Objective To investigate the cut-off value of N-terminal portion of pro-brain nairiuretic peptid (NT-proBNP)for detecting various degrees of heart failure(HF)at different ages.Method Totally 48 patients with cardiac dysfunction(NYHA Ⅰ-Ⅳ)were from Department of Emergency Nedicine of Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University.The inclusion criteria inclued:organic heart disease,cardiac dysfunction(NYHA Ⅰ-Ⅳ).The exclusion criteria included:acute coronary syndrome,continuous atrial fibrillation,pulmonary emphysema,lung embolism,chronic renal insufficiency,anaemia,abnormal function of glandula thyreoidea,and tumor.The NT- proBNP was studied in order to find out the relevance of NT-proBNP to the classification of HF among patients aged over75 years old(age≥75 years)and patients aged below 75 years old(age＜75 years).Moreover,the NT- proBNP values were used to differentiate acute cardiogenic dyspnea.The data were expressed as(x±s)and ana- lyzed using analysis of variance and Student's t test with SPSS 11.0.A P value less than 0.05 indicated statistical significance.Results The analysis of NT-proBNP levels showed the leveis of it were associated with the grades of cardiac function and left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF).NT-proBNP levels in patients aged over 75 years were higher than those in patients aged below 75 years.When patients wele of NYI-IA Ⅱ grade and NYHA Ⅳ grade,the levels of NT-proBNP showed signitieant differences between two sorts of patients(407±277 vs.1358± 967 P＜0.05;3727±1342 vs.9031±2363,P＜0.01).The cut-off value of NT-proBNP determined in 48 patients was at 525 pg/ml(AUC=0.958,sensitivity 100%,specificity 76%),at 1911 pg/ml(sensitivity 73%, specificity 96%)in patients with NYHA Ⅱgrade,which were used to identify severe symptomatic heart failure.The cut-off value of NT-proBNP determined in patients aged over 75 yeats was 849pg/ml(AUC=0.922,sensitivity 100%,s pecificity 57%),at 2990 pg/ml(semitivity 81%,specificity 100%)in patients with NYHA Ⅳ grade.Cobckysions NT-proBNP levels are associated with grades of cardiac functions limit of 75 years.It suggests that higher NT-proBNP value in patients aged over 75 years should be considered to evaluate caidiac function and identify acute cardiac dyspnea.

Objective To find a proper way for accurate results on completing blood counts.Methods Based on the results from automatic hematology analyzer XE-2100,set up the criteria for blood cell microscopic examination.1368 blood specimen were detected and the results were analyzed according to the criteria.Statistics on the data were made to evaluate the accordance between warnings of analyzer and manual examination,likewise the reliability of the criteria.Results Comparing with microscopic examination,analyzer warning on low PLT has good accordance,Kappa value was 0.95,U value was 35.19,P

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the role of protease activated receptor-2 ( PAR-2 ) in the process of tryptase mediated IEC-6 cell injury.METHODS:The rat intestinal epithelial cell line IEC-6 was treated with tryptase at different concentrations (1 μg/L, 10 μg/L, 100μg/L and 1 000μg/L) in the presence or absence of PAR-2 antagonist FSLLRY-NH2 for 12 h respectively.The cell survival rate was detected by MTT assay.The protein levels of PAR-2 and cleaved-caspase 3 were determined by Western blotting.The LDH activity was also measured.RESULTS:Compared with control group, the cell survival rates were significantly decreased in 100 μg/L and 1 000 μg/L tryptase treated groups, the LDH activities were significantly increased in 10 μg/L to 1 000 μg/L tryptase treated groups, and the protein levels of PAR-2 and cleaved caspase 3 were significantly increased in 100μg/L and 1 000μg/L tryptase treated groups (P<0.05).Com-pared with 1 000 μg/L tryptase treated group, the LDH activity and cleaved caspase 3 protein level were dramatically de-creased while the survival rate was significantly increased in the presence of PAR-2 antagonist FSLLRY-NH2 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION:Tryptase induces IEC-6 cell injury in a dose-dependent manner by activating PAR-2.

Objective To investigate the changes of circulaling progenitor cells and endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs)in non-septic and septic shock patients using flow cytometry.Method A total of 27 sepsis patients hospitalized in emergency department of Zhongshan hospital during August 2007 to February 2008 were enrolled in this study.The patients were dividedinto septic shock group(n=12)and non-septic shock group(n=15).Ten healthy individuals and ten non-sepsis ICU patients were collected as controls.Peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) were isolated by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation,and EPCs labelled with antibodies against CDl33,CD34 and VEGFR-2 were identified and isolated by three-color fluorescence flow cytometry.Differences within the groups were analyzed using One way ANOVA.Results The percentages ofprogenitor cells and EPCs in the PBMC fraction in healthy controls were(0.25%4-0.14%),(0.09%-I-0.02%),respectively,and those in ICU controls were(O.38%.4-0.29%),(0.12%.4-0.02%).The percentages of progenitor cells and EPCs were significantly higher in栅sel如c shock patients(0.57%±0.12%),(0.22%.4-0.10%)than in heathy and non-sepsis ICU controls(P<0.05).However.the percentages of progenitor cells and EPC8 in septic shock pa.tienta(O.20%±0.12%,0.04%-t-O.01%)was obviousely lower than those in healthy,ICU controls and ilionseptic shock patients(P<0.05).Sptic shock survivors had significantly higher numbers of cEPCs than nonsur.vivors(P<0.05).Conclusions The level of progenitor cells and EPC8 in peipheral blood of sepsis patients might be the valuable markers to as.se88 the severity and outcome ofthese ptienS.

Objective To explore whether gap junction disturbances are involved in the pathogenesis of levodopa-induced dyskinesia ( LID ). Methods The hemi-parkinsonian ( PD ) rat was treated intraperitoneally with L-dopa methylester (20 mg/kg) and benserazid (10 mg/kg) for 21 days and abnormal involuntary movement was evaluated to establish LID rat model. The experimental animals were divided into three groups: LID group, PD group and normal control group, respectively. The behavior responses of intraperitoneal injection of different doses of carbenoxolon and intracerebroventricular injection of quinine were observed to estimate the effects of gap junctional blockade on the abnormal involuntary movement ( AIM ) in the rat model of LID. Double immunofluorescence labeling was used to analyze the expression of connexin 36 ( Cx36 ) in enkephalin positive medium spiny neurons and parvalbumin ( PV ) positive interneurons in the striatum. Western blottings was used to observe the expression of Cx36 in the striatum and moter cortex. Results Behavioral characteristics indicated that high dose of carbenoxolone ( >60 mg/kg) intraperitoneal injection and intracerebroventricular injection of quinine ( 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 μmol/L, > 2.5 μmol/L ) could decrease the AIM score of LID rats. Western blotting indicated that expression of Cx36 in lesioned striatum and motor cortex of LID rat model was 219.56% ±18.12% and 226.03% ±16.33%, respectively, which induced a significant upregulation in comparison with the normal control group (104.05% ±3.82%, t=15.389, P<0.01;105.27% ±2.82%,t=8.074, P<0.01) and untreated PD group (119.31% ±8.92%, t=13.356, P<0.01; 138.20% ±17.88%, t=5.872, P<0.01). Double immunofluorescence labeling staining revealed that Cx36 expression was increased in Enk-positive striatum neurons in LID model ( 57.59% ±5.36%) compared with that in normal control group (32.67% ±4.22%) and PD group (37.24% ±0.86%, F=78.060, P<0.01). The expression of Cx36 in PV-positive interneurons was also elevated in LID group (68.49% ±11.60%) in comparison with normal control group ( 40.43% ± 2.30%) and PD group ( 31.92% ± 5.68%, F = 39.567, P < 0.01 ).Conclusions The Cx36 expression is generally increased in lesioned striatum and motor cortex of LID rat model. In the striatum, the up-regulation of Cx36 is specifically observed in Enk-positive striatum neurons and in PV-positive interneurons. The dyskinesia behavior of LID rats can be significantly reduced by treatment with gap junction blockade. All these results suggest that gap junction dysfunction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of LID.

Glucose-sensitive materials have attracted much interest due to their potential application in diabetes treatment in recent years.Phenylboronic acid-based glucose-responsive polymers,which possess continuous glucose sensitivity and good stability,have been most widely used in self-regulated insulin delivery.This review covers the recent advances in PBA-functionalized nanogels (microgels),micelles,vesicles and nanoparticles.Synthesis and application of these nanomaterials are discussed.With the development of PBA-regulated polymers,these nanomaterials will migrate from laboratory to clinical use in the near future.

