Objective To investigate the characteristic and clinical significance of airway inflammation in children with acute asth-ma. Methods Underwent sputum induction and sputum induction in children (n=34) with acute asthma was repented in recovered children ( n = 24).Induced sputum were also taken from 15 healthy children as controls.Total and differential cell counts were per-formed. Interleukin(IL)-8、IL-6 were measured,The relationship between inflammatory cells and IL-8、 IL-6、peak expiratory (PEF) were analyzed.Results The inflammatory cell infiltrate was mixed including eosmophilic granulocytes, neutrophils, and macrophages. They decreased significantly, but eosinophilic granulocyte remained a higher percentage compared with healthy subjects. There was low-er percentage of lymphocytes at acute exacerhation.Eosinophilic granulocytes were correlated with the degree of airflow obstruction. Levels of IL-8、IL-6 were elevated during the acute exacerbation and decreased at resolution.IL-8 was correlated significantly with neutrophils at acute exacerhation and resolution.IL-6 was correlated signifficantly with eosinophilic granulocytes at acute exacerbation. Conclusions Airway inflammation is chataeterized by infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils and macrophages.IL-8、IL-6 possibly is the important cytokines of airway inflammation in children with acute asthma. Increased eosinophils in induced sputum correlates with asthma severity. Therapy to the cytokines may have potential values.J Appl Clin pediatr,2004,19(12): 1023-1025

Objective To study exogenous expression and subcellular localization of wild type (WT ) and mu-tant PAX3 proteins in vitro by generating their expression plasmids for further study of pathogenesis of Waarden-burg syndrome (WS) .Methods The plasmids pECE-PAX3 and pcDNA3 .0-HA were ligased after they were cut by double enzyme digestion using molecular cloning technique to generate recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3 .0-PAX3-HA ,which was as a template to generate expression plasmids pcDNA 3 .0 -H80D -HA and pcDNA3 .0-H186fs-HA of novel mutations H80D and H186fs of PAX3 gene .All constructs were verified by di-rect nucleotide sequencing .NIH3T3 cells were transfected transiently with the expression plasmids of PAX3 ,H80D and H186fs respectively .The exogenous expression of WT PAX3 protein and mutant H80D ,H186fs proteins were analysed using Western blot assay ,while their subcellular distribution were observed using immunofluorescence as-say .Results The DNA sequences of expression plasmids of PAX3 and its mutant H80D ,H186fs were correct . Both WT and mutant PAX3 proteins were detected at the expected size .WT PAX3 and H80D proteins were only lo-calized in the nucleus ,whereas H186fs protein showed aberrant localization in both cytoplasm and nucleus .Conclu-sion We successfully generated the recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmids of PAX 3 gene and its mutants and drew preliminary conlusion of gene mutation having effect on subcellular distribution of WT PAX 3 proteins in vitro , which lays experimental basis for further study of the moceluar mechanism of WS caused by PAX3 gene mutations in China .

Aim To investigate the role of TGF-β3 in the anti-proliferation effect of ursolic acid(UA)in co-lon cancer cells and the possible molecular mechanism underlying this effect.Methods We introduced crys-tal violet staining,flow cytometry and Western blot as-say to determine the effect of UA on proliferation and apoptosis in HCT1 1 6 cells.The levels of TGF-β3, Smad2 /3 and β-catenin in HCT1 1 6 cell were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western blot.Finally,TGF-β3 inhibi-tor and recombinant adenovirus,and luciferase reporter assay were used to analyze the possible mechanism through which TGF-β3 mediated the anti-cancer effect of UA in HCT1 1 6 cells.Results UA inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis apparently in HCT1 1 6 cells.UA down-regulated TGF-β3 both in mRNA and in protein level.Meanwhile,UA decreased the phosphorylation of Smad2 /3 concentration depend-ently,although no significant effect was found on the total protein level of Smad2 /3 in HCT1 1 6 cells.Over-expression of TGF-β3 attenuated the inhibitory effect of UA on the proliferation of HCT1 1 6 cells,while the TGF-β3 inhibitor potentiated this effect. UA sup-pressed the transconduction of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in HCT1 1 6 cells through decreasing the level of β-catenin.Exogenous expression of TGF-β3 increased the level of β-catenin and partly reversed the UA-in-duced decrease of β-catenin.However,TGF-β3 inhib-itor potentiated the inhibitory effect of UA on β-catenin in HCT1 1 6 cells.Conclusion The anti-proliferation activity of UA in colon cancer may be partly mediated through down-regulating TGF-β3 to suppress Wnt/β-catenin signaling at least.

