Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that can sense danger signals from damaged cells or pathogens and assemble to mediate the activation of caspase-1, which proteolytically activates the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18.Uniquely, inflammasome activation needs two steps to induce inflammation.Its activation has been studied in human and different experimental liver diseases and demonstrated to have effects on hepatocyte damage, immune cell activation and amplification of liver inflammation.In this review, inflammasome and their functions in variant liver diseases (especially ALD, NASH, ischemia-reperfusion liver injury) will be discussed in detail.These findings could help us deepen our understanding about these diseases, and provide new clues to the therapy of them in clinical practice.

With the development of laboratory medicine,more and more biomarkers have been discovered and applied in the diagnosis and treatment of acute myocardial infarction.For patients with suspected myocardial infarction,early diagnosis and timely treatment can save endangered myocardium and reduce fatality rate to a great extent.The proper use of biomarkers is of important value in preventing cardiovascular events and improving prognosis.This paper reviews the recent literature on new biomarkers in diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction,introduces the characteristics of these markers and their clinical diagnostic value.

Based on research of the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) and the related public websites of acupuncture educational institutions, the first hand information was studied, summarized and sorted on the status quo of the educational qualification or the relative authentication of education programs of ACAOM as well as the status of professional qualification and examination of NCCAOM. The education curriculum of the Master degree of Acupuncture, Master degree of Oriental Medicine Science as well as the Doctor degree of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine were also introduced in this article including student enrollment and graduation in recent years. The developing tendency of the federal unified acupuncture education, management, professional qualification and examination system of U. S. A. were discussed and analyzed as well.
Acupuncture ; education ; manpower ; organization & administration ; Acupuncture Therapy ; standards ; Certification ; Humans ; United States

Objective To describe the MRI findings in patients with Acquired hepatiocerbral Degeneration(AHCD) and evaluate the role of MRI in dignosis of AHCD. Methods 26 patients with chornic hepatic failure under went brain MRI scan. Eight of these patients had abdominal MR digital subtract angiography(MRDSA) examnation. 25 patients had plasma ammonia levels test two weeks after MR exmnation. Results 22 patients had abnormal MRI findings, T 1WI demonstrated incresed signal in the globus pallidus (22/26), putmen (4/26), mesencephalon surrounding red nucleus(15/26),and in the anterior pituitary (12/26). While T 2WI demonstraied no corresponding alteration in signal intensity. Eight patients which had MRDSA showed obvious portal systemic shunts. There was positive correlation between plasam ammonia level and abnormal signal( r = 0.521 6, P

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab combined with laser therapy in the treatment of macular edema caused by branch retinal vein occlusion ( BRVO) .
METHODS:There were 78 patients (78 eyes) who were diagnosed with macular edema caused by BRVO using fundus fluorescence angiography ( FFA ) and optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) . Group A: randomly selected 26 cases ( 26 eyes ) were given grid laser photocoagulation ( GLP) . Group B: randomly selected 26 cases (26 eyes) were given GLP first, and then received intravitreal ranibizumab 1wk later. Group C: randomly selected 26 cases ( 26 eyes ) undergone intravitreal ranibizumab first, and then given GLP 1wk later. There was no significant difference in macular edema. We analyzed the changes in the best corrected visual activity ( BCVA ) , central macular thickness ( CMT ) before and 1wk, 1,6mo after treatment.
RESULTS: Compared with before treatment, 1wk after treatment: mean value changes of BCVA and CMT were no significant difference in group A (P>0. 05);mean value changes of BCVA was improved and mean value of CMT was decreased in groups B and C, the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05);BCVA and CMT changes between groups had statistical significance ( P<0. 01 );After treatment 1, 6mo:compared with before treatment, mean BCVA was improved in three groups, mean CMT was lower, the differences were statistically significant (P<0. 01);BCVA and CMT changes between groups were statistically significant ( P<0. 05 ); compared with 1mo after treatment, mean BCVA and CMT were no significant difference (P>0.05) between groups A and B after 6mo treatment;mean BCVA improved and CMT average value was decreased in group C, the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.01 ); BCVA and CMT changes between groups were statistically significant (P<0. 01).
CONCLUSION: Intravitreal injection ranibizumab combined laser therapy can effectively reduce BRVO induced macular edema, enhance vision acuity. Compared with GLP, combination therapy has more rapid onset of treatment, and reduce macular edema better; Intravitreal ranibizumab should be given in front of the GLP, and the treatment effect is more precise, more stability.

Objective To optimize the conditions of process for extraction of volatile oil of Rhizoma Zedoariae (RZ) in Weishu Granules and preparation of its ? - cyclodextrin- inclusion complexes. Methods Orthogonal design was adopted. Extraction content of RZ volatile oil was used as the index for the optimizing of extraction process. The amount of inclusion complexes and efficient inclusion rate served as the indexes for the optimizing of inclusion process. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry was applied to detect the content of volatile oil. Results The optimal extraction conditions were: gringding the crude RZ into coarse grains, adding 12- fold water and distilling the mixture for 6 h; the optimal inclusion conditions were: ? - cyclodextrin and volatile oil were mixed in the proportion of 8 :1, 2- fold water was added into the mixture and the mixture was triturated for 60 min. The maximum UV spectrum absorbance of aethylis acetas liquor of valatile oil located at wavelength of 253nm. Conclusion Higher extraction rate of RZ volatile oil can be achieved by this technique; volatile oil is powdered and its stability increased after being included by ? - cyclodextrin.

