AIM: To investigate the effect of hypoxia on the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in pulmonary artery fibroblasts. METHODS: MMP-2 activity was measured by using gelatin zymography. TIMP-1 protein level was determined by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. mRNA expression was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The production of MMP-2 mRNA and protein was down-regulated in pulmonary artery fibroblasts exposed to hypoxia for 24 h. Gelatin zymography also demonstrated that lower level of MMP-2 activity was induced after hypoxia. Meanwhile, hypoxia induced the up-regulation of TIMP-1 mRNA and protein in pulmonary artery fibroblasts. CONCLUSION: Hypoxia induces unbalance of MMP-2/TIMP-1 in pulmonary artery fibroblasts, which may contribute to the mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling.

BACKGROUND:Large randomized trials have demonstrated carotid endarterectomy or stenting for symptomatic and asymptomatic extracranial carotid stenosis is effective.
OBJECTIVE:Using the meta analysis method, to evaluate efficacy and safety of carotid stenting and carotid endarterectomy for the treatment of carotid stenosis.
METHODS:Computer-based retrieval of databases both at home and abroad was performed for randomized control ed trials related to carotid stenting and carotid endarterectomy for the treatment of carotid stenosis. According to exclusion criteria, literature screening was done fol owed by quality evaluation. Then, the enrol ed literatures were analyzed by Cochrane col aboration with RevMan5.0 Meta analysis software.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were 14 enrol ed studies, including 7 693 patients among whom, 3 835 cases were in stenting group and 3 858 in carotid endarterectomy group. Compared with the carotid endarterectomy group, the stroke event rate within 30 days postoperatively, death and stroke event rate within 30 days postoperatively, myocardial infarction event rate within 1 year postoperatively and non-disabling stroke event rate within 30 days postoperatively were higher in the stenting group (P ≤0.000 1);the myocardial infarction event rate within 30 days postoperatively was lower in the stenting group (P=0.001 0). There were no significant differences in the death event rate and disabled stroke event rate within 30 days postoperatively between the two groups. These two treatments are complementary rather than antagonistic. We should optimize the treatment choice based on the comprehensive analysis of each patient's condition.

Objective To study the determination method of total flavonoids in Gansu Astragali Radix and Hedysarum Polybotrys. Methods Calycosin glycosides etc. was selected as reference substances, comparison on the difference of absorption curves was done by ultraviolet spectroscopy and colorimetric method (NaNO2-Al(NO3)3-NaOH, AlCl3, Mg(Ac)2, NaOH, phosphomolybdic acid, HCl-Mg power). Results With colorimetric method, the maximum absorption wavelength of referrence and the test was inconsistent. The absorption peak shape was also different. With UV method, Calycosin glycosides in band Ⅱ (260 nm) showed a shoulder absorption. Astragali Radix and Hedysarum Polybotrys also showed characteristic shoulder absorptions in band Ⅱ with absorption wavelength at 263 nm and 265 nm. So the sample absorption wavelength is basically the same as that of the control sample. Conclusion Colorimetries usually used for determination of total flavonoids are not suitable for the comparison determination of Gansu Astragali Radix and Hedysarum Polybotrys. It is suitable for determining the contents of total flavonoids in samples by UV spectrophotometry at the band Ⅱ, which is the characteristic absorption band of isoflavone compound.

