Clinical value of fecal calprotectin in determining disease activity of ulcerative colitis

AIM: To investigate possibility and clinical application of fecal calprotectin in determining disease activity of ulcerative colitis (UC).METHODS: The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the concentrations of calprotectin in feces obtained from 66 patients with UC and 20 controls. C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), acid glycoprotein (AGP) were also measured and were compared with calprotectin in determining disease activity of UC. The disease activity of UC was also determined by the Sutherland criteria.RESULTS: The fecal calprotectin concentration in the patients with active UC was significantly higher than that in the inactive UC and in the controls (402.16 ± 48.0 μg/g vs 35.93 ± 3.39 μg/g, 11.5 ± 3.42 μg/g, P < 0.01). The fecal calprotectin concentration in the inactive UC group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). A significant difference was also found in the patients with active UC of mild, moderate and severe degrees. The area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristics (AUCROC) was 0.975, 0.740, 0.692 and 0.737 for fecal calprotectin, CRP, ESR and AGP, respectively. There was a strong correlation between the fecal calprotectin concentration and the endoscopic gradings for UC (r = 0.866, P < 0.001).CONCLUSION: Calprotectin in the patient's feces can reflect the disease activity of UC and can be used as a rational fecal marker for intestinal inflammation in clinical practice. This kind of marker is relatively precise, simple and noninvasive when compared with other commonly-used markers such as CRP, ESR and AGP.

Interaction of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoprotein E2 with the large extracellular loop of tupaia CD81

AIM: To further analyze the interaction of tupaia CD81 with hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope protein E2. METHODS: A tupaia CD81 large extracellular loop (CD81 LEL), which binds to HCV E2 protein, was cloned and expressed as a GST-fusion protein, and interaction of HCV E2 protein with a tupaia CD81 LEL was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA). RESULTS: Although tupaia and human CD81 LEL differed in 6 amino acid changes, tupaia CD81 LEL was strongly recognized by anti-CD81 antibodies against human CD81 LEL conformation-dependent epitopes. Investigating LEL CD81-E2 interactions by EIA, we demonstrated that binding of tupaia CD81 LEL GST fusion protein to recombinant HCV E2 protein was markedly reduced compared to binding of human CD81 LEL GST fusion protein to recombinant HCV E2 protein. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the structural differences in-between the tupaia and human CD81 may alter the interaction of the large extracellular loop with HCV envelope glycoprotein E2. These findings may be important for the understanding of the mechanisms of binding and entry of HCV to PTHs.

Inhibitory effect of HuangqiZhechong decoction on liver fibrosis in rat

AIM. To assess the inhibitory effect of HuangqiZhechong decoction on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by CCl4 plus alcohol and high fat low protein diet.METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into hepati cfibrosis model group, control group and 3 treatment groups consisting of 12 rats in each group. Except for the normal control group, all the rats were subcutaneously injected with CCI4 at a dosage of 3 mL/kg. In 3 treated groups, eithe rhigh-dose group (9 mL/kg), or medium-dose group (6 mL/kg),or low-dose group (3 mL/kg) was daily garaged with Huangqi Zhechong decoction, and saline vehicle was given to model and normal control rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biochemical examinations were used to determine the changes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA),laminin (LN), type-III-procollagen-N-peptide (PIIIP), and type IV collagen content in serum, and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content in liver after sacrificing the rats. Pathologic changes,particularly fibrosis were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Van Gieson staining.RESULTS: Compared with the model control group; serum ALT, AST, HA, LN, PIIIP and type IV collagen levels dropped markedly in Huangqi Zhechong decoction groups, especially in the medium-dose Huangqi Zhechong decoction group (1 954±576 U/L vs 759±380 U/L, 2 735±786 U/L vs 1259±829 U/L, 42.74±7.04 ng/mL vs20.68±5.85 ng/mL,31.62±5.84 ng/mL vs 14.87±1.45 ng/mL, 3.26±0.69 ng/mL vs 1.47±0.46 ng/mL, 77.68±20.23 ng/mL vs 25.64±4.68 ng/mL, respectively) (P<0.05). The Hyp content in liver tissue was also markedly decreased (26.47+11.24 mg/mgprot vs 9.89±3.74 mg/mgprot) (P<0.01). Moreover, the stage ofthe rat liver fibrosis in Huangqi Zhechong decoction groups was lower than that in model group, and more dramatic drop was observed in medium-dose Huangqi Zhechong decoction group (P<O,01),CONCLUSION: Huangqi Zhechong decoction can inhibit hepatic fibrosis resulted from chronic liver injure, retard the development of cirrhosis, and notably ameliorate the liver function. It may be a safe and effective therapeutic drug for patients with fibrosis.

