Microneedles in diagnosis and treatment: a review / 生物工程学报

Microneedles have been developed rapidly in the field of transdermal administration in the past few decades. In recent years, the development of microelectronics technology has expanded the applications of microneedles by combining with microelectronic systems, especially in biological diagnosis and treatment. Different types of microneedles have been designed to extract blood and tissue fluids for detection, or as electrodes to directly detect blood sugar, melanoma and pH in real-time in vivo, both show good prospects for real-time detection applications. In this paper, we review the design of materials and structure of microelectronic-based microneedles, and discuss their advances in biological diagnosis.

γδT cells inhibit transdifferentiation of immature dendritic cells into osteoclasts in vitro / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To explore the role of γδ T cells in the transdifferentiation of immature dendritic cells(imDC) into osteoclasts(OC). Methods:(1) Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMNC) were cultured with zoledronate(Zol) and recombinant human interleukin-2(IL-2),and PBMNC from healthy volunteers were cultured with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and recombinant human interleukin-4(IL-4) to differentiate into imDC,which were then cultured with receptor activator nuclear factor к B ligand(RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF) to differentiate into OC. The purity of γδ T cells,and phenotype changing of OC transdifferentiated from imDC were investigated by flow cytometry. (2) Co-culture system was es-tablished using millicell inserts.γδT cells isolated with immune magnetic bead were placed in the upper compartment and imDC in the lower compartment in the ratio of 10∶1. To explore the role of γδ T cells during differentiation of imDC into OC,tartrate resistant acid phosphatase( TRAP) staining and bone resorption observation staining were used. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha( TNF-α) of supernatant liquid from different cultures was measured using ELISA(Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) kit. Results:(1) γδT cells can be ex-panded from PBMNC of MM patients, and the production capacity was similar to that of healthy volunteers ( 68. 87%± 20. 94% vs 69. 33%±16. 84%,P>0. 05 ) . ( 2 ) OC could be transdifferentiated from imDC when cultured with RANKL and M-CSF. ( 3 ) The number of TRAP+ multinuclear cell and the absorption area of dentine were significantly lower in the group of imDC indirectly co-cultured with γδ T cells than in the group of control imDC(5.67±0.58 vs 28.33±2.08,4.97%±4.3% vs 28.47%±12.8%, respectively). (4) Under the circumstance of γδ T cell-imDC indirect coculture,TNF-α got significantly higher. Conclusion: γδ T cells might inhibit the transdifferentiation of imDC into OC.γδ T cells-based immunotherapy is expected to be a new treatment for myeloma bone disease.

Positive effects of porcine IL-2 and IL-4 on virus-specific immune responses induced by the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) ORF5 DNA vaccine in swine

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of porcine interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 genes on enhancing the immunogenicity of a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus ORF5 DNA vaccine in piglets. Eukaryotic expression plasmids pcDNA-ORF5, pcDNA-IL-2, and pcDNA-IL-4 were constructed and then expressed in Marc-145 cells. The effects of these genes were detected using an indirect immunofluorescent assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Characteristic fluorescence was observed at different times after pcDNA-ORF5 was expressed in the Marc-145 cells, and PCR products corresponding to ORF5, IL-2, and IL-4 genes were detected at 48 h. Based on these data, healthy piglets were injected intramuscularly with different combinations of the purified plasmids: pcDNA-ORF5 alone, pcDNA-ORF5 + pcDNA-IL-2, pcDNA-ORF5 + pcDNA-IL-4, and pcDNA-ORF5 + pcDNAIL-4 + pcDNA-IL-2. The ensuing humoral immune responses, percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, proliferation indices, and interferon-gamma expression were analyzed. Results revealed that the piglets co-immunized with pcDNA-ORF5 + pcDNA-IL-4 + pcDNA-IL-2 plasmids developed significantly higher antibody titers and neutralizing antibody levels, had significantly increased levels of specific T lymphocyte proliferation, elevated percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and significantly higher IFN-gamma production than the other inoculated pigs (p < 0.05).

