Search

LAIR-1, the leukocyte-associated Ig-like receptor-1, is a trans-membrane molecule that functions as an inhibitory receptor on natural killer cells, T lymphocytes and monocytes. It has been well known that many trans-membrane receptors can shed from the cell surface and be released into the circulation in soluble form when lymphocytes, endothelials and other immune cells are activated. In many cases, the levels of soluble receptors in the circulation can be used as markers of lymphocyte activation in transplant patients and virus infection patients. To investigate whether LAIR-1 is able to be released into the sera, we developed a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system based on two anti-LAIR-1 monoclonal antibodies (MAb) with different epitope specificities. Using this ELISA, we found that sLAIR-1 existed in the supernatants collected from PMA, PHA or CD3 MAb-stimulated lymphocytes cultures in vitro for the first time. Moreover, we found that LAIR-1 level in serum samples from healthy individuals was 6.2 +/- 3.3 ng/ml, whereas the levels in sera of patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and patients 3-7 days after kidney transplant increased to 47.2 +/- 35.9 and 24.4 +/- 16.0 ng/ml, respectively. Furthermore, HFRS patients in oliguric phase showed higher serum sLAIR-1 levels than those in other phases, and transplant patients with rejection showed higher serum sLAIR-1 level than those without rejection. These findings demonstrated that LAIR-1 can be released when lymphocytes are activated, suggesting sLAIR-1 may be used as a predictor for monitoring immune reaction in some virus infections and organ transplants which may be useful in clinical treatment of these diseases.

We propose a strategy to measure weak static magnetic fields with nitrogen-vacancy color center in diamond. Inspired by avian magnetoreception models, we consider the feasibility of utilizing quantum coherence phenomena to measure weak static magnetic fields. Nitrogen-vacancy (NV) color centers are regarded as the ideal platform to study quantum sciences as a result of its long coherence time up to a millisecond timescale. In high-purity diamond, hyperfine interaction with 13C nuclear spins dominates the decoherence process. In this paper, we numerically simulate the decoherence process between 0 and +1 of the individual NV color center spin in 13C nuclear baths with various of magnitudes of external magnetic fields. By applying Hahn echo into the system, we obtain the coherence of NV color center spin as a function of total evolution time and magnetic field. Furthermore we obtain the high-accuracy relationship between the three decoherence-characteristic timescales, i.e. T_W, T_R, T_2, and magnetic field B. And we draw a conclusion that T_R has the highest sensitivity about magnetic field among the three time-scales. Thus, for a certain NV color center, T_R can be the scale for the magnitude of magnetic field, or rather, the component along the NV electronic spin axis. When measuring an unknown magnetic field, we adjust the NV axis to three mutually orthogonal directions respectively. By this means, we obtain the three components of the magnetic field and thus the magnitude and direction of the actual magnetic field. The accuracy could reach 60 nT/Hz^{1/2},and could be greatly improved by using an ensemble of NV color centers or diamond crystals purified with 12C atoms., 17 pages, 5 figures, 1 table

Background The organic solvent solution immersion method was often used to achieve the loading of the drugs into mesoporous silica, but the drugs that have loaded into the pores of the mesoporous silica would inevitable migrate from the inside to the external surface or near the outside surface during the process of drying. Hence, it often leads to the pores of mesoporous materials not be fully utilized, and results in a low drug loading efficiency and a fast releasing rate. Objective The purpose of this study was to develop a novel drug loading strategy to avoid soluble component migration during the process of drying, then, to prepare poorly water-soluble drug mesoporous silica microparticles with higher drug loading efficiency and longer sustained-release time. Method Ibuprofen was used as model drug. The microparticles were prepared by a novel method based on mesoporous silica and supercritical fluid (SCF) technique. The drug-loaded mesoporous silica microparticles prepared by SCF technique were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), N2 adsorption/desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In vitro releasing study was used to evaluate the sustained-release effect of the drug-loaded microparticles. Results By virtue of the high diffusibility and the high dissolving capacity of the supercritical carbon dioxide (SCF-CO2), the poorly water-soluble drugs, ibuprofen, entered the pores of the mesoporous silica. The amount and the depth of ibuprofen entered the pores of the mesoporous silica by SCF technique were both larger than those by the solution immersion method. It was found that ibuprofen loaded into the mesoporous silica by SCF technique was amorphous and the largest amount of the ibuprofen loaded into the mesoporous silica by SCF technique could reach 386 mg/g (w/w, ibuprofen/SiO2), it was more than that by the solution immersion method. In vitro releasing study showed that the sustained-release effect of ibuprofen in the samples prepared by SCF technique was 50% in 15 min and 90% in 60 min. It was longer than that prepared by the solution immersion method. Conclusion Present study showed that sustained-release poorly water-soluble drug mesoporous silica microparticle based on SCF technique has twofold advantages. One is the larger drug loading amount in internal pores of the mesoporous silica, the other is the longer drug releasing time.

TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and FasL can participate in cell mediated cytotoxicity via their death domain-mediated apoptotic signaling in the host-versus-graft disease occurred after renal transplantation. However, the effect of Cyclosporin A (CsA) commonly used as a drug to prevent and to treat renal transplant rejection, on these molecules have not been fully determined. In the present study, we found that with CsA administration, the expression of TRAIL and FasL predominantly on NK cells from renal transplantation patients was increased at day 5 after operation and went down to normal level on day 13. While, the levels of soluble TRAIL (sTRAIL) and sFasL in the serum increased within 25 days and went down to normal level three month later. In addition, we showed that a remarkable increase of TRAIL and FasL expression both on the surface of activated lymphocytes especially on NK cells and in the supernatants generated from mixed lymphocytes culture (MLC). Furthermore, the enhancement of these two molecules was greatly decreased by adding 500 ng/mL CsA at the beginning of MLC. We conclude that CsA may inhibit the transplant rejection partially by down-regulating the expression of TRAIL and FasL on NK cells.

