Objective To investigate the associations of baseline serum uric acid, bilirubin levels with short-term outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods The clinical data in successive patients with acute ischemic stroke were colected, including the serum levels of uric acid and bilirubin on admission, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, and the modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at discharge or at day14 (mRS 0-2 was defined as good outcome, > 2 was defined as poor outcome). Results A total of 162 patients with ischemic stroke were enroled, including 114 in the good outcome group and 48 in the poor outcome group. There were significant differences in proportions of the patients with diabetes melitus (51. 75% vs. 75. 00% ; χ2 = 7. 526, P = 0. 006), previous history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) (18. 42% vs. 50. 00% ; χ2 = 17. 790, P = 0. 001), as wel as the baseline diastolic blood pressure (87. 061 ± 12. 245 mmHg vs. 82. 375 ± 10. 949 mmHg; t = 2. 293, P = 0. 023; 1 mmHg =0. 133 kPa), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (1. 604 ± 0. 299 mmol/L vs. 1. 265 ± 0. 206 mmol/L; t =3. 227, P = 0. 002), fasting glucose (2. 875 ± 0. 438 mmol/L vs. 8. 160 ± 0. 592 mmol/L; t = - 4. 761, P <0. 001), uric acid (289. 365 ± 77. 168 μmol/L vs. 248. 206 ± 66. 206 μmol/L; t = 3. 111, P = 0. 002), total bilirubin (14. 673 ± 2. 213 μmol/L vs. 10. 395 ± 2. 714 μmol/L; t = 3. 779, P = 0. 001 ), direct bilirubin (6. 036 ± 1. 392 μmol/L vs. 4. 956 ± 1. 379 μmol/L; t = 2. 088, P = 0. 038), and indirect bilirubin (8. 634 ± 2. 307 μmol/L vs. 5. 439 ± 1. 223 μmol/L; t = 4. 219, P < 0. 001) levels between the 2 groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the previous history of stroke or TIA (odds ratio [ OR ] 3. 751, 95% confidence interval [CI ] 1. 395-10. 091; P = 0. 009) and baseline NIHSS score (OR 2. 723, 95% CI 1. 093-6. 783; P = 0. 031) were the independent risk factors for poor outcome of ischemic stroke; while uric acid (OR 0. 357, 95% CI 0. 141-0. 900; P = 0. 029), high-density lipoprotein (OR 0. 262, 95% CI 0. 079-0. 870; P = 0. 029), and indirect bilirubin (OR 0. 117, 95% CI 0. 025-0. 539; P = 0. 006) were independently correlated with good outcome. Conclusions The increased baseline uric acid and indirect bilirubin levels are the favorable factors for good outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

50?mol/L induced markedly oncotic cell death,but no apoptosis was observed.TEM examination indicated that a form of cell death accompanied by cellular swelling,organelle swelling and vacuolization,mitochondrial swelling and cristae membrane loss,and nucleus swelling, chromatin scattering or karyolysis,which characterized as oncosis.When treated with 50,200?mol/L of ART for 5 h, the intracellular ROS level of Panc-1 cells markedly increased to 1.60 and 4.49 fold compared with that of untreated cells,respectively.Pretreatment with TCEP effectively attenuated ART-induced intracellular ROS level and decrease the oncosis in Panc-1 cells.Conclusions:ART exerts profound cytotoxic effects on Panc-1 cells and induces an oncosis- like cell death,which is quite different from apoptosis.The cellular generation of ROS and its peroxidation damage may be one of the mechanisms for its anti-tumor effect on pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of cytokines induced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharide (Aa-LPS) in monocytes/macrophages from different organs of rabbits.

METHODSThe peripheral mononuclear cells (Mo), alveolar macrophages (AM), peritoneal macrophages (PM) and Kupffer cells (KC) from five New Zealand rabbits were isolated respectively. Then the cells from different organs were stimulated with Escherichia coli (Ec)-LPS or Aa-LPS at the dose of 1 mg/L. After culture for 24 hours, the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)6, IL-1β, IL-8 mRNA and protein were determined by real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively.

RESULTSThe monocytes/macrophages challenged by Ec-LPS or Aa-LPS expressed more cytokines both in mRNA and protein levels compared with the controls (P < 0.05). Among them, AM displayed the highest respond when encount with Aa-LPS, with the TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8 mRNA relative levels were (0.4719 ± 0.0171), (2.7895 ± 0.0669), (5.1527 ± 0.1190), (3.6785 ± 0.1836) and the proteins concentrations were (82.2 ± 5.4), (40.2 ± 2.0), (50 308.3 ± 445.0), (35 305.3 ± 1480.9) ng/L respectively. And the inducibility of Aa-LPS was stronger than that of Ec-LPS (P < 0.05). Meanwhile the cells from different organs showed discrepant response when exposed to Aa-LPS (P < 0.05). The results showed their abilities to secrete cytokines were in the sequence of AM > Mo > KC > PM.

CONCLUSIONSAa-LPS influenced the expression of cytokines in monocytes/macrophages from different organs of rabbits.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; adverse effects ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Macrophages, Alveolar ; metabolism ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rabbits ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of Vam3 which is one of the dihydroxystilbene compounds on expressions of ICAM-1 in the lungs of OVA-induced asthmatic mice and the mechanisms of anti-airway inflammation. Balb/c mice were challenged with OVA inhalation. Lung tissues were stained with Mayer's hematoxylin and eosin for histopathologic examination. The expression of ICAM-1 in the lungs of mice was analyzed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry method. The NF-kappaB activities were detected by NF-kappaB-luc reporter genetic transient transfection method. The activities of MMP-9 induced by LPS, TNF-alpha and PMA in THP-1 cells were determined by gelatin zymography method. The results showed that Vam3 could inhibit the expression of ICAM-1 in the OVA-induced mouse model. In addition, Vam3 could significantly suppress the activities of NF-kappaB in A549 cells and MMP-9 in THP-1 cells induced by LPS, TNF-alpha and PMA. These results suggested that Vam3 could alleviate the asthmatic inflammation by decreasing ICAM-1 expression in asthmatic mice, down regulating NF-kappaB and MMP-9 activities. Compound Vam3 showed inhibitory effects on inflammatory signal pathways involved in asthma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS) on apoptotic genes in foam cells.

METHODSMacrophages from THP-1 monocytes and foam cells from macrophages by oxLDL inducement were treated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) or oxLDL+ Pg-LPS. Cell apoptosis was detected by acridine orange-ethidium bromide (AO-EB) staining. Eleven atherosclerotic related apoptotic genes were examined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array, and apoptotic gene p53, c-Myc and caspase-3 were evaluated with real-time PCR.

RESULTSPg-LPS enhanced cell apoptosis rate during and after foam cells formation [(5.47+/-0.93)% vs. (7.50+/-0.54)%]. PCR array demonstrated that it increased B-cell CLL-lymphoma 2 (BCL2) related protein A1 (BCL2A1) transcription during foam cells formation (>2 fold), and promoted BCL2 and BCL2A1 transcription after foam cells formation (>2 fold). It promoted p53 and caspase-3 transcription level (4.50x10(-3)+/-4.02x10(-4) vs. 5.30x10(-2)+/-4.58x10(-3)), whereas inhibited c-Myc transcription level (1.53x10(-2)+/-5.77x10(-4)) during foam cells formation. It promoted caspase-3 transcription (6.00x10(-2)+/-6.08x10(-3)), and inhibited p53 transcription (4.23x10(-3)+/-5.85x10(-4)) after foam cells formation.

CONCLUSIONSPg-LPS affected apoptotic gene transcription during and after foam cells formation and enhanced cell apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; physiology ; Minor Histocompatibility Antigens ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; chemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

ObjectiveTo investigate the changes of major causes of death of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).MethodsDeath cases with SLE from January 1986 to May 2011 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsOut of 3554 patients with SLE,252 patients died,including 223 women and 29 men.The mortality rate was 7.2％ among female and 6.2％ among male,the overall mortality rate was 7.1％.The mortality rate in SLE patients had dropped steadily in the past 25 years,but there was a mild increase of mortality in 2006-2011 compared with that in 2001-2005 (5.7％vs 5.3％ ).In addition to infection,neuropsychiatric lupus and lupus nephritis had become the most common causes of death in SLE patients during the past 25 years.Furthermore,diffuse alveolar hemorrhage,severe pulmonary hypertension,coronary heart disease,thrombocytopenia,interstitial lung disease,lupus pneumonia,gastrointestinal hemorrhage, intestinal obstruction and multiple organ failure were the common causes of death,accounting for 4.4％,4.4％,3.2％,2.8％,2.4％,2.0％,2.0％,1.2％ and 1.2％ of all the death cases respectively.From 1986 to 2005,infection,neuropsychiatric lupus and lupus nephritis were the most common causes of death in patients with SLE,whereas the cases dying from lupus nephritis had decreased obviously and severe pulmonary hypertension had become the third most frequent causes of death during the past 5years.From 1986 to 1990,lupus nephritis,infection and neuropsychiatric lupus accounted for 31.4％,25.7％and 25.7％ of death cases respectively.From 1991 to 1995,lupus nephritis,infection and neuropsychiatric lupus accounted for 27.6％,24.1％ and 24.1％ respectively.From 1996 to 2000,infection,neuropsychiatric lupus and lupus nephritis took up 31.6％,21.1％ and 15.8％ respectively.From 2001 to 2005,infection,neuropsychiatric lupus and lupus nephritis took up 34.9％,20.6％ and 7.9％ respectively.From 2006 to 2011,infection, neuropsychiatric lupus and pulmonary hypertension accounted for 60.3％, 11.8％ and 7.4％ respectively.The mortality in the first year was the highest in the whole disease course,accounting for 32.5％ of patients.Deaths caused by neuropsychiatric lupus and infection happened most frequently during the first year,accounting for 41.9％ and 32.9％,whereas deaths caused by lupus nephritis occurred most frequently 10 years later,accounting for 32.3％.Age and gender had significant association with the major causes of death.The male patients took up 50.0％ of the total patients dying from coronary heart disease,in which 75.0％ of patients were older than 50 years.ConclusionInfection,neuropsychiatric lupus and lupus nephritis are the three most common causes of death in SLE patients fron 1986 to 2005.Severe pulmonary hypertension has become the third most frequent causes of death during the past 5 years instead of lupus nephritis.Severe infection has increased significantly and has been the leading cause of death in SLE patients in recent 5 years.

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of nitric oxide (NO) and expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in the cortex of cerebral infarction rat induced by photochemical reaction, and study the effect of extract from Cornus officinalis (whose main ingredient is iridoid glycoside) in the course of disease.

METHODAfter rats were fed with experimental drugs for 7 days, the model of cerebral infarction was induced. Spectrophotography and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the change of the content of NO, NOS and the expression of NF-kappaB in the cortex.

RESULTCompared with control group, distinct infarction was visible in the model group, and the content of NO, the activity of NOS and the positive cell number of NF-kappaB were increased obviously. Compared with model group, the extract of C. officeinalis decreased the area of infarction, the content of NO, the activity of NOS and the positive cell number of NF-kappaB.

CONCLUSIONThe iridoid glycoside of C. officinalis may have therapeutical effect on cerebral infarction through regulating the content of NO and NF-kappaB.

Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cerebral Infarction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cornus ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Male ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This study aimed to explore the impacts of Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharide (CP) on insulin signal pathway in liver cells.H4IIE liver cells of rat that cultivated for 72 h were made up for the model group.H4IIE cells at 70％-80％ confluence were exposed to various concentrations of CP,including 50,100,200 and 400 μg·mL 1,for measuring cell viability using Neutral Red.Based on the results of cell viability,H4IIE cells were divided into the control group,the insulin group (100 nmol·L-1),the low dose CP group (the LCP group,200 μg· mL-1) and the high dose CP group (the HCP group,400 μg· mL-1).After the cultivation of cells for 2 h,mRNA levels were measured by real-time RT-PCR,while phosphorylation levels of target proteins were detected by western blot after the treatment for 30 min.It was found that the cell viability indexes in the cells administered by 100,200 and 400 μg·mL-1 CP increased significantly compared with the control group (P＜0.01).After the administration for 2 h,InsR and IRS-2 mRNA expressions in the insulin group,the LCP group and the HCP group increased (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).After the administration for 30 min,phosphorylation levels of InsRβ,IRS-2 and Akt in the insulin group were higher than those in the HCP group (P＜0.01).In conclusion,CP probably increased the cell viability of H4IIE cells,and improved the blood glucose index through enhancing the mRNA expressions of InsR and IRS-2 and the phosphorylation levels of InsRβ,IRS-2 and Akt in the liver.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of surgical method with the soleus muscle flap for repairing the soft-tissue defects in the middle and distal thirds of the leg, combined with open tibial fracture and/or osteomyelitis.

METHODSFrom May 2007 to December 2011, 8 cases with soft-tissue defects in the middle and distal thirds of the leg were treated with soleus muscle flaps, including 5 cases with chronic osteomyelitis and 3 cases with open tibial fracture and acute osteomyelitis. The defects size ranged from 8 cm x 6 cm to 12 cm x 10 cm. The surface of muscle flaps was covered by split-thickness skin graft. The defects at the donor site were closed directly.

RESULTSAll the muscle flaps and skin grafts survived completely and fracture was healed. The patients were followed up for 2 to 54 months with satisfactory cosmetic and functional results.

CONCLUSIONSThe soleus muscle flap is an effective and feasible method for reconstruction of the soft-tissue defects in the middle and distal thirds of the leg, combined with open tibial fracture and/or osteomyelitis. The morbidity at donor sites is also minor.

Adult ; Female ; Fractures, Open ; complications ; Humans ; Leg Injuries ; complications ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; transplantation ; Osteomyelitis ; complications ; Soft Tissue Injuries ; complications ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Tibial Fractures ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze and study types, infections routes and causes of global pathogenic microorganisms laboratory-acquired infections cases reported in the literatures from 2000 to 2009 and to discuss prevention and control strategies.

METHODS(1) Pathological observation of hepatic specimens: hepatic tissue pathogenic microorganisms laboratory-acquired infections. Methods PubMed, Embase, Biosis and Webs of Science covering SCIE, SSCI, CPCI-S and CPCI-SSH are chosen as data sources, "laboratory-acquired (associated) infections" are searched as the key words to search laboratory-acquired infections literature published from 2000 to 2009, from which information and data are accessed to be collected, analyzed and researched.

RESULTSThere are 19 species of pathogenic microorganisms causing laboratory-acquired infections in the last 10 years, including 15 species of bacteria, accounting for 78.9%; 4 species of virus, accounting for 21.1%. There are 83 cases reported, of which there are 60 bacterial cases, accounting for 72.3%; and 23 virus cases, accounting for 27.7%. Ingestion and inhalation are main routes of infections, respectively accounting for 32.5% and 31.3%, which are mainly due to accidents, accounting for 47.0%.

CONCLUSIONIn recent years, pathogenic microbiology laboratory-acquired infections continue to occur, and it is mainly due to accidental infections, which expose laboratory workers' low sense of safety and deficient operation methods. Laboratory staff should strengthen their senses of safety and comply with safe operation procedures, which are still the key to prevent laboratory-acquired infections.

Bacterial Infections ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Laboratory Infection ; microbiology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Virus Diseases ; prevention & control ; virology