Objective To investigate the relationship between the plasma inflammatory cytokines and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease(ICVD).Methods The levels of plasma interleukin (IL)-6,matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) in 64 patients with ICVD were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),the severity of bilateral carotid atherosclerosis was measured by colour ultrasound.The results were compared with those of non ICVD controls. The association of the levels of plasma IL-6,MMP-8,sCD40L and the severity of carotid atherosclerosis were analysized. Results The levels of plasma IL-6,MMP-8,and sCD40L in patients with ICVD were significantly higher than those in control group(all P

Objective To investigate the expression of nuclear factor-κB in alveolar macrophages of paraquat-induced rats and the effect of diallyl sulfide on it.Methods Forty five male wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups,namely control group,model group,and DAS treatment group (n =15 in each).The model of paraquat poisoning was reproduced by single does of 70 mg/kg given by intra-gastric administration,while the equal volume of normal saline (NS) was given to the rats in control group instead.The dose of 100 mg/kg of DAS was given to rats by intra-peritoneal injection in DAS treatment group.The equal volume of NS was given to the rats by intra-peritoneal injection in model group and control group instead.The rats of model group and DSA treatment group were exposed to paraquat once a day for 14 days.Five rats in each group were sacrificed at 3,7,14 days.Alveolar maerophages were harvested by bronchalveolar lavage (BAL).The protein content of BAL fluid were examined.The exprossion of NF-κB was measured with immunocytochemistry technique.Results Alveolar macrophage cultures were carried out by using differential adherence of isolated and purified alveolar macrophages,and after 30 minutes culture,more adherent macrophages can be seen.Compared with model group,the protein content of BAL fluid at dfferent intervals in the control group were obviously lower,especially on the 3 rd day (261.6 ± 17.16) μg/mL vs.(673.4 ± 151.9) μg/mL;7 d (265.6 ± 18.37) μg/mL vs.(581.3 ± 134.58) μg/mL;14 d (253.8 ± 11.43) μg/mL vs.(589.07 ± 33.85) μg/mL,P ＜ 0.05.Comparisons of protein content in BLA fluid between PQ group and DAS treatment group were on the 3 rd day (673.4 ± 151.9) μg/mL vs.(342.9 ±39.03) μg/mL;on the 7 th day (581.3 ± 134.58) μg/mL vs.(383.7 ±7.37) μg/mL,P＜0.05;on the 14 th day (589.07±33.85) μg/mL vs.(282.9±15.59) μg/mL,P＜0.05.The immunocytochemistry analysis revealed minimal NF-κBp65 expression in the cell cytoplasm in the control group,while high NF-κBp65 expression was found in nuclear in the model group.Minimal NF-κBp65 expression was found in the cell cytoplasm in the DAS treatment group,and integral A value was significantly lower in the DAS treatment groups than that in the model group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Treatment with an intra-peritoneal injection of DAS is capable of attenuating the extent of PQ-induced ALI in rats by lowering BLA fluid protein content,inhibiting the expression of NF-κB in alveolar maerophages.

Anti-Infective Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Dental Plaque ; therapy ; Humans ; Periodontal Diseases ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of peripheral blood CD4+ T lymphocyte apoptosis gene in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with cold dampness type (CDT), and to explore its correlation with clinical indicators of RA.

METHODSSixteen RA patients with CDT (as the RA group) and 16 healthy subjects (as the normal control group) were recruited. CD4 T cell apoptosis rate was detected in the RA group and the normal control group using FCM. mRNA expressions of fas, fasL, caspase-3, caspase-8, bcl-2, and bax were detected using RT-PCR. Correlations between the expression of apoptosis gene and clinical activity indicators of RA (ESR, CRP, RF, CCP, integrals for Chinese medial symptoms, morning stiffness time, joint tenderness number, joint swelling number, DAS28-3) were analyzed.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rate of CD4+ T was significantly lower in the RA group than in the control group [(2. 6 +/- 0.9) % vs. (7.7 +/- 1.3) %, P < 0.01]. mRNA expression levels of fas, fasL, caspase-8, caspase-3, and bax mRNA of CD4+ T significantly decreased, but bcl-2 mRNA expression increased in the RA group (P < 0.01). The apoptosis rate of CD4+ T was negatively correlated with ESR (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of caspase-8 was negatively correlated with joint swelling number (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of bcl-2 was negatively correlated with integrals for Chinese medial-symptoms and joint function classification (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONApoptosis obstacle exists in peripheral blood CD4 +T lymphocyte of RA patients, and is closely related to disease activity.

Apoptosis ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Fas Ligand Protein ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger

Objective To investigate whether 5, 7-dihydrox-8-nitrochrysin (NOC) induces apoptosis in U937 monocytic leukae-mia cells is involved in the regulation of the activity of PKD 2.Methods U937 cell line cells were cultured in vitro .Apoptosis rate was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) using propidium iodide (PI) staining.DNA ladder bands were observed by DNA agarose gel electro-phoresis.The phosphorylated protein expression of PKD 2 was analyzed using Western blot .Results NOC (2.5, 5.0, and 10.0μmol/L) increased apoptosis rate in U937 cells in a concentration-dependent manner ( P <0.05).After treatment with NOC (5.0 and 10.0μmol/L) for 24 h, U937 cells presented typical DNA ladder bands .At the same time, not only did NOC effectively down-regulate the ex-pression of PDK2 phosphorylated protein , but also increased apoptosis rate in U 937 cells in the presence of G?6976, a specific inhibitor of PKD2.Conclusions The effect that NOC induces apoptosis in U 937 cells is related to the inhibition of the activity of PKD 2.

Objective To study the inlfuence factors on detection of activity of four coagulation factors in prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) by several factors. Methods Using Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (2010) as reference, the activity of four coagulation factors in PCC were investigated by choosing different pre-treatments, different diluents, different salt concentration, different standard human plasma and different company reagents. Results The activity of FII, FVII, FX were decreased and FIX was increased in the condition of adding protamine sulfate, and there were no differences of four coagulation factors whether warm bath in 37 for 15 min or not. However, the differences of four coagulation factors were significant by using deficient plasma, saline, distilled water and commercial dilution buffer(P<0.05). The activity of coagulation factor II, X in 1 mol/L salt concentration of PCC were significantly lower than in 0.25 mol/L(P<0.05), while coagulation factor VII, IX were not. The activity of FII, FVII, FIX, and FX were different by using different standard human plasma to make standard curve. The activity of four coagulation factors existed significant difference(P=0.00) by using SIEMENS company reagents and domestic reagents. Conclusion Choosing different pre-treatments, different dilution buffers, salt concentration, standard human plasma and commercial kits will inlfuence the detection result of coagulation factors.

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a significant threat on health in elderly people.Many traditional Chinese herbs and their prescriptions show fairly good effect in treatment of AD.We review the results on treatment of AD from three aspects of AD' s pathogenesis, in which the natural herbs were mainly used, and present the way to the problem to be solved.

Objective To investigate the oxidative damage of lead acetate and sodium arsenite to human immortalized keratinocytes line HaCaT and the protective effects of TFBP extracted from the leaves of broussoneria papyifera. Methods Cultured immotlalized keratinocytes line HaCaT were treated by 0.1 mmol/L lead acetate and 5.0 ?mol/L sodium arsenite respectively,and 0～200 mg/L TFBP were added to the culture media at the same time. The contents of malondialdehyde(MDA?雪,the activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)in the cultured HaCaT cells were determined. The protective effects of TFBP at different concentrations were evaluated. Results 0.1 mmol/L lead acetate caused oxidative damage to HaCaT cells markedly. When the concentrations were increased to more than 100 mg/L,TFBP had certain protective effects from the damage induced by lead acetate with the decrease of the MDA levels from 4.23 ?mol/L to 1.87 ?mol/L and the increase of the SOD levels from 25.90 U/mg Pro to 37.12 U/mg Pro,while the activities of GSH-Px showed no significant change. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were increased in the cultured cells treated by sodium arsenite with 150 mg/L and 200 mg/L TFBP. Conclusion Lead acetate and sodium arsenite could cause significant oxidative damage to HaCaT cells and TFBP had certain protective effects on the cells from the oxidative damage induced by lead acetate and sodium arsenite under the conditions of this study.

Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM - 1) is a member of immunoglobulin superfamily. The principal ligand for VCAM - 1 is integrin ?4|?1/VLA - 4(very late antigen 4). In recent years, VCAM - 1 was found to be expressed on macrophages and dendritic cells, but little is known about its identity on these professional antigen presenting cells (APC). In the present study we analyzed VCAM - 1 expression on macrophages by fluorescence - activated cell sorting (FACS) and found that VCAM- 1 was constitutively expressed on macrophages and its expression level was up-regulated by soluble tumor associated antigen (TAA: freeze - thaw lysates of FBL - 3 tumor cells) and TNF - a. In macrophages and allogenic T cells mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assays, we observed that blocking VCAM - 1/VLA - 4 interaction with anti - VCAM - 1 or anti - VLA - 4 mAbs caused significant inhibition of the proliferative response and inhibition of IL - 2 production. These findings suggest that VCAM - 1 on macrophages not only allows for increased cell-to-cell contact through adhesive interaction but also plays a role in the costimulation of T cells via its interaction with VLA-4.

In the present study, the expression of MHC class I molecule and ICAM - 1 on the surface of B16 melanoma cells were observed, and their roles in the induction of CTL were investigated. The results showed that both MHC class I and ICAM - 1 expression increased after IL-2, IL-4, or IL-6 gene transfection. The splenocyte CTL activity was enhanced significantly after in vivo immunization with cytokine gene - transfected B16 melanoma cells. The CTL induction was partly inhibited by anti-ICAM-1 mAb and was completely abolished by anti-MHC class I mAb. These results suggested the increased immunogenicity of IL-2,IL-4 or IL-6 gene-transfected B16 melanoma cells may be related to the upregula-tion of ICAM-1 or MHC class I molecules after cytokine gene transfection.