Objective This study was designed to evaluate the correlations between soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and intedeukin-8 (IL-8) levels and the condition and prognosis of severe pneumonia. Methods A total of 67 patients with pneumonia were identified at the intensive care unit and the Respiratory Department of Zibo Central Hospital between April 2007 and March 2008. The patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of pneumonia: severe (Group A, n = 35) and non-severe (Group B, n = 32). Group A was also subdivided into two groups of patiems: patients with Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrorae(MODS) (Group A_1, n = 13) and pa-tients with severe pneumonia alone (Croup A_2, n= 22). Thirty healthy people whose age and sex matched with the patients were enrolled as a control group (Group C). Patients with cancer, who had undergone surgery within the past 1 month, connective tissue disease or acute conplications of diabetes, for example, were excluded from the study. The serum levels of s-Eselectin and IL-8 were measured by EI.ISA, and correlations with Acute physiol-ogy and chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE-Ⅱ)score, Oxygenation index(PaO_2/FiO_2), percentage of poly-morphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)levels were determined. The data were analyzed using t tests, one-way ANOVA, X~2 tests and linear correlation analysis using SAS 8.2 software. Results The sermn levels of sE-selectin and IL-8 in Croup A and Group B were significant higher than Group C (P < 0.05), and the levels in Group A were higher than those in Group B (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the levels of sE-selectin and IL-8 were higher in Group A_1 than in Group A_2(P < 0.001). The correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the levels of sE-selectin and IL-8 in patients with pneumonia (r = 0.781,P < 0.01) ; and both were positively correhted with APACHE-Ⅱ score, PMN% and hs-CRP (P < 0.01), and nega-tively correlated with PaO_2/FiO_2 (P < 0.01).Conclusions sE-selectin and IL-8 levels are important indices for the assessment of the severity of pneumonia in tetras of the condition and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE:To explore the role of clinical pharmacists in the treatment of pan-drug resistant Acinetobacter bau-mannii infection. METHODS:Clinical pharmacists participated in the treatment for a severe pneumonia case of pan-drug resistant A. baumannii infection. Clinical pharmacists supplied overall pharmaceutical care and suggestions with respects to initial medication scheme evaluation,pathogen judgment,therapy drug selection,ADR disposal,etc.,including anti-infective treatment of moxifloxa-cin 0.4 g,ivgtt,qd+meropenem 0.5 g,ivgtt,q8 h+linezolid 0.6 g,ivgtt,q12 h;anti-pan-drug resistant A. baumannii infection of cefoperazone sodium and sulbactam sodium 3.0 g,ivgtt,q8 h+tigecycline 50 mg,ivgtt,q12 h;liver protection of ademetionine 1, 4-Butanedisulfonate 1.0 g,ivgtt,qd+reduced glutathione 1.8 g,ivgtt,qd. RESULTS:After 25 d treatment,the patient hadn’t been fe-vered,and hemogram and hepatic function index decreased to normal value. CONCLUSIONS:Clinical pharmacist should be en-gage in anti-infective treatment and pharmaceutical care,and provide physicians reasonable medication suggestion so as to promote care rate in the clinic.

Using the concepts and methods of epigenetics and metabolomics, to investigate the overall action molecular mechanism of Chrysanthemi indici C (CIC), the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) active extracts from Flos chrysanthemi indici. The inhibitory effects of CIC on proliferation and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) and HBV-DNA of HepG2.2.15 cells were detected by CCK-8 and antigen kit. The DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs)/ten-eleven-translocation-2 (TET2) equilibrium was detected by ELISA. Illumina 850K methylation chip, pyrosequencing and qPCR were used to determine the action pathway and target of CIC by GO and KEGG analysis. Cell metabolites were extracted with 80% methanol, and the changes of differential metabolites, differential metabolic pathways and cell microenvironment were detected by LC-MS and other metabolomics methods. The results showed that CIC could inhibit the proliferation, HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA of HepG2.2.15 cells obviously, down-regulate DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) and DNA methyltransferase 3b (DNMT3b), up-regulate TET2, and restore the balance of DNMTs/TET2. The action targets of CIC were phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLCG2), phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 3 (PIK3R3), 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 2 (AGPAT2), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 2B (HTR2B), nerve growth factor (NGF), mainly involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation mediated regulation of transient receptor potential (TRP), phospholipase D signaling and advanced glycation end product-receptor for AGE (AGE-RAGE) signaling in diabetic complications pathways. CIC could significantly affect fatty acid metabolism and had great influence on phenolic acid, alkaloid and lipid metabolites in cell microenvironment. These results suggest that the action mechanism of CIC may be the synergistic action of multiple pathways and multiple targets, including related inflammatory pathways, immune pathways and lipid metabolism, through regulating epigenetic expression balance and restoring the balance of cell microenvironment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Shuganlipi decoction on Th1/Th2 cytokines, liver function and HBV replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSEighty-six confirmed CHB cases were randomly divided into control group (n=42) and experimental group (n=44) for treatment with routine western medication and additional treatment with Shuganlipi decoction, respectively. The production of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and liver function, HBV DNA, and HBeAg were detected in all the patients.

RESULTSThe total response rate to the treatment was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (78.13% vs 57.14%, P<0.01). ALT, AST, TBIL and ALB were all improved obviously in the two groups after the treatments (P<0.01). In terms of ALT and ALB, the experimental group showed more obvious improvement than the control group(P<0.05). The treatments also resulted in significant increases of IFN-γ and IL-2 levels and reductions of IL-6 and IL-10 levels in the two groups (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONShuganlipi decoction can improve the liver function and activity of Th1/Th2 cytokines to promote the clearance of liver cell HBV infection.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; immunology ; Interleukin-2 ; immunology ; Interleukin-6 ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Objective To study the secular changes on both morphological development and nutritional status among Tibetan students, from 1985 to 2005. Methods Data from the Chinese national survey on students' physical fitness and health in 1985, 1995, 2000 and 2005 were used to analyze and find out the difference of the morphological development and nutrition status of Tibetan students aged 7-18 years in different years. Results From 1985 to 2005, the height and weight of Tibetan students had a growing trend. The height and weight of schoolboys and schoolgirls aged 7-18 years increased 3.94 cm, 5.08 kg, 2.25 cm, and 4.24 kg respectively, while the circumference decreased without significance. The prevalence rates of underweight and malnutrition in Tibetan students further went down along with the improvement of their nutritional status. However, the prevalence rates on both overweight and obesity increased continuously, affecting the health status of Tibetan students. Conclusion From 1985 to 2005, the morphological development of Tibetan students had a growing trend and their nutrition status improved. However, the prevalence of overweight and obesity continuously increased.

Objective To investigate the toxic effect of hemin on primary cultured neurons,astrocytes,and brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs),and the damage effect of hemin with different concentrations on the above cells. Methods (1) Primary cultured neurons,astrocytes and BCECs from the cortex of rats were exposed to different doses of hemin for 2 h,and continue culture of these cells for 24 to 96 h after withdrawing hemin was performed; the cellular morphology was examined under phase-contrast microscope; cellular survival rate was measured with Alama blue staining; and the releasing rate of lactate dehydrogenasing (LDH) was detected with regular biochemical method. (2) Primary cultured cells were exposed to different doses of hemin for 2 h,and continue culture of the cells for 4 h was performed after washing out the hemin; and then,concentrated formic acid was employed to dissociate the cells, and heme content in dissociated cells was measured with spectrophotometer. (3) Primary cultured cells was exposed to different doses ofhemin for 30,60 and 120 min,respectively,and continue culture of the cells for 4 h was performed after washing out hemin; and then,intracellular Fe3+was examined with Prussian blue staining. Results (1) Cultured neurons were injured by a low dose ofhemin (5 mmol/L) with a decreased survival rate by 40.2％ and an increased LDH releasing rate by 22.2％; and the pathological changes of cellular morphology were severe after 24 h of exposure to hemin.Following the increased doses ofhemin and time of post-exposure,the cellular death and LDH releasing were increased,and the morphological changes of cells were much severe. (2) The low and medium doses of hemin (5 mmol/L and 25 mmol/L) did not induce cellular death, LDH releasing and morphological changes in astrocytes; and a high dose ofhemin (50 mmol/L) could induce a death rate of astrocytes decreasing by 52.4％, a LDH releasing rate increasing by 31％ and obvious morphological changes of astrocytes; however, the injured astrocytes could regenerate fluent cellular monolayer 96 h after exposing to high dose of hemin treatment.(3) Hemin with either low or high dose did not induce any changes in cellular survival,LDH releasing and cellular morphology of BCECs.(4) The heme content in cultured neurons was significantly higher than that in astrocytes and BCECs after hemin treatment for 2 h.(5) The blue Fe3+ stained granules appeared in neurons as early as 30 min after neurons being exposed to hemin, and Fe3+ stained positive cells in neurons were significantly higher than those in astrocytes and BCECs at any dose ofhemin and any time point ofhemin treatment. Conclusion Hemin is highly toxic to neurons, but it can only injure astrocytes at a high dose and it can not induce direct damage in BCECs; free hemin could rapidly enter and accumulate in neurons,but less accumulate in astrocytes and not accumulate in BCECs.

