Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a homotrimeric protein encoded within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). TNF-α can bind its receptors in the body to play a role in immune regulation and to participate in the various pathophysiology processes including fever, inflammation, infection, wound healing and tumors necrosis. TNF-α, an important component of inflammatory pathways, is up-regulated in the synovial tissue, synovial fluid and serum of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. In RA patients, TNF-α along with many kinds of tissue factors and matrix proteins together promotes the inflammatory response, abnormal apoptosis of synovial cells, pannus formation and cartilage and bone destruction, which maintain the sustainability of the progress of RA. Thus, TNF-α may be a clinical indicator of RA activity as well as an effective target for RA.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO) in children. Methods Clinical data from 35 children diagnosed with PIBO were retrospectively analyzed from April 2010 to June 2015 . The children were divided into different groups according to the length of glucocorticoid use, and the prognosis were compared. Results Thirty-ifve children all presented cough and wheezing. There were 12 cases in the group of less than one year of glucocorticoid treatment, 8 cases in the group of 1-2 years of glucocorticoid treatment, and 6 cases in the group of great than or equal to 2 years of glucocorticoid treatment. There was no signiifcant difference in the prognosis among the groups (P>?0 . 05 ). Conclusions The overall prognosis is poor in children with PIBO, even if the symptoms are improved. Glucocorticoid is helpful to remiss the symptoms of cough and wheezing, but prolonged use have no signiifcant effect on the prognosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of Peiyuan Shengjin Tongqiao Decoction, a Chinese herbal recipe with the actions of supplementing kidney to strengthen lung and dredging orifices , on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms and lung function of childhood asthma complicated with allergic rhinitis. Methods Fifty-five childhood asthma complicated with allergic rhinitis were randomized into treatment group(N=28) and control group (N = 27). The two groups were treated with Budesonide and Formoterol Fumarate Powder for Inhalation, and the treatment group was given oral use of Peiyuan Shengjin Tongqiao Decoction additionally. After treatment, the clinical efficacy of the two groups was evaluated, and TCM symptom scores and lung function indexes [ the percentage of forced expiratory volume in the first second to the expected value (FEV1％) and the percentage of peak expiratory flow to the expected value (PEF％) ] were also observed before and after treatment. Results (1)After treatment for 3 months, the total effective rate of the treatment group was 92.86％, being superior to that of the control group (81.48％), and the difference was significant (P<0.01). (2) After treatment, the scores of cough plus asthma, rhinitis symptom scores and overall TCM symptom scores of the two groups were decreased (P < 0.01 compared with those before treatment) , and the rhinitis symptom scores and overall TCM symptom scores of the treatment group were lower than those of the control group (P < 0.01). (3) After treatment, PEF％ and FEV1％ were both improved in the two groups (P < 0.05 compared with those before treatment) , and the improvement in the treatment group was superior to that in the control group (P <0.05). Conclusion Peiyuan Shengjin Tongqiao Decoction is effective for the control of childhood asthmacomplicated with allergic rhinitis by improving rhinitis symptom scores, overall TCM symptom scores and lung function.

Objective To investigate the effects of simvastatin on the production of interleukin (IL)-17and B-cell activating transcription factor (BATF) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy individuals.Methods PBMCs were isolated from heparinized blood of healthy donors or RA patients using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation.The cells were stimulated by PMA and ionomycin in the absence or presence of simvastatin or MVA at 37 ℃ 5％CO2.The mRAN level of IL-17,BATF and GAPDH was detected by RT-PCR; the protein level of IL-17 in supernatants was assayed by ELISA kit; and the protein level of BATF was detected by Western Blotting.The comparison between the two groups was carried out by paired-t test and Chi-square test was used for muhi-group comparison.Results PBMCs of healthy donors [(69.2±12.2) vs (8.1±2.2) pg/ml,P＜0.05; (76.6±14.7) vs (10.2±7.2) pg/ml,P＜0.05] and RA patients [(79.6±12.7) vs (15.8±5.8) pg/ml,P＜0.05; (90.3±9.7) vs (12.9±7.9) pg/ml,P＜0.05] were stimulated with PMA and ionomycin to produce high levels of IL-17.After treatment with simvastatin,the expression and secretion level of IL-17 in healthy controls and RA PBMCs were markedly decreased.The inhibition of simvastatin on the production of IL-17 was reversed by mevalonic acid (MVA),but no significant changes of BATF after treating with simvastatin.Conclusion Simvastatin inhibits the production of IL-17 in the PBMCs at gene and protein levels,which is not targeted at suppressing the expression of IL-17 transcription factor BATF.

