Objective To investigate the evaluation significance of plasma D-dimer level for the prognosis in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(AECOPD) excluding pulmonary embolism(PE).Methods The patients with AECOPD were collected from the respiration department and emergency internal medicine department of the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University during 2007-2011.Thirty-five AECOPD cases of D-dimer positive and excluding PE and lower extremity deep venous thrombus(DVT)by CT angiography served as the experimental group and 35 cases of D-dimer negative as the control group.The differences in the first time hospitalization duration,GOLD grade,mortality rate,re-hospitalization times within 4 years,times of admission to ICU,times of intracheal intubation,rehospitalization and outside-hospital mortality rate were compared between the two groups.The receiver operatingcharacteristic(ROC)curve was applied to evaluate the short-term and long-term prognostic capacity of D-dimer.The t test at the follow up end point was used to analyze the D-dimer level in the death group and the survival group.Results The D-dimer level,length of hospital stay,death number of first time hospitalization,times of re-hospitalization,times of admission to ICU,times of intubation,re-hospitalization and outside-hospitalization mortality rate and total mortality rate had statistical differences between the experimental group and the control group(P＜0.05);but the differences in the age,gender and GOLD grade between the two groups had no statistical significance(P＞0.05).The sensitivity of D-dimer＞1 165 μg/L for predicting the death number of the first time hospitalization was 87.5 ％,and the specificity was 80.6 ％.The sensitivity of D-dimer＞ 865μg/L for predicting the mortality rate of re-hospitalization and outerside-hospital was 78.9 ％,and the specificity was 74.5 ％.The survival curve graph during the follow up period in the two groups revealed that the survival time and survival rate had statistical difference between the two groups.The D-dimer level in the death group was significantly higher than that in the survival group with statistical difference(P＜0.05).Conclusion The D-dimer level is an independent risk factor affecting the short-term and longterm prognosis of AECOPD.

Animals ; Brain Edema ; prevention & control ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Erythropoietin ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

AIMTo study the synthesis and anti alpha-adrenoceptor activity of 1,2-dihydro-quinoline-2-one compounds.

METHODSAcylation, bromination and cyclization, and substitute reactions were used in the synthesis of the title compounds IV. A proposed mechanism was showed to explain the unusual compounds 5 and 6 in the route C. The inhibition activity of the six target compounds were tested.

RESULTSTwelve new compounds were synthesized (II1-6 and IV1-6). Among them, six new compounds (IV1-6) are the title compounds. Structure of the title compounds were determined by IR, 1HNMR, MS and HRMS.

CONCLUSIONCompounds IV3, IV4 and IV6 showed inhibitiion activity, and were worth further studying.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Aorta ; drug effects ; In Vitro Techniques ; Molecular Structure ; Phenethylamines ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Quinolones ; chemical synthesis ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Technology, Pharmaceutical

A model for screening the yeast which can ferment xylose to produce the ethanol was constructed.An ethanol yeast was obtained using the lignocellulose as substrate production the ethanol.By malt extract medium pre-culturing,soil samples use the plate with xylose as sole carbon source as the primary screening,then finally screen by the potassium dichromate color-displaying method.A strain named Y2-3 was screened from the soil.Phenotypic analysis including morphology and physiology and biochemical characteristics and 26D1/D2 sequence analysis were carried out.Based on taxonomy results,the Y2-3 was identified as Pichia caribbica.The strain Y2-3 ferments using xylose as sole carbon source: biomass 23.5 g/L,xylose utilization rate 94.7 %,ethanol final yield 4.57 g/L;using mixture sugar:biomass 28.6 g/L,xylose utilization rate 94.2 %,glucose utilization rate 95.6%,ethanol final yield 20.6 g/L.Pichia caribbica is a yeast which can utilize xylose and mixture sugar as substrate.It established the foundation for further research fermentation of ethanol by yeast using lignocellulose.

The present study aimed to investigate the role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in progesterone synthesis and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in rat luteal cells. Immature (25-28 days old) female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected subcutaneously with 50 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), and 25 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) 48 h later, to induce follicular development and luteum formation. On day 6 after hCG administration (the day of hCG administration was the first day), the rats were killed by guillotine and the ovarian luteal cells were collected. After incubation for 24 h, luteal cells were incubated without or with different doses (0.1 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 10 μg/mL) of PAF at 37 °C (5% CO(2)) for 24 h, and then progesterone concentration was evaluated by radioimmunoassay (RIA); apoptotic rate and VEGF mRNA expression in luteal cells were assessed by flow cytometry and RT-PCR, respectively. The results showed that PAF promoted progesterone production, with a maximal effect at 1 μg/mL (P<0.05); PAF increased apoptotic rate but not in a dose-dependent manner, and 10 μg/mL PAF enhanced apoptotic rate significantly (P<0.05); furthermore, PAF stimulated VEGF mRNA expression in luteal cells, especially at 1 μg/mL (P<0.01). It is suggested that PAF regulates progesterone synthesis and VEGF mRNA expression in luteal cells to mediate corpus luteum formation in rat ovary.
Animals ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; pharmacology ; Corpus Luteum ; drug effects ; Female ; Luteal Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Platelet Activating Factor ; pharmacology ; Pregnancy ; Progesterone ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

AIMTo investigate the effects of soy isoflavones (SI) on the expression of Bax mRNA and Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in ovaries of perimenopause rats.

