Objectives To improve the diagnostic and therapeutic ability of ectopic ACTH syndrome by analysing its clinical features.Methods Sixteen cases of ectopic ACTH syndrome diagnosed in Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2000 to 2009 were analyzed retrospectively.Results ( 1 ) The main causes of ectopic ACTH syndrome were lung tumor and thymic carcinoid;(2) Abnormal glucose metabolism, hypertension, hypokalemia and edema of both lower limbs were the most common clinical symptoms;(3) Laboratory examination showed a significant increase of serum cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) and 24 h urinary free cortisol (24hUFC) together with severe hypokalemia and alkalosis;(4) High dose dexamethasone suppressing test, corticotrophin-releasing hormone(CRH) stimulating test and petrosal sinus sampling were the most meaningful diagnostic methods;(5) Most of the primary lesions might be detected with chest film and CT;(6) Resection of the primary lesion was the treatment of first choice.Conclusion The diagnosis of ectopic ACTH syndrome is very hard.Resection of the primary lesion is the best treatment.

Objective To analyze the relationship between obesity and arterial stiffness among population of different glucose tolerance status. Methods A cross-sectional study recruited the population aged 40 years or older from ShiJingShan district in Beijing. 9080 subjects were included by measured weight, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR) and WC/height ratio (WHtR) and hemodynamic indexes and the aortic stiffness (using brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV). They were divided into 3 groups based on the results of OGTT and diabetes history: normal glucose tolerance group ( NGT group) ,impaired glucose regulation group ( IGR group) and diabetes mellitus group ( DM group) . The association between baPWV and different obese indexes was analyzed by multi-ple linear regression. Results According to the criterion of WC, WHR and WHtR, baPWV of central obesity group was significantly higher than the normal group(P<0. 01). There was no statistically significant differences based on BMI in DM group(P>0. 05), but it was of sta-tistically significant differences in NGT group and IGR group. Central obese indexes( WC、WHR、WHtR) showed a positive correlation to PWV in the studied groups(P<0. 05). BMI was only positively correlated with baPWV in NGT group, there was no significant correlation in IGR and DM group(P>0. 05). After adjusting for age, gender and cardiovascular risk factors, the multiple regression analysis found that for every 0. 1 point increase in WHR and WHtR, the PWV increased 40. 6 cm/s and 55. 3cm/s respectively. Conclusion There is a positive correlation between central obese indexes (WC、WHR、WHtR) and arterial stiffness, and the central obese indexes correlated with arterial stiffness better than BMI.

Objective To determine the role of human serum albumin therapy in the post-operative management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with cirrhosis.Methods Between January 2011 and December 2012,we treated 171 consecutive cirrhotic patients with HCC.88 patients were treated with 5％ human serum albumin for 48 hours followed by 20％ human serum albumin in the post-operative period (the observer group) ; 81 patients were only treated with 20％ human serum albumin during the same time duration (the control group).The prognosis,complications,average amount of human serum albumin and plasma used as well as the in-hospital stay were observed.Results There were no deaths or major complications in either of these 2 groups.After treatment,the observer group was lower than the control group in the amount of intravenous fluid infused,the volume of peritoneal drainage,the amount of human serum albumin and plasma used as well as the mean post-operative hospitalization days (P ＜ 0.05).At the same time,the daily urine output,the central venous pressure and the mean arterial pressure within 48 hours after surgery were higher in the observer group than the control group.Furthermore the observer group had a smoother post-operative recovery in liver function,and the difference was significant between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Not only did treatment with 5 ％ and 20％ human serum albumin gave the advantages of a more stable blood circulation,better organ perfusion and improved liver function recovery but it also reduced the amount of consumption of human serum albumin and plasma and shortened the hospital stay.

Objective To construct PPAR?and PPAR?response element (PPRE)-controlled luciferase expression vectors,and to determine whether the traditional Chinese medicine emodin activates PPAR?and improves the glucose uptake by HepG2 hepatocytes.Methods (1) PPAR?and PPRE luciferase expression vectors were constructed and were applied to screen more than 20 ingredients of the traditional Chinese medicine. (2) HepG2 cells were incubated with emodin which can activate PPAR?and PPRE luciferase activity,and the PPAR?mRNA expression level was evaluated by RT-PCR/Southern blot.(3) PPAR?and glucose transporter 2 (Glut2) proteins were determined by Western blot analysis in HepG2 cells treated with emodin.(4) The glucose uptake rate was measured using 2-deoxy-[~3H]-D-glucose in HepG2 cells after treatment with emodin.Results (1) Emodin stimulated luciferase activity controlled by PPRE in dose-dependent manner at concentrations of 0.04 to 180?mol/L in COS-7 cells.The highest value was about 4 folds of control in the cells treated with 90?mol/L emodin (P

