This study is to determine the preventive effect and mechanism of targeting IL-17A on pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis after acute lung injury. Mice were treated with anti-IL-17A antibody on the day 7 and sacrificed on the day 14 after bleomycin lung injury. The pulmonary inflammatory status and the deposition of collagen were measured by HE and Sirius stains staining. The contents of hydroxyproline and collagen were measured by using commercial kits. The survival rate of mice was calculated by Kaplan-Meier methods. The inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were measured by ELISA and the expressions of inflammation-related molecules were detected by Western blotting assay. Targeting of IL-17A could prevent the development of lung inflammation, decrease collagen deposition and the contents of hydroxyproline, and protect against the development of pulmonary fibrosis, which together led to an increase in the animal survival. Moreover, blocking IL-17A decreased the expression ofpro-fibrotic cytokines such as IL-17A, TGF-beta1 and IL-13; increased the expression of anti-fibrotic or anti-inflammatory factors such as IFN-gamma, COX-2, 5-LOX, 15-LOX. Indeed, IL-17A antagonism suppressed the activation of pro-inflammatory p65NF-kappaB but enhanced the activation of pro-resolving p50NF-kappaB. In conclusion, that blockade of IL-17A prevents the development of pulmonary fibrosis from acute lung injury, is because blocking IL-17A may prevent acute inflammation converting to chronic inflammation.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban infusion to infarct related vessels on patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: From Jan 2013 to Jun 2014, a total of 30 STEMI patients were enrolled as tirofiban group (tirofiban 500μg was infused to infarct related vessels during emergency PCI), and received intravenous drip of tirofiban 0.1 μg•kg-1•min-1 for 24h after stent implantation; another 31 STEMI patients were regarded as pure stenting group during the same period and they received direct stent implantation during emergency PCI. Computer-assisted Quantitative Blush Evaluator (QuBE) score, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during hospitalization and after six-month follow-up and incidence rate of major adverse cardiovascular events were compared and analyzed between two groups. Results: There were no significant difference in baseline data between two groups, P>0.05. Compared with pure stenting group, after six months, there were significant rise in QuBE score [(10.88±5.03) scores vs. (14.70±6.69) scores] and LVEF [(57.19±4.59)% vs. (59.80±5.34)%], and significant reduction in incidence rate of MACE (35.5% vs. 10.0%) in tirofiban group, P<0.05 all. Conclusion: Tirofiban application in infarct related vessels during emergency PCI in STEMI patients can effectively and safely improve myocardial microcirculation perfusion level and it is worth extending.

Objective: To determine the distribution characteristics of waist circumference (WC), waist height ratio (WHtR) of 6–18 years olds in Guangzhou, and to put forward the WC and WHtR appropriate boundary values for 6–18 years olds on the basis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor assessment. Methods: We analyzed the height, weight, WC and its metabolic indication data (blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and blood lipids) of 15 000 children in Guangzhou, aged 6–18, with the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC), and explored the best value point of WC and WHtRfor the prediction of cardiovascular diseases. Results: When the WC percent reached P85, and WHtR reached 0.48, the cardiovascular risk factors of fasting blood-glucose, blood pressure, and blood fat were signiifcantly higher. Conclusion: The 85th percentile value of WC and 0.48 of WHtR are the appropriate boundary values in increasing the cardiovascular disease risk factors in Chinese children and teenagers. WC and WHtR as a relatively simple inspection method, can well predict cardiovascular diseases, and be used in the conventional measuring items among students.

Objective To find the optimal route of eontralateral C7 nerve transfer for brachial plexus avulsion injuries through autopsy. Methods The bilateral brachial plexus were exposed on 30 sides of 15 cadaverie specimens of adult. The C7 nerve root was sectioned at the junction site of trunk and division, and then dissected proximally to the foramina. The max length of anterior and posterior division of C7 was measured. The distance between the roof of C7 and the upper trunk and the lower trunk at the affected side through vertebral body route, prespinal route and a subcutaneous tunnel on the anterior surface of the neck was measured. Results The max length of anterior and posterior division of C7 was (7.67±1.06) cm and (7.79±1.36) cm respectively. The distance between the roof of C7 and the upper trunk at the affected side through vertebral body route, prespinal route and a subcutaneous tunnel on the anterior surface of the neck was (6.97±0.56) cm and (10.04±0.94) cm and (16.56±1.24) cm respectively, there were statistical significance among them (P < 0.01). The distance between the roof of C7 and the lower trunk at the affected side through vertebral body route and prespinal route and a subcutaneous tunnel on the anterior surface of the neck was (6.82±0.92) cm、(9.91±0. 83) cm and (17.64±0.97) cm, with a significant difference (P<0.01). Conclusion The best way of contralateral C7 nerve transfer for the treatment of brachial plexus injury was through the vertebral body route from the point of anatomy.

