Objective:To study the mechanisms of neutrophil elastase (NE) induced expression of respiratory mucin MUC5AC. Methods:Using gene recombination techniques,four luciferase reporter gene plasmids containing different length of human MUC5AC gene promoter were constructed.Site-directed mutagenesis technique was used to establish mutants of Sp-l and NF-?B site in MUC5AC gene promoter; the relative luciferase activities were detected in the transfected human pulmonary A549 cells. Results:Series of luciferase reporter gene containing different sequences of human MUC5AC promotor were constructed successfully.NE could increase the expression of luciferase reporter gene plasmid containing -1300bp,-689bp and-324bp version of MUC5AC promoter in the transfected A549 cells (P

Aneurysm, Dissecting ; etiology ; Aortic Aneurysm ; complications ; Aortic Rupture ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sinus of Valsalva ; Ventricular Septum

Objective To investigate the protective effect of genistein on endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats,and explore the underlying mechanisms.Methods Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: saline control(S), genistein alone(G),lipopolysaccaride(LPS) alone(L),and genistein pretreatment(G+L).Each treatment group consisted of eight animals.Animals were observed for 6h after LPS challenge,and the wet/dry(W/D) weight ratio of the lung and the protein contents of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were used as indexes of lung injury.Neutrophil recruitment and activation were evaluated by BALF cellularity and myeloperoxidase(MPO) activity.RT-PCR analysis was performed with lung tissue to assess the gene expression of ICAM-1.The histopathologic changes were also observed using the H&E stains of lung tissue.Results Lung injury parameters,including the wet/dry weight ratio and protein content in BALF,were significantly higher in the L group than in the S group(P

Objective To investigate the effect of Hedysarum Polybotys saccharide(HPS)on insulin resistance rats.Methods The model of type 2 diabetic-insulin resistance rat was successfully made by STZ and high caloric diet.Then the rats were intervene by Metformin(MT)and HPS.Results Compared with the model group,the level of blood glucose,INS and CP were lowered,ISI were improved and FFA were restrained by HPS.Conc(?)sion HPS can reduce the insulin resistance in multiple ways.

Melanin is formed by oxidative polymerization of phenolic compounds,basically different kinds of melanin come from different organisms.DOPA melanin and DHN melanin have same physical and chemical characters although they have different biosynthetic pathway.DHN melanin is common in plant fungi and plays an important role on infection.The melanin accumulates in the fungal cell walls and prevents organic and inorganic molecules penetrating out,that insures appressorium's pressure and infection ability.This paper has reviewed the kinds and characters,especially discussed the role of melanin during pathogen infection based on our some research.

Objective To study the prospective memory and the severity of the impairment of event- based prospective memory(EBPM)and time-based prospective memory(TBPM)in normally aging adults. Methods We set a neuropsychological battery to measure the education-matched 40 adults and 40 normally aging adults who were given EBPM and TBPM tasks.Results Compared with the young controls(EBPM, 6.25?1.60;TBPM,5.38?0.87),both EBPM(2.50?0.85)and TBPM(4.93?1.07)in the elderly had been impaired,especially EBPM(t = 13.117,P

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of transumbilical single-site single-port with that of transumbilical single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomy in the treatment of varicocele in adolescents.

METHODSWe randomly assigned 80 varicocele patients aged 10 - 16 years to two groups of equal number to receive transumbilical single-site single-port and single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomy, respectively. We compared the operation time, postoperative hospital stay, incisional pain, complications and satisfaction with the abdominal cosmetic outcomes between the two groups.

RESULTSAll the operations were successfully performed. The double-port group showed a significantly higher score on the Visual Analogue Scale than the single-port group (4.8 +/- 1.4 vs 3.6 +/- 1.1, t = -4.986, P < 0.01), but there were no significant differences between the two groups in the operation time ([29.8 +/- 4.2] vs [31.2 +/- 4.6] min, t = 1.383, P = 0.171), postoperative hospital stay ([1.95 +/- 0.7] vs [1.82 +/- 0.8] d, t = -0.784, P = 0.436), complications (0 vs 0) and scores on the satisfaction with abdominal cosmetic outcomes (4.6 +/- 0.6 vs 4.8 +/- 0.5, t = 1.253, P = 0.214). No recurrence, umbilical hernia, hydrocele and orchiatrophy were found in the two groups of patients at 6 months after operation, and no visible scar was observed on the abdominal surface.

CONCLUSIONWith strict surgical indications, single-site single-port and single-site double-port laparoscopic varicocelectomies have similar clinical effects in the treatment of varicocele, which leave no scar on the abdominal surface. Single-site double-port laparoscopy needs no special instruments and therefore is worthier of wide clinical application.

Adolescent ; Child ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Operative Time ; Umbilicus ; surgery ; Varicocele ; surgery

Objective To study the percutaneous permeability through mouse skin of lidocaine hydrochloride-loaded destran-based niosomes(LID-HLD-BNs)in vitro and in vivo. Methods HPLC was employed to exam lidocaine hydrochlo?ride. Lidocaine hydro-chloride-loaded conventional liposomes (LID-CLs) and lidocaine hydrochloride injection (LID-IJ) were used as control. Isolated mouse skin was added into Franz diffusion cell to evaluate the permeability of LID-HLD-BNs in vitro. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy(CLSM)was used to observe the permeation depth of mouse skin in vivo. Re?sults The permeation rate and cumulative permeation amount were significantly higher in LID-HLD-BNs group than those of LID-CLs and LID-IJ groups (P<0.05). CLSM studies also confirmed that HLD-BNs reached deeper layers of the skin. Conclusion LID-HLD-BNs has good transdermal ability.

BACKGROUNDMitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We aimed to demonstrate mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS using a lactate stress test and to examine the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction with motor deterioration.

METHODSWe enrolled 116 patients and observed clinical variables, including the survival state.

RESULTSPatients with a rapid slope of revised ALS functional rating scales (ALSFRS-r) (>20 U/year) exhibited the slowest elimination rate (median -4.67 × 10-3 mmol·L-1·min-1 , coefficient of variation, 590.15%), the shortest duration (0.63 ± 0.28 years) and the worst ALSFRS-r (32.59 ± 4.93). Patients with a moderate slope of ALSFRS-r (10-20 U/year) showed a moderate elimination rate (median -11.33 × 10-3 mmol·L-1·min-1 , coefficient of variation, 309.89%), duration (1.16 ± 0.45 years), and ALSFRS-r (34.83 ± 6.11). The slower progressing (<10 U/year group) patients exhibited a rapid elimination rate (median: -12.00 × 10-3 mmol·L-1·min-1 , coefficient of variation: 143.08%), longer duration (median: 3 years, coefficient of variation: 193.33%), and adequate ALSFRS-r values (39.58 ± 9.44). Advanced-phase ALS patients also showed slower elimination rate (ER, quartiles -17.33, -5.67, 4.00) and worse ALSFRS-r (34.88 ± 9.27), while early-phase patients showed a more rapid ER (quartiles -25.17, -11.33, -3.50) and better ALSFRS-r (39.28 ± 7.59). These differences were statistically significant. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed strong direct associations among ER, ALSFRS-r slope (standard beta = 0.33, P = 0.007), and forced vital capacity (predict %) (standard beta = -0.458, P = 0.006, adjusted for ALSFRS-r, course and onset region). However, the data obtained from 3 years of follow-up showed no statistically significant difference in the survival rates between the most rapid and slowest ER groups.

CONCLUSIONThere is a potential linear relationship between ER and motor deterioration in ALS. Slower ER might be associated with faster disease progression.

Adult ; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ; blood ; mortality ; pathology ; Analysis of Variance ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lactic Acid ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum levels of homocysteine (HCy) and adiponectin (APN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).Methods 65 patients with T2DM (diabetes mellitus group) and 25 healthy controls (control group) matched in the age and sex were recruited in the study.Serum HCy,APN,fasting plasma glucose (FPG),fasting insulin (FINS),total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) were simultaneously measured.The homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR) was calculated according to FPG and FINS.All the serum indicators were compared between the two groups.Results Serum level of HCy in T2DM group was (15.74 ± 2.76) μmol/L,which was significantly higher than (6.98 ± 1.94) μmol/L in the healthy control group (t =16.88,P ＜ 0.01).The serum level of APN in T2DM group was (8.14 ± 2.70) mg/L,which was significantly lower than (16.10 ± 1.93)mg/L in the healthy control group (t =13.44,P ＜ 0.01).Serum levels of FPG,HOMA-IR,TC,TG in T2DM group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (t =10.62,17.49,6.30,7.52,P ＜ 0.05).Serum level of APN in HCy ≥ 15μmol/L group was significantly decreased compared with HCy ＜ 15μmol/L group.Serum level of HCy was negatively correlated with APN in T2DM group after the influence of FPG,HOMA-IR,TG,TC were corrected in the partial correlation analysis.Conclusion In T2DM group,serum level of HCy was increased,but serum level of APN was decreased,serum HCy was negatively correlated with APN,higher serum level of HCy and lower serum level of APN are related with the process of insulin resistance and T2DM.