ObjectivesTo study the effect of community interventions and management on asthma in children and its impact on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP)of parents and the home environment.MethodsAn asthma health management profile of 0 to 14-year-old asthmatic children (n =93 ) in Sanlitun and Liulitun communities in Chaoyang District in Beijing was established.The children were randomly divided into a management group ( n =49) and control group ( n =44 ) based on community.Community-integrated management,such as regular follow-up,condition monitoring and health education,was implemented in the asthmatic children in the management group but not in the control group.The parents' KAP and the household environment in the two groups were compared after 1 year based on the changes shown in the health management profile.ResultsThe asthma relapse rate decreased to 27.9％ (12/43) in the management group.Compared with the control group,the rates of hospitalization (x2 =8.174,P =0.004) and school absences ( x2 =4.962,P =0.026) significantly decreased.The KAP level of parents increased to 67.4％ ( 29/43 ) in the management group and 20.4％ (9/44) in the control group,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =19.517,P ＜0.01 ).Knowledge improved the most and showed a significant difference from the control group ( x2 =19.517,P ＜0.01 ).Home environment in the management group improved to 76.7％ (33/43).The number of indoor pets ( x2 =3.906,P =0.048) and indoor cockroaches ( x2 =4.962,P =0.026 ) reduced and showed significant differences between the two groups.In addition,children's allergy-related symptoms decreased to 30.2％ ( 13/43 ) in the management group compared with 9.1％ (4/44) in the control group,which was a significant difference ( x2 =6.183,P =0.013).ConclusionsParents' knowledge of asthma,compliance behaviors,and home environmentwere effectively improved through community-integrated management.This management technique can reduce the allergy-related symptoms of asthmatic children,improve asthma severity,and reduce the influence of asthma on children's daily lives.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Insulin Resistance ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

Objective To investigate the effects of abdominal breathing training on sleep disorders in elderly patients with chronic heart failure. Methods Total of 100 patients with chronic heart failure complain of sleeping disorders and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)>7 points were assigned into two groups by random digits table method, 50 cases in each group. The observation group and the control group were nursed in the same way except that abdominal breathing was adapted to the observation group. Sleep status, heart rate, blood pressure, SpO2 and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were evaluated before training, one week and eight weeks after training respectively. Statistics was used to analyze the differences between two groups. Results After training one week, the sleep status of the observation group was ameliorated, but without significant difference compared to the control group (P>0.05). And after training eight weeks, the PSQI, BNP and heart rate were (9.21 ± 6.38) points, (193.78 ± 152.16) μg/L, (63.5 ± 10.8) times/min in the observation group, and (12.92 ± 0.33) points, (417.55 ± 262.47) μg/L, (70.7 ± 8.5) times/min in the control group, and there was significant differences between 2 groups (t=3.627, 2.041, 2.767, all P < 0.05), while the blood pressure, SpO2 did not change obviously(P>0.05). Conclusions Abdominal breathing training could ameliorate sleep status in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.

AIMTo study the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the supernatant of U937 cells stimulated with LPS and dexamethasone on interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in the synoviocyte from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSFibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from the joint tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were cultured and incubated for 24 h with LPS (1 mg.L-1) or the supernatant of U937 cells stimulated with LPS (1 mg.L-1) for 24 h. Dexamethasone was added to the supernatant of U937 cells and FLS was incubated for 24 h. The expression of IL-6 protein was detected by radioimmunoassay. The mRNA expression of IL-6 was accessed by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe growth of FLS was not markedly affected by LPS, and the protein secretion and mRNA expression of IL-6 were not markedly changed in FLS treated with LPS. The IL-6 secretion and IL-6 mRNA expression were significantly increased in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell treated with LPS. Dexamethasone markedly inhibited the protein secretion and mRNA expression of IL-6 in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell stimulated with LPS. The inhibitory effects were increased as the concentration of dexamethasone increased.

CONCLUSIONLPS was not shown to directly affect the expression of IL-6 in FLS, but it indirectly causes the increase of the IL-6 expression in FLS by stimulating U937 cell. Dexamethasone can inhibit this increase of the IL-6 expression.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; pathology ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; U937 Cells

AIMTo study the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the supernatant of U937 cells stimulated with LPS and dexamethasone on matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression in the synoviocyte from patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).

