Objective:To detect the serum levels of IL-4,IL-15 and IL-18 in myasthenia gravis( MG) and investigate the correlations between telomerase activity of CD4~+ T lymphocytes and these interleukins.Methods:The serum levels of IL-4,IL-15 and IL-18 were detected with ELISA and telomerase activity was detected by polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immonosorbent assay(PCR-ELISA) in 30 MG patients and 30 negative controls.Results:The levels of IL-4,IL-15,IL-18 and telomerase of CD4~+ T lymphocytes in MG were significantly higher than those in negative controls (P<0.01).There were positive correlations between the serum levels of IL-4,IL-15,IL-18 and telomerase activity of CD4~+ T cell in MG patients (P<0.01).Conclusion:IL-4,IL-15,IL-18 and telomerase activity of CD4~+ T lymphocytes are involved in the pathogenesis of MG;IL-4,IL-15 and IL-18 may upregulate the telomerase activity of CD4~+ T cells.

Clinical research initiated by researchers is one of the important means to promote new understanding of drugs and treatment methods.At this stage,the clinical researches initiated by the researchers frequently appear all kinds of irregularities.In order to solve out this problem,the paper points out suggestions about strengtheningself-discipline of researchers,self-regulation of conscience,and self-responsibility of carefulness.Meanwhile,it is also important to abide by the relevant ethical codes and consciously accept the third party supervision of IRB.Joint efforts should be made to protect safety and rights of human subjects.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Vestibulocochlear Nerve Diseases ; diagnosis ; prevention & control

All of the thrombolytic agents currently approved for use in humans are plasminogen activators, the application of which is limited by bleeding complications at vascular injury sites and plasminogen content in the thrombus. Plasmin is rapidly neutral-ized in the circulation by α2-antiplasmin and tolerated without bleeding. With the application of catheter-based delivery, the unique bio-chemical properties of plasmin make it a safe and effective direct fibrinolytics. Plasmin derivatives, including miniplasmin,Δ-plasmin and microplsmin, display more thrombolysis efficacy and better hemostatic safety in preclinical study and clinical trials. This review sum-marizes the current information on plasmin and its derivatives, including the advances on biochemical properties, preclinical and clinical trials.

Immune system is a security guard to help human body repel or remove bacteria, viruses, parasites and other fore-ign invaders .But when some tissue components or the immune system itself become abnormal, it can not distinguish friend from foe accurately and may attack our own tissue then cause some clinical symptoms, leading to autoimmune diseases. Nearly 5 % of the world's population suffer from various autoimmune diseases. By now in addition to control the formation of autoantigens such as infection,tiredness, the main biologics used in clinic are immunoregulators to block pathological autoimmune response and then to create a new proper immune response. Recently, new biologics to treat autoimmune disease come into being one after another, and this article gives a brief overview about research progress in anti-autoimmune disease biologics.

Objective To investigate the effects of Xuezhikang (XZK) on carotid atherosclerosis plaque and blood lipids in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA). Methods 65 patients with TIA were randomly divided into two groups: XZK group and control group.XZK group received XZK and Aspirin for 6 months, while the control group received Aspirin only. The intima-midia thickness (IMT) of carotid artery,the area of carotid atherosclerosis plaque, and levels of blood lipids, oxidized low density lipoprotein cholesterol (ox-LDL) and serum nitric oxide (NO) were measured before and after treatment.Incidence rate of cerebrovascular event in the two groups were compared in 6 months. Results After 6 months of treatment, the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and ox-LDL concentrations decreased significantly in XZK group, however high density lipoprotein (HDL) and NO levels increased markedly (all P0.05).Conclusion It is shown that XZK not only effectively adjusts blood lipids, inhibits peroxide of lipids and protects vascular endothelial, but also regresses the atherosclerosis and stabilizes the plaque.

