Objective To observe the effects of Kuijiening Plaster point application on the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ, IL-12 and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10 in serum and colonic tissue of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats with spleen-kidney yang deficiency; To investigate the possible mechanism of Kuijiening for the treatment of UC with spleen-kidney yang deficiency. Methods Sennae Folium solution gavage, ice water stimulation and trinitrobenzene-sulfonic acid ethanol combinative methods were applied to establish the models of UC rats with spleen-kidney yang deficiency. Rat models were randomly divided into control group, model group, application group and SASP group, 10 in each group. The control group and model group were given medicine-free cataplasm matrix point application and perfused with NS. The application group was given Kuijiening Plaster point application and perfused with NS. SASP group was given medicine-free cataplasm matrix point application and perfused with SASP. The courses were 28 days. General conditions of rats in each group were observed during treatment. The general morphology and pathological form of colonic tissue were observed with naked eye and light microscopy through HE staining respectively in each group post-treatment. Pathological features were observed and scored by HE dyeing. Levels of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-4 and IL-10 in serum and colonic tissue of rats in each group were detected with ELISA. Results The general conditions, gross morphology and optical microscope pathological morphology of colonic tissue improved and scores decreased in application group and SASP group. Compared with the model group, levels of IL-4 and IL-10 significantly increased, while the levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 decreased in serum and colonic tissue in application group and SASP group, with statistical significance (P<0.01). Moreover, levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in application group decreased not as much as those in SASP group, while IFN-γ and IL-12 concentration increased higher than SASP group, without statistical significance (P>0.05). Conclusion Kuijiening Plaster point application can play a role in treating UC with spleen-kidney yang deficiency through partially restoring the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in serum and colon tissue of rats.

Objective To explore whether ischemic tolerance exists in patients of cerebral infarction following transient ischemic attacks (TIA). Methods Thirty-eight patients with cerebral infarction following TIA(with TIA group) and 98 patients with cerebral infarction without TIA (without TIA group)were studied. The positive expression rate of CD62P in platelet and the size of cerebral infarction on admission was measured. The scores of activities of daily living were evaluated on admission and after a month. Results The positive expression rate of CD62P in platelet was lower in with TIA group than that in without TIA group [ (4.21 ± 0.43 )% vs (6.01 ± 0.03)%,P< 0.05 ]. The area of cerebral infarction and the scores of activities of daily living were lower in with TIA group than those in without TIA group(P< 0.05 ). Conclusion Cerebral infarction following TIA has ischemic tolerance.

Objective To isolate and identify human anti-oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) autoantibodies.Methods Oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) autoantibodies were isolated from eight healthy subjects by affinity chromatography with using an Ox-LDL cross-linked Sepharose 4B column.Results Three elution peaks of Ox-LDL autoantibodies were washed out from the Ox-LDL column by NaHCO3,acetate and KCNS buffer in turn and collected respectively.Ox-LDL autoantibodies were isolated from all the selected healthy subjects.All the three elution peaks had good reactivity with Ox-LDL.Among them,the elution peaks by KCNS buffer had high protein level and strong reactivity with Ox-LDL.The types of these antibodies included IgG and IgM, and IgG was the main type.Conclusion The isolated Ox-LDL autoantibodies had strong reactivity with Ox-LDL.

Lignin degradation products are toxic to microorganisms, which is one of the bottlenecks for fuel ethanol production. We studied the effects of phenolic ketones (4-hydroxyacetophenone, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-acetophenone and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-acetophenone) derived from lignin degradation on ethanol fermentation of xylose and cellular lipid composition of Pichia stipitis NLP31. Ethanol and the cellular fatty acid of yeast were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results indicate that phenolic ketones negatively affected ethanol fermentation of yeast and the lower molecular weight phenolic ketone compound was more toxic. When the concentration of 4-hydroxyacetophenone was 1.5 g/L, at fermentation of 24 h, the xylose utilization ratio, ethanol yield and ethanol concentration decreased by 42.47%, 5.30% and 9.76 g/L, respectively, compared to the control. When phenolic ketones were in the medium, the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (UFA/SFA) of yeast cells was improved. When 1.5 g/L of three aforementioned phenolic ketones was added to the fermentation medium, the UFA/SFA ratio of yeast cells increased to 3.03, 3.06 and 3.61, respectively, compared to 2.58 of the control, which increased cell membrane fluidity and instability. Therefore, phenolic ketones can reduce the yeast growth, increase the UFA/SFA ratio of yeast and lower ethanol productivity. Effectively reduce or remove the content of lignin degradation products is the key to improve lignocellulose biorefinery.
Acetophenones ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; Ketones ; chemistry ; Lignin ; chemistry ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Phenols ; chemistry ; Pichia ; chemistry ; Xylose ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the most sensitive methods for diagnosing spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection (sICAD) and spontaneous vertebral artery dissection (sVAD) respectively,for the sake of earlier and more accurate diagnosis.Methods Consecutive patients with sICAD and sVAD who visited the Department of Neurology and Radiology,Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University during 2008-2013 were retrospectively reviewed and the sensitivity of CT angiography (CTA),magnetic resonance T1-weighted fat-suppressed images (MR T1-FS) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for the diagnosis of sICAD and sVAD was compared.Results Eighty patients (62 male,18 female; mean age (45.7 ± 11.9) years) were included in the study.There were 99 arterial dissections in total,45 cases of sICAD,52 cases of sVAD and 2 cases of spontaneous middle cerebral artery dissections.The sensitivity of CTA,DSA and MR T1-FS for diagnosing sICAD was 97.5％ (39/40),90.0％ (36/40) and 69.6％ (16/23) respectively,while for sVAD was 89.8％ (44/49),84.6％ (44/52) and 100.0％ (27/27) respectively.Conclusions sICAD and sVAD have significant differences in many aspects including diagnostic strategies.CTA and MR T1-FS seem to be the most sensitive methods for the diagnosis of sICAD and sVAD respectively.Although DSA has been considered as the gold standard for the diagnosis of artery dissection,this imaging technique does not allow analysis of artery wall thickness,thus also has limitations.It is likely that the diagnostic sensitivity will be improved by combining CTA and MR T1-FS.

Objective To explore the effects of leukoaraiosis on cognitive function in elderly patients after acute cerebral infarction.Methods From May 2010 to August 2011,a total of 147 elderly patients with acute cerebral infarction were enrolled,including 96 patients with leukoaraiosis and 51 patients without leukoaraiosis.The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) and the correlative factors of cognitive function were assessed in all patients.Results There was no statistical difference in general information between patients with and without leukoaraiosis.There were significant differences in the MoCA scores between patients with and without leukoaraiosis (x2 =19.15,P＜0.01),as well as between the vital and non-vital positions of cerebral infarction (x2=21.41,P＜0.01).The Logistic regression analysis showed that the vital position of infarction and leukoaraiosis were related to the cognitive impairment (OR=12.27,6.60,both P＜0.01),while the area of infarction and the type of cerebral infarction in Oxford County Community Stroke Project (OCSP) had no effects on cognitive impairment.Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a positive relationship between the degree of white matter lesions and the decline in cognitive function (r=-0.87,P＜0.01).Conclusions The position of acute cerebral infarction and leukoaraiosis are independent risk factors for cognitive function after acute cerebral infarction,and the former plays a more important role than does the latter.

Objective To investigate α-interferon (α-IFN) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)inhibitor celecoxib synergistically inhibit the growth of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells xenografts and tumor angiogenesis in a nude mouse model.Methods The effects of celecoxib and α-interferon on tumor volumes and weight were observed.The expressions of VEGF and Cox-2 were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR,and the effect of α-interferon on MVD also was observed by immunohisto chemistry.Results During the period of observation tumor volume increased progressively in control group,while it was suppressed obviously in other drug treatment groups.The average tumor volume was significantly smaller in celecoxib + α-IFN group than that in IFN group,celecoxib group and control group (P ＜ 0.01,respectively),its inhibitory rate was 61.84％.Immunohistochemistry showes that the VEGF and MVD was significantly smaller in celecoxib + IFN group than that in α-IFN group,celecoxib group and control group (P ＜ 0.01,respectively).RT-PCR shows that the COX-2mRNA and VEGF mRNA pression was lower in the celecoxib + α-IFN group than in α-IFN group,celecoxib group and control group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib and α-interferon synergistically reduces xenografts growth of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells effectively via suppressing tumor growth and angiogenesis.

