Background With the changes of diet and living style,the diabetes has become the major diseases affecting human health.Diabetic cataract is a common complication of diabetes. Objective The present study was to investigate the difference of lens proteomics between diabetic cataract and age related cataract using two dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry in order to postpone happening of diabetic cataract and offer the effective approach to the prevention and therapy of diabetic cataract. Methods The lenses were obtained from 8 diabetic patients and 12 age-related cataract patients during the surgery to extract the protein by lysis and centrifugation.The lens proteins were separated using immobilized pH gradients 2-DE.Image analysis was carried out using PDQuest Advanced-8.0.1 software package.Significant difference of the crystallines was identified by matrixassisted laser adsorption/ionization time of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and peptide mass fingerprint combined with protein database. Results The maps of 2-DE showed that lens proteins of diabetic cataract and age related cataract were in the section of pH 5-9 with the relative molecular weight 14000-97000;while relative molecular weight of more abundant crystalline was localized at 20000-31000.About 3 differential protein spots were detected by image analysis software.Two crystallines,αB and βB1 crystallin,were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS.Conclusions Proteomic analysis of lens can be accomplished and the proteins can be well separated,moreover,differential proteins can be analyzed using 2-DE and mass spectrometry between diabetic cataract and age related cataract.These results indicate that αB and βB1 crystallin proteins accelerate the development of diabetic cataract.This technique offers a new avenue for clarity of lens proteins of diabetic cataract other than age related cataract.

OBJECTIVETo determine the recognition of healthy medical students on deqi after acupuncture, reveal the qualitative and quantitative rules of deqi and understand whether these rules are the factors of the clinical application of acupuncture therapy.

METHODSThe class questionnaires were used for the investigation study on the understanding of deqi after acupuncture at Hegu (LI 4) or Zusanli (ST 36) in 86 healthy students in the clinical medicine class.

RESULTS(1) Deqi was a kind of complicated compound feelings, with many sensation qualities such as distending pain, distension and pain. (2) Deqi was a kind of mild and moderate sensations. In 10-score credit sys tem of Massachusetts General Hospital acupuncture sensation scale (MASS), the scores of distending pain (4.69 +/- 2.83), distension (4.39 +/- 2.91) and soreness and distension (3.93 +/- 2.93) were around 5 (moderate degree), the scores of stabbing pain (1.89 +/- 2.02) were around 2 (mild degree). (3) The differences in the quantitative scores were significant for stabbing pain, distending pain, distention, soreness and distention and the others before and after treatment (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONDeqi of acupuncture is the mild and moderate complicated sensations manifested as distension, soreness, pain and numbness. As the invasive therapy, the filiform needle puncture will bring a certain psychological impacts on the receptors. The subjective sensation is possibly the factor for the patients' selection of acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; methods ; Adult ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Needles ; Qi ; Schools, Medical ; Sensation ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the role of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ in severe Mycoplasma pneumonia among children.Methods One hundred and forty children with M.pneumoniae pneumonia (65 severe and 75 non-severe) who were hospitalized were enrolled along with forty other children as controls.X-ray was assessed.The proportions of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+FoxP3+cells were determined by flow cytometry.Results Both severe and non-severe children had decreased CD4+CD25+FoxP3+cells as compared with control subjects in acute phase (0.87 ± 0.66％ vs.3.88 ± 2.00％,P ＜ 0.01 and 1.17 ± 0.70％ vs.3.88 ±2.00％,P ＜0.01,respectively).The levels of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+cells in severe children were lower than those in non-severe children in acute phase and recovery phase (0.87 ±0.66％ vs.1.17 ±0.70％,P ＜0.05 and 1.66 ±0.85％ vs.3.61 ± 1.45％,P＜0.01,respectively).Both severe children and non-severe children expressed higher CD4+CD25+FoxP3+cells in recovery phase than in acute phase (1.66 ± 0.85 ％ vs.0.87 ± 0.66％,P ＜0.01 and 3.61 ± 1.45％ vs.1.17 ±0.70％,P ＜0.01,respectively).Conclusion The expression of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Tregs may play a role in the onset of severity of mycoplasma pneumonia and the low express of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Tregs in children infected with M.pneumonia may increase the susceptibility to severe mycoplasma pneumonia.