METHODSFibroblast-like cells (FLS) from the joint tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were cultured and incubated for 24 h with LPS (1 mg.L-1) or the supernatant of U937 cells stimulated with LPS (1 mg.L-1) for 24 h. Dexamethasone was added to the supernatant of U937 cells and FLS was incubated for 24 h. The activity of MMP-9 was analyzed by gelatin zymography. Protein expression of MMP-9 was detected by Western blot using special polyclonal antibodies. The mRNA expression of MMP-9 was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expression of MMP-9 was not markedly changed in FLS treated with LPS. The MMP-9 activity, MMP-9 secretion and MMP-9 mRNA expression were significantly increased in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell treated with LPS. Dexamethasone markedly inhibited the activity, protein secretion and mRNA expression of MMP-9 in FLS cultured with the supernatant from U937 cell stimulated with LPS, and the inhibitory effects were increased as the concentration of dexamethasone increased.

CONCLUSIONLPS did not directly affect the expression of MMP-9 in FLS, but it was found to indirectly cause the increase of MMP-9 expression in FLS by stimulating U937 cell. Dexamethasone was found to inhibit this increase of MMP-9 expression.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; pathology ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; pathology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; drug effects ; genetics ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; U937 Cells

This article was aimed to study immunomodulatory effect of chemical split fractions ofMori Cortex, in order to initially explain effective parts that played a role in immunomodulatory effect ofMori Cortex. The carbon clearance test, serum hemolysin test, E-rosette test, and lymphocyte transformation test were carried out to explore influence of these chemical split fractions ofMori Cortex on immune organs, nonspecific immunity, humoral immunity and cellular immunity. The results showed that in the carbon clearance test, 50% ethanol fraction markedly reduced the thymus index (P<0.01) and the correction indexα (P<0.05). In hemolysin test, the half value hemolysis (HC50) was improved by 30% ethanol fraction and fatty oil fraction (P<0.05). Besides, in the E-rosette test, the E-rosette ration was increased in the 30% ethanol fraction group (P<0.05). In the lymphocyte transformation test, the 30% ethanol fraction can promote the thymus and spleen lymphocytes proliferation (P<0.05 orP<0.01), while the 50% ethanol fraction inhibited the proliferation (P<0.05 orP<0.01). It was concluded that the 30% ethanol fraction can boost both the humoral immunity and cellular immunity; the 50% ethanol fraction can induce the growth of thymus with a suppressive effect on nonspecific immunity and cellular immunity; the fatty oil fraction can improve humoral immunity.

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility of tracing mesenchymal stem cells in vivo with scintigraphy.

METHODSTransferrin receptor expression of cultured mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) was quantified with radioligand-receptor binding assay before the cells were transplanted into the spinal cord of rabbits. (131)I-labeled transferrin was then administered into the subarachnoid space of the rabbits, and scintigraphic images were acquired with a gamma camera at different time points after the administration. In the control experiments, (131)I-labeled human serum albumin was used in stead of (131)I-transferrin as the tracer, or only PBS was injected without stem cell transplantation. The images were semi-quantitatively analyzed with region of interest (ROI) techniques, and the phosphor imaging on the spinal sections were performed.

RESULTSRadioligand-receptor binding assay showed 10 770 binding sites with high affinity (KD=0.982 nmol/L) for Fe saturated transferrin on each human mesenchymal cell. Visible accumulation of radioactivity at the cell transplantation sites was observed 16 h and 24 h after intrathecal injection of (131)I-transferrin tracer, but not in two control groups. ROI analysis showed that the difference between (131)I-transferrin and the control groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Phosphor imaging further verified that it was the specific coupling of transferrin to the implanted cells that resulted in radioactivity accumulation at the transplantation sites.

CONCLUSIONSTransferrin receptor imaging is capable of in vivo tracing of the implanted stem cells, and has the potential for use in non-invasive monitoring for stem cell transplantation therapy after further technical improvements.

