AIM: To explore the immunologic effect of extra bacillus calmette guerin (EBCG) on asthmatic patients. METHODS: 58 asthmatic patients in acute exacerbation were randomly enrolled into two groups: EBCG group (n=34) and control group (n=24). Before treatment, the levels of interleukin 4 (IL 4) and interleukin 12 (IL 12) in blood plasma were examined in both groups. The patients in EBCG group inhaled budesonide aerosol according to asthmatic ladder treatment program and injected with EBCG. Spasmolytic could be used if necessary (excluding theophylline) .The patients in control group only used budesonide aerosol and spasmolytic. The level of IL 4 and IL 12 in blood plasma were determined again after three months. RESULTS: After the drug intervention, the level of IL 4 significantly decreased in EBCG group ( 29.0 ? 5.6 vs 22.6 ? 6.5 ng?L -1 ,P 0.05 ). Before drug intervention, no significant differences were found between two groups in IL 4 and IL 12 concentrations; However, there were markedly differences after drug intervention (P

The feasibility of bone marrow stromal cells autologous transplantation for rabbit model of dilated cardiomyopathy induced by adriamycin was studied. Twenty rabbits received 2 mg/kg of adriamycin intravenously once a week for 8 weeks (total dose, 16 mg/kg) to induce the cardiomyopathy model with the monitoring of cardiac function by transthoracic echocardiography. Marrow stromal cells were isolated from cell-transplanted group rabbits and were culture-expanded on the 8th week. On the 10th week, cells were labeled with 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and then injected into the myocardium of the same rabbits. The results showed that viable cells labeled with DAPI could be identified in myocardium at 2nd week after transplantation. Histological findings showed the injury of the myocardium around the injection site was relieved with less apoptosis and more expression of bcl-2. The echocardiography found the improvement of local tissue movement from (2.12+/-0.51) cm/s to (3.81+/-0.47) cm/s (P<0.05) around the inject site, but no improvement of heart function as whole. It was concluded bone marrow stromal cells transplantation for dilated cardiomyopathy was feasibe. The management of cells in vitro, the quantity and the pattern of the cells transplantation and the action mechanism still need further research.

In the process of teaching southern Asia students in medical biochemistry,teaching mode has been actively explored.Sufficient preparation before class,applying nimble teaching style,emphasis on communication with foreign students and searching for effective review and examination system will receive the satisfactory results.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that thymosinβ4 can improve the anti-apoptotic ability of a variety of cells, but the reports describing the changes in the anti-apoptotic ability of bone mesenchymal stem cells modified with thymosinβ4 gene in the hypoxic environment are rare.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the change in the apoptotic rate of bone mesenchymal stem cells modified with thymosinβ4 gene in the hypoxic environment, and to explore whether thymosinβ4 affects the apoptosis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells via regulating the expression of Bax and Bcl-2.
METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were transfected with the recombinant lentiviral vector over-expressing the thymosinβ4 gene, and then we observed the expression of thymosinβ4 using western blot assay. cells were divided into three groups:thymosinβ4 transfection group, control virus group, and untreated group. Al three groups were placed in a hypoxic environment. The apoptotic rate of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was evaluated by the flow cytometry assay. The expression of Bax and Bcl-2 protein was detected by western blot.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Thymosinβ4 gene was expressed successful y in the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells showed by the western blot. The apoptotic rate of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the hypoxic environment was lower in the thymosinβ4 transfection group than the control virus group and untreated group;while there was no difference between the latter two groups. Western blot results showed that the expression of Bcl-2 protein was higher in the thymosinβ4 transfection group than the control virus group and untreated group, and the expression of Bax protein was lower in the thymosinβ4 transfection group than the control virus group and untreated group. No difference in the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was found between the control virus group and untreated group. These findings indicate that thymosinβ4 overexpression can improve the anti-apoptotic ability of bone mesenchymal stem cells modified in the hypoxic environment, and its possible mechanism is through regulating the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 protein.

Objective To study the expression of 2 bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) related microRNA (miR-21,miR-155) in SLE patients,and to analyze their correlation with clinical features.Methods Peripheral blood was obtained from 59 SLE patients and 25 healthy controls,and total RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed into complementary DNA (cDNA).Real-time PCR technique was used to detect gene expression at transcrptional level.Disease activity was determined by SLEDAI score.Patients were divided into different groups based on their manifestations or antibody profiles,then comparison of miRNA expression was carried out using Mann-Whitney test.Results The expression levels of miR-21 and miR-155 were increased in active SLE patients (SLEDAI≥8) as compared to those with mild disease (SLEDAI≤7) or healthy controls (both P＜0.05).Patients with positive anti-dsDNA or lupus nephritis had higher expression levels of miR-21 and miR-155 than those without (P＜0.05).Conclusion The miR-21 and miR-155 expressions are elevated in active SLE patients and are associated with anti-dsDNA and renal involvement.The results suggest that these two miRNAs might play a role in the pathogenesis of SLE disease.

