AIM: To investigate the effect and mechanism of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in topical treatment on trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in rats. METHODS: Colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of TNBS and was treated with 5-ASA at the dose of 100 mg?kg -1 for 2 weeks. Normal control group was administrated with normal saline and TNBS control group was treated with TNBS, not with 5-ASA. Macroscopic damage, histological changes and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were evaluated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in colonic mucosa were detected by kits. The expression of interleukin-1? (IL-1?) and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) mRNAs in colonic mucosa was determined by a reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: Compared with TNBS control group, the macroscopic and histological changes and MPO activity in 5-ASA treated groups were improved. SOD activity was increased and the level of MDA in colonic mucosa was reduced significantly. The expression of IL-1? and TNF-? mRNAs in colonic mucosa was also decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: 5-ASA enema can significantly ameliorate TNBS-induced colitis in rats via antioxidant mechanism and attenuation of proinflammatory cytokine expression.

Protein-protein binding is the basis of virus and host cell interactions. With the application of technology of studying protein interactions, more knowledge of replication and pathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV) was acquired. Non-structure protein 5B(NS5B) of HCV is a kind of viral protein, which plays an important role in replication of HCV. However, the effect of NS5B is not clear. To investigate the biological function of NS5B, we performed yeast two hybrid to look for proteins in hepatocytes interacting with NS5B. We constructed NS5B bait plasmid by cloning the gene of NS5B into pGBKT7, then transformed it into yeast AH109(a type). The transformed yeast was mated with yeast Y187(? type)containing liver cDNA library plasmid in 2?YPDA medium. Diploid yeast was plated on synthetic dropout nutrient medium (SD/-Trp-Leu-His-Ade) containing x-?-gal for screening. Thirty-three colonies were selected and sequenced. Among them, two colonies were new genes with unknown function. The preliminary successful cloning of gene of protein interacting with NS5B paved the way for the study of the physiological function of NS5B and its associated protein.

Functional constipation(FC) in childhood is characterized by a low defecation frequency in combination with either involuntary loss of stools(encopresis),passage of large amounts of stool,retentive posturing,or hard and often painful defecation.It represents 3%-5% of general pediatric outpatient visits and up to 25% of pediatric gastroenterology consultations.FC is a diagnosis made by history and physical examination.No testing is necessary or desirable.The decision to seek medical care for symptoms arises from a parent′s or caretaker′s concern for children.The caretaker′s threshold for concern varies with his or her experiences and expectations,coping style,and perception of illness,till now there is not an universal native criteria established in spite of much has been done in it.The criteria used are still to draw assistance from the foreign standard,among which the classic criteria,the Rome Ⅱ and Rome Ⅲ criteria are considered commonly used.The purpose of this paper is to descript the several foreign criteria,and to make comparison among them,and to explore their applicability and effectiveness in childhood FC

Objective To investigate the relationship between apoptcsis, expressions of VEGF and clinicopathological characteris- tics, and prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods Sixty-one surgical specimens of primary esophageal squa- mous cell carcinomas were examined for VEGF by immunohistochemical staining (S-P). Apoptcsis was determined by TUNEL (TdT media- ting dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling) method. Clinicopathologic features were examined by histopathology. The prognostic impacts of these pa- rameters were analyzed by univariate and survival analysis. Results AI and VEGF were well correlated with differentiation, TNM stage. Lower tumor differentiation and higher TNM stage were related to decreasing AI and VEGF. In addition, VEGF in the groups of invasion be- yond muscularis and lymph node metastasis is significant higher than that in invasion reaching muacularis and no lymph node metastasis (P <0.01). But there were no significant correlation between AI and invasion( P>0.05). The simple-factor analysis results showed that the decrease of AI, VEGF, lymph node metastases, lower tumor differentiation, and invasion reaching muscularis were related to decrease of sur- vival rate. However, multivariate Cox analysis demonstrated that only AI and VEGF were the significant prognostic factors. Conclusions Apoptosis and angiagenesis participate in ESCC and promote its growth. VEGF is related to angiogenesis of ESCC. The increase of VEGF may promote invasion and lymph node metastasis. AI and VEGF are significant prognostic factors in ESCC.

Hepatic tumor-specific magnetic resonance (MR) enhancement with Gd-EOB-DTPA can detect and distinguish small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with greater sensitivity than conventional magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography.Hepatic tumor-specific MR enhancement with Gd-EOB-DTPA is more sensitive in detecting focal HCC,and more reliable in detecting lesions with a diameter smaller than 2cm.Gd-EOB-DTPA is excreted through the kidneys and biliary tract,and thus may provide more information about anatomic structures,demonstrate non-obstruction of the intra- and extrahepatic bile duct system,and provide information about hepatic function.

