Co-administration of a DNA vaccine encoding the prostate specific membrane antigen and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides suppresses tumor growth

BACKGROUND: Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a well characterized prostate-specific tumor associated antigen. Its expression is elevated in prostate carcinoma, particularly in metastatic and recurrent lesions. These observations suggest that PSMA can be used as immune target to induce tumor cell-specific recognition by the host and, consequently tumor rejection. We utilized a DNA-based vaccine to specifically enhance PSMA expression. An immune modulator, such as CpG oligodeoxynucleotides which promote Th1-type immune responses was combined to increase the efficacy of tumor recognition and elimination. METHODS: A eukaryotic expression plasmid pCDNA3.1-PSMA encoding full-length PSMA was constructed. C57BL/6 mice were immunized with endotoxin-free pCDNA3.1-PSMA alone or in combination with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides by intramuscular injection. After 4 immunizations, PSMA specific antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocyte reactivity were measured. Immunized C57BL/6 mice were also challenged subcutaneously with B16 cells transfected with PSMA to evaluate suppression of tumor growth. RESULTS: Vaccine-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes reactive with B16 cells expressing PSMA could be induced with this treatment schedule. Immune protection was observed in vaccinated mice as indicated by increased tumor growth in the control group (100%) compared with the groups vaccinated with DNA alone (66.7%) or DNA plus CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (50%) respectively. Average tumor volume was smaller in vaccinated groups and tumor-free survival time was prolonged by the vaccination. CONCLUSION: The current findings suggest that specific anti-tumor immune response can be induced by DNA vaccines expressing PSMA. In addition, the suppression of in vivo growth of tumor cells expressing PSMA was augmented by CpG oligodeoxynucleotides. This strategy may provide a new venue for the treatment of carcinoma of prostate after failure of standard therapy.     

癫痫儿童脑功能成像的临床应用研究进展

癫痫在儿童和青少年神经疾病中的发病率非常高 ,癫痫反复发作不仅影响患儿的运动功能 ,还影响其感知觉、记忆和语言等认知功能的健康发展。目前手术治疗是控制顽固性癫痫的重要手段 ,能否取得良好的手术效果有赖于癫痫灶的确定和认知功能皮层的准确定位。癫痫灶确定和认知功能皮层准确定位问题的解决不仅有利于癫痫儿童的诊断和治疗 ,也有利于更深入地了解癫痫发病机制 ,还有助于人类对语言、记忆等认知功能及其发展机制的深入认识。1　认知功能的手术前评估1.1　语言侧化与语言优势半球定位近三十年来 ,胼胝体切除术、脑叶切除术、大脑半球…     

子宫阔韧带内静脉的解剖学研究及其临床意义

子宫底和体上部的静脉汇集于子宫角处浅出,应称子宫上静脉。该静脉续为卵巢静脉。子宫上静脉1条者占30%,2条者占56.7%,3条者占13.3%。子宫上静脉与输卵管峡部中点相对处的口径是3.7±0.2mm,卵巢丛与子宫上静脉汇合后的口径为5.0±0.4mm。输卵管峡部中点与子宫上静脉的间距为6.3±0.6mm。在输卵管系膜中见有输卵管静脉汇入子宫上静脉。本文研究结果认为盆腔静脉淤血症的发生,与结扎手术中损伤子宫上静脉和输卵管静脉有关。     

心电信号预测冠心病的粗糙集方法

应用粗糙集理论对心电图波形所蕴涵的大量信息进行处理，目的是评价心电信号实测指标与冠心病的关系。通过对心电图导联I中采集的心电信号进行属性约简，降低决策表的冗余性，提取用于判别冠心病的重要属性和诊断规则。实例分析表明，粗糙集理论应用于心电信号分析，可得到清晰简明的诊断规则，有助于冠心病的临床诊断。     

实验性糖尿病对小鼠肝脏酶组织化学和超微结构的影响

实验用四氧嘧啶建造糖尿病动物模型，８周后取肝作组织学、酶组织化学和超微结构的观察，以探讨实验性糖尿病对肝组织结构和功能的影响。表明在糖尿病状态下，肝细胞的结构和功能均受到一定的损害。     

超声多普勒管壁搏动和血流信号的分离研究

本研究提出利用经验模式分解(EMD)算法分解混叠有管壁成分的超声多普勒血流信号来实现管壁搏动和血流信号的分离。该方法首先将混叠有管壁搏动的超声多普勒血流信号分解为少量有限的分量,即内模函数(IMFs),然后根据管壁搏动信号与血流信号的功率比变化曲线,用比值法自动确定并去除低频管壁博动成分。在仿真实验中用提出的方法处理模拟的多普勒信号,对于靠近管腔内壁的血流信号其在频域功率谱上的相对误差为50%,在时域幅度的相对误差为45%,与高通滤波器方法的相对误差95%相比,准确性得到提高。基于个人计算机用C语言编程实现提出的算法,对实际采集的人体颈动脉多普勒信号可实现实时分离处理。结果表明:基于经验模式分解的滤波方法能有效客观地滤除管壁搏动信号,更准确地保留低频血流信号成分。     

小胶质细胞极化介导炎症反应在脊髓损伤中的作用

背景:小胶质细胞极化参与脊髓损伤后的炎症反应,并在其中发挥关键作用。相关研究表明,有效诱导小胶质细胞从M1促炎表型向M2抗炎表型极化,可以减轻脊髓损伤后的炎症反应,促进组织的修复再生和神经功能的恢复。目的:文章对小胶质细胞的功能和极化、小胶质细胞极化对脊髓损伤的影响及其潜在调控策略以及脊髓损伤后炎症反应进行综述。方法:检索PubMed、Web of Science和中国知网数据库,英文检索词为“microglia,polarization,spinal cord injury,inflammation”,中文检索词为“小胶质细胞、极化、脊髓损伤、炎症”,按纳入和排除标准共纳入80篇文献进行总结。结果与结论:①由小胶质细胞介导的稳定而持续的炎症反应,对脊髓损伤的预后至关重要。②在生理条件下,小胶质细胞处于M0静止表型,但在脊髓损伤后,小胶质细胞活化,进而极化成M1促炎表型,导致神经组织修复能力降低和出现持续性神经炎症。③在脊髓损伤的炎症反应过程中,调控小胶质细胞向M2表型极化或至少向M2表型倾斜,有利于抑制氧化应激反应、调节突触重塑、促进轴突再生和血管生成,是一种有效的调控策略。④截止到目前的研究表明,间充质干细胞、外泌体、临床药物、天然产物、miRNAs和靶点分子可调控小胶质细胞在M1和M2表型之间的转换,这为脊髓损伤后神经组织的修复提供了一种新的思路,未来需进一步研究小胶质细胞在脊髓损伤过程中调控极化的详细机制。     

内痔粘膜及血管上皮细胞VEGF/FGF2的表达与内痔分期的相关性分析

目的 通过观察人体内痔不同分期粘膜及血管内皮细胞生长因子（VEGF）及碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（FGF2）的表达，探讨内痔的发生及发展机制。 方法 收集南方医院肛肠科门诊手术切除的Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ期内痔标本134例（Ⅰ期42例，Ⅱ期45例，Ⅲ期47例），内痔周围正常肠壁组织40例作为对照，采用HE染色观察组织的病理学变化，采用免疫组织化学方法检测血管内皮细胞VEGF及FGF2的表达。 结果 正常组及Ⅰ期内痔黏膜层被覆上皮完整，未见扩张血管；Ⅱ期内痔黏膜层被覆上皮破坏，黏膜肌层破坏，黏膜层内见新生血管；Ⅲ期内痔黏膜层被覆上皮破坏，见血管管壁增厚迂曲，管腔扩张；与正常粘膜成纤维细胞相比VEGF在粘膜层成纤维细胞表达水平明显升高，并随分期增高而增高（F=883.961，P<0.01），FGF2也存在相同表达（F=656.013，P<0.01）；与正常组相比VEGF在血管内皮细胞表达水平明显升高，并随分期增高而增高（F=776.561，P<0.01），FGF2在血管内皮细胞的表达水平存在相同趋势（F=1066.458，P＜0.01）。 结论 VEGF及FGF2在内痔的形成过程中具有促进血管内皮细胞和粘膜下成纤维细胞增生的作用，同时可作为内痔发生发展的分子标志物。     

Connexin26 gene ( GJB2): prevalence of mutations in the Chinese population

The connexin26 gene ( GJB2) has been shown to be responsible for DFNB1 and DFNA3 (Autosomal Recessive Hereditary Nonsyndromic Deafness Locus 1 and Autosomal Dominant Hereditary Nonsyndromic Deafness Locus 3). Two hundred ten independently ascertained Chinese probands with nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL) were evaluated for mutations in GJB2, including 43 probands from families with more than one sib with NSHL, likely indicating dominant inheritance, and sporadic cases of NSHL, compatible with recessive inheritance. Of the 210 probands, 43 (20%) were homozygous or heterozygous for mutations in GJB2. Four different mutations were identified: 35delG, 109G-A, 235delC, and 299-300delAT. It was confirmed that GJB2 mutations are an important cause of hearing loss in this population. Of these four mutations, 235delC was the most prevalent at 93%; yet the 35delG mutation, which is the most common GJB2 mutation in Caucasian subjects (Europeans and Americans), was found in low frequency in the present study. It appears from our limited data and reports from other East Asians that 235delC is the most prevalent GJB2 mutation in these populations. GJB2 mutations are consistent with ethnic predilections.     

Cardiac natriuretic peptides and continuously monitored atrial pressures during chronic rapid pacing in pigs

Changes in atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were evaluated in relation to continuously monitored atrial pressures in a pacing model of heart failure. Pigs were subjected to rapid atrial pacing (225 beats min-1) for 3 weeks with adjustments of pacing frequencies if the pigs showed overt signs of cardiac decompensation. Atrial pressures were monitored by a telemetry system with the animals unsedated and freely moving. Left atrial pressure responded stronger and more rapidly to the initiation of pacing and to alterations in the rate of pacing than right atrial pressure. Plasma natriuretic peptide levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and all increased during pacing with BNP exhibiting the largest relative increase (2.9-fold increase relative to sham pigs). Multiple regression analysis with dummy variables was used to evaluate the relative changes in natriuretic peptides and atrial pressures and the strongest correlation was found between BNP and left atrial pressure with R 2=0.81. Termination of pacing resulted in rapid normalization of ANP values in spite of persistent elevations in atrial pressures. This may reflect an increased metabolism or an attenuated secretory response of ANP to atrial stretch with established heart failure. In conclusion, 3 weeks of rapid pacing induced significant increases in atrial pressures and natriuretic peptide levels. All the natriuretic peptides correlated with atrial pressures with BNP appearing as a more sensitive marker of cardiac filling pressures than ANP and N-terminal proatrial natriuretic peptide.