Objective To explore the significance of serum cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) ,interleukin-4(IL ) ,transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) ,interleukin-9 (IL-9) ,interleukin-17 (IL-17) in detection of youth first-episode depression .Methods Ninety cases of youth first-episode depression as the experimental group were equally divided into 3 groups according to different disease courses(<6 months ,6 months to 2 years ,>2 years)and other 30 normal persons served as the control group .The levels of serum cytokines were measured by ELISA .The level of each cytokine and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score were per-formed the Spearman correlation analysis .Results The IL-9 level in the 6 months to 2 years group and > 2 years group was high-er than that in the control group (P< 0 .05);the IFN-γlevel was negatively correlated with psychic anxiety (P<0 .05);the IL-9 level was positively correlated with the somatic anxiety and systemic symptoms (P<0 .05);the IL-17 level was positively correla-ted with the depressive mood and suicide (P<0 .05);the IFN-γlevel was positively correlated with difficulty falling asleep ,early a-wakening ,work and interest in the 6 months to 2 years group ,while positively correlated with somatic anxiety (P<0 .05);the IFN-γ level was positively correlated with depressive mood and block in the >2 years group(P<0 .05);the IL-4 level was positively correlated with the depressive mood (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Different cytokines play different roles in youth first-episode depres-sion ,cytokines may involve in the occurrence and development of depression .

Objective To investigate the clinical features,diagnosis and therapy of adrenal incidentalomas. Methods The data of 66 cases of adrenal incidentalomas were retrospectively analyzed. Results The accuracy rates of localization detected by B-Ultrasound,CT scan and MRI were 84.3%,100% and 100% respectively. The accuracy rates of qualitative diagnosis by B-Ultrasound, CT scan and MRI were 30.0%,75.5% and 79.2% respectively. There were 60 cases underwent operation and the postoperative pathological examination confirmed that there were 31 cases of adrenal cortical adenoma, 6 cases adrenal cyst, 5 myelolipoma, 5 pheochromocytoma, 3 adrenal cortical carcinoma, 3 metastatic carcinoma, 3 ganglioneuroma, 1 adrenal neurilemmoma, 1 adrenal hematoma, and 1 nodular hyperplasia of adrenal cortex. Conclusions Ultrasonography is the first choice of scanning adrenal incidentaloma. However the CT scan and MRI are satisfactory in localization of the tumour. The qualitative diagnosis of adrenal incidentaloma will depend on the diameter, imaging features of tumors, the age of patients, and endocrine examination.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of propofol on calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase Ⅱ α ( CaMK Ⅱ α) activity in hippocampus in mentally depressed rats after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).MethodsHealthy adult male SD rats aged 2-3 months weighing 180-220 g were used in this study.Mentally depressed model was induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress.Forty mentally depressed rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n =10 each): mental depression group (group D),propofol group (group P),ECT group (group E),propofol + ECT group (group DPE).Groups D and P received intraperitoneal normal saline 8 ml/kg or propofol 80 mg/kg once a day for 7 consecutive days respectively.Group E received ECT once a day for 7 consecutive days.Group DPE received propofol 80 mg/kg + ECT once a day for 7 consecutive days.Sucrose preference test was performed at 1 d before and 1 d after treatment,and Morris water maze test was performed at 1 d before and 3 d after treatment.The rats were sacrificed after Morris water maze test,and hippocampi were removed for determination of CaMK Ⅱ α and phosphorylated CaMK Ⅱ α(pCaMK Ⅱ α )expression,and pCaMK Ⅱ α/CaMK Ⅱ α ratio was caculated.ResultsCompared with group D,the sucrose preference percentage was significantly increased in groups E and DPE,the escape latency prolonged and space exploration time shortened,and the expression of CaMK Ⅱ α and pCaMK Ⅱ α down-regulated,pCaMK Ⅱ α/CaMK Ⅱ α ratio decreased in group E,the escape latency was significantly shortened and space exploration time prolonged,and the expression of pCaMK Ⅱ α up-regulated in group DPE ( P ＜ 0.05).Compared with group E,the escape latency was significantly shortened,space exploration time prolonged,and the expression of CaMK Ⅱ α and pCaMK Ⅱ α up-regulated,and pCaMK Ⅱ α/CaMK Ⅱ α ratio increased in group DPE ( P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionPropofol can reduce the cognition impairment induced by ECT in mentally depressed rats through enhancing CaMK Ⅱ α activity in hippocampus.

Objective To optimize the culture method for rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes in vitro,and observe the effect of Dishevelled (Dvl) 2 on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS).Methods Synovium from RA patients who underwent knee arthroplasties were cut into small piece,and RA-FLS were isolated and cultured in vitro using tissue block method.Dvl 2 lentivirus overexpressing plasmid was constructed and transfected into RAFLS.Q-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF.Then we used 10 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α recombinant protein to stimulate the transfected RA-FLS.24 h after stimulation,mRNA and protein expression of VEGF were detected again.Student's t test was used for two group analyses.Results RA-FLS was successfully isolated and cultured in vitro.The multiplicity of infection was 30 and was in conjunction with appropriate concentration of polybrene to promote transfection.Transfection efficiency could meet the test requirements.The mRNA of Dvl 2 increased for 79-fold than the control group.Compared with the control group,Dvl 2 could mildly inhibit RA-FLS secretion of VEGF.After TNF-α stimulation,Dvl 2 could significantly inhibit the VEGF's mRNA (2.15±0.10,2.92±0.47 fold,t=-3.924,P=0.003) and protein [(285±100) pg/ml,(155±61) pg/ml,t=-2.714,P=0.022] expression compared with the control group.Conclusion Dvl 2 can inhibit the effect of TNF-α induced secretion of VEGF in RA-FLS.The specific mechanism needs further study.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanical characteristics of new anatomic plate of distal tibia from view of biomechanics.

METHODSTwelve fresh adult moist ankle specimens were randomly divided into four block groups (every group had 3 specimens), 3 tibial specimens as a normal control (normal group N), 9 specimens were resulted in unstable distal tibial Pilon fracture. Using steel plate fixation with a new anatomic distal tibial plate (group A), reconstruction plate (group B), clover plate (group C). Group B and group C as control group to test the remote axial compressive strength, remote axial stiffness, reversing biomechanical properties, contacted characteristics of the tibial astragaloid articular surface.

RESULTSThe remote axial compressive strength, remote axial stiffness, reversing biomechanical properties, contacted characteristics of tibial astragaloid articular surface the in distal tibial Pilon fracture instability of group A were near normal group N (P>0.05). Group A was best than group B and C (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe new anatomic plate of distal tibia was relatively strong, which can reach effective and stable fixation for unstable distal tibial Pilon fracture.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Plates ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Tibia ; chemistry ; injuries ; surgery ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

Objective Up to the present time, no reports are seen at home or abroad on the clinical characteristics of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with persistent inflammation-immunosuppression-catabolism syndrome (PICS), and few studies have been conducted on the risk factors for PICS.This article summarizes the clinical characteristics of PICS in SAP patients and presents a multivariate regression analysis of its risk factors.Methods This is a retrospective study on the clinical data about 214 cases of SAP treated for over 14 days in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015.According to the diagnostic criteria of PICS, we divided the SAP patients into a PICS group (n=149) and a non-PICS group (n=65).We compared the systemic and pancreatitis-specific complications and mortality rates in the SICU and at 12 months after discharge.We also performed a multivariate regression analysis on the risk factors of PICS.Results The incidence rates of biliary SAP and multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) were significantly higher in the PICS (44.3% and 93.3%) than in the non-PICS group (29.2% and 55.4%) (P=0.038).The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that the risk factors for PICS included obesity (OR=2.3;95% CI: 1.0-5.2), biliary causes (OR=4.2;95% CI: 1.4-13.0), and MODS (OR=4.4;95% CI: 1.3-14.4).The survival rate at 12 months after discharge was remarkably lower in the PICS than in the non-PICS group (88.5% vs 98.2%, P=0.036).Conclusion The incidence rate of PICS is high in SAP patients.Obesity, biliary causes and MODS are independent risk factors for PICS.The complication of PICS may be an important indicator of the poor prognosis of SAP.

This research is to study the relationship between HPLC fingerprints of Moutan Cortex, Paeoniae Radix Rubra and Paeoniae Radix Alba and their activity on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury. HPLC fingerprints of each extract of Moutan Cortex,Paeoniae Radix Rubra and Paeoniae Radix Alba were established by an optimized HPLC-MS method. The activities of all samples against protein and tumor necrosis a factor were tested by the model of lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury. The possible relationship between HPLC-MS fingerprints and the activitieswere deduced by the Partial least squares regression analysis method. Samples were analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS to identify the major peaks. The results showed that each sample had some effect on acute lung injury. Four components with a lager contribution rate of efficacy were calculated by the research of spectrum-effect relationship. Moutan Cortex exhibited good activity on acute lung injury, and gallic acid, paeoniflorin, galloylpaeoniflorin and paeonol were the main effective components.
Acetophenones ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Gallic Acid ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Male ; Monoterpenes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of phospholipid scramblase 1 (PLSCR1) in matrine (MAT) induced differentiation of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells, and to explore its correlation to cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signal pathway.

