Objectives To establish a model of carotid atherosclerotic (AS)stenosis in rabbits and to preliminarily investigate the expression of asparaginyl endopeptidase. Methods Fourteen New Zealand white rabbits were divided into either an model group (n = 8)or a sham operation group (n = 6)according to the random number table. The carotid intima was injured by operation in the model group. The rabbits in both groups were fed with high fat diets containing magnesium for 10 weeks. The rabbits were weighted and their blood lipids were tested every 2 weeks. At the end of the fifth and tenth weeks after procedure,the plaque and vessel stenosis of the rabbits were observed by MRI. At the end of the tenth week after proce-dure,the specimens were collected and sliced. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE)staining was used to observe the pathological changes. Immunohistochemical staining was used to analyze the expression of asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP). Results One rabbit in the model group died of carotid artery injury. After being fed with high-fat diets,the body quality and the level of blood lipid were increased in the rabbits of both groups compared with those before procedure (all P < 0. 01). At the end of the fifth and tenth weeks after procedure,MRI revealed that the luminal stenosis rates in the operation group were 16 ± 11% and 53 ± 20% respectively. There was significant difference within the group (t = - 4. 83,P < 0. 01). MRI revealed no luminal stenosis twice in the sham operation group. HE staining showed intimal hyperplasia,AS plaque formation,lipid deposition in plaques,macrophage and smooth muscle cells migration and infiltration forming foam cells in the model group. No AS formation was observed in the sham operation group. The expression of AEP was higher in the rabbit carotid artery tissue in the model group,and it expressed rarely in the sham surgery group. The absorbance values were 0. 072 0 ± 0. 028 0 and 0. 002 0 ± 0. 000 9 respectively. There was significant difference (t = 6. 61,P < 0. 01). Conclusions The methods of injuring carotid intima combined with magnesium containing high-fat diet may exactly,reliably,and quickly establish an AS carotid artery stenosis model. AEP may associat with the occurrence of AS plaques.

OBJECTIVE To study the expression of the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-?) and total IgE in Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MP) infection and bronchial asthma,and to analyze its relation with disease severity.METHODS The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was adopted to measure the level TNF-? and radioimmunoassay(RIA) to measure IgE in 42 children patients with asthma and MP infection as a test group,and 36 healthy children as a control group.RESULTS Among patients with asthma and MP infection TNF-? [(37.96?9.76)?g/L] and IgE [(310.57?30.39) mg/ml] had a significantly higher level than control group [(16.39?6.87)?g/L and (201.50?16.98)mg/ml],the statistical differences were significant(t=11.23;t=19.56 P

Objective To observe the clinical effect of Renzi Shengjing Decoction(Radix Ginseng and Fructus Schisandrae decoction for producing sperms)treating oligospermia and aspermia males with kidney yang deficiency through its influence on semen and hormones.Methods The 60 males with infertility due to oligospermia and aspermia were randomly divided into treated group and control group with 30 cases in each.Before and after treatment,the two groups were tested with the colored semen analysis system for detecting the density,motility and survival rate of sperms respectively.The follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),testosterone(T),and prolactin(PRL)were measured by enzyme-labeling instrument.Results In the treated group,the improvement of semen parameters and sexual hormones and clinical effect were better than those of control group(P

Objective To evaluate the effect of Sengstaken-Blakemore tube in assisting cyanoacrylate injection combined with sclerotherapy and variceal ligation under emergency endoscopy in treating escophageal and gastric variceal bleeding. Methods 60 patients were randomly selected, and were evenly divided into 2 groups single blindly. Endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection, sclerotherapy and variceal ligation were performed in control group, and additional Sengstaken-Blakemore tube were used in experimental group. Results All the 30 patients in study group got effective hemostasis (30 of 30, 100.00 %), whereas only 23 patients in control groups stopped bleeding (23 of 30, 76.67 %) (P < 0.05). escophageal and gastric variceal were cured 19 patients in the experimental group (19 of 30, 63.33 %) , and only 4 were cured in the control group (4 of 28, 14.28 %) (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, occurence of fever, chest pain, hospital days and hospitalization costs of experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions Treating the escophageal and gastric variceal bleeding, using endoscopic cyanoacrylate injection, sclerotherapy; and variceal ligation under emergency endoscopy combined with Sengstaken-Blakemore tube could significantly increase the therapeutic efficiency as well as reduce complications and therapy cost.

