Sepsis has poor prognosis, and its pathogenesis is not clear. Chemokine CX3CL1 (Fractalkine, FNK) has many functions such as chemotaxis, adhesion and mediate immune injury. CX3CR1 is the only receptor of CX3CL1 and participates in the development of sepsis. Here we review the structure, biological function and possible mechanism of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 in the pathogenesis of sepsis.

BACKGROUND: There are many drawbacks with hormone replacement therapy for menopausal syndrome. The blood levels of 5-HT and norepinephrine are lower. Fluoxetine hydrochlorde(ProzacR) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor which is widely used in treating anxiety and depression,OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of combined antidepressant and estrogen therapy compared to estrogen alone in the treatment of perimenopausal syndrome in this prospective open study.DESIGN: Randomized comparative study.SETTING: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University PARTICIPANTS: From November 2003 to December 2004, 60 female patients with diagnosed menopausal syndrome of 3-12 month duration, aged (46±3) years, from Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were enrolled into the study after giving their informed consents. The patients were randomly divided into two equal groups with Group 1 (n=30) receiving a combination of antidepressant + estrogen and Group 2 (n=30) receiving estrogen only.METHODS: Patients in Grgup 1 received fluoxetine hydrochloride (ProzacR) 20 mg orally every morning plus oral estradiol 1 mg once every two weeks for 2 months. Patients in Group 2 received only oral estradiol 1 mg once every two weeks for two months. Patients were not taking any other drug during the treatment period. At the end of two month treatment all patients were evaluated with the following 3 assessment tools: ①female menopausal symptom evaluation with the following 4 categories: Complete symptom relief, markedly improved, improved and no effect. Overall efficacy was defined as 50% symptom improvement. ② Hamilton Depression Scale which reflects energy level and psychosomatic factor of sleep and anxiety. ③Menopause index: Which are description of clinical evaluation and adverse effects; this would help to assess the safety of using both drugs in treating the menopausal syndrome.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: female menopausal symptom assessment, hamilton depression scale, and menopause index.RESULTS: ① In female menopausal symptom assessment group 1 showed better results in the complete relief and markedly improved scores. ②Hamilton Depression Scale group 1 also showed better scores than Group2(In Groupl, the scores at week 1 to 8 were 25,18,15,10,8,5,5,4 respectively ,in Group 2, the scores at week 1 to 8 were 25,17,15,14,13,12,13,13 respectively). ③ Group 3 showed a significant better score in the menopausal index with improvement in sleep disorder, anxiety and depression than Group 2 (In Group 1 the scores at week 1-8 were 32,22.5,15,15,14,15,15,14 respectively,In group 2, the scores at week 1 to 8were 33,21,16,14,13,12,13,13 respectively) ,there was no significant difference of incidence of adverse events as compared with Group 3 .CONCLUSION: Combined therapy of fluoxetire hydrochlarde(PROZAC)plus estrogen showed better efficacy in the treatment of menopausal syndrome than estrogen alone.

BACKGROUND:Stromal cel derived factor-1 is a smal molecular protein with a wide range of biological activity that can cause immune cel chemotaxis, and it also has a chemotactic effect on bone marrow stem cels and periodontal ligament cels.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of stromal cel derived factor-1 with different concentrations on the proliferation of bone marrow stem cels and to probe the best concentration.
METHODS:Bone marrow stem cels from beagle dogs were culturedin vitro and stimulated by different concentrations of stromal cel derived factor-1 (100, 200, 300 μg/L). MTT was used to detect the influence of stromal cel derived factor-1 on the proliferation of bone marrow stem cels so as to screen the best concentration of stromal cel derived factor-1. Then, stromal cel derived factor-1 at the best concentrations was used to intervene the bone marrow stem cels, and MTT was used again to detect the proliferation of bone marrow stem cels.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Stromal cel derived factor-1 at concentrations of 100, 200, 300 μg/L could promote the proliferation of bone marrow stem cels, and the effect was more notable at 200 and 300 μg/Lbut withno significant difference. Therefore, 200 μg/L was considered to be the best concentration of stromal cel derived factor-1 for intervention of bone marrow stem cels. Compared with the blank control group, 200 μg/L stromal cel derived factor-1 could significantly promote the proliferation of bone marrow stem cels. Taken together, stromal cel derived factor-1 can promote the proliferation of bone marrow stem cels, and its best concentration is 200 μg/L.

Abstract: Objective　To investigate the species distribution and the antifungal susceptibility of fungi originating from positive blood cultures in Guangdong, so as to provide a basis for the rational use of antifungal drugs in clinical fungal bloodstream infections. Methods All data were collected for retrospective study from monitoring units of the Guangdong Fungal Disease Surveillance Network between 2019-2021, including clinical characteristics, species distribution and antifungal susceptibility. Results A total of 3 589 fungi strains were isolated, most of which were Candida spp. (86.5%, 3 105/3 589). The most common species was Candida albicans (36.6%, 1 315/3 589), followed by Candida tropicalis (17.4%, 1 626/3 589) and Candida parapsilosis (14.5%, 520/3 589). There were 42.1%(1 512/3 589) of strains isolated from ICU. The proportions of Candida albicans strains were 40.0%-50.0% among ICU, general surgery, organ transplantation and emergency department. Candida tropicalis (60.0%, 144/240) was the most common species in hematology department. Both Cryptococcus neoformans (35.4%, 69/195) and Talaromyces marneffei (35.9%,70/195) were common in infection department. All of the Candida isolates were of wild-type (WT) phenotype to amphotericin B. Resistance rates of caspofungin and micafungin for Candida spp. ranged from 0.0% to 4.2%. The resistance rates of Candida tropicalis to fluconazole and voriconazole were 42.3% and 38.9%, which were significantly higher than other common Candida spp. The cryptococcus neoformans strains were totally of WT phenotype to fluconazole and voriconazole. Conclusions Candida albicans is the most common species originating from positive blood cultures in Guangdong Province. Common Candida strains are highly sensitive to echinocandins and amphotericin B. Candida tropicalis has a high resistance rate to triazole drugs.

Objective To find the risk and hidden danger of blood bacterial contamination existence at present and to investigate the method for carrying out the bacterial contamination related quality monitoring.Methods According to the requirements of the blood collection and supplying related laws and regulations standards,the blood bacterial contamination situation was monitored by supervising the personnel during the blood collection and supplying,key equipments,key materials,environment monitoring and sterility test of blood products.Results The total eligible rate of quality monitoring indicators of blood bacterial contamination reached 99.8％,the eligible rate of blood products bacterial contamination monitoring was 100 ％.Conclusion The hygiene quality of blood collection process and blood products all are in good condition.

Aim To study the effect of Macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF) on MMP-9 in RAW 264.7 cell and explore the relationship between atherosclerosis caused by M-CSF and the activity of MMP-9. Methods Gelatin zymography analysis was used to investigate the effect of M-CSF and PD98059 on the activity of MMP-9 in cultured RAW 264.7 cell.Western blot was used to study the effect of M-CSF and PD98059 on the express of p-ERK1/2 in cultured RAW 264.7 cell. Results The enzyme activity of MMP-9 was significantly increased after 24-hour M-CSF treatment.Meanwhile, M-CSF upregulated the expression of p-ERK1/2. Pre-treatment with PD98059 blocked partly the increased expression of p-ERK1/2 and the activity of MMP-9 induced by M-CSF. Conclusion M-CSF can induce the secretion of MMP9 in RAW 264.7 cell, which may be mediated by the phosphorylation of ERK1/2.

Aim To investigate the effects of Naotai formula extract(NTE)on the expression of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) and hephaestin(Heph) in hippocampus of rats after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway.Methods Eighty rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: sham operation group(Sham), cerebral ischemia/reperfusion group(I/R), low dose group of NTE(4.5 g·kg-1), middle dose group of NTE (9 g·kg-1) and high dose group of NTE(18 g·kg-1).Rats were pretreated by intragastric administration for three consecutive days, and then subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) 2 hours before reperfusion.The rats were administered with intragastric administration for two days.After cerebral ischemia reperfusion 72 hours, the behavioral activity of rats was recorded by Zea Longa neurological score, and the infarct volume was measured by TTC staining.The expressions of Nrf2, HO-1 and Heph in hippocampus of cerebral ischemia reperfusion rats were observed by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively.Results Compared with model group, the neurobehavioral scores significantly decreased in NTE high-dose and middle-dose groups (P<0.01);the infarct volume of NTE groups markedly decreased (P<0.01);the expression of HO-1 mRNA apparently increased (P<0.05) in NTE groups;the expression of Heph mRNA significantly increased in NTE middle-dose and high-dose groups (P<0.05);the expression of Nrf2 and Heph protein evidently increased in the NTE middle and high dose groups (P<0.05, P<0.01);and the expression of HO-1 protein also increased in NTE groups(P<0.01).Conclusions Naotai formula can relieve cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.The mechanism might be associated with activating Keap1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathways, promoting HO-1 generation, advancing the expression of Heph, and then reducing brain iron deposition, to achieve the protection of neurons after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.

Background and Objective Keshan disease is clinically characterized as a dilated eardiomyopathy. We analyze the prevalence trend during last decade of hypertension and Keshan-disease in Yangzhuang village which was a Keshan-disease epidemic area.Method The survey including medical history,blood pressure and ECG were carried out every two years during the follow up 13 years.Results During follow up period,the total detection rate(hypertension:13.4 % vs Keshan-disease:10.7 %,?~2=8.555,P=0.002)and the accumulative rate of hypertension were higher than those of Keshan-disease,which was on the contrary to that before 1993,when increasing rate of Keshan-disease was higher than hypertension.Furthermore,the accumulative increasing rate of hypertension was 240.0%,which was higher than the national average level during corresponding period with no significant differences between female and male.Conclusion The detection rate of hypertension in Keshan disease epidemic area was higher than the average rate nation-wide.Whether the hypertension prevalence was re- lated to Keshan-disease needs further investigation.

Humans ; Forensic Pathology

OBJECTIVEAge, body weight and dose have been shown as important influencing factors for sodium valproate plasma concentrations. However it is unclear whether there is interaction among them and whether the interaction could influence sodium valproate plasma concentrations. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of age, body weight and dose on plasma concentrations of sodium valproate and the interaction among them.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-two children with epilepsy (age: 4 months-6 years, weight: 5-25 kg) were enrolled. Sodium valproate was administered at the dosage of 10-30 mg/kg/d. Plasma concentrations of sodium valproate were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography 3-5 days after administration. The relationship of sodium valproate plasma concentrations with age, body weight, and dose of sodium valproate was examined using variance analysis, pearson correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis.

RESULTSAge (F=8.630, P<0.01), body weight (F=3.650, P<0.05) and dose of sodium valproate (F=11.720, P<0.01) were influencing factors for sodium valproate plasma concentrations. The interaction between age and oral dose (F=2.484, P<0.05) and the interaction of age and body weight with oral dose (F=4.923, P<0.01) had significant effects on sodium valproate plasma concentrations. Stepwise regression analysis showed that dose of sodium valproate and body weight were entered to the regression equation.

CONCLUSIONSAge, body weight and dose of sodium valproate as well as the interactions between age and dose and between age, body weight and dose were influencing factors for valproate plasma concentrations.

Age Factors ; Anticonvulsants ; blood ; Body Weight ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Regression Analysis ; Valproic Acid ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; blood