Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of sequential plasma perfusion of low dose plasma exchange in the pa-tients with acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF).Methods The patients with HBV related ACLF in the infection department of the Affiliated Hospital of Luzhou Medical College were divided into the plasma exchange therapy group (group A,n=114)and the low dose plasma exchange sequential plasma perfusion therapy group (group B,n=144).The group A was treated only by plasma exchange of fresh frozen plasma 2 400 mL;while the group B adopted the sequential plasma perfusion of plasma exchange,with fresh frozen plasma dosage of 1 400 mL.The changes of the liver and renal function,coagulation function and electrolyte indicators were observed in the two groups.The differences in the clinical effects and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results The serum levels of ALT,TBIL and INR after treatment in the two groups were significant decreased than before treatment(P<0.05);ALB and PTA were significantly improved compared with before treatment(P<0.05);there were no signif-icant differences in serum levels of CRE,K+ and Na+ between before and after treatment.The changes of various indexes before and after treatment had no statistical differences between the two groups.The total effective rate and the mortality at 24 weeks in the group B was 66.66% and 47.22% respectively,which had no statistical differences compared with the group A.The total oc-currence rate of adverse reactions in the group B was 23.75%,which was significant lower than 35.26% in the group A with statis-tical difference (P=0.011).Conclusion Sequential plasma perfusion of plasma exchange has better clinical effect and few adverse reactions for treating the patients with ACLF,which can reduce the plasma dosage significantly.

Objective To investigate the immunogenicity and cross protective effects of two novel HCV DNA vaccines in a mice model.Methods Two self-replicating alphavirus vector-based HCV DNA vaccines, pSCK CE1E2Y and pSCK H155, were constructed based on the genes encoding the structural pro-teins (Core, E1 and E2) and structural and NS3 fusion proteins (Core, E1 , E2 and NS3) of a HCV strain isolated from a Chinese patient (genotype 1b, Hebei strain), respectively.Western blot analysis was per-formed to detect the expression of fusion antigens.The BALB/c mice were intradermally immunized with the recombinant DNA vaccines by using electroporation.The immune responses induced in mice and the cross protective effects of the recombinant DNA vaccines were evaluated.Results The DNA vaccines effectively expressed the target antigens in vitro.The antigen-specific antibody responses and specific T cell immune re-sponses were induced in mice by the immunization of replicative DNA vaccines.However, no effective cross protection was provided by either of the DNA vaccines in the surrogate challenge model based on a recombi-nant heterologous HCV (JFH1, 2a) vaccinia virus strain.Conclusion Although no effective cross protec-tion was observed, both of the two replicative DNA vaccines could induce strong humoral and cellular im-mune responses against multi-target antigens of HCV strains.This study has paved the way for further inves-tigation on the development of novel HCV vaccines.

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was identified as a novel human coronavirus and posed great threat to public health world wide,which calls for the development of effective and safe vaccine urgently. In the study, peptide epitopes tagrgeting spike antigen were predicted based on bioinformatics methods. Nine polypeptides with high scores were synthesized and linked to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Female BALB/C mice were immunized with individual polypeptide-KLH, and the total IgG was detected by ELISA as well as the cellular mediated immunity (CMI) was analyzed using ELIs-pot assay. The results showed that an individual peptide of YVDVGPDSVKSACIEVDIQQTFFDKTWPRPIDVSKADGI could induce the highest level of total IgG as well as CMI (high frequency of IFN-γ secretion) against MERS-CoV antigen in mice. Our study identified a promising peptide vaccine candidate against MERS-CoV and provided an experimental support for bioinformatics-based design of peptide vaccine.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Computational Biology ; Coronavirus Infections ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunization ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Peptides ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

To develop a safe and broad-spectrum effective hepatitis C virus (HCV) T cell vaccine,we constructed the recombinant adenovirus-based vaccine that carried the hepatitis C virus truncated NS3 and core fusion proteins. The expression of the fusion antigen was confirmed by in vitro immunofluorescence and western blotting assays. Our results indicated that this vaccine not only stimulated antigen-specific antibody responses,but also activated strong NS3-specific T cell immune responses. NS3-specific IFN-γ+ and TNF-α+ CD4+ T cell subsets were also detected by a intracellular cytokine secretion assay. In a surrogate challenge assay based on a recombinant heterologous HCV (JFH1,2a) vaccinia virus,the recombinant adenovirus-based vaccine was capable of eliciting effective levels of cross-protection. These findings have im- portant implications for the study of HCV immune protection and the future development of a novel vaccine.
Adenoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Animals ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Cross Protection ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; Hepatitis C ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Core Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Hepatitis Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Shenshuai Yangzhen Capsule (SYC) on hypothalamic leptin-neuropeptide Y (NPY) and proopiomelanocortin (POMC) axes in chronic renal failure (CRF) rats with malnutrition (MN).

METHODSForty-two male SD rats of SPF grade were established into CRF-MN model by 5/6 nephrectomy and 4% casein diet, the happening time of MN in them was recorded. Rats successfully modeled were randomized into three groups, 11 rats in Group A treated with SYC, 11 in group B treated with composite alpha-keto acid and 12 in Group C was untreated. Besides, a normal control group was set up with 8 healthy rats. After being treated for 4 weeks, the renal function related indices, including serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), 24 hour urine protein (24 h Upro), albumin (ALB), haemoglobin (Hb) insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyeride (TG) were measured, and body weight, food intake in rats were observed dynamically, blood leptin and NPY level in rats were determined by radioimmunoassay; mRNA expressions of OB-Rb, NPY and POMC in hypothalamus were detected with RT-PCR.

RESULTSCRF rats revealed MN at the end of 10th week after modeling. Compared with Group C, the condition of MN in Group A was significantly improved, showing increase of food intake and body weight (P < 0.05), marked improvement of renal function (P < 0.05), decrease of LP and NPY levels in plasma (P < 0.05), as well as up-regulated NPY mRNA expression and down-regulated mRNA expressions of OB-Rb and POMC in hypothalamus (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSYC can improve the malnutrition condition in rats with CRF, which is possibly by way of depressing OB-Rb and POMC mRNA expression and upgrading NPY mRNA expression in hypothalamus.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; complications ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Leptin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Malnutrition ; etiology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Neuropeptide Y ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pro-Opiomelanocortin ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of epilepsy. METHODS: We first collected research data about randomized control trials (RCTs) of acupuncture treatment of epilepsy from databases CNKI, CBM, VIP and Wanfang using key words "(acupuncture)", "(epilepsy)"or "(epilepsy)"or "(epilepsy)", and from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library using key words "acupuncture" "needling" "prod" "epilepsy" "epilepsies" or "seizure disorder" or "simple seizure" from the date of database construction to May 5, 2017. Then, two researchers extracted the study outcomes and evaluated the evidence qualification of the research data independently using GRADE profile 3.6 software and analyzed the primary outcome indexes using RevMan 5.3 and STATA 14.0. RESULTS: Eleven articles containing 827 cases were included in the Meta-analysis. We found that acupuncture or acupuncture in combination with other conventional drugs had a significantly better efficacy than conventional drugs in the treatment of epilepsy [OR=3.94, 95%CI (2.49, 6.24), Z=5.85, P<0.000 01]. There was a statistical heterogeneity (P=0.04, l2=60%), and the Meta-analysis was not feasible for the studies of acupuncture vs medication. Combination of acupuncture and Chinese traditional drugs was significantly better than simple Chinese traditional drugs [OR = 4.61, 95%CI (2.18, 9.74), Z=4.01, P<0.000 1], and combination of acupuncture and wes-tern medicines was obviously better than simple western medicines [OR=3.07, 95%CI(1.24, 7.65), Z=2.41, P=0.02] in the treatment of epilepsy. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture therapy may have a positive effect in the treatment of epilepsy but the conclusion needs further verification due to very fewer high-quality and well-designed RCTs found at the present.

