Objective To explore the changes serum S-100? in children with acute carbon monoxide poisoning and its clinical significance.Methods The levels of serum S-100? of 28 children with acute carbon monoxide poisoning and those of 20 healthy children were mea-sured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results The serum S-100? levels of the study group and control group were(0.517?0.346)and(0.037?0.014)?g/L respectively,there was significant difference between two groups(t=6.197 P

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of andrographolide on immune functions and the immune mechanism of its clinical application.

METHODThe amounts of IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-8 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) culture supernatants deal with by different concentrations of LianBiZhi (LBZ) injection made of andrographolide were detected by biological activity test or ELISA in vitro. The effects of LBZ injection on macrophage phagocytotic function and natural killer cells cytotoxicity were examined by means of macrophage to phagocytize cock erythrocyte and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) activity released from the damaged cells, respectively.

RESULTThe LBZ injection could promote IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha inductions of PBMCs, but had no effect on IL-8. At the same time, the LBZ injection could not only enhance the phagocytosis activity of peritoneal macrophage from guinea pig to phagocytosis cock erythrocyte, but also augment the cytotoxicity mediated by natural killer cells from PBMCs to damage the K562 cell lines.

CONCLUSIONAndrographolide is an immunostimulant agent which can modulate both antigen specific and nonspecific immune function by means of its natural killer cells and macrophage and cytokines induction.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacology ; Chickens ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Guinea Pigs ; Humans ; Injections ; Interferon-alpha ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; drug effects ; Neutrophils ; metabolism ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Poloxamer F127, poloxamer F68 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose K4M were used to prepare the thermosensitive in situ gel of boanmycin hydrochloride for injection. Its gelation temperature, rheological behavior, texture characteristics, scanning electron microscopy, in vitro and in vivo drug release were evaluated. These results showed that the formulation was a fluid solution at room temperature, which could become semisolid at the temperature of 37 degrees C, and the thermally induced sol-gel transition allowed to be injectable and in situ setting. The formulation was constructed into a tridimensional network at gelation temperature. The drug release was controlled by the diffusion of the drug and the erosion of the gelmatrix. The pharmacokinetics indicated that the drug could be released slowly for up to 48 hours after subcutaneous administration in rats.
Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Bleomycin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacokinetics ; Diffusion ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Gels ; Hypromellose Derivatives ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Male ; Methylcellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Poloxamer ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rheology ; Temperature ; Viscosity

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term effects and analyze causes of non-response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in heart failure (HF) patients with permanent atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSThirty-three patients with HF and AF [29 men, mean age (61 ± 10) years, NYHA class III or IV, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35%, QRS ≥ 120 ms in 31 cases] underwent bi-ventricular pacing (n = 26) or bi-ventricular pacing and atrioventricular node ablation (AVN-ablation, n = 7) were included in this study. Non-response was defined: the increase of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was less than 15%. Patients were followed-up for 4 years.

RESULTSSix patients died during follow up. Non-responder to CRT was observed in 6 out of 27 survived patients (22.22%). Six out of 7 patients underwent AVN-ablation were in responder group and 1 in non-responder group. Comparing with responder group, the baseline LVEF was significantly higher (37% vs. 32%, P = 0.003), and the history of HF was significantly longer (6.3 years vs. 4.1 years, P = 0.039), pulmonary artery pressure was significantly higher (53 vs. 32 mm Hg, P = 0.027), bi-ventricular pacing percentage (BIVP%) was significantly lower (75.86% vs. 91.73%, P = 0.007) in non-responder group.

CONCLUSIONSHigher LVEF, longer HF history, higher pulmonary artery pressure and lower BIVP% are factors linked with non-responses to CRT in this patient cohort. CRT plus AVN-ablation is associated with high response rate to CRT in this patient cohort.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; therapy ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; Female ; Heart Failure ; complications ; therapy ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression profile of male germ cell-associated genes during the spontaneous differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) and assess the potency of their spontaneous differentiation into male germ cells in vitro.

METHODSEmbryoid body (EB) formation was used to promote the spontaneous differentiation of iPS into male germ cells, and the expressions of germ cell-associated genes were detected by real-time PCR and PCR.

RESULTSReal-time PCR and PCR revealed different expression levels of relevant genes at different times of iPS spontaneous differentiation into male germ cells. Each of the 9 genes analyzed exhibited one of the four temporal expression patterns: wavelike increase of Oct4, progressive decrease of Dppa3 and Stra8, wavelike decrease of Dazl, and decrease following initial increase of Tex14, Msy2, Scp1, Scp3 and Akap3.

CONCLUSIONInduced pluripotent stem cells express male germ cell-associated genes and male haploid genes during their spontaneous differentiation through EB formation, and have the potency of differentiating into male gametes.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Germ Cells ; cytology ; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

BACKGROUNDThe transseptal puncture technique has been widely used in therapeutic left atrium catheterization. But this technique may lead to some life-threatening complications. It can not be used widely because it is restricted by economy and deferring the transseptal puncture procedure. The aim of this study was to introduce a simple and safe transseptal puncture procedure.

METHODSThe distal of coronary sinus (CS) electrode was positioned close to the lateral margin of heart, which was about at 3 o'clock at left anterior oblique (LAO) 30° referred to whole cardiac profile. It was then used as the marker for the level of fossa ovalis at posterior-anterior projection to guide the pull of transseptal needle. The midpoint between the distal CS and the posterior margin of heart at right anterior oblique (RAO) 45° view was considered as the location of fossa ovalis. Once the puncture was succeeded, the guidewire was introduced to the left superior pulmonary vein via puncture sheath after the needle was retrieved. The end of outer sheath was introduced into left atrium with the protection of guidewire. It was applied in 539 patients (316 male, 223 female; (53 ± 16) years old) who underwent catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation or left-sided atrioventricular accessory pathway.

RESULTSThis transseptal approach reached 100.0% success and was succeeded in 98.9% with the first attempt. The first attempt puncture was aborted due to greater resistance to needle advancement or smaller needle curve in six patients. However, the second attempts were all succeeded after the needle curve was reshaped. There was no tamponade and embolism occurred.

CONCLUSIONThe atrial septum puncture approach using the location of distal CS electrode as important marker and the guidewire for protection when sending outer sheath into left atrium is reliable and safe.

Adult ; Aged ; Atrial Septum ; surgery ; Cardiac Catheterization ; Coronary Sinus ; Electrodes ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Punctures ; methods

Objective To determine the survival rate of HIV/AIDS patients after receiving free antiretroviral treatment in Dehong prefecture, Yunnan province. Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on all the HIV/AIDS patients aged over 16 years who had started antiretroviral treatment during January 2007 throughout December 2009 in Dehong prefecture.Results A total of 3103 HIV/AIDS patients had received antiretroviral treatment during the study period. Among them, the mean age was (36.0 ± 9.9) years and 62.4% were males. 66.2% of them were infected with HIV through heterosexual transmission, and the mean treatment follow-up time was 21.7 months. Most patients well complied with the treatment, i.e., the average times of not taking the medicine were less than 5 per month. The cumulative survival rate of antiretroviral treatment after 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years were 0.95, 0.94, 0.93, 0.92, and 0.92, respectively. Data from the Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis indicated that, after adjustment for age, gender, and marital status, the baseline CD4+T cell counts and transmission route could significantly predicate the rates of survival. Those who were with baseline CD4+T cell counts as 200-350/mm3 were less likely to die of AIDS than those with CD4+T cell counts ＜200/mm3 (Hazard Ratio or HR=0.16, 95%CI:0.09-0.28), and HIV-infected through mother-to-child transmission or routes other than heterosexual transmission were less likely to die of AIDS than through injecting drug use (HR=0.35, 95% CI:0.13-1.00). Conclusion Free antiretroviral treatment had significantly improved the survival of HIV/AIDS patients. Earlier initiation of antiretroviral treatment was likely to have achieved better survival effects.

Aim To investigate the effect of dihydromyricetin (DHM) on lipid accumulation in liver of obese mice induced by high fat diet and its mechanism. Methods Sixty C57BL/6J mices were randomly divided into six groups (n = 10); (1)ND group; normal diet, (2)ND + L-DHM group; normal diet and treatment with low-dose DHM (125 mg • kg

The present study aimed to investigate the composition of the terpene synthase(TPS) gene family in Gynostemma pentaphyllum and its role in abiotic stresses. The G. pentaphyllum TPS gene family was identified and analyzed at the genome-wide level using bioinformatics analysis, and the expression patterns of these family members were analyzed in different tissues of G. pentaphyllum as well as under various abiotic stresses. The results showed that there were 24 TPS gene family members in G. pentaphyllum with protein lengths ranging from 294 to 842 aa. All of them were localized in the cytoplasm or chloroplasts and unevenly distributed on the 11 chromosomes of G. pentaphyllum. The results of the phylogenetic tree showed that the G. pentaphyllum TPS gene family members could be divided into five subfamilies. As revealed by the analysis of promoter cis-acting elements, TPS gene family members in G. pentaphyllum were predicted to respond to a variety of abiotic stresses such as salt, low temperature, and dark stress. The analysis of gene expression patterns in different tissues of G. pentaphyllum revealed that nine TPS genes were tissue-specific in expression. The qPCR results showed that GpTPS16, GpTPS17, and GpTPS21 responded to a variety of abiotic stresses. This study is expected to provide references in guiding the further exploration of the biological functions of G. pentaphyllum TPS genes under abiotic stresses.
Gynostemma ; Phylogeny ; Alkyl and Aryl Transferases ; Chloroplasts

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of miRNAs in amniotic fluid exosomes in growth and development of fetuses with Down syndrome (DS). METHODS: Amniotic fluid were collected from 20 fetuses with DS and 20 normal fetuses (control) to extract amniotic exosome miRNA. MicroRNA sequencing technique was used to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs between the two groups, for which gene ontology (GO) and pathway analysis was performed. Three differentially expressed miRNAs with the strongest correlation with DS phenotype were selected for qPCR verification. Dual luciferase reporter assay was used to verify the activity of let-7d-5p for targeted regulation of BACH1. RESULTS: We identified 15 differentially expressed miRNAs in DS as compared with the control group, among which 7 miRNAs were up-regulated and 8 were down-regulated. Target gene prediction results showed that the differentially expressed miRNAs targeted 17 DS-related genes. GO analysis revealed that the main functions of the target genes involved protein binding, protein transport, ATP binding, transferase activity and synapses. Pathway analysis revealed that the functional pathways were closely related with the development of the nervous system. qPCR results showed that the expression levels of miR-140-3p and let-7d-5p were significantly lower in DS group than in the control group (P < 0.05), as was consistent with miRNA sequencing results; the expression level of miR-4512 was significantly higher in DS group than in control group (P < 0.05), which was contrary to miRNA sequencing results. The results of double luciferase reporter gene assay confirmed that let-7d-5p was capable of targeted regulation of BACH1 expression. CONCLUSION Let-7d-5p in amniotic fluid exosomes may promote oxidative stress events in the brain of fetuses with DS by regulating BACH1 expression.
Amniotic Fluid/metabolism* ; Down Syndrome/genetics* ; Exosomes ; Female ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Pregnancy