Bronchial asthma is defined as a chronic inflammatory airway disease in response to a wide variety of provoking stimuli.Over 200 million people in the world are affected with asthma.Because the incidence of asthma appears to be increasing,the importance of proper perioperative management of persons with asthma will also continue to increase.Patients with asthma are thought to be at high risk for pulmonary complications to develop during the perioperative period,and these complications may lead to serious morbidity.So it is very important to control asthma,to prevent and treat pulmonary complications for increasing operational success rate.

AIM: Direct exposure of cells to reactive oxygen species can induce apoptosis. In this study we investigate how oxidative stress induces cell death in HepG2 cells and characterize the molecular events involved. METHODS: Oxidative stress was created by exposing HepG2 cells to 2 mmol/L H2O2. Apoptosis was determined by analysis of DNA fragmentation by agarose gel electorphoresis. The mitochondrial membrane potential was analyzed using DePsipher fluorescent staining and the expression of cytochrome c in the cytosolic fraction was measured by Western blotting analysis.The caspase activity was detected using fluorometric assay kit by a fluorescence microplate reader. RESULTS: When HepG2 cells were treated with 2 mmol/L H2O2, the cells displayed DNA fragmentation, a typical feature of apoptosis, after 12 h. The mitochondrial membrane potential appeared different in two group of cells. H2O2 -treated cells appeared green fluorescence as early as 4 h, which represents de - energized mitochondria, the untreated cells appeared red fluorescence,a feature of mitochondria with intact membrane potential. In treated cells, the expression of cytochrome c increased and accumulated in cytosolic fraction with treatment time, caspase - 3 activity increased by 6.7 - fold ( P ＜ 0.01 ) at 8 h and caspase -9 activity increased by 3.6 - fold (P ＜ 0.01 ) at 12 h, respectively, however, the activity of caspase - 8 remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that oxidative stress can induce apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells, and the mechanism is related to mitochondrial pathway, which activates caspase -9 and- 3, but not caspase -8.

Purpose To study the clinic-pathological features, differential diagnosis and prognosis of extragastrointestinal stromal tumor ( EGIST) arising in the vulva and the rectovaginal septum. Methods Clinical manifestations, pathological features, immunohisto-chemistry, gene mutations, treatment and prognosis were analyzed in 1 case of EGIST arising in the vulva and 2 cases of EGIST arising in the rectovaginal septum with review of related literature. Results Case 1 was a 59-years-old woman who was found to have a 4. 4 cm × 3 cm × 3 cm recurrent mass in the right vulva after 6 months of the first resection. Case 2 was a 58-years-old woman who presen-ted with a 7. 3 cm × 6. 1 cm × 4. 6 cm mass in the rectovaginal septum. Case 3 was a 41-year-old woman who presented with an 8. 6 cm × 7. 4 cm × 6. 7 cm mass in the rectovaginal septum. Histologically, the uniform spindle cells showed the interlacing fascicular, whirl-pool and palisade patterns with high cellular density. Mitotic figures were readily identified. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed that the tumor cells exhibited strong and diffuse staining for CD117, CD34, NES, H-Caldesmon and DOG-1. Molecular analysis showed the gene mutation of c-Kit exon 11 in all 3 cases. Conclusion EGIST should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the mesenchymal tumors arising in the vulva and the rectovaginal septum. The immunohistochemical evaluation and molecular genetic tes-ting are crucial tools for the differential diagnosis and assessment of the prognosis and targeted therapy of EGIST.

Objective To study the prevalence and characteristics of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis(IPF).Methods A total of 48 patients with diffuse parenchymal lung disease(DPLD) including 25 IPF and 23 other DPLD were enrolled from Department of Respiratory Disease in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University.All patients were subjected to 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring.Pulmonary function test and HRCT of lung were performed at the same time.Results The prevalence of GERD in IPF patients was 64.0％,which was significantly higher than that in other DPLD patients.DeMeester scores were significantly higher in IPF patients than those in non-IPF group[(22.8 ± 21.5) score vs (15.7 ± 14.0) score respectively P ＜ 0.05].Numbers of reflux longer than 5 minutes [(3.8 ± 4.1) time vs (2.1 ± 2.1) time respectively) and reflux index (1.8 ± 1.7 vs 1.3 ± 1.2) in IPF group were higher than those in non-IPF group,yet without statistical significance.Patients with IPF had significantly higher values of following parameters than those in non-IPF patients including percentage of total reflux time(pH ＜ 4.0) (9.2 ± 5.1) ％,percentage of upright reflux time (8.5 ± 5.2) ％,percentage of supine reflux time (10.8 ± 10.7) ％,numbers of reflux (54.2 ± 22.7) time,numbers of regurgitation longer than 5 minutes (6.3 ± 4.2) time,thelongest reflux time (14.5 ± 15.3) min,reflux index 2.5 ± 1.7 and DeMeester scores (34.9 ± 20.3) time (P ＜ 0.05).DeMeester score was positively correlated with gastroesophageal reflux diseases questionnaire (GerdQ) score (r =0.667,P ＜ 0.01).The prevalence of typical GERD sympotoms in the IPF-GERD patients was higher (heartburn 7/16,regurgitation 6/16) than that in IPF patients without GERD (heartburn 2/9,regurgitation 1/9).Conclusion Patients with IPF have a high prevalence of GERD,but usually without typical GERD symptoms.In the hospitals 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring not available,GerdQ can be used to identify GERD in IPF patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of microtubule depolymerization (MD) on the spontaneous beating rate, action potential (AP), and oxygen consumption of cardiac myocytes in rats and its mechanism.

METHODSOne-hundred and eighty neonatal SD rats divided into 12 batches were used in the experiment, and 15 rats in each batch were sacrificed for the isolation and culture of cardiac myocytes after the heart tissues were harvested. The cardiac myocytes were respectively inoculated in one 12-well plate filled with 6 round cover slips, one 12-well plate filled with 6 square cover slips, two cell culture flasks, and two cell culture dishes. After routine culture for three days, the cardiac myocytes from all the containers were divided into normal control group (NC, routinely cultured with 3 mL DMEM/F12 solution rewarmed at 37 °C for 3 h) and group MD (routinely cultured with 3 mL DMEM/F12 solution rewarmed at 37 ° and containing 8 µmol/L colchicine for 3 h) according to the random number table, with 3 holes, 1 flask, or 1 dish in each group. The morphological changes in microtubules were observed with confocal laser scanning microscope after immunofluorescent staining. The content of polymerized or dissociative α-tubulin was determined by Western blotting. Spontaneous beating rate of the cells was observed and calculated under inverted microscope. Dissolved oxygen concentration of DMEM/F12 solution containing cardiac myocytes was determined by oxygen microelectrode system before and after the addition of colchicine. Additionally, dissolved oxygen concentration of DMEM/F12 solution and colchicine + DMEM/F12 solution was determined. The whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record AP, delayed rectifier K+ current (I(K)), and L-type Ca2+ current (I(Ca-L)) in cardiac myocytes; current density-voltage (I-V) curves were drawn based on the traces. Data were processed with independent or paired samples t-test.

RESULTS(1) In group NC, microtubules of cardiac myocytes were around the nucleus in radial distribution with intact and clear linear tubiform structure. The microtubules in group MD were observed in dispersive distribution with damaged structure and rough linear tubiform structure. (2) In group MD, the content of dissociative α-tubulin of cells (0.61 ± 0.03) was obviously higher than that in group NC (0.46 ± 0.03, t = -6.99, P < 0.05), while the content of polymerized α-tubulin (0.57 ± 0.04) was significantly lower than that in group NC (0.88 ± 0.04, t = 9.09, P < 0.05). (3) Spontaneous beating rate of cells was (59 ± 8) times per min in group MD, which was distinctly higher than that in group NC [(41 ± 7) times per min, t = 5.62, P < 0.01]. (4) Dissolved oxygen concentration of DMEM/F12 solution containing cardiac myocytes was (138.4 ± 2.5) µmol/L, and it was reduced to (121.7 ± 3.6) µmol/L after the addition of colchicine ( t = 26.31, P < 0.05). There was no obvious difference in dissolved oxygen concentration between DMEM/F12 solution and colchicine + DMEM/F12 solution (t = 0.72, P > 0.05). (5) Compared with that of group NC, AP morphology of cells in group MD changed significantly, with unobvious repolarization plateau phase and shorter action potential duration (APD). The APD20, APD50, and APD90 were respectively (36.2 ± 3.8), (73.7 ± 5.7), and (115.1 ± 8.0) ms in group MD, which were significantly shorter than those of group NC [(40.2 ± 2.3), (121.4 ± 7.0), and (169.4 ± 5.6) ms, with t values respectively 2.61, 15.88, and 16.75, P values below 0.05]. (6) Compared with that of group NC, the I-V curve of I(K) of cells in group MD moved up with higher current density under each test voltage (0 to 40 mV) after activation ( with t values from 2. 70 to 3. 76, P values below 0.05) . (7) There was not much alteration in current density of I(Ca-L) under each test voltage (-30 to 50 mV) between 2 groups (with t values from -1.57 to 1.66, P values above 0.05), and their I-V curves were nearly overlapped.

CONCLUSIONSAfter MD, the I(K) is enhanced without obvious change in I(Ca-L), making AP repolarization faster and APD shortened. Then the rapid spontaneous beating rate increases oxygen consumption of cardiac myocytes of rats.

Action Potentials ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Energy Metabolism ; Microtubules ; metabolism ; Mitochondria, Heart ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tubulin ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the affect of body positions on biochemical indexes. Methods By autogenous contrast and cross matched survey, 107 volunteers divided into 3 season patches of winter, spring and summer, blood samples were drawn from the same part in both standing and lying positions。From19 persons, blood samples were collected respectively after standing and sitting for 15 min, lying for 15 min and 30 min and then sitting for another 15 min。 The blood samples were analyzed for 32 biochemical indexes on analyzer。Results 25 biochemical indexes in sitting position were significantly different from those in lying position (P0。05)。Conclusions Changing body position can result in obvious physiological variation of 28 biochemical indexes, particularly of those related to protein. Such result may lead to abnormality in some marginal values. It suggests body position should not be neglected in analyzing laboratory data.

Objective To develop a micro-circumstance airtight cabin for in the study of biological aerosols detection with such functions as airflow control and temperature and humidity detection .Methods Wind speed sensors , temperature and humidity sensors , electrical control valves , high efficiency filters and the vacuum pump formed the micro-circumstance regulating system .The techniques of airflow direction control , temperature compensation , air pressure control and aerosol uniformity distribution were used .Numerical simulation of aerosol concentration distribution in the airtight cabin was achieved using Fluent software .The bioaerosol concentration in different locations was tested by experiments .Results The micro-circumstance airtight cabin consisted of an airtight cabin and a control cabin .The control cabin used a single-chip microprocessor to provide air supply and exhaust air to the airtight cabin in a seaparate exhaust mode and cyclic ventilation mode.It worked under a negative pressure condition .Through numerical simulation,the aerosols were distributed through-out the cabin after five minutes of generation and the bottom airflow arrived at the top .The distribution of aerosol concentra-tion was approximately uniform .Conclusion The micro-circumstance airtight cabin is suited to various bioaerosols testing research thanks to its negative pressure working without bioaerosol leakage .

A total of 16 patients with airway stenosis including benign lesion (n=4) and malignant disease (n=12) were treated with argon plasma coagulation (APC) and Z-type covered retrievable metallic stent.L-and I-type stents were placed by guidance of brenchoscope,while Y-type stent was placed by the guidance of both bronchoscope and fluoroscope.Airway stenosis was from (58.8 +9.1)% before APC to (7.5±2.4)% after APC in tracheal,from (67.4±7.4)% to (19.4±4.1)% in left main bronchus,from (69.6±8.9)% to (27.6±5.4)% in right main bronchus.Symptoms of chest distress and breathlessness were improved remarkably,tachypnea indexes were decreased,but Kamofsky performance scope were increased.Twelve stents were successfully installed by the first time,including 9 Y-shape;otherwise,4 stents failed to be installed because the carinal was too wide to insert the Y-shape stent in two patients with lung cancer,finally,L+I type stents were used.Median survival time after successful stenting was 10 months,and mean time was 13 months.APC combined with bifurcated metal stants relieved obstruction and improved quality of life.

Following rapid social and economic development over the past several decades,pollution by heavy metals has been both serious and widespread in many areas of the world,including China.The situations of heavy metal pollution in China were reviewed,and the health risk and control policy of such pollution were also analyzed and discussed in present paper.

Aim To investigate the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in adenosine induced HepG2 cell apoptosis.Methods HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of ADO for 36 h,and the effect of ADO on cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay.Cell nuclei DAPI staining was used to detect the nuclei change after being treated with different concentrations ADO for 36 h or 2.0 mmol?L-1 ADO for different time.The effect of ADO on HepG2 cell cycle was analysed by flow cytometry after being treated with 2.0 mmol?L-1 ADO for 12 h or 24 h.Translocation of CHOP and Caspase-3 were measured by immunofluorescence after being treated with 2.0 mmol?L-1 ADO for 36 h.The proteins expressions of CHOP,Caspase-4,Caspase-3 and JNK were assayed by western blot.Results The viability of HepG2 cell decreased in a dose-dependent manner;the relative cell viability of 0.5,1,2,4,6 mmol?L-1 decreased by 13.48%?0.12%,27.92%?0.25%,35.21%?0.42%,51.46%?0.24%,71.42%?0.58%,compared with the control group respectively.The nuclei of HepG2 cells treated with different ADO concentrations or 2.0 mmol?L-1 ADO showed condensation,rounding and shrinkage,then fragmentation,which demonstrated cell apoptosis.After being treated with 2.0 mmol?L-1 ADO for 12 h or 24 h,cell cycle analysis showed sub-G1 phase increased;the apoptotic ratio of control,12 h and 24 h was 1.55%?0.12%,10.96%?0.07% and 21.04%?0.26% respectively.Immunofluorescence assay showed the CHOP and Caspase-3 translocation to the nuclei after being treated with 2.0 mmol?L-1 ADO.The expressions of CHOP,Caspase-3 and Caspase-4 increased after being treated with different concentrations ADO for 36 h,while the expression of JNK did not change.Conclusion Endoplasmic reticulum stress is involved in adenosine-induced HepG2 cell apoptosis.