Objective To explore the application of videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) in the treatment of dysphagia post-stroke. Methods Eighty patients were assigned into control and treatment groups. Both groups accepted routine drug treatments and physical therapy, and all patients underwent VFSS on the 1 st and 28th day of the study. The patients in the treatment group accepted weekly VFSS in addition, and their swal-lowing training schedules were formulated according to the VFSS assessment results. Water drinking tests and de-glutition disorders were adopted to assess the patients' swallowing function before and after therapy. Results In treatment group, where the therapy schedule was adjusted using VFSS every week, the adjustment proportion at the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week was 20.6% , 40.7% and 15.8% , respectively. Before treatment there was no difference between the two groups with regard to water drinking, deglutition or VFSS scores. After training the water drinking and deglutition results and the time for iodine to transit the oral cavity and pharynx all improved significantly in both groups. The improvements in the treatment group were significantly greater than in the con-trol group. Conclusions Swallowing training based on videofluoroscopic assessment can significantly alleviate post-stroke dysphagia.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the effect of combined treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue ( GnRHa) and growth hormone ( GH) on the linear growth in mid-and late pubertal girls at great bone ages with central precocious puberty ( CPP) or early and fast puberty ( EFP) , and to determine the relation between C-type natriuretic pep-tide ( CNP) signaling pathway and the accelerative effect of GH on long bone growth in these girls.METHODS:Twenty-two girls were diagnosed as CPP or EFP, whose bone ages were older than 11.5 years with impaired predicted adult height ( PAH) , and divided into GnRHa treatment group ( treated with GnRHa alone, slow-release of triptorelin 60~80 μg/kg every 4 weeks, im) and combined treatment group ( treated with GnRHa and GH, 1 U/kg GH every week for 6~7 times, sc) .The height, weight and pubertal stage were determined every 3 months.At the beginning and after 6 months of the treatment, the bone age was evaluated and the serum concentrations of amino-terminal pro-C-type natriuretic peptide ( NT-proCNP), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) were measured. Height velocity ( HV) , height SD score for bone age ( HtSDSBA ) , PAH and the serum indexes mentioned above were com-pared at the beginning and the end of the treatment.RESULTS: After 6 months of the treatment, HV, ΔHtSDSBA andΔPAH of the girls treated with GnRHa +GH were statistically higher than those of the girls given GnRHa alone ( P <0.01).Serum concentrations of NTproCNP, P1NP and IGF-1 were not significantly different between the beginning and the end of the 6-month combined treatment.The girls treated with GnRHa alone showed a significant decrease in both serum NTproCNP and P1NP levels (P<0.05) and no significant change of serum IGF-1 level after 6 months of the treatment. CONCLUSION:In the CPP or EFP girls who are in mid-and late puberty and at great bone ages, the combined treatment with GnRHa and GH may accelerate linear growth and improve predicted adult height.This effect of GH is not attributed to the change of serum IGF-1 level, and may be related in part to the acceleration of CNP-mediated long bone growth.

To determine whether the pathological changes caused by injury to the spinal cord can be correlated with values obtained by the Magnetic Motor Evoked Potential (MEPs) technique, we studied spinal cords from 41 adult cats who were divided into 4 groups. The groups ranged from normal cats whose spinal cords were not compressed, to slightly, moderately and severely injured. MEPs were recorded before compression and in 30 minutes, 6 hours, 1 week, 2 week and 4 week after the compression unit was installed. Pathological changes with increased pressure were seen in blood vessels, nerve cells and fibers, Nissl substance and the central canal. A reversal of pathological changes was observed in slight or moderate injury during the 4 weeks of the experiment. Extensive injury, however, caused irreversible changes in the nerve cells with loss of motor function. The latency of MEPs at 30 minutes and 6 hours in the slightly injured group was 0.37 and 0.38 times greater than the baseline and returned to normal levels in 4 weeks. In the moderately injured group, the latency was increased 0.77 and 0.81 times and in the severely injured 1.32 and 1.36 times over the baseline. Recovery in the second group was partial and not at all in the severely injured. Thus, there appears to be good correlation between observed pathological changes, motor functions and MEPs.

