Objective To discuss the value of Visfatin in severity evaluation in patients with severe pneumonia via observation on the variations of the plasma level of Visfatin. Method Seventy subjects including 40 patients with severe pneumonia ( group A) and 30 patients with non-severe pneumonia (group B) admitted to the ICU of emergency department and general wards from June 2009 to June 2010, were enrolled in this prospective study, and another 30 healthy individuals from physical examinees were included as subjects in control group (group C). Patients with severe diseases of heart, brain and kidney, cancers, autoimmune disease, or under special treatment in latest one month were excluded. For the subjects of all three groups, the plasma levels of Visfatin, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were measured by using ELISA, while the level of CRP was assayed by using immunoturbidimetry, and the routine blood test was performed as well. The blood gas analysis and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ ( APACHE Ⅱ) were carried out in patients with pneumonia. Comparisons between groups were made by t-tests, ANOVA or nonparametric test. Correlation analysis was carried out by Pearson correlation coefficient or Spearman rank correlation test. Results The plasma level of Visfatin in patients with severe pneumonia (group A) was significantly higher than that in patients with non-severe pneumonia (group B) and in the control subjects (group C) (P < 0. 01) , and the level of Visfatin in pneumonia ( group B) and in control group (group C) , and that in group B was significantly higher than that in the controls (group C) (P <0. 01). In group A, the plasma level of Visfatin was positively correlated with CRP, TNF-α, APACHE Ⅱ and PMN% (rha =0. 653, r = 0.554, r = 0.558, r= 0.484, P <0. 05), while negatively correlated with PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 ( rha = -0.422, r= -0.543, P <0. 05). Conclusions Visfatin may be involved in the systemic inflammation response in severe pneumonia as a pro-inflammatory cytokine which is valuable in assessing the severity of pneumonia.

Objective To obtain the short peptides from phage-displayed random peptide library through screening the epitope of monoclonal antibody against tumor necrosis factor(TNF-?). Methods Anti-TNF-? was used to immunoscreen a phage random peptide library of 12 amino-acidresidues displayed as a fusion to protein Ⅲ of filamentous phage M13. The positive clones were obtained by three rounds of biopanning, and the reactivity of each clone binding to anti-TNF-? was examined by double-antibody sandwich ELISA and Dot-ELISA. Mixed positive phage clones were used to detect the serum from SLE patients and healthy persons by Dot-ELISA. Results The eluted phages were enriched nearly 100 fold through three rounds of biopanning, 7 phage clones from the third round biopanning were randomly selected and 5 clones of them could bind to the anti-TNF-?. The binding rate of mixed clones with SLE patients was significantly higher than that of healthy persons. Conclusion The phage display technique can be applied to study the anti-TNF-? antigenic peptides, and these epitopes provide the potential for developing immunodiagnostic reagents of vaccines.

Objective To determine the level of adiponectin (APN) in serum and induced sputum of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease both during acute exacerbation (AECOPD) and silent stage, and investigate APN' s role as a marker of inflammation in the pathogenesis of COPD. Method From October 2008 to October 2009,30 male AECOPD patients in the emergency department, 30 male silent COPD patients in the department of respiratory diseases and 30 healthy nonsmoking male volunteers were included. All subjects' serum and induced sputum were collected, and they were all of normal weight(BMI range of 18.5～ 24.9 kg/m2). Patients were excluded if they suffered from severe bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis or autoimmune disease. The number of cells in induced sputum was counted and the cell type was classified. The concentrations of APN, IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α in both serum and sputum were measured by using ELISA, and their pulmonary function was tested. The different groups were compared among them by using the t -tests, ANOVA analysis or nonparametric analysis, the relation between variables was assessed by using the Pearson or Spearman correlation test. Results The concentrations of APN in both serum and induced sputum of AECOPD patients were significantly higher than those in the silent COPD patients and the control subjects ( P ＜ 0.01 ). The concentrations of APN in the silent COPD patients were significantly higher than those in the control subjects ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). There were significant relationships between the concentrations of APN in serum and induced sputum and the levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in AECOPD patients ( r = 0.739, 0. 734,0.852 and 0. 857, respectively, P ＜ 0. 05) and in silent COPD patients ( r = 0.751,0.659, 0.707 and 0.867, respectively, P ＜0.05). There was significant relation betweenship between APN and neutrophil in induced sputum of AECOPD patients (r = 0.439, P ＜ 0.05). Conclusions APN was involved in the process of systemic and airway inflammation of COPD, and it was related with IL-8 and TNF-α. APN can be used as a new inflammation marker for COPD.

