BackgroundMonocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1)plays an important role in the tumor,inflammation,diabetic retinopathy and other neovascular disease,but the expression and the role of MCP-1 in the oxygen induced retinopathy(OIR) model have rarely been reported. Objective This study was to investigate the expression of MCP-1 in the retina development of newborn mouse and in mouse models with OIR.Methods C57BL/6J newborn mice were divided into two groups and 60 mice in each group.Mice in OIR group were exposed to 75％ oxygen for 5 days and then to room air.All mice in normal control group exposed to room air only.Ten mice in each group were randomly chosen and sacrificed at postnatal 5,7,12,14,17,21 days.The expression of MCP-1 in mouse retina was detected with the method of immunohistoehemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Results MCP-1 positive cells were seen in normal mouse retina.Up-regulation of MCP-1 positive cells was detected both in 12 days in normal control group and in 14 days in OIR group.MCP-1 mRNA was detected in mouse retina at 5 days,and a transient up-regulation of MCP-1 mRNA was observed in 12 days in normal control group.MCP-1 mRNA in OIR group significantly increased in 14 days in comparison with the normal control group( P =0.028,P =0.001 ). Conclusions Expression of MCP-1 is detectable in whole retinal development procession of mice.A transient up-regulation of MCP-1 expression is detected in the critical period of retinal vascular development in mice models with OIR,which is closely related to the retinal vascular development and progression of retinal new vessels.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the changes of neuro-electrophysiology and prognosis in children with Guillain-Barr? syndrome(GBS).MethodsThirty-eight children with GBS were divided into group A(rapid recovery,n=16) and group B(slow recovery,n=22) according to the time required for podosoma motor function recovery,at the same time,they were divided into the better prognosis group(n=22) and the worse prognosis group(n=16),for analyzing the difference between group A and B in terms of age,preceding infections,maximal Hughes grades and neuro-electrophysiology including motor conduction velocity(MCV),distal complex muscle action potential(dCMAP) and F wave,and investigating the related factors with the prognosis of GBS.Results1.MCV of tibial nerve was(40.2?2.53) m/s and(33.4?2.46) m/s in group A and group B,respectively;MCV of peroneal nerve was(45.2?3.23) m/s and(38.3?2.16) m/s in group A and group B,respectively,and the difference between group A and group B was significant(Pa0.05);abnormal rate of F wave(68.42%) was higher than abnormal rate of MCV(42.11%) and dCMAP(42.11%)(Pa

Objective To clone the human soluble interleukin-6 receptor(hsIL-6R) gene and expression in insect cell line. Methods The hsIL-6R gene was cloned into plasmid pAcGP67B. After co-transfection of recombinant plasmid and wild type AcNPV DNA, the rAcNPV was confirmed by the end point dilution assay and dot blot. Then it was purified by plaque assay. Results SDS-PAGE showed molecular weight of the expressed product was about 47 000. The expressed recombinant protein was confirmed to be specific and capable of binding its ligand IL-6 by Western blot and ligand-receptor binding assays. Conclusions Secretory expression of hsIL-6R gene in baculovirus expression system was indicated. The expressed product had immunological and biological activities.

Teixobactin, a cyclic-peptide antibiotic, destroys the cell walls of Gram-positive bacteria. It is therefore difficult for bacteria such as meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to develop resistance to it. Many scholars have studied the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of teixobactin. After reviewing the reports related to the discovery, structure, total synthesis and SAR of teixobactin, we found that the total synthesis of teixobactin was very difficult. The N-terminal methyl modification, ester bond and allo-End were unnecessary for the activity, the configuration of amino acids at the positions 1, 4, 5 and 8 could greatly influence the antibacterial activity, and the substitution of the amino acids at the 3, 4, 9 and 10 positions by Lys could retain the antibacterial activity.

