Aim To evaluate the effects of ferulic acid ( FA ) on lipopolysaccharide ( LPS )-induced neuroin-flammation in microglia cells and its potential mecha-nisms. Methods Microglial activation was induced by stimulation with LPS, and the effects of FA pretreat-ment on microglial activation and production of proin-flammatory mediators, nitric oxide/iNOS were investi-gated. The role of the mitogen-activated protein kinases in the antiinflammatory actions of FA in LPS-stimulated microglia was further elucidated. Results Cell viabil-ity experiments revealed that FA did not produce cyto-toxicity in microglia. FA significantly inhibited LPS-in-duced production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-α) , interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) , interleukin-1 beta ( IL-1β) , and nitric oxide ( NO ) . Protein and mRNA levels of COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS) were also attenuated by FA. Further experi-ments on intracellular signalling mechanisms showed that inhibition of extracellular regulated kinase ( ERK) contributed to the anti-neuroinflammatory actions of FA. Conclusion The results suggest that FA inhibits LPS-induced microglial inflammation by partial targe-ting of ERK signalling and attenuation of ERK.

Objective To establish a candidate reference method for the determination of serum lithium based on ion chromatog-raphy and evaluate its analytical performance.Methods A simple sample treatment procedure,which can be remove the proteins and/or organics in human serum,has been developed for the determination of serum lithium.Method precision was evaluated with different concentration of fresh human serum and EQA sample RELA-A/B.Method accuracy was investigated with the recovery ex-periments in fresh human serum and RELA-A/B sample.Results The linear equation was Y =0.817 1X -0.001 3 with a correla-tion coefficient of 0.999 95 under the optimum experimental conditions,the detection limit (3S/N)for lithium was 6 μg/L and the imprecision was less than 1.0%.The results of the recovery experiments indicated that the recoveries were reasonable for the deter-mination of serum lithium,in a range of 99%-101%.Conclusion The candidate reference method of lithium was successfully es-tablished and which can be used for traceability and standardization.It may provide an effective way for routine testing of lithium traceable to the reference method/reference material.

Objective To compare the efficacy,toxicity and prognosis on treating advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between using weekly docetaxel (DOC) and using DOC associated with nedaplatin(NDP).Methods 56 cases of NSCLC patients were retrospectively analyzed.Group A included 34 cases who were treated with weekly DOC (35 mg/m2,dl,8).Group B included 22 cases who were treated with DOC associated with NDP (DOC 35 mg/m2,dl,8,NDP 80 mg/m2,d2).One treatment cycle was 21 days.Efficacy,toxicity and prognosis were evaluated after 2 treatment cycles.Results RR of group A was 8.8 ％ (3/34).RR of group B was 27.3 ％ (6/22).DCR of group A was 50.0 ％ (17/34).DCR of group B was 63.6 ％ (14/22).PFS of group A was 2.3 months.PFS of group B was 5.1 months.OS of group A was 8.7 months.OS of group B was 10.5 months.1-year survival rate of group A was 26.5 ％.1-year survival rate of group B was 31.8 ％.The above comparisons were not statistically different (all P ＞ 0.05).In adverse reactions,hematologic toxicity in group B was greater than that in group A (x2 =4.877,P =0.027).Other adverse reactions such as gastrointestinal reactions,fatigue and so on were grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ.Conclusions The treatment of weekly DOC used in advanced NSCLC is safe,effective an low toxicity.There are no significant difference of RR and PFS between single DOC and DOC associated with NDP.

Objective To study the efficacy of immunization combination of pregnant women and infants in preventing intrauterine HBV infection. Methods One hundred and twenty six HBsAg positive pregnant women were divided into two groups randomly.In the combination group,126 cases were injected with hepatitis B immunoglobulin(HBIG) during pregnancy since the 28 th week of gestation and HBVac 20 ?g at 1、2、7 month combining HBIG 200 IU at 0、15 day was injected to their infants, while 90 cases pregnant women in control group were not injected with HBIG. The serum HBV IgM of pregnant women and infant were tested using ELISA and was followed up for one year. Results The incidence of intrauterine HBV infection and the rate of chronic HBV infection in the infants of combination group were significantly lower than that of the control group (19.51% vs 35.56%, 13.33% vs 3.97% respectively). The detection rate of anti HBs in newborns and protective anti HBs in 1 year were significantly higher in combination group than that in the control group (80.95% vs 0,96.03% vs 86.67%). Conclusion Combining therapy of pregnant women and infant may prevent intrauterine HBV infection effictively and increase the rate of success immunoprophylaxis significantly, and decrease the rate of chronic HBsAg infection.

