Th17 cells were identified as an independent lineage of CD4+ T cells that secrete a distinctive set of immunoregulatory cytokines, which play an important role in the pathogenesis of a diverse group of immune-mediated diseases. Recent data in humans and mice trials suggest that as the hallmark cytokine of Th17 cells, IL-17 involved in the inducement and the inflammation of allergy, such as asthma. IL-17 induces chemokine IL-8, and prominently recruits neutrophils in the airways in severe asthma exacerbations and may contribute to airway gland hypersecretion, bronchial hyper-reactivity and airway wall remodelling in asthma. Given the strong association between excessive Th17 activity and human diseases, new therapeutic approaches targeting Th17 cells are highly promising, but the potential clinical application need further investigation.

In this study, carbontetrachloride was administered orally to male Wistarrats at a dose of 2.5ml/kg body weight. The protective effects of RSM were comparedwith that of verapamil (a well-known calcium antagonist), and regitine (a vasodilator),to study the mechanisms of RSM action. The results showed that a significant correlation between CCl_4-induced liver tissuenecrosis and liver tissue calcium content(r=0.887, P

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of anus misoprostol for cervial dilation for menopausal women in hysteroscopy.Methods 86 menopausal women before hysteroscopy were divided into two groups.The misoprostol group(46 cases) were handled with misoprostal through anus.The control group(40 cases) were injected with lidocaine through cervix.Results Compared with the control group,the effective cervial dilatation rate of misoprostol groupwas significantly higher,and the incidence of abortion syndrome was lower.Conclusion Anus misoprostol can significantly facilitate cervial dilation in menopausal women before hysteroscopy.

BACKGROUND: It is reported that ceramide signal pathway may play an important role in the apoptosis of vascular endothelial cell and then lead to the progress of atherosclerosis, such as the formation of foam cells and the proliferation of smooth muscular cells.OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of the sphingomylinase activity and ceramide content in aorta of rabbits with experimental atherosclerosis and investigate the regulative effects and mechanism of emodin on them as compared with positive fenofibrate.DESIGN: Completely randomized controlled design.SETTING: Laboratory of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science of Sun Yat-sen University.MATERIALS: The experiment was completed at the Laboratory of Pharmacology & Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Science of Sun Yat-sen University from July to December 2003. Totally 48 New Zealand male rabbits were selected. Forty animal models of atherosclerosis were made with high cholesterol feed, and the other 8 rabbits were selected as the normal controls. Model animals were divided randomly into model group, 5 mg/kg emodin group, 10 mg/kg emodin group, 20 mg/kg emodin group and 25mg/kg fenofibrate group with 8 in each group.METHODS: At the seventh weeks of model duplication, 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg emodin were perfused in rabbits of emodin groups respectively, and 25 mg/kg fenofibrate was perfused in rabbits of fenofibrate group. Emodin and fenofibrate were diluted or suspensed with 2 mL saline once per day respectively. Rabbits in normal control group and model group were administrated with the same volume of saline for 4 weeks. The rabbits were raised separately and were fed with 135-150 g food per day.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: [1] The area of the lipid plaque in aortal intima; [2] the content of serum TC and TG; [3] SOD activity and MDA content; [4] SMase activity and CER content in aorta.RESULTS: Totally 48 rabbits entered the final analysis. [1] Area of the lipid plaque: Area of the lipid plaque was (48.87±15.5) % in the model group, which was larger than that in each emodin group (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),especially larger than that in the 10 mg/kg emodin group (22.19±12.9)%while that in the fenofibrate group was similar to that in the model group (P ＞ 0.05). [2] Content of serum TC and TG: The anrtal intima of control was smooth. Content of serum TC and TG in each emodin group were similar to those in the model group (P ＞ 0.05), but those in the 25 mg/kg fenofibrate group were lower than those in the model group (P ＜ 0.05). [3]Content of SOD and MDA in plasma: SOD activity of rabbits in each emodin group was higher than that in the model group (P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0.01),but the MDA activity in the 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg emodin group was lower than that in the model group (P ＜ 0.05). The MDA activity in the25 mg/kg fenofibrate group was similar to that in the model group (P ＞ 0.05).[4] Content of SMase and CER: Those in the model group were higher than those in the normal control group, but those in the 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg emodin groups were lower than those in the model group; those in the 25 mg/kgfenofibrate group were similar to those in the model group (P ＞ 0.05). [5]Analysis of correlation: Content of SMase was in positive relation with blood cholesterol (r=0.542, P ＜ 0.01), in positive relation with blood MDA (r=0.789, P ＞ 0.01), and in negative relation with blood SOD(r=-0.936, P ＞ 0.01); content of CER was in positive relation with blood cholesterol (r=0.433, P ＞ 0.05), in positive relation with blood MDA (r=0.673, P ＞ 0.01), and in negative relation with blood SOD (r=-0.876, P ＞ 0.01).CONCLUSION: The study finds that emodin, despite its insignificant effects on decreasing TG or TC, can protect vascular endothelial cells and reduce the area of lipid-laden plague of aortal intima by antioxidation, inhibition of the sphingomyelinase activity and reduction of the content of ceramide. It is suggested that moderate dosage of emodin employed in the study may be most appropriate to atherosclerosis treatment.

