Objective To discuss the feasibility of double-low technique applied in aortic MSCTA.Methods Totally 70 patients with BMI not more than 25 kg/m2 were divided into a routine group and an experimental group randomly and equally,and then went through aortic MSCTA.Iohexol (350 mgI/ml) was injected with the velocity of 4 ml/s.The routine group had the parameters as 120 kV,120 mAs and 1.5 ml/kg contrast agent,and the experimental group had the parameters as 90 kV,120 mAs and 1.0 ml/kg contrast agent,while the other scanning parameters were kept the same in the two groups.The radiation doses,contrast agent doses and iodine contents were recorded in the two groups,and the image quality was assessed with double-blind method objectively and subjectively.Results The experimental group had the CT dose index volumes (CTDIvol),dose length product (DLP) and effect dose (ED) significantly lower than those in the routine group (P＜0.05).The two groups had the consistency of subjective scores (Kappa＞0.6) and image quality scores (not lower than 2) meet the desired requirements,and there were no significant differences between the scores (P＞0.05).Objective evaluation showed that the signal values of aortic trunk and major branch vessels as well as image noise SD of the experimental group were obviously higher than those in the routine group (P＜0.05).There were no statistical differences between the signal noise ratios (SNR) and contrast to noises (CNR) in the two groups (P＞0.05),The iodine content in the contrast agent of the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the routine group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Double-low technique applied in aortic MSCTA of the patient with BMI not more than 25 kg/m2 reduces the radiation dose and iodine content in the contrast agent,has the image quality meet the desired requirements,and thus is of great value for clinical application.

Objective To investigate the effects of Xuebijing injection on expression of myeloid cell triggering receptor-1(TREM-1)and the plasma levels of soluble TREM-1(sTREM-1),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6)in patients with severe sepsis. Methods Twenty patients with severe sepsis admitted into Critical Care Medicine Department,Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University were given comprehensive treatments according to the guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock(2004),and they were divided into Xuebijing group and control group(each 20 cases). The Xuebijing injection group was given Xuebijing injection 50 mL,3 times daily for 5-7 days followed by regular treatments. The changes in blood TREM-1 mRNA expression and plasma concentrations of sTREM-1,TNF-α,and IL-6 were detected before and after treatments on the 3rd and 5th day,and the above indexes were compared between the two groups. Results Before treatments,there were no significant differences in TREM-1 mRNA expression and levels of sTREM-1,TNF-α,IL-6 between two groups (all P>0.05). The TREM-1 expression and plasma concentrations of sTREM-1,TNF-α,and IL-6 of two groups were declined after treatments compared to their baselines,the degree of decline being more prominent in Xuebijing group〔TREM-1 mRNA 3 days:1.065±0.277 vs. 1.217±0.301,t=-3.267,P=0.047;5 days:0.912±0.239 vs. 1.071±0.254,t=-5.072,P=0.032;sTREM-1(ng/L):146.93±13.76 vs. 176.22±19.46,t=-5.442,P=0.033;TNF-α(ng/L):77.51±11.28 vs. 107.72±13.17,t=-4.355,P=0.032;IL-6(ng/L):288.35±14.59 vs. 323.89± 24.51, t=-3.941,P=0.028〕. Conclusion Early implication of Xuebijing injection is of great significance in patients with severe sepsis,it may reduce the expression level of TREM-1 and serum levels of downstream inflammatory mediators,that is beneficial to the control of inflammatory responses and improvement of systemic inflammatory response syndrome in such patients.

Aim To observe the protective mechanism of loganinand morroniside ( active components in Cornus officinalis) on HUVEC injury induced by advanced glycation end products ( AGEs ) .Methods HUVECs were cultured in vitro and divided into control group , model group ( AGEs group ) , loganin group , morroni-side group and aminoguanidine group ( set as positive control).After being incubated with loganin and mor-roniside( final concentrations were 100,10,1 μmol?L-1 ) for 1 h, HUVECs were stimulated by AGEs of 200 mg? L-1 for 24 h.Then, the cell viability was measured by using MTT method .The supernatant was extracted and the levels of NO ,ET-1,MCP-1,VCAM-1 were measured by the corresponding kits .Receptors of advanced glycation end products ( RAGE ) and NF-κB in HUVEC were detected by Western blot .Results Loganin and morroniside could inhibit HUVEC injury induced by AGEs .In model group ,the contents of ET-1,MCP-1,VCAM-1 increased(P<0.01),the content of NO decreased ( P <0.01 ) and the expression of RAGE and NF-κB increased(P<0.01); however,lo-ganin and morronside could reduce the ET-1,MCP-1, VCAM-1contents,increase the NO content and down-regulate the expression of RAGE and NF-κB to differ-ent extents .Conclusion Loganin and morroniside could ameliorate HUVEC injury , and its mechanism may be related to inhibit inflammation , the improve-ment of endothelial cell function , and the decrease of the expression of RAGE .

Objective To detect gene mutations associated with dapsone-,rifampicin-and ofloxacinresistance in lesions of patients with recurring or treatment-resistant leprosy collected from 2010 to 2011.Methods Clinical data and lesional specimens were collected during 2010-2011 from patients with recurring or treatment-resistant leprosy who were diagnosed and reported by provincial centers for leprosy control.Mycobacterium leprae DNA was extracted from the specimens and subjected to PCR for the amplification of folP1,rpoB and gyrA genes.The PCR products were directly sequenced and BLAST program was used to compare the sequence of isolated strains with the reference sequence in GenBank.Results Twenty-four patients were enrolled in this study,including 13 with recurring leprosy and 11 with treatment-resistant leprosy.Twenty-one patients showed positive PCR results in all the three regions.Of these PCR-positive specimens,3 from 1 patient with recurring and 2 patients with resistant leprosy harbored a point mutation,acc (threonine)→gcc (alanine),at codon 53 in the floP1 gene,1 from a patient with recurring leprosy harbored a missense mutation,gat (aspartic acid) → aac (asparagine),at codon 441 in the rpoB gene.Conclusions Mutations are detected in the folP1 and rpoB genes,which are associated with the resistance to dapsone and rifampicin respectively,but not in the ofloxacin resistance-associated gyrA gene,in Mycobacterium leprae isolates from patients with recurring or treatment-resistant leprosy.

Objective To produce a kind of biliary stent with Mitomycin C-eliting and evaluate the availability and safety in biliary benign stricture model of rabbit.Methods 36 New Zealand rabbits were fulgurize choledochus to establish model of biliary benign stricture.Rabbits were randomly divided into Mitomycin C-eluting stent group 1 (n =12),polyurethane stent group 2 (n =12) and control group 3 (n =12) one month later.General conditions,survival of the animals and changes in liver function were observed after surgery.The histological changes of bile duct were observed after 30 days.The immunohistochemistry SP method was used to measure transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and α-Smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression.Results Stricture was improved in the two stent groups.In Mitomycin C-Eluting stent group total bilirubin dropped from 5.56 μmol/l to 0.82 μmol/l,and in polyurethane stent group total bilirubin dropped from 6.72 μmol/1 to 0.87 μmol/l.The total bilirubin decreased in both two stent groups but no statistically significant between the two stent groups,and there were no improvement in control group.Diameter of the stricture bile duct in group 1 was expanded bigger than in group 2 according to histology observation.Inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fibroplasia in the submucosal were obviously observed in control group.The immunohistochemistry results showed that the TGF-β1 and α-SMA strongly expressed in the stenosis bile duct of group 3.The expressions in group 2 were lower than group 3,but higher than in group 1.And there was significant difference between the two stent groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The new Mitomycin C-Eluting stent is safe and provides enhanced local drug delivery.It also can inhibit the form of Biliary scar to a certain degree.

Objective To establish an in vitro model of mycobacterial granuloma.Methods Mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood of healthy human subjects,and stimulated to differentiate into macrophages,which were then classified into four groups to be cocultured with Mycobacterium marinum,Mycobacterium tuberculosis,Bacillus Calmette-Guérin,and Mycobacterium leprae,respectively,for five days followed by incubation with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from the corresponding donors to establish an in vitro model of mycobacterial granuloma.The macrophages cocultured with PBMCs or mycobacteria alone served as the control.Microscopy was performed to dynamically visualize the formation of granuloma in vitro,flow cytometry to detect the expressions of cell surface antigens at different stages,real-time quantitative PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the mRNA expressions of important cytokines and their protein levels in the supernatant of macrophages,respectively.Results After 7-9 days of coculture with mycobacteria and PBMCs,the macrophages aggregated to form granuloma-like clumps,and some cells fused to form multinuclear giant cells,along with the expressions of some surface antigens such as CD14,CD68 and CD86 on these macrophages.The mRNA expressions of some important cytokines,including tumor necrosis factor-a,interferon-γ interleukin (IL)-1 β and IL-10,were detectable in the macrophages cocultured with mycobacteria and PBMCs,and the secretion of these cytokines was confirmed by ELISA in the supernatant of these cells.Conclusions An in vitro model of mycobacterial granuloma is basically established,which may facilitate the investigation into the formation of granuloma caused by and immune response to mycobacterial infection.

Aim To investigate the effect that catalpol intervenes macrophage polarization mediated by mouse mesangial cells(MMCs) stimulated by advanced glycation end products(AGEs).Methods RAW264.7 macrophages and MMCs were co-cultured in vitro and divided into model group(100 mg·L-1 AGEs), control group(100 mg·L-1 BSA), catalpol(0.1, 1.0, 10.0 μmol·L-1) group, and aminoguanidine(1.0 μmol·L-1) group which was set as positive control.After being incubated with catalpol for 1 h, MMCs were stimulated by AGEs for 23 h.The proliferation-inhibition rate of MMCs was measured by MTT assay.MCP-1 in supernatant liquid of MMCs was detected by ELISA method.The expression of iNOS, CD16/32, TNF-α, COX-2, CD206 and Arg-1 was detected by Western blot.Simultaneously, the percentage of iNOS and CD206 was also measured by flow cytometry.Results AGEs could increase the level of MCP-1 secreted by MMCs.The expression of iNOS, TNF-α, CD16/32 and COX-2 protein of macrophage was up-regulated after MMCs stimulated by AGEs, while the expression of CD206 and Arg-1 was down-regulated.After being intervened by catalpol, these effects could be reversed.All the changes were concentration-related.Conclusions Catalpol can inhibit macrophages M1-type polarization process and promote M2-type polarization, which may be mediated through MCP-1 secreted by MMCs after AGEs stimulation.Catalpol can ameliorate inflammation and relieve diabetic kidney injury.