METHODSNB4 (an APL cell line sensitive to ATRA) and NB4-R1 (a resistant strain of ATRA) were observed as subjects in this study. Effects of combined treatment of 0.1 mmol/L MAT and 1 [mol/L ATRA on the differentiation of two cell lines were detected using nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction test and flow cytometry (CD11b). Expressions of PML/RARot and PLSCR1 protein/gene were detected using Western blot and Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR assay. Meanwhile, H89, PKA antagonist, was used to observe cell differentiation antigen and changes of aforesaid proteins and genes.

RESULTSMAT combined ATRA could significantly elevate positive rates of NBT and CD11 b in NB4-R1 cells, and significantly down-regulate the expression of PML/RARapha-fusion protein/gene (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). ATRA used alone could obviously enhance the expression of PLSCRI in NB4 cells at protein and mRNA levels (P < 0.01). But the expression of PLSCR1 was up-regulated in NB4-R1 cells, but with statistical.difference only at the protein level (P <0. 01). In combination of MAT, PLSCR1 protein expression was further elevated in the two cell lines (P < 0.01). Besides, there was statistical difference in mRNA expressions in NB4-R1 cells (P < 0.05). All these actions could be reversed by treatment of 10 micromol/L H89 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMAT combined ATRA could significantly induce the differentiation of NB4-R1 cells, and inhibit the expression of PML/RARalpha fusion gene/protein, which might be associated with up-regulating PLSCR1 expression.

Alkaloids ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; Phospholipid Transfer Proteins ; metabolism ; Quinolizines ; RNA, Messenger ; Signal Transduction ; Tretinoin ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Up-Regulation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of total flavonoids of epimedium (TFE) on the streptozocin (STZ)-induced kidney injury in diabetic rats and discuss the possible mechanism.

METHODSDiabetes was produced by a single injection of streptozocin (40 mg/kg, iv) in male SD rats. The rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): control group, model group and TFE group (100 mg/kg, ig). Animals were sacrificed 12 weeks later. The level of blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) as well as the renal index were determined. Detect the specific biochemical of renal tissue: superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA). Use masson staining to observe the morphology of the renal tissue. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the protein levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).

RESULTSCompared to control group, the enhancement of blood glucose, renal index, BUN and Cr was found in model group, which was significantly attenuated by treatment with TFE. Meanwhile, elevated MDA level in renal tissue as well as decreased SOD activities in renal tissue were significantly remitted by TFE. Furthermore, TFE decreased the expression of TGF-beta1.

CONCLUSIONTFE can evidently relieve renal damage in rats with diabetic nephropathy induced by STZ, which might be related to antioxidation and modulating the expression of TGF-beta1 protein.

Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of exteral use of papaverine cream on enhancement of skin graft.

METHODSFive mini-pigs were used for the study. 20 full-thickness wounds were created on the back of each animal. Along the midline of the abdomen, a 40 cm x 2 cm full-thickness skin graft was harvested and the wound sutured.The full-thickness graft was prepared and trimmed to 2 cm x 2 cm of 0.6 mm thickness split-skin grafts, which were transplanted to each wound with tie-over bolsters. The sutures were removed 2 weeks after the operation. Twelve pairs of 100%-survived skin grafts were selected and divided into group A (the left side) and group B (the right side), with each pair locating on the same and opposite position. From the day of suture removal, 2% papaverine cream was used to group A while plain cream was used to group B. The grafts were measured and observed for healing condition at the time of suture removal and the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth month. The surface area of the graft was measured and the shrinking ratio was calculated. After the animals were killed at the sixth month, samples of the skin grafts were taken and processed with 10% formalin, routine paraffin wax and Hematoxylin-eosin staining. The tissue structure was observed and the results were analyzed statistically.

RESULTSThe grafts in two groups did not have significant differences at the time of suture removal. Observations from the first to the sixth month showed that the two groups had significant differences in skin graft contracture and histological changes. HE stains demonstrated that the skin grafts in group A had less fibroblasts, more microvessels and orderly-arranged collagenous fibers.

CONCLUSIONSExternal use of papaverine cream can inhabit the contraction of skin grafts. It is a safe, effective, simple, and reliable method,which has the advantages of easy delivery,cheapness, less injury and infection,and no side effects.

Animals ; Contracture ; prevention & control ; Male ; Papaverine ; pharmacology ; Skin Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature ; Wound Healing ; drug effects