AIM: To explore the protective effects and mechanism of astragalus injection on asthmatic rats. METHODS: OVA was injected intraperitoneally and inhaled to produce the asthmatic rat models. Forty rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, asthma group and astragalus groups of high, medium and low dose. The concentration of IL-5 in BALF and the expression of IL-5 mRNA, phospho-p38 MAPK in lung tissue were respectively measured by ELISA, in situ hybridization staining and Western blot. The number of inflammatory cell in BALF was calculated and histopathology changes were observed. RESULTS: The number of inflammatory cell and the concentration of IL-5 in BALF and the expression of IL-5 mRNA, phospho-p38 MAPK in lung tissue were higher in asthmatic rat group than those in normal control(P

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations and possible reasons of the missed and inaccurate diagnosis of Fuchs syndrome. Methods The clinical data of 85 patients with Fuchs syndrome who were diagnosed and treated from June 1999 to December 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. The disease history of each patient was carefully recorded. Slit-lamp microscopy was performed on the patients. The character and distribution of keratic precipitates (KP), color of the iris, depigmentation, and complications were noted in detail. The data recorded in other hospitals were analyzed and the reasons of missed and inaccurate diagnosis were statistically analyzed. Results The age of the patients ranged from 13 to 72 years, and binocular involvement was noted in 76 patients. None of the patients showed ciliary congestion and iris synechiae. Middle-sized or stellated KP was found. Triangle-distributed KP was seen in 13 patients, and diffuse distribution behind the corneal or in the pupil area was in 72. Anterior-chamber flare was observed in all of the patients, while anterior-chamber cells were only noted in 42 patients. The iris with different degrees of depigmentation was found in all the patients. Complicated cataract and increased intraocular pressure occured in 44 and 19 patients, respectively. The diagnosis in other hospitals mainly included uveitis, anterior uveitis and complicated cataract. Conclusions Fuchs syndrome is characterized by depigmented iris and typical KP. Missed and inaccurate diagnosis is mainly due to the unawareness of its clinical features.

60 years.

Aim To explore the effects of SB203580,a special inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK),on the airway inflammation and Th2 cytokines,interleukin 4(IL-4) and IL-5,in asthmatic mice.Methods Thirty mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control,asthmatic group and SB203580 group.The expression of IL-4 mRNA and IL-5 mRNA in lung tissue and IL-4 and IL-5 protein in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were detected using in situ hybridization and ELISA,respectively.The number of inflammatory cells in BALF and histopathological changes were observed.Results The number of inflammatory cells and the concentrations of IL-4 and IL-5 in BALF,and the expression of IL-4 mRNA and IL-5 mRNA in lung tissue were higher in the asthmatic mice than in the normal control mice(P

Objective To explore the differences of the life styles and their influencing factors among students who came from city,countryside or migrant families.Methods The stratified cluster random sampling method was conducted to recruit 1980 college students from 4 colleges of Huainan,Anhui.Results The study showed that under the ternary social structure college students from city preferred to the higher degree of T1,T2 or T3 dietary patterns,of which the OR (95％ CI) were 0.432 (0.255-0.730),0.140 (0.073-0.267) and 0.402 (0.236-0.683),respectively.They chose to exercise in middle-intensity physical activity for 30 minutes,of which OR (95％CI) was 0.524(0.352-0.779).Also there were much more drinkers in this group,of which the OR (95％ CI) was 0.564(0.325-0.981).Secondly,college students from migrant families in city preferred to T2 and T4 dietary pattern in low degree,of which OR (95％ CI) were 1.714(1.165-2.519) and 1.592(1.100-2.305),respectively.And they exercise 5 times or less per week in middle-intensity physical activity and the OR (95％ CI) was 0.699(0.535-0.912).Thirdly,college students from countryside preferred to T1,T2 and T3 dietary pattern in low degree and the OR (95％ CI) were 1.548 (1.083-2.213),1.498 (1.048-2.141) and 1.740(1.216-2.491),respectively.However,they preferred T4 dietary pattern in high degree rather than in low degree,in which the OR (95％ CI) was 0.624(0.436-0.893).They exercise more than 5 times and more than 30 minutes per time in middle-intensity physical activity,of which OR (95 ％ CI) were 1.314 (1.022-1.688) and 1.472 (1.071-2.022).Conclusion College students from three groups lived in different life styles and much more attention should be paid to them.

Objective To investigate the variation of interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) , vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1)in children with sepsis and the clinical significance. Methods This was a prospective and control study. Thirty-two children diagnosed as sepsis in PICU from December 2008 to December 2009 served as the sepsis group. According to whether there was a shock, sepsis group were divided into shock subgroup and no shock subgroup. Fifteen healthy children served as control group. The serum levels of IL-6,VEGF,E-selectin and ICAM-1 were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results The serum level of IL-6 was 65. 00(30. 49~237. 14) ng/L in shock subgroup and 48. 68(30. 25~75. 00) ng/L in no shock subgroup,which were significantly higher than that in control group[0. 80(0. 60 ~1. 00) ng/L](P<0. 05). There was no significant difference between shock subgroup and no shock subgroup. The serum levels of VEGF and E-selectin showed no significant differences among the three groups. The serum level of ICAM-1 was 998. 72(666. 93~1 526. 44) ng/ml in shock subgroup,and 925. 71(683. 53~1 225. 12) ng/ml in no shok subgroup,which were significantly high-er than that in control group[660. 59(525. 48~685. 47) ng/ml]. Compared with those who survived in sep-sis group,the serum levels of VEGF and E-selectin in the died children with sepsis showed no significant difference,but IL-6 and ICAM-1 significantly increased(P<0. 05). Conclusion IL-6 and ICAM-1 increase greatly and accentuate inflammation in septic patients,the changes of which may help to determine the prog-nosis of sepsis.