ObjectiveTo explore the changes of the levels of cytokines in patients with first-episode depression and the effect on the levels of cytokines after the treatment with duloxetine.MethodsThe serum levels of interleukin 1 ( IL-1 ),interleukin 6 ( IL-6 ),tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( TNF-αt ),interleukin4 ( IL-4 ),interleukin10(IL-10) were measured in 38 patients with depression before and after duloxetine treatment by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).HAMD score were assessed at pre- treatment and post-treatment to assess curative effect.The control group was 30 healthy individuals.All data were statisticaly analyzed by SPSS.ResultsBefore treatment,the HAMD score and the levels of serum IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1 in first-episode depressant patients were remarkablely higher than those in the control group( IL-6:( 10.66 ± 3.12 ) pg/ml vs (2.72 ± 0.91 ) pg/ml ;TNF-α:(77.49 ±3.12) pg/ml vs (37.48 ±5.87) pg/ml; IL-1:(39.09 ± 3.77 ) pg/ml vs ( 10.31 ± 1.05 ) pg/ml ),the levels of serum IL-4 and IL-10 in first-episode depressant patients were remarkablely lower than those in the control group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01 ).The HAMD score and the levels of serum IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1 in post-treatment were remarkablely lower than pre-treatment (P ＜ 0.05 ),but which were still higher than the control group(P＜ 0.05 ).The levels of serum IL-4 and IL-10 in post-treatment were remarkablely increased than pre-treatment(P＜0.05).The levels of serum IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1 were positively correlated with the HAMD score( r =0.667,0.486,0.727,P ＜0.01 ),but the levels of serum IL-4 and IL-10 were negatively correlated with the HAMD scorae ( r=-0.433,-0.269,P＜0.05,P＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionsThe first-episode depressant patients show immune disorder induced by cytokines.Anti-depressant activity of duloxetine may participate in the regulation of cytokines and Th1/Th2 unbalance.

This study was aimed to analyze the major protein composition of centipedes (Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L.Koch.), and the ACE inhibitory activity of its hydrolysis. Albumins, gulbulins, coixins and glutelins were sequentially extracted from centipedes flour with corresponding buffer and then quantified by Kjeldahl method and Brandford. Hydrolysation of four kinds of proteins of centipedes and the residues were conducted with pepsin. The hydrolysis was ultrafiltrated (MWCO=3 000) and lyophilized. The peptides (≤3 kD) were obtained to evalu-ate the ACE inhibitory activity by RP-HPLC. The results showed that the total protein content of centipedes was (62.69±1.41)%. Among which the contents of albumins, globulins, coixins, glutelins and residual were account-ing for (6.42±0.31)%, (7.94±0.24)%, (4.31±0.34)%, (40.66±0.56)% and (25.78±0.60)%, respectively. The inhibition rate of hydrolysis of four kinds of protein and residual were 50.28%, 57.37%, 31.15%, 58.99%, 80.81%, respectively. It was concluded that centipedes were rich in protein and the hydrolyzate of all proteins manifested ACE inhibitory activity at different extent. The residual and glutelins indicated strong ACE inhibitory potential by hydrolysis. This research provided valuable sights for exploring hypotensive activity and functional food from centi-pedes.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics, therapeutic outcomes and prognostic factors of primary nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma(PTCL). Methods Clinical records, therapy responses as well as prognostic factors of 19 PTCL patients were analyzed. Results The median age of the 19 patients was Ⅲ-Ⅳ, 84.2 % (16/19) with B symptoms, 84.2 % (16/19) with extranodal involvement, 57.9 % (11/19) with bone marrow involvement. After treatment, the complete remission (CR) rate was 36.8 % (7/19). The 2-year overall survival (OS) rate of all patients was 47.2 % and the 2-year progression free survival (PFS) rate was 25 %. The number of sites of extranodal involvement (EN)≥2, ECOG≥2, IPI＞2 and elevated β2-MG were poor prognostic factors. Conclusion Primary nodal PTCL is a heterogeneous group of aggressive T-cell lymphoma with poor chemotherapy results. Multifactors indicate negative prognosis.