Objective To explore the changes of plasma brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)of sepsis combined with myocardial injury in newborns.Methods According to neonatal sepsis treatment program,45 cases of sepsis newborns in NICU of the Second Hospital in Lanzhou University from Jul.2007 to Jun.2008 were collected.According to the myocardial injury diagnostic criteria,45 cases neonatal sepsis were divided into myocardial injury group(n=22) and non-myocardial injury group(n=23).Myocardial injury group was also divided into congenital heart disease group and non-congenital heart disease group accor-ding to echocardiography.At the same time,30 healthy newborns were collected as healthy control group.Every newborns were tested the level of plasma BNP,NT-proBNP,creatine kinase-MB(CK-MB) and cardiac-troponin I (cTnI).Results There were significant difference between myocardial injury group,non-myocardial injury group and healthy control group in the levels of plasma BNP,NT-proBNP,CK-MB and cTnI,those in congenital heart disease group were higher than those in non-myocardial injury group and the healthy control group(Pa0.05).Conclusions BNP and NT-proBNP can be early used to diagnose myocardial injury and heart failure of neonatal sepsis associated with CK-MB and cTnI.In NICU,infants with sepsis should normally test BNP and NT-proBNP in order to early diagnose myocardial injury of neonatal sepsis.

Objective Published literatures on the relationship between IL-13 gene polymorphism and the susceptibility of children to bronchial asthma in China were comprehensively analyzed with the use of Meta-analysis to evaluate this relationship.Methods The data were collected from the Medline database,Ovid database,the Cochrane library,and Chinese Biomedical database,and the references of eligible studies were manually screened.Published data related to case-control studies reporting the link between IL-13 polymorphisms and asthma in Chinese children were retrieved through those database.Meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether the IL-13 gene polymorphisms were associated with asthma.Results Eighteen studies were finally accepted for analysis.There were three studies focusing on C-1 112T polymorphism,and six studies focusing on C + 1923T polymorphism,and fourteen studies focusing on G + 2044A polymorphism.There was no evidence to confirm that the genotypes in position IL-13-1112 C/T were associated with asthma in Chinese children [odds ratio(OR) =1.00,95％ CI 0.82-1.22,P =0.98].The OR of asthma for TT/CC genotypes was 1.15 (95 ％ CI 0.57-2.33,P =0.69) and for CT/CC was 1.01 (95 ％ CI 0.82-1.25,P =0.89).There was significant evidence to confirm that the genotypes in position + 1923 C/T were associated with asthma in Chinese children(OR =1.86,95％ CI 1.29-2.67,P =0.000 9).The OR of asthma for TT/CC genotypes was 2.12 (95 ％ CI 1.27-3.56,P =0.004) and for TC/CC was 1.67 (95％ CI 1.18-2.35,P =0.003).There was no correlation between IL-13 + 2044G/A polymorphism and the susceptibility (OR =1.33,95％ CI 0.94-1.88,P =0.11).The OR of asthma for AA/GG genotypes was 1.30 (95 ％ CI 0.76-2.20,P =0.34) and for AG/GG was 1.24(95％ CI 0.90-1.70,P =0.19).Conclusions IL-13 gene + 1923 TT and TC genotypes should be associated with susceptibility of asthma in Chinese children,and the T allele could increase the risk of asthma.No clear relationship was found between the genotype TT/TC at the IL-13-1112 site and the incidence of asthma of children in China,and so was the genotype AA/AG at the IL-13 +2044 site and the incidence.

