D-amino acids were believed to have no function in higher organisms several years ago. Recently, D-serine was proved to be synthesized by astrocytes in vivo and be released to work as an effective coagonist at the “glycine-binding” site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors in central nervous system. In this paper, the synthesis, metabolism and function of D-serine were reviewed briefly.

Objective To understand the etiopathogenesis of pancytopenia (PCP) in Sichuan area and to analyze the statistical difference in the aspects of sex ,season and age .Methods 224 cases of PCP were performed the etiological statistics on sex ,season and age by SPSS11 .0 .Results Among 224 cases of PCP ,46 cases(21% ) were megaloblastic anemia ,followed by 36 cases(16% ) of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and 27 cases(12% ) of aplastic anemia(AA) .224 cases of PCP included 110 males(49 .10% ) and 114 females(50 .90% ) ,there was no statistical difference between sexes (P>0 .05) .In the seasons groups ,most of the patients went to see doctor and were diagnosed in the fourth quarter (32% ) and the first quarter was least (13% ) ,the difference between them had statistical significance(P<0 .05);In the age groups ,the age group of 45- <65 years old was the highest(36 .71% ) and the age group of less than 18 years was lowest(3 .57% ) ,the difference between them had statistical significance(P<0 .05) .Conclu-sion Megaloblastic anemia is the main etiology causing PCP in Sichuan area ,and the next is MDS and AA .The sex has no statisti-cal significance to the patients with PCP ,while the incidence rate in the aspects of season and age has statistical significance .

Objective To explore the clinical significance of lipid levels including total cholesterol TC triglyceride TG high?density lipoprotein HDL?C low density lipoprotein LDL?C and apolipoprotein APOAⅠand APOB of elder?ly patients with hepatic schistosomiasis. Methods A total of 280 hospitalized elderly patients with hepatic schistosomiasis 198 cases of chronic liver fibrosis and 82 cases of hepatocirrhosis were chosen as study objects and their clinical data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Meanwhile the lipid levels between the patients with liver fibrosis and hepatocirrhosis and those among the patients with ABC degrees of Child?pugh grading of liver function were compared. Results Among the 280 patients the abnormality rates of the lipid levels were 34.8% 69/198 and 100% 82/82 in the liver fibrosis group and he?patocirrhosis group respectively and the difference between them were statistically significant χ2=5.74 P 0.05 . The levels of TC HDL?C LDL?C APOAⅠof the patients in the latter group were significantly lower than those in the former group all P 0.05 . The levels of TC TG HDL?C APOAⅠ APOB of the patients with C degree liver function were significantly lower than those of the patients with A degree liver function and the levels of TC TG HDL?C of the former were also lower than those of the patients with B degree liver function all P 0.05 . Conclusions The lipid levels of the elderly patients with he?patic schistosomiasis reduce obviously in the course of hepatocirrhosis and it is correlated with the damage level of the liver. Lipid and apolipoprotein detections have certain values on the illness judgment and prognosis assessment.

Objective To investigate the expression of helper T cells (Th)17/regulatory T cells (Treg) balance associated factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and their correlation with serum midkine (MK).Methods A total of 60 RA patients were divided into active RA patients (n=32) and inactive RA patients group (n=28).MK level in sera was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 60 patients with RA and 30 healthy controls (HCs).The fraction of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells and IL-17+CD4+ Th17 cells in RA patients and healthy controls were determined by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expreasion of Foxp3, RORγt, Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 and STAT5 mRNA were detected with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results were evaluated using ANOVA followed by q tests for comparisons of Th17 population between active RA patients, inactive RA patients and HCs, t test was used for comparing of Foxp3, RORγt, STAT3, STAT5 mRNA between RA group and HCs.The correlations between serum MK concentration and peripheral Treg cells, Th17 cells, Foxp3, RORγt, STAT3, STAT5 mRNA were analyzed by Pearson's correlation analysis.Results The percentages of Treg cells from active RA patients, inactive RA patients and HCs were significantly different (F=129.6, P＜0.01), the percentages of Treg cells of active RA patients [(1.41±1.05)％] were lower than that of the inactive RA patients [(3.6±1.6)％;q =7.92, P＜0.05] and healthy group [(7.7±1.7)％;q=22.45, P＜0.05], and there was significant difference between healthy group and inactive RA group (q=14.53, P＜0.05).The percentages of Th17 cells of the three groups were also significantly different (F=36.3, P＜0.01),the percentage of Th17 cells of active RA patients [(1.84±1.01)％] was significantly higher than that of inactive RA patients [(0.71±0.28)％;q=9.59, P＜0.05] and healthy group (0.53±0.16)％ [(P＜0.05;q=1 1.10, P＜0.05], there was no significant difference between the inactive RA group and healthy group (q=1.51, P＞0.05).The expression of RORγt and STAT3 mRNA in RA patients was higher than that of healthy controls (t=5.84, P＜0.01;t=4.52, P＜0.01).The expression of Foxp3 and STAT5 mRNA in RA patients were lower than healthy controls (t=6.01, P＜0.01;t=2.18, P＜0.05).Serum MK values were correlated with STAT5 (r=-0.55, P＜0.01), but not with Foxp3, RORγt, STAT3 mRNA or the percentage of Treg/Th17 cells.Conclusion Serum MK expression and the percentage of Th17 cells increase, while the percentage of Treg cells decrease in RA patients.Serum MK values are negatively correlated with STAT5 mRNA which is associated with Th17/Treg balance.This may be important in the pathogenesis of RA.

Objective To investigate the relation between the apotosis of B cells in the peripheral blood (PB) and the expression of interleukin (IL)-17 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods The proportions of apoptosis of B cells in the PB of 80 patients with RA and 80 healthy controls were measured by flow cytometry.B cells in the PB of 20 RA and 20 healthy individuals were isolated by MACS and Western blotting was used to detect the Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 protein levels.IL-17 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).T-test and linear regression were used to analyze the data.Results The proportions of apoptosis of B cells in the PB of patients with RA and healthy controls were (14±6)％ and (24±9)％ respectively.The rate of apoptosis of B cells in patients with RA was significantly less than healthy controls (t=2.737,P=0.021).The Bcl-2 protein level of B cells in the PB of patients with RA group was significantly higher than that of control group (26±10,12±6,P＜0.01).Conversely,the Caspase-3 protein level of B cells in the PB of patients with RA group was significantly lower than that of the control group (16±7,31±12,P＜0.01).ELISA detected elevated level of serum IL-17 in the patients with RA as compared with controls [(69±19),(27±10) pg/ml,t=4.631,P=0.014].There was a negative correlation between the level of IL-17 and apoptosis of B cells in patients with RA (r=0.36,P＜0.01).Conclusion The elevated bcl-2 and reduced caspase-3 of B cells in patients with RA further proves there is abnormal apoptosis of B cells in RA patients.There is negative correlation between the expression of IL-17 and apoptosis of B cells in patients with RA and IL-17 can inhibit B cell apoptosis.

Fifty children with refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (RITP) were treated with rituximab (n =26) or vincristine (n =24).The response rate,adverse reaction and recurrence rate in two groups were compared.The CD19 +/CD20 + B cells in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry in 26 patients before and after RITP treatment.The response rates of rituximab group was significantly higher than that of vincristine group ( 69.2％ vs. 37.5％,x2 =9.74,P ＜ 0.01 ). There was no significant difference in the rate of adverse reaction between two groups ( 11.5％ vs.8.3％,x2 =0.62,P ＞ 0.05 ).The recurrence rate of rituximab group ( 22.2％ ) was significantly lower than that of vincristine group (55.6％,x2 =7.24,P ＜ 0.05 ).In rituximab group the platelet count after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment ( t =12.48,P ＜0.01 ),and the ratio of CD19 +/CD20 + B cells decreased significantly after treatment compare to that before treatment ( t =6.71,P ＜0.05 ).Rituximab is effective in treatment of refractory idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in children,which may be associated with decreased B cells in peripheral bloos.

Objective To evaluate detection effect of three methods on monitoring microbes in dialysate and dialysis water for hemodialysis.Methods Seventy-two dialysate and dialysis water specimens were collected from 36 medical institutions,specimens were cultured with three methods: blood agar plate incubated at 35℃ for 72 hours,Tryptic soy agar(TSA)plate incubated at 35℃ for 72 hours,and Reasoner's 2A agar(R2A agar)plate incubated at 23℃ for 168 hours,colony counts,isolation of colony,and detection rate of colony exceeding action level(≥50 CFU/mL)were compared among three methods.Results The colony isolation rates of microbes in dialysate and dialysis water detected by blood agar plate,TSA plate and R2A plate were 40.28%,63.89%,and 69.44%respectively,difference was significant(x2=14.16,P<0.05);pairwise comparison showed that isolation rates of colony on R2A agar plate and TSA plate were higher than blood agar plate.There was significant difference in isolated colony count between blood agar plate and R2A agar plate,TSA plate and R2A agar plate respectively(Z=-4.515,-6.970 respectively,both P<0.05).The rates of isolated colony exceeding action level in dialysate and dialysis water detected by blood agar plate,TSA plate,and R2A agar plate were 1.39%,4.17%,and 20.83%respectively,difference was significant(x2=19.83,P<0.05),detection rate of R2A agar plate was higher than the other two methods.Conclusion The detection rate of colony by R2A agar plate and TSA plate are better than blood agar plate,detection rate of colony exceeding action level by R2A agar plate is higher than TSA plate and blood agar plate,R2A agar plate for microbial monitoring(23℃,168 h)on dialysate and dialysis water is superior to the other two methods.

