Animals ; Birds ; Humans ; Influenza A virus ; classification ; pathogenicity ; Influenza in Birds ; complications ; prevention & control ; virology ; Influenza, Human ; etiology ; prevention & control

Objective To investigate the risk factors on children with coronary artery lesions (CAL) secondary to Kawasaki di-sease(KD). Methods One hundred and forty - five patients with KD from January 1999 to December 2001 were collected. Among them, 93 cases without CAL and 52 cases with CAL. The test results, therapeutic methods and prognosis were analyzed in two groups. Results The duration of fever was longer and mean value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) higher in group with CAL than those m the group without CAL(P0.05).The incidence of CAL was 18.8% (18/96) in patients of IVIG treatment within 10 days from onset, and 69.4% (34/49) in patients without IVIG treatment (P

Objective To study the mechanism of effects of estrogen receptor (ER) on T and B lymphocytes in patients with SLE and synergistic effect of T and B lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of SLE.Methods Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expressions of ER-α,interleukin 10 (IL-10) and B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)from 40 SLE patients and 40 normal human controls. The clinical and laboratory correlation with the levels of these parameters was analyzed. Results A significant increase was observed in the relative expression levels of ER-α, IL-10 and BLyS mRNA in SLE patients compared with the normal human controls (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ), in active SLE patients compared with inactive SLE patients (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ). Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of the 3 parameters were significantly correlated with the presence of renal damage, proteinuria, arthritis, etc. No statistical difference was observed in the mRNA expression levels of these parameters between female and male patients or between female and male normal controls. Conclusions IL-10 and BLyS appear to be correlated with the disease activity and severity of SLE, and ER-α may play an important role in the action mechanism of T and B lymphocytes in SLE.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis ; virology

Proteins extracted from two varieties of Chinese roses leaves were separated by two- dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) with immobilized pH gradient (IPG). Many difference proteins were isolated with molecular weights ranging 10-30 kDa and pI5-6. Three proteins of high levels observed in a gel were excised and identified using peptide mass fingerprinting and MS-MS. A summary of the identified proteins and their putative functions are presented. They are identified as eIF-5A、LEA protein and Hsp17. 5. Functions of these proteins in plant tolerance to high temperature were discussed.

A clinically reliable non-invasive test for endometriosis is expected to reduce the diagnostic delay. Although varieties of biomarkers have been investigated for decades, and cancer antigen-125, cancer antigen-199, interleukin-6, and urocortin were the most studied ones among hundreds of biomarkers, no clinically reliable biomarkers have been confirmed so far. Some emerging technologies including "omics" technologies, molecular imaging techniques, and microRNAs are promising in solving these challenges, but their utility to detect endometriosis has yet to be verified. New combinations of researched indicators or other non-invasive methods and further exploration of the emerging technologies may be new targets and future research hotspots for non-invasive diagnosis of endometriosis. In conclusion, researches of biomarkers for the detection of endometriosis are still ongoing and may benefit from novel molecular biology, bioinformatics methods and a combination of more diverse monitoring methods. Though it will be a daunting task, the identification of a specific set of diagnostic biomarkers will undoubtedly improve the status of endometriosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of VPA and molecular hydrogen(H2)on phenotypes of microglia treated with hypoxia. Methods Mouse hypoxic BV2 microglia were treated with VPA or H2. The levels of phenotypic markers of supernatant and cells were detected by ELISA, flow cytometry and real?time PCR,respectively. Results Hypoxia significantly increased mRNA level of M1 marker(iNOS)and reduced mRNA levels of M2 markers(CD206 and TGF?β)in BV2(P<0.05). Besides,the ratio between the mRNA levels of M1 increased(P<0.05). VPA significantly reduced protein level(CD16/32)and mRNA production(iNOS)of M1 markers in hypoxia?treated BV2(P<0.05). The ratio be?tween the mRNA levels of M1 markers and M2 markers(CD16:CD206,CD32:CD206,iNOS:CD206 and iNOS:TGF?β)were also significantly decreased(P<0.05). H2 significantly reduced both protein levels(TNF?α,CD16/32 and iNOS)and mRNA production(iNOS)of M1 markers and increased secretion of M2 marker(IL?10)in hypoxia?treated BV2(P<0.05). The ratio between the mRNA levels of M1 markers and M2 markers(CD16:CD206,iNOS:CD206 and iNOS:TGF?β)were also highly declined(P<0.05). Conclusion Hypoxia can induce microglial cells toward pro?inflammatory phenotype. Both VPA and H2 can inhibit hypoxia?induced inflammatory effect on microglia.

The Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, many studies have revealed its prominent neuroprotection function. The active ingredients in Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis could protect the nervous system in a multi-path and multi-target manner. Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis shows the neuroprotective effect by resisting oxidation, scavenging free radicals, modulating neurotransmitters and their related receptors, regulating the inflammatory factors and their related pathways, attenuating neuron apoptosis, reducing intracellular Ca2+ overloads and mitigating neurodegeneration. In this paper, the authors summarized the advance in studies on neuroprotective mechanisms of Uncariae Ramulus Cum Uncis.
Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; metabolism ; Uncaria ; chemistry

Objective To observe the cognitive function and its related factors in patients with essential epilepsy.Methods The cognitive function of 70 essential epilepsy patients (epilepsy group) and 40 healthy controls(control group) were evaluated by means of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adult-Chinese (WAIS-RC).The relation between the cognitive dysfunction and its related factors were analyzed.Results The scores of performance intelligence quotient,verbal intelligence quotient,full intelligence quotient in epilepsy group were significantly lower than those in control group [(98.06 ± 15.24) scores vs.(113.80 ± 12.14) scores,(98.09 ± 16.06) scores vs.(120.65 ± 11.28) scores,(98.06 ± 15.80) scores vs.(119.42 ± 11.85) scores] (P ＜ 0.01).The scores of 11 numbers of rating scales were significantly lower than those in control group (P ＜ 0.01).The factors related to the cognitive function were education level,age numbers,duration of the disease,frequency of seizures attack before medication,the duration of seizures and the quantity of antiepileptics.Conclusions Many of the essential epilepsy patients have cognitive function deficit.The cognitive condition of essential epilepsy patients should be pay more attention and reduce the dangerous factors in order to improve the life quality.

Objectives To investigate the relationship between atherosclerotic acute myocardial infarction (AMI),acute cerebral infarction (ACI)and homocysteine (Hcy). Methods Three hundred and twenty consecutive patients with primary acute myocardial infarction (AMI)(group A)were admitted to the Department of Cardiology,310 patients with primary large artery atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (group B)were admitted to the Department of Neurology,and 327 healthy individuals without cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (group C)at the Department of Physical Examination,Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University were enrolled retrospectively from March 2010 to October 2011. The age and sex were matched in the 3 groups. All the clinical data of subjects were colleted in detail and then were compared and analyzed. Results (1)The Hcy levels (μmol/L)of group A,B,and C were 15. 10 (12. 43, 19.47),15. 80 (13. 10,20. 83),and 13. 20 (11. 00,16. 50;median [interquartile range]),respectively. There were significant differences among the 3 groups (P<0. 05). The incidences of hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy)were 92. 8%(n=297),97. 1%(n=301),and 84. 7%(n=277)(P<0. 05). (2)Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent risk factors for ACI were HHcy (OR 8. 97,95% CI 3. 01-26. 71),hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia and blood ureanitrogen;the independent risk factors for AMI were HHcy (OR 4. 36,95% CI 1. 70-11. 21),hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,and total blood cholesterol. Conclusion HHcy is an independent factor for ACI and AMI,which have closer relationship with ACI. ACI and AMI have some common risk factors,but their degrees of action are different.