Objective To investigate the relationship between CRP and CK-MB among acute and stable patients with COPD in Nanjing city. Methods Using case-control design, 81 COPD patients and 71 normal controls were selected. Both fasting venous and arterial blood samples were collected for COPD patients at the acute and the stable stage separately, while fasting venous blood samples were collected for controls during medical examination. The concentrations of CRP, CK-MB or PaO2 of all blood samples were examined. Results The concentration of CRP and CK-MB were significantly higher among stable COPD patients (7.18?5.62, 10.92?5.33; respectively) than those among controls(3.00?0.91, 3.11?1.46; respectively), while acute patients (51.22?24.53,30.06?16.68; respectively) got much higher concentration of CRP and CK-MB than stable patients did. However, PaO2 was significantly higher among stable COPD patients than that among acute patients. For acute COPD patients, the concentration of CK-MB positively correlated with CRP, while PaO2 negatively correlated with CRP and CK-MB separately. Conclusions CRP and CK-MB were sensitive predictors of COPD status to the transition from stable to acute stage of COPD, and both negatively correlated with PaO2 among these sample COPD patients.

Objective To analyze the Brucellosis incidence and to predict the trends of the disease in Shanxi province and the national in recent years,which could provide the reference for surveillance,prevention and control of the disease.Methods Brucellosis data which was reported monthly during January 2006 and December 2010 in Shanxi province and the data released by Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention during January 2005 and December 2010 were collected.Several indexes,such as the annual increasing number,the development rate,growth rate and other indicators were applied to compare Shanxi province with the national Brucellosis epidemic in recent years.What's more,the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model (ARIMA) was fitted respectively with the data of Brucellosis incident number reported monthly,so as to predict the prevalence status in the coming two years by verifying the fitting effect.Results Brucellosis prevalence of Shanxi province reached the peak in 2008,and the incidence number was 5397,which was 900 more than 2007.From the onset of decline after 2008,the prevalence decreased by 17.67％ (906/5128) in 2010.However,national incidence of Brucellosis kept increasing before 2009 and the prevalence increased rapidly from 2007 to 2008,and the growth rate reached 39.16％ (8442/21 560).Although the number of Brucellosis fell by 2041 cases in 2010 than in 2009,the rate of decline was only 5.14％(2041/37 734).The fastigium of Brucellosis was from May to July yearly whether Shanxi province or the country.The ARIMA models of Shanxi province and the nation were ARIMA [(1,0,1)(1,1,0)12] and ARIMA[(1,0,1)(0,1,1)12],respectively,according to the incidence numbers reported monthly.The fitting effect of models showed that the predicted values of the two models were both consistent with the actual situation and all predicted values fell within the 95％ confidence limits,which depicted that they both fitted well.The predicted values depict that the incidence of Brucellosis overall trend was basically stable in Shanxi province,while the numbers in the nation would increase in a small extent in 2011 and 2012.The fastigium of Brucellosis was still from May to July yearly.Conclusions Brucellosis control measures are effective in Shanxi province,incidence of Brucellosis declining.The ARIMA model could predict the number of Brucellosis well,which can provide a valuable reference for the predication and evaluation of Brucellosis epidemic in the future.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE) is an important technique in proteomics research.The 2-DE system for proteome of Monascus ruber was established by comparing and analyzing the infection caused by different kinds of mediums,lysis buffer and the condition of rehydration.By cultivating the Monascus ruber with YES for 6 days,extracting total protein by TCA-acetone,lysis buffer with 8 mol/L urea,2 mol/L thiourea,4 % CHAPS,1 % DTT and 2 % Bio-lyte,an ideal 2-DE map with higher resolution and better legibility was obtained,which laid a foundation for the further studies on proteome of Monascus ruber.

