Objective To explore the value f high sensitive c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and CD4/CD8 ratio for monitoring of lung infection in elderly patients with esophageal cancer through detecting hs-CRP ,white blood cell (WBC)parameters and CD4 /CD8 ratio .Methods A total of 89 lung infection elderly patients with esophageal cancer after surgery from August 2012 to Decem-ber 2014 were collected as observation group ,special protein instrument ,blood cell analyzer and flow cytometry instrument were used to detect the hs-CRP ,WBC parameters ,CD4/CD8 ratio ,and compared with 82 cases of retired veteran cadres physical exami-nation for the same period in the control group .Results The hs-CRP ,WBC parameters ,CD4/CD8 in the preoperative group and the control group had no significant difference (P> 0 .05) .The three indicators in the preoperative group ,infection group and 3 days group had significant differences (P < 0 .05) ,although CD4/CD8 ratio in the cure group improved ,had not been completely im-proved .Conclusion Hs-CRP in diagnosis and monitoring of therapeutic efficacy is better than WBC parameters ,in the treatment of lung infection in elderly patients with esophageal cancer ,besides use the anti-infection treatment ,promote immune function recovery should not be ignored .

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have found that electroacupuncture can delay articular cartilage degeneration mediated by JAK-STAT signaling pathway through upregulating the expression level of transforming growth factor β1 as well as mRNA expression levels of STAT3, Smad3 and LepR. In the meanwhile, electroacupuncture can inhibit the mRNA expression of p38 and Fas mRNA mediated by MAPK signaling pathways, further inhibiting the apoptosis of chondrocytes. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture on the degeneration of articular cartilage in rats with knee osteoarthritis based on Ras-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. METHODS:120 male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats aged 2 months olds were selected and randomly divided into normal, model, 15-minite electroacupuncture and 30-minute electroacupuncture groups (n=30 per group). The rats in the latter three groups received the intra-articular injection of 4% papain bilaterally, and the remaining rats received no intervention. At 2 weeks after modeling, the latter two groups were respectively given 15- and 30-minute electroacupuncture, five times weekly for consecutive 12 weeks. The morphology of the cartilage was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining, the expression level of interleukin-1β in the synovium was detected by ELISA assay, and the protein expression levels of Ras, Raf, MEK1/2, ERK1/2, C-MYC, C-FOS, and C-JUN were detected by western blot analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that: in the model group, the cartilage surface was rough, the cartilage layer became thinner, and the cartilage structure was damaged with incomplete tidal line; in the 15- and 30-minute electroacupuncture groups, the cartilage structure was complete with clear layers and complete tidal line. ELISA showed that the expression level of interleukin-1β in the model group was significantly higher than that in the normal group (P< 0.01), and the level in the 15- and 30-minute electroacupuncture groups was significantly lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05). Western blot assay found that compared with the normal group, the protein expression levels of Ras, Raf, MEK1/2, ERK1/2, C-MYC, C-FOS, and C-JUN were increased in the model group. However, all above protein levels except ERK1/2 in the 15- and 30-minute electroacupuncture groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (P < 0.01,P < 0.05). To conclude, electroacupuncture inhibits the degeneration of articular cartilage in osteoarthritisvia Ras-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway and downregulating the expression level of interleukin-1β.

Objective To investigate the changes in the expression of complement C3,high mobility group protein B1(HMGB1),and glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)in brain tissue at different time points after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.Methods A total 72 SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group(36 rats)and a model group(36 rats).A rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion was established using thread occlusion,and then the rats from the model group were further assigned into 4 subgroups with reperfusion time for 3,6 and 24 h and 3 d,respectively,with 9 rats in each subgroup.Zea Longa scoring was used to assess neu-rological function.R2StarMap imaging,diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI),T1 weighted imaging,and T2 weighted imaging were performed on all the rats.The volume of abnormal DWI signals were detected and the volume of cerebral infarction was measured.The original R2StarMap images were post-processed to generate R2*pseudo color images,and then the R2*values of the areas with blood supply from bilateral middle cerebral artery were measured to detect iron deposition in the brain.The protein expression of C3,HMGB1,and GPX4 was detected by Western blotting.Results The sham operation group showed no neurological damage,while the model group had a significant increase in neurological function scores at 3,6 and 24 h and 3 d after modeling when compared to the sham surgery group(P＜0.05).While the size of right cerebral infarct was in-creased significantly at 3,6 and 24 h and 3 d in the rats of the model group(P＜0.05).The R2*value of the area with blood supply from the right middle cerebral artery in the model group was significantly higher than that in the left side at 3,6 and 24 h and 3 d(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),and it was also obviously higher than that in the right side of the sham operation group at these time points(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).The R2*ratio of the right and left blood supply areas in the model group at 3,6 and 24 h and 3 d was also statistically higher than that in the sham operation group at corresponding time points(1.82±0.82 vs 1.12±0.31,P＜0.05;1.31±0.26 vs 1.04±0.14,P＜0.05;1.94±0.74 vs 1.06±0.10,P＜0.01;1.99±0.39 vs 1.02±0.11,P＜0.01).Compared with the sham operation group,the expression levels of C3 and HMGB1 was significantly increased in the model group at 3,6 and 24 h and 3 d,while that of GPX4 was notably reduced(P＜0.01).Conclu-sion Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury impairs the neurological function of rats and signifi-cantly affects the cerebral expression of complement C3,HMGB1,and GPX4.

Our previous studies found that mitochondrial uncouplers CCCP and niclosamide inhibited artery constriction and the mechanism involved AMPK activation in vascular smooth muscle cells. BAM15 is a novel type of mitochondrial uncoupler. The aim of the present study is to identify the vasoactivity of BAM15 and characterize the BAM15-induced AMPK activation in vascular smooth muscle cells (A10 cells). BAM15 relaxed phenylephrine (PE)-induced constricted rat mesenteric arteries with intact and denuded endothelium. Pretreatment with BAM15 inhibited PE-induced constriction of rat mesenteric arteries with intact and denuded endothelium. BAM15, CCCP, and niclosamide had the comparable IC value of vasorelaxation in PE-induced constriction of rat mesenteric arteries. BAM15 was less cytotoxic in A10 cells compared with CCCP and niclosamide. BAM15 depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential, induced mitochondrial fission, increased mitochondrial ROS production, and increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate in A10 cells. BAM15 potently activated AMPK in A10 cells and the efficacy of BAM15 was stronger than that of CCCP, niclosamide, and AMPK positive activators metformin and AICAR. In conclusion, BAM15 activates AMPK in vascular smooth muscle cells with higher potency than that of CCCP, niclosamide and the known AMPK activators metformin and AICAR. The present work indicates that BAM15 is a potent AMPK activator.