Provincial maternal mortality surveillance systems in China.

Background: Provincial maternal mortality surveillance systems (PMMSS) have been set up in nearly all the provinces in China to monitor local maternal mortality and provide the evidence for maternal health interventions suited to local conditions. However, till now little is known outside of China about the characteristics of PMMSS.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature contained in PubMed and China Academic Journal Network Publishing database was carried out.

Interleukin 7 signaling prevents apoptosis by regulating bcl-2 and bax via the p53 pathway in human non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Interleukin 7/Interleukin 7 receptor (IL-7/IL-7R) signaling induces the upregulation of cyclin D1 to promote cell proliferation in lung cancer, but its role in preventing the apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines remains unknown. To study the role of IL-7 in lung cancer cell apoptosis, normal HBE cells as well as A549 and H1299 NSCLC cells were examined using flow cytometry. The results showed that the activation of IL-7R by its specific ligand, exogenous interleukin-7, was associated with a significant decline in apoptotic cells.

Suppression of the production of transforming growth factor β1, interleukin-10, and vascular endothelial growth factor in the B16F10 cells by Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides.

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are three of the commonly studied cytokines playing an important role in tumor initiation and progression. Besides their promotional effects on tumor progression, the three cytokines have immunosuppressive effects that facilitate tumor initiation and progression as well. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS) with multiple bioactivities may have the effect on B16F10 melanoma cells to induce stronger antitumor immune response that has been demonstrated.

CD154 blockade modulates the ratio of Treg to Th1 cells and prolongs the survival of allogeneic corneal grafts in mice.

Administration of anti-CD154 monoclonal antibody (mAb) may prolong the survival of an allograft; however, the associated therapeutic mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of anti-CD154 mAb on T-cell responses in a mouse model of corneal allograft transplantation. BALB/c mice were transplanted with corneal grafts from C57BL/6 mice and treated intraperitoneally with 250 μg anti-CD154 mAb or isotype IgG on days 0, 3 and 6 post surgery.

Analysis of the risk factors for influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia.

Pneumonia is the most common complication of influenza A (H1N1). However, there has been no identification of any single initial symptom as an independent risk factor. In 2009, 206 patients were diagnosed with H1N1 in the Chengde area, China and they were assembled in the Chengde Hospital for Infectious Diseases.

Effects of the polysaccharide nucleic acid fraction of bacillus Calmette-Guérin on the production of interleukin-2 and interleukin-10 in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria.

Urticaria is one of the most frequent dermatoses and its prevalence in the general population is estimated to be ~20%, whereas a substantial percentage of the cases may be classified as chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). The inflammatory response presenting with spontaneous wheals exhibits pro-inflammatory characteristics, involving a prominent role for lymphocytes with a mixed Th1/Th2 response in which interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10 are prominently secreted by Th1 and Th2 cells, respectively. In CIU patients, it was demonstrated that IL-10 production was elevated and IL-2 reduced compared to controls.

The relationship between seven common polymorphisms from five DNA repair genes and the risk for breast cancer in northern Chinese women.

Background: Converging evidence supports the central role of DNA damage in progression to breast cancer. We therefore in this study aimed to assess the potential interactions of seven common polymorphisms from five DNA repair genes (XRCC1, XRCC2, XRCC3, XPA and APEX1) in association with breast cancer among Han Chinese women.

Methodology/principal Findings: This was a case-control study involving 606 patients diagnosed with sporadic breast cancer and 633 age- and ethnicity-matched cancer-free controls.

Tim-1 blockade with RMT1-10 increases T regulatory cells and prolongs the survival of high-risk corneal allografts in mice.

Anti-Tim-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) RMT1-10 is effective in promoting allograft survival through blocking Tim-1. However, its role in corneal transplantation is unclear. This study aims to evaluate the effect of RMT1-10 on high-risk corneal transplantation.

Protection against lung cancer patient plasma-induced lymphocyte suppression by Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides.

Background/aims: This study was conducted to determine the potential of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS) in protection against lung cancer patient plasma-induced suppression of lymphocytes. Lung cancer is a major cause of disease and loss of life in the United States and worldwide. Cancer cells release immunosuppressive mediators, such as PGE2, TGF-β, IL-10, and VEGF, to inhibit the immune response to escape from immune surveillance.

Meta-analysis: prognostic value of survivin in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The expression of survivin is a promising prognostic indicator for some carcinomas. However, evidence for the prognostic value of survivin with respect to survival in hepatocellular carcinoma remains controversial.

Aim: To conduct a systematic review of studies evaluating survivin expression in hepatocellular carcinoma as a prognostic indicator.

Prognostic value of survivin in patients with gastric cancer: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Objective: The prognostic significance of survivin for the survival of patients with gastric cancer remains controversial. Thus, the objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature evaluating survivin expression in gastric cancer as a prognostic indicator.

Methods: Relevant literature was searched using PubMed, EMBASE, and Chinese biomedicine databases.

polysaccharides counteract inhibition on CD71 and FasL expression by culture supernatant of B16F10 cells upon lymphocyte activation.

Immune responses to tumor-associated antigens are often detectable in tumor-bearing hosts, but they fail to eliminate malignant cells or prevent development of metastases. Tumor cells produce factors such as interleukin-10, transforming growth factor-β1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) that suppress the function of immune cells or induce apoptosis of immune cells. Culture supernatant of tumor cells may contain these immunosuppressive factors which suppress lymphocyte activation.

[Nicotine reduces endogenous CO concentration and NOS activity in rat corpus cavernosum].

Objective: To observe the effects of nicotine on endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) concentration and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in the corpus cavernosum of adult male rats, and explore the possible mechanism of cigarette smoking affecting erectile dysfunction.

Methods: Forty adult male rats were equally divided into three treatment groups to receive subcutaneous injection of nicotine at 0.5 mg/kg pre d for 1, 2 and 3 months, and a control group to receive saline only.

[Association of QT dispersion, ST/heart rate slope and ST-segment depression in exercise test to evaluate restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention].

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of QT dispersion (QTd) and ST/heart rate slope (ST/HRs) at the end of ECG exercise test plus ST-segment depression on diagnosing restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: Between November 2001 and December 2003, 129 patients underwent PCI successfully, and they were examined 3-6 months later. At the end of treadmill exercise, QTd and ST/HRs were measured.

[The relationship between adenoids hypertrophy and secretory otitis media].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between immune status of adenoids and secretory otitis media (SOM).

Method: All the 76 cases of SOM were divided into 2 groups: recurrent group (46 cases) and control group (30 cases whose occurrence was less than 3 times). The manifestation of CD45RO, CD20, PCNA and BCL-2 in adenoids was detected with ultrasensitive (TM)S-P immunohistology.