AIM　To study the effect of glucocorticoid acetic acid cortisone on expression of CaM mRNA in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA). METHODS　Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),the expression of CaM mRNA was measured in HPAA of rats which were injected with acetic acid cortisone. RESULTS　Acetic acid cortisone induced the expression of CaM mRNA in hypothalamus and adrenal respectively, but it had no effect significantly in pituitary. CONCLUSION　These data suggest that CaM mRNA plays important role in the modulation of GC in HPAA.

AIM To study the effect of glucocorticoid acetic acid cortisone on expression of CaM mRNA in hypothalamus pituitary adrenal axis (HPAA). METHODS Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR),the expression of CaM mRNA was measured in HPAA of rats which were injected with acetic acid cortisone. RESULTS Acetic acid cortisone induced the expression of CaM mRNA in hypothalamus and adrenal respectively, but it had no effect significantly in pituitary. CONCLUSION These data suggest that CaM mRNA plays important role in the modulation of GC in HPAA.

Objective:To determine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13) in patients with psoriasis, and to evaluate the effect of tazarotene and narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) on the expression of MMP13 in mice with psoriasis-like dermatitis.Methods:Lesional skin tissues and normal skin tissues were collected from 18 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 10 healthy controls respectively, who were enrolled from General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University between May 2019 and August 2019, and serum samples were collected from all the subjects. A total of 25 specific pathogen-free (SPF) male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, imiquimod group, imiquimod+NB-UVB group, imiquimod+tazarotene group and imiquimod+tazarotene+NB-UVB group. The control group received topical vaseline cream on the back once every morning; imiquimod group and imiquimod+NB-UVB group received imiquimod cream on the back once every morning; imiquimod+tazarotene group and imiquimod+tazarotene+NB-UVB group received imiquimod cream on the back once every morning, and tazarotene cream on the back once at night; imiquimod+NB-UVB group and imiquimod+tazarotene+NB-UVB group received NB-UVB irradiation on the back every other day at noon, with the dose being 300 mJ/cm 2 in the first session and increasing by 50 mJ/cm 2 in every session. The modeling lasted 7 days. After successful modeling, blood samples were obtained from the eyeballs of the mice, and skin tissues were resected from the back of the mice after being sacrificed by cervical dislocation on day 8. Changes in the epidermal thickness and pathological manifestations were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, protein expression of MMP13 in skin tissues was determined by immunohistochemical study, and the serum level of MMP13 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Comparisons between 2 groups were performed by using two-independent-sample t test, comparisons among several groups by using one-way analysis of variance, multiple comparisons by using least significant difference- t test, and comparisons of enumeration data by using chi-square test. Results:The skin lesions of the patients with psoriasis were strongly positive for MMP13, and the MMP13 expression levels in the epidermis and serum (84.11±17.16, 13.29±3.95 μg/L, respectively) were significantly higher in the patients with psoriasis than in the healthy controls (11.98±4.08, 7.46±1.58 μg/L, respectively, both P< 0.01) . Compared with the control group (1.26±0.04 μm, 25.40±2.34, 185.76±7.22 μg/L, respectively) , a significant increase was observed in the epidermis thickness (7.93±0.59 μm, P< 0.01) , as well as MMP13 levels in the epidermis and serum in the imiquimod group (147.14±5.53, 215.98±15.17 μg/L, respectively, both P< 0.01) . Compared with the imiquimod group, the imiquimod+tazarotene group, imiquimod+NB-UVB group, and imiquimod+tazarotene+NB-UVB group all showed significantly decreased epidermal thickness (3.56±0.37 μm, 3.83±0.39 μm, 2.14±0.34 μm, respectively, all P< 0.05) , MMP13 levels in the epidermis (120.42±3.23, 91.08±0.46, 71.12±7.11, respectively, all P< 0.05) and serum (197.39±3.92 μg/L, 196.13±11.76 μg/L, 183.21±14.99 μg/L, respectively, all P< 0.05) . Conclusions:MMP13 protein expression markedly increased in the skin lesions and sera of patients with psoriasis, and decreased in skin lesions and sera of mice with psoriasis-like dermatitis after the treatment with tazarotene and NB-UVB. MMP13 may be involved in the development of psoriasis, and tazarotene and NB-UVB may inhibit the development of psoriasis by reducing the expression of MMP13.

