Objective　To investigate if there is any effect of interleukin-18 (IL-18) or if IL-18 modulates IL-1β effects on islet fun ction.Methods　Insulin release and nitrite production from isolated islets of newborn Wistar rats were measured after incubation with or w ithout cytokines.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was u sed to detect mRNA expression of the IL-18 receptor signaling chain (IL-18Rβ) .Results　(1) There were no significant effects of 0.625～ 10nmol/L of recombinant murine (rm) IL-18 alone on accumulated or glucose-cha llenged insulin release and nitrite production after 24h.(2) 15pg/ml of recombi nant human (rh) IL-1β significantly increased nitrite production and inhibited insulin release.However,0.625～10nmol/L of rm IL-18 failed to modulate the abo ve effects caused by IL-1β.(3) 24h rm IL-12 preincubation failed to sensitize islets to the effects of 10nmol/L of rm or recombinant rat (rr) IL-18 alone or to pri me islets to IL-1β actions on insulin release and nitrite production.(4) IL-1 8Rβ mRNA was not expressed in isolated islets even after exposure to IL-12 for 48h.Conclusion　Unlike IL-1β,IL-18 dose not play a dir ect role in the destruction of islet β-cell function.

Objective To investigate if there is any effect of interleukin-18 (IL-18) or if IL-18 modulates IL-1? effects on islet function.Methods Insulin release and nitrite production from isolated islets of newborn Wistar rats were measured after incubation with or without cytokines.Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect mRNA expression of the IL-18 receptor signaling chain (IL-18R?).Results (1) There were no significant effects of 0.625～10nmol/L of recombinant murine (rm) IL-18 alone on accumulated or glucose-challenged insulin release and nitrite production after 24h.(2) 15pg/ml of recombinant human (rh) IL-1? significantly increased nitrite production and inhibited insulin release.However,0.625～10nmol/L of rm IL-18 failed to modulate the above effects caused by IL-1?.(3) 24h rm IL-12 preincubation failed to sensitize islets to the effects of 10nmol/L of rm or recombinant rat (rr) IL-18 alone or to prime islets to IL-1? actions on insulin release and nitrite production.(4) IL-18R? mRNA was not expressed in isolated islets even after exposure to IL-12 for 48h.Conclusion Unlike IL-1?,IL-18 dose not play a direct role in the destruction of islet ?-cell function.

AIM: To investigate the possible role of prostaglandin, NO and potassium channel in the adaptive blunting of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in the high altitude animal (pika). METHODS: The effect of L-NAME, indomethacin and 4-AP on the response of isolated lung strips of pika and Wistar rats instead of pulmonary artery to acute hypoxia were studied. RESULTS: (1) After inhibition of prostaglandins by indomethacin, the percentage increase in hypoxic constriction in lung tissue strip of pikas was greater than that in Wistar rats[(64.7?50.9)% vs (19.7?14.1)%], P

AIM: To compare the effects of hypoxia on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), iNOS and eNOS mRNA in cultured umbilical vein endothelial cells (UVECs) obtained from Tibetan and Han. METHODS: UVECs were obtained from native Tibetan and immigrant Han, respectively and cultured under hypoxia conditions (0.5% oxygen) for 2 h, 4 h, 12 h, and 24 h and normoxic conditions. VEGF, iNOS and eNOS mRNAs were detected with methods of RT-PCT. RESULTS: VEGF and iNOS mRNAs were up-regulated while eNOS mRNA depressed by hypoxia similarly in Tibetan and Han UVECs. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the changes of VEGF, iNOS and eNOS mRNA expression are common pathways in the mechanisms of hypoxic responses.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether transdermal scopolamine increased cardiac vagal activity in patients during the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

METHODS30 patients with a first acute myocardial infarction and preserved sinus rhythm who were on no drug that could influence the sinus node were randomly assigned to either treatment group or placebo group. Measures of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients given drug or placebo were obtained by digital 24 hour Holter recording before and after treatment. Baroreflex sensitivity was performed using the phenylephrine method.

RESULTSNo significant differences was found in the indices of the time domain and the frequency domain in both groups before treatment. Patients with transdermal scopolamine showed a significant increase in the standard deviation of normal RR intervals (SDNN), standard deviation of all five min mean normal RR intervals (SDANN), root mean square of differences of successive normal RR intervals (rMSSD), total power (TP, 0.000. - 0.40 Hz), low frequency peak (LF, 0.040 - 0.15 Hz), high frequency peak (HF, 0.15 - 0.40 Hz), and Baroreflex sensitivity after treatment (P < 0.05 - 0.01). These indices did not change in patients given placebo.

CONCLUSIONLow doses of transdermal scopolamine safely increase cardiac parasympathetic activity and improve autonomic indices in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Administration, Cutaneous ; Adult ; Aged ; Baroreflex ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Heart ; innervation ; Heart Rate ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; physiopathology ; Scopolamine Hydrobromide ; pharmacology ; Vagus Nerve ; drug effects ; physiopathology

Objective: To investigate the development of hepatocyte senescence during liver fibrogenesis and to explore the effect and possible mechanism of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on hepatocyte senescence and liver fibrosis. Methods: A total of 42 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were selected. Eighteen rats were induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) to establish the rat model of liver fibrosis. On the day 0, six and 28 after the establishment of the model, six rats were executed respectively to analyze the liver fibrosis and hepatocyte senescence in CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis rat models. Twenty-four rats were divided into control group, CCl₄ group, CCl₄+ lentivirus vector (LV-CTR) group and CCl₄+ LV-IGF-1 group, with six rats in each group.The rats were sacrificed on the 28th day after the establishment of the model. The liver tissues were obtained and the inferior vena cava blood was collected to analyze the effect of IGF-1 overexpression on liver fibrosis and hepatocyte senescence. Analysis variance (ANOVA), least significant difference (LSD) and Dunnett T3 test were performed for statistical analysis. Results: Steatohepatitis on the 6th day and early stage of hepatic fibrosis on the 28th day, which indicated the model was successfully established. The results of the effects of IGF-1 overexpression on hepatic fibrosis and hepatocyte senescence showed that on the 28th day, compared with those of control group, both the score of Ishak liver inflammation and necrosis and the score of Ishak liver fibrosis were increased in the CCl₄ group, CCl₄+ LV-CTR group and CCl₄+ LV-IGF-1 group (0, 14.55±1.94, 15.43±2.19 and 10.29±1.47, respectively; 0, 3.51±0.51, 3.21±0.79 and 1.32±0.40, respectively). The area of liver tissues by Masson staining (0.45±0.40, 5.62±1.08, 6.03±0.65 and 2.88±1.54), SA-β-Gal staining (1.75±0.80, 4.28±1.19, 4.92±1.14, 3.11±0.79), p53 (2.02±0.81, 4.36±1.02, 4.72±0.72 and 3.58±0.70) and progerin (0.72±0.40, 4.52±1.01, 4.01±1.25 and 2.66±0.80) all were increased. The levels of serum IGF-1 all were decreased ((632.00±6.04), (503.00±40.42), (508.00±21.94) and (572.40±5.94) ng/L). However the levels of ALT all were increased ((11.20±5.97), (214.00±73.90), (245.00±76.06) and (30.00±5.00) U/L). The relative expression levels of p53 (0.58±0.06, 1.78±0.18, 1.72±0.10 and 1.23±0.22) and progerin (0.12±0.02, 0.78±0.15, 1.32±0.20 and 0.81±0.16) in the primary hepatocytes were increased. The differences were all statistically significant (F=91.674, 90.778, 32.982, 9.726, 10.640, 17.029, 103.910, 30.059, 64.707 and 97.457, all P<0.05). Compared with those of CCl₄+ LV-CTR group, the score of Ishak liver inflammation and necrosis and the score of Ishak liver fibrosis were decreased in the rats′ liver tissues of CCl₄+ LV-IGF-1 group, the areas of Masson staining, SA-β-Gal staining, p53 and progerin in the liver tissues were decreased, the level of serum IGF-1 was increased, the level of ALT was decreased, and the relative expression levels of p53 and progerin in primary hepatocytes both were decreased. The differences were all statistically significant (all P<0.05, respectively). Conclusions Hepatocyte senescence increases in the process of liver fibrosis induced by CCl₄. Overexpression of IGF-1 may alleviate liver injury, improve hepatocyte senescence and liver fibrogenesis by regulating the nuclear p53/progerin pathway.

Objective To investigate the organic components in cefmetazole sodium butyl rubber clousures for injection and their migration into drugs,and to evaluate the compatibility of pharmaceutical butyl rubber clousures with cefmetazole sodium.Methods The structures of volatile components in butyl rubber clousures of cefmetzole sodium for injection and those migrated into drugs were identified by GC/MS SCAN mode and National Institute of Standard and Technology(NIST)spectrum library.An HPLC method was established to quantitatively analyse the antioxidants and vulcanizing agents transferred from butyl rubber clousures into drugs.Results Organic compounds such as antioxidant BHT and silicone oil were identified by GC/MS.The HPLC was used to determine the peak area of antioxidant(168,264,330,1 076,1 010)and vulcanizing agent in the range of 0.5-100 μg·mL-1 with good linear relationship with the peak area.The average recoveries(low,medium,and high)of antioxidant and vulcanizing agents ranged from 90.0%to 110.0%,and the corresponding RSD were all less than 2%(n=9).It was found that the antioxidant BHT and silicone oil in cefmetazole sodium butyl rubber clousures for injection would migrate into the drug and affect the clarity of the solution.Conclusion GC-MS/HPLC method can be used as an effective method for quality control of packing materials(butyl rubber clousures)and drug compatibility studies,so as to ensure the safety of drug use by the public.

