Objective To explore the significance of changes of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9),interleukin-6 (IL-6),and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-oα) protein level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with viral encephalitis (VE).Methods The concentration of neuron-specific enolase (NSE),structural proteins 100B (S100B),and MMP-9,IL-6,TNF-α in the CSF of VE children were detected by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,and the correlations of them were analyzed.Results NSE,S100B,MMP-9,IL-6,TNF-α protein expression could be found significantly higher than those in the control group,and there were significant differences according to statistics expression trends(all P ＜0.05).The NSE protein expression was significantly positive related with S100B in the VE group (r =0.467,P =0.009),and the concentration was markedly negative related with the duration of viral encephalitis (r =-0.472,P =0.008).MMP-9,IL-6 protein expression were significantly positive related with NSE,S100B respectively (r =0.698,P =0.00 ; r =0.559,P =0.00 ; r =0.812,P =0.00 ; r =0.664,P =0.00).TNF-α protein expression was positive related with CSF S100B(r =0.363,P =0.049),but there was no correlation between TNF-α and NSE (r =0.245,P =0.193).Conclusions The neurons and the neuroglial cells are damaged in the viral encephalitis children.MMP-9,IL-6,TNF-α protein may participate in the pathological damage process of nerve cells in VE children in different degrees.

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of ABCD3-I score for early stroke risk after transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods A total of 136 consecutive patients with TIA admitted to the Department of Neurology,the First Hospital of Shangqiu from January 2010 to December 2012 were enrolled. The clinical data,medical history and image findings of the patients were collected. The incidence of stroke was observed within 90 days. The occurrence of stroke risk after TIA were scored with the ABCD2 and ABCD3-I. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the impact of risk factors for early stroke after TIA. The area under the curve (AUC)of receiver operating characteristic was used to compare the predictive values of the two kinds of scores. Results Of the 136 eligible patients with TIA,19 cases (14. 0%)had cerebral infarction within 90 days after TIA. There were no death and hemorrhagic stroke. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that the duration of TIA≥60 min (OR,1. 060,95%CI 1. 012-1. 112)was an independent risk factor for early progressing stroke after TIA (P<0. 05). In the ABCD2 scoring model for risk stratification of low-,moderate-,high-risk groups,the incidences of stroke within 90 days were 5. 6%(4/72),18. 5%(10/54),and 50. 0%(5/10),respectively. In the ABCD3-I score model for risk stratification of low-,moderate-,high-risk groups,the incidences of stroke within 90 days were 0,7. 1%(6/84),and 52. 0%(13/25),respectively. In the low-,moderate-,high-risk groups,there were significant differences in the incidences of stroke in 90 days between the ABCD3-I and ABCD2 scoring models (P<0.01). The AUC of ABCD3-I score (0. 839,95%CI 0. 766-0. 896)was higher than that of ABCD2 score (0.783,95%CI 0. 704-0. 849;P<0. 01). Conclusion The ABCD3-I score may effectively predict the risk of early stroke after TIA,and its accuracy is better than ABCD2 score.

Objective This study was performed to investigate the effect of hypoxia on glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (G6PI) expression and cell cycle of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) under hypoxia or normoxia.Methods Fibroblast-like synoviocytes were cultured with either of hypoxia (3％ oxygen) or normoxia (21％ oxygen) for 24 hours.The mRNA expression of G6PI and HIF-1α was tested by PCR quantification,while the protein levels of G6PI and HIF-1α were measured by western blot.Cell cycle was performed by FACS.T-test and Mann-Whitney U were used for statistical analysis.Results The expression levels of G6PI mRNA under hypoxia in RA were higher than those of OA (2.6±0.4 vs 1.5±0.4,P＜0.05).The protein levels of G6PI in RA were higher than those of OA (P＜0.05).The expression levels of HIF-1α mRNA under hypoxia in RA were higher than those of OA (2.9±0.8vs 1.4 ±0.4,P＜0.05).The protein levels of HIF-1α in RA were higher than those of OA (P＜0.05).The G1 phase ratio of cell cycle was decreased significantly under hypoxia than those of normoxia in RA ELs (t=1 1.31,P＜0.05).The S and G2 phase ratio of cell cycle were increased.Conclusion Hypoxia upregulates G6PI and HIF-1α expression and improves proliferation in fibroblast-like synoviocytes.

AlM:To observe the changes of binocular vision in V-pattern exotropia children before and after surgical correction, and the effect of training in reconstructing the binocular vision after surgical corrections.METHODS: Sixty V-pattern exotropia children were enrolled in this study and were divided into three groups according to their age:group A (4~6 years old), group B (7~9 years old), and group C (10~12 years old), 20 cases for each group. Patients received routine refraction and ophthalmic examinations. Distance and near deviation were measured by prism-covering method and synoptophore. The simultaneous perception and fusion were examined with a synoptophore, and the stereacuity was measured with stereograms ( Titmus) . The children who didn’t reconstruct binocular vision function 1wk after surgery received binocular vision training. The data were recorded before and 1 , 2, 4, and 8wk after surgery. RESULTS: Binocular vision significantly improved among the children after surgery in group A and B ( P<0. 05 ) . Significantly divergence showed between group C and the other groups 1wk after surgery ( P < 0. 05 ). Binocular vision of the three groups all significantly improved 8wk after surgery, with no significant differences (P>0. 05). CONCLUSlON: V - pattern exotropia children can benefit from early surgical correction and training after surgery in reconstruct binocular vision.

Objective To enhance the protective immunity effects against Schistosoma japonicum infection by priming with cocktail DNA vaccines and boosting with cocktail protein vaccines in infected BALB/c mice.Methods Plasmids and proteins for immunization were prepared and diluted in no bacterial saline solution to final concentration of 1.5 mg/ml,and mixed with pcDNA3.1-SjC23,pcDNA3.1-SjCTPI,pcDNA3.1-(CDR3)6 plasmid DNAs by equal volume to form the cocktail DNA vaccine,and also mixed with recombinant proteins SjC23-HD,SjCTPI,and NP30 by equal volume to form the cocktail protein vaccine.Seventy female BALB/c mice of 4-5 weeks old were randomly divided into 5 groups(A,B,C,D,E).In Group A(control group),each mouse was immunized with 100 ?l saline solution by intramuscular(i.m.);in Group B(pcDNA3.1 control group),each mouse was immunized(i.m.)with 100 ?l pcDNA3.1 for three times at week 0,3,6;in Group C(pcDNA3.1 and cocktail protein group),each mouse was immunized(i.m.)with 100 ?l pcDNA3.1 for three times at week 0,3,6 and immunized with 100 ?l mixed protein vaccines plus 100 ?l FCA by subcutaneous at week 9;in Group D(cocktail DNA vaccines group),each mouse was immunized(i.m.)with 100 ?l mixed DNA vaccines for three times at week 0,3,6;in Group E(cocktail DNA vaccines plus cocktail proteins),each mouse was immunized(i.m.)with 100 ?l mixed DNA vaccines for three times at week 0,3,6 and immunized with 100 ?l mixed protein vaccines plus 100 ?l FCA by subcutaneous at week 9.Four weeks after the last DNA immunization or two weeks after protein boosting,all the mice were challenged with(40?1)cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum by abdominal skin penetration at the same time.Forty-two days post-challenge,the mice were sacrificed and perfused,and the numbers of recovered worms and eggs in liver were counted.The blood was collected from the tail veins of all the mice two days before the first immunization and challenge,respectively,the serum was prepared for detection of IgG,IgG1 and IgG2a.Two days before the challenge,the spleen cells of two mice from each group were cultured and stimulated with ConA and soluble egg antigen(SEA),and the supernatant was collected for detection of IL-2,IL-4 and IFN-?.Results The worm reduction rates in Group C,D and E were 17.70%,32.88% and 45.35%,respectively,compared with the control group.The worm reduction rates in Group D and E were significantly higher than that in Group C(P

For microbial production of lycopene, the lycopene synthetic genes from Pantoea agglomerans were integrated into Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain BY4742, to obtain strain ZD-L-000 for production of 0.17 mg · L(-1) lycopene. Improving supplies of isoprenoid precursors was then investigated for increasing lycopene production. Four key genes were chosen to be overexpressed, inclu- ding truncated 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase gene (tHMG1), which is the major rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, a mutated global regulatory factor gene (upc2.1), a fusion gene of FPP synthase (ERG20) and endogenous GGPP synthase (BTS1), which is a key enzyme in the diterpenoid synthetic pathway, and GGPP synthase gene (SaGGPS) from Sulfolobus acidocaldarius. Over-expression of upc2.1 could not improve lycopene production, while over-expression of tHMGI , BTS1-ERG20 and SaGGPS genes led to 2-, 16. 9- and20. 5-fold increase of lycopene production, respectively. In addition, three effective genes, tHMG1, BTS1-ERG20 and SaGGPS, were integrated into rDNA sites of ZD-L-000, resulting in strain ZD-L-201 for production of 13.23 mg · L(-1) lycopene, which was 77-fold higher than that of the parent strain. Finally, two-phase extractive fermentation was performed. The titer of lycopene increased 10-fold to 135.21 mg · L(-1). The engineered yeast strains obtained in this work provided the basis for fermentative production of lycopene.
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Biosynthetic Pathways ; Carotenoids ; biosynthesis ; Genes, Synthetic ; Genetic Engineering ; Pantoea ; enzymology ; genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism

Animals ; Antihypertensive Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antiviral Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Benzofurans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Chromones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Morus ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Resorcinols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Spectrum Analysis ; methods

BACKGROUNDDiabetic myocardiopathy is characterized by myocardial interstitial fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction. Statins were found to exert protective effects on cardiovascular disease by suppressing activation of small G proteins, independently of their lipid-lowering effect. The study investigated the effect of fluvastatin on myocardial interstitial fibrosis, cardiac function and mechanism of its action in diabetic rats.

METHODSTwenty-four male SD rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups: control rats (n = 8), streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (n = 8), and diabetic rats treated with fluvastatin (administered fluvastatin orally, 10 mg/kg body weight per day, n = 8). Twelve weeks later, miniature cardiac catheter was inserted into the left ventricle to conduct hemodynamic examination. Then myocardium tissues were collected, collagen content was detected by picro-sirius red staining, real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of CTGF. Rho activity was determined by pull-down assay.

RESULTSAfter 12 weeks, the left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and maximum rate of left ventricular (LV) pressure rise and fall (+dP/dt max and -dP/dt max) were significantly lower and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was higher in the diabetic rats than those in the control rats (P < 0.01). Moreover, in LV myocardial tissue of diabetic rats the collagen content, fibronectin, mRNA and protein expression of CTGF and the activity of RhoA were all significantly increased compared with the control rats (P < 0.01). Administration of fluvastain obviously improved the cardiac function of diabetic rats, attenuated fibronectin expression, mRNA and protein expression of CTGF and the activity of RhoA in LV myocardium of diabetic rats.

CONCLUSIONSFluvastatin attenuates cardiac dysfunction and myocardial interstitial fibrosis of diabetic rat by inhibiting activity of RhoA to down-regulate the overexpression of CTGF, and Rho/Rho-kinase pathway may be an important target in the treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Animals ; Anticholesteremic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; therapeutic use ; Fibrosis ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Immunohistochemistry ; Indoles ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo examine the differential levels of fecal Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Eubacterium rectale-Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and Clostridium difficile between patients with hepatic cirrhosis and healthy controls. Fecal samples were collected from 29 patients with hepatic cirrhosis treated in the Department of Digestive Diseases at Zunyi Hospital between March and December of 2010.

