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 feasibility of mesencephalon progenitor cells as dopamine neuron's graft in treatment of Parkinson disease(PD) in rats. Methods: Animal model of PD were established in SD rats by 6 hydroxydopamine. Mesencephalon progenitor cells were obtained from 13 day old fetal rats. After in vitro proliferation and differentiation, the cells were planted into PD rat striatum. Results: Progenitor cells were expanded in an undifferentiated state with endothelia growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor as mitogens. IL 1 and striatal culture media further increased the number of TH immunoreactive cells. Transplantation of these neurons relieved the rotation symptom of PD rats. Conclusion: Transplantation of mesencephalon progenitor cells has certain effects on PD rats.

This paper is aimed to investigate the effect of rest-inserted loading on the mechanosensitivity of osteocytes. In the investigation, cultured MLO-Y4 osteocyte-like cells were strained on cyclic compressive force (CCF) by the self-made compressive loading device. Then we observed the effect of different rest periods-inserted loading (5 s, 15 s, 30 s, respectively) on the mechanosensitivity of osteocytes. We then determined the levels of secreted nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by Griess method and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. We then stained the cytoskeleton F-actin using immunofluorescence. We found that the expressions of NO and PGE2 in rest-inserted strained groups (> 15 s) were significantly increased compared to those in the continuous strained group. And rest-inserted loading promoted the parallel alignment of stress fibers. It indicates that rest-inserted loading could promote the mechanosensitivity of osteocytes, and this might be related to the parallel alignment of stress fibers.
Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Line ; Cytoskeleton ; metabolism ; Dinoprostone ; secretion ; Mice ; Nitric Oxide ; secretion ; Osteocytes ; secretion ; Stress, Mechanical

Objective To evaluate the mechanical homogeneity pattern of isolated carotid atherosclerotic plaque intima on longitudinal axis view using ultrasonic velocity vector imaging.Methods Fourty six patients with 48 isolated plaques were undergone the high frequency ultrasound scanning,the real-time two-dimensional longitudinal-axis gray scale view at the maximal thickness of the plaque was obtained in three complete cardiac cycles.A dedicated velocity vector imaging(ⅤⅤⅠ)workstation was used for the off-line dynamic two-dimensional gray-scale image analysis and mechanics parameter(i.e.,the peak strain and the absolute difference of the peak strain)assessment at the sites of the upper,middle and down stream separately.The length and direction distribution of the velocity vectors at the carotid atherosclerotic plaque intima were observed.Wilcoxon test was utilized for the comparison of the peak strain and the absolute difference of the peak strain between two sites.Results The chaos phenomenon of velocity vector distribution at the sites of plaque intima occurred significantly differed from those uniform velocity vectors at the reference sites.According to the two groups of the higher strain value side and the lower strain value side on the upper stream and the down stream of the plaque intima,the peak strain at the higher strain value side was significantly higher than the lower strain value side(P=0.000).There was a significantly difference between the absolute difference of peak strain from the higher strain value side to the middle stream point of the plaque intima and the absolute difference of peak strain from the lower strain value side to the higher strain value side of the plaque intima(P＜0.017).Conclusions The length and direction distribution of velocity vectors of the isolated carotid atherosclerotic plaque intima on longitudinal axis view are uneven,the mechanical heterogeneity pattern exists at the plaque intima and could be visualized and quantitatively evaluated using ultrasonic velocity vector imaging.

Objective To investigate the effects of autophagy on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced vascular hyper-permeability. Methods ① In vitro: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were randomly divided into blank group, LPS group (5 mg/L LPS stimulation), autophagy inhibitor 6-amino-3-methyl purine (3-MA) + LPS group (5 mmol/L 3-MA pretreatment for 30 minutes + 5 mg/L LPS stimulation) and autophagy revulsive Rapamycin (RAP) + LPS group (10 nmol/L RAP pretreatment for 30 minutes + 5 mg/L LPS stimulation). After LPS simulation for 60 minutes in four groups, endothelial permeability was detected by trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TER) determination. The protein expressions of autophagy marker protein microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ) and autophagy related gene Beclin-1 were detected by Western Blot. Cell apoptosis was evaluated by using flow cytometry. Caspase-3 activity was detected by fluorometric assay kit. ② In vivo: 24 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to four groups according to random number table, with 6 rats in each group. The rats in control group received no treatment; rats in model group were tail intravenous injected 10 mg/kg of LPS. The rats in 3-MA pretreatment and RAP pretreatment groups were tail intravenous injected 10 mg/kg of 3-MA or 2 mg/kg of RAP pretreatment for 30 minutes before 10 mg/kg LPS injection. The extravasation of FITC-albumin in mesenteric post-capillary venules was observed by fluorescence microscope. Then the change in fluorescence intensity of FITC-albumin between the intravascular and extravascular space (ΔI) were measured to reflect vascular permeability. Results ① In vitro, compared with blank group, the LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ protein, Beclin-1 protein, caspase-3 activity and rate of cell apoptosis in LPS group were increased, and the TER was decreased. Compared with LPS group, the LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ, Beclin-1, caspase-3 activity and rate of cell apoptosis in 3-MA+LPS group were decreased, and the TER was increased [LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ protein: (288.2±33.3)% vs. (420.5±39.4)%, Beclin-1 protein: (185.3±26.4)% vs. (293.3±36.1)%, caspase-3 activity: (196.6±28.5)% vs. (339.5±25.4)%, rate of cell apoptosis: (9.50±0.99)% vs. (15.40±1.55)%, TER: 0.88±0.09 vs. 0.63±0.05, all P < 0.05]. Compared with LPS group, the LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ, Beclin-1, caspase-3 activity and rate of cell apoptosis in RAP+LPS group were further increased, and the TER was further decreased [LC3 Ⅱ/Ⅰ protein: (519.6±45.2)% vs. (420.5±39.4)%, Beclin-1 protein: (359.0±38.3)% vs. (293.3±36.1)%, caspase-3 activity: (449.1±31.0)% vs. (339.5±25.4)%, rate of cell apoptosis: (19.30±1.72)% vs. (15.40±1.55)%, TER: 0.54±0.05 vs. 0.63±0.05, all P < 0.05]. ② In vivo, the albumin extravasation and vascular permeability were increased in model group as compared with those of control group (ΔI: 0.54±0.07 vs. 0.13±0.03, P < 0.05). The albumin extravasation and vascular permeability were obviously decreased in 3-MA pretreatment group as compared with those of model group (ΔI: 0.25±0.05 vs. 0.54±0.07, P < 0.05). The albumin extravasation and vascular permeability were obviously increased in RAP pretreatment group as compared with those of model group (ΔI: 0.67±0.07 vs. 0.54±0.07, P < 0.05). Conclusions Inhibition of autophagy can reduce the LPS-induced vascular hyper-permeability, and enhanced autophagy can further increase vascular permeability. The mechanism of autophagy mediate vascular permeability may be related to the endothelial cells apoptosis.

