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.

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.

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.

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

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.

BACKGROUND: The gold nanoparticles have a killing effect on tumor cells.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of gold nanochain on Hep-2 cells proliferation of human laryngeal carcinoma.METHODS: The gold nanochain was prepared by a glucose synthesis method and added into the culture cells with different concentrations (10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 95%) to test the influence on proliferation of in vitro cultured Hep-2 cells. The endocytosis and exocytosis of transmembrane when gold nanochain attached to Hep-2 cells were observed by electron microscopy.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The gold chain at high concentrations (75%, 95%) exhibited inhibitory effects on the proliferation of Hep-2 cells, but the influence was not increased with increasing concentration, belonging to a range of non-toxic. Gold nanchain can enter into Hep-2 cells after 8 hours of co-culture and leave cells after 48 hours, indicating gold nanoparticles chain can enter and leave Hep-2 freely.

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.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (3D-CEUS) in showing vascular patterns of renal tumors.Methods The images of 3D-CEUS examination were retrospectively analyzed in one hundred and twenty one renal tumors which were confirmed sequentially by pathology.3D-CEUS was performed after conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS).The 3D-CEUS images were reconstructed by QLAB workstation and classified into 4 grades based on the blood supply characteristics.Results All the tumors were confirmed by pathology and operations,including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) (n=91),papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) (n=5),chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (CRCC) (n=5),renal angiomyolipoma (RAML) (n=19),and cystic nephroma (n=1).Three-dimensional reconstruction could provide clear stereoscopic views of the interested structures and morphological characteristics of lesions.The three-dimensional ultrasonography of a particular renal tumor could be a mixture of different basic grades.There were significant differences between benign and malignant renal tumors in 3D-CEUS.The image quality was the best in early parenchymal phase comparing to other phases.In early parenchymal phase,84 RCCs (83.17%) were tortuous expansive reticular or irregular messy dendritic,61 cases (60.40%) with filling defect areas and 15 cases (14.85%) with pseudocapsules.Grade Ⅲ and Grade Ⅳ were the main vascular patterns in maglinant tumors.In early parenchymal phase,6 RAMLs (31.58%) were nebulous with dendritic in part,12 cases(63.16%) were reticular on the basis of nebulous with homogeneous internal structures.The vascular pattern was shown better in 3D-CEUS than CEUS.Conclusions 3D-CEUS can provide clear stereoscopic structures and morphological characteristics of the lesions,it is a useful adjuvant of CEUS for the diagnosis of renal tumors.