Objective To investigate the expression of FcγRⅡb on peripheral B cells and its clinical significance in primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome (pSS).Methods FcγRⅡb expression on peripheral B cells from 19 pSS patients and 15 healthy controls was examined by flow cytometry.The levels of serum anti-SSA and SSB antibodies were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Data were analyzed with t test,one-way ANOVA,SNK-q test and Pearson's correlation test.Results The percentage of memory CD19+CD27+ B cell subpopulation was significantly lower in pSS patients [ (20.8±2.7)％] when compared to normal controls [(37.8±2.2)％ ](t=-4.002,P＜0.01).The level of expression of FcγRⅡb in active pSS memory CD19+CD27+ B cells [ MFI(74±8)] was significantly reduced when compared to inactive [ MFI( 132±11)] and normal controls [ MFI (139±12)] (F=10.699,P＜0.01).The level of expression of FcγRⅡb on memory CD19+CD27+ B cells from pSS patients was inversely correlated with Sj(o)gren's syndrome disease activity index (SSDAI) (r=-0.744,P=0.0003 ).pSS patients with the serum anti-SSA/SSB antibodies positive group [ MFI(75+3),(48±7)] displayed a lower expression of FcγRⅡb on memory CD19+CD27+ B cell than in patients with the serum anti-SSA/SSB antibodies negative group [MFI( 122±11),(108±9)] (t=-4.336 and -3.776 respectively,the P value of both tests were less than 0.01).The level of expression of FcγRⅡb in the memory CD19+CD27+ B cells of patients with active pSS was inversely correlated with anti-SSA antibody titers (r=-0.685,P=0.014).Conclusion The expression of FcγRⅡb on peripheral memory B cells from active pSS patients is inversely correlated with SSDAI and is also inversely associated with anti-SSA antibody levels.Decreased expression of FcγRⅡb might play an important role in the pathogenesis of pSS.

Uridine diphosphate (UDP)-GalNAc : polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransfemse (ppGalNAcT) catalyzes the initial step in mucin type O-glycosylation in the Golgi apparatus. Here generation and characterization of a polyclonal antibody to human ppGalNAcT2 were described. The subcellular location of ppGalNAeT2 in SGC7901 cell line was investigated using Western blot analysis of fractionated cell extracts and confocal microscopy with this antibody and two Golgi markers: Golgi SNARE (soluble N-ethylmalemide-sensifive factor attachment protein receptor) of 28 ku (GS28) and trans-Golgi network (TGN) 38, markers for the c/s- and trans-Golgi apparatus, respectively. Morphometric analyses indicated that ～60% of the ppGalNAcT2 signal colocalized with the GS28, while～36% of the c/s-Golgi marker colocalized with the ppGalNAeT2. Approximately 34% of the ppGalNAcT2 signal colocalized with the TGN38, whereas 38% of the trans-Golgi marker colocalized with the ppGalNAcT2. The results provide unequivocal evidence for the location ofppGalNAcT2 within the Golgi apparatus, and further highlight the importance of this organelle in the initiation of O-linked glycosylation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the number of γδT cells in the peripheral blood from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and their correlation to disease activity.MethodsγδT cells were detected in the peripheral blood from 42 SLE patients and 20 normal controls by flow cytometry.Anniex-V/Pl double-staining flow cytometry was employed to observe the proportion of the apoptotic γδ and CD3+ T cells in 6 SLE patients with active disease and 6 normal controls,respectively.The levels of plasma anti-nuclear antibody and anti-dsDNA antibody were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Data were analyzed with t test and Pearson's correlation test.ResultsThe percentages of γδT cells were remarkably down-regulated in SLE patients [(3.0±1.8)％ ] with active disease compared with that of those patients with inactive[(5.3±3.0)％] disease and normal controls [(6.8±2.8)％](t=-3.071 and -5.913 respectively,both P＜0.01 ).The absolute number of γδT cells decreased significantly in SLE patients with active disease[ ( 1.7± 1.6)× 107/L ] than those with inactive SLE [ (5.3±3.6)× 107/L ] (t=-3.292,P＜0.01 ),and both were lower than the normal controls [ (10.1±5.0)×l 07/L] (t=-7.247 and -2.905 respectively,both P＜0.01 ).There was a negative correlation between systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) andT cell counts in 30 SLE patients with active disease (r=-0.365,P=0.047).γδT cell percentage (r=-0.336,P=0.030) and counts (r=-0.410,P=0.007) were both inversely correlated with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate,but positive correlation were found between hemoglobulln and γδT cell counts (r=0.409,P=0.007).The apoptosis ofγδT cells in SLE patients was more common than in normal controls(t=2.886,P＜0.05 ).The number of apoptotic γδT cells was higher than that of CD3+ T cells in SLE patients (t=2.952,P＜0.05 ).Conclusion γδT cells of the peripheral blood of SLE patients are down-regulated partially due to excessive apoptosis,which may correlate with the disease activity.

OBJECTIVETo reveal the flowering characteristics of Panax stipuleanatus and provide theoretical basis for distant hybridization between P. stipuleanatus and P. notoginseng.

METHODDuring the blossom of P. stipuleanatus, we observed and investigated blooming phenophase, growth dynamics of inflorescence, pollination and seed setting of its population and the flowering process and its period, the regularity of flowering and pollinating of the floret. Statistic analyses were carried out.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe population florescence of P. stipuleanatus was about 60 d. The average florets quality of umbel was 44-47. The average natural pollination rates were 73.32%-95.39%. The average seed setting rates was 35.65%-51.76%. The highest growth periods of inflorescence are from March 25 to April 4. The diameter, the height and the length of its inflorescence in 10 d increased 44.65%, 42.19% and 106.25%, respectively. The whole stereotype period was the May beginning. The time that the floret from petal opening to withering it generally needed 36-48 h, 60 percent of the floret finished auther pollinating during the same day and 40 percent until the next day. The flowering and pollinating peak periods were 14:00-15:00, the flowering numbers was 28.48% of the total flowering amount and the pollinating numbers were 38.63% of the total pollinating amount. The high temperature (20-30 degrees C) and the low humidity (RH < 60%) were beneficial to flowering and pollinating.

Flowers ; growth & development ; physiology ; Inflorescence ; growth & development ; physiology ; Panax ; growth & development ; physiology ; Pollination ; Seeds ; physiology