Th17 lymphocytes have been recently identified as a novel subset of CD4+ cells. It has been defined that IL-17,the main product of Th17, plays an important role in immunity against parasitic infection. There is a two-way influence between Th17 and cytokine network: on one hand Th17 consummates cytokine network, on the other hand many cytokines regulate Th17's activity in parasitic infection. In the anti-parasitic infection process, Th17 cells protect host or promote inflammation, even cause immune pathogenesis in different cases, which comprise host's immune state, the burden of parasitic infection, as well as the treatment.

OBJECTIVE:To prepare redox-responsive pluronic F127 micelles with high drug-loading efficiency. METHODS:The thiol derivative F127-SH with strong hydrophobicity was synthesized by introducing tert-butyl methacrylate and cysteamine to the hydrophobic segments of F127. Paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded redox-responsive pluronic F127 micelles with high drug-loading effi-ciency(F127-SS/PTX)were prepared by film-hydration method as well as oxidation reaction of thiol groups. The diameter,encap-sulation efficiency and drug-loading amount were detected,and the change of diameter and drug release behavior of micelles were investaged under reducing environment or non-reducing environment. RESULTS:Mean diameter of F127-SS/PTX micelles was about(77.87±1.79)nm,and encapsulation efficiency and drug-loading amount were(92.73±2.35)% and(16.25±0.99)%,re-spectively. The diameter of the micelles increased rapidly and drug release rate of PTX increased significantly in the presence of 10 mmol/L dithiothreitol. CONCLUSIONS:The redox-responsive pluronic F127 micelles with high drug-loading efficiency are pre-pared successfully.

Animals ; Benzodiazepines ; pharmacology ; Ducks ; physiology ; Growth Hormone ; blood ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Serum ; metabolism ; Weight Gain ; drug effects

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of compound Decumbent Corydalis Rhizome (DCR) in treating patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Totally 79 patients with knee osteoarthritis were selected from out-patient and inpatient departments of West China Hospital and randomly divided into the test group and the control group. The test group (n = 41) was given Compound DCR with the dosage of 1.8 g · d(-1), while the control group (n = 38) was administered with diclofenac sodium with the dosage of 75 mg · d(-1). After 12 weeks of treatment, the total efficacy rates based on patients/physicians evaluation for experimental and control groups were 68.29%, 63.41% and 71.05%, 63.16%, respectively, without significant difference between the two groups. Both of the two groups showed significant improvements in the main efficacy indexes (pain on walking 20 m) and minor indexes (tenderness on palpation, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA index (WOMAC) and Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36 ), but without significant difference in efficacy between them. The incidence of related adverse events was 24.39% in the test group and 47.37% in the control group, respectively, with significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). In the controlled study, compound DCR is as efficient as diclofenac sodium but more tolerable, with a good clinical application prospect.
Adult ; Aged ; Corydalis ; chemistry ; Diclofenac ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Treatment Outcome

Humans ; Sciatic Neuropathy/etiology* ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip/adverse effects* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/etiology* ; Sciatic Nerve/injuries*

Effect of strophanthidin (Str) on intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was investigated on isolated ventricular myocytes of guinea pig. Single ventricular myocytes were obtained by enzymatic dissociation technique. Fluorescent signal of [Ca2+]i was detected with confocal microscopy after incubation of cardiomycytes in Tyrode's solution with Fluo3-AM. The result showed that Str increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. The ventricular myocytes began to round-up into a contracture state once the peak level of [Ca2+]i was achieved in the presence of Str (10 μmol·L-1), but remained no change in the presence of Str (1 and 100 nmol·L-1). Tetrodotoxin (TTX), nisodipine, and high concentration of extracellular Ca2+ changed the response of cardiomycytes to Str (1 and 100 nmol·L-1), but had no obvious effects on the action of Str (10 μmol·L-1). The elevation of [Ca2+]i caused by Str at all of the detected concentrations was partially antagonized by rynodine (10 μmol·L-1) or the removal of Ca2+ from Tyrode's solution. In Na+, K+-free Tyrode's solution, the response of cardiomycytes in [Ca2+]i elevation to Str (10 μmol·L-1) was attenuated, while remained no change to Str (1 and 100 nmol·L-1). TTX, nisodipine, and high concentration of extracellular Ca2+ changed the response of cardiomycytes to Str at all of the detected concentrations in Na+, K+-free Tyrode's solution. The study suggests that the elevation of [Ca2+]i by Str at the low (nomomolar) concentrations is partially mediated by the extracellular calcium influx through Ca2+ channel or a "slip mode conductance" of TTX sensitive Na+ channel. While the effect of Str at high (micromolar) concentrations was mainly due to the inhibition of Na+, K+-ATPase. Directly triggering the release of intracellular Ca2+ from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) by Str may be also involved in the mechanism of [Ca2+]i elevation.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect of carbon dioxide laser tonsillectomy.Method:In this prospective,randomized study, One hundred and two patients were divided into laser group or control group. Patients of laser group were cured with carbon dioxide laser tonsillectom,and the control group was cured with routine method. All operations are executed by one person. Observation index included operation time, hemorrhage in operation, ache after operation, inflammatory reaction of raw surface, repair time of raw surface, rehaemorrhagia and scar.Result:Laser group had advantages of less operation time, less hemorrhage, less ache and less inflammatory reaction of raw surface. Laser group have hemorrhage in operation (7.2±2.1)ml, while control group have hemorrhage in operation (92.0±35.0)ml. Laser group have pseudomembrane early but desquamate late.Conclusion:Carbon dioxide laser tonsillectomy is effective to relieve pain, inflammatory reaction and with less time ,it's an safe , efficient and mini-trauma operation.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and the inhibitory effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on testosterone production in rat Leydig cells.

METHODSRat Leydig cells were primarily cultured and the expression of RAGE in the Leydig cells was detected by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining. The Leydig cells were treated with AGEs at the concentrations of 25, 50, 100 and 200 microg/ml, respectively, and the testosterone content was determined by ELISA.

RESULTSRT-PCR and immunofluorescence staining exhibited the expression of RAGE in the rat Leydig cells. AGEs remarkably suppressed hCG-induced testosterone production in the Leydig cells in a concentration-dependent manner in the 50, 100 and 200 microg/ml groups as compared with the control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONRAGE exists in rat Leydig cells and AGEs can significantly inhibit the secretion of testosterone in primarily cultured rat Leydig cells.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; pharmacology ; Leydig Cells ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Male ; Rats ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; biosynthesis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Testosterone ; biosynthesis

Craniocerebral Trauma ; Earthquakes ; Head ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the inhibition of berberine (BBR) against ECV-304 apoptosis induced by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

METHODSECV-304 cells were pre-treated with 128 microg/mL BBR for 2 h and then S. aureus was added (1:100). The viability of cells was detected by MTT (3-4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The morphological changes were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining. The protection of BBR for infected cells was detected by DNA Ladder.

RESULTSECV-304 cells' viability were not obviously affected by berberine. But S. aureus induced ECV-304 cells' viability could be significantly inhibited by pre-treatment of BBR (P < 0.05). Besides S. aureus-induced ECV-304 apoptosis could be reduced, with significantly lessened apoptotic body and unobvious DNA degradation.

CONCLUSIONBBR could significantly inhibit S. aureus induced ECV-304 apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Berberine ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; microbiology ; pathology ; Humans ; Staphylococcus aureus