Objective To find out the cognition understanding of iodine deficiency disorders(IDD) of target population in Xi’an City, and evaluate the effectiveness of a health education project on prevention and control of IDD. Methods By using the random number table, three towns in each project county were selected. Obeying the requirements of the education program for IDD control, the health education activities were implemented during 2007 - 2011. Before and after intervention, questionnaire was used to investigate the intervention effect. The primary school grade 5 students and women of childbearing age were included in the survey of IDD knowledge. Hierarchical random sampling method was used to select pupils and childbearing women. Results After health education, the rate of knowledge on IDD increased from 66.97%(13 321/19 890) to 93.49%(18 610/19 905,χ2 = 4 413.07, P < 0.05) among pupils, and 62.27%(6 193/9 945) to 93.96%(9 361/ 9 963, χ2= 2 924.18, P<0.05) among childbearing women. And the awareness had reached the national standard. But the survey results showed that: the rate of IDD related knowledge in rural areas was lower than that in town areas. The awareness rates of IDD in precaution, main hazards, identification of iodized salt were 46.50%(239/514), 55.25%(284/514) and 50.97%(262/514) among pupils in rural areas and 61.44%(376/612), 65.69%(402/612) and 70.59%(432/612) among pupils in town areas, and the awareness rates of pupils in rural areas were lower than those of pupils in town areas. Thirty-six point ninety-three per cent(226/612) of the pupils in towns and 35.60%(183/514) of the pupils in rural areas told this information to their parents. The awareness rates of IDD in precaution, main hazards, IDD prevention day were 49.25%(197/400), 50.75%(203/400) and 36.50%(146/400) among women in rural areas and 75.44%(298/395), 80.25%(317/395) and 57.97%(229/395) among women in town areas, and the rates of women in rural areas were lower than those of women in town areas. The rate of consciously purchasing of qualified iodized salt was 51.75%(207/400) and the consumption rate of iodized salt was 36.75%(147/400) among women in rural areas, which were 73.42%(290/395) and 43.80%(173/395) among women in town areas, and the rates in rural areas were lower than those in town areas. Conclusions Before health education of IDD, the rate of IDD related knowledge in Xi’an City is poor, rural areas are lower than town areas. Health education project is effective in promoting the understanding and grasp of IDD knowledge.

Objective To evaluate the surgical methods and clinical effects of the reconstruction of soft tissue defect in distal thumbwith dorsal thumb neurocutaneous vascular flap.Methods From January,2014 to December,2016,32 patients with soft tissue defects of distal thumb were repaired with dorsal thumb neurocutaneous vascular flaps,including left thumbs in 11 cases and right thumbs in 21 cases.They were including 7 cases of nail bed defects,9 cases of pulp defects under nails,16 cases ofthe defects of tips or stump of fingers;skin and soft tissue defects range of 1.5 cm×1.0 cm-3.5 cm×3.2 cm;Flap cutting areas range of 2.0 cm×l.5 cm-4.0 cm×3.5 cm.If the donor areas could be sutured directly,be sutured;if they could not,be covered with intermediate split thickness skin grafts.All patients were followed up when they were reviewed in outpatient department,and to be evaluated the shape,texture,sensation,flexion and extension function,and donor site of the flaps.Results One case of flaps blood circulation disordereddue to tight suture,and eased after the removal of part of the sutures;One case of flaps atrophied,and the phalangette was exposed after 3 months,so we removed the end part of bone and the wound was closed;other flaps were survived,with primary wound healing.In the total 32 patients,they were followed up range of 3 to 36 months,with an average of 12 months.Eighteen cases were followed up at least 6 months,which were 4 of the 7 cases of nail bed defects,5 of the 9 cases of pulp defects under nail and 9 of the 16 cases of the defects of tip or stump of fingers.The appearances and textures of flaps were good,protective sensations were restored,and skin flap two-point discriminationswere 8-10 mm.According to the Trial Standard for Evaluation of Upper Limb Function of Chinese Society of Hand Surgery,it was excellent in 11 cases,good in 17 cases and moderate in 4 cases,with the excellent and good rate of 87.5％.Conclusion It has advantages of simple operation,low risk,high success rate and satisfactory curative effects of the use of dorsal thumb neurocutaneous vascular flap for repair of distal thumb defect of skin and soft tissue.It is not only suitable for the hospital with good technical and equipment,but also suitable for the primary hospital.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to measure the concentration of adiponectin (APN) in serum and induced sputum in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD during acute exacerbation (AECOPD) and at stable stage and to determine the role of APN as a marker of inflammation in the pathogenesis of COPD. METHODS: All the patients in this prospective study were enrolled from October 2008 to October 2009, including 30 male AECOPD patients from the emergency department, 30 male stable COPD patients from the department of respiratory diseases, and 30 healthy non-smoking male controls from the department of medical examination. The serum and induced sputum were collected from each patient. All of the patients had normal weight (BMI range 18.5-24.9 kg/m2). Patients with severe bronchial asthma, bronchiectasis or autoimmune disease were excluded. Cell count and classification was performed for the induced sputum. The concentrations of APN, IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Pulmonary function was tested among the three groups. Comparisons between the groups were conducted by Student's t test, ANOVA analysis or nonparametric test. Correlation analysis was carried out by Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient test or Spearman's rank-order correlation coefficient test. RESULTS: The concentrations of APN in the serum or induced sputum in AECOPD patients were significantly higher than those in stable COPD patients or healthy non-smoking controls (P<0.01). The concentration of APN in stable COPD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy non-smoking controls (P<0.01). For the AECOPD patients, APN was positively correlated with IL-8 and TNF-α in the serum and induced sputum (r=0.739, 0.734, 0.852, 0.857 respectively, P<0.05). For the stable COPD patients, APN was also positively correlated with IL-8 and TNF-α in the serum and induced sputum (r=0.751, 0.659, 0.707, 0.867 respectively, P<0.05). In addition, for the AECOPD patients, APN was positively correlated with the percentage of neutrophils in the induced sputum (r=0.439, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: APN is involved in the process of systematic and airway inflammation of COPD. This process is related to neutrophils in the airway, IL-8 and TNF-α. APN could be used as a new marker for inflammation of COPD.

BACKGROUND: As a cytokine highly expressed in internal organs, visfatin could be used as a biomarker of systemic inflammation response for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, but few studies have reported the use of visfatin in severe pneumonia. The present study was undertaken to determine the plasma levels of visfatin in patients with severe pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 70 patients, including 40 patients with severe pneumonia (group A) and 30 patients with non severe pneumonia (group B) who had been admitted to the ICU from June 2009 to June 2010, were enrolled in this prospective study. And another 30 healthy physical examinees served as healthy controls (group C). Patients were excluded if they suffered from severe diseases of the heart, brain and kidney, cancers, autoimmune diseases, or received special treatment in the latest month. The plasma levels of visfatin, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA, while the level of CRP was determined by immuneturbidimetry, and the routine blood test was performed. Blood gas analysis and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) were performed in patients with pneumonia. Comparisons between the groups were conducted by Student's t test, ANOVA or nonparametric test. Correlation analysis was carried out by Pearson's correlation test or Spearman's rank-order correlation test. RESULTS: The plasma level of visfatin in group A was significantly higher than that in groups B and C (P<0.001), and the level of visfatin in group B was significantly higher than that in group C (P<0.001). The plasma level of visfatin was positively correlated with CRP, TNF-α, APACHE II and PMN％ in patients with severe pneumonia (rho=0.653, r=0.554, r=0.558, r=0.484, respectively, P<0.05 for all), while it was negatively correlated with PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 (rho=?0.422, r=?0.543, respectively, P<0.05 for all). CONCLUSION: Visfatin may be involved in the systematic inflammation response in patients with severe pneumonia as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and it is valuable in assessing the severity of pneumonia..

Animals ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Ischemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Molecular Chaperones ; metabolism ; Pressure Ulcer ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; blood supply

Objective To explore the effects and mechanisms of periostin overexpression on migration and invasion of nasopharyngeal carcinoma ( NPC) cell line.Methods The recombinant plasmids [ pCMV-neo ( +)-periostin ] and control plasmids [pCMV-neo (+)] were transfected into 6-10B cells using lipofectamine 2000TM reagent.The expression of periostin was detected with PCR and Western blotting .Transwell chamber invasion assay was employed to assay the migration and invasion of 6-10B cells before and after transfection .A gelatin zymogram was used to detect the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in cultivated supernatant of 6-10B cells before and after transfection .The expression of integrin-αvβ5 was detected by immunohistochemistry ( IHC) in 6-10Bperiostin cells, 6-10Bvector cells and 6-10B cells as well as normal nasopharyngeal mucosa ( NNM) and NPC and at the same time periostin also was detected by immumohistochemistry in NNM and NPC, and densitometry analysis using image-pro plus 6.0 software, and the correlation between periostin and integrin-αvβ5 on NPC was assayed with statistics .Results Over expression of periostin promoted cell migration and invasion.The expression levels of integrin-αvβ5 in primary NPC and 6-10Bperiostin cells were significantly higher than those in NNM and 6-10Bvector, 6-10B cells.The expression in NPC of integrin-αvβ5 showed positively correlated with the expression of periostin (r=0.682, P<0.01).Conclusion Periostin plays an important role in regulation of cell migration and invasion probably by combining with integrin-αvβ5 to improve the activities of MMPs .

Skin sensitization (allergic contact dermatitis, ACD), is a serious condition caused by small reactive molecules and is characterized by a delayed-type hypersensitivity .Animal tests were usually used in the evaluation of sensitizing potential of chemical substances in the past .However , there is an increasing interest from the public for reducing and ultimately replacing animal tests .The European Union (EU) has posed a ban on animal testing of cosmetic ingredients that includes skin sensitization since 2013.Therefore, alternative in vitro tests are the main tendency in chemical substances and cosmetic sensitizing potential research in the future .In this study, different kinds of in vitro test methods that were adopted by OECD or on research (LLNA, DPRA, KeratinoSens TM, h-CLAT) were reviewed through recent years literature , comprehensive introduction and evaluation were made to obtain reliable hazard and potency information on potential skin sensitizers .