Objective The aim of this study was to understand the pollen concentration and the daily variation during 2007 in Beijing by monitoring.Methods Burkard volumetric strap was used for the pollen sampling from August 1st to October 20th.Genus of pollen was identified by light microscope.Results Artemisia and Humulus.L pollen were the dominant airborne pollen in late summer and autumn in Beijing City.The average pollen concentration of Artemisia and Humulus.L were 71 grain/m3, 124 grain/m3.Both of them lasted from the August 8th until October 6th or 8th.Statistical analysis showed that the pollen concentration of Artemisia or Humulus.L at 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm was higher than that at 6:00 am to 8:00 am.Conclusion It is the first work to conduct the monitoring of the concentration of Artemisia and Humulus.L pollen with Burkard sampler in Beijing.Humulus.L is the dominant airborne pollen during August and September.

Objective:To investigate the airborne pollen concentration in Beijing city during autumn and to grade the Artemisia pollen concentration .Method:Burkard volumetric trap was used to sample the airborne pollen in Beijing city from August 1st 2007 to October 10th 2007. Patients only allergic to mugwort pollen were followed up, and their symptom scores and the mugwort pollen concentration were analyzed statistically.Result:①Mugwort and Humulus(including Cannabis Sativa L) were the main airborne pollen during August and September in Beijing city, accounting for 31% and 51%,respectively; ②Mugwort pollen season was from 8th August to 8th October;③The daily peak concentration of Mugwort pollen was 267 g/m~3,with an average of 71 g/m~3,the daily peak concentration of Humulus pollen was 672 g/m~3,with an average of 124 g/m3;④88.5% out-patients suffering from hay fever or asthma during Autumn were allergic to mugwort, 28.2% allergic to Humulus;⑤the grading of airborne Mugwort pollen concentration: 0～14 g/m~3 as grade 0, 15～40 g/m~3 as grade Ⅰ, 41～116 g/m~3 as grade Ⅱ,more than 117 g/m~3 as grade Ⅲ.Conclusion:It was the first time that Burkard volumetric sampler was employed in monitoring Mugwort and Humulus concentration in Beijing city. Average concentration of mugwort pollen was about 100 g/m~3, and concentration grade Ⅲ of mugwort pollen was distributed during the last ten days of August and the beginning of September.

Objective To study the changes of S100βin serum and brain tissue of rats with sepsisassociated encephalopathy (SAE).Methods After placement of pole plates of electroencephalogram (EEG) on the brain cortex,thirty SD rats were randomly (random number) divided into three groups post hoc:sepsis group in which rats were made to be sepsis models by cecal ligation and puncture (n =18),normal group (n =6) and sham operation group (n =6).The sepsis-associated encephalopathy was diagnosed with electroencephalogram taken by RM6240 physiological signal recorder.Meanwhile,heart rate and blood pressure were recorded.Eight hours later,serum and brain tissue of sacrificed rats were taken for measuring S100β.The results ware analyzed with one-way ANOVA.Results Of 18 sepsis rats,3 were dead,8 without SAE and 7 with SAE.The levels of S100βin serum and brain tissue of rats with SAE group were significantly higher than those in normal group and sham operation proup (P ＜ 0.05).The Ratio of brain/serum S100βin rats with SAE group was higher than that in rats without SAE (1.74 vs 1.51,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Significantly high level of serum S100βwas a reliable bio-marker for diagnosis of SAE in rats.

Objective To investigate the expression changes of hepatic gelsolin (GSN) and the potential effect of traditional Chinese medicine Xuebijing injection in septic rats. Methods A total of 104 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, ie, normal control group (n = 8), sham operation group (n = 32), cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP group, n = 32) and Xuebijing treatment group (n = 32). The sepsis animal models in the last two groups were developed by CLP. In Xuebijing treatment group, animals were treated intravenously with Xuebijing injection (4 ml/kg) at 2, 12, 24,36, 48 and 60 hours after operation, respectively. Animals were sacrificed respectively at 6, 12, 24, and 72 hours after operation to harvest blood and hepatic tissue samples. Markers of liver function, contents of GSN and Gc globulin and expression of GSN mRNA in the liver tissues were detected. Results Compared with normal control group and sham operation group, hepatic GSN content was decreased significantly at various intervals in CLP group (P ＜ 0. 05), which reached the lowest value of (1.42 ±0.50) ng/mg at 12 hours. Meanwhile, expression of GSN mRNA in the liver was markedly enhanced at six hours after CLP and remained a high value until 72 hours, compared with the sham operation group (1.203±0.053 vs 1.030 ±0.084, P ＜0.05). Similarly, the hepatic Gc globulin contents was increased in the CLP group compared with the normal control group and sham operation group (P ＜ 0.05).After treatment with Xuebijing injection, the hepatic GSN contents at 6-72 hours was increased gradually while serum ALT and AST levels at 6, 12 and 24 hours were reduced significantly in comparison to the CLP group (P ＜ 0.05). Nevertheless, treatment with Xuebijing injection showed no marked effect on hepatic GSN mRNA expression and Gc globulin release (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Hepatic GSN contents are persistently reduced in the development of sepsis and treatment with Xuebijing injection can markedly attenuate acute liver injury through increasing GSN contents in severe sepsis.

Objective To investigate the resistance of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii against aminoglycosides and its resistance genes.Methods The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of seven antimicrobials (gentamicin, amikacin, tobramycine, netilmicin, neomycin, streptomycin and kanamycin) against 20 strains of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii were detected by agar dilution method. Meanwhile, two resistance genes of aminoglycoside nucleotidyltransferase were amplified by PCR and vertified by DNA sequencer.Results It was found that MIC50 and MIC90 of gentamicin, amikacin, streptomycin and kanamycin in 20 strains of Acinetobacter baumannii were all above 1 024 mg/L, and their resistant rates were 95%, 95%, 100% and 90% respectively, while the resistant rates of tobramycin, netilmicin and neomycin were 85%, 90% and 40% respectively. Two aminoglycoside-modification genes ant(2″)-Ⅰ and ant(3″)-Ⅰ were detected in 20 strains, with 55% and 80% of positive rate respectively. The double positive rate of two resistance genes was 50%.Conclusion The resistance of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii against aminoglycosides was closely associated with ant(2″)-Ⅰ and ant(3″)-Ⅰ genes.

Objective To establish a flowcytometry method for detecting phagocysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(Mth) by the human peripheral blood neutrophils( PMNs), and to explore the effects of Thl and Th2 cytokine on phagocytotic activity of PMNs. Methods By using acid-fast staining the phagocytosis of Mtb by human neutrophil was observed by microscopy, and the phagocytosis of FTTC labeled Mtb by human neutrophils was detected under confocal microscope. The whole fresh peripheral blood of healthy adults was incubated with FTTC labeled Mtb and the phagocytosis were measured by flow cytometry. The altered phagocytosis of FTTC-Mtb by neutrophils pretreated with IL-2, IFN-γ, GM-CSF or IL-4 were measured. Results Human peripheral blood neutrophils activity of Mtb phagocytosis was observed by acid-fast staining and confocal microscope. The percentage of phagocytosis of Mtb was dependent on the time of incubation with Mtb. The percentages were 47% at 5 min and reached plateau about 66% ～72% at 15 min to 20 min.Pretreatment with different concentrations of IL-2 or IFN-γincreased the phagocytosis of Mtb by 76.7% and 75.2%, respectively; but pretreatment with IL-4 decreased the phagocytosis by 31.7%. Conclusion IL-2and IFN-γcan increase phagocytosis of Mth by neutrophils; while IL-4 can reduced neutrophil activity of phagocytosis of Mtb by human neutrophils, and demonstrate that Th1/Th2 type cytokins involve in regulating the acitvities of neutrophils anti-Mtb infection.

