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Transforming growth factor-?(TGF-?)was reported to be increased in asthma in some studies. Accumulation of TGF-? in airway promotes smooth muscle cell mitogenesis and hyperplasia, and induces fibroblast and myofibroblast and smooth muscle proliferation as well as increase in protein synthesis in connective tissue(such as collagen deposition on the reticular basement membrane). The autocrine induction of collagen expression by smooth muscle may contribute to the thickening of the reticular basement membrane, irreversible fibrosis and remodeling seen in the airways in some asthmatics. TGF-? is considered to be a major fibrogenic cytokine. It can increase smooth muscle mass and lead to severe bronchial obstruction in an asthma attack.

AIM: To investigate the levels of IL-18, IL-16, IL-8, eotaxin and the chymase activity in the sputum of asthmatics. METHODS: IL-18, IL-16, IL-8 and eotaxin levels were detected with sandwich ELISA procedures and chymase activity was determined spectrophotometrically (410 nm) by the rate of hydrolysis of N-succinyl-L-Ala-L-Ala-L-Pro-L-Phe-p-nitroanilide (SAAPP). RESULTS: The specific chymase activities in the severe and moderate asthmatics were higher than that in controls. Native protease inhibitors ?_1-antitrypsin (?_1-AT) and soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) inhibited 71.9% and 72.1% enzymatic chymase activity, respectively. The levels of IL-18, IL-16, IL-8 and eotaxin were significantly elevated in the sputum of patients with acute asthma. There were correlations between the levels of IL-8 and IL-16 (r=0.55, P

Objective To evaluate the effect of intravenous Gd-DTPA on 3.0T proton MR spectroscopy (MRS) water suppression and shimming. Methods Prospective study of proton MRS was performed with GE Signa Excite HD 3.0T system and eight-channel phased-array coils with PRESS sequence (head, liver and kidney, respectively). Routine auto prescan program was operated to record full width half maximum (FWHM) and water suppression (WS%). Routine scan was performed after injection of Gd-DTPA, then prescan program was reoperated to record FWHM and WS%. The data of FWHM and WS% in head, liver and kidney were compared between before and after injection of Gd-DTPA with the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed test. Results WS% of spectroscopy of head and liver after administration of Gd-DTPA decreased significantly (T_+=12, T_-=66, P=0.02; T_+=0, T_-=45, P=0.007). The effect of shimming of kidney after administration of Gd-DTPA was poor (T_+=0, T_-=435, P<0.001) and WS% of spectroscopy of kidney after administration of Gd-DTPA decreased significantly (T_+=0, T_-=435, P<0.001). Conclusion WS% of spectroscopy in head, liver and kidney can be impacted negatively by Gd-DTPA. Gd-DTPA has great influence on shimming of spectroscopy of kidney, but has little influence on shimming of spectroscopy of head and liver. It is better to acquire MRS data before administration of contrast medium in kidney.

Objective To observe the effect of full width half max (FWHM) on spectra signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and water suppression at 3.0T MR. Methods GE Signa Excite HD 3.0T MR scanner with 8 channel phrased-array head and neck coil was used. The respective study of liver 1H-MRS was performed using PRESS sequence. A total of 49 spectrums were obtained with parameters of TR 1500 ms, TE 30 ms, NSA 128. FWHM and water suppression were recorded automatically and the subjects were divided into better shimming group (FWHM<10 Hz) and worse shimming group (FWHM≥10 Hz). Independent t test was used to analyze the Cr_SNR, NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr, water suppression and volume of interest (VOI). Results Compared with worse shimming group, better shimming group could provide better Cr_SNR (t=5.976, P<0.001), higher NAA/Cr (t=2.469, P=0.017), lower Cho/Cr (t=-4.460, P<0.001) and smaller VOI (t=3.862, P<0.001). Conclusion When single voxel proton spectroscopy of head is adopted with 3.0T MR, small VOI is easy to achieve effective shimming, and better shimming is helpful to improve SNR, the ratio of main metabolites as well as water suppression.

Objective:To investigate the modulatory effect of IL-29 on trypsin-induced protease activated receptors (PARs) ex-pression on P815 mast cell.Methods:After P815 mast cells were challenged with different concentrations of IL-29 alone or combined with trypsin for 2 h, 6 h and 16 h, the challenged cells were collected and analysed by flow cytometry to detect the protein expression of PARs on P815 cells, and analysed by real time RT-PCR to detect the mRNA expression of PARs on P 815 cells.Results:Compared with the corresponding control , IL-29 induced significantly decreased expression of PAR-1 at protein and mRNA level on P815 cells, and upregulated PAR-3, PAR-4 mRNA level on P815 cells, whereas IL-29 did little effect on the expressions of PAR-2,3,4 at protein level on P815 cells accordingly.Preincubation of mast cell with IL-29 did not alter trypsin-induced PAR-1 expression on P815 cells, whereas up-regulated expression of PAR-2, 3, 4 were detected when P815 cell were pre-treated with IL-29 before being challenged with trypsin compared with the corresponding control .Conclusion: IL-29 can upregulate trypsin-induced PARs expression on mast cells through which participated in mast cell related inflammation .

Objective To investigate the mutation of type Ⅱ human hair basic keratin (hHb) gene in a family with monilethrix.Methods Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the structure of hair shafts.With informed consent,blood samples were drawn from affected and unaffected membets in this family,as well as from 50 healthy controls.Genomic DNA was isolated from these samples.The exon 1 and exon 7 of hHb1,hHb3 and hHb6 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).All the PCR products were sequenced directly using ABI3730 automated sequencer.DNA sequence alignment was carried out with BLAST software.Results A typical beaded appearance was observed in affected hairs by using scanning electron microscopy.There were obvious longitudinal ridges and sulcuses in hair node.and hair cuticles were irregularly shaped.Most cortex and medullary substance were absent in affected hairs of a patient.After sequence alignment,a G1289A point mutation in exon 7 of hHb6 gene,which led to a substitution of arginine for glutamide at codon 430,was detected in affected members of this family,but not in unaffected family members or 50 unrelated human controls.No mutation was observed in exon 1 or exon 7 of hHb1 and hHb3 gene or exon 1 of hHb6 gene.Conclusion The missense mutation of R430Q is a novel mutation.which may be associated with the pathogenesis of monilethrix in this pedigree.

