AIM To explore the effects of trip-tolide on endothelin-1 and its gene expression in lung of asthmatic guinea-pigs. METHODS The contents of ET-1 in lung of asthmatic guinea-pigs were measured with radioimmunoassay, and the expressions of ET-1, ETA, ETB and ECEmRNA with reverse transcription DNA polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS 0 All of the indexes were increased after guinea-pigs were induced asthma. At the 4th hour after first induction of asthma, ET-1 reached the top, but at the 2rd hour, ET-1mRNA, ETAmRNA and ECEmRNA were markedly higher than control group (P

Objective To investigate the clinical value of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1 )in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).Methods Sixty-one PBC patients and 59 AIH patients,who were hos-pitalized or visited the outpatient department from June 2012 to September 2013,as well as 50 healthy controls,were included in the study. The PBC patients included 29 incipient cases,21 cases in remission,and 11 recurrent cases;the AIH patients included 26 incipient cases, 20 cases in remission,and 13 recurrent cases.Serum sICAM-1 level was measured by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immu-nosorbent assay,and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT)and total bilirubin (TBil)were determined by biochemical enzyme as-say.Comparison between groups was made by analysis of variance;Pearson correlation analysis was performed.Results Among PBC pa-tients,the incipient group and recurrent group had significantly higher serum sICAM-1 levels than the remission group and control group (P=0.000 for all);there was no significant difference in serum sICAM-1 level between the incipient group and recurrent group (P=0.484);the remission group had a significantly higher serum sICAM-1 level than the control group (P=0.000).Among AIH patients, the incipient group and recurrent group had significantly higher serum sICAM-1 levels than the remission group and control group (P=0.000 for all);there was no significant difference in serum sICAM-1 level between the incipient group and recurrent group (P=0.802);no significant difference in serum sICAM-1 level was seen between the remission group and control group (P=0.281).For patients with PBC and AIH,serum sICAM-1 level was positively correlated with serum levels of ALT (r=0.664,P=0.000;r=0.784,P=0.000) and TBil (r=0.715,P=0.000;r=0.580,P=0.000).Conclusion Serum sICAM-1 may be involved in the immunologic injury in PBC and AIH.In patients with PBC and AIH,the elevation of serum sICAM-1 level is closely correlated with the severity of liver damage. Clinical monitoring of serum sICAM-1 level may play an important role in severity assessment,prognostic evaluation,and therapy guidance among patients with autoimmune liver diseases.

Objective To evaluate the interactive relationship between inflammation detected by single photon emission computed tomography combined with computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection of synovitis,bone marrow edema (BME) in the early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.Methods Twenty patients with early RA were included into this study.All patients were diagnosed based on the 2010 ACR/EULAR classification criterion.Patients' unilateral hands (MCP 2-5 and PIP 2-5 joints) were inspected by SPECT/CT (label:99Tcm-MDP) and MRI (3.0 T).SPECT/CT and MRI images were analyzed by two reviewers blinded to other clinical information.Increased bone metabolism of the regional area of interest (ROI) was analyzed and the uptake ratio was calculated.MRI quantitative evaluation was completed by RAMRIS score system.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0 software.Student's t-test,analysis of variance (ANOVA),x2 test and post-hoc analysis (Scheffe) were used for comparison of datas,correlation analysis was carried out with Spearman rank correlation test.Results Twent ypatients with a total of 160 joints were examined.MRI examination revealed synovitis (39,24.4％),or BME (24,15.0％) in 63(39.4％) joints.99Tcm-MDP uptake increased in 79(49.4％) joints,and the uptake ratio was higher than normal joints (1.59±0.26 vs 1.15±0.09,t=6.408,P＜0.01).The uptake ratio between the graded synovitis level and RAMRIS synovitis score had a moderate correlation (r=0.535,P=0.001).The uptake ratio of BME level and BME score was well correlated (r=0.765,P=0.001).Conclusion In early RA patients,MRI is sensitive for synovitis and BME.SPECT/CT can detect early abnormal bone metabolism associated with inflammation,which is more sensitive than MRI.SPECT/CT can be used to detect changes of RA at the molecular level.Compared with synovitis,BME is more closely related to bone metabolism changes,which may suggest that BME may play a major role in the bone destruction in RA.However,further studies are needed to verify this hypothesis.