Glioma is the most common primary intracranial central nervous system tumor, and postoperative radiotherapy is an important treatment for glioma. At present, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are widely applied in the delineation of radiotherapy targets for glioma. However, there are still some deficiencies in evaluating tumor scope, recurrence, radiation necrosis and prognosis, etc. Positron emission tomography (PET) / computed tomography (PET-CT) combines the molecular images of PET with the anatomical images of CT, which plays an important role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of glioma. With the popularization and application of multimodal imaging technology in radiotherapy, PET-CT molecular imaging, as an important supplement, contributes to the delineation of glioma target volume and the development of accurate radiotherapy, and brings benefits to the prognosis and follow-up of glioma patients. In this article, the application and research progress on PET-CT in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up for glioma were reviewed.

China consumes and exports traditional Chinese medicinal resources the most in the world. However, we cannot anchor our hope on field production of traditional Chinese medicinal materials and their active ingredients, due to limited land resources. Therefore, the development of biotechnology is of great importance for China to solve the problem of traditional Chinese medicinal resources. Plant cell culture is an important approach for the sustainable development of precious medicinal resources. This essary summarizes the optimization of conditions for medicinal plant cell culture, the regulation of secondary metabolic pathways and cell bioreactor culture, and realizes that the authentic commercial production of more medicinal plants requires efforts from all aspects.
Bioreactors ; Biotechnology ; methods ; trends ; Cell Culture Techniques ; instrumentation ; methods ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; cytology ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Research ; trends

With the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine, medicinal plants resources cannot meet the request of Chinese medicine industry. Medicinal plants adventitious roots culture in a large scale is an important way to achieve Chinese medicine industrialization. However, how to establish good adventitious roots culture system is its key, such as plant hormones, explant, sucrose, innoculum and salt strength.
Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Roots ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods

Objective To investigate renal tissue changes in rats exposed to 16 Hz/130 dB infrasound.Methods Twenty male Sprague-Dawley adult rats were randomly divided into a control group,a pseudo-infrasound group,and two infrasound groups-A and B.Groups A and B were exposed to 16 Hz/130 dB infrasound for 2 h or4 h daily respectively over 7 days.Pathological and uhrastruetural changes in their renal tissues were observed with a light microscope and an electron microscope.Results Under the light microscope,Bowman's capsules expanded,epithelial cells were shed,and a little secretion was found in the renal tubules of infrasound group A.Slight degeneration and necrosis of the renal tubules and glomerular exudation could be observed in group B.Under the electron microscope,a large number of lysosomes displayed hyperplasia,there was interstitial edema,and leukocyte pavementing wag found in group B.Other changes such as swelling of podocytes' processes,fusion of foot processes,and vacuolization in the mitochondria could be observed in both infrasound groups.Conclusion Lengthy exposure to 16 Hz/130 dB infrasound can cause severe pathological and uhrastruetural changes in renal tissue,at least in rats.

Therapeutic mRNA vaccine for tumors attracted much attention as a new type of tumor treatment,and most products are in the preclinical and clinical research stage,and there has not post-market drug.However,the non-clinical evaluation of therapeutic mRNA vaccines for tumors is more complicated,due to their target features,mechanisms,delivery patterns,and the cross-species differences of immune system.The choice of animal model is not only content of the clinical effectiveness,and it was a key factor of toxicity assessment.In this work,the challenges for non-clinical evaluation of therapeutic mRNA vaccines for tumors are discussed,and the compliant requirements are reviewed,and the general considerations are suggested.