Objective To evaluate the ability of goblet cell in the airway in rat with asthma to synthesize granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF),and the role of calcium-activated chloride channel (CLCA) in the synthesis. Methods A model of asthma was replicated in male BALB/c mice with ovalbumin sensitization. The goblet cells in small bronchi were identified with AB-PAS staining,and the expression of GM-CSF in the same airway was assessed with immunohistochemistry staining. The recombinant plasmid of pIRES2-EFGP/hCLCA1 was transfected stably into the human mucoepidermoid cell NCI-H292. The expression and transcription levels of GM-CSF in transfected cells were determined with immunohistochemistry staining and RT-PCR assay. The non-transfected cell and the transfected cell exposed to niflumic acid (NFA),which was a CLCA inhibitor,were designated as two control groups. Results Positive staining of GM-CSF expression could be seen in the goblet cells of small bronchi. The cells with expression of hCLCA1 showed much higher levels of GM-CSF expression and transcription than those of two control groups. It was also found that NFA could effectively reduce the levels of GM-CSF in transfected cells. Conclusion The goblet cell of asthmatic airway can synthesize GM-CSF,and one of mechanisms is the increased expression of CLCA.

AIM: To investigate the effects of fluvastatin on the airway remodeling in a guinea pig model of asthma. METHODS: Asthmatic guinea pig model was established by intraabdominal injection of ovalbumin and aluminium hydroxide and challenged with ovalbumin once every other day for 60 days. 30 guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups: control group ( n= 10), asthma group ( n= 10) and fluvastatin plus asthma group ( n= 10) in which fluvastatin was inhaled at concentration of 0.5 g/L 30 min before every challenging. The thickness of airway smooth muscle layers of every three groups were compared after Haematin-Eosin staining by image analysis system. The level of ras mRNA in airway were examined by Dot-blot molecular hybridization. The expression levels of ras p21 were also examined by immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS: The mean thickness of airway smooth muscle in asthma group was (74 27?3 30) micrometer, greater than that of control group [(38 57?3 37) micrometer ( P

AIM: Niflumic acid (NFA) is known as a kind of inhibitor of calcium-activated chloride channel. The inhibition and mechanism of NFA on the proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) were investigated. METHODS: Using [ 3H]-TdR incorporation method, we examined the effect of NFA (at concentration of 10 and 50 ?mol/L) on the proliferation of primarily ASMCs from BALB/c mouse. With confocal laser scanning microscope the [Ca 2+ ]i in ASMCs exposed to histamine was observed, and the opposed effects of NFA and nifedipine on histamine were also checked. Finally the effect of NFA on expression of MAPK in ASMCs was examined by indirect immunofluorescent assay. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the proliferation of NFA group was reduced markedly with dependent concentration. Histamine significantly improved the [Ca 2+ ]i in ASMCs, but NFA and nifedipine showed the inhibition on the effect of histamine. NFA reduced the level of MAPK expression in ASMCs. CONCLUSION: It is demonstrated that NFA inhibits the proliferation of ASMCs by reducing [Ca 2+ ]i and the expression level of MAPK. [

AIM: To observe the preventive effect of DNA vaccine based on human calcium-activated chloride channel 1 (hCLCA1) on airway hyperresponsiveness in asthmatic mice.METHODS: The DNA vaccine was constructed by inserting the hCLCA1 gene into pSecTag-2A, and then BALB/c mice were vaccinated by im. once every two weeks. Serum antibody was checked with the antigen of mCLCA3 by ELISA analysis. Asthma was induced with ovalbumin in the vaccinated mice. The airway pressure time index (APTI), the contractile responsiveness of isolated tracheal rings and the number of eosinophil in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were investigated. Mice injected with pSecTag-2A, saline or normal mice were regarded as control groups. RESULTS: The title of antiserum binding to mCLCA3 in vaccine group was 1∶800 to 1∶(1 000) after three times vaccination. Compared with normal group, APTI, contractile responsiveness and number of eosinophil in vaccine group, pSecTag-2A or saline group were increased markedly (P

Objective To investigate the feasibility of amplitude of intraoperative nerve action potentials (NAP) for early quantitative diagnosis of peripheral nerve injury. Methods The sciatic nerve injury model were established in 16 rabbits. Intraoperative NAP were recorded after 4 weeks. According to amplitude of NAP, the injuried nerve were divided into 3 groups: NAP ＜ 100 μV in A group, 100 μV ≤NAP ＜ 500 μV in B group, NAP ≥ 500 μV in C group. Nerve specimen 1cm distal to injuried point were resected that received glycine silver stain and image analysis including number, diameter and cross section area of regenerative axons. Footprint parameter and ulcer area were measured and contrasted between each two groups. Results The number, diameter and cross section area of A group regenerative axons have significant difference with B and C group, no significant difference between B and C group; Footprint parameter and ulcer area have significant difference in each two groups. Conclusion Amplitude of intraoperative NAP can be a quantitative criteria to diagnose the degree of peripheral nerve injury that provides experiment evidence for guide intraoperative decision-making in clinical practice.

Radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFT) of the gasserian ganglion is a routine and effective technique for the treatment of classical trigeminal neuralgia (CTN). In this study we compared its efficacy in patients with CTN and atypically symptomatic or mixed trigeminal neuralgia (MTN). Fifty-seven patients were treated with RFT for trigeminal neuralgia from June 2006 to February 2009. Thirty patients had CTN, and 27 had MTN. Outcomes were measured by using the visual analog pain scale (VAS) and patients' reports of quality of life (QOL), medication usage, and complications over a follow-up period of up to 3 years. Our results showed that the patients with MTN were younger, tended to have bilaterial involvement of the first division, and were unresponsive to treatment. All surgeries were completed smoothly. About 86.7% CTN patients and 48.1% MTN patients responded immediately to RFT. The VAS scores were significantly higher in the CTN group than in MTN group (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year pain relief rates were 76.7%, 73.3%, and 73.3% in the CTN group and 46.6%, 41.4%, and 41.4% in the MTN group, respectively. The rates of pain relief for both groups leveled off at 2 years. Complications included numbness, dysesthesia, and anesthesia dolorosa. RFT did not cause any deaths and complications were low. The treatment was very effective for CTN and, to some degrees, effective for MTN. If numbness, dysesthesia, and anesthesia dolorosa are limited to the trigger area, QOL will be greatly improved.

Objective To investigate the relationship among the late-life depression ( LLD ) , cognitive function and white matter lesions ( WML) , after excluding vascular risk factors and brain atrophy.Methods The depression and cognition status of 277 patients were assessed using a variety of neurological scales, and the actually enrolled patients were divided into LLD group ( 77 cases ) and the non-depressed group (103 cases).The independent samples t test and multivariate Logistic regression were used to analyze independent risk factors for depressive symptoms with the model Ⅰ of controlling age , sex, years of education and the model Ⅱof controlling age, sex, years of education, high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart disease.Under the premise of controlling mode Ⅱand brain atrophy , partial correlation was used to analyze the correlations of depressive symptoms and cognitive function and WML , and the correlation between depressive symptoms and cognitive items.Results The results showed that the proportion of high blood pressure (90.9%vs 74.7%, χ2 =6.342,P=0.046), cognitive scores (19.23 ±7.05 vs 22.99 ± 6.71, t=3.343,P=0.001), WML level 2 proportion (65.1% vs 34.9%, χ2 =7.373,P=0.025) and temporal lobe atrophy of hippocampal sulcus ratio (0.24 ±0.03 vs 0.22 ±0.03, t=-2.041,P=0.044) had statistically significant difference between the two groups.Multivariate Logistic regression showed that cognitive function was an independent risk factor for depression ( OR=1.63,95% CI 1.01 -2.80, P=0.030).Controlling for all risk factors , partial correlation analysis showed that depressive symptoms were correlated with cognitive function ( r=-0.239,P=0.004) and WML ( r=0.222,P=0.008) and the atrophy of temporal lobe and hippocampus ( r=0.173, P=0.040 ).Under the model Ⅱ, depressive symptoms correlated with attention (r=-0.175, P=0.040), memories (r=-0.140, P=0.050) and drawing clock test ( r=-0.186, P=0.029 ).Conclusions Excluding vascular risk factorts , brain atrophy and WML , cognitive impairment has significant correlation with depressive symptoms.Vascular risk factors are involved in the occurrence of depression , and WML may be the severity of cognitive impairment reserve marker.LLD patients showed hippocampal atrophy similar with early AD , manifesting the cognitive feature of memory and executive dysfunction and attention disorder .

Objective To compare the effect of 89Sr radionuclide therapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of metastatic cancer pain of vertebral column. Methods 80 patients with cancer pain of vertebral metastasis in the second People's hospital of Yibin from April 2015 to April 2017, were randomly divided into the control group treated by radiotherapy treatment (n=40) and the the observation group treated by 89Sr radionuclide therapy(n=40), and the effect of treatment were compared between two groups. Results In the observation group, the total effective rate of pain response in patients with metastatic cancer pain of vertebral column was 85.0％, and the control group was 82.5％. There was no significant difference between two groups. The onset time of treatment in the observation group was (6.5±1.7)d, significantly shorter than that of the control group (12.9±2.6)d, and the difference was statistically significance (P<0.05). Conclusion The application of 89Sr radionuclide therapy in the treatment of vertebral metastatic pain is equivalent to the radiotherapy in improving the pain response, but the efficacy could be achieved in a short period of time, so it is worth popularizing widely in clinical practice.