Objective To understand the morbidity of human brucellosis in Wulanchabu City of Inner Mongolia in order to provide a basis for development of prevention and control measures.Methods According to the requirements in Baseline Survey Programme of Human Brucellosis in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regionbetween November and December in 2010,stratified cluster sampling method was used to selected three townships according to the conditions of brucellosis(mild,moderate and serious) in 11 flags(cities,counties,districts) of the city.Three villages were extracted from each township.There were at least 200 persons aged 10 and older were investigated in every township.At least 600 people were investigated in every flag(city,county,district).Respondents were investigated about their awareness rate of basic knowledge about brucellosis,risk factors and common sense of prevention and treatment of the disease by using health education questionnaire.Based on the principle of informed consent,we collected respondents venous blood for preliminary screening using Hu red tablets.Brucellosis was confirmed with standard tube agglutination test and positive result was confirmed if 1:100 antibody concentration was two + or more.Prevalence,false negative rate as well as different age,gender,occupational incidence was calculated based on the network reported results of brucellosis in 33 townships of Wulanchabu in 2010.Results We distributed 6998 questionnaires and 6763 questionnaires were effective.The witting rate of basic knowledge about brucellosis was 57.99％(15 687/27 052); the witting rate of risk factors about brucellosis was 44.33％ (29 978/67 630); the witting rate for prevention and control of brucellosis was 41.66％(28 176/67 630),and total witting rate was 45.49％(73 841/162 312).The morbidity of brucellosis in Wulanchabu City was 91.39/10 000 (785/85 894) in 2010.Five hundred and ninety-one were serologically positive and the infection rate was 8.48％ (591/69 972).Nine hundred and three cases of patients were diagnosed with brucellosis and the prevalence rate of brucellosis was 105.13/10 000 (903/85 894).Missing report 377 cases,and the false negative rate was 48.03％ (377/785) in 2010.Men infection rate was 71.07％(420/3755) and women infection rate was 28.93％(171/3217).The infection rate[97.63％(577/591)] of people aged 31 and older was significantly higher than that [2.37％(14/591)] of the people aged 30 and younger.Infection rate of people engaged in aquaculture was 8.61％ (582/669).The infection rate of people working in livestock processing industry was 2.91％ (2/103).The infection rate of people working in animal by-product circulation was 2.85％ (2/70).The Infection rate of people working in other industries was 4.59％(5/109).Conclusions In Wulanchabu City,the morbidity of brucellosis and missing report rate are both high.The infection rate of people engaged in aquaculture is high and man morbidity is high.The awareness rate about prevention and treatment knowledge of brucellosis is low.We should carry out health education to inhabitants in endemic areas to improve their self-protection awareness and reduce the incidence of brucellosis.

Objective To investigate the subtype distribution and sequence characteristics of HIV-1 strains prevalent among sexual infectors in Beijing. Methods We collected the blood samples from 100HIV sexual infectors in Beijing during 2008 and separated plasma specimens. RNA was extracted from the plasma and the gag gene was amplified by RT-PCR and nest-PCR. The PCR products were sequenced directly and phylogenetic analyses of gag gene was performed using the MEGA4 software. Results Among 100 HIV-1 plasma samples,84 gag gene fragments were amplified and analyzed. Eight HIV subtypes including B(22 strains), B'(8 strains),C( 1 strain) ,CRF01_AE (38 strains) ,CRF02_AG (2 strains) ,CRF07_BC(9 strains) ,CRF08_BC(3 strains) and C/CRF01_AE recombinant like strain( 1 strain) were identified circulating in Beijing. Conclusion CRF01 _AE and subtype B were predominant in Beijing account for 45.2% and 26.2% and the surveillance of HIV gene variation should be paid more attention.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of AP-1 Decoy on matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) imbalance induced by bleomycin-A5 (BLM-A5) in pulmonary fibroblasts.

METHODSPulmonary fibroblasts were primary cultured, and transferred with AP-1 Decoy before treated with BLM-A5. MMPs activity in medium was determined by gelatin zymography. Protein content of TIMP-1 in medium was detected by ELISA. Expression of MMP-2 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSBLM-A5 induced the increase in activity of MMP-2 at 12 h [A: (0.77 +/- 0.08) vs (0.65 +/- 0.07) P < 0.05], but it was suppressed by AP-1 Decoy [A: (0.68 +/- 0.05)]. BLM-A5 up-regulated the expression of protein and mRNA of TIMP-1 after 12 h, and 24 h [(39.3 +/- 4.3), (46.3 +/- 4.8) ng/ml vs (28.9 +/- 2.7), (31.6 +/- 2.4) ng/ml] and [Absorbance ratio to beta-actin: (0.94 +/- 0.13, 1.08 +/- 0.06) vs (0.76 +/- 0.07, 0.75 +/- 0.08)] (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) but AP-1 Decoy modulated the up-regulation. All these indexes in AP-1 Decoy group had no significant difference in contrast to the normal group. Mutant AP-1 Decoy had not the same function as AP-1 Decoy on the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in pulmonary fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONAP-1 Decoy inhibits the increase in MMP-2 activity and the up-regulation of TIMP-1 induced by BLM-A5 in pulmonary fibroblasts.

