Objective To investigate the percentages of Th17 and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T(Tr) cells and the levels of related cytokines IL-6,IL-23,IL-17 and TGF-β in serum of patients with anlylosing spondylitis(AS).Methods Forty patients with AS and 37 age-matched healthy donors were studied.Flow cytometry Was used to analyze the percentages of blood Th17 and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Tr cells.The levels of serum IL-6,IL-23,IL-17 and TGF-β were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA).Results The proportion of Th17 cells in AS group was significantly higher than those in normal group [ (1.02±0.34)％ vs (0.68±0.29)％,P＜0.05) ],and the proportion of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells was lower in AS group comparing with normal group [(3.77±0.81)％ vs (4.69±1.23)％,P＜0.05)].Meanwhile,serum levels of IL-6,IL-23 and IL-17 were significantly higher in AS group than those in normal group [ (6,15±2.71) ng/L vs (3.31±1.65) ng/L; (9.44±3.12) ng/ml vs (5.82±2.61) ng/ml;(10.53±4.97) ng/L vs (6.78±3.26) ng/L,all P＜0.01 ].In contrast,TGF-β level was decreased in AS group compares with the normal group [ ( 4.76±2.15) ng/ml vs (5.16±2.02) ng/ml,P＞0.05 ],but the difference was not significant.No associations of serum eytokine levels with clinical and laboratory parameters were found in AS.Conclusion The abnormality Th17 cells and Tr cells and their related cytokines IL-6,IL-23,IL-17 and TGF-β changes in patients with AS,which may be involved in immunological pathogenesis of AS.

Objective To explore a simpler, more economic and reproducible method to reproduce a model of high oxygen induced acute lung injury (HALI) in rats. Methods An animal feeding box equipped with a controllable high oxygen was designed. 100 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into normal control group and HALI group by random number table method, with 50 rats in each group. Each group was randomly subdivided into five subgroups according to the duration of exposure to high oxygen, namely 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96-hour subgroups, with 10 rats in each subgroup. The rats in normal control group were kept in cages with ambient air, and the rats in HALI group were kept in an oxygen tank in which the oxygen concentration was higher than 90% volume ratio, with the temperature maintained at 25-27 ℃, humidity of 50%-70%, and CO2 concentration < 0.5% for 23.5 hours every day. The arterial blood of rats was collected for analysis of blood gas at all time points, and the oxygenation index (OI) and respiratory index (RI) were calculated. Then the rats were sacrificed and the right lung was harvested, which was sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE). The changes in histopathology were observed with light microscopy, and pathological score was recorded. The left lung was harvested for the measurement of the wet/dry weight ratio (W/D). Results With the prolongation of high oxygen exposure time, the degree of lung injury in HALI group was gradually increased, and the degree of derangement of alveolar structure appeared in an increasing degree, with destruction of the alveolar wall, widening of alveolar space, and appearance of edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration. A small quantity of red blood cells exudation could be found in some rats. The pathologic changes were most obvious at 48-72 hours after exposure. With the prolongation of high oxygen exposure time (0, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours), the OI (mmHg, 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) in HALI group was gradually decreased (446.67±29.93, 306.19±37.23, 269.70±29.00, 253.81±43.40 and 245.58±35.25), RI, pathological score of lung tissue and W/D ratio were gradually increased [RI: 0.25±0.04, 0.31±0.06, 0.38±0.06, 0.46±0.07 and 0.44±0.03; pathological score of lung tissue: 0.00±0.00, 0.90±0.74, 2.90±1.20, 4.70±1.57 and 4.80±1.23; lung W/D ratio: 3.84±0.61, 4.14±0.46, 4.56±0.34, 5.32±0.27 and 5.18±0.25]. Statistically significant differences were found in 72-hour group as compared with that of other groups (all P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found between 96 hours and 72 hours groups (all P > 0.05). There were significant differences in changes between 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours as compared with those of the normal control group: OI (mmHg): 24 h 306.19±37.23 vs. 435.65±25.34 and 96 h 245.58±35.25 vs. 465.42±24.75; RI: 24 h 0.31±0.06 vs. 0.24±0.04 and 96 h 0.44±0.03 vs. 0.24±0.06. The same as true in pathological scores of lung tissue: 24 h 0.90±0.74 vs. 0.00±0.00 and 96 h 4.80±1.23 vs. 0.00±0.00; lung W/D ratio: 24 h 4.14±0.46 vs. 3.79±0.44 and 96 h 5.18±0.25 vs. 4.12±0.91, all P < 0.05. Conclusions A self-designed high oxygen box is simple, easy to operate and reproduction of HALI model can be attained. Sustained exposure to high concentrations of oxygen (≥ 90%) for 24 hours can replicate the HALI model successfully, and the most serious injury appears at 48-72 hours after exposure.

Objective To appraise the bowel control and quality of life after transanal improvement of Soave one-stage pull-through operation for Hirschsprung′s disease(HD) in infants.Methods Twenty-five patients(aged from 2 months to 3 years old) with HD underwent improved endorectal pull-through procedure and postoperative follow-up for 5 months to 6 years(average 4.5 years) including the occurrence of operation related complications sush as bowel control,constipation or postoperative enterocolitis and quality of life.Results Twenty-one patients completed the study were with a mean follow-up.The assessment of anal continence was graded as normal(4 scores),good(3 scores),and fair(2 scores) according to the previous study of other investigators.Of the 21 patients,16 were graded as normal,whereas 4 were as good and 1 fair.One patient developed constipation and 2 patients had postoperative enterocolitis.Conclusion Modified Soave procedure for Hirschsprang′s disease can get a good bowel control outcome and quality of life.

AIM:To observe the efficacy and safety of 1g/L bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution in the partial substitution of glucocorticoid after laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK).METHODS: Totally 104 cases (208 eyes) were received LASEK, which were selected and divided into study group and control group.The study group were adopted 1g/L bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution combined with tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops and fluorometholone eye drops, the control group were adopted tobramycin dexamethasone eye drops and fluorometholone eye drops.The changes of visual acuity and intraocular pressure of two groups were recorded before and after surgery, and the score of painness and the occurrence of haze were observed after surgery.RESULTS: At postoperative 1, 2, 3d, respectively, the pain score of the study group were 1.70±0.35, 1.25±0.34, 0.82±0.32, the pain score of the control group were 2.30±0.43, 1.68±0.44, 1.12±0.33, the differences were significant (P<0.05).Before and at 2wk, 1, 3mo after surgery, respectively, uncorrected visual acuity of study group were 0.035±0.02, 0.71±0.13, 0.89±0.17, 0.88±0.18, while which of control group were 0.037±0.015, 0.73±0.15, 0.87±0.14, 0.86±0.15 (P>0.05), and the differences were not significant(P>0.05).At preoperative and postoperative 1, 2wk, 1 and 3mo of surgery, respectively, the intraocular pressure of study group were 17.33±1.58, 7.54±1.28, 7.23±1.58, 7.26±1.47, and 7.30±1.36 mmHg;the intraocular pressure of control group were 17.53±1.43,7.57±1.32,7.73±1.55,7.80±1.38,7.86±1.43 mmHg,the differences were not significant between before and at 2wk after surgery(P>0.05), the differences were significant between the two groups at 2wk, 1mo and 3mo (P<0.05).At postoperative 1, 3mo of surgery, the score of haze level of the study group were 91.7% and 93.3%, respectively and which in control group were 92.0% and 92.9%, respectively, and the differences were not significant between the two groups at every time point(P>0.05).CONCLUSION: It is safe and effective that 1g/L bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution in the partial substitution of glucocorticoid after laser subepithelial keratomileusis.The patient has a lower intraocular pressure, has similar therapeutic effect as glucocorticoid in vision and antiinflammatory.

Objective To explore rules of changes in velocity of ultrasound wave transmission at the tibia and radius by a quantitative bone mineral density ultrasound scanner in examination of early incipient rickets in infants and its significance in clinical diagnosis.Methods One hundred and fifty-seven infants who visited child health-care clinic of the Capital Institute of Pediatrics,Beijing during May 2004 to December 2007 and clinically diagnosed as rickets according to the Criteria of Diagnosis for Rickets in Infants and Young Children formulated in 1986 by the Ministry of Health,as well as 124 normal healthy infants as controls,were enrolled in the study and followed-up for three months.Velocity of ultrasound wave transmission at the tibia and radius in all the infants were measured by a bone mineral density ultrasound scanner (Sunlight Omnisense 7000R made in Israel).Results One hundred and fifty-seven infants were clinically diagnosed as rickets,127 of them undergone with carpal plane roentgenography and 90 of the 127 with positive change in bone x-ray imaging and 37 without it.Velocity of ultrasound wave transmission at the tibia and radius measured by z-score was significantly lower in infants with clinically diagnosed rickets than that in healthy controls (Z-values of-10.411 and-10.399 at the tibia and-5.646 and-5.517 at the radius,respectively,P = 0.000 with Mann-Whitney test).Velocity of ultrasound wave transmission at the tibia and radius measured by z-score was lower in those with positive change in x-my imaging than that in those without it,but not reaching a level of statistically significant difference.Velocity of ultrasound wave transmission and z-score correlated positively with change in bone x-ray imaging,respectively with Spearman coefficients of correlation of 0.581 and 0.677 for tibia,0.316 and 0.467 for radius (P = 0.000).Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn from those with rickets and positive left carpal plane roetgenograph.Area under curve of ROC for z-score of velocity of ultrasound wave transmission at the tibia was 0.812 and 0.799 (95% CI 0.758-0.856 and 0.742-0.855,P =0.000),respectively.Area under ROC curve of z-score of velocity of ultrasound wave transmission at the radius was 0.715 and 0.697 (95% CI 0.650-0.780,0.631-0.764,P =0.000),respectively.Cut-off value of z-score was-205--1.95 at the tibia,according to the largest sensitivity and the least false-positivity,with sensibility of 0.8 to 0.9 and specificity of 0.733 to 0.702.As its sensitivity at the radius was more than 0.7,its specificity was lower than 0.524.Conclusions Quantitative ultrasound scanning can be used to detect insufficient bone mineral density in infants and their early skeletal change by rickets but without change in bone x-ray imaging.Velocity of ultrasound wave transmission at the tibia can be used as an indicator to predict early rickets in infants rather than its severity.

Ten compounds were isolated from the barks of Jasminum giraldii by means of various of chromatographic techniques such as silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and Rp-HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic data analysis as (+)-medioresinol (1), (+) -syringaresinol (2), syringaresinol-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), oleanic acid (4), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-trans-cinnamaldehyde (5), trans-sinapaldehyde (6), syringaldehyde (7), 1-(4-methoxy -phenyl) -ethanol (8), trans-cinnamic acid (9), and 4-(1-methoxyethyl) -phenol (10). Among them, compounds 1-3, 5-8 and 10 were isolated from the J. genus for the first time and compounds 4 and 9 were obtained from J. giraldii for the first time. In the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, compound 1 exhibited significant activity (IC50 55.1 micromol x L(-1)), compared with vitamin C(IC50 59.9 micromol x L(-1)); and compound 2 showed moderate activity (IC50 79.0 micromol x L(-1)), compared with 2, 6-di-tert-butyl4-methylphenol (IC50 236 micromol x L(-1)).
Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Jasminum ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Ten compounds were isolated from the leaf of Eucommia ulmoides by means of recrystallization and chromatographic techniques such as D-101 macroporous resin, MCI resin, ODS gel, Sephadex LH-20 and Rp-HPLC. Their structures were identified by NMR spectral analyses as kaempferide 3-O-beta-D-glucoside (1), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucoside (2), quercetin (3), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-xylosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-galactoside (4), kaempferol-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucoside (5), (2S,3S)-taxifolin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside (6) ,4-hydroxy cinnamic acid (7), (+)-cycloolivil (8), pinoresinol beta-D-glucoside (9), squalene (10). Among them compounds 1,5-7,10 were isolated from the Eucommia genus for the first time. In the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, compound 2 exhibited significant activity (IC50 13.7 micromol x L(-1)), compared with vitamin C (IC50 59.9 micromol x L(-1)); compounds 1, 3 and 9 showed moderate activity (IC50 161,137, 214 micromol x L(-1)), compared with 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (IC50 236 micromol x L(-1)); compound 4 and 6 showed weak activity (IC50 264, 299 micromol x L(-1)).
Antioxidants ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo use heme oxygenase (HO) inducer hemin and a HO inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) to investigate the effect of HO on apoptosis and apoptosis genes in hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury in rats.

METHODSNinety-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (24 rats in each): a sham-operation group, an ischemia-reperfusion (IR) group, a hemin-IR group and a ZnPP-IR group. Liver functions, liver histology and hepatocellular apoptosis rates were observed at 0, 1.5, 4 and 8 hours after reperfusion. Hepatocellular apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling; expressions of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operation group, the levels of ALT and AST were increased in the IR group. In the IR group the histological changes found in the livers were swelling of hepatocytes, narrowing of hepatic sinusoids, inflammatory cell infiltration and necrosis of hepatocytes in some areas of the livers. In the IR group rate of hepatocellular apoptosis was increased at 0, 1.5, 4 and 8 hours after reperfusion; expression of Bcl-2 was decreased and the expression of caspase-3 was increased. In the hemin-IR group, the levels of ALT and AST were lower, the pathological changes were milder and the rate of hepatocellular apoptosis was lower at 0, 1.5, 4 and 8 hours in comparison to those of the IR group. The expression of Bcl-2 was higher and the expression of caspase-3 was lower in the hemin-IR group in comparison to those of the IR group. The results in the ZnPP-IR group were just the opposite to those of the hemin-IR group.

CONCLUSIONHO might play a protective role in hepatic IR injury in rats, and this effect may be related to the inhibition of hepatocellular apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Protoporphyrins ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; pathology

Seven compounds were isolated from the leaves of Panax japonicus var. major by chromatographic methods including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and semi-preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by their physical and chemical properties and spectral data analysis as 5, 7-dihydroxy-8-methoxyl flavone (1), ginsenoside Rs2 (2), quinquenoside R1 (3), ginsenoside Rs1 (4), notoginsenoside Fe (5), ginsenoside Rd2 (6) and gypenosiden IX (7). Among them, compound 1 was obtained from the Panax genus for the first time, and compounds 2-7 were isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Flavones ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Panax ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVEExercise induced oscillatory ventilation (EIOB) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is associated with severity and prognosis of disease, but clinical approach for the character of EIOB due to circulatory dysfunction are seldom reported.

METHODSThis retrospective analysis of symptom-limited maximum CPET data with an increment of 10-20 W/min in 38 patients with CHF. We calculated the duration, frequency, amplitude and other parameters of EIOB.

RESULTSThere were 31 presenting with EIOB (82%) in all patients with CHF. In EIOB group, VE amplitude were (12.4 ± 4.4)L/min (accounting for 81% ± 30% of mean) and duration were (77.0 ± 20.0)s. The number of patients whose EIOB presenting at rest, exercise, recovery stage and the whole eriod were 24, 31, 4 and 4, respectively. Except VE, there were VO2, VCO2, RER and PETO2 presenting EIOB in all 31 patients; VE/VCO2, VO2/VE and breath frequency in 29 patients; PETCO2 in 26 patients; VT and VO2/HR in 25 patients; and HR in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONEIOB may occur in any period of CPET, mostly in severe patient with CHF, and presenting in many variables. Due to it is resulted from the circulatory dysfunction, we should call it circulatory (cardiac) oscillatory breathing abnormality.

Exercise Test ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Oxygen Consumption ; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena ; Retrospective Studies