Objective To explore the effect of nerve growth factor(NGF) in the lower respiratory tract and the visceral afferent system of asthmatic guinea pigs. Methods By means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization combined with the micro-image analysis to investigate the alterations of NGF immunoreactivity and mRNA expression in asthmatic guinea pig. Results The positive NGF immunoreactivity was increased in airway epithelia,C-7-T-5 spinal ganglia and correspondent spinal dorsal horn in the asthmatic guinea pigs compared with the controls(P

s: Recently, following the development of basic experimental research, great progress has been acquired in the fields of the understanding and management of the acute coronary syndromes (ACS). This review summarizes the molecular and cellular bases, the management of the unstable plaque, risk stratification and the management of ACS.

Objective To investigate the change and clinical significance of soluble triggering receptor expression of myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) expression in children with sepsis.Methods There were 80 systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)patients who were included in the study,60 cases in the sepsis group,20 cases in the non-infectious SIRS group and 30 cases in the healthy control group.By using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)to dynamically monitor the levels of serum sTREM-1,suPAR in children with sepsis,the differences of sTREM-1,suPAR levels between children with sepsis and non-sepsis were observed,the correlation with the pediatric critical illness score(PCIS) was analyzed,and the sensitivity and specificity of sTREM-1,suPAR,C-reactive protein (CRP)and procalcitonin (PCT)and other biochemical markers were compared,and the value of sTREM-1,suPAR,CRP,PCT in the early determination and prognosis of sepsis were investigated.Results Serum sTREM-1,suPAR,PCT levels in sepsis group were significantly higher than non-infectious SIRS group and the healthy control group,and the difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05),but the differences of serum CRP levels in non-infectious SIRS group and sepsis group were not statistically significant(P ＞ 0.05).In sepsis subgroup,serum sTREM-1,suPAR,PCT levels between the three groups were of statistically significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).Through dynamic monitoring of sepsis group,serum sTREM-1,suPAR,CRP,PCT levels had a gradual downward trend in 1,4,7 day,at each time point difference was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Serum sTREM-1,suPAR levels in sepsis group had significant negative correlation with PCIS (r =-0.322,-0.333,P ＜ 0.05).The sensitivity and specificity of sTREM-1,suPAR,CRP,PCT on diagnosing sepsis were in a descending order,and sTREM-1 combined with suPAR has the highest sensitivity and specificity.Conclusions sTREM-1 and suPAR all can serve as indicators of infection and inflammation,as their expression level can reflect the severity of sepsis.sTREM-1 combined with suPAR diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of sepsis was significantly better than a single indicator of sTREM-1,suPAR,CRP,PCT.Combining multiple indicators can improve the accuracy of diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulatory effect of cholesterol depletion on the proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

METHODSWe cultured PC-3 cells in cholesterol depletion media (CDM) or normal media (NM), and added to the media platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), respectively. Then we observed cell morphology under the inverse microscope, detected cell growth inhibition by MTT assay, and analyzed cell apoptosis and cycle phase by flow cytometry.

RESULTSAfter treated with CDM for 48 hours, the PC-3 cells obviously grew rounder and smaller, with more detached ones, and their proliferation remarkably inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, while their apoptosis rate not significantly increased, as compared with those treated with NM. After exposure to PDGF or EGF, the number of cells was increased in the NM group, but there were more detached and apoptotic cells in the CDM group than in the former (P < 0.05). Cell cycle analysis showed an increase in the number of G0/G1-phase cells and a decrease in that of S- and G2/M-phase cells in the CDM group compared with the NM group.

CONCLUSIONCholesterol depletion could significantly inhibit the growth of PC-3 cells without obvious induction of their apoptosis, which is probably one of the self-regulating mechanisms of the cells avoiding apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cholesterol ; deficiency ; pharmacology ; Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology