The present paper is a morphological description of the chromosomes of the mouse, Mus musculus, based on the observations of the metaphase chromosomes of both bone marrow cells and spermatogonial cells. Chromosome morphology is found to be essentially the same as those described by the previous investigators. The systematic measurements of the chromosomes have also been presented.

Humans ; Proteomics ; methods ; Silicosis ; metabolism ; Specimen Handling ; methods

AIM: To obtain a vaccine with sLAG-3 as immunoadjuvant and investigate its biologic activity in order to establish the safe and effective way for asthma as one of the specific immunotherapy.METHODS: The coding sequence of LAG-3 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction,the expression vector pcDNA-sLAG-3-Ig was constructed by inserting the PCR products of sLAG-3 and Fc sequence of IgG.With electroporation transfection,pcDNA-sLAG-3-Ig was transfected into COS-7 cells and its biologic activity was investigated by Western blotting analysis.RESULTS: By temperature induction,the LAG-3-Ig was highly expressed in E.coli DH5?.LAG-3-Ig fusion protein was observed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting,the results showed that the LAG-3-Ig protein was an antagonist of the IL-4-induced synthesis of IgE in B cells.CONCLUSION: A new vaccine with sLAG-3 as immunoadjuvant was obtained.It could inhibit synthesis of IgE in B cells.Thus,LAG-3-Ig would be hopeful to establish the safe and effective way for asthma as one of the specific immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) could stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts, keratinocyte and skin mucosae cells to different degrees.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of rhGM-CSF on the healing of drug exosmose induced skin ulcers.DESIGN: A randomized and controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: This experiment was carried out at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from June to November 2004. Totally 20 male Kunming white mice, with body mass of 18 to 24 g, were chosen.METHODS: Prepared skin ulcers animal models were randomly divided into control group and treated group with 10 white mice in each group.Mice in the control group were given 1mg phentolamine ,20 mg lidocaine and 1mg dexamethasone diluted by normal saline to 0.5 mL ,then sealed up , once a day for 7 days; 25 μg rhGM-CSF was diluted by normal saline to 0.5 mL , then the solution was injected into the periphery of ulcers of mice in treated group , once every other day, for 7 days. Healing time and histological change of skin tissue at ulcer were observed.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To observe the effect of rhGM-CSF on the healing time of drug exosmose induced skin ulcer and anabrosis and histological changeRESULTS: Totally 20 mice entered the stage of result analysis. ①Healing time: the healing time of ulcer and erosion was significantly longer in control group than in treated group [(20-24,8-12)d,t=2.264,P=0.01];②Histological observation: hyperplasia of granulation tissue was not obviously on 7 days after treatment in control group; Hyperplasia of granulation tissue appeared and the newly born blood vessel was abundant on 7 days after treatment in the treated group.CONCLUSION: rhGM-CSF can promote the wound healing of drug induced anabrosis and ulcer.

Objective To investigate the therapy for small and short penis in simple obesity children.Methods Sixty simple obesity children with short and small penis were randomly divided into 2 groups(experiment group 30 cases and control group 30 cases).The experiment group received comprehensive treatment(consisting of massage of traditional Chinese medicine,behavior modification,dietetic and sport adjustment) to lose weight and treated by short and small penis healing apparatus.The control obesity children were given conducted behavior,dietetic and sport adjustment,and treated by short and small penis healing apparatus.Results After treatment,weight of 30 cases in the experiment group decreased,with a decrease of(7.75?3.50) kg.Body mass index(BMI) decreased from(31.10?3.88) before treatment to(27.82?3.49),and BMI before and after treatment changed significantly(t=12.68 P

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of complement fragment C3f on expression and secretion of collagen I, III and transforming growth factor( TGF)-beta1 in human embryonic lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cells.

METHODSMRC-5 cells were cultured with C3f (the synthetic 17 peptides fragments of complement C3). The extracellular and intracellular expression levels of type I, III collagens and TGF-beta1 in MRC-5 cultures were detected by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTSThe expression levels of type I, III collagen and TGF-beta1 in the supernatant of MRC-5 cultures decreased significantly with the concentrations of C3f as compared with controls (P < 0.05). Also the expression level of TGF-beta1 in MRC-5 cytoplasm reduced significantly as compared with controls (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results of present in vitro study showed that the complement fragment C3f could reduce the formation of TGF-beta1 and type I, III collagens in MRC-5 cells, and inhibit the lung tissue fibrosis.

Cell Line ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Complement C3b ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; drug effects ; embryology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore changes of Clara cell protein (CC16) and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) in the serum of patients with silicosis.

METHODThe concentrations of CC16 and SP-D were measured in the serum by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The subjects consisted of 30 healthy volunteers and 90 silica-exposed workers including silica-exposed group, the silicosis of suspects group (0(+)) and the silicosis phase I group, 30 subjects each groups.

RESULTSThe concentrations of CC16 in the serum was significantly decreased in silica-exposed workers compared to controls (P < 0.01); The concentrations of CC16 in the serum were higher in lifelong nonsmokers than the current smokers in control subjects (P < 0.05), but they were no differences between lifelong nonsmokers and current smokers of 90 silica-exposed workers. Compared with control subjects, the levels of SP-D in the serum of silicosis suspects (0(+)) and silicosis phase I groups were significantly elevated (P < 0.01, respectively), which were also higher than silica-exposed group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), Discriminant equations set by CC16 and SP-D were used in diagnosis of silicosis, and the rate of accuracy in healthy volunteers, the silica-exposed group and the silicosis phase I group were 86.7%, 86.7% and 76.7%, respectively, The total rate of correct classification hit 84.2%.

CONCLUSIONThe serum CC16 of long-term silica-exposed workers is decreased, and SP-D is increased gradually.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D ; blood ; Silicosis ; blood ; Uteroglobin ; blood

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Dogwood fruits on tonifying kidney-yang.

METHODThe effect of the water extract of Dogwood fruits on rats model of kidney-yang deficiency with the hydrocortisone was observed.

RESULTThe water extract of Dogwood fruits could make normal the liver weight, and mitigate hepatocyte pathologic changes, increase the heptocellular levels of RNA and hepatin, and decrease the malondialdehyde (MDA) in rats model of kidney-yang deficiency. It could also make the viscera quotiety return to normal way and increase the levels of RNA in the interstitial cells of testicle in rats model of kidney-yang deficiency.

CONCLUSIONWater extract of Dogwood fruits can protect and improve the functions of the liver and testicle in rats model of kidney-yang deficiency.

Animals ; Cornus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Hydrocortisone ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Glycogen ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Yang Deficiency ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo compare the properties of water-absorption, water-locking, and air permeability among several foam dressings, and to provide references for clinician in choosing dressings for different types of wounds.

METHODSThe comparison was made among Allevyn foam dressing, Mepilex foam dressing, and Biatain foam dressing that were commonly used in clinic. NaCl and CaCl2·H2O respectively in the weight of 8.3 g and 0.367 g were diluted with distilled water to the volume of 1 L to simulate wound exudation. The simulated wound exudation was used to test the water-absorbing rate of dressings at post immersion hour (PIH) 24, water-absorbing speed of dressings at post immersion minute (PIM) 1, 5, 10, and 20, the diffusion diameter of exudation dripped on the surface of dressings for 5 min to reflect the water-locking capacity of dressings, and the water evaporation capacity of exudation after being sealed up by dressings for 24 h to reflect the air permeability of dressings. Five samples of each dressing were used for each index. Data were processed with one-way analysis of variance and analysis of variance of repeated measurement, and LSD method was applied in paired comparison.

RESULTS(1) The water-absorbing rate at PIH 24 of Allevyn foam dressing, Mepilex foam dressing, and Biatain foam dressing were respectively (646 ± 18)%, (616 ± 19)%, and (499 ± 11)% (F = 423.854, P < 0.01). The differences between each two dressings in water-absorbing rate were statistically significant (with P values all below 0.01). (2) The water-absorbing speed of Allevyn foam dressing at PIM 1, 5, 10, and 20 were (35.20 ± 2.31), (12.48 ± 0.37), (6.63 ± 0.23), and (3.39 ± 0.08) g×s(-1)×m(-2), which were obviously lower than those of Mepilex foam dressing [(119.68 ± 2.59), (24.39 ± 0.62), (12.33 ± 0.29), and (6.18 ± 0.13) g×s(-1)×m(-2)] and Biatain foam dressing [(121.09 ± 3.41), (24.73 ± 0.52), (12.37 ± 0.25), (6.18 ± 0.13) g×s(-1)×m(-2)], with P values all below 0.01. The water-absorbing speed of each dressing showed the trend of declination among three dressings with prolongation of time. The differences between two adjacent time points within each dressing in water-absorbing speed were statistically significant (with P values below 0.01). (3) Diffusion diameters of exudation dripped on the surface of Allevyn foam dressing, Mepilex foam dressing, and Biatain foam dressing were respectively (5.66 ± 0.15), (4.84 ± 0.15), (3.94 ± 0.21) cm (F = 124.742, P < 0.01). The differences between each two of the three dressings in diffusion diameter were statistically significant (with P values all below 0.01). (4) The water evaporation capacity of exudation after being sealed up by each dressing for 24 h decreased in succession for Allevyn foam dressing, Mepilex foam dressing, and Biatain foam dressing, which were respectively (31.2 ± 3.1), (29.7 ± 8.7), (5.6 ± 2.8) g×h(-1)×m(-2) (F = 24.324, P < 0.01). The water evaporation capacity of exudation sealed with Biatain foam dressing was significantly lower than that of exudation sealed with Allevyn foam dressing and Mepilex foam dressing (with P values below 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAmong the three kinds of foam dressings, Allevyn performs best in water-absorbing rate, water-locking capacity, and air permeability, while Mepilex and Biatain perform best in water-absorbing speed. For selecting foam dressing in clinic, the properties of foam dressings and wound characteristics should be considered at the same time.

Absorption ; Materials Testing ; Occlusive Dressings ; Permeability ; Water

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between the exposure levels and serum protein fingerprints in population exposed to silica.

METHODSLiquid chip time-of-flight mass spectrometry technology was used to investigate the serum profiles in control group (30 cases), group exposed to silica (30 cases), silicosis group (I stage, 25 cases) and suspected silicosis group (30 cases), and screen the differential expression proteins. The correlation between the levels of the differential expression proteins and the exposure levels was performed.

RESULTSFive differential expression proteins were found among 4 groups, the expression of 5081 and 5066 proteins was upregulated, and the expression of 3954, 2021 and 1777 proteins was downregulated. There was no the correlation between the exposure levels and the peak with M/Z among those proteins.

CONCLUSIONthe results of present investigation indicated there was no correlation between the exposure levels and protein/peptide peak.

Adult ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Dust ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Spectrometry ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis ; Peptide Mapping ; Proteomics ; Silicon Dioxide ; toxicity ; Silicosis ; blood