Objective:Hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) speculated to be an endothelial-specific growth factor which protects or repaire the vascular endothelial cells. To test the serum HGF level might be elevated in response to hypertension-induced endothelial cell damage, we measured serum HGF concentrations in normotensive and hypertensive subjects without liver, kidney and other complications.Methods:Eighteen male hypertensive patients and thirteen male normotensive subjects were recruited. All antihypertensive agents were stopped for 2 weeks before the study. The serum HGF concentrations were measured by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:Serum HGF concentrations were 0.32±0.13 ng/ml in normotensive subjects and 0.37±0.27 ng/ml in hypertensive patients. No significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05) was found. Systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure did not show any correlation with serum HGF concentrations.Conclusions:This study showed that serum HGF levels did not be increased in male patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Although local HGF is produced rapidly because of the damage of endothelial cells by high blood pressure, the circulating level of HGF did not represent the local changes of HGF production.

Objective To explore the characteristics of clinic and epidemiology of neonatal respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) pneumonia in newborn infants.Methods Three hundred and nine neonates(male 196,female 113) who were admitted to children's hospital of Fudan University and identified as having RSV pneumonia from Jan.2004 to Dec.2008 were enrolled.RSV antigen was detected in exfoliated respiratory cells by direct immunofluorescence.All the clinical data were collected and subjects and they were divided into different groups based on path of infection,gestational age and RSV status.Results From case notes over the 5 years,309 eligible neonates with RSV infection were identified.Male term neonates were more likely to acquire infection,as compared to female,1.71.0.The incidence of RSV infection peaked in winter and spring.Compared with community acquired infection group,hospital acquired infection group had more premature infants(23.2% vs 8.7%,P=0.002),lower birth weight[(3 010.8?852.8) g vs(3 153.2?943.4) g,P=0.026],much longer mean length of hospital stay[(19.0?8.0) d vs(12.2?4.5) d,P=0],more expensive cost[(5 646.4?3632.2) RMB vs(4 175.8?2 879.2) RMB,P=0] and later occurrence day[(21.3?8.6) d vs(15.8?6.0) d,P=0].Compared with simple RSV infection group,mixed infection group had more expensive cost[(6 063.1?3 085.4) RMB vs(4 513.2?3 860.8) RMB,P=0.047] and more oxygen use(40.0% vs 25.7%,P=0.006).The clinical characteristics of patients with RSV pneumonia varied.Preterm group compared with term group more frequently exhibited apnea and cyanosis(20.0% vs 0.7%,42.9% vs 22.7%),respectively.Forty-two percent of them had bacterial infection,while 13.3% of them had infection of other part of body.The prognosis of most RSV(99.0%) infections was good.Conclusions RSV was an important cause of respiratory tract infections during the last five years.Clinical characteristics of RSV infections were atypical.Hospital acquired RSV infection was more severe than the community acquired infection in neonates.There are no specific,effective interventions for treating RSV infections,so preventive measures are most important.

Abstract: A new selaginellin derivative named as selaginellin S (1) was isolated from the whole plants of Selaginella pulvinata (Hook. et Grev.) Maxim. (Selaginellaceae), together with a known one (selaginellin M, 2). Compounds 1 and 2 were separated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis including IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as ECD calculations. Compound 1 is a key intermidiant in the biosynthesis pathway of selaginellins. Compound 2 is first reported in this plant.
Biphenyl Compounds ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Cyclohexanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Structure ; Selaginellaceae ; chemistry

Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Humans ; Periodontitis ; immunology

OBJECTIVE To investigate the clinical features and causes of nosocomial infection in schizophrenics with tuberculosis so as to take effective measures for better prevention and treatment.METHODS A retrospective investigation was used to analyze the clinical features and causes of nosocomial infection in 207 schizophrenics with tuberculosis.RESULTS The rate of nosocomial infection in schizophrenics with tuberculosis was 39.13%.The main infection way was via respiratory tract,followed by skin,soft tissue and gastrointestinal tract.The period and degrees of tuberculosis,the history of smoking,psychiatric symptoms and the complications were the causes of nosocomial infection.CONCLUSIONS Controlling psychiatric symptoms actively,preventing and treating somatic complications,using antibiotics rationally and less or no smoking are the effective measures to avoid nosocomial infection in schizophrenics with tuberculosis.

Some studies on nocardiosis in cultured fish were critically reviewed,including pathogenic bacterium,taxonomy,pathogenicity,histopathologically,diagnosis,controlling method and immunology. Some problem and advice on this disease were suggested.

Objective To study the clinicopathologic characteristics and differential diagnosis of T-cell immunophenotype in intestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL).Methods The clinicopathologic characteristics of 13 cases with intestinal T-cell lymphoma were analyzed by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry(Envision detection method).Results The lesions of 8 cases with T-cell lymphoma were found on the small intestine and 5 on the colon.Grossly,8 cases showed ulcer pattern,3 polypoid pattern and 2 presented as a regional thickening of intestinal wall.The tumor cells were medium to large size with pleomorphic nuclei and inflammatory background.The neoplastic lesions expressed the immunophenotype of peripheral T cells.The neoplastic cells of 13 cases(100%)expressed leukocyte common antigen(LCA);10(76.9%)cases expressed CD3;9(69.2%)CD45RO;5(38.5%)EB virus(EBV);3(23.1%)CD56 and 2(15.4%)vimentin(VIM).All the cases were negative for CD20,CD79a,CK,CDX2,NSE,CgA and CD117.ConclusionIntestinal T-cell lymphoma is a rare,aggressive neoplasm with poor prognosis and should be distinguished from other malignant tumors of intestine.

Objective To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) -induced proliferation and collagen typeⅠ expression of adventitial fibroblasts (AF). Methods The AFs were isolated from rat thoracic aorta. MTT colorimetry and flow cytometry were used to study the effects of pioglitazone on proliferation and cell cycles of AF. The expression of collagen typeⅠ regulated by pioglitazone was examined by the method of Western blot. Results Pioglitazone inhibited the proliferation of AF in a dose-dependent manner, and the most marked effect could be observed at the concentration of 10?10-6 mol/L for pioglitazone (P

Objective To investigate the effects of hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) on proliferation and collagen synthesis induced by angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ)in SD rat cardiac fibroblasts(CFbs),and determine the role it plays in hypertensive ventricular remodeling.Methods CFbs in SD rat were cultured in vitro and treated with different concentrations of AngⅡ and/or HGF.Collagen type Ⅰ synthesis of CFbs was measured by Western blotting,and proliferation of CFbs was detected by MTT assay. Results AngⅡ promoted collagen synthesis and proliferation in CFbs in a certain concentration range,which can be significantly inhibited by HGF. ConclusionHGF can inhibit the proliferation and collagen synthesis induced by AngⅡin SD rat CFbs,and may protect against hypertensive ventricular remodeling.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Oncogene Proteins, Viral ; genetics ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; Transfection ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; biosynthesis ; genetics