OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of the ethanol extract of Radix et Rhizoma Gentianae on acute lung injury (ALI). METHODS: 48 NIH male mice were randomized into blank group (normal saline), model group (normal saline), dexamethasone acetate group (0.005 g?kg-1), ethanol extract of Radix et Rhizoma Gentianae groups (high-dosage of 10 g?kg-1, medium dosage of 5 g?kg-1 and low dosage of 2.5 g?kg-1). The groups were administered via i.g gtt once a day for five days. ALI model was induced by intratracheal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 2.5 mg?kg-1) after last treatment. ELISA method was applied to determine the content of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and cycloxygenase-2(COX-2) at 24 h after modeling. RESULTS: As compared with model group, the content of PGE2 and COX-2 in ethanol extract of Radix et Rhizoma Gentianae groups were decreased significantly (P

Amyloidosis ; classification ; diagnosis ; Cardiomyopathies ; classification ; diagnosis ; Humans

Objective To assess the radial systolic function of left ventricle(LV) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) by velocity vector imaging(VVI).Methods Sixteen patients with DCM and twenty control subjects were detected by VVI.VVI data were collected from the six basal segments and six mid segments in parastenal LV short axis views.The radial systolic velocity(V) ,strain(ε) ,strain rate(SR),the time to peak systolic velocity(PTV) and the time to maximum strain(PTε) were measured with special software.The differene of the earliest and the latest time to peak velocity(T-max) and the standard deviation of time to peak velocity(T-SD) of 12 segments were calculated.Results Compared to the controlled group,patients with DCM had significantly lower radial V,ε and SR (P ＜0.01) in all the 12 segments,significantly longer PTV and PTε (P ＜ 0.05) in most segments, and significantly larger T-max and T-SD (P ＜0.05).Conclusions VVI is useful to assess the abnormalities in LV radial movement in patients with DCM and could provide more information about regional cardiac function.

Objective To investigate the anti- inflammatory and analgesic a ctions of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction (HGWD) and its compositions and to study its rule of compatibility.Methods Analgesic action of HGWD and its compositio ns were observed by hot- plate method and acetic- acid- induced body twist me thod. Anti- inflammatory action of HGWD and its compositions were observed on t he models of xylene- induced auricular swelling in mice, celiac capillary perme ability in mice, cotton- induced granuloma in rats, albumem- induced arthritis and adjuvant arthritis in rats.Results HGWD and its drug pairs could inhibit the acute inflammation induced by albumen and xylene and rat adjuvant arthriti, decrease the celiac capillary permeability, inhibit the proliferation of granu loma, increase the pain threshold in mice and reduce the frequencies of body tw ist induced by acetic acid.Conclusion HGWD has significant anti- inflammatory and analgesic actions, so does single drug; Radix Astragali alone, but when Ra dix Astragali is used with the other drugs in HGWD, its effect can be enhanced.

Assessing dry weight accurately is crucial in providing effective and safe haemodialysis. Biases towards dry weight assessment may bring a series of dialysis complications. This study introduces an online detection technique of relative blood volume (RBV) based on ultrasound, which analyzes the correlation between changes in blood density and sound speed. By measuring the attenuation in sound velocity, this method was employed to calculate RBV, and then to evaluate the dry weight of patients on dialysis. TDC-GP2 time measurement chip and MSP430 Single-chip Microcontroller (SCM) were used in the system to measure the ultrasonic travel time. In the clinical trials, RBV values range between 71.3% and 108.1%, showing consistent result with Fresenius 4008S blood volume monitor (BVM). This detection method possesses several advantages, such as real time, convenient, reproducible, non-invasive, and etc.
Blood Volume ; Body Weight ; Humans ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Renal Dialysis ; Ultrasonics

Objective To observe the effects of CD4~+ CD25~+ regulatory T cells ( CD4~+ CD25~+ Treg) on the airway inflammation of asthmatic rats. Methods CD4~+ CD25~+ Treg of OVA- immune tolerance rats were transferred to asthmatic rats. Then bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected, and cytology study was conducted. The IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γ and OVA-specific serum IgE level in BALF were determined by ELISA. The lung tissue was obtained, and histologieal analysis was done through H. E. Results Total cells number, the percentage of lymphocytes and neutrophils in BALF, the IL-4 and IL-5 BALF levels and the OVA-specific serum IgE level of adoptive transfer group were decreased ( P < 0.05 ) , and the percentage of eosinophils ( Eos) was significantly lower than that of asthma group ( P < 0.01) , while its BALF IFN-γ level was higher than that of asthma group( P <0. 05). Compared with that of asthma group, peribronchiole inflammatory of treated group was alleviated. Conclusion CD4 ~+ CD25~+ Treg of OVA- immune tolerance rats transferred to asthmatic rats can significantly alleviate the airway inflammation of asthmatic rats.