Objective To study the correlation between 8-Iosmerie Porastglnadin-2a(8-iso-PGF2α) 、hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) and coronary heart disease(CHD). Methods 153 CHD patients were divided into 3 groups,including 52 cases of acute myocardial infarction(AMI) ,50 cases of unstable angina(UAP) ,51 cases of stable angina(SAP) and control group consisted of 50 healthy people. The levels of hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α were measured. Person correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the level of hs-CRP and 8-isoPGF2α. Results The levels of hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α were significantly higher in AMI, UAP and SAP group than those in control group(all P ＜0.05). Compared with SAP group,the levels of hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α were increased in AMI and UAP groups (all P ＜ 0. 05) . The level of hs-CRP was positively associated with the level of 8-iso-PGF2α. Conclusion hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α should be the markers of coronary atherosclerosis and involved in the process of CHD. The levels of serum hs-CRP and 8-iso-PGF2α were correlated with the severity of CHD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical significance of quantitative detection of K-ras codon 12 and 13 mutations in the tissues of pancreatic cancer and related pancreatic diseaaes. Methods One hundred and thirty samples from surgically removed pancreatic tissue with a conclusive pathological diagnosis (105 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,8 cases of pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas,2 cases of pancreatic mucinous adenocarcinoma,3 cases of pancreatic endocrine carcinoma,6 cases of duodenal and papillary adenocarcinoma and 6 cases of benign pancreatic diseases ) were collected.Quantitative detection of K-ras codon 12 and 13 mutations was performed by the method of peptide nucleic acidmediated PCR clamping with two different fluorescence labeled probes.Mutation number ＞ 100 copies was used as the criteria to calculate the positive mutation rate.ResultsThe median and quartile of K-ras codon 12mutations of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,adenosquamous carcinoma of the pancreas,pancreatic mucinous adenocarcinoma,pancreatic endocrine carcinoma,duodenal and papillary adenocarcinoma and benign pancreatic diseases were 4062 (495,10800),238 (45,8420),15 (9,21),3 (3,16),2283 (73,5037)and 21(8,56),and the positive mutation rates were 84.8％ (89/105),50.0％ (4/8),0,0,66.7％ (4/6)and 16.7％ (1/6).The quantity of K-ras codon 12 mutation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was not statistically different from those of adenosquamous carcinoma,duodenal and papillary adenocarcinoma,but it was significantly higher than those in pancreatic mucinous adenocarcinoma,pancreatic endocrine carcinoma,and benign pancreatic diseases (P ＜0.05).The area under ROC of K-ras codon 12 mutation in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was 0.727.The sensitivity and specificity of the K-ras codon 12 mutation for the diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were 84.8％,64.0％,respectively.The quantity of K-ras codon 12 was associated with survival of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.The quantity of K-ras codon 13 mutations and the positive mutation rates in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was not statistically different from other pancreatic diseases.ConclusionsThe quantity of K-ras codon 12 mutation has good differential diagnostic and prognostic prediction value for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Objective To analyze the molecular genetic basis of novel allele HLA-B * 9534 and establish the allele group specific primer PCR method. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood by commercial DNA extraction kit. The HLA-B exons 1 to 8 coding sequences of the proband were am-plified by PCR and the amplification product was purified with double enzymes digestion and both strands of exons 2, 3 and 4 were sequenced. The exon 2-4 amplification of the HLA-B * 9534 was performed with al-lele group specific primers PCR and the PCR product was directly sequenced for exon 2 to 4. Results The proband has two HLA-B alleles. The result was assigned for HLA-B * 1518 and B * 4601 combination with a mismatch in 593A/G heterozygote by DNA sequencing of exon 2 to 4 with loci primers. After separating the two alleles of the proband with allele group specific primers polymerase chain reaction method, HLA-B * 4601 and HLA-B * 9534 alleles were identified after sequencing. The HLA-B * 9534 is identical to HLA-B * 1518 except for one nucleotide substitutions in exon 3 at position 593 A→G, this results in amino acid substitution at cedon 174 from Asn to Ser. The sequences of the novel allele have been submitted to GenBank (EU046491) and the allele has been officially nominated by the WHO Nomenclature Committee. Conclusion Identification of a novel HLA-B * 9534 allele and allele group specific primer PCR for HLA-B * 9534 was re-liable.