Objective To study the transfection effects of nuclear factor-KappaB(NF-κB)decoy oligodeoxynucleotides(ODN) to Kupffer cells (KCs) mediated by lipofectamine,and investigate it's suppression effects on KCs activation. Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n=8).(1)Control group,in which the normal KCs were isolated.(2)LPS group,in which 1 ms/L LPs was added to the culture system.(3)NF-κB decoy ODN group,in which KCs were transduced with NF-κB decoy ODN (4μg×105KCs)prior to LPS stimulation.The transfection efficiency Was assayed,and the phagocytosis function,NF-κB(P65) translocation,CD40 mRNA expression of KCs were also detected respectively. Results Kupffer cells were obviously activated after LPS stimulation.the phagocytosis function was reinforced.the activity of NF-κB transloeated from cytoplasm into nucleus was obviosly increaced.The co-stimulatory molecules expression(CD40 mRNA)significantly increased compared with control group(t=4.01,P<0.01).NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides can efficiently transfected into KCs mediated by lipofectamine,which can obviously suppress KCs activation,and downregulate the expression of downstream gene(compared with LPS group,t=4.89,P<0.01). Condusion NF-κB decoy ODN can efficiently transfect into KCs and inhibit it's activation.

AlM:To investigate the prevalence of pterygium of the household population aged 40 and above in Hengli Town of Dongguan.
METHODS: Using the method of cluster random sampling, select 3 628 people aged 40 and above in four villages and one community for visual examination, intraocular pressure check, slit lamp examination and questionnaire.
RESULTS: The actual number of subjects was 3 393 people, and examination rate was 93. 52%. We detected 843 patients with pterygium. The prevalence of pterygium was 24. 85%.
CONCLUSlON:There is high prevalence of pterygium in Dongguan area. The prevalence of pterygium is related with age and working environment, but has no relation with gender.

Objective To investigate the relationship between refractory hypertension and renal hemodynamics in end stage renal diseases (ESRD) patients.Methods ESRD patients were classified into:patients with refractory hypertension (group A) and patients with normal blood pressure(group B).Renal hemodynamic indices were ex- amined by duplex ultrasonography.Fasting serum lipid (TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C,Lp(a),ox-LDL) and serum parathyroid hormane (PTH) were determined in all patients.Results Significant differences were found in renal hemodynamic indices such as peak systolic velocity (PSV),mean flow velocity (MV),pulsatility index (PI),renal- aortic ratio (RAR) and in clinical index such as Lp(a) and ox-LDL between the two group.Refractory hyperten- sion patients had lower renal hemodynamic indices and higher Lp(a) and ox-LDL levels than in patients with con- trolled BP.Logistic regression analysis revealed that refractory hypertension was related with PSV,EDV,Pl and RAR,but not relevant with sex,age,dialysis time,hematocrit,BUN,creatinine,TC,TG,HDL-C,LDL-C, PTH,MV and RI.Conclusion Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and severe disorder in renal hemodynamics is likely the cause for refractory hypertention in ESRD patients.The rise of serum Lp(a) and ox-LDL might acceler- ate renal artery atherosclerosis.

To illustrate the theoretical basis of warming and dredging function of moxibustion from the treatment features, indications and effects. The causation of moxibustion is warming stimulation, and the mechanism of action is dredging meridians and collaterals. In a word, promoting the dredging function by warming is the main mechanism of therapeutic effect of moxibustion. It is summarized that warming and dredging function of moxibustion has the differences in weakness and strongness, and degree of urgency; and the initial study of clinical application is discussed as well.
Humans ; Meridians ; Models, Theoretical ; Moxibustion ; Physiological Phenomena