[Abstract] Objective:To prepare the third generation CAR-T cells targeting EGFRvⅢ (EGFRvⅢCAR-T) and to detect its specific killing effect against EGFRvⅢ+ U87 cells in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Human CD3+ T cells were transfected with lentiviral EGFRv Ⅲ/3CAR, which was generated by calcium phosphate co-precipitation of three plasmids. The expression of EGFRvⅢ/3CAR in T cells was detected by Western blotting and flow cytometry. In vitro killing effect of EGFRvⅢ/3CAR-T cells on EGFRvⅢ+ U87 cells was detected by 51Cr release assay. The secretion of cytokine IFN-γ of EGFRvⅢ/3CAR-T cells was detected by ELISA. Nude mouse xenograft model was constructed to detect the in vivo cytotoxicity of EGFRvⅢ/3CAR-T cells on xenograft tumor. Results: The EGFRvⅢ/3CAR lentivirus was successfully packaged with an average titer of 5×106 TU/ml. Western blotting showed that a protein band of approximate 58 000 molecular weight was observed in EGFRvⅢ/3CAR-T cells but absent in untransfected T cells. Flow cytometry indicated the average transduction efficiency of EGFRvⅢ/3CAR was 52.3%. 51Cr release assay showed that the specific killing effect of EGFRvⅢ/ 3CAR-T cells was positively correlated with E/T ratio (E∶T=4∶1, 8∶1, 16∶1, 32∶1). ELISA showed that cytokine IFN-γ secretion was (1 836±148.2) pg/ml, which was significantly different from that of NTT and GFP+ T cells (P<0.01). The specific killing activity of EGFRvⅢ/3CAR-T cells and IFN-γ secretion were both dependent on the expression level of EGFRvⅢ in U87 cells. The tumor growth monitoring results showed that the tumor volume of EGFRvⅢ/3CAR-T cell group was significantly different from that of GFP+ T cell group and PBS group around 3 weeks after injection (P<0.01). Conclusion: EGFRvⅢ/3CAR-T cells demonstrated specific antitumor effectagainstEGFRvⅢ+U87cellsbothinvitro and in vivo, providing basis for immunotherapyofgliomainfuture clinical use.

Objective: To explore the gene transduction method of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) mediated by novel cationic polymer nanocarrier mPEG-P (Asp-AED-g-HFB) (PAEF) and PigyBac transposon system to modify natural killer (NK) cells, providing a new strategy for immunotherapy of cancer cells. Methods: PAEF/DNA (transposase+transposon) complex were prepared. The particle size distribution and surface potential of PAEF/DNA complexes were measured with Nano-ZSE Dynamic Light Scattering System (Malvern Instruments). The DNA encapsulation rate, release and stability of PAEF were evaluated by DNA gel electrophoresis, and then by combiningwithparticlesizeandsurfacepotentialtodeterminethepreferentialN/PratiotoenterNKcells.Thecell cytotoxicity of PAEF/DNA complexes under different N/P ratios was analyzed by CCK-8 cytotoxicity test. Transduction efficiency of NK cells was evaluated by Fluorescence microscopy and Flow cytometry, and the feasibility of PAEF gene transfection vectors was assessed. Results: PAEF could encapsulate DNA to form nano-complexes with the diameter of 100-150 nm, which was suitable to mediate DNA entering into cells. PAEF could completely encapsulate DNA with N/P ratio of 20. In the presence of reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT), PAEF had a good ability to release DNA. NK-92 cells transfected with PAEF/DNA complex, which was formed at the N/P ratio of 80, attained a significantly higher cell viability than cells of lipofectamine transfection group [(72.50±3.9)% vs (64.03±1.8)%, P<0.05]; Fluorescence microscopic observation showed more fluorescence and higher fluorescence intensity in cells of PAEF/DNA group; Flow cytometry showed the highest transfection efficiency of 83.4%. Conclusions: Nanocarrier PAEF can encapsulate DNA well by electrostatic adsorption, and has good biocompatibility and high efficiency for gene transduction. It provides a good experimental basis for adoptive immunotherapy.