Objective To investigate the morphology and quantity of melanin and blood vessels in chloasma lesions by using reflectance confocal microscopy(RCM)and dermoscopy, and to explore the relationship of melanin and blood vessels with lesion color. Methods RCM was used to evaluate the quantity and distribution of melanin in lesions of 135 patients with chloasma, and to observe the morphology of melanin and dendritic melanocytes in 54 of the 135 patients, and dermoscopy was performed to assess the quantity and morphology of blood vessels in lesions of the 54 patients. Statistical analysis was carried out by Spearman correlation analysis to assess the relationship of melanin and blood vessels with lesion color. Results Increased quantity of melanin was observed in both the epidermal layer and dermo?epidermal junction in all the 135 patients, and in only the superficial dermis in 36(27%)patients. No patients showed increased quantity of melanin in only the dermis without epidermal involvement. Among the 54 patients, there was a positive correlation between the quantity score and morphology score of melanin(r=0.73, P<0.001), between the quantity score and morphology score of blood vessels(r=0.87, P<0.001), as well as between the total melanin score and total blood vessel score(r=0.554, P<0.001). Lesion color was positively correlated with the quantity and morphology of melanin(r = 0.51, 0.39, respectively, both P < 0.05)and blood vessels(r = 0.46, 0.44, respectively, both P<0.05). Conclusions RCM and dermoscopy can be used to evaluate melanin and blood vessels in chloasma lesions. There is a positive correlation between the quantity and morphology of melanin and between those of blood vessels in chloasma lesions, and lesion color is positively correlated with the quantity and morphology of melanin and blood vessels.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM)-1, a recently identified molecule, is involved in monocytic activation and inflammatory responses. TREM-1 is a member of natural killer cell receptor family and is expressed on neutrophils, mature monocytes and macrophages, and it can enhance the inflammatory responses mediated by Toll-like receptor-2 and -4, showing a role of inflammation promotion. Reportedly sTREM-1 was detectable in the body fluids in the presence of bacterial or fungal infection; therefore it might be used as a marker for inflammation. In addition, recombinant sTREM-1 may also be a new method for anti-inflammatory therapy. Recently, it has been found that TREM-1 not only promoted the acute inflammatory responses, but also participated in the development of chronic inflammation. This review summarizes the role of TREM-1 in the inflammation-associated dieases.

To investigate the effect of casein phosphopeptide-amorphic calcium phosphate(CPP-ACP) on the growth of Lactobacillus fermentum and to evaluate the possibility of CPP-ACP as a biological anticariogenic agent. Lactobacillus fermentum was inoculated in BHI with different concentrations of CPP-ACP and grew in anaerobic condition at 37 ℃ for 48 h. Used MTT method to evaluate the effects of CPP-ACP on the growth of Lactobacillus fermentum. CPP-ACP inhibited the growth of Lactobacillus fermentum effectively. With the concentration of CPP-ACP increasing, the values of A(550 nm) decreased. It was found that CPP-ACP had inhibitory effect on the growth of Lactobacillus fermentum, the inhibitory effect increased with CPP-ACP concentration.

Flavonoids ; analysis ; Soybeans ; analysis

Bis-(3′,5′) cyclic di-guanylate (c-di-GMP) is an almost ubiquitous intracellular second messenger in bacteria.Now it is known to regulate complex physiological processes, including mobility, adhesion, virulence and biofilm formation.The level of c-di-GMP is regulated by diguanylate cyclases (DGCs) containing GGDEF domains and phosphodiesterases (PDEs) containing EAL or HD-GYP domains.Recent studies have demonstrated that HD-GYP domain protein is a novel phosphodiesterase, which is also involved in the regulation of c-di-GMP degradation.This review highlights recent advances in the structure and biochemical functions of HD-GYP domain proteins, which might help to further clarify the mechanism of c-di-GMP signal system.

