Objective To explore the association of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α gene-308G/A single nucleotide polymorphism with susceptibility to syphilis.Methods The study includes 56 patients with early symptomatic syphilis,38 with eady latent syphilis,and 102 normal human controls.The-308G/A single nucleotide polymorphism of TNF-α gene was detected in all subjects by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.Results The frequency of TNF-α-308 G and A allele was 0.926 and 0.074 in patients with early syphilis,0.941 and 0.059 in the controls,0.929 and 0.071 in patients with early symptomatic syphihs,0.921 and 0.079 in patients with early latent syphilis.No significant difference was found between patients with early syphilis and the controls or between patients with early symptomatic syphilis and those with early latent syphilis in the frequency of either allele (MG) at-308 position of TNF-α gene(all P>0.05).Conclusion There seems to be no evidence for association between TNF-α gene-308G/A single nucleotide polymorphism and susceptibility to syphilis.

OBJECTIVE:To prepare aspirin chitosan-sodium alginate microcapsules(ACSPM)and to investigate its optimal formula and releasing mechanism.METHODS:The formula of ACSPM was optimized by the orthogonal design with entrapment ratio as index,and then ACSPM was prepared,with its release rate determined as well.The releasing mechanism of aspirin from the microcapsules was established by equation fitting of releasing kinetic model.RESULTS:The prepared microcapsules were uniform in size and contents.The optimized formula was as follows:the concentration of sodium polymannuronate and chitosan were 3.0% and 1.0%,respectively,and the proportion of polymannuronate to aspirin was 1∶ 4.The in vitro drug release was in line with both Higuchi equation and Peppas equation.CONCLUSION:This preparation technology was simple and the drug releasing mechanism of the preparation was chiefly characterized by drug diffusion including bulk erosion non-Fickian process.

Objective To study the effect of simvastatin on the mouse model of sclerotic skin. Methods A total of 44 mice were divided into two groups, i.e., early administration group (n=24) and post-induction administration group (n=20), and the former was classified into three subgroups, including negative group, model group and simvastatin-treated group, and the latter into two groups, namely blank control group, simvastatin-treated group. The mouse model of sclerotic skin was established by local injec-tions of bleomycin in the back of BALB/c mice. Simvastatin was administered by gavage at a dose of 5 μg per kilogram body weight per day for 4 weeks to mice at the same time when bleomycin was injected in the early group or after 4-week bleomycin injection in the post-induction group. Skin sections were prepared 24 hours after the last administration of simvastatin for histopathological examination and measurement of derma l thickness with HE staining, determination of hydroxyproline content via colorimetry, and mRNA expression of procollagen α1 (Ⅰ) by RT-PCR. Results In the early administration group, a significant increment was observed in the diameter of dermal collagen, skin thickness, and hydroxyproline content in model group compared with the negative control group (all P <0.01), whereas decreased dermal thickness, hydroxyproline content and mRNA expression of procollagen α1(Ⅰ) were noticed in simvastatin-treated group in comparison with the model group (P<0.05, 0.01 and 0.05, respectively). No obvious improvement was achieved in dermal thickness or hydroxyproline content in simvastatin-treated group compared with blank control group (both P0.05), but the mRNA expression of procollagen α1 (Ⅰ) was inhibited in the former group (P<0.05). Conclusion Skin sclerosis is relieved significantly by administration of simvastatin at the induction of scle- rosis but not by that after the induction of sclerotic skin.

To explore the effects of Yixin Jiedu Formula (YXJDF), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on hemodynamic and B-type natriuretic (BNP) in a rat model of heart failure with qi deficiency and blood stasis syndrome. Moreover, its therapeutic effects in improving the symptoms were also studied.

Objective To study the hemoprotective effects of a rotary magnetic field (RMF) to radiation-injured mice. Methods 132 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: a normal group (N), a magnetic treatment group (M), an irradiation group(R) and an irradiation combining magnetic treatment group (R + M). Mice in the N group received no treatment. Mice in the R and R + M groups received total body irradiation with 6.0 Gy 60Co γ/rays. Mice in the M and R + M groups were treated with a RMF for one and half an hour at a time, twice a day, totally for 30 days. The survival rate was observed for 30 days. On days 0, 5, 9, 15, 21, 30, the subjects' peripheral blood cells were counted. On day 9, 23 and 30, the number of bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs), colony forming unit-spleen (CFU-S), spleen-body ratio, the cell cycle and apoptosis of bone marrow cells were measured. The pathological sectioning of the femur was performed and the expression level of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP2/4) in the bone marrow was evaluated. Results ①No mice died in the N and M group. The RMF treatment increased the survival rate and survival days among the irradiated mice (P < 0.01). ②The RMF treatment increased the number of blood cells in their peripheral blood of the R + M group. ③The number of BMNCs, CFU-S and the proportation of G2 + M stage in the R + M were markedly higher than that of the R group, but the proportation of the apoptosis was lower than that of the R group on the 9th day (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the spleen index in the R + M group was also higher than that of the R group on the 23rd day (P < 0.05). ④RMF could improve the expression level of BMP2/4 in the radiation-injued mice. Conclusion The RMF treatment had an obvious protective effect against the effects of irradiation and it accelerated the recovery of hematopeiesis and the hematopoietic microenvironment in mouse bone marrow.

Objective: To investigate the syndrome property of myocardial Ischemic, and evaluate the relevant informations of qi-deficiency. Methods: SD rats were subjected to either proximal LAD ligation or sham operation. The respiratory rate in both resting state and post-stress were counted. 20 rats (10 in each group) were subjected to forced swimming test (FST) to measure the exhaustive swimming time in every time point Echocardiography was used to evaluate the cardiac function in rats at each time point. Results: Compared with sham operation group, the respiratory rate in the resting state was slower, but faster under post-stress, the exhaustive swimming time was shorter, and the cardiac function of rats was significant decreasing in model group during the period from 7th day to 60th day after operation. The exhaustive swimming time was much shorter, and the relevant information of blood stasis was abnormal in the model group during the period from 7th day to 28th day after operation, when compared with the sham group. Conclusion: Myocardial ischemic rats induced by LAD ligation had both qi-deficiency and blood stasis indications, can be diagnosed as the syndrome of qi-deficiency and blood stasis during the period from 7th day to 28th day after operation. The model rats only had the qi-deficiency indications during the period from 45th day to 60th day after operation, so can be diagnosed as the qi-deficiency syndrome.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of TCM syndromes of Tourette syndrome (TS) to find out the basis for its TCM treatment. Methods Based on the preliminary studies,the TCM syndrome scale of TS is designed to investigate the general data,main symptoms and syndromes of 126 cases of TS children to find out the frequency of each syndrome. Results Of the 126 TS cases,97 were males,accounting for 77%; the average age was 8.31 years; and 32 had a positive family history,accountting for 25.4%. In the tic behavior,the facial twitching and limb twitching occupied 91.6% of the muscular stereotyped tic. In the vocal behavior,the throat and nasal sound occupied 42.1%. In the accompanied symptoms,the inattention occupied 69.8%. In the personality offset,the willfulness occupied 49.2%,irritable hyperactivity occupied 78.6%,and silence occupied 7.1%. More than 50% of the patients had red or dark red tongue with thick or sticky coating. Nearly 70% of them had string-taut or rolling pulse. As for the syndromes,heart-liver deficiency with deficiency wind stirred up,and liver-kidney yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity stirring up wind were common,being 41.3% and 34.1% respectively. Conclusion TS takes the heart-liver deficiency with deficiency wind stirred up and liver-kidney yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity stirring up wind as the common syndromes. The basic treating principle is enriching yin and reducing yang,and smoothing the liver to stop wind. At the same time,reinforcing the spleen and nourishing the heart,and dissolving phlegm and enlightening the brain should be applied for treatment.

Objective To evaluate the effect of propofol on high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods Thirty-six clean-grade healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 3 months,weighing 250 -300 g,were divided into 3 groups (n=12 each) using a random number table method:sham operation group (group S),hepatic I/R group (group I/R) and propofol group (group P).Hepatic I/R injury was induced by occluding the portal vein and hepatic artery supplying the left and middle lobes of the liver for 1 h followed by 6-h reperfusion in anesthetized rats.Propofol was infused via the tail vein at a rate of 12 mg ·kg-1 · h-1 starting from 20 min before ischemia until 6 h of reperfusion in group P.The rats were sacrificed at 6 h of reperfusion,and the left lobe of the liver was removed for microscopic examination of the pathological changes which were scored and for determination of the expression of HMGB1,TLR4,tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-6) in liver tissues (by Western blot).Results Compared with group S,pathological scores of liver tissues were significantly increased,and the expression of HMGB1,TLR4,TNF-α and IL-6 was up-regulated in I/R and P groups (P＜0.05).Compared with group I/R,pathological scores of liver tissues were significantly decreased,and the expression of HMGB1,TLR4,TNF-α and IL-6 was down-regulated in group P (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion The mechanism by which propofol reduces liver I/R injury is associated with blocking HMGB-1/TLR4 signaling pathway and inhibiting inflammatory responses in rats.

Objective:To evaluate the accuracy of airway ultrasonic parameters in predicting difficult mask ventilation (DMV) in obese patients.Methods:Ninety-six patients of both sexes, aged >18 yr, with body mass index of 28- <40 kg/m 2, of American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status classification Ⅰ or Ⅱ, scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation, were selected. The airway was evaluated at 1 day before surgery to record the thyromental distance, modified Mallampati classification and upper lip bite test classification. Before anesthesia induction, the mandibular condylar motion, longitudinal cross-sectional area and transverse diameter of the tongue were measured by ultrasound, and the tongue volume was calculated. Mask ventilation was performed after anesthesia induction, DMV classification was recorded, DMV was defined as DMV classification Ⅲ and Ⅳ, and the patients were divided into non-DMV group (NDMV group) and DMV group. Spearman correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation between each parameter and DMV, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the accuracy of each parameter in predicting DMV, and the cut-off value was determined based on the principle of Jorden index at maximum. Results:Ninety-six patients were finally included in the study, with 64 patients in NDMV group and 32 patients in DMV group. Compared with NDMV group, the increase in age, modified Mallampati grade, upper lip biting test grade, longitudinal cross-sectional area of tongue, transverse diameter of tongue and volume of tongue were significantly increased, and the thyromental distance and mandibular condylar motion were decreased in DMV group ( P<0.05). Age ( r=0.283), modified Mallampati grade ( r=0.668), upper lip biting test classification ( r=0.826), tongue longitudinal cross-sectional area ( r=0.598), tongue transverse diameter ( r=0.578) and tongue volume ( r=0.707) were positively correlated with DMV ( P<0.01), and thyromental distance ( r=-0.623) and mandibular condylar motion ( r=-0.666 ) were negatively correlated with DMV ( P<0.05). The area under curve (95% confidence interval) of tongue longitudinal cross-sectional area, tongue transverse diameter, tongue volume, and mandibular condylar motion for DMV prediction were 0.870 (0.780-0.961), 0.858 (0.768-0.948), 0.937 (0.864-1.000), 0.912 (0.835-0.990), respectively ( P<0.01), and the predicted cut-off values were 22.61 cm 2, 4.29 cm, 100.60 cm 3 and 1.18 cm, respectively, the sensitivity was 90%, 83%, 90% and 90%, respectively, the specificity was 80%, 80%, 95% and 95%, respectively. Conclusions:Tongue volume and mandibular condylar motion measured by ultrasound are highly accurate in predicting DMV in obese patients. Tongue volume> 100.60 cm 3 or mandibular condylar motion< 1.18 cm suggests a high risk of DMV.

Objective:To evaluate the accuracy of bedside lung ultrasound in predicting postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in the patients undergoing radical resection of gastrointestinal cancer.Methods:One hundred and eight patients of both sexes, aged >18 yr, undergoing elective radical resection of gastrointestinal cancer with general anesthesia, were enrolled in the study. Lung ultrasound was performed before surgery (T 1) and at 2, 4 and 7 days after surgery (T 2-4). Lung ultrasound score (LUS) and B-line score were recorded. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations and blood routine were recorded, and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) was calculated. All the patients underwent chest CT examination before surgery and 7 days after surgery. The results of chest CT and clinical diagnosis were used as the gold standard for PPCs. The occurrence of PPCs within 7 days after surgery was recorded. The patients were divided into PPCs group and non-PPCs group according to the development of PPCs. Spearman′s correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlation of B-line score and LUS with PPCs, PCT and SII. The receiver operating curve was used to evaluate the accuracy of B-line score and LUB in predicting PPCs. Results:One hundred and three patients were finally enrolled in the study, including 45 patients in PPCs group and 58 patients in non-PPCs group, and the incidence of PPCs was 43.7%. Both B-line score and LUS were positively correlated with PPCs at T 1 ( P<0.001), and B-line score and LUS were positively correlated with PCT and SII at T 2-4 ( P<0.001). The AUC (95% confidence interval) of B-line score and LUB in predicting PPCs were 0.926 (0.879-0.972) and 0.909 (0.852-0.965), respectively ( P<0.001), the best cut-off values of B-line score and LUB in predicting PPCs were set at 25.5 and 11.5 respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity of B-line score were 0.80 and 0.88 respectively, and the sensitivity and specificity of LUB were 0.78 and 0.93 respectively. Conclusions:Bedside pulmonary ultrasonography (B-line score and LUS) can accurately predict the occurrence of PPCs in the patients undergoing radical resection of gastrointestinal cancer and dynamically evaluate the condition of PPCs, and B-line score >25.5 and LUS score >11.5 indicate a high risk of PPCs.