Objective To investigate the effect of rat macrophage α7-acetylcholine receptor (α7-AChR )-mediated cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway on endotoxin-induced inflammation reaction . Methods Density gradient centrifugation method was used to isolate rat primary macrophages and flow cytometry was used to identify the cell purity .α7-AChR in macrophages was detected by fluorescence confocal microscopy and Western blot .After 1ipopolysaccharides ( LPS) was added to the culture media of primary culture of macrophages , the concentration of tumor necrosis factor ( TNF)-αin the supernatant was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The expression of p-NF-κB protein in primary cultured macrophages was detected by Western blot .ANOVA was used to analyze TNF-αlevels after adding different concentrations of nicotine .Results α7-AChR was observed by fluorescence confocal microscope in primary macrophages .Nicotine could significantly reduce the concentration of TNF-αin culture supernatants of macrophages after LPS stimulation .When the concentrations of nicotine were 0, 1, 10, 100μmol/L, the concentrations of TNF-αwere (2 123 ±86), (1 486 ±80), (1 316 ±83) and (1 090 ±77)pg/mL, respectively (t=16.33, 20.18 and 26.83, P<0.05).The level of p-NF-κB in macrophages was also reduced when nicotine added .Conclusion Activation of macrophage α7-AChR can inhibit the endotoxin-induced release of inflammatory factor TNF-α, which may be through NF-κB signal pathway .

Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Vaccination

Objective To investigate the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive population and explore its influencing factors.Methods Cluster sampling was used,continuous 205 cases who were diagnosed as HIV positive from December 16,2002 to June 30,2012 in Zhuhui district and Yanfeng district of Hunan province and could be followed up and traced were enrolled in the study.All patients were screened after informed content through questionnaire,sputum smear examination,chest X-ray examination,liquid culture (BACTECTM MGITTM 960 operating system),mycobacterium species identification (for liquid culture positive) and CD4 testing.Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify the impacts of different sex,age,and TB suspect syndromes,etc.Results Of 205 cases,19 were diagnosed as tuberculosis.The rate of TB/HIV was 9.3％.Univariate analysis showed that age,annual household net income,being acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients and with TB suspect syndromes had significant impacts on tuberculosis combining (P ＜ 0.05).While multivariate analysis showed that age (OR =1.443) and TB suspect syndromes (OR =3.124) were risk factors influencing TB combining in people living with HIV (PLHIVs).Conclusions TB prevalence in HIV positive population was higher in Zhuhui district and Yanfeng,those aged and with TB suspect syndromes cases had higher risk to develop tuberculosis.TB screening should be reinforced in HIV positive population.

Objective To explore effects of Naikan cognitive therapy on improving clinical symptoms in patients with convalescent schizophrenia. Methods The 69 convalescent schizophrenic patients with convalescent clinical state were consecutively recruited. All the patients were divided into Naikan cognitive therapy ( NCT) group an control group at random and were pretreated with antipsychotic agent therapy. In NCT group,the patients received NCT for successive 7 days. In control group,the patients only received antipsychotic agent therapy. Pre-and post-treatment positive and negative syndrome scale( PANSS) , Nurses'observation scale for inpatient evaluation (NOSIE) were administered to all subjects. Results ① A significant decrease occurred in PANSS total score, negative symptom score, positive symptom score, compound scale score, general psychopathology score, reaction retardation score and paranoid score in NCT group ( t = 2. 672～7. 370, P < 0. 05). In the post-treatment, PANSS total score, negative symptom score, positive symptom score, compound scale score, reaction retardation score and thought disorder score were significantly lower in NCT group than those in control group ( t ' = 2. 696, P = 0. 009; t = 5. 186, P=0.000; t = 3.757, P = 0.001; t = 2.634,P = 0.011; t ' =2.376, P = 0.021). ②A significant decrease occurred in NOSIE total negative score( 10.43 ± 9. 24 vs 13. 87 ± 8. 03, t = 3. 463 , P = 0. 002) , irritation score(3. 13 ±0.43 vs8.53 ±4.98, t = 6. 139, P=0.000) and retardation score(1.07 ± 1.64 vs 2. 20 ±2.85, t = 2.067, P = 0.048) in NCT group. Conclusion NCT can possibly improve part clinical symptoms of patients with convalescent schizophrenia to a certain extent,especially negative symptom,but need to further prove the effect of NaiKan cognitive therapy.

