Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; virology

Adaptive Immunity ; Animals ; Female ; Humans ; Immunity, Innate ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; chemistry ; immunology ; Influenza A virus ; chemistry ; immunology ; Male

Objective To evaluate the effects of endogenous NO on the chemosensitivity of human breast cancer cell. Methods MCF-7 cells were cultured as monolayer, incubated with cytokine IL-1β. The pro-duction of NO was detected by NO assay. The expression of iNOS protein was measured by Western blotting. Establishing control group and experimental group, the chemosensitivity of MCF-7 cells incubated by L-NMMA and L-Arg to ADM and 5-Fu was studied by MTT assay. Results There was a positive correlation of dose-dependence between NO production and IL-1β concentration. MCF-7 cells expressed plenty of iNOS by induetion of IL-1β. There was no significant difference on iNOS whether L-NMMA and L-Arg existed or not. Incubating MCF-7 cells with 0. 5 μmol/L or 1 μmol/L ADM, the survival rate of experiment group was remarkablely decreased(P < 0.05) ; L-NMMA significantly increased survival rate of experiment group(P < O. 05) ; L-Arg decreased survival rate of experiment group(P < 0.05). Conclusion The induction of IL-113 in MCF-7 cells can increase the production of endogenous NO, which increases MCF-7 cells' sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Humans ; Macrophage Activation Syndrome ; genetics ; therapy

[Summary] The genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocyte of the patient with thyroid hormone resistance syndrome and 14 members of his family.The exons 1-10 of thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ) gene were amplified by PCR.The products of PCR were sequenced directly to detect the gene mutation.The results showed that 3 members of this family were confirmed to have the C→T transition mutation at nucleotide 1 303 site within exon 10 of TRβ gene,and the missense mutation results in the substitution of histidine to tyrosine (H435Y).The heterozygous mutation may lead to the occurrence of thyroid hormone resistance syndrome.

OBJECTIVETo summarize recent studies on the biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints, so as to provide a basis and thinking for scientific studies.

METHODSTwenty-nine papers about biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints were reviewed from studies of electricity, heat, sound, light, magnetic and radionuclide.

RESULTSThe biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints have been proved in different domains, and meridians and acupoints objectively exist.

CONCLUSIONScientific studies on the biophysical characteristics of meridians and acupoints have vast vistas.

Acupuncture Points ; Humans ; Meridians

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of cordycepin,an effective component of cordyceps militaris, on renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) and its related eIF2α/TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

METHODFirstly, 15 C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups,the control group (Group A), the model group (Group B) and the cordycepin-treated group (Group C). After renal interstitial fibrotic model was successfully established by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), the mice in Group C were intraperitoneally administrated with cordycepin(5 mg x kg(-1) d(-1)) and the ones in Group A and B were administrated with physiological saline for 5 days. At the end of the study, the obstructed kidneys were collected and detected for the pathological changes of RIF, and the mRNA expressions of collagen type I (Col I) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in the kidney by Northern blot. Secondly, after renal tubular epithelial (NRK-52E) cells cultured in vitro were exposed to transforming growth factor (TGF) -β with or without cordycepin, the mRNA expressions of Col I and collagen type IV( Col IV) by Northern blot, and the protein expressions of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF2α), phosphorylated eIF2α ( p-eIF2α), Smad2/3 and phosphorylated Smad2/3 (p-Smad2/3) were tested by Western blot.

RESULTIn vivo, cordycepin alleviated RIF in model mice, including improving fibrotic pathological characteristics and mRNA expressions of Col I and α-SMA. In vitro, cordycepin induced the high expression of p-elF2α, and inhibited the expressions of p-Smad2/3, Col I and Col IV induced by TGF-β in NRK-52E cells.

CONCLUSIONCordycepin attenuates RIF in vivo and in vitro, probably by inducing the phosphorylation of eIF2α, suppressing the expression of p-Smad2/3, a key signaling molecule in TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, and reducing the expressions of collagens and α-SMA in the kidney.

Actins ; analysis ; Animals ; Deoxyadenosines ; pharmacology ; Fibrosis ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Phosphorylation ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Smad Proteins ; physiology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; antagonists & inhibitors ; physiology

Objective:To investigate the incidence trends and clinicopathologic characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducting using the following data:3,766 cases with thyroid disease in the People's Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2001 and July 2013;and 977 cases with thyroid cancer in the Hubei Cancer Hospital between Janu-ary 2006 and July 2013. Results:The incidence of thyroid cancer increased significantly since 2008, ranging from 14.94%to 18.10%(P<0.05). In particular, the PTC cases ranged from 85.33%to 90.89%(P<0.05). A total of 1,416 cases were diagnosed as PTC with a male to female ratio of 1:3.75. The positive rate of neck lymph node metastasis (NLNM) was significantly different in terms of gender and age (P<0.05). Significant differences were also found between the unifocal group and the multifocal group;the positive rate of NL-NM was 77.94%in the latter group. The rate of NLNM in PTC was 72.29%, which had higher significance compared with Hashimoto's thyroiditis or with nodular goiter. Conclusion: The incidence of thyroid cancer is increasing. Cases involving males aged below 45 years old and with>1 cm tumor diameter and multifocal PTC are more likely to be complicated with NLNM.

Objective:To explore the mechanisms of the inhalation of atomized 1.0% anti-IL-1βand TNF-αimmunoglobulin yolk ( IgY) on treating guinea pigs with allergic asthma induced by the inhalation of aerosolized ovalbumin ( OVA).Methods:Healthy guinea pigs were randomly divided into the normal controls ( group C ) , the allergic asthma model group ( group M )-treated by the inhalation of atomized ovalbumin ( OVA ) , the inhalation of atomized 1.0% anti-IL-1βand TNF-αimmunoglobulin yolk ( IgY ) treatment group (group Z1)-treated asthma model guinea pigs by the inhalation of atomized 1.0% anti-IL-1βand TNF-αIgY,and positive control the inhalation of atomized budesonide treatment group (group Z2)-treated asthma model guinea pigs by the inhalation of atomized budesonide.The blood was gotten by cardiac puncture and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF ) was collected by bron-choalveolar lavage at 2 h,4 h,8 h and 24 h after the last time atomization.The inflammatory cells in the peripheral blood ( PB) were counted by methylene blue and eosin staining.Cytokine concentrations of IL-1β,IL-4,IL-6,IL-8,IL-13,IL-16,TNF-α,TGF-β1 and IgE in the plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:In PB,eosinophils was decreased from 2 h to 8 h in group Z1 compared to group M.In plasma,the levels of IL-1βat 4 h and 24 h,IL-16 at 2 h,4 h and 24 h,TGF-β1 from 4 h to 24 h and IgE at 24 h,as well as the levels of IL-1βand TNF-αfrom 2 h to 8 h,IL-4,IL-6,IL-8 and IL-13 from 4 h to 24 h,IL-16 at 8 h,and TGF-β1 and IgE from 4 h to 8 h,especially the level of IL-1βand TNF-αstarting at 2 h,in BALF were significantly reduced in group Z 1 compared to group M ( P<0.05 ).The levels of IL-1βand TNF-αwere positively cor-related with that of IL-4,IL-6,IL-8,IL-13,IL-16,TGF-β1 and IgE (P<0.05).Conclusion: The inhalation of aerosolized anti-IL-1βand TNF-αIgY effectively alleviates inflammatory responses in guinea pigs with allergic asthma induced by aerosolized OVA inhalation may be due to the significant decrease in the levels of various allergic inflammatory cytokines .

[Summary] According to urinary albumin excretion rates ( UAER) , 256 patients with type 2 diabete mellitus (T2DM) were divided into normal albuminuria (NA), microalbuminuria (MA), and clinical nephropathy (CN) groups while 108 healthy subjects as control group. The analysis of variance of single factor was applied to examine lipoprotein(a), triglyceride, total cholesterol(TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), cystatin C, and homocysteine. The correlations of lipoprotein ( a ) with urinary albumin excretion rate ( UAER ) and glomerular filtration rate ( eGFR ) were analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The sensitivities of lipoprotein ( a ) were evaluated in diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy ( DN) by receiver operating characteristic curve. The results showed that lipoprotein ( a) levels in NA, MA, and CN groups were gradually increased, with a significant increase in CN group(P<0. 05). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that lipoprotein (a) was positively correlated with systolic pressure, TC, cystatin C, and UAER(all P<0. 05) and negatively correlated with fasting blood glucose and eGFR (P<0. 05). The area under the ROC curve of lipoprotein(a) was 0. 639, with the sensitivity 66. 4% and specificity 55. 9% in the optimal cutoff value of 8. 41 mg/dl. These results suggest that lipoprotein(a) may serve as an index for monitoring DN based on its better correlation with UAER and eGFR.