AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an important regulator of cellular energy homeostasis. Recent studies demonstrated that AMPK is a novel signaling molecule modulating inflammatory responses and oxidative stress which are involved in inflammatory pulmonary diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary infectious diseases and pulmonary fibrosis. AMPK attenuates inflammatory lung injury by phosphorylating its downstream targets, such as sirtuin1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha), p53 and forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a). This review summarized the relationship between AMPK and the development of inflammatory pulmonary diseases.

Objective To synthesize soybean isoflavones, and their 7-alkaline analogues and to evaluate their uterotrophic activities and anti-uterotrophic activities preliminarily. Methods The target molecules were synthesized by multi-step from resorcinol and p-substituted phenylacetic acid as the starting material. Their uterotrophic activities and anti-uterotrophic activities were evaluated by female mouse at the concentration of 1.1?10 -2 ?mol/ml and 1.85?10 -3 ?mol/ml. Results Twenty-two compounds were synthesized, among which 4 intermediates and 12 isoflavones are new compounds. Conclusion All the target molecules except for 6a show weak uterotrophic activities and high anti-uterotrophic activities.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) on experimental periodontitis in rats.

METHODSForty-two Wistar rats were divided into three groups. Rats in the normal group (NL group) did not undergo any procedure, whereas the other rats were ligatured and treated with saline solution (NaCl 0.9%) (LO group) or treated with CORM-2 (10 mg kg(-1) per day) (CO group). A 3-0 silk suture was placed around the mandibular first molars. Rats were sacrificed after 3, 7, and 10 d. Blood samples were collected from all animals for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) analysis. Changes in alveolar bone levels were measured clinically, and periodontal tissues were histopathologically examined to assess the infiltration of inflammatory cells.

RESULTSLigature placement increased alveolar bone loss and inflammatory cell infiltration in periodontal tissue. Alveolar bone loss in CO group was significantly higher than that in NL group, but was lower than that in LO group (P<0.05). The ratio of inflammatory cell infiltration in LO group was significantly higher than that in CO and NL groups, and that in CO group was lower than in LO group (P<0.05). Serum levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in the LO group were significantly higher than those in the CO and NL groups, and those in CO group were lower than in LO group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSystemic administration of CORM-2 reduced periodontal inflammation and alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis in rats.

Objective To observe the expression of acid-sensing ion channel la (ASICla) and to investigate the effect of intracellular Ca2 + concentration on focal cerebral ischemia in diabetic rats.Methods 108 male Wistar rats were divided into three groups:group A [rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)],group B [rats with MCAO and diabetes (DM + MCAO)],group C [rats with MCAO and diabetes treated with fasudil intervention (DM+ MCAO+ fasudil)] (n=36 each).Samples were obtained at the time points of 1,3,6 and 24 h after ischemia respectively (n=9).Models of MCAO and DM+MCAO were prepared.Rats in DM+MCAO+Fasudil group were treated with fasudil 1 mg/Kg by caudal vein injection after half an hour when DM+MCAO model successfully prepared.ASICla expressions were detected at different time points of ischemia in the 3 groups respectively.Ca2+ concentration in ischemia cortex cells were determined at different time points of ischemia in group B and C.Results ASICla expressions were gradually increased along with the ischemia time in group A and B (group A:0.71±0.10,0.80±0.11,0.86±0.08,0.93±0.09;groupB:0.86±0.11,1.05±0.51,2.42±0.08,2.78±0.04; all P＜ 0.05),and ASICla expressions at different time points were higher in group B than in group A (all P＜ 0.05).Ca2-concentration were gradually increased along with the ischemia time in group B (106.32± 18.6,137.84±14.32,151.94± 18.38,183.61±7.96,all P＜0.05).Compared with group B,the levels of ASICla expression and calcium current were reduced in group C.Conclusions The activation of ASICla increases calcium ion flow internal pathway leading to intracellular calcium overload,which may be one of the reasons for the aggravation of focal cerebral ischemia in diabetes.

AIM:Toinvestigatewhetherandhowhumanchorionicgonadotropin(HCG)treatmentameliorates endometriosis in the endometriotic rat model .METHODS:The rat model of endometriosis was established and the model rats were divided into 4 groups.The rats in HCG groups were treated with 19.4, 25.8 and 51.6 IU/100 g of HCG every day (low-dose HCG, medium-dose HCG and high-dose HCG, respectively).The rats in control group were treated with 0.9%NaCl.After 15 days (3 estrous cycles), the ectopic lesion volume and ultrastructural characteristics in eutopic and ectopic endometria were investigated .RESULTS: After HCG treatment , the volume of endometriotic lesions was signifi-cantly smaller than that before treatment .Numerous and mitochondrial , endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes were ob-served in the cytoplasm of eutopic and ectopic endometrium before treatment .After treatment , some cell structures were not clear , and mitochondrial cristae decreased or disappeared partly .Some cells were densed and shrinkage , autophagosome in cytoplasm increased , and mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum swelt .CONCLUSION:HCG therapy appears to be an effective treatment for endometriosis in rats attributed to its influence on cell metabolism dysfunction of eutopic and ectopic endometria .

Objective To evaluate the value of transrectal contrast enhanced ultrasound(TR-CEUS) in diagnosis of benign and malignant prostatic neoplasms.Methods Sixty patients with elevated level of serum prostate specific antigen and suspected prostate diseases were examined with transrectal uhrasound(TRUS), and TR-CEUS.The pattern and intensity of CEUS in these patients were observed;and the patients with nodules were examined with CEUS guided biopsy and sextant system biopsy after ultrasound imaging.Time-intensity curves (TIC) were drawn to calculate the parameters, and the difference between benign and malignant nodes was compared.Results All sixty prostate patients were confirmed by pathological examination.Thirty-seven patients belong to benign lesions, among them 15 patients with nodule lesion had total 20 nodules, while 22 cases had benign prostatic hyperplasia.In 23 cases of malignant lesions, 18 cases had centralized nodules and 5 cases showed diffuse pathologic changes.Benign nodes of inner gland showed a main pattern of homogenous enhancement and a clear node zone, whereas, malignant nodes displayed significant enhancement in peripheral tissue.The time to peak and accelerating time (ACT) of malignant nodes were shorter than those of benign nodes (P <0.05).There was no significance in arrival time (AT) between the two groups (P>0.05).The accordance rate of TR-CEUS in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant prostatic lesions was higher than that of TRUS (P<0.05).In addition, the sensitivity, specificity and accurate rate of TR-CEUS were higher than those of TRUS, whereas, both misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis rate of TR-CEUS were lower than those of TRUS.Conclusions TR-CEUS has clinical value for early discovery of prostatic cancer and has higher application value to differentiate malignant from benign diseases.

This study was aimed to explore the mechanism of Jia-Yan-Kang-Tai (JYKT) on Th1/Th2 immune cell imbalance in rats with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT).A total of 40 Lewis rats were made into AIT rat model.Six week later,AIT rats were randomly divided into the model group,low-dose,middle-dose and high-dose JYKT group,with 10 rats in each group.Intragastric administration of deionized water,0.708 g· kg-1,1.417 g· kg-1 and 2.834 g· kg-1 JYKT was given to rats in each group,respectively for 8 consecutive weeks.Serum TgAb and TPOAb were detected.The ratio of Th1 cell,Th2 cell and Th1/Th2 was measured.Contents of IL-4,IL-5,IFN-γ,TNF-α and IL-1oα in plasma were detected.The pathology of thyroid tissues was observed by HE dyeing.The protein expressions of IFN-γ and IL-4 in thyroid tissues were observed under immunohistochemical staining.The results showed that high-dose JYKT group can reduce the level of TPOAb and TGAb,the incidence of thyroiditis,the ratio of Th1 cell,Th2 cell and Th1/Th2;decrease contents of IFN-γ,TNF-α,IL-1α,IL-4 and IL-5 in plasma;reduce the protein expression of IFN-γ and IL-4 in thyroid tissues.It was concluded that JYKT was able to suppress thyroid autoantibodies of AIT rats,which may be related to the regulation of cytokine level and Th 1/Th2 immune cell imbalance.

Objective To study the influence of Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction on pulmonary tissue and lung function in mouse model of lung injury induced by PM2.5, and to provide an idea of clinical prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases induced by PM2.5. Methods Totally 30 clean level male ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, model group and Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction intervention group, with 10 mice in each group. Model of PM2.5-induced respiratory disease in mice was reproduced by instilling nasal cavity drip PM2.5 suspension 40 mg/kg once a day for 6 weeks. In the treatment group, the mice were fed with the Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction twice a day from the 4th week of instilling PM2.5 suspension until the end of experiment. In the normal control group, the mice were fed as usual. At the end of the experiment, the total protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio was determined. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in lung tissue under light microscope. The inflammatory mediators levels in lung tissue were determined by antibody-sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Respiratory system damage model was successfully reproduced by dripping of PM2.5 suspension in nasal cavity. Compared with normal control group, inflammatory changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in model group were significant, and lung W/D ratio (4.71±0.33 vs. 3.13±0.12), total protein content in BALF (mg/L: 363.98±18.24 vs. 82.13±12.78), tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α (ng/L): 185.72±0.23 vs. 31.03±0.16], interleukin-8 [IL-8 (ng/L): 531.85±37.83 vs. 72.64±16.72], and leukotriene B4 [LTB4 (ng/L): 931.74±48.64 vs. 483.81±41.74] in lung tissue were significantly increased (all P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the inflammatory changes of lung tissue in Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction intervention group were significantly reduced, lung W/D ratio (3.92±0.41 vs. 4.71±0.33), total protein content in BALF (mg/L: 213.21±19.62 vs. 363.98±18.24), TNF-α (ng/L: 124.15±0.27 vs. 185.72±0.23), IL-8 (ng/L: 238.42±35.82 vs. 531.85±37.83) and LTB4 (ng/L: 582.85±31.00 vs. 931.74±48.64) levels in lung tissue in Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction intervention group were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction can improve PM2.5-induced damage and pathological inflammatory changes in lung tissue, which provided some new ideas for the treatment of PM2.5-induced respiratory diseases.