Platelet-activation factor (PAF), one of the potent proinflammatory mediators, is produced from a large range of cells, including polymorphonuclear neutrophils, monocytes, and natural killer cells. To study the role of PAF in the pathogenesis of silicosis, we determined the PAF in silicotic patients and in healthy persons. The results showed that the concentration of PAF in the plasma of silicotic patients was significantly higher than that of healthy persons. Our in vitro experimental results showed that the total numbers of fibroblasts were markedly raised with added PAF from 0 to 1 μ g/ml. Adding 1 μ g/ml PAF significantly increased the total numbers of fibroblasts after culture for 48, 72, 96 hrs. Therefore, we suggest that PAF be possibly involved in the pathogenesis of silicosis. However, the mechanism remains to be further elucidated.
Platelet Activating Factor ; g <3> ; Pathogenesis ; /mL ; Effective

Aim To investigate the relationship be-tween the anti-proliferation effect of resveratrol ( Res ) and p38 MAPK in colon cancer cells .Methods Crys-tal violet staining , Western blot and flow cytometry were employed to analyze the effect of Res on the pro-liferation in LoVo cells.Western blot assay was used to detect the effect of Res on the apoptosis of LoVo cells and the phosphorylation of p 38 MAPK.Crystal violet staining and Western blot assay were used to analyze whether p38 MAPK was involved in the Res-induced proliferation inhibition and apoptosis in LoVo cells .Re-sults Res inhibited the proliferation , arrested cell cy-cle at S phase , and increased the protein level of PC-NA in LoVo cells apparently .Res increased the level of Bad in LoVo cells, but decreased the level of Bcl-2. Although Res exerted no substantial effects on total lev-el of p38 MAPK, it markedly increased the phospho-rylation level of p38 MAPK in LoVo cells.p38 MAPK inhibitor promoted the proliferation , and decreased the anti-proliferation effect of Res on LoVo cells .Moreo-ver , the effects of Res on the level of Bcl-2 and Bad were both reduced by the p 38 MAPK inhibitor .Con-clusions Res can inhibit the proliferation of LoVo cells, which may be partly mediated by promoting the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of varicella attenuated live vaccine ( VarV) produced by A Co. Ltd. Methods We selected 3 provinces in China and enrolled 15 002 children aged 3-<11 in this random, multicenter study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: the ex-perimental group and the control group. Every varicella case was collected and recorded to calculate the vac-cine efficacy. Vaccine safety was assessed by means of spontaneous report and regular follow-up visits. Re-sults During the observation period, the incidence of varicella was 0. 147% in the experimental group and 1. 155% in the control group (P<0. 001). The vaccine efficacy was 87. 27%. The adverse reaction rate af-ter vaccination was lower than the rates reported in other literatures. Conclusion The VarV produced by A Co. , Ltd. in China was effective and safe in preventing varicella.

Aim To study the anti-proliferation effect of resveratrol (Res)and the role of Res-induced bone morphorgenetic protein 9 (BMP9 )in this process in colon cancer cells.Methods Crystal violet staining and flow cytomtry were introduced to assay the anti-proliferation effect of Res in LoVo cells.The effect of Res on apoptosis in LoVo cells was also detected with flow cytometry.Then,RT-PCR and Western blot assay were employed to unveil the effect of Res on the ex-pression of BMP9 .The effect of BMP9 on the anti-pro-liferation of Res in LoVo cells was analyzed with crystal violet staining and flow cytometry too.Finally,the effect of Res on the expression of ALK2 and ALK3 was assayed with RT-PCR,and the inhibitor of ALK2 and ALK3 was used to figure out the possible mechanism of BMP9 on Res-induced proliferation inhibition in LoVo cells.Results Res apparently inhibited the prolifera-tion,arrested the cell cycle at S phase in LoVo and in-creased the percentage of apopotic cells in LoVo cells. Res increased the expression of mRNA and protein of BMP9 concentration dependently. Exogenous ex-pressed-BMP9 enhanced the anti-proliferation and ap-optosis inducing effects of Res in LoVo cells, but BMP9 knockdown decreased these effects of Res.Al-though Res had no apparent effect on increasing the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8,it increased the ex-pression of ALK2 and ALK3 .Inhibition of ALK2 and ALK3 decreased the anti-proliferation effect of Res partly in LoVo cells.Conclusion Res is potent to in-hibit the proliferation of LoVo cells,Which may be mediated by up-regulating the expression of BMP9 and its receptor at least.

