Asthma ; pathology ; Basophils ; physiology ; Bronchi ; pathology ; Humans ; Neutrophils ; physiology

Biomarkers ; analysis ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; Eosinophils ; immunology ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; immunology

Objective: To study the correlation between the comminution degree and astragalus polysaccharides yield in Mt. Hengshan Astragalus membranaceus (MHAM). Methods: MHAM was processed with the ultrafine treatment by mini plant mill, and grouped according to the different sizes. The yields of astragalus polysaccharides in each group were obtained under the different temperatures and ratios of material to liquid by water and CaO extraction methods. Results: When the powder size ≥ 600-mesh, the yield of astragalus polysaccharides with CaO extraction is higher than that with water extraction; When the powder size ≤ 800-mesh, the yields are almost the same by the two extraction methods. With the methods of both water and CaO extraction, the highest yields of astragalus polysaccharides (8.36% and 8.49%) were obtained at the following conditions: 800-mesh crushing granularity, 80°C extraction temperature, and 1:8 solid-liquid ratio. Conclusion: The yield of astragalus polysaccharides and the comminution degree of MHAM are related.

Objective To optimized the culture conditions of the human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells.Methods The umbilical cord blood was taken in Guangzhou Hua Qiao Hospital between Oct.2004 to Feb.2005.The isolation method,planting density,the time of the first medium changing,the influence of culture medium on the growth of MSC were analyzed. Mesenchymal stem cells were identified using the surface marker by flow cytometry.Osteoblast was identified by Von Kossa staining and alkaline phosphatase staining,adipocyte was identified by Oil Red O staining. Results When the other conditions were the same,the hespan isolation was better than Ficoll isolation;5?10~6/cm~2 was the best planting density;the best first medium changing was on the seventh day at primary culture. Under optimized conditions,the MSC expressed adhesion molecules CD_ 13 ,CD_ 29 and CD_ 44 ,but not antigens of hematopoietic CD_ 34 ,CD_ 45 ,CD_ 14 and not antigens of endothelia CD_ 106 . Exposure of these cells to osteogenic inductive agents resulted in an increase in expression of alkaline phosphatase and the appearance of hydroxyapatite nodules. Incubation with adipogenic inductive agents resulted in morphological change and staining with Oil Red O. Conclusion Mesenchymal stem cells exist in Cord blood,but slower to establish in culture.Cord blood may prove to be a new source of cells for cellular therapeutics.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch ; immunology

Objective To investigate the influence of Memantine on changes of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor 2B (NMDAR-2B) level, the expression of postsynaptic density 95 ( PSD-95) and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ (CaMK Ⅱ)activities in the hippocampus of vascular dementia(VD)rats and their recognition. Methods The VD rat model was established by permanent,bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries. One hundred and forty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, VD model group and Memantine-treated group. The water maze test was performed to detect the ability of learning and memory of the rats,the changes of NMDAR-2B level were measured by RT-PCR,the changes in the expression of PSD-95 were detected by immunohistochemical staining,and the changes in the CaMK Ⅱ activities were determined by incorporation of ~(32)P into histone. Results Compared with the sham-operated group, the ability of learning and memory of VD rats was decreased significantly(P<0. 01); the level of NMDAR-2B and the expression of PSD-95 increased significantly at the 4th week after operation(F<0. 05 or 0. 01)and decreased at the 8th to 16th week after operation (P<0. 01). Total CaMK Ⅱ activity was increased significantly at the 4th week after operation(P<0. 01) ,then dropped at the 8th week after operation(P>0. 05) ,and decreased significantly at the 12th,16th week after operation(P<0. 01). As for Memantine-treated group,at the 4th week after operation,there was no statistically significant difference in the parameters mentioned above in contrast with the sham-operated group. At the 8th,and 12th week after operation,the ability of learning and memory,the level of NMDAR-2B and the expression of PSD-95 were significantly increased as compared with VD rats(P<0. 01 or 0. 05) ,but total CaMK Ⅱ activity was similar to that of VD rats. Conclusion With the development of VD,NMDAR-2B level,the expression of PSD-95 and CaMK Ⅱ activities were firstly over-activated,and then decreased greatly. Memantine can improve VD rats' recognition by modulating the expression of NMDAR-2B,but its effect on CaMK Ⅱactivity was limited.

