Direct CD1d-mediated stimulation of APC IL-12 production and protective immune response to virus infection in vivo.

CD1d-restricted NKT cells rapidly stimulate innate and adaptive immunity through production of Th1 and/or Th2 cytokines and induction of CD1d(+) APC maturation. However, therapeutic exploitation of NKT cells has been hampered by their paucity and defects in human disease. NKT cell-APC interactions can be modeled by direct stimulation of human APCs through CD1d in vitro.

[Effects of Shen-song-yang-xin capsule on ventricular arrhythmias in ischemia/reperfusion: experiment with rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of Shen-song-yang-xin capsule containing ginseng, ophiopogon root, red sage root, etc, on the ventricular arrhythmias caused by ischemic/reperfusion.

Methods: Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into 2 equal groups: Shen-song-yang-xin group undergoing gastric infusion of Shen-song-yang-xin 4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) for 2 weeks and then subjected to left coronary artery occlusion for 30 minutes followed by reperfusion for 60 minutes, and control group undergoing ischemia/reperfusion only. Electrocardiography was conducted to record the ventricular arrhythmias, and after 60 minutes of reperfusion the rats were killed with their hearts removed to measure the infarction size.

[Effects of acute mixed hyperlipidemia on acute myocardial infarction size and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the effect of acute mixed hyperlipidemia on acute myocardial infarct size and the potential mechanism.

Methods: Fifty-three Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups: the control group (n=15) was injected with 1.0 mL 0.

Short-term withdrawal of simvastatin induces endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease: a dose-response effect dependent on endothelial nitric oxide synthase.

Background: Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) have impaired endothelial function. Simvastatin therapy has been demonstrated to significantly improve endothelial function in these patients. Although withdrawal of statins is a frequent problem in clinical practice, the effects after discontinuation of statins treatment on endothelial function in patients with CAD are largely unknown.

[The effects after withdrawal of simvastatin on brachial artery endothelial function in patient with coronary heart disease or risk factors].

Objective: Landmark trials have demonstrated that statins can reduce the risk of coronary events. Despite the widespread use of statins in the settings of primary and secondary prevention of CHD, withdrawal of statins is a frequent problem in clinical practice. Several recent clinical studies have suggested that withdrawal of statin therapy might be associated with an increase in thrombotic vascular events and the onset of acute coronary syndromes.

Hepatic CD1d expression in hepatitis C virus infection and recognition by resident proinflammatory CD1d-reactive T cells.

A subset of CD161(+)CD56(+/-) NKT cells can recognize glycolipids presented by CD1d and positively or negatively regulate inflammatory responses, including those implicated in several models of hepatitis. CD1d is expressed at very low levels in the healthy liver, but there is a large fraction of CD161(+)CD56(+) NKT cells. There are high levels of nonclassical proinflammatory hepatic CD1d-reactive T cells in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

[Clinical observation on effect of Chinese herbal medicine plus human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone in treating anticardiolipin antibody-positive early recurrent spontaneous abortion].

Objective: To find a method without corticosteroids, aspirin or heparin for treatment of anticardiolipin antibody-positive early recurrent spontaneous abortion (AARSA).

Methods: Twenty-three patients of AARSA in the treated group were treated with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) plus human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone, and 18 patiens in the control group were treated with multi-vitamin only. The change of anticardiolipin antibody was determined by enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA).

A chimera of a gelatinase inhibitor peptide with streptavidin as a bifunctional tumor targeting reagent.

A chimeric protein, consisting of streptavidin fused to a cyclic decapeptide with potent inhibitory activity for matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), has been produced in Escherichia coli and purified. The purified chimera formed a tetramer and showed full biotin-binding ability. The chimera was also capable of both binding to MMP-2 and inhibiting its activity.

Cutting edge: Compartmentalization of Th1-like noninvariant CD1d-reactive T cells in hepatitis C virus-infected liver.

Murine intrahepatic lymphocytes (IHL) are dominated by invariant TCR alpha-chain expressing CD1d-reactive NKT cells, which can cause model hepatitis. Invariant NKT (CD56(+/-)CD161(+)) and recently identified noninvariant CD1d-reactive T cells rapidly produce large amounts of IL-4 and/or IFN-gamma and can regulate Th1/Th2 responses. Human liver contains large numbers of CD56(+) NKT cells but few invariant NKT.