[ABSTRACT]OBJECTIVETo explore the role and mechanism of IL-13 in regulating the differentiation of ciliated cells on cultured human primary nasal epithelial cells.METHODSHuman nasal epithelial cells were cultured in vitro and treated by IL-13, the differentiation of epithelial cells was observed by western blot detection ofβ-tubulinⅣ and ELISA detection of MUC5AC; the percentage of ciliated and goblet cells was quantified by cytospin followed by immunohistochemical staining; the expression level of central ciliary genes was detected by real-time PCR.RESULTSCompared with control group, IL-13 treatment for 14 day significantly decreased the percentage of ciliated cells and expression ofβ-tubulinⅣ, additionally increased the goblet cells and the secretion of MUC5AC; IL-13 treatment significantly reduced the expression of ciliary key transcription factors such as FOXJ1, RFX2 and RFX3, as well as basal body biogenesis genes like CCNO and CETN2.CONCLUSIONIL-13 inhibits the differentiation of human nasal ciliated epithelial cells, which may be by down-regulating the expression of ciliary key transcription factors and basal body biogenesis proteins.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of substance P on cultured rat osteoclasts.

METHODSNeurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor expression in osteoclasts was examined by immunohitochemical method, and changes of bone resorption activity caused by substance P and NK1 receptor antagonists were detected by pit formation assay.

RESULTSImmunoreactivity for NK1 receptor was distributed in the cytoplasm of osteoclasts. The average of pit formation areas significantly increased with addition of substance P (10(-7)-10(-4) mol/L) (P < 0.05), but the number of pitformations did not change (P > 0.05). NK1 receptor antagonists inhibited the enhancement of the bone resorption by substance P addition.

CONCLUSIONThe findings suggested that substance P may stimulate osteoclasts and result in bone resorption by the mediation of NK1 receptor.

Animals ; Osteoclasts ; Rats ; Receptors, Neurokinin-1 ; Substance P

In order to develop characteristic folk medicine resources in Jiangxi, a pharmacognostical study was systematically performed for four different origin plants of Sikuaiwa, the result of study provides the microscopic features of powder and tissue of the crude drug. The research provided reference for the identification of Sikuaiwa, as well as a theoretical basis for the further development and the formulation of quality standards.
Magnoliopsida ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Medicine, Traditional ; Plants, Medicinal ; anatomy & histology ; chemistry ; growth & development

In order to establish the stable andreliable ISSR-PCR System of Lysimachia christinae, L16 (4(5)) orthogonal design, which based on 7 levels of single factor experiment, were used in this study. The variance analysis was carried out by SPSS 19.0, and 5 main factors affecting the reaction system were optimized in 4 levels. The best annealing temperature was selected by the optimized reaction system. And the stability and reliability of this system was tested by 23 samples from different origins. The results showed that the five factors (DNA template, primer, dNTP, Mg2+ and Taq enzyme) were the most impacts on the amplified results of ISSR-PCR of L. christinae. The order of the influence was: primer > Taq enzyme > DNA template > Mg2+ > dNTP. The optimal system, which was determined by multiple comparison on different levels of each factor, was total volume of 25 microL, including DNA template 60 ng, primer 0.3 micromol x L(-1), dNTP 0.2 mmol x L(-1), Mg2+ 1.8 mmol x L(-1), Taq enzyme 1.25 U. The optimal system was stable and reliable tested by 23 samples from different origins. This study lays the foundation for genetic diversity analysis, fine varieties selection and molecular identification of L. christinae, and provides reference for optimization on ISSR-PCR system of other speciesin future.
DNA Primers ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Primulaceae ; classification ; genetics ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVETo probe the function of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of accumulated dampness-heat obstruction in joints syndrome (ADOJS) by detecting levels of IL-17 in serum and the synovial fluid and analyzing its correlation with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP).

METHODSFrom January 2011 to January 2013, recruited were 90 RA inpatients of ADOJS at Department of Integrative Medical Rheumatism, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region, of which 28 patients had knee joint effusion. Besides, 30 healthy volunteers who received physical examination at our hospital were recruited as the normal control group, and 30 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) who had knee joint effusion were recruited as the synovial fluid control group. The expression levels of IL-17 in serum and the synovial fluid were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and contents of ESR and CRP were detected in RA patients. Then correlation analyses were performed between levels of IL-17 and contents of ESR and CRP.