Objective To explore the variation of insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and glucose and correlation in children with sepsis. Methods Forty-two children with sepsis in pediatric intense care unit were enrolled from January 2009 to January 2010. In the morning (2nd morning) after admission, the blood glucose, serum IGF-I, cortisol, insulin, IL-6, and IGF-binding protein-I (IGFBP-1) were detected. In the 3rd and 5th morning, the serum IGF-1 was detected again. According to the blood glucose level of the 2nd morning, the children with sepsis were divided into hyperglycemia group and normal group. Meanwhile, 60 healthy children were served as control group. The data had been compared among three groups. Results In the 2nd morning, the levels of blood glucose, serum IGF-I, cortisol, insulin, and IL-6 were signiifcantly different among three groups (all P<0.05), but the serum IGFBP-I was not signiifcantly different (P>0.05). Compared with control group, the sepsis children with hyperglycemia and with normal blood glucose all had signiifcantly higher serum levels of cortisol and IL-6, and signiifcantly lower serum level of IGF-I. In the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th morning, the serum levels of IGF-1 were not signiifcantly changed with time in sepsis children with hyperglycemia and with normal blood glucose (all P>0.05). Meanwhile, there were no signiifcant differ-ences in the serum levels of IGF-1 between sepsis children with hyperglycemia and with normal blood glucose in the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th morning (all P>0.05). In children with sepsis, the blood glucose and serum IGF-1 was not correlated in the next morning (r=0.152, P=0.267). Conclusions The serum level of IGF-I decreased but maintain stable in children with sepsis. The change of blood glucose may be not related with IGF-I.

Objective To explore the effects of simvastatin and cilazapril on the expression of transforming growth factor-?_1 (TGF-?_1) and insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ (IGF-Ⅰ) in the cultured human glomerular mesangial cells. Methods Human embryo glomerular mesangial cells were cultured in media with lower (5.6 mmol/L) or higher (30 mmol/L) glucose concentrations. Forty-eighthoursafteraddingsimvastatin(10 ?mol/L)and/or cilazapril (10 ?mol/L) to the cultured media, the concentrations of TGF-?_1, fibronection, laminin, type Ⅳ collagen proteins in the supernatant of cultured mesangial cells were determined by ELISA and radioimmunoassay and the expressions of TGF-?_1 and IGF-Ⅰ mRNA in cultured mesangial cells were also evaluated by RT-PCR. Results Compared with lower glucose control, the mesangial cells in the medium with higher glucose concentration showed excessive proliferation and higher expressions of TGF-?_1 and IGF-Ⅰ mRNA, and the levels of TGF-?_1, fibronection, laminin, and type Ⅳ collagen in the supernatant were also significantly increased. The expressions of TGF-?_1 and IGF-Ⅰ mRNA in the mesangial cells and the concentrations of TGF-?_1 and the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins in the supernatant were all decreased after addition of simvastatin and cilazapril. Combination of simvastatin and cilazapril resulted in more profound suppressive effect on the expression of TGF-?_1 mRNA than either of them alone. Conclusion High concentration of glucose stimulates the cultured human mesangial cells excessively to express the TGF-?_1, IGF-Ⅰ and ECM proteins, and the high glucose-induced changes are suppressed by either simvastatin, cilazapril alone or combined treatment.

AIM: To explore the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) in the regulation of IL-4 and IL-5 expression in asthmatic rats. METHODS: T lymphocytes were isolated and purified from blood of normal or asthmatic rats. p38MAPK in nuclear extracts, mRNA and protein of IL-4 and IL-5 in supernatants were measured by Western blotting, in situ hybridization and ELISA, respectively. RESULTS: The expression of p38MAPK, the percentage of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA positive cells, IL-4 and IL-5 protein in supernatants were significantly increased in asthmatic T lymphocytes and was blocked by SB203580, a selective inhibitor of p38MAPK. There were good positive correlation between the expression of p38MAPK and either the percentage of positive cells of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA (r=0.71, 0.63, P

This paper provides a brief overview of the current research activities which focused on the bio-application of gold magnetic nanocomposite particles. By combining the magnetic characteristics of the iron oxide core with the unique features of nano-gold particles such as targeting by surface modification and optical properties, such composite nanoparticles have a wide range of applications in cancer hyperthermia, CT and MRI imaging, bio-separation, bio sensors, gene diagnosis, drug targeting and many other biomedical fields.
Diagnostic Imaging ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Ferric Compounds ; chemistry ; Gold ; chemistry ; Humans ; Magnetics ; Nanocomposites ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; chemistry ; Neoplasms