Objective To study the function and diurnal variation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid(HPT) axis,and the relationship with clinical characteristics of di-urnal rhythm in depressed patients. Methods Forty-nine depressed patients met diagnostic DSM-Ⅳ criteria and thirty-eight normal controls were collected. The plasma levels of cortisol (CORT), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), T3, T4, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) at 7 am and 7 pm were measured by radioimmunoassay, then the results concemed were compared among the depressed groups with and without diurnal variation and control group by multivariate analysis of variance. Results The plasma level of morning CORT, morning and evening TSH ((365.94±120.78) nmol/L; (6.24±2.47)μIU/ml; (6.68±2.42)μIU/ml; respectively) were respective-ly higher than those of control group((284.91±83.39) nmol/L; (3.82±1.75)μIU/ml;(4.01±1.69)μIU/ ml, P<0.05). The plasma levels of morning and evening T4 were significantly lower than those of control group(P <0.05). The CORT morning-evening difference variable distinguished between depressed and control group (P< 0.001),but no significant differences could be found between the depressed groups with and without diurnal varia-tion. There were no significant differences in the CORT, T3, T4, TSH morning-evening difference variable between various clinical subtypes of depressed patient (unipolar/bipolar; psychotic/nonpsychotic). Conclusion Abnormal CORT morning-evening difference variable was observed in the depressed patients compared with normal controls,and may be used as a special trait mark of depressed group.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Composite Resins ; toxicity ; Dental Materials ; toxicity ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gingiva ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Methacrylates ; toxicity ; Polyethylene Glycols ; toxicity ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; toxicity ; Polymethyl Methacrylate ; toxicity ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Resins, Synthetic ; toxicity

Objective To observe the effect of ultrashort wave diathermy on collagen type I expression in early stage of hormon-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) in rabbit.Methods A total of 40 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups:a control group (n=10) and a treatment group (n =30).All the animals in the treatment group were injected with horse serum and methylprednisolone to establish the ANFH model,and then divided into 2 subgroups:a model group and a ultrashort wave diathermy group,which were treated accordingly.After 12 weeks of treatment,all the animals were sacrificed and collagen type I expression in the femoral head was observed.Results It was shown that the expression of the collagen type I was significantly lower in the model animals than that in the controls as indicated by the stronger immunohistochemistry staining for rabbit collagen type,while that of the ultrashort wave diathermy group was significant higher than the control group ( P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship among oxygen concentration, quorum sensing system, type secretion system, and biofilm production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

METHODSA total of 23 clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cultured at different levels of environmental oxygen for three days. Then biofilm mass and alginate were quantified. The expression levels of LasI and RhlI were detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The secretion of exoenzyme S was examined by Western blot.

RESULTSBoth the biofilm mass (R=0.455, P=0.000) and alginate (R=0.367, P=0.000) were positively correlated with oxygen concentration. Real time PCR showed that the expression levels of LasI and RhlI were not significantly correlated with oxygen concentration (R=0.025, P=0.794; R=-0.044, P=0.653), the production of biofilm (R=0.001, P=0.990; R=0.011, P=0.909), or alginate(R=0.029, P=0.770; R=0.193, P=0.064). Western blot showed that the optimal oxygen concentration range for exoenzyme S secretion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ranged 10% to 30%.

CONCLUSIONSHyperoxia can promote the production of biofilm and alginate by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Las/Rhl system may not participate in biofilm production at the early stage due to the low bacteria amount. The increased production of biofilm may inhibit the expression of Type Secretion system and thus inhibit bacterial virulence.

Alginates ; metabolism ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; metabolism ; physiology ; Quorum Sensing ; drug effects ; physiology

Objective Chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids (CLIPPERS) is a recently described brainstem-predominant inflammatory disorder responsive to steroids with characteristic magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) feature.There was no case report in China.The aim of this study was to characterize the clinical and imaging patterns of CLIPPERS for early diagnosis and treatment.Method Clinical and imaging data and therapeutic methods and following up after treatment of 1 patient diagnosed CLIPPERS were reviewed retrospectively.Results The patient presented with subacute weakness of the lower extremities,gait ataxia and facial numbness.Cerebellar ataxia and pyramidal signs were the main positive signs on neurological examinations.Brain MRI showed punctate gadolinium enhancement peppering the pons and cerebellar.Treatment with steroids led to rapid clinical improvement and marked resolution of MRI lesions which accorded with characteristics of CLIPPERS.Conclusions There are no characteristic clinical manifestations of CLIPPERS.Punctate gadolinium enhancement peppering the pons is the distinct magnetic resonance imaging feature which may suggest the clinical diagnosis of CLIPPERS.Early treatment with steroids can improve the prognosis.

Objective To investigate the relationship of cellular immunity of the hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) children and the disease severity and the variation following the recovery of disease.Methods A total of 560 HFMD cases was collected,and divided into severe and common groups.Another 120 cases were collected for comparison.T cell subsets (CD3 +,CD4 +,and CD8 +) rates were tested.The difference in cell immunity in each group were compared,and the comparison of cell immunity improv-ment during acute and recovery periods was conducted at the same time.Results In the 560 cases of children with HFMD,CoxA16-positive rate in common group was higher than that in severe group (x2 =280.72,P ＜0.01,severe cases); EV71 and other virus positive rates in severe group were higher than that in common group (x2 =127.75,P ＜ 0.01,x2 =5.43,P ＜ 0.05).Cell immunity was compared among3 groups (t =9.82,4.98,3.06); CD3+,CD4+,CD8+ results,tested within 2h after admission and after 1 week,were compared between severe and common groups (common group t =7.73,3.86,4.71; severe group t =6.13,2.60,3.36).Compared to severe group,cell immunity improvement was more obvious between before and after 1-week treatment in common group (t =2.57,2.51,2.95).The difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions According to the etiology test of children with HFMD,CoxA16-positive rate was higher in common group; EV71 and other virus positive rates were higher in severe group.Cell immunity function decreased in severe and common group at the beginning of the disease; it was,however,significantly restored after 1-week treatment; and it was related to the severity of clinical symptoms.

Chronic Disease ; Electric Stimulation Therapy ; Heart Failure ; therapy ; Humans ; Myocardial Contraction

The relationship between the conformation of interferon-α (IFN-α) and its anti-viral activity were analyzed by circular dichroism (CD) and flow cytometry (FCM) techniques. The recombinant human IFN-α (rIFN-α2b and rIFN-α2a) were used. CD spectra from 190 nm to 240 nm indicated that two the IFN-α showed stable secondary structure at 65 degrees C, but unstable when the temperature was above 65 degrees C, and the change was irreversible. FCM data of the anti-viral activity of IFN-α indicated that the change of its secondary structures partly weakened its anti-viral activity. The rIFN-α2b and rIFN-α2a showed the same phenomenon. These data indicated that the conformation of IFN-α is one of the factors to influence its anti-viral activity and the combination of CD and FCM is a good method to analyze the relationship between the conformation of protein drugs and their biological activities in single cell level.
Antiviral Agents ; chemistry ; Circular Dichroism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; chemistry ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Recombinant Proteins ; chemistry

This study is to investigate the anti-tumor activities of a novel cyclophosphamide derivate 4, 6-diphenyl cyclophosphamide (9b) in vivo and in vitro, and its possible mechanism of action. The inhibitory effects of 9b on human hepatoma cell line HepG2, human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 and human myeloid leukemia cell line K562 were measured by MTT assay in vitro. Cell cycle distribution and apoptotic rate were evaluated by flow cytometry. To evaluate the anti-tumor effect of 9b in vivo, mouse model bearing inoculated H22 tumor was established. The results indicated that 9b could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2, MCF-7 and K562 cells in a dose and time dependent manner. The ICo50 values of 9b were 32.34 micromol.L-1 to HepG2 cells, 87.07 micromol.L-1 to MCF-7 cells and 149.10 micromol.L-1 to K562 cells after incubation for 48 h. The results of flow cytometry indicated that after being treated for 48 h with different concentrations of 9b, the ratios of HepG2, MCF-7 cells at the Go/G1 phase and K562 cells at the G0/Gl phase and G2/M phase increased significantly compared with control group, and the apoptotic rate increased with the increase of the concentration of 9b. 9b could significantly reduce tumor weight of H22 solid tumor mouse model in vivo. To summarize, 9b showed significantly anti-tumor activity in vivo and in vitro, of which the mechanism might be associated with the change of cell cycle distribution and induction of tumor cell apoptosis.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cyclophosphamide ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Molecular Structure ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Burden ; drug effects

Microvascular decompression is an effective treatment for hemifacial spasm. Hemorrhage is oneof the complications of microvascular decompression. However, delayed hemorrhage is very rare.Here, we report a case of ipsilateral cerebellar hemorrhage at day seven following microvasculardecompression. A 45-year-old woman presented with left HFS for the previous two years. Diagnostictesting demonstrated the presence of neurosyphilis. Brain magnetic resonance image was unremarkableon presentation. She received microvascular decompression and her hemifacial spasm completelyresolved after surgery. At day seven post-operatively, the patient presented with a sudden onsetheadache. Emergency computed tomography scan showed a cerebellar hemorrhage. A suboccipitalcraniotomy was performed and a cerebellar hematoma was evacuated. The delayed hemorrhage wasattributed to possible microaneurysm from syphilis.