Objective: To study the therapeutic effect of alginate-barium sulfate microspheres via transcatheter hepatic arterial infusion in treatment of liver VX2 tumors in rabbits. Methods: A total of 24 rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups, with 5 rabbits in group A (normal control group); 19 rabbits implanted with liver VX2 turnors were further divided into 2 groups, with 10 rabbits in group B (tumor control group) , and 9 in group C (therapy group). Rabbits in group C were catheterized with 3F microcatheter by Seldinger technique for interventional therapy. Spiral CT scanning was performed in group B and group C 14 days after implantation and 14 days after treatment. Liver function tests (TB, ALT, and AST) were performed before and 7 days after treatment. Five rabbits in group B and C were sacrificed to measure the tumor weight and volume; MVD and expression of CD34 and VEGF expression were examined by immunohistochemical technique. Survival periods of the animals were observed and animals were sacrificed 70 days after treatment. Results: Seven days after treatment, the ALT and AST in group B were significantly higher than those in group A and group C (P<0.01). Fourteen days after treatment, the average tumor weights in group C was significantly lower than that in group B ([2.434±0.992] g vs [4.696± 1.2461 g, P<0.01); and the tumor volume in group C was also significantly lower than that in group B ([2.126±0.929] cm3 vs [3.962±1.101] cm3, p< 0.01). Pathological examination showed large necrotic areas in the tumors in group C. CD34 stained necrotic area had no obvious microvessels. The angiogenesis was decreased greatly in the tumor tissues left. Weak VEGF expression was only found in the survived tumor cells. In contrast, group B had abundant cancer cells, large cancerous nests, abundant CD34 positive angiogenesis and strong cytoplasmic staining of VEGF. The survival of rabbits in group C was obviously longer than in group B. Conclusion: Treatment with alginate-barium sulfate microsphere via hepatic artery infusion is safe and feasible for treating liver VX2 tumor. Alginate-barium sulfate microspheres can obviously inhibit tumor growth and have less toxicity to the normal liver tissue.

Objective To explore the prognostic factor by analyzing clinical characters, pathologic features and treatment methods of thymic carcinoma. Methods From January 2000 to Deceber 2011, 71 patients received re-section of thymic carcinoma. They were analyzed retrospectively based on Masaoka stage(stageII 7,stageIII 33, stageIV 31). The clinical factors included histological classification, Masaoka stage, treatment and prognosis. Sur-vival rate was calculated and the survival curve was plotted by Kaplan-Meimer and Log-Rank method, Multi-analy-sis was carried out by COX regression. Results For these patients, the median survival time was 57. 2 months, the 5-year survival rate was 47. 9%. 25 patients received complete resection with 5-years survival rate 68%, 46 patients received partial resection with 5-years survival rate 36. 9%. 41 patients whose lump size was greater than or equal to 8 cm with 5-years survival rate 53. 6%, 40% with lower than 8 cm. Histology Masaoka staging with 5-years survival rate was stage II(57. 1%) , stage III(69. 7%) and stage IV(29. 0%) , respectively. Defferent his-tological type with 5-years survival rate squamous carcinoma(55. 1%) , adenocarcinoma (14. 3%) ,small cell car-cinoma ( 28. 6%) , adenosquamous carcinoma ( 33. 3%) , and carcinoid ( 100%) , respectively. The operation method, the maximum diameter, mass Masaoka stage and different pathology types for survival were statistically dif-ferent (P<0. 05). Preoperative treatment, postoperative radiotherapy and differentiation degree of survival had no statistical difference. Conclusion Surgical method, lump size, masaoka stage and histological type are the impor-tant factors affecting prognosis. Adjuvant radiotherapy maybe is not the poor prognosis factor of thymic tumors. Sur-gical method and lump size are the significant independent prognostic factors in patients with thymic tumors.

[Objective]To evaluate the preemptive analgesic effect and safety with celecoxib in patients undergone the hip joint replacement.[Method]Fifty patients scheduled for elective hip joint replacement were randomly divided into two groups,celecoxib group and control group.Those of celecoxib group were given celecoxib 200 mg 24,12 h before incision.The operation was performed under extradural anesthesia by the same surgeons. All patients were given celecoxib 200 mg 8,24,36,48,60,72 h after the operation.Before celecoxib administration and after the operation,pain intensity was measured using visual analog scale(VAS),and analgesic requirements,side effects,hip joint ranges of motion,sleep states,hemorheology and phlebothrombosises messured with the ultrasonic wave were compared.[Result]There were no marked differences in the VAS pain scores before celecoxib administration between two groups.Compared with control group,the patients of celecoxib group had significantly lower VAS pain scores after the operation(P

Objective To explore the effects of alcoholic extracts of traditional Chinese medicines on the post-translational processing and trafficking of tyrosinase.Methods Human YUGEN8 amelanotic melanoma cells were grown in vitro;the cells were incubated with one of the seven traditional Chinese medicines,including Rhizoma Chuanxiong and psoralen.Protein analysis with Western blot,enzymolysis with endoglycosidase H (Endo H),and subcellular localization with laser confocal microscopy were per- formed.The expression,maturity and export from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of tyrosinase in the treated cells were compared with those in the untreated controls.Results Compared with controls,an approximate- ly 80-kDa,Endo H-resistant tyrosinase doublet,which represented mature glycoform of tyrosinase,was in- creased in melanocytes treated with Semen Cuscutae,and in those treated with Semen Persicae.Within those cells,tyrosinase was distributed outside ER resident protein calnexin.Conclusion Both Semen Cus- cutae and Semen Persicae could induce tyrosinase maturation,stability and export from ER to distal site.