NODs are cytosolic proteins that contain a nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain(NOD).These intracellular proteins are a class of pattern recognition receptors with unique functions in the innate and the acquired immune systems.NOD like receptors,including NOD1 and NOD2,are associated with host responses to intracellular invasion by bacteria or the intracellular presence of specific bacterial products.Activation of NOD like receptors initiates proinflammatory signalling via NF-?B activation,which is necessary for clearance of infecting pathogens from the host.Several different mutations in the genes encoding NOD1 and NOD2 are associated with susceptibility to inflammatory disorders.

Objective To investigate the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2(NOD2),an intracelluar pathogen pattern recognition receptor,and Toll like receptor(TLR) 2,4 in human vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC),and its effect on production of proinflammatory cytokines in VSMC.Methods Human coronary artery smooth muscle cells were in vitro stimulated with NOD2 agonist Muramyl dipeptide(MDP),TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4(PAM3)and TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharides(LPS) alone or MDP in cocultured with either PAM3 or LPS.The mRNA expression of NOD2 and fibroblast growth factor-2(FGF-2) were measured by real time RT-PCR.The concentration in the culture supernatants of interleukin-8(IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) was determined by ELISA.VSMC proliferation was analyzed by the MTT assay.Results MDP up-regulate the expression of NOD2 mRNA in VSMC in a time-dependent manner(0 h:0.028?0.001;3 h:0.045?0.002;6 h:0.053?0.002;24 h:0.162?0.013).It up-regulate the expression of FGF-2 mRNA(MDP 9.3?0.4 vs control 7.4?0.2;P

AIM: Nucleotide binding oligomerization domain receptor 1 (NOD1) is a recently identified intracellular pathogen pattern recognition receptor of innate immunity. This study was designed to explore the role of NOD1-mediated innate immune signal pathway in the activation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), and investigate the effect of peptidoglycan (PGN) on the activation and expression of NOD1 in human VSMCs. METHODS: The experiment was performed in the central laboratory of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from June 2006 to March 2007.①Subject: Human coronary artery VSMCs were purchased from Cambrex company.② Methods: Human coronary artery VSMCs were cultured in vitro, and stimulated with NOD1 agonist PGN (10 mg/L) for 0, 3, 6 and 24 hours. ③ Evaluation: The mRNA expression of NOD1 in VSMCs was measured by real time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The concentration in the culture supernatants of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: ①Human VSMCs constitutively expressed a low level of NOD1 at resting condition. Upon PGN stimulation, the expression of NOD1 mRNA was up-regulated in VSMCs, from 0.164?0.005 to 0.231?0.027 (P

BACKGROUND:Mesenchymal stem cel transplantation has a certain controversy in the treatment of liver cirrhosis, and its effects on the receptor liver structure and function need further studies.
OBJECTIVE:To study the changes in liver ultrastructure, stereology parameters and liver function indexes of rat models with liver cirrhosis treated by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation.
METHODS:Rat models of liver cirrhosis were made using carbon tetrachloride and treated by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation. Liver ultrastructure of al the rats were observed by transmission electron microscope, the stereology parameters of the hepatic sinusoid were analyzed by a stereology analysis software, and the serum liver function indexes were detected by a biochemical analyzer.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The hepatic cels in the rat models exhibited acute hypoxia, lots of mitochondria were destroyed, and obvious karyopycnosis and capilarization of the hepatic sinusoid were found. The liver ultrastructure of rats undergoing cel transplantation was improved remarkably, the hepatic cel nucleus was nearly normal, mitochondrial sweling relieved notably and nuclear pore clogging lessened. (2) The number of hepatic sinusoids in the model group was reduced dramaticaly, but the total area and mean diameter of the hepatic sinusoid were enlarged significantly as compared with the cel transplantation and normal groups (P < 0.05). (3) Compared with the model group, the albumin level was significantly increased, but the levels of alanine aminotransferase and direct bilirubin were significantly decreased in the cel transplantation (P < 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the level of aspartate aminotransferase between the model and cel transplantation groups (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel transplantation can improve liver function and structure of rats with liver cirrhosis and lessen pathological changes of hepatic sinusoid, so it is an effective treatment for liver cirrhosis.

Objective To explore the development of the cross sign of olivepontocerebellar atrophy(OPCA) and its diagnostic value.Methods The clinical and imaging data of 8 patients with OPCA were analyzed retrospec-tively.MRI imaging used SE sequence,plain T1 WI,T2 WI,axial,coronal,sagittal imaging.Results All patients were hide onset.The major clinical presentation was cerebellar atsxia and autonomic nerve dysfunction.Positive radiographic findings were consistent with clinical presentation,mainly for the brain stem atrophy,8 patients of the group had this performance,followed by cerebellar atrophy,6 patients had symmetrical atrophy and 2 patients had asymmetric atro-phy.6 patients after onset of 1.5 -3 years showed a typical cross.Conclusion The cross sign gradually appears at a certain stage of development,and it has high specificity.So the combination of clinical and MRI is valuable for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of OPCA.

Objective:To establish an ion chromatography method for the determination of methane sulfonic acid in betahistine me-sylate and evaluate the uncertainty in the measurement. Methods: An ion chromatographic column IonPac AS11-HC ( 25 mm × 4. 0 mm,5 μm) was used with 12 mmol·L-1 NaOH as the eluent and an electrical conductivity detector with the suppressor of 30 mV. Results:The results showed that methane sulfonic acid could be detected without any interference. The calibration curve was linear within the range of 10-30 μg·ml-1(r=0.999 9)and the LOQ was 0.116 μg·ml-1. The average recovery was 100.8% (RSD=1. 2%, n=9). Based on the results of experiments, the influencing factors of uncertainty in the measurement were quantitatively eval-uated. The expanded uncertainty was obtained. Conclusion:The method is simple, accurate and selective. It can be used for the de-termination of methane sulfonic acid in betahistine mesylate. Based on the evaluation of uncertainty, the analysis can help reduce the uncertainty in the measurement and improve the accuracy and reliability of the determination.

