<b>OBJECTIVEb>To explore the central mechanism of moxibustion on analgesic effect.

<b>METHODSb>Male Wistar rats were screened by pain threshold value before making model, and 48 rats whose pain threshold was (250 +/- 25) g were selected. Twelve male Wistar rats were randomly selected as a normal group. For the rest rats the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model was duplicated by raising in a windy, cold and wet environment combined with injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), and then they were randomly divided into a model group, a moxibustion group and a moxa volatile oil group, 12 rats in each group. The moxibustion and the moxa volatile oil igroup were treated with moxibustion and moxa volatile oil at "Shenshu"(BL 23) and "Zusanli"(ST 36), respectively, for 15 days. No interventions were added on the model group and the normal group. The pain threshold in Iinjured foot and the expression of hypothalamic POMC mRNA and PDYN mRNA in rats were observed.

<b>RESULTSb>Compared with the normal group, the pain threshold and the expression of hypothalamic POMC mRNA and PDYN mRNA in the model group were increased (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the pain threshold and the expression of hypothalamic POMC mRNA and PDYN mRNA in the moxibustion group were increased significantly (all P < 0.01), but no statistically significance in the moxa volatile oil group (P > 0.05). Compared with the moxa volatile oil group, the above-mentioned observative indices in moxibustion group were all increased significantly (all P < 0.01).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>Moxibustion has obvious analgesic effect and its mechanism may be related to the increasing expression of hypothalamic POMC and PDYN mRNA through the warming effect of moxibustion.

Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Enkephalins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Pro-Opiomelanocortin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Precursors ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To establish a high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE)-based method for detection of trace amount of urinary fibrinopeptide A and B (FPA and FPB, respectively) as the specific molecular markers of thrombus formation in vivo.

<b>METHODSb>The HPCE system consisted of a 25 cm x 50 microm (inner diameter) coated capillary column, 0.1 mol/L phosphoric acid buffer (pH 2.5) and a UV-detector (wavelength at 190 nm). To improve the sensitivity and reproducibility, solid-phase extraction of FPA and FPB in the urine was performed using a Sep-pak C18 column, with a synthetical fibrinopeptide B-Tyr (FPB-Tyr) as the internal standard.

<b>RESULTSb>With this HPCE method, optimal separations of FPA, FPB and FPB-Tyr was achieved within 16 min, with the migration time of 7.28 min, 14.31 min and 15.22 min, respectively. The adjusted peak area ratios of FPA or FPB and the internal standard showed good linearity with the corresponding concentrations of FPA or FPB spiked in the urine(R>0.99). Under the above chromatography conditions, the minimum detection concentration of FPA and FPB in untreated urine was 30 microg/L and 40 microg/L, respectively, and the assay precision and recovery of FPA and FPB were acceptable.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>The method we established is reliable and specific for separation and identification of fibrinopeptides and other bioactive peptides.

Electrophoresis, Capillary ; methods ; Fibrinopeptide A ; urine ; Fibrinopeptide B ; urine ; Humans ; Reproducibility of Results

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To evaluate the diagnostic value of measuring serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels, within 6 hours after admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in children with bloodstream infection (BSI)-associated sepsis and septic infection at other sites.

<b>METHODSb>A retrospective analysis was performed on 30 children with a confirmed diagnosis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome who were admitted to the Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University between January 2010 and January 2012. Clinical data on serum CRP, PCT and D-dimer levels were collected within 6 hours after admission. The diagnostic values of the indices were determined by comparative analysis.

<b>RESULTSb>Serum CRP and PCT levels in children with BSI-associated sepsis were significantly higher than in children with septic infection at other sites (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in serum D-dimer levels between the two groups (P>0.05). Serum PCT level was superior to serum CRP level in distinguishing children with BSI-associated sepsis from those with septic infection at other sites. Serum PCT level could not realistically be used for diagnosing BSI-associated sepsis when it was less than 2 ng/mL (negative predictive value: 100%), but could be reliably used when it was more than 10 ng/mL (positive predictive value: 77%).

<b>CONCLUSIONSb>Serum PCT level is superior to serum CRP level in distinguishing children with BSI-associated sepsis from those with septic infection at other sites within 6 hours after admission to the PICU. Serum PCT level has a better diagnostic value for BSI-associated sepsis when it is more than 10 ng/mL.

C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Child ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; analysis ; Humans ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sepsis ; blood ; diagnosis

This study was aimed to investigate the correlation of coagulation indicators [prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT) and fibrinogen (FIB), antithrombinIII (ATIII), D-dimer (D-D) levels] with inflammatory markers [procalcitonin (PCT), C reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum amyloid A (SAA)] for sepsis in hematologic malignancy patients. A total of 326 febrile in patients with hematologic diseases from 2062 patients in West China Hospital, Sichuan University from March 2011 to April 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into sepsis group(n = 72), non-sepsis group(n = 176) and non-sepsis with low Alb group (n = 78) according to blood culture. The results showed that the values of PT, APTT, D-dimer, Plt in sepsis group were higher than those in non-sepsis group, and the difference between them was statistically significant. While the ATIII level in the sepsis group was lower than that in non-sepsis group, and the difference between them was statistically significant (P < 0.05). And the four inflammatory biomarkers in the sepsis patients were higher than those in non-sepsis patients (P < 0.05). TT and FIB level were not significantly different (P > 0.05). There was not a significant difference in these indicators between non-sepsis group and non-sepsis with low Alb group. The correlation analysis suggested that the level of PCT positively correlated with APTT, D-dimer level (P < 0.05); and negatively correlated with the ATIII (P < 0.05). It is concluded that sepsis results in the concurrent activation of inflammatory and procoagulant pathways. The hematologic malignancy patients with sepsis have an obviously higher systemic inflammatory response, and accompanied with coagulation dysfunction.
Biomarkers ; Blood Coagulation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Calcitonin ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; chemistry ; complications ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Protein Precursors ; Retrospective Studies ; Sepsis ; complications ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; Thrombin Time

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To observe the protection of Qingyuan Shenghua Decoction (QSD) on multiple organs of sepsis patients after bone trauma, and to preliminarily explore its mechanism.

<b>METHODSb>Totally 60 sepsis patients after bone trauma were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random digit table, 30 in each group. All patients received routine Western medical treatment. Patients in the treatment group additionally took QSD or were nasally fed with QSD, one dose per day for 1 week. Changes of WBC, oxygenation index (PaO2/FiO2), serum creatinine (SCr), total bilirubin (TBIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer (DD), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), pro-calcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), intra-abdominal pressure, scores for Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were observed before treatment and on day 1, 3 and 7 after treatment.

<b>RESULTSb>Compared with the control group at the same time point, MAP increased at post-treatment day 1 and 3; CRP, APTT, HR, SCr, TBIL, AST, intra-abdominal pressure at post-treatment day 3 obviously decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). WBC, SOFA scores, PCT, CRP, APACHE II, APTT, D-D, HR, SCr, TBIL, AST and intra-abdominal pressure significantly decreased; FIB, MAP and PaO2/FiO2 obviously increased at post-treatment day 7 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

<b>CONCLUSIONb>QSD had good protective effect on multiple organ function in sepsis patients after bone trauma, and its mechanism might be related with effectively clearing endotoxin, alleviating inflammatory reactions, and fighting against coagulation dysfunction.

APACHE ; Blood Coagulation ; Bone Diseases ; complications ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Calcitonin ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; metabolism ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Partial Thromboplastin Time ; Protein Precursors ; metabolism ; Sepsis ; drug therapy ; etiology

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To evaluate the prognostic significance of serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and D-dimer in children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

<b>METHODSb>A prospective case control study was conducted on 67 pediatric patients with SIRS who were treated in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Based on the presence or absence of infectious lesions, patients were categorized as sepsis and non-sepsis. Within 24 hours after admission, white blood cell (WBC) count and serum levels of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer were determined, and the pediatric critical illness score (PCIS) was calculated. The correlation of PCIS with each of the other measurements was analyzed. On day 28 of follow-up, receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted, and the area under ROC (AUC) was calculated. 28-day survival was estimated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality.

<b>RESULTSb>Serum levels of PCT and D-dimer were significantly higher (P<0.05) but PCIS was significantly lower (P<0.05) in patients with sepsis than in those without sepsis. Both PCT and D-dimer were negatively correlated with PCIS (P<0.01). Serum levels of PCT and D-dimer 24 hours after admission were higher (P<0.05) and PCIS was lower (P<0.05) in non-survivors than in survivors on day 28. AUC was 0.875, 0.872 and 0.863 respectively for PCT, D-dimer and PCIS in the prediction of 28-day survival (P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis revealed that PCT and D-dimer were independent prognostic factors (odd ratio: 1.684 and 1.003; P<0.01).

<b>CONCLUSIONSb>Serum levels of PCT may be helpful in differentiating sepsis and non-sepsis at early stage of SIRS in children. PCT and D-dimer are independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality in children with SIRS, and thus have a prognostic significance in clinical settings.

Adolescent ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products ; analysis ; Humans ; Infant ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prognosis ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome ; blood ; mortality

The distributions and frequencies of some endocrine cells in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of ddY mice were studied with immunohistochemical method using 7 types of antisera against bovine chromogranin (BCG), serotonin, gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK)-8, somatostatin, glucagon and human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP). All of 7 types of immunoreactive (IR) cells were identified. Most of IR cells in the intestinal portion were generally spherical or spindle in shape (open typed cell) while cells showing round in shape (close typed cell) were found in the intestinal gland and stomach regions occasionally. Their relative frequencies were varied according to each portion of GI tract. BCG-IR cells were demonstrated throughout whole GI tract except for the cecum and they were most predominant in the fundus and pylorus. Serotonin-IR cells were detected throughout whole GI tract and they were most predominant cell types in this species of mice. Gastrin-IR cells were restricted to the pylorus and CCK-8-IR cells were demonstrated in the pylorus, duodenum and jejunum with numerous frequencies in the pylorus. Somatostatin-IR cells were detected throughout whole GI tract except for the cecum and rectum and they showed more numerous frequencies in the stomach regions. In addition, glucagon-IR cells were restricted to the fundus, duodenum and jejunum with rare frequencies, and HPP-IR cells were restricted to the rectum only with rare frequency. In conclusion, some strain-dependent unique distributional patterns of gastrointestinal endocrine cells were found in GI tract of ddY mice.
Animals ; Biological Markers/analysis ; Cholecystokinin/analysis ; Chromogranins/analysis ; Enteroendocrine Cells/*cytology/immunology ; Female ; Gastrins/analysis ; Glucagon/analysis ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Mice ; Pancreatic Polypeptide/analysis ; Protein Precursors/analysis ; Serotonin/analysis

The formation of most proteins consists of two steps: the synthesis of precursor proteins and the synthesis of functional proteins. In these processes, propeptides play important roles in assisting protein folding or inhibiting its activity. As an important polypeptide chain coded by a gene sequence in lipase gene, propeptide usually functions as an intramolecular chaperone, assisting enzyme molecule folding. Meanwhile, some specific sites on propeptide such as glycosylated sites, have important effect on the activity, stability in extreme environment, methanol resistance and the substrate specificity of the lipase. Studying the mechanism of propeptide-mediated protein folding, as well as the influence of propeptide on lipases, will allow to regulate lipase by alternating the propeptide folding behavior and in turn pave new ways for protein engineering research.
Lipase/metabolism* ; Molecular Chaperones/metabolism* ; Protein Folding ; Protein Precursors ; Substrate Specificity

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Arginine esterase(Ancrod), a thrombin-like enzyme, purified from the venoms of Agkistrodon halys, has known to cleave fibrinopeptide A from the fibrinogen and lead to circulation of soluble noncross-linked "ancrodfibrin', which stimulates endogenous T-PA release.Many authors have suggested clinical applicability of this enzyme,but clinical studies on its fibrinolytic action has been insufficient.Thus we studied the influence of this enzyme on fibrinolytic activity in cerebral infarction. METHOD: We observed the change of euglobulin fibrinolytic activity, t-PA antigen, t-PA activity, fibrinopeptide A, fibrinogen, FDP and D-dimer, during 12 hours after a bolus intravenous administration of 0.25 unit of the arginine esterase to the 9 patients with cerebral infarction. RESULT:There was no change of the euglobulin fibrinolytic activity, fibrinopeptide A and t-PA Ag but there was significant increase in both t-PA activity and FDP, D-dimer and significant decrease in fibrinogen. CONCLUSION: Our result suggest that arginine esterase converts fibrinogen to a fibrin polymer which has a increased susceptibility to lysis by plasmirl This enzyme seems to amplify T-PA activity through the consequent increase in FT)P, because there is no increase in the euglobulin fibrinolytic activity, fibr'mopeptide A and t-PA Ag suggesting direct T-PA release. Arginine esterase, having action of effective defibrinogenation and safe fibrinolysis,could be used for the thrombus related disease.
Administration, Intravenous ; Agkistrodon ; Arginine ; Cerebral Infarction ; Fibrin ; Fibrinogen ; Fibrinopeptide A ; Humans ; Polymers ; Snake Venoms* ; Snakes* ; Thrombosis ; Venoms

BACKGROUND: Sepsis in elderly patients is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the clinical setting. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic significance of volume conductivity scatter (VCS) parameters and to compare their reliability with that of inflammatory markers. METHODS: Patients (N=85) were divided into 3 groups according to their clinical history and culture results: control (N=29), localized infection (N=38), and sepsis (N=18). VCS parameters were obtained using a UniCel DxH 800 Coulter system. Cut-off values were established based on receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The mean volumes of neutrophils (MNV) and monocytes (MMV) were higher in the sepsis group than in the localized infection and control groups (P=0.000 for both). The mean cell conductivity and low median angle light scatter of neutrophils were lower in the sepsis group than in the localized infection and control groups (P=0.029 and P=0.022, respectively). With a cut-off of 156.5, MNV had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 78% in predicting sepsis. CONCLUSION: MNV and MMV, which can be obtained easily using an automated blood analyzer, may be promising hematologic parameters for distinguishing elderly individuals with and without sepsis and may help clinicians in the diagnosis of sepsis.
Aged ; Calcitonin ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Humans ; Light ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Protein Precursors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sepsis