Objective:To investigate the protective effects of Ghrelin on LPS-induced apoptosis of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells,along with the possible molecular mechanisms.Methods: CCK-8 assay was used to examine the cell viability of A549 treated by LPS.Apoptosis of A549 cells was measured by TUNEL.NO(Nitric oxide)production was detected by NO-specific fluorescent probe 3-Amino,4-aminomethyl-2′,7′-difluoresceindiacetate(DAF-FM DA).Western blot was also performed to examine the expressions of iNOS(inducible nitric oxide synthase),AKT,ERK,p-AKT,p-ERK and apoptotic proteins,such as Bcl-2,Bax,and cleaved caspase-3.Results: LPS exposure impaired cell viability and increased apoptosis of A549 cells significantly in concentration-and time-dependent manners accompanied with increased Bax and cleaved caspase-3 production,coupled with decreased Bcl-2 levels.Meanwhile,LPS promoted iNOS expression and the production of NO.Ghrelin pretreatment ameliorated LPS-caused alterations in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3 expression.TUNEL analysis showed that Ghrelin could decrease the apoptosis induced by LPS in A549(P<0.05).Simultaneously,LPS remarkably decreased the expression of p-AKT and p-ERK in A549 cells,which was abrogated by Ghrelin pretreatment.However,Ghrelin had no significant effect on NO production induced by LPS.Conclusion: Ghrelin reduces LPS-induced apoptosis of human alveolar epithelial cells partly through activating the AKT and ERK pathway,but the level of iNOS derived NO could not be reduced.

Objective To investigate the antioxidative and antiaging effects of the bioactive extract from Agrocybe aegerita. Method Fruit flies and D-galactose induced aging mice were fed with the bioactive extract from Agrocybe aegerita. The lifespan of fruit fly and spleen index, brain index,SOD activity in serum and lipofuscin level in 1iver of the mice were measured, and its acute toxic effect was studied. Results The bioactive extract from Agrocybe aegerita could significantly increase the mean lifespan and half death time of fruit flies. The percentage of life prolongation was 41.81% compared with the control. Compared to the models, SOD activity in serum,spleen index and brain index of male mice fed with 800mg/(kg.d) of the bioactive extract from Agrocybe aegerita were respectively increased by 42.36%, 33.33% and 17.85%,while lipofuscin content of liver decreased by 50.06%. 20g/(kg.d) of the bioactive extract from Agrocybe aegerita was safe for mouse. Conclusion The bioactive extract from Agrocybe aegerita have obviously antioxidative and antiaging effects with little side effect.

Objective To evaluate the changes in the expression of small intestinal thioredoxin 2 (Trx2) during different periods after orthotopic liver autotransplantation (OLAT) in rats.Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 8-10 weeks,weighing 210-260 g,were randomly divided into 2 groups using a random number table:sham operation group (group S,n =8) and OLAT group (n =32).Intestinal tissues were removed at 4,8,16 and 24 h after OLAT for microscopic examination and for determination of the levels of superoxide anion (O2--),hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2),glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),reduced glutathione (GSH) and Trx2.Intestinal damage was assessed and scored according to Chiu.Results Compared with S group,the Chiu's score and O2--activity at 4,8 and 16 h after OLAT and H2O2 content at 4 and 8 h after OLAT were significantly increased,and the levels of GSH-Px and GSH and expression of Trx2 at 4 and 8 h after OLAT were decreased in OLAT group (P ＜ 0.05).Chiu' s score at 4,16 and 24 h after OLAT and H2O2 content at 16 and 24 h after OLAT were significantly lower than those at 8 h in OLAT group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The rats undergo decreased antioxidant capacity in the early phase and recovery in the late phase mediated by small intestinal Trx2 after OLAT.

Objective To observe the pathological infrastructure changes of lung tissue in diabetic rat with pulmonary fibrosis and the preventive effect of rosiglitazone intervention. Methods The experimental type 2 diabetic rats were yielded by high-sugar, high fat diet plus intraperitoneal injecting streptozotocin (STZ). The pathological infrastructure changes of lung tissue were observed by transmission electron microscopy in the control, diabetes mellitus group and rosiglitazone treatment group respectively, and the hydroxyproline contentswere determined simultaneously. Results We observed accumulation of collagen fibers and extracellular matrix in the lung tissue of simple diabetic rat, which indicated pulmonary fibrosis. The hydroxyproline contents were significantly higher in diatetes mellitus group when compared to the control at 12 weeks[ 0. 77 ± 0. 03μg/(mg·prot) vs.0.63 ±0.03 μg/(mg·prot)] and 20 weeks [0.93 ±0. 10 μg/(mg·prot) vs.0.87 ±0.10μg/ (mg·prot) ]. (Ps < 0.05) , but the rosiglitazone intervention significantly reduced the hydroxyproline 3contents in diabetes mellitus rats [0.85 ±0.08 μg/(mg·prot) vs.0.87 ±0. 10 μg/(mg·prot) ,P<0.05].Conclusion Pulmonary fibrosis occurred in diabetic rats lung tissue,while rosiglitazone can alleviate it.