Effect of Kang''''ai Injection(康艾注射液) on Serum Level of Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma during Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy(RT)is an important ap-proach for treatment of esophageal carcinoma(EC),especially for patients who have missedthe chance of surgical section.The efficacy ofRTis not satisfactory for its1-year,3-year and5-year survival rates being merely50%,20%,and10%respectively(1).Researches in recent years showed thatbetter efficacy can be obtained by combiningRTwith Chinese herbal medicines for EC thatincapable to be resected.Kang ai Injection(康艾注射液,KAI)is a Chinese herbal prep-arati…     

结核分枝杆菌Mtb8.4基因疫苗与人白细胞介素12表达质粒联合免疫的细胞免疫应答观察

目的 观察结核分枝杆菌Mtb8.4基因疫苗与人白细胞介素12(hIL-12)联合免疫小鼠所诱导的细胞免疫应答.方法 15只C57BL/6N小鼠随机分为Mtb8.4基因疫苗 hIL-12质粒组(联合免疫组)、Mtb8.4基因疫苗组、卡介苗(BCG)组、空载体组和PBS组,基因疫苗、空载体和PBS经肌内注射法免疫各组小鼠,每隔3周免疫1次,共免疫3次,BCG组经尾部皮下注射1×106 CFU BCG免疫1次.ELISA法检测小鼠脾细胞培养上清中细胞因子水平;乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放法检测免疫小鼠特异性细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(CTL)杀伤活性.结果 联合免疫组能诱导较强的抗原特异性Th1型细胞免疫应答,免疫小鼠脾细胞培养上清液IFN-γ和IL-2水平(分别为1 493.340±8.128pg/ml、747.489±48.676pg/ml)显著高于Mtb8.4基因疫苗组,与BCG组相当,IL-4分泌减少,特异性CTL杀伤活性增强.结论 hIL-12表达质粒能够增强Mtb8.4基因疫苗所诱导的细胞免疫应答.     

白介素-12家族与实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎的研究进展

实验性自身免疫性脑脊髓炎(EAE)是自身反应性CD4+T细胞,即辅助性T细胞(Th细胞)介导的自身免疫性中枢神经系统脱髓鞘性炎症,在EAE的发病中,Th细胞分泌的细胞因子起了重要的调节作用。白介素-12(IL-12)家族由IL-12和最近发现的白介素-23(IL-23)、白介素-27(IL-27)组成,是一类结构相似、具有共价结合的杂化双链的细胞因子,在细胞免疫尤其是Th1型炎症反应中,起重要的调节作用。本文综合论述了IL-12家族各成员与EAE的关系的研究,揭示了各因子在EAE发生发展中的作用。     

18F-氟脱氧葡萄糖PET-CT诊断主动脉壁粥样硬化斑块的价值探讨

目的通过PET-CT明确18F-氟脱氧葡萄糖在主动脉壁粥样硬化斑块中摄取程度,探讨其临床价值。方法60例受检者,包括正常对照者6例,大动脉粥样硬化病例54例。测定主动脉壁粥样硬化部位标准化摄取值（SUV）和CT值,并依据CT值将54例主动脉壁局部18F-FDG高摄取的动脉粥样硬化病例分成3组,软斑块组CT值小于60HU,中等斑块组CT值介于60￣100HU之间,钙化斑块组CT值大于100HU。第4组为正常对照组。结果软斑块组42个测量部位的平均SUV为1.553±0.486;中等斑块组30个测量部位的平均SUV为1.393±0.296;钙化斑块组36个测量部位的平均SUV为1.354±0.189;正常对照组33个测量部位的平均SUV为1.102±0.141。多组之间比较差异具有统计学意义（F=678.909,P=0.000）;正常组与各斑块组比较差异具有统计学意义。结论18F-FDG在主动脉粥样硬化斑块中具有不同程度的摄取,其中软斑块对18F-FDG的摄取最高,提示18F-FDG PET-CT是诊断不稳定性主动脉粥样硬化斑块的有价值方法。     

Overexpression of the 18A2/mts1 gene and down–regulation of the TIMP–2 gene in invasive human glioma cell lines in vitro

Invasion of the reconstituted extracellular matrix composite, Matrigel, by eight human glioma–derived cell lines and human fetal brain cells was assessed in vitro using 8 um polycarbonate filters in a modified Boyden migration chamber. With the exception of one low grade glioma derived cell line, all lines studied proved to be invasive while normal fetal brain cells failed to invade. This invasive potential was independent of the histological grade of the tumour from which the cell lines originated. In addition, the expression of the metastasis–associated gene 18A2lmts1 as well as the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases–2 (TIMP–2) was analysed in each of the glioma–derived cell lines. The 18A2/mtsl was expressed in all the cells studied with the exception of fetal brain cells and the low grade non–invasive glioma derived IPRK–7 cell line. The 18A2/mtsl related genes coding for the S100 subfamily of calcium binding proteins were found to be differentially and overexpressed in invasive cell lines. TIMP–2 was expressed only in noninvasive cell lines. These results suggest that the 18A2/ mtsl and TIMP–2 genes could play an important role in the invasive behaviour of human glioma cells in vitro. .     

Comparison of the use of bulk to micro culture of cell preparations for lymphokine-activated cytotoxicity assays.

Different assay systems have been used to quantitate lymphokine-induced natural cytotoxic activity as a measure of immune status. This study compares the effects of inducing cytotoxicity in a bulk culture system, where effector cells are transferred to a micro culture well for assay, to a micro culture system where the effector cells are not transferred. The effector/target ratio for both the bulk and micro culture systems was calculated using the number of viable effector cells present at the time of target cell addition. After overnight incubation with interleukin-2 (IL-2), the lytic activity of murine spleen cells to targets using a micro culture system was increased two-fold over the bulk culture method. This increase was amplified further after 5 days of activation with IL-2, in that the micro culture system resulted in a four-fold increase in cytotoxic activity. The loss of some adherent cells in the bulk culture system did not explain the overall decrease in recovered cytotoxicity. The difference appeared to be related to cell loss during centrifugation. Therefore, the E/T ratios are different in the two systems if not corrected for the number of viable cells.     

Positron emission tomography in oncology

Summary. The particular advantages of positron emission tomography (PET) technique are that it has higher sensitivity, higher resolution, and a higher quality of image than that found in conventional nuclear medicine. The possibility of quantification and the wide range of useful tracers have raised expectations of this new method. To date, most of the human PET cancer studies have been performed with [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) or [¹¹CJmethionine. These are good imaging agents for tumours. However, more specific radiopharmaceuticals are required if other features of tumour metabolism are to be observed, f¹¹Thymidine may prove to be a good tracer for quantitative measurements of tumour proliferation and [¹⁸F]misonidazole has been suggested for imaging of hypoxia.     

Molecular identification of a small supernumerary marker chromosome by in situ hybridization: diagnosis of an isochromosome 18p with probe L1.84

A dysmorphic child was found by cytogenetic analysis to have an extra small marker chromosome. The marker chromosome was shown to possess a chromosome 18 centromere by in situ hybridization, and probably represents an isochromosome 18p. Centromere specific probes should be of value in identifying extra small marker chromosomes, and thereby provide better understanding of the clinical significance of these.     

The influence of anaesthetic techniques and type of delivery on peripartum serum interleukin-6 concentrations

Background: Interleukin-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine with a wide range of physiological activities. It plays an important role in the immuno-neuro-humoral axis during stress and surgery.
Methods: Serum interleukin-6 in parturients was measured on hospital admission, immediately after birth and 12 and 24 hours later. All parturients had uncomplicated pregnancies, and delivered vaginally without (n=31) or with (n=20) epidural analgesia, or underwent Caesarean section under epidural (n=20) or general (n=10) anaesthesia.
Results: Serum interleukin-6 assayed immediately following Caesarean section was low, but peaked 12 hours later, irrespective of the anaesthetic technique or other foetomaternal characteristics. Patients who delivered vaginally showed the highest interleukin-6 levels immediately after delivery. These were positively correlated with serum interleukin-6 on admission and duration of labour. Serum interleukin-6 was significantly higher in parturients who had epidural analgesia, and was significantly lower in those receiving intravaginal prostaglandins compared to those without prostaglandins.
Conclusion: The interleukin-6 response after Caesarean section can be explained by a generalized acute phase response to surgery, with no anaesthetic, maternal or neonatal interference. The rapid increase in peripartum serum interleukin-6 levels after vaginal delivery reflects, in part, cervical ripening or labour, their physiological triggers and psychological or physical stress. Regional anaesthesia, duration of labour and exogenous prostaglandin administration can modulate the peripartum interleukin-6 response and subsequently the physiological effects of this cytokine.