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between signs of living body in abdominal and pelvic cavities and syndrome typing of Chinese medicine (CM) in colorectal cancer patients.

METHODSTotally 112 colorectal cancer patients undergoing open abdominal surgery or laporoscopic surgery were syndrome typed as five types, i.e., inner-accumulation of damp and heat, blockage of stasis and toxin, Pi-Shen yang deficiency, blood-qi deficiency, Gan-Shen yin deficiency. Signs of living body in abdominal and pelvic cavities were collected. The correlation between signs of living body in abdominal and pelvic cavities and syndrome typing of CM were analyzed.

RESULTSRed colorectal canals or mass were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with inner-accumulation of damp and heat syndrome. Dark purple colorectal canals or mass were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with blockage of stasis and toxin syndrome. Reddish colorectal canals or mass were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with blood-qi deficiency syndrome. Pale colorectal canals or mass were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome. Whitish or red-white stripes were dominated in colorectal cancer patients with Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome. Dropsy colorectal canal was associated with Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome. Intracavitary effusion was often seen in colorectal cancer patients with inner-accumulation of damp and heat syndrome. The effusion was yellowish in less amount. Intracavitary adhesion was often seen in colorectal cancer patients with blockage of stasis and toxin syndrome. There was no correlation between the maximum diameter of mass or each syndrome type of CM.

CONCLUSIONThere existed correlation between signs of living body in abdominal and pelvic cavities and syndrome typing of CM, which could be taken as one of references for syndrome typing of colorectal cancer patients.

Abdominal Cavity ; pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Pelvis ; pathology ; Yang Deficiency ; diagnosis ; Yin Deficiency ; diagnosis

Deseription was given of the effect of electric acupuncture of Neiguan point on the flexion reflex potential (FRP) of the hindlimbs and the dorsal root potential (DRP). On the intact and awake rats, the graded train stimulation (three pulses, 5ms interval, 0.5ms duration) was given to the sural nerve (a pure cutancous n(?), the C-FRP and C-DRP with their proper amplitudes (70～80% maximum) were obtained on the hamstring nerve (a group of nerves innervating the hindlimb flexors) and L5 dorsal root respectively. Then the electric acupuncture with low freqency and low intensity (4Hz, 1～3V)and low freqency and high intensity ( 4Hz, 20～40V), lasting 5 minutes, was given to the ipsilateral Neiguan point. After acupuncture, the amplitudes of both C-FRP and C-DRP decreased without change of their latebcues. The former one declined heavier and recovered slower than the latter one did. The A-FRP and A-DRP were not affected. Te result of the experiment suggests that the ipsilatcral Neiguan point cletric acupuncture can induce hindlimb's analgesia, the presynaptic inhibition might be involved in the mechanism of such analgesia.

On the intact and awake rat, the flexion reflex potential (FRP)and dorsal root potential (DRP) induced by stimulation of the cutaneous nerve with graded intensity stimulations to the sural nerve (a pure cutaneous nerve) were observed, there appeared A-FRP and C-FRP one after the other on the hamstring nerve (a group of nerves innervating the hindlimb flexors), and A-DRP and C-DRP on the L_5 dorsal root at the same time. The threshold and the latencices of A-FRP and A-DRP had no differences, and had significant positive correlations. The amplitudes of A-FRP and A-DRP increased simultaneously with the increase of the stimulating intensity in certain range. The threshold and latency of C-FRP are larger than those of C-DRP. The threshold and the latency of the C-FRP and C-DRP showed significant positive correlation. The amplitudes of C-FRP and C-DRP increased simultaniously with the increase of the stimulating intensity in certain range. The train stimuli (three pulses, 5ms interval, 0. 5ms duration) induced larger FRP and DRP than those induced by single stimulus. Thus, FRP and DRP both have the property of temporal summation.

Objective To investigate the correlations between plasma levels of interleukin(IL)-17,-10,-4 and interferon(IFN)-? and their clinical implications in children with asthma.Methods Twenty-two children with asthma and twenty healthy children were enrolled in the study.Blood samples from these patients were collected at acute and convalescent stages.The plasma levels of IL-17,-10,-4 and IFN-? were detected by ELISA method.Results The plasma level of IL-17 was significantly decreased in children with asthma at the acute and convalescent stage compared with healthy controls(P