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.

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

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

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

Objective To explore the feasibility of culturing dermal papillae cells (DPC) of hu- man hair in a serum-flee medium,and to observe the growth characteristics of these cells.Methods Cell culture flasks (plates) were pretreated with fibronectin,and DPC (2nd passage) were incubated with Williams E serum-flee medium supplemented with insulin-transferrin-selenite (ITS).Cells were observed by an inverted phase-contrast microscope.Proliferation of DPC was evaluated with 3-(4,5-dimethylthia- zol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and by their growth curve.Results In a serum-free medium,2nd passage DPC adhered to the flask surface within two to four hours of incubation; two to three days later,confluence,of the cells was observed,without noticeable proliferation.Four days later,cell connection was interrupted,isolated cells or cell clusters were seen,and detachment of some cells from the flask surface was observed.One to two weeks later,most cells had died.After incubation with 4% bovine serum for ten hours,cell proliferation was observed surrounding the remaining viable cell colonies. DPC growth curve showed stagnant phase and slow growth phase;however,log growth phase was not ob- served.Conclusion DPC could be successfully cultured in serum-free medium.However,the culture con- dition needs to be further optimized.

Objective To evaluate the effects of different doses of lidocaine on suppressing fentanyl-induced cough and determine a safe suppressing dose.Methods Two hundred patients undergoing general anesthesia were randomized to four groups evenly.The following medications were given within ten seconds:normal saline 10ml (groupⅠ,control group),lidocaine 1 mg/kg (groupⅡ),lidoeaine 1.5 mg/kg(groupⅢ),lidocaine 2mg/kg (groupⅣ).Toxic symptoms of lidocaine were recorded within lmin after the administration of lidocaine,then fentanyl 3?g/ kg was given intravenously within 5 seconds.Cough incidence and cough grade were recorded within 2rain after the administration of fentanyl.Systolic blood pressure (SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP),heart rates (HR),and satu- ration of pulse oximeter(SpO2) were recorded during different time points of induction,all recorded data were anal- ysed by the statistical software,P value

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.

Background RCS-rdy--P+ rat occur retinitis pigmentosa (PR) with the aging and development.To find OUt the retinal functional change using electrophysiological technique is useful for the further study of RCS-rdy--P+ rat. Ohjectlve The goal of this experiment was to investigate the dark-adapted electroretinogram (ERG) of RCS rats with aging. Methods The series of seotopic ERG were recorded in postnatal 21-,32-,37-,45-,60-day-old RCS-rdy--P+ rats respectively,and the age-matched RCS-rdy+-P+ rats were simultaneously recorded as control group.The ERG record was performed by a series of flash with RETI-scan system,gold-foil ring form cornea recording electrode and home-made stainless steel needle electrode.The use of animals complied with the Regulations of the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. Results Increase dark adaptation duration led to an ascended amplitude in ERG b-wave within 12 hours under the same light intensity,frequency and body temperature.Compared with the RCS-rdy+-P+ rats,the amplitudes of scotopic ERG a-wave and b-wave in RCS-rdy--P+ rats with postnatal 21 days age were apparently declined,showing significant difference between them(P<0.01).The implicit time of both RCS-rdy+-P+ rats and RCS-rdy--P+ rats were delayed, especially for the a-wave. The amplitudes of a-wave and b-wave were declined drastically with the growth of RCS-rdy--P+ rats and progression of their retinal degeneration, and the ERG responses were undetectable at the postnatal 60 days. Both the b-wave and a-wave amplitudes were lowered at P21-day RCS-rdy+-P+ rats and after that,significant increase amplitudes were noted till the P32-day rats. Thereafter, the b-wave amplitude and a-wave amplitude were stable from P32 d to P45 d,and much more ascending of b-wave and a-wave amplitudes was at P60 d RCS-rdy+-P+ rats. Conclusion RCS-rdy--P+ rats occur the retrogression of retinal function along with the ages growth. The scotopic ERG changes of RCS-rdy--P+ rats with aging is evidently different and is in accordance to the characteristics of the RP.

Background Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)is a cation channel isolated from the eyespot of Chlamydomonas algae and has been used to control neuron activity.The light stimulation is a more precise fashion whether space or time than that of electrical,magnetic and ultrasound stimulation. Objective This study was to construct a replication deficient recombinant adenovirus cxpression vector of ChR2 and to determine its function.Methods Human embryo kidney 293 (HEK293) cell line was cultured and passaged in DF12 medium containing 10％ fetal bovine serum(FBS).The ChR2 gene was cloned at the downstream of cytomegalovirus(CMV)promoter of the adenoviral shuttle plasmid pSB291 in sense direction,and the resultant recombinant plasmid pSB291-hChR2- GFP was transfected into HEK293 cell together with plasmid pBHG lox ( deltaE1,3 ) containing adenoviral genome,then small amounts replication deficient recombinant adenovirus expression vector of ChR2 (Ad-ChR2) was obtained.Through amplification gradient centrifugation and dialysis,pure Ad-ChR2 was obtained.Visual cortex cells derived from 4 1-day-old clean Long Evans rats were primary cultured with serum-free culture media and infected by AdChR2.When expressing green fluorescencc,those cells received the stimulated of blue light with 460 nm.Patch clamp technique was applied to record an action potential. Results After purification and concentration,the titer of AdhCHR2 reached 7.9×1010 PFU/ml.Twenty-four hours after transfect of Ad-ChR2,HEK293 cell membrane showed the green fluorescence for the recombinant plasmid with green fluorescence protein under the inversed fluorescence microscope.The HEK293 cells change their shape from flat to round 13 days after transfected.The primary cultured visual cortex cells exhibited the green fluorescence 3-5 days after infected by Ad-ChR2.The action potentials evoked by blue light stimulation were recorded with patch clamp on those cells expressing green fluorescence. Conclusions Ad-ChR2 expressing vector is constructed successfully in this study.It is verified that Ad-ChR2 expressing vector can infect visual cortex cells with visual function.This result is very important for visual plasticity study.