Objective To explore clinical characteristics of the digestive tract obstruction due to annular pancreas. Methods We reviewed retrospectively clinical features, operative findings and the autopsy of 5 children with annular pancreas. Results Neonate patients usually present complete upper gastro intestinal obstruction because most of them were complicated with duodenal atresia. Infants present chronic incomplete intestinal obstruction duo to annular pancreas. 35.8% of duodenal constriction was caused by annular pancreas. Conclusions All the symptomatic patients with annular pancreas should undergo exploration to restore the consecution of the digestive tract and to detect if there is a concurrent malformation such as intestinal atresia.

Objective To investigate whether uninduced autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cell (ABM-MNC) could survive and differentiate into myocardial cells and endothelial cells in the infarcted heart. Methods 40 male big-ear Japanese rabbits were divided into two groups randomly: the transplanted group (n=20) and the control group (n=20). The model of acute myocardial infarction was made by left anterior descending artery ligation, which was confirmed by ECG. The cardiac function was evaluated by the echocardiography. 7 days later, BrdU labeled ABM-MNCs were injected into infarcted and marginal area myocardium in the transplanted group, while the control rabbits were injected with saline. 6 weeks later, the hearts were harvested for histology and immunohistochemistry evaluation. Results In the transplanted group, viable cells labeled with BrdU could be identified in the infarcted area, and myocytes and endothelial cells labeled with BrdU can also be found in the border area, these cells demonstrate myogenic differentiation with the expression of α-Actin by immunostaining. Moreover, the vessel density of the transplanted group in the borders of the infarction was higher than the control group (P＜0. 05), but there was no difference in the infarcted areas between two groups (P＞0.05). At the 6 weeks after experiment, the cardiac function was improved in both groups, but the transplanted group improved more than that in the control group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cells injected into the infarcted myocardium could survive in both the infarcted and the border areas, differentiated into endothelial cells and other cells which have obtained the characters of myocytes, and increase the vessel density in border area, improved the cardiac function.

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of acute exacerbation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)Methods A case with clinical proven acute exacerbation in IPF and treated with corticosteroid was described and the foreign literature was reviewed.Results Most patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF)show slowly progressive deterioration.However,accelerated deterioration also occurs without any definite factors on infection,heart failure,et al in a few of patients with IPF who have previously shown slowly progressive deterioration,and for part of patients corticosteroid treatment is effective.Conclusion Some acute exacerbation in idiopatic pulmonary fibrosis can be idiopathic.

Objective To investigate whether uninduced autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cell (ABM-MNC) could survive and differentiate into myocardial cells and endothelial cells in the infarcted heart. Methods 40 male big-ear Japanese rabbits were divided into two groups randomly: the transplanted group (n=20) and the control group (n=20). The model of acute myocardial infarction was made by left anterior descending artery ligation, which was confirmed by ECG. The cardiac function was evaluated by the echocardiography. 7 days later, BrdU labeled ABM-MNCs were injected into infarcted and marginal area myocardium in the transplanted group, while the control rabbits were injected with saline. 6 weeks later, the hearts were harvested for histology and immunohistochemistry evaluation. Results In the transplanted group, viable cells labeled with BrdU could be identified in the infarcted area, and myocytes and endothelial cells labeled with BrdU can also be found in the border area, these cells demonstrate myogenic differentiation with the expression of α-Actin by immunostaining. Moreover, the vessel density of the transplanted group in the borders of the infarction was higher than the control group (P<0.05), but there was no difference in the infarcted areas between two groups (P>0.05). At the 6 weeks after experiment, the cardiac function was improved in both groups, but the transplanted group improved more than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cells injected into the infarcted myocardium could survive in both the infarcted and the border areas, differentiated into endothelial cells and other cells which have obtained the characters of myocytes, and increase the vessel density in border area, improved the cardiac function.

