The formation of macrophage-derived foam cells is a typical feature of atherosclerosis (AS). Reverse cholesterol efflux (RCT) is one of important factors for the formation of macrophage foam cells. In this study, macrophage form cells were induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and then treated with different concentrations of ferulic acid, so as to observe the effect of ferulic acid on the intracellular lipid metabolism in the ox-LDL-induced macrophage foam cell formation, the cholesterol efflux and the mRNA expression and protein levels of ATP binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and ATP binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1) that mediate cholesterol efflux, and discuss the potential mechanism of ferulic acid in resisting AS. According to the findings, compared with the control group, the ox-LDL-treated group showed significant increase in intracellular lipid content, especially for the cholesterol content; whereas the intracellular lipid accumulation markedly decreased, after the treatment with ferulic acid. The data also demonstrated that the mRNA and protein expressions of ABCA1 and ABCG1 significantly increased after macrophage foam cells were treated with different concentrations of ferulic acid. In summary, ferulic acid may show the anti-atherosclerosis effect by increasing the surface ABCA1 and ABCG1 expressions of macrophage form cells and promoting cholesterol efflux.
ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1 ; analysis ; genetics ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family G, Member 1 ; ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; analysis ; genetics ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Coumaric Acids ; pharmacology ; Foam Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipoproteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Mice

This study adopted a large sample, multicenter, registered hospital centralized monitoring nested prospective case-control study design. From the real world clinical application of Shenqi Fuzheng injection, monitored 30 026 cases of patients with the use of Shenqi Fuzheng injection. A total of 51 adverse drug reaction (ADR) cases was monitored, including 1 case of severe adverse reactions. ADR incidence rate was 1.7 per 1,000. Blood samples were collected from patients with allergic reactions and their matched controls. Related biological indicators of allergic reactions were unified detected and analysed in order to explore the mechanism of allergic reaction and promote the clinical safety.
Case-Control Studies ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Injections ; Product Surveillance, Postmarketing ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of TCM treatment according to syndrome differentiation in en-hancing curative effect and reducing side-effect of madopa in patients with Parkinson' s disease (PD).

METHODSThe trial was conducted in 101 PD patients with a prospective stratified randomized and controlled method. They were assigned to group 1 in which the patients of rigidity were treated with Pabing Recipe 1 (PR1) plus Madopa tablets, group 2 with those of tremor given Pabing Recipe 3 (PR3) plus Madopa tablets, and group 3 given a fixed Chinese recipe plus Madopa tablets as the control. The treatment course for all the groups was 3 months. Clinical efficacy was evaluated with unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS) and the adverse reactions observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the 4 partial scores and the total score of UPDRS decreased significantly in group 2 (P<0.01), and the former of them and the total score declined in group 1 and 3 (P<0.01), the improvement was better in group 1 and 2 than that in group 3 (P<0.01); the improvement rate in group 1 to 3 was 95.5%, 100.0% and 83.7%, respectively, which was significantly higher in group 1 and 2 than that in group 3 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONTCM treatment according to syndrome differentiation could improve the clinical symptoms and reduce complications in PD patients, which could enhance curative effect and reduce side-effect of madopa.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Benserazide ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dopamine Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Synergism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Levodopa ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To evaluate the characteristics and efficacy of microscope-assisted bilateral decompression via unilateral approach for the treatment of lumbar stenosis. Methods From June 2007 to June 2010, Sixty case lumbar stenosis with bilateral decompression were treated via unilateral approach under microscopy. Patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months, average (12 ± 4.7) months. Results The pain level of each patient was assessed both before and after the opeartion, using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Intermittent claudication was completely relieved in 57 out of 60 cases, moderately relieved in 3 cases. VAS score decreased from pre-operational 9.08 ± 0.76 to post-operational 2.33 ± 1.43, and there was significantly difference between them. There was no recurrent case during the whole follow-up. Conclusion Bilateral decompression via unilateral approach under microscope is proved to be an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of lumbar stenosis, and have the advantages of minimal invasion, less pain, quick recovery, better effect, little influence on the spinal stability.

Objective To study the effect of serum uric acid (UA) levels on kidney graft function as well as long-term graft survival after renal transplantation.Methods The clinical data of 859 kidney transplant recipients from Jan.2008 to May 2014 were investigated retrospectively.The differences in clinical indexes between normal UA group and hyperuricemia group were compared based on UA levels.Cox regression model was built to analyze the effect of elevated UA on overall graft loss,death censored graft failure and death of patients,respectively.Kaplan-Meier graft survival curve was used to compare the overall graft loss,death censored graft failure and death of patients between normal UA group and hyperuricemia group.Results The average follow-up time was 38.6 ± 17.3 months for 859 kidney transplant recipients.590 (68.7％) recipients were enrolled in normal UA group and 269 (31.3％) recipients were defined as hyperuricemia patients.The average eGFR in hyperuricemia group was significantly decreased as compared with normal UA group (79.4 ± 20.93 vs.94.7 ± 20.55,P＜0.001).Cox regression model showed that if UA level increased per 10 mol/L,the risk of overall graft lost increased 1.070 times (P＜0.001) and the risk of death censored graft failure increased 1.121 times (P＜0.001) accordingly.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the overall graft loss was dramatically decreased (P =0.009),and the death censored graft failure was significantly decreased (P＜0.0001) in hyperuricemia group as compared with that in normal UA group.The death of patients showed no significant difference between two groups (P =0.638).Conclusion Serum UA levels after kidney transplantation affect graft function as well as long-term graft survival.

Objective To explore the role of CD 30 on CD4 + T lymphocyte and T lymphocyte subset activation in asthma pathogenesis.Methods Twenty seven asthma active attack patients,16 acute upper respiratory infection patients and 19 control children were randomly selected. Direct immunofluorescence flow cytometry was used to detect the CD 30 positive percentage on CD4 +cell; ELISA was used to detect the levels of interleukin(IL) 4 and IL 13 in culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC) and plasma total immunoglobulin E(IgE) level.Results Compared with control group and acute upper respiratory infection group, in asthmatic children the CD4 +CD 30 + percentage on CD4 + cell was elevated significantly; 2.The levels of IL 4 and IL 13 in supernatants of cultured lymphocyte were increased significantly, the plasma total IgE level was increased significantly;3.There was a significant positive correlation of CD4 +CD 30 + cell percentage with the levels of IL 4 and IL 13 in culture supernatants and plasma total IgE.Conclusions The cell that could produce Th2 derived cytokine may consist of CD 30 +cell;When CD 30 L combined with CD 30 on CD4 + cells ,it might result in Th2 cell proliferation ,develop and release Th2 derived cytokine; IL 4 and IL 13 could induce B cell production and secrete more IgE. It is suggested that CD 30 and imbalance of Th2 subset may play an important role in asthma pathogenesis.

To improve 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase(KSDH) activity and the transformation level for androst-4-ene-3,17-dione, 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase gene(ksdD) from Arthrobacter simplex was cloned into plasmid pWB980 and expressed in B. subtilis WB600 under the control of promoter P43. The molecular weight of expressed enzyme was about 55kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. The activitities assayed by spectrophotometrical method of intracellular and extracellular soluble enzyme were 110?0.5mU and 15?0.6mU per milligram of protein respectively. The transformation rate of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was 45.3%. Compared with Arthrobacter simplex, the enzyme activity of KSDH expressed in B. subtilis was improved about 30 fold, and the transformation level of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was improved about 10 fold. The recombinant B. subtilis cells used in biotransformation of steroids provided a new way for steroid medicines production.

The selective side-chain cleavage of phytosterol to 4-androstene-3,17-dione(4-AD)and 1,4-androstadiene-3,17-dione(ADD)by Mycobacterium sp.was described.Because of the similarity in chemical structure between 4-AD and ADD,it is difficult to separate them from the fermentation broth.So far,it has been verified that the ADD can be produced by dehydrogenation of 4-AD.In this reaction,3-Ketosteriod-1-Dehydrogenase(ksdD)plays an important role.The gene knocking out method was used to solve the problem.Partial sequence of ksdD was obtained by PCR which was 631bp in length.Then,a targeting vector pUC19-MK was constructed,which was electroporate into the original strain Mycobacterium neoauru.The method of homologous recombination was used to knock out ksdD gene located in the chromosome of Mycobacterium neoauru.In this way,ksdD would lose its enzyme activity.In the result,5 transformants were screened.The experiments of steroid transformation by the transformants were carried out.The productivity of 4-AD reached 17.52% after 144h,which is 192% higher than the original strain.Meanwhile,the productivity of ADD reached 6.12%,which is 89.9% lower than the original strain.