Objective To study the expression of kallikrein 7 (KLK7) in different prostate tissues and its clinical significance. Methods KLK7 mRNA levels in normal prostate epithelia (5 cases), benign prostat(ic) hyperplasia (BPH) epithelia (13 cases), prostate cancer and prostate cancer cell lines (8 cases) were analyzed by using semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Western blot was used to analyze the protein levels of human kallikrein 7 (hK7) in benign prostate epithelia and prostate cancer cell lines, hK7 expressions were examined in 20 normal prostate tissue specimens, 50 BPH specimens and 103 prostate cancer specimens by immunohistochemical staining.Results The mRNA levels of KLK7 in normal prostate, BPH and prostate cancer were 0.59, 0.52 and 0.02 respectively, mRNA levels of KLK7 were significantly different among the three groups (F=13.03, P＜0.01). mRNA levels of KLK7 were decreased in prostate cancers compared with that in benign hyperplastic prostate epithelial cells (P＜0.01) and in normal prostate epithelial cells (P＜0.01). No significant difference of KLK7 mRNA levels was found between normal prostate and BPH. The protein levels of KLK7 in normal prostate, BPH, DU145, LNCaP, PC3,22RV1 and BPH1 was 0.22, O. 40, 0.01, 0.05, 0, 0.03 and 0.14 respectively, hK7 protein level was down-regulated in prostate cancer cell lines compared to benign prostate epithelial cells. The expression of bK7 was observed in benign prostate epithelial cells, whereas little or no staining was observed in prostate cancer cells in immunohistochemical study, hK7 protein was detected in 13 of 20 (65%)normal prostate specimens, 38 of 50 (76%) BPH specimens and 18 of 103 (17.5%) prostate cancer specimens. The difference between the normal prostate and prostate cancer was significant (Z=-4.43, P＜0.01). The difference between BPH and prostate cancer was significant (Z=-7.77,P＜0.01) as well. However, no significant difference of hK7 protein level was found between normal prostate and BPH (Z=-1. 52, P＞0.05). Conclusions KLK7 expression level is down regulated in prostate cancer. KLK7 may play an important role in prostate cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: Eotaxin, a CC chemokine specific for eosinophils, is implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma recruiting eosinophils into the airways. Theophylline has been used for the treatment of asthma and rece was proposed to have an anti-inflammatory action. The aim of this study is to examine whether theophylline may inhibit the eosinophilic airway inflammation by reducing the expression of eotaxin. METHODS: The expression of eotaxin mRNA was assessed by Northern analysis in A549 cells 4 h after stimulation with TNF-α or IL-1β And then, theophylline was added to A549 cells stimulated with 0.1 ng/ml IL-1β. RESULTS: Eotaxin mRNA expression rates induced by 0.1, 1, 10 ng/mL TNF-α as compared with β-action were 7%, 22%, 28%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates induced by 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 ng/ml IL-1β as compared with β-action, were 10%, 42%, 63%, 72%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 µM dexamethasone induced by 10 ng/mL TNF-α, as compared with β-action were 27%, 18%, 8%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after the addition of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 mM dexamethasone induced by 0.1 ng/mL IL-1β, as compared with β -action, were 43%, 47%, 12%, 8%, respectively. Eotaxin mRNA expression rates after the addition of 0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 mM theophylline induced by 0.1 ng/mL IL-1β, as compared with β-action, were 48%, 40%, 33%, 22%, 16%, 14%, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that theophylline may reduce eosinophil infiltration of the airway at least in part by reducing the expression of eotaxin under the conditions of these experiments.
Asthma ; Dexamethasone ; Eosinophils ; Epithelial Cells* ; Inflammation ; RNA, Messenger* ; Theophylline*

Although tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) is involved in ureteral obstruction-induced increase in renal blood flow (RBF), its contribution to RBF is not well established due to the concommitant increases in prostaglandin (PG) and renal interstitial fluid pressure (Pisf), both of which affect RBF one way or the other. Since Pisf and TGF are closely affected by renal hemodynamics, RBF will respond differently to increases in ureteral pressure depending on renal hemodynamic conditions. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to investigate how the changes in renal hemodynamics affect the response of RBF to increases in ureteral pressure. The effect of PG on RBF was assessed by comparing the effects obtained before and after indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor. Six anesthetized dogs were prepared with flow probes and inflatable silastic occluder around the renal artery, the ureteral catheter with its free end attached to a water reservoir, and the arterial and venous catheters. RBFs were obtained at ureteral pressures of 0, 15, and 40cmH2O during the maintenance of the renal artery pressure (RAP) at the level of systemic arterial pressure, 10mmHg above and below the lower autoregulatory limit of RBF (65+/-4 mmHg) both before and after indomethacin administration (10mg/kg). In response to the ureteral pressure of 40cmH2O, RBF increased from 172+/-6 to 185+/-10ml/min when RAP's were equal to systemic arterial pressure and decreased from 162+/-10 to 120+/-9 ml/min when RAP's were 55+/-4mmHg. Indomethacin pretreatment, depending on the level of RAP either prevented an increase or augmented a decrease in RBF in response to ureteral pressure elevation. This suggests that RAP-dependent changes in susceptibility of the renal venous system to compression by increased Pisf is the main mechanism by which the changes in renal perfusion pressure modulate the response of RBF to ureteral pressure elevation.
Animals ; Arterial Pressure ; Catheters ; Dogs* ; Extracellular Fluid ; Hemodynamics ; Indomethacin ; Perfusion ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Renal Artery ; Renal Circulation* ; Ureter* ; Ureteral Obstruction* ; Urinary Catheters ; Water