Objective To explore the feasibility of MR imaging for tumor-associated macrophages. Methods BALB/c mice and BALB/c ( nu/nu) nude mice were randomly divided into 6 groups ( before injection, 6, 24, 48, 72 hours and 7 days after injection) and 5 groups (before injection, 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours after injection) with each group of 3 animals, respectively. Macrophages ( RAW 264. 7) were incubated with HSA-IONPs ( dopamine/HSA coating iron oxide nanoparticle) containing 20 μg Fe/ml for 24 hours. Then, 5 x 106 labeled macrophages were collected and injected into subcutaneous 4T1 tumorbearing BALB/c mice and 22B tumor-bearing nude mice via tail vein. At different time points described above, all animals performed transverse and coronal T2-weighted MR scans using a 7. 0 T MR imaging unit.After sacrifice at different time points, tumor, liver and other organs were removed and processed for histological examination. Cytotoxicity of HSA-IONPs were assayed by MTT test, Statistics analysis adopt SPSS 11.5, the differences among groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. The difference was regarded as statistically significant when P <0. 05. Image J 1.42 software was used for the quantitative measurement of MR signal intensity. Results Effective cell labeling was confirmed by Prussian blue staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM ). Iron uptake of single cell was 6. 19 pg. The mean absorbance values of cells incubated with HSA-IONPs for 24 hours in each group were 1. 95 ±0.19, 1. 82 ±0. 29,2. 10 ±0. 14, 1. 96 ±0. 18, 2. 05 ±0. 27 and 2.17 ±0. 22 respectively at different concentrations (5, 10,20, 40, 80, 160 μg/ml). Compared with that in control group (2. 00 ±0. 07), the absorbance values of cells in each group were not significantly different (F = 1.24,P>0. 05). There was a significant linear positive correlation between the labelled macrophage numbers and MR R2 values (r = 0. 99 ,P < 0. 05). In 4T1 tumor model, significant low signal intensity was found on T2WI surrounding the necrosis and cystic degeneration 6 hours after macrophage injection, with a signal reduction of 59.4%. The signal of tumor parenchyma showed no significant change, with signal reduction of 4. 8%. Irregular low signal ring could be seen at the junction of necrosis and parenchyma area at 24 hours after injection, with a signal reduction of 46. 8% and the signal loss was restored to 96. 8% around the necrosis and cystic degeneration. In 22B tumor model, multiple small scattered foci of low signal intensity were presented on T2WI around the necrosis and cystic degeneration 6 hours after macrophage injection with a signal drop of 46. 8% and reduced at 24 hours. 2, 3 or 7 days after macrophage injection, the morphology and location of low signal intensity were similar to those at 24 hours after injection on T2WI. But the signal intensity gradually decreased. The presence of labelled macrophages imaged by MRI were verified by pathology. Conclusion MRI is feasible for the delineation of tumor-associated macrophages. 24 hours after macrophage injection is the optimal time point for the assessment of macrophage migration and infiltration of tumor on T2WI. MRI can be used to evaluate the perfusion and neovascularization of tumor 6 hours after macrophage injection.

OBJECTIVETo make a study of the clinical effect on the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in acute aggravated stage with Tanreqing Injection and the changes of the cell factor level.

METHODEighty-seven cases of COPD patients in acute aggravated stage were chosen and divided into two groups at random. Forty-four cases in treatment group were given intravenous drip of Tanreqing (20 mL) with 5% G/NS (500 mL) once a day. Forty-three cases in control group were given intravenous drip Yanhuning injection (0.4 g) with 5% G/NS (500 mL) once a day. The courses of the treatment were both two weeks and the changes of TL-10, TNF-alpha and MPO were observed separately before and after the treatment.

RESULTThe total effective rate in the treatment group was 94.31% while the control group 83.75%, which had significant difference (P<0.05). IL-10 level in both groups was comparatively lower than the healthy (P<0.01), while TNF-alpha and MPO was higher than the healthy (P<0.01). After the treatment, the TNF-alpha and MPO level in the treatment group decreased more greatly than those in the control groups (P<0.01) but the IL-10 increased a lot more than those in the control group and there existed remarkable difference (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in acute aggravated stage with Tanreqing Injection can have noticeable effect, and can prohibit the release of above cell factors. It is also safe in clinical use without obvious side effects and has played an important role in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in acute aggravated stage.

Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; blood ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peroxidase ; blood ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; blood ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Objective To study the clinical significance and change law of the serum inflammatory factor in the elder patients with femoral neck fracture during perioperative period. Methods 62 patients with femoral neck fracture were selected as research object,and the serum IL-1,IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α,CRP and BGP of the patients at preoperative day and after the treatment at the first,third,seventh and fourteenth day were detected with ELISA. Results The serum IL-1 ,IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α and CRP went up first and then down,the levels were highest at the third day, and they were compared to the levels at preoperative day( t = 3.34,3.53,3.44,3.69, all P ＜ 0. 05 ), the levels at the fourteenth day returned to normal levels,but the serum BGP showed a rising trend,the level was highest at the fourteenth day, and it was compared to the level at preoperative day( t = 2. 87, P ＜ 0. 05 ). Conclusion The changes of the serum inflammatory factor in the elder patients with femoral neck fracture during periopearative period showed regular pattern, and it was meaningful for understanding the developing and prognosis.

Aim To investigate the role of locus coeruleus(LC)-norepinephrinergic system and sympathetic nervous system in immunosuppression under cold stress, using 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA) as chemical sympathectomy.Methods Rats were maintained in cold chamber at 4℃ for 4 h.The 51Cr release assay from YAC-1 cells was used to determine the splenic NK cell activity, the double staining of ABC method was employed to observe the immunoreactive expression of Fos, arginine-vasopressin(AVP), oxytocin(OT) and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), and conventional radioimmunoassay was used to measure plasma corticosterone (CORT) concentrations.Results Central sympathectomy with intracerebroventricular(i.c.v.) injection of 6-OHDA r educed significantly the elevation of plasma corticosterone level, the expressio n of Fos in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus(PVN) and in locus coeruleus(LC ), as well as the suppression of NK activity induced by cold stress at 4℃ for 4 h. Peripheral sympathectomy with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 6-OHDA al so reversed the cold stress-induced suppression of NK cytotoxicity, but without significant effect on Fos expression in brain. Double staining showed that amon g the Fos-positive neurons in PVN only a few co-expressed Fos and AVP or Fos a nd OT, while in LC the majority of Fos-positive neurons co-expressed Fos and T H.Conclusion The mechanism of suppression of NK activity induce d by cold stress may be mediated through HPA axis activated partially by central LC-norepinephrinergic system and through the peripheral sympathetic nervous system.

Objective To detect the total colon transit time (CTT) and segmental CTT of patients with chronic constipation and explore the clinical significance. Methods Colon transit study and defecography(DFG) were performed on 60 patients with chronic constipation. These patients were divided into 3 groups: group Ⅰ, 19 patients with slow transit constipation based on low stool frequency and normal DFG, group Ⅱ, 22 patients with rectal intussusception diagnosed by DFG and group Ⅲ, 19 patients with external rectal prolapse or puborectal muscle syndrome based on the results of DFG. Results Group Ⅰ showed increased total CTT (mean, 96.2 h) and segmental CTT, right colon, 35.3 h (36.7%), left colon, 30.8 h (32.0%), rectosigmoid, 30.1 h (31.3%). Group Ⅱ had normal mean total CTT (57.8 h) and a relative decrease in rectosigmoid CTT [mean, 13.8 h (23.9%)]. In group Ⅲ, patients showed elevated total CTT(mean, 175.1 h) and rectosigmoidal CTT [mean, 115.8 h(66.1%)]. There were significant differences in mean total CTT and rectosigmoidal CTT among the 3 groups ( P

Objective: To determine asperosaponin VI, psoralen, and angelicin in Xianling Gubao Capsules (XGC) via multi- wavelength HPLC method. Methods: Separation was carried out on Welch Ultimate® XB-C18 column. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-water system and a linear gradient elution was used. The column temperature was 30℃. The detection wavelength for asperosaponin VI was set at 212 nm, those for psoralen and angelicin were set at 246 nm. Results: Three components reached baseline separation, the linearity was good when sample volumes were in the ranges of 144.1-5 764.0 for asperosaponin VI (r = 0.999 6), 5.4-215.2 (r = 0.998 0) for psoralen, and 6.6-265.6 ng (r = 0.998 5) for angelicin. The average recoveries of asperosaponin VI, psoralen, and psoralen were 98.11%, 97.86%, and 98.22%, respectively. The RSDs of recoveries were all less than 2.0%. Conclusion: The method is simple and accurate and has good separation, with high sensitivity and good efficiency for the determination of more-index components in XGC.

OBJECTIVETo make a study of the cytokine changes in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the elderly and the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine that can clear away the lung-heat and dissipate blood stasis (Qingfeihuayu soup).

METHODThe 82 cases with CAP in the elderly were divided at random into two treatment group and control group. Based on heteropathy, the treatment group was given Qingfeihuayu soup two times a day. The control group was given Rocephin 2 g once daily for 7 days. The clinical effect and the changes in TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 were observed before and after the treatment. A healthy group was also set up.

RESULTBefore treatment, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in both groups were higher than the healthy group (P < 0.01) and IL-10 lower than the healthy group (P < 0.01). After treatment, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in both groups decreased (P < 0.01) while IL-10 in treatment group increased. There existed a great difference compared with the control group (P < 0.01). The total effective rate in the treatment group is 92.50% while the control group is 85.71%. thus have a great difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDuring the process of the development of CAP in the elderly, there existed the phenomenon of the excessive release of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and the too much inhibition of IL-10. The unbalance of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-10 can be a monitoring index reflecting the severity of the disease. The Chinese medicine Qingfeihuayu soup has obviously have regulating and clinical effect.

Aged ; Community-Acquired Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Cytokines ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology

Objective:To explore the clinical efficacy of Chaihu Shugansan combined with saccharomyces boulardii in treating functional dyspepsia (FD) in children and the effect on serum cytokines and gastrointestinal hormones expression. Method:Totally 120 cases were divided into control group (60 cases) and observation group (60 cases)．The control group was treated with Duopanlitong Pian 0.3 mg·kg^-1, po， tid， and Saccharomyces boulardii 0.25 g，po，bid. The observation group was treated with Chaihu Shugansan, po，qd， and saccharomyces boulardii 0.25 g，po，bid. Four weeks was a course of treatment．The changes of serum Gastric Hunger Hormone and cytokines, Hamilton depression scale (HAMD) score, symptoms improvement time and clinical effect in the two groups were observed. And the recurrence rate was observed after 6 months follow-up. Result:The total effective rate was compared between control group (76.67%，46/60) and observation group (96.15%，57/60)，with significant differences (P<0.01). After treatment, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in both groups were decreased, while serum levels of ghrelin of both group were increased. However，the decreasing range and the increasing range of observation group were statistically obvious than those of control group (P<0.01). HAMD score and disappearance time of clinical symptoms in observation group was significantly different from those in control group (P<0.01). In adverse reactions during treatment, the control group was inferior to the observation group (P<0.05). After the 6-month follow-up, the recurrence rate in observation group was lower than that in control group (P<0.01). Conclusion:Chaihu Shugansan combined with Saccharomyces boulardii was effective in treatment of FD in children, with a low recurrence rate and good compliance. The mechanism may be related to the effective regulation of brain-intestinal axis, balance of intestinal flora, inhibition of inflammatory reaction, regulation of cytokines and gastrointestinal hormone levels.