Objective Large-conductance culcium-activated potassium (BKCa) channel modulates vascular smooth muscle tone. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that salt, one of the factors which significantly influence bleed pressure (BP), can regulate BKCa activity and then elevate blood pressure. Methods Male Spragne-Dawley rats aged 6 weeks were randomized into high salt diet group (HS) and control group, fed with high salt diet (containing 5% NaCi) and standard rat chow (containing 0.4% NaCl) respectively for 16 weeks. Tail systolic blood pressure (SBP), body weight (BW) and 24-hour urinary output were tested every 4 weeks. Content of urinary Na+ was detected using flame spectrophotometrical method. At the end of 16 weeks, all the rats were killed, the mesenteric arteries were obtained, and single mesenteric smooth muscle cells were isolated at once. The resting membrane potential (Em), the total potassium currents and the currents after perfusion with TEA solution of the cells were all recorded by whole cell patch clamp. The transcriptions of BKCa channel α and β1 sobunits in mesenteric arterial vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) of each group were calculated by real-time RT-PCR. Results There was no difference in SBP and BW at each stage between control group and HS group; the urinary Na+ level in HS animals was elevated significantly after 4 weeks.The negative values of Em in HS group VSMCs were reduced compared with these in the control group. Transcriptions of β1 subanit of BKCa channels were decreased in HS group, but α subunit transcriptions did not differ between the two groups. Whole cell potassium currents did not differ hetween HS and control groups, but BKCa currents of HS group VSMCs were lower than these of control group ones. Conclusion Even without elevating SBP, salt-loading can still modulate the expression and activity of BKCa channel in the mesenteric arterial VSMC and elevate vascular tone.

OBJECTIVE:To improve the quality standard of Portulaca grandiflora. METHODS:TLC was used to identify the P. grandiflora with the reference of letuolin and apigenin. HPLC was performed on the column of Hanbon-C18 with the mobile phase of methanol-acid gradient[water-acetic acid(61∶4)] at the flow rate of 1.0 ml/min,the detection wavelength was 335 nm,the temperature was 35 ℃ and the volume was 10 μl. RESULTS:There was a good linear relationship in the quality concentration of scutellarin and luteolin respectively in th range of 0.299 5-1.872 0 μg(r=0.999 8)and 0.015 1-0.094 4 μg(r=0.999 5);the RSDs of precision,stability and reproducibility tests were ≤2.61%. The average recovery was respectively 100.42%(RSD=0.81%,n=6) and 100.65%(RSD=1.64%,n=6). CONCLUSIONS:The established TLC and HPLC are stable,reliable,simple and can be used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of P. grandiflora.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of the inflammatory reaction related to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and induced by activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

METHODSA mouse model of NASH was established by feeding a high-fat and high-sugar diet.Activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway was achieved by nicotine administration to the NASH modeled mice and normal controls. Liver biopsies were taken and the concentrations of cytokines were measured. Isolated liver primary Kupffer cells and RAw264.7 cells were cultured, pre-treated or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and exposed to nicotine, after which the supernatant concentrations of IL-6 and TNFa were determined by ELISA. The protein expression levels of phosphorylated (p)-NF-kB and I k B were detected in primary cultured Kupffer cells by western blotting.

