Blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the major obstacle for drug delivery into the central nervous system (CNS). However, there is no ideal model animal for the study of BBB permeability till now. Currently zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a powerful model organism for the study of vertebrate biology. In this study, the feasibility of using zebrafish as model animal was investigated for BBB permeability by comparing the results of administration of BBB-penetrating peptide and protein to mouse and zebrafish. The results showed that the BBBs of mouse and zebrafish were similar in molecular permeability. Additionally, zebrafish has advantageous features as a model animal, such as small size, fertile and easy to breed. Therefore, it is suggested that zebrafish may be a favored model for the study of BBB permeability.

Objective To screen B and T cell antigen epitopes on Acinetobacter baumannii outer membrane protein 33×103-36×103 (OMP33-36).Methods B and T cell epitopes on OMP33-36 of Acinetobacter baumannii were predicted by bioinformatics methods and synthesized.Recombinant expression plasmid pET-30a-OMP33-36 was cloned and used to express OMP33-36 in a prokaryotic expression system.The expressed OMP33-36 was used to immunize BALB/c mice after purification.Serum sample was collected from each mouse in immunization and negative control groups, and then analyzed by indirect ELISA with synthesized peptides to identify B cell epitopes.Splenocytes were separated from every mouse and then cultured with each of the synthesized peptides, respectively.Double sandwich ELISA was performed to detect IFN-γ secretion in the supernatant of cell cultures for screening of T cell epitopes.Results Candidates of B and T cell epitopes were constructed, which were PB1, PB2, PB3, PT1, PT2 and PT3.Results of the indirect ELISA showed that peptides PB1 and PB2 reacted with the serum samples collected from immunized mice and A450 values of the immunization group were significant higher than those of the negative control group.Compared with the negative control group, enhanced secretion of IFN-γ following peptide PT3 stimulation was observed in the immunization group as indicated by the double sandwich ELISA.Conclusion Two B cell epitopes PB1 and PB2, and one T cell epitope PT3 on the OMP33-36 of Acinetobacter baumannii were successfully constructed and screened out.

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) are the highest proportion of liver non-parenchymal cells with fenestrae structure and high endocytic ability maintaining liver homeostasis and playing an indispensable role in the physiology and patholo-gy of the liver.LSECs are involved in the regulation of patholog-ical process in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),alco-holic fatty liver(AFL),hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),liverregeneration and liver fibrosis mainly via antiinflammation,endocytosis,secretion of angiocrine signals and maintaining thequiescence phenotype of HSCs.This review highlights the physiological function of LSECs and the different roles in different pathological conditions,which aims to provide a new perspectivefor the treatment of liver diseases through targeting LSECs.

1363 cases of wounds and burn wounds wastreate withtopical application of bee honey with an average thera-peutic course of 14.5 days.the total effective rate be-ing 97.5%.When comparison made with 635 casestreated by antibiotics,the results were significantlydifferent.Observations revealed that bee honey pos-sesses the actions of nourishing the wounds,antiin-flammation,antimicrobe,absorption and decrease ofexudation,improvement of healing.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase ( NOXs) contributes to the production of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) in liver fibrosis, resulting in the activation of endoplas-mic reticulum stress ( ERS ) and IRE1α-XBP1 signaling path-way. ROS is a series of oxygen metabolites and its derivatives, produced by the single electron reduction of molecular oxygen ( O2 ) , including superoxide anion ( O2- ) , hydroxyl radical (-OH) , hydrogen peroxide ( H2 O2 ) , hypochlorite ion ( OCl-) and so on. They can interact with a large number of molecules, including small inorganic molecules, proteins, lipids, carbohy-drates and nucleic acids, resulting in lipid peroxidation of cell damaging molecules. And as a second messenger, ROS can also affect the proliferation and activation of HSC in liver fibrosis, and induce the hepatocyte apoptosis through a variety of cellular signal transduction. Here we review the current status of the study on the mechanism of NOXs in liver fibrosis.

Objective:To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on postoperative gastrointestinal function in the patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery.Methods:Fifty patients of both sexes, aged 50-75 yr, with body mass index of 18.5-28.0 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰor Ⅱ, undergoing elective lumbar spinal surgery under general anesthesia, were divided into 2 groups ( n=25 each) by a random number table method: control group (group C) and TEAS group. In group C, stimulating electrodes were placed at the non-acupoint parts of the limbs, but no electrical stimulation was applied. In group TEAS, bilateral Neiguan (PC6), Hegu (L14), Zusanli (ST36), Shangjuxu (ST37) and Xiajuxu (ST39) acupoints were stimulated using disperse-dense waves with a frequency of 2/100 Hz. The intensity of stimulation was the maximum current that patients could tolerate. Simulation lasting 30 min was performed once a day before induction of anesthesia and within 1-7 days after operation. The time to first flatus, time to first defecation, time for recovery of first bowel sounds and occurrence of abdominal distension were recorded. The occurrence and score of postoperative nausea and vomiting were recorded at 24, 48 and 72 h after operation. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected before operation and at 1 and 3 days after operation for determination of the concentrations of serum substance P and cholecystokinin before surgery and at 1 and 3 days after surgery using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:Compared with group C, the time to first flatus, time to first defecation and time for recovery of first bowel sounds were significantly shortened, and the incidence of abdominal distension was decreased in group TEAS ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the incidence and score of postoperative nausea and vomiting and serum concentrations of substance P and cholecystokinin before surgery and at 1 and 3 days after surgery between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:TEAS can improve postoperative gastrointestinal function in the patients undergoing lumbar spinal surgery.