Objective To compare the efficacy of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and methylprednisolone on the rat models of infantile spasms (IS).Methods The SD rats on postnatal 10 day (P10) were divided into blank group (n =18),control group (n =18) and model group (n =110) according to the random number table method.The rats of model group were prepared by adopting prenatal stress exposure and N-methyl-D aspartate (NMDA) injection.In the model group,after inducing epileptic seizures,the rats were divided into different groups (18 rats in each group) according to the random number table method as following:model group Ⅰ (subcutaneous injection ofACTH,50 IU/kg,at P10:14:00,21:00;P11,P12:7:00,14:00,21:00;P13:7:00),model group Ⅱ (subcutaneous injection of 9 g/L saline),model group Ⅲ (intraperitoneal injection of methylprednisolone,60 mg/kg,at P11,P12,P13:9:00,once per day),model group Ⅳ (intraperitoneal injection of 9 g/L saline) and model group Ⅴ (positive control group,with no drug or saline injection).Three days later,epilepsy was induced again,and the rats of model group were intraperitoneally injected with NMDA (12 mg/kg) at P13 (10:00).The rats of control group were injected intraperitoneally with same volume of 9 g/L saline,but the rats of blank group were not treated.Behaviors of rats with epilepsy seizures were observed and epilepsy scores were given.The expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the hypothalamus of each group was detected by using immunohistochemistry and fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction.The learning and memorizing capacity of the rats were measured by Y-maze experiment.Results There was no death in the model group after the onset of seizure.In the model group Ⅰ,13 cases were attacked(72.22％),and 14 cases were attacked in the model group Ⅲ (78.78％).The level of attack was decreased.The buckling state was not observed in model group and Ⅲ,but the latency period of epilepsy was prolonged and the epilepsy scores were significantly decreased.There were no significant differences of onset latency [(2 369.38 ± 628.70) s vs.(1 922.93 ± 462.36) s] and epilepsy score [(2.15 ± 1.14) scores vs.(2.07 ± 0.83) scores] between the 2 groups (all P ＞ 0.005).The rats of model group Ⅱ,Ⅳ,Ⅴ were all attacked completely and presented buckling state.There was no onset or death in blank group and control group.The number of CRH positive cells and CRH mRNA relative expression of each model group were higher than those in the blank group and control group.The number of CRH positive cells and CRH mRNA expression of model group Ⅰ and Ⅲ were lower than those in model group Ⅱ,Ⅳand Ⅴ,and the differences were significant (all P ＜ 0.002 4).There was no significant difference in the number of CRH-positive cells(39.12 ± 5.98 vs.41.48 ± 7.61) and CRH mRNA relative expression (1.92 ± 0.16 vs.2.06 ± 0.39) between model group Ⅰ and Ⅲ (all P ＞ 0.002 4).No significant difference was found between blank group and control group,or among model group Ⅱ,Ⅳ and Ⅴ (all P ＞ 0.002 4).There were no significant differences in the learning capacity among all groups (F =2.196,P ＞ 0.002 4).The correct response rate after 24 hours of the model group was lower than the blank group and control group,and ACTH and methylprednisolone pretreatment did not influence the memorizing capacity (P ＞ 0.002 4).Conclusion The effect of pretreatment of ACTH is similar to that of methylprednisolone in the rat model of IS.

Objective To explore the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),IFN-? and IL-4 and effect of Bude-sonide on their in asthmatic rats.Methods Thirty-six male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:asthma group,Budesonide-treatment group and control group.On the first day of the experiment and the 8th day,the rat models of the asthma group and Budesonid treatment group were allergized by the OVA/Al(OH)3 through intraperitoneal injection,respectively.And starting from the 15th day,they were challenged by the OVA through atomization for 2 weeks.Control group was allergized and challenged by NS atomization.Budesonid treatment group was interfered in Budesonide inhalation before suscitation in 0.5 h.After 12 h the same inhal done was again in Budesonide group.Twenty-four hours after the last challenge,the rats in 3 groups were sacrificed,and blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were collected.The concentrations of IL-4,IFN-? and VEGF in serum and BALF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results The concentrations of IL-4 in serum and BALF in asthma group and Budesonide treatment group were significantly increased than those in control group(P

Objective: To study the recombinant epitope antigens of hepatitis C virus (HCV), in order to fulfil the requirements of recombinant immunoblot assay kit. Methods: An expressing vector pBVIL1 for expression of recombinant antigens in a fusion manner with IL-1β was constructed. A series of selected genes from the HCV antigens including the C, NS3, NS4 and NS5 were amplified from HCV gene-containing plasmids using PCR and the expression plasmids for these genes were constructed in pBVIL1, respectively. The activity of the purified recombinant antigens were tested against an identified HCV antibody positive and negative panel with ELISA. Results and Conclusions: All the cloned genes of chosen antigen epitopes were highly expressed in pBVIL1 in E.coli. The activity of the C and NS4 antigens were slightly higher than the RIBA3.0 antigens, while the activity of NS3 was slightly lower than the RIBA3.0 antigen. But the total evaluation for the panel was same as RIBA3.0. That means the cloned antigens were suitable for the use in RIBA test kit.