Objective To identify the best technique of postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT).Methods Twenty-eight patients with stage Ⅱ or Ⅲ invasive breast cancer were treated with modified radical mastectomy and radiotherapy sequaciously involving the supraclavicular region and the chest wall.Three different techniques were developed for each patient:two tangential conformal fields ( half field) in the chest wall plus supraclavicular intensity modulated radiotherapy (3D-CRT + IMRT),integrated chest wall and supraclavicular IMRT(IMRT),and two tangential conformal fields (half field) in the chest wall plus single field electron beam radiotherapy in the supraclavicular region( 3D-CRT + E).The dose distributions of the target areas and the irradiated volumes of the ipsilateral lung ( V5,V10,V20,and V45)were estimated with the dosage volume histogram (DVH).The dosage prescription was 50.4 Gy (1.8 Gy × 28 f).Results The conformity index (CI) of the 3D-CRT + IMRT group was (0.61 ± 0.03),not different from that of the IMRT [ (0.62 ±0.03),q =2.16,P ＞0.05],and the CI levels of these 2 groups were both higher than that of the 3D-CRT + E group [ (0.44 ± 0.02 ),q =20.50,22.66,P ＜0.01 ].The heterogeneity index (HI) of the 3D-CRT + IMRT group was ( 1.17 ±0.02),not different from that of the IMRT [ (1.15 ±0.02),q =1.66,P ＞0.05],and the HI levels of these 2 groups were both lower than that of the 3D-CRT + E group[ ( 1.24 ±0.04),q =3.91,5.58,P ＜0.01 ].The levels of V5 and V10 of the ipsilateral lungs of the 3D-CRT + E group(48.70％ ±3.24％,38％.56％ ±3.70％ ) and 3D-CRT + IMRT group (49.12％ ±3.03％,38.38％ ± 3.56％ ) were all significantly lower than those of the IMRTgroup [(77.18％ ±8.01％,53.07％ ±6.85％),V5,q =20.35,20.05,P＜0.01; V10,q=12.10,12.24,P ＜0.01 ] and there were not significant differences in the V5 and V10 levels between the 3D-CRT + E and 3D-CRT + IMRT groups ( q =0.30,0.14,P ＞ 0.05 ).The levels of V20 of the ipsilateral lungs of the 3D-CRT + IMRT group (26.57％ ±2.51％ )and IMRT group (25.22％ ±2.77％) were all significantly lower that those of the 3D-CRT + E group [ (31.79％ ± 3.00％ ),q =5.27,8.21,P ＜ 0.01 ]and there were not significant differences in the V20 level between the 3D-CRT + IMRT and IMRT groups (q=2.76,P ＞ 0.05 ).There were not significant differences in the V45 levels among these 3 groups (F =0.69,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The 3D-CRT + IMRT technique in PMRT effectively reduces the radiated dose on the ipsilateral lung.

Objective To investigate the role of signal transduction of toll-like receptors(TLRs)in immunological pathogenesis in children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP).Methods Thirty children with actue ITP and 30 age-matched healthy children were studied.Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to evaluate the levels of TLR 1-10 and signal transducing molecules,and cytokines associated with TLRs,such as IL-1?,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor(GM-CSF),macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF)and IFN-?/? mRNA.Expressions of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD40,CD80 and CD86 in mo-nocyte/macrophage(MC)was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Compared with healthy control group,the mRNA levels of TLR3,7,8 and 9 in ITP group were significantly up-regulated(Pa0.05).Transcription le-vels of MyD88-dependent and-independent pathway molecules such as MD-2,MyD88,IRAK-4,TRAF6,TAK1,TRIF,TRAM,TBK-1 and IFN-? were significantly up-regulated in acute ITP(Pa0.05).Conclusion Aberrant activation of toll-like receptors signaling may be one of the initiating factors of immune dysfunction in children with acute ITP.

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of universal newborn hearing screening for deaf‐ness predisposing genes in newborns .Methods A total of 965 newborns at Subei Hospital in Yangzhou were taken blood samples at heel and received for deafness predisposing genes screening .The most common deafness genes were detected by gene sequencing ,including mt12SrRNA c .1555A > G ,c .1494C > T ,GJB2 35delG ,167delT ,176_191del16 ,235delC ,299_300delAT ,SLC26A4 281C> T ,589G>A ,IVS7 -2A>G ,1174A> T ,1226G> A ,1229C> T ,IVS15+5G> A ,1975G>C ,2027T > A ,2162C> T ,2168A> G ,GJB3538C> T ,547G> A .At the same time ,all infants received hearing screening .Otoacoustic emission(OAE) was used as the first step screening ,and OAE combined with auto-auditory brainstem response(AABR) detection were used as the second step screening . Results Fifty -three cases (5 .49% ) had partial gene mutation ,one case of 12SrRNA gene mutation ,33 cases of GJB2 gene mutation ,18 cases of SCL26A4 gene mutation ,one case of GJB3 gene mutation .Of 965 cases ,28 cases failed to pass hearing screening while 18 cases did not pass rescreening .There were 10 cases taking audiological di‐agnosis at the age of three months .Six cases were confirmed with hearing loss .There were 905 cases passed thehearing screening and genetic screening ,11 failed born hearing and gene screening .Conclusion That the newborn gene screening was added into the hearing screening can be helpful to find out the deafness predisposing genes and drug -induced or late-onset hearing loss .

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Tanreqing injection, a traditional Chinese herbal preparation for clearing heat and resolving phlegm, in treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) by improving airway inflammation and airway mucus hypersecretion. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed. Ninety AECOPD patients were randomly divided into Tanreqing group, ambroxol hydrochloride group and control group. The patients in the three groups were all treated with conventional therapy. Furthermore, intravenous drip infusion of 20 ml Tanreqing injection (once daily) and 15 mg ambroxol hydrochloride injection (twice daily) were administered respectively to the patients in the Tanreqing group and ambroxol hydrochloride group. They were all treated for 10 days. Symptom score of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), plasma concentrations of interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-10 and neutrophil elastase (NE) were detected before and after treatment. RESULTS: Cough, sputum amount, expectoration, dyspnea, fever, coated tongue and pulse tracings were improved obviously in Tanreqing group (P<0.05), and the effects of Tanreqing on improving cough, sputum amount and expectoration were better than the conventional therapy (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between Tanreqing group and ambroxol hydrochloride group (P>0.05). Compared with ambroxol hydrochloride group and the control group, the coated tongue was improved obviously in Tanreqing group (P>0.05). After treatment, plasma concentrations of IL-8, IL-10 and NE were decreased in Tanreqing group and ambroxol hydrochloride group (P<0.05), and the levels of IL-8 and IL-10 in the control group were decreased (P<0.05). The change of IL-8 level before and after treatment in Tanreqing group was greater than that in ambroxol hydrochloride group and the control group. The changes of IL-10 and NE levels in ambroxol hydrochloride group were greater than those in Tanreqing group and the control group, while there was no significant difference in the changes of serum levels of IL-8, IL-10 and NE among the three groups (P>0.05). Total response rates in Tanreqing group and ambroxol hydrochloride group were higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in total response rate between Tanreqing group and ambroxol hydrochloride group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in total response rate among the three groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Tanreqing injection can improve TCM signs and symptoms in AECOPD patients, and the mechanism maybe due to the decrease of serum levels of IL-8 and NE and improvement of IL-10 level.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Chaige Qingre Granule, a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine, in treating acute upper respiratory tract infection of wind heat syndrome. METHODS: A multi-center, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted. In the phase II, 60 patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection were randomly divided into the trial group (n=30) and the control group (n=30). In the phase III, 112 patients were randomly divided into the trial group (n=84) and the control group (n=28). The trial group received 6 g Chaige Qingre Granule, and the control group received 6 g Fufang Shuanghua Granule (another traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine). The two groups were all treated for 3 days and four times daily. Clinical symptoms, syndromes, adverse effect, blood, urine and stool test, hepatorenal function and electrocardiogram were examined before and after the treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the overall obvious response rates of the trial group and the control group were 78.57%, 82.14% (by per-protocol analysis) and 75.86%, 79.31% (by intention-to-treat analysis) respectively, and the overall response rates of the two groups were 96.43%, 100% (by per-protocol analysis) and 93.10%, 96.55% (by intention-to-treat analysis) respectively in phase II. There were no significant differences between the two groups (P>0.05). In the phase III, the overall obvious response rates of the trial group and the control group were 90.54%, 73.08% (by per-protocol analysis) and 88.16%, 70.37% (by intention-to-treat analysis) respectively, and the overall response rates of the two groups were 94.59%, 96.15% (by per-protocol analysis) and 92.11%, 92.59% (by intention-to-treat analysis) respectively. There were no statistical differences between the two groups (P>0.05) too. No adverse effects were found in the trial. CONCLUSION: Chaige Qingre Granule is effective and safe in treating acute upper respiratory tract infection of wind heat syndrome.

Objective It is well known that diethylstilbestrol ( DES ) can result in testicular oxidative injury , and one of its mechanisms of action is leading to dysfunction of steroidogenesis .The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between testicular oxidative injury caused by DES and the key synthetase activities for the synthesis pathway of steroidogenesis and the possible mechanism .Methods Twenty-four 4-wk-old male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into 4 groups , 6 rats each.Three doses of DES (0.1, 1.0 and 10 μg/kg· d) groups and a vehicle (corn oil) control group , were respectively administered by subcutaneous injection once a day for eight weeks .The rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks treatment and the body weight , testis, epididymis, prostate were weighed, respectively.The testicular tissues were homogenized and the oxidation of MDA and ROS , the activity changes of antioxidases SOD, CAT and GPx, as well asthe activities of steroid synthetases 3β-HSD1 and 17β-HSD3 were determined by biochemical measurement.The levels oftestosterone and LH in peripheral blood were measured by radioimmunoassay .The intensities of expression of StAR,P450scc, 3β-HSD1, 17β-HSD3-mRNA were detected by PCR.Results In the 10.0 μg/kg dose group, the weights andorgan coefficients of testis and prostate were decreased significantly , the oxidation of MDA and ROS was increased distinctlyand the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, 3β-HSD1 and 17β-HSD3 were reduced.The concentration of serum testosterone wasdecreased in the 10.0 μg/kg dose group.In the 10.0 μg/kg and 1.0 μg/kg dose groups, the decline of LH levelpresented a dose-dependent manner, and the intensities of immunochemical positive staining for StAR , P450scc, 3β-HSD1and 17β-HSD3 mRNA were decreased.Conclusions DES exposure results in disturbance of the oxidant /antioxidantbalance and decline of testosterone level that induces reproductive impairment in male rats .DES induces reductions of bothGPx and 3β-HSD activities which cause the decrease of testosterone synthesis .The expression of P450scc and 3β-HSDmRNA,which are the key synthetases in biosynthetic pathway of steroidogenesis , are inhibited by DES, and it isspeculated that the disturbance of steroidogenic synthesis enzymes may be one of the mechanisms of toxic effects of DES .