Objective To explore the correlation of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with risk factors and target organ damage in hypertensive patients.Methods The levels of serum hs-CRP of 216 hypertensive cases (hypertension group) and 36 healthy subjects (control group) were tested and compared among different associated diseases, the number of involved target organ and the difference of involved target organ.The relativity between variables such as total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and so on and hs-CRP was analyzed by linear correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis.Results The levels of serum hs-CRP in hypertension group were higher than those in control group[( 1.99 ± 0.34) mg/L vs.( 1.10 ± 0.26 ) mg/L](P ＜ 0.01 ).The levels of serum hs-CRP in hypertension combined with coronarv disease and hvoertension combined with diabetes mellitus[(2.39 ± 0.24), (2.10 ± 0.18 ) mg/L, respectively]were higher than those in simple hypertension[( 1.85 ± 0.30 ) mg/L], and the levels of serum hs-CRP in hypertension combined with coronary disease were higher than those in hypertension combined with diabetes mellitus, and there were significant difference (P ＜ 0.05 ).The levels of serum hs-CRP were positively correlated with the number of involved target organ (r =0.747,P ＜0.01 ).There were significant differences among different associated diseases.The levels of serum hs-CRP in hypertension combined with left ventricle thickening were higher than those in hypertension combined with carotid atherosclerosis, renal damage and diabetic retinopathy,and there were significant differences (P ＜ 0.05 ).There was no significant difference in the level of serum hs-CRP between hypertension combined with carotid atherosclerosis and hypertension combined with renal damage (P ＞ 0.05 ).Stepwise regression analysis showed that the dominating factors of the level of serum hs-CRP were LVMI, age and HDL-C, and the level of hs-CRP showed negative correlation with HDL-C.Conclusions The levels of serum hs-CRP in hypertensive patients are higher than those in healthy subjects.The more number of involved target organ, the higher levels of serum hs-CRP.Patients with different involved target organ have different inflammatory degree.The levels of serum hs-CRP in hypertension combined with coronary disease are higher than those in hypertension combined with diabetes mellitus.Stepwise regression analysis shows that the dominating factors for hs-CRP levels are LVMI, HDL-C and age.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of most common used regimens against brucellosis.Methods: Search PubMed and CENTRAL database of Cochrane library for all literatures written in English about treatment of brucellosis and CBM database for all RCTs for Brucellosis in Chinese from the year 1985 till now.Assess the quality of the included literatures using Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias form.Combine data of relapse,total therapeutic failure,and adverse reaction of regimens for treating human brucellosis.Results: 17 literatures were included.Combined antibiotic therapeutic regimens such as DR,DS,QR and DG were compared.Rate of total therapeutic failure(RRcb:2.53,95%CI:1.51-4.23) and relapse(RRcb:2.69,95%CI:1.46-4.98) of DS regimen was lower than those of DR regimen,while adverse reaction did not show any significant differences between them(RRcb:1.40,95%CI:0.97-2.01).No significant differences were seen in rate of relapse(RRcb:1.24,95%CI:0.67-2.30) and total therapeutic failure(RRcb:1.41,95%CI:0.86-2.32) between QR and DR regimen.QR regimen had lower rate of adverse reaction than DR regimen(RRcb:1.79,95%CI:1.17-2.74).Conclusion: DS regimen priors to DR regimen.QR equals DR in treatment outcome,has fewer adverse reactions meanwhile.Triple antimicrobial based on double regimens seemed to provide better outcomes without a significant increase in adverse reaction,but more clinical evidences are still needed.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of Sheshiliuhuang decoction on clinical outcomes and cytokines in patients with urinary tract infection (UTI).

METHODNinety-two (92) patients were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups, the treatment group (n = 47) administered with Sheshiliuhuang decoction, one prescription, 2 times a day, while patients in the control group (n = 45) were given Sanjin pills, 3 pills a time, 3 times a day. The treatment lasted for 7 days. Clinical outcomes and serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 in both groups were examined before and after the treatment.

RESULTThe clinical effective rate was 93.62% in the treatment group and 88.22% the control group, indicating a significant difference of P < 0.05. Before the treatment, the serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-8 of treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). At the end of the treatment, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the treatment group were significantly decreased compared with the before treatment (P < 0.01) and those did in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSerum cytokines of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha were significantly increased in patients with UTI. Sheshiliuhuang decoction, with the mechanisms of regulating IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, is an effective agent in patients with UTI.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Tract Infections ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of Sanwushaoxie decoction on alternations of serum cytokines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSixty-three (63) RA patients were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups, with the treatment group administered with Sanwushaoxie decoction, one prescription, 2 times a day, while patients in the control group were given Common Threewingnut Root polyglycoside 20 mg a time, 3 times a day. The treatment was lasted for 60 days. Serum concentrations of IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-10 were observed during the treatment.

RESULTThe clinical effecacy and the experimental indexes were significantly improved in the treatment group than those did in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). There were significant differences of serum levels of 4 cytokines within the treatment group before and after the treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The serum levels of IL-4, IL-10 were significantly increased in treatment group compared with those did in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSanwushaoxie decoction is an effective agent in regulating cytokines, improving symptoms and experimental indexes in patients with RA.

Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; blood ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Prescriptions ; Prognosis ; Reference Values ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood