Objective To observe the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HO) and free radical antagonists (FRA) on liver fibrosis (LF) in chronic hepatitis (CH) patients.Methods Seventy-two CH patients were ran- domly divided into a HO-FRA group (36 cases) and a control group (36 cases).The patients in the control group received routine treatment,while patients in the HO-FRA group were treated with hyperbaric oxygen,vitamin E and vitamin C.All patients' livers were examined ultrasonically,and liver function and blood fibrosis indices were meas- ured before and after the treatment.Results Compared with those in the control group,the concentrations of blood hyaluronic acid,laminin,precollagen and typeⅣcollagen were all significantly lower in the HO-FRA group.Ultra- sonic imaging showed that the main portal and the splenic vein diameter,and the length and thickness of the spleen had also significantly declined in the HO-FRA group after treatment.Conclusion HO and FRAs can nelp to stave off liver fibrosis as indicated by blood and ultrasonic fibrosis indices.

OBJECTIVETo study the expression and localization of co-stimulators in the mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), and to explore its role in the pathogenesis of UC.

METHODSExpression of co-stimulators CD86 and inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) was studied by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded mucosal tissue from patients with active UC (64 cases), inactive UC (51 cases) and normal controls (20 cases). Immunostaining for CD28 was also carried out on frozen fresh mucosal tissue sampled from patients with active UC (7 cases), inactive UC (2 cases) and normal controls (5 cases). In addition, expression of CD4, CD8 and CD20 were also examined.

RESULTSIn active UC, increased expression of CD86 was not only observed in lamina propria mononuclear cells but also in the intestinal epithelial cells, as compared with inactive UC and the normal controls (P < 0.01). Increased ICOS expression in lamina propria mononuclear cells was detected in active UC, as compared with inactive UC and the normal controls (P < 0.01). Increased ICOS expression in intestinal epithelial cells was also seen in active UC, as compared with that of inactive UC (P < 0.01). The expression of CD86 was higher in inactive UC than in the normal controls (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, the expression of ICOS showed no statistically significant difference between inactive UC and normal controls. Increased expression of CD28 in active UC, compared with that in inactive UC and normal controls, was also noticed (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The number of CD4 or CD8-positive intraepithelial lymphocytes and lymphocytes infiltrating in the lamina propria and small vessel walls was much higher in active UC than in inactive UC and normal controls (P < 0.01). Moreover, the ratio of CD4/CD8 was highest in active UC (P < 0.01). The number of CD20-positive B lymphocytes in lamina propria was also higher in active UC than in inactive UC and normal controls (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIn active UC, CD86 and ICOS were over-expressed in the intestinal epithelial cells and lamina propria mononuclear cells. The phenomenon suggests that abnormal expression of co-stimulators may contribute to the deregulation of acquired immune responses in UC.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD28 Antigens ; metabolism ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Case-Control Studies ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucous Membrane ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

Objective To observe the effects of estradiol benzoate (E_2),human cberionic gonadotropin (hCG) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) on testicular descent and their relation to the expression of insulin-like factor-3 (INSL3) mBNA in rats.Methods At birth,40 SD male rats were assigned to 4 groups,and each group consisted of 10 rats.Each group received injection of one of the following drugs:normal saline(NS),E_3,hCG+E_2,and LHRH+E_2 for 29 clays after birth.Total RNA was extracted from the testis on day 30 after birth.INSL3 was synthesized and further amplified by RT-PCR.Results (1) Testicular descent rate on clay 30 after birth was 100% (20/20) in the group of NS,0% (0/20) in the group of E_2,85% (17/20) of hCG + E_2,and 70% (14/20) of LHBH + E_2.There was no significant difference between the last two groups ( P = 0.45).(2) Weight of testis differed significantly among the groups ( F = 56.67,P＜0.01 ),being lightest in the group of E_2.(3) E_2 could damage the germ cells of testis,however hCG and LHRH ameliorated this situation. (4) The expression of INSL3 mBNA was absent in the group of E_2,while the other groups showed normal expression.Conclusion E_2 inhibits testicular descent in rats,while hCG and LHRH promote the progress.The mechanism seems to be related to the expression of INSL3 mRNA.

OBJECTIVESevere acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging infectious disease that first manifested in humans in November 2002. The SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) has been identified as the causal agent, but the pathology and pathogenesis are still not quite clear.

