Value of postoperative radiotherapy and analysis of prognostic factors in early-stage neuroendocrine carcinoma of cervix / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective: To evaluate the effect of postoperative radiotherapy and high-risk pathological factors on the prognosis of early-stage neuroendocrine carcinoma of cervix (NECC). Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study of early-stage NECC in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2011 to April 2022 were enrolled. The patients were treated with radical hysterectomy±adjuvant treatment. They were divided into postoperative non-radiation group and postoperative radiation group. The possible postoperative recurrence risk factors identified by univariate analysis were assessed using multivariate logistic regression. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), recurrence rate, and mortality rate. Results: (1) Sixty-two cases were included in the study, including 33 cases in postoperative non-radiation group and 29 cases in postoperative radiation group. (2) The median follow-up time was 37 months (ranged 12-116 months), with 23 cases (37%) experienced recurrences. There were 7 cases (11%) pelvic recurrences and 20 cases (32%) distant recurrences, in which including 4 cases (6%) both pelvic and distant recurrences. Compared with postoperative non-radiation group, the postoperative radiation group had a lower pelvic recurrence rate (18% vs 3%; P=0.074) but without statistic difference, a slightly elevated distant recurrence rate (24% vs 41%; P=0.150) and overall recurrence rate (33% vs 41%; P=0.513) without statistically significances. Univariate analysis showed that lymph-vascular space invasion and the depth of cervical stromal invasion≥1/2 were risk factors for postoperative recurrence (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed lymph-vascular space invasion was an independent predictor for postoperative recurrence (OR=23.03, 95%CI: 3.55-149.39, P=0.001). (3) During the follow-up period, 18 cases (29%, 18/62) died with tumor, with 10 cases (30%, 10/33) in postoperative non-radiation group and 8 cases (28%, 8/29) in postoperative radiation group, without significant difference (P=0.814). The postoperative 3-year and 5-year survival rate was 79.2%, 60.8%. The depth of cervical stromal invasion≥1/2 was more common in postoperative radiation group (27% vs 64%; P=0.011), and postoperative radiation in such patients showed an extended trend in PFS (32.3 vs 53.9 months) and OS (39.4 vs 73.4 months) but without statistic differences (P=0.704, P=0.371). Compared with postoperative non-radiation group, the postoperative radiation did not improve PFS (54.5 vs 37.3 months; P=0.860) and OS (56.2 vs 62.4 months; P=0.550) in patients with lymph-vascular space invasion. Conclusions: Postoperative radiation in early-stage NECC patients has a trend to reduce pelvic recurrence but not appear to decrease distant recurrence and overall recurrence, and has not improved mortality. For patients with the depth of cervical stromal invasion≥1/2, postoperative radiation has a trend of prolonging OS and PFS but without statistic difference. Lymph-vascular space invasion is an independent predictor for postoperative recurrence, but postoperative radiation in such patients does not seem to have any survival benefits.

Pelvic Exenteration for Recurrent and Persistent Cervical Cancer / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Pelvic exenteration (PE) for primary and recurrent cervical cancer has resulted in favorable survival outcomes, but there are controversies about specific prognosis factors, and up to now, there have been no published reports from China. This study aimed to share our experiences of PE, which were performed in a single institution.</p><p><b>Methods</b>From January 2009 to January 2016, 38 patients with recurrent or persistent cervical cancer were included in the study, and they were followed up until January 2017. Epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics of patients were compared for survival outcomes in univariate and Cox hazard regression analysis.</p><p><b>Results</b>There were thirty-one and seven patients with recurrent and persistent cervical cancer, respectively. The median age of patients was 45 years (range 29-65 years). Total, anterior, and posterior PE consisted of 52.6%, 28.9%, and 18.4% of cases, respectively. Early and late complications occurred in 21 (55.3%) patients and 15 (39.5%) patients, respectively. Two (5.3%) patients died due to complications related to surgeries within 3 months after PE. The median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were 28.5 months (range 9-96 months) and 23 months (range 4-96 months), respectively, and 5-year OS and DFS were 48% and 40%, respectively. Cox hazard regression analysis showed that, the margin status of the incision and mesorectal lymph node status were independent risk factors for OS and DFS.</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>In our patients with recurrent and persistent cervical cancer, the practice of PE might achieve favorable survival outcomes.</p><p><b>Trial Registration</b>ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03291275; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03291275?term=NCT03291275&rank=1.</p>

Hydrogen sulfide protects intestinal mucosa in a neonatal rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis by upregulating the expression of HO-1 / 临床儿科杂志

Objective To explore the protective effects of GYY4137, a new hydrogen sulfide donor, on intestinal mucosa in a neonatal rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and its potential mechanism.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups: group A (control group), group B (NEC group), group C (NEC with GYY4137 treatment, H2S donor group), and group D (NEC with GYY4137 and Znpptreatment, HO-1 inhibitor group). The SD rat models of NEC were established using simulated milk feeding-hypoxia-cold stress-Lipopolysaccharides. The injury degree of intestinal mucosa was evaluated using HE-staining, and its mechanisms were investigated using biochemical indicators and Western blotting. Results Compared with control group, the pathology score and the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in the NEC group was significantly higher, the concentrations of methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) and necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were lower(P<0.05). Compared with those in NEC group, the pathology score and the concentration of MDA and TNF-α in the H2S donor group were signiflcantly lower, the T-SOD, and the HO-1 expression was higher. The pathology score and the level of MDA and TNF-α were signiflcantly increased after treated with HO-1 inhibitor Znpp, and T-SOD was signiflcantly decreased.. Conclusions The GYY4137, as a new H2S donor, could attenuate the injury of intestinal mucosa in a neonatal rat model of NEC by upregulating the expression of HO-1.

Longitudinal evaluation of reparative cartilage after matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation with delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the cartilage / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To estimate zonal variation of GAG content in reparative cartilage after matrix associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI) using delayed gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the cartilage (dGEMRIC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven patients (14 cartilage defects) undergoing MACI were recruited for examination with dGEMRIC at 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure to calculate global and zonal longitudinal relaxivity (Δ R1) of the normal cartilage and reparative cartilage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean Δ R1 values of normal cartilage were significantly lower than those of reparative cartilage after MACI. A significant decrease was noted in the mean Δ R1 values from the deep layer to the superficial layer in the reparative cartilage at the 3 examinations. The Δ R1 values of the reparative cartilage showed no significant variation between 3 months and 6 months, but a significant decrease in the Δ R1 values occurred at 12 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>dGEMRIC is feasible to assess cartilage repair noninvasively following MACI.</p>

Investigation of treatment for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in women aged 65 years and over / 中华老年医学杂志

Objective To retrospectively analyze the treatment methods of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in women aged 65 years and over.Methods From July 2002 to December 2011,51 postmenopausal women aged 65 years and over with CIN were admitted to our hospital.The diagnosis and treatment were summarized and analyzed,and the CIN related literatures were discussed.Results 31 patients received colposcopy and the colposcopically directed punch biopsy.Squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) was found in 18 patients (58.1％,18/31),and not found in 13 patients (41.9％,13/31).Among the 31 patients,21 patients received conization after biopsy.9 patients were under-diagnosed by biopsy,in which 4 cases (44.4％) SCJ were found and in 5 cases (55.6％)SCJ were not found.In all patients,26 patients received conization and 20 patients received hysterectomy directly.There were 14 patients received hysterectomy after conization.Among 14 patients,the uteruses in 4 patients with conization specimen diagnosed as CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ and negative margin were 100.0％ (4/4),and the uteruses in 3 patients with conization specimen diagnosed as CINII-Ⅲ and positive margin were 50.0％ (3/6).Conclusions For women aged 65 years and over,it is very important whether SCJ can be seen or not in colpscopy and directed punch biopsy procedure.It is better to do conization if possible.Patients with conization specimen diagnosed CINII-Ⅲ and negative margin needn't subsequent hysterectomy.Patients with positive margin but with bad general conditions or complications can continue to be monitored if they have good follow-up conditions.If patients are diagnosed as carcinoma by conization specimen,total hysterectomy or radical hysterectomy is recommended.

Influences of warming kidney prescription on antiviral therapeutic efficacy and creatine kinase in telbivudine-treated HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients / 中华肝脏病杂志

To study the influences of warming kidney prescription on antiviral therapeutic efficacy and creatine kinase (CK) level in telbivudine-treated HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with kidney yang deficiency syndrome. Ninety-six cases were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups (n=48 each): warming kidney prescription treatment or control. Both groups were treated for 52 weeks with telbivudine monotherapy, but the treatment group received additional treatment with the warming kidney prescription. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score, biochemical response, virological response, serological response, CK level, and adverse reactions were recorded for each group in order to perform comparative analysis of the warming kidney prescription's effects. A total of 84 patients, including 43 cases in the treatment group, completed the study. The warming kidney prescription led to significantly improved total clinical syndrome efficacy, TCM syndrome score, biochemical response, virological response, and HBeAg serological responses, as evidenced by changes for each parameter observed in the treatment group versus the control group (respectively, 88.37% vs. 63.41%, 4.97+/-1.88 vs. 10.13+/-3.72, 95.35% vs. 75.61%, 81.40% vs. 56.10%, 48.84% vs. 26.83% (all, P less than 0.05)). No patient in either group experienced primary treatment failure. Seven cases, all from the control group, experienced virological breakthrough. Elevated CK was observed in both the treatment and control groups, but significantly more patients in the control group experienced this adverse reaction (respectively, 73.17% vs. 44.19%; P less than 0.01). The warming kidney prescription can increase telbivudine antiviral therapeutic efficacy and decrease the telbivudine-induced increase in creatine kinase in HbeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with kidney yang deficiency syndrome.

A prospective cohort study on the influence of high doses of herbs for clearing heat and resolving stasis on survival rates in patients with hepatitis B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure / 中西医结合学报

Hepatitis B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a severe clinical syndrome characterized by jaundice, coagulopathy, ascites and hepatic encephalopathy and with a high mortality rate of 65% to 93%. It involves significant ethical issues when a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study is conducted to such a serious disease. Therefore, a prospective cohort study design was utilized to explore a new treatment modality of applying integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine.

The effects of HSP70/CD80 DNA vaccine on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of asthmatic mice / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of HSP70/CD80 DNA vaccine on the airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of asthmatic mice. Methods Forty female healthy BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 4 groups; saline group, asthma group, pcDNA3. 1 plasmid control group, and prevention group with HSP70/CD80 DNA vaccine, with 10 mice in each group. The mice were immunized by intramuscular( i. m. ) injection with HSP70/CD80 DNA vaccine before sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin. Then, the murine model of allergic asthma was made with injection of ovalbumin intraperitoneal ( i. p. ) , and inhalation of ovalbumin. Before mice were sanctified, their airway hyperresponsiveness( AHR) was measured. After mice were sanctified, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid( BALF) was obtained and cytokine IL-13 and IFN-γ were measured. And the lung histology and histochemistry were examined. Results Compared with mice in asthma and pcDNA3. 1 group, mice in vaccine group showed significantly reduced airway inflammation (P＜0. 05) and AHR (P＜0. 05). IFN-γ content in BALF were increased in mice from vaccine group compared with the asthma group and the pcDNA3. 1 group ( P ＜0. 05) , and IL-13 content in BALF were decreased. Conclusion HSF70/CD80 DNA vaccine can reduce airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic mouse and this chimerical plasmid could be a candidate vaccine to prevent asthma.

Evaluation on HBeAg conversion time when treating chronic hepatitis B patients with combination of lamivudine and traditional Chinese medicine / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of the combined use of traditional Chinese medicine and lamivudine(LMD) in treating chronic hepatitis B patients, and to follow the serological response for six months or longer. Methods CNKI, Wanfang data, VIP data, CBMdisk, MEDLINE,EMBASE,BIOSIS and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database and literature were searched, to include randomized controlled trails (RCT) that used LMD alone or combined with traditional Chinese medicine. RevMan 4.2 was used for data analysis. Results The Meta analysis of 7 trails demonstrated that the HBeAg conversion rate in treatment group was higher than those from the control group, and the differences were statistically significant at 6, 9, 12 months. Conclusion Data demonstrated that early intervention of traditional Chinese medicine might increase the HBeAg conversion rate but conclusion needs to be more specific to the types of trials.

Screening and their anti-tumor activity of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides targeting KDR mRNA in breast cancer MCF-7 cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To screen the antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (asONs) which could hybridize with KDR (kinase insert domain-containing receptor) mRNA in an effective and specific way and to explore their anti-tumor effects on breast cancer MCF-7 cell line in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The asONs were firstly selected using oligodeoxynucleotides library hybridization or computer prediction, then their hybridization ability with KDR mRNA was further tested with oligonucleotide microarray. The asONs with strong hybridization intensity were selected. Their inhibitory effects on MCF-7 cells proliferation and KDR expression were assayed by MTT, RT-PCR and Western blotting assay, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 13 asONs selected with oligodeoxynucleotides library hybridization, 8 (8/13, 61.5%) showed strong hybridization signals, while such was only 1 in 17 asONs designed by computer prediction. 9 asONs with strong hybridization intensity were selected and synthesized with phosphorothioated modification. All these asONs inhibited the MCF-7 cells proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, in which asON4 and asON7 screened by oligodeoxynucleotides library in combination with oligonucleotide microarray were the most effective, with inhibitory rates of 51.6% and 62.2% at 0.8 micromol/L, respectively. The KDR expression at mRNA and protein levels was reduced by both the two asONs, in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>asONs screened by oligodeoxynucleotides library hybridization are well consistent with that chosen with oligonucleotide microarray. The combination of oligodeoxynucleotides library with oligonucleotide microarray is an effective approach of asONs screening. The asONs targeting KDR mRNA showed prominent anti-tumor activity on breast cancer MCF-7 cells.</p>

Observation on the therapeutic effect of Shenfu injection on the patients of hepatic cirrhosis with seroperitoneum(yang def iciency of spleen and kidney) / 中华中医药杂志

Objective:To explore yhe therapeutic effect of Shenfu injection on patients of hepatic cirrhosis with seroperitoneum(yang de ciency of spleen and kidey synndrome).Methods:The 84 patients were divided into treatment group and control group,the patients in treatment group were treated with western medicine and Shenfu injection,only western medicine were used in control group,they were all treated for twenty-eight days.Results:The curative e ect,extinction time of seroperitoneum,amelioration of hepatic function and blood routine of the treatment group were better than those of control group.And there were statistical signi canc between two groups(P

Study on the effect of cockroach extract on animals with hepatic injury and its antiviral action in vitro / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To study the effect of extract of cockroach on animals with acute hepatic injury and its antiviral action in vitro. Methods The animal models with hepar injury were established by CCl4, bcg vaccine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . And the activities of ALT and AST in serum were measured. Serum of ducks was separated after cockroach extract was administrated. The serum was added to the culture fluid of HBV-DNA transfected hepatic cancer cells-HepG2. Results After the cockroach extract was administrated, the activities of ALT and AST in mouse serum were reduced. Both the therapeutic indexes of cockroach extract and lamivudine were larger than 2. Conclusions Cockroach extract can improve the liver function of animals with acute hepatic injury, and inhibit the secretion of ALT and AST in serum.

Clinical analysis of primary malignant melanoma of the cervix / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of primary cervical malignant melanoma, and its prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical and pathological data of four patients with primary malignant melanoma of the cervix were analyzed retrospectively. Nerve tissue protein S-100 and monoclonal antibody to melanoma (HMB-45) were measured in all cases by immunohistochemical method. All four patients received radical hysterectomy. Three of them received chemotherapy preoperation or postoperation, and one of them received biotherapy with interferon-gamma and interleukin-2 at the same time. All the cases were followed up.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average age of four patients was 45 years. Clinical symptoms presented with irregular vaginal bleeding, postcoital bleeding, or increase of vaginal discharge. Gynecologic examination showed polypus papilla cauliflower-shaped or nodulated black-brown or black-blue mass on the cervix. All the four cases were pathologically diagnosed with cervical malignant melanoma. S-100 and HMB-45 were positive in all patients. Two patients died at 6 and 41 months postoperation, respectively. The other two patients survived for 3.5 and 7 years postoperation, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>S-100 protein and HMB-45 play very important roles in the diagnosis of primary malignant melanoma of cervix. Radical hysterectomy, chemotherapy combined with dimethyl triazemo imidazole carboxamide and biological therapies may improve the prognosis of the primary malignant melanoma of cervix if the disease could be diagnosed in an early stage.</p>

The anti-cancer effect of siRNA targeting human telomerase reverse transcriptase in SMMC-7721 cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the anti-cancer effects of siRNAs targeting hTERT in SMMC-7721 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two siRNAs targeting hTERT mRNA were designed and synthesized by T7 transcription system in vitro. MMT, RT-PCR and Western blot were applied to evaluate effects on inhibiting cell growth, hTERT mRNA and protein expression in SMMC-7721 cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>siRNAs decreased cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. At a concentration of 100 nmol/L, siRNAs exhibited obvious effects on inhibiting hTERT mRNA and protein expression in SMMC-7721 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>siRNAs targeting hTERT have significant inhibitory effects on hTERT gene expression in SMMC-7721 cells. siRNA has the possibility to become a new anti-cancer agent</p>