METHODSFecal samples were collected from 13 healthy college students for use as controls. All samples were assessed by pH measurement, bacterial culture for turbidity, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The t-test and rank correlation test were used to determine statistical significance of intergroup differences in each tested parameter.

RESULTSThe feces of patients with hepatic cirrhosis had higher pH than that of healthy controls (6.79+/-0.64 vs. 6.18+/-0.74, P less than 0.05). The bacterial turbidity was not significantly different between the feces of hepatic cirrhosis patients and healthy controls (1.15+/-0.59 vs. 1.39+/-1.01, P more than 0.05). The numbers of Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Eubacterium rectale-Clostridium, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and Clostridium difficile in feces of patients with hepatic cirrhosis were significantly lower than those of the controls (all P less than 0.01). No significant correlation was found between the number or ratio of bacteria species and the severity of hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh scores; P more than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe total quantity of intestinal bacteria in patients with hepatic cirrhosis is not significantly different from that in healthy patients. However, the profile of intestinal bacteria is different, which may explain the increased pH of fecal samples from patients with hepatic cirrhosis, but the differential profile is not correlated to cirrhosis pathogenesis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bacteroides ; isolation & purification ; Bifidobacterium ; isolation & purification ; Case-Control Studies ; Clostridium ; isolation & purification ; Enterobacteriaceae ; isolation & purification ; Feces ; microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Liver Cirrhosis ; microbiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Objective To enhance the protective immunity effects of nucleic acid vaccines against Schistosoma japonicum infection by electroporation(EP)in vivo in infected BALB/c mice.Methods Plasmids and proteins for immunization were prepared and diluted in no bacterial saline solution to final concentration of 1.5 mg/ml.pcDNA3.1-SjC23,pcDNA3.1-SjCTPI,pcDNA3.1-(CDR3)6 plasmid DNAs were mixed by equal volume to form the cocktail DNA vaccine,and also mixed with recombinant proteins SjC23-HD,SjCTPI,and NP30 by equal volume to form the cocktail protein vaccine.Seventy female BALB/c mice of 4-5 weeks old were randomly divided into 5 groups(A,B,C,D,E).In Group A(control group),each mouse was immunized with 100 ?l saline solution by intramuscular(i.m.);in Group B(pcDNA3.1/EP control group),each mouse was immunized(i.m.)with 100 ?l pcDNA3.1 followed by EP in vivo for three times at week 0,3,6;in Group C(pcDNA3.1/EP plus cocktail protein vaccine group),each mouse was immunized(i.m.)with 100 ?l pcDNA3.1 followed by EP for three times at week 0,3,6 and boosted with 100 ?l cocktail protein vaccine plus 100 ?l FCA by subcutaneous at week 9;in Group D(cocktail DNA vaccine/EP group),each mouse was immunized(i.m.)with 100 ?l cocktail DNA vaccine followed by EP for three times at week 0,3,6;in Group E(cocktail DNA vaccine/EP plus cocktail protein vaccine group),each mouse was immunized(i.m.)with 100 ?l cocktail DNA vaccine followed by EP for three times at week 0,3,6 and boosted with 100 ?l cocktail protein vaccine plus 100 ?l FCA by subcutaneous at week 9.Four weeks after the last DNA immunization or two weeks after protein boosting,all the mice were challenged with(40?1)cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum by abdominal skin penetration.Forty-two days post-challenge,the mice were sacrificed and perfused,and the numbers of recovered worms and eggs in liver were counted.The blood was collected from the tail veins of all the mice two days before the first immunization and challenge,respectively,the serum was prepared for detection of IgG,IgG1 and IgG2a.Two days before the challenge,the spleen cells of two mice from each group were cultured and stimulated with ConA and soluble egg antigen(SEA),and the supernatant was collected for detection of IL-2,IL-4 and IFN-? by flow cytometre.Results The worm reduction rates in Group C,D and E were 18.09%,45.00% and 57.09%,respectively,compared with the control group.The worm reduction rates in Group D and E were significantly higher than that in Group C(P