Objective To characterize the effect of the ~1H-MRS scan parametem, including the type of coil, TE,NSA and VOI, on shimming, water suppression, spectral signal to noise ratio(SNR)and the stability of the baseline of liver in vivo. Methods ~1H-MRS of liver in vivo was performed prospectively on GE Signa Excite HD 3.0 T system in 46 volunteers. Point-resolred spectroscopy(PRESS)sequence with built-in body coil and eight-channel torso phased-array coils was applied. After the localized scan,the first PRESS sequence with a TR of 1500 ms,TE of 30 ms. VOI of 2 cm×2 cm×2 cm and NSA of 64 times was acquired using eight-channel torso phased-array coils.(The first PRESS sequence parametem was deemed as A).Then,the sequence was repeated with alteration of the three parameters including the type of coil,TE and size of VOI.(Changed parameters deem as B).The data were analyzed with the Wilcoxon matched pairs signed test.0 mark:A is similar to B,1 mark:A better than B,-1 mark:A worse than B.Results SNR(-1 mark 0 pair,0 mark 1 pair,1 mark 10 pair,Z=-3.162,P=0.002)was better in data(n=11)with eight-channel torso phased-array coils(A)than that with the built-in body coil(B),but the autoshimming line width with eight-channel torso phased-array coils were inferior to those with built-in body coil (-1 mark 8 pair,0 mark 2 pair,1 mark 1 pair,Z=-2.511,P=0.012).SNR was better in data(n=13)with TE of 30 ms(A)than that at the sequence with TE of 90 ms(B)(-1 mark 2 pair,0 mark 0 pair,1 mark 11 pair,Z=-2.496,P=0.013).whereas baseline stability was,poorer in the former(-1 mark 10 pair,0 mark 2 pair,1 mark 1 pair,Z=-2.333,P=0.020).SNR at the sequence(n=10)with VOI of 2 cm×2 cm×3 cm(B)was better(-1 mark 6 pair,0 mark 4 pair,1 mark 0 pair,Z=-2.449,P=0.014)than that at the sequence(n=29)with VOI of 2 cm ×2 cm × 2 cm(A),but poorer(-1 mark 0 pair,0 mark 5 pair,1 mark 5 pair,Z=-2.041,P=0.041)auto-shimming line width was shown. By comparison the sequences with NSA of 128 times(B)and NSA of 64 times(A),the former could provide better spectrum SNR(-1 mark 21 pair,0 mark 7 pair,1 mark 1 pair,Z=-4.264,P=0.000).Conclusion It is more easy to achieve a homogeneous bo magnetic field using a small size of VOI and builtin body coli.The sequence with VOI of 2 cm ×2 cm ×3 cm.NSA of 128 times is recommended for clinical use. Increase VOI and NSA are helpful to improve SNR. Longer TE is helpful to improve baseline stability.

AIM:To explore the protective effect of osthole on the SH-SY5Y cells transfected with APP595/596 gene, and to investigate the molecular mechanism.METHODS:The SH-SY5Y cells were transfected with APP595/596 gene in vitro for establishing a cell model to study the pathogenic role of amyloid β-protein ( Aβ) .The cell viability was detected by CCK-8 assay.The release of lactate dehydrogenase ( LDH) was determined by the colour reaction of dia-phorase-INT.The cell apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry.The expression of β-site APP cleaving enzyme 1 ( BACE1) at mRNA and protein levels was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.The expression of Aβwas measured by the technique of immunofluorescence cytochemistry and Western blot.RESULTS: Treatment with osthole inhibited the LDH release, and increased the viability of the cells.The percentage of apoptotic cells was also significantly decreased. Osthole also inhibited the expression of BACE1 at mRNA and protein levels and the protein expression of Aβ.CONCLU-SION:Osthole has protective effect on SH-SY5Y cells transfected with APP595/596 gene.The mechanism may be associ-ation with inhibiting the mRNA and protein expression of BACE1.

Aim To investigate the effects of osthole ( Ost) on the ability of proliferation and differentiation in APP transduced neural stem cells( NSCs) , and neu-ronal apoptosis, in order to find related mechanism. Methods A model of Alzheimer′s disease( AD) cells was successfully established by transducing APP gene into NSCs in vitro. The ability of proliferation and dif-ferentiation was tested by staining. The viability of NSCs was determined by using CCK-8 assay. The cell apoptosis was tested by Hoechst 33258 staining. The expression of GSK-3β and β-catenin mRNA was deter-mined by RT-PCR. The expression of GSK-3β and β-catenin protein was determined by Western blot. Re-sults The ability of proliferation had increased by 10 . 24% with Ost treatment, compared with APP group. The ability of differentiation had increased by 6 . 74%with Ost treatment, compared with APP group. The vi-ability of NSCs had increased and cell apoptotic rate had decreased significantly. From the results of RT-PCR and Western blot, we could find the expression of GSK-3βmRNA and protein had decreased, and the ex-pression of β-catenin mRNA and protein had increased significantly, compared with APP group. Conclusion Ost could enhance the ability of proliferation and dif-ferentiation into more neurons of NSCs transducing APP gene, and reduce neuronal apoptosis. It might be relat-ed with activiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.