Objective To investigate the effects of pollution on nonspecific immune function of the children living nearby a municipal solid waste landfill.Methods The concentration of lysozyme and SIgA of saliva came from 951 children who were selected from 3 schools nearby the landfill were analyzed by cluster sampling while the outside air pollutants were detected in 2006.The high-exposure group included 360 students living in a radius of less than 2 km from the landfill,the low exposure group was consist of 361 students living in a radius of 2-5 km,the others 230 students living in more than 5 km were taken as the control group.Results The results showed that the pollutants levels were concerned with the location of the landfill,the nearer to the landfill,the higher concentration of CH4,NO2,SO2,NH3,H2S and PM10 except CO.The level of saliva lysozyme ranked as high exposure group,low exposure group and the control group were 61.40,71.37 and 76.10 ?g/ml and the same rank for SIgA were 204.11,224.28,248.44 ?g/ml,with significant differences (P

Crocetin, a naturally occurring carotenoid, possesses antioxidant and antiatherosclerotic properties, of which the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we examined the effects of crocetin (0.1, 1, 10 μmol·L(-1)) on angiotensin II (Ang II, 0.1 μmol·L(-1)) induced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion. The effects of crocetin on the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also observed. The results demonstrated that crocetin notably suppressed Ang II induced NF-κB activation (P<0.01) and VCAM-1 expression (P<0.05, P<0.01) in HUVECs, accompanied by a markedly reduced monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion (P<0.05, P<0.01). In addition, preincubation with crocetin resulted in a significant enhancement of cellular antioxidant capacity (P<0.05, P<0.01), while Ang II induced intracellular ROS decreased markedly (P<0.05, P<0.01). These results indicated that crocetin was capable of suppressing Ang II induced VCAM-1 expression and monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion by suppression of NF-κB activation, which might be derived from the enhancement of antioxidant capacity and subsequent reduction of intracellular ROS.
Angiotensin II ; metabolism ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Carotenoids ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Monocytes ; cytology ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the dynamic change of apoptosis and proliferation of cardiac muscle cells (CMC) after being induced by Angiotensin II (Ang I), and the effect of TCM herbs for supplementing qi and/ or activating blood circulation on it.

METHODSThe cultured CMC of SD suckling rat were treated by Ang II, and the amplitude, rhythm and frequency of cell pulsation, the protein content, area size and apoptosis of cells at various phases as well as the influence of TCM herbs afterwards were determined by image pattern analysis system, flow cytometry and biochemical assay.

RESULTSIn the model group, cell pulsation showed quickened frequency from the 24th to 48th hr after Ang II treatment with the highest amplitude at the 24th hr; the cell area enlarged at the 24th hr, the enlargement became evident at the 48hr. Cell content of protein increased at the 24th hr, which reached to its peak at the 48th hr; an increasing trend of cell number was shown from the 12th to 48th hr; cell apoptosis started to appear at the 24th hr, it increased gradually from the 48th to 72th hr, and reached to the peak at the 72th hr (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). All the Chinese herbs, both for supplementing qi and/or activating blood circulation, especially when they were used in combination, showed favourable preventive and therapeutic effect on CMC (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), either at the early phase (24-48th hrs) mainly manifesting hypertrophy and proliferation or the late phase (48-96th hrs) mainly manifesting apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONThere exist characterized phasic windows of CMC after being treated by Ang II, the window of hypertrophy-proliferation phase and the window of cell apoptosis phase. When CMC were mainly in hypertrophic manner, myocardial hypertrophy may appear. Cell apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms for turning myocardial hypertrophy to heart failure, and it could be improved by Chinese herbs for supplementing qi and/or activating blood circulation.

Angiotensin II ; antagonists & inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Qi ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical curative effect of thoracolumbar burst fracture treated by the posterior unilateral approach corpectomy fusion screw-rod fixation and anterior corpectomy bone fusion screw plate fixation.

