Objective To observe the effect of ultrafiltrated components of three kinds of serum containing phlegm-resolving prescriptions (Huanglian Wendan Decoction, Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction, and Erchen Decoction, respectively) on viability of human leukemic monocytic cell line THP-1 derived macrophages and macrophage differentiation to foam cells. Methods THP-1 cells were induced to differentiate into macrophages with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate ( PMA) . And then the achieved macrophages were used for the establishment of the atherosclerotic foam cell model after co-incubation with oxidized low density lipoprotein ( ox-LDL ) . Three kinds of serum containing phlegm-resolving prescriptions and blank serum were prepared and ultrafiltered by 10 KD ultrafiltrator, and then were co-cultured with the foam cell model, respectively. The viability of macrophages and the macrophage differentiation to foam cells were tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) assay and oil red staining. Apoptotic rate of macrophages was determined by flow cytometry. Results After THP-1 cells were induced by PMA (100 nmol/L) for 20 hours and then were co-incubated with ox-LDL (50 μg/mL) for 24 hours, a typical atherosclerotic foam cell model was established successfully. The ultrafiltrated components of serum containing Huanglian Wendan Decoction had obvious effects on increasing the macrophage survival rate, decreasing macrophage apoptotic rate, and inhibiting macrophage differentiation to foam cells. The ultrafiltrated components of serum containing Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction or Erchen Decoction had an effect on enhancing the macrophage differentiation to foam cells but had no anti-apoptosis action. Conclusion Huanglian Wendan Decoction has anti-atherosclerosis action, which may be related to resisting macrophage apoptosis and decreasing macrophagic lipid-endocytosing function. Erchen Decoction and Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction are effective on increasing macrophagic lipid-endocytosing function.

Aged ; Diastole ; Female ; Humans ; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial ; physiopathology ; therapy

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lacrimal Apparatus ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; immunology

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of combined detection of serum tumor markers,including CEA,CA125,neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and cytokeratin fragment antigen 21-1 (CYFRA21-1) for lung cancer patients.Methods The subjects involved 138 diagnosed lung cancer patients (82 males,56 females,average age 58.6 years,from October 2010 to March 2012),96 patients with benign lung diseases (56 males,40 females,average age 51.3 years) and 45 healthy adults (30 males,15females,average age 43.9 years).The pathological types of lung cancer consisted of 66 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC),52 adenocarcinoma and 20 small cell lung cancer (SCLC).The serum levels of CEA,CA125,NSE and CYFRA21-1 were measured with electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.The diagnostic efficacy for different pathological types was compared among each single tumor marker and combination of tumor markers.One-way analysis of variance q test were used for statistical analysis.Results The serum levels of CEA,CA125,NSE and CYFRA21-1 in patients with lung cancer were higher than those in patients with benign lung diseases and in healthy subjects (CEA:(19.99±30.99),(10.78±19.77),(3.25±3.42) μg/L;CA125:(79.70±95.98),(44.96±44.97),(20.66±7.13) μg/L; NSE:(35.23±40.22),(15.31±8.42),(13.30±5.65) μg/L; CYFRA21-1:(18.07±43.71),(8.30±8.83),(3.13±1.60) μg/L; F=4.481,5.436,4.776,6.002,all P＜0.05).The highest level of CEA,NSE or CYFRA21-1 were found in adenocarcinoma (F=4.932,P＜0.05),SCLC (F=5.119,P＜0.05) or SCC (F=5.378,P＜0.05),respectively.The highest sensitivity tumor markers for SCC,SCLC and adenocarcinoma were CYFRA21-1 (78.8％,52/66),NSE (75.0％,15/20) and CEA (57.7％,30/52),respectively.In combined detection,the highest sensitivity combinations for SCC,SCLC and adenocarcinoma were CEA+CYFRA21-1+NSE (89.4％,59/66),CEA+CYFRA21-1+NSE (80.0％,16/20) and CEA+CA125+NSE (78.8％,41/52),respectively.Conclusions Combined detection of serum tumor markers is more sensitive for the diagnosis of lung cancer.The expressions of the above four tumor markers is correlated with pathological types of lung cancer.

The total effective rate for clinical symptomstreated with oral decoction with Weiweikang(benefit-ting atrophic stomach)granules and Huoli(vitality)Bolus guided by the principle of invigorating Qi,warming the interior,activating circulation and elimi-nating blood stasis,was 91.8%,while that for thechronic atrophic gastritis with metaplasia and atypicalhyperplasia of intestinal epithelium was 87.5% and74.4% respectively.After treatment,the volume ofblood flowing was markedly increased(P

Objective To investigate the usage of distortion product otoacoustic emissions(DPOAE) in normal infants hearing screening.Methods One hundred infants(200 ears) without clinical condition of illness were checked in GSI 70 DPOAE screening.The pure tones were 2,3,4 kHz,the OAE screener scored the test result as a pass,when the responses were above the PASS/REFER line and the signal-to-noise was at least 10 dB.Results Ninty-four infants(188 ears) passed hearing screening. Four infants(8 ears) with ceruminous impaction didn′t pass screening;after extracting impacted cerumen from the external auditory meatus,the 4 infants(8 ears) passed screening.Two infants(2 ears) with secretory otitis media didn′t pass screening,but after medicine treatment for 1 week,they passed screening too.Conclusion DPOAE has advantages in infants hearing screening.J Appl Clin Pediatr,2006,21(3):168-169

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is an evolving field,especially for chronic atrial fibrillation.Several approaches have been performed in clinic practice,which include circumferential pulmonary vein ablation/isolation,left atrial linear ablation,CFAE ablation,pulmonary vein denervation or stepwise ablation.However,a standard approach has not been established.The total successful rates vary from 21% to 95%.The investigations in the mechanism of chronic atrial fibrillation and methods of three-dimensional mapping,and the usage of new source and technique of ablation will increase the successful rate,decrease the recurrence rate and procedure time.The long-term result of ablation of chronic atrial fibrillation and its impact on the structure and function of heart need further investigations.

This study was aimed to investigate the changes of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) activity and the cytokines system in the hypothalamus of the depressive rats which were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stressors (CUMS) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). By means of qRT-PCR, ELISA and Western blot, mRNA and/or protein expressions of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), tumor necrosis factors-α (TNF-α), suppressor of cytokines signaling 3 (SOCS3), phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) were measured in the hypothalamus of rats. The results showed that, compared with control group, CUMS+MCAO group exhibited increased mRNA levels of CRF, TNF-α, SOCS3, as well as up-regulated CRF, TNF-α, SOCS3 and pSTAT3 protein expressions. Furthermore, there were correlations between CRF and TNF-α, TNF-α and SOCS3, SOCS3 and pSTAT3, respectively. These observations indicated the CRF system was activated in the post stroke depression (PSD) status. The TNF-α and its signaling pathway, STAT3/SOCS3, were up-regulated in mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, this study presents the evidence which supports the hypothesis of signaling cross-talk between the CRF system and TNF-α signaling pathway after ischemic stroke and CUMS.
Animals ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; physiology ; Hypothalamus ; physiology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Phosphorylation ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; physiology ; Rats ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation

Objective:To investigate the dyadic coping and intimacy in gynecological cancer patients and their partners,and to explore the association between the two aspects.Methods:A total of 180 postoperative couples with gynecological cancer from 4 tertiary hospitals were investigated with Dyadic Coping Inventory (DCI) and Short Marital Adjustment (MAT).The relationship between couples,dyadic coping and intimacy were analyzed with the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM).Results:APIM result showed that in the actor effect patients' and spouses'supportive dyadic coping,delegated dyadic coping and common dyadic coping were positive associated with their own intimacy (B =1.77-4.41),patients'and spouses'negative dyadic coping were both adversely associated with their own intimacy (B =-2.81,-2.66).The partner effect showed that patients' supportive dyadic coping and delegated dyadic coping were both positive associated with spouses'intimacy (B =1.00,4.07),spouses'delegated dyadic coping and common dyadic coping were both positive associated with patients' intimacy (B =2.67,2.60),patients' and spouses'negative dyadic coping were negatively associated with partner'intimacy (B =-1.67,-1.40).Conclusion:It suggests that the dyadic coping may be associated with both patients'and partners' intimacy.

Objective To investigate whether polymorphisms in CYP11B2 gene are associated with nonfamilial structural atrial fibrillation(AF) in Chinese Han population. Methods A free-designed pair-matched hospital based ease-control study was performed in 297 cases and 297 controls. We investigated two tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs)-rs4545, rs3802228 in CYP11B2 gene by using GenomeLab~(TM) SNPstream technique. Results Two tSNPs were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg expectations in case and control groups. Compared with controls, the left atrial diameter of cases was significantly higher(P<0.0001). No significant difference in genotype or allele frequencies of tSNPs in CYP11B2 gene was observed. However, at the site of rs3802228 in 3' UTR of the case group, the left atrial diameter in AF patients with GG genotype was significantly higher than others. After adjusted for covariates age, smoking, Body mass index and hypertension, we did not observe the association of rs4545, rs3802228 with AE Conclusion Our result suggested that polymorphisms of rs4545 in CYP11B2 gene might not be associated with atrial fibrillation but polymorphism of 3' UTR rs3802228 locus in CYP11B2 gone might be associated with atrial structural remodeling.