Objective To analyze expression of Bmi-1 gene in thyroid tissues and the relationship between Bmi-1 gene and metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.Methods RT-PCR was used to detect expression of Bmi-1 in normal thyrroid tissues(8 eases),nodular goiters(18 cases)and papillary thyroid carcinomas (24 cases).The result was analyzed by Fisher exact propability test.Results Bmi-1 expression was detected only in 1 case(12.5%)in normal thyroid tissues group,3 cases(16.7%)in nodular goiters group,and 19 cases(79.2%)in papillary thyroid carcinoma group.The difference of Bmi-1 expression between the 3 groups had statistical significance(P<0.05).There were 16 cases of lymph node metastasis(66.67%)in the 24 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma.The difference of Bmi-1 expression between cases with cervical lymph node metastasis and those without metastasis had statistical significance(P<0.05).Among the 19 thyroid carcinoma cases in which Bmi-1 expression was positive,12 eases(63.2%)were over45 years old,and 7 cases(36.8%)were under 45 years.The difference had statistical significance(P<0.05).Conclusions Expression of Bmi-1 gene in papillary thyroid carcinoma tissue is significantly higher than that in nodular goiters and normal thyroid tissues.Bmi-1 expression is closely relevant to lymph node metastasis and age,implying that Bmi-1 expression has clinical significance of distinguishing thyroid malignant tumors from benign diseases and it may provide clues to unravel the mechanism and prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma metastasis.

Aim To explore the protective effect of lo-ganin ( an active component in Cornus officinalis ) on podocyte injury induced by advanced glycation end products ( AGEs) and its possible mechanism. Meth-ods Mouse podocytes were cultured in vitro and di-vided into Normal group, model group ( AGEs group) , loganin group and aminoguanidine group ( set as posi-tive control) . After being incubated with loganin( final concentrations are 0. 1, 1, 10 μmol · L-1 ) for 1 h, podocytes were stimulated by AGEs of 100 mg · L-1 for 24 h. Then, the cell viability was measured by u-sing MTT method. Podocytes apoptosis was evaluated by Hoechst33342/PI staining and flow cytometry. Re-ceptors of advanced glycation end products ( RAGE ) ,desmin and apoptosis-related protein like Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3 in podocytes were detected by Western blot. Results Loganin ameliorated podocyte injury induced by AGEs, down-regulated the expression of desmin and RAGE. Loganin also reduced the apoptotic rate of podocytes and decreased the ratio of Bax/ Bcl-2 and the expression of pro-apoptotic protein cleaved caspase-3 in podocytes. Conclusion Loganin could ameliorate podocyte injury, and its mechanism may be related to the decrease of the expression of RAGE and inhibition of the apoptotic pathway.

Objective To investigate the effects of ulinastatin (UTI) combined with magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgIG) on the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in lung tis?sue of rats with pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin (BLM). Methods Ninety Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: BLM group, methylprednisolone (MTH) group, UTI group, MgIG group and UTI combined with MgIG (UTI+MgIG) group, n=18 for each group. The rat model of pulmonary fibrosis was established by injecting bleomycin through tra?chea in five groups. Twenty-four hours after treatment with BLM,rats were treated with normal saline every day in BLM group, and rats were treated by corresponding drugs in other groups. Six rats of each group were killed at the 7th,14th and 28th day respectively. The pathological changes of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis were evaluated by HE staining, and ex?pression levels of TGF-β1 and CTGF in lung tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry method. Results (1) Com?pared with BLM group, the degree of alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis was reduced in other groups. There was significant dif?ference in alveolitis at the 7th and 14th day between UTI+MgIG group and BLM group. And there was significant difference in pulmonary fibrosis at the 14th and 28th day between UTI+MgIG group and BLM group (P<0.05). (2) Compared with BLM group, the expression levels of TGF-β1 and CTGF were decreased in other groups. In UTI+MgIG group, the expres?sion levels of TGF-β1 were significantly lower at the 7th and 14th day compared with those in UTI group and MgIG group, and which were significantly lower at the 28th day than those in MTH group, UTI group and MgIG group (P<0.05). The ex?pression levels of CTGF were significantly lower at the 7th day in UTI + MgIG group than those in UTI group and MgIG group, and which were significantly lower at the 14th and 28th day than those in MTH group, UTI group and MgIG group (P<0.05). Conclusion The combination of UTI and MgIG can alleviate alveolitis and fibrosis in BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis rats, which might related with the down-regulation of TGF-β1 and CTGF expressions.