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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins (GSP) on Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester-induced hypertension in pregnant mice. Fifty Kunming mice were randomized into control, control + GSP, model, and model + GSP. Three weeks later, the artery systolic blood pressure was examined and the related pathological changes were detected. Aorta relaxation function was assessed by aorta ring apparatus. Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were measured by an automatic biochemistry analyzer. Colorimetric analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunofluorescence, and western blot were applied to detect related indicator in serum, cardiac, and kidney tissues. The results showed that GSP treatment for 3 weeks could improve cardiovascular and kidney remodeling indexes and decrease blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine content in serum, as well as could ameliorate oxidative stress status and endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, it is for the first time found that GSP exerts protective effect against Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester-induced hypertension in pregnant mice, which provided a theoretical basis for potential application in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the role of ROG, GATA3 and T-bet in the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB)., Methods: The mRNA levels of ROG, GATA3 and T-bet in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 135 patients with CHB (including 45 mild cases, 42 moderate cases, and 48 severe cases) and 15 healthy control subjects were detected by real-time quantitative PCR., Results: The levels of T-bet mRNA in the PBMCs were significantly higher in CHB patients than in the healthy controls (P<0.05), and also differed significantly between the 3 groups of CHB patients (P<0.05). ROG mRNA levels were significantly higher in severe cases of CHB than in the healthy controls and mild and moderate CHB cases (P<0.05), but were similar among the latter 3 groups (P>0.05). The mRNA level of GATA3 in the PBMCs were significantly higher in moderate and severe CHB cases than in the healthy controls and mild CHB cases (P<0.05). The T-bet/GATA3 ratio was significantly greater in the 3 CHB groups than in the control group (P<0.05) but comparable between the 3 CHB groups (P>0.05). ROG levels were not correlated with GATA3 levels or T-bet/GATA3 ratio in the CHB cases., Conclusions: The mRNA levels of ROG, GATA3 and T-bet in the PBMCs are obviously up-regulated in CHB patients and these 3 genes may participate in the progression of CHB. ROG plays an important role in correcting and maintaining the new balance of Th1/Th2.

Aim: To investigate the influence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection [based on the status of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), HBV DNA, and cirrhosis] on superimposed acute hepatitis E., Methods: A total of 294 patients were recruited from the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, from January 2003 to January 2012. The patients were classified into two groups: an HBV + hepatitis E virus (HEV) group (a group with chronic HBV infection that was superinfected with acute hepatitis E, n = 118) and an HEV group (a group with acute hepatitis E, n = 176). We retrospectively analyzed and compared the clinical features of the two groups. Statistical analyses were performed using the χ(2) test or Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the Student's t test for continuous variables. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: The peak values of prothrombin time, serum total bilirubin, and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores were significantly higher in the HBV + HEV group. More patients in the HBV + HEV group had complications (39.8% vs 16.5%, P = 0.000) and developed liver failure (35.6% vs 8.5%, P = 0.000). Additionally, the mortality of the HBV + HEV group was significantly higher (20.3% vs 7.4%, P = 0.002). Further analysis of the HBV + HEV group showed that there were no significant differences in complication occurrence, liver failure incidence, or mortality between patients with different HBeAg and HBV DNA statuses. However, in patients with underlying cirrhosis, complication occurrence and liver failure incidence significantly increased. In total, 12.7% of the patients in the HBV + HEV group received anti-HBV treatment, but this therapy failed to reduce mortality in patients who developed liver failure., Conclusion: The presence of underlying cirrhosis in chronic HBV infection results in more severe clinical outcomes with superimposed acute hepatitis E. Anti-HBV treatment cannot improve the prognosis of liver failure caused by HBV-HEV superinfection.

Objective: To clone 1b type of HCV NS3-4b Gene and express in HEK 293 cells, lay the foundation for further study of the HCV NS3-4b recombinant adeno-associated virus vaccine and its dendritic cell vaccine., Methods: HCV 1b patients' serum was collected, and full length NS3-4b segment was amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into adeno-associated virus' expression vector pAAV. CMV. EGFP in order to express in HEK 293 cells. At last, it was validated whether express or not by Western Blot., Results: The 1b type gene NS3-4b were amplified and consistent to the expected size (2838 bp), the recombinant plasmid has been confirmed its successful restructured by double enzyme and sequencing, at last, Western Blot map can see objective protein expression after it transfect HEK 293 cells., Conclusion: The adeno-associsted virus recombination HCV NS3-4b plasmid have successfully constructed and it can express in eukaryotic cells.