To investigate the role of IL-6/STAT3 pathway in the proliferation of cholangiocyte induced by cold ischemia and reperfusion injury.Rats were randomized into CP 1 h and CP 12 h groups (supplied livers were preserved for 1 or 12 h), anti-IL-6R (rats in CP 12 h group were administrated with anti-rat soluble IL-6 receptor antibody), and control group. At 1, 3, 7, 14 d postoperative, IL-6 concentration in liver homogenate and cholangiocyte proliferation were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and histochemistry respectively. Expressions of IL-6 mRNA, phosphorylated-STAT3 and cyclin D1 protein in cholangiocytes were determined by real-time PCR or Western blot analysis. Serum concentrations of ALP and GGT and histology analysis were also performed.Minimal expressions of IL-6, p-STAT3 and cyclin D1 were detected in CP 1 h group, with a slight cholangiocytes proliferation. Cholangiocytes responded to extended cold preservation with severe bile duct injures and marked increase in IL-6 secretion, p-STAT3 and cyclin D1 protein expression, followed by compensatory cholangiocytes regeneration. Parallel to this observation, biochemical index and morphology indicated that bile duct injury was recovery at 14 d postoperative. However, anti-sIL-6R inhibited cholangiocytes proliferation and reduced the expressions of IL-6, STAT3 and cyclin D, with the cellular injury and increase of serum ALP or GGT.IL-6/STAT3 pathway might participate to initiate cholangiocytes regeneration after cold ischemia and preservation injury, which might benefit biliary recovery after liver transplantation.

To investigate whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates cholangiocyte proliferation via the IL-6/STAT3 pathway in vivo.Rats were randomized into three groups: LPS group (injected intravenously with LPS 2.5 mg/kg), anti-IL-6 group (injected intravenously with anti-IL-6 0.5 mg/kg 1hr after LPS injection), and control group. At 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after LPS injection, LPS concentration in plasma was detected by kinetic turbidimetric limulus test. IL-6 concentrations in liver homogenate was determinded by ELISA, cholangiocyte proliferation was checked by immunohistochemistry, expression of IL-6 mRNA was quantified by real-time RT-PCR, the level of phophorylated-STAT3 (P-STAT3) protein was analyzed by western blotting.Cholangiocytes responded to LPS by a marked increase in cell proliferation, IL-6 secretion and P-STAT3 expression. Anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody inhibited LPS-induced cholangiocytes proliferation, and decreased levels of IL-6 and p-STAT3.LPS promotes cholangiocyte proliferation through the IL-6/STAT3 pathway.

A new 27.5 kV rated vacuum circuit breaker with bi-stable permanent magnetic actuator is designed and developed on the basis of electromagnetic field analysis coupled motion. Firstly, the static characteristics of the permanent magnetic actuator are obtained using the finite element model with use of Ansoft software package. Next, the electrical circuit and mechanical models which describe the behavior of the circuit breaker are constructed using Matlab package. The dynamic characteristics are simulated on the basis of over static simulation. And results for the time variations of the coil current, the displacement of the contact system, move velocity and electromagnetic force are obtained. Finally, the testing plant is designed and the experiment is conducted in order to evaluate veracity of the simulation, it is indicated that simulation results coincide well with that of the experiment.

A laboratory-scale study of the treatment of printing and dyeing wastewater was carried out using the combined process of ABR and circulated moving carrier membrane bioreactor. ABR was maintained at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 8.5 hours and at a temperature of indoor temperature. The experiment is consisted of two parts: The fist section is that using amylum as sizing agent to inspect the reactor treat capability; When the influent COD was 1585 -5301 mg/L, the effluent COD was 42 mg/L overall 97% of COD removal. The average removal rates of COD, NH4-N, and color were 97%, 90%, 94%. The second section is that using PVA as sizing agent to inspect mainly on the effect of hydrolysis and acidgenisis of ABR and the organic removal effect of the system. Results showed that excellent effluent quality could obtained after the degradability of the refractory wastewater has been improved greatly in ABR.

An improved AOC algorithm aiming at the inefficiency of original AOC operations is proposed in this paper. After extraction of the level set of the lowest gray in foreground, area open (close) operation is carried out, whose result is then compared with the original image, resulting in the level set of next gray level. Iterative goes on in an order from low level to high one, until the final result is achieved. Experiment results show that this algorithm can remove lots of small regions earlier. It improved the efficiency obviously, preserving an equal effect of the original method.

Objective The present study aims to investigate the clinical characteristics of and preventive measures for varicella occurring early after renal transplantation.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted to obtain a clinical summary of the clinical data and treatment process of four patients who received transplantation and suffered from varicella early after transplantation.These four patients were admitted to the Organ Transplant Center of the 309th Hospital of PLA from January 2009 to December 2010.Results The four patients did not suffer from varicella infection before transplantation.The primary varicella infection occurred 38,62,70,and 90 days after transplantation.All cases were successfully treated by reducing the immunodepressant and by administering antiviral drugs.Conclusions The patients suffered from varicella via opportunistic infection after transplantation.Although large amounts of immunosuppressive drugs should be used early after renal transplantation,excessive immunity may cause varicella and other opportunistic infections.