METHODSThe animal model of perimenopause rats was established by unforced aging. 12 month-old presenilins female Wistar rats were administered by intragastric (ig) with low (500 mg/kg), middle (158 mg/kg) and high (500 mg/kg) does of SI for 8 weeks. The expression of Bax mRNA in ovaries were detected by RT-PCR. Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in ovaries and MDA content and SOD activity in serum were detected by chemi-chromatometry.

RESULTSIntervention of SI could significantly decrease the expression of Bax mRNA in ovaries and MDA content in serum, increase Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in ovaries and SOD activity in serum of presenilins rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSoy isoflavones could down-regulate the expression of Bax mRNA and increase Ca(2+) -ATPase activity in aged ovaries. It is probably one of the mechanisms to improve the function of aged ovaries in perimenopause rats.

Animals ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; metabolism ; Female ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Perimenopause ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction pathway in the rats of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODSSixty four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: 8-week control group (NG8w), 12-week control group (NG12 w), 8-week high-fat diet (HG8w), and 12-week high-fat diet group (HG12w), with 16 rats in each group. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) was tested by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp; aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), free fatty acid (FFAs), fast insulin (FIns), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were tested by biochemistry automatic analyzer or RIA; The expression of JNK1, insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), phospho-IRS-1 Ser307 (p-IRS-1 Ser307), Protein kinase B (PKB) and phospho-PKB Ser473 (p- PKB Ser473) were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared to control group, body weight, liver index, serum levels of ALT, AST, TG, TC, FIns, FFAs, TNF alpha, and TC, TG FFAs, MDA in liver homogenates were increased, while the level of SOD, and GIR were decreased. The expression of JNK1 protein and p-IRS-1 Ser307 in liver tissue was up-regulated, while expression of p-PKB Ser473 was decreased (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between the expression intensity of JNK1 and IR (Pearson correlation: 0.718, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe high-fat could induce the expression of JNK1, which in turn modulates the phosphorylation of proteins in the insulin signaling pathway, and induces insulin resistant.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Dietary Fats ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fatty Liver ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) was purified from a citrus sample by a modified protocol, and the yield was about 1 mg from 100 g citrus tissues. Polyclonal antibody was prepared by immunizing rabbits with the purified CTV preparation with a titer 1:25600 in indirect ELISA test. Eighteen hybridoma-cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against CTV were screened after the fusion of mouse myeloma cells (SP2/0) with spleen cells from BALB/c immunized with the virus preparation. Four hybridoma-cell lines were selected randomly for later analysis. The results indicated that the titers of ascetic fluids against these hybridoma cell lines ranged from 1:51200 to 1:204800 in indirect ELISA, and their isotypes and subclasses were IgG2a for 2G and 3H and IgG2b for IE and 4H. These four Mabs were used to detect CTV in citrus samples in different sources. Results showed that TAS-ELISA with polyclonal antibody as trapping antibody and monoclonal antibody as testing antibody had a higher specificity and sensitivity than PAS-ELISA. Four Mabs showed different intensities of serological reaction with different CTV isolates. However, much work remains for realizing the characteristics and the serological relationships among these isolates.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Antibodies, Viral ; biosynthesis ; immunology ; Blotting, Western ; Citrus ; virology ; Closterovirus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation of multislice spiral CT features and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions and microvessel density (MVD) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODSFourth-seven patients with pathologically confirmed RCC were examined by multislice spiral CT, and VEGF expressions and MVD of the RCC and the adjacent normal tissues were determined by immunohistochemistry with specific monoclonal antibodies.

RESULTSVEGF expression and MVD in the RCC and adjacent normal tissues increased with the pathological grades of RCC (P<0.05), VEGF expression was found to significantly correlate with MVD (r=0.67, P<0.01). The positive expression of VEGF and MVD were associated with the findings by multislice spiral CT scan of tumor size, intratumor necrosis, cystic degeneration, intensity signal, lymph node metastases, invasion of the renal vein or inferior vena cava, and invasion of the adjacent organs or distant metastases (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONMultislice spiral CT findings can be indicative of the histopathology of RCC, and some CT findings are closely correlated with MVD and VEGF expressions in RCC, which may help evaluate the biological behavior and malignancy of the tumor and predict tumor invasion and metastasis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis

Objective To investigate the iodine nutritional level and thyroid function of pregnant and lactating women in rural areas of Jilin province. Methods The investigation sites were selected from rural areas of three towns (Baoshan, Mingcheng and Yantongshan of Panshi county, Jilin province) in 2009. The pregnant and lactating women were selected as subjects in these three towns. The blood samples were collected and the thyroid function (including serum TT3, TT4, FT3, FT4) were measured with chemiluminescence, and serum thyroglobulin antibodies(TgAb), thyromicrosome antibody(TMAb), and thyroglobulin(Tg) were measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA). The urine samples were collected three times within one month and were measured for iodine concentration by As-Ce catalytic spectrophotometry method. Results In the pregnant women, serum TT3 was higher than that of healthy pregnant women, accounted for 14.3%(8/56), while serum TT4, TT3, FT4 were lower than those of healthy pregnant women, accounted for 3.6%(2/56),5.4% (3/56), and 1.8%(1/56), respectively. In the lactating women,serum TT3 was higher than that of healthy lactating women, accounted for 3.6%(2/56), while serum TT4, FT4 were lower than those of healthy lactating women, accounted for 1.8%(1/56), respectively. Five per cent to 20% of the pregnant and lactating women had higher TgAb and TMAb. Conclusions Existing salt iodine level is appropriate for pregnant women and lactating women, but there was a tendency towards hypothyroid in some women. Routine monitoring of urinary iodine and thyroid function should be carried out among pregnant and lactating women.