Objective To discover the main factors influencing the hospitalization expenses incurred by cases of community acquired pneumonia(CAP). Methods The hospitalization expenses incurred by 362 cases of CAP treated by the Department of Respiratory Medicine of the authors hospital from 1999 to 2000 as well as the composition of the expenses, the expenses for testing pathogens and the use of antibiotics were analyzed retrospectively. And the influencing factors of the hospitalization expenses were studied by means of stepwise regression. Results The average CAP hospitalization expenses were 9 253 yuan, with the expenses for medicine accounting for 51.4%. Among the antibiotics used, ? lactam was most frequently used. Next came quinolone and macrolides. The expenses for testing CAP pathogens were high while the positive rate was low. The major factors influencing CAP hospitalization expenses were respectively length of stay, time of intravenous drip of antibiotics during hospitalization, incidence or no incidence of heavy pneumonia, and the number of basal disease entities(P

ObjectiveTo study the cloning and sequencing of mature fragment of human bone morphogenetic protein-4 gene. Methods The template DNA was obtained from the human osteosarcoma cell line U2OS. By using RT- PCR method, the cDNA coding for the mature fragment of BMP-4 was amplified, cloned into the vector pUC19, and sequenced by Sanger Dideoxy-mediated Chain Termination method. Results The mature fragment of BMP4 cDNA was obtained by RT-PCR and determined by sequencing. Through the computer search on Genebank, the analysis showed that the homology of nucleotides and amino acids between cDNA of rhBMP4 mature fragment of this study and the published sequence was 99％. Sequence analysis showed that there were two differences, one was at base 1154 (201): G→C, which had no influence on the corresponding amino acids (Val). Another was at basel222 (269):C→T, the mutation at the base 1222 had the change of Ala to Val. Conclusion The mature fragment of BMP4 gene has been cloned. The results will be of great significance in treatment of skeletal injuries and diseases.

AIM: To investigate the effect of phellodendron and three kinds of its main components, which have asuppressive effect on the immune system, on the membrane fluidity of normal murine splenocytes. METHODS: The fluidity ofmembrane lipid regions of splenocytes was determined by the fluorescence polarization technique using 1, 6 - diphenyl - 1, 3, 5- heatriene (DPH) as a fluorescence probe. RESULTS: The results showed that the water extract of phellodendron and one of itsmain components (palmatine) increased the cell membrane fluidity in the inactive state, but the other two components, berberineand jatrorrhizine, decreased the cell membrane fluidity. After activated by ConA, all of them can decrease the cell membrane flu-idity. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that their immunosuppressive function might be due to decreasing the cell membranefluidity.

Objective To express the hNGF? gene segment encoding mature peptide (hNGF? ) in E.coli and determine its bioactivity. Methods The resulting gene of hNGF? was subclonedinto the hNGF? site of the expression vector plasmid pBV220. The ligation products were used to transform the competent E.coli DH 5?. The proteins of hNGF? were expressed by temperature induction. The expression products were dealed with solubilizing inclusion bodies and refolding protein. It was introduced into the expressed hNGF? tests of neurite growth of dorsal root knot of chicken embryo and tests of Brdu incorporation into PC12 cells was a biologically active protein. Results The recombinant plasmid pBV220/NGF? was successfully constructed. The NGF? was inserted to pBV220 plasma, a prokaryotic expression vector. Expression of NGF? in E.coli was induced by raising temperature to 42℃. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis showed that NGF? protein existed in inclusion. The solubility protein of NGF? was obtained through purification of inclusion by centrifugation and technique of protein repatriation. Recombinant NGF? protein was purified by affinity chromatography of heparin SepharoseCL-6B. The purity of NGF? was higher than 90% and yield of NGF? was 1.8～2.0mg/L expressing bacteria. The bioactivity of NGF? expressing prokaryotic cell was 1?10 5BU/g according to rule concerning examination of biological products in China. Conclusion The hNGF?gene with bioactivity can be expressed in E.coli.

Objective To construct the expression box of fusion gene NT4-p53(N15)-Ant.Methods The gene of p53(N15)-Ant was obtained by PCR of two primers templating with each other and T-vector cloning method.The positive clone was identified and analyzed by the restriction enzymes and sequencing respectively.After digested with restriction enzyme,the interest gene of p53(N15)-Ant was subcloned into the plasmid pBV220/NT4.Results The gene of p53(N15)-Ant was confirmed by the digestion of restriction enzyme and sequencing.The recombinant plasmid pBV220/NT4p53(N15)Ant was identified by the digestion of restriction enzyme and agarose gel electrophoresis and the results conformed theoretical values.Conclusion The plasmid pBV220 containing the expression box of NT4-p53(N15)-Ant was successfully constructed by molecular cloning and recombination techniques in vitro,which will guide further study on gene therapy of cancer.

Objective:To test the effect of Ginsenoside Rg1 and Rh1 on the expression of CD25,HLA-DR,CD44,ICAM-1,CD11c and E-selectin on the surface of dendritic cell(DC).Methods:Mature DCs were treated with different doses of Rg1 and Rh1. Certain time later, the expression of adhesion molecular was detected with immunohistochemical method and the results were recorded with imaging data.Results:Except for E-selectin, both of Rg1 and Rh1 could increase the expression of HLA-DR,CD25,CD11c,CD44 and ICAM-1 on DCs.Conclusion:Expression increase of surface molecular, including in two signals required by T cell activation, stimulated by Rg1 and Rh1, is propitious to the formation of DC- T cell cluster that would enhance the antigen-presenting function of DC.

AIM:To investigate the effect of berberine on IL-1 or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) induced polymorphonuclear leucocyte(PMN)-endothelium adhesion and adhesion molecules.METHODS:Based on the model of human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC), this study adopted Rose Bengal Stain, cell ELISA, immunocyto-chemical techniques to investigate the effect of berberine on PMN-endothelium adhesion and the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs).RESULTS:Berberine inhibited IL-1, TNF-induced HUVEC adhesion for PMN when pretreated HUVEC and antagonised IL-1, TNF-induced upregulation of ICAM-1 on HUVEC. Meanwhile, TNF-stimulated PMN adhesion for HUVEC and CD18 upexpression on PMN was diminished in the presence of berberine.CONCLUSION: Inhibite PMN-endothelium adhesion by downregulating the CAMs expression to inhibite PMN migration across endothelium is one of the mechanisms of antiinflammation of berberine.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of forced expiratory volume in six seconds(FEV6) as an alternative for forced vital capacity(FVC)and the fixed eat-off points for FEV1/FEV6 in the diagnostic screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods From August 2007 to December 2008,a total of 1210 spirometric examinations in were analyzed,FEV6 was measured on volume-time curves.The correlation between FEV1/FVC and FEV1/FEV6 was evaluated by the Kendall correlation test.Considering FEV1/FVC

Objective To improve the understanding and diagnosis of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (PLAM) by the comprehensive review of domestic literatures in the past ten years.Methods Three new cases with PLAM were reported and integraed with other 45 cases reported domestically in the past ten years for analysis of their clinical features.Results The newly reported three cases of PLAM were all women at child-bearing age, with initial symptom of dyspnea after activity. Two of them complicated with extra-pulmonary PLAM. All the three cases were free of chylous effusion. Forty-seven of 48 cases with PLAM were pathologically diagnozed, with ages of onset of 5~69 (mean?s of 34?10) years. Their clinical manifestations were mainly respiratory, including dyspnoea (95.8%), haemoptysis (52.1%), pneumothorax (45.8%), chylous effusion (33.3%),cough (31.3%) and chest pain (12.5%). Abnormal manifestations in abdomen, including renal mass, retroperitoneal mass and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy, were detected in 16 cases. Thirty-nine cases had their high-resolution CT (HRCT) examined and appearance of multiple cysts distributed throughout the bilateral lung fields could be discerned in 38 of them. Obstructive ventilation disturbance could be observed in 23 of 30 cases with the data or conclusions on pulmonary function tests, and mixed ventilation disturbance in seven cases. Respiratory failure was complicated in 17 of 28 cases with the data of arterial blood gas analyses.Conclusions HRCT had confirmative value for diagnosis of PLAM. In practice, HRCT, as well as other routine abdominal and pelvic imaging examinations, should be performed in time for child-bearing-age women with progressive dyspnoea, haemoptysis, or spontaneous pneumothorax, to detect if they complicate with PLAM.