Objective To observe the effect of gheocorticoid by oral medication or intrathoracic iniection on the expression of IL-6,IL-8 and sIL-2R in gerum and pleural fluid in patients of tuberculous pleurisy.Methods Twenty tuberculous pleurisy patients were treated with ghcocortieoid by oral medication (oral group)and 20 cases by intrathoracic injection(injection group).ELISA wag employed to detect the levels of IL-6,IL-8 and sIL-2R in serum and pleural fluid before treatment and 3,6 and 9 days after treatment.Results The levels of serum IL-6 and IL-8 decreased and sIL-2R increased obviously in injection group at 3,6 and 9 days after treatment(P＜0.01).Meanwhile the levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in pleural fluid decreased and sIL-2R increased obviously(P＜0.01).The levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly lower and the levels of aIL-2R were significantly higher in injection group than those in oral group(P＜0.01).One month after treatment,the rate of complete absorpion of pleural fluid was higher in injection group(80%)than thatin oral group(45%),the rate of pachynsis pleurae was lower in injection group(10%)than that in oral group(40%),P＜0.05.Conclusions Intrathoracic injection of ghcocorticoid shows stronger suppression of cellular immune function in cavum pleurae and weaker suppression of the general immune sysmm than oral medication.Intrathoracic injection of glucocorticoid can increase the therapeutic effect and decrease side effect in tuberculous pleurisy.

The antioxidant activity of lycopene is highest among the current carotenoids.Recently the researches on lycopene are focused on ingredient of functional foods in the world.The fermentation production of lycopene by Streptomyces rimosus was reported first time in China.The determination methods,such as spectrophotometric method and HPLC were constructed.Using a stain Fc of Streptomyces rimosus as a original strain,a high-yield lycopene producing mutant strain Fc' was selected after UV mutation.The lycopene yield of the strain is 2.5 times higher than the original strain Fc.The optimal fermentation conditions were determined by flask experiments,and the lycopene yield of strain Fc' reached 230mg/L in flask under the optimal fermentation condition,meanwhile the Streptomyces rimosus strain could produce purer lycopene without adding any blocking agents in its fermentation process.This results lay a good foundation for lycopene commercial production by fermentation using Streptomyces rimosus.

Background Central corneal thickness (CCT)is an important parameter to evaluate corneal healthy status and is crucial for surgical planning.However,clinical study found that the center of cornea does not correspond to the thinnest point of cornea.Thus,it is essential to characterize the minimum corneal thickness(MCT) and its location.Objective Present study was to determine the thickness and location of MCT and its relationship to the fellow eye using Pentacam High Resolution technique.Methods The 564 eyes from 282 Chinese myopic patients were reviewed in this study.The CCT,MCT,pupillary central corneal thickness(PCT) and x-y coordinate of thinnest point were bilaterally measured.Written informed consent was obtained prior to the ocular biomedical measurement.Results CCT was (540.07±31.78) μm in the right eyes and (539.24±31.06) μm in the lefi eyes; PCT was (540.25±30.75)μm in the right eyes and (539.48±31.00)μm in the left eyes.MCT was (537.87± 31.91)μm in the right eyes and (536.35±31.24)μm in the left eyes,showing significant differences in all the parameters between the right eyes and left eyes expect for PCT(CCT:P=0.046;PCT:P=0.065 ;MCT:P=0.000).The C CT,PCT and M CT were significantly correlated between the right eyes and left eyes (r =0.97,0.97,0.98,P＜ 0.01).Bland-Altman plot showed a good consistence between the both eyes.The mean distance from the center was (0.50±0.21) mm in the right eyes and (0.56±0.22)mm in the left eyes,showing a significant difference (P =0.000).The difference between CCT and MCT was approximately (2.20±1.74)μm in the right eyes and (2.88±1.75) μm in the left eyes.The location of MCT in both the right eyes and left eyes tended to symmetry along the vertical midline.The distance between the R (x,y) to transformed L (x,y) was (0.29 ± 0.17)mm and the angular distance was (28.28±28.21)degree.Conclusions This study offers a range of MCT and its location in Chinese myopic patients.The difference exists between the CCT and MCT in bilateral eyes.The location of the thinnest point tends to be symmetrical along the vertical midline between the both eyes.The changes of these parameters may be helpful for the diagnosis of some corneal diseases.

The effect of astaxanthin on N(Ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced preeclampsia disease rats was investigated. Thirty pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): blank group, L-NAME group and astaxanthin group. From day 5 to 20, astaxanthin group rats were treated with astaxanthin (25 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) x bw(-1)) from pregnancy (day 5). To establish the preeclamptic rat model, L-NAME group and astaxanthin group rats were injected with L-NAME (125 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) x bw(-1)) from days 10-20 of pregnancy. The blood pressure and urine protein were recorded. Serum of each group was collected and malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activities were analyzed. Pathological changes were observed with HE stain. The expression of NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B), ROCK II (Rho-associated protein kinase II), HO-1 (heme oxygenase-1) and Caspase 3 were analyzed with immunohistochemistry. L-NAME induced typical preeclampsia symptoms, such as the increased blood pressure, urinary protein, the content of MDA, etc. Astaxanthin significantly reduced the blood pressure (P < 0.01), the content of MDA (P < 0.05), and increased the activity of SOD (P < 0.05) of preeclampsia rats. The urinary protein, NO, and NOS were also decreased. HE stain revealed that after treated with astaxanthin, the thickness of basilal membrane was improved and the content of trophoblast cells and spiral arteries was reduced. Immunohistochemistry results revealed that the expressions of NF-κB, ROCK II and Caspase 3 in placenta tissue were effectively decreased, and HO-1 was increased. Results indicated that astaxanthin can improve the preeclampsia symptoms by effectively reducing the oxidative stress and inflammatory damages of preeclampsia. It revealed that astaxanthin may be benefit for prevention and treatment of preeclampsia disease.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Placenta ; enzymology ; Pre-Eclampsia ; drug therapy ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Xanthophylls ; therapeutic use ; rho-Associated Kinases ; metabolism

This study was performed to investigate the chemical constituents in the twigs and leaves of Harrisonia perforate. Six compounds were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of the twigs and leaves of Harrisonia perforate by silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies and preparative HPLC. On the basis of chemical properties and spectra data, these compounds were identified as harriperfin E (1), kihadanin A (2), kihadanin B (3), 6α-acetoxyobacunol acetate (4), gardaubryone C (5), and β-sitosterol methyl ether (6), respectively. Compound 1 is a new chromone, and compounds 2-6 are isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Simaroubaceae ; chemistry

Objective To discuss current detection of food intolerance in health check-up populations and the influence of food intolerance on immune system and inflammation parameters.Methods Serum levels of 14 kinds of food-specific IgG antibodies were analyzed by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) among 257 healthy check-up adults.White blood cell count,eosinophils,globulin,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C-reactive protein (CRP),rheumatoid factor (RF),antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and T cell function were compared between the positive group and the negative group.Student's t test and Chi-square test were used for data analysis.Results Food-specific IgG antibodies were found in 134 participants (52.14％).The most common intolerant foods were egg,crab and milk.Moderate to severe food intolerance was caused by egg or milk.There was significant difference in eosinophils and serum globulin between the positive and the negative group (t =-0.07,x2 =8.91,both P ＜0.05).However,no difference was observed in white blood cell count,ESR,CRP,RF,ANA and T cell function between two groups (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Eosinophils and serum globulin may significantly increased in people with food intolerance,although white blood cell count,ESR,CRP,RF,ANA and T cell function could be normal.

Objective To explore the relationship between life events and depression of patients with primary sjgren's syndrome (PSS).Methods 80 patients with PSS complicating depressive disorder were tested by self-rating depression scale(SDS) and life event scale (LES),and compared with the control group including 80 PSS patients with non-depressive disorder matched with age and sex.Then the correlation between SDS and LES were analyzed.Results The total score of life events (32.72 ± 13.93),the score of negative life events (24.36 ±11.24),the score of SDS(58.60 ± 16.78) and the frequency of life events(91.3％) in the research group were higher than those in control group(P ＜ 0.05),but the positive life events score (7.15 ± 5.84) was lower than that in control group (9.76 ± 7.29),and there was statistically significant difference between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05),there were more negative life events,especially on the aspects of family,work and study in the research group.There was positive correlation among the negative life events score,total score of life events and SDS score in the research group(P＜ 0.01),meanwhile,negative correlation was revealed between the score of positive life events and SDS score in the research group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Patients with PSS complicating depressive disorder experienced more negative life events which play an important role in depression of patients with PSS.

Objective To survey the prevalence and the related factors of depression in patients with primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome (pSS),and provide references for early mental intervention.Methods The depression state of 217 patients with pSS was screened with self-rating depression scale (SDS) first and then assessed by Hamilton depression scale (HAMD,17 index).The prevalence of depression was determined based on the diagnosis of psychiatrist based on the 3rd edition of Chinese classification of mental disorders (CCMD Ⅲ).The personality was evaluated by Eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ),and the life events were questionnaired by life events scale (LES).The general condition was analyzed by self-designed questionnaire.Finally,step-wise multiple factor regression analysis was carried out to determine the risk factors that best accounted for the depression.Results The prevalence rate of depression in patients with pSS was 39.2％ (85/217).There were 5 factors entered the regression equation by multifactor regression analysis.They were severe pain,concerns of doctor and nurse,known of the fact by patients,adverse life events,and neuroticism of EPQ,and the concern of doctor and nurse was negatively correlated.Conclusion More attention from clinicians should be paid to the depression of pSS.Patients with severe pain,lack of attention from doctors and nurses,known of the disease itself,adverse life events and neurotic personality traits are factors related with depression.Recognizing the risk factors early can provide guidance for early psychological intervention.

Objective To study the effects of semiconductor laser irradiation and high voltage static electric fields on small vessel damage in diabetic rats.Methods Fifty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups:8 rats in a normal group and 42 in a diabetic model group.The diabetic models were created by intrape- ritoneal injection of streptozocin.The diabetic model rats were randomly divided into four subgroups:a diabetes group,a semiconductor laser treatment group,a high voltage static electric field treatment group and a comprehensive treatment group receiving combined semiconductor laser and high voltage static electric field exposure.The rats in each treatment group were subjected to the corresponding intervention.After 20 days of treatment,the venous blood, kidney tissue and myocardium tissue of the rats were collected,and the concentrations of blood glucose,insulin,en- dothelin and tissue were detected.Results Compared with the normal group,a significant increase in blood glu- cose and endothelin was observed in the diabetic model group,along with significantly decreased blood insulin and significant small vessel endothelium proliferation in the kidney tissue.Compared with the diabetes group,endothelin levels were significantly lower in all 3 treatment groups,and blood insulin was also higher in the comprehensive treat- ment group.Conclusion There were severe abnormalities in blood glucose,insulin and endothelin as well as mild impairment of small vessel endothelium proliferation in the diabetic rats.Semiconductor laser and high voltage static electric field exposure have a role in treating and preventing these conditions in diabetic rats.

Objective To investgate the effect of nervous growth factor(NGF) on the proliferation of the limbal stem cells(LSCs) in vitro,and the relationship bewteen expression of its receptors and cell proliferation.Methods After primary cultured,LSCs were divided into the control group and the NGF group.Selected cells cultured of 1 d,3 d and 5 d in the two groups and examined the expression of p63,TrkA,p75 with immunohistochemistry.Results The average gray scale values of expression of p63,TrkA and p75 at 1 d,3 d and 5 d in NGF group were significant decreased compared with the corresponding data in the control group(P<0.05).Pearson's correlations analysis showed that the average gray scale values of expression of TrkA and p63 were of statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Conclusion These results highlight that NGF could maintain the stem cell properties of LSCs.LSCs could exepress the NGF receptors of TrkA and p75,and the expression of TrkA showed a correlation with LSCs proliferation.