ObjectiveTo determine the protein and mRNA expression levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17) and proportions of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD),and to analyze their clinical significance.MethodsVenous blood samples were obtained from 63 patients with AD and 30 normal human controls.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure the plasma level of IL-17 protein,real time fluorescence reverse transcription (RT)-PCR to detect the mRNA expression level of IL-17 in peripheral blood,flow cytometry to determine the percentage of Th17 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs).Spearman's rank correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship of peripheral blood Th17 cell percentage and IL-17 levels with disease severity in patients with AD.Results The percentage of Th17 cells in PBMCs was 1.83％ ± 0.47％ in patients with acute AD,significantly higher than that in normal human controls (0.85％ ± 0.45％,t =4.128,P ＜ 0.01 ) and in patients with chronic AD ( 1.12％ ± 0.69％,t =2.439,P ＜ 0.05).There was a significant increase in the plasma level (98.37 vs.63.75 ng/L,U =168,P ＜ 0.05) and mRNA expression level of IL-17 in peripheral blood in patients with AD compared with normal controls.Both the Th17 cell percentage and plasma IL-17 level were positively correlated with eczema area and severity index(EASI) score in patients with AD (r =0.681,P ＜ 0.01;r =0.427,P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionsThere is an elevated proportion of Th17 cells and an abnormal expression of IL-17 protein and mRNA in peripheral blood from patients with acute AD,which are positively correlated with disease severity,implicating the possible roles of IL-17 and Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of AD.

Objective To study the expression of Fibulin-5 in gastric cancer and its correlation with the prognosis of gastric cancer.Methods Tissue chips from 90 gastric cancer cases were used to study the expression of Fibulin-5 protein in cancer tissue and para-carcinoma tissue by immunohistochemistry,and analyze the correlation of Fibulin-5 expression and clinical pathological characteristics.Results The expression of Fibulin-5 in gastric cancer tissue was higher than that of para-carcinoma tissue [cytoplasm:(6.2±4.2) vs.(5.1 ±3.7);nucleus:(7.2 ±3.8) vs.(4.9 ±2.5),all P＜0.05],which was positively related with patient's age (r =0.213,P =0.044) in the cytoplasm of cancerous tissue.The expression of Fibulin-5 in the cytoplasm of cancerous tissue was negatively related with patient's overall survival (25％ vs.56％,P =0.027),which was an independent predictor (P =0.037).Conclusion Fibulin-5 is an independent prognostic factor of gastric cancer,its expression might be related with shortend patient's survival time.

Objective To determine the influence of gender on the association between serum uric acid and branchial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).Methods Cross-sectional data from 1418 adults who underwent routine laboratory tests and baPWV measurements were analyzed in a gender-specific manner.BaPWV≥ 1400 cm/s was defined as abnormality.The individuals were assigned to four groups (Q1,Q2,Q3 and Q4) according to the gender-specific quartiles of serum uric acid.The relationship between serum uric acid and the baPWV values was assessed by Spearman's correlation coefficients.In female,the relationship of serum uric acid quartiles with baPWV was evaluated by logistic regression analysis.Results In male and female,diastolic blood pressure,fasting blood glucose,triglyceride and body mass index were increased with serum uric acid level,in contrast to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.The Spearman's correlation coefficient for the relationship between serum uric acid and baPWV was 0.18 in female and-0.05 in male (P =0.16).In female,univariate logistic regression analysis showed that in comparison with group Q1,odds ratio (OR) value of baPWV abnormality of group Q4 was 2.45 (95％confidence interval (CI) 1.48 to 4.06).In multivariate logistic regression,after adjusting for creatine and estimated glomerular filtration rate,OR value of baPWV abnormality of group Q4 was 2.45 (95％ CI 1.48 to 4.06) when compared with group Q1.However,after adjustment for age and other risk factors of cardiovascular diseases,there were no significant differents in ORs among serum uric acid quartile groups.Conclusions The association between serum uric acid level and baPWV in female may depend on age and metabolic syndrome components.

Objective To investigate the effect of raloxifene on ERα, ERβ and MT-1a expression in renal tubular epithelial cells contaminated with cadmium chloride,for exploring the protective effect and action mechanism of raloxifene in renal injury induced by cadmium. Methods Renal tubule cells were isolated from kidneys of new born SD rats and purified by Percoll. The cells of the second generation were selected for experiment. The cells were divided into 3 groups:blank control group,cadmium chloride group and raloxifene group. After 4 h,cell viability was detected by MTT,and after 24 h,mRNA and protein expression levels of ERα, ERβ and MT-1a in renal tissues were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry technology,respectively. Results Compared with the blank control group,morphology of plenty cells were changed in cadmium chloride group,a number of cells were dead,and the survival rate was only 55.3%;at the same time,mRNA and protein expression levels of ERβ and MT-1a significantly increased (P<0.05). Compared with cadmium chloride group,only a small part of cells underwent morphological changes,and the survival rate was 88.6% in raloxifene group,and the mRNA and protein expression levels of ERβand MT-1a were significantly decreased ( P<0.05) . The expression of ERαshowed no significant difference among the three groups ( P>0.05) . Conclusion Raloxifene can bond with ERβcompetively,down-regulate MT-1a and decrease Cd-MT synthesis,so as to reduce cadmium-induced damage of renal tubular epithelial cells.

0.05)],which less than in control group [(4.614?1.683) IU/cm,(0.119?0.068) IU/cm,(564.2?53.8) ?m Pa

OBJECTIVETo investigate biological transport of minocycline by human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPDLF). To verify the hypothesis of delivering medicine to periodontium and the whole body through the root canal.

METHODSHPDLF and MC3T3-E1 cells were incubated in minocycline solutions. The intracellular antibiotics contents were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the cell total protein was measured by Bradford protein assay.

RESULTSHPLC was an accurate, sensitive method for measurement of the intracellular minocycline. The incubation time and cell property had significant effect on the intracellular minocycline contents (P< 0.01). The intracellular contents increased with extracellular concentration.

CONCLUSIONMinocycline can be transported by HPDLF. The transport is concentration-dependent, time-dependent and cell specific.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biological Transport ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Minocycline ; Periodontal Ligament

Objective To investigate biological transport of tetracycline hydrochloride by human periodontal ligament fibmblasts(HPDLF) for verifying the hypothesis of delivering medicine to the periodonfium and whole bodv through the root canal.Methods HPDLF and MC3,13-E1 cells were ineubated in antibiotics solutions. The intracellulaF antibiotics contents were measured by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) and the cell total protein was measured by bradford protein assay.Results The intracellular contents increased with ineubation time. The extracellular medicine concentration had effect on the intracellular contents. Conclusions Tetracycline hydrochloride can be transported into HPDLF with incubation and this transport is time-dependent and concentration-dependent.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cell viabilities of vascular smooth muscle cells and vascular endothelial cells stimulated by cigarette smoke extract(CSE) .

METHODSThe CSE was prepared by smoke-bubbled phosphate buffered saline(PBS) generation.After culturing cells with different concentrations of CSE, we used the cell counting kit-8 to determine the cell viability.The expression levels of c-jun and cyclinD1 were analyzed through Western blot.The c-jun plasmid was transfected to detect the change of cyclinD1 expression.

RESULTSThe smooth muscle cell viability increased when the CSE concentration ranged 0.625%-10%, whereas the endothelial cells viability decreased when exposed to the CSE concentration. After exposure to CSE for 48 hours, there was no difference in c-jun expression between toxin group and PBS group;however, the expression of p-c-jun in the smooth muscle cells significantly increased in the toxin groups than in the PBS group(P<0.05) and the expression of p-c-jun in the vascular endothelial cells significantly decreased(P<0.05) . The level of cyclinD1 significantly increased after exposed to CSE, and its expression level also increased in respond to the c-jun overexpression.

CONCLUSIONCSE can enhance the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and decrease in the activity of endothelial cells proliferation, which may be explained by the phosphorylation of c-jun and the expression of cyclinD1.

Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; Tobacco ; adverse effects

A sensitive high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) method was established for the determination of eplerenone (EP) in human plasma. The plasma samples of EP were extracted with ethyl acetate and separated by HPLC on a reversed phase C18 column with a mobile phase of 10 mmol x L(-1) ammonium acetate water solution-methanol (30 : 70, v/v). EP was determined with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 2-4 000 ng x mL(-1) for EP. The lower limit of quantification was 2 ng x mL(-1). The method has been successfully applied in the pharmacokinetic study of the EP tablets. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of EP after oral administration of 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg were as follows, t1/2: (4.9 +/- 2.1), (4.7 +/- 1.5), (5.9 +/- 1.2) h; AUC(0-infinity): (4 402 +/- 1 735), (8 150 +/- 2 509), (13 783 +/- 4 102) microg x h x L(-1); and MRT: (6.2 +/- 2.1), (6.6 +/- 1.3), and (7.2 +/- 1.6) h. Parameters of EP after oral administration of multiple doses of 50 mg were as follows, t1/2: (6.1 +/- 1.7) h; AUC(ss): (10 071 +/- 4220) microg x h x L(-1); MRT: (8.1 +/- 2.3) h; and DF: (3.2 +/- 1.0).
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Humans ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods ; Spironolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo report our clinical experience of using Onyx, a new liquid embolic agent, to treat cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) as well as its efficacy.

METHODSSeventy cases were placed with 6F sheath in the femoral artery after Seldinger puncture and 6F guiding catheter was introduced into the internal carotid artery or vertebral artery, then a microcatheter was navigated into the nidus of AVMs. Slow injection of Onyx under fluoroscopic control was performed to embolize cerebral AVMs using the "plug and push" technique.

RESULTSThirteen AVM cases (18.6%) were totally occluded by Onyx and 5 cases of which didn't recurrence at 6-month after operation. Thirty-eight cases (54.3%) were subtotally occluded, while another 19 cases (27.1%) were partially embolized. Severe cerebral hemorrhage occurred in 4 cases, 2 of which had mild to severe hemiplegia after operation, and one died. Mild hemiplegia was also found in 1 case due to functional area embolization, and visual field deficit in 2 cases.

CONCLUSIONSOnyx has unique and distinctive superiority in treating cerebral AVMs. Nonetheless, the correct embolization technique should be learned to achieve good clinical results and avoid complications.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; administration & dosage ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyvinyls ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome