Objective To observe the inhibitory effect of IL-4 on the IL-1?-induced rat mesangial cell proliferation, the release of PGE 2, and on the COX-2 mRNA and protein expression, so as to explore the related mechanism of anti-glomerulosclerosis. Methods Rat mesangial cell (MC) was cultured in vitro and the IL-1? -induced proliferation of MC was detected by MTT method. ELISA method was employed to measure the contents of PGE 2 in blank control group, IL-1? group, IL-4+IL-1? group, NS-398 group, NS-398+IL-1? group, indomethacin group, indomethacin+IL-1? group. The expression of mRNA and protein of COX-1 and COX-2 gene were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Results IL-1? could induce the proliferation of MC when the concentration was 0.1-100ng/ml in 12h, 24h and 48h. When its concentration was 2ng/ml, it had the strongest effect in 24h. All the IL-4, NS-398, indomethacin could inhibit IL-1? to induce MC producing PGE 2. The inhibitory rates are in proper order as: IL-4 (84.9%), NS-398(56.5%), and indomethacin(41.2%). Both IL-4 and NS-398 could obviously inhibit the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein proved by RT-PCR and Western blot. Indomethacin could strongly inhibit the expression of COX-1 mRNA and protein, while only shew a weak inhibition on the expression of COX-2 mRNA and protein. Conclusion IL-4 could markedly inhibit the IL-1? -induced MC proliferation, down-regulate COX-2 gene, decrease the production of PGE 2, and thus take effect on anti-glomerulosclerosis.

BACKGROUND:Through a ful investigation of biodegradable scaffolds, we propose a new self-expanding degradable poly-L-lactide coated endotracheal stent based on the design, production, experimental and clinical applications of nickel titanium memory alloy stent. OBJECTIVE:To design a kind of biodegradable endotracheal stent with poly-L-lactide and hydroxyapatite, and to test its mechanical properties, biocompatibility and biodegradation capacity. METHODS:With the technology of computer aided design, the stents were prepared with poly-L-lactide (Mr RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The average radial supporting force of the tracheal stent was 7.8 kPa, the percentage of stent surface coverage was less than 20%, the stent expansion rate was≥4%, and the stent longitudinal shortening rate was≤9%, which reached the mechanical requirements for degradable endotracheal stents. After 4-16 weeks, there was no significant inflammatory response. The decline in molecular weight changes and weight loss ratio was higher for in vivo degradation than in vitro degradation at different time (P<0.05). These findings indicate that poly-L-lactide/hydroxyapatite composite stents have good mechanical properties, biocompatibility and biodegradability. 150 000) and hydroxyapatite materials, 20 mm to 26 mm in diameter. The mechanical properties were tested using a universal testing machine. These poly-L-lactide/hydroxyapatite stents were implanted into dog models of tracheal stenosis at an appropriate size. The histopathological changes of the tracheas were observed, and biodegradation property was studied via molecular weight changes and weight loss ratio after 4, 8, 12, 16 weeks.

Objective To provide reference of the general physiological index, blood physiology and biochemistry for middle and old-aged cynomolgus monkey.Methods 119 cynomolgus monkey aged from 11~16 (80 were males and 39 were females) were involved in the study.We detected the general physiological index( body weight, the crown-rump length and waist circumference ) , hematology and blood biochemistry parameters respectively and compared these parameters between males and females.Results Between males and females, there were significant differences in Body weight, the crown-rump length and Waist circumference of the general physiological index(P <0.01),NEUT#、LYMPH#、EO#、BASO#、NEUT%、LYMPH%、EO%、BASO%、MCV、MCH、RDW-CV、PCT、MONO%、HGB、HCT、MCHC、RDW-SD、MPV of hematology(P <0.01 or P <0.05)and TBIL、ALB、GLO、A/G、ALP、GLU、UREA、CREA、TCH、TG、CK、ALT、GGT of blood biochemistry ( P <0.01 or P <0.05 ) .There were no significant differences in other parameters ( P >0.05).Conclusion It provides reference of general physiological index, blood physiology and biochemistry parameters of cynomolgus monkey and basis for their application in biomedical domain.

Objective To evaluate the clinical diagnostic significance of clinical laboratory indexes of anti-CCP,rheumatoid factor (RF),C reactive protein(CRP)and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(SR)in rheumatoid arthritis.Methods Anti-CCP,RF and CRP were quantitatively tested in 90 patients confirmed as rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and 93 patients with non-rheumatoid arthritis(non-RA)diseases by the electrochemiluminescence immunoassay(ECLIA),immunization rate scattering turbidimetry,etc.T test results were performed the statistical and comprehensive analysis by using the ROC curves.Results The levels of anti-CCP and RF had statistical differences between the RA group and the non-RA group(P <0.05 ),while there was no statistically significant differ-ences in the levels of CRP and SR(P >0.05 ).The areas under ROC curves(AUC)of anti-CCP,RF,CRP and SR were 94.0%, 84.0%,51.7% and 56.5% respectively;the sensitivity of anti-CCP and RF was 90.0% and 74.4% respectively,while the specifici-ty was 94.6% and 86% respectively;the Youden indexes were 84.6%and 60.4% respectively;the diagnostic sensitivity of CRP was only 52.2% and the diagnostic specificity of SR was only 50.5%.Conclusion Anti-CCP and RF have the good diagnostic value for RA,moreover the diagnostic performance of anti-CCP is better than RF;CRP and SR have the poor diagnostic preformance,the combination of above indexes has more clinical significance for diagnosing RA.