Objective To explore the protective effect of L-carnitine on neonates with myocardial injury caused by as?phyxia. Methods Forty-four neonates with myocardial injury caused by asphyxia were randomly divided into L-carnitine treatment group (21 cases) and control group (23 cases). Patients in control group were received routine treatment and pa?tients in treatment group were given L-carnitine 0. 1 g/(kg · d) on the basis of routine treatment for 7 days. Symptoms and physical signs were observed before therapy and during the treatment in two groups. Before and after the treatment, plasma levels of free L-carnitine and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were detected with the method of colorimetric assay and chemilumi?nescent, respectively. Results The clinical effective rate was significantly higher in treatment group than that of control group (90.48%vs 60.87%, P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, there was a significantly higher plasma concentra?tion of free L-carnitine in treatment group after treatment [(27.00±5.69)μmol/L vs (13.20±3.04)μmol/L, P<0.05]. In treat?ment group, plasma concentration of free L-carnitine was significantly higher after treatment than that of pre-therapy [(14.87 ± 3.95)μmol/L,P<0.05]. Compared with the control group, there was a significantly lower plasma concentration of cTnI after treatment in treatment group [(0.025±0.006)μg/L vs (0.046±0.010)μg/L, P<0.05]. In the treatment group, there was a significant correlation between decreased plasma concentration of cTnI and increased plasma concentration of free L-carnitine (r=0.899, P<0.05). Conclusion Administration of L-carnitine can effectively decrease the abnormal plasma lev?el of cTnI in neonates with myocardial injury caused by asphyxia, and thereby protect the myocardium.

Purpose To assess the effect of pelvicfloor electrical stimulation treatment by transperineal sonography, so as to provide guidance for postpartum pelvic floor rehabilitation.Materials and Methods Thirty-one delivery women who received postpartum pelvicfloor rehabilitation were selected as research group and 30 non-pregnant young women as control group in the study. Pelvicfloor electromyography treatment was taken in research group, and transperineal sonography was undergone in quiet state and pressure state (Valsalva operation) before treatment, after the fifth treatment and after the tenth treatment respectively to measure the bladder neck to the public symphysis edge distance (Dr, Ds), bladder neck angle (θr,θs) and bladder rotation angle (θ). A comparison was made between the research group and control group.Results①Dr and Ds in research group were both lower than those in control group (P<0.05), butθr,θs andθ were all higher than those in control group (P<0.05).②Dr and Ds showed a gradual increase (P<0.05) whilstθr presented a gradual decrease before the treatment, after the fifth treatment and after the tenth treatment (P<0.05).Conclusion Natural childbirth may damage the function of pelvicfloor; electrical stimulation of pelvic therapy is effective on postpartum pelvicfloor rehabilitation; and transperineal sonography can objectively assess the effect of this therapy.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Qinghuang Powder (QHP) combined Chinese herbs for Pi-strengthening and Shen-reinforcing (CHPSSR) on hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in bone marrow mononuclear cells of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients.

METHODSChanges of HIF-1alpha in bone marrow mononuclear cells of MDS patients were detected in 25 MDS patients treated by QHP combined CHPSSR using flow cytometry. Meanwhile, 13 healthy subjects were recruited as the control group. Changes HIF-1alpha levels in various serial bone marrow mononuclear cells were detected.

RESULTS(1) Among the 25 patients in the treatment group, there were 19 patients effective and 6 patients ineffective, with the total effective rate being 76%. (2) Compared with before treatment, levels of peripheral blood WBC, Hb, PLT, and ANC significantly increased in the treatment group after treatment, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (3) Compared with before treatment, the HIF-1alpha mean fluorescence intensity was enhanced in bone marrow lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, and nucleated red blood cells of the treatment group after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the HIF-1alpha mean fluorescence intensity was weakened in bone marrow lymphocytes, monocytes, and nucleated red blood cells of the treatment group before treatment; while it was obviously enhanced in granulocytes (P < 0.01). But after treatment the HIF-1alpha mean fluorescence intensity increased more in the granulocytes of the treatment group than in those of the control group (P < 0.01), but there was no statistical difference in bone marrow lymphocytes, monocytes, or nucleated red blood cells.

CONCLUSIONQHP combined CHPSSR could improve HIF-1alpha levels in bone marrow lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, and nucleated red blood cells of MDS patients, thus improving Hb levels of MDS patients, and improving their anemia and correlated symptoms.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arsenicals ; therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Young Adult

AIM:To construct the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pEGFP-C1-SR-A I for the high expression in 293T cells in order to identify functions of savenger receptor-A I(SR-A).METHODS:The primer was designed according to MSR1 cDNA and pEGFP-C1-SR-A I was constructed by standard molecular cloning technique and enzyme digestion.After sequencing,the plasmid was transfected into 293T cells by lipidosome method.The expression of scavenger receptor-A I was identified by RT-PCR and Western blotting.The foam cells were evaluated by the formation of lipid granules in the cells with oil red staining.Cell adhesion was analyzed by cell adhesion assay.RESULTS:24 h after transfection,SR-A I mRNA was highly expressed and the high level of the protein was detected.The ratio of foam cell formation was doubled,the efficacy of cell adhesion was enhanced two times compared to the control group and the empty vector group.CONCLUSION:The recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid has been constructed successfully with enhancing the function of uptake ox-LDL and adhesion in 293T cells by overexpression of SR-A I.

