Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of phosphorylated protein kinase R-like ER kinase(p-PERK) and C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP) after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage ( HIBD) . Methods Neonatal 7-day-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into sham-operation control group and HIBD group( n=30 per group) . Each group was divided into 0 h,6 h and 24 h subgroup after operation ( n=10 per group) . The ratio of apoptosis of brain cell was measured by flow cytometer and the expression of p-PERK and CHOP were detected by Western blot. Results (1)Apoptosis cell appeared at 6 h in HIBD group,the ratio of cell apoptosis was(2. 17 ± 0. 19)%. The apoptosis cell obvious increased at 24 h,the ratio of cell apoptosis was(13. 42 ± 0. 83)%. There was a significant increase in the ratio of apoptosis after HIBD 6 h and 24 h, as compared with sham-operation control group [ ( 0. 57 ± 0. 06 )%( P <0. 01 ) ] . ( 2 ) The expression of both p-PERK and CHOP was very low in sham-operation control group. In the HIBD group,the expression of both p-PERK and CHOP began to increase at 6 h and increased furthermore at HIBD 24 h. The differences in the expression levels of p-PERK and CHOP in HIBD group among different time points were significant( P<0. 01 ) . ( 3 ) The expression of p-PERK positively correlated with the expression of CHOP (r=0. 997,P< 0. 05). Conclusion With the emerging of apoptosis after HIBD,the expression of both p-PERK and CHOP increases. The imbalance in the expression of PERK induces the apoptosis of brain cells in the HIBD of neonatal rats by regulation of CHOP expression.

Steroidal saponins have a wide range of pharmacological effects and biological activities, such as anti-tumor, antifungal, hypoglycemic, immune regulation, insecticides, etc. In the last ten years, some new structures of steroidal saponins compounds were found from natural plants, they have some new and different activities. In order to accelerate the research on the drug innovation of steroidal saponins, we summarized the new progress of the research on such compounds.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Steroids ; pharmacology

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Hexanones ; urine ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To explore the perioperative management and surgical outcomes of fracture-dislocation of the upper cervical spine complicated with vertebral artery injury.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 19 patients diagnosed with fracture-dislocation of the upper cervical spine complicated with vertebral artery injury who had been treated at our department from January 2008 through December 2012.They were 14 males and 5 females,aged from 22 to 53 years (mean,35.2 years).All the patients had fractures of the atlas and/or axis,and disordered atlanto-axial relationship as well.According to Frankel grading system,8 cases were Grade D and 11 Grade E.The cervical posterior fixation with pedicle screws was adopted for all and hemostasis was conducted for those with bleeding from the broken vertebral artery.Their Frankel grade,Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were compared between preoperation and final follow-up.Results Intraoperative hemorrhage occurred in 2 patients from the injured vertebral artery.Hemostasis was achieved through direct tamponade with bone wax and gelatin sponge in one and through endovascular intervention after bleeding control by direct tamponade in another.Neither of them presented with symptoms of posterior circulation ischemia after operation.The mean operation time was 153.5 min,and the mean blood loss was 542.1 mL.All the patients were followed up for an average time of 28 months.Bony union was obtained in all after an average time of 13.5 weeks.Follow-ups revealed no ischemic stroke in this series.Symptoms of transient ischemic attack,like transient dizziness and blurred vision,appeared in 2 patients.At the final follow-up,all the patients were assessed as Frankel Grade E.Their mean JOA and VAS scores were significantly improved from 8.1 ± 1.2 and 7.0 ± 1.7 preoperatively to 12.7 ± 1.6 and 1.3 ± 1.2,respectively (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Angiography examination is routinely indicated for the patients with fracture-dislocation of the upper cervical spine perioperatively.Preoperative evaluation of the vertebral artery and its adjacent structures and effective intraoperative hemostasis can avoid uncontrollable bleeding during operation,reduce postoperative complications,and improve surgical outcomes.

