Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammation airway disease.The imbalance of T helper cell (Th) 1/Th2 immunity plays an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma.Recent years a new T cell lineage has been recognized as Thl7 cells because they can produce cytokines interleukin-17.The new studies find that interleukin-17 is a negative regulator of asthma,and interleukin-17 or Th17 cells may represent an interesting therapeutic target in asthma.

Objective To investigate the relationship of serum levels of C-reactve protein (CRP) with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Method Thirty-six patients with DCM were recruited as DCM group and thirty healthy people as the control. Serum levels of CRP in all subjects were determined by immunoturbidimetry. Results Compared with control group, the serum levels of CRP in patients with DCM were singnificantly increased by about 3.7 folds[(6.95?1.37)mg/dL vs.(1.89?0.38) mg/dL, P

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pre-operation and/or pre-transfusion testing on patients to avoid risk of(occupational) infection exposure among medical staff and its significance in prevention of nosocomial infection.METHODS Serum hepatitis B(virus surface) antigen(HBsAg),antibody against hepatitis C virus(anti-HCV),(antibody) against human(immunodeficiency) virus(anti-HIV) and toluidine red unheatedserum test(TRUST) were performed on samples from 10 745 cases of pre-operation and/or pre-transfusion from 2003 to 2004.RESULTS The number and(percentage) of positive reaction for HBsAg,anti-HCV,anti-HIV and TRUST were 1163,(10.81%);21,0.20%;1,0.01%(confirmed by HIV Reference Laboratory,Center for Disease Prevention and(Control) of Zhejiang Province) and 74,(0.69%),respectively.TRUST positivity was further confirmed with TPHA.(Overlapping) infections were mostly observed between HBV and HCV,or,to a less scale,between HBV and syphilis.For HBV infection the(department) of digestive medicine was prevalent(?~2=4.77,P

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound-guided channel establishment in minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy(MPCNL).MethodsBetween May 2006 and December 2007,85 patients received MPCNL in our hospital.Puncture points were selected and then channels were established under the guidance of ultrasonography according to the distributions of calculi during MPCNL.ResultsUnder the guidance of ultrasonography the puncture was completed at one session in all of our 85 cases.No massive hemorrhage or other severe complications occurred.In the cases,57 cases were cured after the first operation,and 27 cases received a second surgery.One of the cases was diagnosed as having calcification of the renal papillae without kidney calculi during the operation.Residual calculi(

Objective To observe the effect and mechanism of Bush en Tiaojing Decoction (Decocti on for reinforcing the kidney and regulating the menstruation) on ovulation of p olycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) rats. Methods Eighty fe male SD rats were made PCOS models and randomized into blank group, model group, metformin group, Bushen Tiaojing Decoction high and low dose group s, with 10 ones in each and the remainders removed. The changes of serum leptin, ins ulin and testosterone in each group were observed. Results In Bushen Tiaoji ng Decoction high and low dose groups, serum leptin, insulin and testosteron e were all decreased. The effect of Bushen Tiaojing Decoction high dose group wa s similar with that of metformin group in decreasing leptin, insulin a nd testosterone. Conclusion Bushen Tiaojing Decoction c ould improve the ovulation of PCOS rats through regulating leptin, insulin , and testosterone.

BACKGROUND:It is important to produce and save a large amount of high-activity feeder cel s for the culture of human embryonic stem cel s.
OBJECTIVE:To establish the optimal method for isolation and culture of Kunming mouse embryonic fibroblasts, and to evaluate the feasibility of preparing feeder layers for culture of human embryonic stem cel s.
METHODS:Embryonic fibroblasts were isolated and cultured by different concentrations of trypsin from Kunming mouse fetuses in vitro. The biological characteristics and growth rule of mouse embryonic fibroblasts were investigated, and then the feeder layers for human embryonic stem cel s culture were produced. The growth of human embryonic stem cel s on the prepared feeder layer was tested.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The optimal fetal age for preparing Kunming mouse embryonic fibroblast feeder layer was 13.5 days. Kunming mouse embryonic fibroblasts at different concentrations grew wel with high purity and active proliferation by trypsin digestion method. There was no significant difference in the survival rate of cel s after cryopreservation for 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. The cel s were proliferative from the second to fourth passage and declined sharply after the fifth passage. Human embryonic stem cel s which grew on Kunming mouse embryonic fibroblasts feeder layers were stil to remain the typical undifferentiated morphology and were strongly positive for alkaline phosphatase and periodic acid-Schiff after long-term subculture. The
mouse embryonic fibroblasts can be used as the stable and high-quality feeder cel s for human embryonic stem cel s.

Objective To collect the information about the types and clinically-used materials for fixed partial dentures, and evaluate the current conditions and characteristics of fixed partial dentures in Shanghai. Methods Three municipal public hospitals and two private commercial dental labs in Shanghai were served as sample units. The data of fixed partial dentures from January 2005 to December 2007 were retrospectively analysed. The number, type and material of dentures of each year were observed, and the proportion of different types and materials of dentures were analysed. Results From 2005 to 2007, the total number of fixed partial dentures gradually increased year by year, and porcelain fused metal crowns accounted for the largest proportion. The application of noble crown in public hospitals increased annually, and the increase rates were 13.85% in 2005 to 2006 and 30.86% in 2006 to 2007, respectively, while the application of casting basic metal full crown decreased annually. Computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) fixed partial dentures (CAD/CAM crown) and implant dentures occupied a tiny percentage of total fixed partial dentures in public hospitals and privated dental labs, while both had a remarkable increase trend in number between 2005 and 2007 (227.78% and 53.01%, respectively for 2005 to 2006, and 120.34% and 27.41%, respectively for 2006 to 2007). Conclusion Fixed partial dentures are the most common prostheses for tooth defect, and are characterized by the growing application of advanced techniques and high-quality materials.

Objective To evaluate the capability of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry ( MALDI-TOF MS) for rapid identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylo-coccus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains.Methods Twenty-five MRSA and thirty MSSA isolates were collected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine as the experiment group .Twelve MRSA and twenty-two MSSA clinical strains were isola-ted as the control .All strains were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and the results were further analyzed by ClinProTools 3.0 software.Results Four algorithms including support vector machine (SVM), genetic al-gorithm ( GA) , supervised neural network ( SNN) and quick classifier ( QC) showed similar results in dis-tinguishing MRSA from MSSA isolates .The sensitivity of GA was 100 .0%and the sensitivities of other algo-rithms were all greater than 95.0%.The specificities of GA, SVM and QC were all greater than 90.0%. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) curves of four characteristic peaks at mass-to-charge ratios (m/z) of 3279, 6485, 6555 and 3299 m/z were all greater than 0.9.The virtual gel view showed that the bands generated by MSSA isolates at 3279 , 6485 and 6555 m/z were obviously deeper in color than those generated by MRSA isolates .However , the bands of MSSA isolates at 3299 m/z were appar-ently lighter in color than those of MRSA isolates .83.3%of MRSA and 90.0%of MSSA isolates from the control group were correctly identified by the GA model .Conclusion MALDI-TOF MS could rapidly and accurately identify MRSA from MSSA isolates under the strictly controlled experimental conditions with the advantages of less time-consuming, high sensitivity and high specificity .The accurate identification of MRSA from MSSA isolates could be applied for the prevention and treatment of MRSA infection .

Objective To investigate the effect of hypertension on the large artery elasticity index (C1),the small artery elasticity index (C2) and the medial structure of the ascending aorta as well as the relationship between artery elasticity and the medial structure of the ascending aorta.Methods Sixty patients with CHD receiving coronary artery bypass graft surgery at our hospital were divided into two groups:30 patients in the hypertension group and 30 patients in the non-hypertension group.C1 and C2 were measured using the CVProfilor DO-2020 system.Sections of tissues taken from the anterior wall of the ascending aorta during the surgery were subjected to Masson's trichrome staining for the detection of vascular smooth muscle and collagen fibers and Weigert's resorcin-fuchsin staining for the detection of elastic fibers.The relative areas of vascular smooth muscle fibers,collagen fibers and elastic fibers of the ascending aorta were measured by a computer image analysis system under the light microscope.The linear correlations of C1 and C2 with the medial structure of the ascending aorta were analyzed.Results C1 in the non hypertension group was higher than that in thehypertensiongroup[11.9±1.8 (ml/mmHg×10) w 13.1±2.5 (ml/mmHg×10),t 2.22,P ＜0.05].In the media of the ascending aorta,the relative content of collagen fibers was higher,while the relative content of elastic fibers was lower in the hypertension group than in the non-hypertension group [(46.0±3.8)％ w (42.2±3.0)％,(17.5±3.5)％ vs.(19.3 2.7)％,respectively,t=4.24 and 2.20,P＜0.01 or 0.05].C1 was positively correlated with the relative content of elastic fibers but negatively correlated with the relative content of collagen fibers in both groups (r=0.52 and 0.39,respectively,P＜0.05 or 0.01).Conclusions The main pathogenic basis of hypertension-induced decline in arterial elasticity in CHD patients is increased collagen fibers and reduced elastic fibers with disorganization of the two types of components.C1 may accurately reflect the effect of hypertension on medial collagen fibers and elastic fibers in the ascending aorta.

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in elderly patients.Methods 103 consecutive patients with STEMI treated by primary PCI were divided into two groups according to the age:the elderly group [aged≥65 years,with a mean age of (75.7 ±6.2) years(n =49],the non-elderly group [aged＜65 years,with a mean age of (43.0±8.6) years(n =54].Clinical characteristics,complications related to PCI procedure and success rate were analyzed,and major cardiovascular events (MACE) were followed up for(5.7 ± 1.2) months.Results The proportion of female,patients with Killip ≥ Ⅲ,three vessels disease and higher level of serum brain natriuretic peptide were higher in elderly group than in non-elderly group (all P＜0.05).No significant difference was observed between the two groups in success rate and complications of PCI procedure (both P＞0.05).Patients were followed up for (5.7± 1.2) months.The in-hospital and one-month mortalities were higher in elderly group than in non-elderly group [8.2％ (4 cases)vs.0％ (0 case),10.2％(5 cases) vs.0 ％ (0 case),respectively,all P＜0.05].There was no significant difference in six-month mortality and MACE between the two groups.Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Killip ≥ Ⅲ was related with the increase of one-month mortality in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI,whereas age was not.Conclusions Primary PCI is effective and safe in elderly patients with STEMI.