Inflammasome, which is a large multiprotein complex in the cytosol regulating IL-1β production, plays an important role in atherosclerosis ( AS ) . To date, NLRP3 ( nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3) inflammasome is the most widely studied type of inflammasome. This article aims to review the effects of NLRP3 inflammasome on AS-related cells ( endothelial cells, macrophages and vascular smooth mus-cle cells) to further explore the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the progression of AS.

0.05) in tail flick test.MPE% in group MK was always higher than group M and descended more slowly than group M,especially from the d4 to d8(P0.05). Conclusion Ketamine could block the development of morphine tolerance partly due to its inhibition effect on pCREB protein.

Oxidative stress induces apoptosis of many cells and arrest of their differentiation.Both Danshensu(DSS)and hydrogen sulfide(H2S)produce significant antioxidant effect in various systems. In this study,we synthesized SDSS,a new H2S-releasing compound derived from DSS,and studied its antioxidant effect in an H2O2-induced MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cell injury model. We first characterized the H2S releasing property of SDSS in both in vivo and in vitro models. HPLC chromatogram showed that intravenous injection of SDSS in adult rats released ADT-OH,a well proved H2S sustained-release moiety, within several minutes in the rat plasma. Using an H2S selective fluorescent probe, we further confirmed that SDSS released H2S in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells. Biological studies revealed that SDSS had no significant toxic effect but produced protective effects against H2O2-induced MC3T3-E1cell apoptosis. SDSS also reversed the arrest of cell differentiation caused by H2O2treatment. This was caused by the stimulatory effect of SDSS on bone sialo protein,runt-related transcription factor-2, collagen expression, alkaline phosphatase activity, and bone nodule formation. Further studies revealed that SDSS reversed the reduced superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content,and the increased ROS production in H2O2treated cells. In addition, SDSS significantly attenuated H2O2-induced activation of p38-, ERK1/2-, and JNK-MAPKs. SDSS also stimulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway.Blockade of this pathway attenuated the cytoprotective effect of SDSS.We also observed the effect of SDSS on aspirin-induced gastric injury and found that SDSS protected against aspirin-induced gastric damage. In conclusion, SDSS protects cells against H2O2-induced apoptosis by suppressing oxidative stress.

Objective: To prepare a simple, practical fiberoptic bronchoscope (FB) training simulator, and to evaluate its training efficacy. Methods: A box apparatus was designed for basic and advanced FB training; the box consisted of five boards with holes in it. The holes were aligned according to the entries of bronchus to pass the FB. Assistant materials could be placed in the box to simulate foreign bodies due to diseases, which was aimed to help the training of sophisticated skills including tracheal tube intubation, biopsy, brushing and bronchoalveolar lavage. To testify the training efficacy, forty volunteer residents who had never manipulated a FB were randomly assigned into two groups: one group was trained using the prepared training box (Group TB, n = 20) and the other group was trained using video-based technique (Group C, n = 20). The trainees of the two groups received an intubation examination using an advanced patient simulator, and the periods of intubation was compared between the two groups. Results: Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope could smoothly pass through the holes in the box; the photos of the holes under bronchoscopy well simulated the normal images. All residents completed the training and examination. The mean duration of intubation was (55. 7 ± 10. 2) s in Group TB and (69. 3 ± 8. 9) s in Group C (P<0. 001). Conclusion: The present training box is simple and practical, and it can be used for advanced training of FB, with obvious training efficacy.

Objective: To screen for an optimized siRNA sequence targeting rat Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in vitro. Methods: The full length gene of rat TLR4 was cloned and inserted into pEGFP-C1 plasmid to construct pEGFP-rTLR4. Three pairs of siRNAs targeting rTLR4 were chemically synthesized and were co-transfected with pEGFP-rTLR4 into HEK-293 cells via Lipofectamine2000. Cells were also co-transfected with siRNA targeting EGFP and negative control siRNA. The expression of EGFP was observed under inverted fluorescene microscope and flow cytometry. Results: Compared with the negative control group, 3 pairs of siRNAs targeting TLR4 and one pair of siRNA targeting EGFP significantly suppressed the EGFP expression (P<0.05); the inhibitory effect of siRNA2 (gene sequence: 5′-GTC TCA GAT ATC TAG ATC T-3′, 19 bp, 1 352-1 370) was the strongest one, with an interference efficiency over 75%. Conclusion: We have successfully obtained the siRNA sequence targeting TLR4 mRNA, which can efficiently suppress the expression of rat TLR4 mRNA in vitro.

Aim To analyze the expression of phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein(PEBP) and ERK in critical brain regions of psychological dependence rats.Methods Morphine-induced rats conditioned place preference(CPP) model was established to mimic different stages of morphine psychological dependence, during which PEBP expression and ERK activity were assayed in different brain regions.Results PEBP expression in hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, striatum and nucleus accumbens showed no change at three stages of psychological dependence.However, ERK activity increased notably in prefrontal cortex on CPP formation, and decreased remarkably in hippocampus on CPP reinstatement.Conclusions The formation and retrieval of associated memory between morphine effects and environment involve different neural circuits, in which ERK activity is critical, and PEBP might not be involved in such a memory-related ERK regulation.

Objective:To observe the anti inflammatory action of Yangfeihuoxue Decoction and its effects on inflammatory mediums. Methods: The mouse and rat inflammatory models were established by dimethylbenzene, carrageenin and paper strip investing method, and the rat model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by bleomycin. The inhibition of Yangfeihuoxue Decoction on various inflammatory reactions (with swelling rate, swelling degree and height of granuloma as markers) and its effects on levels of histamine (H) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in blood were studied. Results: Yanfeihuoxue Decoction can obviously inhibit acute, subacute and chronic inflammatory disease ( P

Objective To study the pathogenetic role of HPV infection and vascular endothelial growth factor-C in the development of cervical carcinomas. Methods HPV16 DNA was tested in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) 11I, cervical carcinomas and norma1 cervical tissue by PCR.and the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-C protein was examined by immunohistochemistry. Results The expression of VEGF-C became stronger and stronger with the progression of cervical diseases from chronical inflammation to CIN and to invasive carcinoma of cervix uteri, but no expression in normal cervical tissue. There was significant correlation between HR-HPV and VEGF-C expression in CIN and cervical carcinomas(odds ratio are 19.12 and 20.49; 95 % confidence interval are 2.31-157.8 and 3.28-226.09). Conclusions The expression of VEGF-C, maybe a sensitive maker, is closely related to HR-HPV infection.

Objective This study investigates the relationship of serum irfflammatory cytokine levels with intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) after surgery.Methods A total of 32 cases with severe TBI and placement of ICP monitor were prospectively enrolled.Serum was collected before surgery and every 12 h after surgery.Cytokines levels of interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-8,and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were analyzed and compared with outcome of patients.Hourly values of ICP were recorded.The degree of ICP above treatment threshold (20 mm Hg) were calculated every 12 h as pressure times time dose(PTD-ICP20),which was compared with serum cytokine levels before (Pre) and after (Post) the 12-hour time period using linear regression method.Results Serum IL-1β (P＜0.05),IL-8 (P＜0.01) and TNF-a (P＜0.01) levels elevated dramatically after severe TBI and were significantly associated with outcome of patients.Mean PTD-ICP20 was (42.9 ± 60.2)mm Hg/h and was correlated with increased Pre-IL-8 (r=0.554,P＜0.001),Pre-TNF-α (r=0.597,P＜0.001),Post-IL-8 (r=0.629,P＜0.001) and Post-TNF-α (r=0.538,P＜0.001) levels.Conclusion Serum IL-8 and TNF-α demonstrated the most promising candidate bio.rnarkers of impending ICP elevation in this study.These findings indicate a feasible way of monitoring patients with severe TBI.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at Shixuan (EX-UE11) plus rehabilitation in improving the upper-limb spasticity and hand function after cerebral stroke. Method Sixty patients with upper-limb spasm due to cerebral stroke were randomized into two groups. The observation group was intervened by conventional acupuncture plus needling Shixuan and rehabilitation training, while the control group was by conventional acupuncture plus rehabilitation training. The Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) were evaluated before and after the intervention. The effects of the two methods in improving the upper-limb spastic intensity, hand function, and activities of daily living after cerebral stroke were evaluated based on the scores before and after the intervention. Result After treatment, the upper-limb spastic intensity and muscle tension decreased in both groups, and there was a significant difference in comparing the MAS score between the two groups (P<0.05); the improvement of MBI in the treatment group was more significant than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture at Shixuan plus rehabilitation can produce a more significant efficacy in treating upper-limb spasm, improving hand function and activities of daily living after cerebral stroke, compared to the conventional acupuncture plus rehabilitation.