Objective To observe the curative effect of methylprednisolone combined with entecavir in treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) related early stage liver failure.Methods One hundred and twenty-six patients with HBV related early stage liver failure were divided into treatment group (68 cases) and control group (58 cases) by random digits table method.The patients in 2 groups were given conventional hepatinica treatment and entecavir antiviral treatment,but the patients in treatment group were added methylprednisolone and pantoprazole.The alanine aminotransferase (ALT),total bilirubin (TBil),albumin,prothrombin time (PT),HBV-DNA,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,interleukin (IL)-6 levels were compared between 2 groups,and the adverse reaction of methylprednisolone was observed.Results The ALT,TBil,PT and albumin levels after the first,second,fourth,sixth and eighth week of treatment in treatment group were significantly better than those in control group,and there were statistical differences (P ＜ 0.05).There was no statistical difference in HBV-DNA between 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).The TNF-α and IL-6 levels after the first and second week of treatment in treatment group were (4.13 ± 1.25) and (1.98 ± 0.67) p g/L,(3.21 ± 0.75)and (1.23 ± 0.29) μ g/L,and in control groups were (5.89 ± 1.78) and (3.67 ± 0.87)μ g/L,(4.12 ± 0.88) and (2.68 ± 0.81) μ g/L.The TNF-α and IL-6 levels in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group,and there were statistical differences (P ＜ 0.05).The effective rate in treatment group (79.41％,54168) was significantly higher than that in control group (51.72％,30/58),the fatality rate in treatment group (2.94％,2/68) was significantly lower than that in control group (24.14％,14/58),and there were statistical differences (P ＜ 0.05).The adverse reaction of methylprednisolone in treatment group was not found.Conclusion The methylprednisolone combined with entecavir can improve liver function and survival rate in patients with HBV related early stage liver failure,and adverse reaction of methylprednisolone is rare.

In order to assess the impact of mRNA degradation on steady state levels of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) mRNA and on regulation of FSHR gene expression, the stability and half-life of FSHR mRNA were determined in transfected cells expressing recombinant FSHR. Time-dependent changes in FSHR mRNA content were determined by nuclease protection-solution hybridization assay (NPA) or by qualitative reverse transcription-competitive polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in cultured hFSHR-YI cells, cell lines stably transfected with a human FSHR cDNA. FSHR mRNA content remained constant during 8 h control incubations of hFSHR-Y1 cells (NPA, 2.9±0.3 μg/mg RNA; RT-PCR, 2.7±0.3 μg/mg RNA). Actinomycin D (ActD, 5 μg/ml) inhibited mRNA synthesis, as assessed by incorporation of ［3　H］uridine into total RNA, by 90 % within 1 h in hFSHR-Y1 cells. No effect of ActD on cellular morphology or viability was observed. ActD caused a time-dependent decrease in FSHR mRNA content in hFSHR-Y1 cell lines with a lag time of 1 h. There were no significant differences in the rate of FSHR mRNA degradation between the two methods of mRNA quantification. The half-life of hFSHR mRNA was 3.6±0.2 h by NPA and 3.1±0.1 h by RT-PCR. The results indicated that degradation of mRNA was an important process in maintenance of steady state expression of the FSHR gene in cells stably expressing recombinant receptor.

In order to assess the impact of mRNA degradation on steady state levels of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) mRNA and on regulation of FSHR gene expression, the stability and half-life of FSHR mRNA were determined in transfected cells expressing recombinant FSHR. Time-dependent changes in FSHR mRNA content were determined by nuclease protection-solution hybridization assay (NPA) or by qualitative reverse transcription-competitive polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in cultured hFSHR-YI cells, cell lines stably transfected with a human FSHR cDNA. FSHR mRNA content remained constant during 8 h control incubations of hFSHR-Y1 cells (NPA, 2.9±0.3 μg/mg RNA; RT-PCR, 2.7±0.3 μg/mg RNA). Actinomycin D (ActD, 5 μg/ml) inhibited mRNA synthesis, as assessed by incorporation of ［3　H］uridine into total RNA, by 90 % within 1 h in hFSHR-Y1 cells. No effect of ActD on cellular morphology or viability was observed. ActD caused a time-dependent decrease in FSHR mRNA content in hFSHR-Y1 cell lines with a lag time of 1 h. There were no significant differences in the rate of FSHR mRNA degradation between the two methods of mRNA quantification. The half-life of hFSHR mRNA was 3.6±0.2 h by NPA and 3.1±0.1 h by RT-PCR. The results indicated that degradation of mRNA was an important process in maintenance of steady state expression of the FSHR gene in cells stably expressing recombinant receptor.

AIM: To study the effect of propolis on the expression of CD54 and activation of NF-?B p65 in lung tissue of acute lung injury (ALI) rats. METHODS: 40 male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: normal control, model control, dectancyl group, water soluble derivative of propolis (WSP) group and ethanol extracted propolis (EEP) group. ALI animal model was performed by oleic acid and LPS twice attack. The pathologic slice was observed with light microscope and the NF-?B p65 activity and CD54 expression were tested by immunohistochemistry (SABC and SP). RESULTS: Both EEP and WSP antagonized the lung edema, decreased the inflammation and inhibited the expression of CD54 and activation of NF-?B p65. CONCLUSION: The increase in the expression of CD54 and the activation of NF-?B p65 in the lung tissues of ALI were involved in the formation of ALI. Propolis ameliorated the lung damage, which maybe related to the inhibition of CD54 expression and NF-?B p65 activation.

Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect and the possible mechanism of water and ethanol extracts of propolis. Method: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups: normal group, model group, medicine groups, two groups treated with water and ethanol extracts of propolis. The acute pleurisy model was established by injecting carrageenan. The effects of propolis on acute pleurisy was studied by counting leukocytes, measuring the content of MDA, lysozyme and activity of SOD in serum and the content of NO, protein and PGE2 in pleural effusion. Results: The propolis solutions extracted by water and ethanol presented obvious effect on inflammation. It could antagonize the purulent pleurisy, reduce the number of leukocytes and the content of MDA, lysozyme and activity of SOD in serum and the contents of NO, protein and PGE2 and decrease the inflammation. Conclusion: Propolis displays anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing the action of NO and PGE2 and preventing the activation of protein kinase.

Objective To investigate the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the serum inflammatory cytokine levels in patients with liver failure. Methods The expressions of TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA in PBMCs were detected by RT-PCR in 20 healthy controls, 20 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 18 liver failure patients in early stage and 14 in intermediate-end stage. The serum contents of endotoxin, TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by ELISA. Results Compared with the healthy controls, the expression of TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA, and the contents of endotoxin, TNF-α and IL-6 increased in CHB patients and liver failure patients ( both early stage and intermediate-end stage) ( F = 32.997, 37.476, 23. 951,57. 265 and 38. 403, P < 0.01 ). TLR2 mRNA expression in liver failure patients in intermediate-end stage was higher than that in the early stage, but that for TLR4 mRNA was lower than that in early stage. The expressions of TLR2 mRNA and TLR4 mRNA in PBMCs were significantly correlated with the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 ( r = 0. 917 and 0. 788, P < 0. 01 ). Conclusion The inflammation reaction mediated by TLR2 and TLR4 might participate in the pathogenesis of liver failure.

Summary: To explore the mechanism of epilepsy induced by IL-1β and IL-6, the changes of glutamic acid (Glu) and GABA immunoreaction in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of rats with seizure induced by IL-1β or IL-6 were studied. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (intracerebroventricular injection (icv) of NS), IL-1β group (icv injection of IL-1β) and IL-6 group (i.c.v. injection of IL-6). 120 min after the icv injection of reagents of IL-1β or IL-6, behavioral changes were observed and Glu and GABA in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were examined by means of immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that no seizure developed in the control group, while moderate seizure was observed in IL-1β group and IL-6 group. Compared with the controls, the immunoreaction of Glu was significantly increased, while GABA was obviously decreased in IL-1β group and IL-6 group after 120 min. Our study suggested that the IL-1β and IL-6 might promote and induce epilepsy by increasing Glu and decreasing GABA in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived microvesicle (MSC-MV) is a membrane secretory system which includes microparticle and exosome, and MSC-MV is released by MSC in resting or activated state. MSC-MV selectively package the biological active substances such as lipids, proteins, mRNA and miRNA but not loads them randomly. It has definitive effect of reducing tissue injury, promoting morphological and functional recovery of the injured tissue, and this effect is probably mediated by miRNA. What is more, the MSC-MV may also possess the biological function of immunological regulation, modulation of cell growth and differentiation. The generation, constitution, and function of MSC-MV are reviewed in this article.
Animals ; Cell-Derived Microparticles ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism

Objective To express VP1recombinant protein of Echovirus 30 (ECHO30) in E.coli BL21(DE3) and to develop an enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) based on the recombinant antigen for detecting antibodies to ECHO30.Methods The target VP1gene was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The PCR products of the gene were inserted into pET44a vector,and then expressed in E.coli BL21( DE3 ).The purified recombinant protein was used for the development of EIA.Results The molecular weight of the recombinant protein was 95 000,and the antigenicity of which was identified by Western blot and EIA.Conclusion The recombinant protein VP1has been successfully expressed and purified,which can be used as diagnostic antigen.

Objective To review the diagnosis and treatment of hepatic veno-occlusive disease(HVOD)induced by sedum aizoon in HBsAg positive patients. Methods Clinical data of 35 HBsAg positive cases who took sedum aizoon decoction and developed HVOD were collected, the clinical manifestation, imaging examination, histological examination of liver puncture biopsy, and the outcomes of patients were reviewed. Results Hepatomegaly, liver dysfunction, abdominal effusion and map-like density changes in liver CT scan were observed in 35 patients. Liver biopsy wag performed in 17 patients. In histopathological examination, the swelling and point-like necrosis of liver cells, expansion and congestion of sinus, endothelial swelling, wall thickening, incomplete lumen occlusion of small liver vascular were observed. Map-like density changes in liver CT scan were found in all 17 patients who were diagnosed by histological examination. Fifteen patients presented small amount of ascites within 4 weeks of onset, 13 of whom recovered or improved after treated with low-molecular weight heparin and albumin; while among the remaining 20 patients. only half of them were benefited from the same treatments. Conclusion HVOD can be diagnosed by liver CT scan instead of histological examination; treatment of patients in early stage may improve the outcome.