Serum cytokine concentrations were determined in patients with Graves'disease(GD)before and after treatment of thiamazole.Serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R)level was markedly raised before treatment as compared with normal subjects and returned to normal after 3 month therapy.Serum IL-8 level was lowered in GD patients and showed no change after 3 month therapy.No relationship between IL-8 and other markers was found.Serum IL-1?,IL-6 and TNF-?levels in GD patients showed no difference with those in normal controls.

Objective To explore the clinical,radiological findings and pathogenic factor of spondylometaphyseal dysplasia.Methods Five cases were reported and the relevant documents were studied retrospectively.Plain X-ray film was performed in all patients.Results There were 4 male and 1 female,age ranged from 4 to 15 years with average of 9 years.The main features of 5 cases included delayed bone age,stature short,short trunk,waddling gait noted,scoliosis in 2 cases,kyphoscoliosis in 1 case,severe genu valgum in 2 cases.The main X-ray appearance of 5 cases is multiple irregularities of long bones metaphyses associated with platyspondylia,epiphysis is normal.Type Ⅰ SMD in 2 cases,Type Ⅱ SMD in 1 case,Type Ⅲ SMD in 2 cases.Conclusion When we meet children with delayed bone age and stature short,and muhiple irregularities of long bones metaphyses associated with platyspondylia were seen in X-ray plain film.we should think about spondylometaphyseal dysplasia.

Objective To investigate the metabolic alterations in the brain of neonates with HIE and correlate those alterations with clinical grading and prognosis of HIE.Methods Fourty-six eases of full-term neonates diagnosed as HIE clinically were performed MRI and 1~H-MRS,9 healthy neonates without the evidence of asphyxia were studied as controls,1~H-MRS techniques included single voxel proton MRS and two dimensional muhi-voxel chemical shift spectroscopy imaging,point resolved spectroscopy sequence was used for 1~H-MRS.Metabolic changes in the spectroscopy were analyzed in neonates with HIE,and study the relationgship between MRS findings and prognosis.Results(1)The typical 1~H-MRS manifestations of full- term neonates suffering from HIE were as follows:the peaks of Lac were elevated,GLx-? were elevated and NAA were decreased.(2)GLx-?/Cr ratio in control,mild,moderate and severe HIE group was 0.16, 0.21,0.64,and 1.31,respectively.Lac/Cr ratio in control,mild,moderate and severe HIE group was 0.12,0.14,0.19,and 0.26,respectively.There was a significant difference in the ratio of GLx-? and Lac/Cr between HIE group and control group(t=5.01,P

From the perspective of standardization development of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) information,the paper puts forward the categorizing and coding scheme of clinical TCM information,builds a frame of basic clinical TCM information classification,which consists of 6 Grade 1 categories,30 subcategories and a few detailed categories,to provide standardized support for informatization and standardization study in the area of TCM.

Objective:To explore whether the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases(ERK)signaling in spinal dorsal horn(SDH)neurons participates in DNFB-induced chronic itch sensation.Methods:The ICR male mice,8-12 weeks old,were divided into two groups:DNFB-induced group and acetone control group.The mice in DNFB group were repeatedly smeared with 1.5% DNFB(dissolved by acetone)on the skin of the cheek and the nape to establish the chronic itch model which was analogous to the allergic dermatitis.After DNFB or acetone treatment,the spontaneous scratching behavior was observed and recorded.And the effect of MEK inhibitor U0126 intrathecal injection on the spontaneous scratching behavior was observed.Finally,the perfusion of 4% PFA was performed in mice of DNFB group and control group,the cervical cord segments(C4-C8)were removed,and the expression of pERK was detected by immunofluorescence.Results:In the cheek model,the DNFB-treated mice showed more scratching behavior(86 times in 30 min)than the control mice(17 times in 30 min).In the neck model,compared with the control mice(19 times in 30 min),the DNFB-treated mice showed vigorous scratching behavior(240 times in 30 min).So the chronic neck itch model was successfully established.After the MEK inhibitor U0126 was administered intrathecally at the lumbar level,the scratching behavior of DNFB-treated mice was inhibited obviously.Consistent with the behavior result,the intrathecal injection with U0126 could significantly reduce the number of positive neurons with p-ERK expression at the spinal horn.The activation of pERK was dominantly expressed at lamina Ⅰ andⅡ of spinal horn.In addition,pERK co-expressed with NeuN(a neuron marker),but did not co-expresse with GFAP and Iba1(specific markers for astrocyte and microglia).Conclusions:The phosphorylation of ERK signaling in SDH neurons is required for the regulation of DNFB-induced chronic itch sensation.

Objective To establish an easy and repeatable method for determination of pulmonary vascular resistance in normal and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) rats.Methods Forty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned into three groups:control group,low dose monocrotaline (MCT) group (50 mg/kg) and high dose MCT group (60 mg/kg).Rats in PAH groups received single subcutaneous injection of MCT.We measured pulmonary artery pressure by right heart catheterization using an improved hand-made PE-50 catheter.Cardiac output was calculated through thermodilution method.Pulmonary vascular resistance equals the mean pulmonary artery pressure divided by cardiac output.Results The total percentages of success to detect pulmonary artery pressure,cardiac output and pulmonary vascular resistance were 98％,100％ and 96％ respectively in 3 groups.Twenty-one days after MCT injection,mean pulmonary artery pressure significantly increased in MCT group compared to control group [ (43.1 + 0.8 ),(54.8 +2.2) vs.(17.4 + 1.0) mm Hg( 1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa),P ＜0.001 ],and the mPAP was also significantly higher in high dose MCT group than in low dose MCT group (P ＜ 0.001 ).Cardiac output was significantly lower in PAH rats than in control rats [(77.5 ±6.9),(71.0 ±6.7) vs.(126.8 ±3.9) ml/min,P ＜0.001 ].Pulmonary vascular resistance was significantly increased in PAH rats compared with control rats [(0.56 +0.06),(0.76+0.08) vs.(0.13 ±:0.01) mm Hg · min-1 · ml-1,P＜0.001].There were significant differences in both MCT-treated groups (P =0.01 ).Conclusions Pulmonary vascular resistance in rats could be reliably detected using the improved hand-made PE-50 right heart catheter.

OBJECTIVE Paeoniflorin (PF) and albiflorin (AF) are the major active components of total peony glucosides(TPG)from Paeonia lactiflora Pal,which have many biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidation and anti-hypertension effects. The drug-drug pharmacokinetic interaction among PF,AF and TPG,the pharmacokinetic comparisons of AF between hypoxia and normoxia,the transport of AF cross the blood-brain barrier cell model and the transport of AF/PF/TPG cross Caco-2 cell model were investigated.METHODS A highly sensitive and rapid UPLC-MS method with multiple-reaction monitoring(MRM)scanning via electrospray ionization(ESI)source operating both in the positive and negative ionization mode was successfully developed and validated for simultaneous quantitation of PF and AF in rat plasma after an oral administration of PF,AF and TPG. RESULTS The validated and developed UPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to simultaneously determine the AF and PF concentration in rat plasma and investigate pharmacokinetic interactions after a single intragastrical ad-ministration of PF,AF,co-administration of PF with AF and TPG,respectively.The elimination of both PF co-administered with AF and PF in TPG were slower than those for PF alone and the distribution in the tissues was wider.The combination of PF with AF or TPG could significantly increase the values of the AUC, MRT and t1/2of the drug PF, and reduce the values of CL of PF. From a comparison of the main pharmacokinetic parameters among AF alone, AF combined with PF and AF in TPG, the values of the MRT and t1/2of AF in TPG were greater than that of AF alone,and there were statistically signifi-cant differences in these parameters(P<0.05,P<0.01).It was also noticed that AUC and Cmaxof PF in hypoxia rats were significantly decreased compared with that of normaxia rats, suggesting that there was a decreased exposure of PF in rats under hypoxia. The multiple active components in TPG may lead to DDIs between some P-gp substrates. CONCLUSION The clinical performance of total peony glucosides would be better than that of single constitute. The outcomes of the study are expected to serve as a basis for development of clinical guidelines on total peony glucosides usage.

Objective Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHCM) is a primary myocardial disease characterized by unexplained ventricular hypertrophy. The application of the techniques of reverse genetics has identified at least five chromosomal loci as the major causes for FHCM in diverse ethnic populations, suggesting substantial genetic heterogeneity for FHCM. Recently, the defective gene loci of two Chinese families with FHCM have been mapped to chromosome 11 and 14q1, respectively. For further understanding of the molecular basis of FHCM in Chinese, we analyzed the linkage between four other Chinese kindreds and DNA markers from chromosome 14q1. Methods Six unrelated Chinese families with FHCM, including two previously reported, were studied. Totally 90 family members were included for analysis. DNA from 80 individuals was extracted and polymerase chain reactions were performed using the primers designed according to the sequences derived from the α and β myosin heavy chain gene. Totally four polymorphisms were studied, including three polymorphic microsatellite sequences and one single strand conformation polymorphism. Genetic linkage analysis were performed using the Linkage program.Results In the six studied families, 39 of the 90 family members were found to be affected diagnosed either by echocardiography or by clinical evaluation. The pattern of inheritance in all six studied families was most consistent with an autosomal dominant trait with a high degree of penetrance. Genetic linkage analysis using polymorphisms on the α and β MHC genes showed a combined maximal lod score of 6.2 for trinucleotide repeat polymorphism AMHC-I 15 at θ=0.00 for three studied families without recombination. Exclusion of linkage to the chromosome 14q1 location was noted in two of three other families with the maximal lod score of -2 or less.Conclusions These results provide further evidence that FHCM in Chinese is genetically heterogeneous. Chromosome 14q1 locus, probably the β myosin heavy chain gene, is important as the molecular basis for FHCM in Chinese.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between polymorphisms of FAS and FASL genes and genetic susceptibility of silicosis.

METHODSA case-control study was conducted. The case group was 183 male patients with silicosis and the control group was 111 male silica-exposed but without silicosis miners. Data on total dust concentrations was collected to estimate cumulative total dust exposure (CTE) of each subject and each person's characteristics and work history were obtained from questionnaire. Polymerase chain reaction re-strained fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP) was applied to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of FAS-1377, FAS-670 and FASL-844. Associations between polymorphisms and risk of silicosis and stages, interactions between polymorphisms, between polymorphisms and CTE and smoking and haplotypes were analyzed.

RESULTSThere were no differences in the FAS-1377, FAS-670 and FASL-844 genotypes between the case group and the control group (P > 0.05). No association was observed between FAS-1377, FAS-670 and FASL-844 polymorphisms and silicosis and stages (P > 0.05). The frequencies of FAS-1377G/-670G haplotype in the cases (9.6%) were higher than those in the controls (3.6%) (P < 0.05). No interactions between the polymorphisms of different genes, the gene polymorphism and the total accumulative total dust, the gene polymorphism and smoking were observed (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFAS-1377, FAS-670 and FASL-844 polymorphisms are not susceptible factors of silicosis. The FAS-1377G/-670G haplotype might be a susceptibility marker of silicosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Fas Ligand Protein ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Silicosis ; genetics ; fas Receptor ; genetics

This study evaluated the value of procalcitonin (PCT) levels in pleural effusion to differentiate the etiology of parapneumonic effusion (PPE). Forty-one consecutive PPE patients were enrolled and were divided into bacterial and non-bacterial PPE. Blood and pleural effusion samples were collected for PCT measurement on admission and analyzed for diagnostic evaluation. PCT of pleural fluid was significantly increased in the bacterial PPE group (0.24 ng/mL) compared to the non-bacterial PPE group (0.09 ng/mL), but there was no significant difference for serum PCT. A PCT concentration of pleural fluid >0.174 ng/mL (best cut-off value) was considered positive for a diagnosis of bacterial PPE (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 76%; AUC, 0.84). Pleural effusion PCT in the bacterial PPE is significantly different from those of the non-bacterial PPE and control groups, so the diagnostic use of PCT still warrants further investigation.
Aged ; Bacterial Infections/*diagnosis ; Calcitonin/*analysis/blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion/*diagnosis ; Pneumonia/*diagnosis ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Protein Precursors/*analysis/blood ; ROC Curve