Cytokine-induced killer T cells kill immature dendritic cells by TCR-independent and perforin-dependent mechanisms

Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells are ex vivo, expanded T cells with proven anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. However, their functional properties with the exception of their cancer cell-killing activity are largely unclear. Here, we show that CIK T cells recognize dendritic cells (DC), and although mature DC (mDC) induce CIK T cells to produce IFN-gamma, immature DC (iDC) are killed selectively by them. Moreover, CIK T cell activation by mDC and their destruction of iDC are independent of the TCR. The cytotoxicity of CIK T cells to iDC is perforin-dependent. Our data have revealed an important regulatory role of CIK cells.     

Lymphatic vessel density as a prognostic indicator for patients with stage I cervical carcinoma

Lymphatic vessel density (LVD) was recently considered important for spread of several malignant tumors. However, there are no reports describing the situation in cervical carcinoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether LVD could serve as a risk factor for nodal metastasis and recurrence of cervical carcinoma in 147 cases of stage I patients. Other questions were if depth of invasion, proliferation rate, and tumor size could be used as predictive markers for Chinese patients with cervical carcinoma. The lymphatics were determined by immunohistochemistry with the antibody to LYVE-1, a specific lymphatic endothelium marker, and average LVD was calculated. Double immunohistochemistry and double immunofluorescence staining for LYVE-1/CD34 were used to distinguish between lymphatic and blood vessels. The results showed that average LVD in cervical carcinoma was statistically associated with inflammatory cell infiltration of carcinoma tissues, but not associated with other pathological parameters. Average LVD of the cases with nodal metastasis or recurrence was significantly higher than the cases without metastasis and recurrence in both stage IA and stage IB cervical carcinomas. The correlation between both depth of invasion and tumor size with nodal metastasis and recurrence of cervical carcinoma was also statistically significant. Ki-67 labeling index was found to be correlated with the recurrence of disease, but not to be correlated with nodal metastasis. We concluded that for the patients with stage I cervical carcinoma, increased LVD could serve as a high-risk factor for nodal metastasis and recurrence. Depth of invasion and tumor size could also be useful indicators.     

快速染色的妇科肿瘤细胞核的结构观察与分析

本文用细胞快速染液对妇科常见肿瘤的细胞核结构进行了观察。结果表明，细胞快速染液能清晰地显示癌细胞核和核仁的形态结构及数目。根据大量的观察结果作者提出：核仁的数目和结构形态是推测细胞“良”“恶”的窗口，是确定癌细胞的肯定指标之一。对癌细胞的核膜增厚和染色质网状结构提出了讨论。     

大鼠癫痫敏感性增强过程中c-jun与GFAP基因表达的关系

本文利用免疫细胞化学技术研究了海人酸(KA)致大鼠癫痫敏感性长期增强过程中,原癌基因c-jun的表达规律及其与星形胶质细胞增生、星形胶质细胞的标志物-神经胶质原纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)基因表达的关系。一次性给予惊厥剂量(10mg/kg,i.p.)的KA后,海马CA1区出现c-jun的一过性高表达,之后呈持续表达状态直至给予KA后6个月。c-jun的表达明显地早于给予KA 2 d后方开始出现的海马内CA1区锥体细胞层神经元的死亡和C-JUN免疫反应阳性的星形胶质细胞的增生。星形胶质细胞GFAP基因的表达与其细胞内的c-jun表达的时间和部位一致。结果提示,c-jun在癫痫敏感性长期增强过程中持续表达,并可能参与介导神经元死亡和维持星形胶质细胞增生以及调控其细胞内GFAP基因的表达。     

脑源性神经营养因子与脊髓损伤

<正> Spinal cord injury(SCI)is such a serious disease that itwould bring heavy burdens of both health and economy tothe victims as well as the society.Although worldwide med-ical researchers of neuroscience have made great efforts toattempt to solve this big problem for nearly a century, there     

造影剂超声图像的纹理与心腔内压力相关性研究

用计盒分形模拟分析经静脉注射Levovist声学造影剂后在二次谐波成像方式下的超声图像纹理变化，研究发现左心室区域超声图像的分形维数D和分形辅助特征量C（L）在连续心动周期中具有规律性变化，即分形维数D的最大值出现在舒张末期，最小值出现在收缩末期，随着心室收缩期开始，D值由大变小，而舒张期开始，D值又由小变大；而分形辅助特征得C（L）的最大值出现在收缩末期附近，最小值出现在舒张末期附近，从左室收缩期开始到收缩末期之间C（L）具有由小变大的趋势，舒张期开始到舒张末期之间具有由大变小的趋势。它们的这种变化与左心室内压力的变化情况十分相似，可见造影剂超声图像的分形纹理特征与心腔内压力的变化具有相关性。研究结果表明这种相关性有可能用于无创地测量心腔内压力。     

Fuzzy logic guided inverse treatment planning

A fuzzy logic technique was applied to optimize the weighting factors in the objective function of an inverse treatment planning system for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Based on this technique, the optimization of weighting factors is guided by the fuzzy rules while the intensity spectrum is optimized by a fast-monotonic-descent method. The resultant fuzzy logic guided inverse planning system is capable of finding the optimal combination of weighting factors for different anatomical structures involved in treatment planning. This system was tested using one simulated (but clinically relevant) case and one clinical case. The results indicate that the optimal balance between the target dose and the critical organ dose is achieved by a refined combination of weighting factors. With the help of fuzzy inference, the efficiency and effectiveness of inverse planning for IMRT are substantially improved.     

Preparation and characterization of macroporous chitosan-gelatin/beta-tricalcium phosphate composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

A biodegradable composite scaffold was developed using beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) with chitosan (CS) and gelatin (Gel) in the form of a hybrid polymer network (HPN) via co-crosslinking with glutaraldehyde. Various types of scaffolds were prepared by freezing and lyophilizing. These scaffolds were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffractometer, and scanning electron microscopy. The macroporous composite scaffolds exhibited different pore structures. Compressive properties were improved, especially compressive modulus from 3.9-10.9 MPa. Biocompatibility was evaluated subcutaneously on rabbits. A mild inflammatory response was observed over 12 weeks. The results suggest that the scaffolds can be utilized in nonloading bone regeneration.     

Development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for rapid diagnosis of ovine theileriosis in China

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a novel nucleic acid detection method in which the target deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can be efficiently amplified with high specificity and sensitivity under isothermal conditions using a set of either four or six specific primers. In this study, we have identified a conserved sequence for Theileria luwenshuni (UTRlu8) and for T. uilenbergi (UTRu6) suitable for designing a set of six primers for the simultaneous detection by LAMP of these pathogens causing theileriosis in sheep and goats in China. LAMP was performed at 63°C, and the amplified DNA was detectable within 15 min. The specificity of the reaction was confirmed through EcoRI restriction enzyme digestion analysis and sequencing. The assay was proven sensitive since specific amplification was obtained from 0.1 pg DNA of T. luwenshuni or T. uilenbergi. The LAMP assay was evaluated by testing 86 field samples in comparison to the reverse line blot method, showing a sensitivity and specificity of 66.0% and 97.4%, respectively. These results indicate that the LAMP assay is rapid and simple to run, cost effective, sensitive, and specific and has potential usefulness for application in diagnostics of and epidemiological studies on T. luwenshuni and T. uilenbergi infection of small ruminants.