Objective To evaluate the global and segmental (inflow,body and outflow) systolic functions of right ventricle in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients by real-time three-dimensional echocardiography(RT-3DE) and four-dimensional right ventricle quantitative analysis (4D-RVQ) and to reveal the long-term impact of renal insufficiency on right ventricular systolic function.Methods RT-3DE was performed in 48 ESRF patients and 26 healthy individuals (control group).Images were acquired and analysed off-line in TomTec 4D-RVQ station.The parameters of RV global and segmental systolic functions,including RV global and segmental end-diastolic volume (EDV),end-systolic volume(ESV),stroke volume(SV),ejection fraction(EF),the time to minimum systolic volume(T-msv) were obtained.All the variables were standardized by body surface area (BSA) or heart rate (HR).Results ① In the ESRF group,EDV,SV and EF of body compartment were significantly higher than those of the controls[EDV:(8.5±3.4)ml/m2 vs (6.4± 1.7)ml/m2,P =0.002;SV:(4.5 ± 1.7)ml/m2 vs (2.7±0.9)ml/m2,P =0.0037;EF:(45.4 ± 11.5)％ vs (41.1 ± 7.1)％,P =0.0489],and so were EDV,SV of inflow compartment [EDV:(19.6± 1.0)ml/m2 vs (16.5±0.9)ml/m2,P =0.0438;SV:(12.3±4.6)ml/m2 vs (10.1±3.2) ml/m2,P =0.0433].②Compared with the control group,the global and segmental T-msv were all delayed obviously in the ESRF group (P ＜ 0.001).③The percentage of SV of body compartment accounting for the global SV significantly increased in the ESRF group [(19.5 ± 7.3)％ vs (15.5 ± 5.5)％,P =0.0222],while that of outflow compartment reduced significantly [(20.3 ± 7.0)％ vs (26.8 ± 8.2)％,P =0.0005].Conclusions The global and segmental systolic functions of right ventricle were impaired in ESRF patients,especially in the body compartment.The RT-3DE and 4D-RVQ are helpful technologies in the evaluation and follow-up of right ventricular systolic function in patients with renal failure.

OBJECTIVE:To create an in vitro harvesting method of culturing a large number of adult bone marrow MSCs(BMSCs) DESIGN,TIME AND SETTlNG:The randomized, controlled study was performed at the Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery (Key Laboratory of Education Committee of Shanghai City),as well as Department of General Surgery and Organ Transplantation Center,Ruijin Hospital,Medical College.Shanghai Jiao Tong University from September 2005 to April 2006.MATERIALS:Bone marrow samples were collected from normal persons.who did bone marrow examination at the Department of Hematology,Ruijin Hospital,Medical College.Shanghai Jiao Tong University.Donors were volunteers who signed the informed consent.METHODS:Human BMSCs were harvested using Pemoll gradient centrifugation and adherence method.and then incubated in microcarrier cytodex3.Common monolayer polystyrene was incubated as controls.Cell phenotype and proliferative activity were tested utilizing flow cytometry and MTT.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Collection.incubation,morphology of human BMSCs.and prolireration and cell cycle of human BMSCs on the cytodex 3 were measured.RESULlTS:Flow cytometry detection showed that the surface marker of human BMSCs on the cytodex3 was ldentical to that on the common monolayer polystyrene;BMSCs were positive for CD29,CD44 and CD105.but negative for CD14,CD34,CD45,VLA-1 and HLA-DR.MTT detection demonstrated that human BMSCs were in the adaptive phase at days 1-3.and entered logarithmic phase frOm day 3.No significant difference was detected in human BMSCs on the monolayer polystyrene and cytodex3(P＞0.05).On the monolayer polystyrene,human BMSCs entered degenerating stage from day 6,whereas on the cytodex3,human BMSCs were still in the logarithmic growth phase at day 9(P＜0.05).Flow cytometry detection confirmed that the cell cycle of human BMSCs was the same both on the monolayer polystyrene and cytodex3 (P＞0.05). CONCLUSION:Using cytodex3 culture technique,a large amount of human BMSCs can be obtained,and the proliferative activity of these BMSCs is good.

Objective To identify the role of p53 in the induction of growth arrest DNA damage-inducible gene 45β (GADD45β) in HCC cells by Oxaliplatin.Methods A Hep3B+p53 clone was established by transfection of the full-length p53 sequence to Hep3B.Following oxaliplatin administration,quantitative real-time PCR was employed to validate the expression changes of GADD45β.pGL3 basic luciferase plasmids including promoter fragments were synthesized in vitro and transfected into cells.The effects on promoter activity,cell growth and the cleavage of Caspase-3 were further focused on.Results Hep3B+p53 expressed p53 protein stably.The transfection of p553 enhanced the induction of GADD45β in Hep3B by Oxaliplatin.The promoter activity of fragments constructed NF-κB and E2F-1 binding sites was induced about 1.5 and 0.8 folds by transfection of p53.The colony formation and DNA syntheses were inhibited apparently in Hep3B+p53 with p53 by Oxaliplatin (30.41％ and 75.60％ by 100 μmol/L Oxaliplatin,respectively).Moreover,p53 transfection triggered cleavage of Caspase-3 more rapidly.Conclusion p53 played a role in the induction of GADD45β in Hep3B by Oxaliplatin.

To investigate the relationship between serum retinol-binding protein 4(RBP4) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Chinese Han pregnant women.195 (23-42 years) pregnant women were recruited (July 2005 to December 2007) from the Department of Gynecology and Obstetric in Ruijin Hospital during their visiting for routine prenatal examination.99 subjects belonged to GDM group,and 96 belonged to the group with normal glucose tolerance (NGT).65 non-pregnant healthy women served as control.Serum RBP4 was measured using sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Pregnant women had higher level of serum RBP4 than that of non-pregnant control.The concentration of serum RBP4 was significantly increased in GDM group as compared with NGT group[(43.04±1.85 vs 33.84±2.17) rag/L,P<0.01].Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that triglycerides and homeostasis assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were independent variables of RBP4 (r2 =0.165) in pregnant women.The results suggest that serum RBP4 level is significantly increased in pregnant women.Women with GDM had even higher RBP4 level than that of normal pregnant women,and RBP4 levele was positively correlated with triglycerides and HOMA-IR.

Objective:To observe the effect of observing good swallowing on the swallowing action of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Eighteen stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly divided into a treatment group ( n=9) and a control group ( n=9). In addition to routine swallowing rehabilitation therapy, the treatment group was asked to simulate swallowing after watching a video of normal people′s swallowing action. They did so 5 times a week for 10 minutes, while the control group just watched landscape videos at the same time. The treatment lasted 8 weeks. Before and after the treatment, both groups were assessed using the eating assessment tool (EAT-10), the functional oral intake scale (FOIS) and the penetration and aspiration scale (PAS). Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was also used to observe their swallowing action. Results:There was no significant difference between the two groups in any of the measurements before the treatment. After the 8 weeks of treatment the average EAT-10, FOIS and PAS scores of the treatment group were all significantly better than before the treatment and better than the control group′s averages at the time. fMRI showed significantly more areas activated in the precuneus, parietal lobe, posterior central gyrus, BA7, BA5, frontal lobe and paracentral lobule in the treatment group compared with before the intervention and also more than in the control group.Conclusions:Observing proper swallowing action can improve dysphagia and activation of the swallowing-related brain areas of stroke survivors.

Objective:To observe the effect of applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on swallowing function and auditory evoked potentials in the brain-stems of stroke survivors with dysphagia.Methods:Sixty stroke survivors with dysphagia were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group, each of 30. Both groups were given 30 minutes of routine swallowing training 6 times a week for 5 weeks, while the observation group was additionally provided with two-second bursts of rTMS on the left and right brain hemispheres alternately for 20 minutes daily. The frequency was 3.0Hz and the strength was 80% of the resting motor threshold (RMT), with an interval of 10 seconds between bursts. Before and after the treatment, both groups′ swallowing was assessed using the functional communication measure (FCM) and the modified Mann swallowing capacity evaluation scale (MMASA). Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) were recorded to detect any changes in the peak latency (PL) and inter-peak latency (IPL). The clinical efficacy was also observed.Results:After the treatment, the average FCM results of both groups had improved significantly, but the observation group had improved significantly more. The average MMASA total scores and the average scores on all the sub-items had improved significantly more in the observation group except for the expressive speech disorder and anarthria scores. After the treatment, improvement was observed in respiration, anarthria, range of motion of the tongue muscles, strength of the tongue muscles, gag reflex and soft palate movement compared with before the intervention. Peak and inter-peak latencies had also improved significantly more in the observation than in the control group, on average.Conclusions:rTMS combined with conventional swallowing training can significantly improve the swallowing of dysphagic stroke survivors, and shorten the PL of the BAEP so as to better regulate deglutition.