Cytotoxic T lymphocytes elicited by dendritic cell-targeted delivery of human papillomavirus type-16 E6/E7 fusion gene exert lethal effects on CaSki cells.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary etiologic agent of cervical cancer. Consideration of safety and non human leukocyte antigen restriction, protein vaccine has become the most likely form of HPV therapeutic vaccine, although none have so far been reported as effective. Since tumor cells consistently express the two proteins E6 and E7, most therapeutic vaccines target one or both of them. In this study, we fabricated DC vaccines by transducing replication-defective recombinant adenoviruses expressing E6/E7 fusion gene of HPV-16, to investigate the lethal effects of specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against CaSki cells in vitro. Mouse immature dendritic cells (DC) were generated from bone marrow, and transfected with pAd-E6/E7 to prepare a DC vaccine and to induce specific CTL. The surface expression of CD40, CD68, MHC II and CD11c was assessed by flow cytometry (FCM), and the lethal effects of CTL against CaSki cells were determined by DAPI, FCM and CCK-8 methods. Immature mouse DC was successfully transfected by pAd-E6/E7 in vitro, and the transfecting efficiency was 40%-50%. A DC vaccine was successfully prepared and was used to induce specific CTL. Experimental results showed that the percentage of apoptosis and killing rate of CaSki cells were significantly increased by coculturing with the specific CTL (p <0.05). These results illustrated that a DC vaccine modified by HPV-16 E6/E7 gene can induce apoptosis of CaSki cells by inducing CTL, which may be used as a new strategy for biological treatment of cervical cancer.

Influencing factors for posttraumatic hydrocephalus in patients suffering from severe traumatic brain injuries.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the influencing factors for posttraumatic hydrocephalus in patients with severe traumatic brain injuries and provide theoretical reference for clinical treatment. METHODS: Retrospective study was made on 139 patients with severe traumatic brain injuries in our hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: hydrocephalus group and non-hydrocephalus group. Single factor analysis and multiple factor analysis were used to determine the related factors and hydrocephalus. Multiple factor analysis was conducted with logistic regression. RESULTS: Posttraumatic hydrocephalus was found in 19.42% of patients. Age(OR equal to 1.050, 95%CI: 1.012-1.090), decompressive craniectomy (OR equal to 4.312, 95%CI: 1.127-16.503), subarachnoid hemorrhage(OR equal to 43.421, 95%CI: 7.835-240.652) and continuous lumbar drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (OR equal to 0.045, 95%CI: 0.011-0.175) were screened out from nine factors as the influencing factors for posttraumatic hydrocephalus. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for PTH are as follows: age, decompressive craniectomy and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Continuous lumbar drainage of cerebrospinal fluid can greatly reduce posttraumatic hydrocephalus.

A comparative study on therapeutic method of traumatic epidural hematoma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic methods, surgical indications and clinical practice of minimally invasive surgery on traumatic epidural hematoma (EDH). METHODS: Retrospective study was made on 135 patients with traumatic EDH admitted into our hospital from June 2002 to August 2005. Sixty-five patients were treated with mini-invasive negative pressure drainage (treatment group), 70 patients with comparable condition used traditional craniotomy (control group). The mean time of operation, average days in hospital, expenditure and prognosis of two groups were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in therapeutic efficacy between two groups. Patients in treatment group had a shorter hospital stay and less expenditure than those in control group. CONCLUSION: Mini-invasive negative pressure drainage is simple, effective, economical and applicable to some traumatic EDH patients.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on cytochrome C, Bcl-2 and Bax expression after experimental traumatic brain injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment on the neuronal apoptosis at an earlier stage and the expressions of Cytochrome C (Cyt C), Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma-2 family) and Bax (Bcl-2 associated X protein) in rat brain tissues after traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: Forty adult rats were divided into two groups, i.e., Group A (the rats with untreated TBI) and Group B (rats with HBO treatment after TBI). Sections of brain tissues of these two groups were then detected at 3, 6, 12, 24, 72 hours after TBI by immunohistochemistry and electronmicroscope, respectively. RESULTS: HBO treatment could up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 within 72 hours, reduce the release of Cyt C from mitochondria, attenuate the formation of dimeric Bax and alleviate the mitochondrial edema within 24 hours after TBI. CONCLUSIONS: HBO treatment can alleviate neuronal apoptosis after TBI by reducing the release of Cyt C and the dimers of Bax and up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2.

[Changes in P-selectin expression after brain injury in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between expression thange of P-selectin after brain injury and secondary brain damage. METHODS: Sixty SD rats were randomized into 3 equal groups, namely the control group, mild injury group and severe injury group and animal models of brain injury were established in SD rats according to the method of Feeney. P-selectin expression in the brain tissues were determined at 6 h and l, 3, and 7 days following brain injury (n=5 for each time point). Imaging analysis was performed using computerized imaging technique. RESULTS: P-selectin expression and neutrophil infiltration in the brain tissues increased significantly 6 h after brain injury (P<0.05), reaching the peak level at postoperative 24 h and then gradually decreased. CONCLUSION: P-selectin expression and neutrophil infiltration increase significantly following brain injury, and the time course and distribution of P-selectin expression are consistent with the secondary damage of the brain, strongly suggesting the involvement of P-selectin upregulation in the secondary insult after brain injury.

[Modified hemispherectomy for intractable epilepsy in patients with infantile hemiplegia].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of modified hemispherectomy for intractable epilepsy in patients with infantile hemiplegia. METHODS: Eighteen cases of patients were treated with modified hemispherectomy and the effectiveness was studied and followed up. RESULTS: The seizures in all 18 cases of patients were controlled effectively and stopped completely in 16 cases of them, without nervous disfunction worsened. The patients' cerebral peduncles on healthy side were much thicker than those on sick side (t = 58.32, P < 0.001) and healthy peoples' (t = 14.63, P < 0.001) and the patients' cerebral peduncles on sick side were much thinner than those of healthy peoples' (t = 51.27, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The modified hemispherectomy can effectively control the seizures of patients with infantile hemiplegia without superficial cerebral hemosiderosis happened.