Objective To explore the immune function injury and its mechanism in drug abuser.Methods The immune function changes in 50 drug abusers were compared with normal healthy populations by detection of the indexes of subgroups of Th cells, transformation rate of lymphocytes,IgA,IgM,IgG,IgE,compliment C3,C4,IL 1, IL 2,IL 6 TNF and NO.Result In peripheral blood the percentage of Th1 cell, transformation rate of lymphocyte, IgA, IgM, IgG, IgE content, compliment C4,C4, IL 1, IL 2,IL 6,and TNF levels were significantly lower than normal(P< 0.01).The value of Th1/Th2 was lower than normal as well(P< 0.05).NO content was significantly higher than normal(P< 0.001).Conclusion The mechanism of immune function injury in drug abuser might be correlative to direct injury of drugs and their inhibition effect on the thymus hypothalamus hypophysis adrenal axis.

Inoculant the examine-needed germ on a flat panel of synthetic medium, and placed paper slices, which had being saturated by different kinds of sugar, on the medium to carry out the experiment of microorganic auxanography. Its result was compared with that of the traditional method, the sugar-grain method. The comparison showed that the former was better than the latter for its more definite result and more convenient operation.

Objective To determine the association between atrial fibrillation(AF)and coronary artery disease(CAD)in elderly patients.Methods Based on autopsy data from 1990 to 2005,69 male patients with over 70 years old and AF history(32 with chronic AF,37 with paroxysmal AF)and diagnosed as CAD clinically were selected as AF group.Other 60 age-matched male patients without AF history were selected as the control group.The pathological changes of the coronary arteries between the groups were compared.Results The morbidity of CAD and myocardial infarction were 55.1% and 42.0% in AF group and 53.3% and 35% in the control(P＞0.05).The pathological changes of the coronary arteries between the two groups were similar(P＞0.05).The AF group had a heavier heart weight[(440.5?81.9)g vs(398.7?82.2)g,P＜0.01]and a thicker left ventricle [(1.42?0.34)cm vs(1.27?0.32)cm,P＜0.05]than did the control.The paroxysmal AF group had more branches of arteries(17 vs 5,P＜0.05)with pathological lesionⅣthan did the control. Conclusions There is a high morbidity of CAD in elderly patients,but it is not in relation to the occurrence of AF.

OBJECTIVETo observe analgesic effect of electroacupuncture ( EA) on rats with chronic inflammatory pain and its regulatory mechanism on ispilateral dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal dorsal horn (SDH) Mas-related G protein-coupled C receptor (MrgprC).

METHODSTotally 40 healthy male SD rats were divided into 4 groups according to random number table, i.e., the normal (N) group, the model (M) group, the acupuncture (Acu) group, the EA group, 10 rats in each group. The model of chronic inflammatory pain was established by subcutaneous injecting 0. 1 mL complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) into right hind paw. Paw withdrawal thresholds (PWTs) were measured before modeling, at day 1, 3, 5, 7, and after CFA injection, respectively. Expression levels of MrgprC in ispilateral DRG and SDH were detected by Western blot. The content of bovine adrenal medulla 22 (BAM22) in SDH was detected by immunohistochemical assay.

RESULTSCompared with N group at each time point, PWTs significantly decreased in M group (P <0. 01). Compared with M group, PWTs significantly increased at day 5 of EA and after EA in EA group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with Acu group at each time point, post-EA PWTs significantly increased in the EA group (P < 0.05). Compared with N group, expression of MrgprC in ispilateral DRG and ratio of BAM22 positive cells in ispilateral SDH increased in M group (P < 0.01). Compared with M group, expression of MrgprC in ispilateral DRG and ratio of BAM22 positive cells in ispilateral SDH increased in the EA group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA had favorable analgesic effect on chronic inflammatory pain induced by CFA, and its mechanism might be possibly associated with up-regulating MrgprC expression in ispilateral DRG and BAM22 content in ispilateral SDH.

Analgesia ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Enkephalins ; metabolism ; Freund's Adjuvant ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; Inflammation ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Male ; Pain Management ; methods ; Peptide Fragments ; metabolism ; Posterior Horn Cells ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Human sTNFR1 (soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1) gene was amplified by RT-PCR from Hela cells. A recombinant expression vector of sTNFR1-MBP was constructed in pMAL-c2x, and transformed into E. Coli JM109.It was sequenced and confirmed to be identifical to the sTNFR1 gene in data bank. Recombinant protein sTNFR1-MBP was induced by IPTG and purified by Amylose resin Affinity Chromatography. sTNFR1-MBP was binded to sTNFR1's antibody in Western-blotting. From MTT assays, the results showed that sTNFR1-MBP could effectively block the cytotoxicity mediated by TNF?on QSG7701 cells. Annexin V-FITC staining and flowcytometry were used to observe the recombinant protein's anti-apoptosis capacity and the recombinant protein has marked anti-apoptosis effect in vitro.sTNFR1-MBP had good biological activity and it will be employed in further study.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Tongxinluo Capsule (TXL) on platelet aggregation in patients with cerebral infarction, and to explore its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSSeventy-four patients with cerebral infarction at the rehabilitation stage were assigned to two groups according to taking or not taking aspirin at hospitalization, the 30 patients in group A were administered with TXL alone and the 44 in group B with TXL combined with aspirin. Platelet aggregation tests induced by adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine, collagen and arachidonic acid were conducted in all patients to evaluate the effect of TXL on platelet aggregation.

RESULTSPlatelet aggregation rate induced by adenosine diphosphate and epinephrine decreased after treatment in Group A from 88.5 +/- 4.9 and 92.9 +/- 3.1 to 80.9 +/- 16.5 and 91.8 +/- 4.0 respectively (P <0.05 ); that induced by adenosine diphosphate and arachidonic acid decreased after treatment in Group B from 66.9 +/- 13.5 and 22.7 (13.5 - 32.6) to 62.0 +/- 16.3 and 17.7 (10.2 - 23.7) respectively (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Cases of aspirin resistance reduced in Group B from 20 (45%) to 10 (23%), also showing statistical difference (P <0.05). No obvious increase of side effect was found after combined use of TXL with aspirin.

CONCLUSIONTXL has anti-platelet aggregation effect, its mechanism may be related with the inhibition of adenosine diphosphate and arachidonic acid path. It is relatively safe when used in combination with aspirin.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aspirin ; administration & dosage ; Capsules ; Cerebral Infarction ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture treatment on stroke according to the acupoint selection of "Najia method of Ziwua Liuzhu" and to investigate the mechanism.

METHODSOne hundred and ninety cases were randomly divided into a Ziwu Liuzhu group (n=95) and a routine acupuncture group (n=95). Five shu points on different meridians were selected according to the Tiangan (Heavenly Stems)-tables of "Najia method of Ziwu Liuzhu" in the Ziwu Liuzhu group, and the treatment was carried out within the period from Chen (7:00-9:00 AM) to Si (9:00-11:00 AM). In the routine acupuncture group, Fengchi (GB 20), Shuigou (GV 26), Waiguan (TE 5), etc. were selected to treat the patients immediately on first visit. The therapeutic effects of two groups were assessed by the scores of neural functial cinl deficiency, status of total living ability, blood rheological indexes and clinical comprehensive effectiveness.

RESULTSThe total effective rate of 95.8% in the Ziwu Liuzhu group was significantly better than 80.0% in the routine acupuncture group. The scores of neural functional deficiency, main items of blood rheology and total living ability in the Ziwu Liuzhu group were significantly lower than those in the routine acupuncture group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture treatment in the period from Chen to Si according to the acupoint selection of "Najia method of Ziwu Liuzhu" has a significant clinical effectiveness which is related with improvement of the indexes of blood rheology.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hemorheology ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of electrocardiographic (ECG) Cornell criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in elderly Chinese men.

METHODSSince 1990, 244 autopsies were performed in our hospital in elderly men, LVH was determined in these autopsy hearts and correlated to ECG LVH signs recorded within 3 months before death according to Cornell (SV3+RaVL) and Sokolow-Lyon criteria (SV1+RV5 or RV6). The reference value of Cornell criteria was obtained based on values from autopsied healthy hearts, the sensitivity and specificity of Cornell and Sokolow-Lyon criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in these elderly men were calculated.

RESULTSThere were significantly correlations between QRS amplitudes of Cornell and Sokolow-Lyon criteria and autopsy left ventricular wall thickness in these hearts. The reference value of Cornell criteria (SV3+RaVL) was 2.9 mV. The sensitivity of Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell criteria for detecting LVH was 25.4% and 34.3% (P<0.05 vs Sokolow-Lyon criteria), respectively.

CONCLUSIONVoltage (SV3+RaVL)>or=2.9 mV might be a suitable diagnostic value for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in Chinese elderly men.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Electrocardiography ; standards ; Humans ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo discuss the anti-inflammatory mechanism of sinomenine on inflammatory media in joint of adjuvant arthritis rats.

METHODRats were randomly divided into the normal group and the model group, the prednisone group, the small, medium, large of sinomenine group (30, 60, 120 mg x kg(-1)). Except for the rats in the normal group, animals were modeled to adjuvant arthritiswith freund's complete adjuvant. The arthritis index (AI) and the swelling degree of paws were recorded, and the activity of IL-1, TNF and the levels of NO, PGE2 in joint fluids of secondary arthritis were determined.

RESULTCompared with the normal group, the activity of IL-1, TNF and the levels of NO, PGE2 in joint fluids of secondary arthritis were increased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, it was shown to exert a dramatic inhibitory effect on secondary reaction of freund's adjuvant arthritis of rats, and the activity of IL-1, TNF and the levels of NO, PGE2 in joint fluids of secondary arthritis were significantly decreased in the sinomenine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSinomenine has a remarkable treatment effect on RA. It is via NO to inhibit the activity of cytokines and decrease the level of inflammation mediators, which may be one of its curing RA mechanism.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Morphinans ; therapeutic use ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sinomenium ; chemistry ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism

To establish a MacELISA method for the detection of IgM antibodies against Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), we prepared virus like particle (VLP) antigens of CHIKV using the whole structural protein C-E3-E2-6K-E1 encoding gene with a baculovirus expression system in Sf9 insect cells. The VLPs were purified and used to immunize Kunming mice. Then, polyclonal antibodies were purified from the samples of ascites with a protein G HiTrap SP column and labeled with horseradish peroxidase. A MacELISA method for the detection of IgM antibodies against CHIKV was assembled with goat anti-human IgM antibody, VLP antigens and an enzyme-labeled polyclonal antibody. The results were evaluated with a serum panel containing serum samples from laboratory-confirmed CHIK, HFRS patients, healthy donors, and commercially available CHIKV IgM as a quality control. It was shown that the MacELISA had a specificity of 99% (99/100), the coefficients of variation (CoV) within a plate were <10%, and the CoV of different ELISA plates in terms of the plate variation coefficient was <15%. A comparative analysis was performed to compare the current method against a commercial CHIKV IgM antibody detection kit for IIFA-IgM. The detection limit of MacELISA was significantly lower than that of the IIFA-IgM commercial kit (P< 0.0001). Here, we demonstrate that the VLP-based MacELISA is a promising tool for the early diagnosis and epidemiological investigation of CHIKV infection, with a high level of sensitivity and specificity for the detection of IgM antibodies against CHIKV.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Chikungunya Fever ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology ; Chikungunya virus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Mice