METHODSPost-mortem lung samples from six patients who died from SARS from April to July 2003 were studied by light and electron microscopy, Masson trichromal staining and immunohistochemistry. Evidence of infection with the SARS-CoV was determined by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) , serological examination and electron microscopy.

RESULTSFour of six patients had serological and RT-PCR evidence of recent infection of SARS-CoV. Morphologic changes are summarized as follows: (1) Diffuse and bilateral lung consolidation was seen in all patients (6/6) with increasing lung weight. (2) Diffuse alveolar damage was universal (6/6) with hyaline membrane formation (6/6), intra-alveolar edema/hemorrhage (6/6), fibrin deposition (6/6), pneumocyte desquamation (6/6). A marked disruption in the integrity of the alveolar epithelium was confirmed by immunostaining for the epithelial marker AE1/AE3 (6/6). (3) Type II pneumocytes, with mild hyperplasia, atypia, cytomegaly with granular amphophilic cytoplasm and intracytoplasmic lipid accumulation (5/6). (4) Giant cells in the alveoli were seen in five of 6 patients (5/6) , most of which were positive for the epithelial marker AE1/AE3 (5/6), but some cells were positive for the macrophage marker CD68(2/6). (5) A pronounced increase of macrophages were seen in the alveoli and the interstitium of the lung (6/6), which was confirmed by histological study and immunohistochemistry. (6) Haemophagocytosis was present in five of the 6 patients(5/6). (7) Lung fibrosis was seen in five patients(5/6), with alveolar septa and interstitium thickening(5/6), intraalveolar organizing exudates (6/6) and pleura thickening (4/6). Proliferation of collagen was confirmed by Masson trichromal staining, most of which was type III collagen by immunostaining. The formation of distinctive fibroblast/myofibroblast foci was seen in five patients (5/6) by light microscopy and immunochemistry. (8) Squamous metaplasia of bronchial mucosa was seen in five patients(5/6). (9) Thrombi was seen in all patients(6/6). (10) Accompanying infection was present in two patients, one was bacteria, the other was fungus. In addition, electron microscopy revealed viral particles in the cytoplasm of alveolar epithelial cells and endothelial cells corresponding to coronavirus.

CONCLUSIONDirect injury of SARS-CoV on alveolar epithelium, prominent macrophage infiltration and distinctive fibroblast/myofibroblast proliferation may play major roles in the pathogenesis of SARS.

Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; metabolism ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic ; metabolism ; Epithelium ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; immunology ; Lung ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Alveoli ; pathology ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; etiology ; pathology ; SARS Virus ; isolation & purification ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology

Public health interventions refer to a series of organized and specific measures implemented in specific situations to achieve goals related to improving health, preventing and controlling diseases, and more. As research on intervention measures has deepened, the classification of public health interventions has gradually developed, clarifying the nature, categories and intervention targets of these measures. This typological study can help standardize the concepts of public health interventions, develop, select, and evaluate the effectiveness of intervention measures, and improve the effectiveness of public health actions. This paper reviews the main international classification models of intervention measures, analyzes and summarizes five classification methods of public health interventions, namely, based on goals, nature, objects, hierarchies, and modes of action, and introduces relevant cases. The paper proposes that China should conduct further in-depth and systematic research on public health interventions, develop evidence-based intervention measures and practices, promote the effective transformation of intervention measures and results, and facilitate the development of public health.
Humans ; Public Health ; China

Public health interventions refer to a series of organized and specific measures implemented in specific situations to achieve goals related to improving health, preventing and controlling diseases, and more. As research on intervention measures has deepened, the classification of public health interventions has gradually developed, clarifying the nature, categories and intervention targets of these measures. This typological study can help standardize the concepts of public health interventions, develop, select, and evaluate the effectiveness of intervention measures, and improve the effectiveness of public health actions. This paper reviews the main international classification models of intervention measures, analyzes and summarizes five classification methods of public health interventions, namely, based on goals, nature, objects, hierarchies, and modes of action, and introduces relevant cases. The paper proposes that China should conduct further in-depth and systematic research on public health interventions, develop evidence-based intervention measures and practices, promote the effective transformation of intervention measures and results, and facilitate the development of public health.
Humans ; Public Health ; China