OBJECTIVETo study correlation of brain hypoxia of different degrees with brain function and damage.

METHODSThe brain regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) was determined by using a non-invasive near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique in 15 piglets; the piglets were subjected to inhale 3% - 11% oxygen-nitrogen mixed gas through mechanical ventilation for 30 min. The piglets were divided into groups according to the level of brain rSO2 (i.e. < 30%, 30% - 35%, 35% - 40%, and 40% - 50%), and the data were compared with those of the control group (rSO2 > 60%). Changes of brain function were detected through amplitude and frequency of EEG waves and signal complexity. The piglets were sacrificed via decapitation 72 h after brain damage, and then histopathological and ultrastructural examinations were performed on cerebral cortex and hippocampal CA1 area.

RESULTSIn the group with rSO2 > 40%, the mean arterial pressure (MAP) after hypoxia was (56 +/- 0.00) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa), the blood lactic acid (LA) was (2.3 +/- 1.2) mmol/L, the EEG findings were within normal range, and there was no change in brain tissue ultrastructure. In the group with brain rSO2 = 30% approximately 40%, the MAP was (73 +/- 8) mm Hg, the LA was (8.2 +/- 3.9) mmol/L, the EEG waves showed decreased amplitude, frequency and complexity, but restored to some extent after hypoxia. The brain tissue ultrastructure showed damages to the cerebral cortex and neuron mitochondria at hippocampal CA1 area. In the group with brain rSO2 < 30%, the MAP was (35 +/- 0) mm Hg, the LA was (12 +/- 2) mmol/L, the EEG showed decreased amplitude, frequency, and complexity of signals compared with those of the normal control group, and was difficult to restore after hypoxia in some of the piglets; the brain tissue ultrastructure appeared to be similar to the changes seen with high-degree swollen cerebral cortex and neuron mitochondria at hippocampal CA1 area.

CONCLUSIONDifferent degrees of hypoxia had different influence on brain function and brain damage. The lower the brain rSO2, the more severe the damages to the brain and its function. The rSO2 of brain tissues detected with noninvasive NIRS can reflect brain injury and its severity during cerebral anoxia.

Animals ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; Cerebral Cortex ; physiopathology ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; physiology ; Electroencephalography ; Female ; Hypoxia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hypoxia, Brain ; complications ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; physiopathology ; Male ; Neurons ; pathology ; Oximetry ; instrumentation ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Oxygen Consumption ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods ; Statistics as Topic ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of annexin I in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and carcinomas of other histological types in order to analyze the correlation between the expression of annexin I and carcinogenesis.

METHODSFirst, a set of tissue microarray was established, which consisted of SCC from the esophagus (208 cases), lung, larynx, cervix, and external genital organs; adenocarcinomas from the lung, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, pancreas, breast, thyroid and kidney with 30 cases in each group, meanwhile, the corresponding normal tissue was also obtained for control. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of annexin I in different types of carcinomas and the corresponding normal controls from different organs. The correlation between the expression of annexin I and the clinicopathological feature was analyzed and compared, which included age, gender, differentiation grade and lymph node metastasis.

