ObjectiveTo study the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) protein in villi and decidua of patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion(RSA). MethodsThe local and quantitative expressions of IL-8 in villi and decidua of 30 RSA patients were shown and measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results IL-8 protein immunohistochemical signals were located in the chorioepithelium cytoplasm and decidual cells plasma in RSA group. While in control group the immunohistochemical staining was negative in decidul cells, but positive in glandular epithelium. The quantitative analysis of IL-8 protein by Western blotting, intensity of the immunostaining was higher in RSA group than that in the control group. Conclusion The higher expression of IL-8 in villi and decidua is releated to RSA, IL-8 might take part in the pathologic process of RSA.

OBJCTIVE To investigate the protective effect of ferulic acid (FA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced damage to PC12 cells and hippocampal neurons in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and its potential mechanisms. METHODS ① in vitro study:PC12 cells were pretreated with FA 2.5-40 μmol · L-1 for 12 h and treated with LPS for another 8 h. CCK-8 kit was used to test PC12 cell viability. Inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-1β(IL-1β)were de?tected by ELISA kits. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was performed to measure F-actin expres?sion in the cells. ②in vivo study:FA 25,50 and 100 mg · kg-1 was ip given to Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats once a day for 35 d,and from the 29th day,ip co-administered with LPS(0.2 mg · kg-1)for 7 d. Immunohistochemistry method was used to determine protein expression of phophodiestera 4B (PDE4B)in the hippocampus of rats. The protein expression of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and phospho CREB (p-CREB) was determined by Western blotting. RESULTS In the in vitro study,compared with LPS group,cell viability was significantly increased in FA 10,20 and 40μmol·L-1 groups(P<0.05),while the production of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β decreased(P<0.05). The structure and distribution of cytoskeletal protein F-actin were ameliorated markedly in PC12 cells. In the in vivo study,hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining showed that pretreatment with FA(50 and 100 mg·kg-1) alleviated the damage to the hippocampus induced by LPS in SD rats. Immunohistochemistry showed that FA(50 and 100 mg·kg-1)pretreatment effectively prevented LPS-induced up-regulation of PDE4B expression in the hippocampus of rats(P<0.05). Western blotting analysis showed that the inhibitory effects on the protein expressions of CREB and p-CREB induced by LPS were altered by FA(50 and 100 mg · kg-1)pretreatment(P<0.05). CONCLUSION FA can protect against LPS induced damage to PC12 cells and hippocampal neurons of rats. The resistant effect on neuron-inflammation of FA may be conferred by inhibiting LPS-induced up-regulation of PDE4B and stimulating signaling pathways of cAMP/CREB.

Objective　To establish animal model for hypertrophic scar and study the characters of its morphology and collagen metabolism. Methods　A total of 64 round wounds (diameter of 6 mm each) with total skin loss were made on the ventral side of rabbit ear using a trephine. Morphology and collagen metabolism of scar wounds were studied at 14,21,35,70 and 98 days after operation, respectively. Results　There were 76% elevated scars developed (45/59 wounds) on the ventral side of rabbit ear at 21 days and 46% elevated scars disappeared (11/24) at 98 days after operation. There were numerous fibroblast proliferation and whorl-arranged collagen fibers at 21 and 35 days. The number of fibroblast decreased, but irregular-arranged fibers still presented in the elevated scars at 70 and 98 days after operation. Hydroxyproline content in elevated scars at 21 days was higher than that in normal skin (P<0.05), and at 35 days was 3 times as that in normal skin and at 98 days was also markedly higher than that in normal skin (P<0.05). Conclusion　Excessive deposition of collagen is a characteristic of hypertrophic scar in rabbits. The conversion of normal scarring to hypertrophic scarring in rabbits occurs at 14～21 days after operation. Both development and regression of hypertrophic scar in rabbit are quicker than that in human.

Data quality management system is essential to ensure accurate, complete, consistent, and reliable data collection in clinical research. This paper is devoted to various choices of data quality metrics. They are categorized by study status, e.g. study start up, conduct, and close-out. In each category, metrics for different purposes are listed according to ALCOA+ principles such us completeness, accuracy, timeliness, traceability, etc. Some general quality metrics frequently used are also introduced. This paper contains detail information as much as possible to each metric by providing definition, purpose, evaluation, referenced benchmark, and recommended targets in favor of real practice. It is important that sponsors and data management service providers establish a robust integrated clinical trial data quality management system to ensure sustainable high quality of clinical trial deliverables. It will also support enterprise level of data evaluation and bench marking the quality of data across projects, sponsors, data management service providers by using objective metrics from the real clinical trials. We hope this will be a significant input to accelerate the improvement of clinical trial data quality in the industry.

