OBJECTIVETo investigate serum adiponectin level in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its correlation with the patients' cognitive function.

METHODSThis case-control study was conducted in 90 patients with a highly probable diagnosis ofAD, who were divided into mild, moderate and severe group saccording to the MMSE score. Ninety healthy subjects matched for age and gender with the AD patients were selected as the control group. The serum levels ofadiponectin in the participants were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTSSerum adiponectin level was significantly lower in the AD group than in the control group (P<0.05). Of the 3 subgroups of the AD patients, the moderate and severe AD groups showed significantly lower serum adiponectin level sthan the control group (P<0.05), but the difference in adiponectin levels was not significant between the mild AD group and the control group (P>0.05); serum adiponectin levels also differed significantly among the 3 subgroups of AD patients (P<0.05). Serum adiponectin level was positively correlated with the MMSE score in the AD patients (r=0.683, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONSerum adiponectin levels are reduced in AD patients and associated with the degree of cognitive impairment.

Adiponectin ; blood ; Alzheimer Disease ; blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Cognition ; Cognitive Dysfunction ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of willed movement therapy on the expression of neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) and growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) and investigate the neuroprotective mechanism of willed movement therapy in nerve regeneration and repair.

METHODSCerebral IR model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in SD rats. The rats were randomly divided into MCAO group, environment modification group (EM group) and willed movement therapy group (WM group). The rats were evaluated for neurological deficits and decapitated on days 3, 7 and 15 after the reperfusion to examine the expressions of NT-3 and GAP-43 in the ischemic brain tissues by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with MCAO and EM groups, the rats in WM group showed significantly lowered grade of neurological deficits (P<0.05) at 15 days and significantly increased the expressions of NT-3 and GAP-43 (P<0.05) at 7 and 15 days after the reperfusion. No significant difference was found in the expression of NT-3 and GAP-43 between MCAO and EM groups (P>0.05). The expression of NT-3 was positively correlated to that of GAP-43 in the ischemic tissues.

CONCLUSIONSWilled movement therapy increases the expression of NT-3 and GAP-43 in the ischemic brain area in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, which is probably related to nerve regeneration and repair.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; therapy ; Exercise Therapy ; methods ; GAP-43 Protein ; metabolism ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; metabolism ; therapy ; Male ; Movement ; physiology ; Nerve Regeneration ; Neuronal Plasticity ; physiology ; Neurotrophin 3 ; metabolism ; Physical Exertion ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of willed movement on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and synaptophysin (SYP) in adult rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and explore the mechanism of willed movement in promoting nerve repair and regeneration.

METHODSAdult rat models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury were established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 2 h followed by a 24-h reperfusion. The models were then divided randomly into 3 groups, namely the model group, environmental modification (EM) group, and willed movement (WM) group. In each group, neurological deficits were evaluated at 3, 7 and 15 days after reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assay were employed to examine the expression of GFAP and SYP in the brain tissue near the ischemic foci.

RESULTSThe rats in WM group showed lessened neurological deficits at 15 days and lowered expression of GFAP and SYP at 7 and 15 days after reperfusion compared with the model and EM groups (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the expression of GFAP or SYP between the model group and EM group at any time points.

CONCLUSIONWilled movement can promote the functional recovery of neurological deficits following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion probably in relation to enhanced GFAP and SYP expressions in the ischemic brain tissues.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; therapy ; Disease Models, Animal ; Exercise Therapy ; methods ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; therapy ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To express the recombinant SPLUNC1 protein in HNE1 cells and to study its function of bactericidal and binding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: Full length of SPLUNC1 gene was cloned into pCMV-tag4A vector and stably transfected into HNE1 cell lines, the supernatant of cell cultures was collected. After being treated with the supernatant, the Pseudomonas aeruginosa was seeded to LB soft agar plate, and the bacteria clones were counted and analyzed. For in vitro LPS binding assay, LPS was coated to 96-well plates. We incubated in the plate with SPLUNC1 protein, and detected the binded SPLUNC1 protein by ELISA. Incubating the FITC-LPS with the SPLUNC1 stably transfected or control cells, the intracellular intensity of fluorescence was observed under the fluorescence microscope. RESULTS: SPLUNC1 inhibited the bacteria clone formation obviously. Although the binding efficiency of LPS and SPLUNC1 in vitro was very low, more FITC-LPS entered into the SPLUNC1 stably transfected cells. CONCLUSION SPLUNC1 can inhibit the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and bind LPS, and play an important defensive role in innate immunity of the upper airway.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Glycoproteins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; chemistry ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Phosphoproteins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; Respiratory Mucosa ; chemistry ; immunology ; Respiratory System ; chemistry ; immunology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo study the preventive and therapeutic effects of recombinant IFN-alpha2b for nasal spray on SARS-CoV infection in Macaca mulata (rhesus monkey).