RESULTSIt was found that the expression of annexin I was decreased in esophageal SCC, when compared with normal esophageal squamous epithelia (P < 0.001), the similarity was also found in SCC of the lung, larynx and cervix. However, though negative in normal epidermis, annexin I expression was detected in some cases with SCC from external genital organs. Annexin I was found to be overexpressed in adenocarcinomas of the lung, stomach, colon and rectum, liver, pancreas, breast, thyroid and kidney, particularly very strong expression of annexin I was seen in lung adenocarcinoma, uterine endometrioid adenocarcinoma and ovarian serous adenocarcinoma. Interestingly, it was found to be positive in all thyroid papillary carcinomas, but negative in all normal thyroid glands. However, annexin I expression was found to be negative in all hepatocellular carcinoma and normal hepatocytes; and it was only detected in myoepithelium of normal breast tissue, but not in ductal luminal cells, and rarely in infiltrating ductal adenocarcinoma. In SCC, annexin I expression was stronger in well differentiated ones than that in the poorly differentiated ones. However, contrasting with SCC, in the adenocarcinomas from different organs, annexin I expression was much stronger in poorly differentiated ones than that in the well differentiate ones, especially in the adenocarcinomas from stomach, colon and rectum, pancreas, ovarian and kidney.

CONCLUSIONAnnexin I expression is quite different among different types of carcinomas, and is correlated with histopathological type and differentiation grade. Further study is needed to investigate its role in the carcinogenesis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Annexin A1 ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Epithelium ; metabolism ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Esophagus ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of ursolic acid on the chloride channels and cell volume in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z). The whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to detect the current, and cell imaging technique was applied to measure cell volume. The properties of the currents induced by ursolic acid were investigated by changing the extracellular osmotic pressure, replacing the extracellular anions and applying chloride channel blockers. The results showed that, under isotonic conditions, the background current was weak and stable. When perfusing the cells with ursolic acid (100 nmol/L), a large current (-59.86 pA/pF ± 4.86 pA/pF at -80 mV, 78.92 pA/pF ± 6.39 pA/pF at +80 mV) was induced. The chloride current showed outward rectification and negligible time- and voltage-dependent inactivation. The reversal potential (-4.83 mV ± 0.30 mV) of the current was close to the calculated equilibrium potential for Cl⁻ (-0.9 mV). The permeabilities of the channel to different anions were ranked in order as follows: Cl⁻ = I⁻ > Br⁻ > gluconate. Hypertonic solutions inhibited the current induced by ursolic acid. The chloride channel blockers, tamoxifen (20 μmol/L) and 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpro-pylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB, 100 μmol/L), suppressed the current. Furthermore, ursolic acid decreased the cell volume by (11.78 ± 1.20)% in 1 h, and the effect was inhibited by NPPB. These results suggest that ursolic acid can activate chloride channels, resulting in outflow of Cl⁻ and decrease of cell volume in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells.
Carcinoma ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Size ; Chloride Channels ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology

Objective:To analyze the utilization of analgesics in ten cancer hospitals in China from 2013 to 2016;to analyze the use sta-tus of analgesics and auxiliary analgesics in Chinese patients with cancer, based on the three-step analgesic ladder principle an-nounced by the WHO and the guidelines of National Comprehensive Cancer Network(NCCN),and to provide data for the rational use of cancer analgesics in clinical practice.Methods:A retrospective analysis method was used to extract data on the use of analgesics and auxiliary analgesics in ten cancer hospitals in China between 2013 and 2016.Subsequently,statistical analyses were conducted on the dosage form of the drugs,the total consumption,the defined daily doses(DDDs),the defined daily cost(DDC),and the drug se-quence ratio(B/A).Results:Between 2013 and 2016,patients using analgesics in China comprised 12.6% of the total number of can-cer patients and the cost of analgesics accounted for 1.5% of the total cost of medication for all patients.The main analgesics used were opioids,which accounted for 90.9% of the cost of analgesics;the other types of analgesics,such as the anticonvulsant drugs, were increased.The major administration routes of analgesics in patients were oral,injectable,and topical routes.The DDD rankings of all types of analgesic treatment drugs were basically stable.The DDD values of fentanyl patches,estazolam,oxycodone oral dosage form,morphine oral dosage form,and indomethacin suppository were among the best.The DDC values for most analgesics did not change much,which reflected that price was stable.The DDC values of 13 analgesics were between 10 and 100.Most of the B/A val-ues of all kinds of analgesics were close to 1,with 17 between 0.5 and 1.5,comprised 58.6% of all types of drugs,which indicated that medication synchronization was good.Conclusions:The clinical applications of analgesics are increasing.In China,the treatment of cancer pain generally follows the three-step analgesic ladder principle announced by the WHO.However,there are also some prob-lems.For instance,the daily average cost of a few drugs was high and the synchronization was poor.Therefore,it is necessary to im-prove the management and regulate the treatment of cancer pain.