Objective To investigate the effect of low salt diet on vascular remodeling of rat induced by high fructose(HF).Methods Wistar male rats weighed 180-200 g were fed for 8 weeks and randomly divided into 6 groups:(1) control group was given the normal fodder and distilled water;(2) high fructose group(HF) was given normal fodder (0.5 ％ NaCl,w/w) and fructose water(10 ％,w/v);(3) high-salt group (HNa) was given high salt fodder (7 ％ NaCl,w/w) and distilled water;(4) high fructose combined with high salt diet group(HFNa) was simultaneously given high salt fodder and 10 ％ fructose water;(5)high fructose combined low salt group(HFLNa) was simultaneously given low salt fodder and 10％ fructose water;(6) high fructose combined with spirotaclone group(HFE) was given 10％ fructose water for 4 weeks and then added with spirotaelone(50 mg · kg-1 · d-1 by tube feeding) for continuous 4 weeks.The changes of arterial blood pressure,vascular wall histological evaluation and expression of α-SMA and fibronectin in vascular wall were detected in each group.Results (1) Compared with the blood pressure[(111.03 ±9.17) mm Hg] in the control group,the blood pressure in the HF and HNa groups were (133.94± 5.86) mm Hg and (128.09±7.56) mm Hg respectively,which were significantly increased(P＜0.05);(2) HF mainly caused the hyperplasia of vascular wall middle layer smooth muscle.The a-SMA expression results in the HF group was (0.006 3 ±0.000 21),which in the control group was (0.004 6 ± 0.000 31),the difference was statistically significant(P＜0.05),moreover which promoted the elastic fibers increase;while HNa mainly stimulated the elastic fibers to thicken and extracellular matrix deposition,the fibronectin expression was 0.002 6 ± 0.000 2 in the HNa group and (0.004 7±0.000 2)in the HF group,compared with(0.001 3±0.000 1)in the normal group,which were significantly increased(P＜0.001);(3) the blood pressure was (106.04±9.59) mm Hg in the HFLNa group,(103.99±7.12) mm Hg in the HFE group,compared with(133.94±5.86) mm Hg in the HF group,showing that the blood pressure in the HFLNa group and HFE group was significantly decreased compared with the HF group (P＜0.05);moreover the vascular remodeling in the HFLNa group(0.006 8±0.000 2) and HFE group (0.004 2±0.000 4) was improved,and compared with the HF group(0.006 3±0.000 2),α-SMA expression was significantly decreased (P＜0.05).Conclusion Low salt diet can effectively improve vascular remodeling induced by HEF.

The inhibitory effect of hydroxyapatite ultrofine powder (HAUFP) on tumor and the effect on the immunity function of body were investigated. The levels of IL-2 in the spleen cells and serum TNF levels in the tumor-bearing mice at the 7th day and 14th after peritoneal injection of HAUFP were detected by using the methods of colorimetric analysis of MTT and crystal purple decoration, respectively. The disappearance of the ascites of the mice was observed. The results showed that the levels of IL-2 and TNF in the tumor-bearing mice were higher obviously in the drug-treated group than in the control group (P<0.01), the ascites growth was inhibited. It was suggested that HAUFP could increase the levels of IL-2 and TNF of the tumor-bearing mice and improve the immune function of body.

The inhibitory effect of hydroxyapatite ultrofine powder (HAUFP) on tumor and the effect on the immunity function of body were investigated. The levels of IL-2 in the spleen cells and serum TNF levels in the tumor-bearing mice at the 7th day and 14th after peritoneal injection of HAUFP were detected by using the methods of colorimetric analysis of MTT and crystal purple decoration, respectively. The disappearance of the ascites of the mice was observed. The results showed that the levels of IL-2 and TNF in the tumor-bearing mice were higher obviously in the drug-treated group than in the control group (P<0.01), the ascites growth was inhibited. It was suggested that HAUFP could increase the levels of IL-2 and TNF of the tumor-bearing mice and improve the immune function of body.