OBJECTIVETo observe effects of mild moxibustion and lovastatin on immunologic function in rabbits with chronic hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis (AS) to initially explain regulating rules of mild moxibustion on immunologic function.

METHODSAmong thirty-two Japanese male big-ear rabbits, 8 rabbits were randomly selec ted as a blank group, the rest 24 rabbits were fed with method of endothelial injury and high-fat diet to establish AS model. The blank group was raised with normal diet and free water. After ten weeks of model establishment, the rest 24 rabbits were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a medicine group, eight rabbits in each one. Moxibustion was applied at "Shenque" (CV 8) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 10 min per acupoint per day in the moxibustion group, while intragastric administration of 3.6 mg/kg lovastatin capsule was applied in the medicine group. After treatment, serum was acquired. Spectrophotometry method was adapted to measure cholesterol (TC) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and evaluated atherosclerosis index (AI), while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to measure interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4).

RESULTS(1) The serum TC and HDL-C in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group, moxibustion group and medicine group (all P < 0.01). The mean value of AI was 1.683 +/- 0.486 in the moxibustion group, which was obviously lower than 20.301 +/- 4.022 in the model group (P < 0.01). (2) The ratio of Th1/Th2 was 0.569 +/- 0.143 in the moxibustion group and 0.445 +/- 0.079 in the medicine group, which were significantly lower than 0.917 +/- 0.255 in the model group (both P < 0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference between the moxibustion group and the medicine group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe moxibustion for AS could reduce atherosclerosis index, influence drift and bias of helper T cell and regulate balance between humoral immunity and cellular immunity. As a result, status of relative balance of immunity is acquired, which could slow down the development of atherosclerosis and process of thrombus burst.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; immunology ; therapy ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; immunology ; therapy ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Interleukin-4 ; immunology ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Rabbits ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology

Heavy metal treatment in wastewater by biosorption using moulds was introduced. Different uptake capacities of several different moulds were reviewed. Some factors affecting biosorption were summarized. The mechanism of moulds adsorption and techniques of immobilization were also discussed. In addition, the development tendency of heavy metal treatment in wastewater by biosorption using moulds was envisioned.

4 days, so it is recommended to screen such premature infants carefully.

OBJECTIVETo explore effects and action mechanism of warm moxibustion on regulation of blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis.

METHODSForty-one male Japanese big-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into a blank group (10 rabbits), a model group (10 rabbits), a moxibustion group (10 rabbits) and a medication group (11 rabbits). Normal diet was applied in the blank group while high-cholesterol diet combined with injection of bovine serum albumin were applied in the rest groups to establish rabbit model of atherosclerosis. After establishment, the model group was not intervened and warm moxibustion was applied in the moxibustion group at "Zusan-li" (ST 36) and "Shenque" (CV 8), 10 min per acupoint per day for continuous 4 weeks. The medication group was treated with intragastric administration of lovastatin capsule (3.6 mg/kg) for continuous 4 weeks. The level of blood lipids, such as total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and content of CD40 ligand (CD40L), soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and expression of nuclear factor NF-kappaB were tested after 4 weeks.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the moxibustion group and medication group could effectively reduce the contents of TC and low density lipoprotein (all P < 0.05), lower the level of sCD40L [(8.310 +/- 1.221) ng/mL in the model group, (7.097 +/- 0.846) ng/mL in the moxibustion group and (7.354 +/- 0.631) ng/mL in the medication group], reduce expression of CD40L [(0.235 +/- 0.179) mm2 in the model group, (0.072 +/- 0.079) mm2 in the moxibustion group and (0.039 +/- 0.015) mm2 in the medication group] and NF-kappaB [(0.145 +/- 0.052)mm2 in the model group, (0.052 +/- 0.012) mm2 in the moxibustion group and (0.036 +/- 0.013) mm2 in the medication group], indicating the significant difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the moxibustion group and medication group (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe warm moxibustion has great effect on regulation of blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis, in which lowering expression of CD40-CD40L could be one of possible mechanisms to take effect of anti-atherosclerosis.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; therapy ; CD40 Antigens ; blood ; CD40 Ligand ; blood ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Moxibustion ; methods ; Rabbits

Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Melanoma ; congenital ; surgery ; Skin Neoplasms ; congenital ; surgery

AIM: To investigate the effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), fosinopril, captopril and angiotensin II AT 1 antagonists, valsartan on tissue factor (TF) expression on monocytes induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). METHODS: Mononuclear leukocytes from normal delivered female umbilical veins were incubated with bacterial LPS in presence or absence of different ACE inhibitors .At the end of incubation, the cells were disrupted by 3 freeze-thaw cycles. TF procoagulant activity was assessed by a one-stage clotting assay. RT-PCR was used to check TF mRNA expression, and GAPDH mRNA was used for parallel assay. RESULTS and CONCLUSION: The results showed that increased expression of TF mRNA induced by LPS was inhibited by fosinopril, captopril and valsartan, respectively, and the procoagualant activity of monocytes was also reduced. [

Objective To confirm the predictive value of diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF) on successful weaning by bedside ultrasound in patients with myasthenia gravis crisis. Methods A prospective study was conducted. The patients with myasthenia gravis crisis undergoing mechanical ventilation admitted to Department of Critical Care Medicine of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from March 2015 to February 2017 were enrolled. All patients underwent a low level pressure support mode of spontaneous breathing test (SBT), and rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) was recorded. The indicators of right diaphragm thickness at the end of inspiration (DTei) and expiration (DTee) were determined by bedside ultrasound at 5 minutes and 60 minutes of SBT, and DTF was calculated, the changes in above parameters were observed during SBT. The patients were divided into successful weaning group and failure weaning group, and the differences in above indexes were compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the predictive value of DTF and RSBI at 60 minutes of SBT on successful weaning. Results A total of 37 patients were enrolled in the study. Ultrasonic measurement data of 63 person-times at 5 minutes of SBT and 50 at 60 minutes of SBT were obtained. There were no statistical differences in RSBI, DTei, DTee, and DTF at 5 minutes of SBT between successful weaning group (n = 33) and failure weaning group (n = 30). At 60 minutes of SBT, compared with successful weaning group (n = 33), the patients in failure weaning group (n = 17) had a higher RSBI (times·min-1·L-1: 80.41±29.08 vs. 63.94±23.84, t = 2.146, P = 0.037), and lower DTee, DTei and DTF [DTee (mm): 22.00±6.25 vs. 25.45±4.99, t = 2.127, P = 0.039; DTei (mm): 27.94±6.19 vs. 38.48±6.15,t = 5.731, P = 0.000; DTF: (24.46±14.11)% vs. (62.04±30.21)%, t = 4.845, P = 0.000]. There were no statistical differences in RSBI, DTei, DTee, and DTF between 5 minutes and 60 minutes of SBT in 33 person-time successful weaning (all P > 0.05). In 17 person who had 60 minutes of SBT but failed weaning, the RSBI at 60 minutes of SBT was significantly higher than that at 5 minutes (times·min-1·L-1: 80.41±29.08 vs. 57.29±22.46, t = 2.400, P = 0.029), and DTei and DTF were significantly decreased [DTei (mm): 27.94±6.19 vs. 35.35±6.84, t = 3.024, P = 0.000; DTF:(24.46±14.11)% vs. (61.89±23.97)%, t = 5.810, P = 0.000], but the change of DTee during SBT showed no statistical significance. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of DTF at 60 minutes of SBT for predicting successful weaning was 0.898; when DTF ≥ 27.9% as the cut-off point, the sensitivity was 93.9%, specificity was 70.6%. The AUC of RSBI for predicting successful weaning was 0.669; when RSBI ≥ 86.50 times·min-1·L-1 as the cut-off point, the sensitivity was 81.8%, specificity was 52.9%. Conclusion DTF at 60 minutes of SBT is the effective index of successful weaning prediction in mechanical ventilation patients with myasthenia gravis crisis.

Objective To study the integration and expression of HLA-B2704 gene in HLA-B2704 transgenic mice. Methods HLA-B2704 gene was introduced into fertilized eggs of C57BL/6?Kunming and Kunming?Kunming by microinjection. The founder mice were screened by PCR for integration of HLA-B2704 transgene and were then further confirmed by southern blot. RT-PCR and flow cytometry were carried out to detect the expression of HLA-B2704 gene at mRNA and protein level. Results Ten F0 hybrid mice carried HLA-B2704 gene in 101 F0 hybrid mice, 3 of 64 (4.7%) hybrid mice from Kunming?Kunming and 7 of 37 (18.9%) hybrid mice from C57BL/6?Kunming background carried HLA-B2704 gene. Statistical analysis showed that there was significant difference in the integration rate between the two groups (P

OBJECTIVEThe disinfection efficiency of a compound disinfectant spray with trichioro hydroxyl diphenyl ether on dental impression and plaster model, which have been contaminated by pathogens, were evaluated in this study.

METHODSAs experimental group, germ-free alginate impressions and plaster models were sprayed with the compound disinfectant of different density trichloro hydroxyl diphenyl ether or indophors for 5, 10 and is mm, after which were smeared with five tested pathogens, including Staphylococcus acre us, Escherichia cali, Saccharomyces albicans, Streptococcus mutans and black spore variants of Bacillus subtilis. The colonies were counted after sampling, inoculate and culture, which were used to deduce the killing logarithm value as the standard of the disinfecting efficiency.

RESULTSthe compound disinfectant spray with 3000 mg x L(-1) triebloro hydroxyl diphenyl ether was effective to all tested pathogens for 10 mm whatever on the impressions or the plaster models. The disinfectant spray with tame concentration was more effective on the alginate impression than on the plaster model in the same time (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe compound disinfectant spray with trichioro hydroxyl diphenyl ether is an effective antiseptics for alginate impressions and plaster models.

Alginates ; Dental Disinfectants ; Dental Impression Materials ; Disinfectants ; Disinfection ; Glucuronic Acid ; Hexuronic Acids

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) overexpression on apoptosis of the rat pulmonary arterial microvascular smooth muscle cells (RPMC) in vitro.

METHODSPrimary RPMC obtained from the pulmonary artery and lung microvasculature were identified by immunofluorescence staining and electron microscope technique. The RPMC was transient transfected with the pMEXneo-ET1 and pCDNA5-FRT-TO-ET1-3'UTR plasmids as well as the empty vector respectively via lipofectamine. Flow cytometry was used to assess the cell cycle and apoptosis of RPMC. Akt and Caspase-3 expressions were detected by Western blot and real time RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe mRNA of ET(A) expression was significantly higher than that of ET(B) receptor in primary RPMC. Flow cytometry analysis revealed significantly reduced apoptosis in ET-1 transfected RPMC compared to that in vehicle transfected RPMC. Overexpression of ET-1 in RPMC also significantly increased the phosphorylation of Akt and reduced the cleaved Caspase-3 expression.

CONCLUSIONSOverexpression of the ET-1 inhibited RPMC apoptosis and activated Akt/PKB-Caspase-3 signaling pathway, which might be responsible for ET-1 induced the pulmonary microvascular arteries remodeling.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Arteries ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Female ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction