Objective To investigate quitting motivation of smoking patients with mild and moder-ate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) and evaluate the effects of smoking cessation methods based on cognitive intervention.Methods A total of 102 smoking patients with mild and moderate COPD from the outpatient department was divided into 4 blocks according to their intention of quitting smoking.Pa-tients in each block were randomly divided into intervention and control groups.Results ⑴All the re-spondents were at an average age of (61.3 ±12.3) years old.The sex ratio of men to women was 99∶3. The average smoking index (bag/year) in all the respondents was (39.81 ±11.53).The average daily smoking was (14.22 ±2.30) packs.The respondents with a lower degrees accounted for 55.9%and the respondents with high nicotine dependence 49.0%.A total of 39 people (38.2%) hoped to give up smok-ing, 20 people (19.6%) strongly hoped to give up smoking.⑵The main reasons for smoking included en-joyment (7.02), dependence (6.88), and calm (6.55).⑶There were statistically significant difference in the half-year continuous abstinence rates (χ2 =4.993, P =0.025) and in June quit rates (χ2 =6.668, P =0.010) between the intervention (58.82%) and control (33.33%) groups.The weight gain had sig-nificant difference between the intervention and control groups at the 3rd month ( t =2.65, P <0.01) or 6th month ( t =2.07, P <0.05) after quitting smoking.Conclusions The quitting motivation of smoking patients with mild and moderate COPD is not strong, while the smoking cessation methods based on cogni-tive intervention are effective for those patients.

Integrins are a family of cell surface glycoproteins that contribute to a variety of biological functions, including cell growth, migration, proliferation and morphology. In addition, integrins also play the important roles in pathological process. Several viruses have been showed to use integrins as receptors or co-receptors to infect host cells.This article mainly reviews the progress on integrins and their roles in FMDV infection.

Receptors are primary determinant of viral tropism and disease pathogenesis.Heparan sulfates (HS)are ubiquitous,polyanionic carbohydrate chains linked to core proteins in cell membranes and ex- tracellular matrices of all eukaryotes.HS have also been demonstrated to function as receptors or co-receptors for a number of different viruses.To date,HS and four RGD-dependent integrins,?v?3,?v?6, ?v?1,and?v?8 have been reported to serve as receptors for Foot-and-mouth disease virus(FMDV).Different receptors may be used to interact with host cells during FMDV infection.Studies on the structure and function of receptors are very important for understanding the interaction between host cells and FMDV. Here,We mainly reviews the progress on the biological characteristics of HS and its roles in FMDV infection.

OBJECTIVETo study the influence of the reference values for semen analysis proposed in the 5th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen on the indication spectrum for intrauterine insemination (IUI).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 111 cycles of IUI by the reference values for semen analysis in the 4th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual (group A) and 84 cycles by the 5th edition (group B). We recorded and compared the percentages of various indications for IUI between the two groups.

RESULTSThe complications for IUI in groups A and B were as follows: asthenospermia (87.4% [97/111] vs 55.9% [47/84], P < 0.05), oligospermia (0 vs 0), teratospermia (51.4% [57/111] vs 35.7% [30/84]) , abnormal liquefaction (0.9% [1/111] vs O) , sexual dysfunction and genital malformation (0 vs 3.6% [3/84] , immune infertility (0.9% [ 1/111] vs O), and unexplained infertility (3.6% [4/111] vs 2. 4% [2/84 ] ). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the percentages of all the indications except that of asthenospermia.

CONCLUSIONThe reference values for semen analysis proposed in the 5th edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen have an evident influence on the indication spectrum for IUI by largely reducing the cases of IUI for male factors, prolonging the cycles of some patients, causing excessive diagnosis and treatment for females, and increasing their mental and economic burdens.