Objective To investigate the effect of taurine on colonic fibrosis in rats with colitis induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid(TNBS). Methods Thirty-two SD rats were divided into normal control group, model group, low-dose (400 mg/kg) taurine group and high-dose (800 mg/kg) taurine group. Rats in normal group were administrated with 0.9% NaCl solution enema, and the other three groups received TNBS enema. The rats in low-dose and high-dose taurine groups were administrated with 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg of taurine daily, respectively, one week before TNBS enema. Morphology and disease activity index (DAI) were evaluated, and the colonic tissues were histologically examined. Colon length and weight of the rats were also measured. The concentrations of hydroxyproline, collagen type Ⅰ, transforming growth factor-betal(TGF-β1), and Smad3 protein and mRNA in colon tissues were tested. Results In comparison with control group, the body weight and colon length were decreased while DAI score and colon weight were increased obviously in model group (P`0.01). All above parameters were improved after intervention of taurine. The fibrotie score in model group (1.88±0.35) was significantly higher than that in control group (0.25±0.46), low-dose (1.25±0.71) and high-dose (0.75±0.47) taurine groups (all P values <0.05). High levels of hydroxyproline, collagen type Ⅰ, TGF-β1 and Smad3 were detected in model group compared with low-dose and high-dose taurine groups (all P values < 0.05). Conclusions Taurine is effective in prevention of colonic fibrosis induced by TNBS in rats, which is mediated by the down regulation of TGF-β1 and the inhibition of TGF-β/ Smad3 pathway. It may be beneficial in treatment of Crohn's disease with colonic fibrosis and strictures.

Partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 7 is a rare disease and is prone to missing the diagnosis or being misdiagnosed.Here we present a case of a 13-year-old boy that showed symptoms such as growth-retardation,moderate intellectual disability,hypotelorism,microcephaly,epicanthal folds,genu varum and lumbar vertebral cleft,but it did not show serious symptoms like cleft lip,urogenital malformation and hypotonia.He was eventually diagnosed as partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 7 syndrome through gene analysis.Considering the rare incidence of this disease and more rarely for being hospitalized to endocrine ward due to growth retardation,this case report can provide more information for clinic diagnosis and differential diagnosis for growth retardation.

The key point of study on CO2 removal by microalgae cultured in a photobioreactor is to improve CO2 removal capability. In this paper, a model of air-lift photobioreactor was developed by combination of conditions including the velocity of flow, the degree of mixing, the gas-liquid mass transfer and the rate of photosynthesis, and two corresponding simplified methods, such as time discretization and lumped parameters were put forward. Using a method of lumped parameters, the model for simulation of time course of DO, pH in the column air-lift photobioreactor and prediction of CO2, O2 concentrations in the outlet gas under different CO2 concentration in the aeration gas was thoroughly discussed. Experimental data were also used to verify the model which could potentially be applied to rational design of the photobioreactor, high-density culture of microalgae and efficient removal of CO2.
Bioreactors ; Carbon Dioxide ; isolation & purification ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Models, Theoretical ; Photosynthesis

Objective To survey the CT radiation dose to cancer patients,and to compare it with diagnostic reference level (DRL) provided by newly issued national standard.Methods Computed tomography dose index weighted (CTDIw) of 5 CT equipments was measured by the standard phantom with typical scanning protocol and radiation dose parameters including average computed tomography dose index volume (CTDIvol),dose length product (DLP),75％ DLP with 900 adult and 300 pediatric cancer patients were collected.According to age stage,effective dose was estimated.Results The measured CTDIw for head scanning was on the same level with DRL,while lumbar vertebra and abdominal scanning were lower than DRL.To adults,DLP of cerebrovascular enhanced scanning and effective dose of abdominal enhanced scanning were the highest.To pediatric patients,there was no significant difference in DLP among different ages.Conclusion CTDI only reflects the dose contribution from a slice,but do not reflect the cumulative dose.For the patients need multiphase scanning,because they may be exposed to high dose,national standard should provide DLP value as the diagnostic reference level.Using individual scanning protocol is an effective method to reduce radiation dose of pediatric patient.

Objective To explore the role of TLR2 and TLR4 in the pathogenesis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura ( HSP) by investigating their expression at mRNA and protein levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ( PBMCs ) and their influences on Th 1/Th2 immune response in children with HSP . Methods 64 hospitalized children with HSP in the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical Col -lege from October 2011 to November 2012 were enrolled in the study .They were further divided into non-He-noch-Schonlein purpura nephritis ( NHSPN ) group ( n =36 ) and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) group (n=28).30 age-matched healthy children from Child Health Division of the same hospital were selected as controls .The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 at mRNA level in PBMCs were detected by re-al-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction .The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 at protein level and T cells subset were detected by flow cytometry .The levels of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-6 in plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results (1)Compared with the control group , the expres-sion of TLR2 and TLR4 at mRNA and protein levels were remarkably increased in children with HSP , espe-cially in HSPN group.(2)Compared with the control group, the percentage of CD3+T cells and CD3+CD4+T cells were down-regulated in HSP group , but the percentage of CD 3+CD8+T cells and CD3+HLADR+T cells were up-regulated.(3)The level of IFN-γand the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 in plasma from children with HSP were significantly lower than those of the controls , while the level of IL-4 and IL-6 were remarkably higher than those of the controls .(4)The expression of TLR2 and TLR4 at protein level in PBMCs from chil-dren with HSP showed significant positive correlations with the expression of TLR 2 and TLR4 at mRNA level and plasma concentration of IL-4 and IL-6, but a negative correlation with the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4.Conclu-sions The aberrant activation of TLR 2 and TLR4 might be correlated with the immunological pathogenesis of HSP by enhancing Th2 immune response.The hyper-activation of TLR2 and TLR4 might result in renal injury in patients with HSP .