Alopeeia areata (AA) has been well recognized with familial tendencies, but the genetic basis of this clinical observation remains unknown. The cytokine interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (ILlra) is a potent anti-inflammatory protein that can prevent immune-mediated inflammatory response in the skin. We characterized a polymorphism within the gene for this cytokine ILlra in this study and tested the gene as a possible marker in patients with alopecia areata. We have determined allele frequencies of the polymorphic cytokine genes in a control population and a group of 72 patients with alopecia areata. The frequency of allele 2 of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in patients with AA was significantly higher than that of control group. It suggests that interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene may be a candidate gene or severity factor for alopecia areata.

In order to observe the therapeutic effect of azithromycin combined with IFN-γ on mouse toxoplasmosis and its impact on the cellular immune function of mouse, a total of 100 BALB/c mice were selected and divided into 5 groups, namely an infection control group (Group A) , azithromycin treatment group (Group B) , azithromycin combined with IFN-γ treatment group (Group C) , IFN-γ treatment group (Group D) and blank control group (Group E). The mice in Group A, B, C, D were infected by Toxoplasma tachyzoites through intraperitoneal injection and those in Group B, C, D were treated with relative drugs 24 h later for S days. The survival time of mice in each group and the levels of CD4 ~+ and CD8~+ T cells in blood were observed. The results showed that azithromycin combined with IFN-γ could improve the therapeutic effect of mouse toxoplasmosis and the cellular immune function of mice.

Objective To investigate the effects of pyrroloquinoline quinone(PQQ) on the hippocampal neurons of aged rats induced by D-galactose(D-gal).Methods D-gal was used to induce the model of aging rat,PQQ was administered into rat lateral intracerebroventricle.After 50 days the metamorphosis of hippocampal neurons was observed by H-E and Nissl's staining.The apoptosis rate of hippocampus was tested by flow cytometry.The contents of free radical and C-FOS protern were measured.Results Compared with the control group,the size of the neurosoma was slightly changed,the optical density of Nissl's was decreased,the content of free radical and the apoptosis rate increased markedly in D-gal group.After PQQ injection with D-gal,the size of neurosoma and the optical density of Nissl's were markedly increased,the content of free radical and the apoptosis rate of hippocampus did not change.PQQ improved the expression of C-FOS protern.Conclusion PQQ can slow down the aging progress of hippocamal neurons induced by D-gal.

Objective To explore the protective effects of GYY4137, a new hydrogen sulfide donor, on intestinal mucosa in a neonatal rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and its potential mechanism.Methods Sixty SD rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups: group A (control group), group B (NEC group), group C (NEC with GYY4137 treatment, H2S donor group), and group D (NEC with GYY4137 and Znpptreatment, HO-1 inhibitor group). The SD rat models of NEC were established using simulated milk feeding-hypoxia-cold stress-Lipopolysaccharides. The injury degree of intestinal mucosa was evaluated using HE-staining, and its mechanisms were investigated using biochemical indicators and Western blotting. Results Compared with control group, the pathology score and the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in the NEC group was significantly higher, the concentrations of methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) and necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were lower(P<0.05). Compared with those in NEC group, the pathology score and the concentration of MDA and TNF-α in the H2S donor group were signiflcantly lower, the T-SOD, and the HO-1 expression was higher. The pathology score and the level of MDA and TNF-α were signiflcantly increased after treated with HO-1 inhibitor Znpp, and T-SOD was signiflcantly decreased.. Conclusions The GYY4137, as a new H2S donor, could attenuate the injury of intestinal mucosa in a neonatal rat model of NEC by upregulating the expression of HO-1.

Objective To investigate the effects of liver X receptor (LXR) agonist on the proliferation of mouse pancreatic β cell line MIN6 cells.Methods The viability,changes of cell cycle,mRNA levels of S phase kinase associated protein 2 (Skp2) and p27,and protein levels of Skp2 and p27 in MIN6 cells treated with LXR agonist T0901317 were determined by the CCK-8 method,flow cytometry,real-time RT-PCR and western blot,respectively.Results The viability of MIN6 cells treated with 1 μmol/L,5 μmol/L and 10 μnol/L of T0901317 were (98.54 ±0.94)％,(87.03 ±0.93)％ and (75.57 ± 1.85)％ of the controls,respectively,and there was significant difference among them (F =301.90,P ＜ 0.01).The percentages of G1 phase cells in the MIN6 cells treated with 0 μmol/L,1 μmol/L,5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L of T0901317 were (35.93 ±2.25)％,(38.45 ±0.91)％,(45.46±1.34)％ and (53.28 ± 1.14) ％,respectively,and there was significant difference among them (F =80.83,P ＜ 0.01).Similarly,the percentages of S phase cells in the MIN6 cells treated with 0 μmol/L,1 μmol/L,5 μmol/L and 10 μmoi/L of T0901317 were (52.87 ± 1.19) ％,(48.65 ± 0.85) ％,(36.31 ± 1.37) ％ and (31.45 ± 1.22) ％,respectively,and there was also significant difference among them (F =221.30,P ＜ 0.01).The protein levels of p27 in the MIN6 cells treated with 10 μmol/L of T0901317 (2.84 ± 0.14) were significantly higher than that in the controls (2.28 ± 0.10) (t =4.54,P ＜ 0.05),while there was no significant difference in the mRNA levels of p27 between them (t =0.28,P ＞ 0.05).However,10 μmol/L of T0901317 significantly decreased mRNA (0.52 ± 0.02,t =29.22,P ＜ 0.01) and protein levels (0.98 ± 0.12 vs 1.89 ± 0.01,t =10.98,P ＜ 0.01) of Skp2 in MIN6 cells.Based on the control siRNA transfection group as a reference (100％),the cell survival rates of the p27 siRNA transfection group,10 μmol/L of T0901317 treatment group and the intervention group (p27 siRNA transfection + T0901317 treatment) were (100.97 ± 1.08) ％,(75.03 ± 1.83) ％ and (86.67 ± 2.45) ％,respectively.There was no significant difference between the control siRNA and p27 siR-NA transfection groups (t =1.542,P ＞ 0.05).Compared with the control siRNA transfection group,the cell survival rates of the T0901317 treatment group decreased (t =23.58,P ＜ 0.01).There was also significant difference in the cell survival rates between the T0901317 treatment group and the intervention group (t =7.77,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The activation of LXR may induce pancreatic β cell cycle arrest by up-regulating the expression of p27 and down-regulating the expression of Skp2.

renal dysfunction.Logisitic regression showed that cardiovascular disease and hypoalbuminemia were correlated with perioperative death rate significantly. Conclusions Improving the perioperative management is very important for lowering the perioperative mortality in elderly patients with digestive tract disease.

Objective To investigate the in vivo transduction capability of fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP with mice.Methods Two prokaryotic expression plasmids pET15b-EGFP and pET15b-PEP-1-EGFP were constructed and transformed into E.coli BL21(DE3) to express EGFP and fusion protein PEP-1-EGFP,respectively.The expressed EGFP and PEP-1-EGFP were purified with Ni2+-resin affinity chromatography.Five hundred micrograms of EGFP and PEP-1-EGFP fusion protein were injected into mouse through caudal vein,respectively,the mice were euthanized and perfused with PBS 2 hours after administration.Then,the heart,brain,liver,spleen and kidney were removed and sectioned with a cryostat at 7 ?m for visualization with a inverted fluorescent microscope.ResultsThe brain,heart,liver,spleen and kidney injected with PEP-1-EGFP showed bright and homogenous green fluorescence whereas that with EGFP showed no green fluorescence at all.Conclusion The successful expression and purification of PEP-1-EGFP fusion protein and its efficient transduction into mice in vivo provide a basis for the research on transmembrane delivery of macromolecule drugs mediated by the cell-penetrating peptide,PEP-1.

Objective To study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen(HBO) treatment on plasma endotoxin,sCD14 and plasma endotoxin inactivation capacity(EIC) in acute necrotizing pancreatitis(ANP) in rats and its possible mechanism.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into control group,sham operation group,ANP group and ANP+HBO group.Rat ANP models were made by retrograde injection of 3.5% sodium(taurocholate)(2.5mL/kg) into the pancreatic duct.Thirty minues after models had been made,ANP+HBO group was treated by hyperbaric oxygen for 2h.At 3h,6h,and 10h after establishment of rat models,the plasma endotoxin,sCD14,EIC,TXB_2 and 6-K-PGF_(1a) leves were determined in each group.Results At 3h and 6 h after rat models were established,the levels of endotoxin,sCD14,and TXB_2 in ANP+HBO group were significantly lower than those in ANP group(P

Objective To establish rSAG1-IgM-ELISA with purified rSAG1 fusion protein for immunodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Methods The rSAG1 fusion protein was purified by Ni 2+ column. The ELISA plate was coated with different concentrations of rSAG1, reacted with pooled positive and negtive human sera. Goat anti-human IgM conjugated to horseradish peroxidase was used as the second antibody. The appropriate detecting condition of the rSAG1-IgM-ELISA assay was determined by orthogonal experiment. The reproducibility, sensitivity and specificity of the assay were assessed. Thirty-five IgM-positive and 57 IgM-negative human sera detected by the imported IgM-ELISA kit were detected with the rSAG1-IgM-ELISA. Results The purity of rSAG1 was above 90%. The appropriate detecting condition was that the coated rSAG1 was 2 5 ?g/ml, the human serum was in 1∶100 dilution, and the second antibody was in 1∶4000 dilution. The coefficient of variation (CV) value of IgM-positive and IgM-negative pooled sera were 13 8% and 7 7% respectively. The inhibition rate of the assay was 62 0% The positive correspondence rate and negative correspondence rate were 82 9% (29/35) and 91 2% (52/57) respectively,the total correspondence rate was 88 0%, compared with the imported IgM-ELISA kit. Conclusions The rSAG1-IgM-ELISA has high sensitivity and specificity, and good correspondence rate with the imported IgM-ELISA kit. It indicates that rSAG1-IgM-ELISA has potential value for early diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.

Objective The staffs of biosafety level 3 laboratories (BSL-3) face with the stress of handling highly pathogenic microbs and special laboratory environment.The job stress may result in accidents in the laboratory as negative factor for the risk control.The research may provide support for the control of risk in biosafety laboratories.Methods In order to assess the job stress in the staff in BSL-3 laboratory, we modified “the Chinese simple job stress questionnaire”based on the theory of the JDC mode and ERI mode, and an investigation was carried out.The present study included the staffs (87 employees) from six BSL-3 laboratories located in five provinces ( Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Fujian and Wuhan) .Results Analysis of the data indicates that variables of age, working years, job duties, manipulating of animals, type of microorganisms and transmission route have a significant influence on the level of job stress in BSL-3 laboratory.Conclusion The BSL-3 laboratory staff in higher stress level have the characteristicses:20-39 years old, short work years, regular staff, operating on air-borne microbiology, manipulating of animals and operating on one more microbiology.