Objective To survey and analyze characteristics of brucellosis epidemic in Dalian City for the purpose of setting up prevention and control measures for the disease. Methods In 2007, the basic situation of people of 7-60 years old and in close contact with livestock was surveyed in Dalian according to the "Surveillance standard for brucellosis"(GB 16885-1997). Blood was collected in brucellosis suspicious or high-risk groups for the laboratory examination, using rose bengal test for qualitative detection and test-tube agglutination test(SAT) method for quantitative detection of serum antibodies; At the same time, brucellosis cases found in the routine monitoring and confirmed in and this survey in the department of endemic disease prevention in the center for disease control and prevention of Dalian City underwent questionnaire surveys. Results All 1563 people were epidemiologically surveyed of brucellosis, 1310 were male, 253 female,livestock care givers accounted for 56.05% (876/1563). 240 blood samples were serologically surveyed, the detection rate was 3.75%(9/240). This survey confirmed 2 cases of brucellosis patients, 3 cases confirmed in routine monitoring. 3 cases were infected via contacting infected brucellosis cows, and the 2 cases were imported. Conclusions To strengthen the quarantine of livestock and timely treat the infected livestock should be the key of control of brucellosis. At the same time, professionals of livestock should be educated to protect themselves.

Objective To establish the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)method in detecting the anti-M3RP antibody in Sj(o)gren's syndrome (SS) patients.and to explore the significance of this autoantibody in the diagnosis of SS.Methods The synthesized M3 receptor polypeptide was used as antigen in EUSA to detect the anti-M3RP antibody in sera of patients with SS.other CTDS and healthy controls.and the association between the clinical features of SS and anti-M3RP antibody was analyzed.Results Antibodies against M3RP were detected in 84.6%patients with pSS and 81-3% with sSS.8.8%with other CTD and 1%in heahhy controls.The positive rates of antibodies in pSS and sSS were higher than those in other CTDs and healthy controls.The presence of anti-M3RP antibodies had no significant correlation with clinical manifesta-tions and internal organ involvement.Furthermore.the positive rates of anti-M3RP antibodies in anti-α-fodrin.SSA,SSB,and ANA antibodies negative SS patients were 85%.89-3%,88.9%and 95.2%,respectively.body is a complementary parameter in the diagnosis of antibody-negative SS.

Objective To analyze, treatment of ipsilateral Pilon and calcaneal fractures (IPCF). Methods Injury causes included fallings in seven patients, traffic injury in two and impact injury in one, with ISS score of 5-22 points. There were seven patients with open injuries and 3 with close ones. Nine pa-tients had Ⅱ-Ⅲ degree of Pilon fractures according to the AO/OTA classification and six comminuted com-pression calcaneal fractures according to the Essex-Loprest classification. The Pilon fractures were fixed by cannulated nail, screw or Kirschner wire through open reduction in six patients including four fixed with ex-ternal fixators (the calcaneal fractures were fixed with percutaneous eannulated nail or Kirschner wire by poking reduction). The calcaneal fractures were fixed with only Kirschner wire through poking reduction in two patients and double fractures treated conservatively in two. Results The reduction of Pilon and cal-caneal fractures treated by operation were markedly improved in six patients, while there occurred angular deformity and joint surface introeession in the patients treated conservatively. The wound healing of soft tis-sue was sound in seven patients but unsatisfactory in the other three. The ankle-hind foot score was 82-94 points in four patients who were followed up. Conclusions IPCF is caused by the high energy force and characterized by severe injures of the soft tissues and the bone tissues at the distal tibia and calcaneua, for which limited internal fixation plus external fixation are suitable treatment choice.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of perioperatively administrated enteral immunonutrition in gastrointestinal cancer patients on immune and inflammatory responses,nutrition states and postoperative morbidity.Methods:Sixty patients with gastrointestinal cancer were divided randomly into two groups.Two groups perioperatively(from preoperative day 5 to postoperative day 7) received an supplemented diet with arginine,RNA,and ?-3fatty acids(immunonutrition group;n=30) or an isoenergetic and isonitrogenous standard diet (standard-nutrition group;n=30).All variables of immune and inflammatory responses,nutrition states and postoperative morbidity were measured on preoperative day 5 and postoperative day 1,4 and 8.Results:On postoperative day 4 and 8,most immune variables and prealbumin in the immuno-group were significantly higher than those in the standard-group(P0.05),and inflammatory variables as CRP in the immunonutrition group were significantly lower than those in the standard group.In the immunonutrition group,there were significantly fewer patients who experienced postoperative complications and shorter days of hospital stay compared with standard group(P0.05).Conclusion:The perioperative administration of enteral immunonutrition in gastrointestinal cancer patients can significantly modulate the postoperative immunosuppressive and inflammatory responses at the early postoperative day,can significantly decrease the occurrence of infectious and overall postoperative complications as well as the length of hospital stay.

Objective To study the mechanism of adaptive immunity against Rhizopus arrihizus (R. arrihizus) infections. Methods Bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were separated from C57BL/6 mice and Card9-/- mice and then were cultured in vitro. Resting spores and swollen spores of R. arrihizus were in vitro co-cultured with BMDCs with or without Syk inhibition. Secretion of cytokines ( IL-23, IL-1βand IL-12) was analyzed by ELISA after 24 hours of culture. Na?ve T cells derived from C57BL/6 mice were in vitro co-cultured with spore-stimulated BMDCs for four days. Levels of IL-17A and IFN-γ in supernatants of cell culture were analyzed by ELISA. Flow cytometry was performed to analyze T cell differ-entiation. Confocal microscopy was used to observe the images of stained β-glucan on the surface of resting and swollen spores. Swollen spores were co-cultured with Dectin-1, Dectin-2, TLR2 and mannose receptor ( MMR) , and the binding results were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Swollen spores but resting spores could induce the maturation of BMDCs and promote the secretion of cytokines (IL-23, IL-1βand IL-12). Co-culturing T cells with swollen spore-stimulated BMDCs enhanced their differentiation to Th17 and Th1. In addition, swollen spores promoted the secretion of Th1-related cytokine ( IFN-γ) and Th17-related cytokine (IL-17A). Adding Syk inhibitor to Card9-/-BMDCs or wild type BMDCs significantly inhibited the secretion of cytokines and T cell differentiation, especially in the Card9-/- group. β-glucan was overserved on the surface of swollen spores, but not on resting spores. On the surface of swollen spores existed pathogen associated molecular patterns ( PAMPs) that could bind with Dectin-1 and TLR2. Conclusion Swollen spores of R. arrihizus could active BMDCs to secrete cytokines of IL-23, IL-1β and IL-12 and trigger T cell responses in vitro. The possible mechanism might be associated with β-glucan exposed on the surface of swollen spores that binds with Dectin-1. The responses between BMDCs and R. arrihizus are Syk-Card9-dependent.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Zuogui pill, Yougui pill and the relative compositions on the differentiation towards germ cells of stem cells.

METHODThe rat drug sera for Zuogui pill, Yougui pill and the common composition of Zuogui pill and Yougui pill were prepared respectively as the experimental drugs; the mouse embryonic stem cell 1B10 (MESC-1B10) was used as the representative of stem cells; the above rat drug sera were used to intervene MESC-1B10 and the process was traced by microscopy imaging; after 72 h of the intervention, the RNAs were extracted from the different intervened MESC-1B10, cDNAs were synthesized immediately and finally the Real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to measure the expression patterns of the 10 reproductive-differentiation-related genes for each intervention.

RESULTThe rat drug serum of Zuogui pill (ZGW-RS) significantly up-regulated Oct-4 and SCP3 and significantly down-regulated GDF-9 and Stra8; the rat drug serum of Yougui pill (ZGW-RS) significantly up-regulated Oct-4, GDF-9, Mvh and SCP3 and significantly down-regulated Stra8, Itga6 and Itgb1; the rat drug sera for the common composition of Zuogui pill and Yougui pill (ZGWYGW-RS) significantly up-regulated Oct-4, SCP3 and ZP3 and significantly down-regulated GDF-9, Stra8, Itga6 and Itgb1.

CONCLUSIONZGW-RS can initiate the change towards meiosis, but can not start the reproductive differentiation of MESC-1B10; YGW-RS can initiate the change towards meiosis, and can also start the reproductive differentiation of MESC-1B10 towards female germ cells; ZGWYGW-RS can initiate the change towards meiosis, and can lightly start the reproductive differentiation of MESC-1B10 towards female germ cells but the inductive effect is smaller than YGW-RS. The experimental results, on one hand, strengthen the knowledge about the influence of the relative compositions of Zuogui pill and Yougui pill on the reproductive differentiation of stem cells, on the other hand, help to explain the mechanism of the treatment of the infertility by Zuogui pill and Yougui pill.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Female ; Germ Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; Infertility ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley