AIM: To study the immune regulation of paecilomyces cicadidae total polysaccharides. METHODS: After subcutaneous injection with 200 mg/L paecilomyces cicadidae total polysaccharides in the back of the rats for 17 days, the white blood cell (WBC) counts, and the levels of lipid peroxide (LPO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the spleen and thymus of rats were detected. The alveolar macrophages (AM?) cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum-RPMI-1640 for 2 h in vitro , then the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and acid phosphatase (ACP) were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer, and the ability devouring neutral red in the AM? were examined. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the WBC, the levels of GSH in the spleen and thymus, and the activities of LDH and ACP were significantly increased and the ability of devouring neutral red was also strengthened( P

AIM: To explore the immunomodulatory effect of paecilomyces cicadidae polysaccharides (PCPS).METHODS: Subcutaneous injection with 50, l00, 200 mg/kg of PCPS were given in the back of the rats everyday for l5 days. The number of white blood cells (WBC) was counted. The activities of acid phosphatase (ACP) and lactase dehydrogenase (LDH)in liver, kidney, spleen and thymus were detected by automatic biochemistry analyzer. The ability of devouring neutral red and activity of ACP, LDH, arginase in alveolar macrophages were also detected. The body weight of the rat everyday during experiment and weight of the spleen and thymus after the rats were killed were measured and wet weight index was calculated.RESULTS: The wet weight index of spleen and thymus, the activity of ACP, LDH, arginase and ability of devouring neutral red in alveolar macrophages in the test group treated with PCPS were significantly higher than those in control group. CONCLUSION: PCPS shows a significant immunomodulatory effect with the increasing counts of WBC and activation of alveolar macrophages in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and influencing factors of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among students close contacts diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis in Baoshan District, Shanghai, so as to provide the basis for the prevention and control of pulmonary tuberculosis among students. Methods: Pulmonary tuberculosis cases identified among students or teaching staff were selected as index cases through the Surveillance System of Chinese Disease Prevention and Control Information System, school reports, notification of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from April 2021 to November 2023, and student close contacts in their schools were selected as research subjects. Demographic information, lifestyle and Mycobacterium tuberculosis test results were collected through questionnaires surveys and pulmonary tuberculosis screening. LTBI was defined as a positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis test result with the exclusion of active pulmonary tuberculosis. The influencing factors for LTBI among student close contacts were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 1 212 student close contacts were included, with 651 males and 561 females, resulting in a gender ratio of 1.16︰1. The mean age was (18.48±4.33) years. Among them, 32 cases were detected with LTBI, yielding a detection rate of 2.64%. Higher LTBI detection rates were observed among students who shared the same dormitory with pulmonary tuberculosis cases (9.26%), attended private schools (5.54%), lived on campus (3.54%), and obtained meals through take-out services (6.52%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that sharing the same dormitory with pulmonary tuberculosis cases (OR=3.604, 95%CI: 1.256-10.338), attending a private school (OR=2.327, 95%CI: 1.083-5.003), and three meals a day through canteens (OR=9.561, 95%CI: 2.029-45.057) or through take-out services (OR=19.222, 95%CI: 3.528-104.732) were associated with a higher risk of LTBI. Conclusion The close contacts of students with pulmonary tuberculosis in Baoshan District are at risk of LTBI, which is mainly affected by the degree of contact with tuberculosis cases, the strength of school epidemic prevention and control, and students' eating habits.

Objective To investigate the role of plasma tissue factor (TF) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor-1 (TFPI-1) level and to observe the effect of extrinsic TFPI-1 on no-reflow (NR) in a rabbit model of ischemia/reperfusion. Methods Rabbits were randomized into four groups (n = 10 each): ischemic- reperfusion group (IR, subjected to 120 minutes of coronary artery occlusion and followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion); ischemic- reperfusion TFPI-1 group (100 ng/kg bolus and 1 ng · kg~(-1) · min~(-1) infusion during reperfusion) ; ischemic group (subjected to 180 minutes of coronary artery occlusion) and sham group. The NR area and ischemic area were determined by thioflavin S and Evan's blue staining in vivo. Plasma TF and TFPI-1 levels were measured before operation, before and at 120 minutes post coronary artery ligation, 10 and 60 minutes after reperfusion by ELISA. Results Plasma TF and TFPI-1 levels before and at 120 minutes post coronary artery ligation were similar among the four groups (all P > 0.05). At 10 and 60 minutes after reperfusion, the plasma TF levels in the IR group was significantly higher than those in ischemic group and sham group [10 minutes: (20.7 ±4. 1) pg/ml vs. (13.9 ±2. 2)pg/ml(P <0. 001), (20.7±4. l)pg/ml vs. (13.2±2.6) pg/ml(P<0. 001); 60 minutes; (15.8±2.6) pg/ml vs. (13.5± 1.6) pg/ml(P<0.05), (15.8 ±2.6) pg/ml vs. (12.1 ±0.7) pg/ml (P < 0. 001)] while the plasma TFPI-1 levels were similar among IR, ischemic and sham groups at 10 minutes after reperfusion and at 60 minutes after reperfusion (all P >0. 05). TFPI-1 level [(9.7 ± 1. 6) ng/ml] was significantly lower in the IR group than in the ischemic group [(11.6 ±1.6) ng/ml, P < 0. 05] and sham group [( 10. 1 ±1.3) ng/ml, P < 0. 01] . TF mRNA expression in the NR area in IR group was significantly up-regulated compared to the ischemic group (P<0. 05) and sham group (P <0. 001 ) while TFPI-1 mRNA expression was similar between IR group and ischemic group ( P > 0. 05 ) . NR severity in the ischemic-reperfusion TFPI-1 group was significantly attenuated compared to IR group (0. 39 ±0. 11 vs. 0.54±0.06, P<0.01). Conclusion Upregulated TF mRNA expression in the NR area and increased plasma TF level during reperfusion period, reduced plasma TFPI-1 level during reperfusion period as well as attenuated NR severity by extrinsic application of human rTFPI-1 in this model suggested an important role in the pathogenesis of the NR phenomenon.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of the root of Hemerocallis fulva.

METHODCompounds were isolated by repeated silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, MCI gel, etc. column chromatography and their structures were determined by spectral analyses and physicochemical properties.

RESULTFrom the n-butanol fraction of the EtOH extract of the roots of H. fulva, 9 glycosides were isolated and identified as sweroside (1), laganin (2), picraquassioside C (3), puerarin (4), 3'-methoxypuerarin (5), 7-hydro xylnaphthalide-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (6), orcinol-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (7), HN saponin F (8), hederagenin-3-0-beta D-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside-28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (9).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-9 were isolated from the genus Hemerocallis for the first time.

Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hemerocallis ; chemistry ; Iridoid Glucosides ; Iridoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Objective To investigate the effect of amphotericin B com-bined with endoscopic surgery on inflammatory response and immune function in patients with fungal rhinosinusitis ( FRS ).Methods One hundred and four cases of patients with FRS treated with amphotericin B combined with endoscopic surgery were selected as treatment group.And 104 cases of healthy volunteers were randomly selected as control group.Patients in treatment group were treated with 4μg· mL-1 amphotericin B for nasal wash , once every day for 4 weeks.Patients in control group received no surgery or treatment.In treatment group before and after surgery , serum interleukin 4 ( IL -4 ) , IL -6 , IL -12 , IL -17 , lipoprotein ( a ) [ Lp ( a ) ] , high -sensitivity C -reactive protein ( hs-CRP) , total lymphocyte count , CD3 +, CD4 +, CD8 +, CD19 +, immunoglobulin G ( IgG) and IgM levels were detected.Results After surgery , 96 cases in treatment group achieved cure ( 92.31%) , 8 cases had no effect ( 7.69%).In treatment group before surgery , serum IL-4, IL -6, IL -12,IL -17,Lp (a), hs -CRP levels were significantly higher than those in control group ( P<0.01 ).After surgery , IL-4 , IL-12 and hs -CRP in treatment group were significantly higher than those in control group ( P <0.01 ), and without significant difference in comparison of IL -6, IL -17 and Lp ( a ) ( P>0.05 ) .Before surgery , total lymphocyte count , CD3 +, CD4 +, CD8 +and IgG in treatment group were signifi-cantly lower than those in control group , while theses indexes significantly increased after surgery ( P<0.01 ) , but significantly lower than that in control group ( P<0.01 ).In comparison of CD19 +and IgM between the two groups , there was no significant difference ( P>0.05 ).Conclusion Amphotericin B combined with endoscopic surgery helped to improve inflammatory response and immune function in patients with FRS .

