P2X7 is the most important subtype of the ATP receptors known so far. Recent investigations showed that the downstream signaling pathway of P2X7 is coupled with several key inflammatory molecules including IL-1beta and IL-18, this suggests P2X7 might have roles in the inflammatory diseases. Moreover, attenuation of P2X7 by selective antagonists in vitro and knockout mice in vivo reducing the inflammatory response indicated that P2X7 is a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases. However, most previous studies on P2X7 were focused on nerve system diseases most, while its effects in inflammatory respiratory diseases, especially in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer have been poorly investigated. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress on the structure, distribution, biological activities of P2X7 and its relationship with inflammatory respiratory diseases including asthma, COPD and lung cancer, along with the development of P2X7 antagonist as therapeutics.

Objective To study the chemical constituents of the South China Sea black coral Amtipathes dichotoma. Methods Compounds were isolated and purified by repeated column chromatography on silica gel and their structures were identified by spectral analyses and compared with literatures. Results Ten compounds were obtained from A. dichotoma and characterized as stigma-7,22-dien-3?,5?,6?-triol (Ⅰ),5,8-epidioxycampesta-6,22-dien-3-ol (Ⅱ),cholesterol (Ⅲ),(2S,3R,4E,8E)-2-N-(2'-hydroxyhexadecanoyl) hexadecasphinga-4,8-diene (Ⅳ),(2S,3R,4E)-2-N-(2'-hydroxytetracosanoyl) octadecasphinga-4-ene (Ⅴ),batyl alcohol (Ⅵ),thymine (Ⅶ),thymidine (Ⅷ),uracil (Ⅸ),and guanine (Ⅹ). Conclusion All compounds are obtained from Amtipathes dichotoma. for the first time.

Objective To observe the effect of Xiaogu Ruanjian pills on hepatic histopathology and epidermal growth factor (EGF) of liver cirrhosis rats. Methods The rats model of cirrhosis was made by complex factors,compared with Fufang Biejia Ruanganpian,the effect of Xiaogu Ruanjian Pills on hepatic pathology and EGF were observed. Results Compared with the normal group,extensive fibrous tissue hyperplasia can be seen in hepatic mesenchyme of the model group,the liver pseudolobule formed,and the contents of EGF in serum and liver were increased (P

0.05). In stratified studies, risk of asthma in individuals with null genotype of GSTM1 is 2.667 times of that with wild genotype after exposure to light air pollution. Risk of asthma in individuals living in heavy air pollution area is 2.125 time of that in light pollution area for all wild genotype of GSTM1 individuals, but without statistical significance. Conclusion It was not found that the relationship between GSTM1, GSTT1 polymorphism and asthma. Synergism of genotype of GSTM1, GSTT1 and air pollution was not also seen in this study.

Aim To investigate the effects of Vam3 on ATP-induced inflammatory response in macrophages and the underlying mechanisms. Methods LPS primed mouse peritoneal macrophages were stimulated with ATP,and IL-1βlevel in supernatants was meas-ured by ELISA.Activity of caspase 1 was measured u-sing caspase 1 activity assay kit.Reactive oxygen spe-cies (ROS )level was detected with fluorescent probe DCFH-DA.MTT assay was used to detect cell prolifer-ation,and intracellular Ca2+concentration was meas-ured using laser scanning confocal microscope.Results Extracellular ATP led to increase in IL-1βrelease, caspase 1 activity and ROS production.It also led to rapid increase in intracellular Ca2+concentration and induced cell death.These effects were inhibited by Vam3 .Conclusion Vam3 inhibits ATP-induced in-flammatory response in macrophages,which may sug-gest the blocking effect of Vam3 on caspase 1 ~IL-1βinflammatory signaling pathway in macrophages.

BACKGROUND: Clinical researches found that portal vein occlusion was beneficial to inhibit growth of hepatocarcinoma, promote compensatory hyperplasia of un-blocking hepatic tissue and decrease metastasis of portal vein occlusion; however, it should be fu~her proved by animal experiments.OBJECTIVE: To investigate models of portal vein occlusion of hepatic VX2 tumor in rabbits and evaluate value of multi-slice CT.DESIGN: Randomized grouping design and animal study.SETTING: Department of Radiology, Xinqiao Hospital of the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Imaging Department of Xinqiao Hospital of the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from July 2002 to January 2005. Forty New Zealand rabbits were divided according to digital table into 4 groups: immediate group (transplantation of tumor after immediate portal vein occlusion), 3-week group (transplantation of tumor at 3 weeks after portal vein occlusion), negative control group and positive control group, 10 in each group.METHODS: Hepatic VX2 tumor was transplanted with abdominal-embedding innoculation at immediate portal vein occlusion and 3 weeks after portal vein occlusion. Meanwhile, they were divided into negative control group (Left external branch of portal vein was done sham-operative block,and left exite was embedded and inoculated pseudoly) and positive control group (Transplanted tumor did not suffer from portal vein occlusion). All rabbits were scanned with multi-slice CT.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: General changes of liver, changes of tumor, metastasis of tumor, vascular-imaging displaying rate of multi-slice CT of hepatic artery and portal vein, blood flow of liver, blood volume,mean transit time, permeability of vascular surface and fraction of hepatic arterial infusion (HAI).RESULTS: All 40 animals were involved in the final analysis. ① Tumor did not grow in both immediate group and 3-week group. In 3-week group,left endite was atrophied and growth of tumor was inhibited. The maximal diameter of tumor was smaller than that in positive control group [(2.55 ±0.46), (3.59±0.37) cm, t=5.57, P ＜ 0.001]. Incidences of metastasis in liver and lung were lower in 3-week group than those in positive control group (10%, 40%; 100%, 90%); however, there was no significant difference. ② Scanning with multi-slice CT, displaying rate of branches hepatic artery was lower in grade Ⅲ than that in grade Ⅰ and Ⅱ (40%, 70%,100%, P ＜ 0.05); but there was no significant difference of displaying rate of portal vein at various grades (P ＞ 0.05). ③ Values of blood flow of liver,blood volume, mean transit time and permeability of vascular surface were lower in immediate group and 3-week group than those in control groups,but values of HAI were increased.CONCLUSION: Ligating left external branch of portal vein is an ideal way to establish models of portal vein occlusion of hepatic VX2 tumor in rabbits; furthermore, multi-slice CT plays a key role in evaluating effect of portal vein occlusion.

Objective　we studied the effect of the Purine mucleoside Valaciclovir on anti-duck hepatitis virus(DHBV) in vivo to provide an experimental basis for clinical treatment of patients with hepatitisB.Methods　The Chongqing duck hepatitis B virus model was treated with Valaciclovir once a day for a month at the doses of 50mg.kg－1、100mg.kg-1、200mg.kg－1of body weight per day. Serum DHBV DNA was detected four times in the course of the treatment,ALT and AST in serum and DHBV DNA in liver were detected simultaneously.Results　Valaciclovir could signsificantly lower the serum DHBV DNA level. Serum ALT of several ducks in serum rose slightly during the treatment,but became normal after 1 week stopping Valaciclovir. Examination of DHBV DNA in liver with Southern Blot indicated Valaciclovir could inhibit DHBV DNA replication,but could not completely eliminate DHBV SC DNA.Conclusion　The study confirms the safety and potent antihepaticviral activity of Valaciclovir in vivo.

Objective To make a futher understanding of the CT features of primary carcinoma of vagina and to explore the clinical value of CT diagnosis of it.Methods Sixteen cases of primary cacinoma of vagina with clinical and CT data confirmed by pathology were analyzed retrospectively. The CT findings were observed in a double blind method by three experienced radiologists together and formed a consensus interpretation. Results The accurate rate of CT diagnosis for primary carcinoma of vagina was 81.3% in the 16 cases. There were 2 stage I, 6 stage II, 4 stage III and 4 stage IV lesions which were diagnosed by CT. The numbers of cases of the elevated type, ulcerative type and infiltrative type were 11, 3, and 2,respectively. The transcatherter internal pudendal arterial chemoembolization were successfully performed in 2 patients with vaginal carcinoma. Conclusion CT is not only a non-invasive method of detecting primary carcinoma of vagina,but also play an important role in differentiating the clinlcal phase and type of it. In more advanced stages of vaginal carcinoma, interventional therapy is chosen as the useful treatment to avoid exenterative surgery, preserve anatomy and function.

Objective To investigate the value of Periodically Rotated Overlapping Parallel Lines Enhanced Reconstruction (PROPELLER) in omitting the motion and susceptibility artifacts in head MRI. Methods Thirty nine cases of restless patients and eighteen cases with fixed metal artificial tooth underwent head MRI using T2WI or DWI with PROPELLER during April and Nov. in 2006 were analyzed respectively. The PROPELLER images and common MRI images were compared. Results The common images of 39 restless patients were not suitable to diagnosis because of moving artifact and pure imaging quality, while the PROPELLER T2WI images eliminate the artifact obviously and display the lesion clearly. Susceptibility artifacts were found in 18 patients with artificial tooth in common MRI images, and the artifacts were almost not found in PROPELLER DWI images and so satisfied the need of diagnoses. Conclusion PROPELLER T2WI and DWI can remove significantly the motion and susceptibility artifacts, and so acquire images of high resolution, low artifacts, and high quality to satisfy the need of diagnoses.