Objective:To retrospectively investigate the regulation of cervical and posterior to level V (PLV) lymph node metastasis on clinical target delineation in radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods:A total of 428 NPC cases from February 2013 to April 2016 were subjected to enhanced CT scan from the base of the skull to the clavicle for pathological diagnosis. A deputy chief physician and an attending physician assessed the nodal distribution in each level in accordance with the RTOG guidelines proposed in 2013. The central point of the metastatic lymph nodes of PLV in the patients were recreated proportionally on the CT images of a stan-dard patient with N0 NPC in reference to the normal anatomy of the PLV area. SPSS 19.0 was used to analyze the correlation between PLV and the other levels. Moreover, the nodal location and characteristics of PLV were analyzed. Results:Among the 428 patients, 381 (89.0%) showed nodal involvement. The top four metastatic probabilities were presented as follows:Ⅱb (75.2%),Ⅶa (60.3%),Ⅱa (59.6%), andⅢ(42.0%). Up to 21 (4.9%) patients exhibited nodal involvement of PLV with 32 nodes. The mean vertical distance of all central points of PLV from the anterior border of the trapezius was 16 mm. Correlation analysis indicated the nodal involvement of PLV with the ipsilateral level Va (P=0.001). Conclusion:NPC showed a high probability of nodal metastasis. Nodes were mostly metasta-sized from the upper to the lower level, as well as from the proximal to the distal area. The leap metastasis rate was very low. The nod-al involvement of PLV correlated with the ipsilateral metastasis of level Va. Thus, the ipsilateral delineation of the posterior border of level V should be contoured to 25 mm far from the anterior surface of the trapezius during the nodal involvement of level Va.

Attenuation reflectance Fourier transformation infrared spectrometry(ATR FTIRs) combined with clustering analysis was used to identify genus Zanthoxlum .The dendrogram of clustering analysis showed that there were obvious difference between genus different species of Zanthoxlum . The results are consistent with that of morphologic study and analyzing.This method is rapid, simple, effective and can be used for the identification of crude drugs.

Objective To investigate the improve effects of environmental enrichment on maternal behavior in the adult female rats thatexperienced early-life stress,and to explore the molecular biological mechanism.Methods The newborn Wistar rats were divided into two groups randomly,the early life stress group and the control group.Pups from the former were separated from their mothers once per day for 4 hours from PND 2-21 (day of birth was considered PND =0),and suffered vicious stimulus during the daily 4 hours maternal separation from PND 8-21.On PND 22(weaning),pups from the early life stress group were divided into two groups:12 female pups were reared singly,refered to as isolated-rearing group; another 12 were placed in a big cage that was filled with all sorts of rodents toys,refered to as enriched-rearing group; control female pups were placed in groups of 4 per cage.Mating with male rats when female pups reached PND66,then being placed in cages singly when they were detected pregnant.Maternal behavior was evaluated on the second and sixth day after delivery,and the hypothalamic OTR mRNA levels were examined by RT-PCR.Results The results of maternal behavior observation showed that the total time of retrieve and the latency of licking were significantly longer in isolated-rearing rats compared with the normal and the enriched-rearing rats (P ＜ 0.01) ; total time of licking in enriched-rearing rats was longer than the normal and the isolated-rearing rats(P＜0.01) on the sixth day after delivery;and the score of the nest building was obviously lower in isolated-rearing rats,especially on the sixth day after delivery(P ＜ 0.01).Hypothalamic OTR mRNA levels in the isolated-rearing rats showed strongly decreased compared with the normal rats(P＜0.01),but which close to normal levels in enriched-rearing rats.Conclusion Early life stress can damage some components of maternal behavior,such as retrieval,licking,nest building,but it has no obvious effect on crouching behavior; it also decreases the hypothalamic OTR mRNA levels of the adult female rats; as a kind of early environmental intervention,groups-rearing could make hypothalamic OTR mRNA levels of the female rats that subjected to early life stress restore to normal,and thus reverse the disruptions of stress in maternal behavior.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound-guided pleural biopsy combined with thoracic biochemical detections in malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions. Methods Sixty-four patients with moderate or large pleural effusions and pleural thickening received the ultrasound-guided diagnostic pleural biopsy. All patients had chest CT enhancement scans to find out the suspicious pleural thickening preoperatively, facilitating the selection of puncture sites by ultrasound. Pleural tissue samples were sent for pathological examinations immediately. After successful achievements of pleural biopsy, ultrasound-guided aspiration or drainage was performed to alleviate symptoms, more importantly, to get pleural effusions for biochemical analysis. Biological results including carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA), CA125, CYFRA21 and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) in malignant and tuberculous effusions were analyzed by group design t tests. The positive rates of CEA, CA125, CYFRA21, LDH in malignant and tuberculous effusions were compared by chi square tests. Results Pleural tissues in all cases were got by one pleural biopsy procedure. The strategy of pleural biopsy we used in this study had a successful rate reaching 100%(64/64), and 73% (46/64) patients had a definitive diagnosis as malignant or tuberculous effusion. Twenty-seven cases were diagnosed as malignant effusions and thirty-seven cases as tuberculous effusions based on the deifnitive clinical diagnosis. The positive rates of CEA, CA125, CYFRA21, LDH in malignant effusions were 100%(27/27), 100%(27/27), 100%(27/27), 89%(24/27) respectively, and 0%(0/37), 84%(31/37), 78%(29/37), 76%(28/37) respectively in tuberculous effusions. The positive rate of CEA between malignant and tuberculous effusions differed signiifcantly (χ2=64.0, P < 0.01), so did CA125 (χ2=3.1, P < 0.01) and CYFRA21(χ2=4.8, P<0.01). The average levels of CEA, CA125, CYFRA21, LDH in pleural effusion were (727.1±658.8)μg/L, (795.2±1249.6)×103 U/L, (296.2±320.7)μg/L, (1077.9±1058.5) U/L respectively, and (1.7±1.1)μg/L, (336.3±208.6)×103 U/L, (20.7±14.9)μg/L, (309.2±182.7) U/L in tuberculous effusions.There were signiifcant differences in CEA, CYFRA21 and LDH concentrations among malignant and tuberculous effusions (t=45.1, 27.4, 18.8 respectively, all P<0.01). Conclusion Ultrasound-guided pleural biopsy combined with CEA, CYFRA21 and LDH in pleural effusions had an important value in the etiological diagnosis of pleural effusions, while CA125 showed little value in the differential diagnosis.