Bleomycin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; metabolism ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of a new method,axis-line-distance technique(ALDT),in scoliosis measurement.Methods Thirty cases with idiopathic scoliosis were measured on two separate occasions by six observers with the Cobb technique and the ALDT on PACS workstation.The interval time between two measurement occasions were three weeks.The data were analyzed statistically with the paired-sample t-test.Results(1)Concerning intraobserver variance in two measurement occasions,the minimum variance,the maximum variance and the average variance were 0, 24.00?,5.71??1.54?for Cobb technique and 0,12.00 mm,(1.95?0.58)mm for ALDT.There were significant measurement differences for four observers with Cobb method 39.00??10.69?versus 36.50?? 10.63?,31.73??10.96?versus 37.30??9.65?,32.03??7.49?versus 27.86??9.00?,29.77??8.87? versus 34.20??7.26?,all P0.05].(2)Concerning interobserver variances in six observers,the average measurement variance was 5.07??0.35?for Cobb method,and(2.32?0.26)mm for ALDT. There were significant measurement differences for every observer using with Cobb method(36.63??10.30? versus 33.27??10.10?,39.00?10.69?versus 31.73??10.96?,32.03??7.49~ versus 29.78?? 8.87?,36.63??10.30?versus 39.00??10.69?versus 32.03??7.48?,39.00??10.69?versus 32.03?? 7.49?,all P

Objective To investigate the proliferative capacity of neural stem cells (NSCs) in rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its relationship with Janus kinase 2/signaling and transcriptional activation factor 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling pathway activity.Methods A total of 108 SD rats were randomly divided into control group (36 rats) and TBI group (72 rats).The TBI model was constructed by PinPointTM Precision Cortical Impactor.At 1,3,7,14,21 and 28 days after injury,the brain tissues were taken for immunofluorescence staining to detect the proliferation of NSCs [5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) +/stem cell key protein-2 (Sox2) +] in hippocampus,and phosphorylated JAK2 (p-JAK2) and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) were detected by Western blot.The expression level of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 as well as the changing trend were analyzed.On the basis of preliminary analysis of the proliferation of NSCs and the change of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway activity in hippocampus,another 24 SD rats were randomly divided into TBI + normal saline group and TBI +AG490 (JAK2 specific inhibitor) group,with 12 rats in each group.At 7 days after injury,the proliferation of NSCs in hippocampus was detected by immunofluorescence staining,and the expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were detected by Western blot,so as to further confirm the correlation between the proliferation ability of NSCs in hippocampus and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.Results Compared with the control group,the number of NSCs in the hippocampus of the TBI group and the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 increased.And the most significant increase occurred at 7 days after injury [number of NSCs:31.2 ± 4.7 in the control group,111.4 ± 8.1 in the TBI group (P ＜ 0.01);p-JAK2:1.11 ± 0.09 in the control group,2.16 ± 1.01 in the TBI group (P ＜ 0.01);p-STAT3:1.05 ± 0.06 in the control group and 2.06 ± 0.09 in the TBI group (P ＜ 0.01)].The proliferation of NSCs in hippocampus of TBI group was consistent with the change of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 expression.Seven days after injury,the expression levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 and the proliferation ability of NSCs in the TBI + AG490 were significantly decreased [p-JAK2:2.18 ± 0.15 in the TBI + isotonic saline group,1.24 ±0.10 in the TBI + AG490 group (P ＜0.01);p-STAT3:2.21 ±0.12 in the TBI + isotonic saline group,1.25 ± 0.11 in the TBI + AG490 group (P ＜ 0.01);NSCs number:112.8 ± 8.6 in the TBI + isotonic saline group,75.5 ± 6.4 in the TBI + AG490 group (P ＜ 0.05)].Conclusions The proliferation of NSCs in hippocampus of rats increased after TBI,and the activity of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway also increased,following the same trend.JAK2 inhibitor AG490 can reduce the activity of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and the proliferation of NSCs.This can provide reference for researches on TBI promoting nerve regeneration and function repair.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and study the mechanism of combining plasma exchange and continuous veno-venous hemofiltration in treating patients with chronic severe viral hepatitis B in their mid- and late stages.

METHODS94 patients suffering from chronic severe viral hepatitis B were divided into three groups. 29 patients were treated with plasma exchange plus continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (group A). 31 patients were treated with plasma exchange alone (group B). 34 patients received routine treatment (group C). The efficacy of treatment and survival rate of the three groups was investigated. Before and after artificial liver support system treatment the levels of cytokine were examined.

RESULTSIn group A, hyponatremia improved, the levels of interleukin 8 (IL-8) obviously decreased, the level of IL-10 increased, 5 of the 10 patients in coma regained normal consciousness (50.0%) and their survival rate was 48.3%. In group B, hyponatremia did not change, the level of IL-8 and IL-10 did not change. 2 of 11 patients in coma regained normal consciousness (18.2%) while survival rate was 22.6%. In group C, 1 of 11 patients in coma regained normal consciousness (9.1%) while survival rate was 20.6%.

CONCLUSIONSIt shows that plasma exchange with continuous veno-venous hemofiltration in treating patients with mid- and late stage chronic severe viral hepatitis B can increase the survival rate. IL-8 can be significantly removed, IL-10 significantly increased. This combined therapy is easy to practice, and should be used as an artificial liver support system.

Adult ; Female ; Hemofiltration ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; therapy ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Liver, Artificial ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma Exchange ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the influence of exosome-derived miR-124 on the molecular expression related to axonal regeneration after mechanical damage to cortical neurons in mice,aiming to provide experimental data for intervention in neurogenesis after traumatic brain injury (TBI).Methods The plasmid loaded with miR-124 was used to transfect the HEK293 cell line.The transfection effect was identified by real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR).The exosomes were isolated from the supematant of cultured transfected HEK293 cell line by the SBI isolation kit.The isolated exosomes were identified by electron microscopy and Western blotting,and the involved miR-124 in the exosomes was identified by qPCR.After the cortical neurons were isolated from the pregnant mice (14-17-day old) and cultured for 7 days,they were divided into 4 groups:control,damage,damage + exosomes without miR-124 and damage + exosomes with miR-124.The Petri dishes were manually scratched with a 10 μL plastic stylet needle to construct a mechanical damage in vitro in the latter 3 groups.The isolated exosomes without or with miR-124 were added into the cultured medium for culture for 72 h in the latter 2 groups,respectively.The expression ofmiR-124,NRP-1,Tau and Gap-43 was measured by qPCR and Western blotting respectively.Results The exosomes containing miR-124 were successfully obtained by plasmid transfection and the SBI isolation kit.The expression levels of miR-124,NRP-1 and Gap-43 in the damage + exosomes with miR-124 group were elevated significantly greater than in the other 3 groups (P＜0.05).The expression levels ofmiR-124,NRP-1 and Gap-43 in the damage group and damage + exosomes without miR-124 group were elevated significantly greater than in control group (P＜0.05).Conclusions The exosomes may transmit miR-124 to the cortical neurons in mice after mechanical damage and increase the expression ofmiR-124,NRP-1 and Gap-43 in the cortical neurons in mice.