Objective To investigate the possible role of interleukin (IL)-10 secreted by peripheral CD+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in the formation of seroresistance state in patients with syphilis.Methods Venous blood samples were obtained from 28 serofast patients with syphilis and 28 healthy controls.Flow cytometry (FCM) was performed to determine the proportion of CD4+CD25+IL-10+ T cells in peripheral CD4+ cells,and to quantify the protein expression of IL-10 in CD4+CD25+ Treg cells.Magnetic activation cell sorting (MACS) system was used to separate CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in high purity followed by the detection of IL-10 mRNA expression with real time PCR.Results A significant increase was observed in the proportion of CD4+CD25+IL-10+ T cells in peripheral CD4+ cells,as well as protein and mRNA expression levels of IL-10 in the serofast patients with syphilis compared with the healthy controls (all P ＜ 0.01).However,no statistical correlation was observed between rapid plasma reagent (RPR) titer and any of the above three parameters in these patients (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The high level of IL-10 secreted by CD4+CD25 + Treg cells may contribute to the formation of seroresistance state in patients with syphilis.

Moxibustion therapy is one of the external therapeutic methods. In the present article, the pharmacological and physical actions of moxibustion therapy, and the effects of moxibustion therapy on immune system, blood circulation, inflammation, and body metaboly were reviewed.

BACKGROUND:At present, many researches have shown that tacrolimus has protecting effect on peripheral nerves,however,whether tacrolimus has a similar effect on central neural system has not been known yet.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of tacrolimus on neural behaviors and memory by observing the neural behaviors and detecting the expression of synaptophysin in cortex,hippocampus and basipodite.DESIGN:Parallel and before and post contrast study.SETTING:Department of neurosurgery, affiliated hospital of the two medical universities.MATERIALS:The experiment was carried out in the Laboratory of Department Neurosurgery,Shanghai Changzheng Hospital in November 2002.Twenty-four qualified Sprague-Dawley rats supplied by Shanghai Experimental Animal Center of medical institution of Fudan University,with body mass of 180-220 g,were randomly divided into three groups:control, injury and treatment,with 8 rats in each group.INTERVENTIONS:Anesthesia was induced by administration of sodium pentobarbital(with the concentration of 20 g/L,40 mg/kg) twenty-four hours before the operation.The coup energy was 151.95-172.21 kPa that was equal to medium injury. The control rats did not receive the coup. Tacrolimus was given to the treatment group in the dosage of 1 mg/kg body weight by intraperitoneal injection at 5 minutes post trauma. The drug was given once physiological saline. Before and post trauma (on the third and seventh day)all rats Accepted Beam Walking Test,Beam Balance Test and Memory Test,respectively. One week after trauma,all rats' heads was removed and the brain was taken out within seconds.The hippocampus,cortex and basipodite of the traumatic hemisphere were kept in methanal with the concentration of 4 percent. Immunohistochemistry and image analysis system were used to study the expression of synaptophysin in cortex,hippocampus and basipodite of the traumatic hemisphere.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①The performance records of neural behaviors and memory of the three groups. ②Results of the expression of synaptophysin in cortex, hippocampus and basipodite of the three groups.③Apoptotic cellscalculation of synaptophysin in cortex,hippocampus and basipodite.RESULTS:Totally 24 rats entered the final analysis. ①On the third day and the seventh day,the scores recorded in Walking Test and Balance Test of the treatment group were less than those in the injury group[Walking Test: (7.5±2.5) s,(5.5±2.1) s,(10.5±2.5) s,(8.2±2.5) s. Balance Test:(3.4±0.5)score,(2.5±0.2) score,(5.7±0.2) score,(5.0±0.5) score,P ＜ 0.05-0.01].But the scores recorded in memory test of the treatment group were still more than those in the control group,memory test[(4.9±1.7) s,(6.2±2.3) s,(4.0±1.5) s,(4.4±2.6) s,P ＜ 0.05-0.01]. ②The expression of synaptophysin in cortex,hippocampus and basipodite in the treatment group was still more than that in the injury group(140.36±3.87, 45.52±2.16,31.67±2.35,96.25±2.85,24.35±2.47,20.49±2.08,P ＜ 0.01);The expression of synaptophysin control group was especially more than that in treatment group (162.24±3.52,50.58±2.31,42.69±2.53, P ＜ 0.01).Apoptotic cells calculation of cortex,hippoeampus and basipodite in treatment group was far less than those in injury group,(10.37±2.12)%,(18.39±2.87)%, (12.78±2.45)%,(21.14±4.85)%,(38.57±3.78)%, (21.18±4.59)%,P ＜ 0.01].And apoptotic cells calculation in injury group was more than those in control group [(3.85±2.56)%,(4.96±2.15)%, (3.52±2.17)%,P ＜ 0.01].CONCLUSION:Tacrolimus can facilitate the expression of synaptophysin,refrain from calcineurin involving in the process of transcription-dependent and nontranscription-dependent apoptosis,and can also contribute to the recovery of memory and neural behaviors post trauma.

Objective To investigate the relationship of interleukin-9 (IL-9) and the transcription factor PU.1 with chronic urticaria.Methods Thirty patients with chronic urticaria (patient group) and 30 healthy volunteers (control group) were included in this study.Venous blood samples were collected from these subjects.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect serum levels of IgE,flow cytometry (FCM) to determine the percentage of CD4+IL-9+ T cells,real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR (RTFQ-PCR) to measure the mRNA expressions of IL-9 and PU.1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).Measurement data were compared between the two groups by independent-samples t test,and relationship among these parameters was assessed by Pearson correlation analysis.Results The expressions of IL-9 and PU.1 mRNAs in patients with chronic urticaria were significantly higher than those in healthy controls (4.44 ± 1.90 vs.3.20 ± 1.78,t =2.60,P＜ 0.05; 3.26 ± 1.59 vs.2.34 ± 1.47,t =2.34,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the control group,the patient group showed increased percentage of CD4+IL-9+ T cells in peripheral blood (0.63％ ± 0.44％ vs.0.22％ ± 0.12％,t =5.04,P ＜ 0.01) and serum IgE levels ((82.04 ± 31.72) vs.(60.74 ± 28.26) IU/ml,t =2.75,P ＜ 0.01).The percentage of CD4+IL-9+ T cells and levels of IL-9 and PU.1 mRNAs in peripheral blood were all positively correlated with serum levels of IgE in these patients (r =0.596,0.767,0.746,respectively,all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion T helper type 9 (Th9) cells and IL-9 may take part in the occurrence of chronic urticaria.

Objective To investigate the clinical effectiveness and safety of Chinese medicine fumigation-washing therapy in treating talipes equinus denervated ulcer induced by tethered cord syndrome(TCS) . Methods A total of 21 qualified patients were randomized into fumigation-washing group (N=12) and antibiotics group (N=9). Patients of fumigation-washing group were given fumigation-washing therapy with the self-prescribed Chinese medicine, and antibiotics group was given intravenous dripping of sensitive antibiotics. The treatment lasted for 7 continuous days. The clinical efficiency of the two groups was evaluated after treatment, and the period of preparing for surgery was recorded. The changes of ulcer area and ulcer surface exudate volume in the two groups were observed before and after treatment. And the changes in blood routine examination, hepatic and renal function, and immune function of the fumigation-washing group were monitored. Results(1) The total effective rate of fumigation-washing group was 83.3％, and that of the antibiotics group was 77.8％, the difference being insignificant (P>0.05). (2) The ulcer area and ulcer surface exudate volume in both groups were significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.05 compared with those before treatment), and the decrease in the fumigation-washing group was superior to that of the antibiotics group(P < 0.05).(3) The period of preparing for surgery in the fumigation-washing group was(7.75 ± 1.71)d, shorter than(11.56 ± 4.39) d in the antibiotics group, the difference being significant(P < 0.05).(4) There were no statistically significant differences in the hepatic and renal function, and immunoglobulin and complement levels in the fumigation-washing group before and after treatment (P > 0.05). (5) The average daily hospitalization fee in the fumigation-washing group was (47.98 ± 5.17) yuan, less than (227.88 ± 43.24) yuan in the antibiotics group, and the difference was significant between the two groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion Chinese medicine fumigation-washing therapy is effective, safe and practical in treating talipes equinus denervated ulcer induced by TCS, and the therapy has the advantages of decreasing exudation, promoting ulcer healing, reducing hospitalization fee, shortening the period of preparing for surgery, and decreasing the incidence of infection.