Objective To investigate the effect of active fraction A (TXR-A) extracted from Tiaoxin Recipe (TXR) on inhibition of corticosterone on long-term potentiation (LTP) induced by high frequency stimulation (HFS) in rat hippocampal slices. Methods The slices were divided into control, corticosterone, corticosterone+TXR, and corticosterone+different concentration of TXR-A groups, then were incubated with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) added by drugs for 1 h before recording and were perfused with the same ACSF during recording. Population spike (PS) was recorded from stratum pyramidale of area CA1 using extracellular recording following stimulation of Schaffer collaterals in rat hippocampal slices. Then a 100 Hz, 100 pulses HFS was used to induce LTP. Results PS amplitude was decreased significantly vs that in the control group, when the slices were pre-incubated in ACSF added by corticosterone (2 ?mol/L) over 1.5 h, meaning that LTP was inhibited by corticosterone. However, PS amplitude of the slices pre-incubated in ACSF added by corticosterone (2 ?mol/L) and high concentration TXR-A was increased significantly vs that of corticosterone pre-treating slices, meaning that high concentration TXR-A enhanced LTP inhibited by corticosterone. Furthermore, increased LTP amplitude in high concentration TXR-A was much more than that in TXR. Conclusion TXR-A is one of main TXR active ingredients which facilitate LTP inhibited by corticosterone in area CA1 of rat hippocampal slices. The antagonist (effect) on corticosterone inhibition on LTP is one of the mechanisms to benefit the intelligence.

Long-term potentiation(LTP) of synaptic activity in the hippocampal is the most widely researched model of synaptic plasticity,which is believed to underlie the brain function of learning and memory.Mitogen-activated protein kinases(MAPK) respond to a variety of cellular and extracellular stimuli, such as growth factors,cytokines,extracellular mitogen and stresses.MAPK are involved in complex processes such as in cell differentiation,proliferation and programmed cell death.It has been reported that the upstream regulators and downstream substrats of MAPKs still widely exist in the mature neuron.MAPKs cascade induces phosphorylation of many functional protein including some receptors and kinases that is associated with induction and maintain of the LTP in the neuron,indicating that MAPKs do play a crucial role in the synaptic plasticity.Extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK),c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) and p38 activity and its relationship with LTP are reviewed.

Objective To observe the effects of lycopene on fibrinolytic activity and nitric oxide in atherosclerosis rabbits. Methods 30 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. They were individually housed in metal cages. Throughout the experimental period, they were given restricted amounts of food. Control group was fed with normal diet,model group was fed with 1% cholesterol,10% lard and 89% normal diet, lycopene group was fed with 1% cholesterol,10% lard and normal diet plus 6% lycopene.At the time of the first day and the 8th week, blood samples were drawn from ear edge vein of rabbits. The activity and content of plashaa tissue type plasminogen activator(t-PA)and plasminogen activator inhibitor(PAI-1)were detected. The levels of serum Nitric oxide (NO)were determined.At the end of the study, the plaque areas were measured. SPSS 10.0 software was used to evaluate the differences among the three groups. Results Compared with control group, atherosclerosis rabbits had lower content and activity of t-PA, higher content and activity of PAI-1 and lower content of NO. Compared with model group, lycopene group had no significant difference about the content and activity of tPA and PAI-1.But lycopen increased the levels of serum NO, significantly diminished the area of lipid plaque. Conclusions The experimental results suggested that lycopene had antiatherogenic effects. The possible mechanisms might be that lycopene could decrease lipid peroxidation injure, maintain the concentration of NO and protect vascular endothelium. The antiatherogenic effects of lycopene had no correlation with the fibrinolytic activity.