Objective: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on cognitive function in D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging rats, and the correlation between the effect and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-ASC-Caspase-1 signaling pathway. Methods: Forty-six male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=10), a model group (n=12), an EA-7 d group (n=12) and an EA-21 d group (n=12). Except the control group, the other three groups received 42 consecutive days of intraperitoneal injection of D-gal to establish aging rat models with cognitive dysfunction. The control group received the same amount of normal saline via intraperitoneal injection. Two EA groups were given EA therapy for 21 consecutive days (began from the 22nd day of modeling) or 7 consecutive days (began from the 36th day of modeling) accordingly at Dazhui (GV 14), Baihui (GV 20), Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36). After modeling/ intervention, all four groups received behavioral evaluations by Morris water maze (MWM) test, novel object recognition (NOR) test and step-down passive avoidance (SDPA) test followed by the Western blot (WB) detection of the expression levels of hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins NLRP3, ASC and Caspase-1. Results: MWM (place navigation test, PNT) results showed that the escape latency in the model group was significantly longer than that in the other three groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among the other three groups on the 1st day of the test (P>0.05). From the 2nd day to the 4th day of the test, there was no significant difference between the EA-21 d group and the control group (P>0.05) in the escape latency; the escape latency was significantly shorter in the EA-21 d group than in the model group and the EA-7 d group (P<0.05). MWM (spatial probe test, SPT) results showed that the time spent in the target quadrant was significantly shorter and platform crossover number was significantly lower in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05). The time spent in the target quadrant was longer in the EA-7 d group than in the model group (P<0.05), but was shorter than that in the control group and the EA-21 d group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the swimming speed among the four groups (P>0.05). NOR results showed that there was no significant difference in the recognition ratio between the EA-7 d group and the EA-21 d group (P>0.05), and the recognition ratio was significantly higher in the two EA groups than in the model group (P<0.05), but was lower than in the control group (P<0.05). SDPA results showed that the electric shock number was higher in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05), and the differences among the other three groups were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The model group had the shortest step-down latency, followed by the EA-7 d group, the EA-21 d group and the control group in order (P<0.05). The WB results indicated that the expression level of NLRP3 was significantly lower in the control group and the EA-21 d group than in the model group and the EA-7 d group (P<0.05). The expression levels of ASC and Caspase-1 were significantly higher in the model group than in the other three groups (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference among these three groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: NLRP3 inflammasome may be involved in the development of cognitive decline in aging rats; 7 consecutive days of EA intervention can partially improve the cognitive impairment in aging rats though the effect is rather limited; 21 consecutive days of EA intervention may improve the learning and memory abilities in aging rats via downregulating the expression levels of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins in hippocampus.

Lipoproteins are biological lipids carriers. The natural and reconstituted lipoprotein based drug delivery systems have been extensively developed in recent years. This article reviews the development of natural and reconstituted low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein based vehicles in the antitumor area.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Apolipoproteins B ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Drug Carriers ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Nanoparticles ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Peptides ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; Pharmaceutical Vehicles ; chemistry

AIM: To compare the effectiveness of botulinus toxin of type A and complete resection of the periorbital muscle on idiopathic blepharospasm.
● METHODS: Patients with idiopathic blepharospasm and having undergone either of two procedures from Dec. 2010 to Jun. 2015 were selected ( 60 patients ) . Among them, group A (30 patients, 60 eyes) underwent botulinus toxin of type A, group B (30 patients, 60 eyes) underwent complete resection of the periorbital muscle.
●RESULTS: ln group A, the patients with complete response, obvious response, partial response, and no response were 36(60. 0%), 20(33. 3%), 2(3. 3%) and 2 (3. 3%) cases respectively. ln group B, the patients with complete response, obvious response, partial response, and no response were 16(26. 7%), 24(40. 0), 12(20. 0%) and 8 ( 13. 3%) cases respectively. The difference was statistically significant ( Z = - 2. 968, P = 0. 003 ). The relapse rate of group A and group B were 93. 3% and 20. 0% after 6mo, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=32. 851, P<0. 001).
●CONCLUSION: The botulinus toxin injection of type A is effective for idiopathic blepharospasm. But recurrence rate is high after 6mo. Complete resection of the periorbital muscle have long-term efficacy for idiopathic blepharospasm. It′s a supplementary therapy after idiopathic blepharospasm recurrence.