The relationship between probiotics and host intestinal immune system was reviewed. Then, as a new immunomodulator, the mechanisms and clinical uses of probiotics were discussed.

To observe the D-dimer levels and the numbers of micro-embolic signals (MES) in atrial fibrillation patients with different thromboembolic risk scores. A total of 216 persistent atrial patients were classified according to their different scores with a range of 0 -6.They were also divided into two groups by ≥2 or ＜ 2 according to the CardiacFailure,Hypertension,Age,Diabetes,Stroke 2 (CHADS2) point system.D-dimer levels and the numbers of MES were detected in all patients.A rising trend of D-dimer level and the number of MES was observed with the increases of CHADS2 score. D-dimer level and the number of MES in group 0 or 1 score were significantly lower than those in other high score groups (P ＜ 0.05).And the number of MES in group 5 or 6 score was significantly higher than those in other low score groups (P ＜ 0.05).D-dimer level and the number of MES in the group of ≥ 2 score were significantly higher than those in group ＜ 2 score ( P ＜ 0.01 ).It suggests that D-dimer level and the nunber of MES may reflect the thromboembolic risks in atrial fibrillation patients.

Partial immunoactivities of peptidoglycan(PG)isolated from lactic acid bacteria were investigated.PG isolated from strain Z8 and Z17 of lactic acid bacteria respectively,had similar immunoactivities.The phagocytic function of M?(macrophage)increased markedly and serum lysozyme activity was significantly enhanced by injection of PG-extracts on mice.Investigation of immuno-enhancing effects of PG on vaccine of Newcastle disease in chickens showed that the hemagglutination inhibition levels of PG were higher than that of the control and the level was maintained for a longer time as compared to the control.

Objective To investigate the relationship between vascular endothelial function and insulin resistance(IR) and the incidence of metabolic syndrome(MS).Methods A seven-year follow-up study was conducted in 583 simple obese subjects who were chosen in 2000.Body fat,blood pressure,lipid profile,plasma glucose,insulin resistance index(HOMA-IR) and endothelium- dependent dilatation(EDD) were measured before and after the follow-up.Results A total of 177 new cases with MS were found during this seven years,which was 33.78% of all subjects who were followed up in 2007.Cumulative incidence of MS among seven-year was 38.14% in the impaired EDD group and 48.11% in the impaired EDD with IR group,both rates were higher than that of the IR group(25.00%)(P

Objectives To provide reference for the improve of health care system and healthcare insurance con-trolling method, through researching on the value-based healthcare paying system in South Korea. Methods The basic characteristics of the Korean health care system was researched, Specifically, its reform experiences of value-based health insurance review and assessment paying system,which government took. Results South Korea’s health care pay-ing system had achieved both good social and policy effects. Conclusions Value-based health care paying system is the main reason for the reducing of health care expenditures and making of scientific health policy.

Objective: To investigate the level of maternal and infant health literacy and its influencing factors among rural pregnant and lying-in women in Guian New Area, Guiyang City, so as to provide insights into maternal and infant health education. Methods: All pregnant and lying-in women included in health management in township hospitals of Guian New Area from October to December 2021 were selected using a stratified cluster random sampling method. Participants' basic features, maternal and infant health literacy and health education needs were collected using electronic questionnaires, and factors affecting maternal and infant health literacy were identified among pregnant and lying-in women using unconditioned multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 918 valid questionnaires were recovered, and the participants included 325 pregnant women (35.40%), 823 married women (89.65%), 466 women with an educational level of junior high school and below (50.76%), 847 rural household registration (92.27%), 695 women with monthly family income of 3 200 Yuan and less (75.71%), and 267 women with maternal and infant health literacy (29.08%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified pluripara (OR=3.418, 95%CI: 1.689-6.919), educational level (diploma, OR=2.901, 95%CI: 1.230-6.842; bachelor and above, OR=6.282, 95%CI: 2.548-15.489), household monthly income per capita (3 201-5 000 Yuan, OR=2.373, 95%CI: 1.499-3.757; 5 001 Yuan and more, OR=7.752, 95%CI: 3.072-19.558), a disease history (OR=3.045, 95%CI: 1.175-5.406), use of maternal and child health manuals (OR=1.881, 95%CI: 1.345-2.632) and emphasizing health education (OR=1.735, 95%CI: 1.122-2.463) as factors promoting for the level of maternal and infant health literacy. In addition, pregnant and lying-in women's major maternal and infant health education needs included infant growth and development knowledge (745 women, 81.15%), management of common infant diseases (719 women, 78.32%), daily infant nursing (651 women, 70.92%) and infant nutrition and feeding (646 women, 70.37%). Conclusions The level of maternal and infant health literacy is low among rural pregnant and lying-in women in Guian New Area, and there is a high demand for health education. High attention should be paid to rural pregnant and lying-in women with a low educational level, low incomes, and primipara.

