Bronchial asthma is the chronic airway inflammatory disease that characterized by reversible airflow limitation .The presence of airway inflammation could lead to airway remodeling .In recent years , many studies have found that arginase plays an im-portant role in the airway inflammation and airway remodeling of asthma .It not only reduces airway release nitric oxide and increases airway hyperresponsiveness , but also its metabolites such as putrescine , proline, etc can induce cell proliferation and collagen synthe-sis, leading to airway remodeling .In this paper , the arginase and its role in the pathogenesis of asthma are discussed .

Objective To evaluate the outcome of the old patients who were treated for femoral neck fractures in our hospital during 2000-2007. Methods A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate outcomes of the 139 old patients who had received internal fixation for femoral neck fractures in our department during 2000-2007. The mechanism of injury, duration between injury and hospitalization, severity of fracture, anamnesis, time of hospital stay, anaesthesia, operation, postoperative complications, fracture healing, in-cidence of avascular necrosis of femoral head, failure of fixation, and functional restoration of the patients were documented. Results Fracture healing was found in 126 cases (90.6%). Time to healing ranged from 2 to 20 months (average, 6.2 months). Failure of fixation and nonunion were found in 13 cases (9.4%). Avascular necrosis of femoral head occurred in 9 cases (6.5% ). Of them, 81 patients(58.3%) restored their gait as normal as before whereas 50 patients(36.0%) walked with crutches. Conclusions Internal fix-ation can be suggested for old patients with femoral neck fracture, considering a high rate of fracture healing and a low rate of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Early operation is recommended if the general con-dition of the patient has been well controlled.

Animals ; Apolipoproteins E ; deficiency ; Female ; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type III ; blood ; metabolism ; Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Receptors, Calcitriol ; metabolism ; Vitamin D ; blood

Objective To evaluate the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for preoperative detection of colorectal liver metastases.Methods 42 consecutive patients with colorectal liver metastases confirmed by histopathology after surgery were recruited in the study.They all had undergone preoperative CEUS examination with contrast agent SonoVue.The number,location and size of the hepatic lesions found by CEUS were correlated with postoperatively histopathologic results on a lesion-by-lesion basis.Results 96 liver metastases in 42 patients with colorectal cancer had been resected and confirmed by histophathology.The size of the metastatic lesions ranged from 0.3～8.5 cm [average (2.6 ± 1.8)cm].From one to eight metastatic lesions were detected in one patient.21 (21.9％) metastatic lesions were equal to or less than 1.0 cm.86 of 96 metastatic lesions were correctly depicted by CEUS,with a sensitivity of 89.6％.And the sensitivity for metastatic lesions equal to or less than 1.0 cm was 71.4％ (15 of 21 tumors) by CEUS.35 metastatic lesions were found between the portal venous phase and late phase by CEUS and 19 (54.3％) metastatic lesions among them could not be detected at conventional ultrasound.The curative resection was performed in 37 (88.1％) of 42 patients.With 3 - 39 months follow-up,the intrahepatic recurrence rate within two years was 32.4％ (12 of 37 patients) and the one-year survival rate was 90.0％.Conclusions CEUS is highly sensitive for detecting liver metastases resulted from colorectal cancer,especially for small metastatic lesions.CEUS is helpful to choose reasonable therapeutic strategies and can be regarded as one of the most importantly and noninvasively preoperative imaging modalities.

Objective To explore the effects and mechanism of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) on the proliferation of air?way smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) and the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (CEBPα) and calreticulin. Meth?ods (1) The ASMCs were stimulated with different concentrations of CSE for twenty-four hours. According to the concentra?tions of CSE,the cells were divided into control group, 2.5%CSE group, 5%CSE group and 10%CSE group. The prolifera?tion of ASMCs was measured by MTT colrimetric method. The CEBPαmRNA was analyzed by RT-PCR. Western bloting as?say was performed to detect the levels of CRT and CEBPαprotein. (2) In 10%CSE group, transfection of the siRNA respec?tively for negative control or calreticulin was performed in accordance with instructions. The cell proliferation and the expres?sion of calreticulin and CEBPαwere compared in negative control siRNA group and calreticulin siRNA group. Results (1) With the increasing of the concentrations of CSE, the protein expression of CEBPαdecreased gradually (P<0.05), while the proliferation of ASMCs and the protein expression of calreticulin increased (P<0.05), but the expression of CEBPαmRNA in ASMCs showed no significant difference in groups with different concentrations of CSE (P>0.05). (2) Under the 10%CSE, the expression of CEBPαwas significantly higher in CRT siRNA group than that in negative control group (P<0.05),but the cell proliferation and CRT were significantly lower in the calreticulin siRNA group than those in negative control siRNA group (P<0.05). Conclusion The CSE exposure contributes to the expression of calreticulin protein,and then inhibits the translation of CEBPαmRNA,thus promotes the proliferation of ASMCs.

Objective To investigate the expressions of transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),and to explore the mechanism of pathogenesis in COPD.Methods A total of 40 patients undergoing lung resections for pulmonary tumor were selected.Patients were divided into 2 groups according to COPD diagnostic criteria:the control group [patients without COPD,13 males,7 females,with an average age of (61.7±8.8) years] and the COPD group [patients with COPD,15 males,5 females,with an average age of (60.5 ± 9.4) years].Peripheral lung tissues from tumor lesions were detected in this study.The qualitative and quantitative expressions of NF-κB were determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot,respectively.TGF-β31 mRNA level was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results The levels of TGF β1 mRNA and NF-κB protein and the NF-κB nucleus positive rate were significantly higher in the COPDgroup than in the control group [(0.42±0.11) vs.(0.34±0.13),(0.24±0.08) vs.(0.12±0.04),57.9％ vs.26.7％,respectively,all P＜0.05].The TGF-β31 mRNA level was positively correlated with the NF-κB protein expression in the 2 groups (r=0.497,0.618,both P＜0.01).The ratio of 1 second forced expiratory volume/forced vital capacity (FEV1/ FVC) was negatively correlated with TGF-β1 mRNA level and NF-κB protein expression (r=-0.624,r=-0.659,both P ＜0.01) in the COPD group.Conclusions The expression levels of NF-κB and TGF-β1 are significantly increased in patients with COPD,and there is a positive correlation between TGF-β1mRNA level and NF-κB protein expression.NF-κB may participate in regulating TGF-β1 mRNA expression and in contributing to the airway remodeling,thereby in effecting pulmonary function.

Septic shock is the most serious stage of sepsis and the main cause of the high mortality.So far,the scientists have paid more attentions on biomarkers for the early diagnosis and therapy monitoring of septic shock.As a kind of acute phase proteins, heparin-binding protein (HBP)has functions with increasing vascular permeability, sterilization, chemotaxis and regulating cell apoptosis.When the level of plasma HBP is high, it suggests that the patient has severe sepsis with edema and vascular collapse and can beapplied as a valuable biomarker for early diagnosis and therapy monitoring of septic shock.This review focuses on common inflammatory biomarkers for clinical application of sepsis, as well the structure and function of HBP and its clinical application of septic shock.

Objective To assess the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) before percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating patients with liver metastases. Methods A total of 267 patients with 485 liver metastatic lesions were treated with percutaneous RFA in authors ’ department during the period from July 2001 to December 2012. Among them , 180 patients with 251 lesions received CEUS examination before RFA and based on CEUS findings the treatment scheme was made (CEUS group), and other 87 patients with 234 lesions without use of preoperative CEUS were used as control group. No significant differences in clinical data existed between the two groups (P<0.05). Contrast-enhanced CT/MRI, CEUS and laboratory tests were regularly employed to evaluate the clinical results after RFA therapy. Results In CEUS group, 25.1% of the lesions (63/251) determined by CEUS were 3 mm larger than that determined by conventional US. 8.8%of the lesions (22/251) were more clear on CEUS findings. In addition, 41 new lesions were detected only on CEUS. No significant differences in early tumor necrosis rate existed between the two groups: 95.2%(239/251) vs. 92.7%(217/234)(P>0.05). The local recurrence rate of CEUS group was lower than that of the control group: 12.4% (46/234) vs. 19.7%(31/251) (P < 0.05). No significant differences in the recurrence time existed between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion CEUS performed before RFA treatment for patients with liver metastases is very useful for accurately judging the size and number of the lesions, which is very helpful in making therapeutic scheme. Therefore, preoperative CEUS can significantly increase early tumor necrosis rate and decrease the local recurrence rate.

Objective To investigate the status and influencing factors of pleasant events among community-dwelling dementia patients. Methods Totally 266 community-dwelling dementia patients were recruited from Bei-jing,Guangzhou and Tianjin,and were investigated with the Chinese-version Pleasant Events Schedule-AD(PES-AD). Results The overall score of PES-AD was (14.0±6.7). The factor scores from high to low were sensory stimulation activities(0.9±0.5),family activities(0.8±0.5),emotional stimulation activities(0.8±0.4) and autonomy activities(0.6± 0.5). Multiple linear regression showed that the severity of disease,without chronic disease,educational level of de-mentia patients and their caregivers were significant influencing factors of pleasant events,which explained 41.1% of the total variance. Conclusion Sensory stimulation activities of community-dwelling dementia patients were relatively satisfactory,followed by family activities and emotional stimulation activities,but autonomy activities were relatively unsatisfactory. It is suggested to choose appropriate pleasant activities according to the severity of disease for de-mentia patients to improve their quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Adhesion molecules are closely associated with inflammation. Inflammation due to white blood cell (WBC) infiltration and free radical injury following brain ischemia are believed to be important factors contributing to the pathogenesis of multi-infarct dementia.OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of serum adhesion molecules and free radicals in patients with multi-infarct dementia to explore the relationship between their levels and multi-infarct dementia.DESIGN: A case-control trial.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 82 patients with multi-infarct dementia were hospitalized in the Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University between January 2000 and December 2004. These patients included 32 cases of mild dementia, 21 of moderate dementia, and 29 of severer dementia. The normal controls were 23 concomitant healthy volunteers who came for routine physical examination.METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and electron spin resonance were used to determine the level of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAM) and vascular cell adhesion molecules (VCAM), as well as oxygen free radical concentration in the normal controls and patients with multi-infarct dementia, and the association between the severity of the illness and the levels of adhesion molecules and oxygen free radicals was analyzed.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and oxygen free radical concentration in the two groups.RESULTS: Totally 82 patients with multi-infarct dementia and 23 healthy controls were included in this study and all enter the result analysis. In multi-infarct dementia patients, the serum levels of soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and oxygen free radical concentration [(469.00±76.33), (196.00± 45.91) and (1 103.30±98.96) μg/L, respectively] were significantly higher than those of the control group [(601.00±76.30), (4.018±1.656), and (1.295±0.718) μg/g, respectively, t=5.517-6.754, P ＜ 0.01], and the 3 indices were positively correlated with the severity of dementia (r=0.659 4,r=0.697 2, r=0.649 4, respectively, P ＜ 0.05); serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels were positively correlated with the concentration of oxygen free radicals (r=0.714 7, r=0.732 4, respectively, P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Serum ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and oxygen free radicals might be implicated in the pathophysiological development of multi-infarct dementia, and their levels increase in parallel with the severity of dementia.