Objective To evaluate the value of combining PCT, BNP, D-Dimer and PCIS score in predicting the prognosis of pediatric severe pneumonia in the early stage. Methods 80 cases of children with severe pneumonia were selected, 49 cases were boys , 31 cases were girls, with a median age of 7.5 months (1 month to 156 months). According to the final outcome, the cases are divided into treatment group and poor prognosis group. The score of PCIS, PCT, BNP and D-dimer within 24 hours after admission were recorded. According to the indicators, ROC curve was drawn independently and integrated with the four indicators,and the corresponding areas under ROC curve (AUC) were calculated to compare the accuracy of the assessment. Results The AUC of PCIS, PCT, BNP and D-dimer were between 0.7 and 0.9. The ROC curve integrated the four indicators showed the AUC were 0.932, which improved sensitivity and specificity. Conclusions The integration of PCIS, PCT, BNP and D-Dimer could improve the accuracy of prediction in the prognosis of severe pediatric pneumonia.

Natural products are valuable resources for discovering new drugs. So far, screening bioactive compounds from organism extracts is still an important and challenging task. Traditional biometric guided method involves repeated fractionation steps and bioactivity tests, which are time-consuming, labor-consuming, and inefficient. Ligand fishing is a bioanalysis method for screening ligands from complex organism extracts based on intermolecular affinity interactions. It has the characteristics of strong specificity, high efficiency, and less requirement for sample pretreatment. In this review, we summarize the classification of ligand fishing strategy and its application in enzyme inhibitors screening. Finally, the development prospects of this technology are forecasted.

Objective To investigate effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)and to analyze its therapeutic efficacy. Methods One hundred and eight patients with moderate or severe TBI were randomly divided into a control group (54 cases) and an HBO adjunctive therapy group (HBO group, 54 cases).Both groups received essential neurosurgical treatment and conventional drug treatment, and the HBO group was given one session of HBO therapy in addition. Serum CRP and TNF-α were detected, and the scores on the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were measured before and after treatment. CRP was detected by turbidimetric immunoassay and TNF-α using ELISA. Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) scores were evaluated in a follow-up 6 months after injury. Results Average CRP, TNF-α and GCS measurements showed no statistically significant difference between the groups before treatment. After treatment, CRP and TNF-α were significantly lower and GCS scores significantly better in both groups, but patients in the HBO group were, on average, significantly better than the controls on all three measures.Six months later, GOS evaluation gave a significantly larger number of patients with a better prognosis in the HBO group compared with the controls. Conclusion HBO therapy can significantly decrease serum CRP and TNF-α after severe TBI, thus enhancing therapeutic efficacy.

Objective:To validate the clinical value of CT-guided curve-needle percutaneous ethanol injection (CNPEI) for celiac plexus block analgesia. Methods: Thirty-two patients with end-stage cancer, including 13 complicated with extensive retroperitoneal lymph node enlargement and fusion, were enrolled in this study. All patients complained of refractory upper abdominal pain and had received narcotic analgesics and radiotherapy, but the analgesic effect was not good. CT-guided CNPEI was therefore prescribed. Results: The effective rates of CT-guided CNPEI were 100%, 100%, 96.9%, 90.6%, 87.5%, and 84.4% immediately,and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks after treatment, respectively. All enlarged lymph nodes had obvious necrosis and became shrunk. Conclusion: Combined application of bilateral anterior and posterior diaphragmatic crura block and trans-lymph node block can produce good analgesic effects, and curve-needle puncture make the above technique simpler.

Objective:To validate the therapeutic value of CT-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in the treatment of metastatic adrenal tumors. Methods: Thirty-one foci (diameter ranging from 1.5 cm to 7.2 cm) in 25 patients with metastatic adrenal tumors were treated with CT-guided PEI for more than twice. Plain and enhanced CT scans were performed 1-2 months after PEI to observe the size and necrosis of the tumors. Results: Post-PEI enhanced CT scan showed that 18 of the 20 foci with diameters less than 3 cm completely necrotized; 11 foci with diameters between 3 cm and 7.2 cm necrotized partially, and 2 foci completely necrotized after another 2-3 courses of PEI treatment. Conclusion: CT-guided PEI is a simple and minimally invasive means for treatment of metastatic adrenal tumors, and the therapeutic effect is satisfactory.

To study the chemical constituents from the the deep-sea fungus Alternaria sp. F49. Seven compounds were isolated from the EtOAc extract by using silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and HPLC methods. Based on the spectroscopic analysis, their structures were identified as (8R)-5-O-methyl-orcinotriol (1), orcinotriol (2), α-acetylorcinol (3), 3'-hydroxyalternariol 5-O-methyl ether (4), altenusiol (5), altenusin (6), and 5'-methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3,4,3'-triol (7). (8R)-5-O-Methyl-orcinotriol (1) is a new phenolic compound which has never been reported in the literature. Compounds 4-7 showed strong DPPH free radical scavenging activity; whereas compounds 1-7 showed strong ABTS free radical scavenging activity.

Objective To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy on interleukin-1 β( IL-1 β) and interleukin-6 ( IL-6 ) levels in patients with moderate or severe traumatic brain injury ( TBI ) and to analyze its therapeutic efficacy.MethodsOne hundred and fifty-six patients with moderate or severe TBI were randomly divided into a control group and an HBO adjunctive therapy group with 78 cases in each.The control group received essential neurosurgical treatment and conventional drug treatment,and the HBO group was given one HBO therapy session in addition.IL-1 β and IL-6 were quantitatively determined using sandwich ELISA,and the patients'scores on the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) were measured before and after treatment.The Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) was used to evaluate in a follow-up 6 months after injury.ResultsThe average IL-1 β and IL-6 levels of the two groups and their average GCS scores were not significantly different before treatment.After treatment,IL-1 βand IL-6 levels decreased significantly and GCS scores increased significantly in both groups,but there were significant inter-group differences in all three measures.Six months after injury the GOS evaluation indicated that significantly more patients had better outcomes in the HBO group than in the control group. Conclusion Conventional treatment combined with HBO therapy can promote neurofunction recovery in TBI patients.The mechanism may be related to down-regulation of serum IL-1 β and IL-6.

Objective To observe the effect and the mechanisms of ferulic acid on radiationinduced damage of mice peripheral blood and bone marrow hematopoietic function.Methods Ninety-six mice were randomly divided into sham irradiation group,irradiation group,positive drug group and 10,30,90 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 ferulic acid group,16 mice per group.Mice were exposed to 3.5 Gy γ-rays 24 h after first drug taken.Then,mice were given drugs for 7 d after irradiation.White blood cells in peripheral blood of 10 mice per group were counted 2 d before irradiation and 3,7,10,15 and 22 days after irradiation.The bone narrow of the other six mice was taken to detect the micronuclei frequency of polychromatic erythrocyte,the hematopoietic progenitor cell colony formation capacity,Thbd and HMGB1 protein expressions in mice bone marrow on the seventh day after irradiation.Results Compared with the irradiation alone group,the treatment of mice with ferulic acid 90 mg· kg-1 · d-1 increased the number of white blood cells in peripheral blood at 3,10,15 and 22 d after irradiation (t =2.267,2.399,1.945,2.828,P ＜ 0.05).Treatment with mice with ferulic acid 90 mg· kg-1 · d 1 decreased the micronuclei rate of erythrocytes in irradiated bone marrow (t =4.013,P ＜ 0.05),increased the clone numbers of CFU-E,BFU-E and CFU-GM of hematopoietic progenitor cells (t =2.366,2.953,3.115,P ＜0.05),improved the relative expression of the Thbd protein in bone marrow and the HMGB1 protein in nuclear (t =17.75,23.39,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Ferulilc acid could protect the bone marrow hematopoietic of mice exposed to irradiation by regulating the expressions of Thbd and HMGB1 protein,and then accelerate the peripheral cells recovery.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM: To investigate the protective effect of autophagy on oxidized low density lipoprotein ( ox-LDL)-induced macrophage apoptosis and the underlying molecular mechanisms .METHODS:The RAW264.7 macropha-ges were pretreated with 3 mmol/L 3-methyladenine (3-MA), 1 μmol/L rapamycin (Rap) or 4 mmol/L 4-phenylbutyric acid ( PBA) respectively for 1 h and then treated with ox-LDL (100 mg/L) for 12 h.The cell viability and apoptosis were determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, respectively.The activities of lactate de-hydrogenase ( LDH) in the medium and caspase-3 in the cells were determined by detection kits .The protein levels of bec-lin-1 (a molecular marker of autophagy ), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78, an endoplasmic reticulum stress marker) and C/EBP homologous protein ( CHOP, a key-signaling component of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis ) were examined by Western blot .Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3, another molecular marker of autoph-agy) was observed under laser scanning confocal microscope .RESULTS: Treatment of the RAW264.7 macrophages with ox-LDL at 100 mg/L for 12 h resulted in significant decrease in cell viability , and dramatic elevation in LDH leakage , cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity, which were promoted by 3-MA (an autophagy inhibitor) and inhibited by Rap (an autoph-agy inducer ) .ox-LDL induced autophagy in the macrophages as assessed by beclin-1 upregulation and frequent granulation of LC3, which were inhibited by 3-MA and promoted by Rap.Interestingly, 3-MA enhanced, while Rap blocked, the CHOP upregulation induced by ox-LDL.Moreover , PBA ( endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor ) significantly inhibited ox-LDL-induced GRP78 upregulation and autophagy as determined by the attenuation of beclin-1 upregulation and frequent granula-tion of LC3.CONCLUSION: Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediates ox-LDL-induced autophagy in macrophages , and moderates activation of autophagy may protect macrophages from ox-LDL-induced apoptosis by inhibiting CHOP expression .

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF) and its receptor in the development of hypertrophic scar. MethodsThe expression of PDGF and its receptor were detected in biopsy specimens of 9 pieces of normal skin, 7 pieces of granulation tissue of burn wound and 34 pieces of hypertrophic scar by immunohistochemical staining using specific polyclonal antibodies.ResultsPDGF and its receptor markedly increased in granulation tissue and hypertrophic scars, reaching the peak in the hypertrophic scars within 6 months and then decreased after the peak, whereas PDGF and its receptor expressed weakly in only a few normal skin specimens, and the differences were significant(P<0.05).ConclusionsThe increasing expression of PDGF and its receptor may be related to the development of hypertrophic scar.