To improve 3-ketosteroid-△1-dehydrogenase (KSDH) activity and the transformation level for androst-4-ene-3,17-dione,3-ketosteroid-△1 -dehydrogenase gene (ksdD) from Arthrobacter simplex was cloned into plasmid pWB980 and expressed in B. subtilis WB600 under the control of promoter P43. The molecular weight of expressed enzyme was about 55kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. The activitities assayed by spectrophotometrical method of intracellular and extracellular soluble enzyme were 110 ± 0.5mU and 15 ± 0.6mU per milligram of protein respectively. The transformation rate of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B. subtilis recombinant cells was 45.3%. Compared with Arthrobacter simplex, the enzyme activity of KSDH expressed in B. subtilis was improved about 30 fold, and the transformation level of androst-4-ene-3,17-dione by the B.subtilis recombinant cells was improved about 10 fold. The recombinant B. subtilis cells used in biotransformation of steroids provided a new way for steroid medicines production.

OBJECTIVEEpstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common causative agent of infectious mononucleosis (IM) and capable of efficiently immortalizing primary B cells into continuously growing lymphoblastoid cells in vitro. As B cell activation antigen, CD23 expression is induced by EBV infection of B cells and remains constitutively expressed at high levels in virtually all EBV-immortalized cells, which have been strongly linked to the development of B-cell lymphoproliferative disease and lymphoma. Whereas previous studies were performed in vivo in animals or ex vivo cultures, the present study aimed to explore the role of EBV-immortalized cells (CD23(+)/CD19(+)) in vivo analysis of children with EBV-IM.

METHODSIn a prospective trial, a group of 30 patients with IM (18 boys and 12 girls) with mean age of 3.9 +/- 1.3 years (range 6 months to 8 years) were enrolled. Clinical diagnosis of IM was confirmed based on fever, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, lymphocytosis (> 50%), atypical lymphocytes (> 10%) in blood smears and the elevated levels of IgM antibody against EBV capsid antigen. The day of onset of fever was recognized as day 1 of illness. Blood samples taken during acute (3 - 5 days), early convalescent (about 11 - 15 days) and convalescent phase (about 30 - 45 days) were analyzed for expressions of CD19(+)/CD23(+), CD23, CD19 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells by flow cytometry (FCM) and was compared with those of control group.

RESULTS(1) The levels of CD23(+)/CD19(+) and CD23 expressions were markedly decreased in acute stage [CD23(+)/CD19(+) (2.22 +/- 1.47)%, (132 +/- 91)/mm(3); CD23 (3.12 +/- 1.88)%, (195 +/- 102)/mm(3)] and in early convalescent stage [CD23(+)/CD19(+) (4.51 +/- 2.25)%, (166 +/- 85)/mm(3); CD23 (5.55 +/- 2.76)%, (231 +/- 130)/mm(3)] in patients with IM as compared with those of the healthy controls [CD23(+)/CD19(+) (6.71 +/- 2.25)%, (215 +/- 68)/mm(3); CD23 (7.85 +/- 3.09)%, (249 +/- 86)/mm(3), respectively]. The earlier the history was, the lower the expressive levels were. The levels of CD23(+)/CD19(+) expressions returned to, but those of CD23 expressions exceeded, normal level in convalescent stage [CD23(+)/CD19(+) (6.72 +/- 2.16)%, (213 +/- 108)/mm(3); CD23 (9.46 +/- 2.73)%, (366 +/- 200)/mm(3)]. (2) There was a positive correlation in the expressions of CD23(+)/CD19(+) and CD23 among the three stages (P < 0.01). The positive correlation between the expressions of CD23(+)/CD19(+) and CD19 only occurred during acute stage (P < 0.01). There was no correlation between the expressions of CD23 and CD19 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEBV-immortalized cells and CD23(+) cells were inhibited effectively during the acute and early convalescent stage of IM. With the recovery of the disease, they gradually recovered and the levels of CD23 expressions exceeded normal level in convalescent stage.

B-Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Survival ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; pathogenicity ; Humans ; Infant ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; metabolism ; Male ; Receptors, IgE ; metabolism