Bronchoalveolar lavage ( BAL) has been widely used in pediatric respiratory system disea-ses,and it has been comfirmed the value of the diagnosis and treatment in lung diseases. Collected bronchoalveo-lar lavage fluid ( BALF) is often used in microbiological pathogen identification,cellular and non-cellular com-ponents analyses. And it can be also used as guideline of clinical medication,diagnosis,treatment and pathogene-sis research of the respiratory disorders. This article summarizes the advance of BAL in pediatrics ,such as BAL operating skills,specimen transport and handling,and clinical application in lower respiratory tract infection and interstitial lung disease.

Four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) after feeding high-fat-diet for 8 weeks,and divided into diabetes group and tumor necrosis factorrelated apoptosis ligand(TRAIL) group.Normal rats severed as a control group.Treatment with TRAIL lasted for 3 months.Total cholesterol,triglycerides,low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol,blood glucose,and insulin levels were decreased in TRAIL group,as compared with diabetes group.Area of atherosclerotic lesion in TRAIL group [(23.8 ± 5.7) ％] was significantly smaller than that in diabetes group [(47.6 ± 7.8) ％].It suggested that TRAIL may reduce the area of atherosclerotic lesion in diabetic rats.

Xanthii Fructus is a traditional medicine for the treatment of nasal diseases in clinic, mainly come from the burs of Xanthium sibiricum with a worldwide distribution. By sorting and studying literature of Chinese medicine and comparing different figures recorded with the morphological description of several species from Xanthium (Asteraceae) in the Flora of China, combining the biological investigation in resource survey, the article pointed out that the burs or the whole herbs of X. mongolicum, as well as X. sibiricum, has been used by the traditional Chinese medicine in ancient time. It provides a reference for further studies in the future.
China ; Herbal Medicine ; history ; History, Ancient ; Medicine in Literature ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; history ; Xanthium ; anatomy & histology ; classification

Objective To explore the reasons and preventive measures for the postoperative complications of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Methods The clinical features,diagnosis,surgical therapy,postoperative complications and follow-up result were retrospectively analyzed on 89 cases of hilar cholangiocarcinoma admitted into our hospital from January 2008 to September 2014.Surgical approach:47 cases of radical resection including hepatoduodenal ligament skeletonized resection in 18 cases; concurrent partial hepatectomy in 29 cases,palliative resection in 17 cases,biliary tract drainage in 25 cases.There were 6 cases receiving partial portal vein resection and reconstruction.Results Among 89 patients there were 93 postoperative complications.Biliary complications developed in 22 cases (24.7％,22/89) including bile leakage in 13 cases (14.6％),biliary tract infection in 7 cases,anastomotic stricture in 2 cases.Wound infection in 19 cases,lung infection in 4 cases,ascites in 31 cases,pleural effusion in 10 cases,liver abscess in 1 case,intraabdominal bleeding in 2 cases,postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding,intestinal fistula,liver failure and multiple organ failure (MODS) developed in one each cases.One case died of MODS with the mortality of 1.1％.Conclusions Postoperative complications were common in hilar cholangiocarcinoma combined liver resection and/or vascular resection and reconstruction.Bile leakage is the most frequently seen necessitating long term proper drainage.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) in the prepuce of hypospadias children and its relationship to the incidence of hypospadias.

METHODSPrepuce tissues were collected from 37 children aged 6-15 months undergoing hypospadias repair and 11 age-matched controls receiving circumcision. Based on the position of the urethral meatus, the hypospadias cases were classified as severe (n = 13) and mild-moderate (n = 24). The mRNA and protein expressions of ZEB1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of the ZEB1 protein was remarkably higher in the severe (100% [13/13]) and mild-moderate hypospadias patients (75.0% [18/24]) than in the controls (9.1% [1/11]), with statistically significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed the integrated density value (IDV) of the ZEB1 mRNA expression to be (0.67 ± 0.21), (0.81 ± 0.24), and (1.55 ± 0.29) in the control, mild-moderate, and severe hypospadias patients, respectively, significantly higher in the severe hypospadias than in the control and mild-moderate hypospadias groups (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the latter two (P = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ZEB1 is significantly increased in hypospadias patients, and its upregulation is positively correlated with the severity of hypospadias, which suggests that the overexpression of ZEB1 may contribute to the development of hypospadias.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Circumcision, Male ; Foreskin ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; classification ; etiology ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Urethra ; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of postoperative intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemoperfusion (IHCP) combined with intravenous chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer.

METHODSEighty-two patients with stage II - IV gastric cancer were postoperatively randomized into two groups; 46 patients in treatment group who received IHCP combined with intravenous chemotherapy for three times and 36 patients in control group who received intravenous chemotherapy only for six times. All patients in the two groups received the same chemo-regimen LFAP (CF + 5-Fu + THP or MIT + PDD) 21 - 28 days after operation.