Advance on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Stellera plants have been conducted. The chemical constituents include terpenes, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, volatile oils, and other compounds. Pharmacological studies showed that diterpenoids and biflavones showed strong activities, such as antitumor, anti-HIV, and immune regulations. This review hopes to provide a scientific basis for further research and explorations of the medicinal values of the genus.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Molecular Structure ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry ; classification

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of triptolide (TPL) on the reversal of multidrug resistance in K562/A02 cell line. The sensitivity of K562 and K562/A02 to adriamycin (ADM) and reversal of drug resistance were determined with MTT method. The concentration of intracellular ADM and P-glycoprotein expression were detected by flow cytometry. Luciferase reporter gene assay was used to detect the transcriptional activity of MDR1 promoter. The results showed that TPL significantly decreased the resistance degree of K562/A02 cells, inhibited P-glycoprotein expression (mean fluorescent intensity decreased from 123 ± 13 to 39 ± 13) and increased the intracellular concentration of ADM (mean fluorescent intensity increased from 18 ± 5 to 34 ± 6) in K562/A02 cells. Luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that TPL inhibited the transcriptional activity of MDR1 promoter by 75%. It is concluded that TPL may effectively reverse the multidrug resistance in K562/A02 cells via modulating P-glycoprotein expression and increasing intracellular ADM accumulation.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

Objective To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of normotensive pheochromocytomas ( NP) . Methods This retrospective study included 97 patients with a pathological diagnosis of pheochromocytoma at the Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University Medical School during January 2004 to December 2013. All available clinical, biochemical, and radiological records were reviewed in these patients who were then categorized into hypertensive pheochromocytomas (HP) (n=64) and NP (n=33) groups. 97 cases of Adrenal Gland Scale Score of pheochromocytoma were examined, including tissue microscopic pathology assessment, ki67 and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase ( PNMT ) immunohistochemistry and catecholamine type. Biochemical examinations of 95 subjects with primary hypertension ( PH) were recorded for comparative study. Results The patients with NP showed lower proportion of clinical triad than HP, inapparent metabolic disorders, and lower urinary catecholamine levels than HP, but showed higher results than primary hypertension. The weight of tumor was positively correlated with 24 hour urinary norepinephrine level in patients with HP(Y=1. 376+0. 653X,R2=0. 118, P=0. 028), but not in patients with NP;and the size or diameter of the tumor was negatively correlated with PNMT immunohistochemistry in patients with NP(Y=0. 940-0. 356X, R2=0. 494, P=0. 005), but not in patients with HP, indicating that NP may be misdiagnosed clinically. Conclusion Patients with NP have distinct clinical, biochemical, and pathological phenotypes; the phenotypic changes are closely related with the expression levels of catecholamine pathway products during the occurrence and development of the tumors.

Objective To investigate the in vitro effects of quercitrin on the proliferation and the cytotoxicity of human γδT cells.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy subjects and cultured with isopentenyl pyrophosphate and IL -2 to induce human γδT cells.The hu-manγδT cells were cultured with quercitrin at various concentrations for 48 hours.CCK-8 kits were used to analyze the in vitro proliferation and cytotoxic activities of γδT cells.Flow cytometry was performed to meas-ure the expression of granzyme B and perforin in γδT cells.The expression of p-ERK, p-Akt and Bcl-2 at protein level were detected by Western blot .Results The percentage of human γδT cells in PBMCs was in-creased from (2.96±1.83)%to (88.94±2.36)%after 10 days of culture.The quercitrin at concentrations of 10 to 80 μg/ml could promote the growth of γδT cells and up-regulate the expression of granzyme B , per-forin, p-ERK, p-Akt and Bcl-2 in a dose dependent manner .The cytolytic activities of γδT cells against co-lonic carcinoma cells ( HCT116 ) were enhanced by quercitrin .Conclusion Quercitrin could promote the proliferation of γδT cells and enhance the expression of granzyme B and perforin at certain concentrations in vitro.ERK1/2 and Akt signal transduction systems might be involved in the process .