Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in Southwest China.

The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of Xpert MTB/RIF assay for rapid diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) and detection of rifampicin (RIF) resistance in patients suspected of having EPTB, assessing it against traditional culture and drug susceptibility test (DST) by proportional method, and the ability to predict multidrug resistance TB by Xpert MTB/RIF assay. In this study, the Xpert MTB/RIF assay was applied to 1,614 extrapulmonary specimens. Compared with TB culture and Composite Reference Standard (CRS), the Xpert MTB/RIF assay had a high sensitivity and specificity for detection of EPTB. Depending on the culture method or CRS as the standard, sensitivity of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for detection of MTB in pleural effusion, cerebrospinal fluid, thoracic drainage fluid and throat swabs specimens were lower than that of other specimens. According to the experimental results, we have reason to believe that Xpert MTB/RIF assay is a rapid and simple technique with high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing EPTB and detecting drug resistance in variety of specimens. Xpert MTB/RIF assay combined with DST maybe identify more cases of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

[Influence of traditional Chinese compound recipes with different efficacy on body weight, tumor weight and immune function in H22 cancer-bearing mice].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the influence of traditional Chinese compound recipes (TCCRs) with different efficacy on body weight, tumor weight and immune function in H22 cancer-bearing mice. METHODS: H(22) cancer-bearing mice were chosen to observe the effects of TCCRs with different efficacy on tumor growth inhibition and detect the proliferation function of T lymphocytes, the activity of natural killer (NK) cells, the changes of T lymphocytes and the content of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)and interleukin-4 (IL-4). RESULTS: Tumor weight of H(22) cancer-bearing mice in Yidu Gongdu Recipe (YDGDR, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine using poison as an antidote for poison)-treated group was obviously lighter than that in the other TCCR-treated groups and the tumor inhibition rate in YDGDR-treated group was 65.76% (P<0.01). The tumor inhibition rates in other TCCR-treated groups were ranged from 10.1% to 17.1% . Body weight of mice in YDGDR-treated group was obviously decreased and depilation was observed at the same time. Pelage of mice in Fuzheng Peiben Recipe (FZPBR, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for supporting the healthy energy)-treated group grew well, and behavior of the mice was active. Stimulation index (SI) of T lymphocyte transformation in YDGDR-treated group was obviously increased (SI=4.34, P<0.01), which showed the proliferation function of T lymphocyte was very strong. The SI of T lymphocyte transformation in the other groups was less than three, which showed the proliferation function of T lymphocytes was not significant. Compared with normal saline (NS)-treated group, percentages of NK cells in Qinre Jiedu Recipe (QRJDR, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for clearing away heat and toxic substances)-treated, Huxue Huayu Recipe (HXHYR, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for activating blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis)-treated and YDGDR-treated groups were obviously increased and 5.05, 4.07 and 5.17 times more than the NS-treated group, respectively (P<0.01). The activity of NK cells wasn't increased in the FZPBR-treated and HXHYR-treated groups. The production of IFN-gamma induced by T cells in YDGDR-treated group was obviously raised (P<0.05), and the production of IL-4 induced by T cells in QRJDR-treated, HXHYR-treated, Huatan Sanjie Recipe (a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine for eliminating phlegm and resolving masses)-treated and YDGDR-treated groups was also raised obviously (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: YDGDR has a good effect of inhibiting tumor growth and can reinforce cellular and humoral immune function in tumor-bearing mice. FZPBR can strengthen the body.

[Study of HLA molecules and its associated genes expression in human ovarian cancer cells].

AIM: To explore the correlation between the expressions of HLA gene and its related gene, and expression of class II transactivator (CIITA) gene induced by IFN-gamma in human ovarian cells. METHODS: The expression of HLA molecule in the tumor cells was detected by Western blot, immunohistochemical staining and flow cytometry. The expressions of transporters associated with antigen processing (TAP), low molecular weight peptides (LMP), and CIITA genes were analyzed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Abnormal expression rate of HLA class I molecule reached 45% in the 11 ovarian cancer cells. The expressed abnormalities of HLA class I molecule had relation to those of 4 genes (TAP1, TAP2, LMP2 and LMP7). Expression of HLA class II molecule was identical with that of CIITA gene in the ovarian cancer cells or other tumor cells. After IFN-gamma treatment, expressions of HLA class I and II molecule were increased in the cells of CIITA-expressing constitutively or inducibly, while no enhancement of HLA molecule expression manifested itself in the tumor cells of that CIITA was not yet expressed after IFN-gamma induction. CONCLUSION: Deletion of TAP and LMP gene expression in the ovarian cancer cells is an important factor causing abnormal expression of HLA class I molecule, suggesting that the CIITA gene has involved in the modulation of HLA classes I and II molecule expressions in the tumor cells.