Objective To study the concentration alteration of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in patients with primary and secondary glomerular diseases (GD), the effect of immune inhibitors on the concentration, and analyze the relationship between VEGF concentration and some clinical indexes. Methods Serum VEGF concentration of GD patients was determined by sandwich ABC-ELISA. Results All of the GD patients had higher level of serum VEGF than the control group. Of the 5 groups divided according to the clinical classification, patients of chronic glomerulonephritis(CGN) group, latent glomerulonephritis(LGN) group, Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN) group and lupus nephritis(LN) group had higher serum VEGF level than the control group, respectively, with no difference among the above groups. The patients without taking immune inhibitors had higher serum VEGF level than the control group,while no difference was observed between the patients taking immune inhibitors and the control group.Patients with glomerulonephritis had a significantly lower serum VEGF level after receiving immunosuppression aggressive therapy than before. The serum VEGF level of nephrotic syndrome in nephrotic phase was higher than in remission stage. In membranous glomerulonephritis serum VEGF correlated positively with 24-hour proteinuria excretion. The serum VEGF level correlated positively with anti-dsDNA Ab titer and the concentration of ? globulins in LN. Conclusion Cytokine VEGF is involved in the pathogenesis of glomerulonephritis, and in the occurrence and progression of proteinuria. Immunosuppression therapy can inhibit the expression of VEGF. In LN patients, the serum VEGF level is related to LN activity.

This study investigated the role of glucose in the biogenesis of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Mouse primary peritoneal macrophages were harvested and maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) containing glucose of various concentrations. The cells were divided into 3 groups in terms of different glucose concentrations in the cultures: Control group (5.6 mmol/L glucose), high glucose concentration groups (16.7 mmol/L and 30 mmol/L glucose). ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) mRNA expression in the macrophages was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR 24, 48 and 72 h after glucose treatment. The results showed that ABCA1 mRNA expression in the 16.7 mmol/L glucose group was not significantly different from that in the control group at all testing time points (P>0.05 for each). In the 30 mmol/L glucose group, macrophage ABCA1 mRNA expression was not changed significantly at 24 h (P=0.14), but was substantially decreased by 40.4% at 48 h (P=0.009) and by 48.1% at 72 h (P=0.015) as compared with that in the control group. It was concluded that ABCA1 is of vital importance for HDL-C biogenesis. High glucose may hamper HDL-C biogenesis by decreasing ABCA1 expression, which contributes to low HDL-C level in diabetes.

Animals ; Arginine ; pharmacology ; Blood Pressure ; drug effects ; Hypertension ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Young Adult

Objective To determine the roles of thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR) and its antibody in airway inflammatory response in asthmatic mice, and to promote maturation and activation of dendritic cells (DCs) in mouse airway. Methods BALB/c mice were randomly divided into group A, B and C. The mice in group B and C were intraperitoneally injected with OVA for allergization while the mice in group A were intraperitoneally injected with PBS as the normal control. The mice in group B and C were treated by inhalation of non-specific IgG and TSLPR IgG respectively, before provocation of asthma using OVA. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of the mice in different groups were collected for cell differential counts and quantitative detection of IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γand IL-10 levels by ELISA. Moreover, the pulmonary tissue specimens of the mice were collected for pathological examination, and the numbers and phenotypes of DCs from the local lymph nodes and pulmonary tissue were determined by flow cytometry. Results The levels of all the tested cytokines in the BALF from mice in group B and C were remarkably higher compared to those from mice in group A (P<0.01). However, both the IL-4 and IL-5 levels in the BALF from group C mice that pre-blocked with TSLPR IgG were lower than those from group B (P<0.05, P<0.01), whereas both the IFN-γ and IL-10 levels in the BALF from group C mice were higher than those from group B (P<0.05, P<0.01). Furthermore, the numbers of total cells, eosinophils and lymphocytes in the BALF from group C mice were also lower than those from group B (P<0.01). A large number of inflammatory cell infiltration around the bronchus, beaker cell proliferation and mucous secretion reinforcement could be found in the samples from group B mice, while slight inflammatory cell infiltration and beaker cell proliferation in the samples from group C mice. The numbers of DCs in mediastinal lymph node and the levels of I-Ad, CD40, CD80 and CD86 expression of pulmonary DCs from group B mice were higher than those from group C mice (P<0.05). Conclusion TSLP/TSLPR have an effect on promoting asthma, which is closely relative to its regulation of DCs activation. And the interference of TSLPR antibody can decrease the effect of TSLP/TSLPR which indicating a potential of the antibody as a novel anti-asthma drug.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; Interleukin-1beta ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoarthritis/drug therapy* ; Rats ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Child ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the seroprevalence and influencing factors of serum neutralizing antibodies among SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals, so as to provide the evidence for developing the health management and COVID-19 vaccination strategy among SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. Methods: Recovered SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals from January 1st, 2020 to February 10th, 2021 in Zhejiang Province were recruited in March 2021. Participants' demographics, underlying diseases, date of definitive diagnosis and severity of clinical symptoms were collected using questionnaire surveys, and serum neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 was detected using a fluorescent immunoassay. In addition, factors affecting the seropositivity of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 559 SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals were enrolled, including 480 confirmed cases and 79 asymptomatic carriers, with an median (interquartile range) age of 47.00 (22.00) years, and all participants had never received COVID-19 vaccination. The median (interquartile range) duration from diagnosis to serum sampling was 387.00 (11.00) days, and the seroprevalence of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 was 83.90%. The serum neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 was all positive 9 months after diagnosis, and the seroprevalence of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 appeared no tendency towards a decline with time within 14 months after diagnosis (P>0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that women were 1.892 times (95%CI: 1.169-3.064) more likely to produce serum neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 than men, and mild, common and severe/critically ill SARS-CoV-2 infected cases were 2.438 (95%CI: 1.305-4.557), 4.481 (95%CI: 2.318-8.663), and 23.525 (95%CI: 2.990-185.068) times more likely to produce serum neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 than asymptomatic carrier, respectively. Conclusions The seroprevalence of neutralizing antibody was 100.00% among SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals within 9 months after diagnosis. Individuals' gender and severity of clinical symptoms correlate with the seroprevalence of neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2.