Objective To explore the mechanism of gene Nelin on the differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC).Methods Human VSMCs were stably infected with over-express lentiviral vector [Nelin-VSMC] and interference lentiviral vector [LV-Nelin-SiRNA-VSMC] by Western blotting and RT-PCR.The effect of Nelin expression on phenotypic transition of VSMCs was observed and the mechanism involved was explored.Results The Nelin-VSMC cells take on the contractile phenotype of long slender cells possessing hill-valley characteristics.Overexpression of Nelin can enhance SMoα-actin expression with the increase of total RhoA and nuclear serum response factor(SRF) expression.Treated with a selective Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632,the expression of SMα-actin and nuclear SRF protein induced by Nelin was effectively reduced.Meanwhile,the opposite results were observed in the Nelin-depression VSMC.Conclusions Nelin can enhance the expression of SMα-actin and carry a pivotal role in the process of VSMCs differentiation and phenotype modulation by activating Rho and SRF.

AIM:To investigate whether propofol can alter the pulmonary inflammation induced by severe acute pancreatitis(SAP)in rats during its early period.METHODS:Seventy-two adult male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into nine groups with 8 animals in each group:sham group,SAP 30,60,120,360 min groups and propofol treatment 30,60,120,360 min groups.The preparation of SAP were induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the pancreatic duct of rats.And the treatment groups received propofol with doses of 150 ?g?kg-1?min-1 injected continually immediately in vena caudalis after the preparation of ASP were made.Rats were sacrificed at different time points,and the level of AMY and LIP,the wet dry weight ratio(W/D)of pulmonary and pancreatic tissue,the pathological change of pulmonary and pancreatic tissue were examined.RESULTS:Water content and pathological score of pulmonary tissue were decreased significantly within 360 minutes after reproduction of SAP were received propofol(both P0.05).CONCLUSION:propofol can alleviate pulmonary inflammation induced by severe acute pancreatitis in its early period.But propofol can not alleviate the injury of pancreatitis tissue.

Objective To improve the stability and practicability of field liquid transfusion control system.Methods SPCE062A 's high accurate AD was used to acquire the dropping speed,and a new method for weight sensor 's self proofread was applied.Results The infrared photoelectric sensor was removed,so the monitoring part could work with any appropriate sensor.Conclusion The system cost is decreased and its stability and availability are enhanced.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2008,29(2):66-67]

Objective To design a more rapid and convenient infusion monitoring system.Methods Pentium series were used as its master and the MCU as its slaves.The management was based on RS232 standard.Results In the nursing station,nurses can monitor the fusion state of all patient rooms in the hospital.Conclusion It is proved that this system is simple,cheap and practical.[Chinese Medical Equipment Journal,2008,29(3):61-62,65]

ObjectiveTo assess the balance between regulatory T (Treg) cells and T helper 17 (Th17) cells in patients with serofast syphilis.MethodsBlood samples were collected from 26 patients with serofast syphilis and 23 normal human controls.Flow cytometry was performed to determine the proportion of Treg and Th17 cells in peripheral blood and to quantify the expression of specific transcription factors Foxp3 and ROR-γt in CD4+ T cells of these subjects.Correlation analysis was carried out.ResultsThe proportion of Treg cells in CD4+ T cells in the patients with serofast syphilis was 33.28％ ± 11.84％,significantly higher than that in the normal controls(22.13％ ± 7.79％,P ＜ 0.01 ),while the proportion of Th17 cells was significantly lower in the patients than in the normal controls(3.17％ ± 2.32％ vs.8.87％ ± 2.00％,P ＜ 0.01 ).Enhanced expression of Foxp3 and attenuated expression of ROR-γt were observed in CD4+ T cells from the patients compared with the controls(2994.86 ± 1099.18 vs.2539.72 ± 1086.96,P ＜ 0.05; 1473.12 ± 752.20 vs.1778.34 ± 388.13,P ＜0.05).There was a negative correlation between the expression of Foxp3 and ROR-γt in CD4+ T cells from all the subjects (r =-0.481,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionThe Treg/Th17 cell balance is abnormal in peripheral blood of patients with serofast syphilis.