Animals ; Autoradiography ; Cell Survival ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Molecular Imaging ; methods ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Transferrin ; metabolism ; Spinal Cord ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; Transferrin ; chemistry ; metabolism

The purpose of this study was to synthesize the complex of magnetic nanoparticles and antibody, and to apply them to isolate the CD34(+) cells from umbilical cord blood, then to evaluate its separation efficiency. The complex of magnetic nanoparticles and antibody was used to separate CD34(+) cells from umbilical cord blood in the outer magnetic field because of its superparamagnetism, specific identification and function of combination with CD34(+) cells. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the morphology of the separated CD34(+) cells. Flow Cytometer was applied to evaluate the sorting efficiency of magnetic nanoparticles, liquid culture and colony culture were taken to assay proliferation and differentiation capacity of the separated CD34(+) cells. The results showed that the CD34(+) cells from umbilical cord blood were isolated fast and effectively by the complex of magnetic nanoparticles and monoclonal antibody. Moreover, the isolated CD34(+) cells still maintained its normal morphology, highly proliferative and differentiative capacity. It is concluded that the complex of magnetic nanoparticles and monoclonal antibody has been successfully synthesized and developed as a technique which efficiently and quickly isolates CD34(+) cells from umbilical cord blood.
Antigens, CD34 ; metabolism ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunomagnetic Separation ; methods ; Magnetics ; Nanoparticles

Objective To investigate the risky sexual behaviors,associated factors and characteristics of sexual network among clients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) at the clinics in Taizhou prefecture of Zhejiang province.Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted.Data was collected through questionnaire and from the national unified MMT system.Urine was collected to test heroin,methamphetamine,3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and ketamine.Blood was collected to test infections on HIV,hepatitis C vims(HCV) and syphilis.Results Totally,362 clients were recruited.Most of the clients were male (88.7％),31--40 year-olds (54.5％),married (61.6％) and having received junior high school education (56.6％).85.1％ of them received urine test with 82(26.6％) positive for heroin,21 (6.8％) positive for methamphetamine,19 (6.2％) positive for MDMA and none for ketamine.77.1％ of them received blood test,and prevalence rates for HIV,HCV and syphilis were 1.1％,36.7％ and 3.6％.19.5％ of the clients who had sex in the past 6 months.Factors as having multiple sexual partners and positive for club drugs were under higher risk.Sexual networking seemed to be loose,linear and acyclic among this population but overlapping with the drug-using network.Conclusion Effective and targeted interventions should be taken among the MMT clients since continuing drug use and HIV/STD related sexual behavior were found common in them,suggesting there was a risk of HIV/STD transmission in this ppulation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the microstructure of the cell membrane of epileptic neurons using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

METHODSModel of epileptic neurons was established by subjecting the neurons culture for 14 days in vitro to magnesium-free media treatment for 3 h. Patch clamp technique was applied to record the electrophysiological activity of the epileptic neurons. AFM was performed to observe and measure the microstructure of the cell membrane of the epileptic neuron.

RESULTSAfter a 3-hour treatment with magnesium-free media, the epileptic neurons displayed sustained epileptiform discharge, which continued after the neurons were returned to normal medium culture on day 14. Under AFM scanning size of 80 microm x 80 microm and 2 microm x 2 microm, no obvious difference in the morphology of the cell membrane was noted between epileptic and normal neurons; under the scanning size of 500 nm x 500 nm, small pits occurred in the cell membrane in both groups, but no significant difference was found in the dimension of the pits between the two groups (the diameter and depth of the pits was 114.86-/+9.33 nm and 5.71-/+0.69 nm in epileptic neurons, and 116.4-/+9.13 nm and 5.69-/+0.71 nm in the control neurons, respectively, P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAFM provides a new method for observing neuronal membrane microstructure at nanometer resolutions. No significant alterations occur in the membrane of the neurons after a 3-hour magnesium-free media treatment.

Cell Membrane ; ultrastructure ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Epilepsy ; pathology ; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials ; Magnesium ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Neurons ; ultrastructure ; Patch-Clamp Techniques