Preliminary evidence of the association between DNAm and orbital volumetry in GO.

Background: The pathogenesis underlying the alterations of orbital architecture in Graves' orbitopathy (GO) is not yet fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate the association of DNA methylation in peripheral blood and orbital volumetry in Chinese patients with GO.

Methods: A total of 35 GO subjects (70 orbits) were subjected to computed tomography (CT) scan.

[Transduction of dendritic cells by recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) carrying hepatitis B virus antigens].

Objective: To test the efficiency of infection of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) carrying hepatitis B virus S, C or X antigen, rAAV-HBV-S, C, X to human dendritic cells.

Methods: Recombinant AAV plasmids containing HBV-S, C or X gene were constructed and packaged into rAAV in 293 cells. Monocytes were isolated from healthy donor and pulsed by rAAV-HBV-S, X, C or 293 lysate as control at the first day of isolation, then the dentritic cells were cultured for 7 days in vitro.

[Classification and choice of surgical procedures for chronic pancreatitis].

Objective: To explore the classification, choice of surgical procedures and the clinical outcome of surgical management for chronic pancreatitis.

Methods: 54 patients with chronic pancreatitis undergoing operation in our hospital from 1983 to 2004 were analyzed retrospectively, who were divided into chronic calcifying pancreatitis and chronic obstructive pancreatitis according to the clinical manifestations.

Results: There were 41 men (76%) and 13 women (24%) with a mean age of 54 years.

[Isolation and prelimary characterization of a kind of rat liver potential progenitor cells small round hepatic cells].

Liver undergoes profound regeneration usually after hepatic damage. It has been shown in recent study that two kinds of liver stem cells, which are mainly oval cells (OVCs) and small hepatocytes, are involved in the process of liver regeneration as they differentiated into premature liver cells. However, the origination of oval cells as well as its differentiation property is not quite understood.

[Binding and inhibition of adeno-associated virus Rep78 protein with hepatitis B virus C promoter].

Objectives: Adeno-associated virus (AAV) Rep78 is known for its inhibitory effects on replication of several viruses and oncogenes transformations. The study was to investigate the effect of Rep78 on hepatitis B virus C (HBV-C) gene and the mechanism of it.

Methods: HBV-C promoter and HBV-C gene with its promoter were amplified by PCR and labeled with 32P-ATP.

[Recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying hepatitis B virus C gene (rAAV-HBV-C) effectively pulses dendritic cells (DC) without affecting their maturity].

Objective: Recombinant virus pulsated dendritic cells (DCs) may affect their survival, growth and maturity. This study is to test the infection efficiency of recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying hepatitis B core antigen (rAAV-HBV-c) to DCs and the growth and maturity of them.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy blood donors.

[Sodium butyrate induces rat hepatic oval cells differentiating into mature hepatocytes in vitro].

Objective: To elucidate the effects of sodium butyrate on rat hepatic oval cell differentiation in vitro.

Methods: Hepatic oval cells were isolated from rats fed with a choline-deficient diet supplemented with 0.1% (w/w) ethonine for 4 to 6 weeks.

[A quantitative assay for telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with acute leukemia].

To establish a quantitative assay for telomerase activity and analyze the telomerase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from patients with acute leukemia, a fluorescent dye, PicoGreen, was added to the products after telomere repeat amplification protocol. The samples were excited at 480 nm and the fluorescence emission intensity was measured at 520 nm using a spectrofluorometer. Telomerase activity was detected in PBMNCs from 20 cases of normal individuals and 25 patients with acute leukemia.