Objective To investigate the relationship between nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus(SA) and nosocomial infection in intensive care unit(ICU), and observe the therapeutic effect of Anerdian III in nasal decolonizaion. Methods Bacterial cultures were made by means of nasal swabs among inpatients whom the occurrence of nosocomial infection were observed.Patients with SA colonization were randomly divided into two groups:control and treatment.Control group were given regular treatment, and treatment group were administered Anerdian III in addition to regular treatment.Then the clearance rate of SA and the occurrence of nosocomial infection of two groups were observed. Results A total of 751 patients were enrolled, of whom 108(14.4%) were with nosocomial infection and 85(11.3%) with SA nasal colonization. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) was detected in 33 patients (4.4%).The nosocomial infection rate of patients with MRSA colonization was 51.5%, which was significantly higher than those in patients with other bacterial colonization(P<0.05).The SA clearance rate in treatment group was significantly higher than that in control group(81.4% vs.42.8%,P<0.05).The nosocomial infection rate in treatment group was significantly lower than that in control group ( 16 .3% vs. 40.5%,P <0.05).After decolonization treatment,the nosocomial infection rate of patients with MRSA colonization was significantly lower than that in control group(25.0% vs.76.5%,P <0.05). Conclusion The incidence rate of nosocomial infection in patients with MRSA nasal colonization is markedly increased in ICU, and the decolonization treatment by Anerdian III increases the clearance rate of nasal SA and decreases the incidence rate of nosocomial infection.

Objective To observe the expressions of stathmin and CD105 in human glioma vascular endothelial cells and explore their significant roles in glioma angiogenesis. Methods The protein expressions of stathmin and CD 105 in the vascular endothelial cells was examined by SP immunohistochemical staining in 10 normal cerebral tissue samples and 78 cases of glioma. The microvessel density (MVD) was measured to analyze the tumor angiogenesis. Results No expression of statnmin and CD105 was found in the normal human brain tissue; while high expression level of both stathmin and CD 105 was showed in the vascular endothelial cells of glioma. The expression level of stathmin and CD 105 and the value of MVD increased following the rise of the pathological grades of glioma; significant linear correlation was showed between the values of stathmin-MVD and CD105-MVD and the pathological grades of the glioma (r=0.912, P<0.05; r=0.936, P<0.05); stathmin-MVD and CD 105-MVD were also positively correlative (r=0.996, P<0.05). Conclusion The Stathmin and CD 105 is highly expressed in the vascular endothelial cells of human glioma, suggesting its important role in the tumor angiogenesis.

Objective: To observe the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion on the growth of colon tumors in rats with colitis-associated colon cancer (CACC), and explore the mechanism of moxibustion intervening CACC through the purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7R)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Methods: A total of 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected. According to the random number table method, 6 rats were selected as the normal group. The remaining 20 rats were injected intraperitoneally with azoxymethane (AOM) combined with oral dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to prepare the CACC model. After the model was successfully established, 2 rats were randomly selected for model identification. The remaining 18 rats which were successfully modeled were randomly divided into a model group, a herb-partitioned moxibustion group and a ginger-partitioned moxibustion group, with 6 rats in each group. Moxibustion intervention was performed in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group at Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). Moxibustion was performed twice at each point each time, once a day, at a 1-day interval after 6 consecutive interventions, for a total of 30 interventions. After intervention, the colon tumor load, pathological change and histopathological score were observed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of VEGF, P2X7R, phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3), and nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) proteins in rat colon tissue. Western blot was used to detect the levels of p-STAT3 and NF-κB p65 proteins in rat colon tissue. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colon tumor load and histopathological score in the model group were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and different grades of dysplasia were observed in colon tissue from the model group, reaching the degree of adenocarcinoma; the expression level of P2X7R protein in colon tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.001), and the expression levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins were significantly increased (all P<0.001) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the colon tumor load, colon histopathological score and the levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins in colon tissue were significantly decreased (all P<0.05) in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group while the expression levels of P2X7R protein in colon tissue were significantly increased (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Both herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion can reduce the colon tumor load in CACC rats and delay the progression of colon adenomas. The mechanism may be mediated by the P2X7R/STAT3 pathway to inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation, thereby reducing VEGF protein expression.

This study investigated the effect of phloretin (Ph) on the proliferation, activation, and cell-cycle distribution of mouse T lymphocytes and NO production and phagocytosis of macrophages. Carboxyfluorescein diacetatesuccinimidyl ester (CFDA-SE) staining plus flow cytometry assay was employed to obtain the proliferation-related index (PI) of lymphocytes. The expression levels of CD69 and CD25 on T lymphocytes stimulated with Con A were evaluated with flow cytometry after staining with fluorescent monoclonal antibody. Cell-cycle distribution of T lymphocytes was analyzed by propidium iodide staining. Griess kit was used to evaluate the NO production and fluorescent microbeads were used to analyze the phagocytosis ability of macrophages. Our results showed that phloretin (40, 60, and 80 micromol x L(-7)) significantly inhibited the proliferation of T lymphocytes and the PI reduced from 1.41 +/- 0.13 to 1.34 +/- 0.16, 1.19 +/- 0.12 and 1.07 +/- 0.06, respectively. Phloretin significantly inhibited the expression of CD69 and CD25 (P < 0.01). The cell cycle distribution analysis showed that phloretin could induce a cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. NO production of LPS +IFN-gamma group of macrophages was (26.72 +/- 3.57) micromol x L(-1), and was significantly reduced by phloretin (P < 0.01). And phagocytosis rate of macrophages was significantly reduced by phloretin (P < 0.01). The results demonstrate that phloretin might be developed into a new immuosuppressive drug.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Female ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Lectins, C-Type ; metabolism ; Macrophages ; physiology ; secretion ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Nitric Oxide ; secretion ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Phloretin ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo establish the rat model of acute pulmonary embolism, and study the changes of vascular active substances in pulmonary embolism rats, and investigate the interventive effect of anticoagulant drugs on vascular active substances.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, model group, low-molecular-weight heparin and warfarin treated group and rivaroxaban-treated group (n = 32 in each group). The method of autologous thrombosis was used to establish the animal model of acute pulmonary embolism. The animals were treated with saline or different anticoagulant drugs. The physiological and biochemical parameters were detected at different time points after embolization. The rats were killed after embolism of 24 h, 3 d, 5 d or 1 week respectively and the pathologic samples of lung tissues were collected to analyze the pulmonary pathological changes in different groups.

RESULTSRats in embolization group after blood clots injection showed shortness of breath, oral cyanosis; quicken heart rates and other symptoms. All embolization groups had pulmonary hypertension, the levels of type B natriuretic peptide (BNP) were increased significantly. The ratio of endothelin-1 (ET-1)/NO and thromboxane (TXB2) and prostacyclin (6-k-PGFla) were abnormal. After treated with effective anticoagulant drugs, the levels of BNP, ET-1, NO, TXB2 and 6-k-PGF1a were tended to the normal levels in the control group. The pulmonary hypertensions were gradually decreased. The efficacy of rivaroxaban on pulmonary embolism was the same as that of the low molecular weight heparin or warfarin.

CONCLUSIONAnticoagulation therapy can effectively improve endothelial function after pulmonary embolism, reduce pulmonary hypertension, and revise the increased BNP levels to normal levels. The efficacy of rivaroxaban is not inferior to that of low molecular weight heparin and warfarin.

Animals ; Anticoagulants ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Endothelin-1 ; metabolism ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; pharmacology ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Lung ; pathology ; Morpholines ; pharmacology ; Pulmonary Embolism ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rivaroxaban ; Thiophenes ; pharmacology ; Warfarin ; pharmacology

The application of in vitro selection method to isolate nucleic acids, peptides and proteins according to their functions has been studied intensively in recent years. In vitro display technologies are not limited by cellular transformation efficiencies; thus, very large libraries of up to 10(13)-10(14) members can be built. The most popular in vitro display technologies are ribosome display and mRNA display; ribosome display achieves the mRNA-ribosome-nascent peptide complexes by stalling the translating ribosome in an in vitro translation reaction. In mRNA display, the mRNA-protein complex is achieved by binding the two macromolecules through a small adaptor molecule, typically puromycin; these mRNA-peptide fusions can then be purified and subjected to in vitro selection. In vitro display technologies provide a different approach to the in vitro selection and directed evolution of peptides and proteins. This review focuses on the principle and method of ribosome display and mRNA display technologies, and discusses their applications.
Animals ; Directed Molecular Evolution ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Peptide Library ; Protein Interaction Mapping ; methods ; RNA, Messenger ; chemistry ; genetics ; Ribosomes ; chemistry ; genetics