The transcriptional repressor RE1 silencer transcription factor(NRSF/REST) is an important factor that restricts some neuronal traits in neurons.Since these traits are also present in pancreatic islet cells,NRSF-regulated genes involved in islet function are searched.A NRSE-like motif was analysed in human insulin promoter.The role of NRSE was evaluated by generating a model of insulin-secreting cells that firmly express NRSF.The presence of NRSF led to a decrease in activity of human insulin promoter by stable or transient transfection with human insulin-promoter luciferase.The predicted NRSE-like motif also confers NRSF-dependent transcriptional repression in the context of a surrogate gene promoter.Specific binding activity of NRSF/REST to the NRSE-like motif was confirmed by EMSA.Moreover,the binding activity is competed by consensus NRSE sequence.These data showed that human insulin promoter is regulated by the transcriptional repressor NRSF/REST via the NRSE-like motif.

PURPOSE: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, and is associated with upregulation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), the enzyme that hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine, producing lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and free fatty acids. LPC is a lipid mediator with known pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic properties, and is believed to be a critical factor in cardiovascular diseases. We postulate that asthmatic subjects have an elevated content of LPC in the lung lining fluids. METHODS: Eight non-asthmatic controls and seven asthmatic subjects were recruited for broncho-alveolar lavage fluids (BALF) collection for analysis of LPC by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: LPC16:0 and LPC18:0 were significantly elevated in the BALF of asthmatics with impaired lung function characteristic of moderate asthma, but not mild asthma. The increased LPC content in BALF was accompanied by increased PLA2 activity. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis of the BALF cell fraction indicated increased secretory PLA2-X (sPLA2-X). CONCLUSIONS: The increased LPC content in the lung lining fluids is a potential critical lipid mediator in the initiation and/or progression of airway epithelial injury in asthma.
Asthma ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Lung* ; Lysophosphatidylcholines* ; Mass Spectrometry ; Phosphatidylcholines ; Phospholipases A2 ; Therapeutic Irrigation ; Up-Regulation

Objective To explore the conception,mechanism,clinical manifestations,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of ectopic pituitary adenoma. Methods The clinical data of 3 patients with ectopic pituitary adenoma, admitted to our hospital from October 2010 to March 2011, were retrospectively analyzed and discussed by reviewing the relevant literature. Results Clinical manifestations ofectopic pituitary adenoma were as follows:2 had headache,1 had sexual dysfunction and blurred vision, and 1 had acromegalia combined with psychiatric symptom. Endocrinological examination showed that 1 had obviously increased growth hormone (GH) and 1 increased prolactin (PRL).MRI scan indicated that 2 were located in sphenoid sinus and I was located in the sphenoid sinus and clivus.Contrast-enhanced MRI showed enhanced lesions.Total removal was achieved in 2 patients through the trans-sphenoidal approach; partial removal was achieved in the patient with sphenoid sinus and clivus.Pathology examination demonstrated as pituitary adenomas. Conclusion The patients with ectopic pituitary adenoma have neurological dysfunction or/and endocrinological dysfunction; CT and MRI play valuable role in their diagnosis; radical resection of tumor can achieve satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Objective To investigate the cost-utility of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in China.Mcthods A total of 630 patients from 13 cities undergoing PCI during the first half year of 2006 were enrolled in this study.The 36 items derived from the short form of health survey(SF-36)were applied prospectively in these patients before and 9 months after PCI.The cost per every incremental mark of SF-36 and quality adjusted life year(QALY)were calculated.Results(1)The age was lower than 60 years old in more than 50%patients.(2)In terms of detailed costs,material costs accounted for 82.5%of the hospitalization costs.medications costs accounted for 6.8%,and operation fee accounted for 5.9%.These 3 iterns comprised 95.2% of overall hospitalization costs,and 69.8% material costs were the cost for stents.(3)The average re-admission hospitalization costs were 17 841.5 RMB in 44 patients who were rehospitalized due to occurrence of major adverse cardiac events.(4)Follow-up made at months 1,3,6,9,and 12 post index procedure showed that an average cost for postoperative drug treatment was 831.50RMB per month,and most patients spent 400.0 RMB for drug treatment per month.(5)The average quality of life score increased by 20.59 post PCI(P<0.05 vs.pre-PCI).The cost-effective analysis indicates that the cost per every incremental mark of SF-36 was 3975.7 RMB.The cost per every QALY gained was 59 898.3 RMB.Conclusion PCI is effective for patients with coronary heart disease and the cost per QALY in China was positioned in an acceptable range.