Objective To observe the effect of several antihistamines,including epinastine,on the release of leukotriene B4(LTB4),interleukin 4(IL-4)and interleukin 5(IL-5)from spleen lymphocytes of allergic mice challenged by ovalbumin(OVA).Methods OVA-sensitized BALB/c mice were used as animal model of allergy.Spleen lymphocytes isolated from these mice were treated with epinastine(0.1,1.0,10 μmol/L),ebastine(10 μmol/L),cetirizine(10 μmol/L),and dexamethasone(1.0 μmol/L),respectively,followed by incubation with OVA.Those cells without pretreatment with antihistamines served as the control.One hour after the challenge,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was applied to measure the level of LTB4,IL-4 and IL-5 in the cell culture supernates.Results Following the incubation with OVA,the levels of LTB4,IL-4 and IL-5 increased significantly in culture supernates of control spleen lymphocytes.Epinastine significantly inhibited the release of LTB4,IL-4 and IL-5 in a dose-dependent manner.At the concentration of 10 μmol/L,the inhibitory effect of epinastine was more potent than that of ebastine and cetirizine for IL-5 and LTB4 release(all P＜0.05):for IL-4,the efrect of epinastine was similar to that of ebastine (P＞0.05)but more potent than that of cetirizine(P＜0.05).Conclusion Epinastine has a potent anti-inflammatory effect.

Objective To explore the effect ofrosiglitazone (RGZ), a ligand of peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor γ (PPARγ), on the invasiveness of A375 cells in vitro and its mechanism of action.Methods A375 human melanoma cells were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations of RGZ. The proliferation of the cells, mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 2, protein expression of MMP2 in A375 cells were detected by MTT assay, semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western-blot, respectively. The invasiveness of A375 cells was detected by Matrigel invasion assay. Results MTT assay showed that the proliferation of A375 cells was inhibited by (4.86±0.31 )% and (5.15±0.52)% under the 24-hour treatment with RGZ of 10 and 25 μmol/L, respectively, and no evident cytotoxity was observed for RGZ. Compared with untreated A375 ceils, a significant decrease was observed in the mRNA and protein expression of MMP2 in A375 ceils treated with RGZ of 10 and 25 μmol/L (all P < 0.05), along with an increase in the mRNA expression of TIMP2 (both P < 0.01 ).The count of A375 cells transmigrating through matrigel was 154.1±7.7 and 87.3±8.1 under the treatment with RGZ of 10 and 25 μmol/L, significantly lower than that of those without treatment (210.7±14.9,both P < 0.01 ). Conclusions RGZ could inhibit the transmigration of A375 ceils, likely by down-regulating the mRNA and protein expression of MMP2.

[Summary] With the rapid development of endoscopic thyroidectomy for its advantages of hidden incision and good cosmetic effects, it becomes a significant issue to reduce surgical adverse effects.Recurrent laryngeal nerve ( RLN) injury is among the most important complications and is paid much attention to by clinical researchers.Reasons leading to RLN injury include accidental injury, ligation and intraoperative blood loss. An appropriate way to expose RLN, skilled operation performance, precise anatomy, individualized operation scheme and intraoperative neuromonitoring can prevent RLN injury.

ObjectiveTo study the feasibility of no preoperative mechanical bowel preparation for the colon cancer resection.MethodsSixty-eight patients with colon cancer were divided by random digits table method into observation group and control group with 34 cases each.Patients in observation group were treated without mechanical bowel preparation,while control group received polyethylene glycol electrolyte received bowel preparation.The preoperative symptoms,water and electrolyte disturbance,intraoperative intestinal cleaning,recovery time of intestinal sound and the first exhaust time of two groups were observed.ResultsThe overall adverse reaction incidence of abdominal distension,abdominal pain,nausea,vomit,hunger,powerless and collapse in observation group[20.6％(7/34)] was significantly lower than that in control group [ 52.9％( 18/34 ) ] (P ＜ 0.01 ).The incidence of water and electrolyte disturbance in observation group was 5.9％ (2/34),which had no significant difference compared with that in control group [11.8％(4/34)](P＞0.05).The case numbers of patients with intestinal cleaning grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ in observation group were 0,16,18,0 case,respectively,which were significantly less than those in control group[ 18,12,4,0 case] (P ＜ 0.01 ).The incidence of postoperative intestinal inflation,recovery time of intestinal sound and first exhaust time in observation group [ 11.8％(4/34 ),(61.2 ± 5.6) h,(74.0 ± 7.5 ) h ]were significantly lower or shorter than those in control group [ 32.4％ ( 11/34),(72.1 ± 5.8 ) h,(87.0 ± 9.5 )h](P＜ 0.05 ).Conclusion Mechanical bowel preparation before colon cancer surgery can be cancelled.