Adult ; Contraindications ; Female ; Humans ; Insemination, Artificial ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Reference Values ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; World Health Organization

Objective To evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of nucleic acid amplification (TB- RNA),bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear on the detection of Mycobacteria tuberculosis.Methods 291 clinical sample including 110 sputum,54 thoracic fluid,37 throat swab,31 bronchial fluid,13 cerebrospinal fluid,12 urine,8 lymph fluid and 20 others (pericardial effusion,feces, blood and abdominal fluid) and gynecological specimen (including 6 leucorrhoea and menstrual blood) were analyzed by these four methods.Results Among the 291 clinical samples,the positive rate of mycobacteria tuberculosis for TB-RNA,bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear were 37.1%,28.9%,27.5% and 10.3%.The sensitivity and specificity of the TB-RNA,bacteriophage-based assay,3D culture and smear were 54.3% & 100%,41.7% & 88.9%,31.7% & 93.5% and 14.6% & 98.9%,respectively.Conclusions TB-RNA is an effective clinical diagnostic method for Mycobacteria tuberculosis.Although the sensitivity of smear is poorer than others,it is a universal testing method in clinical laboratory due to low cost.The positive rate of mycobacteria tuberculosis for 3D culture is lower than that of bacteriophage-based assay and TB-RNA.Although the time to result for 3D culture might last for few weeks,the isolates can be used for drug resistance screening and bacterial identification.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) plays important roles in anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunoregulative activities. The aim of this study was to observe if HO-1 transfection could inhibit the damage of osteoblasts induced by ethanol. HO-1 was transfected into osteoblasts via constructed plasmid. After exposure to ethanol for 24 h, cytoactivity and apoptosis of osteoblasts were measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Furthermore, the oxidative stress and inflammatory factors in osteoblasts were measured. Compared to positive control group, the cytoactivity of transfected osteoblasts was significantly increased, and the apoptosis rate was significantly decreased (P<0.05). At the same time, the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) were significantly decreased (P<0.05), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level was increased (P<0.05) in the transfected osteoblasts as compared with positive controls. These results suggest that HO-1 plays a protective role in osteoblasts, and HO-1 transfection can effectively inhibit bone damage induced by ethanol.
Cells, Cultured ; Ethanol ; toxicity ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genetic Vectors ; pharmacology ; Heme Oxygenase-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Transfection

OBJECTIVENeuroinflammation with microglial activation has been implicated to have a strong association with the progressive dopaminergic neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease (PD). The present study was undertaken to evaluate the activation profile of microglia in 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium (MPP+)-induced hemiparkinsonian rats. Triptolide, a potent immunosuppressant and microglia inhibitor, was then examined for its efficacy in protecting dopaminergic neurons from injury and ameliorating behavioral disabilities induced by MPP+.

METHODSThe rat model of PD was established by intranigral microinjection of MPP+. At baseline and on day 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 following MPP+ injection, the degree of microglial activation was examined by detecting the immunodensity of OX-42 (microglia marker) in the substantia nigra (SN). The number of viable dopaminergic neurons was determined by measuring tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) positive neurons in the SN. Behavioral performances were evaluated by counting the number of rotations induced by apomorphine, calculating scores of forelimb akinesia and vibrissae-elicited forelimb placing asymmetry.

RESULTSIntranigral injection of MPP+ resulted in robust activation of microglia, progressive depletion of dopaminergic neurons, and ongoing aggravation of behavioral disabilities in rats. Triptolide significantly inhibited microglial activation, partially prevented dopaminergic cells from death and improved behavioral performances.

CONCLUSIONThese data demonstrated for the first time a neuroprotective effect of triptolide on dopaminergic neurons in MPP+-induced hemiparkinsonian rats. The protective effect of triptolide may, at least partially, be related to the inhibition of MPP+-induced microglial activation. Our results lend strong support to the use of immunosuppressive agents in the management of PD.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; metabolism ; CD11b Antigen ; analysis ; metabolism ; Cell Count ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; physiology ; Disability Evaluation ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Dopamine ; metabolism ; Encephalitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gliosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Herbicides ; antagonists & inhibitors ; toxicity ; Immunosuppression ; methods ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Microglia ; drug effects ; immunology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; immunology ; pathology ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; drug therapy ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Substantia Nigra ; drug effects ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; analysis ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of microRNA143 on cell proliferation and K-ras expression in colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSNorthern blot was used to examine the expression of miR-143 in colorectal carcinoma and adjacent normal tissues. A miR-143 expression vector was constructed and transfected into a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line SW480. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTT assay. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to examine the expression of K-ras oncogene in transfected cells.

RESULTSThe level of mature miR-143 was lower in tumors compared with adjacent normal tissues in 81% of colorectal carcinoma specimens. In transfected cells, the increased accumulation of miR-143 inhibited the cell proliferation, and resulted in approximately 40.3% decrease of K-ras protein levels, but had no effect on level of K-ras mRNA.