Objective To study the changes of Young's modulus value of the renal cortex,vertebral body and sinus when there was a different degree of acute renal artery stenosis.Methods 10 Japanese white rabbits were used for this study.The left renal artery was dissected.An ultrasound probe was placed on the left kidney,Young's modulus of the renal cortex,vertebral body and sinus were recorded using shear wave ultrasound elastic imaging technique during three stages:when the renal artery was intact (0％ stenosis),tied with a suture (＞ 50％ stenosis),and ligated (100％ stenosis).Renal tissue elasticity with different degrees of renal artery stenosis were compared.Pathological study was carried out in the kidneys,each with either 0％,＞ 50％ or 100％ renal artery stenosis.Results The mean values of Young's modulus from the renal cortex,vertebral body and sinus with different degrees of renal artery stenosis were as follows:0％ stenosis,(16.31 ±1.70) kPa,(13.38± 1.63) kPa,and (12.75±2.26) kPa;＞ 50％ stenosis,(14.16±2.34) kPa,(11.49±2.70) kPa,and (10.72±2.56) kPa;100％ stenosis,(11.35 ± 1.48) kPa,(8.39± 1.29) kPa,and (7.08 ± 1.52) kPa.The mean value of Young's modulus from the renal cortex was significantly higher than those from the renal vertebral body and sinus (P ＜ 0.05).The mean values of Young's modulus from different parts of the kidney decreased progressively with an increase in renal artery stenosis (P ＜ 0.05).The pathological study demonstrated that with the increase in the severity of renal artery stenosis,glomerular volume,renal interstitial capillary diameter and red blood cells decreased.When renal artery stenosis reached 100％,there was patch degeneration and inflammatory cell infiltration within the renal interstitium,and mild degeneration of tubular epithelial cells with obscure cell borders.Conclusions The value of Young's modulus from the renal cortex was higher than those from the renal pyramid and sinus in rabbits.The values of Young's modulus from the renal cortex,pyramid and sinus decreased with an increase in the severity of renal artery stenosis,which suggest that,in the study of the elasticity of the kidney,the renal artery blood flow dynamic state can obviously affect the value of the elasticity of the kidney.

Aim To clarify the effect of circulating exosomes on hypertension, screen out miRNAs which plays a key role, and explore its function.Methods The plasma exosomes of spontaneously hypertensive rats were extracted and injected into Sprague Dawley rats.The blood pressure changes of rats were detected.Plasma exosomes and exosomal RNA of hypertensive patients and SHR were extracted.Real time PCR was used to verify the expression changes of the selected 8 miRNAs; Western blot was used to detect the expression changes of LKB1 and PTEN protein levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells transfected with miR-17-5p mimics.Results The plasma exosomes of SHRs significantly increased the blood pressure of SD rats(P<0.05).The expression of miR-17-5p and miR-218-5p in the plasma exosomes of hypertensive patients and SHRs both significantly increased.miR-17-5p inhibitors significantly attenuated the effect of SHR-exos on raising blood pressure.miR-17-5p mimics down-regulated the expression of LKB1 and PTEN in HUVECs cultured in vitro.Conclusions The plasma exosomes of SHR can significantly increase blood pressure of Sprague Dawley rats.miR-17-5p may be the key miRNA.exo-miR-17-5p may promote the occurrence and development of hypertension by regulating the LKB1/PTEN signal.