Diagnosis boundary values of metabolic syndrome obesity index for Children and adolescents / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Objective: To determine the distribution characteristics of waist circumference (WC), waist height ratio (WHtR) of 6–18 years olds in Guangzhou, and to put forward the WC and WHtR appropriate boundary values for 6–18 years olds on the basis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor assessment. Methods: We analyzed the height, weight, WC and its metabolic indication data (blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and blood lipids) of 15 000 children in Guangzhou, aged 6–18, with the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC), and explored the best value point of WC and WHtRfor the prediction of cardiovascular diseases. Results: When the WC percent reached P85, and WHtR reached 0.48, the cardiovascular risk factors of fasting blood-glucose, blood pressure, and blood fat were signiifcantly higher. Conclusion: The 85th percentile value of WC and 0.48 of WHtR are the appropriate boundary values in increasing the cardiovascular disease risk factors in Chinese children and teenagers. WC and WHtR as a relatively simple inspection method, can well predict cardiovascular diseases, and be used in the conventional measuring items among students.

Digestive system manifestations in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore digestive system manifestations in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The clinical data of 96 cases with SARS admitted into our hospital from February 6, 2003 to March 28, 2003 were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 96 cases, 26 cases (27%) had diarrhea, 17 (18%) had nausea, 6 (6%) had vomiting, 16 (17%) had bellyache, and 8 (8%) had ALT elevation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Patients with SARS may have digestive system manifestations; diarrhea is the most common symptom.</p>

Effect of ischemic preconditioning on alterations in regional fluidity of myocardial membrane during cardiopulmonary bypass / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To elucidate the effect of ischemic preconditioning(IPC)on regional fluidity of myocardial cell membrane during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods Seventy-five felines were randomized into three groups: Group A (CPB group,n =25),in which CPB was conducted without aortic cross-clamping (ACC);Group B (IR group,n =25),with 60min ACC followed by 60min reperfusion,and cardioplegia used during period of ACC;Group C (IPC group,n =25),with protocol similar to that of group B except for three-cycle IPC applied before ACC. Electron spin resonance (ESR) technique was employed to monitor membrane regional fluidity of cardiomyocyte during CPB in all groups. Results Regional fluidity of myocardial cell membrane kept unchanged in CPB group and markedly decreased during ACC and reperfusion periods in IR group. Though the regional fluidity of myocardial cell membrane during ACC and reperfusion periods in IPC group was slightly decreased compared to CPB group,it was significantly higher than that in IR group. Conlusion IPC can protect myocardial cells from ischemia and reperfusion injury by maintaining the fluidity of myocardial membrane during CPB.

Apoptosis induced by 5-fluorocytosine in human pancreatic cancer cells genetically modified to express cytosine deaminase / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To elucidate the pattern of 5-fluorocytosine(5-FC) induced apoptosis and its role in gene therapy for human pancreatic cancer. METHODS: The human pancreatic cancer SW1990 cells(CEA-producing) were infected with recombinant adenoviruses(Adex1CEA-prCD or Adex1CEA-prZ).Cytosine deaminase(CD) expression was examind by western blot. Apoptosis induced by 5-FC in human pancreatic cancer SW1990 cells genetically modified to express cytosine deaminase was investigated by applying electron microscopy, DNA electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis techniques. RESULTS: The SW1990 cells infected with Adex1 CEA-prCD were treated with 5-FC at 100 ?mol?L -1 for 48 h, cell apoptosis occurred. Typical apoptosis morphological feature appeared and DNA ladder could be demonstrated on DNA electrophoresis. Apoptosis peak was also showed by flow cytometry. Apoptotic cells accounted for 34.6% of the cell population. Cells in G 1, S and G 2/M phase of cell cycle were 64%, 11% and 7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The apoptosis induced by 5-FC may be a primary mechanism in CD gene therapy for pancreatic cancer.