Objective To investigate Th1/Th2 pattern of response in psoriasis and to study the effects of CTLA4Ig on Th1/Th2 shift in psoriasis. Methods The levels of IL-2, IFN-?and IL-4 were assessed by ELISA in the supernatant of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 33 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 20 healthy blood donors. Cytokine synthesis was induced by activation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) with or without CTLA4Ig. Results Levels of IL-2, IFN-?and IL-4 were markedly increased by PBMCs from psoriatic patients incubated with SEB (P

Atrial Fibrillation/surgery* ; Cardiac Tamponade/surgery* ; Catheter Ablation/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Radiofrequency Ablation ; Treatment Outcome ; Vena Cava, Superior/surgery*

The most toxic DNA damage is DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), which are mainly repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) belongs to phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-related protein kinase family (PIKK) and plays a key role in NHEJ. DNA-PK is overexpressed in a variety of cancer cells and is related to the occurrence, development and drug resistance of malignant tumors. In this article, the representative DNA-PK inhibitors with anticancer effects are reviewed, in order to provide a reference to discovery novel DNA-PK inhibitors.

Data quality management system is essential to ensure accurate, complete, consistent, and reliable data collection in clinical research. This paper is devoted to various choices of data quality metrics. They are categorized by study status, e.g. study start up, conduct, and close-out. In each category, metrics for different purposes are listed according to ALCOA+ principles such us completeness, accuracy, timeliness, traceability, etc. Some general quality metrics frequently used are also introduced. This paper contains detail information as much as possible to each metric by providing definition, purpose, evaluation, referenced benchmark, and recommended targets in favor of real practice. It is important that sponsors and data management service providers establish a robust integrated clinical trial data quality management system to ensure sustainable high quality of clinical trial deliverables. It will also support enterprise level of data evaluation and bench marking the quality of data across projects, sponsors, data management service providers by using objective metrics from the real clinical trials. We hope this will be a significant input to accelerate the improvement of clinical trial data quality in the industry.
Benchmarking ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Data Collection ; standards ; Information Storage and Retrieval ; standards ; Quality Control

AIM: To study the relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) and spontaneous brain bleeding. METHODS: The IgG and IgM antibody titers to Cpn in peripheral blood from 9 patients of spontaneous brain bleeding were detected by microimmunofluorescence antibody technique (MIF). The Cpn DNA of arteries in brain bleeding region from these cases was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The Cpn major outer membrane protein (MOMP) expression of arteries in brain bleeding region from these cases were tested by Western blot. RESULTS: All the geometric average titer to IgG antibody (190 3?3 2) and the positive rate of IgG antibody (85 2%) and IgM antibody (30 8%) were significantly higher in spontaneous brain bleeding patients than those (48 1?2 0, 48 1% and 4 8%) in control ( P

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Fenglong (ST40) on blood lipids, mRNA and protein expression of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor a (PPARalpha) in hyperlipidemia rats.

METHODSThirty-two SD rats of SPF grade were selected to prepare the hyperlipidemia model. After successful modeling, they were randomly divided into the model group, the treatment group, the control group, and the treatment control group, 8 in each group. Another 8 rats were selected as the normal control group. Rats in the treatment group and the treatment control group received EA at Fenglong (ST40), once daily for 30 successive days. Rats in the model group and the treatment group were administered with high fat forage, while rats in the normal control group, the control group, and the treatment control group were administered with common forage. The contents of the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were detected in every group. The mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1 and PPARalpha were detected using RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe levels of TC and LDL-C increased, and the mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1 and PPARalpha decreased in the model group when compared with the normal group, showing statistical difference (P<0.01, P<0.05). But there was no obvious change in TG or HDL-C (P>0.05). Compared with the model group, the levels of TC and LDL-C decreased in each intervention group with statistical difference (P<0.01). The mRNA and protein expression of ABCA1 and PPARa in the treatment group and the treatment control group increased. The mRNA and protein expressions of PPARalpha increased in the control group with statistical difference (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the levels of TC and LDL-C decreased, the mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1 and PPARa increased in the treatment control group with statistical difference (P<0.01). But there was no obvious change in TG or HDL-C (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEA at ST40 could obviously down-regulate the levels of TC and LDL-C in hyperlipidemia rats, up-regulate the expressions of ABCA1 and PPARalpha, thus promoting counter transport of cholesterol. It had some therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; metabolism ; Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; PPAR alpha ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley