Myeloid differentiation protein-2(MD-2)can separately and simultaneously bind lipopolysaccharide(LPS)and toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)has been shown to play critical roles in mediated recognition responses to LPS by TLR4 and signal transduction induced by LPS.MD-2 can be bound by LPS,not TLR4.The cells have no responsiveness or weak responsiveness to LPS without MD-2.MD-2 can be secreted into blood plasma,formed soluble MD-2 and remotely regulated cells that contained TLR4 without MD-2.MD-2 has been shown to play important roles in endotoxin signal transduction.MD-2 is a small molecular,short nucleic acid fragment,easily regulated should become a new potential anti-inflammatory target.

To compare the effects of laparoscopic total or subtotal hysterectomy and myomectomy on ovarian reserve by measuring the serum level of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH).A total of 96 patients with uterine fibroids underwent total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH group,n =32),laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy (LSH group,n =31) and laparoscopic myomectomy (LM group,n =33).Changes in ovarian reserve were examined by measuring the level of AMH pre-operation and at 1 and 4 months post-operation.No significant differences existed in AMH in LM group[(1.42 ±0.65),(1.31 ±0.53) & (1.33 ±0.61) μg/L,P ＞ 0.05].The levels of AMH in both groups were significantly lower than those at pre-operation [(1.17 ± 0.11),(1.01 ±0.10),(0.48±0.54) & (1.18±0.93),(0.45 ±0.39),(0.14±0.0) μg/L,P＜0.001].The mean percentage decrease in AMH was lower in TLH group than that in LSH group at 4-month follow-up [(-37.4 ± 37.6) ％ vs.(-27.0 ± 23.0) ％,P =0.017].The results showed that LM had no effect on ovarian reserve.Both LSH and TLH had adverse effects on ovarian reserve and TLH was more marked.

A study on the microbial transformation of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) was conducted by a fungus, Cunninghamella blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 systematically. After incubation with the cell cultures of C. blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 at 25 degrees C for 7 days on a rotary shaker operating at 135 r x min(-1), GA was converted into one major product and five minor products. The products were extracted and purified by solvent extraction, macroporous adsorbent resin, silica gel column chromatography, and semi-preparative RP-HPLC chromatography. Their structures were identified as 3-oxo-15α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(1), 3-oxo-15β-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (2), 7β,15α-dihydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (3), 3-oxo-7β, 15α-dihydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (4), 7β-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(5) and 15α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(6) by the analyses of MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic data respectively. Among them, 2 was a new compound. These results suggest that C. blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 has the capability of selective ketonization and hydroxylation for GA. [Key words] glycyrrhetinic acid; Cunninghamella blakesleeana CGMCC 3. 970; microbial transformation
Biotransformation ; Cunninghamella ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between serum load level of HBV-DNA and therapeutic effect of oxymatrine in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSForty-four patients of chronic hepatitis B were divided into two groups, the treated group was treated with oxymatrine 0.4 g/d by intramuscular injection for 3 months, the control group was treated with some liver protecting agents to estimate the therapeutic effect. The serum level of HBV-DNA was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe seroconversion rate of HBV-DNA and HBeAg in the treated group was 43.47% and 43.47% respectively, which was obviously better than those in the control group respectively (P < 0.05), the quantity of HBV-DNA decreased after treatment from 10(6.83 +/- 1.27) copy/ml to 10(3.35 +/- 3.08) copy/ml. Among them, in patient with HBeAg negative conversion, the pretreatment quantity of HBV-DNA was 10(6.30 +/- 1.42) copy/ml, while in those with no HBeAg negative conversion, it was 10(7.23 +/- 1.23) copy/ml, the difference was significant.

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine is effective in treating chronic hepatitis B. The therapeutic effect is better for patients with lower quantity of serum HBV-DNA.

Adult ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Injections, Intramuscular ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Quinolizines

Actins ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hypophosphatemia ; blood ; etiology ; Ilium ; Mesenchymoma ; blood ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Osteomalacia ; blood ; etiology ; Phosphates ; blood ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To approach the evaluative effect of respiratory variation of superior vena cava peak flow velocity measured using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) on fluid responsiveness in patients with mechanical ventilation.Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted.All mechanical ventilated critically ill patients whose fluid therapy was planned due to hypovolemia in Department of Critical Care Medicine of Beijing Tongren Hospital of Capital Medical University from April 2011 to April 2013 were enrolled.Volume expansion was performed with 500 mL Linger solution within 30 minutes.Patients were classified as responders if pulse pressure variation (PPV) increased ≥ 13％ before volume expansion.The respiratory variation in superior vena cava peak velocity was calculated as the difference between maximum and minimum values of velocity in peak A,peak S and peak D over a single respiratory circle,and their variations (ΔA,ΔS,ΔD) were also calculated.The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to assess the evaluative effect of respiratory variation of superior vena cava peak velocity on fluid responsiveness.Results Twenty-seven patients were enrolled in this study.Volume expansion increased PPV ≥ 13％ happened in 14 patients (responders).The velocity of superior vena cava in peak A,peak S,peak D was significantly increased after volume expansion compared with that before volume expansion in responders [peak A (cm/s):34.6 ± 2.2 vs.31.3 ±2.1,t=-2.493,P=0.027; peak S (cm/s):39.1 ± 1.3 vs.35.3 ±2.1,t=-2.564,P=0.024; peak D (cm/s):28.1 ± 1.2 vs.23.3 ± 1.4,t=-4.995,P=0.000],but there was no significant difference in ΔA,ΔS and ΔD between before and after volume expansion.The ΔA,ΔS and ΔD were positively correlated with PPV (r＝0.040,P=0.854; r=0.350,P=0.074; r=0.749,P=0.000).The area under ROC curve (AUC) of peak S was 0.36 [95％ confidence interval (95％CI):0.11-0.52],but the AUC of ΔS was 0.68 (95％CI 0.47-0.89),the AUC of peak D was 0.41 (95％CI 0.19-0.63),but the AUC of ΔD was 0.95 (95％CI 0.86-1.00),so the aberration rate of superior vena cava in respiration was better than the flow rate in superior vena cava.When the cut-off value of ΔS was 20.7％ for predicting fluid responsiveness,the sensitivity was 78.6％ and the specificity was 61.5％.When the cut-off value of ΔD was 12.7％ for predicting fluid responsiveness,the sensitivity was 92.0％ and the specificity was 92.3％.Conclusion Respiratory variations in superior vena cava peak velocity measured by TTE could assess fluid responsiveness in patients with mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVETo study the signal roles of protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) on proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblasts derived from hypertrophic scar(HS-FB) and normal skin (NS-FB) by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1).

METHODSHS-FB and NS-FB were cultured and passaged in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium(DMEM). The PTK activity in unstimulated or IFN-gamma or TGF-beta1-stimulated HS-FB and NS-FB (10,30,60 and 120 min) were assayed by phosphorus (32P) incorporation. Cell proliferation was determined with MTT stain. The type III procollagen was measured by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSTGF-beta1 did not change PTK activity but it increased predominately proliferation and collagen synthesis of HS-FB and NS-FB in time-dependent fashion. Genistein, an inhibitor of PTK, inhibited HS-FB and NS-FB to proliferate and synthesize collagen but it could not change the roles on proliferation and collagen synthesis by TGF-beta1. IFN-gamma activated transiently PTK (P < 0.05) and increased proliferation and collagen synthesis of both fibroblast (P < 0.05, at 30 min, 60 min). As the recovery of PTK activity, the proliferation and collagen synthesis were inhibited by IFN-gamma at 120 min. Furthermore, Genistein abrogated the transient increased roles and partly reversed the longterm inhibitory functions by IFN-gamma (P < 0.05) . There were no difference on PTK activity, proliferation and collagen synthesis between HS-FB and NS-FB.

CONCLUSIONSPTK did not mediate the signal of TGF-beta1 but transduced the signal of transient increased roles of IFN-gamma. Inhibited or activated PTK might mediate the signal of decreasing or increasing proliferation and collagen synthesis of fibroblast.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Collagen ; biosynthesis ; Dermis ; metabolism ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; pharmacology ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology ; Wound Healing

Background Statistic data revealed that different retinopathy of pre-term infants have different susceptibility to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP),which may be associated with polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) gene.Objective This study was to determine the association of polymorphisms of VEGF gene with the risk for ROP.Methods This research was approved by Ethics Committee of Hunan Children's Hospital,and written informed consent was obtained from the parents of patients.A prospective case-controlled study was designed.Ninety-nine ROP patients in Hunan Children' s Hospital and 88 pre-termed children without ROP were included from January,2006 to December,2009.Thirty-nine patients who received retinal photocoagulation or cryotherapy were included as the treatment group,and 60 untreated but spontaneously regressed ROP patients as the non-treatment group.No significant differences were seen in demography between with the ROP group and the without ROP group,or between the treatment group and the non-treatment group (all P＞0.05).2 mL of peripheral blood was collected for the extraction of DNA.Gene polymorphisms of VEGF-A+405 and VEGF-A936 were detected using the pyrosequencing method.Results No significant difference was found in the frequencies of the VEGF-A+405 gene polymorphisms between the ROP group and without ROP group (P =0.071,OR =0.675,95 ％ CI =0.444-1.026).Also no significant difference was found in the frequencies of the VEGF-A936 gene polymorphisms between with the ROP group and without the ROP group (P =0.118,OR =0.768,95 ％ CI=2.823-4.614).However,the frequencies of the VEGF-A+405 gene polymorphisms were significantly higher in the ROP treatment group than the non-treatment group (P＜0.01,OR--0.857,95 ％ CI =5.239-14.024),and VEGF-A936 gene polymorphisms was also significantly higher in the ROP treatment group than the non-treatment group (P =0.000,OR =3.609,95 ％ CI =0.711-0.829).Conclusions There is no association between the VEGF-A+405/VEGF-A936 single nucleotide polymorphism with the risk of ROP,but polymorphisms of VEGF gene may be correlated with the prognosis of ROP.The carrier of VEGF-A +405 /VEGF-A936 allele is more susceptible to ROP progression.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of 3-(4-~(18)F-fluorobenzyl)-8,9-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochromeno [3,4-c]pyridin-5-one ( is F-FDTP) as a potential dopamine D4 receptor PET imaging agent.Methods ~(18)F-FDTP solution in ethanol-physiological saline was incubated with calf serum to test its in vitro stability through the determination of radiochemical purity.Normal rats were injected intravenously with ~(18)F-FDTP and then sacrificed at 2,5,10,15,30,60 and 120 min after anesthesia.Blood,organs and brain tissue samples were collected.All samples were weighed and measured for radioactivity.The uptake of samples was expressed as percentage activity of injection dose per gram of tissue ( % ID/g).Results The stability of ~(18)F-FDTP was satisfactory and its radiochemical purity was above 95% after incubation 120 min at 37℃ in calf serum.The biodistribution showed that ~(18)F-FDTP could penetrate through the blood-brain barrier and selectively accumulate in striatum,hypothalamus,frontal certex,hippocampus,cerebellum,where the D_4 receptor was reportedly located.The radioactivities in hippocampus,hypothalamus,striatum,frontal cortex,cerebellum,pons were (0.42±0.03),(0.46±0.05),(0.54±0.04),(0.39±0.04),(0.45±0.06),(0.35±0.04) %ID/g,respectively,2 min post injection.And there was difference between the normal biodistribution results and the blocking experimental results:(0.36 ±0.05),( 0.33±0.05 ),(0.55±0.05 ),(0.30±0.07 ),(0.34±0.07 ) and (0.32±0.04) % ID/g in hippocampus,hypothalamus,striatum,frontal cortex,cerebellum and pons,respectively.Conclusions ~(18)F-FDTP can penetrate through the blood-brain barrier and selectively accumulate in striatum,hypothalamus,frontal cortex,hippocampus,cerebellum,where the D_4 receptor was known to concentrate.These preliminary results suggest that ~(18)F-FDTP is a potential dopamine D_4 receptor imaging agent and further studies are needed.

Anastomosis, Surgical ; Anastomotic Leak/surgery* ; Drainage ; Gastrectomy ; Humans ; Suction