Objective: To observe the preventive effect of alkaline drinking water on hyperuricemia in mice. Methods: Sixty male SPF Kunming mice were randomly divided into six groups: pH 7.3, pH 8.0, pH 9.3 intervention groups, in which the mice were given water with pH values of 7.3±0.5, 8.0±0.5 and 9.3±0.6, respectively; the control group, model group and positive drug group ( with 2 g/L allopurinol ) were given double distilled water. Except for the control group, the mice in each group were given yeast by gavage (1.5 g/mL) for 13 days. On the 14th day, the mice were injected with 300 mg/kg potassium oxyzinate by intraperitoneal injection, and then fasted for 1 day. On the 16th day, serum uric acid, creatinine and urea nitrogen were detected, and renal tissues were stained to observe the morphology.The expression levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin ( NGAL ), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1( TIMP1 ), organic anion transporter 1 ( OAT1 ) and urate transporter 1 ( URAL-1 ) in renal tissues were determined bywestern blotting. The mRNA expression levels of URAL-1 and OAT1 were detected by real-time fluorescent quantita⁃tive polymerase chain reaction. Results: The level of serum uric acid was higher in the model group than in the control group and in the pH 9.3 intervention group (both P<0.05). The number and area of renal tubular lesions were less in the pH 9.3 intervention group than in the model group (all P<0.05). The relative expression levels of NGAL and URAT-1 proteins were lower in the pH 9.3 intervention group than in the model group, and the relative expression level of OAT1 protein was higher in the pH 9.3 intervention group than in the model group ( all P<0.05). The relativeexpression level of URAT-1 mRNA was lower in the pH 9.3 intervention group than in the model group, and the rela⁃tive expression level of OAT1 mRNA was higher in the pH 9.3 intervention group than in the model group ( all P<0.05 ). Conclusion Alkaline drinking water with pH value of 9.3±0.6 can effectively prevent hyperuricemia and acute kidney injury in mice.

Objective To examine the effectiveness of HGF in blocking TGF-β1 induced α-SMA and extracellular matrix production in fibroblasts of the flexor tendon sheath. Methods Seven adult male New Zealand white rabbits (3.75-4.00 kg) were used for this study. Both of their front feet were sterilised and the middle digit flexor digitorum profundus tendon equivalents were identified and isolated. These specimens were used to establish primary cell cultures. Sheath fibroblasts were obtained from rabbit flexor tendons. After the cells reached confluence, cells were detached with trypsin/ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid. All experiments were performed using the cells at the third passage. At 70% confluence the medium was supplemented with 5 ng/ml of TGF-β1 along with increasing doses of HGF (10-40 ng/ml). After 72 hours incubation, the productions of α-SMA were assayed by Western-Blot. The productions of collagen Ⅰ and fibronectin in supernatants culture were examined using ELISA. Results Evaluation of protein expression revealed that TGF-β1 markedly induced α-SMA expression in cultured rabbit flexor tendon sheath fibroblasts. TGF-β1 treated fibroblasts expressed 1.8-fold more protein compared to non-treated fibroblasts (P ＜ 0.05). However, simultaneous incubation of HGF significantly abrogated TGF-β1 induced α-SMA expression in a dose-dependent manner (P＜ 0.05). Treatment with TGF-β1 significantly stimulated collagen Ⅰ and fibronectin production in flexor tendon sheath fibroblasts (P ＜ 0.01). Remarkably, the addition of HGF reduced productions of all components induced by TGF-β1 in a dose-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion HGF antagonizes TGF-β1 induced α-SMA, collagen Ⅰ, and fibronectin production in flexor tendon sheath fibroblasts. The findings provide a cellular and molecular basis for HGF's acting as a therapeutic agent for adhesions in flexor tendons.

The aim of this study is to investigate the critical factor affecting the properties of PLGA microspheres fabricated by a solid-in-oil-in-water (S/O/W) emulsion technique with BSA as a model protein. Prior to encapsulation, the BSA microparticles were fabricated by a modified freezing-induced phase separation method. The microparticles were subsequently encapsulated into PLGA microspheres by S/O/W emulsion method, then Motic BA200 biological microscope, confocal laser scanning microscope, scanning electron microscope were used to observe the structure of S/O/W emulsion and PLGA microspheres. The protein content extracted or released from BSA microspheres was measured by Bradford protein assay method. It was found that NaCl added in the outer aqueous phase effectively suppressed material exchange between the inner and outer phase of S/O/W emulsion. Then, the structure and permeability of obtained microspheres were influenced. As a result, with the increase of NaCl concentration in the outer aqueous phase, the encapsulation efficiency of microspheres significantly increased from 60% to more than 85%, the burst release of microspheres reduced from 70% to 20%, and the particle size decreased from 103 microm to 62 microm. Furthermore, the rehydration of encapsulated protein was also retarded and then integrity of BSA was successfully protected during encapsulation process. In vitro release test showed that BSA released from PLGA microspheres in a sustained manner for more than 30 days.