RESULTSThe 1-year survival rate was 98% (45/46) in the treatment group and 94% (34/36) in the control group without any significant difference (P > 0.05). The 3-year survival rate was 83% (38/46) in the treatment group and 61% (22/36) in the control group with significant difference (P < 0.05). Gastrointestinal reaction in the treatment group was significantly decreased compared with in the control group (37% vs 80%, P < 0.01), whereas no statistically significant difference was noted in bone marrow suppression (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIntraperitoneal hyperthermic chemoperfusion combined with intravenous chemotherapy can prolong survival and reduce gastrointestinal side-effect which provides an effective treatment option for advanced gastric cancer.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; methods ; Infusions, Parenteral ; Injections, Intravenous ; Leucovorin ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitoxantrone ; administration & dosage ; Neoplasm Staging ; Postoperative Period ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Survival Rate

Objective To investiagte the serum adiponectin concentration in preeclampsia and its relationship with serum leptin and soluble leptin receptor levels.Method The level of adiponectin,leptin and soluble leptin receptor in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)in 38 patients with preeclampsia and 42 patients as control.The relationship of free leptin index(leptin/soluble leptin receptor) to preeclampsia was analyzed.Results There were no significant differences in maternal age,gestational age and body mass index(BMI)between two groups.But the gestational age and birth weight were significantly lower in preeclampsia than in control.The patients with preeclampsia had significantly higher levels of serum adiponectin, leptin and free leptin index(1691.7?g/ml,37.5 ng/ml and 0.95 respectively)than the control(689.4?g/ml, 19.3 ag/ml and 0.49,respectively).But there was no significant difference in serum level of soluble leptin receptor between the groups(35.0 ng/ml vs 42.2 ng/ml).Serum adiponectin was not significantly correlated with the level of leptin,soluble leptin receptor and free leptin index.Area of serum adiponectin,leptin and free leptin index in preeclampsia under the ROC curve were less than 0.5.Conclusions The patients with preeclampsia have paradoxical higher serum levels of adiponecfin and more bioavailability of leptin,suggesting these may be important factom of this complication.

AIMTo investigate the effect of selective H3 receptor agonist(R)-alpha-methylhistamine and antagonist thioperamide on the respiratory response in asthmatic guinea pigs respectively.

METHODSAnesthesized guinea pigs were prepared with a implanted intracerebroventricular (icv) cannula and instrumented for the measurement of respiratory rate (RR) and diaphragmatic electric activity (DA). Substance P-like immunoreactive (SP-LI) substances in lower respiratory tract were detected by immunohistochemical method. Brain histamine contents were measured by fluorometric determination.

RESULTS(1) Intravenous injection of ovalbumin caused tachypnea and significant decrease in DA magnitude. At the same time, SP-LI substances increased in trachea, bronchus and lung. (2) Administration of selective H3 receptor agonist (R)-alpha-methylhistamine (5 microg) icv immediately after i.v. ovalbumin could significantly ameliorate the changes in RR and DA induced by ovalbumin. In accordance, SP-LI substances in lower respiratory tract markedly decreased at 5 min and 10 min after (R)-alpha-methylhistamine microinjection. (3) Icv thioperamide (20 microg) caused a significant increase in RR and a decrease in DA. (4) Brain histamine contents increased in hypothalamus and cortex during asthma. After microinjection of thioperamide (20 microg) icv significant increase of histamine contents in hypothalamus and cortex was observed.

CONCLUSIONBrain histamine H3 receptors may be related to asthmatic respiratory responses.

Animals ; Asthma ; metabolism ; Brain ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Histamine Agonists ; pharmacology ; Histamine H3 Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Lateral Ventricles ; Male ; Methylhistamines ; pharmacology ; Muscle Contraction ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Receptors, Histamine H3 ; metabolism ; Substance P ; metabolism ; Trachea ; physiopathology

The objective of this study is to develop a sensitive and reliable high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for simultaneous determination of artemisinin, arteannuin B, artemisic acid, and scopoletin, and study the pharmacokinetics of the four constituents in mouse serum after oral administration of the four components to mice. The analytical column used was Agilent Zorbax SB-C18 (2.1 mm x 150 mm, 5 mm). The mobile phase was acetonitrile: 0.5% acetic acid (60: 40) and the flow rate was 0.3 mL x min(-1). The temperature of the column was 40.0 degrees C. In this condition, we established an analysis method to simultaneously determine the four components. A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of artemisin in derivatives in mice plasma. The method we established has a linear range of 5-3 000 μg x L(-1) with a good sensitivity and specificity for all of the four components. This method is simple, rapid, accurate and suitable for the determination of the content of the four compounds.
Animals ; Artemisinins ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Mice ; Reproducibility of Results ; Scopoletin ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ; methods

Objective To build the experimental basement for the clinical use of cytokines induced killer(CIK)cells from the cord blood mononuclear cells(CBMNC)in tumor adoptive cellular immunotherapy, an effective protocol for their proliferation in vitro and cytotoxicity of CIK cells was established.Methods The lymphocytes from umbilical cord blood were isolated by density gradient centrifugation and suspended in medium with CD_3 mAb,rIL-2,rIL-1 and IFN-? as inducing agents to prepare CIK cells.At the same time, the lymphokine activated killer(LAK)and CBMNC were set as controls,which were only added IL-2 and not any cytokines during the whole culture.The changes of CIK cells before and after induction were observed with microscope and the phenotypes of the cells were analyzed by using flow cytometry.The proliferation of CIK cells were determined by trypan blue exclusion assay and the cytotoxic activity to lung cancer cell were tested with MTF method.Results According to the experiment,combining use of four types of cytokines could generate a great deal of CIK cells possessing highly cytotoxicity.From day 5 CIK cells became to prolif- erate and reached the peak at day 14.During the whole period,the relative percentage of CD_3~+ CD_(56)~+ cells in- creased significantly.Compared with LAK cells,which reached the proliferation peak at day 7 and then showed no evident proliferation.The control cells(CBMNC)showed no evident change of phenotypes and proliferation.CIK cells showed a higher antitumor activity on the tumor cells than LAK cells and CBMNC in vitro.Conclusion Umbilical cord blood can generate a great deal of CIK cells combining used with cy- tokines.Compared with classic LAK cells,umbilical cord blood CIK cells have the advantages of rapid prolif- eration speed and powerful cytotoxicity.CIK cells will be promising as a new strategy for the adoptive cellular immunotherapy of tumor.