Sepsis constitutes a serious threat to human health and represents a major burden to the health care system.Recent years have witnessed a deeper insight into the mechanism of the onset of sepsis,together with some new therapeutic strategies,including early aggressive volume therapy,activated protein C,potentiated insulin therapy,adrenal function replacement therapy,and some new therapeutic targets,which have offered some hope for the management of sepsis.

Objective To establish a method for the quantitative determinations of the ingredients in yiqi hewei capsules. Methods RP-HPLC method was used. The separation was performed on a Thermo C18 column with mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water (20: 80) (pH was adjusted to 3 with glacial acetic acid) at the flow rate of 1. 0 mL·min-1. The detection wavelength was 283 nm. Results The linear ranges were ( 0. 5735 -5. 7360) × 10 -2 mg·mL-1 for baicalin, (0. 1940-1. 9395) × 10 -2 mg·mL-1 for hesperidin, (0. 2051 -2. 0510) × 10 -3 mg·mL-1 for naringin and (0. 2020 -2.0200) ×10 -2 mg·mL-1 for neohesperidin;RSD =0.28%,0.54%,0.54%,0.31%(n =5),respectively. The average recoveries were 103. 94%, 98. 06%, 103. 09%, 95. 67%, respectively. Conclusion The established method is simple, sensitive and accurate,which can be used for the quality control of yiqi hewei capsules.

Objective To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphism of 5,10-methylenetetrahy-drofolate reduetase gene and its association with the treatment of methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods A total of 184 patients with RA were divided into methotrexate (MTX) treatment group, MTX+other DMARDs treatment group, and treatment with other DMARDs but not MTX group. The clinical and laboratory data were evaluated before treatment and 24 weeks later. Efficacy and toxieities of each medication were also analyzed. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was conducted to test gene mutations in RA patients and 100 healthy controls. Results There was no significant difference in the frenqueney of 677CC,CT, "IT and 1298AA, AC, CC between RA patients and the healthy controls. There was significant difference in the frenqueney of 677CC, CT, Tr between RA patients with cardiovascular eomplieations and the healthy controls. In the MTX treatment group, there was significant difference in the frenqueney of 1298AC, CC between the group in which MTX was effective and the other groups in which MTX was not effective, the occurrence rate of side effects of MTX in the patients with 677TT was higher than those without mutation(CC).In MTX+other DMARDs group, the occurrence rate of side effects of MTX in the patients with 677TT and CT was higher than that without mutation (CC). Conclusion There is no relationship between the pathogenesis of RA and the 677C/T, 1298A/C mutation of MTHFR gene. MTHFR gene 677C/T mutation is probably one of the genetic risk factors for cardiovascular complications of RA patients and the side effects of MTX. MTHFR gene 1298A/C allel is associated with the efficacy of MTX.

Objective To investigate the effect of GSK-3β inhibitor TDZD-8 on activation of NF-κB during lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Thirty-two healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats,aged 8-10 weeks,weighing 250-280 g,were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=8 each): sham operation group (sham group) ; I/R group,I/R + dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group and I/R + TDZD-8 group.Lung I/R was induced by clamping the left hilum of lung for 1 h followed by 2 h reperfusion.10％ DMSO and TDZD-8 1 mg/kg were injected intravenously at 5 min betore reperfusion in groups I/R + DMSO and I/R + TDZD-8,respectively.Blood samples were taken at 2 h of reperfusion for determination of arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and concentrations of plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).The animals were then sacrificed and the left lung was removed for determination of W/D lung weight ratio,myeloperpxidase (MPO) activity,expression of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (p-GSK-3β) and phosphorylated nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (pNF-κB p65) and for microscopic examination.Results Compared with sham group,PaO2 and the expression of pGSK-3β were significantly decreased,and the concentrations of plasma IL-6 and TNF-α,W/D lung weight ratio,MPO activity and expression of p-NF-κB p65 were significantly increased in the other groups (P ＜ 0.05),and PaO2 and the expression of p-GSK-3β were significantly increased and the other parameters were significantly decreased in I/R+ TDZD-8 group (P＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences in the parameters mentioned above among groups I/R and I/R + DMSO (P ＞ 0.05).Microscopic examination showed that I/R-induced lung injury was ameliorated by TDZD-8.Conclusion GSK-3β inhibitor TDZD-8 can attenuate lung I/R injury by downregulating phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and inhibiting inflammatory response.

Objective To investigate the role of IL-12 in lung ischemia-reperfusion(L/R)injury in rats.Methods Twenty-four healthy male SD rats,8-10 weeks,weighing 250-280 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups(n =8 each):sham operation group(S),I/R group,IL-12 monoclonal antibody group(group IL-12).LungI/R was induced by clamping the left hilum of lung for 60 min followed by 120 min reperfusion in groupsI/R and IL-12.IL-12 monoclonal antibody 200tg/kg was injected via the caudal vein at I h before clamping the left hilum.The blood samples were collected at the end of reperfusion,the rats were then sacrificed and lungs removed for determination of the plasma TNF-α concentration,Th1 and Th2 levels,W/D lung weight ratio,MDA content,MPO activity,PaO2 and PaCO2 in lung tissues and for microscopic examination.Results Compared with group S,W/D ratio and the level of MPO,MDA and TNF-α were significantly increased in groups I/R and IL-12,and PaO2 was significantly decreased,and PaCO2,Th1 level and Th1/Th2 sere significantly increased in group I/R(P ＜0.01),and no significant change was found in PaO2,PaCO2,the level of Th1 and Th2,and Th1/Th2 in group IL-12(P ＞ 0.05).PaCO2,W/D ratio,the levels of MDA,MPO,plasma TNF-u,Th1 and Th1/Th2 were significantly lower,and Th2 level and PaCO2 were significantly higher in group IL-12 than in group I/R(P ＜ 0.01).The pathologic changes of the lung were attenuated in group IL.12.Conclusion IL-12 is involved in the lung I/R injury through inducing Th1/Th2 imbalance in rats.

Objective To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ(PPAR-γ)in non-obese diabetic mice(NOD mice)with Sj(o)gren's syndrome(SS)．Methods Twenty 8-weeks-old female NOD mice were randomly divided into 2 groups．Rosiglitazone and normal saline were administered for the rosiglitazone group and control group respectively．At age of 12 weeks and 15 weeks，one mouse in the rosiglitazone group and the control group were killed respectively,and the others were sacrificed at the age of 17 weeks．Blood were obtained by cardiac puncture，and minor salivary glands (MSG) were resected．The histopathological changes waere examined by H&E staining．The level of IL-1β，IL-4，IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were measured by ELISA．Real-time PCR waft used to evaluate the mRNA expression level of IL-1β，IL-4，IL-6 and TNF-α in MSG．Student's t-test was used to assess the differences．Results Compared with the control group，the mice in the rosiglitazone group showed that：①histopatho-logical change was significantly ameliorated．②At the age of 17 weeks，IL-6[(26±7)vs(37±11)，t=-2．298] and TNF-α[(57±22)vs(79±21)，t=-2．188] were expressed significantly lower and IL-4[(26±13)vs(12±4)，t=2．438 ] was expressed significantly higher in serum(P<0．05)．③The expression of TNF-αwas significantly decreased and the expression of IL-4 was significantly increased in MSG (P<0．05)．Conclusion PPAR-γ can ameliorate SS on NOD mice effectively．The mechanism may be related to reduction of Th1 cytokines，and the Th1/Th2 balance is changed into Th2 predominant．

Objective To investigate the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS),and make a primary relative study on the relationship between VEGF and pH.Methods Thirty-nine patients with mild to moderate OSAHS,36 patients with severe OSAHS and 18 healthy snorers who had been admitted to the First Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical College from Feb.2003 to Sep.2004 were enrolled in this study.The serum levels of VEGF were detected in all patients at 7:00 AM the next day after the detection of polysomnography(PSG).Additionally 31 patients with OSAHS were detected by doppler echocardiography to get the values of pulmonary artery pression.Results There was nocturnal hypoxia in patients with OSAHS compared with healthy snorers,and the degree of nocturnal hypoxia was depended with the grade of OSAHS(both achieved statistical difference)by the detection of PSG.The levels of VEGF was significantly higher in patients with severe OSAHS than in healthy snorers(P

Objective To evaluate the mental health status of train conductors in order to ensure the safety of railway transportation.Methods The mental health status of train conductors was measured using the Chinese version of the SIMH mental health self-evaluating table(SCL-90).Results Compared with the national norm,there was a significant higher mean in nine factors of mental health for the train conductors(t test,P

AIM:To investigate whether hypoxic preconditioning(HPC)protects cardiomyoblast H9c2 cells against oxidative injury,and to discuss whether calreticulin(CRT)contribute to this protection through p38 MAPK signaling pathway.METHODS:Cardiomyoblast H9c2 cells were randomly divided into eight groups as follows:hydrogen peroxide stress(H2O2);brief hypoxic exposure of 20 min to simulate hypoxic preconditioning(HPC);20 min of hypoxic exposure followed by 24 h of normoxic reoxygenation before hydrogen peroxide stress(HPC+H2O2),SB203580(the specific inhibitors of p38 MAPK)+HPC+H2O2,antisense oligonucleotides transfection of calreticulin(AS),AS+H2O2,AS+HPC+H2O2 and control.Morphological studies,estimation of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)leakage and flow cytometry were employed to assess the cell apoptosis and necrosis.RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis was used to detect calreticulin expression and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK.RESULTS:The results obtained are as follows:(1)HPC relieved cell injury caused by H2O2.Compared with those in H2O2 group,apoptosis rate and LDH leakage in culture medium in HPC + H2O2 group decreased 13.4% and 44.0%,respectively(P

Objective To analyze the prognosis of people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) after 10 years follow-up. Methods 30 patients with IGT, screened out in 1995 census, were intervened with medication and the change of life style for ten years. Results There were 7 cases (23.3%) in 30 patients with IGT were developed into DM and 13 cases (43.3%) were still IGT, others (10 cases, 33.3%) were reverted to NGT. In the beginning of the study, the means of TG and HBCI in DM turnover group were significantly higher than those of IGT and NGT turnover group (P0.05). After Ten years of follow-up, the prevalence rates of obesity and abdominal obesity in DM groups were significantly higher than those in NGT group (P