Through analysis of the basic mechanism and principle of moxibustion, it is found that the most basic characteristic of moxibustion on acupoints of human body rests with its warm stimulation. The multi-effect of the warm stimulation of moxibustion can be generalized into the following 2 aspects: 1) warming-dredging: to dredge meridians with warming through regulation of qi and blood circulation, and removing stagnation in meridians and collaterals. 2) warming-reinforcing: to reinforce with warming through strengthening of yang qi as well as tonifying yin through reinforcing of yang. The two effects are inter-depending and inter-acting on each other. The mechanism of warming-dredging and warming-reinforcing is different from that of the materia medica, and it has its own specific connotation.
Acupuncture Points ; Body Temperature Regulation ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; instrumentation ; methods

This study was purposed to analyze the clinical features and evaluate the efficacy of thalidomide combined with VAD regimen for treatment of osteosclerotic myeloma (POEMS syndrome). The data of 27 patients with POEMS syndrome in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were analyzed retrospectively, including clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatments and prognosis. The results showed that the polyneuropathy was observed in 27 patients (27/27), hepato-spleno-lymphadenectasis was found in 15 patients (15/27), endocrinopathy was found in 24 patients (24/27), skin changes was observed in 22 patients (22/27). M protein was found in 23 patients (23/27); in addition to these clinical manifestations, the papilledema serous cavity effusion and sclerotic bone lesion were also frequently observed in patients with POEMS syndrome. The remission rates of treatment of POEMS syndrome with thalidomide combined with VAD regimen for organomegaly, edema, skin changes, and endocrinopathy were 60, 58.3, 41 and 45.8 respectively. The level of serum M protein and the nervous system ODSS value decreased greatly after treatment (P < 0.01). It is concluded that the clinical characteristics of POEMS syndrome are complicated and easy to be misdiagnosed, and the evidence of monoclonal plasma cell hyperplasia should be actively searched for those patients whose serum M protein is negative. Thalidomide combined with VAD regimen for treatment of patients with POEMS syndrome has advantages such as significant curative effects, less side-effects, good tolerance, and higher safety and can be chosen as a preferred approach.
Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Cytarabine ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; POEMS Syndrome ; drug therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalidomide ; therapeutic use ; Vincristine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of small heterodimer partner (SHP) and target gene cholesterol-7-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in livers of rats with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), and to study the mechanism of ICP.

METHODSThirty SD rats (pregnant for 15 days) were equally and randomly divided into two groups: an estradiol benzoate (EB) group and a normal saline (NS) group. Two ml blood was drawn from each rat before and on the 5th day after medicine administration to measure the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, TBA, TBIL, and DBIL. After delivery, the histopathological changes of the mother rat livers were studied. The mRNA and protein expressions of SHP and CYP7A1 in the livers were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS(1) In the EB group, the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP, TBA, TBil, and DBil after EB administration increased significantly (P less than 0.01), but there were no significant changes in the NS group (P more than 0.05); (2) Intrahepatic cholestasis appeared in the EB group, but not in the NS group; (3) The mRNA expressions of SHP and CYP7A1 were significantly higher in the EB group than in the NS group [(SHPmRNA: NS 0.365+/-0.0317 vs EB 0.4865+/-0.0237, P less than 0.01), (CYP7A1 mRNA: NS 0.3570+/-0.0175 vs EB 0.4802+/-0.0217, P less than 0.01)]; (4) The protein expressions of SHP and CYP7A1 were also higher in the EB group than that in the NS group [(SHP: NS 0.3762+/-0.0284 vs EB 0.5033+/-0.0274, P less than 0.01), (CYP7A1: NS 0.3570+/-0.0175 vs EB 0.4802+/-0.0217, P less than 0.01)].

CONCLUSIONEstrogen induces ICP in rats. The mRNA and protein expressions of SHP and CYP7A1 in livers of the ICP rats were increased, which causes more bile acids to be synthesized. This may be one of the mechanisms of ICP.

Animals ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase ; metabolism ; Estradiol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Female ; Liver ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear ; metabolism