In this study, the expression of IL-24 at maternal-fetal interface and the roles in extravillous trophoblast (the TEV-1 cell line) invasion were examined. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of IL-24 in villi and decidual tissue. The proliferation of TEV-1 cells under the effect of IL-24 was measured by MTT assay. The invasiveness of TEV-1 cells under the effect of recombinant IL-24 (rhIL-24) was examined by transwell system. Immunohistochemical detection showed that IL-24 was expressed in the villi and decidual tissue, and distributed in villous column, trophoblasts, stroma and blood vessels. The proliferation of TEV-1 cells was not inhibited by rhIL-24 of various concentrations. The examination of invasion in vitro showed that rhIL-24 could inhibit the invasion of TEV-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The results suggested IL-24 could inhibit the invasion of TEV-1 cells. Therefore, IL-24 produced by maternal-fetal interface in human first trimester pregnancy may influence the invasion of trophoblasts and is involved in normal pregnancy.

Serpiginous choroiditis (SC) is infrequent, chronic and posterior uveitis displaying a geographic pattern of choroiditis easy to recur. Studies reveal that the active lesions of inflammatory processes are mainly localized to the choriocapillaris and retinal pigment epithelium cells. SC may manifest with variable features, although a creeping pattern of choroiditis, extending from the juxtapapillary area, with grayish yellow discoloration. Fundus fluorescein angiography, indocyanine green angiography, fundus auto-fluorescence and optical coherence tomography are helpful to diagnose atypical SC. In addition, these image examinations can evaluate the activity and progression of lesion, and detect any complication that might occur. SC is mainly distinguished from multifocal SC related with tuberculosis or virus and etc. Pathogenesis is unclear, an organ-specific autoimmune inflammation or infection seems likely to be the underlying process. It is mainly using glucocorticoid with immunosuppressant therapy at present. Timely and effectively control inflammation can effectively prevent vision loss, choroidal neovascularization and choroidal scar in SC patients.

Current therapies of diabetes proven to lowering glucose include metformin,TZDs,sulphanylureas,nateglinide,Repaglinide,acarbose and insulin analogues.Given our better understanding of the beta cell function are slowly emerging.Recently,the gastrointestinal peptide hormones glucagon-like peptide 1 analogues and inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4(DPP-4) have been shown to significantly contribute to glucose homeostasis.Meanwhile,other novel prospect for diabetes such as selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR) gamma modulators,inhibitors of sodium glucose co-transporters 2 have been proven to be attractive drug candidates.The therapeutic potential of these molecules are discussed in this review.

Objective: To explore the subjective well-being (SWB) of immigrant children and the differences between urban children and immigrant children in Beijing. Methods: The SWB Self-evaluating Scale,Positive Affect and Negative Affect Seale-Revised Edition, Student Life Satisfaction Scale, and Multidimensional Student Life Satisfaction Scale were administrated to a sample of 1018 immigrant children and 447 urban children in 4 immigrant children schools, 3 mixed public schools and 4 public schools in Beijing. Results: (1) On the whole,immigrant children from school for farmer-worker's children (6.9±2.7) and from mixed public school (7.4±2.3) scored lowest on SWB, urban children from mixed public school (8.2±2.1) were placed in the middle,and urban children from public school (8.4±1.9) scored highest (F=16.27, P<0.001). (2) Immigrant chlldren's general well-being score was (7.0±2.6), and their positive affect score was higher than that of negative affect [(3.0±0.5) vs.(2.3±0.6), P<0.001] . (3) Boys scored higher in environment satisfaction and gen-eral life satisfaction than girls [(3.7±0.9) vs.(3.5±0.9), (2.9±0.7) vs.(2.8±0.7), Ps<0.05], but lower in school satisfaction [(4.5±0.9)vs.(4.7±0.9), P <0.001] . (4) Higher grade children had more negative affect and self-satisfaction, but lower in the other aspects. Conclusion: Generally speaking, immigrant children's subjective well-being are above the average level, and immigrant children in mixed public schools have higher score than those in pure immigrant children schools, but both kinds of immigrant children score lower than urban children in subjective well-being.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Multiple Organ Failure ; chemically induced ; Occupational Diseases ; complications

· Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of legal blindness in individuals aged over 65 in the United States and other industrialized nations. Till now, we have limited choices of treatment for this kind of disease. Treatment available can be grouped into two major categories: physical and pharmacological therapies. The former received extensive attention with little success whereas the latter attract new attention with great hope of success. The pharmacological therapies indude photodynamic therapy (PDT), steroids, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors, extracellular matrix (ECM) modifiers, gene therapy, nutrition supplements, choroidal blood flow facilitators and the like. PDT treatment is the only available effective treatment for certain forms of neovascular AMD. Anecortave acetate,as a synthetic derivative of cortisol, might stabilize vision in patients with predominantly classic subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) for up to 6mo through subtenon juxtascleral depot application. Intravitreous injection of VEGF aptamer stabilized or improved vision in 87.5% of patients with subfoveal CNV 3mo after treatment. Malfunction of choroidal blood flow is found in early stage of AMD. Elevation of intravascular pressure is the crucial hemodynamic factor in age-related macular degeneration, resulting in a decrease of the blood flow of choriocapillaries. Chain reactions are triggered which lead to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration,Bruch's membrane breakdown, CNV formation, AMD and blindness in the end. Therefore, specific drugs that can increase the choroidal blood flow could be very useful to prevent the AMD from developing and worsening. Although most of them are still in the experimental stage,it is hopeful to find a way to treat AMD at the early stage and to prevent the disease to be triggered and developed.

