Objective To evaluate the effects of combined detection of sputum and serum procalcitonin (PCT) to identify the etiology of community acquired pneumonia(CAP) in infants.Methods Retrospective analysis from August 2010 to September 2012 enrolled 435 patients with definitely etiological diagnosis of CAP.The all cases were divided into three groups according to the etiological diagnosis:243 cases of bacterial infection group(including mixed bacterial infection),106 cases of viral infection group,and 86 cases of mycoplasma infection group.Sputum and serum PCT levels in all cases were detected,with simultaneous detection of blood leukocytes,C-reactive protein levels.Results Sputum PCT level of bacterial infection group [(8.44 ± 1.08) ng/ml] was significantly higher than viral infection group [(0.32 ±0.12) ng/ml] and mycoplasma infection group [(0.24 ± 0.17) ng/ml],which showed statistically significant difference (F =765.03,P ＜0.01).Serum PCT level of bacterial infection group [(6.69 ± 1.36) ng/ml] was also higher than viral infection group [(0.37 ± 0.22) ng/ml] and mycoplasma infection group [(0.42 ± 0.28) ng/ml],the difference of which was statistically significant (F =240.46,P ＜ 0.01).Meanwhile between the viral infection group and mycoplasma infection group,sputum PCT and serum PCT showed no significant difference (P ＞ 0.05).The levels of blood leukocytes and C-reactive protein among 3 groups showed no statistically significant difference(P ＞ 0.05).As the critical value of the PCT ＞ 0.5ng/ml,the positive rates of sputum and serum PCT were significant difference in bacterial infection group (86.83％ vs 73.66％,x2 =13.92,P ＜0.05).The sensitivity of diagnosing bacterial CAP by sputum and serum PCT levels were 86.83％ and 73.66％,the specificity were 86.98％ and 88.54％,respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection sputum and serum PCT were 72.02％ and 94.27％.Conclusion Combined detection of sputum and serum PCT has clinical value and efficiency in pathogen identification of CAP.

Objective To identify the role of autopahgy in the protective mechanism of heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.Methods Forty healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly (random number table) divided into five groups (n =8 in each group),namely sham group,model group,cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) group,zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) group and 6-amino-3-methylpurine (3-MA) group.Partial hepatic I/R model was established by clamping the pedicles of left and median lobes for 1 hour and reopening for 6 hours in rats,and the rats in sham group were only received celiotomp without hepatic I/R.In the CoPP group,CoPP (a HO-1 inducer,5 mg/kg) was administered i.p 24 hours before I/R.In the ZnPP or 3-MA group,besides pretreatment with CoPP,the rats were given ZnPP (a HO-1 inhibitor,25 mg/kg) or 3-MA (an autophagy inhibitor,30 mg/kg) i.p 1 hour before I/R.Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was determined with automatic biochemistry analyzer.The hepatic pathological scores (PS) were determined under light microscope using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining.The hepatocyte apoptosis index (AI) was assessed with terminal dexynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining.Autophagosomes in liver tissue were counted under electron microscope.The mRNA expressions of HO-1,caspase-3,Beclin-1 and Atg-5 in the liver were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The HO-1 activity was also measured by the generation of bilirubin with the method of double-wave spectrophotometry.Results Compared with the sham group,the level of serum ALT significantly increased in the I/R group (U/L:560.3±73.6 vs.49.1 ± 13.8,P ＜ 0.01),HE staining showed a severe hepatic injury (PS:12.0±2.0 vs.1.3±0.9,P ＜ 0.01),TUNEL staining showed a higher hepatocytes apoptosis and the expression of caspase-3 significantly increased [AI:(19.38±3.07)％ vs.(3.25±1.28)％,caspase-3 mRNA (2-△△CT):4.62±0.40 vs.1.05±0.15,both P ＜ 0.01].However,there was no significant difference in the expression of HO-1 and the genes associated with autophagy between the two groups.In the CoPP group,the hepatic injury was blunted compared with that in the I/R group [ALT (U/L):223.3 ± 34.4 vs.560.3 ± 73.6,PS:5.6 ± 2.3 vs.12.0 ± 2.0,AI:(11.38± 2.39)％ vs.(19.38 ± 3.07)％,caspase-3mRNA (2-△△CT):2.42±0.33 vs.4.62±0.40,all P ＜ 0.01].HO-1 was induced in the CoPP group and autophagy was also increased significantly after I/R when compared with those in the I/R group [HO-1 mRNA (2-△△CT):3.01 ±0.71vs.1.14 ± 0.20,HO-1 activity (pmol ·mg-1 · h-1):259 ± 37 vs.113 ± 26,the number of autophagosomes:8.75 ± 0.87 vs.1.25±0.71,Beclin-1 mRNA (2-△△CT):2.85±0.28 vs.1.15±0.11,Atg-5 mRNA (2-△△CT):2.44±0.25 vs.1.14±0.12,all P ＜ 0.01].In the ZnPP group,the activity of HO-1 was much lower than that in the CoPP group,and as a result autophagy was decreased and liver injury was increased.In the 3-MA group,although there was no difference in the activity of HO-1 compared with that in the CoPP group,autophagy was inhibited,and the protective effect of CoPP was eliminated.Conclusion HO-1 could regulate the level of autophagy during liver I/R,and in turn autophagy might mediate the protective effects of HO-1 against liver I/R injury.

Animals ; Blood Coagulation ; drug effects ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Female ; Haplorhini ; Humans ; Interleukin-11 ; pharmacology ; Male ; Platelet Count ; Thrombopoietin ; pharmacology

Objective To explore the clinical feature of acquired pure amegakdryocytic thrombocytopenic purpura(AATP).Methods 18 patients were analyzed retrospectively.And 112 patients with ITP in the same term were to be control group.Each group's megakaryocytic (MK),platelet (PLT) count,mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet associated immunoglobulin G(PAIgG) were rested.Results The MK total number of AATP group was obvious decreased or even absent,while the ITP group was increased[(0.8?1.5) vs (195.0?47.3),P0.05).About the PAIgG posi- tive rate,AATP group was 55.6 % while ITP group was 83% (P

Aim The kinetics of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (N-AChR) was stadied. MethodsThe saturation experiments of Torpedo electric organ N-AChR were taken with125I-?-BuTX. The results were calculated by Scatfit program. Experiments were thenperformed to study the kinetics of dissociation of ?-BuTX and nicotine from N-AChR,respectively. When their binding reached saturation, an excess of 1000 times ?-BuTX ornicotine was added. The saturation binding properties of the N-AChR extracted fromleg muscles of the 13th day chick embroys and optic lobes of the 20th day chick em-broys were studied. The results were calculated by Scatfit program. The othe experi-ments were taken to observe the competition between mcotine and 125I-?-BuTX forbinding with Torpedo, optic lobe and skeletal muscle of the chick N-AChRs. ResultsThe saturation experiments of Torpedo electric organ N-AChR resulted in a Scatchardplot of hyperbola which responded to the model of two kinds of receptor with on eli-gand.The difference of and B max between high affinity binding site and low affnitybineing site was significant. The dissaciation experiment showed that the fast dissocia-tion rate of tow ligands was 500 times more than that of the slow dissociation rate. Thisresult suggested that there may be two subtype N-AChRs.The saturation bindingproperties of N-AChR of leg muscles and optic lobe of the chick embroys revealed aScatchard plot of two kinds of N-AChR indicating a single type of site. The bindingaffinity of receptor of optic lobe was 100 times more than that of muscles. In competi-tion for Torpedo receptor by nicotine and 125I-?-BuTX, the values of IC50 were different:which suggested that two kinds of receptor sites were existent. In competition ofNicotine and 125I-?-BuTX for optic lobe and skeletal muscles of the chick N-AChR, thevalue IC50 of skeletal muscles N-AChR was 7. 7 times higher than that of optic lobe. Itindicated that two kinds of N-AChR subtype existed in the optic lobe and in theskeletal muscles of chick respectively. Conclusion N-AChR of Torpedo electric organcontains two kinds of subtype receptors. N-AChR of optic lobe of chick embroys is onesubtype receptor, and N-AChR of skeletal muscles of chick embroy is another subtypereceptor.

Arnebia euchroma is the main source for medicinal herb Zicao. and its most important component shikonin compounds have high medicinal and industrial value. This research is aimed to build overexpression vectors and RNAi vectors for key secondary metabolism genes of A. euchroma, and bulid platform for constructions of related transgenic lines using GATEWAY technology. To build genetic material based genetic research platform is to provide a great convenience for digging and functional verification of the genes on secondary metabolic pathway, and also to fill the gaps in transgenic research of A. euchroma. This study is also important for the cultivation of shikonin high-yielding strains of A. euchroma.
Boraginaceae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA Interference ; Secondary Metabolism

Objective To observe the efficacy ,safety and patient acceptance of the artificial airway with the oro‐pharyngo‐laryn‐gead airway cap(OPLAC) for hip replacement surgery in patients with intravenous‐inhalation combined anesthesia .Methods Sev‐enty eight cases of patients receiving the hip replacement surgery were included ,42 patients were to be adopted to establish artificial airway with the OPLAC for intravenous‐inhalation combined anesthesia ,another 36 patients treated with heath side‐lying position hypobaric spinal‐epidural anesthesia .There are two groups ,the oro‐pharyngo‐laryngead airway cap group(OPLAC ,n=42) and hy‐pobaric combined spinal‐epidural anesthesia group (CESA ,n=36) .Monitor the changes of respiratory and circulatory parameters of the two groups before the start of anesthesia ,anesthetic after 10 min ,30 min ,1 h ,and handling marrow ,observing occurrence of complications (delirium ,sore throat ,nausea ,vomiting ,deep vein thrombosis) ,following up the degree of satisfaction of patients and surgeons for anesthesia .Results The respiratory and circulatory parameters of the OPLAC group during anesthesia induction and maintenance were relatively stable ,on the other hand ,significant cyclic inhibition (blood pressure and heart rate decresing ) and re‐spiratory rate declining were observed in the CESA group after anesthesia ,cases with the use of atropine and dopamine significantly more than OPLAC group .The circulation and breath in the OPLAC group were relatively stable when handling marrow ,while cir‐culation fluctuating Significantly in the CESA group (blood pressure decreasing and heart rate increasing ) .The incidence of delirium in the CESA group was significantly higher than OPLAC group .The patient satisfaction of the OPLAC group was significantly bet‐ter than the CESA group .Conclusion The artificial airway with OPLAC for hip replacement surgery in patients with intravenous‐inhalation combined anesthesia is safe ,effective ,and satisfactory .

OBJECTIVEBy using the RNAi method to inhibit Itk protein expression specificity, to observe lymphocytes proliferation and cytokines production, verify its function as a drug target.

METHODSDesigned siRNA aims at Itk sequence according to its sequence and solid structure, then electrotransfected into mouse spleen lymphocytes, We validated the decrease of Itk protein by Western-Blot, and detected the change of the cell proliferation by MTS and the change of inflammatory cytokines by ELISA.

RESULTSItk protein can be suppressed by Itk-siRNA, there were significantly reduced compared to its control group on cell proliferation as well as cytokine secretion such as IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IFN-gamma. They all have statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONItk has an important immunomodulatory effect in mouse spleen lymphocytes proliferation and secretion of inflammatory cytokines.This can supply an experimental basis to regard Itk as drug target for inflammation therapy.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytokines ; genetics ; immunology ; Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; immunology ; Spleen ; cytology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects of Jiedu Tongluo injection on cerebral edema induced by focal lesion of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion, the hydrous content of brain and the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and MMP-9 in rats.

METHODThe model of brain middle cerebral artery ischemia/reperfusion was established by the thread approach. After 24 hours of reperfusion, cerebral edema formation was determined by the hydrous content of brain. The permeability of blood brain barrier was evaluated based on the leakage of Evans blue. Enzyme-linked immunoadsordent assay (ELISA)was used to examine the expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin. The expression of MMP-9 was measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTJDTL, in the dose of 2 mL x kg(-1) and 4 mL x kg(-1), relieved cerebral edema (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), reduced the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-land E-selectin and decreased MMP-9 activity (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01) in model rats.

CONCLUSIONJiedu Tongluo injection has a protective effect on rat brain from cerebral edema induced by the injury of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. The mechanism is related to that Jiedu Tongluo injection can reduce the expressions of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin and inhibit of MMP-9 activation in rat brain.

Animals ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Brain Edema ; etiology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Brain Ischemia ; complications ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; E-Selectin ; metabolism ; Evans Blue ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; drug effects ; Injections ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Permeability ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; complications ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effect of neutral amino acid on preventing Parkinson disease.Methods Mice were injected with L-Valine,L-Pheylalanine,D-Valine or L-Lysine before or after paraquat administration,by which prakinsonian mouse model was constructed.The paraquat immunoreactivity was observed within nigral cell bodies.Then neurodegeneration and ?-synuclein aggregation were observed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results Paraquat immunoreactivity was abolished by the administration of L-Valine,L-Pheylalanine before paraquat exposure.Pre-treatment with these two amino acids also protected the paraquat-induced loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic cells and formation of thioflavine S-positive aggregates.In contrast, paraquat-induced toxicity was unaffected if animals were injected with these two amino acids after paraquat exposure or pre-treated with D-Valine or L-Lysine.Conclusions L-type neutral amino acids such as L Valine and L-Pheylalanine can prevent paraquat-induced neurodegeneration and a synuclein pathology through a competitive inhibition mechanism with stereospecificity in the central nervous system (CNS).Neutral amino acid could protect the dopaminergic neuron in substantia nigra and may prevent Parkinson disease.