Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that can sense danger signals from damaged cells or pathogens and assemble to mediate the activation of caspase-1, which proteolytically activates the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18.Uniquely, inflammasome activation needs two steps to induce inflammation.Its activation has been studied in human and different experimental liver diseases and demonstrated to have effects on hepatocyte damage, immune cell activation and amplification of liver inflammation.In this review, inflammasome and their functions in variant liver diseases (especially ALD, NASH, ischemia-reperfusion liver injury) will be discussed in detail.These findings could help us deepen our understanding about these diseases, and provide new clues to the therapy of them in clinical practice.

With the development of laboratory medicine,more and more biomarkers have been discovered and applied in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction.For patients with suspected myocardial infarction,early diagnosis and timely treatment can save endangered myocardium and reduce fatality rate to a great extent.The proper use of biomarkers is of important value in preventing cardiovascular events and improving prognosis.This paper reviews the recent literature on new biomarkers in diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction,introduces the characteristics of these markers and their clinical diagnostic value.

Objective To describe the MRI findings in patients with Acquired hepatiocerbral Degeneration(AHCD) and evaluate the role of MRI in dignosis of AHCD. Methods 26 patients with chornic hepatic failure under went brain MRI scan. Eight of these patients had abdominal MR digital subtract angiography(MRDSA) examnation. 25 patients had plasma ammonia levels test two weeks after MR exmnation. Results 22 patients had abnormal MRI findings, T 1WI demonstrated incresed signal in the globus pallidus (22/26), putmen (4/26), mesencephalon surrounding red nucleus(15/26),and in the anterior pituitary (12/26). While T 2WI demonstraied no corresponding alteration in signal intensity. Eight patients which had MRDSA showed obvious portal systemic shunts. There was positive correlation between plasam ammonia level and abnormal signal( r = 0.521 6, P

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab combined with laser therapy in the treatment of macular edema caused by branch retinal vein occlusion ( BRVO) .
METHODS:There were 78 patients (78 eyes) who were diagnosed with macular edema caused by BRVO using fundus fluorescence angiography ( FFA ) and optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) . Group A: randomly selected 26 cases ( 26 eyes ) were given grid laser photocoagulation ( GLP) . Group B: randomly selected 26 cases (26 eyes) were given GLP first, and then received intravitreal ranibizumab 1wk later. Group C: randomly selected 26 cases ( 26 eyes ) undergone intravitreal ranibizumab first, and then given GLP 1wk later. There was no significant difference in macular edema. We analyzed the changes in the best corrected visual activity ( BCVA ) , central macular thickness ( CMT ) before and 1wk, 1,6mo after treatment.
RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, 1wk after treatment: mean value changes of BCVA and CMT were no significant difference in group A (P>0. 05);mean value changes of BCVA was improved and mean value of CMT was decreased in groups B and C, the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05);BCVA and CMT changes between groups had statistical significance ( P<0. 01 );After treatment 1, 6mo:compared with before treatment, mean BCVA was improved in three groups, mean CMT was lower, the differences were statistically significant (P<0. 01);BCVA and CMT changes between groups were statistically significant ( P<0. 05 ); compared with 1mo after treatment, mean BCVA and CMT were no significant difference (P>0.05) between groups A and B after 6mo treatment;mean BCVA improved and CMT average value was decreased in group C, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01 ); BCVA and CMT changes between groups were statistically significant (P<0. 01).
CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection ranibizumab combined laser therapy can effectively reduce BRVO induced macular edema, enhance vision acuity. Compared with GLP, combination therapy has more rapid onset of treatment, and reduce macular edema better; Intravitreal ranibizumab should be given in front of the GLP, and the treatment effect is more precise, more stability.

Based on research of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and the related public websites of acupuncture educational institutions, the first hand information was studied, summarized and sorted on the status quo of the educational qualification or the relative authentication of education programs of ACAOM as well as the status of professional qualification and examination of NCCAOM. The education curriculum of the Master degree of Acupuncture, Master degree of Oriental Medicine Science as well as the Doctor degree of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine were also introduced in this article including student enrollment and graduation in recent years. The developing tendency of the federal unified acupuncture education, management, professional qualification and examination system of U. S. A. were discussed and analyzed as well.
Acupuncture ; education ; manpower ; organization & administration ; Acupuncture Therapy ; standards ; Certification ; Humans ; United States

Objective To optimize the conditions of process for extraction of volatile oil of Rhizoma Zedoariae (RZ) in Weishu Granules and preparation of its ? - cyclodextrin- inclusion complexes. Methods Orthogonal design was adopted. Extraction content of RZ volatile oil was used as the index for the optimizing of extraction process. The amount of inclusion complexes and efficient inclusion rate served as the indexes for the optimizing of inclusion process. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry was applied to detect the content of volatile oil. Results The optimal extraction conditions were: gringding the crude RZ into coarse grains, adding 12- fold water and distilling the mixture for 6 h; the optimal inclusion conditions were: ? - cyclodextrin and volatile oil were mixed in the proportion of 8 :1, 2- fold water was added into the mixture and the mixture was triturated for 60 min. The maximum UV spectrum absorbance of aethylis acetas liquor of valatile oil located at wavelength of 253nm. Conclusion Higher extraction rate of RZ volatile oil can be achieved by this technique; volatile oil is powdered and its stability increased after being included by ? - cyclodextrin.

Total mRNA was extracted from lymphocytes separated from the peripheral blood of allergic patients, and then variable region of heavy chain (VH) and variable region of light chain (VL) cDNA library were constructed by RT-PCR. Human scFv templates for rabbit reticulocyte lysate ribosome display were assembled by primers and linker peptide (Gly4Ser)3. mRNA bound in antibody-ribosome-mRNA complexes was recovered using in-situ single primer RT-PCR, and three rounds of anti-IgE scFv DNA were enriched. The target DNA fragments were double enzyme digested and ligated into plasmid pET22b (+), followed by transformation in E. coli Rosseta (DE3). Positive clones were screened using clone PCR, Dot blotting and antigen ELISA. The correct lengths of VH (400 bp) and VL (710 bp) PCR products were obtained. The expected 1,000 bp ribosome display templates were also observed in agarose gel electrophoresis. After three rounds of ribosome display target sequences were effectively enriched, leading to a library of 10(13) members. Antibodies with the highest ELISA value for IgE were generated in the strain pET-IgE-6. A human anti-IgE scFv library was successfully constructed as described herein. Ribosome display using single primer in-situ RT-PCR as the recovery procedure effectively enriched target sequences. Anti-IgE scFv with high affinity and specificity were identified. The prepared human anti-IgE scFv fragment might be self-developed to a lead drug for treating asthma. Our study provides an alternative method for rapid discovery of human antibodies of therapeutic importance.

Objective To evaluate the difference between nodal and extra-nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in clinical-pathological feature and prognosis.Methods The clinical data of 134 cases of DLBCL patients were reviewed and analyzed.Results The DLBCL patients accounted for 52.14 ％ (134/257) of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the same period and the extra-nodal DLBCL patients accounted for 69.4 ％.The proportion of stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ disease in extra-nodal DLBCL and nodal DLBCL were 55.9 ％ (52/93) and 75.6 ％(31/41),respectively.Elevated LDH was reported in 33.3 ％ (31/93) of extra-nodal DLBCL and 58.5 ％ (24/41)of nodal DLBCL Other clinical characteristics such as B symptoms,bulky disease,elevated ESR,ECOG scores and IPI scores were not significantly different between these two groups (all P ＞ 0.05).No difference in the frequency of GCB and non-GCB subtypes was observed between extra-nodal and nodal DLBCL (P =0.623).The 3-year overall survival rates and 3-year progression free survival rates for extra-nodal and nodal DLBCL were 73.2 ％,55.2 ％ (P =0.065) and 46.3 ％,44.1％ (P =0.748).Conclusions The morbidity of extranodal DLBCL is high.Primary extra-nodal DLBCL patients present early-stage disease and normal LDH more frequently than the nodal DLBCL,while no significant difference in the frequency of pathological subtypes and 3-year OS and PFS is observed between these two groups.

BACKGROUND:Studies have shown that the finite element method could preferably simulate the biomechanical analysis for the object with complicated structures and irregular shapes. The similarities for the finite element model have great influences on the results of the analysis. However, to construct an ideal model is the most time-consuming and complicated portion for the finite element analysis. OBJECTIVE:To construct a finite element model for the maxilary first molar and the periodontal tissue, and to provide a basis of biomechanical researches of the maxilary first molar. METHODS: A volunteer with complete mandibular dentition and healthy periodontal tissue was selected in this study. Cone-beam CT was scanned. The images were saved as DICOM format. These images were imported to the medical modeling software Mimics. The surface model for the maxilary first molar and the alveolar bone was constructed. The model was then imported to GiD for pre-processing. Thus, the complete three-dimensional finite element model for the maxilary first molar and the periodontal tissue was constructed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:A finite element model for bilateral maxilary first molar, periodontal ligament and maxilary alveolar bone was constructed, including 896 035 nodes and 4 881 067 elements. This model has restored the geometric shape and the structure of the research object. This study successfuly constructed finite element models of maxilary first molar and the periodontal tissue, which can be a basis of biomechanical researches for the maxilary first molar and the periodontal tissue under the effect of different clinical orthodontic forces.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To explore the expression pattern of microRNA-205 ( miR-205) in glioma tissues and its role in the invasion of glioma cells.METHODS:The expression of miR-205 and TBX18 was detected by real-time PCR and immunohistochemical observation, respectively.Transwell assay was used to examine the invasion change of U251 glioma cells after miR-205 overexpression via miR-205 mimics or decrease in miR-205 expression by miR-205 inhibitor.The target of miR-205 was searched by bioinformatics analysis combined with experimental analysis.The protein level of TBX18 was determined by Western blotting after siRNA transfection and Transwell assay was conducted.RESULTS:miR-205 expres-sion was downregulated in 82.6%of detected glioma tissues and TBX18 was significantly overexpressed in glioma tissues compared with normal tissues.miR-205 overexpression remarkably inhibited the invasion potential of U251 glioma cells with a decrease in the invasive cells (P<0.01), while inhibition of miR-205 significantly enhanced the invasion ability of U251 cells.Mechanically, miR-205 directly targeted TBX18 and downregulation of TBX18 also significantly inhibited the invasion potential of U251 cells with a decrease in the invasive cells ( P<0.01 ) .CONCLUSION: miR-205 expression is de-creased in glioma, and miR-205 inhibits glioma cell invasion via targeting TBX18.Our research contributes to the mecha-nisms responsible for glioma invasion and provides theoretical base for developing new therapeutic strategy to treat glioma.