METHODSTen rhesus monkeys were divided into two groups, 5 in interferon group, and 5 in control group. Before and after SARS-CoV attack, the virus was detected in samples such as pharyngeal swab in all the two groups by Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and virus isolation was performed.

RESULTSAfter virus attack, the level of SARS-CoV-specific IgG and neutralizing antibody were induced by SARS-CoV in the interferon group was weaker than in control group. Hematology items showed no apparent changes after virus attack in treated group. Through pathological examination, the morphology of the lung tissues of two Macaques in the treated group was normal, while the other three displayed the interstitial pneumonia with the thickened septum and infiltration with mononuclear cells. Among which, one monkey showed part of thickened septum fused with each other. These lesions in the interferon treated animals were similar to those seen in the animals in control group, but with smaller scope of pathological changes. No significant abnormity was detected in other organs.

CONCLUSIONRecombinant IFN-alpha2b could effectively interdict or weaken SARS-CoV injury in monkeys.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cercopithecus aethiops ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Lung ; drug effects ; pathology ; virology ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Monkey Diseases ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; virology ; Random Allocation ; Recombinant Proteins ; SARS Virus ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; virology ; Vero Cells

Objective The aim of this study was to demonstrate the immunogenicity and safety of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (acellular, component) , poliomyelitis (inactivated) vaccine (adsorbed) and Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine (DTaP-IPV//PRP-T) combined vaccine compared with commercially available DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), tetanus conjugate and IPV monovalent vaccine. Methods Subjects were randomly divided into three groups, Group A and Group B were DTaP-IPV//PRP-T combined vaccine (PENTAXIMTM) vaccinated at 2,3,4 months of age or 3,4, 5 months of age respectively; Group C was commercially available DTaP. Hib tetanus conjugate (Act-HIBTM) and IPV (IMOVAX PolioTM) vaccines vaccinated at 3,4, 5 months of age. All groups received booster dose at 18 to 20 months of age, with antibody titers tested. Non-inferiority analysis was demonstrated in terms of seroprotection / seroconversion rates between Group A, Group B respectively and Group C. Safety information was collected after each vaccination to assess the safety of investigational vaccines. Results The non-inferiority of DTaP-IPV//PRP-T combined vaccine vaccinated at 2,3,4 or 3,4, 5 months of age versus DTaP, Hib tetanus conjugate and IPV vaccine was demonstrated for all vaccine antigens in both primary and booster phases in terms of seroprotection/seroconversion rates. DTaP-IPV//PRP-T combined vaccine was well tolerated. The rate of solicited/unsoliciated severe adverse reactions was very low and similar to the control vaccines. Conclusion DTaP-IPV//PRP-T combined vaccine was highly immunogenic with good safety profile in Chinese infants, which was comparable to the commercially available control vaccines.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) combined with warm acupuncture in treating breast cancer associated with upper limb lymphedema (BCRL). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using a paired control design. Fifty-two BCRL patients were assigned to the control group (27 cases) and the treatment group (25 cases). The patients in the control group were treated with lymphedema comprehensive detumescence treatment (CDT) for 4 weeks, including systematic therapy composed of manual lymphatic drainage, compression bandage, skincare, and functional exercise. The patients in the treatment group were treated with TEAS combined with warm acupuncture based on the control group methods. Each treatment lasted for 30 min and was applied twice a week for 4 weeks. The arm circumference (AC) of different positions of the affected limb and the degree of swelling of the affected limb were evaluated before the first treatment and after the last treatment. The clinical efficacy was evaluated according to the degree of edema before and after treatment. All adverse events during treatment were recorded. RESULTS: The patients' AC and the swelling feeling of the affected limb in the treatment group and the control group were both reduced compared with those before treatment. Compared with the control group, AC of the wrist joint transverse stria, the midpoint between the wrist joint transverse stria and the elbow joint transverse stria in the treatment group were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The decrease in AC diameter at the midpoint between the elbow joint transverse stria and the axillary transverse stria was the most significant (P<0.01). The swelling degree of the affected limbs in the treatment group was significantly lower than before treatment, and was significantly lower compared with the control group after treatment (P<0.01). The total effective rate was 72% in the treatment group, significantly higher than that in the control group (55.56%, P<0.05). No serious adverse events occured in either group. CONCLUSIONS TEAS combined with warm acupuncture can effectively reduce AC and swelling feeling of the affected limb in patients with BCRL. The effect is better than that of CDT therapy alone. (Registration No. ChiCTR2200062075).
Humans ; Female ; Breast Neoplasms/therapy* ; Acupuncture Points ; Retrospective Studies ; Lymphedema/complications* ; Acupuncture Therapy/adverse effects* ; Upper Extremity ; Treatment Outcome