Objective To evaluate the correlation between the level of CD4+CD25+regulatory T cells in periphend blood and disease severity in patients with sepsis.Methods Thirty-six septic patients and 5healthy controls were enrolled.Septic patients were divided into sepsis group(n=10),severe sepsis group (n=15)and septic shock group(n=11).The lymphocyte was seperated from peripheral blood and marked by PE-CD4 and FTTC-CD25 monoclonal antibody,the level of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells was detected by flow cytometry,and the clinical data of APACHE Ⅱ scores of septic patients was considered in 24 hours.The correlation between level of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood and APACHE Ⅱ scores in septic patients was analyzed.Results Compared with the healthy controls [(5.48±0.98)%],the level of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in sepsis group(10.31±2.32)%,severe sepsis group(14.27 43.33)%,septic shock group(15.32±3.98)% had a significant increase(P＜0.05 or＜0.01).The log value of regulatory T cells in each group correlated positively with the APACHE Ⅱ scores(r=0.829,P=0.032;r=0.868,P=0.021;r=0.913,P=0.009),and the total coefficient of correlation was 0.903(P=0.013).Conclusion The level of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in peripheral blood in septic patients has an abnormal increase,and their levels are related with the severity of disease.

Objective To explo the antioxidant effect and molecular mechanism of gastrodin (Gas) in epilepsy (EP) rats induced by LiCl-pilocarpine (PILO) . Methods Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group, EP group, therapy groups (pretreated with 60 mg/kg, 90 mg/kg, 120 mg/kg of gastrodin respectively) . The EP model was esteblished by peritoneal injection of LiCl-PILO. Therapy groups were pretreated with various concerntration of Gas. The control group was given the same dosage of normal saline. The alteration of behavior was observed, the concentration of catalase (CAT), glutathion (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathion reductase (GR), total antioxidtion (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rats brain cortex were detected by chemical colorimetric method, phosphorylation of p38 was determined by western blot. Results There was no EP seizure in sham group,and the EP seizure degree in therapy groups (gas pretreated groups) was significantly decreased,and had statistically significant difference with EP group (P<0.05) . The EP model rats exhibited a significant decrease in the concentration of endogenous antioxidants (CAT, GSH, SOD, GR and T-AOC), while an increase of the concentration of MDA and phosphorylation p38 protein as compared to sham group (P<0.05) . After treatment of the Gas,treatment group rats attenuated the seizure degree,exhibited a significant increase of the concentration of endogenous antioxidants (P<0.05),while a decrease in concentration of MDA and phosphorylation of p38 as compared to model group (P<0.05) . Conclusion Gas may have a neuroprotective role in central nervous system of epileptic rats modle by down-regulateing the seizure degree and the activity of p38 kinase and up-regulateing the content of endogenous antioxidants.

Adult ; Blast Injuries ; therapy ; Explosions ; Humans ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; therapy

A method of acquiring radial pulse information from the grid-net area on every pulse image frame is proposed based on the principle of lens imaging and the characteristics of image data. The radial pulse image data are collected by the pulse image sensor. Multi-points out-of-plane displacements of the pulse are acquired by the method. And the membrane surfaces are reconstructed, then the 3D information of the pulse can be observable.
Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; methods

AIMTo determine the involvement of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in the expression of endothelin receptor type B (ETB) during culture.

METHODSSB386023, a specific inhibitor for ERK1/2 pathway, was used to define the intracellular signaling pathway for the upregulation of ETB receptors and sarafotoxin 6c (S6c), a selective agonist for ETB receptors, induced contraction in isolated rat superior mesenteric arteries. The contraction was recorded by a sensitive in vitro myograph and the receptor mRNA was quantified by a real-time PCR. The phosphorylated ERK1/2 proteins were analyzed by phosphoELISA assay.

RESULTSS6c induced strong contractile responses of the artery after culture for 24 h, while there was no response to S6c in fresh vessel segments. The enhanced contractile response to S6c paralleled with an increase of mRNA for ETB receptors. The phosphorylated ERK1/2 proteins significantly increased after culture for 3 h. After co-culture with SB386023 for 24 h, S6c-induced contractions significantly decreased with reduction of Emax from (217 +/- 14) % to (127 +/- 23) % (P <0.01). This response paralleled with a decreased level of ETB receptor mRNA.

CONCLUSIONERK1/2 pathway was involved in the up-regulation of ETB receptors on smooth muscle cells isolated from rat mesenteric arteries during culture.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Mesenteric Arteries ; cytology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Muscle Contraction ; drug effects ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Organ Culture Techniques ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptor, Endothelin B ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Up-Regulation ; Vasoconstrictor Agents ; pharmacology ; Viper Venoms ; pharmacology

Background The domestic and international researches discovered that many proteins and enzymes of the extracellular matrix (ECM) participate in the sclera remodeling by affecting the collagen typeⅠand fibronectin.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of matrixmetalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) on expression of collagen typeⅠand fibronectin of ECM in the posterior sclera by injecting liposomes containing tissue inhibitor of TIMP-2 gene into suprachoroidal space of the form-deprivation myopia in guinea pig.Methods Form-deprivation myopia was induced by translucent goggles in 36 clean guinea pig for 2 weeks.Then the animals were randomly assigned to TIMP-2 group,empty plasmid group,saline group and 12 for each group.Liposomes of 5μl containing TIMP-2 gene,empty plasmid and saline were suprachoroidally injected in the right eye respectively,and the left eyes without any treatment were used as self-control group.Other 12 matched guinea pigs only covered the right eyes through out the experimental duration as model control group.The guinea pigs were sacrificed and the posterior sclera tissue of the eyeballs were collected at 2,7 and 14 days after injection of drug.The expressions of collagen typeⅠmRNA and fibronectin mRNA were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).This study followed the Regulation for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.Results The expression level of collagen type Ⅰ mRNA in the posterior sclera of guinea pig was lower but that of fibronectin mRNA was higher in TIMP-2 group than self-control group,showing significant differences between them (P＜0.05).The expression level of collagen type Ⅰ mRNA in the posterior scleral tissue began to increase from the 2nd day after drug injection and was obviously elevated at the 7th day and then gradually decreased at the 14th day.However,the expression level of fibronectin mRNA in the posterior scleral tissue showed the opposite pattern.The expression levels of collagen typeⅠmRNA and fibronectin mRNA at the 7th after drug injection were significantly lower than that at the 2nd day or 14th day (P＜0.01).Conclusion Suprachoroidal injection of TIMP-2 in form-deprivation myopia could up-regulate the expression of collagen typeⅠmRNA and down-regulate the expression of fibronectin mRNA in the posterior scleral tissue.It may slow down the sclera remodeling of form-deprivation myopia in guinea pig in the early stage.

Objective To invesgate the effect of P-glycoprotein(PGP)inhibitor,verapamil,on electrobiological activity and seizure behavior in phenytoin-carbamazepine(PHT-CBZ)resistant rats.Methods The model of medically intractable epilepsy was established by kindling of amygdale. Verapamil was applied to PHT-CBZ resistant rats,followed by the observation on after discharge threshold (ADT),after discharge duration(ADD)and seizure activity.Results Compared with the control group, the ADT was higher in PHT-CBZ resistant rats peritoneally injected with verapamil((238.0?32.2)?A vs (177.0?23.3)?A,P

OBJECTIVEDietary factors that could potentially be related to the risk of birth defects are still unknown in Shanxi province, a region with high prevalence of neural tube defects(NTDs) in China. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the association between NTDs and local dietary factors.

METHODSA population-based case-control study was conducted during 2003-2005 in four selected counties of Shanxi province with 363 NTDs cases ascertained and 523 control babies without any external birth defects.

RESULTSBy multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found the NTDs risk was significantly associated with low consumption of meat and legume, high consumption of pickled vegetables, noncentralized supply of drinking water and drinking tea after adjusting for maternal education level and birth defects history. A significant dose response trend was found between the NTDs risk and the lower frequencies of meat and legume consumption and higher frequency of pickled vegetable consumption, with population attributable risks (PAR) of 69.4%, 22.0% and 18.5%, respectively. Mothers who got their drinking water from river or pond during periconceptional period were more likely to have a NTD-affected pregnancy [OR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.44-8.09, population attributable risk (PAR) = 4.7%] compared with those who utilized tap or well water. Those who drank tea everyday had an elevated risk of having a NTD-affected pregnancy compared with those who didn't (OR = 4.65, 95% CI: 1.41-15.36, PAR = 2.6%).

CONCLUSIONHigher intake of meat and legume protects a woman from having a NTD-affected pregnancy, and consumption of pickled vegetables, drinking water from river or pond and drinking tea everyday increase the risk of having such a pregnancy in the study population.

Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Meat ; Neural Tube Defects ; epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Vegetables ; Water Supply

Objective　To observe some biological features of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and explore the best conditions for isolatin g and culturing in vitro. Methods　Common cell culture techn ique, light and electron microscopy were used to study the effects of the growth , proliferation, morphology of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in differe nt adherent time, concentration of serum and cell density. Results　The best culture condition in vitro for growth was 4-24 hours adherent time, 5%-10% fetal bovine serum, (4-8)×104/ml cell density. The cells were sp indle in shape and had a strong ability of proliferation. The time for cell duplication was 3 to 4 days. The cells showed the characteristics of stem cell s in electron microscope. Conclusion　The best condition for iso lation and culture of bone marrow mesemchymal stem cells was successfully establ ished and some biological features were obserred. It found a base for further in vestigation and using of mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective To develop a sheet for postural change during painless colonoscopy.Methods The sheet was made of medical canvas whose body had a size of 110 cm (length) × 80 (width) cm.The body had a waistband at its each side,and the waistband had 5 nylon Velcro at each side to tie it to the patient's waist.There were 6 canvas handles at the back of the body,which were in parallel with the waistband for drawing the patient during postural change.A tearing mechanism with Velcro existed at the hip area to facilitate the hip exposure during colonoscopy.Two shoes covers were at right under the body to hold the feet when the patient bent his knees.Results The sheet significantly shortened operation time,increased working efficiency and protected the patient's privacy when compared with manual operation.Conclusion The sheet gains high safety,convenience and efficiency for postural change during painless colonoscopy,and thus is worthy promoting in the hospitals.