Objective To investigate the possible mechanism of the effect of short-term gonadotropin-re-leasing hormone agonist(GnRHa)on linear growth in female pubertal rats. Methods Forty 3-week-old female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups(n=8 each). One group was sacrificed as base-line control. Group OVX was operated for ovariectomy at the beginning of experiment. Group Gn and group E2 each received two intramuscu-lar injections of 2.5mg·kg-1 triptorelin 2 weeks apart, and group E2 received additional daily 1μg·kg-1·d-1estradiol(E2)s. c. at three days after the second GnRHa injection for 11 days. Group Ctrl was sham-operated ascontrol. Each rat, except for the base-line control group. received 30mg/kg oxytetracycline s. c. and 20mg/kgcalcein s. c. 9 and 2 days respectively before sacrifice. Hepatic GH receptor mRNA, insulin-like growth factor(IGF)-I and IGF binding protein(IGFBP)-3, circulating IGF-I and IGFBP-3, local IGF-I/IGF-I receptor(IGF-IR)and proliferation rate(PFR)in epiphyseal growth plate(EGP)were evaluated after 4-week treatment.Results Similar to group OVX, the rats in group Gn became taller and heavier than group Ctrl with greater tibial length, wider EGP, greater longitudinal growth rate(LGR)and higher PFR(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Estrogen supplement reversed the effect of GnRHa. There was no statistical difference among the 4 groups regarding plasma IGF-I and IGFBP-3, hepatic IGF-I and IGFBP-3 mRNA levels, local IGF-I and IGF-I R levels in EGF. GnRHa down-regulated hepatic GHR mRNA expression, which was reversed by estrogen supplement. Conclusion GnRHa accelerates longitudinal growth of female pubertal rats. Estrogen deprivation contributes to GnRHa-induced alteration of linear growth in female rats, through improving PFR and suppressing the senescence of EGP. The underlying mechanism does not attribute to endocrine change of GH/IGF-I axis or local IGF-I/IGF-IR in EGP.

Objective To analyze the pattern of early catch-up growth In children with prepubertal short stature and various secretory forms of growth hormone(GH)following recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH)treatment and to explore the mechanism. Methods Sixty-two children with prepubertal short stature and various GH secretory forms were analyzed retrospectively, 27 with complete growth hormone deficiency (cGHD), 23 with partial growth hormone deficiency (pGHD)and 12 with idiopathic short stature(ISS). According to the GH peak value in GH provocative test, the group of pGHD was divided into pGHD-1(5.0-6.9μg/L)and pGHD-2(7.0-9.9μg/L). Height velocity, increase in height standard differentiation score (SDS), was calculated; serum levels of somatotrophic axis hormone were detected and bone age was determined. Results The quick early catch-up growth in different groups were similar in the initial 6 months. While that in the ISS group persisted for shorter period and was correlated with lower level in serum GH-binding protein(r=0.526,P=0.025)and Δinsulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) SDS (r=0.532,P=0.034) after rhGH treatment. The same doses of rhGH were applied to children with cGHD and pGHD. Children with pGHD-1 showed similar response to rhGH,regarding height velocity and ΔIGFBP-3 SDS, as compared with those of cGHD. However, children with pGHD-2 presented similar response with ISS, being worse than cGHD. Conclusion Downregulation of GH receptor and decrease in post-receptor effect seem to be the mechanism leading to early retardation in ISS. The incomplete catch-up growth in pGHD-2 may be caused by relatively inadequate rhGH dose. The cut-off value of GH provocative test in diagnosing GHD is more reasonable to be 7μg/L.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of assessing osteoarthritis (OA) in hip dysplasia using 3D delayed gadolinium-enhanced MRI of cartilage (dGEMRIC).Methods Thirty-five hips in 20 patients with radiographic evidence of hip dysplasia underwent 3D-dGEMRIC scanning.Clinical symptoms were assessed with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis ( WOMAC ) questionnaire.Radiographic measurement of lateral center-edge angle and T(o)nnis grading were performed on the X-rays.Hips of T(o)nnis grade 1were included in the group of hips with early OA,while the hips with no evidence of OA and without pain symptom were included in the group of hips with normal morphology.The 3D-dGEMRC scans were completed on a 1.5 T MR scanner.The data of 3D-dGEMRIC was reconstructed radically.The dGEMRIC indices were measured on six sites of periphery zones of hip cartilage on reconstructed images.The dGEMRIC indices among different groups were analyzed by non-parametric tests.The differences of dGEMRIC indices among six sites in the group of early OA or the group of normal morphology were analyzed by Wilcoxon test.Results The mean dGEMRIC indices of six sites were lower in group of T(o)nnis grade 1than in group of T(o)nnis grade 0 ( Z =- 2.149,P =0.032 ),and lower in group of T(o)nnis grade 2 than in group of T(o)nnis grade 1( Z =- 1.990,P =0.047 ).The dGEMRIC indices of the anterior site,anterosuperior site,superior-anterior site,and superior site were significantly different between the group of hips with early OA and the group of hips with normal morphology (Z =-2.333--2.041,all of the P values were lower than 0.05).In the group of hips with normal morphology,the dGEMRIC indices of superior-anterior site of hip were lower than superior site(P =0.028).In the group of hips with early OA,the dGEMRIC indices of superior-anterior site were lower than the other sites except for anterior-superior site ( Z =- 3.041- - 2.277,all of the P values were lower than 0.05 ).Conclusions 3 D-dGEMRIC might be a sensitive technique for detection of glycosaminoglycans alteration in early OA and staging of OA in hip dysplasia.Radial reconstruction could provide an accurate assessment of OA,and the results demonstrated that early cartilage alteration could be detected in the anterior to superior sites of hips,and the earliest cartilage alteration may occur in the superior-anterior site of hips.