Objective To investigate the expression of aquaporin-5(AQP5) in lipo-polysaccharide(LPS)-cigarette smoking inducible SD rats,and the effect of ambroxol chloride(AMB)on its expression. Methods Twenty-one SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: AMB intervention group,model group(LPS-cigarette smoking induction group) and control group.TNF-? was determined from lung homogenate supernatant,bronchial alveolar lavage fluid(BALF) and serum by ELISA.The semi-quantitation of AQP5 transcription and expression were measured by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry,respectively. Results TNF-? from lung homogenate supernatant and BALF in model group was more than AMB intervention group and control group(P

Objective To investigate the analgesic effect of oxysophoridine(OSR)and the influence of verapamil(Ver)on the antinociception of OSR when two drugs were co-administrated in mice.Methods The number of writhing within 15 min after ip different doses of OSR was observed in painful mouse mo- dels caused by acetic acid.The hot plate method was used to assess nociceptive sensitivity of CaCl_2 and Ver before ip OSR.Nitric oxide(NO)in serum was measured by spectrophotometry.Results The number of writhing was decreased and the latency of licking the hind paws was prolonged in a dose-dependent manner after ip OSR.The antinociception of OSR could be antagonized by CaCl_2 and enhanced by Ver.No inter- ference was detected in serum volume of NO.Conclusion These results suggest that OSR can antagonize the acute pain caused by acetic acid and hot plate in a dose-dependent manner in mice.Calcium channel blocker could enhance the effect of OSR.

OBJECTIVETo construct a subtracted cDNA library of differentially expressed genes in eosinophils from asthma patients.

METHODSSuppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to isolate the cDNA fragments of differentially expressed genes in the eosinophils of asthma patients before and after treatment. The cDNA fragments were directly inserted into T/A cloning vector to establish the subtractive library, followed by amplification of the library through E. coli transformation with calcium chloride and screening of blue and white clones of the transformants. One hundred positive bacterial clones were randomly picked and identified by colony PCR.

RESULTSThe amplified library contained more than 3,000 positive bacterial clones. Analysis of the randomly selected 100 white clones by PCR showed that 90% of the clones contained 100-500 bp inserts, which might be the cDNA fragments of differentially expressed genes in eosinophils of asthma patients before treatment.

CONCLUSIONA subtracted cDNA library of differentially expressed genes in the eosinophils of asthma patients before and after treatment is constructed successfully by SSH and T/A cloning techniques, which lays a solid foundation for screening and cloning new specific differentially.expressed genes in the eosinophils of asthma patients.

Asthma ; blood ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Eosinophils ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; genetics ; Gene Library ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization

OBJECTIVETo analyze the causes of initial erroneous diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) to improve the diagnostic efficiency.

METHODSThe clinical data of 63 patients with a definite diagnosis of PE were retrospectively analyzed. According to the initial diagnosis, the patients were divided into definite diagnosis group (Group A, 23 cases) and misdiagnosis group (group B, 40 cases). The risk factors, initial symptoms, time of definite diagnosis, Wells scores, revised Geneva scores, and findings in chest X-ray and ECGs after onset and before the definite diagnosis were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSIn group A, recent operations, malignancy, long-term bedridden state, PE history and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) symptom were more commonly seen than in group B, and the patients in group B were more likely to have hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus and lower limb varicose veins. The patients in group B had significantly lower Wells scores and revised Geneva scores than those in group A [2.50 (5.00) vs 6.00 (6.00), u=-3.296, P<0.001; 5.50 (4.75) vs 12.00 (9.00), u=-3.187, P<0.001, respectively]. In group B, chest examination in 22 of the 40 cases (55%) reported pulmonary infection, and among them, 15 were misdiagnosed as pneumonia. In groups A and B, SIQIIITIII/QIIITIII in ECG was found in 5 (21.7%) and 0 cases (0%), and normal ECG in 2 (8.7%) and 18 (45.0%) cases, respectively, showing significant difference between the two groups (P=0.010 and 0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe initial misdiagnosis of PE results mainly from the low awareness of some of the PE risk factors on the part of the physicians, atypical clinical manifestations and excessive dependence on chest films and ECGs.

Adult ; Aged ; Diagnostic Errors ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Embolism ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells.

METHODSTDI-human serum albumin (TDI- HSA) conjugate was prepared using a modified Son's method. MTT assay was used to examine the viability of HBE135-E6E7 cells cultured in serum-free medium after treatment with HSA or TDI-HSA at different concentrations. VEGF mRNA expression of the HBE cells treated with HSA or TDI-HSA at 10, 20, 30 and 40 microg/ ml, respectively, was detected using semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSTreatment with 40 microg/ml HSA and 40 microg/ml TDI-HSA did not result in significant changes in the viability of HBE135-E6E7 cells. RT-PCR revealed the constitutive expression of two VEGF isoforms, namely VEGF189 and VEGF165, in cultured HBE135-E6E7 cells. After exposure to TDI-HSA at the different concentrations (except for 10 microg/ml), a significant increase occurred in both VEGF189 and VEGF165 mRNA expressions in HBE135-E6E7 cells as compared with the expressions in the control group and the HSA-treated cells (P<0.05), and significant dose dependence was noted in the effect of TDI-HSA (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in the expressions between the control cells and the HAS-treated cells (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONTDI induces significant increase in VEGF expression in HBE cells, and VEGF overexpression may play an important role in the pathogenesis of TDI-induced asthma.

Bronchi ; cytology ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Protein Isoforms ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate ; pharmacology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of education on self-evaluation and control level in patients with bronchial asthma.

METHODSSeventy-five asthmatic patients with the initial diagnosis in line with the American Thoracic Society criteria, including 46 with junior high school education or below (group A) and 29 with senior high school education or above (group B), were asked to complete a survey to assess their symptoms and asthma attacks. Asthma control test (ACT) and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) evaluation were performed 8, 12 and 24 weeks after salmeterol/fluticasone therapy. Step-down treatment was administered according to GINA guidelines. The self-evaluation of the patients was assessed according to ACT score, physical signs and pulmonary function. An ACT score over 19 indicate well controlled condition. The effect of education on the self-evaluation and control level of bronchial asthma was assessed.

RESULTSThe two groups had similar basal level of pulmonary function (FEV1). Eight weeks after the therapy, 29 patients in group A had ACT score over 19, including 11 with high control level; in group B, 17 had ACT score over 19, of whom 4 showed high control level. There was no significant difference between the two groups in control levels and self-evaluation (P>0.05). At 12 weeks, 37 patients in group A had ACT score over 19, with 17 having high control level; 22 patients in group B had ACT score over 19, 4 showing high control level; the two groups were similar in the control levels (P>0.05) but showed significant difference in self-evaluation (P<0.05). At the time of 24 weeks, 42 and 26 patients had ACT score over 19 in the two groups, with 19 and 5 having high control level, respectively. The two groups differed significantly in the control levels (P<0.05) and self-evaluation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe patients' education level may play a role in self-evaluation and control level of bronchial asthma, but its impact differs in the course of the treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Albuterol ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Androstadienes ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; therapy ; Educational Status ; Female ; Fluticasone ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Education as Topic ; methods ; standards ; Salmeterol Xinafoate ; Self Care ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of HMGB1 and RAGE mRNA in the lungs of asthmatic mice and the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on their expression.

METHODSTwenty-one female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control group, asthma group and NAC group (n=7). The expressions of HMGB1 and RAGE mRNA and their distributions in the lungs were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe expression levels of HMGB1 and RAGE mRNA were not significantly different between the control group (0.88-/+0.02 and 1.20-/+0.20, respectively) and the asthma model group (0.86-/+0.05 and 1.21-/+0.08, P>0.05). After NAC treatment, both of HMGB1 and RAGE mRNA levels (0.98-/+0.05 and 1.58-/+0.21) were significantly higher than those in the other two groups (P<0.05). HMGB1 was found in the nuclei and membrane of the bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells, and RAGE was located on the membrane of the alveolar epithelial cells.

CONCLUSIONHMGB1 and RAGE may play a role in the oxidative stress during asthma, but the exact mechanism needs further investigation.

Acetylcysteine ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; HMGB1 Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

The rhizome of Panax japonicus var. major have been used as the natural medicinal agent by Chinese traditional doctors for more than thousand years. Most of the therapeutic effects of P. japonicus var. major had been reported due to the presence of tetracyclic or pentacyclic triterpene saponins. In this study, Illumina pair-end RNA-sequencing and de novo splicing were done in order to understand the pathway of triterpenoid saponins in this species. The valid reads data of 15. 6 Gb were obtained. The 62 240 unigenes were finally obtained by de novo splicing. After annotation, we discovered 19 unigenes involved in ginsenoside backbone biosynthesis. Additionally, 69 unigenes and 18 unigenes were predicted to have potential function of cytochrome P450 and UDP-glycosyltransferase based on the annotation results, which may encode enzymes responsible for ginsenoside backbone modification. This study provides global expressed datas for P. japonicus var. major, which will contribute significantly to further genome-wide research and analysis for this species.
Gene Expression Profiling ; Panax ; genetics ; Saponins ; biosynthesis ; Sequence Analysis, RNA

· Cornea is an important part ofhuman's refractive system.Corneal biomechanics plays an important role in corneal ectasia and related diseases.The corneal biomechanics measured in vitro and in vivo and its clinical application in system diseases and elastic corneal disease,glaucoma,myopic are reviewed in this literature summary.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of complex anal fistula.

METHODSThe preoperative digital examination and MRI with the phased-array coil were implemented for 28 patients who were clinically suspected with complex anal fistula. The final diagnosis were based on surgical findings. Outcomes of MRI and digital examination were compared with surgical results.

RESULTSTwenty-five patients were diagnosed as complex anal fistula, 1 presacral cyst and 2 chronic anorectal fistula combined with perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma. All the patients were correctly diagnosed by MRI,while the patients with presacral cyst and perianal mucinous adenocarcinoma could not be diagnosed correctly by digital examination. According to the Parks classification, 3 patients were suffered from trans-sphincteric fistula, 10 intersphincteric, 5 supra- sphincteric and 7 extra-sphincteric. The diagnosis rates of the internal opening with digital examination and MRI were 48% and 84%, the rates of the primary tract were 76% and 100%, and the rates of the secondary extensions were 57.9% and 94.7% respectively. The differences in detection of internal opening, primary tract and secondary extensions between MRI and digital examination were significant (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONMRI with the phased-array coil can correctly orient the internal opening and direction of the complex anal fistula, and find the relationship between anorectal sphincters and the complex fistula.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Fistula ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Young Adult