Objective To investigate the expression of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 in carotid atherosclerotic plaques and evaluate their roles in carotid atherosclerotic plaque stability.Methods Carotid atherosclerotic plaques were isolated in carotid eversion endarterectomy (GEE) in 37 patients with high-grade stenosis (>70%) including 20 stroke (A group) and 17 non-stroke patients (B group).The control group included samples of normal carotid artery from 11 normal individuals,The RNA expression levels of CD40,CD40 L and MMP9 in all A,B and control groups were quantitatively detected by real-time quantification polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the protein expression levels were detected by Western blotting analysis.The expression and distribution of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 in carotid atherosclerotic plaques were detected by immunohistochemistry staining.Then correlations between CD40-CD40L and MMP9 were statistically analyzed.Results The relative CD40 mRNA level in high-grade stenosis of A group,B group and normal control were 2.41±0.43,1.03±0.38 and 0.31±0.12,respectively,and MMP9 mRNA 6.88±1.57,1.90±0.44 and 0.39±0.12,respectively.The levels of CD40 and MMP9 mRNA in A group were significantly higher than those in B group (P=0.000),the levels of CD40 and MMP9 in B group were significantly higher than those in controls (P=0.000).There was a linear correlation between CD40 and MMP9 mRNA (r=0.929,P=0.000).However,there were no significantly difference in mRNA levels of CD40L between carotid atherosclerosis and controls.The protein expression levels of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 in A group were significantly higher than those in B group (FCD40=104.100,P=0.000;FCD40L=129.932,P=0.000;FMMP9=13.565,P=0.021) and B group higher than normal controls (FCD40=115.848,P = 0.000;FCD40L= 30.482,P=0.005;FMMP9=35.557,P=0.004).The areas of positive staining of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 in immunochemistry study in A group were significantly higher than those in B group and B group was significantly higher than controls.There were linear correlations between positive staining areas Of CD40 and CD40L,CD40 and MMP9,CD40L and MMP9 (r=0.963,0.959,0.929,P=0.000).Expressions of CD40,CD40L and MMP9 were significantly higher in the shoulder areas of the atherosclerotic plaques than in other areas.Conclusions The CD40-CD40L has an important role in the formation of carotid atherosclerosis and plaque instability,probably by up-regulating MMP9.The expression of CD40L may be regulated by post-transcriptional modification to exert biological effects.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen combined with donepezil in the treat-ment of patients with vascular dementia(VD). Methods Sixty-four patients with VD were randomly divided into a control group(donepezil group,n=32)and a treatment group(hyperbaric oxygen combined with donepezil,n=32).The course of treatment was 12 weeks.All patients were tested using the Mini-Mental State Examination(MMSE)and Hasegawa's dementia scale(HDS)before and after treatment. Results After 12 weeks of treatment,the MMSE scores and HDS scores of patients increased significantly in both the control and treatment groups.There were signifi-cant differences between the control and treatment groups in terms of MMSE and HDS scores.Conclusion Hyperbar-ic oxygen combined with donepezil could significantly improve cognition in VD patients.

Objective To analyze the correlative factors of anemia in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to explore the impact of anemia on prognosis.Methods The clinical data of 473 patients with NSCLC treated at the first time from January 2008 to November 2012 in the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University were analyzed retrospectively.Results There were 273 patients (57.72 ％) with anemia.Anemia occurred in different age (x2 =3.459, P =3.459), different albumin level (x2 =70.648, P =70.648), different PS score (x2 =10.222, P =10.222), whether recent surgery (x2 =4.956, P =4.956), whether recent chemotherapy (x2 =3.627, P =0.037), and other factors.By multiple factors analysis, hypoalbuminemia was an independent risk factor for anemia (P ＜ 0.05).The median OS of the anemia patients was shorter than that of the patients without anemia (15 months vs 17 months, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Hypoalbuminemia is the independent risk factor for emergence of anemia.Anemia is the prognosis indicator of shorten survival period, which is an independent factor of prognosis in the NSCLC.

Objective To investigate the alteration of cell proliferation and heparin-binding epidermal-growth-factor-like growth factor(HB-EGF)mRNA expression in cultured normal human keratinocytes after acitretin treatment.Methods After a 12-hour incubation with 0.1 and 1 ?mol/L acitretin in normal human keratinocytes,the proliferation potency of the cells was detected by MTT colorimetric assay and the expression of HB-EGF mRNA was examined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results Both keratinocytes growth inhibition and HB-EGF mRNA expression was dose-dependently induced by acitretin.Treatment with 0.1 and 1 ?mol/L acitretin inhibited keratinocyte proliferation by 10.2% and 14.4%,and elevated HB-EGF mRNA by 3.2-and 7.1-fold,respectively.Conclusion Upregulated HB-EGF mRNA expression induced by acitretin in normal human keratinocytes may be involved in regulating keratinocyte growth inhibition after acitretin treatment.

Humans ; Motion Sickness ; diagnosis ; Travel

Objective To compare the results of TEOAE and DPOAE in the same population of normal newborns, to provide information on choosing appropriate screening tools.Methods A two-steps protocol was taken with the first screening during the first 48 to 72 hours of birth and rescreened from one to two months old if the newborns failed the first screening.For each step of screening, TEOAE and DPOAE were performed simultaneously using AccuScreen hearing screening instrument (Madsen-GN Otometrics, Taastrup, Denmark).A total of 1 062 normal newborns (F/M=508/554) delivered in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were enrolled in this research for the first screening.Infants who failed either TEOAE or DPOAE screening in the first screening were referred to a second screening.Among them, 135 performed both DPOAE and TEOAE in the second step.The newborns who failed the second screening would receive ABR when they were 3 months old.Results In the first screening,the failure rate for TEOAE was 11.0% (117/1 062) and 13.7% (145/1 062) for DPOAE.In the second screening step, the failure rates were 17.8% (24/135) and 20.7% (28/135) for TEOAE and DPOAE, respectively.Chi-square and Fisher's test showed that the failure rates of DPOAE were significant higher than TEOAE for both steps (P<0.001).The agreements between TEOAE and DPOAE were 96.0% and 95.6% for the first and second steps respectively, and the kappa values were 0.817 and 0.857.As to the average time taken to accomplish the screening for one ear, TEOAE was 24±25 s and DPOAE was 40±34 s during the first screening;in the rescreening, TEOAE was 52±41 s and DPOAE was 73±62 s.Paired-t tests showed that the differences between DPOAE and TEOAE testing time were statistically significant (P=0.000) in both screening steps.Finally, 7 newborns (10 ears) were diagnosed conductive hearing loss(except 1 ear was sensorineural hearing loss).Conclusion As a screening tool, TEOAE got lower refer rates and took less time than DPOAE implicating TEOAE a better screening tool for normal neonates.

Background and objective hTe activation of coagulation and ifbrinolysis is frequently encountered among cancer patients. Such tumors are associated with high risk of invasion, metastases, and negative ifnal outcomes. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 80%to 85%of all lung malignancies. hTis study aims to investigate the prognostic value of blood coagulation tests for NSCLC and provide a reference to patients on the prevention and treatment of thrombophilia. Methods Data were collected from 604 cases of hospitalized patients with histologically conifrmed NSCLC from January 2009 to December 2012 at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Data included the related indexes of coagulation function in patients before treatment [(i.e., prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin time activity (PTA), interna-tional normalized ratio (INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), ifbrinogen (Fib), D-dimer, and platelet count)], as well as sex, age, pathological type, TNM stage, and lymph node status. Fitfy control subjects without cancer were included in the analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted by using SPSS 13.0 sotfware. Results hTe plasma level of all coagulation tests including D-dimer, Fib, PT, APTT, INR, and platelet counts revealed statistically signiifcant differences between the patient and control group (P<0.001 for all variables;P=0.001,5 and P=0.004,5 for Fib and platelet counts, respectively). hTe squamous subtype exhibited high plasma Fib levels (P<0.001) compared with adenocarcinoma cell lung cancer patients. Fib and PLT levels increased (P<0.001 and P=0.014, respectively), and aPTT decreased (P<0.001) in patients at stages III and IV compared with those in patients at stages I and II. aPTT decreased signiifcantly (P<0.001), and Fib and D-dimer levels increased (P<0.001 and P=0.048, respectively) in N1-3 patients with NSCLC compared with those of N0 patients. Prolonged PT and INR, high plasma Fib levels, and low PTA levels had statistically signiifcant adverse effects on survival (P=0.032, P=0.001, P<0.001, and P=0.005, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that only increased INR was associated with a decreased survival rate in the related indexes of coagulation function (P=0.017). Conclusion Patients who have lung adenocarcinoma and/or lymph node metastasis at advanced stages of NSCLC are prone to thrombophilia. Prolonged PT and INR was associated with poor prognosis, and elevated INR was independently associated with a decreased survival rate. PT and INR are promising prognos-tic markers of NSCLC.