Scientific research is important for the improvement of the health-care techniques,and is certainly important for the health of women and children of the whole society.With the development of medical science,research ability of maternal and child healthcare professionals is deemed essential.And the evaluation of their research ability,stimulation,and creativity have been important topics to address.Here we introduce an evaluation system for research capacity of maternal and child healthcare professionals established in our hospital,which is the fruit of constant exploration and practice for several years.It is proved to be practical,simple and feasible.The establishment methods,practices and experiences of the evaluation system are presented in this paper.

Enteral Nutrition ; methods ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; microbiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Premature, Diseases ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Probiotics ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Sepsis ; mortality ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of moxibustion and acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) at "Tianshu"(ST25) "Dachangshu"(BL25) and "Shangjuxu"(ST37) on changes of body mass, stool property, histopathological conditions and expression levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis (UC) rats, so as to reveal its anti-inflammatory mechanisms underlying improvement of UC. METHODS: SD rats were randomized into normal, model, moxibustion, ACE and moxibustion＋ACE groups (n＝6 in each group). The UC model was established by enema of trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid and ethanol. Moxibustion was applied to bilateral ST25, BL25 and ST37 for 10 min, once daily for 14 days, and ACE applied to the same 3 acupoints, once a week for two weeks. After the treatment, the rats' general conditions were observed, and the severity of UC was assessed by using disease activity index (DAI) score. Colonic mucosal pathological changes were observed under microscope after hematoxylin eosin (H.E.) stain, and the expression levels of IL-6 in the colonic mucosa tissue detected by using immunohistochemical stain and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: After modeling, the DAI score, and expression level of colonic IL-6 protein detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot were obviously increased in the model group relevant to the normal group (P<0.01). Following the intervention, the increase of DAI score and IL-6 expression were reversed in moxibustion, ACE and moxibustion＋ACE groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). The therapeutic effects of moxibustion＋ACE were considerably superior to those of simple ACE and simple moxibustion in down-regulating the levels of DAI score and IL-6 expression (P<0.01). H．E. staining showed severe defect of the colonic mucosal epithelium with infiltration of a large number of inflammatory cells in the model group, which was milder in moxibustion, ACE and moxibustion＋ACE groups. CONCLUSION: Moxibustion combined with ACE is able to improve the inflammatory injury of colonic mucosa in UC rats, which may be related with its effect in suppressing the expression of colonic IL-6; and the efficacy of moxibustion＋ACE is apparently superior to that of moxibustion and ACE alone.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of drug-containing serum of Chinese herbal compounds [Xiongshao Capsule (XS, for activating blood) and Huanglian Capsule (HL, for dispelling toxin)] on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced adherence between human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), inflammatory reaction and expression of related proteins in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group) using random digit table: the blank control group treated with distilled water, the test group I treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg), the test group II treated with Chinese herbal compound of HL (0.135 g/kg), and the test group Ill treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg) and HL (0.135 g/kg). All medication was given by gastrogavage once a day for a week. Rats' blood serum was harvested 1 h after the last administration to prepare drug-containing serum. HUVECs were exposed to TNF-alpha (100 ng/mL) to induce cell injury model and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum (10%) for 24 h. Normal rats' serum was given to cells in the blank control group and the model group, while XC + HL containing serum was given to cells in the rest 3 groups. The adherence of HUVECs and PMN cells was detected by using rose bengal strain. Levels of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1P) in the supernatant of cultured HU-VECs were determined by ELISA. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 (p38MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 12) were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, HUVECs were seriously injured; PMN adherence amount significantly increased; levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1beta increased; expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 in the supernatant of HUVECs significantly increased in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HUVECs-PMN adherence amount decreased (P < 0.05); levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1 beta in the supernatant of HUVECs decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 of endothelial cells decreased in the test group I, II, and III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDrug-containing serums of activating blood, activating blood and dispelling toxin could attenuate TNF-alpha induced injury of HUVECs, inhibit HUVECs-PMN adherence and the release of adhesion factors. Its mechanism might be involved with protein phosphorylation of p38MAPK and ERK 1/2 in the MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; E-Selectin ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Serum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism