Objective To investigate the function of triggering receptor expresses on myeloid cells receptor-1 (TREM-1) in lymphocyte differentiation and regulation of Aspergillus infected immunosuppressed rats.Methods Cyclophosphamide (CTX) was intraperitoneally injected and Fumigatus spore suspension was inhaled by percutaneous tracheostomy to establish the immunosuppressive invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) rat model.After 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h inoculation, rats were sacrificed.Lung tissue specimens, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) , and plasma samples were collected.Plasma and BALF sTREM-1, plasma T cell-specific transcription factor (T-box expressed in T cells, T-bet) and eomesodermin(Eomes) were detected by ELISA.Biopsy specimens of lung tissue were used for periodic acid-schiff (PAS) staining and culture.Results The mortality rate of immunosuppressed rats after Aspergillus inhalation for 96 h was as high as 54.4％.Biopsy of lung tissue suggested acute inflammatory cell infiltration, interstitial lung congestion, alveolar structural damage, and visible Aspergillus hyphae in alveoli.Compared with normal control group[(110.50 ± 7.70)ng/L], plasma sTREM-1 in study groups were significantly increased [IPA : (146.77 ± 10.41) ng/L;CXT + IPA at 24 h : (226.00 ± 11.88) ng/L;CTX + IPA at 48 h : (200.77 ± 10.63) ng/L;P ＜ 0.05], so were T-bet levels [IPA : (561.17 ± 7.23) μg/L;CXT + IPA at 24 h : (647.00 ± 33.03) μg/L;CTX + IPA at 48 h : (619.23 ± 87.44) μg/L;control group : (340.03 ± 26.32) μg/L;respectively, P ＜0.05].However, plasma Eomes levels in IPA group, CTX + IPA at 24 h and 48 h were significantly lower compared with that in normal controls [IPA : (7.96 ± 0.65) ng/L;CXT + IPA at 24 h : (3.97 ± 0.35) ng/L;CTX + IPA at 48 h : (4.00 ± 0.74) ng/L;control group : (8.38 ± 0.51) ng/L;respectively,P ＜0.001].Compared with those in CTX + IPA vaccination after 24 h and 48 h, plasma sTREM-1 [(106.67 ±7.64)ng/L;(133.27 ± 32.79) ng/L] and T-bet [(299.64±63.07)μg/L;(398.02 ± 109.22) μg/L] in CTX + IPA at 72 h and 96 h inoculation were significantly lower (P ＜ 0.001).While Eomes [(8.38 ± 0.54) ng/L;(8.40 ± 0.70) ng/L] raised significantly higher (P ＜ 0.001).Compared with the control group, sTREM-1 levels in BALF of IPA + CTX 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h groups were consistently high (P ＜ 0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that sTREM-1 and T-bet had a significant positive correlation (r =0.91, P ＜ 0.001), yet Eomes was negatively correlated with them (r =-0.788, P ＜ 0.001).Conclusions sTREM-1 in rat plasma and BALF appears highly expressed in immune compromised Aspergillus infected rat model.Plasma sTREM-1 is closely correlated with T-bet and Eomes levels, which suggests that TREM-1 may be involved in lymphocytic regulation and differentiation during fungal infection.

?Dry eye is a multi-factorial disease of tear film and ocular surface, and it can result in discomfort, visual disturbance and tear film instability and potential damage of ocular surface, accompanied by hyper osmolarity of tears and ocular surface inflammation. lnflammation is the key factor to dry eye. Many kinds of immune cells and inflammatory factors are involved in the occurrence and development of dry eye syndrome. Cell apoptosis, nerve dysregulation, disorders of sex hormones also play an important role in pathologic process of dry eye. Recently, while illustrating the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of dry eye has been made some progress, there is still no single standard. The possible mechanisms of ocular surface inflammation and tear dysfunction of dry eye were reviewed in this article.

The stems and branches of Hypericum petiolulatum were extracted by alcohol and liquid-liquid extraction. Seven furofuran lignans were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract of H. petiolulatum by using silica gelchromatography, Sephadex LH-20 chromatography, medium-pressure liquid chromatography and preparative HPLC. Their structures were identified by the spectroscopic methods as pinoresinol (1), medioresinol (2), 8-acetoxypinoresinol (3), epipinoresinol (4), (+)-syringaresinol (5), (+)-1-hydroxysyringaresinol (6) and erythro-buddlenolE (7). All the isolates were firstly found in H. petiolulatum. In the bioassay, compound 7 showed remarkable antioxidative activity inhibiting Fe(+2)-cystine induced rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation with inhibitory rate 38% at a concentration of 1 x 10(-6) mol · L(-1) (positive control Vit E with the inhibitory rate of 35% at the same concentration).
Animals ; Antioxidants ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Hypericum ; chemistry ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Rats

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of high-dose strictosamide injection on cardiovascular sys-tem of anesthetized beagle dogs and to examine the inhibition of strictosamide on ion channels in vitro. Indexes such as changes of systolic blood pressure (Sys), diastolic blood pressure (Dia), mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR), PR, QRS, QT, QTcb and QTcv at different time points before and after strictosamide injection in dogs were monitored by the polygraph system. The inhibition of strictosamide at different concentrations on hERG potassium channel in CHO-hERG cells and Nav1.5 sodium channel in HEK-293-Nav1.5 cells were measured by whole-cell patch-clamp method. The results showed that compared with the blank control group, Sys, Dia, MBP and HR were obviously declined 15 min after medication in the strictosamide (60, 18 mg·kg-1) group and the vehicle-control group (containing tween-80) (P < 0.05). After medication, all indexes were recovered. Compared to the vehicle-control group, there were no significant differences at different time points in each medication groups. Compared with the blank control group and before medication, the QT interval, QTcb and QTcv were significantly prolonged 15 min af-ter medication in the strictosamide (60, 18, 6 mg·kg-1) group and the vehicle-control group (P< 0.05). When medi-cation stopped, indexes were recovered at certain level. Compared with the vehicle-control group, there were no sig-nificant differences of QT interval, QTcb and QTcv of each medication group at different time points (P> 0.05). The inhibition of strictosamide on hERG potassium channel and Nav1.5 sodium channel were weak with IC50 values of 560.8 μM and > 900 μM, respectively, which were far greater than the positive controls. It was concluded that sin-gle, high-dose intravenous injection of strictosamide may lead to a lower blood pressure, a slower heart rate and a prolongation on the QT interval in beagle dogs, which returned to basal levels when medication stopped. It was spec-ulated that the reduction of blood pressure and the slowing of heart rate were related to tween-80 contained in the vehicle control group. No significant inhibitory effects were detected on hERG potassium channel and Nav1.5 sodium channel in vitro, which suggested that other mechanisms may be involved in strictosamide-induced QT interval pro-longation in animals.

Objective To detect the expressions of CD70 mRNA and protein and to determine the methylation status of CD70 gene promoter in T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods Peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were isolated from 15 patients with active SLE,15 patients with inactive SLE and 15 healthy control subjects.Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR was carried out to quantify the mRNA expression of CD70,flow cytometry to determine the frequency of CD4+CD70+ and CD8+ CD70+ T cells,and bisulfite sequencing to evaluate the methylation status of CD70 gene promoter in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.Differences in these parameters among these groups were analyzed by one-factor analysis of variance and SNK-q test.Results Compared with the healthy controls,the patients with active SLE and inactive SLE showed a significant increase in CD70 mRNA expression in CD4+ T cells (0.82 ± 0.12 and 0.73 ± 0.11 vs.0.45 ±0.09,F =53.017,P ＜ 0.01) and in the frequency of CD70+CD4+ T cells (80.30％ ± 11.04％ and 66.80％ ± 3.98％ vs.12.48％ ± 3.45％,F =311.517,P ＜ 0.01).Also,the expression of CD70 mRNA in CD4+ T cells and the frequency of CD70+CD4+ T cells were significantly higher in patients with active SLE than in patients with inactive SLE (both P ＜ 0.05).There was a positive correlation between the frequency of peripheral CD70+CD4+ T cells and disease activity in SLE in these patients (r =0.792,P ＜ 0.01).The average methylation index of the region between-600 bp and-300 bp of CD70 gene promoter in CD4+ T cells was 0.32 ± 0.05 and 0.36 ± 0.05 respectively in the patients with active and inactive SLE,significantly lower than that in the healthy controls (0.62 ± 0.05,F =152.64,P ＜ 0.01),and the patients with active SLE showed a significantly lower methylation index than those with inactive SLE (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The CD70 gene promoter in CD4+ T cells is significantly hypomethylated in patients with SLE,which may directly lead to the overexpression of CD70.

To obtain the optimal preparation technology of Fang-bing nasal inhalant from components of traditional Chinese medicine by central composite design, with an apparatus containing nasal inhalant that simulated the expiration and inspiration of nose, the dissolution in vitro of different optimized inhalant samples designed through central composite design were investigated. The accumulative release of linalool, borneol, menthol was detected with GC. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the conditions of preparation technology by establishing multiple linear regression and second-order quadratic models. Then, deviation was carried out through comparing the observed and predicted values. It was showed that the coefficient of correlation of second-order quadratic model was high. The related coefficient reached 0.999 3, 0.998 0, 0.944 9, separately. The optimum conditions of preparation technology were as following: 84.39% of alcohol concentration, the weight of starch 1.45 g and the weight of carmellose sodium (CMC-Na for short) 1.22 g. The deviations between observed and predicated values showed -0.36%, 1.52%, 2.40%, separately. In this experiment, the established model can describe the good relation between factors and indexes from preparation technology of Fang-bing nasal inhalant and the outcome of prediction is well. This optimal Fang-bing nasal inhalant was used to study its in vivo effect on model rats deprived from sleep and showed sedative and sleep aiding, which will bring an instruction on inhalants of components from traditional Chinese medicine.
Administration, Inhalation ; Animals ; Bornanes ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; methods ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Male ; Menthol ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Monoterpenes ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sleep ; drug effects ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the erectile and ejaculatory function of sacral tumor patients after sacral nerve root resection and investigate the relationship of erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction (EED) with the level of sacral nerve injury.

METHODSThis retrospective study included 47 male patients aged 16 to 63 (32.6 +/- 6.8) years treated by sacral tumor resection between January 2008 and August 2013. According to the levels of the sacral nerve roots spared in surgery, the patients were divided into four groups: bilateral S1-S3 (n=16), unilateral S1-S3 (n=21), unilateral S1-S2 (n=6), and unilateral S1 (n=4). The patients were followed up for 12 to 41 (27.2 +/- 10.9) months by questionnaire investigation, clinic review, and telephone calls about their erectile and ejaculatory function at 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery and in August 2013.

RESULTSIn the bilateral S1-S3 group, the incidence rates of EED were 31.25% (5/16), 25% (4/16), and 12.5% (2/16) at 3, 6, and 12 months respectively after surgery, with recovery of erectile and ejaculatory function in August 2013. The incidence rates of EED in the unilateral S1-S3 group were 85.71% (18/21), 71.43% (15/21), 52.38% (11/21), and 42.86% (9/21) at 3, 6 and 12 months and in August 2013, respectively; those in the unilateral S1-S2 group were 100% (6/6), 83.33% (5/6), 83.33% (5/6), and 66.67% (4/6) at the four time points; and those in the unilateral S1 group were all 100% (4/4). No statistically significant differences were found in the incidence rate of EED among the patients of different ages or tumor types (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of postoperative EED in male patients treated by sacral tumor resection is closely related to the mode of operation. Sparing the S3 nerve root at least unilaterally in sacral tumor resection is essential for protecting the erectile and ejaculatory function of the patient.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ejaculation ; physiology ; Erectile Dysfunction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; injuries ; surgery ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

BackgroundDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is the result of the cytokine network disorders,the imbalance of angiogenic factor and vascular inhibitory factor is the start factor.ObjectiveTo analyze the levels of CXC chemotatic factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients,evaluate the clinical application value of them in different clinical types of DR using receiver operating characteristic (ROC)analysis and to approach the new way of individualized treatment.Methods This was a prospective research.The gold standard was ophthalmolscope and fundus fluorescein angiography.The levels of CXC chemotatic factors and multiplicaiton factors were measured in 96 cases with type 2 diabetes mellitus (66 cases with retinopathy and 30 cases without retinopathy as control).The assessment tasks were performed for these index and courses of DR with ROC curve.Results The expression of age,course of disease has significant difference in different courses of DR ( F =8.507,P =0.001 ; F =28.143,P =0.000).Compared with the control group,the expression of growth-related oncogene-α ( GROα ) ( t =- 2.172,P =0.035,AUC =0.625 ),whole blood viscosity 200 ( t =- 3.724,P =0.001,AUC =0.904 ) and neutrophilic leukocyte (t=-2.562,P =0.013,AUC =0.577 ) has significant difference in the group of mild NPDR.Compared with the control group,the expression of interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 ( IP-10 ) ( t =-3.591,P =0.001,AUC =0.592 ),platelet derivation growth factor-BB ( PDGF-BB ) ( t =- 3.233,P =0.003,AUC =0.735 ),vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) ( t =- 3.617,P =0.001,AUC =0.776 ),C peptide ( t =- 3.366,P =0.002,AUC =0.962 ),leukocyte ( t=-3.201,P =0.003,AUC =0.852) and neutrophilic leukocyte(t =-4.201,P=0.000,AUC =0.852) has significant difference in the group of moderate and severe NPDR.ConclusionsCXC chemotatic factors may act as reactivator in the pathogenesis of DR,GROα and IP-10 may be useful for clinical monitoring of the severity of DR,and evaluating the imbalance state of chemotatic factors maybe a new approach to clinical monitoring and prognosis of DR.

This study aimed at investigating the antiviral constituents from the active fractions of Tong-An (TA) injection.In this study,the active constituents of TA injection were screened by LPS-induced PGE2 production mode to detect the contents of PGE2.The chemical constituents were isolated by HP-20 macroporous resin,silica gel column chromatography,ODS column chromatography,Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography and preparative and semi-preparative HPLC.The structures were identified by spectral data and physicochemical property.As a result,the 95％ ethanol eluate of TA injection on the macroporous adsorption resin column was proved to be the active fraction of TA injection.Seventeen compounds were isolated from TA injection and identified as syringaresinol (1),N-Trans-Feruloyltyramine (2),chelerythrine (3),sinomenine (4),coptisine (5),sanguinarine (6),chelidoniny (7),magnoflorine (8),allocryptopine (9),protopine (10),farrerol (11),dihydrosanguinarine (12),heptadec-(9Z)-enoic acid (13),chlorogenic acid (14),cryptochlorogenin acid (15),3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (16) and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (17).PGE2 inhibitory activities of these compounds were determined,among which six compounds presented inhibitory activities against PGE2.It was concluded that all the isolated compounds from TA injection were firstly reported with the favorable inhibitory activities of compounds 2,5,9,10,11,12 against PGE2.

Objective To study the mlationship between dietary soy isoflavones and blood lipids among residents of 40-65 years old,in Guangzhou.Methods Dietary soy isoflavones and other nutrients intakes were assessed with quantitative food frequency questionnaire(FFQ).Total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG),HDL cholesterol(HDL-C)and LDL cholesterol(LDL-C)in plasma were measured with colorimetry.Results Ranges of dietary soy isoflavones intake among 134 males and 261 females were fxom 0 mg/day to 61.96 mg/day and 0 mg/day to 82.52 mg/day,with means of 11.95 mg/day,14.90 mg/day,respectively.After adjusted for total energy intake and fat percent energy,difiefences of TC,LDL-C in total population and TC in women were statistically significant between groups(P value was 0.002,0.008,0.004,respectively) and dose-effect relationships(P value was <0.001.0.012.0.001,respectively)were observed between dietary soy isoflavones intake and the upper mentioned three indices.Compared with the low-intake group,tbese three indices lowered 7.06%,10.13%and 7.48%,respectively in high-intake group.Critical significance of LDL-C was observed both in women and men between groups.Further controlled for age,BMI and WHR,no obvious change of the results was observed.Conclusion Moderate intakes of soy isoflavone as part of a regular diet seemed to be associated with favorable blood lipid levels.