Objective To know the influence of passive smoking on children's immune function. Methods The smoking state of children's family members and the illness-induced absence state of 135 children aged 10-11 years were investigated with questionnaire, and the concentrations of immunoglobin E (IgE) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) in serum of children were examined. Results The concentrations of IgE in serum of the children exposed to passive smoking(n=30) were significantly higher than those of the control group(n=20), while the concentrations of IL-8 were significantly lower(both P

Objective To study the variation of serum IL-1?, Hs-CRP, the monocytes infilitrating into the intima, the expression of HSP-70 in diet-induced hyperlipidemic and chronic Cpn-infected mice and the intervention of berberine. Methods Mice were inoculated intranasally with Cpn three times, every 2 weeks over a 6-week period and fed with high cholesterol diet. C57BL/6J mice were divided randomly into 6 groups:Ber1 group, Ber2 group, azithromycin group, atorvastain group, model group, and normal group. Ber1 group were given berberine at the beginning of Cpn infecting, while Ber2 group, azithromycin group and atorvastain group were given the drug after the 3rd Cpn infecting. The serum index, HE dye of the aortas and immune-histochemistry index were observed. Results The level of serum IL-1?, Hs-CRP, the monocytes infilitrating counting and the expression of HSP-70 in model group were increased. All of the index in Ber group, azithromycin group and atorvastain group declined to some extent. Conclusions Berberine has effect of decreasing inflammatory indexes of diet-induced hyperlipidemic and chronic Cpn-infected mice.

Objective: To evaluate the safety of acute normovolemic hemodilution (HD)during induced hypotension (IH). Method: 12 healthy mongrel dogs, were anesthetized and paralysed with sodium pentobarbital and pipecuronium. Ventilation was controlled. Hypotension was induced with nicardipine to lower the MAP by 30% after Hct was reduced to 0.35,0.30,0.25,0.20,0.15 or 0.10 respectively. Blood gases,lactate level(LAC)and hemedynamic variables were measured 15 minutes after HD and 20 minutes after IH. Result: Compared with HD alone, when combined with IH, CI.DO_2 and LAC increased significantly (P

The possibility of polyoxymethylene (POM) as heart valve leaflet material was investigated by comparing the hemocompatibility with that of 316L stainless steel and low-temperature isotropic pyrolytic carbon (LTIC). Surface hydrophobicity was characterized by water contact angle measurement. Platelet adhesion, APTT/PT/TT and hemolysis rate tests were applied for evaluating hemocompatibility. The results showed that POM was hydrophobic and had a low hemolytic rate, adhesion amount and activation degree of platelets on POM surface were less than 316L stainless steel, and was similar to LTIC. This research pointed out potential application of POM as heart valve leaflets.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Blood Platelets ; Carbon ; chemistry ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Platelet Adhesiveness ; Resins, Synthetic ; chemistry ; Stainless Steel ; chemistry

AIM:Activin A,a member of transforming growth factor superfamily,is the negative regulator factor in liver regeneration. In this study,the effects of extract of Ginkgo Biloba on hepatic fibrosis and the expression of Activin A in rats with cirrhosis were investigated. METHODS:The experiment was performed at in the Central Laboratory of Wuhan First Hospital from September 2005 to December 2006. ①Thirty-six male SD rats of(160?20) g were randomized into 3 groups:control group,model group and treatment group. ② Except the rats in the control group,others were intraperitoneally injected with 500 mL/L CCl4 for 8 weeks to establish models of hepatic fibrosis. Meanwhile,the extract treatment group was infused with the extract of Ginkgo Biloba(Chinese drugs preparation laboratory of Wuhan First Hospital,detected by Hubeu Wushi Medicine Industry Co.,Ltd. No. 02-391) daily for 8 weeks. ③After administration,all anesthetized rats were sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for the determination of liver function biochemical indexes. Liver tissue samples were used for histopathological examinations. The expression of Activin A was determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS:All 36 rats were involved in the final analysis. ①The liver function in extract treatment group was significantly improved compared with that in model group. ②The grade of fibrosis in extract treatment group were remarkably lower than that in model group under light microscope. ③The positive staining of Activin A in treatment group was significantly reduced compared with model group. ④The expression of Activin A mRNA in extract treatment group was significantly reduced compared with model group. CONCLUSION:Extract of Ginkgo Biloba can effectively decrease the expression of Activin A in rats with hepatic fibrosis caused by CCl4,and lessen the degree of hepatic fibrosis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Ulna ; injuries ; Wrist Injuries ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) with branch-foundation acupoint combination on the indices regarding pituitary-target gland axis in aging rats with yang deficiency, so as to explore its regulating mechanism on aging rats with yang deficiency.

METHODSForty healthy Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group, an EA group and an EA control group, 10 rats in each group. Except the normal control group, the rats in the rest 3 groups were all treated with subcutaneous injection of D-galactose for 40 d, followed by intramuscular injection of hydrocortisone for 7 d to establish aging model with yang deficiency. After the successful establishment of model, the EA group was treated with EA at "Guanyuan" (CV 4), "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Baihui "(GV 20) while the EA control group was treated with EA at "Zhongji" (CV 3) "Yinlingquan" (SP 9) and "Yintang" (GV 29); the rats in the normal control group and model group were immobilized and fixed during the same time period. The treatments were given 6 times per week totally for 4 weeks. With radiation immunity analysis method, the 8 biological indices of pituitary-target gland axis, including thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), tetraiodothyronine-4 (T4), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone (CORT), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were detected to observe the changes of their content.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the serum level of TSH, T3, T4 and E2 were reduced in the model group (P<0.05, P< 0.01) while those of ACTH, CORT, FSH and LH were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the serum level of TSH, T3, T4 and E2 were increased in the EA group (P<0.05, P<0.01) while those of ACTH, CORT, FSH and LH were significantly reduced (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the EA control group, the content of TSH was increased in the EA group without statistical significance (P>0.05), that of T3, T4 and E2 was increased (all P<0.05) and that of ACTH, CORT, FSH and LH was significantly reduced (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture with branch-foundation acupoint combination has benign regulating effects on the key hormones of pituitary-target gland axis, which could effectively improve the dysfunction of pituitary-target gland axis that is caused by aging with yang deficiency; the efficacy of electroacupuncture with branch-foundation acupoint combination is superior to that of adjacent control acupoint combination.

Acupuncture Points ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; secretion ; Aging ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Electroacupuncture ; Estradiol ; blood ; secretion ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; secretion ; Humans ; Pituitary Gland ; secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thyroid Hormones ; blood ; secretion ; Yang Deficiency ; blood ; metabolism ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of three primers on the shear bond strength between cast titanium (Ti) and composite resin.

METHODSThe disks (n = 40) were cast by commercially pure (CP) Ti, which diameter were 8 mm and thick were 3 mm. The titanium surfaces were polished with silicon carbide sand papers under running water and then treated by sandblasting and acid (4%HF) etching. They were divided into four groups: control group (group A), treated with KH-570 (group B), treated with Alloy Primer (group C), treated with Metal photo primer (group D). After treatment, the specimens were evaluated for their shear bond strengths by universal testing machine. The values were statistically analyzed. The fractured surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

RESULTSThe shear bond strengths of group A, B, C, D were (9.773 +/- 0.67), (11.463 +/- 0.82), (14.224 +/- 0.75), (13.157 +/- 0.73) MPa. There were significant differences in bond strength between A and B, C, D (P < 0.01). B and C, D had significant differences (P < 0.01). C and D had no significant differences (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONKH-570, Alloy Primer, Metal photo primer significantly improve the bond strength of ceramage composite resin to cast titanium. KH-570 group bonding strength is lower than the the Alloy Primer group and Metal photo primer group.

Composite Resins ; Dental Bonding ; Materials Testing ; Methacrylates ; Shear Strength ; Silanes ; Silicates ; Thiones ; Titanium

In order to construct and express human cardiac troponin C-linker-troponin I(P) [ cTnC-linker-TnI(P)] fusion protein, detect its activity and prepare lyophilized protein, we searched the CDs of human cTnC and cTnI from GenBank, synthesized cTnC and cTnI(30-110aa) into cloning vector by a short DNA sequence coding for 15 neutral amino acid residues. pCold I-cTnC-linker-TnI(P) was constructed and transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). Then, cTnC-linker-TnI(P) fusion protein was induced by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). Soluable expression of cTnC-linker-TnI(P) in prokaryotic system was successfully obtained. The fusion protein was purified by Ni²⁺ Sepharose 6 Fast Flow affinity chromatography with over 95% purity and prepared into lyophilized protein. The activity of purified cTnC-linker-TnI(P) and its lyophilized protein were detected by Wondfo Finecare™ cTnI Test. Lyophilized protein of cTnC-linker-TnI(P) was stable for 10 or more days at 37 °C and 4 or more months at 25 °C and 4 °C. The expression system established in this research is feasible and efficient. Lyophilized protein is stable enough to be provided as biological raw materials for further research.
Escherichia coli ; Freeze Drying ; Humans ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Troponin C ; biosynthesis ; Troponin I ; biosynthesis

BACKGROUND: Currently used poly (alkyl-cyanoacrylates) (PACA) produces aldehyde compound in its degradation, which is easily results in toxicity and stimulation to the body. Here, a novel TaxoI-PACA micell material was synthesized, which has broad application as a kind of liposolubility drug delivery carrier. OBJECTIVE: To verify the therapeutic efficacy of Paclitaxel-PECA micells for mouse breast cancer.METHODS: Paclitaxel drug delivery micells were prepared by a multi-emulsification technique and were characterized for size, drug loading capacity, and in vitro release. Bablc breast cancer model mice were randomly divided into the physiological saline, vacant control, paclitaxel positive control, and Paclitaxel-PECA micells with low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose groups. Paclitaxel and PaclitaxeI-PECA micells were injected into the location of mouse breast cancer, and then the tumor inhibit rates were detected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The mean diameter of Paclitaxel-PECA micells was 70 nm, with 19.89% loading amount of Paclitaxel. In vitro, micells maintained sustained release of Paclitaxel for 2 weeks. Compared with the physiological saline group, the PaclitaxeI-PECA micells group exhibited superior tumor inhibit effects with doses of 30, 60, and 90 mg/kg (P < 0.001 ), which was 68.49%, 77.03% and 81.87%, respectively. The results suggested that Paclitaxel-PECA micells material has excellent acceptability as sustained-release preparation for treating mouse breast cancer.