Objective To investigate the expressions and significances of GATA-3 and Th2 cytokines in asthmatic mice.Methods Sixteen BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group and asthmatic group.The pathological changes in trachial and pulmonary tissue were observed with HE staining method.The GATA-3 mRNA expression in pulmonary tissue was messured with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).And the IL-5,IL-13 proteins in pulmonary tissue were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results HE staining showed infiltration of a great deal of inflammatory cells around the bronchial wall in asthmatic group,while there was no obvious infiltration in control group;Compared with control group,the expressions of GATA-3 mRNA and IL-5,IL-13 protein in pulmonary tissue increased significantly(Pa

OBJECTIVETo observe the differences of the expression of Cx43 in rats' acupoints and sham-acupoint when needled blocks, and explore the relatively specificity of acupoints.

METHODTwenty Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: an acupuncture group and a control group, ten in each group. The rats in the control group were not treated and sacrificed directly to by air embolism; the rats in the acupuncture group were needled at "Neiguan (PC 6)", "Zusanli (ST 36)", "Dazhui (GV 14)" and "Guanyuan (CV 4)", Sham-acupoints were on 1 cm next to each of the above acupoints and "Yongquan (KI 1)" were needled by hand manipulation, retented needles for 30 min, then all the rats were sacrificed by air embolism. With the rats fixed, the tissue blocks at the acupoints and sham-acupoints were collected, then quick-frozen and cut into sections. The sections were stained by immunohistochemical method (Cx43).

RESULTSThe expression of the rats' Cx43 at the acupoints was significantly higher than that at the non-points in both groups (all P < 0.01). The expression of Cx43 at the acupoints in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the control group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of Cx43 at acupoints and non-points is significantly different, which indicates that the acupoints are actually existed and have relatively specificity.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Connexin 43 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a new member of the interleukin-2 family. It is mainly synthesized and secreted by the activated of CD4(+) T cells and natural killer T cells. IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) is mainly expressed in T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. After binding to its receptor, IL-21 can regulate the activation and proliferation of T cells, B cells, and NK cells through activating JAKs-STATs signaling pathways. As a new immunoregulatory factor, IL-21 and its receptor play important roles in the development and progression of various autoimmune diseases. Regulation of the expression levels of IL-21 and IL-21R and blocking of their signal transduction pathways with blockers may be new treatment options for autoimmune diseases.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; etiology ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukins ; physiology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Receptors, Interleukin-21 ; physiology

Based on the outpatient interview and literature review,the initial framework of the outpatient experience of human caring scale was formed with 9 dimensions of outpatient process.The research aim was to improve the scale by Delphi method.Sixteen experts in medical management,human caring or medical education were invited to evaluate the importance of the dimensions and items of the scale and provided some expertise via filling out the Delphi consultation questionnaires twice in the consulting round.In the first round,the recovery rate showing the experts' positivity was 80％;the coefficient of reliability (Cr) ascertaining the authority of the evaluation was 0.92;the mean and full mark ratios responding the concentration of the evaluation were 2.88-4.94 and 6.25％-93.75％ respectively;the coefficients of variation (CV) and the Kendall's W determining the concordance of the evaluation were 5.06％-52.15％ and 0.21-0.24 respectively.In the second round,the recovery rate was 93.75％;the Cr was 0.93;the mean was 3.93-4.93;the full mark ratios were 26.67％-93.33％;the Kendall's W was 0.14-0.31,the CV was 5.25％-23.61％.Via the two-round Delphi study,the scale that included 10 dimensions and 61 items has been improved.Ten dimensions are pre-hospital medical service,guidance,registration,waiting,diagnosis & treatment,paying,inspection & assay,medicine receiving,therapy/injection/transfusion and global evaluation.It was concluded that Chinese scholars have paid high attention to human caring and outpatient experience.The experts have given high agreements about the dimensions which were established with Chinese outpatient process.The dimensions are different from the similar researches about outpatient experience study.In the future,it is necessary to survey the outpatients to test the construct validity,internal consistency reliability and others of the scale to improve the scale.

Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; deficiency ; Humans ; Syndrome

Objective To explore the effects of radiofrequency catheter ablation(RFCA)on the blood coaguable states and the clinical value of perioperative plasma D-dimer.Methods The plasma level of D-dimer was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)in blood samples of 30 children who were undertaken RFCA.Blood samples were consecutively obtained before cannulating,after electrophysiologic(EP)study,immediately after RFCA,the second day and the seventh day after RFCA.The centrifuged spead was 3 000 r/min,keep it for 10 minutes to obtain the upper plasma,and the crvopreserve.Results The plasma levels of D-dimer was highest at the time point when RFCA was successfully accomplished and restored to preoperative level in the seventh day after RFCA.There were statistically significant difference in the paried values at different time points(Pa

Chylothorax is a rare complication of neck dissection, and bilateral chylothorax is even rarer. However, both are potentially serious and sometimes life-threatening, especially those that are associated with left neck dissection for head and neck neoplasms. We report one case of bilateral chylothorax following left supraclavicular dissection for breast cancer. This case was treated successfully with a new conservative management approach.
Breast Neoplasms ; Chylothorax ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Neck Dissection

OBJECTIVETo find out the dominant diseases in the clinic of modern acupuncture.

METHODSBy means of bibliometrics, clinical acupuncture study literatures from 1978 to 2004, searched from CBM database, were sorted and counted to show the different clinical utilizing quantities and developing trends of different disease groups in the acupuncture clinic.

RESULTSObviously dominant type: nervous system diseases; mature type: motor system diseases; developing type: 3 kind of diseases including psychosis; premature type: diseases related with surgery; steady type: 3 kind of diseases including digestive system diseases (diseases of liver and gallbladder are not included); pre-developing diseases: 5 kind of diseases including otorhinolaryngologic diseases.

CONCLUSIONAmong all these types, obvious advantage type and mature type are the most distinguishing. Developing type has the most significant ascending trend. Premature type has relatively strong developing potentiality.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Bibliometrics ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo study the immunohistochemical expression of OCT4, CD117 and CD30 in germ cell tumors and to assess their diagnostic value.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study for OCT4 was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 63 cases of germ cell tumors, including seminoma (21), dysgerminoma (7), germinoma (8), embryonal carcinoma (8), yolk sac tumor (6), mature teratoma (10) and immature teratoma (3), as well as 25 cases of non-germ cell tumors, including granulosa cell tumor (8), clear cell adenocarcinoma (4), Leydig's cell tumor (5), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (4) and malignant melanoma (4). Besides, the expression of CD117 and CD30 in all germ cell tumors was studied.

RESULTSAll cases of seminoma and germinoma, 6/7 cases of dysgerminoma and 7/8 cases of embryonal carcinoma were positive for OCT4, with strong nuclear staining. All other germ cell tumors and non-germ cell tumors were negative for OCT4, except for 1 case of yolk sac tumor and 1 case of clear cell adenocarcinoma which showed weak staining. Positive membranous expression of CD117 was demonstrated in 19/21(90.5%) seminoma, 5/7 dysgerminoma and 7/8 germinoma. Focal weak membranous staining was also noted in 1 case of yolk sac tumor. The melanocytes in teratoma were also positive for CD117. All cases of embryonal carcinoma were negative. On the other hand, positive membranous expression of CD30 were demonstrated in 6/8 embryonal carcinoma. One case of germinoma and 1 case of yolk sac tumor showed weak cytoplasmic positivity. All cases of seminoma and dysgerminoma, 7/8 germinoma and all cases of teratoma were negative for CD30.

CONCLUSIONSOCT4 is a sensitive and relatively specific marker for diagnosing seminoma, dysgerminoma, germinoma and embryonal carcinoma. CD117 and CD30 immunostains, when used in combination, represent valuable tools for distinguishing embryonal carcinoma and seminoma, dysgerminoma, germinoma.

Carcinoma, Embryonal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dysgerminoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Endodermal Sinus Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Germinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 ; metabolism ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; Seminoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Teratoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Testicular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

This paper described the preparation and liver targeting traits of new solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) containing floxuridinyl dibutyrate (FUDRB) modified with beta-D-galactosides (G2). FUDRB-SLN and FUDRB-G2SLN were prepared by thin layer ultrasonic technique. Transmission electron microscopy micrograph analysis demonstrated that the particle sizes of FUDRB-SLN and FUDRB-G2SLN were (137.5 +/- 11.1) nm and (95.0 +/- 10.7) nm. Drug loading were 9.64% and 8.56%, and entrapment efficiency were 99.81% and 96.23%, respectively. The concentrations of floxuridine (FUDR) in serum and some organs (liver, kidney and lung) were determined by RP-HPLC after iv administration of SLN. FUDR release was confirmed, and a significant enrichment of SLN modified with G2 was observed in liver with G2 complex (targeting rates of SLN-G2 was 8.28 for liver) in comparison with FUDR-sol (targeting rate was 2.56). FUDR could be detected in liver in mice at 480 min after iv administration of FUDRB-G2SLN. These results suggested that incorporation of G2 (4%-5%, g/g) into SLN enhanced the liver targeting-ability of FUDRB. SLN containing G2 could be a useful drug carrier system for liver targeting.
Animals ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Area Under Curve ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Compounding ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Female ; Floxuridine ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Galactosides ; chemistry ; Lipids ; chemistry ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Nanoparticles ; Particle Size ; Tissue Distribution