RESULTSThe mouse model of NASH was successfully established, as evidenced by findings from liver biopsy and serum liver function tests. The degree of liver inflammation in the NASH mice decreased after nicotine administration, and the level of serum TNFa also significantly decreased. The levels of serum TNFa were 21.95+/-0.8 pg/mL in nicotine-treated mice and 38.07+/-1.7 pg/mL in the non-nicotine-treated NASH mice (P less than 0.05). The nicotine treatment also significantly reduced the concentration of TNFa in the culture supernatants of Kupffer cells after LPS stimulation; moreover, the supernatant level of TNFa decreased significantly after the nicotine treatment (Pless than 0.05). LPS stimulation of the RAw264.7 cells led to an increased level ofp-NF-kB and a reduced level ofI-kB, suggesting that the NF-kB pathway had been activated; different doses of nicotine pre-treatment led to down-regulation of the p-NF-kB level and up-regulation of the I-kB level, both in dose-dependent manners.

CONCLUSIONActivating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway inhibits the NASH-related inflammatory reaction, and the mechanism for this inhibition involves the NF-kB signaling pathway.

Animals ; Cholinergic Agents ; Down-Regulation ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Kupffer Cells ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Mice ; NF-kappa B ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Phosphorylation ; Up-Regulation

Objective To assess the therapeutic efficacy of a recombined adenovirus expressing p53 (rAd-p53) via intrapleural injec-tion in the treatment of lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion. Methods Thirty-six cases with lung cancer and malignant pleural effu-sion were randomly divided into two groups,which were given intravenous injection of Nedaplatin with (observation group,n=20) or without (control group,n=16) intrapleural injection of rAd-p53,respectively. Between the two groups,the efficacy in treatment of pleural effusion, the amelioration of maximal ventilatory volume ( MVV) ,Kamofsky scoring ( KPS) and quality of life were compared. Results The efficacy in treatment of pleural effusion in observation group are significantly higher than that in control group(17/20 vs. 50%,P<0. 05). The cases with KPS≥80 in observation group were significantly increased following treatment (5/20 vs. 11/20,P <0. 05). However,there was no difference with the cases in control group. Conclusion Intrapleural injection of recombinant adenovirus expressing p53 (rAd-p53) is effec-tive to reduce the occurrence of malignant pleural effusion and increase the quality of life remarkably.

Objective To investigate high-frequency ultrasonic characters and screening method of plantar metatarsal level in normal adults.Methods Plantar metatarsal level were examined with high frequency ultrasound in 40 normal adults.The base,body and head of the first to the fifth metatarsal were used as anatomical location markers.The ultrasonic characters and screening method were described and recorded.Results The plantar skin,plantar fat pad,plantar aponeurosis and deep muscular structures,including the flexor digitorum brevis,abductor hallucis,abductor digiti minimi,lumbricalis,felxor hallucis brevis,flexor digiti minimi brevis,abductor hallucis and plantar interossei were illuminated in detail with high-frequency ultrasound.Conclusion High frequency ultrasound can be used to depict anatomical structures of plantar metatarsal level.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics of a Chinese pedigree with cardiac conductive disease complicated by atrial fibrillation and the therapeutic effect of the treatments.

METHODSAll the family members including the proband were screened with routine examination, electrocardiography, echocardiograpy, Holter recording, chest X-ray, blood biochemistry tests and autoantibody test. The proband received dual chamber pacemaker implantation combined with oral amiodarone treatment for 3 months. The patient was monitored for thyreoid function and chest X-ray during the treatments, and was followed up for another 3 months.

RESULTSClinical evidence of organic heart disease was found in none of the family members. The proband showed recurrent dizziness and chest distress, which exacerbated after exercise, and ECG showed atrial fibrillation and severe A-V block. The proband's uncle was found to have atrial fibrillation and III degree A-V block after a syncope episode at the age of 30, and received a pacemaker treatment. Her grandpa died from a heart attack without detailed clinical documentations. No other family members showed abnormal ECG or a history of any heart events. The proband's condition was improved by treatments, after which ECG and Holter recording showed pace rhythm without atrial fibrillation.

CONCLUSIONCardiac conductive disease with atrial fibrillation can present in one family, and can be managed effectively and safely with implantation of dual chamber pacemaker combined with oral amiodarone.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; genetics ; therapy ; Atrioventricular Block ; complications ; genetics ; therapy ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; Female ; Heart Conduction System ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Pedigree ; Young Adult