BACKGROUND: It has been proved that vascular endothelial growth factor 165(VEGF165) and bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP2) can accelerate the vascularization synergistically.OBJECTIVE:To construct the vectors, pDsVEGF165Red1-N1 and pIRES2-BMP2-enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP) followed by co-transfected into HEK 293-T cells,and study their expression and location of VEGF165and BMP2 in the cells.DESIGN: A randomized and controlled experiment.SETTING: National Key Laboratory,Institute of Surgery Research,Daping Hospital,Third Military Medical University.MATERIALS: The experiment was conducted at National Key Laboratory,Institute of Surgery Research,Daping Hospital,Third Military Medical University from September 2002 to March 2004. pcDNA3.1\BMP2 ( gift of Dr.Bostrom, UCLA School of Mediine, Los Angeles,USA).pDsRed1-N1(gift of Pro. Roger Y.Tisen,University of California,San Diego,USA). pUC18/VEGF165,293-T cells(preserved by our Laboratory).METHODS: According to the nucleotide sequence of hVEGF165, the primers were designed.The hVEGF165 gene without stop codon was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).The fragment digested was cloned into the expression vector pDsRed1-N1.Meantime,the pIRES2-BMP2-EGFP expression vector was constructed.The two plasmids were co-transfected into HEK 293-T cells.The co-expression and distribution of the VEGF165and BMP2 were observed with confocal laser microscopy (CLSM) and detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blotting.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Identification of the recombinant plasmids and the expressing mRNA and protein in 293-T cells.RESULTS: The recombinant plasmids were verified correct construction by restriction enzyme analysis, PCR and sequencing. The two genes which were co-transfected could express in HEK 293-T cells.The co-expression of the report genes,RFP and EGFP, were found over the cytoplasm and in the nuclei by CLSM.CONCLUSION: Two report gene expression vectors contain VEGF165 and BMP2 have been constructed successfully, which can be co-expressed in HEK 293-T cells. Thus, they can provide important and convenient tool to study intracellular interaction of VEGF165 and BMP2.

Objective 1.To establish an improved method by inhaling hyperosmotic saline and mucosolvan ampoule and to observe the security and validity in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD).2.To observe the changes of cell component and soluble substance in the induced sputum of the elderly patients with COPD at their acute and stable stage,and explore the role of these substances in airway inflammation. Methods 1.40 elderly patients with COPD who were at their acute stage were stochastically divided into two groups,20 patients each,who inhaled hyperosmotic saline(3%)(group A)and hyperosmotie saline(3%)plus ambroxol hydrochloride(group B).We compared their electrocardiogram before and after inhalation,lung function,saturation of oxygen in artery,cell component,inflammatory factors in sputum and validity of inducing sputum.2.The cell component,inflammatory factors and the lung function of the patients in group B were determined at their acute and stable stage. Results 1.55.0% of the patients in group A felt uncomfortable.and 2 of them had excessive bronchial irritability so not undergoing sputum inducement.However,side effects were found in only 5 patients of the group B.Side effects in the group B were lower than those in hyperosmotic saline group(P＜0.05).Before and after the experiment,electrocardiogram of the patients in the two groups had no statistical difference(P＞0.05).It was the same as lung function and oxygenic saturation.Cell component and inflammatory faetors in the sputum of the two groups had no statistical difference(P＞0.05).2.In group B,the total cells,monoeyte,neutrophil,IL-8 and TNF-αof the patients at their acute stage were(3.4 5±0.52)×108/L,(38.8±4.3)%,(30.8±3.1)%,(316.75±43.14)ng/L,(39.4±4.58)ng/L.respectively.And those at their stable stage were(2.94±0.57)×108/L,(29.1±6.1)%,(28.2±4.2)%,(170.00±25.70)ng/L,(20.60±5.10)ng/L,respectively.The total cells,monocyte,neutrophils,IL-8 and TNF-α in acute and stable stage of the patients had statistical significance(P＜0.05).There was a negative correlation of the total cells,monocyte,neutrophil,IL-8,TNF-αwith the degree of the disease in group B at acute and stable stage. Conclusions The results suggest that inhaling ambroxol hydrodiloride is a practical,safe and effective method,for clarifying the mechanism of airway inflammation in elderly patients with COPD.

Anemia ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; Osteogenesis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of Chinese version of Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale.Methods Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale was translated and adapted according to Chinese culture,and content validity was evaluated by panel of experts.Then preliminary test was proceeded and revised the scale.90 effective questionnaires were recollected,and 40 patients were tested once again after two weeks randomly.Correlation analysis and factor analysis was conducted.Results The Cronbach's α of Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale was 0.920 and the Cronbach's α of each subscale was ranged from 0.807 to 0.831.The test-retest reliability was 0.800 to 0.921.The correlations among subscales were ranged from 0.705 to 0.799,the correlations between each subscale and total scale were ranged from 0.875 to 0.921.Component analysis revealed three factors accounting for 56.47％ of the sample variance.Conclusions Chinese version of Arthritis Self-Efficacy Scale is of better reliability and validity,it could be used in the evaluation of self-efficacy for arthritis patients.