Total mRNA was extracted from lymphocytes separated from the peripheral blood of allergic patients, and then variable region of heavy chain (VH) and variable region of light chain (VL) cDNA library were constructed by RT-PCR. Human scFv templates for rabbit reticulocyte lysate ribosome display were assembled by primers and linker peptide (Gly4Ser)3. mRNA bound in antibody-ribosome-mRNA complexes was recovered using in-situ single primer RT-PCR, and three rounds of anti-IgE scFv DNA were enriched. The target DNA fragments were double enzyme digested and ligated into plasmid pET22b (+), followed by transformation in E. coli Rosseta (DE3). Positive clones were screened using clone PCR, Dot blotting and antigen ELISA. The correct lengths of VH (400 bp) and VL (710 bp) PCR products were obtained. The expected 1,000 bp ribosome display templates were also observed in agarose gel electrophoresis. After three rounds of ribosome display target sequences were effectively enriched, leading to a library of 10(13) members. Antibodies with the highest ELISA value for IgE were generated in the strain pET-IgE-6. A human anti-IgE scFv library was successfully constructed as described herein. Ribosome display using single primer in-situ RT-PCR as the recovery procedure effectively enriched target sequences. Anti-IgE scFv with high affinity and specificity were identified. The prepared human anti-IgE scFv fragment might be self-developed to a lead drug for treating asthma. Our study provides an alternative method for rapid discovery of human antibodies of therapeutic importance.

Hepatic eosinophilic granuloma is a rare benign liver lesion,which results from granuloma formation due to chronic inflammation.Two patients were admitted to the Yantaishan Hospital and Yuhuangding Hospital from July 2008 to April 2012,respectively.The results of laboratory examination showed the elevation of peripheral blood eosinophils,and ultrasound examinations revealed low-echo masses in the liver and no blood flow was detected.The results of computed tomography showed hypoattenuation lesions with well-demarcated boundary.After intravenous administration of contrast angent,the lesions demostrated delayed heterogeneous enhancement with internal grid.The results of magnetic resonance imaging of 1 patient showed the lesion had slight hyper-intensity to the surrounding liver parenchyma on T1-weighted images,and slight high signal with low signal separation strip inside on fat-suppressed T2-weighted images.An obvious high signal was detected in diffusion weighted imaging.Familiarity with the imaging characteristics and combination of the elevation of peripheral eosinophil can help surgeons to make a suggestive diagnosis.

BACKGROUND:Mechanical experiment of finite element numerical simulation is the effective method to research the biomechanical structure of human body. OBJECTIVE:To establish the three-dimensional finite element model of a normal 6-year-old child’s humerus. METHODS:CT images of a 6-year-old child volunteer were imported to the Mimics 10.01 software. The threshold segmentation method was used to rebuild the humerus three-dimensional model. The surface optimization treatment and surface patches dicision were performed on the surface of the model with Geomagic Studio 12.0 software. Then the mesh generation was completed in the software TrueGrid. Final y, the material properties were set and the finite element model was completed. The boundary conditions and constrains were exerted to simulate the three-point-bending test of humeurs. After the simulation, the results were outputted. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The humerus finite element model included 3 024 nodes and 18 758 nodes-hexahedron elements. The 0.01 m/s and 3 m/s dynamic loads were loaded respectively, then the central humerus fracture occurred and the load-displacement curve was close to the cadaver test results. The simulation results show that the simulation results of children humerus finite element model are close to the cadaver’s test, and the finite element simulation method can simulate the physical properties of the human skeleton very wel .

Objective To determine the characteristics of early cognitive dysfunction and N300 event-related potentials(ERPs)in patients with acute cerebral infarction(ACI).Methods Thirty patients with ACI and thirty normal healthy elderly people were studied.The two groups were examined with a picture recognition test and EEG waveforms were recorded.The ERPs were analysed statistically.The mini-mental state examination(MMSE) was used to evaluate cognitive function,and the results were correlated with the ERPs. Results The average MMSE scores of the ACI and control groups were significantly different.Reaction times(RTs)in the picture recognition test were(798.63±49.32)ms in the ACI group and(765.21±35.67)ms in the control group,a difference significant at the 5% confidence level.The average accuracy rates,(59.75±8.45)%and(65.26±9.28)%,were also significantly different.Average N300 ERPs the in the ACI group were significantly lower than those in the control group,and the average latencies were significantly longer.Both latency and amplitude in the ACI group showed a linear correlation with MMSE scores. Conclusion The ERPs of ACI patients have some clinical significance,and can be used as a scale-based assessment of cognitive function.