Objective To investigate the function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)class Ⅰ-related gene (MIC) in ulcerative colitis (UC) pathogenesis. Methods The difference of MICA, M ICB and their ligand NKG2D genes expression in colonic mucosa tissue of 34 UC patients and 12 healthy people were determined by fluorescent real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the expression location of M ICA in colonic mucosa tissue was obtained by laser scanning confocal microscope. Results The mRNA level of MICA, MICB and NKG2D expression in UC groups (3. 5408±2. 6658, 8. 9879±3. 2893 and 2. 4395±0. 8147 accordingly) was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls ( 1. 0477 ± 0. 7201, 4. 6293 ± 1. 2616 and 1. 1624±0. 3954 accordingly) (P = 0.0053, 0.0039 and 0. 0078 accordingly). It suggested that MICA was expressed in colonic epithelia cell membranes by laser scanning confocal microscopy.Conclusion The mRNA level of MICA, M ICB, and their ligand, NKG2D expression were all up regulated in the colonic mucosa of UC patients, which indicated MIC gene might perform important local function in UC.

Objective To investigate the expression of serum soluble cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (sCTLA4), the association of sCTLA4 level with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP), as well as its role in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The relationship-1661A/G and -1722T/C polymorphisms of CTLA4 gene and between disease susceptibility and phenotype of CD was analyzed. Methods A total of 126 CD patients and 300 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum sCTLA4 level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentrations of ESR and CRP were analyzed by automatic ESR Analyzer SRS 100/Ⅱ and rate nephelometry, respectively. The polymorphisms of CTLA4-1661A/G and -1722 T/C were genotyped by DNA sequencing. Results Serum sCTLA4 level was higher in CD patients than in healthy controls [(18. 70±3. 72) ng/ml vs (1.72±0. 32) ng/ml, P＜0. 01)]. Among CD patients, sCTLA4 level was higher in patients with active disease when compared to those with inactive disease [(19.83±4.35) ng/ml vs (18. 02±3.14) ng/ml, P=0. 015)]. sCTLA4 level was positively correlated with ESR and CRP levels (r=0. 267, P=0. 003; r=0. 524 P ＜0.01, respectively). In CD patients, serum sCTLA4 level was significantly higher in those with stricturing disease behavior than that in those without stricturing and penetrating or with penetrating disease behavior (P= 0.021; P=0. 015, respectively). Detection of CTLA4 -1661A/G and -1722T/C polymorphisms showed no significant difference between CD patients and healthy controls. Conclusions The high level of serum sCTLA4 in CD patients is correlated with disease activity, CRP levels and disease behavior. It suggests that sCTLA4 may play an important role in pathogenesis of CD.

Aim To investigate the influence of sarpog-relate hydrochloride (SH)on the pharmacokinetic pro-file of dextromethorphan (DM),the typical substrate of CYP2D1 /2,in rats when they were administered co-instantaneously.Methods A total of 1 2 SD rats were randomly divided into two groups:the control group (DM,1 0 mg·kg-1 )and the sarpogrelate group (SH, 1 0 mg·kg-1 ;DM,1 0 mg·kg-1 ),which received in-tragastric administration.Plasma samples were collected immediately before and at different time points after drug administration.A LC-MS /MS method was used to determine the concentrations of DM in rat plasma. Pharmacokinetic parameters were analyzed using Drug and Statistics (DAS 2.0).Results There were signif-icant differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of DM,including T1 2 (2.49 h ±0.93 h vs 1 .47 h ±0.20 h,P <0.05 ),Cmax (325.7 μg·L -1 ±1 33.2 μg· L -1 vs 1 04.5μg·L -1 ±52.4 μg·L -1 ,P <0.05), AUC0 -t(785.5 μg·L -1 ·h ±451 .9 μg·L -1 ·h vs 244.8 μg·L -1 ·h ±1 68.3μg·L -1 ·h,P <0.05) and AUC0 -∞(804.7 μg·L -1 ·h ±445.6 μg·L -1 ·h vs 251 .4 μg·L -1 ·h ±1 73.4 μg·L -1 ·h,P<0.05 )between the two groups.Conclusion SH could significantly inhibit the elimination of DM,the substrate of CYP2D1 /2 in rats.