Objective To study the necessirity of endocrine treatment for thyroid adenoma after operation. Methods TSH receptors were determined in 100 patient's thyroid adenoma specimens with SP method. The continuous pathologic sections of the thyroid tissues around the tumor were examined to find out that if there was any small focus. The patients were divided into two groups radnomly: Group A, patients received thyroid hormone(TH) treatment after operation; Group B, the patients received no TH treatment after operation. Blood T 3, T 4 and TSH concentration were determined, and the residual thyroid was examined with 131 I scanning and ultrasunography peroidically after operation. Results TSH receptors were presented in all of the thyroid adenomas, and small focus presented in 8% of the patients. Blood T 3, T 4, TSH and residual thyroid were normal in all patients in group A. In group B, Blood T 3, T 4 were below the normal lever in 45(90%), TSH over normal lever in 41(82%),residual thyroid hyperplasia and enlargement were found in 48 patients(96%), and thyroid nodule or tumor in 33(66%). Conclusions TH should be taken in patients with thyroid adenoma after operation to prevent high TSH of serum and tumor replapse, because these patients have the characteristics of muttiple focuses of tumor and postoperative hypothyroidism.

Objective To improve the diagnosis and treatment of testicular masses associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia(CAH).Methods A 25-year-old man presented with bilateral testicular nodules.Physical examination revealed palpable multiple nodules in the bilateral testes and epididymides as well as enlarged and hard right testis with uneven surface.Biochemical examination showed testosterone(T) of 18.7 nmol/L,17?-(OH)P＞20.0 ng/ml,positive results of rapid ACTH stimulation test and dexametha- sone suppression test.B-ultrasound demonstrated diffuse testicular lesions with nodules in parts of the bilater- al testes.Bilateral testicular nodules were biopsied,and pathological diagnosis was interstitial cell hyperplasi- a.Positive staining for?-inhibin was observed immunohistochemically.The clinical characteristics of testicular masses associated with CAH were reviewed in combination with the literature.Results Based on medical history,imaging,laboratory and pathologic examinations,the patient was diagnosed with testicular masses as- sociated with CAH.He received oral cortisol at dose of 40 mg daily for 2 weeks,and then at dose of 30 mg daily as maintenance therapy.After treatment of 8 months,B-ultrasound showed complete regression of the testicular tumors.Follow-up of 24 months showed no recurrence of the tumor.Conclusions For patient with bilateral testicular masses,endocrinological evaluation and clinical history taking are indicated to exclude testicular interstitial cell hyperplasia associated with CAH.By oral steroid replacement therapy,hormone-sen- sitive testicular masses can regress.

Objective To study the expression of S100A8 and the relationship between S100A8 and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury.Methods C3H/HeJ mice with TLR4 gene mutation (n =30) and C3H/HeN with normal TLR4 gene mice (n =30) were divided into 4 groups at random (random number),namely C3H/HeJ model group (n =18),C3H/HeJ control group (n =12),and C3H/HeN model group (n =18).C3H/HeN control group (n =12).Middle cerebral artery was occluded to make I/R model in mice by using thread embolism method.Brain tissues were collected after ischemia for one hour and reperfusion for 12 hours.Stroke outcome was evaluated by determination of infarct volume of brain tissue and assessment of neurological scores.And brain injury after cerebral I/R was observed by optical microscope after TTC and HE staining.The immunofluorescence technique and RT-PCR were used to determine the protein level and expression of S100A8 mRNA in damaged brain tissues.Results Compared with C3H/HeN model mice,TLR4-deficient model mice (C3H/ He J) had lower infarct volumes and better outcomes of neurological function after resuscitation for 12 hours.Compared with control groups,the expression of S100A8 mRNA and level of S100A8 protein increased greatly in damaged brain tissues of model mice after I/R injury.In addition,model mice with lacked TLR4 (C3H/HeJ) had lower expression of I/R-induced S100A8 mRNA than C3H/HeN mice in model group,indicating that the close relationship between the levels of S100A8 and TLR4.Conclusions S100A8 interaction with TLR4 might be involved in brain damage and in inflammation triggered by I/R injury.

Objective To establish a stable transplantation tolerance model by combined treatment with PTD-mFoxp3 fusion protein and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and study its application to reduce the incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).Method BALB/c mice as recipients were randomly divided into four groups,accepted medical linear accelerator ray 3.0-Gy total body irradiation (TBI) before bone marrow transplantation (BMT),and injected with donor C57BL/6 mice bone marrow cells 3 × 107withinn 4-6 h.The BALB/c mice in group A were given PTD-mFoxp3 fusion protein through tail vein intermittently (day-2,0,1,3,5,7,9,11,13),those in group B given the same dose mFoxp3 protein,those in group C given normal saline,and those in blank control group given no treatment.The symptoms of GVHD were observed after BMT.Chimerisms were determined on the week 1,2,4,8 and12 post-BMT by flow cytometry.Liver and intestinal tissues were collected for pathological examination.Recipient immune response was assessed on the week 4 and 12 by mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) after BMT.Results The chimerism level in group A was high [(38.16 ± 3.09) ％] in the first 12 weeks after BMT,and that in group B and group C was reduced [(20.12 ± 4.75) ％ and (15.72 ± 2.36) ％ respectively,P＜0.05].MLR revealed that shown lymphocyte donor-derived lymphocyte proliferation rate at 4th and 12th week in group A was significantly lower than in other groups (P＜0.05).Pathological examination showed infiltration of lymphocytes in the liver and intestine was milder in group A than in other groups.Conclusion PTD-mFoxp3 fusion protein combined with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can effectively establish a stable transplantation chimeric model and reduce the incidence of GVHD.