Objective To invesgate the effect of P-glycoprotein(PGP)inhibitor,verapamil,on electrobiological activity and seizure behavior in phenytoin-carbamazepine(PHT-CBZ)resistant rats.Methods The model of medically intractable epilepsy was established by kindling of amygdale. Verapamil was applied to PHT-CBZ resistant rats,followed by the observation on after discharge threshold (ADT),after discharge duration(ADD)and seizure activity.Results Compared with the control group, the ADT was higher in PHT-CBZ resistant rats peritoneally injected with verapamil((238.0?32.2)?A vs (177.0?23.3)?A,P

BACKGROUNDAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by reversible bronchial constriction, pulmonary inflammation and airway remodeling. Current standard therapies for asthma provide symptomatic control, but fail to target the underlying disease pathology. Furthermore, no therapeutic agent is effective in preventing airway remodeling. A substantial amount of evidence suggests that statins have anti-inflammatory properties and immunomodulatory activity. In this study, we investigated the effect of rosuvastatin on airway inflammation and its inhibitory mechanism in mucus hypersecretion in a murine model of chronic asthma.

METHODSBALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin to induce asthma. The recruitment of inflammatory cells into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the lung tissues were measured by Diff-Quik staining and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. ELISA was used for measuring the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and TNF-α in BALF. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was used for mucus secretion. Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) β2 expression was measured by means of immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting.

RESULTSRosuvastatin reduced the number of total inflammatory cells, lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and eosinophils recruited into BALF, the levels of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and TNF-α in BALF, along with the histological mucus index (HMI) and GABAAR β2 expression. Changes occurred in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSBased on its ability to reduce the inflammatory response and mucus hypersecretion by regulating GABAAR activity in a murine model of chronic asthma, rosuvastatin may be a useful therapeutic agent for treatment of asthma.

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Fluorobenzenes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; GABA-A Receptor Antagonists ; pharmacology ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Lung ; chemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mucus ; secretion ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Receptors, GABA-A ; analysis ; Rosuvastatin Calcium ; Sulfonamides ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of the external application of Qiyu oil gauze (QYOG) for promoting post-operational healing in patients with anal fistula and to explore its mechanism of action so as to provide a beneficial scientific basis for its wide use.

METHODSSixty patients with anal fistula scheduled to receive simple low anal fistulectomy were equally assigned, according to the sequence of hospitalization, to the tested group and the control group, and their wounds were classified according to longitudinal diameter into three grades (Grade I with a diameter below 2 cm; Grade II, 2-5 cm; and Grade III, over 5 cm). After the operation was completed and the operational wound was sterilized with benzalkonium bromide, the wound substratum was packed with QYOG in the test group and with vaseline gauze in the control group. The packing gauze was changed every day till the wound was healed. The healing time of the patients was observed, and the number of capillaries and positive cell percentages of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in wound granulation tissues were counted on the 5th day after the operation.

RESULTSThe wound healing time was 17.80+/-5.46 days in the test group, which was significantly shorter than that in the control group (21.90+/-6.32 days, P<0.01). The number of capillaries and positive cell percentages of VEGF and bFGF in wound granulation tissues on the 5th day in the tested group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01), though the difference in EGF between the two groups was insignificant (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONQYOG could shorten the wound healing time after anal fistulectomy, which suggests that it participates in the stimulation of wound granulation tissues to produce VEGF and bFGF, and thus promotes capillary genesis and improves blood circulation in wounds so as to promote wound healing.

Administration, Topical ; Adult ; Bandages ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Granulation Tissue ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plant Oils ; administration & dosage ; Postoperative Care ; methods ; Rectal Fistula ; drug therapy ; rehabilitation ; surgery ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Wound Healing ; drug effects ; physiology

A model for screening the yeast which can ferment xylose to produce the ethanol was constructed.An ethanol yeast was obtained using the lignocellulose as substrate production the ethanol.By malt extract medium pre-culturing,soil samples use the plate with xylose as sole carbon source as the primary screening,then finally screen by the potassium dichromate color-displaying method.A strain named Y2-3 was screened from the soil.Phenotypic analysis including morphology and physiology and biochemical characteristics and 26D1/D2 sequence analysis were carried out.Based on taxonomy results,the Y2-3 was identified as Pichia caribbica.The strain Y2-3 ferments using xylose as sole carbon source: biomass 23.5 g/L,xylose utilization rate 94.7 %,ethanol final yield 4.57 g/L;using mixture sugar:biomass 28.6 g/L,xylose utilization rate 94.2 %,glucose utilization rate 95.6%,ethanol final yield 20.6 g/L.Pichia caribbica is a yeast which can utilize xylose and mixture sugar as substrate.It established the foundation for further research fermentation of ethanol by yeast using lignocellulose.