-α mRNA (P<0.01), an elevated ratio of T-bet/GATA-3, and a decreased level of IL-10 mRNA in PBMC of N and T group compared to B group (P <0.01); and after treatment with Xiaoyin Recipe, IL-10 mRNA level increased (P <0.01), while TNF-α mRNA level and T-bet/GATA-3 ratio decreased in T group compared to N group (P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Xiaoyin Recipe for psoriasis could induce a Th1/Th2 balance drift toward Th2 in PBMC of EAT rats and thus improve the conditions.</p>

Disseminated cryptococcal lymphadenitis with negative latex agglutination test / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

We reported an unusual case of disseminated cryptococcal lymphadenitis in an immunocompetent host who presented with fever and lymphadenopathy, which were the only two symptoms and signs. Latex agglutination test of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were negative, while lymph node biopsy showed Cryptococcus neoformans. A diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcal lymphadenitis was made. Then the patient was treated with amphotericin B for 15 days as initial therapy and itraconazole for 6 months as maintenance therapy respectively. The patient received re-examination per 6 months and was followed up for 2 years. Swollen lymph nodes diminished gradually, and no fever or other symptoms were found. Latex agglutination test of serum and CSF were negative throughout the follow-up period, and anti-HIV, syphilis and tuberculosis antibody were all negative.

Role of chemokine receptor CXCR3 in immune diseases / 第二军医大学学报

The roles of chemokine and chemokine receptor family in immune diseases are drawing increasing attention, as they are very important in maintaining cell survival, inducing gene expression, directly guiding cell migration and regulating immunity. The paper reviews the expression and possible roles of chemokine receptor CXCR3 and its ligands in immune diseases, as well as the latest therapies targeting them.

Effect of xiaoyin recipe in treatment of psoriasis patients of blood-heat syndrome type and its impact on peripheral Th1/Th2 equilibrium / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of Chinese medicinal therapy for cooling blood and removing stasis (CBRS) in treating psoriasis of blood-heat syndrome type by observing its clinical efficacy and impact on serum level of cytokines.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Changes of psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores, scores of syndrome and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha, Th1 cytokine) and interleukin-10 (IL-10, Th2 cytokine) in 32 psoriatic patients before and after treatment were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate after 4 weeks of treatment and 8 weeks of treatment was 65.63% (21/32 cases) and 75.00% (24/32 cases) respectively. Scores of PASI and syndrome all improved after treatment (P < 0.05). And comparison of TNF-alpha level before and after treatment also showed significant difference (P < 0.05) , whereas that of IL-10 was insignificant (P > 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between PASI scores and secreting level of TNF-alpha in patients with psoriasis (r = 0.3709, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chinese therapy for CBRS could play its effect in treating psoriasis by way of reducing TNF-alpha level.</p>

Application of integra for reconstruction of burn scar contracture / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Introducing a comprehensive technique to reconstruct burn scar contracture or deformities using integra (artificial dermis) with large epidermal skin grafting or ulth-thin split-skin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The wounds following contracture scar or deformities excised or loose were covered with the integra which was flattened and fixed perfectly, after a 2 approximately 4-week period, the out layer was removed then covered with large sheets of epidermal grafts, which was of thickness from 0.0028 inc to 0.0048inc (0.07 approximately 0.12 mm), or ulth-thin split-skin of about 0.006inc (0.15 mm) thickness, harvested using the electric or air power dermatome, the edge of the graft sheet attached together with the borders of wound using nanoparticles-Ag-gauze stripe adding sutures of the 5-0 threads or the skin stapler, dressed with vaseline gauzes in the inner layer and the nano-particles Ag gauze on the outer surfaces.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nineteen sites of 15 cases including 5 sites in trunk and 14 sites in extremities from 1999.8 to 2003.6 were treated using this technique in this study, the wound areas following scar excised was about 10 cm x 25 cm approximately 30 cm x 75 cm, of them 12 cases covered with a large sheet of ultr-thin split-skin (in early time) and 7 cases with a large sheet of epidermal grafting and all of them was survival. The colour and texture of the reconstruction sites were very good and can be compared favorably with normal skin after a half year-four year following up period, because all donor sites healing without scarring, the appearance in the epidermal graft donor is better than that in split-thickness skin donor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Integra with large sheets of epidermal grafts applied for scar contracture disformities is an effective and useful method, especially the epidermal grafts offered a satisfying result in the donor healing.</p>

Preventing scarring in split-thickness skin donor sites with epidermal grafting / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Introducing a new technique for preventing the scar growthing in split thickness skin donor sites using the great sheets of epidermis covering.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The donor sites of split thickness skin were grafting with the great sheets of the epidermis, of the thickness about 0.07 approximately 0.12 mm, harvested by electrical power dermatome and fixed the edges of the epidermal sheet with the verges of donor wound together using the nanoparticles-Ag-gauze stripes adding the sutures or skin stapler, dressing the wounds with the nanoparticles-Ag-gauze using the tie-over technique, left the dressing entire for a 5-day period.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>This method were used in a total of 209 donor sites of both the split-thickness skin and epidermis for 133 reconstructed sites of 118 cases from November 1999 to November 2003, and the smooth, near normal skin appearance without scarring were obtained in the split thickness skin donor sites, and the epidermal donor sites healed good enough 5 days after surgery, and skin appearance is near normal in 3 months later.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Covering the donor sites of split thickness skin with the large sheets of epidermis is an effective and useful method for preventing the scarring in the split thickness skin donor sites.</p>