Objective To explore clinical value of intraoperative extra strong electrical stimulation in the treatment of birth brachial plexus palsy. MethodsFrom July 2008 to September 2011,intraoperative extra strong electrical stimulation was applied in 9 cases of incomplete birth brachial plexus palsy after neurolysis.The latency and amplitude of compound muscle action potentials before and after electrical stimulation were recorded and the extent of improvement was compare.ResultsThe latency was improved in 7 cases with 8.02％ in average,amplitude in 8 cases with 185.97％ in average.The related nerve recover partial motor function in 8 cases in 2 weeks after operation.ConclusionIntraoperative extra strong electrical stimulation is a effective assistant technique to promote motor functional recovery of birth brachial plexus palsy.

BACKGROUND: The pathological characteristics of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis are the proliferation of a large number of fibroblasts and the increasing deposition of matrix collagen that takes the place of normal lung structure. Fluvastatin can inhibit the proliferation of fibroblasts and many other cells.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of fluvastatin in inhibiting the proliferation of rat lung fibroblasts cultured in vitro and its influence on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and ventilation function.DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial.SETTING: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA; Teaching and Research Section of Pathology, Department of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA; Research Institute ofOrthopedics, Xijing Hospital,Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted in the laboratory of Department of Respiratory Diseases, Xijing Hospital of Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from January to December 2001. Thirty-one healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats of grade Ⅰ were selected in this study.INTERVENTIONS: The fibroblasts derived from the lung normal of one rat were cultured in vitro in media containing fluvastatin. The effect of fluvastatin on the growth curve and the effect of its different concentrations(0, 1 × 10-7,1 ×10-6, 1 ×10-5, 1 ×10-4, 1 ×10 3and 1 ×10-2 mol/L, fluvastatin of 0 mol/L was taken as the blank control group) in inhibiting the cultured cells were observed with MTT colorimetry. The effect of fluvastatin on the division index of the fibroblasts was analyzed by direct cell counting Hydroxyproline colorimetry was used to detect the influence of fluvastatin on the collagen secretion in the media. The other 30 SD rats were divided into six groups: normal control group, bleomycin-induced group and fluvastatin-treated groups(TH 1,TE1, TH15 and TL15 groups) named according to the date of giving fluvastatin,i. e. the 1st day and the 15th day, after the rats were given bleomycin A5. All the rats were killed 28 days later. The number of fibroblasts, the thickness of alveolar wall and the area of mesenchyma in lung tissue were measured by HE staining. The extracellular matrix and collagen in lung tissue were observed by Masson and sirius red staining, and hydroxyproline in lung tissue homogenates was measured.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fibroblast growth curve and division index of rat lung, hydroxyproline in the media and lung tissue homogenates,number of fibroblasts and the thickness of alveolar wall, the area of mesenchyma, extracellular matrix and collagen contents in lung tissue.RESULTS: Fluvastatin could inhibit the proliferation of the rat lung fibroblasts cultured in vitro(t=4.20 to 17.52, P < 0.01), and its inhibitory effect was increased with the increased dose of fluvastatin, which showed a dose-dependent effect. The 1 × 10-4 mol/L fluvastatin could completely inhibit the proliferation of the cultured cells, and the A490 value from the 2nd day on the fibroblasts by MTT colorimetry was not insignificantly different from those on the 1st day( P > 0.05) . The division index of the fibroblasts and secretion of collagen were obviously decreased by fluvastatin( t = 8. 037,P <0.01; t =3.99 to 10. 84, P <0.05 or P <0.01). In vivo, the number of fibroblasts, the thickness of lung alveolar wall, the area of mesenchyma and the content of hydroxyproline in lung tissue were significantly higher in bleomycin group than in control group( t =4. 62 to 11.93, P < 0. 01), while those in the fluvastatin-treated groups were lower than those in bleomycin group in different degrees( t = 2.69 to 7.65, P < 0.05 to 0.01 ) . The distribution of extracellular matrix and types Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen in lung tissue were obviously increased in bleomycin group as compared with that in control group, but decreased in different degrees in fluvastatin-treated groups.CONCLUSION: Fluvastatin can significantly inhibit the proliferation of rat lung fibroblasts in vitro, suggesting that it may be an effective drug for pulmonary fibrosis. Treatment at earlier stage is more effective than at advanced stage.