Objective To explore the patients satisfaction with participation in medical and nursing decision making and the influencing factors among cancer patients, and to provide a basis for developing better medical care services. Methods Totally 159 cancer patients were recruited from Beijing Cancer Hospital, and then were investigated with the general information questionnaire, the patients′ expectation for participation in clinical decision making scale, the patients′ competence for participation in clinical decision making scale, and the patients′satisfaction with participation in medical and nursing decision making questionnaires. Results The total score of patients′satisfaction with participation in medical and nursing decision making were (45.92±3.91) and (34.25±3.31) respectively. Compared with female patients, male patients had higher satisfaction with medical decision making (46.45±3.24&44.87±4.84) and nursing decision making (34.68 ± 2.93&33.42 ± 3.84) (t=2.416, P=0.017;t=2.275, P=0.024);and compared with melanoma patients, lung cancer patients had higher satisfaction with medical decision making (46.51 ± 2.69&43.33 ± 7.07, P=0.002);compared withⅢstage patients, Ⅳstage patients had higher satisfaction with nursing decision making(34.97±2.24&32.40±4.56, P<0.01). Meanwhile, the satisfaction with participation in decision making was significantly positively associated with patients′ expectation and competence for participation in clinical decision making. Conclusions Patients′satisfaction for decision making may vary from different gender, tumor types, disease stages, and patients′expectation and competence. Health care providers still further strength patients′ knowledge and initiative of decision making, and then improve patients′satisfaction with participation in decision making.

Objective To study the effects of Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction (QRHXD) on inflammatory reaction and histopathology in mice with PM2.5-induced pulmonary injury, and to approach the possible mechanism of prevention and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine on lung injury induced by haze.Methods Fifty healthy male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 10): namely control, PM2.5, PM2.5+ low-, moderate-, and high-dose groups. The PM2.5 suspensions at a dosage of 40 mg/kg was respectively given to mice by the nasal instillation for reproduction of mouse model of lung injury induced by PM2.5, and the mice in control group were given the same volume of normal saline. The mice in PM2.5+ low-, moderate-, and high-dose QRHXD groups were given 15, 25, 50 mL·kg-1·d-1 QRHXD by oral perfusion daily for consecutive 21 days at the next day of model reproduction (the QRHXD included: Pear 75 g,Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae 10 g, Radix Stemonae 8 g,Rhizoma Pinelliae 8 g,Radix Platycodi 6 g, Aster 10 g, Almond 5 g, Lily 6 g, Rhodiola 4 g, Lotus 3 g,Fructrs Liquidambaris 6 g,Radix Paeoniae Rubra 5 g, Semen Cassiae 6 g). The mice in control and PM2.5 groups were given equivalent volume of normal saline respectively. After treatment for 21 days, the mice were sacrificed, and the left lung was harvested for bronchoalveolar lavage, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for determination of levels of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and albumin (ALB). The right lung was harvested for histopathology observation under light microscope using hematoxylin and eosine (HE) staining.Results After intranasal instillation of PM2.5 suspension, the levels of ACP, AKP, LDH, and ALB in PM2.5 group were significantly higher than those in control group [ACP (U/L): 3.9±0.4 vs. 1.7±0.3, AKP (U/L): 9.0±1.5 vs. 4.8±0.3, LDH (U/L): 416.7±44.4 vs. 112.5±20.3, ALB (mg/L): 198.7±32.4 vs. 65.8±21.3, all P < 0.05]. Under light microscope, the PM2.5 particles were collected, the alveolar septa were thickened, and the inflammatory cells in the alveolar cavity and pulmonary interstitium were found. On the contrary, after administration of QRHXD, a significant reduction of biochemical indexes was found, which showed a dose-dependent manner. The parameters of PM2.5+ high-dose QRHXD group were significantly lower than those in PM2.5 group [ACP (U/L): 2.1±0.8 vs. 3.9±0.4, AKP (U/L): 5.3±1.4 vs. 9.0±1.5, LDH (U/L): 146.6±29.8 vs. 416.7±44.4, ALB (mg/L): 88.5±26.7 vs. 198.7±32.4, all P < 0.05]. At the same time, the pathological changes in lung tissue were better with the increase of the dose.Conclusions QRHXD can reduce the pulmonary inflammatory response and tissue damage caused by PM2.5, with the increase concentration of Chinese medicine, and the effect is more obvious. This may be related to the immune response of the human body to regulate inflammatory mediators, which provide basis for the treatment of pulmonary injury induced by PM2.5.