Helicobacter pyloriseroprevalence in patients with lung cancer

AIM: To assess Helicobacter pylori(H pylori) seroprevalence in a cohort of Greek patients with lung cancer. METHODS: Seventy-two lung cancer patients (55 males and 17 females, aged 58.2±11.7 years) and 68, age and gender-matched, control subjects were enrolled. All subjects underwent an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay IgG serologic test for H pylori diagnosis. RESULTS: A correlation between age and H pylori IgG level was detected for both lung cancer patients (r=0.42, P=0.004) and controls (r=0.44, P=0.004). Seropositivity for H pylori did not differ significantly between patients with lung cancer and controls (61.1% vs 55.9%, P>0.05). Concerning the mean serum concentration of IgG antibodies against H pylor，no significant difference between the two groups was detected (32.6±19.1 vs 27.4±18.3 U/mL,P>0.05). CONCLUSION: No significant association between H pylori infection and lung cancer was found.

DETECTION OF ANTISPERM ANTIBODIES IN INFERTILE COUPLES WITH DOT-ELISA

Dot-Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (Dot-ELISA) was employed for the detection of serum ant/sporm antibodies (AsAb). We found that in 140 cases of infertile

MEASUREMENT OF ANTISPERM ANTIBODY IN SERUM AND SEMINAL PLASMA BY ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY AFTER INJECTION OF SODIUM MORRHUATE

The antifertility effect of epididymal injection of Sodium Morrhuate ( SM ) via the vas deferens as a new contraceptive method for males is definitely positive. However, the mechanism of its action has not been well understood. Further research in this field

Measurement of serum granulocyte colonystimulating factor levels in patients with different phase of infection

Objective: To detect the serum granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) levels between the patients with frequently repeated infection (repeaters) and others (non-repeaters) in different phase of infection. Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to detect serum G-CSF levels in 50 cases (32 non-repeaters and 18 repeaters) with acute phase of infection. Serum G-CSF levels were detected in recovery phase in 10 cases. Results: Serum G-CSF levels were significantly higher (1429.97±506.43ng/L) in 32 non-repeaters with acute infection. There was a positive correlation between white blood cell count (WBC) and serum G-CSF level (r =0. 396, P <0.05). There was also a positive correlation between absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and serum G-CSF level (r=0.346,P<0,05). Serum G-CSF levels were higher (98.62 -+56.40ng/L) in 18 repeaters with acute infection, It was showed that serum G-CSF levels were significantly higher in non-repeaters than in repeaters with acute phase of infection ( P <0. 001 ). In the meanwhile, the body temperature was significantly higher in non-repeaters than in repeaters with acute infection (37.95±0.14℃ rs 36.91±0.13℃ ,P <0.001), There were no significant differences in age, WBC, ANC, type of bacterial, liver function and renal function (P > 0.05). Serum G-CSF levels in recovery phase of the two groups were below the sensitivity of the assay ( < 60 ng/L), Conlusion: It is suggested that application of recombinant G-CSF may be useful for the patients with repeated infection,

Synthesis dynamic and developmental profile of prothoracicotropic hormone between diapause-and nondiapause-destined individuals in Helicoverpa armigera

Biosynthesis and secretion of prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) of diapause-and nondiapause-destined individuals in Helicoverpa armigera were studied using whole-mount immunocytochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The immunocytochemistry revealed that PTTH is expressed in two pairs of lateral neurosecretory cells of the brain. The presence of immunoreactivity has not significant difference between the brains of the diapause-and nondiapause-destined 6th instar larvae. However,the obvious differences of expressional pattern from day 4 pupae were observed be-tween the two types. PTTH titers in hemolymph from the 6th instar larvae to pharate adults were measured by the ELISA. Although there were similar titer changes between the two types of individuals at the larval stage,a significant difference from developmental expression was detected at the pupal stage,suggesting that the expression and secretion of PTTH does play a crucial role in regulation of pupal diapause of H. armigera.