In vivo inhibition of hepatitis B virus replication and gene expression by targeted phosphorothioate modified antisense oligodeoxynucleotides / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antiviral effect of targeted antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (asODN) in HBV transgenic mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>asODN phosphorothioated (5'-CATGCCCCAAAGCCAC-3') targeted to HBV pre-C/C region was synthesized. Gal15-PLL was used as drugs carrier which targeted asODN to mice liver. Twelve mice with positive serum HBsAg, HBV-DNA were divided into the Gal15-PLL-asODN-treated group or the control group randomly. In Gal15-PLL- asODN-treated group, each mouse was injected i.v. asODN 15mug/g weighty/day via tail vein for 12 days successively; while in the control group, each mouse received the same volume normal saline by the same way.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the Gal15-PLL- asODN-treated group, serum HBsAg decreased at the 6th day (P<0.05), and decreased significantly at the 12th day vs pretreatment (P<0.01). The serum HBV DNA of 4/6 mice became negative. Immunohistochemistry test showed lowered HBsAg, HBcAg content in the liver. In contrast, the control group showed no apparent changes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Gal15-PLL-asODN targeted to pre-C/C region could inhibit HBV replication and gene expression.</p>

Prolongation of functional life-span of neutrophils by recombinant verotoxin 2 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) strains of serotype O157 : H7 have been implicated in a wide spectrum of diseases, including blood diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). To further explore the pathological role of verotoxin (VT) in HUS and other VTEC associated diseases, we investigated the effects of recombinant verotoxin 2 (rVT2) on the biological activity of neutrophils.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The technique of flow cytometry, a fluorescent probe 2,7-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein acetoxymethyl ester (BCECF/AM), and the assay of reduced cytochrome c to detect superoxide production were used in this study.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>gammaVT2 significantly inhibited spontaneous apoptosis in neutrophils. Neutrophils with prolonged survival due to gammaVT2 maintained various biological functions, such as the expression of adhesion molecules (shading CD62L and raising CD11b/CD18), adherence to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and generation of superoxide (O(2)(-)).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Prolongation of the functional life-span of neutrophils by gammaVT2 may accelerate inflammatory responses at sites of inflammation. This may play a crucial role in neutrophil-mediated tissue injury in HUS and other VTEC-associated diseases.</p>

Study on the role of the chimeric hsp70/CD80 DNA vaccine for treating infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To study the role of the chimeric hsp70/CD80 DNA vaccine for treatment for TB. Methods C57BL/6N mice challenged with H37Rv were immunized with the chimeric hsp70/CD80 DNA vaccine, hsp70 DNA vaccine and BCG in order to compare the therapeutic role of these vaccines. Results The levels of interferon ? (IFN-?) in the serum of mice in hsp70/CD80 group (1336.98?129.64) pg/ml was significantly higher than in group BCG (121.54?56.39) pg/ml, pcDNA3 (192.00?64.36) pg/ml and pcDNA3 hsp70 (542.33?99.77) pg/ml. The growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in live and spleen were inhibited significantly in hsp70/CD80 vaccinated mice. Conclusions The chimeric hsp70/CD80 DNA vaccine was more efficient than BCG and hsp70 DNA vaccine alone in treating TB.

Observation on cellular immune response in mice induced by co-immunization of Mtb8.4 gene vaccine and plasmid encoding human interleukin 12 / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To observe the specific cellular immune response induced by co-immunization of DNA vaccine of Mtb8.4 and plasmid encoding human interleukin 12(hIL-12)in mice.Methods Fifteen C57BL/6N mice were divided into following groups:Mtb8.4 gene vaccine plus plasmid of hIL-12,Mtb8.4 gene vaccine,BCG,empty vector alone and PBS.Mice were immunized intramuscularly in both hind limbs three times at the intervals of three weeks or once subcutaneously with 1?106 of viable M.bovis BCG Pasteur at the time of the first DNA immunization.The level of IFN-? in supernatant of spleno-lymphocyte cultures was measured by ELISA.CTL activities of spleno-lymphocyte were detected with LDH release assay.Results The levels of IFN-? and IL-2 in supernatant of spleno-lymphocyte cultures in the group of Mtb8.4 gene vaccine plus plasmid of hIL-12 were significantly higher than that of group of Mtb8.4 alone(P

Construction and expression of Mtb8.4 gene vaccine and study on cellular immune response induced by the vaccine / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To prepare Mtb8.4 gene vaccine and to study the cellular immune response induced by the vaccine. Methods The gene encoding Mtb8.4 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis was amplified by PCR and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+). C57BL/6N mice were vaccinated three times with Mtb8.4 gene vaccine at 3 weeks interval. Four weeks after the final inoculation, mice were sacrificed to assess cytokine response and CTL induction. Results The IFN-? and IL-2 titers were 787.317?45.586pg/ml and 319.953?57.978pg/ml in Mtb8.4 gene vaccine group, 1 486.540?39.600pg/ml and 767.043?50.269pg/ml in BCG group, respectively. The level of IL-4 in BCG group (90.580?10.998 pg/ml) increased significantly as compared to other groups (P