RESULTSCompared with the normal serum control group, the expression levels of IL-17 in serum of RA patients significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the serum of RA patients and the synovial fluid of OA patients, the expression levels of IL-17 in the synovial fluid of RA patients significantly increased (P < 0.05). The expression levels of IL-17 in serum of RA patients were not correlated with ESR or CRP (r = 0.092, -0.082; P > 0.05), and the expressional levels of IL-17 in the synovial fluid of RA patients were not correlated with ESR or CRP (r = 0.113, -0.034; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIL-17 was the main effector cytokine of Th17 cells. The expressional levels of IL-17 significantly increased in serum and the synovial fluid of RA patients of ADOJS, but with no correlation to ESR or CRP. It indicated that IL-17 participated in the occurrence and development of RA. Concrete mechanisms needed to be further proved in larger samples.

Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism

The effects of the pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) of different intensity on bone mineral density (BMD) and biomechanical properties of rabbits' femur had been studied. Twenty-seven female white big ear rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. The magnetic groups were fed in 15 Hz PEMFs, which pulse duration was set to be 5 ms (6 h x d(-1)), the magnetic intensity was 10 x 10(-4) T and the other was 20 x 10(-4) T. Control group were just fed in coils, and the instrument of PEMFs was powered off. After six weeks, by examine BMD and biomechanical properties of the rabbits' femur, the effects of these PEMFs were studied. Compared with control group, the values of BMD, maximum load and structural rigidity of magnetic group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). In addition, there was significant increase in values of BMD and structural rigidity in group 10 x 10(-4) T in comparison with group 20 x 10(-4) T (P < 0.05). PEMFs is effective in improving BMD and biomechanical properties. The experiment indicated that there was evident "window-effect" during the treatment by PEMFs. It is favorable to the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis.
Animals ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Density ; physiology ; radiation effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Female ; Femur ; metabolism ; physiology ; Osteoporosis ; prevention & control ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of bitter-cold herbs easing dampness method (BCHEDM) plus Sanhuang Yilong Decoction (SYD) combined with methotrexate (MTX) on expression levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of accumulated dampness-heat syndrome (ADHS).

METHODSFrom January 2011 to January 2013 recruited were 90 RA inpatients of ADHS at Department of Integrative Medicine on Rheumatoid Disease, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region. They were assigned to the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (45 cases) according to the random digit table produced by SPSS 11.5 Software. Patients in the treatment group were treated by heavy bitter-cold herbs plus SYD combined with MTX, while those in the control group were treated by MTX alone. Expressional levels of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before treatment, at week 2 and 4 after treatment. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) were detected as well.

RESULTSAfter two or four weeks of treatment, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After four weeks of treatment, IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 in the treatment group were all lower than before treatment and those of the control group at corresponding time points with statistical difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSYD combined MTX could play roles of improving inflammatory indices within 2 weeks, and inhibiting the expression of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 within 4 weeks.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Age Factors ; Alcoholism ; complications ; China ; epidemiology ; Fatty Liver ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Sex Factors

Objective To investigate the requirements for patent knowledge in postgraduate nursing students so as to provide a basis for nursing patent education.Methods Full-time nursing postgraduates from 60 colleges and universities were investigated by self-directed questionnaires and a total of 119 validated questionnaires were returned.The survey included:general information;learning requirements for nursing patent knowledge (learning content and forms,incentive system and learning platforms learning approaches).Five-point Likert scale below was used:1-Strongly disagree,2-Disagree,3-Neither agree nor disagree,4-Agree,5-Strongly agree.All statistical analyses were performed with IBM SPSS software (version 21.0).Quantitative data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation.Ordered categorical variables were compared between two groups and among above three groups with use of the Mann Whitney rank sum test and the Kruskal-Wallis test respectively.P＜0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results There was no significant difference in the effect of types of postgraduate (professional and academic) on the requirement for nursing patent knowledge in postgraduate (P＞0.05),while significant differences were observed in those of paper publishing,project participation and patent application (P＜0.05).Conclusion Nursing patent education can be well established only under the strong supports from the universities,faculties,supervisors as well as students,thereby developing the innovation of postgraduates.

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate how to model an accuracy 3-dimension Finite Element Analysis (3D-FEA) model.

METHODSBased on computed tomography (CT) scan data of a woman, a 3D finite element model of the first molar on the left was rebuilt by computer imagines process and computer aided design (CAD). Analysis of the stress distribution on a cylinder dental implant and in the bone around it was conducted.

RESULTSThe stress distribution showed extremely asymmetry in bucco-lingual section: stress concentrated on the lingual side of the mandible; stress mainly was tensile in buccal side, and on the contrary compressive in lingual side.

CONCLUSIONThe results were more reliable because this model more really displayed the mandible.

Computer Simulation ; Computer-Aided Design ; Dental Implants ; Dental Stress Analysis ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Mandible ; Molar ; Stress, Mechanical