Animals ; Inflammation ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction/metabolism* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

In this paper, a new method combining wavelet packet transform and multivariate multiscale entropy for the classification of epilepsy EEG signals is introduced. Firstly, the original EEG signals are decomposed at multi-scales with the wavelet packet transform, and the wavelet packet coefficients of the required frequency bands are extracted. Secondly, the wavelet packet coefficients are processed with multivariate multiscale entropy algorithm. Finally, the EEG data are classified by support vector machines (SVM). The experimental results on the international public Bonn epilepsy EEG dataset show that the proposed method can efficiently extract epileptic features and the accuracy of classification result is satisfactory.
Electroencephalography ; classification ; methods ; Entropy ; Epilepsy ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Wavelet Analysis

In order to realize brain-computer interface (BCI), optimal features of single trail motor imagery electroencephalogram (EEG) were extracted and classified. Mu rhythm of EEG was obtained by preprocessing, and the features were optimized by spatial filtering, which are estimated from a set of data by method of common spatial pattern. Classification decision can be made by Fisher criterion, and classification performance can be evaluated by cross validation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Optimal feature dimension determination projected by spatial filter was discussed deeply in cross-validation way. The experimental results show that the high discriminate accuracy can be guaranteed, meanwhile the program running speed is improved. Motor imagery intention classification based on optimized EEG feature provides difference of states and simplifies the recognition processing, which offers a new method for the research of intention recognition.

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) meets with great favor due to its high efficiency, low organic solvent consumption, and the specialty for the identification of the isomeric species. This review de-scribes the advances of SFC in targeted and untargeted lipid profiling. The advancement of the SFC in-struments and the stationary phases are summarized. Typical applications of SFC to the targeted and untargeted lipid profiling are discussed in detail. Moreover, the perspectives of SFC in the lipid profiling are also proposed. As a useful and promising tool for investigating lipids in vitro and in vivo, SFC will predictably obtain further development.

Objective To evaluate the effect of levamlodipine intervention in diabetic nephropathy patients which accompanied with hypertension, using the technology of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of functional magnetic resonance (fMRI).Methods A controlled prospective method was taken , and fifty diabetic nephropathy ( phase III) patients which accompanied with hypertension were randomized assigned to two groups of A ( n =26) and B ( n =24).Levamlodipine (2.5 mg qd) was taken by patients of group A and amlodipine (5 mg qd) was taken by patients of group B for 24 weeks, respectively.Two groups both took angiotensinⅡreceptor blockers (ARBs) as the first line antithypertensive agents , their urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), serum creatinine (sCr), cystatin C (Cys C) , and DWI scanning were detected before and after intervention .The levels of UAER, apparent diffusion coeffi-cient (ADC) value were compared between two groups before and after intervention .During the 24th week, two groups'adverse reac-tion to the medicines and the levels of blood pressure were recorded in each follow-up visit.Results The levels of UAER, systolic blood pressure(SBP), and diastolic blood pressure(DBP) were Significantly lower in group A after 24-week intervention compared to baseline [42.5 (25.3~91.0)μg/min vs 49.2(29.7~96.8)μg/min,(112.6 ±6.4)mmHg vs (135.3 ±7.6)mmHg, (71.4 ± 10.7)mmHg vs (80.3 ±11.6)mmHg, P <0.05, respectively].DWI scanning showed that ADC value of renal parenchyma was sig-nificantly improved than that of baseline [(2.45 ±0.12)vs(2.17 ±0.09), P <0.05].In Group B, the level of SBP was also signifi-cantly lower than that of baseline [(121.5 ±11.6)mmHg vs (134.8 ±9.2)mmHg, P <0.05], and ADC value of renal parenchyma was significantly improved than that of baseline [(2.28 ±0.15) vs (2.14 ±0.09), P <0.05].No difference was found in DBP and UAER before and after intervention ( P >0.05).Group A had a better improvement of SBP (ΔSBP) and ADC (ΔADC) after inter-vention compared to group B ( P =0.02,0.01, respectively).The overall adverse reaction incidence was 15.4%(4/26) in group A and 41.7%(10/24)in group B, respectively (χ2 =4.27, P =0.0387).Conclusions For the diabetic nephropathy (phase III) pa-tients accompanied with hypertension , levamlodipine likely showed better effects on reducing comprehensive blood pressure and UAER , improving renal microcirculation , with less overall adverse reaction compared to amlodipine .

Objective To study the clinical application of finger reconstruction by transplantation of two second toes and evaluate the postoperative appearance and function regarding the reconstructed hand and donor feet. Methods Defect of fingers were treated by transplantation and reconstruction with a total of 74 cases,including two second toes transplantation for both thumbs in 2 cases,thumb with index finger in 10 cas es, index finger with middle finger in 8 cases and middle finger with ring finger in 17 cases. Results Sevetythree fingers survived except 1 failed. During the follow up examination made from 3 to 36 months, the reconstructed fingers could move, write and dress with ease, pinch forcefully, show good recovery of manual work and the sensation of pain and warmth. Two-point discrimination found to be between 5 to 10 mm. Both donor feet have symmetrical appearance with normal gait and satisfactory motion. Also, no pain was complained.Conclusion Transplantation of two second toes from both feet is a good method to reconstruct defect of multiple fingers, and has little effect on the appearance and motion of feet.