Objective To investigate the expressions of minichromosome maintenance protein 5 (MCM5)and P1 6 INK4A gene and protein in cervical squamous cell cancer (SCC),cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)and normal tissues.Methods Real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry were used respectively to detect the expression levels of mRNA and protein of MCM5 and P1 6 INK4A in 40 cases of cervical cancer,1 1 cases of CIN I,1 5 cases of CIN Ⅱ - Ⅲ and 1 5 cases of normal cervical tissues.Results ① The expression levels of mRNA and protein of MCM5 and P1 6 INK4A in tissues of cervical squamous cell cancer were significantly higher than those in normal cervical tissues,CIN I and CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ tissues (P <0.05).The expression level of P1 6 INK4A was significantly higher in tissues of cervical squamous cell cancer than in normal cervical tissues and CIN I tissues (P < 0.01 ). However,it did not differ from that in CIN Ⅱ-Ⅲ tissues (P >0.05 ).② The high expression of MCM5 mRNA and protein in cervical squamous cell carcinoma was positively correlated with clinical stage and differentiation grade of cervical cancer (P <0.01),but not correlated with age (P >0.05).P1 6 INK4A expression exhibited no correlation with clinical stage or age of patients (P >0.05),but positive correlation with differentiation grade (P <0.01).③ A positive correlation was found between MCM5 and P1 6 INK4A expressions in cervical cancer (r = 0.538,P <0.01).Conclusion The over-expressions of MCM5 and P1 6 INK4A may play an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of cervical cancer.MCM5 may be used as a new marker of the proliferation of cervical cancer. Detection of P1 6 INK4A and MCM5 is of great significance to studying the grade and outcome of CIN,which may improve the rate of cervical cancer screening.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To study the effects of soybean isoflavones on mitochondrial ultrastructure, neuronal apopto-sis and expression of cytochrome C, caspase-9 and caspase-3 in the rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.METHODS:Adult healthy SD rats ( n=60 ) were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham group, ischemia/reperfusion injury ( I/R ) group and soybean isoflavone ( SI) pretreatment group.Soybean isoflavones (120 mg· kg-1 · d-1 ) were fed by gastric lav-age for 21 d.The global ischemia/reperfusion model of the rats was established by blocking 3 vessels, and then reperfused for 1 h after 1 h of ischemia.The morphological change of the cerebral cortex cells was observed under light microscope. The mitochondrial ultrastructure of the cerebral cortex cells was determined by transmission electron microscope.The apop-totic rate of the cerebral cortex cells was detected by flow cytometry.The expression of cytochrome C, caspase-9 and caspase-3 in the cerebral cortex cells was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS:Disintegration of mitochondria membrane and disappearance of the mitochondrial cristae were seen in I/R group.Compared with I/R group, the change of ultrastructure of mitochondria was significantly improved by soybean isofla-vone pretreatment, and the neuronal apoptotic rate was also significantly decreased (P<0.01).The mRNA expression and protein content of cytochrome C, caspase-9 and caspase-3 in I/R group were obviously higher than those in sham group ( P<0.01).Compared with I/R group, the mRNA expression and protein content of cytochrome C, caspase-9 and caspase-3 in SI group were significantly decreased (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: Soybean isoflavones attenuate cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by stabilizing the structure of mitochondria, preventing cytochrome C release to the cytoplasm, inhibiting the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and decreasing cell apoptosis.

The effect of bunolol on ?-adrenergic receptor of various tissues of animals were reported. The results showed that cumulative dose-response curves of isoprenaline were shifted paratlely to the right by bunolol ( 10-8, 10-7, 10-6mol/L ) on isolated rabbit atrium and guinea pig trachea preparation utilizing isoprenaline as a beta-receptor agonist. In the isolated rabbit right atrium preparation,the pA2 value of bunolol antagonizing the chronotropic action of isoprenaline was 9.3. In the isolated guinea-pig trachea preparation,the pA2 value of bunolol antagonizing the isoprenaline-induced relaxation was 9.1. By contrast, the 〔pA2 ( ?1 )- pA2 ( ?2 ) 〕 value of bunolol was 0.2, suggesting its ?-blocking action in the atrium being nearly 0,6 times more than that in the trachea. Also, comparison with pfopranolol, the blocking effect of bunolol on cardiac ?1 receptor and on trachea ?2 receptor were 4 times and 1.6 times more than that of propranolol respectively.Bunolol ( 1 mg/kg ) could, block completely the vasodilating response of epinephrine ( 10?gAg ) . At the same dosage, bunolol had no effect on blood pressure and heart rate of prior reserpini-sation rats.

Objective To investigate the clinical values of NT-proBNP in left ventricular enlargement(LVE) and left ventricular dysfunction(LVD) of the patients with essential hypertension(EH) to provide a diagnostic basis for their diagnosis .Methods Plas-ma NT-proBNP concentrations in 120 patients with EH and in 29 normal controls were measured ,then the echocardiography exami-nation was performed to determine the left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) ,left ventricular end-diastolic diameter(LVEDD) , left atrium(LA) and left ventricular systolic diameter(LVSDD) .The correlation between plasma NT-proBNP with LVE and LVD was analyzed .The diagnostic accuracy of NT-proBNP was analyzed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve .Results There were no statistically significant differences in the aspects of age ,sex and serum creatinine between the EH group and con-trol group ,but plasma NT-proBNP level of the former was significantly higher than that of the latter .The NT-proBNP level in the patients with LVE was significantly higher than that in the patients with normal left ventricle (P<0 .05) .The NT-proBNP level in the LVD patients was significantly higher than that in the patients with normal left ventricular function (P<0 .05) .The plasma NT-p roBNP level was positively correlated with LA ,LVEDD and LVSDD(r=0 .518 ,0 .58 ,0 .48 ,P<0 .01) while negatively crrelated with LVEF(r= -0 .61 ,P<0 .01) .The ROC curve showed that when the NT-proBNP was set at 380 pg/mL ,the sensitivity and specificity of NT-proBNP for diagnosing LVE were 80 .6% and 72 .4% ;which for diagnosing LVD were 80 .8% and 77 .4% ,re-spectively .Conclusion NT-proBNP is closely correlated with multiple ultrasonic indicators reflecting the left ventricular function and its level can reliably reflect the left ventricular contraction function ,which can serve as the marker for screening LVE and LVD in the patients with EH .