Sodium pentachlorophenol (Na-PCP) has been used in China for years as a molluscacide to kill on-comelania, which is an intermediate host of schistosome. Large amounts of the powerful pesticide spayed over vast areas to control schistosomiasis contaminated the surface water sources, soil, sediment, animals and plants. Also it intruded into human body through food chain. Recently many studies that concern the endocrine disrupting effects of pentachlorophenol (PCP) were conducted. Animal studies showed that PCP/ Na-PCP could interfere in the normal function of thyroxine in many species, but without any effects on estrogen and testosterone. It was also found that PCP/ Na-PCP could effectively inhibit the activity of the human progesterone receptor (hPR) in yeast and interfere with the binding of physiological ligands to steroid receptors and binding proteins. Some epidemiologic data showed that PCP might interfere the normal endocrine function of female and paternal occupational exposure to PCP/Na-PCP could be associated with an increased risk of congenital anomalies or other adverse reproductive outcomes in offspring. All these findings indicate that pentachlorophenol could disrupt the normal function of endocrine system, but to con-firm that pentachlorophenol is one kind of endocrine disruptor and understand thoroughly the mechanism of PCP on endocrine system, more studies are needed.

Chronic Disease ; Consensus ; Heart Failure ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine

Objective To introduce the amino acid substitution for HP V16E749-57(HLA-A2-restricted CTL epitope) and to identify the novel epitopes.Me thods Quantitative method was used to evaluate the affinity of the substituted peptides.To determine the peptide candidates to be synthesized and identified,the molecular models of the HLA-A2-peptide complex and CTL epitope candidates b ound to the HLA-A2 molecule were established by computer molecular modeling.Pep tides were synthesized and purified with standard Fmoc assay,lactate dehydrogen ase (LDH) release assay was used to determine their abilities of inducing the ge neration of specific CTLs.Results Modified peptides met the requirements of H LA-A2-restricted CTL epitopes.Peptide RLHYNIVTF had the abilitiy of inducing th e generation of specific CTLs.Conclusions Compared with HPV17E749-57 the mod ified peptide RLHYNIVTF has a higher antigenicity and affinity to HLA-A2.So,pe ptide RLHYNIVTF may be used as one of the HLA-A2-restricted candidate epitopes,instead of HPV17E749-57,for peptide vaccine in the treatment of HPV infection.

Objective To establish a simple and practical method for isolating and purifying nucleosomes. Methods Nuclei were isolated from chicken erythrocytes, and then digested with staphylococcal nuclease. After centrifugation, the supernatant of digestion was separated and centrifugated on sucrose gradients. Results Nucleosomes with good stability were isolated properly by gradient centrifugation. Conclusion This method for the isolation and purification of nucleosomes is simple and effective, which might contribute to the further researches of the roles of nucleosomes in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Purpose:To identify clinical predictors of stage ⅢA-N2 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Methods:From March 1995 to February 1998, 118 patients with pathological stage ⅢA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer who underwent a resection by Shanghai Chest Hospital were analysed. Prognostic factors were estimated from the date of operation using the Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analysis. The Cox regression model evaluated the influence of factors on the survival. Results:The overall of 3-year and 5-year survivals of the 118 patients were 40.5% and 18.4%. Margin, the number of N2 lymph nodes and stations, the cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with survival. In a multivariate analysis, the number of N2 lymph nodes and the cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy significantly influenced survival. Conclusions:The number of N2 lymph nodes and the cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy were important prognostic factors of stage ⅢA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer.

The daily intake levels and trend of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins(PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans(PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs) of general population of several developed countries are reviewed. Based on the data of China, PCDD-Fs levels in Chinese human milk and blood were less than that of other countries, in addition, a daily intake of PCDD-Fs for Chinese general population was estimated in the present paper, the tolerable daily intake of Chinese general population was less than that the World Health Organization proposed.