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in depression relief in the treatment of depressive disorder at the acute stage between the combined therapy of acupuncture and 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine) selective serotonini reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the single application of SSRIs and explore the impact on the imbalance of 5-HT and TH1/TH2.

METHODSNinety cases of depressive disorder at the acute stage were randomized into a combined therapy group and a medication group, 45 cases in each one. In the medication group, SSRIs were prescribed forl oral administration, once or twice a day, continuously for 4 weeks. In the combined therapy group, on the basis of treatment as the medication group, acupuncture was combined. The main acupoints were Baihui (GV 20), Yintang (GV 29), Shenting (GV 24), Fengchi (GB 20), Dazhui (GV 14) and Sishencong (EX-HN 1), once every two. days, continuously for 4 weeks. Before treatment, and after the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment, the Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) was used to evaluate the depression severity. Separately, before and after the 4 weeks of treatment, the levels of serum 5-HT, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were determined and compared with those in 45 cases of the healthy group.

RESULTSHAMD score was reduced in the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment as compared with that before treatment in the combined therapy group (all P<0 01). HAMD score was reduced in the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment as compared with that before treatment in the medication group (all P<0. 01). HAMD scores in the combined therapy group were lower than those in the medication group in the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment (all P< 0. 01). Before treatment, in the combined therapy group and the medication group, the levels of serum 5-HT, IL-4 and IL-10 were all lower than those in the healthy group (all P<0. 01); the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were higher than those in the healthy group (all P<0. 01). In the combined therapy group and the medication group, the levels of 5-HT, IL-4 and IL-10 in 4 weeks of treatment were all increased as compared with those before treatment (all P<0. 01), and the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 were lower than those before treatment (all P<0. 01). In the combined therapy group, the levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in 4 weeks of treatment were lower than those in the medication group, and the levels of 5-HT, IL-4 and IL-10 were higher than those in the medication group (P<0. 01, P< 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture and SSRIs achieves much quicker and more effective re-' sult for relieving depression in the patients of depressive disorder as compared with simple oral administration of' SSRIs, and much more contributes to adjust the imbalance of serum 5-HT and TH1/TH2.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antidepressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Depressive Disorder ; blood ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-1beta ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Serotonin ; blood ; Th1 Cells ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To examine the expression of CD9 protein in pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent tissues,and to analyze its relation with the progress and prognosis of pancreatic cancer.Methods From September 2005 to December 2009,surgical resected cancer tissues and adjacent tissues of 90 patients with pancreatic cancer and their clinical data were collected.The expression of CD9 protein in pancreatic cancer tissues and adjacent tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry,and its relationship with clinicopathological features was analyzed.Chi-square test was performed for comparison of ratios between groups.Overall survival (OS) analysis of 90 patients after surgery was performed.Results The high expression rate of CD9 protein (64.4％,58/90) in cancer tissue was significantly higher than that in cancer adjacent tissue (45.6％,41/90),the difference has statistically significant (χ2 =6.847,P＜0.05).CD9 protein was highly expressed in most of pancreatic cancer tissue which was well differentiated or without lymph node metastasis (74.6％ (50/67) vs 39.1％ (9/23),χz =9.554,P＜0.01; 50.0％(17/34) vs 73.2％(41/56),χ2 =5.856,P＜0.05 respectively).However,the expression of CD9 was not correlated with gender and age (both P＞0.05).OS and progression-free survival (PFS) of the patients with CD9 highly expressed were significantly longer than those with low expression of CD9 (median OS:33.0 months vs 7.0 months,χ2 =15.400 P＜0.01.Median PFS:30.5 months vs 5.0 months,χ2 =13.750,P＜0.01).Conclusion CD9 protein is a kind of protein related with the invasive ability of pancreatic cancer,which may play a role in progression and metastasis of pancreatic cancer and can help to determine the prognosis to a certain extent.