Objective To study the levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNFR)、 tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF? ) in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) patients and its clinical significance. Methods Double antibody sandwich ELISA was used to determine soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor typeⅠ (sTNFRⅠ )、 soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor typeⅡ (sTNFRⅡ ) and TNF? levels in patient serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) culture supernatants. Other immunological tests were carried out simultaneously. Results① The serum sTNFRⅠ、 sTNFRⅡ、 TNF? sTNFRⅠ /TNF? and sTNFRⅡ /TNF? ratios were significantly higher in SLE patients than those in normal control group(P

Objective To investigate the changes of hair growth with the increase of age and to develop a new practical method to evaluate the extent of aging. Methods After the approval of the ethnic committee, 96 healthy volunteers (44 males, 52 females, aged 30 ~ 78 years) were recruited into the study and divided into 4 groups based on the age: 30-group, 40-group, 50-group and 60-group. Macrophotographs were taken from the vertex. Hair density and percentages of black hairs were counted using Photoshop7.0 software. Ten hairs were randomly plucked from the specified scalp area,and the diameters of hair shaft and hair bulb were examined by a micrometer. The percentages of the follicles, based on their morphology, at different phases of the hair cycle, were counted. Results With the increase of age, the hair density, diameters of hair shaft as well as hair bulb, the percentages of anagen follicles and grey hairs all decreased, while the percentages of telogen follicles and white hairs increased, and significant difference was found between the 60-group and other 3 groups. In each group, the difference between males and females was found only in some parameters. The diameter of hair bulb positively correlated with that of hair shaft. Conclusion This study suggests that the parameters of hair growth could be used to help rating the extent of aging.

Objective To determine the in vitro effects of the traditional Chinese medicines, berberine, matrine and baicalin, on the proliferation and lipid synthesis of human immortalized sebocyte SZ95, and to investigate their possible mechanisms of action on sebaceous glands at the cellular level. Methods Inverted microscopy was used to observe cell morphology and determine toxic concentrations of the compounds. The MTT method was adopted to examine the effects of different concentrations of berberine, matrine and baicalin on SZ95 cell proliferation after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h of incubation. Lipid contents in the SZ95 cells were labeled with Nile red and analyzed by flow cytometry. Results The toxic concentrations were 1?10-3 mol/L, 1?10-4 mol/L, 1?10-3 mol/L for baicalin, berberine and matrine, respectively. Berberine reduced sebocyte proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with an inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) of 2.9?10-5 mol/L and 1.4?10-5 mol/L after 48 h and 72 h of incubation, respectively. When the concentration of matrine was 0.05). Lipogenesis of SZ95 cells showed a 26.9% increase with 1?10-3 mol/L matrine. Conclusions Our results indicate that berberine and baicalin can inhibit proliferation and lipid synthesis of SZ95 sebocytes in vitro, which suggests a possible clinical role in treating acne.

Objective Measuring job satisfaction level of community health workers,providing on the evidences for the design of the relevant policy and the evaluation of job effect.Methods 57 Community Health Service centers and 54 stations were randomly selected in 12 cities in Anhui province,and all staff on the job were investigated.The questionnaires were delivered to the working staff and anonymously filled in by them.Results The total job satisfaction average score of the staff is 110.84± 18.18.The average score of pay(10.05±2.99),welfare(10.35±3.17)and promotion(10.85±3.00)are rather low.The average score of coworkers(14.78±2.11),nature of work(14.60±2.69)and supervision (13.90±3.00)are quite high.Logistic regression analysis shows the staff's duration and title are the main factors affecting their overall job satisfaction.Conclusion The overall job satisfaction level of community health workers is not high.Establishing the reasonable system of pay,welfare mechanism and the predictable promotion space are feasible choices to promote job satisfaction of community health workers

Objective To investigate the clinical, histopathological and immunopathological charac teristics of erythema annulare centrifugum (EAC). Methods A retrospective study was performed on 54 cases of EAC collected from 2001 to 2005. Information was gathered about patients' sex, age, disease course, distribution and morphology of eruptions, symptoms, complications. Also, the findings of histopathology and direct immunofluorescence examination in some patients were evaluated. Remits EAC most commonly occurred on the lower limb, and was usually complicated by various diseases among which mycosis predominated. Histological examination revealed compact lymphocyte infiltration in dermal vessels in 32 of these 54 patients. Direct immunofluorescence showed the deposition of IgG, lgM, or C3 on the walls of small vessels in 6 of 12 tissue samples tested. Conclusions EAC is a multifactorial disease, and it seems that the infiltration of lymphocytes and deposition of circulatory immune complex on small blood vessels in dermis may play important roles in its pathogenesis.

Objective To explore the association between rs3758539G-803A and rs10882283 T-179G polymorphism of retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and rosiglitazone response in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.Methods A total of 472 Chinese T2DM patients and 198 healthy subjects were enrolled to identify G-803A and T-179G genotypes using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP ).assay.Forty-two T2DM patients with different G-803A or T-179G genotypes were selected to undergo a 12-week rosiglitazone treatment (4 mg/d).Serum fasting plasma glucose (FPG),postprandial plasma glucose (PPG),fasting serum insulin (FINS),glycated hemoglobin (HbAlc),postprandial serum insulin ( PINS),triglyceride (TG),low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ( LDL-c),and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) were determined before and after the rosiglitazone treatment.Results T2DM patients with RBP4 G-803A GG genotype showed lower TG and LDL-c concentrations compared with that in the GA +AA genotype subjects.T2DM patients with RBP4 T-179G TT genotype showed lower waist-to-hip ratio (WHR),FPG and FINS values compared with that in the TG + GG genotype individuals.Patients with GG genotype of RBP4 G-803A had an enhanced rosiglitazone efficacy on FPG and FINS compared with that in the GA + AA genotype group.Patients with RBP4 T179G TG + GG genotype showed an enhanced rosiglitazone efficacy on HbAlc level compared with that in the TT genotype group.Conclusion RBP4 G-803A and T-179G polymorphism might be associated with the development of T2DM and affect the therapeutic efficacy of rosignitazone in Chinese T2DM patients.

Objective To study the effects on berberine hydrochloride on the mitochondria membrane potential and free intracellular calcium of HaCaT cells, and elucidate the mechanism of action of berberine on keratinocytes. Methods Rhodamine-123 fluorescence (very sensitive to mitochondria membrane potential) and Fluo-3/AM fluorescence (suitabe to detect free intracellular calcium in single HaCaT cell) were measured by laser scanning confocal technique. Results Fluo-3/AM fluorescence intensity of HaCaT cells was persistently increased after treating with berberine at concentrations of 5 ? 10-5M, 2.5 ? 10-5M and 1.25 ? 10-5M, and significant differences were observed as compared with the PBS control. The intensity of rhodamine-123 fluorescence in HaCaT cells was decreased immediately when exposed to berberine, with significant difference from that of the PBS control. Conclusions It is suggested that berberine could increase free intracellular calcium and decrease mitochondria membrane potential of HaCaT cells, induce overload of intracellular calcium, influence energy metabolism, and then inhibit the proliferation of keratinocytes.

Objective To study the effects of tanshinone on the cultured immortalized human sebocytes and explore the mechanism of action of tanshinone in the treatment of acne. Methods MTT assay was applied to determine the effects of cryptotanshinone and tanshinone Ⅱ? at different concentrations on the proliferation of SZ95 sebocytes in 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after incubation. Lipid contents labeled with Nile red in SZ95 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry technique, and the expression of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA of SZ95 cells were detected by RT-PCR. Results Both cryptotanshinone and tanshinoneⅡ? inhibited the proliferation of SZ95 cells in a dose- and time-dependent mode, with the 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of 7.473 ?mol/L (in 48 h) and 2.146?mol/L (in 72 h) for cryptotanshinone and 6.021 ?mol/L (in 48 h) and 2.25 ?mol/L (in 72 h) for tanshinone Ⅱ?. Additionally, as compared with the control group, the lipid content of SZ95 cells exposed to tanshinone Ⅱ? at 0.125?mol/L was decreased in 48h (P

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of myopia following intravitreous injection of MK801 (dizocipine maleate) intravitreous injected. METHODS: Three-week-old guinea pigs were divided into six groups: group A (control), group B (3 weeks form-deprivation in right eye), group C ( 3 weeks form-deprivation in right eye + saline), group D (3 weeks form-deprivation in right eye + MK801 1ng), group E (3 weeks form-deprivation in right eye + MK801 10 ng), group F (3 weeks form-deprivation in right eye + MK801 100 ng). The refraction and axial length of the eyes were measured. ncNOS was measured by hybridization in situ, and cyclic GMP (cGMP) concentrations by radioimmunochemistry. The correlation between MK801 concentration and diopter degree, axial length of the eyes, and levels of ncNOS or cyclic GMP were analyzed with linear correlation in the groups C-F. RESULTS: Diopter degree was decreased, axial eye length was shorted and levels of ncNOS and c-GMP were decreased in groups C, D, E and F dependent on the concentration of MK801. The diopter degree had positive correlation with MK801 concentration (r=0.702, P<0.05), while the axial eye length and the levels of ncNOS and cGMP were negatively correlated (r=-0.736, -0.637, -0.725, P<0.05) CONCLUSION MK801 injected into the vitreous humor can restrain myopia by down-regulated the expression of the nitric oxide-cyclic GMP signaling pathway. The effect is concentration dependent.
Animals ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Dizocilpine Maleate ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Form Perception ; physiology ; Guinea Pigs ; Injections, Intraocular ; Male ; Myopia ; physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; metabolism ; Sensory Deprivation ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Vitreous Body ; drug effects

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of cyclic guanine monophosphate (cGMP) and the ultrastructure change in retina of guinea pig with form-deprivation myopia and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Three-weeks-old guinea pigs were distributed in 3 groups: an untreated group (Group I), a myopia 2-weeks group (Group II) and a myopia 3-weeks group (Group III), animals underwent monocular form-deprivation by facemask for 2 and 3 weeks. The right eyes were deprived and the left eyes were self-controlled. The refraction and axial length of the eyes was measured. Retina was observed by electron microscope. The expression of cGMP was detected by radioimmunochemistry. RESULTS: Deprived eyes in guinea pig showed significant development of myopia, the refraction and axial length was increased. The pathological changes in ultrastructure of retina were aggravated with the development of myopia. The expression of cGMP was significantly up-regulated in the deprived eyes compared with self-control eyes(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Form-deprivation can up-regulate the expression of cyclic GMP, which might play an important role in the development of myopia.
Animals ; Cyclic GMP ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; Myopia ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Retina ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Sensory Deprivation ; Vision, Monocular ; physiology