Background The treatment timing and method of amblyopia rely on the plasticity of visual system.Synapsin is a family of presynaptic terminal specific protein.Its role in visual developmental plasticity is below understood.Objective To investigate the dynamic expressions of synapsin (T-synapsin),and phosphorylation of synapsin (p-synapsin Ⅰ a/b) in visual cortex of normal mice and further explore the role of synapsin in plasticity of visual system.Methods Forty-two clean neonatal C57BL/6 mice were collected.The mice were sacrificed at postnatal 7,14,21,28,35,42,60 days respectively to obtain the tissue samples of visual cortex.Expression levels of T-synapsin and p-synapsin in the visual cortex following the ageing were quantitatively detected using Western blot assay.Results The expression of synapsin in normal mice showed a dynamic increase with the ageing.The T-synapsin Ⅰ a/b/β-actin value in visual cortex was (21.32 ± 3.27) ％,(56.27 ± 10.18) ％,(77.05 ± 10.05) ％,(83.75±10.52) ％,(94.69±11.46)％,(98.75±5.86) ％ of adults mice (postnatal 60 days,P60) in the mice of postnatal 7,14,21,28,35,42 days,respectively,showing a significant difference among them (F =69.538,P ＜ 0.001).Compared with the adult mice,the T-synapsin Ⅰ a/b/β-actin value in the mice of P7,P14,P21,P28 was significantly lower (all at P＜0.05),but no significant difference was found between P35 and P60,P42 and P60 (P =0.280,0.798).The development trend of different synapsin subtypes,such as T-synapsin Ⅰ a/b,T-synapsin Ⅱ a,T-synapsin Ⅱ b and T-synapsin Ⅲ a,was not quite the same during the ageing.The expression of T-synapsin Ⅱ a and Ⅲ a increasing more slowly with development,and kept increasing until P60.Significant differences were found among various age of mice in T-synapsin Ⅱ a,Ⅱ b,Ⅲa respectively(F =42.492 55.595,39.172,all at P＜0.001).The p-synapsin Ⅰ a/b level in the visual cortex elevated with the ageing of the mice,and that peaked in P21 mice,which was (2.86±0.17) times more than that in adult mice.After that,the expression level of p-synapsin Ⅰ a/b dropped rapidly.A significant difference was found in the p-synapsin Ⅰ a/b expression among different ages of mice (F =22.620,P ＜ 0.001).Conclusions Synapsin level in visual cortex presents a developmental change which correlated with the onset and decline of the critical period.Synapsin is probably involved in the regulation of neural plasticity in visual cortex in critical period.

Adult ; Compliance ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Population Surveillance ; Quality Control ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the effects of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA)-intragastric-administration on the survival time of mouse skin allografts and the role of interleukin (IL)-23 and IL-17 thereof. Methods The skin trans-plantation of mice was done by DBA/2 as donors and Balb/c as recipients. The recipients were divided randomly into three groups:control group, low-dose group and high-dose group. Mice of the corresponding groups were intragastrically adminis-tered corn oil, 10 mg/kg ATRA and 30 mg/kg ATRA respectively from 1 day before the transplantation to the 14th day after the transplantation. The survival time of transplanted skin was observed after the operations. Skin grafts of mice were harvested for histopathological examination in three groups. The serum levels of IL-23 and IL-17 were measured by enzyme-linked im-munosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of IL-23, RORγt and IL-17 mRNA in skin allografts were detected by re-al-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Compared with con-trol group, the average survival time of mouse skin allografts was significantly prolonged in low-dose group and high-dose group (P＜0.05). The less lymphocyte infiltration and destruction of architecture were found in the skin biopsies. The serum expression of IL-23 protein was lower (P＜0.05), but no significant difference was found in two treatment groups. The serum expression levels of IL-17 protein were reduced in turn in receptors of control group, low-dose group and high-dose group (P ＜ 0.05). The expression levels of IL-23, RORγt and IL-17 mRNA in skin grafts were significantly lower in low-dose group and high-dose group than those of control group (P＜0.05), but no significant difference was found in two treatment groups. Conclusion ATRA can effectively prolong the survival time of skin allografts, which may related with the inhibi-tion of the expression of IL-23, RORγt and IL-17 mRNA and the development of IL-23 and IL-17 protein.