Objective To observe the curative effects and toxicity of low-dose bortezomib plus thalidomide and chemotherapy in treatment of multiple myeloma. Methods 35 patients with initial, refractory or relapsed MM received at least two cycles of treatment with bortezomib at 1.1 mg/m2 intravenously on days 0,3, 7, and 10, and by daily oral thalidomide escalated from 50mg to 150 mg and chemotherapy. The chemotherapy regimens included MP, VAD and AD regimen which was chosen according to the status of patients. Results After a median follow-up of 20 months, the overall response rate was 82.8 %, complete remission (CR)48.6 %, very good partial remission (VEPR) 17.1%, and partial remission 17.1%. The 3-year PFS and OS were 60.92 % and 72.41% separately. ORR and OS were same in initial and refractory or relapsed MM patients. Grade 3 or 4 adverse events including debility (3/35), nausing and vomiting (8/35), constipation (4/35), peripheral sensory neuropathy (3/35), neutropenia (10/35) and thrombocytopenia (12 %) were observed.Conclusion The regimen of low-dose bortezomib plus thalidomide and chemotherapy is a highly effective and safety regimen for MM patients. The maintenane therapy with thalidomide may prolong PFS.

Objective To explore the acquired deficiencies of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors in etiology, clinical characteristics and treatment. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed on the data of etiology, clinical manifestations of 45 patients with acquired deficiencies of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factor. All patients were treated with Vitamin K1 10 -40 mg/d, i. v. , for three months. Some patients with severe blooding were additionally treated with fresh freezing plasma or prothromibin complex. Prothrombin time(PT) and activated partial thromboplastic time(APTT) were measured using Stago automatic blood coagulation analyzer before and after treatment. Ⅱ , Ⅶ, Ⅸ and Ⅹ were measured in some patients. Results Among the 45 cases, no certain cause was found in 19 cases (42.2%), anticoagulant rodenticides poison was a common cause ( 11 cases,42.3% ). The main presentations was hemorrhage, the most common bleeding sites were mucosa (77.8%) (35/45)and hematuria (46.7%) ( 21/45 ). After vitamin K1 treatment, PT and APTT had shortened remarkably from ( 110.35 ± 35.36 ) s,(98.91 ±48.98)s to (13.48 ±2. 17)s,(33.25 ±6.95)s,respectively(t=19.10 and 6.19,Ps ＜0.01)and the activities of factor Ⅱ、Ⅶ、Ⅸ、Ⅹ had rapidly increased from ( 17.48 ± 10.93 ) %, ( 10.23 ± 5.68 )%, ( 11.98 ±4.69)%,(12.93±7.48)% to (70. 12 ±21.31)%,(92.76 ±29. 15)%,(88.64 ±40. 21)%,(63.97 ±20.11)%(t=12.13,14.43,13.27and9. 74,respectively,Ps＜0. 01).Conclusions The histories of patients with acquired deficiencies of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors are usually hiding, therefore it is easily misdiagnosed. It is worth of detecting PT and APTT in diagnosis and monitoring. Using vitamin K1 10 -40 mg/d is effective and safety.

Objective To design nursing occupational safety and health curriculum reasonably.Methods With a semi-structured interview outline,focus group interviews among eight clinical nursing and nursing education specialists were conducted to develop the occupational safety and health curriculum design.Results It was important to set up nursing occupational safety and health curriculum.The main object,contents,teaching and evaluation methods were identified.Conclusions Occupational safety and health curriculum can be involved in nursing curriculum system to reduce occupational hazards and maintain physical and mental health of nursing students.