Objective To investigate the effects of dexamethasone on the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR ?, GR ?) in human monocyte cell line THP-1.Methods Cultured THP-1 cells were stimulated by dexamethasone with different concentrations and for different durations. The GR ? and GR ? protein expressions were examined by Western blotting. Results The expressions of GR ? and GR ? were observed in stimulated and unstimulated THP-1. The quantity of GR ? expression was reduced by dexamethasone treatment in a time-dependent manner. The quantity of GR ? expression was increased by dexamethasone treatment in time- and dose-dependent manner. Conclusion Dexamethas one stimulation time-dependent reduce GR ? expression in THP-1 cell. Dexamethasone stimulation time- dependent and dose-dependent increase GR ? expression in THP-I. The expressions of GR a and GR ? were regulated by glucocorticoid.

0.05).The frequency of action potential evoked by electric current was higher after perfusion of iberiotoxin,as well as thei level during depolarization(n=9,P

Objective To study relationship between blood-glucose change and prognosis of the patients after severe traumatism.Methods 70 cases severe traumatic emergency patients selected tested the level of blood-glucose instantly when they presented themselves to the clinic after injury,used saccharimether and blood-glucose test paper provided by the Johnson Limited Corporation,and 30 slight traumatic emergency patients at the same time were selected as contrel.Result The blood-glucose after severe traumatic were markedly higher than that of slight traumatic group,which have significance(P

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the achievements of technique of tissue engineered tendon transplant on the basis of recent development of materials of tendon transplant at home and aboard.DATA SOURCES: A computer-based online search of Medline database was undertaken to identify articles about materials of tendon transplant and technique of tissue engineered tendon transplant published in English from January 1980 to January 2005, and the keywords were "tendon transplant, tissue engineer, progress". Meanwhile, Chinese relevant articles published between January 1990 and January 2005 were reviewed in CBM database with the keywords of "tendon transplant, tissue engineer, summarization" in Chinese.STUDY SELECTION: Relevant literatures about materials of tendon transplant and technique of tissue engineered tendon transplant were retrieved firstly, and the full-tests were further searched. Those about the materials of tendon transplant and technique of tissue engineered tendon transplant were selected; however, the reviews, repetitive studies and Meta analytic ones were excluded.DATA EXTRACTION: Among 45 articles, 30 ones about materials of tendon transplant and technique of tissue engineered tendon transplant met the required criteria.DATA SYNTHESIS: Main materials of tendon transplant are as follows: autologous tendon, allogeneic tendon, artificial tendon and tissue engineered tendon. Recently, studies on allogeneic tendon are more and more favorable. In late 1980s, establishment and development of tissue engineering bring a new way for repairing deficiency of tendon tissue.Studies on tissue engineered tendon are designed to transplant made-up tendon in vitro to deficient site of tendon in vitro in order to recover articular function. At present, we devote ourselves to study cytoskeleton which is characterized by virtues of both two materials. Combination with tendon cells in vitro can produce a nonvolatile and active tissue engineered tendon.CONCLUSION: Main materials of tendon transplant are as follows: autologous tendon, allogeneic tendon, artificial tendon and tissue engineered tendon. Further application of seed cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) will develop the research in tissue engineered tendon.

Objective To investigate the role of large conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BK) in neuronal Ca2+ overload following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Neuronal cells of C57BL/6 mouse cortex were collected and cultured. Patch-clamp technique was applied to investigate the changes of intracellular free calcium [Ca2+] i and firing frequency of neuronal action potentials in rest condition or evoked by 100 pA electric current lasting 500 ms after perfusion of Iberiotoxin ( 100 nmmol/L), a BK specific blocker. The cells were divided randomly into experimental group ( plus Iberiotoxin) and control group. Extracellular solution of cultured neurons was further perfused with KCl (20 mmol/L) to induce elevation of [Ca2 +]i and influence of Iberiotoxin ( 100 nmol/L) on amplitude of [Ca2 +] i elevation was determined. Results No significant changes of neuronal spontaneous action potential frequency and [Ca2 +]i were observed in rest condition after perfusion of Iberiotoxin (P＞0.05).However, when evoked by electric current, the frequency of action potential was (10.4 ± 3.0) Hz,which was increased to ( 13.8 ± 3.7 ) Hz after perfusion of Iberiotoxin, with statistical difference (P＜0.05 ). The [Ca2 +] i level was ( 14.21 ± 16.98 ) nmol/Lbefore perfusion with Iberiotoxin but was increased to (44.07 ± 34. 4) nmol/L after perfusion of Iberiotoxin (P ＜ 0.05 ). Extracellular high concentration of KCl increased [Ca2 +] i of neurons, while perfudion of Iberiotoxin further elevated [Ca2 +]i (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion BK may play an important role in the regulation of neuronal [Ca2+] i and in neuronal Ca2+overload following TBI.

In order to study the roles of HBx and calcium inhibitor verapamil in apoptosis of human normal hepatic cells, L02-off, a pTet-off stably integrated human hepatic cell line was established, in which HBx expression was tightly induced by Doxycycline. The effect of different amounts of HBx and verapamil on apoptosis of human normal hepatic cells was detected. The study showed that apoptosis was triggered by accumulation of intracellular HBx, while verapamil had no effects on the apoptotic process. It was concluded that apoptosis mediated by HBx was dose-dependent but calcium-independent.
Apoptosis/*drug effects ; Calcium/pharmacology ; Calcium Channel Blockers/pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Hepatitis B Antigens/pharmacology ; Hepatocytes/*cytology ; Trans-Activators/*pharmacology ; Verapamil/*pharmacology

By establishing a series of Dynamic Cervical Implants (DCI) within C5-C6 cervical spinal segments, the biomechanical finite element analysis for DCI with different width and thickness were carried out to investigate the influence of the width and thickness of DCI's curved section on its equivalent stress and range of motion (ROM), so as to provide some theoretical basis for the optimization of DCI's design. The results show that the width of DCI's curved section has more obvious influence on the ROM of lateral bending and torsion, in comparison with the thickness of DCI's curved section. By appropriate reduction in width, the ROMs of lateral bending and torsion increase obviously, i.e. the overall movement function of patients is improved. Furthermore, the increase of equivalent stress could be counteracted by corresponding increase of thickness.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cervical Vertebrae ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Movement ; Neck ; Prostheses and Implants ; Prosthesis Design ; Range of Motion, Articular

BACKGROUND: Caspase family is viewed as the executive factor of cell apoptosis. Neuronal apoptosis happens probably after spinal cord injury.OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes in caspase-3 expression after spinal cord injury in rats so as to probe into the relationship between it and neuronal apoptosis and provide the evidence on the prop e r time window of intervention on alleviating secondary spinal cord injury.DESIGN: Self-control and mutual-control were designed in animal experiment.SETTING: Department of Traumatic Surgery and Department of Orthopedics of Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.MATERIALS: The experiment was performed in Experiment Room of Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January to December 2001, in which, 54SD rats were employed, of either sex, mass weighted varied from 220 to 250 g and provided from Animal Experimental Center of Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology.rats were divided into the control and injury group. Laminectomy was only done on Ts and T9 in the control and the injury group was subdivided into 9 subgroups, in which, the materials were collected on the 4th and 8th hours and on the 1st, 2rd, 3rd, 7th 14th and 21st days successively, 6 rats in each one. After abdominal anesthesia with 30 g/L pentobarbitol sodium,sternal cord on T8 andT9 segments were exposed with Nystrom method and 50 g weight compressed the front middle region of the spinal cord of such segments with arch smooth metal pad 2.2 mn×5.0 mm for 5 minutes. After injury, artificial bladder urination was done 3 times at 10:00, 16:00and 22:00 successively everyday till the bladder reflex was established.cord was collected at various time spots after spinal cord injury. 4 pieces of spinal cord tissue masses from each group, about 8mm in length, were embedded with paraffin and sectioned continuously. Afterwards, HE staining, immunohistocheistry and TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling) were performed successively. Two rats were sacrificed on ice in each group and central tissue of injured spinal cord was placed in expression was assayed with immunohistochemistry method, neuronal apoptosis was assayed with TUNEL method and linear correlation was used to analyze the correlativity between caspase-3 expression and neuronal apoptosis.pase-3 expression after spinal cord injury in rats of each group.RESULTS: Six rats were maintained in each group and included in result optic microscope: Extensive hemorrhage appeared in 1 hour in injured segment. In 4 to 8 hours, spinal structure began destructive and a large amount of neuronal death appeared. In 24 hours, the destruction of spinal cord became severe and in 7 to 21days, the range of injury was defined with immunohistochemistry in rats of each group: Very few caspase-3 expressions (2.1±0.5) presented in neurons of spinal cord in normal rat. In 8hoursafter spinal cord injury, caspase-3 expression of positive neurons was increased remarkably (89.2±10.5) and up to the peak (189.6±12.7) in 3 days. Caspase-3 expression of positive cell and apoptotic cell appeared alexpression assayed with transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)in rats of each group: Caspese-3 mRNA (0.442±0.024) began increased in 4h, was up to the peak (0.634±0.028) in 48 hours and was restored to be normal (0.351±0.013) in 7 days, which appeared early than apoptosis, indicating positive correlation with the level of neuronal apoptosis (r=0.622).In the control and 4 hours group, stained cell was seen occasionally and positive cell appeared 8 hours later, mainly localized in gray matter. Afterwards, positive cell was increased and up to the peak in 3 days. In 7 days,positive cell of apoptosis and staining was decreased gradually in gray matter, mainly around the white matter. Little amount positive cells appeared on the 14th day and 21st day.CONCLUSION: In normal spinal cord tissue, caspase-3 existed in form of zymogen with very low activity. Caspase-3 is enhanced in expression after spinal cord injury in rats, expresses in large amount in 8 hours and is up to the peak in 24 to 48 hours, which is overlapped in time with positive apoptotic cell assayed with TUNEL and concerning to the localization, it is in conformity with positive apoptotic cell of spinal cord injury compared with positive cell of caspase-3. It is indicated that caspase-3 is involved in regulation of cell apoptosis after spinal cord injury. It is seen in this experiment that the time from spinal cord injury to the activation of caspase-3 is the time window of treatment for cell apoptosis intervened by spinal cord and alleviating secondary spinal cord injury. It is suggested that genetic intervention or specific caspase-3 inhibitor should be applied in 48 hours.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of human TREM-1 mRNA in patients with (biliary) infection. Methods Peripheral blood of 32 patients with biliary infection and 7 healthy volunteers were (collected). TREM-1 mRNA was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. TNF-? was determined by ELISA method. Results The values of TREM-1/?-actin of control group was 0.48?0.072, while those of biliary infection group in 1d, 2d, 3d, 7d were 0.93?0.070,0.90?0.060,0.82?0.092,0.66?0.062 respectively (P

Objective To explore the relationship between quality items of chest compression for resuscitation of cardiac arrest and to identify the key points in chest compression training and practice.Method The training project was offered to 219 healthcare workers by using Laerdal ACLS advanced life support resuscitation model, and the quality issues of chest compression were monitored including compression hands placement,compression rate,compression depth,and chest wall recoil,as well as selfreported fatigue time by Laerdal Computer Skills and Reporting System.Results The quality of chest compression was related to the geuder of the practitioner.The items in males including self-reported fatigue time,the accuracy of compression depth and the compression rate,the accuracy of compression rate were higher than those in females.However,the chest recoil rate was higher in females than that in males.The quality items of chest compression were correlated with one another. The self-reported fatigue time was related to all the items except the compression rate.Conclusions It is necessary to offer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training courses regularly. In clinical practice,it might be better to change the practitioner before fatigue,especially for female or weak practitioners.In training projects,more attention should be paid to the control of compression rate, in order to delay the fatigue, guarantee enough compression depth and improve the quality of chest compression.