CONCLUSIONThe increased accumulation of miR-143 inhibits the proliferation of transfected cells, and results in down-regulation of K-ras protein in colorectal carcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Genes, ras ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Transfection ; ras Proteins ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo induce DNA oxidative damage in colorectal crypt cells by hydrogen peroxide in vitro.

METHODSHydrogen peroxide was diluted into 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1 micromol/L with RPMI 1640. Colorectal crypt cells were treated with peroxide for 10 min, 30 min, 1 h, 1.5 h, 12 h and 24 h respectively. The survival of colorectal crypt cell was measured by MTT method, and the DNA oxidative damage special product, 8-OhdG was detected with immunohistochemical staining. Liner regression was used to measure the time trend of survival rate with SPSS 10.0 software.

RESULTSurvival rate of colorectal crypt cell was 60% and 80% after 10 min of hydrogen peroxide treatment. The longer treatment of hydrogen peroxide, the lower survival rate; the survival rate was reduced to 30% in 24 h. After 10 or 30 min treatment of 100 or 50 micromol/L hydrogen peroxide, the survival rates of colorectal crypt cells were reduced by 20% compared with those of 10, 5 and 1 micromol/L hydrogen peroxide. However, while cells were treated with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for 1.0 h or above, there were no differences in cell survival rates. The time trend test results demonstrated that the survival rates of colorectal crypt cells treated with 10, 5 and 1 micromol/L hydrogen peroxide were significantly decreased with the time length of treatment. Colorectal crypt cells treated with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes were positively stained brown in cytoplasm and nuclear by immunohistochemistry with 8-OhdG monoclonal antibody.

CONCLUSIONHydrogen peroxide could induce DNA oxidative damage in colorectal crypt cells. And treated with 1 - 10 micromol/L hydrogen peroxide for 10 - 30 min, DNA oxidative damage is apt to be induced in colorectal crypt cell.

Carbazoles ; analysis ; Cells, Cultured ; Colon ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Models, Biological ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Propanolamines ; analysis ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects

Objective To find out the data sources of respiratory syndromes and their components from the outpatients of general hospitals and to describe the time distribution and mutual relations of different respiratory syndromes. Feasibility of respiratory syndromes used for early warning surveillance on respiratory infectious disease was also under research. Methods Retrospective investigation on Hospital Information System (HIS) was implemented in a general hospital in Guangzhou, 2005, and data of outpatients was collected and classified into different syndromes. The respiratory syndromes with its time distribution similar to influenza like illness (ILI),were selected, and cross-correlation analyses were conducted to inveshgate the feasibility of respiratory syndromes for early warning surveillance on respiratory infection diseases (influenza as an example). Results Primary sub-classification of respiratory syndromes in outpatient department would include upper respiratory infection(URI)(51.20%), trachitis/bronchitis (18.80%), asthma ( 17.52% ), etc. Pulmonary infection accounted for only 2.26%. Time distributions of URI, trachitis/bronchitis, pulmonary infection, cough and asthma in outpatient department, X-ray tests and pneumonia/acute respiratory distress syndromes (ARDSs) in outpatient X-ray room were similar, with two peaks observed. Cross-correlation functions were calculated with the data sets of 1st-28th week.The most significant correlation was detected between the time series of outpatient pulmonary infections and ILIs moved 4 weeks backward (r＝0.739, P＜0.01 ), and that was detected between URIs and ILIs moved 5 weeks backward (r=0.714, P＜0.01 ). Correlation between X-ray tests,pneumonia/ARDSs in outpatient X-ray room and ILIs was the strongest when ILIs time series moved 1 week backward (r=0.858, P＜0.001; r=0.821, P＜0.001 ). Conclusion Outpatient data from HIS system in general hospital could be applied to syndromic surveillance on respiratory diseases. For early warning epidemics or outbreaks of influenza or other respiratory infectious diseases, data of outpatient pulmonary infection appeared to be the most feasible for its specificity and timeliness, followed by URI and cough. X-ray tests and pneumonia/ARDSs in outpatient X-ray findings were important supplementary to verify the respiratory disease epidemics or outbreaks for its good specificity, but with no advantage for early warning.