Objective To investigate the changes of estrogen receptor expression in mast cells of bronchial mucosa from female asthmatic patients.Methods 12 cases of female asthmatic patients and 9 cases of control female patients were enrolled in this study.The bronchial mucosa was obtained from the third grade bronchial by fiexible bronchofiberscope.Mast cells were marked by anti-mast cell tryptase monoclonal antibody,the expression of estrogen receptor(ER)were detected by anti-human estrogen receptor(ER)monoclonal antibodies.Results Mast cells and estrogen receptor positive cells of bronchial mucosa in female asthmatic patients were significantly higher than that in control group(P＜0.01).Coincident with the known features of bronchial asthma,the cells positive for estrogen receptor were morphologically similar to the mast cells.The cells stained for estrogen receptors by dual immunostaining coincided exactly with cells labeled as mast cells.Conclusion The result suggested the estrogen may be involved in the pathogenesis of female asthmatic patient through the changes of estrogen receptor expression in mast cells of bronchial mucosa.

Identiifcation of tissues/body lfuids in forensic science is important for criminal cases investigation such as crime scene reconstruction, conclude the character of crime. Recently, many researches of Epigenetic shows that tissue speciifc differentially methylated regions(tDMRs) have the ability to as a biomarker for identiifcation of tissues/body lfuids. In this paper, we reviewed the study progress and summarized the probability, advantage and disadvantage as well as application value and the development direction of the application of DNA methylation in the aspect of identifying the tissues/ body lfuids source, aiming at providing a reference for the related research and application.

Objective To investigate mechanisms underlying the prevention of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice by intraperitoneal infusion of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG35-55) (MOG i.p.).Methods C57BL/6 mice were immunized with MOG35-55 to establish the model of EAE and then were intraperitoneally injected daily with MOG35-55 or ovalbumin (OVA, served as control) from day 6 to day 16.EAE was evaluated daily using a general clinical scoring system and histological analysis.Numbers of lymphocytes in peripheral blood and central nervous system (CNS) were detected at different time points.Effects of MOG i.p.on the migration of MOG-T cells in vivo were analyzed by an adoptive transfer experiment.Maturation of splenic antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and migration of MOG-T cells in vitro were examined by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) and a Transwell system, respectively.Results MOG i.p.protected the mice from development of EAE by blocking the lymphocyte recruitment to CNS.More effector T cells were trapped in the periphery of EAE and naive mice in adoptive transfer experiment after MOG i.p.treatment.MOG i.p.induced the maturation of splenic APCs and enhanced the expression of CD80, CD86 and major histocompatibility complex class Ⅱ (MHCⅡ) molecules.Mature APCs blocked the recruitment of effector T cells to CNS.Conclusion MOG i.p.protects mice from EAE by inducing the maturation of splenic APCs.

Objective To explore the effects of lead acetate on free radicals and lipid peroxidation in the cerebral cor?tex, cerebellum, and hippocampus in rat brains. Methods SD rats (n=48), who were just weaned, were randomly divided in?to 4 groups base on their weight. Then the rats were fed with lead acetate in drinking water at the final concentrations of 0 mg/L (deionized water), 200 mg/L, 400 mg/L, 800 mg/L respectively. Blood lead level as well as the hydroxyl free radical inhibiting activity, the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hippocam?pus were measured 60 days after lead contamination in water. Results Upon lead exposure, blood lead levels increased sig?nificantly as compared with the control. The hydroxyl free radical inhibiting activity in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and hip?pocampus decreased significantly in a dose dependent manner of lead(P < 0.05). And they all correlated negatively with blood lead level (r=-0.505,-0.414,-0.448, P<0.05). By contrast, blood lead level was positively correlated with H2O2 and MDA in these brain tissues (r=0.301, 0.411, 0.378, and 0.404, 0.324, 0.510,P < 0.05). Conclusion Lead exposure can lead to lipid peroxidation of rat brain tissues through inducing free radicals.