A mutant strain RZ13 with high lipase productivity was obtained through treating the Rhizopus sp. RXF12 by UV and microwave,and its activity was 2.62-fold of the original one. The high lipase productivity of the mutant strain could be inherited after repetitious subcultures.The optimal culture conditions of the RZ13 for producing lipase were studied.The lipase with highest activity (67.32U/ml) was obtained on the conditions of 25℃,pH 8.0,5 %(v/v) single spore suspension (1?107spore/ml) and 120 r/min for 84h,and stable under 40℃ and pH 8.5. In addition,the lipase was immobilized by adsorption onto Mg-Al hydrotalcite at 25℃ for 4 h by screening carriers and optimizing the immobilization. The results showed that the optimal reaction temperature and pH were 35~55℃ and 7.5~9.0,respectively,much wider than the free lipase.

Objective To demonstrate the carbonic anhydrase Ⅲ (CAⅢ) for 25 000 protein decreased in skeletal muscle of myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods The protein molecular properties responsible to antibodies against 25 000 protein and CAⅢ were analyzed by a combination method of two-dimensional electrophoresis and immuno-Western blot. Competitive binding reactions of the antibodies to the purified 25 000 protein and muscular homogenate were observed by using immuno-Dot blot and immuno-Western blot, respectively. The expression of CAⅢ from normal and MG muscles was detected by immuno-Western blot. Results Combination analysis of two-dimensional electrophoresis and immuno-Western blot showed that the protein of immunological responsible to antibodies against 25 000 protein and CAⅢ had an identical molecular mass and isoelectric point. Competitive binding reactions proved that 25 000 protein and CAⅢ were the same substance, either by immuno-Dot blot or by immuno-Western blot. In addition, a much similar result was obtained when the levels of 25 000 protein from normal and MG muscles were detected by antibodies against 25 000 protein and (CAⅢ) by immuno-Western blot. Conclusion 25 000 protein decreased in the MG skeletal muscle was proved to be just a known protein CAⅢ, which made a basis for further exploring the relationship of CAⅢ deficiency and MG pathogenesis.

BACKGROUNDInterleukin 10 (IL-10) is an important cytokine with anti-inflammatory, anti-immune and anti-fibrotic functions. This study aimed at evaluating the relationship between allele polymorphisms in the IL-10 promoter region and hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODSThe odds ratios (ORs) of IL-10 allele distributions in patients with HBV or HCV infection were analyzed against healthy controls. All the relevant studies in PubMed were identified, and poor qualified studies were excluded. The meta-analysis software REVMAN 4.2 was applied for investigating heterogeneity among individual studies and summarizing all the studies. The publication bias was also evaluated.

RESULTSThis study demonstrated a significant association between the IL-10-592 A/C polymorphism and HBV infection in the Asian population under the overall effect size of allele A versus C. In our subgroup meta-analysis, we found a significant association of IL-10-592 A/C polymorphism to HCV infection susceptibility in Asian populations, although sensitivity analysis showed that the combined result was not associated with the worldwide population. Other IL-10 allele polymorphisms were not associated with HBV or HCV infection.

CONCLUSIONIL-10-592 A/C allele might be a risk factor for HBV or HCV in Asians but not in Europeans.

Alleles ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

Objective To study the interobserver variabilities and the differential diagnosis value of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System-Ultrasound (BI-RADS-US) lexicon for small ( ≤ 2 cm) breast nodules. Methods Between January 2009 and December 2011, 289 patients with small (≤2 cm) breast nodules (n=317) were included. According to sizes, the lesions were divided into two groups, i.e., 0-1 cm (n=160) group and 1-2 cm (n=157)group. Each lesion was described independently by 3 radiologists using BI-RADS-US lexicon. Interobserver variabilities were assessed by Kappa test. Chi-square test was used to compare the frequency difference of the descriptors between malignant and benign lesions. Sensitivity, speciifcity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negtive predictive value were calculated. Results (1)Moderate agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin, echo pattern, surrounding tissue and calciifcations (κ=0.44, 0.57, 0.48, 0.43, 0.51 and 0.57) in 0-1 cm group. Substantial agreements were obtained for lesion shape, orientation, margin and echo pattern (κ=0.65, 0.61, 0.64 and 0.63) in 1-2 cm group. (2)Irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo and microcalciifcations were more frequently found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 0-1 cm group [52.3% (34/65) vs 20.0% (19/95), 38.5%(25/65) vs 13.7%(13/95), 75.4%(49/65) vs 32.6%(31/95), 18.6%(12/65) vs 0 (0/95) and 10.8%(7/65) vs 2.1%(2/95);χ2=18.19, 13.08, 28.22, 16.39 and 3.95;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.047]. Similarly, irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, non-circumscribed margin, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were signiifcantly more frequent found in malignant nodules than in benign nodules in 1-2 cm group [74.2%(49/66) vs 12.1%(11/91), 36.3%(24/66) vs 5.5%(5/91), 93.9%(62/66) vs 22.0%(20/91), 37.9%(25/66) vs 3.3%(3/91), 30.3%(20/66) vs 7.7%(7/91), 15.2%(10/66) vs 0 (0/91) and 16.7%(11/66) vs 4.4%(4/91);χ2=62.59, 24.21, 79.40, 31.22, 13.73, 12.30 and 6.67;P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000 and 0.010]. (3)In both groups, a good sensitivity was demonstrated (75.4%&93.9%) when using the non-circumscribed margin as a criterion for malignancy, and high speciifcity was achieved in two groups (80.0%-100%and 87.9%-100%) when other descriptors including irregular shape, non-parallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, changes of Cooper′s ligament and microcalciifcations were used as differentiation criteria. Conclusions Good interobserver agreement can be achieved using the BI-RADS-US lexicon in the diagnosis of small breast nodules. Non-circumscribed margin are proved as the most valuable sign for screening malignant breast lesions ≤ 2 cm. High speciifcity was found for irregular shape, nonparallel orientation, echogenic halo, shadowing, Cooper′s ligament changes and microcalciifcations, which can help biopsy and preoperative diagnosis.

Objective To investigate whether elevated pre-procedural C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations may be relevant to early outcome in patients undergoing PCI.Method 100 consecutive patients undergoing pereutaneuous coronary intervention (PCI) were included in our study.Peripheral blood samples for CRP and IL-6 testing were withdrawn before PCI.Acute vascular complications resulted from PCI were determined by subsequently coronary angiography.The early coronary events during hospitalization were clinically followed.Results Thirty patients developed acute vessel occlusion,and another one developed subacute coronary thrombosis at 2 days after PCI.Increased levels of CRP correlated well with the occurrence of vascular complications as regards the significant difference existing amongⅠvsⅢandⅠvsⅣquartile groups,P

AIM:To elucidate the association between chronic kidney injury and interleukin-33 (IL-33;an alarmin)/suppression of tumorigencity 2 (ST2) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).METHODS:Serum levels of IL-33 and soluble ST2 (sST2) were assessed by ELISA in 50 SLE patients and 30 healthy controls (HC).RESULTS:The levels of IL-33 and sST2,and IL-33/sST2 ratio were significantly higher in SLE patients than those in the HC.The IL-33 and sST2 levels were positively associated with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),proteinuria and triglyceride,but negatively associated with complement C3.IL-33/sST2 ratio was positively associated with SLEDAI and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).Independent explanatory variables associated with high IL-33/sST2 included chronic kidney disease (CKD) staging and albumin (R2 =0.442),especially CKD staging.CONCLUSION:Elevated serum sST2 and IL-33 levels in SLE patients are correlated with disease activity and risk factors of kidney injury.IL-33/sST2 ratio may serve as a potential biomarker for chronic kidney injury in SLE patients.