METHODSFrom January 2008 to May 2014,36 cases of thoracolumbar burst fracture underwent operation of decompression, fusion, and internal fixation was retrospective analyzed. Among them, 16 patients were treated through posterior approach as posterior group, including 13 males and 3 females aged from 37 to 62 years old; 9 cases caused by falling injury, 3 cases by traffic accident injury,4 cases by heavy aboved;the injury segment was on T₁₂ in 2 cases, L₁ in 5 cases, L₂ in 7 cases, L₃ in 2 cases; according ASIA grade, 3 cases were grade A, 2 cases were grade B, 2 cases were grade C, 5 cases were grade D, 4 cases were grade E; the time between injury and operation ranged from 5 to 15 days. Other 20 patients were treated through anterior-lateral approach as anterior-lateral group, including 15 males and 5 females with age from 27 to 62 years old; 12 cases caused by falling injury, 4 cases by traffic accident injury, 4 cases by heavy aboved; the injury segment was on T₁₂ in 2 cases, L₁, in 7 cases, L₂ in 9 cases, L₃ in 2 cases; for ASIA grade: 4 cases were grade A, 2 cases were grade B, 4 cases were grade C, 6 cases were grade D, 4 cases were grade E; the time between injury and operation ranged from 4 to 12 days. The operation time, bleeding during operation and postoperative drainage volume were observed in two groups,and the changes of nerve function of ASIA grade, clinical efficacy,improved degree of thoracic and lumbar lordosis,and bony fusion were compared between two groups.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months with an average of (15.8 ± 3.3) months. The operation time, bleeding during operation, and postoperative drainage volume had no significant different between two groups (P > 0.05). As compared with preoperative, ASIA grade of two groups at last follow-up had statistically significantly different (P < 0.01), the neural function of two groups after operation was recovered for different extent. The JOA score of two groups was compared between last follow-up and preoperative, the difference had statistically significant (P < 0.01), the two groups showed good clinical effect. The clinical results of ASIA grade, JOA score and RIS had no significant differences between two groups. All patients of two groups were obtained fusion. Thoracic and lumbar lordosis angle improvement degree had no significant difference between two groups ,it bad significant difference had statistical significance compared with preoperative, the two approaches could effectively restore the spinal sequence.

CONCLUSIONFor patients with thoracolumbar burst fracture just treated by anterior decompression and reconstruction of anterior column, according to the degree of operation performer' skill proficiency and the patient' condition to choose, but for patients must performed the spinal canal decompression anterior and posterior, the three column-reconstruction to required anterior-posterior approach, the posterior unilateral approach corpectomy fusion screw-rod fixation obviously shorten operation time, reduce the operation wound, it is worth the clinical promotion.

Adult ; Decompression, Surgical ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedicle Screws ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery

With more and more attention and investment on acupuncture scientific researches, considerable outcomes and achievements has been acquired, but the shortcoming of low transformation rate of acupuncture research achievements is gradually exposed. Nowadays there is no related report on this problem, so based on achievement translational research in other areas and practical situation of acupuncture, the existing problems and solutions are analyzed. As a result, the existing problems include (1) the research content is mainly basic research and clinical research but less acupuncture device research, leading to limited transformation efficiency; (2) the evaluation system and transformation pattern are still needed to be perfect. The solutions are (1) to properly evaluate the research achievements of acupuncture, (2) to advocate the concept and method of translational medicine, (3) to reform the policy and system, and (4) to establish valid platforms covering research, outcomes and transformation.
Acupuncture ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; Biomedical Research ; Biotechnology ; economics ; legislation & jurisprudence ; manpower ; China ; Humans ; Technology Transfer

BACKGROUND:Traditionally, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was used to evaluate exercise response of patients with asthma; however, patients obviously had panting after exercise, so FEV1 was affected commonly. Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a new technique for measuring respiratory impedance that do not require maximal inspiration and forced expiration.OBJECTIVE: To study airway resistance with IOS before and after exercise in healthy and asthmatic patients and investigate the significance of exercise excitation and IOS assessment.DESIGN: Synchronically non-randomized case contrast study.SETTING: Department of Respiratory Medicine, East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 14 male patients with bronchial asthma who were regarded as the asthmatic group were selected from Department of Respiratory Medicine of Shanghai East Hospital from January to October 2006. They were in a clinical stationary phase. Another 14 male healthy subjects were selected as the control group and ages of all subjects ranged from 29 to 50 years. All subjects provided the confirmed consent.METHODS: IOS was used to measure basic value of respiratory resistance, and then subjects underwent exercise challenge. Nose of subjects was clipped breathing through mouth. Within 3-4 minutes, heart rate was increased to 90% and maintained for 6 minutes during challenge. Respiratory resistance was repeatedly measured at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after exercise, including airway hyperresponse (AHR), total respiratory resistance, central resistance, peripheral resistance and resonance frequency at 5, 20 and 35 Hz of pulse frequency, elasrtic resistance and inertia resistance (X5 and X35) at 5 and 10 Hz of pulse frequency. In addition, difference of AHR at 5 and 35 Hz was calculated, and change ratios of both Rcentral and Rperipheral were calculated as (highest value after exercise-baseline value)/baseline value × 100%.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Basic value of respiratory resistance by using IOS and exercise challenge test.RESULTS: All 14 patients with bronchial asthma and 14 healthy subjects were involved in the final analysis. Peripheral resistance (Rperiphera) was significantly higher than central resistance (Rcentral) in asthmatic patients (P ＜ 0.01). The maximal increase of respiratory impedance occurred from 5 minutes to 10 minutes after exercise in asthmatics. Resonance frequency (Fres) of asthmatics before and after exercise was significantly increased than that of controls (P ＜ 0.01).Change ratios of Fres from asthmatics were higher than that from control group (P ＜ 0.01). After challenge, R5, R5-R20,Zrespir and X5 from asthmatics changed significantly than that from controls (P ＜ 0.01). The increment change value of After exercise Zrespir increased significantly, because obstruction of small bronchi during expiration and impedance increased abruptly. Air trapping was expressed in VT-Zrespir graph in 57.1% patients. There was no difference in the VT-Zrespir graph of controls before and after exercise.CONCLUSION: The main site of airflow obstruction was in small airways in asthmatics after exercise challenge. The general acceptance of IOS method was good among the asthmatic patients. The airway response of exercise challenge may be assessed more accurately with IOS that do not require a maximal inspiration and forced expiration.

AIM:Chronic heart failure (CHF), caused by ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), is among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide .Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6) plays a criti-cal role in regulating Wnt signaling .Dysregulated Wnt signaling contributes to high incidence of arrhythmias .Thus, there might be an association between genetic variations of LRP6 and sudden cardiac death ( SCD) .The objective of the study was to examine the associ-ation between common variants of LRP6 and prognosis of CHF patients .METHODS:From July 2005 to December 2009, patients with CHF referred from 10 hospitals and participants without structural heart disease in China were undergone a prospective study .The sin-gle-nucleotide polymorphism rs 2302684 was selected to evaluate the effect of LRP6 polymorphisms on the survival of the patients .RE-SULTS:A total of 1 887 patients (1 437 with CHF and 450 in the control group)were finally enrolled for the analysis.During a medi-an follow-up of 61 months, a total of 546 (38.00%) patients died, including 201(36.81%) cases with SCD and 345 (63.19%) ca-ses with NSCD.No end point event occurred in the control group .Patients carrying A allele of rs2302684 had increased risks of all-cause death (P<0.01) and SCD (P<0.01).After adjusted for the other risk factors , the associations remained significant in all-cause death (P<0.01) and SCD (P<0.01).In patients with CHF caused by ICM , those carrying A allele of rs2302684 also had in-creased risks of all-cause death (P<0.01) and SCD (P<0.01).After adjusted for the other risk factors , the associations remained significant in all-cause death (P<0.01) and SCD (P<0.01).However, there was no association between A allele of rs 2302684 and prognosis in patients with CHF caused by NICM .CONCLUSION:The SNP rs2302684 T>A in LRP6 is associated with an increased risk of all-cause death and SCD in patients with CHF in Chinese Han population , and the association is more prevalent in patients with CHF caused by ICM.Thus, LRP6 might be added as a novel predictor of SCD and could provide an attractive and direct therapeutic target in SCD prevention .

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents in the active parts of Huoxue Yiqi Tang.

METHODThe silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 were used to isolate the compounds, El, FAB-MS and 1D, 2D-NMR were used to identify the obtained compounds.

RESULT14 compounds were obtained from the prescription.

CONCLUSIONThey were all first time obtained from the prescription. Among them, 7, 3'-dihydroxyl-5'-methoxyisoflavone is new.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Emodin ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and stiffness are taken as useful surrogate markers of atherosclerosis. In China, the number of elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis has increased year by year, with the increase of dialysis-related cardiovascular events. This study was undertaken to examine carotid stiffness in elderly hemodialysis patients by the ultrasound techniques in order to find out the possible risk factors. METHODS: From January 2006 to February 2010, a total of 87 patients (41 males and 46 females) treated with routine hemodialysis at the 97th Hospital of People's Liberation Army were enrolled in this study. The distensibility coefficient (DC) of the carotid artery was detected by Doppler ultrasonic diagnosis apparatus (Philips HBI5000, frequency 12 MHz) for evaluation of arterial stiffness. Serum albumin, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG), glucose, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were examined with standard methods. The liner correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis were used to find correlations between them. RESULTS: In this study, the systolic blood pressure was 153.33±25.98 mmHg, DBP 84.22± 10.39 mmHg, TC 4.39±1.05 mmol/L, TG 1.36±0.72 mmol/L, LDL 2.47±0.77 mmol/L, Cr 889.82± 207.38 mol/L, Glu 5.36±1.87 mmol/L, Ca I 2.00±2.19±0.21 mmol/L, and DC 13.39±5.32×10-3/kPa. DC was associated with age (r =-0.459, P<0.001), SBP (r =-0.527, P<0.001), and serum calcium (r =-0.273, P=0.011). The multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that SBP, age, increased serum calcium level, and diabetes were independent risk factors for decreasing DC. CONCLUSION: Systolic blood pressure, age, increased serum calcium level and diabetes in elderly hemodialysis patients are independent risk factors for increased carotid arterial stiffness.

0.05)between the two groups.Conclu- sion The long-term outcomes of e-CHB is not markedly different compared with that of e+CHB.