Detection performance of PCR for Legionella pneumophila in environmental samples: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Legionellosis remains a public health problem. The most common diagnostic method to detect Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is culture.

The effect of environmental factors on the differential expression of miRNAs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot clinical study.

Objective: The objective of the study was to analyze the effect of environmental factors on the differential expression of microRNAs in the peripheral blood of migratory and local patients in northern People's Republic of China and on clinical symptoms of local patients in northern People's Republic of China with COPD.

Methods: A total of 118 patients in the northern region and 8 migratory patients were enrolled in this prospective study. We collected general information.

Pulmonary function tests findings and their diagnostic value in patients with IgG4-related disease.

Background: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated fibroinflammatory disorder that can affect most organs. To date, there have been no detailed assessments of pulmonary function in patients with IgG4-RD. In this study, we investigated pulmonary function in IgG4-RD patients and evaluated the value of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in diagnosing IgG4-related respiratory disease (IgG4-RRD).

Pulmonary function test findings in patients with acute inhalation injury caused by smoke bombs.

Background: This study aimed to determine the effects of smoke bomb-induced acute inhalation injury on pulmonary function at different stages of lung injury.

Methods: We performed pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in 15 patients with acute inhalation injury from days 3 to 180 after smoke inhalation. We measured the trace element zinc in whole blood on days 4 and 17, and correlations of zinc levels with PFTs were performed.

Estrogen plays a critical role in AAV2-mediated gene transfer in ovarian cancer.

Aim: The aim of our study was to develop an effective gene delivery system for ovarian cancer gene therapy.

Methods: The expression of heparin sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) and integrins alpha(upsilon)beta(3) and alpha(upsilon)beta(5) were analyzed with flow cytometry on 2 human ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCAR-3 and SKOV-3ip). The gene transduction efficiencies were evaluated with recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV)2-green fluorescent protein or rAAV2-lactase Z followed by flow cytometry or cytohistochemistry staining.

Targeting gene-virotherapy for cancer.

Gene therapy and viral therapy for cancer have therapeutic effects, but there has been no significant breakthrough in these two forms of therapy. Therefore, a new strategy called "targeting gene-virotherapy", which combines the advantages of gene therapy and viral therapy, has been formulated. This new therapy has stronger antitumor effects than either gene therapy or viral therapy.

[Relationship between cytotoxicity of two types of TNF-alpha and intracellular free calcium concentration in target cells].

Aim: To compare the changes of free calcium concentration in target cells killed by transmembrane tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TM-TNF-alpha) and secretory TNF-alpha(S-TNF-alpha).

Methods: The cytotoxicity of two types of TNF-alpha was tested by bioassay. The intracellular Ca(2+) concentration was determined by Frua-2.

[Participation of ICAM-1 in the cytotoxicity of TM-TNF-alpha mediated by TNF receptor I].

Aim: To identify membrane-associated molecules involved in the tumoricidal cytotoxicity of TM-TNF-alpha and to explore the molecular mechanism underlying the tumoricidal cytotoxicity of TM-TNF-alpha and differences of biological effects between TM-TNF-alpha and sTNF.

Methods: Antibody blocking test and RT-PCR were used to evaluate the role of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the cytotoxicity of TM-TNF-alpha mediated by TNFR I or TNFR II.

Results: After the ICAM-1 expressed on the membrane of MCF-7 cells(expressing TNFRI) was blocked, the cytotoxicity of TM-TNF-alpha to this cell lines decreased significantly, while blocking VCAM-1 had no effect.